Microsoft ships RSS platform

Microsoft has released a public beta of Internet Explorer 7, which includes excellent support for RSS on the consumer side. Additionally, the new version of IE will support RSS enclosures, which are necessary to support podcasting and could be useful in other applications.

I’ve been saying it for months: RSS is not going away. You’d better start making it a part of your daily internet routine because soon it will be integrated in EVERYTHING you do online.

UPDATE: Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central did a podacst interview with a woman from Microsoft regarding IE 7. Well worth the listen. Check it out here!

Doting Husbands Association

A group of Japanese men has created a group called the Doting Husbands Association that encourages traditionally workaholic Japanese men to be at home by 8 PM to show their wives how important they are to them. A Chicago resident, shown here after ironing his fiance’s underpants, has expressed interest in the association and plans to join after his marriage this August.

Ex-Postal Employee Kills Six, Then Herself

An ex-postal employee entered a mail processing plant in California late Monday night, and proceeded to open fire on workers, killing six people and wounding another before turning the gun on herself. When asked for comment, a former coworker explained that “it was Publisher’s Clearinghouse day”.

BP 2006-01-30 (#11)

Butter’s Podcast #11 discusses bittorrent, Flickr, movie studios, and more! Enjoy the classical music in the background. It’s supposed to make you smarter.

$3,000,000 Comcast bill

Dave Winer got a $3,000,000 bill from Comcast this month that he had apprently paid. Being from Philadelphia, the home of Comcast, I can say that the company unequivocally sucks. For the past year I have boycotted Comcast, had Verizon FiOS installed, and been watching all my TV via bittorrent. They are unquestionably one of the worst companies to deal with. I can’t wait until FiOS TV becomes available in my area so I can stick it to those idiots.

NBA Video on Google: does anyone care?

Is Kobe Bryant on the Google payroll? Right before Google starts offering NBA videos via its Google Video service, Kobe goes out and scores 81 points last week. Now Google is trying to entice people to come download “some of the most prolific games in NBA history”. My question is this: does anyone care? The NBA is an atrocious product right now. I would rather watch girls high school field hockey games to be honest with you. Why doesn’t Google offer some soccer games for download? You know…something you can’t normally get in the U.S.

I’m very skepitcal of this whole Google Video experiment…at least for now.

Police: Driver Uses Mannequin in HOV Lane

This is sheer genius. A Colorado man was charged with driving an unauthorized vehicle in an HOV lane after he positioned a mannequin dressed in a baseball cap and grey sweatshirt in his passenger seat. Unfortunately there are no HOV lanes here in Philadelphia, or I would be in Nordstroms with hand truck as we speak.

Pugh completes swimming’s ‘Holy Grail’ - Yahoo! News

Lewis Pugh, a British man seen here in a rather abhorrent Speedo, has set a world record by completing long distance swims in all 5 of the world’s oceans. Upon completing his tremendous feat, Pugh also set the record for “World’s Most Shriviled Genitals”. Well done, Lewis.

Disease May Have Caused Lincoln’s Gait

Researchers in Minnesota now believe that Abraham Lincoln likely suffered from an incurable genetic disorder known as “ataxia” that affects the coordination it takes to walk, speak, and swallow. Scientists agree that the disorder likely contributed to the President’s death in 1865, but still contend that it was probably “mostly due to the bullet that tore through his brain.”

“Quick, somebody help! He’s suffering from ataxia!” - Mary Todd Lincoln, April 14, 1865

Ex-’SNL’ Star Pleads Not Guilty to DUI

Ex-SNL star Tracy Morgan, who apparently stole Jerry Seinfeld’s puffy shirt from the Smithsonian in an attempt to become the second pirate, has pleaded not guilty to DUI charges stemming from a December arrest in Los Angeles. Unfortunately the outlook does not look good for Tracy after he told the judge to “make a doodoo pie…I love you”.

Sago Mine Survivor Moved to Rehab Center

Take a look at the file photo of the one guy that survived the West Virginia mining disaster. Is there any doubt as to why he made it? I’m just saying.

Male Student Wins Fight to Wear Skirt

I’m not sure what to think of this. A male student in New Jersey has been granted permission to wear a skirt to school after involvment from the ACLU. The school district in which this kid resides forbids wearing shorts between October 1st and April 15, but does not impose the same ban on skirts. Believing the rule discriminatory, this male student began wearing skirts to school in protest.

On one hand, I think it’s cool when a man stands up for his rights. I’m not one for all the feminism garbage so prevalent these days, so it’s nice to see one of ours fighting back.

On the other hand, he’s not exactly giving the male species a great reputation prancing around in a skirt. I’m torn.

Ohio State fans are a rare breed

I have to tell you, I really hate Ohio State fans. Moving to the state in high school when your dad went to another Big 10 school, you had to. Being a Notre Dame alum after they throttled you in the Fiesta Bowl, you have to. All that being said, this is freaking hilarious.

If Brent Musberger and Keith Jackson had discussed the social implications of this sign, ABC’s Fiesta Bowl coverage would have been much more interesting.

Bonds bows out of Classic

Notoriously pompous jerk Barry Bonds has decided not to play in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, adding to my list of reasons that I hate Barry Bonds. Frankly, I’m perfectly fine with this. The guy has barely played in the last year or so, and I don’t particularly want this cocky a-hole representing the U.S. to other countries. I wish he would quit baseball, alltogether.

“I wish he would quit baseball.”

Thank you.

New for ‘06: better imagery from Google Maps

Google has announced that it will be displaying even better imagery on the outstanding Google Maps service this year. The service will now allow for two more levels of zooming! Ok, I may be a dork, but Google Maps is a great service. There’s no denying that!

Microsoft to spend $120M in ads that aim to erase ‘huge’ image

Microsoft is at it again. The software giant is about to spend $120 million dollars to try and prove that it is not a “huge American company”. This of course begs the question, “would a small American company have $120 million to spend to prove it was indeed small”. In my mind, this idea won’t work for Microsoft. It would, however, work for a “medium American company” because by spending $120 million on a frivalous ad campaign, it would be reduced to a “small American company”.

The ads will come in all forms of media, with the TV spots featuring William H. Macy of Fargo fame. No word on whether he’ll use his Minnesota accent to describe Bill Gates as “pretty sweet”.

Kobe scores 81, promptly labled as chucker

Last night Kobe Bryant went an astounding 28-46 from the field on his way to scoring 81 points. When asked for his thoughts after the game, Keith Hernandez simply responded, “what a chucker”. Upon hearing of this revelation, Kobe asked teammate Lamar Odom why no one had previously informed him of his indiscretion. Odom apologized saying, “it’s not an easy thing to bring up”.

Drunk-driving suspect flees in police car

Here’s someone who’s played one too many games of Grand Theft Auto. A Chicago woman who was arrested for drunk driving somehow managed to slip out of her handcuffs and flee the scene in a police cruiser. Hopefully she remembered to press “R3″ to access the secret police missions.

Amateur Video Sharing Grows Online -

According this this Yahoo! news story, online video sharing is really taking off? Oh really? They must be reading Butter’s Podcast.

I’ve been saying this for a year: podcasting and vlogging is only going to grow in the next 2-3 years. As companies find ways to make it easier and more user friendly, you’ll be seeing 8 year old kids doing this stuff. Right now it’s mostly “techy”, nerdy people that enjoy it, but it will skyrocket.

It’s great for people like me and my friends. My circle of friends from college now lives in all different parts of the country. The strains of life make it hard to keep in close contact with everyone all the time. By podcasting I can keep everyone abreast of what I’m up to. Granted, it’s not as personal as a phone call or going to visit, but it will do until those things are able to be done.

So everyone, start blogging/podcasting/vlogging…you never know who wants to know what you’re up to!

Butters Podcast Frappr! Update

Well, this only took like three months, but my fiance finally added herself to my Frappr! Map. You may also notice that she added her best pal and my biggest nemesis, Roxy the shih tzu. What am I getting myself into?