Ramblings of the Mad Cow

There were lines out in front of Best Buys and Targets that stretched for blocks. The XBox 360 hit the shelves today, and if you didn’t preorder, or leave yesterday with a tent, you probably don’t have one.

I don’t have one yet. Will and I decided to do the “wait and see thing” since there have been so many mixed reviews. When we do get one, we’ll get the premium.

And here’s the only reason I’m even anxiously awaiting the new console, is PDZ. For non-Rare fans, that’s Perfect Dark Zero, the prequel to Perfect Dark, which was an awesome game for the Nintendo 64. I can’t wait to play Joanna Dark again! For more about the game, check out IGN

From Reuters

Texas sues Sony BMG for spyware violations
Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:22 PM ET
By Matt Daily

HOUSTON (Reuters) – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a civil lawsuit on Monday against Sony BMG Music Entertainment for hiding “spyware” software on its compact discs in a bid to thwart music copying.

According to the lawsuit filed in Travis County, several of the company’s music compact discs require customers to download Sony’s media players if they want to listen to the CDs on a computer.

Software included with that media player “remains hidden and active” after installation, the Attorney General’s office said, and makes users vulnerable to security risks and possible identity theft.

Sony said on its Web site that it had recalled all CDs that were installed with its XCP technology designed to prevent illegal music copying, Abbott said, but Texas investigators were able to purchase several of the CDs at Austin retailers on Sunday.

Texas is seeking civil penalties of $100,000 per violation of the state’s Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware Act, which was enacted earlier this year.

“Sony has engaged in a technological version of cloak and dagger deceit against consumers by hiding secret files on their computers,” Abbott said.

Sony announced on Friday that customers could exchange CDs that contained XCP software for new copies without the spyware, and download software designed to fix the security vulnerabilities.

“While we don’t comment on pending litigation we are cooperating fully with the attorney general’s office,” a spokesman said on Monday.

The CDs, from 52 popular artists, including Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Celine Dion, prompt a user agreement to appear on consumers’ computer screens.

Users are required to accept the agreement in order to play the CDs on their computer, and Sony’s media player is automatically downloaded to their computers with the hidden files.

Earlier this month, a software virus was detected in a mass email designed to exploit the Sony BMG software and wreak havoc on computers. The “malware” program enables hackers to access computers by bypassing firewall protections.

Separately, the Electronic Frontier Foundation said it had filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County against Sony BMG to pay for damage caused by XCP and SunnComm MediaMax software it used on as many as 24 million CDs.

The XCP software is extremely difficult to remove, EFF said, “often leaving reformatting the computer’s hard drive as the only solution.”

The MediaMax software also installs files on users’ computers even if they decline to accept SunnComm’s terms in a licensing agreement. That software allows the company to track customers’ listening habits despite denials the company collects such data.

OMG, a friend sent me to this, and I’m still laughing! Great blog!

Geek Maintenance 101

Posted by RSM 13 days ago

Geeks are an important part of the lives of most people in today’s technocentric society. Without them, things fall apart. However, geeks are not as soulless as the electronics they command. As such, you will need to keep a few things in mind when nurturing your own geek:

1. Socially interact with them: This does not have to be in public where others can see you, though it helps. A cool person like yourself needs the geek and the geek needs a cool person’s approval. That’s “symbiosis.” Ask your geek to explain it.

2. Do not overly interact with them: Geeks want your approval but after a while they may tire of you. Make them want you, but be careful not to ignore them completely. Promise you’ll stop by, but only show up 1 out of the 3 times you say you will. Give them the excuse that “something came up with my family, dude. Sorry.” Be certain they can’t catch you in a lie.

3. Do not farm your geek out to many of your other friends: Your friends might be geekless. Since you’re cool, your friends probably are, too, which means they’ll stab you in the back to take something they want. One of them could charm your geek into thinking SHE cares more about him than you.

Check out the rest at When the smoke clears

Hannah’s hockey team won last night! She did so great! I videotaped it. They won 4-2. She got one assist. And she was exhausted! She said that she thought practice was hard, but she was wrong!

It was a nightmare getting to see it, but it finally happened. We had advance tickets for the 1:15 showing and when we got there it was sold out, and not only were there no seats, there were people on the floor! So we had to get a manager, and get special tickets to the 3:20 showing, then hang out in Southaven til that movie started.
But we did get to see it, and it was great! Loved it. As good as the last two combined! But, before you take small kids, be warned. It is much scarier and darker than the under 13 crowd is used to from HP.

Here’s a funny someone sent me about how the movie earned it’s PG-13 rating.