Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Grandstanding

I've come to expect grandstanding and pandering from politicians, but this just pisses me off. Apparently, an 85-year old grandmother has decided to sue Rockstar Games over the "Hot Coffee" incident in GTA: San Andreas. She bought the game for her 14-year old grandson, and was outraged by the revelation that hidden sex scenes were input into the game. Two questions:

1. If your grandson is 14, perhaps he shouldn't playing in the first place, being that its rated M for Mature?

2. Did you actually see the adult footage? Remember the footage was hidden within the game, and had to be unlocked.

As expected, the politicians of both parties have been pandering all the day long:

"Earlier this week, the House voted 355-21 for a resolution asking the FTC to investigate the company. Last week, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., asked the FTC to investigate Rockstar, saying the company had 'gamed the ratings system' by concealing sex scenes in the game that can be unlocked by computer programs available on the Internet."
OK, Hillary. If you say so. Look, Rockstar screwed up, but the idea that this requires a government investigation, or a frivolous lawsuit is absurd. This is yet another state assault on the gaming industry, supported and oftentimes spearheaded by people who you'd think would know better.

Sunday, July 24, 2005

A Blog Recomendation: Donklephant

Over at Mike Totten's blog, I found another great centrist blog called Donklephant. It is as it sounds, a great collection of ideas from the vibrant center, from the center-Left and the center-Right. I cannot praise these blogs enough. Also, we are treated to a masterful read by Callimachus, who gives us another "Road to Damascus" moment involving the evolution of the liberal mind post 9/11, and the burden of the liberal hawks. Just read it.

Thursday, July 07, 2005

The Price of Freedom

To the families of the victims of the London terrorist bombings, my heart goes out, and my prayers are with you. To those injured, hurting, and struggling: ditto. Indeed, this attack reminds us that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and that the cowardly murderers who engineered this savagery must be confronted, and not appeased. We must be alert, and keep our heads up, and out of the sand.

Again, to our friends in Britain, America and the free world is with you, as always.