Last week’s contretemps over ABC’s access to cable systems figures to be only the beginning. “Many people argue that the trend of modern technology is away from closed systems to more open models.” But those who control cable access know they control the key to the wired future and they want to hang on to it for as long as possible. – Dallas Morning News 05/08/00
Tag: 05.08.00
ALL BUSINESS AND LITTLE SHOW
Last week’s ABC/Time-Warner dust-up is the face of naked greed. “This is what the entertainment world has become, yet another mine from which global corporations can squeeze huge profits. And huge is the key, which we’ll get to in a moment.” – Sacramento Bee 05/08/00
THE VIEWER AS DIRECTOR
A new type of streaming movie will debut at Cannes next week. The technology allows viewers to pan the camera angles of scenes to see the perspective they want. “The 360-degree concept explodes everything you’ve ever learned about movie-making and calls for new rules, new grammar, and most excitingly, a new kind of storytelling.” – Wired 05/08/00
FINDERS NOT KEEPERS
- Last December, Chinese police caught seven midnight marauders digging in an area on the outskirts of Beijing. The leader of the seven men confessed they had long suspected there was an ancient tomb in the area – sure enough, when “archaeologists from the Beijing Cultural Relics Bureau continued the dig [they] concluded that, not only were they on the brink of uncovering a tomb, but given the initial findings it could be the resting place of a Han dynasty king.” – Time Asia
THE FICTION OF TRUTH
What is the boundary between fiction and non-fiction? Should there be a boundary? Is it arbitrary? A panel at Columbia School of Journalism debates the art of narrative non-fiction. – New York Times
HOW DO PEOPLE READ?
Researchers plan the first study of “how digital texts impact teaching, research, and learning. They also want to determine whether digital books will replace or supplement printed texts.” – Wired
POETRY MAKES A COMEBACK
Poetry evenings have been flourishing in Israel as “an alternative form of cultural entertainment.” – Haaretz (Israel)
ANY PUBLICITY IS GOOD PUBLICITY
The controversy over the legality and ethics of downloading music over the internet has helped spur a surge in traffic to the sites. Recent net ratings indicate traffic has jumped from 20-52 percent at popular MP3 download sites. – The Times of India (AP)
TWENTY YEARS IN THE MAKING
A new Grove’s Dictionary of Music – the definitive music resource – is due out later this year. And it’s big: 25 million words, 29,000 articles, 20,000 biographies in 29 volumes (nine more than the previous 1980 edition). Some 6000 scholars in 98 countries contributed, and a staff of 60 at Macmillans in London has been laboring away to meet the publishing deadline. – The Age (Melbourne)
TRUNCATED FAREWELL
In front of an all-star audience (including the Three Tenors) tenor Carlo Bergonzi pulled out of the middle of his farewell performance, a concert version of Verdi’s “Otello.” The 75-year-old tenor’s voice sounded weak, and he reportedly looked ashen during the performance. He pulled out after the second act. – CBC