:: theMediaman journal ::

Baidu and You (but not the GOOD you) :: Tuesday, December 27, 2005 ::

What started off as an admittingly shallow search into a news story about Janet Jackson and the popular web searches for 2005, concluded in some upsetting (yet not wholy unpredictable) discoveries.

In this article are outlined some of the fastest growing sites on the Internet. Among the top three is Baidu, the "Chinese Google". Literally meaning "a hundred degrees" (or 'searches') and referring to an old poem about a pretty lady, I was more intregued by exactly how much the Chinese government had limited the stream of information. I've been disturbed in the past year by Google, Yahoo! and MSN all agreeing to filter results queried by computers in China, limiting the flow of information. The modern synonym for 'Free Speech', Blogger, has also been largely banned.

With full access to Baidu.com, I decided to do some searches to see if all this talk about limited content was true.

Well, most of my searches DID come back with results (but not all... more on that later). However, the links provided were decidedly skewwed. For example:

The predictable first search was for the phrase, "Freedom of Speech". The first link was to an essay on how Freedom of Speech is not entirely "Free", even in the United States of America. The second link is to "Freedom of Speech - Liquid Tension Experiment". Freedom of Speech is first, not entirely free. Second, it's a song. The next few links actually seem to directly address defending those who have been incarcarated for expressing their views against the Chinese Government, including this. However, the links quickly devolve once again into lyrics to Ice-T's "Freedom of Speech" and a far-left pundit's trashing of the American presidency.

And speaking of the American presidency... what would we get for searching for "George Bush"? The first link is an appropriate one (yet lacking in description, due to a WhiteHouse.gov redirection), pointing to georgewbush.org. The second link is a single joke about how dumb Bush, Cheney and Colin Powell are. Admittingly, the first anti-Bush site on Google is only five links in. However, I'm starting to see a trend.

A search for the Dali Lama brings up, in order, a personal web site hosted on MSN Spaces and referencing a fake paining by Salvidor Dali called "Dali Llama" (the first correct spelling of 'Lama' doesn't appear within the first 2/3rd's of the page). The second most relevant result is relating the Dali Lama (one instance of the words "Dali Lama" on the page) to the Avalokitesvara. Information after that is not really wrong, but incomplete. There's never a link in the first three pages that actually gives any detail on the Dali Lama. There is, however, a link to an online store selling "Dude! Where's My Car?".

The first link to "Tiananmen Square" describes a metaphor for the Chinese loss of identity as Colonial Saunders faces down Chairman Mao from a KFC nearby. Only the last link on the first page will take the viewer to a largly unintelligible whine and vague reference to the massacre in Tiananmen Square.

Links following a search for Japan were surprisingly civil. Both relevant and respectible. Perhaps the most accurate search from the short list of words I predicted would cause some stir.

What if I'm wrong and Baidu isn't really screwing with the results? What if, instead of providing preferred results, it's simply a really bad search engine, despite its popularity? Kind of the retarded cousin of search engines.

With that thought, I wanted to compare my choices of search terms with options the People's Republic of China might prefer, like Mao Zedong (the current leader). The first link was to a list of quotes by the man. Then an accurate one-page essay, then a link to a book you can buy about him.

Following the Google method, a search for Communism returned a Wiki-style definition of the word. However, the surprising link on the page was one titled "Re: Communism is the great evil of this world". Initially shocked, the link pointed to a page which posted an absurd graphic from a 1930's pamphlet published during the USA/Russia Cold War. The interpretation intended, I would assume, to be how over-the-top Communist critics can be.

Up to this point, the first two links on any search tend to be targetted very specifically. From the third link on, there may be obvious, missing pages (like anything with detail about the Dali Lama), but they are largely of varied opinions. My best guess would be that, for chosen words, the first two links are chosen manually, and the rest are free searches... with certain, detailed sites withdrawn from the database.

Finally, the most interesting link I came across was for the predictably controvercial "Falun Gong", or rather, the lack of links. There are none. A literal translation of the page doesn't quite help me understand what the page is saying, so if you can let me know, please do. From what I can gleen, it's saying that there are simply no results to return.

:: Stephen 2:16 PM [+] ::

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Steven Harper (intentionally misspelled in order to distance his name from my own), has brought such new heights to the technique of hypocracy that I propose respelling the word, "Harpocracy".

His latest diatribe is about the Liberal aide who claimed that people will waste the Conservative $1200 for childcare on "beer and popcorn". First, to address the Liberal aide, I admit he's stupid. You don't go on record saying that... and beer and popcorn taste horrible together.

Secondly, the $1200 is simply a way for the rich to get funding for their own private child-care. The issue for me isn't even about the lower-class.

Finally, the Conservative/Alliance/Reform party is not without it's own, relatively recent verbal flubs... ones that far outweigh the comments of Scott Reid.

"Canadian students can't get into some of our university programs in Vancouver and Victoria... what I like to call the Asian Invasion. (then chuckles)".
- Betty Granger

"You can't scalp me because I haven't got much hair on top of my head."
- Brian Fitzpatrick to Aboriginal protesters.

"The Japs were Bastards"
- Steven Fletcher (intentionally misspelled), who grew up with a very anti-Japanese mentality because his grandfather was a Japanese POW.

And finally, not because he was Provincial Conservative instead of Federal Conservative (because they still have a lot of the same associations), but because this list is simply too long, I'm not even going to mention any of Mike Harris's derogatory remarks to the lower class.

:: Stephen 1:35 PM [+] ::

Comments:

The $1200 a year for daycare translates to just $100 a month. Carmina looked into registered day care in the GTA and it looks like it cost about $800 for 2 weeks. Since we have twins that would be about $1600 for 2 weeks or $3200 a month. $200 is not going to be a big help for us. If we find a grandma that does home care they usually charge $30 a day per child. We might be able to get a group discout but if we don't it would be $1200 a month. It's a lot better but still the $200 is too small. So what I would say to Mr. Harper is "Screw the popcorn, I need the beer to numb the pain of paying for daycare and $200 would do just fine." :).

Actually we would use the money to buy formula for the kids if they still need it. A can of formula is $25 and they last about 3-4 days at our house.

# posted by Syl. : 8:39 AM

 

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In a distinctly Hwan-like way, I'm just posting scattered memories of a dream I had last night. One consequence of my seven-snooze-button wakeups every morning is that I usually forget most of my dreams, or at least many of the details. I probably remember this one because it was so amusing (or perhaps, disturbing?).

I was particularly proud of being a shining example of my ethics - practising what I preach. I can't remember what the example was, but I do remember that I was high and mighty, both figuratively and literally. As I looked down, I saw some dumpy guy trying to get me to give up my moral stance. At first I said no, but then he offered me a portable video player...

...and shortly after that the dream ended. I can't remember if I took it, but I can remember that I was very torn, and that I didn't refuse it before the dream ended.

The player was black and shaped like a Palm TX, but was Archos branded. Archos first released portable video players years ago, so I have that brand as a synonym for PVPs in my head (obviously).

But I guess the point of the dream is, if you buy me a video player as a gift, I'll probably do anything...

AN-Y-THING.

:: Stephen 1:18 PM [+] ::

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I had to post this... Viagra-spam is going 'iPod'.

:: Stephen 9:14 AM [+] ::

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Goblin King Harper




Goblin King Bowie

:: Stephen 12:14 PM [+] ::

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I swear I created this term six years ago.

http://pixelfucking.com/

I created it after reading an editor for Titanic describe James Cameron as a "Frame Fucker", choosing the exact frame on which to cut in and out.

I created "Pixelfucking" to describe the point at which the effort and time invested is not proportional to the significance of work done...

Generally characterized as the nitpicking designers do to make sure every pixel is aligned in a mockup, taking more time than designing the mockup itself.

While this is one definition, I find that the designer is rarely the one blowing hours and hours of production time into making something 'nearly' complete into 'nearly-er' complete.

</rant>

Sorry, I didn't mean it to sound like I'm upset with whoever claimed the domain. No doubt he is a designer, has gone through the same trials, and is therefore my brother in war.

It's the pixelfuckers I'm upset with.

:: Stephen 11:35 AM [+] ::

Comments:

...but when the time comes that that pixelfucking is called for, trust me. Its worth it. :P

# posted by si_mi : 11:57 AM

 

Pixel fucking is NEVER worth it. Otherwise, it's just cleaning up your work.

# posted by Stephen : 1:40 PM

 

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Just finished the most difficult stretch of schoolwork I've had in about seven or eight years.

I had the Master Scene Treatment for my Screen Writing course due last Tuesday, followed by the fourth assignment in my Digital Film Production class, where I was editing together an exciting (read: many, many edits) car driving scene. As I approached the finish line last week I found that my time, shared with 40 hours of work per week, would only allow me to fully complete one project on time. One teacher didn't allow assignments to be handed in late, the other did. So I completed the Master Scene script on time, and stayed work on the video to after the script was completed.

Then class was cancelled.

I was 'granted' an extra week to work on my script, but it also meant that the extrodinary lack of sleep that I had endured for the last week would be followed by another week of the same deprivation. By my count, I've been averaging 3.5 - 4 hours of sleep per night excluding Friday and Saturday nights (when I slept in) for the last week and a half. As I said before, it's different when I'm working a full-time job than when I was only doing school. Back then, homework ate into drinking time and that's it. Now it eats into what little free time (and sleeping time) I have during the week.

So the second of both assignments was handed in last night. I'm quite happy with both, but was so tired my body hurt. Every joint was creaking and I'm worried about when I start going back to working out next week after a two-week haitis. I'm sure I couldn't have made it this week if I wasn't as fit as I am now.

The remaining assignment I have to complete for this term is for the Digital Film Production class. We have to make a documentary, around 7-9 minutes in length, and incorporate some other genre. That seems to scream to me, "Dramatic Re-enactment", as I imagine it does to several of my classmates.

Searching for another option, I'm thinking of doing something "Discovery Channel"-esque. I've watched enough Daily Planet to get the hang of the 'style', and I've always held on to my fascination of Astrophysics in anticipation of the day when it can be applied intelligently. What I'm hoping to do is address some currently relevant topic and use animation to illustrate some of the prinicples.

While it's eight years old, the "Accelerating Universe" topic is one that's still not commonly known among laymen. Even in the further-abridged "A Briefer History Of Time" published in 1999, the topic of an accelerating universe is addressed in no more than a few paragraphs. I'm not married to the topic since I'd like it to be something more current. The problem is that most frequently discussed topics in Physics revolve around Quantum Physics.

There's little chance that I'll cover Quantum Physics. While I was once interested in strong and weak nuclear forces, I currently believe that all Quantum Physics is incorrect. While I'm largely alone in this conclusion, I have yet to be challenged by anyone who knows for certain that I'm wrong.

For now, I've got two weeks to make something cable-channel worthy!

:: Stephen 11:51 AM [+] ::

Comments:

You're getting 3-4 hours sleep a day? Boy do I envy you. I on average get about 2 hours sleep and I don't get to sleep in anymore. On top of that my sleep is divided into 30-45 minutes chunks while one baby sleeps and the other wakes up crying very loudly. I have no free time unless you count the time between the bottle feeding at night. If I didn't have a 30 minute nap during my car pool I don't think that I would be able to work at all anymore.

Reading your comments on Astorphysics and Quantum mechanics reminds me of 2 quotes from my University of Waterloo days. The first is from Paul Weston my Astrophysics professor that was in the same class as Stephen Hawkings "Stephen Hawkings, what did he really do?" The second is from my Quantum Physics professor who's name escapes me "People read 'A Brief History of time' and 'Black Holes and Baby Universe' by Stephen Hawkings and then say 'Ah, I now undertand all that there is about Quantum Mechanics.' How is that possible since we [ppl that are doing the resurche] don't understand it."

Good times.

# posted by Syl. : 3:50 PM

 

The colour pink makes a coat warmer. Discuss.

# posted by si_mi : 8:53 AM

 

You can't really say quantum physics is wrong, because that's like saying algebra is wrong -- quantum mechanics is just a formalism to calculate subatomic behaviour. Most theoretical physicists actually believe QP and GR will be replaced by something better eventually.

And I was just at La Senza after closing (Dawn works there) and pink does make me feel warmer, somehow.

# posted by Reg : 11:03 PM

 

Does God Play Dice?

So if you do start an astrophysics documentary, i'd love to get a sneak preview!

# posted by Reg again : 11:12 PM

 

Is there any part that my twins could play in your documentary? They are so cute that I always want to take pictures and videos of them even when they are doing the same thing everyday.

Your documentary might be the big break they need to be the next Mary Kate and Asheley. :)

# posted by Sylvain : 9:09 AM

 

No, but I plan to use your kids in twenty years or so as The Twins in my Matrix: Reloaded remake

# posted by Stephen : 1:43 PM

 

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