WhyteWolf Technology - News from the net.

Plutopia, a multifaceted extravaganza, in Austin Monday, March 15

whytewolf — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:11:31 +0000

Here's a good reason to stay in Austin on Monday night.

In 2001, Jon Lebkowsky and Cory threw the first annual Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) party during SXSW Interactive, hosted by EFF-Austin.

BB cameo in SpongeBob Squarepants (not really)

whytewolf — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:10:43 +0000

Marc de Vinck says: "I was watching SpongeBob with the kids. During the snail races I noticed the announcer's mug.

Epic Disneyland '56 home movie is now a DVD

whytewolf — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:53:04 +0000

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New Keyboard Cat is pretty great

whytewolf — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:22:33 +0000

It's Caturday.

Patagonia M10 jacket weighs only 10 ounces

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:04:45 +0000

In my household, we have an almost unhealthy obsession with all things Patagonia. The environmentally conscious surf-and-climb brand from California has just released its lightest fabric ever via the new M10 jacket — it has three layers of waterproof material, air vents for your armpits, a giant hoodie, and weighs only 10 ounces.

Add your name to "Save the Net" FB page, help the LibDems do the right thing!

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:24:09 +0000

Update VICTORY! Motion passed with near unanimity!

I'm delighted to report that the UK Liberal Democrats' Spring Convention have accepted the emergency motion on internet freedom, and will be debating it tomorrow morning.

The LibDems were plunged into controversy last week when two of the LibDem Lords introduced a pro-web-censorship amendment to the Digital Economy Bill (this amendment was later shown to have been written by record industry lobby group BPI).

Most beautiful bookstore - Buenos Aires's Librería El Ateneo Grand Splendid

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:05:58 +0000

Saturday Morning Science Experiment: Alka-seltzer lava lamp

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:23:56 +0000

Intermolecular polarity is a fancy way of saying "oil and water don't mix".

Hanging Out with Kim Jong-il

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:19:42 +0000

Like many in the insulated west, I've long been fascinated by North Korea, what life is like in there, and what will happen to the peninsula after the walls come down. (Of course, I'm half a world away, so I have the luxury of being fascinated with North Korea. Life inside the country, I suspect, is beyond rough and might get even worse in the first years of inevitable reunification.) I've read extensively on the country, enough so that I almost understand the concept of juche. And I've explored the country a bit in my fiction.

Son House, "Death Letter" (Greatest Song of All Time of the Day)

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:50:34 +0000

I could go on all weekend about Son House, one of the top and longest-lasting country bluesman, but I'll be kind to you and get to the music quickly. His original recordings are messages from a foreign land, his sessions and concerts after rediscovery rival Skip James' (hear an interview with John Fahey and the future Dr. Demento from that period), and both his lyrical and guitar styles are slashing and unforgettable.

Leaked UK record industry memo sets out plans for breaking copyright

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:13:41 +0000

In this leaked, six-page email, Richard Mollet, the Director of Public Affairs for the British Phonographic Institute (the UK's record-industry lobbyists), sets out the BPI's strategy for ramming through the Digital Economy Bill, a sweeping, backwards reform to UK copyright law that will further sacrifice privacy and due process in the name of preserving copyright, without actually preserving copyright.

Mollet's memo, entitled "Digital Economy Bill weekly update 11 March 2010," appears to be a weekly stat

Boba Fett accordion-busks the Zelda theme on a NYC subway platform

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:44:56 +0000

Sweet busking pitch: Boba Fett costume, accordion, Zelda theme.

Luc Besson's steampunk movie

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:40:02 +0000

Here's the latest trailer for Luc Besson's forthcoming steampunk movie, "Les Aventures Extraordinaires d'Adele Blanc-Sec." That's some heady stuff.

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Sci-fi: a Jesusfish raygun parody

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:31:13 +0000

Looking for an automobile decor element that proudly proclaims your devotion to the earliest, persecuted science fiction fans who huddled in catacombs, scratching crude rayguns into the walls?

Hugo nominating deadline looms

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:22:58 +0000

Kate from Aussiecon, the upcoming World Science Fiction convention in Melbourne, sez, "The deadline for sending in your Hugo Awards nomination ballot is fast approaching!

US census infographics from 1870

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:21:54 +0000

When You Try To Figure Out Who Owns Imaginary 'Property,' Things Get Confusing Fast

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:42:00 +0000

We've discussed in the past how copyright isn't really "property" at all, and trying to compare it to regular property leads to all sorts of confusing problems. Take, for example, this lawsuit, found via Michael Scott, over who owns the rights to thousands of songs. The actual mess is a bit complex, but as you read through it, you realize that we're dealing with the emperor's new clothes in the form of copyrights.

Williams Sonoma Nastygrams Blogger Who Helps People Build Their Own Furniture

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:59:00 +0000

Brad Hubbard writes "I regularly read a blog called "Knock Off Wood" -- a site where a woman teaches readers how to build various designer-looking pieces of furniture at home for a lot less. It's the best kind of "maker" site - someone who is passionate about crafting, freely sharing their passion with a community of readers and everyone learns a little something.

Google, Facebook Sued Because Without Some Random Patent No One Would Ever Access A Social Network From A Mobile Phone

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:11:00 +0000
Wireless Ink was a company that I remember getting some buzz back in the 2005/2006 timeframe... and then they dropped completely off my radar. Honestly, I had thought they had gone out of business. So I was a bit surprised to see them suddenly pop back up with a patent (of course) and a lawsuit against both Google and Facebook, claiming infringement because both companies allow users to access social networking tools via a mobile phone. Seriously.

Irony Alert: Hollywood Howard Berman To Introduce 'Internet Freedom' Bill

whytewolf — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:28:00 +0000
Earlier this year we noted this was likely, but now it appears that Rep.