Defenestrated - Why Britain's Great Archives

"Why Britain's Great" archive

BBC Creative Archive is alive! (11:37) - Today the BBC, UK Channel 4, BFI, and Open University launched the Creative Archive Licence Group, which aims to create awareness about the CA license. Using it, organizations like the BBC can make content available for reuse by anyone who... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

No! Not our sitcoms!! (14:07) - The BBC is reporting on a deal it's struck with the producer of "The Cosby Show" and "3rd Rock From The Sun" to develop sitcoms. I sincerely hope this doesn't lead to an Americanization of British situation comedy. After all,... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Not Apathetic (07:16) - Not Apathetic is a site where UK voters who don't intend to vote can post their reasons for not voting. The site's philosophy is that 40% of the population doesn't vote, and they can't all be apathetic. Interesting idea, founded... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Analysis of Creative Commons in UK (21:29) - This is an excellent article about how the Creative Commons license is taking root and starting to prosper in the friendly and less market-protectionist environs of the UK. It's encouraging to see this kind of innovation being so welcomed and... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

UK TV channel 5 offers program downloads (09:11) - Five is the UK's newest terrestrial channel, known as being very scrappy and trendy-controversial (e.g. showing soft porn after pub hours). But there may be a glimmer of innovation entering their strategy, as they have begun to offer downloads of... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

The Scott Trust (11:43) - One of the things I miss the most about the UK is The Guardian newspaper. It's the one newspaper I could be sure to read front-to-back every day and feel like it was time well spent. As anyone who's read... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Expect blood in the control booth (07:17) - The Beeb has invented a new on-field tracking technology that has much broader applications than just rugby. | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

As if by magic... (12:03) - As if by magic, Mr. Benn is returning to British TV screens after publication of a new book. Another step of regression into childhood awaits... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

"Big, round, and fruity" (10:43) - I just found out about this fantastic beer, The Dog's Bollocks from the Wychwood Brewery. Described as "big, round, and fruity," this is a prime example of my countrymen's sense of humo(u)r.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Relieving debt, building wealth (12:25) - Seen in this light, the UK's debt relief may be as much prudent domestic economics as it is a humanitarian thing to do. If BP et al can now operate in a more stable environment, isn't that good for the UK? | 1 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Ceefax is 30! (22:50) - For 30 years UK TV viewers have had access to an online news service that made it possible to watch TV and read the news at the same time. Ceefax, as it is known uses spare lines on a regular... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Sun+SoftwareAG develop interface to UK authentication gateway (13:45) - Software AG and Sin Microsystems have developed a gateway to the Government Gateway, the centralised registration service for e-Government services in the UK. This service is like the US e-Authentication effort which seems in constant limbo. The companies have effectively... | 123 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

UK considers e-gov cost savings (16:31) - People in the UK should compulsorily use electronic forms to do business with the government, says Sir Peter Gershon, head of the Office of Government Commerce in a new report on public services reform. The Financial Times reports that Sir... | 68 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

The Two Ronnies! (17:02) - One of the best British comedy duos, The Two Ronnies, are making a comeback! The BBC has announced that Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett will be writing new material for a series to be aired next year.... | 142 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

White Teeth wins at TV awards (18:34) - The BBC is reporting that the TV adaptation of Zadie Smith's White Teeth has won several awards at the Monte Carlo Television Festival. I've yet to see the TV series but if it's anything like the book, this is a... | 0 Comments

Why the Beeb is so great (16:57) - The BBC is so impressive because it possesses a reach and versatility that I simply haven't seen anywhere else. And, for that, Britain and Britons should be proud, and the rest of the world (and I hate to even type this, but it's true) should be grateful. | 0 Comments
Great Britain? Yeah, right... (12:59) - So today is July 5, and I'm in America. Last night we went to see the fireworks (viewed from the top floor of a car park; less crowds) and today we're watching the Macy's and Washington Monument displays on TiVo,... | 0 Comments