links for 2009-08-11

Matt McAlister rounds up Hack Day #2 with a highlights video.

"Like any big city, London has suffered its share of tragedy over the centuries. We all remember recent events such as the July 7 bombs and the Clapham rail crash, but many incidents, horrific at the time, have all but disappeared from memory. This map is intended principally to bring some of these mostly forgotten episodes to wider attention".

When Google Ads go bad...d,ho!

"Morrissey would like it to be known that he has not been consulted by [record labels and retailer] EMI/HMV/Parlophone with regards to two forthcoming boxed sets of Morrissey singles. Morrissey does not approve such releases and would ask people not to bother buying them. Morrissey receives no royalty payments from EMI for any back catalogue, and has not received a royalty from EMI since 1992". Hang on, this *surely* can't be the same EMI that is fighting so hard against digital piracy because of the damage it does to their artist's finances, can it? Can it?

Yahoo! Term Extraction Engine RIP

"It's that little thing called the 'Use by date' on perishable products. That is why so many people throw away food without eating it today, because the little label no longer provides advice on when something ought to be eaten before, rather it gives an order to the consumer, do not eat this after this date. The result is that people no longer look at food, or smell food, to establish whether it is good or bad. Instead they just chuck it away and err on the side of regulatory caution. Yet here we are now, wondering why we throw so much away."

"One of the things that always fascinated me with virtual worlds and social networks was how many users regard their online contacts as 'friends' in every sense of the word...with the exception that they've often never actually met". Says some bloke who I trust and listen to because they write really interesting stuff even though I don't think we've ever met.

...I thought for a dreadful moment that Tomas Brolin was not going to make this list. I did actually see him score a goal for Leeds in the flesh once mind you.

User-generated merchandise? Introducing a Cafepress store dedicated to one of the all-time classic phrases from The Guardian's over-by-over Ashes coverage - "Is it cowardly to pray for rain?". My Scottish-South African wife does not consider it cowardly, just *very* English. Proceeds go to the Laurie Engel Fund.

"So Air New Zealand has got a new look monthly email! Stop the presses!!! Has anyone phoned CNN? This is big news. A new look monthly email! Release the press releases! What a story. I can't wait to tell all my friends."