Decline of the Swine (Flu)

Here's a funny little graph;


What I did was enter in "swine flu" into Facebook's Lexicon, a tool that can estimate how often a word or phrase is used. As you can see, "swine flu" is in an obvious decline.

Apparently even global pandemics are subject to the same rules as fads.

Dandies in Japan

A dandy (also known as a beau, gallant or flamboyant person) is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies. Historically, especially in late 18th- and early 19th-century Britain, a dandy, who was self-made, often strove to imitate an aristocratic style of life despite coming from a middle-class background. -Wikipedia

As this article from the New York Times briefly mentions, there's a growing Dandy movement in Japan.

All a front-page image search turned up was this;


So I'm willing to doubt this.

Also on the first page;

Hey look, a cookie!

Still, such a men's fashion movement in Japan wouldn't surprise me at all.

Link Chain
New York Times -> Me

Private Life; Hush New Webservice

While searching for a Youtube of Oingo Boing's "Private Life" (Good song, by the way), I stumbled upon PrivateLife.com.



Apparently it's going to be an online gossip social networking site.

I dunno about you, but I like to think that gossiping is an evil of society. It's most of the evils of Facebook and Myspace concentrated into one little action.

Then again, despite the stigma against gossiping, it'll still probably be quite successful.

It's in Invitation Beta right now, so if you know the right people I guess you could get in.

Who's Amung Us to Eventually Offer Pro Edition

To be fair, it's still not released and it doesn't affect the free version at all.

But it seems like eons ago when I first discovered that handy little widget. I can't even remember when it was, really.


What it first looked like


What it looks like now

I guess everything grows up.

No Reunion for Smashing Pumpkins... For About 30 Years

Yes, I will be blatantly predicting the future.

So, the Smashing Pumpkins said they will never have the original lineup back together.

I'm here to say that unless one of them dies, they will do it within the next 30 years.

And you want to know why? 30 years is a long time. There's no way you can predict what will happen 30 years from now. Hate a guy? He might save your daughter. What then!?

All I know is that every band ever reunites later on. Well, so long as none of them die. But even that won't stop some bands some of the time. So yeah, just try to defy fate Smashing Pumpkins, but Oedipus lost and so will you.

Vietnam to Ban Something Else Moderately Funny

Remember when Vietnam wanted to ban hamsters? Well apparently banning random things is a recurring joke for Vietnam.

Now they're getting rid of small chested drivers. Along with a bunch of other groups of people that make a bit more sense.

Again, like banning the hamsters, this is something that can kinda maybe be justified on paper, but in real life is somewhat ridiculous.

Here's the link to the Article if you want facts, details, or journalism.

Falsified Steve Jobs Heart Attack Story Writer's Motive Still Remain Unknown

According to the report, "The fake Internet report posted to CNN's iReport site earlier this month claiming Apple CEO Steve Jobs had suffered a heart attack was posted by a teenager who doesn't appear to have posted it to manipulate the company's stock price, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday."

Unfortunately, "Citing 'people with knowledge of the matter,' the report said the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is still looking into the motives of the unnamed 18-year old..."

When asked for comment, Connor Smith said, "It's clearly obvious this kid did it for attention. Furthermore, by posting this story you've only given this kid even more attention. I think the only reasonable solution is to shun this kid."

"And take away his iPod."

Man convicted of murdering couple thrown off yacht

At least, that's the headline for A Guardian article with the most misleading name ever.

Well, I suppose that if you reread it, you can tell it's the couple that was thrown off the yacht. And you can certainly tell by the contents of the article. But being the person I am, my first thought was that this murderer was thrown off the yacht.

The actual article itself is boring as far as homicide reports go. It's just the headline that was interesting.

"The actual article itself is boring as far as homicide reports go." Wow, I'm beginning to think there's something wrong with me.

I blame society.

Comcast to Create "Excessive Use" Bandwith Limit

An Official Announcement by Comcast;

Dear Comcast High-Speed Internet Customer,

We appreciate your business and strive to provide you with the best online experience possible. One of the ways we do this is through our Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). The AUP outlines acceptable use of our service as well as steps we take to protect our customers from things that can negatively impact their experience online. This policy has been in place for many years and we update it periodically to keep it current with our customers' use of our service.

On October 1, 2008, we will post an updated AUP that will go into effect at that time.

In the updated AUP, we clarify that monthly data (or bandwidth) usage of more than 250 Gigabytes (GB) is the specific threshold that defines excessive use of our service. We have an excessive use policy because a fraction of one percent of our customers use such a disproportionate amount of bandwidth every month that they may degrade the online experience of other customers.

250 GB/month is an extremely large amount of bandwidth and it's very likely that your monthly data usage doesn't even come close to that amount. In fact, the threshold is approximately 100 times greater than the typical or median residential customer usage, which is 2 to 3 GB/month. To put it in perspective, to reach 250 GB of data usage in one month a customer would have to do any one of the following:

* Send more than 50 million plain text emails (at 5 KB/email);
* Download 62,500 songs (at 4 MB/song); or
* Download 125 standard definition movies (at 2 GB/movie).

And online gamers should know that even the heaviest multi- or single-player gaming activity would not typically come close to this threshold over the course of a month.

In addition to modifying the excessive use policy, the updated AUP contains other clarifications of terms concerning reporting violations, newsgroups, and network management. To read some helpful FAQs, please visit http://help.comcast.net/content/faq/Frequently-Asked-Questions-about-Excessive-Use.

Thank you again for choosing Comcast as your high-speed Internet provider.

If you don't have the patience to read all that, just know that Comcast will soon be capping service at 250 gb of bandwidth a month.

As they try to make clear, this is not to mess with the average customer. This is the mess with the "fraction of one percent of our customers [who] use such a disproportionate amount of bandwidth."

In other words, heavy torrent users.

Spore Wins, Just Not How you Thought

Spore has been pegged as a massive failure ever since its release.

However, this little review on Sparknotes proves a point; that the common man will find Spore to be a fun game.

So who knows.

Firefox Unleashes "Private Browsing Mode"; But Google's Chrome Already Beat it

I found an announcement dated for today that Firefox is adding a private browsing feature.

Coincedentially, I'm sure, Google's browser Chrome was unleashed in beta a while ago and has a private mode too.

As far as I know, Internet Explorer does not have such a mode. But since I've switched to Chrome for most normal browsing, that's not really an issue.

Link Chain;
Monkey Bites -> Me

Initial Impression of Google Chrome

To start off, Google's new browserChrome is doing alright. I really like the look of the browser. So far, whole it's bear bones, it's getting the job done.

...Until I open something with flash. I tried opening Pandora Internet Radio, and Chrome spectacularly crashes. I tried it again, and another horrible crash.

But, on the bright side, it did figure out that Chrome closed unintentionally and offered to direct me back to Pandora.

Additionally, Chrome hates flash games.

As I'm coming from an Internet Explorer background, which handles flash very well, this is a giant disappointment. That's the thing that keeps me from using Chrome full time.

For now, I think I'll try using Internet Explorer for Pandora, and Chrome for everything non-flash.

My Thoughts on the PC Gamer's Bill of Rights

So if you haven't heard by now, those crazy folks up there at Stardock and Gas Powered games came up with a PC gamer's bill of rights.

1. Gamers shall have the right to return games that don't work with their computers for a full refund.


2. Gamers shall have the right to demand that games be released in a finished state.


3. Gamers shall have the right to expect meaningful updates after a game's release.


4. Gamers shall have the right to demand that download managers and updaters not force themselves to run or be forced to load in order to play a game.


5. Gamers shall have the right to expect that the minimum requirements for a game will mean that the game will adequately play on that computer.


6. Gamers shall have the right to expect that games won't install hidden drivers or other potentially harmful software without their express consent.


7. Gamers shall have the right to re-download the latest versions of the games they own at any time.


8. Gamers shall have the right to not be treated as potential criminals by developers or publishers.


9. Gamers shall have the right to demand that a single-player game not force them to be connected to the Internet every time they wish to play.


10. Gamers shall have the right that games which are installed to the hard drive shall not require a CD/DVD to remain in the drive to play.

Now, as a gesture, I can appreciate this. However, it's lacking the necessary details to make this immediately applicable.

Additionally, some of these list items sound more like demands than an actual bill of rights. Notably, 1 and 3.

The first one, the return for a refund one, sounds a little harsh. Granted, it's never fun to buy a game and realize it doesn't work. However, does that really need to be prevented by offering a refund? Why not just make a free program that will test to see if the game will run?

The third one, the meaningful update one, also gets me. So long as the game works, why should the consumer be entitled to more content? Making that content also distracts from other potential games or sequels that the company might be making. The consumer knew what they were getting when they bought the game, right?

Well, maybe that didn't. Having looked at the backs of many PC games, they're all somewhat misleading as to how much fun you'll have while playing the game. Perhaps instead of the demand for more content, the consumer should be protected against false advertising?

The fifth one, the minimum system requirements one, could be modified. It could require companies to post the absolute minimum to run the program, like they've been doing, along with the so called for adequate requirements. That way, there's no loss of important information, and one no longer has to guess whether it's a minimum or a suggested.

Again, while I appreciate the gesture of this, I think it needs a lot more refinement before it's finalized.

Link Chain;
Edge Online -> CRAVE -> Me

Take-Two Finally Safe from EA

EA, the tireless gaming giant, was seeking to envelope Take-Two Interactive and digest it. However, they recently announced that this action would no longer benefit them enough.

However, upon actually reading the article, it says they stopped because they wouldn't get the profits from the holiday season. It says little to nothing about them trying again next year.

Take-Two is famous for currently owning the Civilization franchise which I am a fan of and various sports titles. At one point, they were the only viable competitor to EA's sports games.

Link Chain;
Bloomberg -> Civilization Fanatics -> Me

Why Gnol Will Not be a "Wikipedia Killer"

Perhaps you've heard about the hot new Google product in beta. What happens is you make your own little page about something in which you are the expert in. It's like Wikipedia, but different in that there are authors and they're encouraged to take credit for their work. Additionally, they can add ads to their Knols if they want, effectively monetizing them.

Most people have speculated that Google created Knol to compete with with Wikipedia, but according to Wikipedia, "We welcome the Google Knol initiative. The more good free content, the better for the world."

And that's more like the stance I want to take.

First of all, Knol will end up being much different from Wikipedia. Wikipedia emphasizes anonymous non-paid contribution and professionalism, whereas Knol emphasizes profit-seeking¹ competition and amateurism.

Not that there's anything wrong with profit-seeking competition and amateurism, but it's very different from non-paid cooperation. So I'm predicting their articles will be very different.

Mostly in tone. A Wikipedia article strives for and is endlessly revised to achieve that perfect "Encyclopedia Voice." Conversly, a Knol will be either be in a personal voice or a semi-professional voice. There's nothing inherently bad about either, but they will be different and offer a different feeling to the reader.

Knols would have the liberty to be written about certain things that Wikipedia deems obscure. On Wikipedia, articles have to be on something well known, as arbitrarily defined by the moderators. Articles deemed to be about something relatively unknown would therefore be deleted. While this policy has its merits, it also leaves a handful of unhappy Wikipedia users that want to write about something but can't. Such people would be more than happy to switch to Knol where all content is allowed so long as it isn't ripped off or illegal.

And because a Wikipedia article and a Knol article for a topic will end up being so different, they will probably used to complement each other rather than replace each other.

So I don't see a future where Knol and Wikipedia ruthlessly compete for readers in the future. I see a lax future where both Wikipedia pages and Knol pages are used in concert.

1; I'm sure we can all agree that eventually a large portion of Knol will have ads on them. An Adsense account is not particularly hard to create. Additionally, a quick search around the internet will reveal that most of it has ads. This isn't necessarily a bad, because the ads on a Knol would be on the side and semi-relevant.

Nintendo Loses in Patent Skirmish

Apparently Nintendo was in a patent lawsuit again "Anascape" and apparently they managed to lose.

Basically, this means that the happy analog sticks on the Gamecube controllers and the classic controllers are in patent violation, and can no longer be sold unless Nintendo does something.

Granted, there's no way this will mean no more Gamecube or classic controllers forever. But it might lead to a temporary setback. I'm thinking a few months.

Still though, "Anascape"? That's two letters from "Analescape."

Slashdot
Slashdot's link

Google Maps Adds Walking Directions

Now you can walk to destinations.

But my source makes it sound like it forces you to walk on sidewalks only. Great.

Unsubstantiated Rock Band 2 Rumor

In my last post I complained about why there were no Rock Band 1 tracks in Rock Band 2.

According to a rumor from Kotaku, all the tracks from Rock Band 1 would be included in Rock Band 2.

Now, as crazy as this sounds, especially when you consider Rock Band is published by EA, you have to figure that Harmonix is a company that sort of loves its customers. Heck, they created Guitar Hero just to give the common man an idea of what it's like to be in a band.

Plus, they made bucketloads of money on the last one.

Plus, they make a killing with perephiral sales. And who buys those? New players. So if they sweeten the deal that much more, then they might make more perephireal sales.

Of course, there are just reasons why this makes sense, not reason why they're actually doing it.

Need I repeat this is merely a rumor?

Rock Band 2 Track List

So I got this list from Ultimate Guitar who in turn got it from Kotaku. I've still had more interesting link chains.

01. AC/DC "Let There Be Rock" 1970s
02. AFI "Girl's Gone Grey" 2000's
03. Alanis Morissette "You Oughta Know" 1990's
04. Alice In Chains "Man in the Box" 1990's
05. Allman Brothers "Ramblin' Man" 1970's
06. Avenged Sevenfold "Almost Easy" 2000's
07. Bad Company "Shooting Star" 1970's
08. Beastie Boys "So Whatcha Want" 1990's
09. Beck "E-Pro" 2000's
10. Bikini Kill "Rebel Girl" 1990's
11. I" 1980's
12. Blondie "One Way or Another" 1970's
13. Bob Dylan "Tangled Up in Blue" 1970's
14. Bon Jovi "Livin' on a Prayer" 1980's
15. Cheap Trick "Hello There" 1970's
16. Devo "Uncontrollable Urge" 1980's
17. "Feel the Pain" 1990's
18. Disturbed "Down with the Sickness" 2000's
19. Dream Theater "Panic Attack" 2000's
20. Duran Duran "Hungry Like the Wolf" 1980's
21. Elvis Costello "Pump It Up" 1970's
22. Fleetwood Mac "Go Your Own Way" 1970's
23. Foo Fighters "Everlong" 1990's
24. Guns N' Roses "Shackler's Revenge" 2000's
25. Interpol "PDA" 2000's
26. Jane's Addiction "Mountain Song" 1980's
27. Jethro Tull "Aqualung" 1970's
28. Jimmy Eat World "The Middle" 2000's
29. Joan Jett "Bad Reputation" 1980's
30. Journey "Anyway You Want It" 1970's
31. Judas Priest "Painkiller" 1990's
32. Kansas "Carry On Wayward Son" 1970's
33. L7 "Pretend We're Dead" 1990's
34. Lacuna Coil "Our Truth" 2000's
35. Linkin Park "One Step Closer" 2000's
36. Lit "My Own Worst Enemy" 1990's
37. Lush "De-Luxe" 1990's
38. Mastodon "Colony of Birchmen" 2000's
39. Megadeth "Peace Sells" 1980's
40. Metallica "Battery" 1980's
41. Mighty Mighty Bosstones "Where'd You Go" 1990's
42. Modest Mouse "Float On" 2000's
43. Motorhead "Ace of Spades" 1980's
44. Nirvana "Drain You" 1990's
45. Norman Greenbaum "Spirit in the Sky" 1960's
46. Panic At The Disco "Nine in the Afternoon" 2000's
47. Paramore "That's What You Get" 2000's
48. Pearl Jam "Alive" 1990's
49. Presidents Of The Usa "Lump" 1990's
50. Rage Against The Machine "Testify" 1990's
51. Ratt "Round & Round" 1980's
52. Red Hot Chili Peppers "Give it Away" 1990's
53. Rise Against "Give it All" 2000's
54. Rush "The Trees" 1970's
55. Silversun Pickups "Lazy Eye" 2000's
56. Smashing Pumpkins "Today" 1990's
57. Social Distortion "I Was Wrong" 1990's
58. Sonic Youth "Teenage Riot" 1980's
59. Soundgarden "Spoonman" 1990's
60. Squeeze "Cool for Cats" 1970's
61. Steely Dan "Bodhitsattva" 1970's
62. Steve Miller Band "Rock'n Me" 1970's
63. Survivor "Eye of the Tiger" 1980's
64. System Of A Down "Chop Suey" 2000's
65. Talking Heads "Psycho Killer" 1970's
66. Tenacious D "Master Exploder" 2000's
67. Testament "Souls of Black" 1990's
68. The Donnas "New Kid in School" 2000's
69. The Go-Go's "We Got the Beat" 1980's
70. The Grateful Dead "Alabama Getaway" 1980's
71. The Guess Who "American Woman" 1970's
72. The Muffs "Kids in America" 1990's
73. The Offspring "Come Out & Play (Keep 'em Separated)" 1990's
74. The Replacements "Alex Chilton" 1980's
75. The Who "Pinball Wizard" 1960's
76. Abnormality "Visions" 2000's
77. Anarchy Club "Get Clean" 2000's
78. Bang Camaro "Night Lies" 2000's
79. Breaking Wheel "Shoulder to the Plow" 2000's
80. The Libyans "Neighborhood" 2000's
81. The Main Drag "A Jagged Gorgeous Winter" 2000's
82. Speck "Conventional Lover" 2000's
83. The Sterns "Supreme Girl" 2000's
84. That Handsome Devil "Rob the Prez-O-Dent" 2000's

Personally, there doesn't seem to be that much good stuff. But I have faith in Harmonix to not completely suck when picking songs. Besides, there are plenty of awesome songs yet to pick that weren't in Rock Band or any guitar hero.

Though what really bugs me is why can't they add in tracks that were in Rock Band 1 if there's extra space? I think the 84 song list is more a limit due to work than to memory.

PS3 Dualshock JUST released in Britian

Hah, those poor suckers.

Except not really, because it's not that great of a product.

Sony's new Dualshock controller for PS3 launches in Europe today. The controller finally brings vibration - left out of the original PS3 pads for legal rather than design reasons - back to the Playstation. Rumble is subtly effective, especially on racing games, and is one of those features that you tend to miss when not there. So today's release has got to be good news for PS3 owners right? Not quite. The main problem is the price - the controller costs 40 quid. That's around 10 more than the original Sixaxis PS3 controller and the 360's pad. Reviews suggest the new controller is fine, but is it worth 40 pounds? Heck, is any pad? Any PS3 owners here planning to get one?
- Greg Howson

In the end, I think the British are winning. They're the ones who got Civilization Revolution a month early.

Even though the DS version comes out at the same time everywhere, I'm still a bit miffed.