Sure, the last one was awful…but that almost guarantees a BOC in this Woot! Off.

Check it out.

Back in 2006, the MPAA filed a lawsuit against TorrentSpy, then the largest bittorrent site around.  Today TorrentSpy lost the case and has been ordered to pay a $110 million fine.  So, the MPAA has won…yet again.

Or has it?

If this decision came two years ago it may have been interesting.  But today in 2008?  Who cares?  TorrentSpy is just one of many bittorrent sites out there.

And the $110 million?  Yeah, good luck seeing that.  Chances are TorrentSpy will just file for bankruptcy and the MPAA will be out $110 million plus two years of lawyer’s bills.

It’s gonna be very hard for the MPAA to stop bittorrent.  Their model of finding individuals is more difficult with bittorent than with straight P2P, and going after torrent hosters will net a few companies, while the remaining companies overseas like Piratebay will fill in the gaps.

A better strategy?  Better, cheaper movies and online distribution with no DRM.

The song has been stuck in my head for days.

For yet another year Mexicans are crowding the street in flag-covered cars to celebrate your birthday.

Talks between Microsoft and Yahoo! broke down this weekend, and it looks like Microsoft is giving up its bid for Yahoo!.

Microsoft originally offered $29.40 per Yahoo! share, bumping Yahoo! stock up nearly 50%.  This weekend Microsoft raised its offer to $33 per share, or about $47.5 billion.

But Yahoo! CEO Jerry Yang wanted $37 per share…a price that Yahoo! hasn’t been at since early 2006.

So Microsoft walked away.

Yahoo! investors will hurt on Monday when their shares tumble to pre-acquisition prices.  More than that, Yang will have to do something with Yahoo! to prove that the $37 per share price was legit and not just ego.

The problem for Yang is there aren’t that many other options out there.  There are only a couple of companies that would be willing to buy Yahoo!, and it’s unlikely that any of them would meet the $37 per share offer.

Yahoo! could explore partnerships - but that would probably just end up throwing parts of the company around to others.  Not really a big benefit to Yahoo! and not addressing the company’s core problem of Google.

So, Yahoo! is really gonna have to perform, or Yang is gonna get bounced pretty quickly and Microsoft will be there with another offer.  I’d guess that more than anything this will delay Yahoo!’s acquisition.  They need to face things…they blew it.  Now get your cash and move on.

I watched ‘Who Killed the Electric Car?’ about a month ago.  I was pretty interested in the film actually, but it turned out being nothing more than a two hour bitch-fest from a bunch of ignorant, self righteous hippies.  I hate how left wing propaganda is now sold as oscar-contending documentaries.

‘Who killed’ focuses on the release of a GM electronic car called the EV1.  The car was released in 1996 for lease, but was later recalled.  The movie basically shows people bitching about why these cars were recalled.

One of the reasons why the EV1 was produced was that California issued a Zero Emissions Mandate in 1990, that required that a certain percent of vehicles sold in California to meet zero emission standards.

And the thing here is that this is one of of those ridiculous mandates that only California would pass.  You have a problem, poor air quality, of questionable impact to the community.   Then you have the state coming up with an answer to this problem that may or may not exist that requires technology that has not even been commercialized yet.

Basically California was requiring auto manufacturers to research and develop a technology that may or may not be commercially viable.  Not only that, but electric cars still consume electricity, which is produced by oil, gas and coal power plants.  In other words, this mandate didn’t even address the air quality problems that it was created for…it would simply replace one dirty emission with another.

This is what happens when you put ignorant fucking hippies in office.

So once this mandate was passed auto manufacturers scrambled to produce electric cars.  And this is a big deal, costing millions if not billions of dollars in R&D for each auto manufacturer.

One of the programs was GM’s EV1.

The problem was these cars were tiny death-traps that were slow and had limited range.  ‘Who Killed’ shows lots of dedicated EV1 owners that praise their car, but when you see this thing you can tell it will not have mass market appeal.  The first generation of EV1 cars had a range of about 55 to 75 miles with a max speed of 80 MPH.  If you’ve ever driven in California you know that both of these stats are lacking.  Also, these cars are pretty expensive.  The lease price of these cars was based on an MSRP of $34k to $44k.

After the EV1 was released for lease the California Zero Emissions mandate was overturned.  A few years later, GM stopped the EV1 program and destroyed the cars.  Other electric vehicle programs were stopped as well.

For most of the movie, you see a bunch of people complaining how their cars were taken back and destroyed.  And of course, since these people are hippies they believe the recall of the cars was due to some big conspiracy.  And they protest and make a big fake check that is supposedly backed by enough money to purchase back all the remaining EV1s.

The problem here is that these people are idiot assholes.  They can’t imagine why a multi-billion dollar auto manufacturer would not want to support a line of just a few hundred cars that require new technology, new servicing techniques, and new parts.  They can’t understand why GM wouldn’t want to roll out parts and service manuals to all service locations in California, not to mention retrain its service staff…all for a couple hundred cars.

Not only that, but after the Zero Emissions Mandate was overturned the push to create electric refueling stations stopped.  So now, GM is supposed to try and market a car with a 55 to 75 mile range that you need to refuel at home or at one of only a handful of electric refueling stations in the state.

The point is, no one killed the electric car.  It was dead from the start.  The cars were ugly and dangerous - especially on California’s SUV-packed freeways.  The state lacked the infrastructure to recharge EVs, and electric technology lacked the range to make these cars practical.

‘Who Killed’ suggests that auto manufacturers had a huge money maker on their hands, but decided to kill it for a number of reasons.  Like a conspiracy from oil companies, the right wings, the middle east.  The reality is that EV programs were a money loser from the start because EV technology at that point was just not practical.

The reason why I’m bringing this up is because Tesla finally released its Tesla Roadster this weekend after several delays and years of waiting.  The Tesla, of course, is an electric car, but not those tiny super slow golf-cart looking things.  It’s an electric sports car that can go from 0 to 60 in four seconds with a top speed of 125 mph.  Not only that but the car has a range of 225 miles - more than enough for most commutes.

The Tesla Roadster was sold out a year before it was even released.  And these aren’t cheap cars - they start at $106k, but can reach $130k with options.  In total 600 Roadsters were sold for this year, with another 1,500 expected for 2009.

I think what the makers of ‘Who Killed’ don’t understand is that in order for a car to have mass-market appeal it must appeal to the mass market.  A car is a device that is used everyday that must also be highly reliable.  Electric cars in 1996 were not that.  No one killed the electric car - these vehicles were just not practical.  I think the sales of the Tesla Roadster prove that.

You remember Cedric Benson, right?  I drafted him last year and he did absolutely nothing.  I think he scored a couple TDs but between him and Rex Grossman the Chicago Bears’ offence was absolutely pathetic.  Benson ended the year injured - and has been by all accounts a huge bust for the Bears since he was drafted in 2005.

Well, Benson was arrested yesterday for one of the oddest charges I’ve ever heard of…especially for a black NFL running back:  boating while intoxicated.  Apparently Benson was operating a 30 foot boat on Lake Travis and he got, uh, pulled over by the Lower Colorado River Authority.

Benson failed a sobriety test on the boat.  Then he was uncooperative and got all rowdy and he had to be pepper sprayed by officers.

Personally I hate Benson.  He’s lazy and soft and it seems like even his team mates hate him.  He held out his first year, then bitched about sharing time with Thomas Jones, then couldn’t perform when the Bears traded Jones and made him the sole back.

This is just another reason to hate Benson, and it underscores what a douche he is.  Boating while intoxicated…I mean really, who gets arrested for that?

There was a native uprising in Hawaii today, when 70 members of the “Hawaiian Kingdom Government” blockaded themselves on the Iolani Palace grounds.

Why?

Apparently the HKG was upset about the whole US taking over Hawaii thing, and they thought that occupying Iolani Palace would get the US to cross of that 50th star and give the state back.  Too bad the government buildings they were taking hostage have not been used for several decades…they’re now pretty much a tourist attraction.

And it’s not like the took over a big tourist attraction…you know, like one that would make the state actually care.  I mean, I would have mad respect for them if, say, they took over Ala Moana or Waikiki Beach…or even Hanauma Bay.  But taking over Iolani Palace?  They might as well have taken the world’s largest ball of yarn hostage.

The result?  Well, apparently the HKG is still there…and they are putting up signs.  They have posted guards at each gate of the palace, and only kanaka (and this definition doesn’t just mean moke - it actually means someone with Hawaiian blood) were allowed on palace grounds.  Except for media, of course.

And right now it appears they are still just hanging out there.  I mean, the cops aren’t going to make a big move to arrest them all, because like I said, no one really cares about Iolani palace.  I’m guessing they’re just gonna wait them out.

To be honest with you, I never got the whole Hawaiian government thing.  I mean, maybe I’m wrong, but didn’t they lose?  Didn’t the queen just give up the islands to the US?

I don’t mean to be trite, but how can the Hawaiians claim that their land was taken?  It was given away!

And another thing.  In Hawaiiana class I swear I read like 50 stories about King Kamehameha going around the islands and throwing guys off cliffs.  I mean, how would Kamehameha feel if all of a sudden the tribes that he threw off a cliff came back and started bitching about how he stole their land?  He would kill them again.  And again.  And again.

What am I missing here?

I mean, when will Hawaiians realize that they lost?  When the fifth Walmart is built on the islands?

And we all know what happens when Hawaiians get what they want.  Does anyone remember Bishop Estate?  While the Hawaiian Kingdom Government was planning their next demonstration the Bishop Estate Board was being paid $700k each.  I’m sure the board wasn’t on the north shore living in pickups with Hawaiian flags flying upside down.

I mean really, shouldn’t Hawaiians be talking to Bishop Estate?  They have all the land.  And it all goes towards Kamehameha school.  And have you seen that place?  They really spare no expense…fucking koa everywhere.  And they don’t pay shit for tuition.  How can you ever call Punahou kids spoiled?

In any case, I love these Hawaiian uprisings because they are entertaining.  Like Beauty and the Geek.  This one looked good and got lots of press, but ultimately we know how it will end.  A bunch of Hawaiians being rolled off to HPD.

Hawaiian Kingdom Government, it’s time to give it up.  You’re not gonna get your land back.  Ever.  In fact, your biggest mistake was not getting casinos.  One look at how these native americans are living over here and you’ll know what I mean.  I’d focus on that, you’re technically native americans.  Give up the sovereignty thing and take a page from the Indian’s playbook…just cash in.

Remember on September 11th, when you woke up and all hell had broken loose?

Well, this is the opposite of that.

I woke up this morning, put up Drudge, and what do I see?  Miley Cyrus posing nude for Vanity Fair?!  Sweet.

I mean, from an artistic standpoint, of course.

But really, sure she’s 15, but her performance on American Idol, humping the stage…I mean, after that you have to appreciate at the very least her…uh…talents.

Check out the shoot here.  I believe I called Miley posing nude a while back, but I would have never guessed it would be before she turned 18.

Remember last year when Colt Brennan was deciding whether to return for his senior year at UH?  He was expected to be drafted in the first round and would surely command a multi-million dollar contract.

But he stayed.

Probably not a great move in retrospect.  Brennan was drafted in the 6th round today, 186th overall by the Washington Redskins.

Brennan’s value took  a hit after UH got hammered by Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.  Then he had hip surgery that may put him on the PUP list next year.

At this point, Brennan was lucky to be drafted at all.  He will be deep in the depth chart, if he even makes the roster.

The biggest difference between this year and last is that as a first round pick Brennan would have been given several years to develop.  As a sixth round pick, it’s pretty easy to just cut him.

This puts the final touches on a heartbreaking season for the Warriors.  They lost their number 1 QB and coach and suffered a humiliating defeat in New Orleans.

Still, it’ll be interesting to see how Brennan does in the NFL.  Gotta feel for the guy.  He’s a great QB…in any system…and I hope he is able to secure role in the NFL.

There has been much speculation that Apple is gonna roll out a 3G iPhone sometime this year…say around July.

Engadget is reporting that the next iPhone will have a black back, and will have GPS and a normal-sized headphone jack in addition to 3G data.

Guesses are the device will ship in July.

Who knows how accurate this info is…but this pic at least looks pretty legit.

I can’t wait.

The second round of the NHL playoffs started today.  You have both 1st and 2nd seeds in there, although both third and fourth seeds have fallen.

The series of the 2nd round will be the Red Wings vs Avalanche.  I mean, this is a classic NHL matchup.  And you have classic players as well.  Sakic, Forsberg, Lidstrom, Draper, Maltby, Hejduk…even Osgood is back in the mix.

You can’t get much better than that.

In the east, you got the Penguins looking good, along with the Canadiens.  The Rangers have been surprisingly good…but they don’t stand a chance against the superstar Pens.

This is exactly what the NHL needed…great matchups, superstars.  You gotta love playoff hockey.

So, Hillary won Pennsylvania by 10%, right.  But the NY Times says she only picked up 1 delegate.  Who knows how that works.

Ok, so Obama leads Hillary by 148 delegates, right?  Not so fast.  Hillary is saying she’s ahead.  Sure, she’ll need to count two states that were not supposed to be counted in the first place.  And that Hillary didn’t really care about until she saw her lead slip away.

Then you have Daily KOS saying that Obama needs only 43 additional superdelegates to clinch.

Sigh…this shit makes we wish I was still looking at TJFKAK’s cute cat pictures.

But really, as much as dems bitch about Bush stealing Florida and hanging chads or what not, they really managed to fuck this one up.

The whole delegate/super delegate thing is ridiculous.  With about 500 of these superdelegates, some of which are like 20 year old kids, there is really no way there will be a winner until the democratic primary.

That’s gay.

In the meantime Obama’s double digit lead over McCain has disappeared.  And as Hillary and Obama swipe at each other over the next few months it’s likely that by the time the general election comes the democratic nominee will be lucky to be ahead of Nader, much less McCain.

Oh well.  At least the playoffs are on now.

This morning Artie returned to the Stern show.  I haven’t heard the show yet, but according to Marksfriggin.com Artie apologized, talked a bit about his amsterdam trip, and even appeared with Teddy on air.

This made my day….and it’s only 8am here on the west coast.

Oh yeah, and Riley Martin is back for another 6 months as well.

Its 6 hours and counting until the Howard Stern show comes back from vacation.  As you may recall from Japa’s previous posting Artie Lange decided to unceremoniously qu