Buzz Out Loud 716: Hope for old people (like Tom)

EPISODE 716

Microsoft leans toward a hostile bid
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120966628366460063.html

Xbox 360 Blu-ray console shipping by September?
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/02/ xbox-360-blu-ray-console-by-september/

Researchers design “malicious circuits,” warn of potential risk
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/01/ researchers-design-malicious-circuits-warn-of-potential-risk/

Popcorn Hour’s A-100 HD media streamer publicly available for pre-order
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/02/ popcorn-hours-a-100-hd-media-streamer-publicly-available-for-pr/

Key House reps ask FCC for “openness” in XM/Sirius merger
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/ 20080502-key-house-reps-ask-fcc-for-openness-in-xmsirius-merger.html

New study debunks myth that most tech entrepreneurs are college kids (Thanks, alfrench!)
http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/2958/ new-study-debunks-myth-that-most-tech-entrepreneurs-are-college-kids

Pro IP act passed (Thanks, Mark!)
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/ 20080430-pro-ip-act-passes-in-the-house.html

The ‘Hard Disk Crusher’ doesn’t mess around
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9934113-1.html

Study: Keyboards make excellent homes for nasty bacteria
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/ 20080501-study-keyboards-make-excellent-homes-for-nasty-bacteria.html

Retro sabotage!
http://www.retrosabotage.com/

VOICE MAIL

Chris the podcaster
A draft movement has started.

Adam from Salt Lake City Utah
Remember that Microsoft spy program for free software?

Anonymous
About the ad.

Anonymous welcome
But some people had this response

E-MAIL

I can get expelled for what?!

Molly, Tom, and Jason,

In my English class we have to write a research report on WWII. Well, part of my report is in a Word file on the computers at school. Normally, if I wanted to take this file home, I’d use a USB flash drive, but I left mine at home. Also, my school blocked all web-based e-mail. So I thought I’d upload the file to my server via a totally safe, online FTP client. When I went into the library and sat down at a computer, the librarian, who has a reputation for not being very nice, asked me what I was doing: as if it were any of her business. I told her I was sending myself a file, and she completely flipped out. She started yelling at me as if I didn’t know what I was doing and she even told me this:

“If you do that, you can be expelled.”

This made me very mad, and made me realize something: the sad school staff know nothing about computers.

I’m acquiring my school’s IT director’s e-mail address as I type this.

Best regards,
Dylan from Missouri

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Oscar Mayer? Crap?

I no sooner get an e-mail referenced on Wednesday’s BOL (yeah, me!) when Tom lays into the company that has employed me for 18-plus years.
Oscar Mayer crap!?! Our hot dog products contain nothing but quality meats--mostly turkey for wieners and all beef for beef franks. If I was in Marketing I would be greatly offended.

Sure, other brands--Nathan’s, Hebrew National, and Sabrett to name a few--make a good beef dog, but I’d stack ours up against any of them in a blind taste test.

The crap category would include Bar S (never more than $0.99) and all store brands. As with most other products, you get what you pay for.

I know! You’re all getting wiener whistles and whatever other trinkets I can scrounge. I probably don’t have enough clout for a wienermobile ride, so don’t ask.

Hot dog preferences aside, still love the show.

Patrick Schommer
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

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Memristors

Hey my favorite monarchical triumvirate,

OK, so there was the big stink about getting passwords and such off a PC by stealing it off the RAM, before it dissipated…within such a short period, using a USB drive, etc.

Now, with memristors, just rip the whole pc outta the wall and run. Can turn it on later and boot right where you left off? All accounts still logged in, etc…. Hmmm. There should at least be an option to boot down and wipe the memory so it will clean-boot, just in case, and would likely be a company requirement in a lot of places. I think that would cause security issues out the wazoo.

Erick from Colorado Springs

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BOL mayor job voting question

I guess I am a little confused about this whole BOL mayor thing.

We have a diplomat who likes to restate things in a more polite fashion, and interjects new topics into the conversation (Tom). We have a sheriff, (Molly) who talks tough, calls it like she see it, and is rumored to carry a shotgun.
And then we have Jason, who acts more like a city administrator, pushing buttons, playing recordings, and publishing the podcast, all without much credit.

We even have a cranky old guy next door who loves cats and hates Europeans, (Rafe) as well as a house full of kids across the street who talk funny, play loud music all the time, and hold parties on the lawn (the 404 podcast).

But this mayor thing confuses me: who chooses, who votes, and how? Is this like Chicago, can I vote more than once?

Keep up the good work,

David
Living in the 4th ward of Buzztown, down by the bacon plant.

P.S. Who do I talk to about getting a key to the city?

*****************************
BOL Meetup screenshots

Hey guys,

As you requested, I sent the screenshots of the meetup last night.
In case the attachment is too big, here is the Flickr URL:
http://flickr.com/photos/22103105@N03/sets/72157604833054156/

I also cropped some of the better shots, you can place them in the show notes if you want.

Thanks,
Jacob from Brooklyn
AKA jacobshm (twitter and other stuff)