Unicast Introduces Screen-Filling Online Ad

This is a combo grr-eye roller. I mean, seriously, they think this measure can't be defeated? They think that the advertisers aren't going to get DDOS'd? At the very least, I can't imagine such ads creating anything except bad word-of-mouth. Doesn't this violate the DMCA in some way? Oh, wait, I forgot. The DMCA's not for people, silly wabbit.

Heck, I'd support a counter-ad against the advertisers that takes over their screens and flashes up a big sign saying “You are an Asshole!”

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Hush Technologies Mini-ITX PC

A silent PC. There are couple others making similar efforts (like the M-100), but this one looks like a winner. VIA c3 CPU, 256Mb Ram, 80G, combo DVD/CDRW … and entirely passively cooled. It's got a big aluminum case that is basically a gigantic heatsink.

I applaud this and all other efforts to create a silent PC. It's crazy how much noise these things make… and I sure could use something silent for the future centerpiece of my studio

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Violent Games - Now illegal if you're under 17

This is a combo Grr… blog.

First, I need to start making some shirts that read “I buy games for minors” (anyone else here old enough to remember those assmunches of the PMRC?

Secondly, we need to storm the halls of justice and start waiving that little thing called the First Amendment around. Maybe with a little sticker on the back that says “parental responsibility.” And another sticker that says “objective scientific evidence.” And another that says “cowardly, overreaching, paternalistic, legislatures need to get their heads out of their asses and start working on improving our economy, or in other words, start caring about shit that matters.”

Buncha ijits we got here in WA. Now, I'm not condoning violent games, even though they're a shitload more fun than Tetris, but this whole “shelter the children from the realities of the world” crap has got to end. Life sucks, is unfair, and the world is hard, uncaring, and individuals don't mean jack squat in the overall picture. Deal with it.

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George Walker Hoover

Moneybox makes some interesting statements about taxes and jobs… oh, and that duhbya may be the first president since Hoover to preside over a decrease in the job pool.

Great, now I've got the song from Annie stuck in my head.

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AAC v. Ogg v. MP3 Format Analysis

Objective analysis/comparison of the different file formats.

… told you OGG 0wnZ 4ll!

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Wi-Fi Comes To The Office Phone

Ah, VOIP will be the end of the long distance carriers … unless they get their agenda pushed through congress/FCC. The times, they are a' interesting.

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The Dirty Little Secret of (Pop) Music

Way to be 6 years behind the times, instapundit. Autotuning touches everything in country, everything in pop, heck even rock now. Everything, everything, everything.

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Sign the Anti-Software Patents Petition

Again, call your rep, but every little bit helps. Software patents are freakin ridiculous.

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Sign the Anti-DMCA Petition!

Calling your local rep is better/more efficacious, but it can't hurt. That DMCA is one shit ass piece of legislation with more damaging long-term effects than probably even the “patriot act.”

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The Digital Speech Project

This is largely anti-DMCA and anti-Super State DMCAs currently, but covers a vast swath of ground. Stay aware, y'all.

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Debate about war with Iraq takes to the streets

heh. Check out the rightmost sign in the picture.

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Some Assmunch Violating Cool F/OSS Software

Sure, he's fully compliant with the GPL's letter (presuming the source code is included with the CDs he sells). Apparently, he's been doing this for a long time.

Now, selling is fine, but he's violating the spirit of the GPL, he's tortiously interfering with Sun, the GIMP project, and Audacity's business relations, and blatantly violating their trademarks with his “rebranding” of the software. That's not just an inexcusable breach of human etiquette or a tragedy of the commons, that's actionable.

Excuse me while I go volunteer my pro bono services to these groups.

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Majest Gold on Linux

Yay. We need more games, faster. Maybe not so much on the FPS side, though.

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US Dept of Laughs

A parody of the ridiculous fearmongering of the dept. of “homeland” security. Probably inspired by Pahlaniuk.

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A Bully Can be Stopped

It's from Tim Robbins' speech. Go, go first amendment. Lots of good, rational words there.

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