INQUIRER'S poetic licence is renewed

"Of perhaps more concern is that fact the Federal Aviation Administration has logged 60 such incidents in aircraft or airports since 1991." Perhaps you should print how many flights have been made since 1991 in total ;) that will surely put the number in perspective.

Why do you choose not to put things into perspective? Is it because you just want to create sensation? And scare people? why?

- Antek Baranski

Subject: Don't you dare google, says Google

Hi there,

I just read your news about the spokesGoogle who said that using Google as a verb would have "some serious trademark issues".

So is the German Duden making people break the law when it declares that "googeln" is a verb?

Because that's what it does here:

http://www.duden.de/index_duden_suche.php?14e738ec116dc67ead29e0681407ec639/suche/abstract.php?shortname=felix&artikel_id=1019529

Another thing about it: According to the Duden-website googeln means "Using a search engine to do an Internet research" and not "to use Google"... so when I search with MSN, I'm googling, too :D

Bye,
Nos

Subject: house of commons on china

Are these people unaware of what is going on in the UK? Or is it simply easier to criticise others that are far away..

shaddup

Subject: Eejits

You're the eejit. "Like 'to hoover' before it, 'to google' has become common usage as a verb in the UK. And you'd hardly use it if you used Alta Vista, for example, to run a web search."

That's true for Google today. But look at your example. I hoover with a Miele. What brand of hoover do you use? Write your answer with a biro. I prefer a PaperMate.

The eejitry and some incorrect capitalisation spoilt a useful article.

I don't think missives would have flown over "I Googled that hottie".

RWT

Subject: Virgin Radio fingers the radio star

Dear INQ,

"And that data connexion is provided exclusively by O2 - not Virgin Mobile, which has partnered with Virgin Radio's owners, GCap Media."

FYI Virgin Radio's owners are SMG plc. GCap Media own GWR FM. Unless, of course, something's happened over the weekend!

And yes, we'll have full coverage of the Virgin Mobile V Festival. Our breakfast show is sponsored by Orange, too!

James Cridland, (director of digital media, Virgin Radio)

Subject: Virgin Radio fingers the radio star

Dear INQ,

Fact-checking? Virgin Radio is not and never has been owned by GCap Media. It is owned by Scottish Media Group.

A. Pedant

Tony Dennis replies: Yeah, yeah. I knew that, really. A mere slip of the keyboard. Here's the URL. Happy now?

Subject: slamming yahoo, ms and google

I truly don't appreciate these companies working for totalitarian governments. It's nasty.

However, those in government calling on these companies to "do the right thing" risk bringing upon themselves "doing the right thing" domestically - having companies work against what western governments want when doing wrong. Witness Microsoft and Yahoo rolling over when the US government asked for search records (not to mention what the airlines did). Government doesn't want people with principles around.

Government wants companies that will do what they are told.

blastum

Subject: Don't you dare google, says Google

Perfect example, at least Stateside, is the verb xerox, as in "He xeroxed the report for his boss." Or, "Give me that, I'll xerox it for you."

Although Xerox, the major manufacturer of copying machines, attempted to regain control over the use of the word "Xerox" as a verb, they were denied relief by the U.S. courts, ruling that use of the word to refer to the act of photo-copying by machine had become so widespread that it would be impossible to restrict usage in common language.

Once in a very great while, the courts do uphold a semblance of common sense.

Rich Wargo

Subject: Renewal of your Poetic License enclosed

Hi Mike,

Hard to call it work if you keep hacking away with a smile on your face. It seems like the best of both worlds: A new lease on life, a down payment on Mageezerdom, and as a bonus, you'll never get ticketed for expired poetic license… I'd be holidaymaking too!

So thanks for giving Wendy a forum bigger than Hyde Park Corner, and keeping Charlie in bunny suits, and keeping Fudo traveling to old Muenchen town where he can file stories from near the Chinese Tower am Englischer Garten. It's a nice stable of questionably stable talent.

I was too young to enjoy the 60's, yet recently discovered that the next revolution will not be televised, but will be blogged or podcast or YouTubed or nextbigthinged. Pressing issues of peace and justice are awakening our sleeping giant over here. I'm coordinating a meals program for our local Tent City. Just keep me away from that Wikipedia entry… Sheesh…peaceniks! Back by popular demand. I think you'd like Thom Hartmann. Author, radio host, and extraordinary investigative journalist, Thom is one of our national treasures right now.

As much as I like Ray Kurzweil's vision of techno-utopia, I hear a siren of change. September 11, 2006 is the 100th anniversary of Gandhi's declaration of satyagraha. I'm working on a web project for a local peace group to commemorate both that date and September 21.

And lastly, if you want, ahem, nontraditional interpretations of the current UK panic, Fleet Street has nothing on Wayne Madsen. I wish his stories didn't come true so often, but his sources seem to pan out often as not. A foil hat is a terrible thing to waste. : )

So here's to the next 25 years.

Neal

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