News Roundup 7/26/2013

EDUCATION:

College appears to be in a kind of peak, which should affect colleges. The for-profits (which seem to be the worst deals) look to be taking a hit as well. Let’s see how/if colleges adjust to this reality.

http://gawker.com/the-college-boom-has-peaked-921579798

MEDIA:

Sharknado is getting a theater release. No, really. As for what this says . . . well, yeah. No I’m not sure, but I’m sure someone will try and imitate this success and fail.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sharknado-theaters-aug-2-594051

TECHNOLOGY:

Google has shown another Living Room device – a kind of meeting system. It looks like the living room really is the site of the next big battle. Be ready for it – if you’re in any form of IT it’s going to affect you.

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/07/25/google-has-showed-another-living-room-device-sources/

Is Microsoft on a long, slow decline? Is it getting irrelevant? Here’s some numbers to think about. Also consider this in light of the Google announcement and the XBox One – is the living room a must-enter market for them? Keep this in mind if you work in technology, a Microsoft decline is going to change the landscape.

http://ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2013/7/20/the-irrelevance-of-microsoft

UK Prime Minister David Cameron thinks he can have a hackhaton to create a porn filter, missing many, many points. Note however that the “hackathon” idea is now in the heads of reactionary panderers.

http://boingboing.net/2013/07/26/no-mr-cameron-you-cant-sol.html

Also Mr. Cameron’s dream filter would censor plenty of other things: http://torrentfreak.com/uk-porn-filter-will-censor-other-content-too-isps-reveal-130726/

Video Games

One game developer gives up on the industry. Food for thought?

http://gamasutra.com/blogs/HaroldLi/20130725/196924/My_Game_Design_Exit_Interview.php

– Steven