The Ministry of Manpower has kindly made the 2009 Singapore Public Holidays Calendar available for download in iCal format. To install, simply import it into your calendar app of choice.
The University of Arizona is honored to be the first public university to lead a mission to Mars. The Phoenix Mars Mission, scheduled to land May 25, 2008, is the first in NASA’s “Scout Program.” Scouts are designed to be highly innovative and relatively low-cost complements to major missions being planned as part of the agency’s Mars Exploration Program.
I’m actually following the entire mission progress on Twitter. It’s pretty neat that they are embracing and using new web services considering they are at the forefront of technology!
Update: Check out the mission homepage on NASA as well for more footage!
I guess it’s official. Microsoft has withdrew its bid for Yahoo. A big surprise in my opinion..
Interestingly, 50 Cent feels that file-sharing isn’t bad. I quite agree with him but with the iTunes store, I’ll be happier if all the songs were DRM-free. Here’s an excerpt from an interview he had with Pål Nordseth in Oslo.
Pål asked 50 Cent: “How are G-Unit Records doing in these times of file-sharing?
“Not so good.” he responded. “The advances in technology impacts everyone, and we all must adapt. Most of all hip-hop, a style of music dependent upon a youthful audience. This market consists of individuals embracing innovations faster than the fans of classical and jazz music.”
“What is important for the music industry to understand is that this really doesn’t hurt the artists.”
Thats quite a statement. Organizations like the RIAA are always talking about how the artists get hurt by file-sharing but 50 Cent clearly doesn’t agree. In fact, he appears to appreciate the value of a good fan, whether he buys or file-shares his music, as he explains:
“A young fan may be just as devout and dedicated no matter if he bought it or stole it.”
Indeed. It’s been said time and time again - get the music out there by any which way, fill the gigs and capitalize on the merchandising and ends will meet. 50 Cent agrees:
“The concerts are crowded and the industry must understand that they have to manage all the 360 degrees around an artist. They, (the industry), have to maximize their income from concerts and merchandise. It is the only way they can get their marketing money back.”
He finishes up: “The main problem is that the artists are not getting as much help developing as before file-sharing. They are now learning to peddle ringtones, not records” he said.
“They don’t understand the value of a perfect piece of art.”
Via 50 Cent: File-Sharing Doesn’t Hurt Artists, Industry Should Adapt | TorrentFreak
Purebuttons, LLC has purchased the new Radiohead album, In Rainbows, for $1,000.00 in support of Radiohead’s “silent” effort to revolutionize the music industry.
Cleveland, Ohio — October 11, 2007 — Yesterday was a big day for the music industry. It could be a day that revolutionizes the music industry, as we know it. Radiohead decided to launch the solo album, In Rainbows, with the option to pay what you think it is worth. We feel this is a statement to the music industry that change is required, if not already imminent. We support the bands in their efforts to change everyone’s viewpoints on music purchasing, and that it should be possible for bands to make what is rightfully due to them.
Entertainment as a whole is invaluable. If your choice of entertainment is not supported, it will eventually no longer exist. Imagine a world as a whole with no form of entertainment. What would you listen to while driving in your car? What would you listen to while exercising? What would you do when you are bored? What would you do when…? How happy would you be as a person? Not to mention, it has been widely said employees are more productive when they are listening to music.
Entertainment must be supported, change must begin with you!
Isn’t that amazing? Let’s hope for the best.
