Silverwolf's Auditorium

I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
  - Robert McCloskey

Be A Kid Again

1. Do a cartwheel.
2. Sing into your hairbrush.
3. Walk barefoot in wet grass.
4. Play a song you like really loud, over and over.
5. Dot all your “i”’s with smiley faces.
6. Read the funnies. Throw the rest of the paper away.
7. Dunk your cookies.
8. Play a game where you make up the rules as you go along.
9. Step carefully over sidewalk cracks.
10. Change into some play clothes.
11. Try to get someone to trade you a better sandwich.
12. Eat ice cream for breakfast.
13. Kiss a frog, just in case.
14. Blow the wrapper off a straw.
15. Have someone read you a story.
16. Find some pretty stones and save them.
17. Wear your favorite shirt with your favorite pants even if they don’t match.
18. Take a running jump over a big puddle.
19. Get someone to buy you something you really don’t need.
20. Hide your vegetables under your napkin.
21. Stay up past your bedtime.
22. Eat dessert first.
23. Fuss a little, then take a nap.
24. Wear red gym shoes.
25. Put way too much sugar on your cereal.
26. Make cool screeching noises every time you turn a corner.
27. Giggle a lot for no reason.
28. Give yourself a gold star for everything you do today.

 Well, I've received a request for this so I guess I'll do it.

From USA Today:

Romantics band sues 'Guitar Hero' publisher By Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press

Imitation might be flattery, but that doesn't make the Romantics any happier about it. The Detroit rock band has sued the publisher of the popular video game Guitar Hero, claiming the game infringes the group's rights by featuring a sound-alike recording of the hit What I Like About You. The lawsuit against California-based Activision, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, seeks unspecified damages for use of the sound-alike recording. It's one of about 30 hit tunes featured on Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, released in July for Sony PlayStation game consoles. The band is also seeking an injunction against the game, which could take the bestseller off store shelves in the thick of the holiday shopping season. In the game, users try to play along to songs with a guitar-shaped controller. Activision has used a mix of original band recordings and cover versions in its Guitar Hero series, an award-winning line that debuted in 2005. Copyright isn't the issue for the Romantics. The band's attorneys said Activision properly secured permission to use the song What I Like About You, which allowed it to record a cover version. But by creating an imitation so much like the Romantics' original, they said, the company has infringed the group's right to its own image and likeness.

Ok, make sure you read the part where they admit that Activision had properly secured permission to create a cover of the song for the game.  The band is suing on the grounds that the cover that they produced sounded too much like the real thing.  Does this make any sense to anyone ?  Clearly this is a blatant attempt by a forgotten band to wring even more money out of a song they created more than twenty years ago, Let it go already you greedy bastards.

I guess they blew all their money already, it's really just pathetic.  The added fact that they are also seeking an injunction to prevent sales of the game is just mean-spirited, it isn't likely to get them any additional cash, it'll just hurt Activision that much more.

Oh, and congratulations, you have earned a place on my list.

From PC World:

Microsoft launched a program to help ensure that PC refurbishers and OEMs reselling used PCs to businesses are installing legitimate copies of Windows on them.

Windows licenses are tied to the computer for which they are acquired. PC refurbishers can reinstall Windows on a rehabbed PC if they have the correct proof-of-purchase documentation -- called a Certificate of Authenticity -- and the original OS image software necessary to return the PC to its original state. However, it's often difficult to have both of these items handy for old PCs, and companies reselling used PCs will sell them without an OS installed. This leaves the PCs open for people who buy them to install Linux or a pirated version of Windows.

These computers were shipped with a copy of windows on them the first time, can anyone explain to me why we need to pay Microsoft twice for the same copy of windows ?  This is clearly another example of Microsoft exploiting it's monopoly powers to pressure people into not only running it's software, but paying twice for the privilege.

They are terrifed that these computers might end up with an OS other than Windows on them.

What a joke......