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Sci-Fi Books Media

Squeak Group Buys Ship Naming Rights in Gaiman Novel 104

Posted by CowboyNeal from the your-name-here dept.
nadyne writes "Recently, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund ran an auction for the naming rights for a cruise ship in Neil Gaiman's upcoming novel Anansi Boys. Today, Neil Gaiman reported in a post to his blog that Markus Gaelli won this auction. According to Neil, Markus will use his hard-won auction to promote Squeak. He didn't tell us what the name of the cruise ship will be, but promised to do so in the future. Neil linked to Squeakland, although it's not clear whether Markus is associated with that site or Neil was just using it as a convenient starting point for his readers who might not know anything about Squeak."
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Squeak Group Buys Ship Naming Rights in Gaiman Novel More

Squeak Group Buys Ship Naming Rights in Gaiman Novel

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  • ...under the load of the /.'ing it is getting.

  • well (Score:1, Redundant)

    by Sv-Manowar ( 772313 )
    Squeakland.org seems to be slashdotted already for me. Anyone got a mirror, or is it just on my end ?

  • at least you know... (Score:4, Funny)

    by pres ( 34668 ) * on Saturday April 02, 2005 @02:19PM (#12120523)
    At least you know that there isn't some subtle meaning behind the ship name that you think you don't quite get as you read ;)

  • It's not dead?

    What?

    • Re:Squeak as in Smalltalk Squeak? (Score:5, Informative)

      by PissingInTheWind ( 573929 ) on Saturday April 02, 2005 @02:24PM (#12120547)
      Smalltalk dead? Riiight.

      Seriously, people don't know what they're missing. Quick example: one of the most advanced web application development framework around is coded under Squeak in Smalltalk: Seaside [seaside.st].

      And people right now are wetting themselves over "Ruby on Rails", while this isn't even comparable in term of flexibility and power.

      Pity the masses who ignore advanced programming languages technology.
      • I must say as someone who used to work in smalltalk and has now extensive knowlidge of ruby, I would not underestimate ruby on rails .
        Smalltalk is great and squeak is very intresting and powerfull , though the development time with ruby and its comparitive speed is of far more intrest, the same can be said for ruby on rails ,,It really is wonderfull.
        i shall take a look at squeak as i do have very fond memorys of smalltalk , however i am becoming a strong proponent of ruby day on day so it will take alot to
      • In one sense this marketing strategy has already worked -- I have read Neil Gaiman and now have tried to follow the link (initially more interested in Gaiman references that programming tools). Though squeak.org is slashdotted, your link to seaside.st is not, and the tutorial references www.sqeak.org. While I'm not a web designer for a living, I find myself doing a fair amount of HTML, CGI, and Perl work. I will have to check this out in more detail latter. So the gambit has already gotten them a possi
    • Squeak hasn't been close to dying since it's inception. If the squeak-dev list traffic is any indication, a lot of growth has happened in the last year...

    • It's not dead?

      Apparently not.

      However, I seized upon Squeak as a way to try out Smalltalk, because I thought it might be a way to finally shift myself into the OO paradigm. (I'm an old-school procedural programmer, and OO design has never clicked for me).

      What I found was very impressive and satisfying -- I loved the way you could manipulate objects interactively and watch them update live in the GUI.

      But, the available online tutorials peter out at a very, very basic level. You need to shell out real m
    • I think that Croquet [opencroquet.org] will be a huge shot in the arm for Squeak. I have played with it about 6 months ago, but Croquet has inspired me to order The White Book and the OpenGL programming guide, to really dig into Squeak in April. Can't wait.

  • Here is what the site says (Score:5, Informative)

    by Nexboy ( 868907 ) on Saturday April 02, 2005 @02:21PM (#12120534) Homepage
    It doesn't help much, but this is what the site says it's about:

    WHAT IS SQUEAK? Squeak is a "media authoring tool"-- software that you can download to your computer and then use to create your own media or share and play with others. It is free and downloadable here. If you'd like to get a feel for what Squeak looks like without downloading, view a typical early project for kids in HTML (no download needed). Once you download Squeak you can use the Squeak Tutorials and download the handy Etoys Quickstart Guide.Further information can be found in the Squeak FAQ.

    • Re:Here is what the site says (Score:5, Informative)

      by RevAaron ( 125240 ) <revaaron AT hotmail DOT com> on Saturday April 02, 2005 @02:51PM (#12120651) Homepage
      Squeak has come up here a few times before. Squeak is an implementation of the Smalltalk programming language- the first fully OO language. It's where the WIMP (windows, icons, menus and pointers) GUI was invented, what Steve Jobs and his crew saw at Xerox Parc when they toured it.

      Squeak has a lot of interesting media authoring capabilities in addition to the core language. In a lot of ways it's an OS running on top of whatever host OS you're running. It is completely binary compatible across platforms; not write once, debug anywhere like Java, but true cross platform compatibility with your binaries.

      It runs on oodles of platforms: Linux/X11, Linux/DirectFB, Linux/SDL, Linux/SVGAlib, most any unix with X11, Mac OS X, Mac OS Classic, Windows XP/2k/ME/98/95, Acorn RiscOS, DOS, Pocket PC 2k/2k2/WM2003, WinCE 2.11-4.2, and probably a few more platforms I completely forgot. I develop for the Pocket PC in Squeak; I simply copy my image to my Axim via wifi and open it up- there's never any doubt as to whether or not it'll run ala Java.

      Also see Squeak.org [squeak.org] and the Squeak Swiki [gatech.edu].

      • Re:Here is what the site says (Score:2, Interesting)

        by Anonymous Coward
        the Smalltalk programming language- the first fully OO language

        As has been pointed out, nobody agrees on exactly what set of features [paulgraham.com] constitutes "object-oriented". "OO zealots will choose some subset of this menu by whim and then use it to try to convince you that you are a loser."

        Even Peter Norvig (author of a couple great Lisp books) says "Depending on your definition, CLOS [Common Lisp Object System] is or is not object-oriented".

        Personally, I'd argue that Lisp was there first. But a Lisp/Smalltal
        • As has been pointed out, nobody agrees on exactly what set of features constitutes "object-oriented". "OO zealots will choose some subset of this menu by whim and then use it to try to convince you that you are a loser."

          You can claim that, and in modern use it may be true. But the term "object oriented" was invented by Alan Kay to describe the programming model of Smalltalk. It wasn't used for Simula, which was the first language which was OO, not until Alan Kay coined the term. The far more elegant re
          • You think GNOME/KDE think about shipping a product for a user?

            Yes, they absolutely do. For proof, I point you to their debates few months ago about what the users want in their DE vs what the developers feel like putting in.

            Analogous debates have never happened for Squeak, because it has no users.
    • Every once and a while some nitwit grabs onto that name and launches something. Look what happened back in 1999. [wired.com]

      Back on target, I don't like the trend even thought this is for a good cause. Product placement in books and comics may be a bad thing.

  • Is he legally obliged to do this whatever (Score:3, Interesting)

    by FidelCatsro ( 861135 ) <fidelcatsro&gmail,com> on Saturday April 02, 2005 @02:22PM (#12120538) Journal
    Ok this is quite unlikely , though what hapens if a troll decideds to waste his money on this and he ends up having a ship named the "USS fart-bonk-poo-sh*t-F*ck".
    I mean that could really break the illusion and harm sales.? did the aucthion have any rules to prevent this

    • Re:Is he legally obliged to do this whatever (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 02, 2005 @02:26PM (#12120558)
      If you read Neil's blog, you could have found this:

      A question on the Anansi Boys cruise ship auction - are you going to be keeping veto power over the name? As in, if someone wins and goes for the "USS Fucko Bazoo" will it be that way forevermore? Not that I'll be doing so, it's already past my meager means. Just curious since the eBay description offered no such restrictions and I thought you might want to spell that out for the benefit of potential bidders before it's over. C. A. Bridges

      (Hmm. The auction's only been up for 5 hours and it's already over $1,000. Good lord.)

      I think we can burn that bridge when we come to it. I suppose it's remotely possible that there may be some millionaire with Tourette's Syndrome who reads my books and supports the first amendment and desperately wants to call the ship the er, Fucko Bazoo (a phrase that currently has 215 google listings, I was just surprised to learn) enough to outbid all comers, just as it's remotely possible that someone at Miramax or Lamy Pens or TeaDirect Tea may decide that this is a heaven-sent opportunity for cheap product placement, and it'll suddenly become the USS Latest Lindsay Lohan Movie or the SS TIVO RULES. But I sort of doubt it'll happen like that.

      We have a week to go until we'll all know, anyway.

    • Ok this is quite unlikely , though what hapens if a troll decideds to waste his money on this...

      Two words(or rather one acronym and one partial URL): USS GoldenPalace.com

  • Sold! (Score:4, Funny)

    by Doc Ruby ( 173196 ) on Saturday April 02, 2005 @02:22PM (#12120539) Homepage Journal
    What does it cost to get my promo embedded in the Slashdot front page infotainverts? Is it an auction, or a more "intimate" transaction?

  • How long is it before... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by saskboy ( 600063 ) on Saturday April 02, 2005 @02:24PM (#12120549) Homepage Journal
    Disney starts selling off the naming rights to its cartoons?

    We'll have the GOP fairy in Peter Pan, Captian SCO, and Wendy will be known as Windows.
  • Where will all the advertising stop?

    Boxers with writing on their back for off shore gambling

    McDonalds now offering money to rappers and musicians everytime they mention a McDonalds product

    Baseball parks now without one bare wall. Tear down the Ivy, we need to make room for Bacardi.

    Companies using subliminal advertising

    20 minutes of commercials at the Theater, the place I paid $10 bucks to see a movie, hijacked by angry Jew adverisors. It is enough to make me want to strap on a bomb and blow myself

    • Be like Ghandi (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Scrameustache ( 459504 )
      Where will all the advertising stop?
      McDonalds now offering money to rappers and musicians everytime they mention a McDonalds product

      You know their name.
      You repeat their name, you just did, twice. Anf they didn't even have to pay you: They paid someone you pay attention to, and now you're doing it, for free!

      It will stop where it stops working, not an inch before that point. And if your behaviour is any indication, they've got miles to go.

      Like Lisa and Paul Anka said: "Just don't look! Just don't look!"
      P
    • Back to good old Slashdot after the April 1st fiasco. Smells fresh in here!
    • The difference here being that the intent of selling the name of the ship is not to advertise, but to raise money for the CBLDF, a non-profit and really great organization. And the ship name will not be plastered on every page of the book; Neil mentioned that it appears rarely. There is advertisement involved, but it's not the main point in this case.

  • Wondering... (Score:5, Funny)

    by John Seminal ( 698722 ) on Saturday April 02, 2005 @02:48PM (#12120646) Journal
    Will the day come when the advertising value of something will outweigh the inate value of the object itself? Will this create an unatural bubble economy? For example, we have all seen baseball salaries grow exponentially, from a HUGE deal when a players broke into a million dollars a year, to A-Rod getting $250,000,000 for his contract. I am guessing it is the advertising, and not the fan ticket sales, which is the true source of revenue. If that is true, then advertising could change the game to whatever they want, since they control the pursestrings.

    Likewise, do we want our books to be used to promote products? It would make an unlevel playing field. If book "A" is sponsored by Pepsi because it talks about how good and refreshing a Pepsi is, and Pepsi helps promote it AND pays some fee to the author, how many of the good writiers will want that kind of security. John Girsham must have mentioned Coors beer in A Time to Kill at least 100 times. Whenever it got too stressful, he would have a refreshing Coors and he could solve problems with such clearity. It happened with movies too, when companies started paying money for their products to be used in films.

    I dunno, what kind of society will we have? What can I do if my neighbor decides to paint his house like a big Coca~Cola can?

    • Re:Wondering... (Score:5, Funny)

      by Scrameustache ( 459504 ) on Saturday April 02, 2005 @03:02PM (#12120710) Homepage Journal
      Will this create an unatural bubble economy?
      [...] sponsored by Pepsi
      [...] how good and refreshing a Pepsi is
      [...] Pepsi helps
      [...] promote it
      [...] John Girsham must have mentioned Coors beer in A Time to Kill at least 100 times.
      [...] have a refreshing Coors
      [...] like a big Coca~Cola can?

      Great. I'm thirsty now!
      Thanks a lot, jerk ;-)

    • Re:Wondering... (Score:3, Interesting)

      by xigxag ( 167441 )
      Will the day come when the advertising value of something will outweigh the inate value of the object itself?

      If I understand your question, I'd say such things happen routinely on the internet, with sites like slashdo.org [slashdot.org], and the like.
    • Its not just movies and books... even more this is the direction of music...

      I read something last year that said pop stars in China had basically given up making money from direct sales because of all the piracy. Some relied on concert sales, but others would find a corporate sponsor for their song. Since advertising can just be ripped out, they would right the song about the product. Like if it was a love song, they'd be sure and mention their love of Pepsi. Come think of it, isn't this what Celine Dion

      • Since advertising can just be ripped out, they would right the song about the product. Like if it was a love song, they'd be sure and mention their love of Pepsi.

        Could be a bit awkward, though. I know I'd prefer hearing Whitney Houston singing "I will always love you." over "I will always love Depends" or "I will always love Burton-McClaughley Financial Reinsurance Services a subsidiary of GlobalCo Incorporated no statement shall be taken as an indication of future financial performance".

        Or maybe that wo
    • Likewise, do we want our books to be used to promote products? It would make an unlevel playing field. If book "A" is sponsored by Pepsi because it talks about how good and refreshing a Pepsi is, and Pepsi helps promote it AND pays some fee to the author, how many of the good writiers will want that kind of security. John Girsham must have mentioned Coors beer in A Time to Kill at least 100 times. Whenever it got too stressful, he would have a refreshing Coors and he could solve problems with such clearity.

  • Ok, so is Ebay just a huge advertising firm these days? I mean, is the best way to promote your new book (grilled cheese sandwitch, forehead) really Ebay?

    Are there that many millionaires out there surfing Ebay that they will buy any and all advertising space in the world? It seems to me like more and more often, the way to make a quick buck is to plant your ad on Ebay and watch the cash flow in.

    Are the old methods of getting advertisers (and selling advertisements) just not as effective as Ebay? Will w

  • Golden Palace? (Score:3, Funny)

    by Lord_Dweomer ( 648696 ) on Saturday April 02, 2005 @03:27PM (#12120881) Homepage
    What? No Golden-Palace.com? I'm shocked and even a little bit disappointed.

  • We have paid product placement in movies... And now they are coming to books? WTF?

  • No logo (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Eminence ( 225397 ) <akbrandt@gmail.TEAcom minus caffeine> on Saturday April 02, 2005 @05:24PM (#12121606) Homepage
    It happens that I've been given a copy of Klein's "No Logo [amazon.com]" today so, naturally, I started reading this anti-globalist rant. Quite early in the book Klein writes about the merger of advertising or promotion and the world of art, or, generally culture. As an example she cities movies like Dawson's Creek or music festivals wholly-owned by major beer brands.

    Case of an author selling "name space" in his novels seems to be another bit of evidence supporting Klein's claims. There is something very close to intellectual prostitution in this.

    • Is it just me, or is there a certain delicious irony in the words "No Logo" being a link to Amazon.com in the parent post?
        • Is it just me, or is there a certain delicious irony in the words "No Logo" being a link to Amazon.com in the parent post?

        Yes, there is. As well as Klein's book being published by Randomhouse (and "Yes men" being distributed by Miramax). The problem is, it's hard to escape logos and commerce. I generally think commerce is not bad, Klein dreams of communist "worker cooperatives".

        But - selling novel's "name space" is a bit too far even for me.

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