November 2010
12 posts
Comcast Is Bullying Netflix Partners Into Paying a... →
If we don’t ensure net neutrality, expect more stories like this.
Level 3 Communications, the networking company that delivers streaming video to Netflix users, says that Comcast is demanding a “recurring fee” for the transmission of such videos to its subscribers. This, it should go without saying, is very shitty news.
There Will Be Blood →
The fact is that one of our two great political parties has made it clear that it has no interest in making America governable, unless it’s doing the governing. And that party now controls one house of Congress, which means that the country will not, in fact, be governable without that party’s cooperation — cooperation that won’t be forthcoming.
Reset Your iOS Alarms for Daylight Savings Time →
If you rely on your iPhone’s recurring alarm at any point during the weekend, you may want to set it manually today. Other countries are reporting an iOS bug that causes alarms to go off incorrectly during the daylight savings time switch.
Want to Up Those Math SAT Scores? Try Electricity →
If you’re not among the mathematically gifted, there’s hope for you yet—and doesn’t involve any studying. Instead, researches have found that a little electric stimulation may add up to better math skills.
Build a Killer Customized Arch Linux Installation... →
Popular Linux distributions like Ubuntu are great, but they don’t always provide the power and customizability you’re looking for after you’ve gotten comfortable with Linux. That’s where Arch Linux comes in, helping you create a personal, killer Linux distro.
Huge Virus Breakthrough Could Mean a Cure For the... →
Researchers at a Cambridge lab have found that our bodies can fight viruses not only outside cells but inside them, too, a discovery that will rewrite textbooks and one that could save millions of lives and vanquish the common cold.
“A person always takes his home with him, wherever he goes. Worlds are vast—yet...”
– Ki-Adi-Mundi
[Wookieepedia]
October 2010
13 posts
Pokémon Writer, 61, Dies →
Yesterday, Pokémon writer Takeshi Shudo was rushed to the hospital after suffering a hemorrhage and collapsing at Nara Station. He has since passed away. Shudo was 61 years-old.
Shigar Konshi and Grand Master Satele Shan
Konshi: "But if I fail—"
Satele: "Metaphorically speaking, if is the smallest word in the Galactic Standard lexicon, yet it stands between us and our greatest dreams. Let it be a bridge, Shigar. It's time you crossed it. I will be waiting for you on the other side."
“Oh, I have a really good feeling about this.”
– Lando Calrissian
The Alexandrian #006
The “Deuce” Edition
I’m back and a day earlier than usual. My deadline has been moved up, but luckily the news took a massive dump right before I began writing this. Let’s pick through it, shall we?
First and foremost, all 33 Chilean miners have been successfully recovered. A small capsule, called the Phoenix, pulled them out of the bowels of the Earth through a small 23” hole. It...
NSFW: Generation Whine – Why I’m Relieved not to... →
On Friday, the New York times published an astonishing story, which was itself based on an astonishing survey: apparently “Millennials” would rather give up coffee for a week than surrender seven days of wifi.
“A right that is given is as useless as a virtue that is given. Rights are used,...”
– Vergere
The Alexandrian #005
The “Challenged” Edition
Welcome to October. The leaves have nearly completed their color transformation and the sun has started to quit work earlier and earlier. I wish I could do the same. I suppose if I was a mass of incandescent gas I could do whatever I wanted.
It has been rumored that Barack Obama is considering a management change. Hilary Clinton is rumored to be replacing Joe Biden as VP...
Justin Bieber Got Kicked Off Facebook →
There probably won’t be riots over the fact that Justin Bieber was kicked off Facebook. That’s because it wasn’t the teenage heartthrob who lost access to the social networking site. Instead it was just an unfortunately named Florida resident.
“A master of defense is one who is never in the place that is attacked.”
– Vergere
The Alexandrian #004
The “How is this news?” Edition
We’ve done it! We’ve survived one month of being back to school and back to work. It’s been quite the journey, but we live to fight again another day. Here’s how we got here:
We started off the month with the beginning of the 2010 election season. The tea baggers were sharpening their racist signs and getting ready for Election Day. Then Apple announced their new...
September 2010
17 posts
“Seriously? A Wookiee—with a lightsaber! That’s just overkill.”
– Spraug, on Lowbacca
The Alexandrian #003
The “Moody Mahmoud” Edition
As another week comes to an end, we once again take a look back at everything that happened this week. It’s been a journey, but we made it. Here is a rundown of what we had to endure.
After weeks of teasing all us fine Americans, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert finally announced their announcements. On October 30, Stewart will be holding the “Rally to Restore Sanity” in...
“We could always wait until they die of liver failure. Save the ammo.”
– RC-1309 (“Niner”), scouting drunken militiamen on Qiilura
Shool: "First and foremost, Xim, Son of Xer, you are charged with causing the extermination and extinction of nine sentient species."
Xim: "Nine? I know I spaced more than that."
Shool: "Among them the Qadel, the Ermi, the Veeza, and the Zoa'mon..."
Xim: "Slavers all. I did the galaxy a favor."
Shool: "The soothsisters of Pelgrin—"
Xim: "Their Oracle claimed my empire was doomed. Such a prophecy could have wreaked widespread panic, even galactic war."
Shool: "And lastly the Klee, the Izi, the Orrananans, and the Thrella."
Xim: "With the Izi... perhaps I went too far. But I'm not the only one who loathed their poetry."
2 tags
The Alexandrian #002
The “Scandyland” Edition
We are now exactly half-way through September. Not a lot has changed since last week. Especially since I am being forced to publish a day early. Let’s see how this one goes.
Crazy pastor Terry Jones is still in the news. This in and of itself isn’t news. It’s really news about the news. What I’m trying to say is that the news agencies enjoy keeping...
“I’m Calrissian, Lando Calrissian.”
– Lando Calrissian
Giving up on Google →
and embracing DuckDuckGo
The city-states in your pocket: first look at... →
Civilization V is mere weeks away, but we’ve logged a few hours in some preview code manipulating history, fighting wars, wooing city states, and building World Wonders. While there is still a lot to explore and explain, here are some things that grabbed us in our brush with the newest version.
“This will be a day long remembered. It has seen the end of Kenobi; it will soon...”
– Darth Vader
Mace Windu: You are on this council, but we do not grant you the rank of Master.
Anakin: What? How can you do this? This is outrageous! It's unfair! How can you be on the council and not be a Master?
Mace Windu: Take a seat, young Skywalker.
August 2010
6 posts
The Full-On Assault On Cable Is Underway →
“An atomic blaster is a good weapon, but it can point both ways.”
– Salvor Hardin
“Welcome to the new decade: Java is a restricted platform, Google is evil, Apple...”
– Phil Nash via Twitter
July 2010
6 posts
