links for 2009-01-12

"I have no doubt, though, that we are now at a watershed and, as I also summed things up for colleagues, 'The current course, revised from that of last year, will need fundamental revision for next year in order to keep pace with the changes afoot and the rate of adoption by young teenagers'".

"Twitter is sometimes referred to as 'mini-blogging'. That’s ridiculous. A coherent discussion limited to 140 characters [is] as in-depth as a conversion with a drunk person".

"Few realize that outgoing US president George W. Bush has left behind a unique legacy for future presidents, including Barack Obama — that they are all condemned to rank tops for a search on 'miserable failure' in major search engines". Expect the search engine machinations of this to be ignored by the British press as, one week after the start of his Presidency, our papers all have a story saying "Google has declared Obama to be a 'miserable failure'"

Sol gives a plug for his article in my 'bit' of this month's issue of FUMSI

"I have worked with our legal staff to create a new license document. I think you will be pleased with this, as I have increased the amount of legal complex words by 50%, added more hidden clauses, used the tiniest print I could find and in a footnote even make the librarian sign away his soul to us."

New York Times, March 22nd, 1876 - "Thus the telephone, by bringing music and ministers into every home, will empty the concert-halls and the churches"