On the same day we discussed the growing interest among screenwriters in self-produced digital content, Will Ferrel's Funny or Die announced that its premier clip The Landlord had been viewed 50 million times. But before writers fully commit to this wonderful new world outside the studio system, they may want [...]

Sometimes reading online product reviews can be a real time sink. There are so many opinions out there—from CNet to Amazon to blogs. It can take a long time and a lot of sifting to figure out what people really think. But now there is another way. If you want [...]

Bloggers scrutinize Russia's delivery of nuclear fuel to Iran and Saudi King Abdullah's decision to pardon a rape victim sentenced to 200 lashes for being in public with a man who wasn't a relative. They also weigh in on researchers who collect their data on social networking sites like Facebook.[more [...]

The new Facebook application for the Rhapsody music service shows some of the advantages of integrating powerful applications into Facebook's environment.[...]

With the TV upfront in doubt given the strike, where does the frequently floated notion of an online ad version stand? Mediaweek suggests that advertisers—particularly those pharmaceuticals, autos, travel, retail and packaged goods—are increasingly clamoring for a marketplace to negotiate buys for online inventory in advance. The article's takeaway: although [...]

Another funding for another vertical social net ... Goodreads, a site for people to share what books they're reading, has raised an unspecified angel round. Backers include James Currier (founder of Ooga and Tickle.com), Michael Birch (Bebo), Chris Michael (Military.com), Mike Jones (Userplane), Stan Chudnovsky (Ooga, Tickle) and True Ventures. [...]