This Week in OC

Is Comcast's BitTorrent filtering violating the law?

2007-09-05T13:30:00.001-07:00

Comcast's filtering/throttling of torrent traffic involves forging TCP reset packets, pretending to be from one end of the torrent session. This is the same technique used by the Great Firewall of China, and a pretty clear violation of various states' criminal impersonation statues. Could Comcast face legal action? More >>>

AT&T Swears $10 DSL Is Available, But Don't Follow Their Directions

2007-08-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

AT&T gave St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Michael Sorkin step-by-step directions for signing up for their $10 DSL offer that did not work. Sorkin had joined in us reprimanding AT&T for hiding the $10 DSL package that will surely usher in the apocalypse if ever found by customers. More >>>

While Netflix Lowers Their Rates, Blockbuster Online Raises Theirs...A Lot

2007-08-19T09:01:00.000-07:00

Netflix recently lowered their rates for their 3-disc plan to $16. Blockbuster's response? Raise their rates by 40% of course! "I just got an email an hour or so ago from Blockbuster Online telling me that the 3 movies and unlimited in store exchanges for $17.99 plan that I am on was going away." It will now cost $25/month. More >>>

Smashing Magazine's Best of July: 100+ Great Links

2007-08-13T20:22:00.000-07:00

You’ll find useful references, tutorials, services, tools, techniques and articles we ’ve found over the last 30 days - an overview of web-sites you shouldn’t have missed in July 2007. More…

Google Pack Adds StarOffice

2007-08-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Google Pack, the collection of applications recommended by Google, includes a new software: StarOffice, an office suite developed by Sun. In 2000 Sun released StarOffice's source code, which became the foundation of OpenOffice.org, an open source project sponsored by Sun.

Google will pay you $10 per store for walking in and taking pictures...

2007-08-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Google will pay you $10 per store for walking in and taking pictures...

... determining store hours, payment methods, etc. More >>>

Google Phone (Linux based) on the way!

2007-08-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

Google is producing a Linux based cell phone and courting US and European wireless service providers More >>>

BlizzCon Footage: StarCraft 2

2007-08-03T21:42:00.001-07:00

This weekend in Anaheim, California is scheduled to be packed full of action with everything from World of Warcraft tournaments to live concerts. One of the most highly anticipated features, however, is the playable StarCraft 2 demo. Although the Blizzard team announced the game at the Worldwide Invitational in South Korea back in May, only a few videos of the actual in game action were released. More >>>

The REAL Threat to Americans

2007-07-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

On September 11, 2001, nearly 3000 Americans were killed. Since then, about 10 million Americans have died of preventable causes. More >>>

Geek Squad Caught On Video Stealing Porn From Customer's Computer

2007-07-05T13:18:00.001-07:00

Consumerist.com's Geek Squad sting operation caught a Geek Squad agent taking porn from their computer. They rigged a computer to make a video of itself, capturing every cursor movement, and every file accessed. Who knew that when you hand over your computer to a repair technician, you could be giving a stranger a veritable Pandora's box? More >>>

Wait! Ten Things You Should Know Before You Buy an iPhone

2007-07-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

Although Apple's iPhone may be feature-packed and great to use, it, like every other product, has limitations. And that's why we're putting it through our Ten Things You Should Know buyer's guide series so new buyers and people who don't live and breathe the iPhone (your parents, your co-workers, or your wife) can be just as well informed as you. Here are the Ten Things You Should Know Before You Buy an iPhone. More >>>

Dell Demands Takedown Of Our "22 Confessions Of A Former Dell Sales Manager"

2007-06-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

Another corporation trying to silence the watchdogs. More >>>

Flash Starcraft

2007-06-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

Its not exactly the same, but pretty good. Also only 7 megs so great to put on a flash drive. Sure to take a few minutes of your day and never give them back. I directly linked to it so you can download or play fullscreen More >>>

The Most Awesome Pic EVER

2007-06-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

Click and drag up or down with your mouse to zoom in & out More >>>

Steve Jobs live from D 2007

2007-05-30T13:25:00.001-07:00

Steve Jobs is up here in just a few, everybody. It looks like we can probably prepare ourselves for an update on the iTunes shift to no-DRM, the status of the iPhone, and whatever else is on El Jobso's mind More >>>

9 Driving Secrets from Police Officers

2007-05-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

"With feedback from officers in the field, law enforcement driving instructors have compiled numerous tips to help their students avoid becoming a statistic. Here, we pass those along to you." More >>>

Sun and Apple Forging Alliance

2007-05-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

The relationship between Sun and Apple hasn't been hotter since the merger talks were going on in the early 90's. With yesterday's announcement of JavaFX taking on Microsoft's Silverlight and Adobe Flex Platforms, it can only get hotter. The three major trends that are gathering momentum: ZFS, Open Office, J2EE Open Office port to >>>

Meet the Next President of the United States of America

2007-04-28T23:47:00.001-07:00

Now, we just have to make sure that he wins More >>>

1500 people in San Francisco gathered on a beach to send a message! [Pic]

2007-04-28T23:14:00.000-07:00

Really impressive! More…

Geek Squad Sued For Videoing Customer In Shower

2007-04-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

A California woman is suing Geek Squad and Best Buy after one of their techs allegedly taped her taking a shower. More >>>

ACP Swap Meet Schedule

2007-04-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

Location: 1310 E. Edinger Avenue, Santa Ana
(Approximately S. Grand Avenue and E. Edinger Avenue)

Trump: Bush is the Worst President in the History of the United States.

2007-03-18T08:29:00.001-07:00

And, "the rest of the world hates us, everyone hates us;" fresh video interview with Donald Trump More >>>

Ever Seen $200 Million Dollars in Cash? Drug money seized today in Mexico!

2007-03-17T23:13:00.000-07:00

In the largest cash seizure in Mexican history, authorities confiscated $206 million in U.S. currency from a band of methamphetamine producers headquartered in a ritzy neighborhood here, officials said today. The cash seized was mostly in U.S. $100 bills and weighed at least 4,500 pounds. It was five times the amount seized in all of 2006. More >>>

Jiffy Lube Rips You Off Without Even Looking At Car

2007-03-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

Jiffy Lube charged Carlo for an oil change. They even warned his car suffered from a transmission fluid leak and an excessive oil leak. Only one problem: They hadn't looked at the car. More >>>

China bans Year of the Pig ads to 'show respect to Muslims'

2007-01-27T19:31:00.000-08:00

When the Lunar Year of the Pig is fast approaching, China's largest state-owned CCTV recently received an order from the government that prohibits airing of any TV ads that contains images of the pig. This is a measures aims to avoid offending the Muslims in China, in order to "protect the harmony between different religions and ethnic groups". More…

Guy spinning a MacBook Pro

2007-01-05T15:57:00.000-08:00

A video of a guy spinning some things. At the end he spins a MacBook Pro!! Intel Insanity! Go >>>

Social Security billions could go to Mexicans

2007-01-05T15:47:00.001-08:00

About to become law is an agreement allowing illegal aliens to get Social Security benefits after only 18 months of employment in the U.S., further burdening a system on the brink of collapse. U.S. citizens must show 10 years, or 40 quarters of job history, to collect benefits. Full Story >>>

Joe's Goals

2007-01-04T16:29:00.000-08:00

Get a jump start on keeping your New Year's resolutions with Joe's free daily goal tracker. Go >>>

Amazon's Price Match Policy. Slickdealing doesn't end when the package arrives

2006-12-20T16:35:00.001-08:00

I know that this had been discussed about a year ago but I felt it was worth bringing up again so that newer members or those who missed the posts could take advantage.

Amazon.com has a great pollicy of price matching against itself if the price of something you bought goes down after you bought it.

For example:

Today you buy a widget for $100. Next week the price drops to $80. You email them and request a refund for the $20. A day later you get it. That easy.

I've been using it for years and it has saved me hundreds upon hundreds of dollars.

There is a great site to help you take advantage of this policy. You type in the items you bought, the priced and the date and they monitor it for 30 days and email you if the price drops. http://www.refundplease.com

Blockbuster service really giving Netflix a run for its money

2006-12-20T16:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday they announced that the monthly coupon for a free rental can be used for movies OR video games. Also, Blockbuster Movies received by mail can be returned directly at any Blockbuster store, you get a free rental on the spot, and Blockbuster still sends out the next movie in your queue Full Story >>>

Computer Repair Fraud

2006-12-09T13:06:00.000-08:00

Geek Squad .. SUCKS!

An undercover operation in which folks from this news channel, simply took out the IDE cable and guess what the Geek Squads tell them, ITS A POWER SUPPLE ISSUE. Way to go Geeks! Even compusa/circuit city correctly diagnosed the issue. whew!

This not only showed Geek Squad's incompetency (again) but also shows how news media is more interested in scaring you than actually helping you. It's good that the big chains got this bit of negative press on a local station but you should also applaud the store that did it for free - at least post their name and address and show an interview with the owner or clerk.

Mom and pop shops are usually run by people that are hobbyists first and business-folk second. Whenever someone at my company asks for personal computer help that I don't care to deal with I send them to a small shop in our town - one with Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Netscape Navigator and Word Perfect stickers are mostly-faded on the window. I know they'll be treated honestly and fairly. No charge just to examine a computer to add onto the actual repair.

It's sad how many people/companies are more interested in making the most money from a problem instead of trying to solve it fairly.

More…

Iranian-American Student Abused By UCLA UCPD With Tazer GUN

2006-11-17T17:46:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, November 14, Police attacked an Iranian student with Taser gun multiple times as the student fell on the floor and screamed in pain. More >>>

5 Things You Didn't Know About Prison Break

2006-11-13T17:48:00.000-08:00

Prison Break's fan base is an obsessive one, but there are things about the show that some of them don't even know. More…

101 Ways To Save Money

2006-11-13T17:44:00.000-08:00

From cutting the cost of eating to traveling leaner, you'll be surprised at just how many ways you can start saving Go here >>>

40 Things That Only Happen in Movies

2006-11-12T21:53:00.001-08:00

1. It is always possible to find a parking spot directly outside or opposite the building you are visiting.

2. When paying for a taxi, don't look at your wallet as you take out a note. Just grab one out at random and hand it over. It will always be the exact fare.

3. Television news bulletins usually contain a story that affects you personally at the precise moment it's aired.

4. Creepy music (or satanic chanting) coming from a graveyard should always be closely investigated.

5. Any lock can be picked with a credit card or paperclip in seconds. UNLESS it's the door to a burning building with a child inside.

6. If you decide to start dancing in the street, everyone you bump into will know all the steps.

7. All bombs are fitted with electronic timing devices with large red digital displays so you know exactly when they are going to explode.

8. Should you wish to pass yourself off as a German officer, it will not be necessary to learn to speak German. Simply speaking English with a German accent will do. Similarly, when they are alone, all German soldiers prefer to speak English to each other.

9. Once applied, lipstick will never rub off. Even while scuba diving.

10. The Eiffel Tower can be seen from any window of any building in Paris.

11. Any police officer about to retire from the force will more often than not die on their last day (especially if their family have planned a party). (Caveat: Detectives can only solve a case after they have been suspended from duty).

12. Getaway cars never start first go. But all cop cars do. (They will also slide to a dramatic stop in the midst of a crime scene).

13. If staying in a haunted house, women should investigate any strange noises wearing their most revealing underwear.

14. On a police stake-out, the action will only ever take place when food is being consumed and scalding hot coffees are perched precariously on the dashboardâ€¦

15. All grocery shopping involves the purchase of French loaves which will be placed in open brown paper bags (Caveat: when said bags break, only fruit will spill out).

16. Cars never need fuel (unless they're involved in a pursuit).

17. If you are heavily outnumbered in a fight involving martial arts, your opponents will wait patiently to attack you one by one by dancing around you in a threatening manner until you have defeated their predecessor.

18. If a microphone is turned on it will immediately feedback.

19. Guns are like disposable razors. If you run out of bullets, just throw the gun away. you will always find another one.

20. All single women have a cat.

21. Cars will explode instantly when struck by a single bullet.

22. No matter how savagely a spaceship is attacked, its internal gravity system is never damaged.

23. If being chased through a city you can usually take cover in a passing St Patrick's Day parade - at any time of the year.

24. The ventilation system of any building is the perfect hiding place. Nobody will ever think of looking for you in there and you can travel to any other part of the building undetected.

25. You will survive any battle in any war UNLESS you show someone a picture of your sweetheart back home.

26. Prostitutes always look like Julia Roberts or Jamie Lee Curtis. They have expensive clothes and nice apartments but no pimps. They are friendly with the shopkeepers in their neighbourhood who don't mind at all what the girl does for a living.

27. A single match is usually sufficient to light up a room the size of a football stadium.

28. It is not necessary to say â€œHelloâ€ or â€œGoodbyeâ€ when beginning a telephone conversation. A disconnected call can always be restored by frantically beating the cradle and saying â€œHello? Hello?â€ repeatedly.

29. One man shooting at 20 men has a better chance of killing them all than 20 men firing at once (this is known as Stallone's Law).

30. When you turn out the light to go to bed, everything in you room will still be visible, just slightly bluish.

31. Plain or even ugly girls can become movie star pretty simply by removing their glasses and rearranging their hair.

32. Rather than wasting bullets, megalomaniacs prefer to kill their enemies with complicated devices incorporating fuses, pulleys, deadly gases, lasers and man-eating sharks.

33. All beds have special L-shaped sheets that reach to armpit level on a woman but only up to the waist of the man lying beside her.

34. Anyone can land a 747 as long as there is someone in the control tower to talk you down.

35. During all police investigations it will be necessary to visit a strip club at least once.

36. You can always find a chainsaw when you need one.

37. Most musical instruments (especially wind instruments and accordions) can be played without moving your fingers.

38. In Middle America, all gas station attendants have red handkerchiefs hanging out of their back pockets.

39. All teen house parties have one of every stereotypical subculture present (even people who aren't liked and would never get invited to parties).

40. Trucks use their horns at random (no hang on, that happens in real life too!).

How to Tie a Tie

2006-11-12T21:03:00.001-08:00

If you've never been initiated into the secret society of tie-wearing, rejoice! For your ship has just come in, via this instructional tie-tying video >>>

sjam- desi fly chicks

2006-11-09T21:53:00.000-08:00

These girls are Great dancers. enjoy guys..Isnt it Hot

Latest PS3 Commercial

2006-11-08T17:00:00.000-08:00

Sony's latest PS3 commercial focuses on it's unique Six Axis Controller. Unlike the creepy baby commercial, this one actually kind of makes sense. It is even actually kind of cool. See what you think! >>>

Voters being turned away in New Mexico - no ballots left

2006-11-07T22:00:00.000-08:00

This should be an outrage to all Americans More >>>

Halloween slaying victim identified

2006-11-07T14:28:00.000-08:00

ANAHEIM – Police have identified Roberto Martinez Escamilla, 35, as the man killed during a violent struggle in his Anaheim home on Halloween night.

Neighbors told police they heard glass being smashed and screaming inside the three-bedroom home in the 2400 block of Chain Avenue about 8:10 p.m. But when officers arrived, all was quiet, police Sgt. Rick Martinez said. Full Story >>>