FCC Chair Kevin Martin's nationwide wireless broadband plan
So Kevin Martin (not the one who used to post here. The other one.) is apparently set on auctioning off a large portion of the wireless spectrum to whomever can provide nationwide wireless broadband — free of charges and free or porn. Which, to me, is where it gets really interesting. I’m a freedom of speech nut and, in my mind, porn falls squarely under “speech.” But I also believe free internet access to all Americans is, perhaps, equally important.
So which is more important? Absolute, no-exceptions free speech that cuts off our figurative noses to spite our information-craved faces? Or free data nationwide that sets a dangerous precedent? And for any free-marketeers out there, are we at a point where we can consider internet access a utility like electric and water? Or does the U.S. Government have no business pushing free internet?
Ask TheScrabbled: Laser Eye Surgery
Has anyone had this done? How did you find your doctor? What are your results?
Recording Music
I took a nice 4-night 3-day beach vacation this past weekend at some friends’ bungalow in Belmar. Sunday night, my buddy Brian and I goofed around enough to create a few killer tracks (or at least the beer said it was killer). We took turns playing either a push organ or a snare/maracas setup, while we both made up sounds and harmonies.
As usual, we were upset to not have anything to record with. Is a 4-tracker recorder a good idea? I have an iMac and Garage Band. Should I just use that and get a good microphone?
I've got a question for all of you!
Does anyone know how to convert a Sony Vegas file into a Flash file?
I think there are free Flash converters online, so any advice as far as how to go about it, and which converter to use will help!
Thanks
iPhone and iPod Touch Apps
So have any of you guys tried some of the new apps available from the app store?
So far I’ve gotten AIM, MLB: At Bat, Cube Runner, Remote, Weather Bug and Box Office.
Read more for mini-reviews.
The Best iPod Dock
I’m going to do some online research on my own. But I always like hearing your stupid opinions on things so: does anyone own a portable iPod audio system (dock and speakers, you know)?
Does it charge the iPod when plugged in? How long does a full charge last? Is it a separate volume from the iPod’s volume (so you can save iPod energy)? How loud does it get? What was the cost? Are you happy? Have you heard of better? Anything weird or particular to say about the one you’ve got?
I might get one, I might not, who knows.
the center of the world
a few weeks ago, i bought the june 18 issue of u.s. news world report with the cover story headline reading “where your gas money goes: record oil prices fuel the ambitions of the united arab emirates.”
Radiation + Cell Phones
Find out how much radiation your cell phone puts out! The one I own, the Motorola SLVR L2, is in the top 3 highest! Uh-Oh!
Radiohead - Nude - Remixed
John might be the only person who likes this…It’s got a really slow startup, just let it play.
You are your job
We have a web-based tech repair notification system here at the school where I work. When something is broken, a teacher will file a request on this website, and I get an email saying that there is a request (which, incidently, just creates more paperwork than if the teacher just emailed me directly). I then go to the website to login.
ATTN mac users
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Waffles.fm
Waffle.fm seems to be the best replacement for the defunct Oink.cd site. Of course, you need an invite and I don’t have one. Anybody on theScrabbled in on Waffle.fm?
This is all I have to say about my possible membership: I learned my lesson at Oink.cd. I intend on only using this site for the very rarest of files and will not abuse Waffles.fm availability when I could use PirateBay.org for damn near everything. And of course, I will seed for days after downloading (which I’ve always done).
Dropbox
Dropbox is a web drive (as in a hard drive on the web) that instantly syncs any changes you make to the files within to all machines that are set up with your dropbox account. The screencast on the website seems pretty friggin’ awesome.
Hooray For Presents
i am posting from my couch on my ps3. you know, as opposed to posting from my couch on my mac book. BUT ITS ON MY TV MAN!!!
streaming internet porn has never made more sense.
MySpace Won't Let Me Go
I’ve deleted my account three times so far and I’m still in the goddam system. Just now I received an email that one of my friends is apparently having a birthday soon. But I’m not going and checking it. Fuck you, MySpace. I won’t be your free ad hit. You can tell me whose birthday it is in the friggin’ email cause I’m not logging in to check. If it’s your birthday, I don’t care. Fuck your birthday. I hate you and I hate myspace. God fucking damnit.
10 Useful Web Apps for Teachers
I know there’s a few teachers on here and these free apps all seems pretty awesome. Worth checking out.
I, Guitar
Tired of having to stop playing in the middle of a show to tune up? Too lazy to turn 6 little knobs a couple of times?
Moore's Law
Scientific American has this really cool two minute video that explains Moore’s Law, the exponential growth in computing power that occurs in society. Sort of a common sense thing for the most part. If you dig it, subscribe to the 60 Second Video podcast. The link is above the vid.
How Your Creepy Ex-Coworker Will Kill Facebook
I’ve been toying with the idea of eliminating my social network presence for many of the reasons Cory Doctorow goes into here. I don’t really gain anything from being on myspace or friendster. I’m constantly annoyed by constant friending and spam. It seems once a week I’m led into awkward social interactions with people I wish had forgotten I ever existed. The times I do hang out on these sites, it’s always because I’m procrastinating something I should be doing.
Super Mario Brothers Theme played through Tesla Coils
“The music that you hear is coming from the sparks that these two identical high power solid sate Tesla coils are generating. There are no speakers involved.”