Quote of the Day

"You can make something idiot proof, but they will always make a better idiot."
--Unknown

Downloading YouTube Videos

Hi all my blogger buddies! I just discovered a neat little website that lets you download all those crazy videos of stupid people doing stupid things from YouTube.com. The site is called FileLeacher and I found it throuhg Darknet. You have to go through a couple of different steps to make it work but it looks pretty cool. Now I just wonder how long it's gonna take YouTube to close up the hole. For details on how to play and convert the files check out the Darknet post about it. Enjoy you crazy peda-- I mean videophiles.

ZDNet: "[..] if you own an iPod, it's got CRAP in it [...]"

This is a direct rip from dapreview.net. I'd make comments but pretty much everone know's my stance on DRM. This is a very good and informative video about why DRM is bad, and I think everyone needs to watch it if we're ever gonna stop these corporate machines from telling us what to do with our content. Below is the dapreview text (check out their site if you never have.) but click the link below to see the video.

ZDNet has a very interesting take on the whole Digital Rights Management deal that is going on at the moment. Instead of calling it DRM though, they call it CRAP, which stands for Content, Restriction, Annulment, and Protection.

David Berlind, the executiver Editor, actually gets really excited about the whole deal. He explains that there are three big companies out there trying to force their proprietary DRM systems on the consumer. Should a consumer however decide to switch from an Apple DAP to Sony DAP he will not be able to play the music he has legally purchased.

That's why he recommends not to buy any products with "CRAP" inside them, because they are restricting your rights as a consumer.

Cool Site of the Day - Vox Machina

This is a cool site i found today courtesy of Dvorak's Blog. It's called Vox Machina and it's a text to speech web app. The reason this is kind of cool is because there are a lot of different and newish voices that you can play around with. One problem, no easy way to download the mp3 you created (but if you do a little html hunting it can be done. Enjoy!

Download Of The Day - Push The Freakin Button Pro

Ok, so I obviously stole the Download Of The Day title from Lifehacker, but I like lifehacker and I think of it more as inspiration. Anyway, I just stumbled upon a really nice little app called Push The Freakin Button Pro. It lives in your system tray, and watches for windows to show up (ones that you specify), and click specific buttons on the windows when they appear. It's made my life a lot easier considering how many times a day my comp crashes, and how many error messages I get when it recovers. But you can also set it up to record macros and do all sorts of neat little things. It's a $30 program, and I say it's well worth it. Click the link to check out the app.

Monday Morning on the 4 train

Good morning bloggerinoes. Did you have a good St. Pattie's weekend? Well enough of the chit-chat, I'd like to tell you a little story before I start my work for the day. I take the 4 train every morning from brooklyn heights, to 42nd Street and it's always packed. Today was no exception. The problem with a packed train in NYC is that there are always assholes on it. Always. They're either taking up 6 seats, or wearing a backpack 3 times their size and knocking people over, or they're pushing their entire back up against the pole so nobody else can hold onto it. These people piss everybody off, not just me. I've often complained with other New Yorkers about these assholes, but usually I never say anything to them, untill today.

This morning I was standing on the train, minding my own business, and watching the beginning of "The Weather Man" on my TAVI. I was standing. I noticed that someone sitting next to me got up to get off at a stop, and when they did, the person in the seat next to them, slid over to occupy two seats. No I don't want to come off as an ignorant racist, or anything like that, but this guy was "thugged out". I say this, because if this situation had taken place in the middle of the night, on an almost empty train, I probably would not have said a word.

But it was 8:40 am on a packed 4 train, I was already in a bad mood, it this just did it for me. Another man, tried to sit down next to the "thug" but he would not move over. It made me happy that the mad made it a point to sit anyway. He squeezed himself in between the thug and anothe person, but there was still a good 1 foot of space that the thug would not slide over into.

I finally spoke. I told the guy to just move over and stop being a dick. By the time I realized what I was sayign it was too late. The thug said "What!?" and I said again, "I'm sick of people being dicks on the subway for no good reason. Move over, let the guy sit down, and stop being a dick!" Well the thug moved over, and when the train got to Grand Central, I walked as fast as I could up to my office. I was shocked that I had said something, but it felt good. It felt good to hear a handful of other people on the train agree with me, and scold the thug.

I'm writing this, not to praise myself, but to tell other people out there. When somebody is being an asshole, just for the sake of being an asshole, say something. It really makes a difference. All it takes is that one voice to get everybody started.

DON'T BE A DICK!

St. Patties Day Special - A toast to green heros and villians

Happy St. Patricks Day everybody. In the spirit of the holiday, I've found a very special web site that gives tribute to all our favorite green super heros and villians. If you've ever read a comic book in your life, then take a look. :)

Quote of the day

Guns don't kill people. Bullets kill people. Guns just make them go really really fast.

What do you use your Dell for?

I can't express how funny this video is.

I'm Sorry

I know, it's just wrong. And stupid. And wierd. But watch it anyway.

Cool Internet Tool - Subway Navigator

Here's a cool tool I just discovered on Lifehacker, called Subway Navigator. You can look up the maps from subways in just about any city in the world. You can also choose your start and destination stations, and the navigator will tell you what trains and transfers to take to get there. However, like everything in life, it has one big flaw, no firefox support. IE and Netscape only (does anyone still use netscape?). Anyway, click the link to check out the site.

Man attempts bank robbery armed with a helmet and a bag

Here's a fun news story for the day. A man in Nicosia, Cyprus (don't ask me where that is) walked into a bank while wearing a motorcycle helmet, and carrying an empty bag. He demanded money. Now wouldn't it be nice if we could end the story here, say that the guard arrested him, and he's just a big dumbass. But sadly, that is not the case. The bank gave him the money and let him walk out the door. So the dumbass of the day award definately goes to the bank. I'm wondering how many people are thinking, "Hey, I should try that" right now.

Desire of the Day - The Slanket Blanket

It's time for another desire of the day kiddies. It's that thing you've always wanted, but never knew you did. It's called the Slanket Blanket, and all it is is a regular old blanket, but with built in sleeves. Looks great for gaming / laptop use / remote control / reading / anything you can do from your couch! It's not very techie, but it does look pretty cool. Check out the link to see all the colors and activities that can be accomplished with this giant step forward in blanket technology.

Desire of the Day - The Chopper Computer

No, my desire of the day is not the girl, it's what shes sitting on. It's a super-fast PC made by Chopper Computers. This sucker basically is a road-worthy chopper minus the handle bars, wheels, and engine. The specs on it look amazing too. And to add to it, it's liquid cooled. I've always been skeptical of liquid cooled machines, but they've been popping up more and more lately that I just might have to get one (when I save up some money that is). But ya know what, if I can't have the machine, I'd still take the girl (just kidding Lesley).

Desire of the Day - LG 100 inch LCD

Today is the beginning of my new series of blog posts called "Desire of the Day." Every day I will try (emphasis on the word try) to post about at least 1 new gadget or piece of electronics that I desperately want. Today, it's LG's 100 inch LCD display. Isn't it pretty?

The Real Life Simpsons

It's really funny, just watch it.

The World's Fastest Bug

So, it's 4:15 on a Monday afternoon. I've been coding away all day trying to succesfully parse several different combinations of xml statements, and all I want to do is jump in my car and drive for hours. So what happens to pop up in my RSS reader? This aswome little number courtesy of engadget. This guy put a combo drive in has VW bug. A standard engine for driving on public streets, and this insane Jet engine. Why? I have no freakin idea, but I want one!!

The Truth about DRM

I have here (click The Link to see it) a very well written and thought out argument as to why DRM is wrong for everyone. Even the companies who lock down their stuff with it. More people are realizing it. When will the RIAA and MPAA and even the New Yorker realize that we want to buy content, not licenses. I highly suggest that everyone read this article. It describes the situation far better than I could ever hope to.

Confess-O-Matic, For The Catholic On The Go

Well it's time for another mildly contraversial post by your friend, Geoff. It's a website called the Confess-O-Matic. Just type in your sins, click the cross, and your sins are erased electronically. I have to admit, if I was a catholic, or at least gave a crap about my eternal soul, this would be my home page. The problem with it is that there is no penance. I mean sure it works, but without the anal rape, it's just not the same.