Ladies and Gentlebots, I present to you...

The Principality of East Computron “All hail The Programogenetor.”

UN Category: Democratic Socialists Civil Rights: Average Economy: Developing Political Freedoms: Some

The Principality of East Computron is a tiny, safe nation, notable for its compulsory military service. Its compassionate population of 5 million are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it is mainly concerned with Social Welfare, although Religion & Spirituality and Healthcare are secondary priorities. The average income tax rate is 50%, and even higher for the wealthy. A very small private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

Crime — especially youth-related — is totally unknown. East Computron’s national animal is the Household Affection Unit 5000, which frolics freely in the nation’s many lush forests, and its currency is the Credit.

Make your own, why don’t you!

Your Daily Dose of RDF

Wow, so Apple’s finished blowing its wad all over the face of the computing industry for the next few months. Let’s racap, shall we?

• Final Cut Express - Junior version of Pro
• iLife - Updates to iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD
• Keynote - Presentation authoring software
• Safari - Apple-made web browser based on open source code
• Airpot Extreme - 802.11g wireless internet, really fast, backwards and forwards compatible with 802.11b
• 17” Powerbook - a laptop with a 17” widescreen display, integrated Bluetooth and 802.11g, backlit keyboard that only lights up when the room gets dark, Firewire 800
• 12” Powerbook - a Powerbook that’s smaller than current iBooks

Ah the Things We Didn't Understand in Our Youth!

Here’s an excerpt from X-Entertainment’s Super Mario Bros. 2 Villain Character Guide:

Trouter: These evil fish will jump out of waterfalls when they sense Mario’s presence. Okay, that’s a lie - they’ll jump out of waterfalls whether you’re there or not. But if you are there, try to avoid hopping into them. They don’t like it, and you won’t like it much either. As an added bonus, and I regret the need to be crass with this - Trouter looks like a vagina with googly eyes. Gamers can still get laid.

Window to the Past

The BBC has a story on some nerd named Phil Gyford who is turning the diary of Samuel Pepys (pronounced “peeps”) into a weblog. Pepys lived in the 17th century and witnessed the Great Fire of London and the Plague. You can check out the BBC story here or just go right to the blog.