Year: 2005

Encarta Becoming A Wiki

So Encarta is more or less becoming some sort of a Wiki…

Microsoft Corp.’s Encarta encyclopedia is testing a system that lets everyone be an editor — in theory at least. Readers can suggest edits or additions to entries, although the changes are vetted by editors before they reach the page.

Encarta is not requiring such novice editors to identify themselves, said Gary Alt, Encarta’s editorial director. But it is asking them to reveal the source of their information if possible, and the editorial staff will check for both factual errors and evidence of bias.

[Source: CNN]

So it seems the guys at Microsoft have recognized the power of collaborative knowledge and wikis or they’ve started feeling the heat from Wikipedia.

I think this is quite a good step. And I think it’s great how this whole blog and wiki movement is affecting how media and encyclopedias are working.
It’s somehow like giving the power back to the people.

links for 2005-04-18

Why No One Trusts The US Anymore…

“No sane leader of any nation in the world can trust America anymore. We have demonstrated that if we desire to attack a nation, we will fabricate the excuse and attack it, despite international law and international opinion. We have demonstrated that a nation need not provoke us or threaten us to become a victim of our aggression. We have said to the world that the only law we respect is the law of the jungle, and that might makes right. That’s why so many people consider us to be a rogue nation and a threat to world peace…”

— Charley Reese, Journalist for 49 years, reporting on everything from sports to politics.

[Via: Je Blog]

WAMA, The First Arab Boy Band

Wama

WAMA are the first Egyptian and Arab boy band, consisting of 4 very talented members, all graduates of the Egyptian conservatoire.

They are Nader Hamdi (Waddour,23, pianist and bass vocals), Ahmed El Shami (Shami, 23, percussionist and bass vocals), Mohamed Nour (Nour, 22, violinist and lead vocals) and Ahmed Fahmi (Fahmi, 24, violinist and lead vocals).

WAMA was formed in 1999. They wrote their own lyrics and started composing, singing, and arranging their demo tape.

I first knew of them when I heard their first single and first album title track “Ya Leil” a couple of years ago. I really liked the song and thought they had the potential to become a successful boy band and lead the way for other Arab boy bands.

Now they’re coming out with a second album called “Ya Ghali Alayya”, and from the 2 or 3 songs I heard from it, it looks like it’s going to be a really good one.

I really like the direction they’re taking in their music and style.
If you don’t know them, I truly recommend checking their stuff out.

For more info about them, check the: WAMA Official Website.

links for 2005-04-16

Taxi

Last night, we watched the Hollywood version of Luc Besson’s Taxi starring Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon.

The story follows along the lines of the first French movie with some changes here and there. Queen Latifah plays the role of the speed-crazed taxi driver and Jimmy Fallon plays the dumb cop who doesn’t know how to drive.

The movie turned out pretty ok. I like Queen Latifah’s comedy roles and Jimmy Fallon does a not-bad job. The movie has some good laughs in it. Anyway I still think the original French version is a lot better, more fun and more enjoyable.
I guess it’s always like that though. Originals are always better than the remakes.

My score for this movie would be: 6.5/10.