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The Interactive Advertising Bureau says it has recruited 12 new members, all internet heavy hitters. Chief among the ranks of the newcomers are leading search site Google and auction site eBay. Other new members include CondeNet.com, Economist.com, WashingtonPost.com and its Newsweek Interactive subsidiary, CFO.com, AtomShockwave, Electronic Arts, eZula, MyPoints, FindWhat and Meredith Interactive Media. With the new additions, the IAB members account for more than 70 percent of all internet advertising revenue. IAB leadership expresses optimism at the addition of the new members, suggesting that it will help the industry band together as it recovers from the advertising slump.
Wait, no, vandalism to Israeli sites isn’t up
Just as in the real-life conflict, truth is hard to come by when it comes to reports of defacement of sites based in Israel. Contradicting a report from London-based security concern Mi2G from earlier in the week, Alldas.org, which tracks site defacements, contends that electronic vandalism hits on Israeli sites have actually decreased in 2002. The group reports that 18 destinations ending in "dot.il" were disrupted in the first quarter of 2002, down from the 38 Israeli sites defaced in fourth-quarter 2001. Media group ElectronicIntifada.net spokesman Ali Abunimah asserts that what vandalism there is has been committed by a small group of malcontents and that most Palestinians are not concerned with limiting Israel's voice but of trumpeting their country's. ElectronicIntifada.net has acted as a routing point for many Palestinian sites that have gone down due "shoot-to-kill curfews, no electricity thanks to Israeli military cut-offs of the power, and other severe obstacles," says Abunimah, according to Newsbytes.
U.S. DSL growth lags rest of the world
DSL growth isn't afire in the U.S., at least compared to DSL adoption rates in the rest of the world, particularly Europe and Asia, concludes the DSL Worldwide Retail Directory. U.S. growth is being hampered by the fact that the sector is controlled almost entirely by the Baby Bells, and instead of fostering competition, the Baby Bells have driven upstart DSL providers out of business. U.S. DSL growth is also slower because the government has done little to boost its spread, unlike governments in other countries. In the U.S. there are an average of 1.6 DSL lines for every 100 people, compared to 11 lines per 100 people in South Korea. In Hong Kong there are 4.8 per 100 people, and in Taiwan there are 5.5 lines per 100 people. DSL penetration in the U.S. increased by 78 percent last year, but it remains far behind growth and penetration in those and other countries.
Online life for 'Lord of the Rings' extra
Web geeks and fantasy fiends have a seemingly limitless capacity for creating fan fiction and such. That propensity has led online "Lord of the Rings" fans to make up a new character that doesn't exist in any of the Tolkein books, breathing life into a nameless figure that appears onscreen once, during the council of Elrond scene. The handsome, mysterious elf, played by actor Bret McKenzie, has no lines and the camera never closes in on him. His fans have named his character Figwit, an acronym for "Frodo is great, who is that?" Figwit fans have set up a web site speculating on the elf's identity. Is he elf warrior Legolas' lover, his enemy or completely unrelated? The web site, titled Figwit Lives, has proved to be so popular that heavy traffic has pushed it off-line at times. According to reports, McKenzie says he finds the attention flattering, albeit odd.
Lining up for 'Attack of the Clones,' web-style
Summer movies, particularly those in the “Star Wars” series, are known for attracting long lines well in advance of opening day, with fans literally camping out for tickets and a spot in the queue. But the internet is making for a generation of smarter fans, particularly if they plan to see the upcoming second installment in the Star Wars saga, “Attack of the Clones” in a famous venue. Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood has set up a web site for managing the throngs at LiningUp.net. The site features helpful tidbits such as ticket availability, rules, “camping” facilities and a countdown clock, plus a liability waiver and rules of conduct. People were allowed to begin queuing up about two weeks ago. The movie opens May 16, and the site will be the clearinghouse of information for the Chinese Theater line through then.
April 19, 2002 © 2002 Media Life
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