Sony, as I mentioned, was selling music CDs that used spyware to enforce their intellectual property rights.  In essence, they invaded consumers' privacy and stole bandwidth — among other crimes.  When they were caught, they worked with the software developer to create a removal program.

Oh, the removal program makes the situation worse… Much worse.  When the removal program runs, it opens your computer up to any web site that wants to install software.  It essentially disables the security checks for web-downloaded application code and allows any web site author to surreptitiously install something on your Windows-based PC.

Um… Oops.

Microsoft has announced it will include the removal of Sony's technology in the next monthly release of its malicious software removal tool.  That says something about Sony, when Microsoft says it considers the software malicious and a security flaw.

Sony and this inept attempt to control and limit fair use rights by consumers amuse me.  Add to that the inability of a technology company to remove its illegal software without leaving consumers open to even more malicious and diverse attacks.  This will certainly make you question the future purchase of any Sony product.

On the questions of what constitutes a house…

And tell me, people of Orphalese, what have you in these houses? And what is it you guard with fastened doors?
Have you peace, the quiet urge that reveals your power?
Have you remembrances, the glimmering arches that span the summits of the mind?
Have you beauty, that leads the heart from things fashioned of wood and stone to the holy mountain?
Tell me, have you these in your houses?
Or have you only comfort, and the lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and then becomes a host, and then a master?

Remember the last test I played with?  Today I was drawn to another one, and I laughed uproariously when I got the first results.  I already pointed out that these online tests are manipulatable and non-indicative.  While that is very true, and it holds true for this specific test as well, I still had to share these results.

If you take this test, read each question and the possible answers carefully and deliberately.  Do not pass on a question and come back to it; answer it before moving on and study them as necessary.  Your best first guess is normally the right — and most revealing — option, so keep that in mind.

For me, the results below are eerily accurate for a significant part of my personality.  I could take it again and, based on a more contemplative approach to the test, would come up with a different yet accurate response.  Still, I found this one to be personally ample.

Mind you, if you're not a humanist in any way, you're likely to bomb at this because it will mostly be contrary to or outside of your philosophical purview.

Haymaker

You are one of life’s enjoyers, determined to get the most you can out of your brief spell on Earth. Probably what first attracted you to atheism was the prospect of liberation from the Ten Commandments, few of which are compatible with a life of pleasure. You play hard and work quite hard, have a strong sense of loyalty and a relaxed but consistent approach to your philosophy.

You can’t see the point of abstract principles and probably wouldn’t lay down your life for a concept though you might for a friend. Something of a champagne humanist, you admire George Bernard Shaw for his cheerful agnosticism and pursuit of sensual rewards and your Hollywood hero is Marlon Brando, who was beautiful, irascible and aimed for goodness in his own tortured way.

Sometimes you might be tempted to allow your own pleasures to take precedence over your ethics. But everyone is striving for that elusive balance between the good and the happy life. You’d probably open another bottle and say there’s no contest.

What kind of humanist are you? Click here to find out.

[via Pharyngula]

Busily writing a scathing diatribe against and disassociation of Pat Robertson (like this one, this one and this one), I paused momentarily to read a few of the blogs I frequent.  I needed a distraction as Pat's activities can be gloomy and disheartening, not just because of what he says and does but also because people listen to him.

That's when I came across this post over at Tempus Fugit.  Mark hits the nail on the head and expresses my sentiments easily and precisely.  Rather than give any credence to Pat's further ramblings, I'm crossing him off of my list of people to talk about here.  I believe, as Mark suggests, that discussing Pat's latest atrocity each time he opens his mouth somehow lends credence to his words, somehow extends his reach by subjecting others to the hatred he claims is of his god.

Not any more.  I will remain disgusted by what he says and does, but I will not let my site provide a dais for such blatant hypocrisy, bigotry and discrimination.  He betrays his religion, yet those moments do not stand as an affront to the many American believers who follow him.  He lies, yet the proof of this goes unmarked by the outrage of Christians everywhere.  He preaches intolerance and selfishness, yet sheeple throughout the nation and around the globe continue to give him credence and support.  It's horrifying, and I won't be a part of his machinations anymore.

It's our actions, not our beliefs, that define who we are.  Let this action speak for itself: I stop all coverage of Pat Robertson beginning immediately.  I will not be a body upon which he can stand and shout his odious message.

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.

— H. L. Mencken