Smells Like Rotten Apples

I’m sure most of you have heard the news about Apple (or AT&T, or a combination of the two) rejecting the official Google Voice application and removing all applications from the iTunes Store that utilized Google Voice.  It’s gathered so much attention that the FCC has launched an investigation.  They’re not only asking about the Google Voice application, but they also want to know what the approval/rejection process is for iPhone apps.

The latest news is from a developer that was forced to censor their dictionary application and remove “illicit” words (including “ass”).  While that in itself is bad enough, the censored dictionary application, according to Apple, still necessitated a 17+ rating.  I’ll be the first one to say that I’m a fan of Apple and of the Mac brand, but this is just craziness.  Can you imagine what would happen if Microsoft would have pulled such a stunt?  I think the EU might have imploded.

It’s bad enough they censored the dictionary, but what about their own dictionary built right into OS X?  Well, as it turns out, you can find all of those illicit words there – just as they should be.  Maybe Apple should look-up some words of their own, in any dictionary.  I’d love to see how the idiots jokers over at MacDailyNews put a positive spin on these two issues, but they’ve been oddly silent.

I admit it, I’m a Mac fan.  I own a new MacBook Pro and quite a few iPods (Touch, Shuffle, and Nano).  If it weren’t for AT&T, I’d own an iPhone as well.  However, this lunacy with the iTunes App Store just has to stop.  I thought the whole point of building ratings and enhanced parental controls into the iPhone OS 3.0 was to enable mature (and I use that term loosely, since Apple and I have different definitions of the term) content in the Store.  I never thought I would hear myself champion the FCC, but I have to say that I hope someone lays some serious smack-down on Apple (and probably AT&T as well) in response to these Orwellian developments.  Isn’t this the same type of thing everyone always complains about with Microsoft?  I guess what they say is true – power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Update [August 6, 2009 - 5:30 pm]: It looks like Apple’s Phil Schiller has responded to the dictionary debacle.  Apparently, the developers did originally submit their application to Apple before the iPhone 3.0 OS was available.  Instead of waiting, they went ahead and censored the application.  After the updated OS was released, the application was then assigned the 17+ (mature) rating.  While this somewhat absolves Apple, it continues to highlight the point that interest everyone – what is the process Apple uses to approve/reject applications from the iTunes Store?

Hail and Wind Storm

We got hit pretty hard with some major wind and hail yesterday.  I took some pictures of the hail about an hour after the storm passed.  I was dealing with a leaky window at first, so the hail has melted some since it first fell.  The local news reported winds from 60 to 70 mph during the storm.

Hail Stone in Hand

Hail Stones in Yard

Worst States for Tickets

The National Motorists Association (NMA) recently published their ranking of the worst places to drive (based on what they call unfair traffic laws and public monitoring).  The tri-state area ranks both high and low on the list with Ohio in second place, Indiana at 43rd, and Kentucky at 46th (out of the 50 states).

The NMA was established in 1982 in part to protest the national 55 mph speed limit.  The currently work for more reasonable speed limits and fight for better driver training, fair enforcement practices, and important privacy protections.

Facebook vs. Your GPA

Researchers at Ohio State University are presenting findings this week that link Facebook activity to GPA.  From the CNET article:

Yes, researchers at Ohio State University have delved deep into the habit that is Facebook and concluded that those who express their membership regularly do worse in school tests.  In fact, they say, the majority of those who Facebook daily do worse by as much as one whole grade.

While the CNET writer is calling the research “technically incorrect,” I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve read the academic article.  It will be interesting to see the statistics they used and research methodologies employed.  I have a nagging suspicion that the decline in GPA might be more closely linked to lack of focus and attention to schoolwork than to strict Facebook usage.  I have a feeling Facebook is just the latest way that students can postpone working on assignments.

The research will be presented at the American Educational Research Association later this month.