Toby's Blog

I think I just successfully explained to Trevor about Intellectual Property (IP) and why pirating software, movies, and music is wrong. First some history:

We have an Xbox 360. It connects to the Internet and can download movies and add-ons for the games it plays. To get this content, you have to spend “Microsoft Points”. You buy these Microsoft Points through the Xbox by charging $20 on your credit card for 2,000 points. Then, like I said, you can buy more Xbox content with those points.

So I found Trevor on some Internet site that claims to use some hacker’s algorithm to generate free Microsoft Points for your Xbox. Here’s what I said:

ME: “Microsoft spends money to make Xbox stuff, right?”

TREVOR: “Yes.”

ME: “And then we buy that Xbox stuff with money that we convert into Microsoft Points, right?”

TREVOR: “Yes.”

ME: “Well guess what? Microsoft uses the money we pay for Microsoft points to pay for the money they spent making that Xbox stuff. Do you understand?”

TREVOR: “Yes.”

ME: “So then, if we get free Microsoft Points by cheating, then we’re getting Xbox stuff that Microsoft can’t pay for because we didn’t pay for it either, right? And that’s kind of like stealing, right?”

TREVOR: Hugs me tight, and then says, “I understand, Dad. Thanks for telling me.”

I don’t know whether I’m exceptional at explaining complex things in lay terms, or whether Trevor’s exceptionally smart. Probably the latter.

I’ve been holding off on posting until I can get the photos from my Colorado trip off of my camera. I’ve given up on that (the special cable is too rusted to work). So until I get a new cable, here’s some interesting reading:

As part of my effort to raise awareness about online legal resources, I need to make everyone aware of the new South Carolina Subversive Activities Registration Act. If you have residence in South Carolina, and you plan on “controlling, conducting, seizing or overthrowing the government of the United States, of this State or of any political subdivision thereof by force or violence or other unlawful means” then you must file the Subversive Agent Registration form (PDF) in duplicate with the Secretary of State of South Carolina ($5 fee). The law, as it appears on the books, is published here.

We made it to Madeleine’s house last night. The first thing we realized is that Madeleine’s playful 18 month old boxer and 9 month old rottweiler don’t make good playmates for my chihuahua. The rottie is especially energetic, and although he means no harm, a 90 lb dog can’t help but hurt a 4 lb chihuahua when they play. Blue, of course is NOT happy about being here with those two big dogs, but I think they’ll soon get used to each other. Here’s a picture of Trevor trying to protect Blue from the other dogs:

From Colorado January 2010

We’re on our way to Colorado Springs to visit Madeleine and family. What a trip. We’ve been through LA, Las Vegas, some weird canyon place called the Virgin River in Arizona, and now we’re at a motel in Salina, Utah. It’s been a long, long drive today, and there’s not much to say about it. I’m bored though, so I thought I would put something on my blog.

I have always wanted to put special effects in my home videos, so I finally broke down, purchased, and learned Final Cut Express. Here are my first two videos. They’re both of Trevor because Ryana is camera shy.

I found myself writing the following paragraph this evening:

…and I am a technology professional of 15 years who learned programming in the 4th grade… so it says something when I don’t know how to “exchange fun gifts on Facebook!” Just send me an email, will ya? This newfangled Web 2.0 confuses me.

Weird.

A bit of history: One of my favorite shows on TV, is the Daily Show, which is a satyrical news cast on Comedy Central. The anchorman is John Stewart, who occasionally makes light of his Jewish faith. Here is one such segment that I thought was particularly funny:

Allow the president to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such a purpose – and you allow him to make war at pleasure.

Hmmm… weird… it seems like that might apply to something today, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. What could it be?

Do you know what’s really ironic? Abraham Lincoln was the first President to be affiliated with a new and emerging political party at the time. They called it the Republican Party.

I just realized today that October 31, 2009 was my last day in the Individual Ready Reserves. As of November 1, 2009, I am completely out of the Marine Corps, and I cannot be called back. My duty is done.