Google Pagerank Shuffle

As I write this from my home computer it would appear that the Arconati.us homepage's rank has dropped from 3 to 2 but the Arconati.net page's rank has gone from 0 to 2!

Confused? Learn more about Google Pagerank.

February 22, 1976

Here are some cool Wikipedia links about the day and year I was born; February 22, 1976; for the curious.

Thirty Years Old

As I think I might've mentioned here, today is my 30^th birthday. I was looking forward actually to a normal day at work but am having car issues and had to spend the day working from home instead, which isn't bad but kind of gives ya the cabin fever a bit. Also, trying to do hourly consultations with a cordless phone whose battery only lasts about 51 minutes is kind of a pain. Add this to the fact that there is only one 'corded' phone in the house and it is way far away from the computer and it makes it a bit difficult. It's a good thing I've got the menus memorized.

I had a minor blip of a mistake that a couple folks and family members were seriously pestering-er, um, asking me for good ideas for a birthday gift for me and I never sat down and made a list. My apologies. There are some things that I'd like but honestly --mushiness warning-- I have so much in my life that I really have everything that I need. That, and what I'd really need is time to concentrate and research what I do want to be sure I steer folks in the right direction. Time is the issue. Oh well, here is what I can slap together right now if it is not too late. Don't feel obligated to take back anything if what you have is not on this list. I'm not picky.

Gift Ideas

Clearly, these are for those that wait for the last minute --just like me!

• Handheld Computer: Also known as a PDA, commonly called a 'Palm' after the more traditionally popular brand name. However, I've waffled back and forth on this on whether I want a Palm brand or a PocketPC powered by Microsoft (otherwise known as the evil empire). I'm leaning towards the Windows handheld products [Gasp!], specifically the Dell Axim stuff.
• Large Computer Monitor: One that was 19" or more would not be bad. LCD would be preferred of course, but flat-screen CRT wouldn't be turned down. I'm currently using a 15" eMachines unit I picked up way back when I was at Office Depot.
• Perhaps I could use another large hard drive. The one I've got is quickly running out of room.
• DVD Burner: Either a stand-alone or a burner for my computer.

That's all I can think of at this point. Star Wars collectibles have always been a good idea and much appreciated, but I could hold off on these just as well. My grown-up collection of Star Wars stuff could outgrow and outshine my childhood collection. Someday soon, my mom will get fed up completely and force me to pick up all that old stuff and I'll feel funny if the old cache looks like a small fraction of the new, rather than the other way around.

Want more Wishlist links? - ArcoJedi's Wishlist

PBwiki

PBwiki makes creating a wiki as easy as making a peanut butter sandwich. Since I like peanut butter so much, I decided to talk a bit about them.

Check out the PBwiki tour! Then Get a free wiki at PBwiki.com.

Digital Transition Content Security Act

The United States The Digital Transition Content Security Act (DTCSA, H.R. 4569) is a bill introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner Jr., a Wisconsin Republican, on December 16, 2005. The bill was backed by Democratic Rep. John Conyers.

Its goal is to To require certain analog conversion devices to preserve digital content security measures., i.e. plugging the analog hole. The bill effectively proposes mandating of the Veil Rights Assertion Mark technology into new video-handling consumer devices.

That sounds like a lot of legal and technical jargon, but the summary of this one folks is that in the next few years the reality of this law put into place could mean that you would no longer be able to rip music or movies to your computer. You would also not be able to technically copy music or movies from one medium to another in any form. Currently you can do this legally as it is your protected right. However, this proposed law could remove this right and make it mandatory that computer manufacturers and software developers build unalterable and unhackable restrictions into their products so that you would not be allowed to do what you can do today.

I'm not encouraging copyright infringement, but I do suggest that people stand up for their rights. The hackers and criminals will find ways around these restrictions. The rest of us (you) will be looking at your mp3 player and computer or DVD player and wondering why it doesn't work like it used to. If this law passes, it will simply suck.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

The Monster Name Decoder