Archive for November, 2007

Nov 18 2007

Subscriber Sues Comcast For Blocking Traffic

Published by Flint under Net Neutrality

From Save The Internet:

A Comcast subscriber has filed a lawsuit against the nation’s largest ISP for blocking peer-to-peer file sharing programs such as BitTorrent. The lawsuit charges Comcast with unfair business practices and seeks class action status — which could mean compensation to California customers.

This complaint comes on the heels of a petition filed by SavetheInternet.com asking the Federal Communications Commission to stop Comcast from such actions because they violate Net Neutrality.

The San Francisco Bay Area subscriber, Jon Hart, charges that Comcast markets its high-speed service “based on claims of ‘lightning fast’ and ‘mind-blowing’ speeds [and promises] ‘unfettered access to all the internet has to offer.’ Nevertheless, [Comcast companies] intentionally and severely impede the use of certain internet applications by their customers…” Hart has built his case around deceptive practices by the cable giant.
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Nov 17 2007

U R MR GOTY

Published by Flint under Games, Reviews

Last week I was in Gamestop to pick up Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations when I decided to ask about the release date for Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii. After he told me, he succeeded in convincing me to preorder it, something I wasn’t planning on at all. In fact, at the time, I wasn’t even 100% sure that I was going to get the game. Well a couple days ago I went and picked it up, and I can safely say I don’t regret it.

I’m absolutely amazed at how fun the game is. And I don’t really know why I had my doubts, but they’re all gone. It’s hard to describe, really. But the idea of Mario flying through space, hopping from small planet to planet, is really enjoyable. The layout of the game is simultaneously unique and familiar. I never played Mario Sunshine (mainly because it never interested me) but the structure resembles that of Mario 64. Instead of Peach’s Castle, you’re in the “Comet Observatory,” which acts as the overworld and central hub of the game. Making up the Comet Observatory are Domes, which resemble igloos. These are basically the main levels or chapters of the game, like the different floors of Peach’s Castle. At the start of the game, you only have access to one dome. From each dome, you have access to specific Galaxies. Each Galaxy is nothing more than a stage, which could be a collection of floating platforms and spheres or miniature planets. Just like in Mario 64, each Galaxy has numerous Stars to collect, each given for individual missions on that Galaxy - each time you visit it, you have a different goal, and a new Star to collect. Each Galaxy requires a certain amount of Stars for it to become “visible” from its Dome, meaning you can access it - just like the doors in Peach’s castle.

The controls handle surprisingly well. I was curious to see how it would play as I watched videos of people jumping from planet to planet, with Mario going upside down and sideways and floating in all directions. The platforming experience has been taken to a whole new level. Difficulty-wise, it’s pretty much what you should come to expect from a Mario game. Overall most enemies and puzzles are simple, but when a challenge comes along, expect to die. Repeatedly. Lives gained while playing are lost when you quit the game, so each time you start it up you’re back to 5.
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Nov 17 2007

Telcos Secretly Funding Fake “Grassroots” Anti-Net Neutrality Websites

Published by Flint under Net Neutrality

view the story | digg story
This article is actually over a year old, but I found it really interesting. Several sites, including handsoff.org and don’tregulate.org (both of which oppose Net Neutrality) are actually funded by a lobbying firm, TSE Enterprises, a lobby whose member oganizations consist almost entirely of telecommunications companies. This explains why there is something very…I don’t know.. empty.. about the sites. The people who run the sites are very anonymous, especially when compared to something like savetheinternet.com.

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