5 posts tagged “weird”

What in the unholy blazes?

Mod-chipping your console shouldn't be a crime. But wait, once again I am getting ahead of myself.

What the heck is a mod-chip, anyway? According to Wikipedia (ultimate source of all knowledge? Nah. Not so much. But sufficient for this purpose), a modchip is "a device used to circumvent the digital rights management and/or region coding of many popular game consoles, including those made by Microsoft (Xbox series), Sony (PlayStation series), and Nintendo (GameCube, Wii) for the purposes of playing backup, imported, pirated, or homebrew games and/or applications." - Wikipedia - "modchip"

Essentially, you are circumventing DRM. Now, technically, this is a violation of one of the worst pieces of legislation in living memory - The Digital Millenium Copyright Act, or DMCA.  First, let me say that I have never used a modchip, am not currently in the market for modchips, and would not use a modchip in any of my consoles. Let me also state for the record that pirated games do violate copyright, and appropriate steps should be taken to prevent copyright infringement.  But the mere fact that I am installing a chip to allow myself several substantial non-infringing uses should not be grounds for the FBI and Homeland Security raiding the house.  Imagine if you could be prosecuted for putting an after market part on a car - something that allowed the car better gas mileage, or allowed it to use diesel fuel, ethanol, and regular gas.  That's your modchip.  Homebrew apps and games are non-infringing uses of this technology, are a grounds for innovation, and should be encouraged, not criminalized.  And am I the only one that wonders what the heck Homeland Security is doing getting involved in this?  The FBI I can see.  All those anti-piracy warnings on DVDs and videotapes make it pretty clear that the Feds will come after you for that pirated copy of Tron sitting in your parents' basement.  But Homeland Security? Don't they have better things to do? Like, say, fence-building, as a suggestion? 

And that's what I keep coming back around to.  I admit that I think terror is a threat.  I think we do need a functioning Homeland Security department. But the way this is being implemented is confusing the hell out of me.  If there is a credible, tangible connection between modchipping and other alleged copyright violations and terrorism (as I seem to recall Alberto Gonzales claiming), let's see the evidence.  Make the case before the American public. But unless and until that's done, I've got no choice but to consider this an area that Homeland Security should keep its grubby little mitts off of, and get back to more credible threats. Unless they just don't have a lot to do (ahem, there's a fence that needs building, did I mention that?), in which case maybe it's time for a little downsizing.

So, Grandpa spent that day, that night, and most of the next day in the hospital.  He's home now, and doing all right. 

Yesterday, we had freezing rain most of the day, prompting most everyone in my office to declare that they were working from home.  After a brief meeting, I likewise declared victory and quit the field to work from home. 

Which I did until about 7:00 last night, when I had to take Grandma to the emergency room, because half of her face was swelling up.  Swollen spit gland the (not great bedside manner) doctor told us.  I asked if we should fill the prescription on the way home.  And Grandma said we'd do it in the morning.  And I found that my lack of diligence at diet and exercise hasn't done too much damage.  I weighed in yesterday a little over 245. Which, considering my scale, puts me somewhere around 255. 

This morning, I found my car encased in a 1/4" thick ice cocoon.  And the pharmacy was closing in an hour.  And I still have to get 9 hours of work in.  Chiseled (literally - with a screwdriver) the edges of the doors free of the ice, then turned the car on and let it run for 30 minutes.  During which time it rolled about ten feet back down the road because my parking brake apparently needs adjustment. 

Made it to Albertson's for Grandma's prescription, as well as kitty litter, dry cat food, and wet cat food (the essentials), as well as some milk and an Odwalla bar.  (Because I'm addicted.  Okay?  I said it.  Chocowalla.  Mmmmmmm.)  And when we got back I took a few more pictures.  Here they are.

Stay Warm!