The cockamamie (dont ask me why I just typed that word) plan to devote a chunk of AWS-3 spectrum to free wi-fi can eliminate one enemy from its massive list of detractors: people who would use the bandwidth for streaming MegaPorn videos at 10kbps.

This would be people like myself!

In an interview with Ars Technica, FCC chair Kevin Martin confirmed that the latest iteration of the proposal has eliminated the smut filter. A piece of the interview went a little like this…

Why the change? “I’m saying if this is a problem for people, let’s take it away,” Martin said. “A lot of public interest advocates have said they would support this, but we’re concerned about the filter. Well, now there’s an item in front of the Commissioners and it no longer has the filter. And I’ve already voted for it without the filter now. So it’s already got one vote.”

“Got anybody else?” I asked him.

“Not yet,” Martin admitted with a chuckle.

More relevant, however, is that last tidbit: this thing ain’t never gonna pass. Despite being a poorly planned scheme from the very beginning, its list of enemies is pretty much everyone whose approval is needed to get this through: the Bush Administration, cable companies, congressional leaders, and on and on. So despite being a good move for removing censorship and all, this plan still needs quite a bit more drawing board time!!

Tags: Ars Technica, AWS-3, bandwidth, FCC, Kevin Martin, streaming porn, wi-fi, worldgaming

A Georgia law that went into effect yesterday will require that all sex offenders not not only turn over their email addresses and screen names to authorities (which goes back to 2006) but all their passwords as well.

Georgia is one of 15 states requiring sex offenders to give their email addresses, screen names and “other internet handles” to authorities, and now the second (after Utah) to force them to give up their passwords as well, giving authorities unlimited access to monitor their email and other internet activities.

State Senator Cecil Staton told MSNBC, “We limit where they can live, we make their information available on the Internet. To some degree, we do invade their privacy…But the feeling is, they have forfeited, to some degree, some privacy rights.”

Obviously, privacy groups, like the Southern Center for Human Rights are concerned by the law, though there haven’t been any legal challenges to it yet.

So, it begs the question…one step too far, or totally legit?

I say legit, we have to monitor these pervs!!!

Tags: Georgia law, internet, MSNBC, passwords turned over, sex offenders, worldgaming

I was such a loser back in the day and many would agrue that I still am. My Radio Flyer wagon had a busted wheel and rust. The concept above, dubbed Cloud 9, has an MP3 player and more.

So all that means I’m feeling pretty inadequate right now. And why shouldn’t I? As CNN notes in their report on the latest invention out of Radio Flyer’s Chicago-based HQ, this thing has enough gadgets and gizmos to give the family mini-fan a serious case of dick envy.

First, there’s the aforementioned MP3 player and speaker system, meaning this could very well be the first wagon that little Timmy and friends will use to ghost ride down a cul de sac.

And when he gets tired of that, he can strap himself in to one of the two bucket seats using a five-point racing harness. At his fingertips will be a digital display panel, complete with temperature readouts, odometer and speedometer. Got a Juicy Juice sippy cup handy? No worries. The Cloud 9 has cupholders too.

Seriously, this thing is fucking ridiculous.

“We approached this product much like an automotive company might with a concept car,” said Mark Johnson, Radio Flyer’s product development manager.

Should the Cloud 9 see the light of day, and there’s a pretty good chance that it will, the asking price will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,000. That’s a small price to pay to ensure that your son or daughter has the stuff necessary to crush the spirits of the other neighborhood children and their parents.

Tags: Cloud 9, little red wagon, pimped out, Radio Flyer, worldgaming

According to the Washington Post, realistic shitting dolls are a must-have item this holiday season. Man, I can’t wait to have kids.

Dolls like “Baby Alive” come with special “green beans” and “bananas” that can be fed to the doll, “digested” and “defecated.” To enhance the fun, Baby Alive occasionally takes a dump prematurely creating a lifelike mess for you to clean up.

Awesome right?

Then there is the “Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Gotta Go Doll” with over 60 realistic phrases and fun sounds. It comes complete with a magic toilet that must be flushed after each use.

Curiously, the “Oops I Crapped My Pants Doll” was left off the list. I mean, those other dolls cost over $40 while the pants crapper can be had for only $9. Now that’s what I call value. Unfortunately, I can’t promise that your child won’t cry and hate you if you purchase this as a Christmas gift.

Tags: Baby Alive, hot toy for 2008, Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Gotta Go Doll, pants shitting doll, Washington Post, worldgaming

In what comes as a complete shock and a horrible disappointment to anyone who likes getting drunk and staying up all night, the MillerCoors company announced yesterday it will stop producing the popular Sparks 7% Alcohol by Volume Energy Drink.

Reason being: the City of San Francisco and the Attorney Generals of 13 other states have successfully won litigation with the MillerCoors company on grounds that the energy drink/alcohol concoction was improperly marketed to younger children. These underage boozers were said to be drawn to the products by branding them as ‘an energy booster’ and partying stimulant due to its ingredients of guarana, caffeine, taurine and ginseng.

What’s crazy is that Sparks was so popular but the makers have never produced a television ad or directly sought out underage drinkers to buy its product, but the prosecutors argued that the drink is heavily associated with drinks like Red Bull and Monster which are already popular with the kids.

In my opinion that sounds like a bullshit argument. Is the mere fact that taurine, caffeine, and guarana are contained in the product enough to say that they are ‘marketed to the youth’? Is it possible ‘of age’ drinkers also enjoyed energy boosts and the ability to ‘party longer’.

I’m over 21. I like to party. I’ve drank Sparks once or twice. 

All packaging clearly says ‘contains alcohol’ and 7 or 8% by volume, a malt liquor beverage. And I’m pretty sure liquor store owners are smart enough to stop underage kids from walking out of their store with these drinks.

So whose fault is it?

This isn’t a major blow to the MillerCoors though. It syays it will still produce the drink after reformulating the ingredients and removing all the energy drink-style components.

Sparks is the leading brand in the alcohol energy drink market, with a 60% market share. However, Sparks only makes up 1% of MillerCoors total volume. So even if it was shelved, it won’t hurt Miller who is drunk off profits from Miller Lite, “Good Call”.

Tags: 7% alcohol, advertising, alcohol energy drinks, marketing, MillerCoors, Sparks, worldgaming

 
Bright Bike from Michael Mandiberg on Vimeo.

Want to not get run over by 18 wheelers while cycling, but afraid to look like a nerd with all the reflectors? Enter Scotchlite 680, a vinyl that reflects white only in the light.

Michael Mandiberg turned his ride into the Bright Bike by layering it with adhesive Scotchlite 680, for a dark-as-the-Batmobile look by day, and a safe reflective glow by night. You can order Scotchlite 680 at Beacon Graphics in New Jersey or wherever fine signage materials are sold.

Tags: Bright Bike, censors, reflectors, Scotchlite 680, white light, worldgaming

If you’re the kind of nerdy scientist who drinks wine in a box but has a couple of high-powered titanium electrodes lying around, you’re in luck, because a short blast of electricity can really improve your swill.

Scientists and oenologists (did you know there’s a word for wine dorks? Other than wino?) have discovered that they can rapidly age and thus round out the flavor of cheap, gross wine by using powerful electrodes. This technique is mostly being applied to raw, young wines, but it very much improves the flavor and “mouthfeel” of cheap and dirty wines as well. Wine is pumped through a pipe running between two titanium electrodes, which increases the reactions between alcohols and acids. Those reactions produce esters, which contribute to fruitiness and flavor.

They also found that too much electricity can create gross new flavors from new aldehydes, rendering it worse than it began, but a few super snobs have testified that the artificial aging really does work. The efforts were begun in China by chemist Xin An Zeng, and now a number of Chinese wineries are investigating the possibilities.

Personally, I’ve been waiting for electrified wine for years.

I bet college girls everywhere are elated…stay classy!!!!

Tags: China by chemist Xin An Zeng, electrified, oenologists, scientist, wine, worldgaming

Perhaps when you start using a dead dog whose inner body cavity has been used for drug smuggling purposes as your narrator, things have gone too far?

But what do I know?

The outrage over this commercial in England just proves that killing off regular schmucks on TV elicits no reaction from people, but throw in a few cute little dogs and everyone will absolutely flip their shit. Some people need to get their priorities in order.

Tags: anti-drugs, Britian, Europe, Pablo the Drug Mule Dog, worldgaming

I couldn’t make this up if I tried. This kid’s name (who is pictured above) is actually Adolf Hitler. No, really. And his parents are mad because their local Shop Rite wouldn’t make li’l Adolf a cake with his name on it for his third birthday.

Normally I’d post part of the story below but this is such a shitty thing that I don’t even want to. But you can read the whole story here if you’d like.

It’s good to know that Wal-Mart will forego any concerns for decency and throw all moral standards out the window in order to make $13 on a birthday cake. But on the bright side, it’s refreshing to see someone take a stand for the little (racist) guy.

But I was left wondering, if Wal-Mart would put “Adolf Hitler” on a cake, could ANYONE walk in and get their name on a special birthday cake? Oh, and did I mention that my name is “Wal-Mart Loves Big Floppy Donkey Dicks”?

Tags: Add new tag, Aldolf Hitler, birthday, cake, kids, Shop Rite, three years old, worldgaming

Today Google rolled out a Labs feature that allows you to quickly send SMS messages via Gchat which is perfect for continuing to antagonize your contacts with your witty links well after they leave their computer.

Just go to the Labs area in preferences to turn it on. You can then just enter any number in the Chat contacts bar, or add numbers to your existing contacts. Messages show up being sent from your own unique 406 area code number, and replies will be router back into the Gchat window. You’ve been able to do this with other IM services for a while, but if you’re like me and everyone I know and rarely leave your Gmail, this is awesome!!!

Tags: annoy, awesome, Gmail, message, phone, SMS text messaging, worldgaming