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Um, well, aren't personal relationships... personal? Do stars have no right to basic privacy when they request it?

IWantMedia has compiled a list of new media-related books for summer 2007 that you may want to check out, too. The address is http://www.iwantmedia.com/books.html

"Newspapers may be in trouble, but blaming Google is a cop-out," responded Globe and Mail technology expert Mathew Ingram on his blog.

Cracking the iron curtain called Canadian News... As a US publisher I have been poking around trying to license canadian news content for a new network of city news sites we're launching in Canada and have heard nothing but NO, everywhere I go. CP won't license it to us, CBC says they get the bulk of their text news from others and can't resell it. So where do I go? I am really frustrated and more surprised than anything over this. How could those who portray themselves as being in the business of licensing content to others reject me just because I'm in the same business and not some stand-alone mary'sbaskets.com site? Is that fair? Is it legal? I just can't afford to staff up a newsroom there - we just don't have that kind of money, so we have to get it from somewhere else. I would appreciate any suggestions or leads and if any journalists out there are interested.. I'd be glad to work out something if at all possible. You can email at editor502[at]roadrunner.com

Harper Government controls the media. The Canadian Media has been used by Harper and makes it harder for Canadians to get honest democratic reporting. Why is there not more reporters that will make an honest effort and get the news that Canadians deserve. Harper used the media on his last trip to Afghanistan to be given photo opportunities for Canadians back home. From the line of questions, I do not understand why the reporters went, Canadians did not get the truth about the visit, as reporters are controlled by Harper. Reporters, stand up for the rights of all Canadians, WHY HAVE YOU GONE INTO THIS BUSINESS. Make a stand. it's THE RIGHT THING TO DO. For those reporters that make honest efforts against odds but forward by the Harper Government, MY RESPECT AND THANK YOU. MUCH RESPECT. and to Canadians. SPEAK UP OR PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND WHY HARPER KICKS YOUR BUTT.

From Zerby's column: And while they were celebrating their windfall, they didn't do much to tell you that the CRTC has also ordered the end of over-the-air analog TV by 2011. That means those without a digital set will have to fork out for a new TV – or pay Ted Rogers, your "choice" – to watch any TV at all. Nothing like the CRTC standing on guard for Canadians. The switch to digital from analog TV is happening in the US and Europe as well, in February 2009 and by 2010-12 respectively. In practical terms it would have been impossible for Canada to go it alone when our southern neighbors were abandoning conventional transmission. As the recent move from DAB digital radio to IBOC demonstrates, Canada's broadcast environment is tied too closely to the US to adopt different standards. Particularly when the governments of the day want to harmonize our regulations with the US. And of course, Digital television brings with it opportunities for Digital Rights Management to prevent us Canadian pirates from copying all if that fine intellectual property. Barry

By the same logic, then, perhaps the bricklayer should never be forced to give up ownership of the brick wall he built. See, the thing about copyright is that the creator wants to keep ownership of the product *after* it's sold. Copyright is indeed a special case. It grants certain rights to authors and artists that most people don't get over their creations at all.

"Third Coast Festival in Toronto." Third Coast is of course in Chicago, not Toronto.

Given that I have one "friend" on Facebook that goes by the name "Anal Medusa", it's naïve to think that you're always seeing people's real names. What has fascinated me about this thing - I was dragged into it by my niece and her baby pictures - is that instead of just searching for people's names you need to figure out what groups or networks they might be part of, or even better that they might have in common with you. I've also been astonished by the number of people who have tracked me down after only a couple of weeks on the service. Facebook really offers a glimpse of the connectedness of people on the 'net. From a reporting standpoint Facebook's strength and weakness is that because members can limit access to their "friends" they will often post things that they might not mention in a "public" forum. (Just look at some of the gems found at Wonkette) Sometimes a little information is too much, and I often wonder how many employers are looking at social networking sites before hiring new employees. Regardless, I tend to agree that long held notions of privacy are breaking down rapidly, and that has to change both the type of stories that are written, and the kind of things we read in them. As a pastime Facebook is fun and only somewhat addictive. It does allow your to stay connected with a wide circle of friends without too much effort - although is that a good thing?

"Much better" at what? Much better at opinions? Analysis? I would agree that some opinion writers and analysts who use Internet web logs as a platform to disseminate their work are very good indeed. "Much better" at reporting? No. Name me one "blogger" with the resources, skill and access to go to places like Afghanistan and, with boots on the ground, actually investigate for one example claims that locals captured by Canadian soldiers are being tortured in Afghan prisons. Name me one "blogger" who travels about a region, say eastern Europe or Latin America or China, and through daily investigating and reporting in a bureau of a mainstream media outlet becomes an expert on that region's economics, politics and trade patterns, then shares that expertise regularly with the audience that pays to subscribe to that mainstream media outlet. I would argue that such reporting is the base of journalism, that it's essential and that our society needs more of such quality, objective -- and expensive -- information, not less. For now, such information only comes from mainstream media -- and it's dwindling because mainstream media are bleeding from a thousand cuts. Constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement would be useful. But I think much of the blogosphere's tendency to dismiss the very existence of professional journalists, many of whom approach the craft as a calling and with extreme dedication, is short-sighted.

Grumble. Hamilton, Ontario of course has a larger population than London or Kitchener, and it appears will once again remain bereft of CBC Radio services.

"There was a time when Toronto was more representative of southern Ontario than it is now. ... " Kennedy said.

Guess that sums things up. When exactly was that I wonder?

Guess this is why we can't poke Paul Martin on Facebook: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/210014