August 2008
Okay, but the question still stands: why would you... →
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Look, don’t get your panties in a bunch because your cat can do more pull-ups than you. To quote a friend, “what could be more American than making fun of people?” There need not…
Um. That’s 6 comments in 3 minutes of airtime.... →
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Checking back we see that the post skyrocketed to 7 comments. That’s almost a 17% increase!
Um. That’s 6 comments in 3 minutes of airtime. Not defending the guy, but come on….
RedState: Ken Salazar: No OCS drilling, even when... →
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False…we all know, for a fact, that an armed society is a polite society. Everybody just assumes that the other person is packin’ heat and leaves their gas alone. I swear!
$10 a…
GOP congressman hints at support for sending Rove... →
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Everybody needs to start pivoting to when the dems have the White House and a bigger lead in both houses. Soon, the rule of law will matter again. I say it’s about damn time.
…
Energy Savings, Strange Attractors, ... →
… the Intrinsic Cost of State Change, Orbiting Alien Voyeurs, and 200 Square Kilometers of Solar Panels Somewhere in Texas The Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Berkeley National Labs…
Michael Savage booted from Los Angeles station. →
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Damn. You mean people can actually be held responsible for what they say?
In the ongoing fallout from his screed against children with autism, right-wing radio host Michael…
Daily Kos: The Great White Hope →
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Billmon is back, bitches. You best watch your back.
July 2008
RedState: New additions to the RedState Store →
Hilarious. I love these guys. Best political satire this side of The Onion!
YouTube introduces text search for political... →
their speech-to-text transcription gets a public trial in limited fashion on their You Choose section [via]
Call Me Fishmeal.: “The Mojave Experiment:” Bad... →
This so-called experiment of Microsoft’s is an insult to science, and to our intelligence. And I am dying to see the out-takes from their shoot. I mean, how many people do you suppose like being…
MIT researchers split water to store solar energy... →
The idea is to use the energy from solar photovoltaic panels (or another electricity source) to crack water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen gas. Those gases would be stored and used later in a…
Small Government Republicans →
Always reliable.
ANCHORAGE, July 30 — Alaska’s vast landscape is littered with federally funded tributes to Sen. Ted Stevens’s single-minded promotion of the state, from the brushed steel of…
Obama Leading . . . Good News for McCain! →
This comment says it best: “Actually, I think the day after the election, if Obama wins, the media will suddenly realize/care that we have a massive budget deficit, two wars, gas prices through the roof, and an expansion of the executive branch’s powers never contemplated by the Founders, and will preemptively declare President-elect Obama’s administration a failure unless all...
Amazon.com : Entertainment : Neal Stephenson Reads... →
http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/mHZXQYP8Y6W3V
Spying →
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It is totally not okay for China to do what our government wants to do. Just plain no! Wait, I mean, what they want to do is totally different from what we do. That’s why it’s…
Rep. Sessions held fundraiser at Vegas strip club. →
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Normally this is a “who cares” — but the dude got an up in a snit over the Boob Seen ‘Round the World…so screw ‘im.
The Washington Post reports that Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)…
Can't Work →
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It’s pretty lame that we get involved with the cost of hair cuts and shoes. What America really wants to know is how much they pay for call girls!
While Obama’s consumption of…
The Long Tail: Who needs a CIO? →
In fairness, the CIOs have a pretty tough job.
Gas Tax and the New Economics of Shame →
Scott found this bizarre chunk of Stephanopolous interviewing McCain. I would only add this at the very end:
Pat Berry: Senator McCain, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for...
Patriotic Investors →
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So, does CNN not really understand how creepy this sounds?
Person on CNN just framed the question of whether to invest in the stock market as, “Do you believe in the future of…
Toby Keith promotes pro-lynching song and movie on... →
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That’s what I love about Toby Keith. He appeals to the best in people. Just like Ice-T.
Last night, country singer Toby Keith appeared on the Colbert Report to promote his…
Average environments beget average work -... →
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I didn’t want to be so vain that I thought all your posts were about me. But, clearly, I was wrong.
Average environments beget average work - (37signals): Shared by Ryan
I…
Goodling Screened DOJ Career Candidates For... →
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Going to jaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil…
According today’s report by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), former Justice Department lawyer, Monica Goodling…
Average environments beget average work -... →
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Wherein Ryan taunts state workers.
Average environments beget average work - (37signals)
Worked on another one of my little fireside chats. The topic was courtesy of espostor. So, you know, blame him or something.
On the Return of Fafblog
Me #1: Hooray! Fafblog is back!
Me #2: Pah, you only know that because Ryan told you it was back.
Me #1: Yeah, so?
Me #2: So, yeah. You know, you weren't all up on your shit like you thought you were.
Me #1: What shit?
Me #2: Look, you aren't as cool as you think you are.
Me #1: What in the hell are you on about?
Me #2: You can just drop all the UK-isms right now. That shit don't play here in America.
Me #1: Oh, and I suppose mimicking Baltimore street slang you pick up in The Wire is better?
Me #2: For real, yo. You come at the king, you best not miss. A'ight?
Me #1: This is preposterous.
Me #2: So is copying the Fafblog conversational tone. Can't you do anything original? And no, talking like James May from Top Gear is not original, it's boring. In case you were wondering.
Me #1: For your information, this style was not originated by Fafblog and I'm not trying to talk like James May. You dolt.
Me #2: It doesn't matter where it came from, that's where you picked it up. Frigtard.
Me #1: Whatever, Fake Steve.
Me #2: Weren't you going to try and make a point about Fafblog being back?
Me #1: Oh, yeah. Right. So, it's back and better than ever!
Me #2: That's a long way to go for just that...
Me #1: Yeah, I was really hoping it would be funnier.
Me #2: Really?
Blonde Ambition - 13 Ways Pat Berry is Better Than...
Now available for pre-order at all fine content outlets.
Iowans Attempt To Arrest Karl Rove, Four Charged... →
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Hilarious.
Des Moines police arrested four people Friday who attempted a citizen’s arrest of former White House adviser Karl Rove.
PR Rule #1: People who are telling the truth about... →
Best part of Joe Nocera’s article from yesterday’s New York Times (“Apple’s Culture of Secrecy”) was, of course, the quote from Steve Jobs, the one where Nocera picks up the phone and Jobs hits…
I'm a Genius
So I was reading the “Ask Apple about the iPhone” challenge from FSF/Defective by Design and felt a little sorry for the Apple Store employees that were going to get the 3rd degree. I envisioned myself in their shoes and did up the chat below.
Answers to Questions
FSF: Why do all developers have to submit their applications to Apple before they can be loaded onto an iPhone?
Genius Me: Well, I can see this is going to get pedantic really quick, so I'll just go there. Technically a developer can load their application onto their own phone without submitting the application to Apple. In addition, a developer can distribute an application to other users that have a signing certificate. That signing certificate does indeed cost money. For companies we have the ability to distribute applications without any interaction with Apple. Now, to the more general tone of the question, because we're control freaks. Next.
FSF: Oh, so that's how we're going to play it, eh?
Genius Me: You came to us...
FSF: Why does iTunes still contain so much DRM-laden music?
Genius Me: It's in our licensing agreement. You may have noticed that we don't own the copyright on the music we distribute.
FSF: Ah ha! I have a follow-up! What is Apple doing to fix this?
Genius Me: Steve Jobs asked for DRM-free music to sell.
FSF: AH HA! I have yet another follow-up! If it really is the RIAA's fault, can you tell me specifically what the RIAA said to Jobs when he asked for the ability to sell DRM-free music?
Genius Me: Well, I'm paraphrasing here, but it went something like, "Steve, we're going give all these other companies what you want to try and screw you."
FSF: AH HA! Wait...what?
Genius Me: Yeah, seems the music companies figured out they gave us the keys to the kingdom and got a little miffed about it. Something about business models and unethical operations, you might not understand it.
FSF: Oh. Well. Anyway... The iPhone 3G has GPS support. How can users be sure that the GPS cannot be used to track their position, without their permission?
Genius Me: Really?
FSF: Yeah, man! Come on, fess up! You're watching my every move, I just know it!
Genius Me: Well, you know what they say.
FSF: What?
Genius Me: Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.
FSF: I knew it...
Genius Me: I honestly don't know how to answer that one to your satisfaction.
FSF: Okay, point for me! I guess I'll skip the follow-ups on that one.
Genius Me: Appreciated.
FSF: Onward! In 'Thoughts on Music', Steve Jobs said, "it is useful to remember that all iPods play music that is free of any DRM and encoded in 'open' licensable formats such as MP3 and AAC".
Genius Me: That's not actually a question.
FSF: Oh, right. Um, a follow-up then... If Jobs really wants to see open formats, why doesn't the iPhone play Ogg Vorbis, Ogg Theora video and FLAC?
Genius Me: Apple would likely be sued for patent infringement.
FSF: Ah ha! So you aren't willing to fight for your customers.
Genius Me: Dude.
FSF: Okay, okay... Last question. Why can the iPhone 3G only be activated by Apple and AT&T?
Genius Me: Licensing.
FSF: Ah ha! Gotcha! In the United States, the Register of Copyrights has ruled that consumers have the right to unlock their phones and switch to a different carrier. How does Apple plan to remedy this discrepancy?
Genius Me: Security!
FSF: Ah! Now we see the violence inherent in the system!
Security Guard #1: Come with us sir.
FSF: Help! Help! I'm being repressed!
Genius Me: Really?
Security Guard #2: Sir, please.
FSF: Oh, what a giveaway! Did you hear that? Did you hear that, eh? That's what I'm on about! Did you see him repressing me? You saw him, Didn't you?
Staff Blog / New upload rules →
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Comment thread proceeds exactly as you would predict.
Use Vimeo to share your videos with only the people you want to. We have a bunch of privacy options so you can choose exactly…
NYT's roundup of home electricity monitoring... →
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In the long run, maybe…but with population growth the grid has to keep up. California in a heat wave == brown outs.
isn’t it against the utilities’ best interest to provide…
Join us this summer for Campus Technology 2008! →
maybe good for next year
Views of Jupiter →
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Damn…just amazing.
Jupiter is in the news again, this time because its “Baby Red Spot” - a storm less than a year old - appears to have been swallowed up by the massive storm…
Deep Thought →
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LEAVE JOHN MCCAIN ALOOOOOOOOOOONE!
Maliki likes Obama’s timeline. McCain likes Maliki’s timeline. McCain thinks Obama’s timeline will cause the destruction of America as we know…
On Twitter vs FriendFeed
Me #1: So, clearly I'm missing something...how are Twitter and FriendFeed even remotely comparable?
Me #2: Pat, sometimes you're so dumb I hate being you.
Me #1: Dude!
Me #2: The list of things that make these services similar is long and deep.
Me #1: Go on...
Me #2: Well, for starters they are both web-based.
Me #1: You're starting off pretty strong there.
Me #2: Just wait, punk. Next, they are both Web 2.0 apps.
Me #1: So Google Maps is now the same as Twitter too?
Me #2: Can I finish? Can I finish?!
Me #1: By all means...continue. I'll hold my applause until the end.
Me #2: Thanks you oafish dolt. You can use both systems to broadcast a message to people. They both have privacy models. They both foster ad-hoc communities. They both have an API. They both offer RSS feeds! I could keep going, but I see you're already starting to fall asleep.
Me #1: Oh, what? Sorry, I drifted off on you there for a second. May I present my rebuttal?
Me #2: If you must...
Me #1: FriendFeed is an aggregator of your other Web 2.0 junk and Twitter is a Web 2.0 messaging system. They are fundamentally different in that aspect. Oh, and about that XMPP and SMS support for FriendFeed...
Me #2: I'm loathe to admit this, but you make some valid points. Still, you can't deny that you can use both system to broadcast to people.
Me #1: No, I concede that both systems do that, but until FriendFeed can send messages out over other protocols besides HTTP, I stand by my pedantic hypothesis that they are different systems. One could also postulate that the relationship between FriendFeed and Twitter (and every other system they feed off of) is parasitic. It's a stretch, but an argument could be made.
Me #2: Except for the fact that FriendFeed could still drive some traffic to the Twitter web site.
Me #1: True.
Me #2: So, uh...who won?
Me #1: I did.
Me #2: Really?
My Hiatus From Twitter - Why You Should Join Me |... →
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Oh wow, this is too good not to share! I mean, wow…just…wow.
Yesterday I announced I am permanently and officially on hiatus from Twitter.
"Do these pressure-pants make my butt look... →
Scherer Gonzalez:
Mike Patton | The A.V. Club →
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That’s funny, when I was in high school the song everybody learned to play guitar on was Stairway…
AVC: Eventually there’sgoing to be that kid who learned to play drums…
Ubisoft Steals ‘No-CD Crack’ to Fix Rainbox 6:... →
This is the problem inherent in DRM. Those that buy the product are the ones affected, not those the DRM is designed to defeat.
FUCKING NDA →
Mark Pilgrim sends his sympathies, because he cares so very much
Oil Survey Says Arctic Has Riches - NYTimes.com →
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This is so awesome! We need to burn more oil to find more oil! Ah fuck it, I like to drive fast as much as the next guy.
As melting ice caps have opened up prospects that were…
