Today's Mighty Oak


Let’s see what I have today.  First up, the writers at io9 have to go and spoil science fiction with facts and science.  Sadface.

Nerd nostalgia:

Verizon was fined by the FCC for charging customers who worked around their ridiculous tethering fees.

This is amazing:

I’ve seen these events before, kind of a cool idea to get some closure.  The Brooklyn Cyclones have a “Trash Your Ex” night where you can take reminders of you ext to be destroyed.

The video for the new single from Matchhbox 20:

This has been floating around the Internet, but holy crap.  There are no words to describe the fury (and that some at the church, and even Mississippi’s governor have expressed as well).

Awesome t-shirt:

Thanks for reading, I’ll be back soon!



Google and Verizon had a proposed contract of some sort, and while both companies state that it will not affect net neutrality at all, EFF is still worried:

On Monday, Google and Verizon proposed a new legislative framework for net neutrality. Reaction to the proposal has been swift and, for the most part, highly critical. While we agree with many aspects of that criticism, we are interested in the framework’s attempt to grapple with the Trojan Horse problem. The proposed solution: a narrow grant of power to the FCC to enforce neutrality within carefully specified parameters. While this solution is not without its own substantial dangers, we think it deserves to be considered further if Congress decides to legislate.

Unfortunately, the same document that proposed this intriguing idea also included some really terrible ideas. It carves out exemptions from neutrality requirements for so-called “unlawful” content, for wireless services, and for very vaguely-defined “additional online services.” The definition of “reasonable network management” is also problematically vague. As many, many, many have already pointed out, these exemptions threaten to completely undermine the stated goal of neutrality.

The FCC had been trying to move forward, but was not fast enough, and this is what’s happening:

Google and Verizon, two leading players in Internet service and content, are nearing an agreement that could allow Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content’s creators are willing to pay for the privilege.

Wired covers it here, and Slog does here.

I haven’t heard anything about this really since I’ve been back, so I’m thinking that the deal fell through.  But I’ll try to keep updated.

 



Hey all, I’ve been caught up in the Olympics, so not much posting here, but all kinds of stuff that I want to share.  So enjoy the update:

First, in regards to the snow, check out this article from The Radical Middle, and then this video:

Also, the Pittsburgh Zoo finds out that kangaroos don’t like snow.  Who would have guessed?

I love Fleury, a whole lot.  Here’s him and Sid talking about the snow (which I realize is ridiculous on at least three levels, but hey, it’s fun):

Speaking of Fleury and Sid, Olympics!  Here’s what Slate suggested you watch if you watch just one thing a day.  A really funny read (and I apologize in advance for the tardiness of all the Olympic articles, I got so caught up in the games that I didn’t write about them).  And here is their awesome Sap-O-Meter.  I’ll give you a hint, NBC is really sappy, and generally, awful at covering the Olympics.

I don’t know what’s going on in this picture, but we are seeing Bob Costas outside of his living room, so it’s got to be a plus.  Also, Colbert!  Make sure you watch this video that I’m not allowed to embed.  Stupid NBC.

Slate also takes a stab at the biathalon.  Awesome read, which just helps me galvanize my mindset that it’s a weird sport.  I have more respect for it, but it’s weird.

I’m thinking it may not be actually from Verizon, but this is an awesome blend of nostalgia and current technology:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkWKdJF7Md0

This might be one of my new favorite sites, someone watching season six of Lost, who has never seen it.  It’s worth it just for the drawings!

And the healthcare debate rages on, it’s a few days old, but still worth a watch.  Rachel Maddow is, of course, amazing:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

 

And Jon Stewart takes on Glenn Beck, who is railing against…public libraries?

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
Rage Within the Machine – Progressivism
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes
Political Humor Vancouverage 2010

A gut wrenching blog entry over at PG+, if you’re a subscriber, check out the link.  If not, consider signing up!  And I know I’ve promised to talk about it over at Metblogs, and I still am planning on doing that, I promise!

A great follow up to the video clips I posted before about the phrase “fucking retard.”  As in, “Sarah Palin is a fucking retard.”

I’ve been really, really excited about the return of URU.  To help you get into the Myst spirit, check out this awesome online fan project  – Myst and Riven books! And in related news, over a million people are now playing D&D online, probably because it’s free (with some premium content).  Maybe we’ll see a lot of interest in URU!  We can only hope!

See, even lawyers need typography!

Wow, scam artists keep going, just under different names, preying on different people.  The Stranger starts a new campaign and the Onion, once again, hits it home:


New Law Would Ban Marriages Between People Who Don’t Love Each Other

The Onion does a great job, and maybe humor is what we need in the discussion, but marriage equality is serious.  Don’t believe me?  Try filing taxes as a same-sex couple.

What is Wes Anderson directed Spider Man?  Oh yes:

Cool ad that was apparently really effective, although the price must be really big, and installation I’m sure was a pain:

So not safe for any eyes, and just the idea of it (you’ll understand if you click through) confuses me, but this may in fact be the worst Unicorn tattoo ever.  Ever.  Also bad for your eyes: the 20 worst tramp stamps.

Gizmodo has a cool article about the hypocrisy of Apple and their app store.  A good read.

Have you been reading PittGirl’s new column at Pittsburgh Magazine.  You really should, here’s her latest.

I agree, this is the best ending to Judge Judy ever:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mehdpEf-XCI

And finally, I always suggest watching Arrested Development, here are the eight biggest ongoing jokes through the whole series, enjoy.

Alright, I’m heading home to watch the gold medal match of Olympic hockey, so excited!

Social Links

Archives

How I’m Resisting

What I’m fighting for

What I’m running from

What I’m reading

What I’m drinking

What we’re writing

What I’m running