Is it getting more difficult to believe news photos these days?

Is it getting more difficult to believe news photos these days?

Most people haven't noticed, but it's getting more and more difficult to recognize reality in photographic journalism. While the unwary public soaks up newspaper and broadcast news reports which show stark photography, those of us who know what can be done with today's software are taking a more careful look. A recent photo in the local newspaper editorialized the aftermath of a house fire. Most people looked at the story it told. I saw it -- but I also saw the affects of over-sharpening and was alerted that the image had been manipulated. As a journalist myself, I've come to scrutinize the images as much as the content.

 

Computer Threats Predictions for 2007

Computer Threats Predictions for 2007

Messagelabs runs an annual trend report that highlights the evolution of the threat landscape each year. They are probably the best to make predictions because they're on the leading edge of spam and computer threat science. And, of course, the complexity of attacks on your computer are predicted to continue in 2007

Messagelabs Predictions for 2007:

Drastic measures to shore up user base

Herein is the long and sad story of how spam and online crime have driven some ISPs to blind, extreme measures which threaten the very usability of the internet. AOL, one of the world's longest trusted providers can no longer be trusted. Their overzealous quest to sell accounts by offering "spam blocking" is having the effect of isolating their user base from other web users. The following is a saga I've followed first hand -- so I know it's sad but true.

Drastic measures to shore up user base

 

Upside-down pros and cons

BIG CHANGES ARE AFOOT IN THE WAY THE INTERNET WORKS and 'net neutrality' is a conundrum with so much misinformation, confusion and media lip service floating around that no one seems to really know what's going on. Two things are for sure: it is NOT going away, and it IS going to be a media feeding frenzy.

Upside-down pros and cons

This is going to be a long, miserable, and potentially damaging struggle; primarily because the two sides of the argument have gotten themselves upside-down. Those in favor of neutrality are crying: please don't regulate so the 'little guy' and everyone else can be free to do as they please. Yet those are the ones currently exploiting and profiteering off 'the little guy.'

Those against neutrality are crying: please regulate, we're getting the shaft here, and those people won't play fare. Yet these are the ones who NEVER play fare. 

What's rather ironic is that those in against it would normally be in favor of it, if it weren't the internet. More ironic is those who are in favor, are typically the arch rivals of the very same issues in the real world. If it weren't so serious, it would be comedy. 

Google rolled out their AdSense program

All those who wanted to monetize their web sites had a big boost a couple of years ago when Google rolled out their AdSense program. I jumped on board, just like I jumped on the new upstart named "Amazon" when they first appeared on the scene. Amazon has cut its affiliates commissions back to near-oblivion, in the interest of their profits -- why did we think Google wouldn't do the same?