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Snippets #49, Sunday, 02.Nov.2003 (ISSN 1530-9622)
_______________S N I P P E T S _________________________from James S. Huggins' Refrigerator Door ___________________________________#49, Sunday, 02.Nov.2003 _____________________________________________ISSN 1530-9622
__________0. CONTENTS _____1. Broadcast Flag _____2. What Happens to Confiscated Property _____3. A Black Cat, Part 1
__________1. BROADCAST FLAG The broadcast industry is lobbying the FCC to require a broadcast flag in digital broadcasts like digital television. It is also lobbying the FCC to require that all computer manufacturers effectively "weld their boxes shut", so that programmers cannot program around the flag. The idea is to stop trading of digital copies of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. (Ok, not just Buffy. All digital TV.) But to make it work, we will have to outlaw much of what has let us make your computer so powerful . . . the ability to tinker. I've been tracking this for some time. The computer industry understands just how dangerous this is. But explaining it to "average consumers" is another problem. A recent story in Salon is one of the better ones to appear and attempt that. (Note: viewing the story requires you to watch a brief ad or be a premium subscriber. You do NOT need to give any personal information.)
Salon Article on Broadcast Flag
__________2. WHAT HAPPENS TO CONFISCATED PROPERTY Have you flown lately? Have you ever had anything confiscated? (I have. A miniature "Swiss Army" type knife with a 1 inch blade. Thank goodness. Terrorists could have stolen it from me and seriously vandalized the airplane.) Ever wonder what happens to all the confiscated property? Ever wonder why they didn't create a way to just give it back? Well, our friends across the pond have an article that explains it: 1. Giving it back would be too complicated. 2. The property is worth so little, we will be PAYING a company millions of dollars to dispose of it. 3. Oh, and that "too complicated" thing . . . seems some airports have instituted a lost-and-found office and it isn't too complicated.
Time Runs Out for Airport Haul
__________3. A BLACK CAT, PART 1 Do you enjoy computer "entertainment"? If so, you might enjoy this Black Cat. (As many of you know, I have a pet cat. She is completely, 100% black. And her name is Spot. It is one of the reasons I enjoyed the page. But you can enjoy it even if you do NOT have a black cat of your own.) Click on the link below. Then, after the page appears move your mouse around and watch the head and eyes. See what else you can get to happen by moving your mouse. Some of the fun is exploring so I won't give away everything that I've found. Write me back and let me know what you've found. In a future issue, I'll share the "secrets".
Black Cat (requires Flash)
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