Fatbob

It's official. Living in the world of GTA is way better than living in real life. Hell, the only thing real life had on being a criminal in Los Santos was gaspingly beautiful time lapse videos that would pop up every and now again to capture your attention and make you wonder why you can't see the world like that every day. No more. Here's a time lapse video created in the world of GTA V. It's perfect.

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The latest episode of PBS' weekly webseries Game/Show asks the question: Do video game stereotypes hurt men? Following a recent episode exploring sexism in gaming culture, host Jamin Warren returns to discuss growing body image issues and social expectations men face, as well as the ways video games relate to them.

This is the sixth episode in the entertaining Kornhaber Brown-produced webseries, which includes videos about violence in gaming and the "Let's Play" YouTube phenomenon. Each episode offers a fascinating look at the culture surrounding games and the "relationship between videogames and modern life." We recommend you find six minutes and 43 seconds to watch this week's episode; it's a good one.

Latest episode of PBS' Game/Show discusses male stereotypes originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Oct 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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judgecorp writes "It's just a sidebar on the US government shutdown but, while agencies including NASA and NIST are displaying blank websites, the US Patent and Trademark Office is running as normal because its funding is guaranteed by the US Constitution. Thus, patent trolls can continue to file bogus business patents, while the FTC is closed and can't combat them, and the Department of Justice can't handle appeals and enforcement."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

In this week's video, John Green takes look at the origins of 42 idioms in the English language, such as "once in a blue moon," "peeping Tom," and "silver lining."


Mental Floss

As one of the largest Internet providers in the United States, Comcast is alerted to the existence of pirating customers on a daily basis.

When the provider receives DMCA notices it is required to forward them to the customers in question, and if the copyright holder is part of the six-strikes Copyright Alert System the notice results in an official ‘strike’.

The above is nothing new, but the situation gets more complex when it comes to the effects these DMCA notices have on the long term. Although those participating in the six-strikes system have made it very clear that no accounts will be terminated, outside the program it is certainly an option.

TorrentFreak has received information suggesting that Comcast is actively terminating the accounts of repeat infringers under certain circumstances, without a court order. When we asked the ISP about their policy with regard to repeat copyright infringers, this was confirmed.

“Termination is a requirement of the DMCA and applies to all ISPs, not just Comcast, as a consequence of repeated and egregious copyright infringement,” a Comcast spokesperson told TorrentFreak.

Comcast is indeed correct in stating that Internet providers have to act against repeat infringers. The DMCA requires ISPs to “… adopt and reasonably implement a policy that provides for the termination in appropriate circumstances of subscribers and account holders of the service provider’s system or network who are repeat infringers.”

However, legal experts and Internet providers interpret the term “repeat infringer” differently. For example, AT&T previously said that it would never terminate accounts of customers without a court order, arguing that only a court can decide what constitutes a repeat infringement.

Comcast, however, informs TorrentFreak that a court order is certainly not required under the DMCA and that the company’s interpretation of the law is appropriate.

Comcast is not the only company to take this stance. Verizon’s terms of service also suggest that account termination is an option, without due process. Similar policies are also applied by other service providers, such as YouTube for example. Needless to say, terminating an Internet connection will have more impact than shutting down a YouTube account.

While the DMCA has been in place for more than a decade, the launch of the Copyright Alert System puts the repeat infringer issue in a new light. Previously, ISPs were not obliged to keep logs of copyright infringement notices for a set period of time, but under the new system they are.

In addition, as part of the alert system ISPs are required to track the number of notices “repeat infringers” receive. This means that providers are keeping a database of the most persistent pirates, which outside of the CAS can lead to terminations in Comcast’s case.

Comcast assured TorrentFreak that “termination of a customer’s Internet service is not part of the Copyright Alert System,” but didn’t deny that these notices can eventually lead to account terminations under the ISP’s acceptable use policy.

Under what circumstances this would take place, and how Comcast defines “repeated and egregious” copyright infringement, remains unknown for now.

Source: Comcast Terminates Accounts of Persistent Pirates

The word "vegetarian" apparently means something different to the person who designed this menu. At first it looks as if they think chicken is not real meat, but then you see pork and steak, too. Maybe it means "has vegetables in it"? Maybe not, as the first offering doesn't mention vegetables at all. Go figure! -via Arbroath

maxwittert:

Jean & Scott, episode 3

Check out past episodes here:

Episode 1

Episode 2

(by Max Wittert, 2013)

“I wanted to put a reference to masturbation in one of the scripts for the Sandman. It was immediately cut by the editor [Karen Berger]. She told me, “There’s no masturbation in the DC Universe.” To which my reaction was, “Well that explains a lot about the DC Universe.”

-

Neil Gaiman (via mollymillions)

Should have worked for Marvel.

(via sfiddy)

watching you masturbate

Rat King Entertainment recently launched its Steam Greenlight page for 3D puzzle-platformer Tri. The game, a first-person platformer in the same vein as Antichamber, has players exploring towers and dungeons, building platforms and solving puzzles along the way.

Tri's alpha version, composed of 12 levels, is available now through the Humble Store, Desura and Indie Game Stand for $10. Buying the PC, Mac and Linux game now amounts to a pre-order, as players will receive an upgrade to the full version of Tri when it launches somewhere between Q4 2013 and Q1 2014.

Puzzling first-person platformer Tri-ing to gather Greenlight votes originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Oct 2013 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For years, director Robert Zemeckis has conveyed an interest in making a sequel to his 1988 smash, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? At times, it even sounds like it’s getting close. Before (or if) that ever happens though, an actual sequel is coming and it’s coming later this year.

Gary K. Wolf, the creator of Roger Rabbit, will be releasing a new Roger Rabbit eBook on November 29. It’s called Who Wacked Roger Rabbit?

Cartoon Brew alerted us to the follow up. Here’s the cover.

And here’s the synopsis:

Hard-boiled gumshoe Eddie Valiant lands a plum job as Gary Cooper’s bodyguard while Coop scouts locations for his next movie—a screwball comedy titled Hi, Toon! But Eddie’s dream job quickly turns into a nightmare. The film’s being shot in Toontown, and Coop’s co-star turns out to be none other than Roger Rabbit. Eddie’s a big fan of Coop. Of Roger? Not so much.

A sinister hoodlum threatens to murder Coop if the movie gets made. Before long, Eddie, Coop, Roger, and the ever-glamorous Jessica Rabbit are embroiled in a mystery that could destroy Toontown. When Roger bites off more Toonish trouble than Eddie can swallow, the answer to the question Who Wacked Roger Rabbit? swiftly becomes no laughing matter.

This is Wolf’s third Roger Rabbit novel, but don’t expect the character to be all cute and funny like the movie. Roger in these novels is a darker character, sort of like the tone Zemeckis built around him in the film.

For more on the novel, check out its Facebook.

• Sequel Bits: ‘Kick-Ass 2′, ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’, ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’, ‘Beetlejuice 2′, ‘Roger Rabbit 2′, ‘Grown Ups 2′, ‘Willow 2′, ‘Anchorman: The Legend Continues’, ‘The Expendables 3′
• Sequel Bits: ‘Muppets 2′, ‘Wreck-It Ralph 2′, ‘Roger Rabbit 2′, ‘The Girl Who Played With Fire’, ‘Skyfall’, ‘A Good Day to Die Hard’, ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’, ‘Red 2′
• Sequel Bits: Bill Murray Out of ‘Ghostbusters 3′ Again? Plus: ‘Dragon Tattoo’ Sequels Could Shoot Together, ‘Star Trek 2′ Villain Hints, ‘Roger Rabbit 2′ Stalled
• Robert Zemeckis Says ‘Roger Rabbit’ Sequel Still Ready, Wants 2D Animation Done “With 3D Tools”
• Despite Bob Hoskins’ Retirement, the ‘Roger Rabbit’ Sequel is Still Possible
• Sequel Bits: ‘Muppets 2′ Will Be a Comedy Caper, Plus: ‘Roger Rabbit 2′, ‘Twilight’, ‘Skyfall’, ‘Prometheus’

When the studio behind the Penumbra games and Amnesia: The Dark Descent puts out a teaser website like this, I have to talk about it.

If the above video and accompanying text -- which describes an unknown machine found during a salvage mission -- are any indication, I'm led to believe this game is going to have a sci-fi slant. And there's probably no one I'd rather take on sci-fi horror than Frictional Games, assuming that's what this ends up being. I sure hope so.

The site's file recovery progress bar can't go fast enough. Three percent? That's it?

The Breaking Bad finale aired within two days of the first government shutdown in 17 years. Coincidence? We think not

Stephen Colbert seized the opportunity to compare the TV show centered on meth-makers to the men and women of Congress. The similarities are eerie

"It started out as a highly sympathetic character in the 1770s, but in just 237 seasons, it has transformed into an egotistical, self-destructive maniac," Colbert explained.

Colbert advised viewers to search their local listings for "Breaking Gov," created by Barack Obama. Read more...

More about Viral Videos, Stephen Colbert, Tv, Watercooler, and Videos

theodp writes "CNN reports that the U.S. government shut down at 12:01 a.m. EDT Tuesday after lawmakers in the House and the Senate could not agree on a spending bill to fund the government. Federal employees who are considered essential will continue working. But employees deemed non-essential — close to 800,000 — will be furloughed, and most of those are supposed to be out of their offices within four hours of the start of business Tuesday."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The Internet's latest hit prank video involves a boozy "mailman" brawling with his boss in front of astonished bystanders

Watch this prank go from cringe-worthy, to cringe-worthier, to cringe-worthiest as the mailman in question begins by stealing birthday gifts, then gets drunk and finally ends up duking it out with his supervisor in a public plaza

The video, above, produced by YouTuber edbassmaster, has become a viral hit, with more than 230,000 views in its first day online. Check it out, then let us know what you think in the comments Read more...

More about Watercooler and Videos

Animal Instincts Pet Condoms are touted as “pregnancy protection for dogs and cats” but they are really a campaign for San Francisco SPCA to remind people to spay or neuter their pets.

via RICK!

Korean researchers have engineered a new strain of E. coli that can produce a suitable substitute for gasoline. And as they quite rightly point out, bacteria that poops out petroleum could be some valuable shit.

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The name McAfee is synonymous with the ubiquitous anti-virus software, but in recent years, John McAfee has kept a relatively low profile in the tech industry, preferring instead to take up leisurely pursuits like yoga and evading Belizean police. Until now. Last Saturday, McAfee took the stage at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center to announce his intention to design and manufacture Decentral, a pocket-sized device priced at around $100 that would, in theory, make it difficult for governmental agencies to snoop on your online activities by creating so-called floating networks. According to the San Jose Mercury News, McAfee told an eclectic crowd of engineers and artists, "There will be no way [for the government] to tell who you are or where you are." A gadget like Decentral does sound like a bit of a timely pipe dream, and McAfee admits that the prototype has yet to be produced. But, hey, if you can dream it, then maybe, just maybe, McAfee can do it.

Filed under: Misc, Internet

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Source: San Jose Mercury News

The New York Public Library recently discovered a treasure trove of video games in its archives created by psychedelic evangelist Timothy Leary. Over 375 floppies (talk about flashbacks) containing a "dozen or so" games developed by the LSD-advocate in the '80s -- some are playable via emulation -- are now on display in the library's rare books and manuscripts division, according to The New York Times. The good doctor's digital works had a self-help bend to them, advocating self-improvement by interactive means as opposed to pharmaceuticals, and apparently recreational drugs as well. If you fancy yourself a cyberpunk, Leary also had an in-progress project based on William Gibson's Neuromancer, replete with writing by William S. Burroughs and a soundtrack by Devo. He had more than just prototypes, too: His Mind Mirror was commercially released in 1985 and sold 65,000 copies for publisher Electronic Arts. If you can't make it to the NYPL, a version has been adapted to Facebook so you can glean your personality profile from your... profile.

[Image credit: Jaycobs / Flickr]

Filed under: Gaming, Alt

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Via: Kotaku

Source: The New York TImes

One of the more awkward things about AOL is the fact that its profits are still entirely driven by subscriptions and memberships. Given the subscription busines’ roots in dial-up Internet, it’s not surprising that that those revenues keep falling — but with the launch of a new service called Gathr, the company is trying to turn things around.

“It’s really about bringing in new subscribers,” said David Smith, vice president of marketing at AOL’s paid services and membership division.

What are these new subscribers actually going to pay for? AOL (which owns TechCrunch) is pitching Gathr as a way to access your favorite online services in a single place for a discounted price, with partners including Pandora, iTunes, Redbox, and Amazon.

Bundling isn’t a new concept, but Paid Services and Membership President Bud Rosenthal argued that people think of it as “something that’s done for them.” When you pay for a cable TV bundle, you end up with lots of channels that you don’t care about. Or if you want a specific feature for your new car, it probably comes bundled with other features that are less important to you.

With Gathr, on the other hand, users get to choose the services. I currently count 19 of them in Gathr (Smith and Rosenthal said there are plenty more lined up), and users can combine any three, paying a combined $15 per month. Gathr also offers prepackaged bundles, tailored to different interests. For example, I’m trying out a “4 Fun” bundle that includes five one-day DVD rentals from Redbox (I don’t own any devices that can play DVDs, so, uh, maybe I should have thought this through), a subscription to Pandoara’s ad-free service Pandora One, a $25 e-gift card to Restaurant.com, and a bonus $10 gift card with Amazon.

Entertainment is the category with “the sex and sizzle,” Rosenthal acknowledged, but Gathr goes beyond that, with partners such as Norton AntiVirus and LifeLock.

Behind the scenes, he said AOL is paying wholesale prices for these services, and everything on top of those prices is profit. He noted that many partners already have a big audience in the US, so continued domestic growth can be a challenge, and these discounts can help convince “fence sitters.” In addition, he said that even though Gathr offers users a dashboard for managing and accessing their subscriptions, those users also need to create accounts with and log into the partners services themselves: “We’re not disintermediating the partner and the consumers.”

Smith described said Gathr is currently in a “marketing beta” in Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Seattle, with AOL testing out the response to a number of promotional tactics (including TV ads) before a broader national launch next year. Anyone in the US can already sign-up here, however.

Aaron Fechter invented Whac-A-Mole. He also builds animatronic rock bands for franchises like Chuck E. Cheese's and ShowBiz Pizza Place. What more could we ask him to contribute? Nothing. He has given great gifts to mankind. But Aaron Fechter demands more of himself. He is trying to develop an alternative fuel that is cleaner burning than propane. A heroic citizen of Earth! But he had a small accident the other day at his warehouse in Orlando. Okay it was an explosion. Okay yeah he blew his warehouse up.

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Though powering .gov websites isn't at the core of the U.S. government's financial woes, certain agencies will take their websites offline if there is a shutdown on Tuesday. Ars is reporting that the Library of Congress, the National Parks Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission would shut their websites off in a shutdown.

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