Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead

The New York Times finally figured it out.

Amazing!

As of September 19, the New York Times has ended their TimesSelect program that charged online readers a fee for certain content. In a letter to their readers, the Times explains reason for the change.

“Since we launched TimesSelect in 2005, the online landscape has altered significantly. Readers increasingly find news through search, as well as through social networks, blogs and other online sources. In light of this shift, we believe offering unfettered access to New York Times reporting and analysis best serves the interest of our readers, our brand and the long-term vitality of our journalism. We encourage everyone to read our news and opinion – as well as share it, link to it and comment on it.”

Personally, I don’t think that the online landscape has shifted much when it comes to paying for content. Online readers don’t like paying.

The Internet was originally designed to be a free environment where ideas were shared among users. Users like this concept, but some corporations simply can’t adapt their capitalistic thinking.

It’s about time that the leading newspaper in this country learned from their mistake and made a correction.

Let’s all join the Munchkins and sing:
Ding Dong! The Witch is dead.

Leopold Strabismus Lives On

For those of you who have read the James Michener novel Space, the name Leopold Strabismus and the thoughts of his little green men will no doubt bring a smile to your face. The loveable, conniving brains behind the Universal Space Agency would probably laugh hysterically if he heard about Lunar Embassy.

The brainchild of self proclaimed Head Cheese Dennis Hope, Lunar Embassy claims that it is the only organization that can legally sell you property on the moon.

According to many, including CNN, Lunar Embassy's claims are, well, lunacy.

Sorry for the groaner, but I had to borrow that pun from the Chinese government. It was just too good to pass up.

For a mere $19.99 you can by 1 acre of prime lunar real estate that comes with an official looking deed with your name printed on it. If that's not enough for all of you space pioneers, you can also buy property on Mars, Venus and Mercury.

Is this legal? Nope. Your deed won't hold up in a court of law that's held in any universe.

But this scam is also not illegal. As Stanley Mott found out in Space, Leopold Strabismus and Dennis Hope give people exactly what is advertised. Strabismus gave his subscribers newsletters about little green men, and Hope gives his patrons a worthless deed with their name on it.

P. T. Barnum was absolutely right.