Tag: facebook

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Facebook socialgraph

Mark Cathcart

Yesterday the menu bar on my browser facebook page changed. I realized I’d been given access to their new SocialGraph feature but didn’t immediately realize the power of it. I tried it out a few times, did some obvious searches and went back to work. Then late yesterday evening I came back to it, tried a few more things out and then suddenly, it was 3:05 a.m. The power of this is truly awesome. With power comes responsibility, in this case the responsibility lies with facebook users. Remember, when you are not paying for something, YOU are the product. So, … Continue reading Facebook socialgraph

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Free and Freedoms aka the Instagram drift

Mark Cathcart

Update 12/18 7:15pm: Instragram explains. I don’t think it will change my view, we’ll see. For context, from the late 1970’s until, well probably 2002 I spent a considerable time arguing for free software. Free as in rights, not as in beer, as early as 1985 I had a letter in Computer Weekly on the topic. Over the last few years, the explosion of free “as in beer” software has been staggering, everything from Facebook, and the google empire. Increasingly the amount of advertising is making the apps unusable, and their claims of ownership over your personal information, and the content that you create … Continue reading Free and Freedoms aka the Instagram drift

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On facebook?

Mark Cathcart

This was too good(according to me) to leave as a facebook update. I read this article and got carried away posting an update to tell my friends to read it. Finally, someone sums up in words what I couldn’t about Facebook. It’s doomed because its a cr#p marketing platform, mostly filled with people who “like” stuff they’d never buy, or Like stuff they’ve already bought. We are treated like morons, facebook keeps jamming more and more advertising down our throats to feed the never ending failure of anyone with any sense to see they get no return for their money. Facebook as a website is OK, … Continue reading On facebook?

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Fiscal fairness, take the money and run

Mark Cathcart

Early this month I posted this entry on “fiscal fairness” about paying taxes. This week two items have come up that show why the tax avoidance situation has become unsustainable here in the US and in the UK. First up in the US in the story that Facebook founding backer Eduardo Saverin’s renunciation of his U.S. citizenship. It really doesn’t matter what he says, Eduardo benefit from the system in place here in the US, and now he is about to get billions of US$ from the Facebook IPO, On advice of counsel, he’s established residency in Singapore, where there is no capital-gains tax. … Continue reading Fiscal fairness, take the money and run