Tumbl'ing around the Web

Nov 18

“Why do service providers have to pay the cost for failed or failing business models among the copyright holders?” — ISPs draw a line in the sand over piracy | TechCentral

Nov 17

“Microsoft is a different company, a better company, than when I joined 5 years ago. There are more new people who joined Microsoft in the last 5 years than all the previous employees combined. However, laying off 5,000 people when you have $37B in cash and huge profits is not cool. But hey, thanks for pushing me on to the Next Big Thing.” — Don Dodge on The Next Big Thing: Thanks Microsoft, Hello Google

Nov 13

“The problem with cashbook accounting is that it provides neither for yesterday, nor for tomorrow,” said Godsell, explaining that Eskom couldn’t effect meaningful long-term funding or planning, and even had to battle for short-term revenue.“We screwed up!” Godsell said at the same event. “We at Eskom need to follow the example of the new US president and simply say we screwed up.” — The Eskom Power Crisis - Mandy de Waal

Nov 09

1948

I heard something this evening from Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein that I haven’t heard before. According to the Torah, Abraham (as in one of Judaism’s - as well as Islam’s and Christianity’s - central figures) was born 1 948 years after Creation.

The State of Israel’s independence declaration took place in 1948.

There are varying accounts of Abraham’s birth (not to mention Creation’s occurrence itself) but the symmetry appeals to me and gives rise to a number of meanings and symbolisms that support Zionism and Jews’ preeminent claim to Israel.

Two very different memories of German history today

Today is the anniversary of two significant dates in German history that have impacted on the world in very different ways. CNN’s headline as I write this is the following:

The Berlin Wall’s fall was an historic day and a clear sign that the Cold War had come to an end. It’s fall was also a symbol of liberation and a nation’s unity. It is a day worth commemorating, celebrating even.

There is another day that has a much darker significance both for the world and for Jews worldwide. 9 and 10 November also mark the anniversary of Kristallnacht, a day when Nazi Germany began a new, terrible phase of its campaign against Jews in Germany and surrounding European countries culminating in the Holocaust.

Contrary to the Berlin Wall’s fall, Kristallnacht is the start of a more concerted effort to persecute and, eventually, eradicate the Jews and a number of other population groups who offended the Nazis. We should remember the Berlin Wall’s demise just as we remember a far more terrifying event that preceded it and the events which led to the Berlin Wall’s construction in the first place.

“Life is not anything, but an opportunity for something.” —

This quote reminds me of Google Wave and Lars Rasmussen’s comments about how the Wave team is standing back, waiting to see what people do with Wave rather than prescribe what they should do with it.

Quotes about Opportunity

I feel like I am ruining this photo just by adding some text to my re-post.

(via adriannabanana)

This is an amazing photo in so many contexts.

adriannabanana:

This is kind of where I feel like I am right now

Something for couples to bear in mind when things are tough. Tough times do happen and it is easy to get caught up in anger, frustration and hurt feelings and to forget about the good stuff, the deep seated, enduring stuff.

adriannabanana:

I wish I knew who drew this

Nov 06

These bees freak me out