If you roam the depths of the Internet, you'll find many things that'll amaze you and few things that'll make you think. People in fur costumes ("the furries"), bizarre beauty surgeries, the latest nutritional hype or self-proclaimed holy men who are announcing the end of the world (again) - we've gotten used to that. But when people write they no longer follow the news because they simply can't bear it any more - that gets me thinking. One thing is certain: the Internet has changed the news landscape and we all have to learn to live with it.
You might be under the impression that, nowadays, everything is consumed digitally, including music. Vinyls have been among the first victims of the digital revolution and most press plants went out of business between 1988 and 1995, with their former employees scattering in all directions. At flea markets, entire collections were sold at knock-down-prices as if vinyls were relics from primitive, slightly embarrassing times. To the amazement of many, vinyls aren't dead- and the music industry now has to rediscover how vinyl works.
Talking to people with different opinions can make for a worthwhile experience and broadens your horizon. That's why I found my recent encounter doubly interesting as my dialog partner not only doesn't care about elaborately detailed customer profiles but considers them advantageous and a give and take situation. Welcome to the world of Thomas*, a civil servant in his mid-forties who takes everything in stride. That doesn't mean he has no clear opinion though.
Recently, when the news that the much-praised copy protection for Ultra HD Blu-ray had been cracked made the rounds, it likely brought a smirk to the face of many readers. For too long, users had listened to the industry that touted every new format as uncrackable - usually followed by pirated copies within a few days or weeks. Alas, this eternal game of The Tortoise and the Hare is only funny until you're personally affected - after all, it's the honest buyer that's left holding the bag.
Spyware, whether distributed by criminals, advertisers or even states, is a constant nuisance. Yet, some types have the technician in me marveling. Why? Because they're innovative and intelligently designed. Recently, I came upon an approach that might interest web users, supermarket shoppers and whistleblowers alike. A single sound can betray them all (with a little bad luck).
