NCAA Thinks It Owns the Internets

In the Rochester household, there are a few months that are sacred in terms of planning events. Aggie Football season (that is college football season for those who do not know) and March Madness. Both our wedding and the birth of the first Little Rochester will avoid these fine events. Why? you ask. Well, because why would anyone want to compete with the glory that is college football and basketball?

College Basketball is starting to get exciting as it heads towards March and the NCAA has decided they needed to make a little announcement. The NCAA, being omnipotent, has decreed that no live blogging will take place during college sporting events. They have even gone so far as to limit the amount of updates per quarter. Apparently, they think it is not good for fans to know what is going on with their team.

I know this is aimed mostly at professional writers, but who are they protecting? ESPN’s live updates? Those expensive cable packages no one can afford to buy? Are they going to take away every spectator’s cell phone or Blackberry? If the public wants to know what just happened in the Duke game, they will find the information somewhere. If a reporter is denied “credentials” could they not simply go to a game as a regular fan who just happens to send updates to the local paper every 5 minutes or so?

It is ridiculous that the NCAA thinks they can control the flow of free information and the press by declaring that “It Shall Not Be So”. I wish I had that kind of power.

–Jane, declares, “It is now time for everyone to go home and read a good book. Make it so.”

AL Digest

For those of you that missed the Annoyed Librarian fun, I have gathered what I think is a fairly good list on del.icio.us. If you have more, send them to me or leave them in the comments.

–Jane, awaiting turkey day

Confession: I am the Annoyed Librarian

AL Graphic

I have to come clean. I am the Annoyed Librarian. I have been posting here less frequently because I have been spending my efforts over there. I mean have you seen the length of some of those posts? The sarcasm and wit – that takes time, dear readers! I am tired of hiding and, frankly, I have never been good at keeping secrets about myself.

I will continue to write in both places. I think both voices are important. I hope you have enjoyed your public service announcement for the day. Please go on about your business.

–Jane, Happy Monday all

Need a New Coolant for Your CPU?

Tom’s Hardware, an invaluable resource, has an idea about how you can cool your computer. Beer. They test three beers, Coors, Guinness, and a Hefe-weissbier against the temps of the reigning champion, Molson.

This reminds me of the kinds of things we would do in college to avoid studying for tests.

–Jane, would not want to waste good beer in this fashion but still finds it amusing

Buffalo Video from my Trip to Yellowstone

The buffalo at Yellowstone National Park were hilarious. Mr. Rochester and I loved watching them roll in the dirt and boss around their ladies. Who knew that buffalo were so dang grumpy? Hours of fun and enjoyment for everyone.

-Jane, grump, grump

I’m Being Repressed!

All of the recent Gorman discussion smacks of the elite feeling scared that the peasants are gaining control of the system. (and no, I will not link to the tripe that Gorman wrote) I think the authorities had the same things to say about Gutenberg as Gorman has to say about the internet.We all know how well that argument went.

As an explanation, and example, of oppression by the ruling classes, here is a woman, Dennis, and King Arthur, of the Britons:

WOMAN: Order, eh — who does he think he is?
ARTHUR: I am your king!
WOMAN: Well, I didn’t vote for you.
ARTHUR: You don’t vote for kings.
WOMAN: Well, ‘ow did you become king then?
ARTHUR: The Lady of the Lake, [angels sing] her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water signifying by Divine Providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. [singing stops] That is why I am your king!
DENNIS: Listen — strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
ARTHUR: Be quiet!
DENNIS: Well you can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just ’cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!
ARTHUR: Shut up!
DENNIS: I mean, if I went around sayin’ I was an Emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they’d put me away!
ARTHUR: Shut up! Will you shut up!
DENNIS: Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system.
ARTHUR: Shut up!
DENNIS: Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system! HELP! HELP! I’m being repressed!
ARTHUR: Bloody peasant!
DENNIS: Oh, what a give away! Did you here that, did you here that, eh? That’s what I’m on about — did you see him repressing me, you saw it didn’t you?

–Jane, ALA is the tart that gave Michael Gorman a sword

Creation Museum in KY

I would not lie to you. Oh, how I wish I could shield you from the crazy, loonymaking reality that is the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky. Slate has an article about it today.

I am not sure what I can even say about this without sputtering in disbelief. I do admire this group’s dedication even if I think they are hilariously crazy. Please do not throw rotten vegetables at all Christians. Some of us are quite reasonable. I promise.
Of course, the Smart Bitches have used this opportunity to create a cover snark using one of the dioramas, because what is funnier then Adam and Eve doing it in some lily pads?

–Jane, nothing