1970; uploaded by dai2008002iad. Mostly lineup talk, but hey, it's a pretty good lineup.
Author: thad
Microsoft Doesn't Want My Business. That Can Be Arranged.
So in case you haven't been keeping score, apparently the next version of the Xbox will require an always-on Internet connection, even for single-player games.
As you might expect, some people are unhappy about this.
Microsoft's Adam Orth knows just how to treat concerned customers: by insulting and mocking them with disingenuous analogies.
Now, one of three things is true:
- Adam Orth is stupid.
- Adam Orth thinks you're stupid.
- Both.
I shouldn't even have to fucking explain this, but here goes anyway:
A video game console that doesn't work without an Internet connection is not analogous to a vacuum cleaner that doesn't work without electricity or a cellular telephone that doesn't work without cellular service.
Because, you see, a vacuum cleaner, by its nature, requires electricity to function. (Technically some vacuum cleaners get that electricity from batteries, but keep in mind, Orth's analogy is very very stupid.)
A cellular telephone requires cellular service to function.
You see where I'm going with this?
A video game console does not require an Internet connection to function.
Now, some games might. Complaining that, say, World of Warcraft requires an Internet connection would indeed be comparable to complaining that a vacuum requires a current and a cellular telephone requires cellular telephone service.
But -- fun fact! -- many video games are single-player.
Refusing to buy a video game console that requires an always-on Internet connection is not analogous to refusing to buy a vacuum cleaner that requires an electrical current.
Refusing to buy a video game console that requires an always-on Internet connection is analogous to refusing to buy a vacuum cleaner that requires an always-on Internet connection.
Bobby Brown Goes Down
This seems like another one I didn't post because of the title -- but then again, it didn't stop me from headling a post "Crumpet-Munching Assholes: The Story Behind Bobby Brown Goes Down.
This is a pretty poor-quality video with pretty poor-quality audio, but looks like one of those rarities that's worth sharing. According to uploader Dave David it's from a 1978 special called Ohne Maulkorb.
(You know, since I mention it, I heard a coworker talking about how great Zappa is today, too. Like I say: starting to dig this place.)
Obits
Roger Ebert's going to be getting most of the press today. But some other important folks died these past couple days too.
You know who writes great obits? Mark Evanier writes great obits. I'll start you off with his post on Ebert.
Then there's George Gladir, unsung Archie scribe, co-creator of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and 2007 recipient of the Bill Finger Award, an award that recognizes great comics writers who don't get the attention they deserve.
A comics creator who did get plenty of attention also passed today: Carmine Infantino, one of the most important artists, creators, and editors in the history of the business. He's best known for ushering in the Silver Age between the co-creation of the Barry Allen Flash and the design of the New Look Batman. And he was art director during an era noted for stories written around crazy covers.
And I learned something about one of my coworkers today: when I told him Ebert and Infantino had died, I got a bigger reaction for Infantino. You know, I'm starting to like this place.
Last, but not least -- and I'm going with the New York Times here because Evanier doesn't have an obit for her -- yesterday marked the passing of Jane Henson, Jim's widow and earliest collaborator.
Sad times -- we lost some real talents. But they all had a good run.
I Promise Not to Come In Your Mouth
And on that note, here it is. I don't speak Portuguese but I think the notes say it's a group called Gravado performing in São Paulo. I don't see a date but it was uploaded in 2009, by somebody named tatimelloilha.
Ditko Kickstarter
There are lots of reasons I'm happy to be back to work.
It's something to do during the day. I'm working with good people. It's fun and it's challenging. It's the shortest commute I've had since 2010, the closest thing to a programming job I've had since 2004, and the highest-paying day job I've ever had. I don't have to stress out about how I'm going to pay bills and buy groceries; I can sign up for a new healthcare plan instead of worrying about when COBRA's going to expire. I can post Zappa songs with titles like I Promise Not to Come In Your Mouth without worrying that'll be the first thing a hiring manager sees when they Google my name.
But you know what single thing has made me happier than anything else now that I've got an income?
I got to contribute to the Ditko Public Service Package Kickstarter.
I've been meaning to buy some of Ditko's creator-owned work for literally years at this point, and this is the easiest it's ever been. The Kickstarter, as the name implies, is to reprint the 1991 Ditko Public Service Package, and various levels of backing get you various other Ditko goodies courtesy of publisher Robin Snyder. At $20 plus $5 shipping, you get the book plus a selection of back issues of The Comics!; for $40 plus $6 shipping you get lots more Ditko material. I spent the $46 and look forward to getting my comics. More than that, I hope that the success of this endeavor leads to Snyder coming back to Kickstarter with more out-of-print Ditko material in the future.
And it is a success; it's already exceeded its goal by thousands of dollars. And that money's not just going to independent publisher Robin Snyder -- it's also going to independent cartoonist Steve Ditko.
I talk a lot about creators' rights here, and comic book creators' in particular. I talk, even more in particular, about Marvel's shabby treatment of its creators.
If you buy a Spider-Man comic, movie ticket, DVD, action figure, pajama set, Ditko doesn't get shit. But if you buy a creator-owned Ditko comic from Robin Snyder, you're buying from the only publisher Steve Ditko trusts -- and you're supporting Ditko himself, at his most raw, unfiltered, and personal.
My thanks to Robin and Brigit Snyder for the opportunity. And my thanks to Steve Ditko for being Steve Ditko.
There's about a day and a half left -- if you want some creator-owned Ditko comics, you've still got time.
And if you miss the Kickstarter, you can always order from Robin Snyder by mail; see the Steve Ditko Comics Weblog for details.
Nightline 1985, Part 3
Finale. Nice point on how Al Gore wasn't lobbying to regulate country music -- in much the same way that, more recently, California's Leland Yee wanted legal regulations of video game violence but not Hollywood film violence, despite FTC research showing that video game ratings are enforced more consistently than film ratings.
And seriously -- Marvin Gaye? That's the sexually explicit musician you want to protect your children from?
Pity about that last cutoff, but good that someone got a tape at all. Thanks again to uploader koolstrike.
Wilkinson Sword Razors
So I was in the Wal-Mart the other day (a place I hope to spend less time now that I have a job again) and noticed they had double-edged razors priced ten for $1.76. It was a brand I hadn't tried yet, Wilkinson Sword, but that's about the lowest price I've ever seen on razors so I picked up a pack.
They're pretty good! I've been using them for two weeks now and I'd say they're not quite as good as Bic (still my favorite) but are as good as most other brands I've tried. Perfectly decent shave, only the occasional nick, and you can't beat that price. Recommended.
Nightline 1985, Part 2
More from Donny Osmond on how G-rated movies don't sell tickets and directors add more adult content specifically to avoid the G rating. (I hear that's the whole reason for the scene in Star Wars where Luke finds Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru's charred corpses; prior to that scene being added, the film earned a G.)
And does anyone remember where interviewers could just say "A warning to our affiliates: we're going to go over"? I don't. Obviously live presentations and sporting events can go over time, but I don't remember seeing an interview do it -- aside from The Daily Show's frequent "Watch the rest on the Web!" schtick.
This one cuts off abruptly too, a product of YouTube's old 10-minute time limit.
C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER
Welp, I didn't post anything yesterday.
That's the first day I've missed since last June.
I didn't miss a day of posting when I went to Montana. I didn't miss a day of posting when I got married.
But, the server went down for a couple days, so here we are.
It happens. My hosting is comped by a former employer. And I know my old boss has had a busy day or two getting everything back up and running. He's a good guy, and it's not an easy job -- I think they've fixed a lot of what was wrong when I was working there, but I'd wager he's still overworked and underpaid.
For my part, I started at a new job today -- coincidentally, the same company that I refused an offer from to go to work for the aforementioned hosting company back in aught-six. I suppose it remains to be seen whether I'll be overworked and/or underpaid there -- but I wasn't today. Easy setup stuff today.
And then I came home and, for the first time in a month, felt good enough to hop on the elliptical.
It's good to be getting back in the swing of things. In both cases.
I think tomorrow I'll even get up early and hit the elliptical before work.
Reading: Rapture of the Nerds, by Stross and Doctorow.