A meme (pronounced , rhyming with "cream"[1]) is a postulated unit or element of cultural ideas, symbols or practices, and is transmitted from one mind to another through speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena. (The etymology of the term relates to the Greek word mimema for "something imitated".)[2]selective pressures.[3]Memeticists have not empirically proven the existence of discrete memes or their proposed mechanism, and memes (as distinct from ideas or cultural phenomena) do not form part of the consensus of mainstream social sciences. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes, in that they self-replicate and respond to The word was first introduced by British scientist Richard Dawkins in The Selfish Gene (1976) to discuss evolutionary principles in explaining the spread of ideas and cultural phenomena. He gave as examples melodies, catch-phrases, and beliefs (notably religious beliefs), clothing/fashion, and the technology of building arches.[4] Meme-theorists contend that memes evolve by natural selection (in a manner similar to that of biologicalevolution) through the processes of variation, mutation, competition, and inheritance influencing an individual entity's reproductive success. Memes spread through the behaviors that they generate in their hosts. Memes that propagate less prolifically may become extinct, while others may survive, spread, and (for better or for worse) mutate. Theorists point out that memes which replicate the most effectively spread best, and some memes may replicate effectively even when they prove detrimental to the welfare of their hosts.[5] A field of study called memetics[6] arose in the 1990s to explore the concepts and transmission of memes in terms of an evolutionary model. Criticism from a variety of fronts has challenged the notion that scholarship can examine memes empirically. Some commentators question the idea that one can meaningfully categorize culture in terms of discrete units.
Youku and Mozilla Join Forces to Enrich Video Viewing Experience
Beijing, Nov. 18th, 2008 – Youku, the leading Chinese Internet video website, today announced it has become the sole online video provider embedded in the China Edition of Mozilla Firefox, a highly popular web browser with a 20% worldwide market share.
This is the first time Mozilla will cooperate with a Chinese Internet video website to provide Internet users with a smooth interface between the browser and video content. Through Live Margins, a new feature developed for the Firefox China Edition (available at g-fox.cn), users can discover relevant video clips in a sidebar area of the browser by simply highlighting and dragging a chunk of text in web pages. Video results returned by Live Margins will be provided through Youku’s application programming interface (API). Any Youku videos can be added to a video playlist for time-shifted consumption or for quick and easy bookmarking, and Live Margins allows users to view Youku videos in a sidebar area while they continue to browse.
(cunt. after jump)
Youku FAQ
When did Youku launch?
Youku launched in Beta on June 21, 2006. The official nationwide launch in China took place six months later, on December 21, 2006. The company was founded by Victor Koo, former president of leading Chinese Internet portal Sohu.com, where he served as COO, CFO, and president for about six years.
Is Youku just another “YouTube clone”? Or do you differ substantially from YouTube?
No, we are not just a YouTube clone. The pure YouTube model of short-form, user-generated video content hasn’t worked so far in China. Youku is a platform offering both professional and user-generated online video content, which can be either short or long-form content. Our average time spent on a page view is 10 minutes, compared to only two to three minutes for Youtube.
We’re beginning a new weekly feature here where we’ll briefly describe the five most-viewed videos on Youku of the week, each Friday. We hope this provides some insight into what Chinese Internetvideo viewers are watching, and what they think of it!
Uploaded on: November 29 09 Total Views: 1,756,334 Thumbs Up: 99.9% Comments: 209
Kelly Cha (Zhazha) interviews 2005 Supergirls singing contest winner Li Yuchun. Li remains somewhat controversial in China for her supposedly androgynous style, but she’s adored by millions of fans, known as “玉米” (”corn”), a close-homophone pun on 宇迷, or “fans of Yu”).
Uploaded on: November 27 09 Total Views: 1,498,453 Thumbs Up: 90.7% Comments: 1859
Inspired by the hit TV seriesWo Ju 《蜗居》, a user uploaded this glimpse into the cramped, decidedly unglamorous living conditions of a Beijing white collar office worker.
Uploaded on: November 28 09 Total Views: 1,356,934 Thumbs Up: 98.4%
Uploaded on: December 3 09 Total Views: 1,217,035 Thumbs Up: 98.1% Comments: 4,466
A video introductionn to the “Five Tigers” fighting for the Chinese team in the 2009 “Chinese Kung-Fu vs. Thai Boxing” competition.
Uploaded on: November 29 09 Total Views: 1,091,735 Thumbs Up: 83.1% Comments: 1,831
Paike “best of” video of models from last week’s Guangzhou Auto Show. I’m pretty sure they’re the main reason that people go to auto shows in the first place.
• WhatGetsMeHot Ⓧ1000000Ⓧ • • Merc♥iGro♥bises • ¿Quién quiere ser millonario? Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Haluatko miljonääriksi? Qui veut gagner des millions? ვის უნდა ოწტი ატასი Ποιος Θέλει Να Γίνει Εκατομμυριούχος 百萬富翁 Weekend Miljonairs Кто хочет стать миллионером?
Facebook users will lose geographic networks but gain the ability to decide with every post which friends get to see it.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Facebook is getting rid of its geographic networks for users
Founder says the networks weren't useful, some have millions of members
Facebook is adding new privacy features, including the ability to select who can see every post
The changes drew responses from more than 18,000 people in just a few hours
(CNN) -- Facebook users will soon lose the ability to join a network of friends who live in the same area but will gain the widely desired ability to control who sees every piece of information they post.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, in an open letter to users that appeared on the site Wednesday morning, said the social networking site has outgrown the usefulness of regional networks.
"[A]s Facebook has grown, some of these regional networks now have millions of members and we've concluded that this is no longer the best way for you to control your privacy,"he said in the letter.
Almost half of all Facebook users are members of at least one regional network, according to Zuckerberg. Users can specify that some of their posts on the site only go to specific networks.
Other networks like high schools, colleges and places of employment will not be affected by the change.
In place of the geography networks, Facebook will be creating what it calls a simpler network for privacy controls.
The highlight will be the option of deciding which Facebook friends see updates, photos or other posts at the time they're posted -- "something many of you have asked for,"Zuckerberg said.
"In addition, we'll also be fulfilling a request made by many of you to make the privacy-settings page simpler by combining some settings," he said.
The letter said that, in the next couple of weeks, Facebook's roughly 350 million users will be asked to review and update their privacy settings. A message on the site will explain the changes and take users to the page where they can update the settings, Zuckerberg said.
In the several hours after Zuckerberg's letter was posted, more than 18,000 users had posted replies to it. Most of the feedback appeared positive.
"Great idea!!" one user wrote.
"Privacy is seriously important on Facebook, I got about 800 friends that come from different groups of people and places. Thanks."
Others took the opportunity to write about a persistent pet issue for some users -- the desire for a "dislike" button to criticize other people's posts.
Facebook has made no statements about whether that potentially drama-inducing feature will ever be added.
Accused ... Ronnie Wood arrives home
after release
Ronnie 'choked lover in street'
ROLLING Stone Ronnie Wood was arrested amid claims that he "choked" his young Russian lover during a violent street bust-up.
Together ... Ronnie Wood and Ekaterina Ivanova
Ken Goff
The guitarist, 62, was said to have dragged 20-year-old Ekaterina Ivanova by the scruff of her neck in the 30-minute row.
He was held on suspicion of assault but freed yesterday on policebail pending further inquiries.
Wood had threatened to stub out a cigarette in his Russian lover's FACE as they argued in the street, it was claimed last night.
Police arrested the wrinkly Rolling Stones legend after witnesses claimed they saw him "choking" waif-like waitress Ekaterina while dragging her screaming along a pavement.
Petite ... waif-like Ekaterina
Doug Seeburg/NI Syndication
Last night it was claimed he only halted the alleged assault after a man heard "gurgling" sounds and shouted at him to stop.
Cops are investigating claims the guitarist hovered drunkenly over the terrified beauty with his cigarette inches from her face during a 30-minute fracas.
Ekaterina - said to have been dragged 20ft by the collar of her blouse and jacket - suffered knee injuries near the pair's Surrey home on Wednesday night. Her tights had been ripped.
Witness Celine Dixon said: "We heard a woman screaming, then saw a man pinning her to the ground.
"He was shouting at her then we heard choking sounds so my boyfriend rushed out to help. When he got outside he saw it was Ronnie and Ekaterina."
Dazed
Wood - whose band's hits include Street Fighting Man - is said to have walked away, leaving dazed Ekaterina crying in a shop doorway when challenged by Celine's boyfriend Phillip Legge.
She was helped to Phillip and Celine's nearby home and quizzed by police.
Break-up ... star's estranged missus Jo Wood
Officers then drove her to the £5million pad she shares with Wood in Claygate, Surrey, and arrested him on suspicion of assault.
The alcoholic rock idol - worth an estimated £70million - spent a night sobering up in a grim cell at Staines Police Station.
He was driven home in a BMW limousine yesterday after being put on police bail pending further inquiries.
He has not yet been charged with any offences.
A police source said: "Ekaterina was very distressed and had cuts on her knees from where it seems she'd been dragged along the street.
"But she was insistent she didn't want police involved or to press charges.
"Despite her refusal, witnesses allege this was a potentially serious assault and he may face charges in any case once the evidence is assessed.
"We're looking at allegations that at one point he had her by the scruff of the neck and her collar was so tight she seemed to be choking."
Witnesses said the bust-up came after the pair met at their favourite Indian restaurant.
One local said: "There was an awful racket."
It is the second time in recent months police have been called to an argument between dad-of-four Wood and Ekaterina - at the centre of his break-up from wife Jo in July of last year.
Sunbathing beauty ... but 'distressed' Ekaterina is said to have suffered cuts during street bust-up with rock idol
In September, the star was thought to have dumped the young beauty after a furious row outside a £5million North London mansion.
It was said she threatened to commit suicide during that row over his plans to have dinner with estranged Jo, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing.
Wood and Ekaterina kissed and made up days later and had seemed happy in their new Claygate home.
But pals say the blonde has become increasingly jealous of her craggy-faced lover's continuing closeness to Jo, 54, and their family.
A spokesman for Wood confirmed his arrest, but said: "We have no further statement at this time." Police said a man was arrested in connection with a "domestic incident".
My story begins well over 25 years ago, back to the day when I heard Dr. Demento play an excerpt of a 45 called "I'm Surfing" by George W. Husak. This was during an segment on some of the worst records in his collection. I was intrigued, and was quite glad when, several years later, the good doctor played the record in its entirety, prefacing it with the following (edited) comments:
"If you asked me, 'what is the worst musical performance that was ever actually released on a 45…a record that somebody actually expected somebody to go out and buy‘, this might well be my choice. It’s from some time in the early to mid ‘60’s, and it came out on a label based in San Francisco. The perpetrator of this truly incredible performance is one George W. Husak."
Here is that record, from that episode of the show. It unfortunately contains a couple of turkey sound effects, which were being employed that week, in honor of "Musical Turkeys". I do have a clean version of it somewhere, but have been unable to track it down.
For the last two decades, I've been looking for a copy of this record, a search that was helped, in recent years, by correspondence with Dr. Demento, to whom I am eternally grateful (not just for his help, but for 35 years of radio entertainment). Earlier this year, my searching paid off, to a degree I never would have hoped for. I found an ALBUM by George Husak, in which he shares billing with his brother Anton (curiously, despite the shared credit and shared cover pictures, it's titled "George's Album", anyway).
The album contains twelve songs, three written by George, four by Anton, and five covers, including songs by Hank Williams and Bob Wills. There's even a version of "I'm Surfing", different than the one on the 45 I'd been tracking down all these years. It's not as completely unhinged and radically bad as the 45, but it does feature - like most of the tracks on the album - a barely competent guitarist who is way too overly fond of descending scale riffs, and basically uninspired vocal and instrumental performances all around.
The notes on the back of the album are sort of vague about who is singing when, but I am sure that Anton is the performer on tracks seven and eight, based on the text on the front cover. I've identified George as the singer on the rest of the tracks, but could easily be wrong. I will say this: the most amazing moment - nothing short of astonishing, in my opinion, comes during a crucial spot in one of the two songs I've identified as featuring a vocal from Anton. I'll let you discover the song and the moment on your own - to describe it would be to ruin it.
But I also find this entire album amazing, and a very rewarding end to a search of more than 20 years.