A brilliant mashup between Ke$ha’s Tik Tok and some footage from the original Star Trek series. Enjoy!
Global threats face Internet freedoms
Online freedoms appear to be under threat across the world — with the exception of Australia where a national Internet filter has been shelved.
The European Parliament has voted to approve a call for search engines to keep records of all online activity (in the same way as internet service providers), a move billed as being designed “to tackle online child pornography and sex offending”. The move doesn’t create a law but calls on the European Commission and Council of Ministers to force European countries to change national laws.
There does appear to be some confusion, however. The Italian politician behind the move (speaking to a Swedish website, so take Google’s translation with a double dose of skepticism) says the changes are designed to affect sites such a Facebook and YouTube rather than search engines.
Asked why he used the term “search engines” in the document, he replied (taken word for word from Google Translate) “I did it partly because I wanted that the matter would be addressed. But also because I write about search engine all know what this is about, you do not I write about content providers.” Minus the dodgy translation, it appears he is saying the document used the term “search engine” because it is better known. That doesn’t seem a very sensible approach to what could be the basis of legislation.
Meanwhile Thailand is cracking down on websites “deemed to be defamatory to the monarchy”, having so far closed 43,000 such sites. The government has warned that internet service providers must comply with official demands or lose their license.
And Pakistan is reportedly investigating whether Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg bears any criminal responsibility for the site’s pages featuring depictions of the prophet Muhammad which led it to being blocked in the country. While it’s highly unlikely to go that far, the investigation is said to be centered on the offense of blasphemy, which can carry the death penalty in the country.
So for those in the Northern hemisphere wanting to avoid both the upcoming shortening evenings and the threat of online restrictions, Australia might be the place to be. A government plan to block sites which appear on an unpublished blacklist now looks unlikely to make it into legislation in the immediate future. The governing party appears to have decided that it won’t risk bringing in new laws and raising a controversy that would still be fresh during national elections expected later this year.
Earth: The Pale Blue Dot
Titled after one of Carl Sagan’s famous speeches, The Pale Blue Dot (if you’ve never heard it, I strongly suggest that you check it out), the following time-lapse video was produced by motion graphics artist Michael Marantz to pay homage not only to our planet, but to the resilience of the human spirit. Truly a fitting tribute to the beauty of our world.
Five Things You Should Never Say to Your D&D Party
A few months ago I wrote a post about things you should never say to your DM during a D&D—or any RPG–campaign. And while the DM wields the most power, you can’t underestimate the importance of good group rapport. Over the last two years I’ve absolutely lucked out with a fantastic group of players. We all have very different playing styles, but we have a great dynamic. And a huge part of our success has to do with mutual respect and a general understanding of our individual playing styles and preferences.
But until this fantastic group, I hadn’t had the best luck with groupings in the past. Finding good party members is a balancing act at best, and can quickly spiral into ultimate fail—something about personal characters and competition that can just bring out the worst in people.
Yet, I think that many of the issues cropping up around the D&D table can be avoided with just a little etiquette. So, here’s some tips to bring peace to your D&D party, some general suggestions to keep in mind before you roll the dice.
“Man, looks like I’m going to take care of this boss all by myself the way I’m rolling!”
Don’t gloat.
It’s a game. We’re all at the mercy of the dice. But if the paladin next to you can’t seem to roll over a three, don’t rub it in that you’ve just rolled two crits and are on your way to destroying every last creature on the board single handedly. If your party member is in trouble, it’s your job—as a group—to help them out. Making them feel bad only adds to frustration and can lead to a boiling pot atmosphere. Instead of offering jibes pointing out the low rolls, how about thinking of ways your character can aid them. Or just offer some words of comfort. We all know how fickle the dice are, and pointing out someone’s bad day is just uncool.
Tags: D&D, dungeons and dragons, RPG, RPGs
The Rise of Social Gaming & Zynga [Infographic]
The rise of Facebook and MySpace has brought with it a rise in “Social Gaming” – free to play games, often played by “casual gamers.” While these players do not spend money on platforms or subscriptions, they spend small dollards buying virtual goods. When you have a user base of 235 million, the little stuff adds up.
Dear Yellow Pages… [PIC]
OMG: First Official StarCraft II TV Commercial
Oh. My. God.
This is going to be awesome.
Yeah, yeah, you don’t have to tell me. I know it’s a pre-rendered animation… but I don’t care! It’s going to be awesome anyways!
Wait for it: July 27th, 2010.
Google’s Napping Pods Look Awesome
I’m totally jealous of the people working at Google right now. Check this out:
Yes, this is what Googlers call an “energy pod”. I personally know quite a few people who’d use that thing extensively. Heck, I’d even set one up in my home if I could! Not sure my wife would consent though considering the device’s retail price: $8000.
Amazing Batman Short Fan Film: City of Scars [Video]
When the Joker escapes from Arkham and murders the parents of a young boy, Batman recalls the pain of losing his own parents as a child. He is pushed past his limits to the point where his focus becomes revenge on all who stand in his way, including many of Gotham’s underworld. Finally, Batman is forced to look at the psychological profile of his own mind and accept the consequences of his life to find resolve.
Thanks Sherry!
13 Things Worth Knowing About Super Mario [Infographic]
In the history of video game characters, it could be argued that none are quite as iconic as Mario and his brother Luigi from the ubiquious Mario Bros. franchise. You would be hard pressed to find a single person under the age of forty who has never played at least one of the countless variations of this legendary game.