The right to privacy

In today's world everyone is under surveillance all the time. Everything is being monitored. We don't like the idea of all the information on us and our actions being collected and saved to huge data centers. But should something actually be done about it?

When you're on the Internet, your computer's IP address and all the information about which web sites you access is stored on web servers. In theory, the IP address points out the exact location of your computer. As such, if someone finds out your IP, he can find your computer. Anyway, only professionals can read the information in the IP addresses. Plus, most web routers use dynamic IPs, so virtually only your home town can be pinpointed. Also, even though your phoning information is saved, you can phone anonymously using pre-paid services.

Many are more concerned about e-mail threatening your piracy, but it doesn't make sense to worry about it. All our e-mails are stored in data centers, and officials can read them should they need to do so. However, hackers are very unlikely to be able to read them, as all the servers in data centers are well encrypted. In fact, the old-fashioned paper mail is a much bigger threat to privacy, because your mail box is unlikely to have guards around it, and mechanic locks can be broken without much of an effort.

And now to the conclusion. In the modern world, lots of sensitive information is collected, but it's well protected and only for officials to access. It doesn't threaten your privacy too much. Storing all the information makes the world a safer place, so nothing should be done about it.

Games to the masses. They're always similar.

First person shooter multiplayer games are getting more and more "realistic". This "realism" usually means that players die in a few shots, and everyone is a normal soldier with no extra capabilities, no commanding status, with nothing that would stand out. This is all the "realism" they're talking about. But why don't they develop really realistic games nor arcade-like games? Why are all the games they develop so similar?

When we look a little deeper, we notice that almost no game is really realistic. Let's look at Call of Duty Modern Warfare, a game that sold millions of copies and, even though it's many years old, still has a solid player base. In this game you are a seemingly normal soldier but, despite that, you can call in airstrikes and helicopter support. That's something that a normal soldier can't do in real life, but still this "realistic" game allows it.

We can see this trend in a myriad of other games, too. These games are often popular, but it's not because of realism. They're popular because they're easy. All you need to do in order to get a good score is camp in one spot of the map and shoot everyone who comes to your field of vision. An average player is dumb and wants easy kills. That's why today's games are so simplistic and easy. For someone who likes to practise to get better, they don't give much. For someone who wants something different, they give nothing. Game developers support these trend games because they sell well. We need a change in the players' attitude to get outstanding first person shooters.

Intel to face the largest EU fine ever

The Wall Street Journal reported that the EU will fine Intel for abusing it's market power. The Commission is expected to deliver it's decision soon. The EU has the power to fine Intel up to 10% of the annual turnover, which means that the resulting fine may be almost 4 million dollars (about 3 million euros).

Intel has had problems with the EU since 2000, when AMD complained filed a complaint saying that Intel was blocking its access to the market.