Summer 2010 Class: It's Been Fun!

Wednesday will be the last medianote of the Summer 2010 session. Thanks for being a great class.

The last medianote will be about eBooks and eBook players, notably Amazon's Kindle. Amazon reports that sales of digital books are now outpacing sales of hard-cover books, and the gap is growing. Your Humble Blogger wonders how long it will be before eBook sales catch up to paperbacks? And how long it will be before eTextbooks become dominant on college campuses?

NPR reports.

Uncle Sam Wants You! (to hack)

We are all at the mercy of computers and digital information. Our bank accounts, our power plants, our planes and trains are controlled by computer instructions. A cyberattack could easily cause chaos.

And that is why the military is beginning to talk about a shortage of "cyber warriors." They would be both defensive and offensive. And they could defend America without leaving their favorite desk chair. The ongoing shortage of cyber warriors was recently discussed in a National Public Radio story.

George Carlin Would Be Proud

The late comedian and social commentator did a famous routine called "The Seven Dirty Words." These were words that the Federal Communication Commission, which regulates the airwaves for the public good, deemed too vulgar for broadcasters to use under any circumstances. Why these words, Carlin wondered. Laughter and thought followed.

Since 2004, television and radio broadcasters have been fined for letting "fleeting expletives" onto their broadcasts. A fleeting expletive is generally unscripted and unexpected by the broadcaster. Awards shows, sporting events, or news stories covered live may occasionally have fleeting expletives uttered by a losing pitcher, a flood victim, or a potty-mouthed celebrity.

A federal appeals court said broadcasters shouldn't have to be responsible for fleeting expletives. For now, the Seven Dirty Words remain off limits in broadcasters' scripts, but perhaps that will face serious challenge in the near future. NPR reports.

Where Everyone Knows Your Name...

The situation comedy "Cheers" had a retro-ballad theme song that had the catch line' "where everyone knows your name." And the thought of Cheers as a warm, safe, friendly place where everyone knew you was supposed to be reassuring. But everyone knowing your name as you read or post on the Internet is a whole different thing.

The government of China, which has struggled mightily to regulate the Internet, may be about to implement a "real name" system. Under the plan, which is still sketchy, forum moderators, posters, even people who read stuff on the Internet, will have to do so under their actual name. Civil libertarians claim this system will be anything but warm, friendly or safe. The Associated Press reports.

How 'Bout That Overdue Library Book, Friend?

If you want to disappear (for whatever reason), then don't use Facebook or other social media to stay connected. You may find that some of your new online friends are exactly the people you are trying to hide from. Debt collectors, tax collectors, repo men and others are finding social media to be valuable tracking tools, according to this National Public Radio story.

His Parents Must Be Sooo Proud...

Is there such a thing as Internet Addiction? Some experts believe it is an increasingly common psychological addiction, particularly among teens and young adults.

This YouTube video has been watched more than 29 million times. is this what withdrawl from Internet Addiction looks like?

A Media Revolution, One Cupcake at a Time

Social Media has helped us to do a lot of things differently, but up to now Your Humble Blogger really didn't think Facebook really had a whole lot to do with selling cupcakes. Apparently, YHB was wrong. National Public Radio reports that social media has put a lot of small businesses on wheels.