Can't Buy Good Help These Days

Another aide spoke out of turn again today. I guess its what happens when you have a slow news day, you find anything to talk about. But it's what the aide said and the NYT reaction to it.

If you didn't follow the link the synopsis is this: "Charlie Black, a senior adviser to Senator John McCain, was quoted in a magazine interview saying that another terrorist attack in the United States would "be a big advantage" for Mr. McCain in the upcoming election".

Now, of course McCain said 'NoWai' and the Obama side said 'LOL' but what's more important here is that NYT is dead wrong. Another terrorist attack would be the *worst* thing for Republicans now because it would prove that A.) No Administration would be able to prevent everything, and only highlight Bush's failures, and B.) What more can you do as a President to fight terrorism if you already nearly run as a police state and have your own personal gulag (we haven't forgotten about you Guantanimo).

To me it'd just prove that a little 'inexperience' may be a good thing right about now.

I Fell Down This

(And hit the side on the jagged concrete.)
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Projects and Circles

My Dad rencently told me he has ADHD or some varient thereof. This
extremly personal tidbit of information can only be followed by more
personal information about myself where I disclose the fact that I too
believe I have this. I constantly stop and start projects as I'm sure
people who read (or don't read) know too well.

I figured out how to mobile blog by (phone) email. This should be
effective as normally my best ideas aren't in front of a computer, but
this also means my ideas become more disjointed.

In the spirit of more projects, I want to make a graphic narrative
using wow and comic life. More on that later.

Anyway, thanks for reading.

From the Mothership

For the first time, I watched from start to finish the WWDC '08 Keynote presentation. It feels like back to the Transformer watching days of my youth. Watching it just makes me want an iPhone. The truly sad things I don't want to afford it because there's a lot of better things to take care of first...like food and rent. I just realized that Kenyans can get the iPhone now. The gods must me crazy!? And here is the kicker, China isn't listed in the 70 countries Apple is supporting.

Anyway, the most exciting thing I found that I already own is the MobileMe. Granted, it won't work with my Blackberry but I'm excited that Apple is stepping up the bar against the free services that are a little less integrated.

Here's to the next step.

Copywrong

So, I've been perusing YouTube and came across a superfan YouTube page and they had as a featured video *was* the Kanye West/Daft Punk Stronger Grammys Performance in 08. Pretty much the video got pulled because of copyright issues but what I don't get is this. Its a live performance, the people getting paid got paid. Where is the harm? Are the grammys or the music industry in general so butthurt about piracy that they'd rather pull a video promoting the grammys and the artists in them rather then let it flourish?

The answer is yes, and this is why the RIAA (and MPAA) are obsolete.

The Goings on of Lightninghoof Today

This is basically how the day turned out. Most of everyone decided to jump on top of the new badge loot vendor on the Isle causing chaos and pandemonium. It even warrented some GM interest, though he just seemed to be running around, shown in this video I captured today:



What you don't see is near the end the brief conversation I had with the GM. Who knew GM's were people to? =P

Of course I did being a former Magic Online Adept I already know the answer, but coming from that background I'd definitely not go and try to be a WoW GM.

Teens for Obama Turning Parents

Seems that kids in my generation are not only bucking for Obama but turning their parents as well. I find it mildly interesting seeing as how I had the political talk with my own Dad and his two cents, learning that McCain was his choice.

What it came down for me was, who was the best for change. And considering the miserable failures this administration has suffered through, is experience really something we want? And of course having experience is the best thing, but there are different kinds. Not a single person who gets elected to office has experience as President (unless of course you were operating directly under the Big Cheese). Frankly I feel like being Secretary of State is the closest you're going to get to have true experience as a world leader. Does being a Senator really give you the tactical expertise needed to stem invasions or barter treaties?

In the end I feel like the best course of action is to put someone into office an accomplished renaissance person who not only is very intelligent but willing to learn.

Sound Advice

This just in. Creative shoots their own foot in the name of posterity.

The short version is that a home user took it upon himself to create Vista drivers for Creative brand soundcards. Because he used Creative driver technology (read in: used some of their code) Creative felt that because they weren't compensated for the work he borrowed in the improved drivers, that they felt the need to take down the links to his improved Vista drivers.

Dear (include company here),

If someone wants to spend their free time to make sure your product works for your customers. Don't squelch it, fire your lazy programmers and give him/her a job.

Writing to My Congressperson

Nothing makes me more apathetic about politics then trying to "write to my congressperson". And nothing says "you're insignificant" more then the Congressman response form letter. Look, if I thought by calling or writing my representative would be a louder voice then some lobbyists lavish gifts and, well lets be honest, bribes, then I'd be more pro-active in the political process. But as it stands now, the only people with voice are people with money.

Take for example the linked reference article.

In it the RIAA/MPAA mafia added legistlation binding the schools to help give them evidence for students who distribute on p2p and bit torrent networks within the University. USF is no exception as it forces you to agree to a Terms of Use Agreement saying that you have to basically not participate in that kind of activity lest they give you up to be sued for a few thousand dollars.

This is domestic terrorism. If you think that what the RIAA/MPAA are doing is legal and just by going after individual citizens, then keep on purchasing and participating. Everyone else, boycott them. Bu music online direct from the artist. Rent movies from Apple store. Do whatever you can to give them less leverage to stop the lawsuits.

Link via Ars Technica

Remind you of Anyone?

It's Felicia Day, from The Guild.



Funny, no? If you're looking for the social commentary aspect of this post, its the fact that no matter what one company does, you can't artifically create a viral market. In fact I haven't seen a good one since ilovebees.

Note: watchtheguild.com link is broken until they up thier bandwidth or something.