Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead

The New York Times finally figured it out.

Amazing!

As of September 19, the New York Times has ended their TimesSelect program that charged online readers a fee for certain content. In a letter to their readers, the Times explains reason for the change.

“Since we launched TimesSelect in 2005, the online landscape has altered significantly. Readers increasingly find news through search, as well as through social networks, blogs and other online sources. In light of this shift, we believe offering unfettered access to New York Times reporting and analysis best serves the interest of our readers, our brand and the long-term vitality of our journalism. We encourage everyone to read our news and opinion – as well as share it, link to it and comment on it.”

Personally, I don’t think that the online landscape has shifted much when it comes to paying for content. Online readers don’t like paying.

The Internet was originally designed to be a free environment where ideas were shared among users. Users like this concept, but some corporations simply can’t adapt their capitalistic thinking.

It’s about time that the leading newspaper in this country learned from their mistake and made a correction.

Let’s all join the Munchkins and sing:
Ding Dong! The Witch is dead.

Leopold Strabismus Lives On

For those of you who have read the James Michener novel Space, the name Leopold Strabismus and the thoughts of his little green men will no doubt bring a smile to your face. The loveable, conniving brains behind the Universal Space Agency would probably laugh hysterically if he heard about Lunar Embassy.

The brainchild of self proclaimed Head Cheese Dennis Hope, Lunar Embassy claims that it is the only organization that can legally sell you property on the moon.

According to many, including CNN, Lunar Embassy's claims are, well, lunacy.

Sorry for the groaner, but I had to borrow that pun from the Chinese government. It was just too good to pass up.

For a mere $19.99 you can by 1 acre of prime lunar real estate that comes with an official looking deed with your name printed on it. If that's not enough for all of you space pioneers, you can also buy property on Mars, Venus and Mercury.

Is this legal? Nope. Your deed won't hold up in a court of law that's held in any universe.

But this scam is also not illegal. As Stanley Mott found out in Space, Leopold Strabismus and Dennis Hope give people exactly what is advertised. Strabismus gave his subscribers newsletters about little green men, and Hope gives his patrons a worthless deed with their name on it.

P. T. Barnum was absolutely right.

A TV in Every Room? Just Say No

Chris Pirillo of Lockergnome recently stated the following:

The effects of television today cannot be easily summed up as simply good or bad. The viewing of television is more than the subject matter viewed. The loss of time to do other things can be more the problem. Time to view television grows larger with each year of life in the age of the cathode ray tube and liquid crystal screen.

I agree. The amount of time that people spend in front of the television is incredible.

But the days of the family gathering in front of the TV with a bowl of popcorn to watch a show are long gone. These days there seems to be a TV in every room, and everyone goes to their own space in the house to watch their favorite show.

How sad.

I must admit that my house has two TVs. I love TV, and so does everyone in my family. Sometimes the convenience of two TVs is helpful to retain peace in the household.

However, my children will never have a TV in their bedroom. My wife and I just don't think that it's healthy. We would rather see them playing outside or spending their TV time with us watching shows as a family.

I think that we are fairly typical in our viewing habits. We all enjoy various sitcoms, cartoons, game shows. Who doesn't?

However, much of the TV that we watch is educational. My 8 year old daughter is a huge fan of This Old House, Trading Spaces, the History channel, and Discovery.

We enjoy watching those shows together and have all learned something from them. How else would we have found out that T-Rex was a scavenger and not the ferocious hunter of Jurassic Park fame?

I agree with Chris Pirillo that TV has sapped much of the time that we used to spend doing hobbies or talking with others.

With judicious use, however, it does not have to become the mind-numbing, isolationist activity that it has become.

The TV can be an interesting educational supplement and an enjoyable family activity.

Do you really need a TV in every room?

I don't think so.

University Threats Are Not Funny

Is this a joke?

"I think you should kill some of those asses . . . or better, let loose the walshman on their asses!! I'll kill em!" Andrew Walsh wrote from his Facebook profile, which included a photograph of a young man brandishing a large gun.

"We'll call a general SA meeting in Bolton 150 . . . then when everyone's seated . . . we'll lock the doors and out pop my guys with HK mp5's . . . and we'll take care of em! Hahahahahaha."

As an adult student at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, this is no joke.

However, a college education apparently doesn’t equate to common sense. At least not to UWM graduate Andrew Walsh who posted these statements on a friend’s Facebook page.

Hello, McFly. Is anybody home in there?

Thankfully, this was in fact a joke. But university officials, campus police and the Federal Joint Task Force on Terrorism took this threat seriously and ensured the safety of the students and faculty.

In light of the recent shootings at Virginia Tech, just about anyone with an ounce of common sense would realize that this isn’t funny.

Sarcasm, satire and other types of humor are extremely difficult to portray online when key elements of humor such as vocal inflections and facial expressions cannot be conveyed.

Even professional writers struggle with this battle. Just look at how often someone takes a story in The Onion seriously.

Just because you think that your writing or online posting is funny does not mean that others will interpret it as humorous rhetoric.

Sometimes a little common sense and a pause before that final click can avoid a serious misunderstanding.

Isnt’ that right, McFly…..er…..Mr. Walsh?

Save Your iPod from Windows Vista

Do you have an iPod that is connected to a PC running Windows Vista? If so, you should ensure that you download the following patch to prevent your iPod from being corrupted.

I still think that it is quite ironic that the iPod can be corrupted after the "Safely Remove Hardware" message was displayed.

It's also somewhat ironic that Microsoft and Apple partnered to develop the fix, especially since the iPod is a direct competitor with the Zune.

Times sure are changing.

$1,500 Keyboard is Crazy

Talk about crazy!

Set to debut in November, the Optimus Maximus is a very cool dynamic keyboard that allows you to change the symbol on each key of the keyboard because each key contains a 36 x 36 pixel display.

The $1,500 price tag is ridiculous in an era when almost all keyboards are cheaply made and disposable.

Spilling a soda on that new keyboard could be a very costly mistake, indeed.

While I generally like the idea, that price tag is just too much to get over. What's next, a $1,000 mouse that lets you display a picture on the front?

Hey, now that's not a bad idea.

Bill Gates, Be A Hero

In a case that smacks of McCarthyism, Russian headmaster Alexander Ponosov has been found guilty of using 12 illegal copies of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office on his school’s computers.

Have the Russian authorities lost their mind?

In a world where gangs of hackers steal millions of dollars of software each year, this teacher is being prosecuted for allegedly stealing software worth approximately 5,000 rubles, or $194 American dollars.

What a joke.

In a previous Tech Free Press posting, I urged Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates to be a hero and intercede on Ponosov’s behalf. Instead, Microsoft issued the following statement:

"Our interest is not in prosecuting schools or teachers, it is in helping students develop the technology skills they need in the 21st century. Mr. Ponosov's case was initiated by Russian authorities under Russian law. Microsoft neither initiated nor has any plans to bring any action against Mr. Ponosov," Microsoft said.

Surprisingly, Uncle Bill didn’t listen to my recommendation back in February. Maybe now that readership of this blog has increased to nearly 70 readers per day he’ll realize that my opinion matters more.

Then again, he does own the majority interest in the largest software company currently in existence and has more lawyers than I have readers.

I have to do something about that!

Perhaps an e-mail to Mark Cuban would help. He may not get as much credit for philanthropy as Bill Gates, but Cuban knows how to shake things up when it really matters.

To be fair to Bill Gates and Microsoft, Ponosov brought some of this trouble on himself. The case was thrown out of court in February, but it was reopened at Ponosov’s urging because he was not found completely innocent.

Doh!

Regardless, it’s time that this case was ended once and for all. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called this case “utter nonsense.”

At least he understands.

Hopefully someone will step in and help this poor, addled soul. Anyone who has charges against themselves reinstated needs some outside intervention.

Loyal readers, please help. Let’s e-mail Bill Gates and ask him to help Mr. Ponosov. According to several sources, Uncle Bill’s e-mail address is billg@microsoft.com.

Do I really think that this e-mail address will work? Probably not.

But hey, you’ll never know what the response will be unless you ask.

Is Yahoo Serious?

Is a two minute video of someone stacking 20 dice a major news story? Does anyone even care?

I think not.

While sort of interesting, I doubt that this video would hardly even be viewed on YouTube.

Maybe the folks at Yahoo are trying to drive down the price so that Microsoft can afford to buy the company.

Oh, wait. Microsoft has more money than most small countries. My bad.

I have just one big of advice for Microsoft: beware of Yahoo. It's nothing but trouble.

Rush Continues Technological Innovation

According to the Rush.com Web site, the MVI version of the band’s new disc, Snakes & Arrows, will be available on June 5.

MVI, which is short for Music Video Interactive, offers features beyond those of a standard DVD. MVI discs play in all standard DVD players, computers and DVD-enabled gaming consoles.

Just check out the cool features listed on the Rush site that will be included in the Snakes & Arrows MVI DVD:

• The entire album in 96kHz/24 bit hi-resolution stereo
• The entire album in 5.1 surround sound
• Rush: The Game of Snakes & Arrows – a 45-minute documentary on the making of the album, with unprecedented access to the band in the studio
• The ability to create your own mobile ringtones using UrTone technology
• Digital extras like wallpapers, buddy icons, a screensaver and more
• Deluxe packaging

Rush has always been at the forefront of technology and they have included hi-tech goodies with their albums whenever they could. Cool artistic software, drum charts, short documentaries, and Easter eggs are just some examples of what Rush has included with previous CDs or DVDs.

Even their Flash-based Web site it professionally designed and cutting edge.

After more than 30 years of groundbreaking music and innovative use of technology, Rush definitely deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.