i can't stop watchin' it

This 15 year old girl took too much of an over the counter drug. She saw funny colors. Almost went into a coma. Was taken to the hospital and put on the news. Her response if someone else asks her to do it again:

"And I'd be like, No, I almost died from that.''

Eff supports Gator, People purposely download spyware, and other weird stuff

People are suing Gator because they say gator puts popups "on their sites." This really isn't the case. The popup is on the user's machine and is under the user's control. Site's should have not say in this but that's what they're fighting for. Eff says what I do, webmasters can't prevent people from downloading apps to give them ads if that's what they want.

Another issue altogether is the way Gator acts like a virus and installs on people that DO NOT want it. Someone should sue them for that. But I have to say Gator is in the right on this one. The article.

Eff = teh win. Gator = teh lose (except for this case). Whiney webmasters = teh suck.

Surprise! More RIAA suits

Eff mentioned in CNN article.

X10 Bankrupt

So much for those annoying X10 ads you get EVERYWHERE on the net. They're bankrupt now. More here.

Now that's just sick.

Jordan, Rogue Spear is a good strategy game. It also has some interesting AI that allows the bots to work as a team. When you evaluate it as a strategy game it's great. However, when you evaluate it as a FPS where you run and gun (a.k.a pwn n00bs, as you have said) it lacks textures on most of it's models giving it a blocky, unreal feel, the movements are not smooth which takes away from the players ability to aim and shoot, and the pace of the game is painfully slow. Also, there is no room for developments of new variations of RS. It's the same every time. HL allows mods to make the game drastically different and look like a completely different game. RS has nothing like this. Rogue Spear is crappy as a FPS. I'll agree with any praise you want to give it on AI or strategy or the dynamics of working with a team, but the fact is that as and FPS it blows. You haven't played enough of Half-life, or any other FPS online to make a sound judgement as to what is good and what isn't. Play HL online for 2 weeks then we'll talk.

Heh, so true. I need to get some more Ramen noodles. :)

Speaking of which, Brandon and I were having a discussion. What does everyone say for "Ramen" noodles. Do you way Ra-men or Ray-men? I say Ray-men and I think maybe it's a east/west PA thing. Jordan, what do you say? Everyone post their answers.

Why Downhill Battle doesn't know what they're talking about.

There are 5 major problems with Downhill Battle a site Jordan posted. The problems are as follows: their goal is idealist, they justify their means with their end, they disreguard the needs of anyone but themselves, they promote services that are not in the customers interests and criticize services that make progress toward achieving a viable solution to the mp3 dispute.

First, the goal of DH is to cause a "downward spiral: CD sales fall, CD stores close, buying CDs becomes harder and harder, CDs sales fall some more, more stores close, and so on." This isn't going to happen. There are plenty of people out there who buy and like CDs. The market is huge, I don't care if they dropped 11%, they still have 89% of a huge market. CDs will not disappear.

Second, they're using feigned concerns for the artists to justify stealing music. Their logic is flawed. Here is their argument.
P: We want the artists to get more of the money we spend
P: We will stop buying records, thus giving the artists less money than they got before
C: The artists will benefit and get more money.
The flaw is a false premise: "We will stop buying records, thus giving the artists less money than they got before." Not buying CDs will not give the artists more money, it will give them less. It can be argued that this will result in them getting more money later. However that argument assumes that once a solution is agreed upon, everyone will delete all of their MP3s and go out and buy the CDs they had MP3s of, giving the artists the money they deserve. I say, "fat chance." No one will delete their MP3s and go buy CDs. In the end the artists have been stolen from. This organization does not care for the artists, it cares about excuses to download free music.

Thirdly, the downward spiral mentioned earlier is a self centered goal. The goal of eliminating CDs is not only improbable but unnecessary also. There is a reason so many CDs are sold; there is a demand for them. Not everyone wants to get their music online and should not be forced to. Many people like CDs, for example: those without computers or computer knowledge, those in areas where internet connections are slow or non-existant and those who prefer the quality of purchased CDs over CDRs. To attempt to eliminate CDs altogether is to completely ignore the needs of anyone who does not share the same preference as you. Eliminating CDs is as selfish as it is improbable.

Fourth, Downhill Battle promotes file sharing software called "Weed." The concept behind Weed is that you use a very Kazaa-like process only you pay yourself (this makes no sense to me either) 20%, the person you are downloading from 10%, the person they downloaded from 5%, Weed 15%, and the artist 50%. This might seem agreeable at first glance, the artist recieves 50%, not bad. But, as always, the devil is in the details. You are essentially paying to do something that is just as illegal as Kazaa. Why is it illegal? Because the record company owns part of the copyright, therefore by cutting out the company and only paying the artist you have violated copyright law just like you did with Kazaa. You might feel better because you paid the artist, but try telling a judge that while RIAA is prosecuting you. Also, Weed is taking 15%. More than the person providing the file to download is. For what? Other services that charge you provide you with a quick, stable download and an assurance of quality. With Weed you get jack. Oh yeah and Weed is going to take 15% for sitting on their hands. Clearly, if Downhill Battle had any clue they wouldn't be supporting this software.

Lastly, after praising Weed for their new system, Downhill Battle bashes the new Kazaa 2.0. As I mentioned in the previous argument, Napster 2 provides a stable, quick download and the assurance of quality. It is also LEGAL. There won't be a RIAA lawyer hauling you to court for using this. The artists get their traditional miniscule cut, which admittedly is not much compared to Weed's 50%, but it's a lot more than the artists are getting with Downhill Battle's "boycott." Also, Roxio, owner of Napster 2.0 is actually doing something for the cut they're taking from the profit. They are providing a download that: won't be "terminated" because the other party signs off, it won't be the wrong file, won't be full of static and most importantly, is completely legal. Bad-mouthing this software and promoting Weed at the same time is evidence of the ignorance of Downhill Battle.

Downhill Battle doesn't have a clue. Their goals aren't going to be achieved because they're working toward the wrong things for the wrong reasons. Their means are actually more detrimental than helpful to the artists they claim to care so much about. They haven't considered the effect of their goal on anyone but themselves. To top it off they provide software reccomendations to their supporters that are no good for anyone but the makers of the software, who are just as concerned with themselves as Downhill Battle is. It is a travestly that this organization remains on the web, influencing the opinions and actions of those less informed. If I ever saw one of Downhill Battle's flyers hanging on the wall, even though I support progress toward a solution to the MP3 problem, I would probably write n00b on it with the biggest marker I could find, tear it into tiny pieces, and recycle it while asking God to have mercy on the souls of the people who put it there.


**Sorry to spam the blog, but a fervent interest in mp3 issues and an 8 hr. shift in the computer lab == that---^

Fun with Fetuses

A real life Jurassic Park experiment is taking place in Australia. They're bringing back the extinct Thylacine by cloning a preserved fetus. Source.

Porno Karaoke

Germans are doing karaoke to porno. Works exactly as you would think. The countdown before Jon downloads a video of a german faking an orgasm begins. Article here.

MP3notacrime: you didn't restart that fast did ya?
flash5addict: got it out when i restarted
flash5addict: rgr
MP3notacrime: wow nice
flash5addict: and my PC is full of shit, lol
flash5addict: hard drives are almost full
MP3notacrime: wtf
MP3notacrime: hold on
MP3notacrime: that was full of hack
MP3notacrime: lemme show ya
flash5addict: what was?
MP3notacrime: *** flash5addict signed off at Mon Oct 20 22:02:43 2003.
*** flash5addict signed on at Mon Oct 20 22:02:44 2003.
MP3notacrime: that's a 1 second restart
MP3notacrime: hacker!

Erm... anyone got any idea as to why the indentation is all funky?...*joshie voice* I got nothing.

I remember my sister all like 'wtf' whenever I saw the "Britney Spears dead in car crash" article ... i think it was from 'yahoo! news' ...

*thinks about something he could write a story about and attempt to spread it* ... i got nothing...

New Link: computer-nachrichten.de
Translation: Computer news. Gordon Freeman is on the main page.

How guys like us get in trouble...

Piracy? Probably not. Violating quiet hours, well ya. Uhm.. writing offensive stuff on our doors.. Oh yeah and like this guy you can make an article about how "fellatio reduces the risk of breast cancer" and then pass it off to hundreds of thousands of people as being a real CNN article. Here's what happened.

*note to self: cancel all plans to publish articles claiming that computer games promote sexual health on fake Yahoo! news page. Maybe still credit SRU with the research, though.

Half-life arachnaphobia mod?

This mod isn't meant for playing though. It's used by psychologists in canada to treat patients that have arachnaphobia. HL offers a cheap alternative to using expensive VR equipment to train patients to deal with their fears. That would be a sweet job. Designing 3d environments that play on peoples fears. You'd be like an evil genius, only one that cures people. That would be fun. The full article is here.

Napster 2.0?

And it's from Roxio no less. Sounds a bit odd and a little fishey, but could be pretty damn cool. 99 cents gets you a song, or you can get unlimited songs for 9.99 a month. Not too shabby. Plus Samsung is coming out with a "napster player." Sounds cool b/c it has a built in fm transmitter for doing neat things like playing your mp3s in your car or on your stereo. Check it out here.

OMG!!! Corporate Mofo writed me an Email!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Corporate Mofo
From: Brandon Himes
Sent: 5:58:49 10/20/2003

Hey, Corporate MOFO,

It's RIAA not RIIA. Whoever wrote the dumb lawsuits must live under a rock.

Concerned reader,
Brandon Himes

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: Brandon Himes
From: Corporate Mofo
Sent: 6:03:24 10/20/2003

He does. And I shouldn't do site updates while drunk.

> Hey, Corporate MOFO,
>
> It's RIAA not RIIA. Whoever wrote the dumb lawsuits must live under a
> rock.
>
> Concerned reader,
> Brandon Himes

Ken Mondschein
www.corporatemofo.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HAH! here is the page I was talking about

Jordan, I totally gave you your "blog rights" back. I sent you an invitation to join the blog again. If I wanted you off I'd take you off again. But I really don't care, blog away *white guy voice* BOY!!!!11

P.S. I'm color-fying your aim convo cause you're a noob and didn't.

New link: http://www.theonion.com! Great satire of current news.

Cat and Fish!!!!111

Ebola World. Go there to watch Cat and Fish. SO funny. Teh cat is so EVIL.

Jordan, Brandon said i should post a response. Can't really think of anything witty or funny to say in response, so i'll just tell the boring truth. No, i don't wank to her. i think she has a really nice smile, pretty eyes, a wonderful voice and a quite pleasant demeanor -- you know, the type of girl that you would want to grow old with when you barely know how they act in real life. That is all. It is but an unobtainable dream, and this world is built on dreams like this.

So, hush :p

SlushyChugger: btw..i think joshie wanks to this sarah chick
MP3notacrime: totally
MP3notacrime: *posts that on the blog too*

SlushyChugger: i decided to make a video on how to handle the transition from cable modem to 56k...the working title is "56Kapable"

Funny and not from comedy central.. OMG H4X!

Long time since i posted last :D I saw that B had 15 posts on here and Brady had 2, and me with none. I don't have anything to talk about though. I'm real bored at the moment. Nothing to do -- don't feel like playing Neverwinter Nights, not up for playing DoD w/ bots.

Just got back from the concert w/ Nickel Creek. It was a lot of fun. Chris was very much into his music as always -- jumping around, hopping around, he was really digging it. Sara and Sean looked a lot different than I would have thought. Sean was a larger man, he had simple hair -- looked nothing like in the pictures. Sara seemed a little larger than I pictured (she looked a lot like kiki), but she's still as, if not more beautiful than i imagined. Her voice was graceful; her eyes had an angelic shimmer within; her smile was captivating. Heh... i know i, never in a million years, would have a chance with her, but still, that can't keep me from dreaming. They were terrific entertainers! They added an extra verse onto the Lighthouse's Tale, came back out for a really homely encore.

Hrm... What else could i talk about?... That carrot thing you put up Brady is neato ^-^ ... B thought the one was dancing on a condom (it was really a plate =.=) ... His mind must be in the gutter. If i had a gf i would send that swf to her and she would love me forever and ever. Maybe i should send it to Sara! :p Hey B, weren't you supposed to find me a gf?!? I still don't have a gf B, so where is she?! :þ

Well, B's gonna spend the night at Lindsay's room again, so i'll be here alone again (unless Jon and Dan come back later tonight). Well, i'm gonna go ahead and end this post.

Peace
Joshie