TangoMaster.com

This is a topic that is huge, it will have an affect on every internet user worldwide, it will cause fundamental change in this global network, yet it receives no news coverage and not many people are familiar with it nor will do anything about it.

For those of you in the dark, net neutrality is the name of a movement to keep content online free and open for access to all users. It has since become synonymous with the efforts by broadband access providers to limit internet access to its customers by restricting usage to select websites that will pay a premium to be accessible. Essentially they are trying to do the same thing with the internet that happened with cable access TV. A station pays the cable provider a premium at regular intervals, and in turn their content is shown on a specific channel on TV.

If this happens, then we would see 95% of internet websites vanish overnight. I know that may be an exaggeration, but at the same time it may be an optimistic estimate. Only the websites that could afford to pay the ISPs would remain online, and people like me are in no position to pay for a “channel” on this new subscription by site model.

As a libertarian, I am against most government controls on the economy, since the internet is a place of business and ISPs are business. However, in this case, I believe it is necessary to put government restrictions on ISPs to make sure all content is equally free to be accessible, and here’s why.

It would devastate a vast number of industries that rely on the free openness to the internet to operate. The following industries come to the top of my head: Web server hosts, domain name registration, small business web presence, web designers, independent programmers, freeware application development, small internet retailers, and hell, even the internet pornography industry would be devastated. Internet advertising would be destroyed and viral marketing would cease to exist. It would be impossible for any internet startup to gain moment without paying exorbitant amounts of money for subscription on the various ISPs. This incredible effect on the international economy that exists only online would be unacceptable by all institutions and should not be tolerated to come to pass.

Second, it goes against the very foundations of the World Wide Web. Ever since it first went up, it has been free and open access to all. All you did was pay for the access point from your local provider and there were no limitations or restrictions and where you could go or what you could see.

Basically, I see the internet as a giant outlet mall that spans the globe. A site pays “rent” on their shop to web hosts and domain registrars and they operate business as they see fit. The ISPs a basically the roads and walkways to allow us to get to the various outlet stores. By limiting access to a select few sites that pay for it, it would be like a security guard standing at the entrance, handing out access cards that only allow you to enter certain stores of their choosing. I would call that a restriction on the growth of capitalism and exploitation of both the companies operating on the web and also the end users. Sure it limits capitalistic opportunities of the ISPs, but for the purpose of the greater good, it is necessary for them to stay behind so that a great many others can survive.

Support Net Neutrality. Write your congressman and make sure this is forbidden. If you don’t live in the US, contact your representing MP or whatever legislative representative you may have, because this is a worldwide phenomenon that will stab the information superhighway in the back.

Back at the end of February, my amazing Logitech Cordless Click! Optical Mouse hit the end of its life, so the search began for a replacement mouse. Naturally, given my overbearing love for the Logitech brand, they were the only option I explored for my input device. I had talked to a couple of my fellow employees beforehand and one pointed out the Logitech MX Air. Another friend of my, Docta Matt Lucido who works for Hillcrest Labs and helps in the development of the Freespace technology, confirmed that the MX Air was a badass piece of technology convinced me it was the right choice. So here it is, my review of the MX Air.

On the Desk. In the Air.

This mouse is the definitive of cool things that normal people won’t ever use. It operates just like a normal mouse when you have it sitting on the desk with laser tracking instead of optical, saving both battery life and you eyesight should you incidentally look at the bottom. However, pick it up off the desk and its a completely different experience. As soon as the laser doesn’t see a flat surface anymore, the Freespace technology kicks in, turning the mouse into a Wiimote on steroids. Using simple motions with the flick of the wrist, you can control the cursor on screen while sitting back in your chair, relaxing on the couch with a media center PC or walking around giving a presentation on a big screen. It works no matter how far you physically rotate away from the screen, whether you’re straight up or laying down, the cursor always follows the natural motion of your hand, keeping your cursor right where you want it.

In your hand it feels incredibly natural, which is where the function gains its appeal. When I first received this glorious technological marvel, I was afraid that I spent a ton of money for a feature I’d find myself not using. To the contrary, I use it almost as much as I would with it sitting on the desk. It comes in handy especially when watching movies or listening to music. It contains a play/pause button right on the mouse which is much more convenient in a pinch that using the one on my keyboard or physically hitting the button on screen. Just as well, it also has a volume control button as well as a back button for web browsing. It doesn’t stop there, though. Complimenting these buttons is a full array of software features that automatically install when you plug the USB adapter in. Want to skip to the next song? Simply hold down the play/pause button and make a circular motion with your hand. Same goes for the previous track, simply make the circle counter-clockwise. Volume control is incredibly simple as well. Hold down the volume button, and move the MX Air left or right for the volume to go up or down. Or to mute just hit the button once. The lithium-ion battery has good life, charges quickly and is simply a necessity given the amount of batteries I’ve gone through with my previous mice.

I’ve seen alot of people asking if the MX Air is good for gaming, but no one answering this question. So I think I’ll do the honors. The freespace element of the MX Air makes gaming awkward at best, and sends you in a dizzy whirl at worse. Especially in First Person Shooters, you already need one hand on the keyboard, so holding the mouse up in the air is unnecessary stress on your arm, so I just end up putting it back down. Now don’t get me wrong, its still a champ in games, due to the laser tracking, making motions very precise. The range and strength of the USB receiver provides no lag time at all between mouse action and computer response. Overall, this was an investment on my behalf that I most certainly do not regret.

4.8/5

I’ve been listening to the Red Album, the latest release from one of my favorite musical artists of all time, Weezer. They recently sored to the top of the YouTube charts with their music video Pork and Beans, the highlighted single from the album. Pork and Beans, especially with its corresponding video, is going to be, by far, one of the most defining songs of this decade of music. Its a celebration of independence, self expression and creativity, which is what our generation is seemingly all about with the rise of services such as YouTube, MySpace, Flickr, Facebook, et al.

However, the life changing moment that is to be experienced after listening to Pork and Beans is sadly lost with the rest of the album. I can’t pick out a bad song at all, however aside from their popular single, I can’t pick out another song that strikes me as great. After listening through once, nothing struck me as “I’d really like to listen to that song again” or even an inkling to check the title so I could remember. It serves best as background music to me. Something good to listen to if you just sit down and need some music while you’re doing something else. Its not something I’d find myself sitting down and listening to for the sake of listening to music.

3.5/5

For years, it has been my faithful servant. Opening links and accessing applications, shooting enemy soldiers and issuing orders to units, drawing lines and forming art.

I am, of course, speaking of the greatest piece of technology I have ever owned. The Logitech Cordless Click! Optical Mouse.

That is a picture when it was young and the whole world was in front of it. Purchased somewhere in the market of three years ago, I picked up this lovely mouse in an emergency “My piece of shit Kingston mouse just died and I want to play Call of Duty” Walmart run. Seeking a mouse good for a lefty, I grabbed this gem. It was supposed to be a quick fix, but the quick fix wouldn’t die or prove inadequate. No sir, this mouse fought the good fight. Three years later, here I stand, with my most faithful companion ceasing its functions. The paint in the palm area has faded and there is a distinct patch of white amongst the silver on the left mouse button where my finger generally rests. There is mouse gunk in the scroll wheel. This thing was built to last, and it did.

My experience with the Logitech Cordless Click! Optical Mouse has made me a loyal Logitech Customer, and as a retailer of computer electronics, I evangelize their good name. My keyboard, mouse, speakers and headset are all Logitech and I would feel like a dirty whore to use a different brand peripheral. (Unless I happened upon some Bose speakers, then I’d have to be a disloyal trecherous dog. No offense Logitech, I love you).

Also, my Logitech corded media keyboard is currently 7 years running. All I can say to Logitech is I will be making another mouse purchase in the near future because you rock. (a.k.a. Don’t fuck me over Logitech)

Okay, so here’s the long and short of it. As some of you may or may not know, I’ve had problems over the last year or so dealing with my registrar, Registerfly.com. Also, because of their awful business practices, poor customer service and overall “being a dick” attitude, I’ve decided, along with millions of other customers, that they suck huge balls.

Now, because I only own a small smattering of domain names (tangomaster.com, switzerlan.org, swissoutfit.com, swissoutfit.org, jeffcamlet.org and thisissparta.net), I rarely have to deal with my registrar. Tangomaster came up for renewal once again a few days ago, and I remembered that last year it took over 30 days to get registerfly to solve my problem. I also learned last year that it was under the control of eNom. So, this year, I decided to cut out the middle man and go straight to eNom. Within a period of perhaps 15 minutes, I submitted the required information including Federal ID and screen caps of my registerfly account and had the domain pushed to a newly created eNom account. Even Godaddy wasn’t as efficient, considering I’m still waiting to access thisissparta.net.

Go eNom! You guys are the best.