Insanity Part 2.0

Muslims rip ‘24’ for renewed terror role – Television – MSNBC.com

When I first heard about this, I thought “I suppose they have a point,” but now after the season’s progressed a bit, I now understand Fox’s reaction.

TLDR version: Season 4 and 6 both feature prominent Muslim characters that are evil. CAIR, among other groups, have taken issue to this as they believe it is unfair. In Season 4, Fox had Kiefer do a 30 second (or maybe 1 minute) PSA where he basically said “Not all Muslims are evil, and most American Muslims are actually good! Please don’t prejudice.” Fairly pointless as it aired only once and during the commercial break, so it probably wasn’t seen by a fair amount of people. Anyway, fast forward to Season 6, and Fox has chosen not to do the same thing. In the context of the plot as it stands now though, it makes total sense.

SPOILERS HERE! Stop reading if you don’t want either Season 4 or Season 6 to be spoiled for you. Season 6 spoilers are only current up to the current episode, episode 6.

Season 4′s main villain was a straight up Muslim, and he was the one leading the show. Season 6 looked like it was going to be this way at the time the article was written, but since then the plot’s taken a turn. The story has taken a turn away from the Muslim villain but now pretty much follows Jack and his hijinks. Fox probably decided that they didn’t need to apologize this time around because the new main villains are once again middle-aged white guys! To be precise, the big villains appear to be part of Jack’s family, and Jack’s not above torturing them either (you may evoke some love for Bauer here).

In other words, why bother apologizing for a theme that’s not actually in the plot?

I’m still not enamored with other aspects of this season though. Way too much crappy politicizing, something that 24 is not particularly good at. Let’s boil down complex arguments into trite snappy comebacks between a few different smarmy characters! Yeah!

Skype 2.2 Beta for Windows Mobile

• In order to use Skype for Windows Mobile, your device must have a high speed wireless Internet connection over WiFi or 3G.
• Please note that data usage costs apply for using Skype over 3G mobile networks (EDGE, EV-DO and UMTS), so we recommend an unlimited data plan.

I just noticed this fine print on the Skype for WinMob site, and it presents an interesting scenario. If it’s possible to use Skype on 3G Wireless phones, perhaps Skype on the iPhone isn’t out of the realm of possibility since there is indeed a way for Cingular to monetize skype usage if the iPhone switches back and forth between Wifi and EDGE automatically.

It’d be odd though, as if you have SkypeIn, it essentially means you have 2 numbers for one phone. It’s debatable as to how many users would actually use SkypeOut while on EDGE enough to compensate Cingular for the potential $ lost for most users using Wifi primarily.

Again, purely speculation. Also sort of a wish as I want to be able to justify an iPhone purchase with another bullet point later

Infinite Loop: Apple applies for iTunes transaction patent

(also on MacNN, complete with images and such)

A thought occurs: iTunes 7′s new “Transfer Purchases from iPod” function makes a lot more sense in the context of wireless iTunes Store purchases on your mobile. Buy a song on your phone, and have it on your computer too on your next sync.

As usual, this is just a thought that popped out of my head and not anything more than curious speculation.