How Fast Are You?

Once again, lawmakers have decided that technology is evil, because people can do evil things with it. Quoth Ars:

A new bill would require all cell phone cameras to make that shutter-click noise so you’ll be warned when there’s a peeping tom in the locker room with you.

Seriously? That’s what’s occupying your time right now Congress? Did you not notice that economy thingy? It’s been on the news quite a bit, so I’m not sure how you missed it.

Plus, this is another example of dumb lawmaking that will irritate good people, and do nothing to deter the bad ones:

1. It will irritate electronics manufacturers, who would rather spend the little money they have right now staying afloat
2. It will irritate consumers who really like being able to shut off the clicky sound (think nature photogs, live events where making sound would annoy the people around you, etc.)
3. Naughty persons can always find a way to shut their camera up, like by buying an old one, physically disabling the speaker, hacking the firmware, etc.

All right Congress? Get it? Now, back to work please.

Via Ars Technica.

Break free for free!

That Bald Guy calls me a cult member, and he’s right: I have the Apple Kool-Aid running down my face after glugging down gallons of it. But I have taken a positive step.

After spending years paying $99 for a suite of services I never really used that much, I was glad to be getting push synching for my hard-earned dollars. But it wasn’t worth $99.

$12.99 a year, maybe, but not a Franklin. I mean, I can just sync at night.

Thankfully, a new web site has created a way to use Google as a *free* MobileMe alternative with push contacts & calendar on your iPod touch or iPhone, thanks to NuevaSync and Google. In order for this phase of your MobileMe recovery, you will need the iPhone 2.0 OS. To upgrade, connect your iPhone to your computer and click “Check for Updates” in iTunes.

NuevaSync links Google Calendar and Contacts with their Exchange server, which enables you to sync your Google info with devices that support Microsoft Exchange. You can sign up here.

Read more here. And welcome back to reality.

Well, that’s what my great aunt used to say, anyway. Sadly, it now applies to me.
Forgive me, for I have sinned… and not in a good, delicious way.

I’m the Mac Guy ’round these parts. The Cultist. The guy who almost got the tattoo. But now I’ve seen some of the error of my ways. Read on; I’ll be pentitent in short order.

The EFF has been doing wonderful, soul-affirming work against DRM. They are toiling day and night to make sure that your online and offline music purchases are yours when you pay for them, not rented or loaned or watched over like black market food lines by the KGB. Bravo, lads. Bravo.

On the other side of the clue bin was me, clicking on .99 crack in the ITMS like a happy little monkey. Ta-tick. Wee! Ta-tick. Neat!

Today, I got the point.
And from now on, no more clicking. No more endorphine doses in dollar increments. No more filling out my life’s history and having it dial back to the mother ship for approval. Today, I am a free man, and it feels real good.

You can say “Duh” now, if you haven’t already. So, thank you, Cory. Thank you, Bald Guy.

Hell, at this point, I just might go whole hog and install Ubuntu.

Worth1000 has a new Photoshopping contest, Bad Ads 3. I’m only posting this because That Bald Guy called me a cultist, and… um… maybe he’s right. Here’s the proof. Click on “view full”, ‘cuz the fine print is the kicker.

And, just for him, there’s this one, too. I won’t admit I laughed. You can’t make me.

Lupowolf says:

Can’t… wait… must… reach… stamps… with… utility…. belt… urgh…

Makes me want to mail something, like a hermetically sealed collectible picture book of some kind.

You know you want ‘em too. Nerd.