The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the 21st Century

On the Tucows Blog, I’ve got an article titled O’Reilly Radar Asks if We’re Winning the War on Spam, which takes a look into what was received at the O’Reilly email server last week (nearly a million messages, 95% of which were spam) and looks at predictions for success or failure in the ongoing war on spam.

At Global Nerdy, there are these articles:

• Another digital ad network, this time from Nokia. “This is interesting for a number of reasons. Obviously, many people expect mobile advertising to experience the same growth we’ve seen over the past few years with internet advertising. Nokia’s move to get in the middle of that revenue stream could yield significant rewards for the company.”
• 7 Confessions of a Former Cingular Sales Rep. “No idea whether this will help you get a deal on an iPhone, but in the wake of Consumerist’s article with 8 tips from an ex-Verizon sales rep on getting the best deal on a phone from his former employer, an ex-Cingular rep has stepped up and provided this list.”
• 5 Things CIOs Should Know About Software Requirements. “This article at CIO Online says that these 5 things are…”
• How to Get Six New Fonts Included with Vista, Legally AND For Free! “Matt Thomas points out an easy way to get these fonts without having to fork out the money for Vista and without resorting to illegal copying…”

My pal Pete Forde, who is one of the guys behind local software development shop Unspace, emailed me to let me know about the video for the new number by Henry and Clare (the name under which local songstress Elliot Caroll operates, a name that I believe is borrowed from The Time Traveler’s Wife), titled Songtario. It’s a lovely and catchy alt-rock tune, and all the more amazing because she’s only 17 years old. Here’s the vid:

Pete wrote this about Elliot: “A Toronto artist that makes Toronto look awesome!” I prefer to say that she’s a Toronto artist who does a wonderful job of showcasing Toronto’s awesomeness.

Saw this sign at the corner of Bloor and Dufferin and had to take a picture:

Photo courtesy of Miss Fipi Lele.

Found the graphic above through my friend Fipi Lele, and a little Googling revealed that the actual clock, plus others based on the same graphic, are available online at this CafePress shop.

It’s by George and it’s titled Microsoft shyster harshes on Google book search. He’s writing about Microsoft’s General Counsel for Copyright, Trademark and Trade Secrets, Thomas C. Rubin, and his speech to the Association of American Publishers. In the speech, Rubin tried to put The Fear, especially about into his audience by telling them: “Google doesn’t respect copyright, and Google’s actions are designed to aid their own business at the cost of publishers.” The speech is an interesting new wrinkle on a classic Microsoft tactic — Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt, or as we in the industry call it, “FUD” — and George does a pretty good job at exposing all its flaws.

I’m disappointed with Microsoft’s use of this forum. They’re a world-class technology company. Surely they have some concrete solutions to offer the members of the AAP? This was an ideal opportunity for Microsoft to get in front of a multi-billion-dollar industry and demonstrate how they could help grow that business. After all, Google’s having a hard time making its case with these people, but the publishing industry recognizes that they can’t stand still in the face of increasing digitization. Unfortunately, Microsoft sent a lawyer to do a man’s job. Save for a few warmed-over nods to Microsoft’s book search project, there was nothing besides anti-Google FUD on the menu today. Publishers didn’t get anything they could use to reinvigorate their industry online, and Microsoft gets a swarm of blog posts like mine.

Although it might get me in the bad books of a number of relatives including an aunt who’s done so much for our family, my “brother from another mother” and the only other person in my life worthy of the name “Dad”, I’ve got to say that I can help smirking at the crack about “sending a lawyer to do a man’s job”. Go ahead, read the article.

A little background information: here’s how the jury ruled on the Scooter Libby case (courtesy of this Washington Post article)…

Chart taken from the Washington Post.

And here’s the FOX News take…

Screen capture courtesy of Boing Boing.

I have to give them props for out-and-out chutzpah, if nothing else.