The Continuing Decline Of Western Civilization

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Life's little shortcuts

Personally, I find bike-riding to be a hassle. Why spend all that time getting to locations quickly? You could be enjoying the sights. I learn a lot from subway advertisements and from my fellow riders. But if you do bike, and you've got one of them iPods that put the organ grinders out of business (where's the monkey gonna find a job, that's what I'd like to know) then you might want to check out this.

posted by tcdowc - 11:54 pm - 12.07.05

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For your own safety, we will be monitoring your communications.

The FCC has big plans. Not content to tell us what we can and cannot watch on TV and dismantle the regulations that kept the vast majority of the radio market from being controlled by one company, they've now seemingly decided that they must step in when they feel congress is too slow to act. A snippet from a publicly available policy document:

To encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected nature of the public Internet, consumers are entitled to run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement.

As you are no doubt aware, congress does not require that internet based communication programs (Skype and Vonage being the main targets presumably) have backdoors that allow the FBI to get down with the wiretapping. The FCC has not released any clarification of the statement yet, which dates from September, but the most logical conclusion is that they believe that they can regulate what software is available to the American public.

via ArsTechnica

Also, I am extremely sick of being called a consumer. Couldn't they just say 'the public'? Citizen is right out, Manny would have to get Steph to do everything.

posted by tcdowc - 10:43 pm - 12.07.05

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It's a manifesto!

If you slide on over to A Softer World and slip into the Over Qualified area, you'll find a selection of cover letters for resumes that Joey Comeau has been sending out for a while. I recommend this one, written to Nintendo.

We need virtual pet games where you clean and feed and love your furry little friend and that car still comes out of nowhere so smoothly, a god of aerodynamics and passenger safety. Where you hear your father's quiet joke that night, when he thinks you are asleep.

posted by tcdowc - 6:15 pm - 12.06.05

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Move over turfurken, make room for mini-horse.

With the price of horse-meat at an all-time low (20cents/pound in the US) now is the time to try out this tasty treat. Less fat than beef, no danger of mad cow, and a great flavor. Mini-horse is recomended, but if you can't get that pounded and tenderized regular horse will work as well. Recipes can be found here. Happy Holidays!

posted by tcdowc - 7:15 pm - 12.05.05

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