The new privacy policy removes the separation between YouTube, Google search, and other Google products. By describing the change as “treat[ing] you as a single user,” Google intends to remove the privacy-protective separations from YouTube and Google search
via What Actually Changed in Google’s Privacy Policy | Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Imagine buying a car that locks you into one brand of fuel. A new BMW, for example, that only runs on BMW gas. There are plenty of BMW gas stations around, even a few in your neighborhood, so convenience isn’t an issue. But if one of those other gas stations offers a discount, a membership program, or some other attractive marketing campaign, you can’t participate. You’re locked in with the BMW gas stations.
This could never happen, right? Consumers are too smart to buy into something like this. Or are they? After all, isn’t that exactly what’s happening in the ebook world?
via It’s time for a unified ebook format and the end of DRM – O’Reilly Radar.
We’re familiar with the argument: the modern age is bankrupting our attention spans, we are all technology-addled morons clicking semi-consciously between browser screens, unable to complete the simplest of tasks: mesmerised, drooling, catatonic simpletons…
The answer is NO, of course, so says David Foster Wallace…
[click the link to find out exactly what DFW has to say]
via “Are we too stupid to read Dickens?” Melville House Books
Despite the fact that some people believe Charles Dickens can not be read or appreciated by today’s gadget-addled callow youth, the rest of us are celebrating the 200th anniversary of his birth — born on this day, February 7th, in 1812
via Happy birthday Charles Dickens: World-wide celebration begins (Melville House Books)
February is Black History Month. Celebrate the month by checking out our new book display at the Aurora campus library!
