If the always-on thing isn't there as a copyright enforcement thing, a crack to remove it won't run afoul of the DMCA. Thanks for giving your blessing on that, EA.

Why would politicians want to tackle a difficult social problem when they can just demonize gun owners or gamers and still act like they are trying to "do something"?

The actual quote was in the context of Obamacare. I believe the point was that this legislation makes the same logic error with respect to Terms of Service. Pelosi's actual words were “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what’s in it.”

That one seemed a little weird. Obviously a terrorist who's planning to attack the plane, or wanted for some crime, or on the no-fly list would be in trouble trying to board a plane, but is it illegal to be a terrorist in and of itself? Some terror groups like Hamas and the IRA also have political fronts. Members involved solely in the group's attempts to go legitimate could still be described as terrorists. What's their standing before the law? Then you have situations like Bill Ayers where the guy is a terrorist but also a friend of the President. Good luck telling him he can't get on the plane.

Anyone know of any good double-blind studies comparing people's ability to tell FLAC from 320kbps MP3? Googling just turns up people debating in forums whether you would be able to tell the difference rather than any serious academic research.

... although the UN notes this cannot be done unilaterally ...

I'm pretty that a cease-fire CAN be broken unilaterally. All you have to do is start attacking the other side again.

Actually, this is one form of copy protection that DOESN'T work. The fact is, I was all ready to buy the game. I actually buy all my games, haven't pirated one in forever. (I'm old, employed, $60 is no biggie).

Now I won't buy the game simply because I couldn't play it if I did, and I don't want a game that forces me to save games online, be online when I play, can't be played on an airplane or in the car, etc. And it will stop working once they get tired of hosting the servers.

I've bought every SimCity game ever made and many other sim games from Maxis. Paid money, not pirated. 1, 2k, 3k, 4, Societies, Sim Copter, even Sim Tower and The Sims 1 and 2, simant, simfarm, and so on. I just can't buy this in good conscience because I don't know if I will be able to use it like I wanted to. And that is sad, since I love their games. Maybe, just maybe, I will buy it if someone comes out with a cracked version, and just use the cracked version. I don't mind spending the money, I just don't like being treated like a criminal once I've given them the money. At least with Steam, I can play most games offline and on different computers.

While we're on the topic of warrantless wiretaps, there's something I've been trying to figure out.

Bush starts the warrantless wiretap thing, the reaction from the left is to fume with anger at the horrible abuse of power.

Obama continues it and adds in the whole "assassinate Americans using robotic aircraft" twist, and reaction from the same people is "I support the President on this, though I have mild reservations on a few aspects".

My question is... what the heck is up with that?

Actually, Texas has a higher standard for search and seizure protection and has for decades. Ask anyone who works in criminal defense (I used to there), the standard for criminal cases in Texas isn't the US Constitution, it is the Texas Constitution.

This kind of thing happens whenever you have an opinionated celebrity with controversial views that are at odds with a lot of their fan base. What's more interesting is watching to see how people's support of free speech is tied to how well the speech lines up with their own political views. Of course there is also something to be said for artists sticking to being known for their creative works and not for their extreme political stances.

Can you provide some kind of information on this? I would really like to know what CPUs to avoid.

If you are looking to avoid all errata, then buy an abacus. All CPUs have bugs.

From experience: You put one of the monitors on top of an old VCR with a tape in it in public view. Of course, the VCR is a ruse but they think they got the recording mechanism if they do break in and steal it. The VCR doesn't even have to work.

Fake cameras with built in motion sensors that pan the camera are also good. They run on 9V batteries and cost about 8 dollars each. Of course, this is in ADDITION to a real security system. It just allows you to have the look of extreme coverage.

Most crimes are of convenience. If you look like a very difficult target, they will move on to something that looks easier. Usually. Nothing is 100%, nothing is free, but choosing nothing is dumb.

No more getting two Netflix shipments a week by sending the movie back the day after you receive it.

Plus they've got you locked in contracts.

That is like calling rape, "sex" simply because they have you locked into the sites of a gun. Either way, you are getting screwed, but the contract doesn't make it less offensive, it makes it more so, since you would expect it to be updated quickly, as you are paying money AND doing so under a contract.

Anyone can grow a pot plant, but it takes a little more finesse to actually make something smokeable with THC in it. Just like making booze worth drinking is more difficult than soup. You have obviously done neither, but I'm guessing you've never tried to do either. Comparing it to a houseplant is laughable and shows a lack of understanding of the photosensitivity and growth stages. And distilling booze from mash isn't rocket science, but there is a science to it. From experience, it is much more difficult to do it even half way decent than you understand.