Last year, Al Jazeera, the leading news network in the Middle East, set up shop in the United States. It’s been kind of slow, and C.E.O. Ehab Al-Shihabi addressed the issue.
According to the C.E.O. of Al Jazeera America, his company is in very good financial standing and it will take time to get it off the ground. It hasn’t been exactly a ratings hit. Sometimes, it doesn’t get even 20,000 viewers at a time. But it’s making grounds. It secured a spot with Time Warner Cable and is preparing a major market campaign. It’s hired world class reporters, like former ABC news executive Kate O’Brian.? Mr. Al-Shihabi urges patience; these are the early stages. He says, “…we’re building a great news organization. Not for next week-but for the next year and next decade and years to come.”
Personally, I hope Al Jazeera America is successful. I say this because I think there is a hunger for global and credible media. Al-Shihabi says we’re heading for a golden age of global media. I hope this global golden age is better than the mainstream age. I’m not the only one. According to one poll in Feb. 2013, only 6% trust the mainstream news media very much, while 12% have no trust in it at all. More and more people are turning to alternative and/0r global media for credible reporting. Plus, when the media tells us more about Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus than they do about major bankers mysteriously dying, maybe it’s time for a change. For that reason, if Al Jezeera America can help give us real news, then I say bring it on. But will they?
The most dominating news item of the week has been the Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. That flight went missing and days later, there are no answers. Technology is helping out in this crisis.
A website called Tomnod.com has called on over two million of it’s subscribers to scan satellites and search for clues of this missing plane. This is Tonmon’s biggest campaign ever, flagging around 650,000 features in pictures. This website, operated by Digital Globe, and based in Colorado, is helping search over 24,000 square miles. According to Digital Globe director? Shay Har-Noy, there are millions are on website, studying every single pixel, looking for even the slightest thing that might be out of place. Keep in mind, Digital Globe operates satellites so sophisticated they can find a briefcase anywhere on the Earth.
That’s what I don’t get about this case. If satellites can find a suitcase, why can’t they find a Boeing 777 jet? Now I’ve heard stories about Emilia Earhart and her plane was never found, but that was in the 1930s. Surely in 2014, there has to be a way of tracing something. Yet we’ve been told the black box and other communications just shut down. There is so much we’re not being told here. And what about the 20 Freescale Semiconductor workers? What if this plane was hijacked and sitting in some underground bunker? Will technology help us find this Malaysian Flight Airlines Flight 370? What’s your take on what happened?
Russia has been in the news a lot this week, mostly due to the crisis of Ukraine and the world’s response to it. Here’s something they haven’t told you.
There is spyware out there called Turla. It’s said to come out of Russia, and it’s hit many government computers in the US and Europe. It’s been called one of the most sophisticated acts of espionage of all-time. These alleged Russian government backed hackers are said to be extremely disciplined in their craft. They pin point their targets to a tee. They exploit those who don’t have the technical knowledge and will to stand up to them. Of course, the US Pentagon and Russia’s Federal Security Bureau declined comment.
But this just didn’t start. Apparently, they’ve known about?Turla since 2008. Is it a coincidence that’s the same year Russia invaded?the former?Soviet nation of Georgia? I think not. Nor do I believe it’s a coincidence we’re just starting to learn about Turla in the wake of?Ukraine’s crisis. And since the US and most of Europe has been vehemently opposed to Russia’s meddling in the crises…maybe it’s a good thing we are learning about this Turla virus.?Where could they strike next? Could they strike our military? Could they strike our media? Could they strike the things we take for granted? How far could this escalate?
To say Bitcoin has not had a good week?is putting it mildly. Newsweek and other either media want to know: Who was behind the Bitcoin fiasco?
We meet Bitcoin inventor Satoshi Nakamoto, age 64. He appeared in modest clothing and came out of his suburban Temple City, CA to a media firestorm. Not even the police officers could believe this was the man who started an online revolution. When pressed for questions about his creation’s downfall, he refused most questions. What came out the improve interview was his statement, “I am no longer involved in that and can no longer discuss it. It’s been turned over to other people. They are in charge of it now. I no longer have any connection.”
I do have much respect for Satoshi Nakamota. Not only did he start an online revolution, he kept his humility in doing so. He didn’t go around buying exuberant homes, flashy cars, pop champagne at the club, or date models with his new found wealth. He remained grounded. The one percent today can learn something from him. But I can’t help but express a little disappointment here. It’s hard for me to believe his own creation went under and he now he abandons ship. This reminds me of that scene in the Titanic where the shipbuilder jumps in the lifeboat the first chance he got and leaves his creation, and the people on it, to suffer. This is far from over. What will the next chapter of this Bitcoin soap opera be?
Starting today, February 27, 2014, Facebook will begin telling users the Facebook messenger app for Windows users will shut down by March 3.
A Windows Facebook Messenger user can expect to see the following: “We’re sorry, but we can no longer support Facebook Messenger for Windows, and it will stop working on March 3, 2014.” It invites you to go to their generic Facebook message to learn more. This app will continue on Android and Apple devices and systems, but just now Windows. Why is that? Just days before this, Microsoft said Facebook Messenger for Windows Phone would be ready and available in a few weeks. Facebook Messenger for Windows was started in November 2011 in it’s experimental phase and released to the public in March 2012. So this app lasted for about two years.
I’m a little disappointed in Windows. They’re shutting this app down on Windows but they’re now announcing it on Windows Phone. You’d think a company as big as Windows could support Facebook Messenger on it’s phone as well as through it’s other systems. Maybe this was Facebook’s call. Who knows? But whoever was behind this made a bad business decision in my opinion. If they’re doing this so more people can get the Windows phone, I think it will backfire and perhaps even drive more people into their competitors’ arms. What’s the real motive behind this move?
The online currency Bitcoin hits a snag. Mt. Gox, a major alley of Bitcoin, announced hundreds of millions of dollars are missing in company money. It’s so much money Mt. Gox is filing for bankruptcy.
We learn this through a leaked document. Despite Bitcoin writing a letter claiming they feel ‘squandered’ by Mt. Gox, their net worth fell below $500 per share. Keep in mind a few months ago, that number was in the $900 range. Twenty four hours ago, it was $581 a share. Don’t try to go on Mt. Gox’s website or Twitter page: they both went blank. According to this same leaked document,? Mt. Gox lost over 744,000 Bitcoins due to theft.
So is this the end of Bitcoin? Let’s not go that far. This crisis can be overcome. I just wouldn’t deal with Mt. Gox anymore. I doubt they’ll even be a Mt. Gox after this fiasco. That’s one step. Another is be more honest with the countless investors of Bitcoin. It shouldn’t have to take a leaked document to let people know Bitcoin has been hit by a crisis. I’m glad people know now, but let people know what’s going on, and talk about solutions. I think this is a great lesson for Bitcoin. I think this is almost a trial by fire. Do you think Bitcoin will make it out of this one?
