squoogy.com

The new Weird Al video is awesome.

| Posted by: Kimberly | Link to this post |

This story makes me smile.

| Posted by: Mark the Bowler | Link to this post |

It’s. just. too. good.

Sony/BMG’s rootkit DRM fiasco is the story that just keeps giving: Now Techdirt points out that the copy protection at the root of a two week controversy contains chunks of the open source mp3-encoder LAME. The LAME software is licensed under the Lesser Gnu Public License (LGPL), portions of which Sony/BMG didn’t comply with. The gist? The company’s copyright protection system itself infringes copyrights.

| Posted by: Kimberly | Link to this post |

Not only does the DRM software on their CD’s install malicious programs on your computer, but their End User License Agreement makes you their bitch in perpetuity.

1. If your house gets burgled, you have to delete all your music from your laptop when you get home. That’s because the EULA says that your rights to any copies terminate as soon as you no longer possess the original CD.

2. You can’t keep your music on any computers at work. The EULA only gives you the right to put copies on a “personal home computer system owned by you.”

3. If you move out of the country, you have to delete all your music. The EULA specifically forbids “export” outside the country where you reside.

4. You must install any and all updates, or else lose the music on your computer. The EULA immediately terminates if you fail to install any update. No more holding out on those hobble-ware downgrades masquerading as updates.

5. Sony-BMG can install and use backdoors in the copy protection software or media player to “enforce their rights” against you, at any time, without notice. And Sony-BMG disclaims any liability if this “self help” crashes your computer, exposes you to security risks, or any other harm.

6. The EULA says Sony-BMG will never be liable to you for more than $5.00. That’s right, no matter what happens, you can’t even get back what you paid for the CD.

7. If you file for bankruptcy, you have to delete all the music on your computer. Seriously.

8. You have no right to transfer the music on your computer, even along with the original CD.

9. Forget about using the music as a soundtrack for your latest family photo slideshow, or mash-ups, or sampling. The EULA forbids changing, altering, or make derivative works from the music on your computer.

| Posted by: Kimberly | Link to this post |

I found this article about Laker’s coach Phil Jackson to be pretty fascinating. I think the author goes a bit too much into rant mode, but he does make some valid points.

Those of you who actually know me would find it laughable that anyone would try to define me based on some of the rather extreme music I listen to at times, but it happens, which is why this article struck a chord with me. Worth a read, at any rate.

| Posted by: Mark the Bowler | Link to this post |

Rumors of my return are in fact true.

Today is my one year anniversary of starting graduate school. Coincidentally, it is also my first day of classes for year deux. This quarter it’s Digital Audio Production (bahahahahahaha!) and Research Methods. DAP will learn me how to make Freak Ass music (theoretically) and Research Methods will learn me how to uhm, do research (also a theoretical endeavor). Unlike any other quarter or semester in the history of Me, I do not have any of my books yet. I heard a rumor that the professor (same one for both classes) still wasn’t sure about them and I didn’t want to make two trips to the bookstore. I feel a little freaky about not being ready, but also a little freaky about it if you know what I mean.**

Anyhoo, the trip to MD was fun. I’ll tell you in advance there is no way I’ll be able to capture the complete and utter cuteness that was Lily the Super Puppy, but I’ll try. First, a picture:

It’s kind of a crappy picture because we of course, forgot to bring the digital camera and that’s a camera phone picture my mother emailed to me. Nevertheless, the cuteness of the puppies comes through. There are very few things on this planet that will make a very committed non-morning person happy at 7 a.m. (5 a.m. her time), but I’m here to tell you that a fluffy puppy so happy to see you that she almost falls down wagging her entire body is one of them. Lily radiates happiness from every furry pore on her body. She terrorizes Jake by chomping on him continuously, but he doesn’t seem to mind because he asks for more. He will roll over on his back so Lily–who is easily one fourth his size–can chew on his throat and growl menacingly. When they play tug of war with one of their many (many, many, many) toys, he pulls just hard enough that she has a fighting chance.

After Lily gets a bath, which is nearly every day after she goes to doggy daycare, she runs around the house jumping like a bunny until she leaps for the dog bed, flops on her back with four feet flying in the air, and rolls and rubs and snorts happily for a good fifteen minutes. She knows how to undo the velcro on your shoes. She will run to you, tail wagging when you say, “Lily! Come!” She will chase after Jake when he is fetching a ball until she’s too tired about half way and attack him on the way back. And I can’t stress this enough, when she sees you after you’ve been away for a little while, she will act as if you’re the best thing that has ever happened to her. OH the cuteness. Of course, she’s also either in high gear or asleep. She needs to be watched pretty much all the time when she’s awake. I would have to take leave from my job if I had a puppy like Lily because she seriously is a full time job. The breeder said that Golden Retriever puppies are that cute so you won’t kill them, and damned if it isn’t true.

Anyway, the man and I had an interesting experience when we were taxiing out for take off from St. Louis on our way to MD:

The scene: Jim T and Kimberly are sitting in their airplane seats, pushing back from the gate at the St. Louis airport. Kimberly looks out the window.

Kimberly: Kenny Rogers!!
Jim T: Kenny Rogers??
Kimberly: Kenny Rogers is out there directing the plane.
Jim T (looking): Holy crap! That does look like Kenny Rogers. Maybe it’s his younger brother Skippy.
Kimberly: Hee! Poor Skippy! Did your brother stiff you so bad you’re stuck in St. Louis working at the airport?
Jim T: Kenny wouldn’t do that. I think he’s traveling around taking different jobs, experiencing life.
Kimberly: I think Skippy got stiffed. Damn your cheap ass Kenny Rogers! *shakes fist*

In other news:
WE GOT PIT TICKETS TO GO SEE THE FOO FIGHTERS!!!!!!!! I still have the ticket mojo. And also, I had a dream about Dave Grohl. I was sitting on a bed talking to him about how cool the last concert we went to was, and how it was really special for Jim T and I how it was really cool that after he dived into the crowd I got to help him back on stage and then at the Denver concert he dedicated a song to Jim and me. I’m taking it as a good omen.

* That was for you Super Chocolate Bear.

** Actually, it would be kind of amazing if you knew what I mean, because I sure don’t.

| Posted by: Kimberly | Link to this post |

If you were fortunate enough to have been a member of the official Beatles fan club between 1963 and 1969, then you likely have heard one or more of these records. The Beatles recorded them and sent them out to their adoring fans every year, finally collecting them all on one album for the 1970 edition. Now rare and quite pricey to obtain, these seldom heard recordings offer a rare glimpse of the fabs at their funniest.

| Posted by: Kimberly | Link to this post |

A very non-traditional holiday album that is

[via]

| Posted by: Kimberly | Link to this post |

As mentioned at Happy Hour, The Terrible Secret of Space. Let me know if you want a copy of the song by itself!

| Posted by: Natasha | Link to this post |

If you like No Doubt at all, I highly recommend going and picking up their Singles album. It makes me very, very happy. In fact, you could say that it’s “hella good”. (ha! I’m funee!) Also, I think “It’s My Life” is my new favorite song (there’s a good clip of it on that amazon page).

Holy cow! Amazon tells me that Gwen Stefani has a line with LeSportsac.

| Posted by: Kimberly | Link to this post |

This made me laugh.

| Posted by: Kimberly | Link to this post |

Here’s some internet music to mellow out to.

| Posted by: Kimberly | Link to this post |

The Recording Industry Association of America announced today it would be expanding its crackdown on copyright infringement by suing family members, hitchhikers and carpoolers.

Lawyers for the RIAA maintain that the radio in each car was never meant to be listened to by anyone else except the original owner of the vehicle.

[via the incomparable Daisy]

| Posted by: Kimberly | Link to this post |

Here’s a lovely obituary

| Posted by: Kimberly | Link to this post |

Given our enjoyment of this topic in the past, I felt a need to share, courtesy of topfive.com’s Music list:

June 9, 2004

NOTE FROM JEFF:

Believe it or not… with the help of rap legend
Ice-T, “Baywatch” and “Knight Rider” star (and pop
star in Europe) David Hasselhoff is trying his
hand at recording a rap record.

The Top 9 Rap Songs by David Hasselhoff

9> Boyz Under the Hood
8> Notorious K.I.T.T.
7> Hard Knock Lifeguard
6> Pretty Fly for a Really, Really, Ridiculously White Guy
5> Baby Got Black Trans-Am
4> Slap My Beach Up
3> It’s Getting Hot in Here (So Bring Me Yasmine Bleeth)
2> Beaches and Hose

and the Number 1 Rap Song by David Hasselhoff…

1> Getten sie Jiggy Mit Es

[ Copyright 2004 by Chris White ]
[ http://www.topfive.com ]

——————————————————————
Rap Songs by David Hasselhoff
RUNNERS UP list — Nut Rider
——————————————————————

Doesn’t Matter What I Sing, in Germany They Love My Bling Bling
(Janis Spidle, Kansas City, MO)

(Runnin’ Down the Beach in) Nuthin’ but a G Strang
(Marty Hale-Evans, Seattle, WA)

B.A.R.B.R.A (Bad Actor Raps, Bad Rapper Acts)
(Scott Bostick, Lake Ridge, VA)

Straight Outta Kauai
(Bill Livingston, Decatur, AL)

Straight Outta Malibu
(Jane McCabe, Laguna Hills, CA)

(Rescuing My Career in) Slow Motion
(Gideon Griebenow, Potchefstroom, S. Africa)

Hey! We Want Some K.I.T.T.y!
(Jeff Conner, San Jose, CA)

Still Fly for an Old Guy
(Janis Spidle, Kansas City, MO)

Runner-Up List Name
(Bill Livingston, Decatur, AL)

| Posted by: Mark the Bowler | Link to this post |