Infocom Bonanza!

Thanks to our reader Rob for point this out! You do not have to be a Mac user in order to enjoy the old Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy game. Some hacker has put up all of the old Infocom games as Web applets. Just point your browse that way, and you can play any of the old games (including the frustration fests known as the Zork series) for free! (Java required.) If you are one of those people who never knew the wonder of a text-based adventure game, this is your chance to taste what you missed.

Apple Releases a Multibutton Mouse - Hades Freezes Over

Okay, we have another sign of the apocalypse, Apple has released a multi-button mouse... or at least the equivilent. Their new "Mighty Mouse" has a touch-sensitive surface allowing various actions to be mapped to various functions in the Operating System. At the same time, existing users can continue to use this mouse as a simple one-button mouse, which is probably how Steve Jobs expects to not contradict his "Apple will never release a multi-button mouse" statements from past MacWorlds and press conferences.

Hmmm... I wonder if they have a bluetooth version yet.

Update 4:38 PM EST: It appears there is no BT version available at any price, as of now. I am guessing they wanted to get something out there now, and will release the wireless version at the next big event. That way they can drive sales twice.

GWB: "Teach Intelligent Design"

Now here is a topic I never thought a modern Republican president would touch.

President Bush (search) said Monday he believes schools should discuss "intelligent design" alongside evolution when teaching students about the creation of life.
During a round-table interview with reporters from five Texas newspapers, Bush declined to go into detail on his personal views of the origin of life. But he said students should learn about both ideas, Knight Ridder Newspapers reported.

Amazing. I am one who thinks that Christians tend to talk about evolution too much, since the truth or falsity of macro-evolution (Christians accept micro-evolution) has no bearing on one's salvation. But it is nice to see a modern politician - one whose career is NOT over - willing to take a stand.

MacOS X on Intel Leaked, Lockdown Confirmed

Well, apparently, the inevitable has happened. MacOS X on Intel has been leaked on BitTorrent sites, and the hacking community has snatched it up like a mixture of Jolt! cola and Red Bull. And lo and behold, it appears to confirm what some had feared - the way that Apple is planning to keep control of MacOS X on Intel is by making use of Intel's DRM technology. This will lock MacOS X to hardware that Apple sells, and prevent third-party makers from cloning Apples. It could also, in the wrong hands, be used to keep users from using any software which is not "Apple-approved." Engagdet has the story in all its gory detail. Well, in enough gory detail for non-tech-heads, anyway.

Bolton (John, Not Michael) Gets a Recess Appointment to the U.N.

GWB has decided not to let the Senate stall any longer.

President Bush sidestepped the Senate and installed embattled nominee John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations on Monday, ending a five-month impasse with Democrats who accused Bolton of abusing subordinates and twisting intelligence to fit his conservative ideology.

"This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about UN reform," Bush said. He said Bolton had his complete confidence.

Bush put Bolton on the job in a recess appointment _ an avenue available to the president when the Congress is in recess. Under the Constitution, a recess appointment during the lawmakers' August break would last until a newly elected Congress takes office in January 2007.

This is probably exactly what Senate Dems wanted, anyway. They were not forced to take a hard stand against the president, but can not be blamed for a hard-core conservative getting the post.

The King of Saudi Arabia is Dead

This is definitely one of those good news, bad news situations. The bad news is that King Fahd of Saudi Arabia is dead. This means that a major stabilizing force in the Middle East is gone, and now the oil-rich kingdom will be facing a power struggle for a new balance. The good news is that Prince Abdullah - a long-time friend to America and the man who owes President George H. W. Bush quite a lot for Gulf War I - has been chosen to be king and will be crowned on Wednesday. We are likely in for some rocky times with our shaky ally as the new king consolidates power, but in the end this may be a much better situation for American and the War on Terror. We shall see if Prince Abdullah remains a friend, but I suspect he will.

Hitchhiker's Guide Text Game for Free!

How come no one told me about this until just now?! Years and year ago, Infocom released probably the best (and funniest) text-based adventure game every based on the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. The game was a mondo success and sold a grillion copies - or something like that - and turned out to be a gold mine for its author and the game industry. Well, now the game is available for free as an Apple Widget for use under MacOS X 10.4. This is amazing. If you never got to play the original, be sure to download and play this version of that classic game!