I'm the first to admit that I'm pretty ignorant on the copyright issue/s. Clearly shutting down debate and manipulating the public discourse is a bad thing. And it really irritates me that the one time I bought a song off itunes, I couldn't listen to it on my non-apple mp3 player.

But beyond that, I'm generally confused by most of this stuff. There are clearly extremes on either side (everything should be free vs. everything should be tightly controlled by gov't/capitalists). But are there voices in the middle? Like, artists/writers/programmers/etc. should have a right to make a buck off of their labor, but the FBI shouldn't knock down my door if I want to make a mix tape?

Anywhere I can find a nice FAQ without too much dogma? At least so that I can follow the regular BoingBoing posts on the subject? Thanks.

Maybe these kids should just crank up their mp3 players and go to loud concerts and nightclubs to blow out their hearing (which is probably why all of us 30-somethings can't hear it). That'll teach those store owners.

Ah, for the moments an hour ago when I was blissfully ignorant...

Still, thanks all for en-light(?)-ening me.

Oh, and work=phd exams studying=at home. However, I will not follow those links. The last thing I need right now is an introduction to intarweb hell. I already had to install Leechblock to prevent me from spending too much time here--where it's Wonderful.

I wonder if this guy has ever tried out for American Idol...

Oh, and...I've done the obligatory searches; I now understand at least what rick-rolling is, what chocolate rain is, but I'm still confused about the following: /b/ and CP. I hate to be an internet ignoramus, but can anyone enlighten me, so that I can get back to work?

They are a Thai company. All the photographs on their site are of (presumably) Thai folks, whereas all of their dolls (including those that go with sets--service crew, etc.) match the characteristics of the white/European--i.e. unmarked--"family" dolls. They're likely marketing to a largely European and American customer base and assume that this is what's going to appeal.

But, is it just me, or does this "Asian Family" (different from above) cross a line?
http://www.plantoys.com/2007/catalog.php?id=12&page=2
Maybe it's okay...it says they "prevent egocentrism."

Too bad they don't do anything for ethnocentrism.

OMFG, that is hilarious.

Gotta say, you give away the punchline with the title. If you see the video in its pure form, the headline is, "The Onion: Are We Giving Robots Too Much Power?" which only hints at it in a very Onion-y way...and they start talking about how robots have made our lives easier...you know, like I was just saying while riding in the human part of the bus.

Still hilarious, and thank you for sharing.

#68 XOPHER: Thanks! I was feeling supremely clueless. I'm sure there are further depths of meaning to mine, but I'm just going to stop there and get back to work. 'Cause those guys scare the crap out of me.

Am I missing something? I don't understand the Git R Dun and Got R Did tattoos. What do they mean?

Apparently she hadn't left the bathroom in two years, but likely had been on the toilet seat for about a month.

There is more disturbing information here:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jpMo5pdCnadyrY2ypTwfBfsPFxQwD8VCQ57G0
and a Mr. Science-y article here:
http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/13/768309.aspx

I was getting irritated with the flowchart, and then I read the square on the bottom left. Here's a direct link to the whole thing: http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/03/09/opinion/09opart2.ready.html

...and realized that despite the fact that I'm a woman, and never really played D&D, I'm enough of a geek that I kinda fit into it. Sigh.

Two careers so far, still time.

Our first computer was the Apple IIe, unless you count the Atari 2000, which stored data on cassette tapes in an external drive. The Apple IIc looks so high tech; it's hard to believe that it's 20 years old!

I love that she's got a rag in her hand, as if she's in the middle of her chores, and this is just one of them.

It's just that they've run out of interesting points. Wolf Blitzer, Multigrain Chips, Rusty Jones? Who cares?

The 2002 list is a lot more compelling (or disturbing). I understand that we all have cultural knowledge that pre-dates our existence, but it can be shocking to realize how quickly things change and we get beyond significant events and movements.

I personally love asking people under 20 why we say "dial" a phone number. Blank stares.