What ever happened to the age old, plain Jane insanity plea defense? Honestly, what does any person gain from a defense of : ” [Lackey, the killer, was a] computer geek who had immersed himself in video games and lived in “a different world than you and I.”"

I’m an avid gamer, especially since I’m two-months unemployed. This means I’ve got a lot of time on my hands to do not much else but game. And yet, for all I can recall, I’ve never played a “video game” where I play a 24-year-old psychotic douche-bag looking for a vault under stairs, carrying a “starter pistol, knife (with the tip removed via a bone spreader (wtf! Where does one acquire a bone spreader at?!), stun gun, night vision goggles, mallet with a towel wrapped around it, a sledgehammer and a hatchet,” among other various tools one would need to do home improvement.

I mean, honestly. Save us the pandering, the public finger-pointing, aged Doom/Manhunt/GTA references and just plead plain insanity.

First, it was obesity. Then it was Virginia Tech, followed by Northern Illinois University. Can’t forget comic books, either! Up next, “it [gaming] reminds me of rats running in a maze.” And more crucially, slumping DVD sales.

The symptoms of America’s new plague, video games.

Every time this comes up, I feel sorry for the poor dead horse that continues to get beat. Seriously. This seemingly mindless argument harkens back to the RIAA blaming pirates for declining CD sales. And yet, something funny happens (one can derive the question: “Is the illegal consumer to blame for sales declines, or an unwavering focus on physical media sales from the industry?”)

I mean, seriously. I’m not chubby because I play videogames. It’s because I’ve got a hybrid mesomorphic-endomorphic body type and because I sit on my ass a lot.

I’m pretty sure what’s-their-faces didn’t shoot up their respective schools because they enjoyed playing Counter-Strike (there were no traces found that the dude who did NIU enjoyed/played games); if people who played FPS’s were more inclined to go shoot up places, I’m pretty sure the state capitol [of Michigan - Ed.] (three blocks away) should be eyeing me every day I leave my apartment. Pretty much along the same lanes of reasoning that just because I enjoy a beer or a Long Island Iced Tea, I am not an over-indulging drunkard.

In regards to comic books, well, people are lazy and don’t like to read. Oh well.

And what about people essentially looking like zombies while playing some games? Yup. It happens. Go watch someone play an MMO. For the better part of the observation, the person will just click and point along, happily obliging to whatever happens to their avatar. Watch the person during a boss or raid, however, and things change. Strategery shows up, people start talking more, thoughts and ideas get tossed around. Heirarchy and order necessitate themselves to keep things from melting into chaos. People start using their brains! THE THOUGHT!

And the plight of gaming on the sale of Shrek 3? Seriously? The first two movies weren’t enough so you had to create a completely lacking sequel to a sequel? Is it my fault, as a gamer, that I don’t want to purchase a shitty movie? I think it goes without saying, that I love the first (last) three movies of the Star Wars series, IV, V and VI. I own those. I do not, however, own I, II or III. Why? Because they suck. Hardcore.

I guess, in the end, I’m just getting sick and tired of being half-assly used as a piss-poor scapegoat, especially as the expense of a rancid product. Just gotta blame the products that keep selling and show growth, I guess.

You know, I’m just as pro-choice as the next guy.  And no, I’m not talking religious views or Roe v. Wade, I’m talking options.  Coke against Pepsi.  Mickey D’s or BurgerWhop.  Diversity is good.

That being said, the EU’s decision to fine Microsoft for “anti-competitive behaviour” is total and complete crap.  The charges levied against the Redmond, WA company include freezing out rival products (like media players) and by linking the Explorer browser to Windows at the expense of rival servers.

When Apple makes an integrated software solution, that it installs on every machine (e.g: Safari, iLife), they’re brilliant geniuses.  When Microsoft does it, they’re souless tycoons monopolizing the world and causing famine in third-world countries.  Besides, I wouldn’t expect to buy a Ford vehicle and force them to allow Chevy to install the steering wheel and pedals.

The ruling said that Microsoft was guilty of not providing key code to rival software makers.  You know, this is a competitive business.  My understanding is that the entire premise behind running a business is to be as successful as possible.  Having a competitive advantage is a good thing.  But to tell Microsoft they have to give that to their competitors?  Look, I’m not saying that it’s not okay to attack the Gates, but to ask Bill to give you the keys to the kingdom?

To hell with the EU and they can stick their Euro where the sun don’t shine, and I don’t mean the Pacific Northwest.

In an unclassified report released on Feb. 15, the US Government released details on some new and improved methods of data mining (as they call it “”a program involving pattern-based queries, searches or other analyses of 1 or more electronic databases” in order to “discover or locate a predictive pattern or anomaly indicative of terrorist or criminal activity”"), in addition to some initiated projects.

Garnering its fair share of attention is project Reynard, “a seedling effort to study the emerging phenomenon of social (particularly terrorist) dynamics in virtual worlds and large-scale online games and their implications for the Intelligence Community.”

Apparently, these guys aren’t playing the same WoW that I am, where, on a daily basis, in no discerning order, I: hear the latest Chuck Norris jokes, learn that my mom does many things I’ve never thought possible, have my sexuality challenged because I did something wrong, learn a new racial slur every day and so on. I am also apparently oblivious to the terrorist threats that must hit /general chat, too.

But, hey, who knows. Maybe in a year or two we’ll find out that some of the top progression guilds in Warcraft were all Talibans practicing phases and DoT cycles. Because, you know, America has a large flying dragon over it that drops some (then-decent)Tier 2 loot.

Everyone wants to make a big fuss about the N.B.A. trading deadline.  I say screw that jazz and let’s talk some puckin’ hockey.

Somebody better call up the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police because Pens G.M. Ray Shero is guilty of robbery.  The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Marian Hossa from the Atlanta Thrasher in exchange for Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen.  The Penguins also picked up forward Pascal Dupuis while the Thrashers received Angelo Esposito and a future first round pick.

This gives the Penguins a winger to pair up on their top line and frees up Evgeni Malkin to move back and play his more natural center on the second line, a long overdue change.  By keeping Staal, the Penguins should have a high-octane offense to contend with.

Now let’s just hope it pays off.

A Summary of Other Notable Trades:

TB - M. Richards to DAL, DAL - J. Jokkinen to TB.  NYI - C. Simon to MIN.  DET - Signed D. McCarty to 1-year contract.

I saw Mishary’s post over at SOMEcontrast.com about the evolution of Nintendo characters, and it got the wheels turning about the evolution of Nintendo controllers.  So without further ado:

Nintendo Entertainment System

Elegance in simplicity.  This puppy had two buttons, a d-pad, and no frills.  Also makes a great fashion statement!

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

A few extra thumb buttons and the shoulder buttons ushered in Nintendo’s 16-bit effort.  Brilliance!  Thumb buttons have now become standard issue on video game control pads.

Nintendo 64

This abstract take on a game controller pumped some innovation into the industry.  You could get a RumblePak for it, It had an analog joystick on it.  It ushered in a new era in gaming (Bond, James Bond).  But why did it have three handles when I only have two hands?

Nintendo GameCube

What… in thee hell.  This thing looks like a five-year old got ahold of the sketch in the design room and went Crayola on it.  Where do I begin?  I never figured out what that little yellow joystick was for.  It looks like a monkey shat on a boomerang.

Nintendo Wii

There’s no denying that the Wii re-energized an industry with unique gameplay and opened the door to new possibilities in gaming.  But with all honesty, who didn’t look at this thing and say, “It looks like a TV controller hooked up to a catheter” ?

Today, Authoritative Totalitarianism has a new face.  It marks the end of the Castro reign in Cuba, and the beginning of the Castro reign in Cuba.  Power transferred today from Fidel Castro to his brother Raul.  While slight reforms are anticipated, it’s becoming clear that 1.) The younger brother shall continue to consult the elder, and 2.) Nobody in the U.S. really gives a damn.

This graph from Google Trends shows the Search volumes for Jackass, and Raul Castro.  Guess which one has the higher search volume?

When I was growing up, I knew that the penalty for breaking the rules in my house was going to be something I didn’t like.   Sure, the first time you might get a verbal warning, but after that… consider yourself warned.  And I grew up in a house that believed in spankings (belt optional ;)).

Oh, how things change as you grow older.  When you break the rules as an adult, you get a $700,000+ contract buyout.  Kelvin Sampson, former head coach of the Indiana University men’s basketball program, who was already on probation for 557 improper phone calls, made over 100 additional improper phone calls during his tenure at IU.

[Dramatic Pause]

Now that I’ve let that settle in, I’ll restate: HE BROKE THE RULES 557 TIMES, WAS WARNED, AND THEN PROCEEDED TO BREAK THE RULES OVER 100 MORE TIMES!

Sampson had previously rejected a $300,000 buyout offer from the school.

Six players skipped practice following the announcement.  Normally I would say, “Props for taking a stand.”  In this instance, bench ‘em.

As if Microsoft needed another black eye in the public perception department, a hostile takeover of Yahoo! is underway. Microsoft’s top dog, Steve Ballmer, has “staked his reputation” on Microsoft’s bid to acquire the internet search firm.

I’m sorry to embed so many YouTube videos in one post.  But I think it’s necessary to illustrate the absurdity of such a statement.

As you can see, this is quite the reputation.  The man best known as “that monkey guy” from Microsoft… has staked his REPUTATION…

Now naturally, the conclusion is that I would be an Apple fanboy.  At least that’s what the common response on Digg would be.  Quite the opposite.  I’m perfectly okay with Microsoft and it’s products.  I’m even okay with them having such a firm control (although slipping) on many types of applications.  Windows seems to function perfectly fine, the 2007 rendition of Office is quite fantastic, an upgrade that merits the cost of the product for a change.  Lord knows I use my XBox 360 as if the world would end without my input.

But seriously, can’t they find a better face for the company?

Charles Elson, professor of corportate governance at the University of Delaware, was quoted on Portfolio as saying “If Microsoft doesn’t win it would be embarrassing for them.” How can it get anymore embarassing than this?

When you look at it on paper, it’s not terribly impressive.  Two gigabytes of memory and an eighty gigabyte hard drive are laughable when compared to some machines that are out there.  Honestly, let’s face it: if I were to say, “Hey, I’m selling a computer with 2 GB of RAM and 80 gigs of hard drive for 1799.99″ most people would laugh and tell you were to put it.  This computer really isn’t designed to be a primary machine, but more of a companion machine to work off of your existing Mac equipment.  But that’s not where this thing shines. 

Apple MacBook Air

This is perhaps one of the sexiest looking pieces of hardware I’ve ever seen.  And I’m not alone in this.  In fact, I would dare say that this machine is probably one of the best marketing tools I’ve seen.  People come in to electronics stores looking for universal remotes, televisions, and printer ink.  The minute they see this puppy, they HAVE to pick it up.  It’s almost as if they’re compelled to touch it.  And when they’re done, they ask questions about the other Apple products.  Half of the people I saw today who looked at the MacBook Air bought a Mac product of one sort or another.

In other tech news, Toshiba dropped out of HD-DVD.  Finally.  There’s no shame in that Toshiba… well, there’s a little shame in it.

And the winner by knockout in the 30th month… Blu-Ray!