Saturday, June 27, 2009 | Reason : Physics and Chemistry | print version

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Atheist Media Blog : Gates Buys Feynman's Messenger Lectures to Become Freely Available for Public

Atheist Media Blog

Thanks toDavid for the link.
http://www.atheistmedia.com/2009/06/bill-gates-buys-feynmans-messenger.html

Bill Gates recently bought the rights to a series of lectures by legendary Caltech physicist Richard Feynman. The former Microsoft head’s purchase shows that the cultural and scientific legacy of Feynman remains strong even 21 years after his death.

The lectures, given in 1964 as part of Cornell University’s Messenger Lecture Series, were filmed by the BBC, who had retained the rights since. Gates purchased the lectures for an undisclosed amount.

But what would the former Microsoft head want with the copyright to lectures by the revered physicist? In a recent interview with the CERN Bulletin, Gates said that his only plan is to make the footage freely available to the public.

Add to that Gates’ reverence for Feynman, and it makes sense. The lectures are only the latest addition to Gates’ personal collection of Feynman-related material, which includes original manuscripts of some of Feynman’s best known work.

...
Continue reading and to playlist
http://www.atheistmedia.com/2009/06/bill-gates-buys-feynmans-messenger.html

Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2009 | Permalink

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1. Comment #391667 by j.mills on June 27, 2009 at 3:51 pm

Harrumph. Much as I am obliged to despise Gates for getting rich off monopolising the market with his crappy software and outsourcing stress onto billions of users, he is doing decent stuff with his ill-gotten gains these days. Although you'd think the BBC could have made this footage publicly available themselves...

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2. Comment #391668 by Rodger T on June 27, 2009 at 4:09 pm

outsourcing stress onto billions of users

L o l , I saw the light a year ago and bought a mac.
Computer induced rage dropped away overnight,now its only my own failings at computer tech that leave me nonplussed.
I`m just waiting for the vid to download ,here in nz broadband is really only a quick dailup sometimes.

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3. Comment #391669 by NewEnglandBob on June 27, 2009 at 4:29 pm

Although you'd think the BBC could have made this footage publicly available themselves...

Why should they? They DID get someone to pay them for them.

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4. Comment #391670 by mordacious1 on June 27, 2009 at 4:32 pm

Gates should have just bought the BBC, then we could watch their online videos with getting that annoying "you can't watch this if you're not in the UK" crap. I'm glad he did this, looking forward to the lectures.

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5. Comment #391672 by j.mills on June 27, 2009 at 4:47 pm

Heh! If Gates bought the BBC, you'd suddenly find that the online videos didn't work ANYWHERE!

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6. Comment #391675 by Steve Zara on June 27, 2009 at 4:57 pm

Comment #391667 by j.mills

I agree. I use Linux and Solaris almost exclusively these days. I feel somewhat tainted having to praise anything Gates does, but this is admirable.

Having said, that, I have recently been watching some online lectures by Feynman, and I have not been that impressed.

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7. Comment #391676 by silent mike on June 27, 2009 at 5:14 pm

"Feynman wants to know the truth and a lot of people just want to be right"

I don't know where i ear this, but it tells a lot about his personality. And it's something to consider when you are debating something...

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8. Comment #391677 by silent mike on June 27, 2009 at 5:18 pm

6. Comment #391675 by Steve Zara
Having said, that, I have recently been watching some online lectures by Feynman, and I have not been that impressed."

I've found this very impressive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKTSaezB4p8&feature=related

haha

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9. Comment #391681 by Born Again Atheist on June 27, 2009 at 5:43 pm

As an Atheist I'm use to being in the minority. However, in the case of Gates and PC's vs Mac's I have to side with the 90 percent plus majority. Kudos to Bill Gates and Windows.

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10. Comment #391682 by clarencex on June 27, 2009 at 5:45 pm

So where are these freely available lectures freely available?

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11. Comment #391691 by j.mills on June 27, 2009 at 6:02 pm

Born Again Atheist said:

However, in the case of Gates and PC's vs Mac's I have to side with the 90 percent plus majority.

Most of the 90% aren't 'voting', they're buying the default: they're not familiar with the options and they're locked in to the prevalent technology. But in any case, Gates didn't invent PCs, just the most common (because most aggressively marketed) operating system and application suite. I'm writing this on a PC on which every piece of software is free, and it gives me almost zero trouble. Microsoft is the opposite on both counts.

Anyway: now back to your scheduled topic.

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12. Comment #391694 by Sam Slater on June 27, 2009 at 6:18 pm

"Gates should have just bought the BBC, then we could watch their online videos with getting that annoying "you can't watch this if you're not in the UK" crap."

That's because if you're in the UK and own a TV (or any other hardware that is capable of playing tv footage) then you are forced, by law, to pay a licence fee (£142.50 pa). That means all footage the BBC creates has been funded by the UK public. It would be a little unfair on the British public to force them to fund something that the rest of the world will get for free.

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13. Comment #391695 by Demotruk on June 27, 2009 at 6:21 pm

Microsoft and Windows have their advantages. I know Apple are much better at serving the end consumer's issues, but Microsoft treat developer's issues better than Apple do. That makes Windows better for me and what I use my PC for, though I absolutely understand that what I value in an operating system differs from what other people may value.

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14. Comment #391696 by Neuro on June 27, 2009 at 6:21 pm

It irritates me to know that MAC made this "MAC vs. PC" nonsense.

A MAC is a PC! A Personal Computer!

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15. Comment #391702 by RightWingAtheist on June 27, 2009 at 6:56 pm

Mac and Windows both suck in their own ways. Hardly anyone uses all features of their operating system, and there are users who go either direction and claim to have found an improvement.

However, someone did finally find one thing that PC users seem to be able to do much better than Mac users:
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=macs_cant

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16. Comment #391703 by silent mike on June 27, 2009 at 6:59 pm

There's nothing else but Windows and Bill gates is it's prophet.

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17. Comment #391705 by j.mills on June 27, 2009 at 7:10 pm

Neuro, the term 'PC' is not generic, it indicates a specific set of standards, within which a huge range of variant models made by many manufacturers and amateurs are possible. A Mac is a personal computer, but it's not a Personal Computer(TM)!

And PCs can run a variety of operating systems, not just Windows. The alternatives to Microsoft are not only Macs but PCs.

Sam Slater said:

That's because if you're in the UK and own a TV (or any other hardware that is capable of playing tv footage) then you are forced, by law, to pay a licence fee (£142.50 pa).

Just to be picky, it's hardware that is:

installed or used for the purpose of receiving (whether by means of wireless telegraphy or otherwise) any television programme service... where that programme is received at the same time (or virtually the same time) as it is received by members of the public by virtue of its being broadcast or distributed as part of that service.

So someone who has no telly and watches stuff on iPlayer after it's been broadcast (and I'm thinking here of, ooh, me) doesn't need to pay. :)

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18. Comment #391709 by j.mills on June 27, 2009 at 7:33 pm

To return to topic, just for a change: anyone else think Feynman sounds like Brain out of Top Cat?

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19. Comment #391710 by Steve Zara on June 27, 2009 at 7:39 pm

Comment #391709 by j.mills

No, but I think there is a resemblance to Jeremy Clarkson out of Top Gear.

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20. Comment #391711 by mbannonb on June 27, 2009 at 7:58 pm

I can't help but feel like Feynman's bullshitting.

By that I mean, it seems like he could be a lot clearer, but isn't because he's bullshitting.

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21. Comment #391715 by critica on June 27, 2009 at 9:57 pm

Feynman has one of the best analogies to explain how science works. Check it out here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqp3KXDu9qE

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22. Comment #391716 by critica on June 27, 2009 at 10:03 pm

Also, what separates Feynman from most of the scientists of his time was not only what he knew, and the fact that he found out so much of it for himself, but how he knew it. He was a relentless experimenter and imaginer, and while he brooked no nonsense in science he brought a wonderfully fresh perspective and a laser-like focus to what he did. He was a rare person and a rare scientist.

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23. Comment #391718 by robotaholic on June 27, 2009 at 10:35 pm

I love Feynman on the bongos...oh and of course there is that whole contribution to quantum electrodynamics... :)

I have to say I love windows & hate macs. (just to be counted as one of the 90 percent)

I think it is admirable that Bill Gates created the largest transparently operated charitable foundation in the world. Right clicking with the mouse is pretty good too-

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24. Comment #391720 by Gamma ut on June 27, 2009 at 11:47 pm

I don't see why we have to hate on Feynman, he was a brilliant scientist and a brilliant educator. I've learned important things about how to think and learn from his writings and lectures, and I am looking forward very much to watching more footage from one of my intellectual heroes! Also, how many other physicists can also list on their vitae "professional ballet composer" !!

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25. Comment #391722 by epeeist on June 27, 2009 at 11:58 pm

Comment #391670 by mordacious1:

Gates should have just bought the BBC, then we could watch their online videos with getting that annoying "you can't watch this if you're not in the UK" crap. I'm glad he did this, looking forward to the lectures.

Instead of the restriction by country I am expecting a paper clip to appear and say "You can't watch this using your current Internet software", and then an exhortation to install Internet Exploder and Windows Media Player. Even if I could do this (I run Linux rather than Windows) I would expect to have to refuse watching it because of the Digital Rights Management I would have to sign up for.

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26. Comment #391730 by memeweaver on June 28, 2009 at 2:27 am

There seems to be a lot of irrational hate statements here based more on fantasy than actuality.

One should point out that Gates' money is made from the public investment in his shares and not from company profits or salary. His salary is/was one of the lowest for a CEO in his industry. That he has turned that around into one of the largest philanthropic foundations in modern times ( uniquely amongst all of his multimillionaire/billionaire associates in rival companies) speaks volumes

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27. Comment #391731 by epeeist on June 28, 2009 at 2:34 am

Comment #391730 by memeweaver:

There seems to be a lot of irrational hate statements here based more on fantasy than actuality.

Irrational? I refer the honourable gentleman to the Halloween documents - http://catb.org/~esr/halloween/

MS is a seriously nasty organisation.

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28. Comment #391735 by memeweaver on June 28, 2009 at 3:18 am

'MS is a seriously nasty organisation.'

Your tarring of tribes is almost biblical in its lack of focus. I guess you are also personally responsible for every action of your class, country, sex and race.

I suppose many here have forgotten that RD's chair in the public understanding of science came (via Simony) from the same source as Gates' funds (the stock market).

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29. Comment #391738 by cafeeine on June 28, 2009 at 3:29 am

While I find myself squarely on the side of the MS bashers on the facts in this issue, I weary of the MS hate brought up even on issues that barely relate to computing. This isn't the place and time to discuss MS's dubious business practices, nor to extol the virtues of Macs or Linux, nor to declare Windows' supremacy on the desktop market.

I would much rather read about Feynman.

My apologies in advance for this content-free whine.

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30. Comment #391739 by Friend Giskard on June 28, 2009 at 3:50 am

Apparently the BBC did not own the rights to these lectures. According to the chap who put up a torrent of them somewhere on the internets (I'm not allowed to tell you where cos it's illegal),

"...the company that bought the rights to these tapes from the BBC sells them for more than most people make in a year."

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31. Comment #391744 by Bitterman on June 28, 2009 at 4:47 am

Just to say I'm typing this on an Imac (in windows mode, bootcamp) and that I'm grateful for the existence of the computer, whatever the OS

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32. Comment #391768 by Sam Slater on June 28, 2009 at 6:34 am

So someone who has no telly and watches stuff on iPlayer after it's been broadcast (and I'm thinking here of, ooh, me) doesn't need to pay. :)

Thank you for the more detailed info. However, I don't think that changes my view in any way about the British public being forced, by law, to fund content which will then be available free to an international audience.

How could you explain to a British family on minimum wage that they have to pay £142.50 a year to even own hardware that's capable of receiving a TV signal, yet everyone else in the world, who don't contribute anything, can sit and put their feet up and enjoy the programmes for free?

Personally, I'd be happy if BBC content was available to people in developing nations where footage like Feynman's lectures are very hard to come by; I don't think many people would have an issue about something that's clearly helping people less well off, but if you think anyone in more prosperous nations should have free access to another's public services from the luxury of thier living-rooms then I'd find it hard to see the fairness in that.

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33. Comment #391816 by mordacious1 on June 28, 2009 at 10:21 am

You guys do realize that americans also pay for viewing TV. Taxes help support PBS (not as much as in the past). Also we pay for cable shows through satelite/cable charges. As far as I know, you can go on USA network (and others) and watch their shows for free online. You may have to watch some ads for products that may not be sold in the UK, but when I purchase Charmin there is a bit of the price that allows you to watch a show for free.

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34. Comment #391821 by Lastandfirstmen on June 28, 2009 at 10:36 am

Hope we can focus more on Richard Feynman. There are already quite a few gems available on youtube. Here's a little snippet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhD0MxacnIE&feature=related

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35. Comment #391828 by mordacious1 on June 28, 2009 at 11:15 am

"Hope we can focus more on Richard Feynman."

At least my derail did not spur 4 pages on women's body parts. :)

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36. Comment #391868 by lackofgravitas on June 28, 2009 at 12:59 pm

I could watch Feynman talk all day, and read his books all night. Only one of four people I've known, heard of, or read who qualify as genius. Micheal Jackson wasn't one of them.

As a side-issue, y'all know why the Apple logo is an apple with a bite out of it don't you?

Nothing to do with Apple or IBM compatible (clone) PCs. It's computing, stupid. And it's becoming open source on a monumental scale, and most importantly, nearly free for all.

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37. Comment #391937 by Border Collie on June 28, 2009 at 6:11 pm

A couple of years ago, when I became aware of him, I added Richard Dawkins to my list of intellectual heroes. Richard Feynman has been on my list a very long time. Hard to believe that he's been gone twenty one years. Good for Bill Gates, regardless of what I think about leopards or windows. I feel that any and every lecture, interview, talk, discussion, etc., by intellects like Feynman, that are available for us and others to see, can be nothing but good for the world.

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38. Comment #391969 by black wolf on June 28, 2009 at 10:08 pm

Just a short one on the marginal topic of tv fees, because it annoys me. Currently there's a law in Germany that obliges every owner of a computer to pay the broadcasting fee, if they have no other equipment already registered. Period. No question if the computer is equipped to receive tv or radio, no question if the user does or intends to use the pc that way at all. They just demand the money. Somehow they think it's ok to presume everyone will do so, so why not make everyone pay without asking. I wonder why they're not making everyone pay church tax yet - after all anyone could enter a church and listen to a sermon at any time, right?
Oh I forgot, they are already giving some of my tax money to the churches whenever the believer's money isn't enough. Which is just about all the time.

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39. Comment #392150 by RightWingAtheist on June 29, 2009 at 10:47 am

Sam Slater:

142 British dollary-things sounds like a lot, but TVs and PCs are not free over here either.

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40. Comment #392176 by bamafreethinker on June 29, 2009 at 12:57 pm

I watched the entire lecture by following the link below the video ...very captivating speaker! Thanks Mr Gates!

I love my XP and Vista machines,, but I would would switch OS's tomorrow if something better came along that would run all the aps/games I like.

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41. Comment #392220 by Paul Grant on June 29, 2009 at 3:43 pm

Richard Feynman was considered so significant that before his death the BBC made two one hour "Horizon" documentaries about him.

Much of the documentary is in interview form giving a fascinating insight of the man along with interviews with other luminaries in obvious awe of his intellect.

Try searching YouTube for "Richard Feynman horizon".

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42. Comment #392223 by Steve Zara on June 29, 2009 at 3:54 pm

Comment #392220 by Paul Grant

Feynman was certainly a genius, and one of the most important physicists of the past century, perhaps second only to Einstein. I would thoroughly recommend searching YouTube, even just for "Richard Feynman". There are real gems.

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43. Comment #392262 by AfraidToDie on June 29, 2009 at 5:36 pm

I'm up thru video 4, and enjoyed how he brought out how the confidence in the theory of gravity helped derive the calculation of the speed of light (discrepency in rotation of Jupiter's moons). For his day, I think he also displayed a good sense of humor and technique to keep his material somewhat interesting, such as how some theorized that the planets maintained their orbit of the sun by fairies.

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44. Comment #392415 by AfraidToDie on June 30, 2009 at 7:18 am

Video#5 at about 5:59 while starting to discuss the potential usage of gravitational pull:

..predict planet positions, which has great utility for astrologers to publish their predictions and horoscopes in the magazines. That's the strange world we live in that all of the advances and understanding are used only to continue the nonsense which has existed for 2,000 years (followed by much laughter)

Was he referring to Christianity or astrology, or both? I have enjoyed this lecture immensely; thanks for posting it!

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45. Comment #392825 by PERSON on July 1, 2009 at 5:54 pm

There're also the QED lectures which are worth watching. There are some problems with the sound equipment in one of the lectures, but it doesn't detract too much.

Good for Bill, I guess. He didn't have to make them publicly available. (And he didn't: see update)

Richard Feynman's one of those people you keep finding out interesting things about. I didn't know he had a sister who was a professional scientist in the 1940s until just now.

UPDATE: Gates' motivations become clearer: the videos have been pulled from YouTube, and they are only available in SilverLight, Microsoft's latest attempt to take over the world wide web by side-stepping consensual standards.

As for WHG pulling himself up: his dad did, via the GI bill ("socialism" for ex-soldiers) and presumably hard work from 1950 to 1964 to earn a partnership in a law firm. He wasn't rich (not in the way Gates is) but he wasn't exactly living in a log cabin when he had lil Bill.

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46. Comment #393192 by popecorkyxxiv on July 3, 2009 at 3:00 pm

Alot of people dislike Gates for his hijacking of the IT market but personally I commend him for it. Unlike most other business assh0l3s Gates wasn't born with a cent of his fortune, he earned it all so I give him koodo's for that. Plus he's an atheist (automatic bonus points), and he runs one of the largest secular charities on Earth. Regardless of his business practices the man has done alot of good for the world.

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47. Comment #393387 by bluebird on July 4, 2009 at 7:47 pm