With Google, GOOG, trying to extend its lead in advertising by placing spots on radio, television and in papers, Microsoft, MSFT, owner of MSN, is playing catch up in the business of making money from advertisers.   Its online advertising sales were merely $462 million in the fourth quarter of 2006,... read more

Sometimes I think I’m the only one who has this as one of her pet peeves. Not a major one, mind you, and not one that’s on my mind daily, but when I come across it, it drives me crazy. I first started noticing riddles back in my Catholic grade school, when we’d have religious class. We would... read more

IAC/InterActiveCorp, IACI, is a combination of some sixty-five or so mostly internet brands that was put together by Barry Diller, the chief executive and in a previous incarnation a television network chief. The stock closed yesterday at $38.64.   Because many of its brand components are familiar to... read more

The Motley Fool, http://www.fool.com, is a first rate web site offering financial news and advice primarily about the stock market and they use their ability to publish timely articles to make money through advertising, newsletter and other subscriptions, discussion boards and other financial services... read more

I thought it was time to write a piece in praise of my fellow writers and this site, which is a first class opportunity, at least for me and probably some of my colleagues, to showcase our writing skills.   This site is run by a nice fellow who uses the moniker “Jeeplaw.” He is a lawyer... read more

MySpace, in a period of a few short years, has become somewhat of a pop culture icon.  Begun by a few friends interested in networking with other friends, it has grown to a site with millions of users, and many consider it an integral part of their daily lives.      Friend or foe: MySpace in the... read more

Howdy, folks! Just a quick post to let you know I’m back to the world of Ars Compendium - after a 4 month absense!  I can’t wait to get busy posting again - I have so much to share that I barely know where to get started!  First up will be a piece on MySpace - reactionary in nature, because... read more

Feature length movie companies eventually left the two reel companies in the financial dust and even absorbed what was left of many of them meaning that the new companies which are in essence the forebears of what are now called Paramount, Fox, Universal and Warners, plus a few others including one that... read more

“Will you read for me?” If you own a tarot deck, if your friends know that you read, if you’ve let slip that you even own a book on the subject, chances are that you’ve been asked that question. Most people view the tarot as a tool for divination. I’m being nice here - if... read more

An abbreviated review of the history of movie business in comparison and as a parallel paradigm to some competing information technologies can provide insight into the transition that major media are now undergoing.   We can start with Thomas Edison, the inventor of and an investor in motion pictures,... read more