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SOPA and PIPA: What you can do about it
If you’ve been on the Internet lately, you have noticed that sites like Google, the Wikia community, and Wikipedia have all been “censored”. Equestria Daily and even the blogging site I use, WordPress, have all put censors and black bars on their logos and posts. This is a web-wide protest. Its purpose: to bring attention to two bills promoted by old media companies that is now being taken into consideration by Congress. They are called SOPA and PIPA.
Now a while back I posted a little article on a bill called S.978. That bill and the two bills that are being considered now are actually quite similar. Their goal is to strengthen copyright holders and the government’s power when it comes to online content. SOPA and PIPA will allow the government to shut down any site that has copyrighted material, whether its embedded into the site or even a link in the comments section, to be taken down. The law is so broad that it is essentially the censorship that happens in China. Here’s a video by the Khan Academy explaining this in more detail:
Now, what can you, an average browser in the internet, do about these two bills? If you’re of voting age, contact your representative. You can sign a petition like the one Google has going on their site. If you’re outside the US or not of voting age, spread the news to those who are. These bills are just the beginning. Let’s stop this before something worse comes along.
Carbon Nanotubes to the Rescue!
Carbon nanotubes are a relatively new development in the field of nanotechnology. These amazing little cylinders open up a new world of material science and electronics! Here are some of the various uses for this technology could open up to us!
Smaller, faster electronics
We all know that electronics and their components are getting smaller. On top of that we require them to be faster and more efficient as well. Right now, copper and other metals can carry a decent amount of energy to get the job done. However, they can only transfer so much. Carbon nanotubes are capable of transferring up to 1000 times more current at a much faster rate than traditional metal components. Carbon nanotubes can also be produced much more cheaply. This will greatly benefit the electronics industry.
Stronger, more resilient materials
Carbon is a very abundant element on Earth. Much more abundant than iron or titanium. However, its not the strongest or most durable of materials. Or so we thought. The nanostructure of carbon nanotubes allow a thread of them to be much stronger and more flexible than even the strongest of metallic alloys. This will allow better bullet proof materials for law enforcement and military. This will also lead to more durable products.
Space elevator!
Yep, you read right! A space elevator can be made because of carbon nanotubes! The basic premise of a space elevator is to make an elevator to a space station that is synchronized with the rotation of the Earth. The problem is, as addressed in the last point, metal cables aren’t an option due to them being not very flexible. A cable constructed of carbon nanotubes, however, could stand the strains and tension associated with being several thousand feet long and pulled taut.
Brony Podcast
What’s up everypony! As you all know by now, I am a brony. And I love this community! Especially the content generated by this great fandom. I’ve also been listening to two podcasts as of late:
The Brony Show
Bronyville
These two have basically inspired me to start up my own podcast! However, I don’t want to be alone in recording this. So I need two things:
- I need a way to record skype conversations on Ubuntu
- I need a fellow brony to record with me!
If anybody wants to be a part of this, just email me misterboab@gmail.com. Please comment below if you have any good ideas on recording skype conversations!
Once this gets started, I’ll probably start up a new site for this.
UPDATE: Objective One complete! 😀 All I need is someone to podcast with!
True 3D Holograms
Yes, this isn’t a hologram that’s trapped in a glass container like the ones revealed so far. This one works without the constraint of a screen and can work in mid air and in water. So far it can display images and moving images at 12 – 15 fps. It works by exciting the oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the air with a laser, causing them to emit light. Here’s actual video showing the water version (green lasers) and then the aerial version.
Bill S.978
Thanks Dragon122 for asking that question
Just recently a bill has been proposed that will infringe on your rights to freely distribute information. This bill, called S.978, will make it a felony to upload video containing copyrighted material to the internet. Yes, that means people who upload karaoke videos, AMVs, and video game content to Youtube will be felons. On top of that, you can be charged with absurd fines and even go to jail for up to 5 YEARS. This law is being pushed by lobbyists from Hollywood who want to make more money. I understand where they’re coming from. It’s not right for people to steal content. However, this is a law that is up to interpretation. If someone had music playing the background of their vlog, even if its by accident, they can go to jail.
The implications of this bill are gigantic. I’m not an alarmist by any means, however this bill is absolutely ridiculous in its current form. If this bill had been passed say, when Red vs. Blue started, they people who made the series would have gone to jail or fined, then the series would be taken off the internet. If this bill passes in its current state, its obvious that people will break it. Whether its by accident or purposefully, somebody will be prosecuted. Then their lives would be ruined. How? They would be felons, so it’s harder for them to get a job (and times are hard enough as it is). They would waste up to 5 years of their lives in jail. Plus, they could end up broke because of the fines. The video game and music industry will probably slow down due to this bill. Uploaded videos of their content is a massive way of free advertisement. Machinima and your favorite gaming channels on Youtube would be done for. We cannot allow this to happen. If you want to keep making karaoke videos, AMVs, video game playthroughs and let’s plays, then go to freebieber.org and sign the petition. If you want to take a step further, call your congressman and tell them to say NO to S.978.
RIP Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs has died today, at age 56. This came to me as a shock. Unfortunately, his cancer got to him. He was a brilliant visionary in the world of computers and technology. I don’t own any Apple products. However, I do have a connection to him. He’s kind of been a role model to me when it comes to computer technology. I used to watch documentaries about the history of computers and see the parts about Jobs’ contributions. Anyways, I hope his family finds comfort during this time. And I pay my respects to this wonderful person.
Minecraft 1.8 Leaked!
The new update with Minecraft has been leaked. Apparently, Notch knew about it! Here’s the download:
To install it, you have to go to the folder and replace the .jar file with this one. Then place it in the bin folder for minecraft.
The Yogscast has been playing through the new update. There are some things missing and some bugs. For example, using furnaces crash the game. So use it at your own risk. Make sure to backup your Minecraft files, just in case. Personally, I’m going to wait for the entire update when it comes out. Unfortunately it didn’t come out yesterday. You can use this in the mean time to satiate your hunger for 1.8!
Quantum CPU Created
A quantum version of a CPU has been successfully created
Scientists in California claim to have successfully created a quantum version of the traditional Von Neumann technology. That means they have created a quantum CPU with quantum RAM. Quantum CPU’s compute using quibits, which can be in three positions: 1, 0, and 1 and 0. That way quantum computers can process information much faster than conventional computers. However, it is difficult to accomplish this. They had to chill the quCPU to near absolute zero to perform several calculations. So we can’t expect these computers in your room any time soon. However, like the computers of old that filled an entire room, quantum computers will hopefully become readily accessible in the next century.
Minecraft 1.8 First Look
At PAX today, Notch himself made a video revealing some gameplay of minecraft update 1.8! It shows both the creative and survival mode. Here’s the video:
Here’s a list of some of the things he has added into the new update:
- Endermen, a new peaceful/hostile mob that becomes hostile when you look at them. They attack once you look away. They can pick up blocks and teleport when they attack you.
- Creative mode: a mode for creating those great buildings and adventure maps. You can fly and you don’t take any damage. You can also place as many of any block as you want and destroy them with your bare hands, similar to the classic mode on the website.
- Survival mode: regular minecraft you’re used to.
- You can sprint in survival mode
- You can do critical damage to mobs by jumping on them and hitting at the same time
- You can get skill points in survival mode (though its not decided on how you will spend them yet)
- New geological features such as rivers, ravines, and rolling hills
- Hunger meter that allows you to regernate automatically as long as its full
- New animations for explosions and eating
Minecraft on Xperia Play
Mojang has just released Minecraft: Pocket Edtion on the Xperia Play. It will cost £4.26, expensive for an app. One more platform for Minecraftians to build and create.
Here’s some gameplay footage:
Help World of Boab Grow
The World of Boab 