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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Twitter, telegram and e-mail: Famous first lines


Twitter launched five years ago with the simple message "just setting up my twttr". In the same way, many technological breakthroughs that ultimately shaped the world began life, not with a fanfare of trumpets, but with a few humble words.
"Alright, so here we are in front of the elephants."
And so with great understatement, the first words were uttered on YouTube, in its first video posted in April 2005.
Me at the Zoo depicts co-founder Jawed Karim at San Diego Zoo. And yes, he's in front of the elephants.
Six years, and billions of page views later, YouTube has become part of the media landscape, used by the Queen, world leaders and the owners of pets that do weird things.
If Karim knew back then how big his new venture would become, maybe he would have given that first video more of a sense of occasion. But maybe not. Every new phenomenon has to start somewhere, after all.
And now Twitter's first forays into the 140-character world are being remembered as it marks its fifth birthday. On 21 March 2006, an automated message from founder Jack Dorsey said "just setting up my twttr", then the first human tweet was sent when he typed the two words"inviting co-workers" and hit send.Considering those two tweets led to billions more, it was an underwhelming start, rather like taking the first steps into an exciting new world, but instead of making a grand entrance, slipping in the back door and wiping your feet on the mat.
Older technologies started in similar fashion. Martin Cooper is the man credited with making the world's first call from a truly portable mobile phone, from a New York pavement on 3 April 1973.
Speaking from the US this week, the 82-year-old recalled the moment when, as a 45-year-old research director leading a team at Motorola, he made the historic call using a prototype Dyna-Tac. Although reporters were present, it wasn't recorded.
"I was calling Joel Engel who was my antagonist, my counterpart at AT&T, which at the time was the biggest company in the world. We were a little company in Chicago. They considered us to be a flea on an elephant.
"I said 'Joel, this is Marty. I'm calling you from a cellphone, a real, handheld, portable cellphone.' There was a silence at the other end. I suspect he was grinding his teeth."
The conversation was very brief, says Cooper, now chief executive at ArrayComm. So how much did he agonise over his words? Not a lot, it seems.
"It was spontaneous. I was talking to a reporter trying to think up something clever to say, like I am now, then I did it. It was just that.
Martin CooperA big call on a big phone - Cooper in 1973 and now
"You never know when you do something like that, that it was the momentous occasion which it turned out to be. The issue at the time wasn't about creating a revolution, although that was what happened. It was about stopping At&T."
Above all, he says, he was hoping the call worked. And following that brief exchange of words, a worldwide telecoms industry has since sprung up, along with a vast array of mobile phone technologies that continue to shape how we live.
A hundred years before Cooper made history, Alexander Bell tested his new invention - although many dispute whether he was the first - of the telephone, by ringing his assistant in the next room. "Mr Watson, come here. I want to see you," were his first words.By the time the UK's first trunk telephone call, without the help of an operator, was made in 1958, there was more of an expectation that here was a moment to savour. The Queen began the call by saying: "This is the Queen speaking from Bristol. Good afternoon, Lord Provost."
And 11 years later, Neil Armstrong uttered some of the most famous, and hotly debated, words ever spoken when he took the first human steps on the Moon's surface: "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."
Those words set the benchmark, says speechwriter Max Atkinson, because they have so endured so well. One of the rules of a great line is to invoke a contrast, which Armstrong does beautifully.
But there was probably some input from Nasa about what the first man on the moon was going to say, says Atkinson. Launching an embryonic dotcom is different and it's only with hindsight that we realise the super-successful internet ideas started off with two audiences - those there are at the time and history.

The world's first text message

Sent by Neil Papworth, a 22-year-old engineer at Sema, now Airwide Solutions, from a PC in the US to a Vodafone employee in the UK, in December 1992, it simply read "Merry Christmas".
Airwide's chief technology officer, Terry McCabe, says it was a very low-key moment without fanfare, because many tests had already failed.
"If I was writing it now, I would parody Neil Armstrong and say: 'One short message for a man, one enormous step for mankind'" says McCabe.
Five billion people can now send texts, he says, but back then no phones could send any. It wasn't until texting between networks was possible, and pre-paid phones took off, that texting became popular.
It would be a mistake, he says, to think too much about history. That's why the words expressed at the launch of so many technologies, mundane though they are, should be admired for their refreshing modesty.
The first e-mail is a case in point. Computer engineer Ray Tomlinson is believed to have sent it in 1971, from one computer to another in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The test messages were forgettable, he said. "Most likely the first message was QWERTYUIOP or something similar."
It shows how much the world has changed that expectations when these kinds of projects start out are not set too high, says Paul Armstrong, head of social media at Mindshare, a media agency based in London.
"The world now moves a lot quicker than when the events of 1969 were happening and so although they are monumental as we look back at them, at the time they don't know if they're going to be a success or failure.
"When you're setting something up like that, you don't know yourself where it's going to go, and the success depends on lots of things. For all the ones you hear about it, there are thousands more that don't have the venture capitalist backing."
The founders, some of them household names now, aren't thinking about success and writing something elegant and meaningful, he says.
"They're very much focused on getting something up and running. That's why you're not seeing profound stuff."
So if the destination is all that matters, and not the first tentative steps, perhaps an elephant enclosure is not a bad place to start.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter 'to stand down in 2015


Sepp Blatter says he will step down as Fifa president in 2015, if he is re-elected for a fourth term in June.
The 75-year-old, who has been head of world football's governing body since 1998, is being challenged by Asian confederation chief Mohamed Bin Hammam.
"You know I aspire to another four years," he told a Uefa Congress on Tuesday. "[But] these will be the last years for which I stand as candidate."
The new president will be elected at a Fifa Congress, which starts on 31 May.
With Bin Hammam vowing to increase Fifa's decision-making powerand spread its considerable wealth, Blatter is facing his first challenge since Issa Hayatou took him on - and lost - in 2002.
Bin Hammam is also currently attending the Congress for European football's governing body, Uefa, as the candidates lobby federation presidents for their vote on 1 June in Zurich.
DAVID BOND'S BLOG
Uefa's 53 member countries represent more than a quarter of the 208 Fifa voters that Blatter and Bin Hammam will attempt to woo.
"This is a significant announcement," said the BBC's Sports Editor, David Bond, from Paris.
"It's the first time Blatter has said this in this campaign for [the next] presidential candidacy.
"Clearly it's a message to Uefa president Michel Platini, who would like to take over from Blatter in 2015. Platini is crucial to both candidates.
"This might just help swing Platini's support behind Blatter."
Bin Hammam has said he would be interested in cutting a deal with Platini to oust Blatter, but is likely to want eight years in office.
The winner needs a two-thirds majority of valid votes cast in the first ballot, or a majority in the second.
Click to play
Bin Hammam to stand against Blatter
Fifa has set a deadline of 1 April for other candidates to be nominated by a single member federation.
"We are in extra-time," said Blatter, referring to the time left before the election. "Let's wait and see what the outcome will be."
Blatter came under fire following Fifa's December vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, when allegations of corruption in the bidding process led to two executive committee members being suspended.
While Bin Hammam insists Fifa is not corrupt, he has promised greater transparency if he wins.
Blatter, meanwhile, believes that football's main challenges in the coming years will be to preserve the identity of clubs, and to fight against illegal betting and doping.
"Football is corrupted by all little devils which exist in the world," he said.
"Don't forget that football is a game and that when one is playing, he always tries to cheat a little bit. Together we have the task of bringing together the adventure we have started.
"We want to ensure a better future for our youth."

Cricket World Cup: India win sets up Australia showdown


India set up a World Cup quarter-final against holders Australia with a 80-run victory over West Indies, who will face Pakistan in the knockout stages.
West Indies paceman Ravi Rampaul took 5-51 on his World Cup debut including the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar for two.
Yuvraj Singh, who was dropped twice, hit 113 and shared a third wicket stand of 122 with Virat Kohli (59) before India collapsed from 218-3 to 268.
Devon Smith hit 81 but West Indies lost eight wickets for 34 to finish on 188.
The game was effectively a dead rubber with India having already guaranteed their safe passage into the knockout stages, while West Indies knew that unless they were beaten heavily, they too would also qualify.
The real story was whether Tendulkar would score his 49th one-day century to add to the 51 Test tons he has amassed and thus reach the magical figure of 100 international centuries.
He received a standing ovation while taking guard from 40,000 expectant fans in Chennai and when the 37-year-old tucked his first ball off his legs for two, he was afforded a reception normally reserved for a centurion.
However, the deafening cheers turned to deafening silence three balls later when he feathered a seaming Rampaul delivery to Devon Thomas behind the stumps.
Umpire Steve Davis did not give Tendulkar out but the opener had sportingly turned away and begun to walk back to the dressing room at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Sachin Tendulkar walks off as Ravi Rampaul celebrates
Tendulkar walked to gift Rampaul his first World Cup wicket
The excitement soon returned to the stands though as Gautam Gambhir swatted four boundaries in his 22 but he chased one ball too many and thick-edged a wide Rampaul delivery straight down the throat of Andre Russell at third man to leave India 51-2.
The home side would have been in deeper trouble had new batsman Yuvraj not been dropped soon after by Darren Sammy at backward point when on nine.
The Windies captain then failed to hold a rising catch off his own bowling in the next over. His lapses proved costly, as Yuvraj smashed Sammy back over his head for six to bring up the Indian 100, before plundering two boundaries off the previously effective leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo to record his fourth half-century of the tournament.
Kohli was an able foil for Yuvraj's more aggressive approach and the pair kept the scoreboard ticking over before the former had a wild swipe at a straight one from Rampaul and was bowled for 59, although the Indians were well set at 173-3.
A clearly fatigued Yuvraj continued to push on and reached his first World Cup century with a single but his celebration was somewhat muted in comparison to the jubilation among the crowd.
Their joy was short-lived though as Mahendra Singh Dhoni (22) was beaten by a beautifully flighted delivery from Bishoo, who deserved a wicket in his final over, and Thomas whipped off the bails.
The stumping of Dhoni sparked another India collapse, not quite as severe as the 9-29 they suffered against South Africa, but the loss of seven wickets for 50 runs in eight overs will be of concern to the joint hosts of the World Cup.
We really have to tighten up and tighten up very quickly 
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy
Yuvraj's innings was finally ended on 113 when he tamely chipped a return catch to Kieron Pollard while Rampaul removed Yusuf Pathan and Zaheer Khan with full straight deliveries to complete his five-wicket haul either side of Pollard injuring his finger while taking an excellent diving catch to dismiss Harbhajan Singh.
The West Indies reply got off to a bizarre start when umpire Simon Taufel elected to not refer a run-out decision involving Kirk Edwards.
Television replays showed Edwards was several inches short of his ground when Pathan's throw dislodged the bails but a well-placed Taufel gave a not-out call and by not going to the third umpire he handed the opener an unlikely reprieve.
The debutant immediately took advantage of his good fortune, launching Harbhajan down the ground for six but his eventful stay at the crease was ended in the next over, trapped leg before by Ravichandran Ashwin for 17.
Darren Bravo holed out at long-on, hitting a short Raina delivery straight to Harbhajan at deep mid-on to depart for 22, but Devon Smith steadied the innings, reaching his 50 and taking West Indies past 100 against some distinctly unthreatening bowling.
Devon Smith is bowled by Zaheer Khan
Smith's dismissal sparked a staggering collapse of 8-34
Left-arm seamer Zaheer bowled just two of the first 30 overs but he made an immediate impact on his return, bowling Smith for 81 to awaken the diminishing crowd and spark an amazing capitulation.
"The game really changed once Zaheer gave us the breakthrough, until then Devon was batting really well," said Indian skipper Dhoni.
In the next over, Harbhajan tempted new batsman Pollard with a floated delivery and the all-rounder dispatched the ball straight into the hands of Pathan on the long-on boundary.
Dhoni atoned for his own dismissal by stumping opposite number Thomas (2) off the bowling of Yuvraj and when Sammy was run out for two by Suresh Raina having backed up too far, West Indies had slumped from the relatively comfortable position of 154-2, to 162-6.
That became 165-7 when Andre Russell guided a wide Yuvraj delivery straight to Pathan at gully without scoring and when Ramnaresh Sarwan, who had been helplessly watching the mayhem from the other end, was caught for 39 in the deep by Ashwin off Zaheer, who ended up with 3-26, their resistance was effectively ended.
"We lost eight wickets for 30 odd runs so that is a concern but we are in the knockout stage right now so we really have to tighten up and tighten up very quickly," admitted Sammy.
"We are coming to face Pakistan and we have to bring our A game."

Cricket World Cup: England 'do not fear Sri Lanka'


England batting coach Graham Gooch says Andrew Strauss's team will not fear playing Sri Lanka in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
England reached the knockout stages after a series of stuttering performances while Sri Lanka will be playing at home in Colombo.
"Sri Lanka in their own country are a top team with world-class players and lots of experience," said Gooch.
"But England won't fear them, they'll look forward to competing with them."
Gooch, who played in and lost three World Cup finals in three different decades, added: "That's one of the beauties of the game - you look forward to those challenges, to coming up against those players.
I hope this team have got it within them to win the World Cup - I'm convinced they have 
Graham Gooch
"England are not worried about winning or losing. What they're worried about and should be concentrating on is getting their own game right, playing the game they want to play.
"If they do that, they'll have a good chance of winning that quarter-final."
Sri Lanka expect star off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who will retire at the end of the tournament, to shrug off a hamstring injury and be fit to take on England.
And he is joined in a formidable-looking team by captain Kumar Sangakkara and fellow batsmen Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene, while more spin and pace will be provided respectively by Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga.
But while Gooch admitted England, who flew to Colombo on Monday, needed to show dramatic improvement from their patchy form in the group stage, he was confident they were capable of doing so.
And he said it was England's spirit that had impressed him most during a nerve-shredding group phase where they tied with India and beat South Africa yet lost to both Ireland and Bangladesh.
They also came back from the brink of defeat against the West Indiesin a match they had to win to reach the last eight.
"They've come through this first stage of the competition, shown their fighting qualities and their resilience," said Gooch.

"We're not looking back, not worried about our past performances, concerned with what's happened in those previous matches.
"We know we can improve, we know we've got better cricket within our team. Our guys need to concentrate on that.
"I hope this team have got it within them to win the World Cup - I'm convinced they have."

Japan's Nikkei rises as fears of nuclear meltdown ease


Stock markets clawed back some of their recent losses, with Japan's benchmark index of leading shares jumping 4.4%.
Other Asian stock markets also rose in relief that progress is being made in containing radiation leaks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
The oil price eased back, with Brent crude down 14 cents at $114.82 a barrel, but is still near recent highs.
Stock markets were also buoyed by news that Japanese carmakers may restart production this week.
The earthquake and tsunami has halted operations raising concerns about profits at the companies being hit.
There were initial hopes that Toyota and Honda would restart production on Tuesday, though this has now been delayed, possibly until the end of the week.

Start Quote

The Japan situation seems to be getting under control and it is a case for rebuilding now”
Martin AngelPatersons Securities
Shares in Nissan Motors rose by 1% after the company said it had started production at six of its factories on Monday.
After a 1.5% rise in shares on Wall Street, stock markets in Europe were predicted to open slightly higher, continuing Monday's "relief rally".
But analysts said that, even if the situation in Japan was showing progress, an escalation of the conflict in Libya could send markets into retreat again.
'Under control'
Japanese stocks fell sharply in the wake of the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami.
The fall was due to the massive loss to the economy and the uncertainty about the prospect of a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Analysts say, as authorities get closer to containing radiation leaks, the markets are calming down.
"People are getting a bit more relaxed," said Martin Angel of Patersons Securities.
"The Japan situation seems to be getting under control and it is a case for rebuilding now," he added.