Why Everything Sucks
Why does the world suck so much right now? Craig Ferguson provides a fairly compelling hypothesis.
$80,000 per Song, and Perceptions of Copyright
Two court decisions assign enormous fines for infringing copyright by sharing songs online. Is this a sign that the public is not as jaded about copyright as we’ve been led to believe?
Will Feudalism Fade from Knowledge Exchange?
Feudalism was a necessary step in social organization, but is it the end-state for academic organization? A number of related events this past weekend make me think not.
Stochasticity — and You Can Dance to It!
A video tribute to randomness, with a beat you can dance to. What better for a Friday?!
Service or Content? Another False Choice
The more arguments I hear about service vs. content, the clearer it seems that this is a false choice.
The “Article of the Future” — Just Lipstick Again?
Elsevier’s “Article of the Future” prototypes appear, and only spotlight the underlying conceptual problems for a traditional, article-centric publisher.
Journalism and Driving — Technology Enables Amateurs
Amateurs with similar machines as professionals have emerged before. Instead of travel, this time, it’s information.
Sci Foo Camp – Day 3
Sci Foo Camp 2009 — Day 3. Journals of the future, video games, rocketships to Mars. It’s all in a day’s work.
Positioned to Fail the Future
If publishers of all types don’t invest in the next thing, they’re the only ones who will suffer. But the barriers are high, and new competitors may be better positioned to fulfill the future.
Sci Foo Camp – Day 2
Day 2 of Sci Foo Camp was full of interesting topics and discussions, including artificial intelligence, citizen science, and the future of scholarly publishing.
Sci Foo Camp – Day 1
Sci Foo Camp 2009 kicked off last night with opening remarks by Tim O’Reilly (of O’Reilly Media), Timo Hannay (of Nature Publishing Group), and Larry Page (of Google).
Me Want Coffee Shop, Mr. Librarian!
Did a childhood character unleash a desire to mix libraries with snacks?
Amazon’s Fifth Stage
Amazon’s options and pattern of doing business suggests the STM publishers had better prepare for a dramatically more digital future.
Amazon or Apple: Choose Your Invader
A writer for “Fast Company” accidentally reveals that there may be no respite for publishers as pure digital invaders come to plunder them.
Playing Two Ends Against the Middle
Anderson says Free is the “future radical price.” Gladwell says free may not be the future. Godin simply says “Malcolm is wrong.” Why are all the arguments so polarized?