Listen to Eric Schmidt at Princeton
Google Chairman is speaking at the Turing Centennial Celebration at Princeton University.
Listen to him live, here.
Two New Piracy Warnings To Punish Legit Customers
You know what’s awesome? Punishing your paying customers for buying instead of pirating material.
We’ve seen it before with intrusive DRM, and now DVD buyers are getting another dose.
The US Government is mandating that two unskippable anti-piracy warnings appear at the start of movies. These warnings will stay on-screen for 10 seconds each.
Why’s This A So Dumb You Ask?
Because if someone is ripping the movie, they can edit these stupid warnings out! Never-mind if the warning makes sense… The people who are supposed to receive the message won’t (and if they did, they still wouldn’t care). While those of us who do buy DVDs will now be subject to a 20 second threat that doesn’t pertain to us.
I feel like I’m back in elementary school, and the teacher is scolding the whole class for something that a few of my classmates did.
To hell with Hollywood. It’s bad business to make it hard for people to buy your product, and it’s pathetic to punish, chastise, and threaten your paying customers.
(Via Ars Technica)
My Neighborhood’s Gone To Hell
Off topic
My neighborhood has officially gone to shit. After five years without any problems (spare one very humorously stereotypical proposition from a hooker), this place has become a total madhouse.
I have a neighbor who has been stealing from me. I don’t buy a lot of things, but when I do, I usually order online because I loath shopping. This week I ordered a few inexpensive items (mostly because I had Amazon credit burning a whole in my pocket). One arrived, and was sitting at my door with the box torn open (nothing missing). The other two disappeared.
Ironically enough, one of the missing items is a book that Adriana Lukas recommended I read; The Sociopath Next Door. Seriously… I couldn’t make this shit up if I tried.
I was all fired-up to build an elaborate hidden camera system, and set a trap to catch this bastard… But then things got worse.
On Friday, someone shot-up one of my neighbors homes and killed the poor man. What scares me most about this is that it is believed that the shooter hit the wrong home.
This is all in addition to a steady stream of insane behavior that goes on outside my door between 11pm and 3am nearly every single night.
New Brunswick has never been the safest of towns, but I’ve hit a breaking point. I’ve fucking had it. It’s time to move.
Bunch of savages in this town.
Avengers Day! May the Thor-th Be With You
It’s Avengers release day! I’m just sitting in the theater waiting for shindig to start so I can enjoy all of its Whedony goodness.
I’m so excited for this… It better not disappoint. No. It won’t disappoint. In Joss we trust.
The lights are going down.
I’ll be back with colorful commentary later-ish.
Free Comic Book Day 2012: Saturday, May 5
Free Comic Book Day is this Saturday, May 5 – The day after The Avengers hits theaters (probably not a coincidence).
Go on down to your local comic shop. They’ll have tons of free stuff, and great sales.
Personally, I’m going to pick up my copies of the Star Wars/ Serenity and Buffy/ The Guild (Don’t judge if you’ve never seen Buffy. That show is magnificent).
Duck Hunt – Ya Dun F*cked Up
At New York Comic Con I met pixel artist Adam “Squarepainter” Shub. He creates incredible 8 and 16 bit paintings inspired by classic video games.
I immediately knew I was going to commission something from him, but I had no idea what I wanted. I was paralyzed by options. After a couple very geeky conversations we settled on something inspired by Duck Hunt. What Adam made exceeded my expectations.
It’s equal parts geeky, funny, and crass, and this pleases me.
It’s hanging in my hall near my front door. Every time I see it, I smile.
Check out all of Adam’s paintings
Who is Thanos – The Man with the Purple Grin
Call it a hunch, but I suspect many non-comic geeks are going to be asking this question over the next few weeks:
Who is Thanos, AKA, the man with the purple grin?
Thanos was created by comic writer/ artists Jim Starlin in Iron Man 55.
Those who studied psychology might recognize his name’s connection to the thanatos complex, or death drive. While students of mythology will know that Thanatos (Thanatus in Latin) is the embodiment of death. At this point you might be noticing a pattern.
Thanos is a character obsessed with death. Literally. He spent his villainous career courting Death (a purple cloaked skeletal god of death in the Marvel Universe). His obsession has led him to kill a lot of people in hopes of winning her affection.
Kate Moss could totally play her!
In terms of strength, durability, and energy projection he’s on the of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe. However his intellect is his most potent weapon. Thanos stories always involve grandiose schemes that play-out over many issues (a trait common of many Starlin characters and comics). What sets Thanos apart from most other villains is that his plans generally work perfectly. When he is defeated it’s usually because he doesn’t feel he is worthy of Death’s love, and allows his opponents to win in some way (my over-simplification makes it sound less interesting that it is).
The Bottom-line
Thanos is a total badass of a character, and has been one of my favorite characters for many years.
His stories are deeply psychological, and very twisted. He’s the kind of character that Joss Whedon could have a lot of fun with if he were to perhaps stick around for an Avengers sequel.
If Thanos interests you, you should checkout Infinity Gauntlet. This is the definitive Thanos story, and one of the most fun superhero tales ever told.
