MS is hosting a contest for people to create MSN bots, and this Xbox bot (from a fellow Xbox MVP) is pretty cool. Try it out and if you like it, vote for it!

Anybody else think that this month's Official Xbox Magazine cover might be a bit too much? Is it too early to whip up the drooling masses for Halo 3? I liked the analysis inside the magazine of the E3 trailer, but I'm not sure it's time yet to devote OXM covers to Master Chief. His next adventure is a loooong way off; I think putting him on the cover now just overshadows too many good titles that are coming in the next 3-6 months.

Looked at another way, is OXM playing into the hands of the rubber ducky crowd (Sony fanboys) who say that all Xbox has is Halo? If our official magazine splashes M.C. on the cover whenever anybody breathes a word of the game, it lends credence to the bath toys' position.

In my opinion, OXM should put no game on its cover that is farther than 6 months away. Preview articles? Fine. Developer interviews? Great. "100 Great upcoming games" feature? Cool. But save the cover for one of the many, many other interesting titles coming our way.

I know that the 3 people who visit this blog are probably hoping for Xbox-related stuff, so I apologize about this post. I'm more than a little pissed off at my elected representatives, though, and I need to vent...

The House of Representatives is "debating" House Resolution 861, titled "Declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary."

You can go read it if you like - it's not very long - but here's the gist:

- Thanks to Americans who supported the war
- Thanks to the countries who supported the war
- Thanks to the Afghani and Iraqi citizens who have died in support of the war
- We don't need no stinkin' plan, timeline, measurable goals, or exit strategy
- We're going to keep doing what we have been doing
- Hey all you countries that don't support us - why not come to our side now?
- We will "win" - whatever that means

This is nothing more than an attempt to energize the right for mid-term elections in November. By putting forth this head-in-the-sand resolution insisting we will "prevail in the Global War on Terror" - it's actually Capitalized; as if it's an actual, official, declared war - the Republican sponsors want to re-emphasize that they're standing strong, and everybody else wants to "cut and run". In short, we will all die in a flaming terrorist inferno if we don't just put our complete trust in the administration and congress, without demanding a meaningful debate about the hard issues. Trust us, we will prevail and keep you safe. Oh, and we'll be needing all your phone records to do that.

Among a bazillion questions I have for members of the house, here's a good one: WHERE THE FUCK IS OSAMA BIN LADEN? If we're going to prevail in the GWT(tm), why aren't we talking about him?

Here's one more: why isn't the debate about troop levels, plans, the measurable goals of the war, and the exit strategy? Why is it just a vote on "Do you support a resolution saying we will win?" How about some talk about how we're going to win? Well, that's a rhetorical question - the reason they don't want to debate the how is because they have no clue how, as has been clear for some time.

"We will prevail" - if only saying it actually made it so. It amazes me how they attempt to substitute blind faith and obstinateness for actual governance, debate, and leadership. And it really chafes my hide that America tends to buy it.

Update - Here's a quote from an ABC News article about the "debate":

Choreographed by the GOP, the debate unfolded four months before midterm elections that will decide the control of Congress. The administration, for its part, was so determined to get its message out that the Pentagon distributed a highly unusual 'debate prep book' filled with ready-made answers for criticism of the war.

If you haven't seen this video, you need to. Work safe (on headphones).

I can quit Oblivion any time I want to. No, really. Just not today.

Addicted to video games? Need help? Some people in Amsterdam stand ready to "detoxify" you. (Link to ABC News)

I'm all in favor of reasonable debate on issues that divide conservatives and progressives, but this woman is clearly insane. She's against recycling? How can you be against recycling?