New Futurama DVD

Wired.com has reviewed the next Futurama direct-to-DVD movie. Sounds raunchy:

It packs plenty of sharp, punchy one-liners and a plethora of geeky references -- and ups the ante with dirty jokes that wouldn't fly on television. "It's disturbing," said head writer and executive producer David X. Cohen of Beast With a Billion Backs. "There is certainly more of an adult theme in this film than the average Futurama episode."

Before I decide to purchase it, I think I'll check it out on Netflix to see whether Gresham's Law applies to the quality of the show's humor. Network censors were a constant source of gripes in the episode DVD commentaries, but I'll say this for them: they forced the writers to be more creative rather than shooting constantly for the easy, cheap, LCD laugh.

If Google Ruled the World

Good Google-themed photoshop contest.

Changes to eMusic Pricing

Just got this notification:

As eMusic members know, there has never been a better time to be a music fan than right now. So many amazing artists are making vital, inspiring music and it's here for you, at eMusic. In the past four years, eMusic's catalogue has exploded from 250,000 to nearly 4 million tracks covering every genre imaginable. Think of how much music that is—more than we could listen to in a lifetime, and all of it available here for less than you would pay anywhere else. That won't change, but the price of eMusic will. Effective June 17th 2008 for new subscribers the price for eMusic's Monthly Basic Plan will increase from $9.99 to $11.99 for 30 downloads. This increases the price per download to $0.40 for new members—still the best price per song going.

What it Means for You

Your price will also go up, effective July 17th 2008. But because you are a valued eMusic member, you will receive an additional 10 downloads per month. Your new “grandfather” plan means you actually pay less per download. Here's how it breaks out:

	Cost per month	# of Downloads	Cost per Download
Your Current Plan:	$9.99	40	$0.25
Your New Plan:	$11.99	50	$0.24

And on August 17, all active, grandfathered members will receive a one-time, special 10-track booster pack (good for 30 days) as our way of saying thanks for being a loyal subscriber.

Good Things to Come

We're adding thousands of new songs and artists to eMusic every day, and our editorial team will continue to guide you to the best music and audiobooks. And we will be making the eMusic website and experience friendlier, easier and more powerful in the coming months as well, including a new and improved download manager, a site redesign and many more of the features that you have asked for.

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I tried to teach the 4-and-a-half year old some pig latin, but he said:

It makes my head hurt and it makes the things I know go away!

News for the Boy - Major Dino Find

"SALT LAKE CITY - A newly discovered batch of well-preserved dinosaur bones, petrified trees and even freshwater clams in southeastern Utah could provide new clues about life in the region some 150 million years ago.

The Bureau of Land Management announced the find Monday, calling the quarry near Hanksville "a major dinosaur fossil discovery."

An excavation revealed at least four sauropods, which are long-necked, long-tailed plant-eating dinosaurs, and two carnivorous ones, according to the bureau. It may have also uncovered an herbivorous stegosaurus."

Link to rest of story.

Shocking

Dominion Virginia Power wants to hike electricity rates by 18 percent.

That would be the largest one-time rate increase for the utility since the 1970s, although Dominion customers would still pay less, on average, than many electric customers in Maryland.

That last part doesn't make me feel any better. Besides, Viriginia seems headed toward the same sort of burdensome regulatory and taxation policies that make things more expensive in Mary-Land.

In Demand: Google Tasks

Google's Calendar is very handy, I've now got most of the office using it, and the wife, too!

The next thing Google needs to release is a Google Tasks application. Some bloggers think it is already in development but there is no official word yet, that I am aware of.

In the meantime, I think I will set up a Google spreadsheet for my burgeoning task list.

Cool Stuff?

1.New GMail features, and more info.

2.Google Charts.

3. Facebook hacks and tips.

News for the Boy

Last week I read an article to my 4 1/2 year old son about the effect of the China earthquake on a panda conservation facility. Apparently they've since airlifted several pandas to Beijing...
Saw this photo in Yahoo!News earlier: