Mice

I've used many a mouses in my day. Touch pads, Nipples, Trackballs, Optical, Laser, A few years ago I used to swear by my Logitech G5 Gaming Mouse. By the way, I prefer Logitech mice and keyboards, they have nice quality products and are innovators in their fields.

While Corded Mice have better response time, the overall clutter of just another cable makes things messy. Especially those on laptops, for those heavy laptops users more often than not we end up being wired to some wall outlet. For some using the touch pad is fine, I've forced myself to get used to it. For others it is unacceptable, my wife uses a Microsoft optical notebook mouse, which again with optical mice suffer from movement problems on various surfaces, in fact I'm using my sofa's arm rest as the surface for my mouse, because, well I actually do put my laptop on my lap. My old gaming notebook was rather hot on bottom thanks to a beefed up video card.

So back to the question wired or wireless, most gamers will tell you stay corded, and I would agree, if your using a desktop, for laptop the best is wireless, high speed wireless should not be a factor even in intense first person online shooters in today's age. And after 2 years of constant moving around, the cable to my old g5 mouse became frayed and then unusable, then I upgraded to the MX revolution, a great mouse but the charger was terrible, the contacts on the bottom of the mouse were supposed to the touch the charging cradle, often I'd spend 20 minutes just making sure my mouse charged, the scroll wheel was awesome, sometimes I felt the mouse was a a bit bulky, I ended up finding out there was notebook version, but well it was too late, and then came to the problem of usb ports on the side or your laptop, having a dangling receiver on usb ports are susceptible to being bent or broken, not exactly lap friendly, and every time you have to stow your trusty laptop away in a bag or something, you mustn't forget to to remove the receiver. This new nano VX has as written on the packaging, the world's smallest receiver, and lo and be hold I plug this in on the side on of my laptop to see that indeed there isn't much stick out, probably about 3/4 inch of plastic from the edge of the chassis. Plug and play, Windows XP detected the HID complaint mouse and easily installed default drivers and the mouse work just fine. I saw no need to install Logitech Setpoint, no need for another memory hogging background application.

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US Senate fails to uphold constitution.

Folks with a heavy heart I am very disappointed to say that the senate has failed to uphold the constitution. Today the US Senate voted on Cloture for the FISA Amendments act. It has seem that the congress is started to side with corporations than for the privacy rights of the individual citizen. As Senator Dood said last night, Congress should not allow another scandal to be overlooked from the Bush Administration, whether it is the questionable interrogation tactics of the CIA, Abu Gharaib scandal, the resignation of former US Attorney Alberto Gonzales.

Quote:

Sixty-seven senators chose to side with corporate interests rather than uphold the Constitution today, passing the FISA Amendments Act (FAA) and voting to reject every amendment that would have improved the bill and protected American civil liberties. For a list of which Senator cast which shameful vote, here is the official tally.

Visit the Electronic Frontier Foundation for more details. I urge you contact your congressman to the do the right thing. And not grant retroactive immunity to TeleComs, although this has already gone through the Senate it still has to go through the House of Representatives. It is funny how the White House has admitted that the defendants in the wiretapping scandal that occured for 5 years mind you, assisted in illegal wiretapping.

For those of you who don't know in 2002 a former AT&T technician discovered fiber optic lines were being split to "secret room" within the switching center of a san francisco center. Further investigation from the tech also suggest that another 15 through 20 resides in other major switching centers across the U.S. Basically a direct hard line copy was sent through this secret room with EVERYTHING as in voice and data communications was been screen in real time. All under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, was DOMESTIC traffic being analyzed by the government. Unfortunately, history has way of repeating itself, this isn't the first time the U.S government uses national security to spy on Americans. Anyone remember the Cold War? While I wasn't during that time. Those same principles of citizens privacy still apply to today.

I am truly saddened

Boycott Trendmicro

Voting in 2008

Alright this is my first year I plan to vote, and I'm saying right now this voting system is screwed up.
I guess I can consider myself an "independent." There are some things I agree with the republican party and some with the democratic party. I most particularly prefer Barack Obama and Ron Paul,
and though I'm military and most military are probably going to vote for John McCain, besides his military views I can hardly agree with anything he has. For awhile I made up my mind he was the guy, but I'm starting to strongly dislike him more and more. I don't know about you but I'm so freaking sick and tired of hearing about this election on NPR.org, it seems all the good news time is spent picking apart and analyzing this damn election. I hear these terms like Delegates, Super Tuesday, blah blah blah. I did my research on just about everything i need to know. Now I'm ready to vote, or am I. First and foremost I realized I hate political parties. I also hate terms like Liberal, Libertarian, Conservative, right wing and left wing.

From a technology stand point Barack Obama wins hands down. I also like how he actually has a plan to pull out from iraq, the only thing is I don't really think he understands how much asset is overthere and I have a feeling there is no real possible way to pull out. But whatever, power to him if he can pull us out of Iraq.

Hiliary Clinton? I just plain hate that lady, God help us if she is Commander in Chief, she has got some crazy ideas about "protecting the children" from the evils of video game in her time as a senator. Not only that she isn't known to give straight answers. She gives a MAYBE in issues like the REAL ID act, nothing more than "show me your papers" idea. I freaking hate that, How can you be a president if you aren't a straight shooter.

As for John McCain, power to him as vietnam vet and POW, I highly respect him in that aspect, but that guy has no agenda for pulling out in Iraq, again more republican agendas. Besides war is great for the economy, everyone knows that. More servicemen are going to continue to die, we are going to continue spiraling down into a deficit. I think that since he has already tried to run for president before, there is a reason why he didn't win that time. He needs to give it up already.

You know I like that Ron Paul guy, He very is direct with his policies and believes in a smaller government and I think that his deregulation and less taxes. Ideas like removing the IRS, although crazy, some of crazy is just what we might need. I think it would be interesting to see what he could do in office, just about everybody has an idea of implement this or that. Adding another law to already huge lawbook when in fact I personally think we just need more enforcement of the current laws, not making ACTs upon acts granting more federal funding for this or that, when last time i checked we are in huge deficit. Well whatever.

So on to my state primary Indiana. First and foremost Indiana is mostly republican. John McCain is getting lots of support so I think I'm kinda screwed in the Republican party, so I decided not to register as Republican, and then I read up on the idea of super delegates and some serious questions came to mind. I for one DO NOT like the idea of delegates in the first place. I believe nominees should by the common popular vote ONLY, not some big wig who is only going to solidify the victory for a winner, or in worst case scenario elect the against the popular vote.

So just the fact that democratic party has that...hmm I really don't like that. Besides I don't want to be called a democrat anyways. The democratic party has way to many ideas that coincide with a socialism and communism. And well, we all know how that turns out. I think I'm very liberal on issues regarding technology but conservative on most economic and health care issues. I don't like the idea that I'm paying more for social security today and going to receive less in the future, nor do I like the idea of the Medicaid, WIC or programmes that disqualify families based on income, WHY? Well first and foremost a program like WIC disqualifies families who have high incomes, I'm think What the fuck? Hold on a second, so people who don't work as Smart, MIND you I didn't say as hard, qualify for wic all at the expenses of the general public. TAXES yo.
but if I make to much I don't qualify, that is some serious whack. People who argue about tax cuts for the rich, HEY, rich people spend more money than any another tax bracket and spur the economy, putting more money back into thier hands so they can contribute back into the economy is great. I think a flat tax is better than a percentage based income tax. That or FICA should an option, not mandatory. But we all know that goverment borrows off social security like it is cool. Also a problem.

Yeah I think we need sales taxes, property taxes and to make up for it a much higher wheel tax.
Any carbon emissioned base car needs to have some high tax. That will give more incentive to buy better environmental friendly cars.
We need these taxes to pay for stuff. Why not just get rid of income taxes all together and just have sales tax. I think its whack your taxed for investments and savings that you earn. Everyone tells you about saving your money this and that, and you do it, but next thing you know the government thinks it should get its share of your savings.... if everything was taxed via sales tax, because we all know we have to buy things. It would be a lot easier.

well whatever on that. So back to the democratic party, As I said I'm pretty much decided on barack obama. He is rather young, full of great ideas and not like the rest of the old fogeys in Washington. The only reason I'd register as democrat is make sure he maintains his lead over hiliary. Other than that, as I stated earlier this whole delegate thing and also electoral college really pisses me off.


Oh by the way wanna know what helped make my decisions. Wikipedia.org
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-delegate.htm and CNET news





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The Windows XP problem

Microsoft is ceasing sales of Windows XP Pre Shrink Wrapped and OEM releases, after June 30, 2008, those of you who build your own machines, you have until Dec 31.

Meaning? Computers Sold After that date will come installed with Windows Vista. Microsoft's way of selling more copies of Vista.

Like or not, for those like me who rather sell a kidney than install Vista over XP. (Well I don't think there are any but, but I won't use Vista unless you pay me too.) For those who wish to downgrade,

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vendors such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Fujitsu, and more recently NEC, all offer the opportunity to downgrade to XP Pro."

Source:Slashdot

Infoworld has more details.


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Comcast, Traffic Shaping, and the FCC

Internet Service Provider Comcast has changed its Terms of Service, this change is the first in over two years. Section III in the Terms of Service now includes policies on Traffic Management.

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Comcast uses reasonable network management practices that are consistent with industry standards." The company points out that it is not alone in the practice, saying that "all major" ISPs engage in some form of traffic shaping. Comcast does it to keep its subscribers from suffering the heartaches of "spam, viruses, security attacks, network congestion, and other risks and degradations of service" and to "deliver the best possible Internet experience to all of its customers.

Source: ArsTechnica

This however, did not come by until a recent investigation by the FCC which the issue was brought up by the Associated Press, and reconfirmed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Quote:

Comcast has been "caught" blocking BitTorrent traffic in some areas, according to tests performed by the Associated Press. The news organization claims to have confirmed that Comcast is blocking—or at least seriously slowing down—BitTorrent transfers, regardless of whether the content is legal or not. If true, Comcast's actions have serious implications for sharing information online, and by proxy, Net Neutrality.

This was originally sent as a tip by Vuze Inc, some the developers who made Azureus, the open source bit torrent client. This of course is in direct conflicts to thier company.

The Conclusion.

So now after some serious uproar about Comcast's Data Discrimination.
Yeah I said that right, and I know it may sound a bit funny, but its not funny anymore when your business relies on your internet traffic and then is given a side seat to someone elses. Comcast is hoping its fancy buzzwords are simply overlooked by thier ignorant customer; after all, Comcast is counting on each and every user NOT to use the entire 3 Megabits per second they payed for. For thier studies show only about half or less is in reality used. Thus, allowing the company to over sell the same tier to thier customers in a community. More profit for them, worse connection for you. But..., what about the 5 percent of customers who do use thier entire 3 Mbps. The whole pipe as you may say. Comcast knows that demographic is usually P2P traders and bittorrent users, the leeches of the network. Leeches or not they still pay for it. So in order to prevent the "heartaches of network congestion."

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Comcast has denied throttling BitTorrent traffic, saying that the ISP just "delays" or "postpones" it on occasion. One analogy used by a Comcast executive was that of trying to make a phone call and getting a busy signal for a time, until the call actually goes through. A more accurate explanation of Comcast's use of TCP reset packets, to build on the phone analogy, would be talking on the phone with someone and then both of you hearing the other's voice saying "hang up." That's the effect of the forged reset packets: convincing the BitTorrent clients that the other(s) have stopped responding.

If I was a comcast customer I would be very pissed, for those of you who are. You may weigh in on the proceedings to the the FCC on this issue. You have until Feb 13 to use the Electronic Comment Filing System for comment on WC Docket no. 07-52.



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