Going dark against SOPA.
On January 18th, many sites across the internet will be going dark for 12 hours to protest SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act, and PIPA, the Protect IP Act. This site will be taking part as well.
On that day, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will be holding a hearing to examine the impact of DNS and search engine blocking on the Internet community and related industry. The Senate will be voting on PIPA on January 24th. See americancensorship.org for more information on these bills and how to get involved.
If you’ve got a WordPress blog and want to join in, I recommend installing the SOPA Blackout plugin. It’s dead simple to set up, replaces your content for the day, and spits out a 503 so that search engines don’t freak out.
Both SOPA and PIPA undermine the core structure of the Internet, and pave the way for even more nefarious uses of censorship in the future. Contact your representative, and help us defeat these bills!
Update: SOPA has been shelved! Unfortunately, PIPA is still moving forward, so we’re not quite there yet.
Filed under community, meta | Comment (0)CES: Places to get hammered that aren’t casinos, 2012 edition
Newly updated with additions and the must-visit venues that have opened up since the last time I published this piece, here’s your guide to getting drunk in Las Vegas during CES. Seriously, ditch the Strip this year and go check out what downtown and the rest of Vegas has to offer. Remember, there’s no such thing as last call in Vegas.
Note that this list is in no way exhaustive – consider these my recommendations.
Arts District
One of my personal favorites and an anchor of the Arts District, Artifice was built by Westwood Studios co-founder and gallery owner Brett Sperry. Cozy and spacious (these aren’t contradicting when applied to Artifice), the bar features great art, a strong DJ lineup, and a friendly crowd.
Be sure check out Bar + Bistro next door while you’re in the area.
Fremont East
Arcade slash bar slash nightclub, Chris LaPorte’s Insert Coin(s) continues to draw a big crowd, so don’t be surprised to see a line on a busy night. Arcade games and consoles surround a large glowing bartop, with a DJ station and dance floor in the back. Only place I know where the table service might include a copy of Mario Kart alongside the vodka and mixers.
Right across from the Fremont St Experience, near the corner of Fremont and Las Vegas Blvd. Modern decor, moody lighting, and often a DJ spinning house or downtempo. DCR has fancy drinks by actual mixologists, and their Bloody Mary is damn good if you’re the sort that likes salad in your alcohol.
More cozy to DCR’s swanky, but often catering to similar crowds, this is the place where Harry Potter would go to get laid. Brick and leather interior, a nice firepit, and good music, especially if you’re a fan of the band Metric.
Yep, we’ve got one here too. Right around the corner from the others listed above, on Fremont. Mmm, hipsters. Once you’ve have your fill of the live music and PBR, walk two doors east and grab something to eat at the newly-opened Le Thai.
Continuing on Fremont East, there’s also Vanguard Lounge, The Beat (great for hangover coffee, too!), Maharaja Hookah Cafe, Don’t Tell Mama, and Azul Tequila.
Downtown
Located in the Soho Lofts just south of Fremont, this new entry brings library chic to the downtown drinking scene. Walkable from the Arts District bars above.
A newer bar by P Moss (owner of the Double Down), Frank’s Tiki Room is a tiny place just west of Las Vegas Blvd, on Charleston. As the name suggests, it’s wall to wall tiki, with a menu full of custom drinks. Possibly enchanted.
Wanna get the hell away from the rest of the tourists and see what a real Las Vegas dive bar is like? Here’s your bar. Open all night, the bartenders are friendly and the drinks are dirt cheap. While the HT can be slow during the week, weekend nights are usually hopping.
Central
Happiest place on earth! On Paradise nuzzled right within the closest thing Vegas has to a gay district… kick ass jukebox, and an excellent alternative during CES if the downtown bars are slammed. Always a good vibe, even with Alfonzo and the midget porn gone.
Wondering where everyone goes after the bars on Fremont East shut down for the night? If not bed, chances are they’re at Dino’s. One of the oldest bars in town, Dino’s is known for its Thur-Sat karaoke and cheap drinks. Hit up Tiffany’s across the street for some late night grub when you’re done.
Peppermill Fireside Lounge (map)
It’s the Peppermill, been here for years and years. It has a fountain that is also on fire. Due to it’s Strip location, expect it to be crazy busy over CES, unless you go around 3am (which, to be honest, is really the only time one should be visiting the Peppermill).
Filed under community, las vegas | Comment (1)CES: Places to get hammered that aren’t casinos.
Just thought I’d share. You know, for the kids.
Right across from the Fremont St Experience, near the corner of Fremont and Las Vegas Blvd. Modern decor, moody lighting, and often a DJ spinning house or downtempo. DCR has fancy drinks, by an actual mixologist, and their Bloody Mary is supposed to be damn good, if you’re the sort that likes salad in your alcohol.
More cozy to DCR’s swanky, but often catering to similar crowds. Brick and leather interior, a nice firepit, and good music. On Fremont St just east of the Fremont St Experience.
Yep, we’ve got one here too. Right around the corner from the others listed above, on Fremont. Mmm, hipsters.
Happiest place on earth! On Paradise nuzzled right within the closest thing Vegas has to a gay district… kick ass jukebox, and an excellent alternative during CES if the downtown bars are slammed. Always a good vibe, even with Alfonzo and the midget porn gone.
A new bar by P Moss (owner of the Double Down), Frank’s Tiki Room is a tiny place just west of Las Vegas Blvd, on Charleston. As the name suggests, it’s wall to wall tiki, with a menu full of custom drinks. Possibly enchanted.
Peppermill Fireside Lounge (map)
It’s the Peppermill, been here for years and years. It has a fountain that is also on fire. Due to it’s Strip location, expect it to be crazy busy over CES, unless you go around 3am (which, to be honest, is really the best time to visit the Peppermill).
Filed under community, las vegas | Comments (4)link love 111709
Whoa, almost a month since the last link love.
Two excellent Kickstarter efforts met their goals this week: Computer historian Jason Scott‘s Sabbatical project and video game art mag Kill Screen. While Kill Screen fundraising is complete, there are several days remaining on Jason’s project… go give the guy a few bucks and let him keep doing what he does best.
The Making Of Tapper. Hey Edge, can we get an RSS feed just for the Making Of series?
The Running Man: behind the sketchbooks of Adam Saltsman’s Canabalt.
Filed under community, MLP, nostalgia, video games | Comment (0)Big changes to the IGDA Board of Directors.
From Friday…
Dear IGDA Member,
A Special Meeting of the membership of IGDA will be held on October 3rd, 2009. The sole purpose of the meeting is to vote on whether IGDA Board of Directors member Tim Langdell (a) should serve the remainder of this term, or (b) should have his term concluded early (effective October 3rd, 2009). Mr. Langdell was elected by the membership on March 1st of 2009, and his term is scheduled to expire on March 1st of 2012; or (c) abstain from this vote.A Special Meeting is intended to allow the membership to make a decision and requires a quorum of half the membership to participate in order to carry the outcome. I highly encourage all members to participate so that quorum can be reached.
Further information as to the background of these two outcomes will be posted to the members-only section of the IGDA website as of September 2009, and a second reminder email will be sent at that time. In addition, an electronic proxy ballot will be provided to each member at that time, with which they may cast their vote. The voting period will extend through the end of September, approximately 30 days.
While process requires there will be a “physical meeting”, which will be at IGDA headquarters offices (19 Mantua Road, Mt. Royal, NJ 08061) at 10:00AM eastern time, and members may attend in person, such presence is not required or even anticipated. The meeting itself likely will take only a few minutes and consist primarily of announcing the results of the voting. No other business will be conducted.
Again, more information will be forthcoming in early September, and we ask that you withhold any questions until that time if at all possible.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation as we move through this process together.
Tobi Saulnier, Co-Chair
Date: August 28, 2009
…and now this morning:
IGDA Announces Dr. Tim Langdell has stepped down from IGDA Board
Monday Aug. 31st, Mt. Royal, NJ: The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) today announced that Tim Langdell has resigned from the IGDA Board of Directors, effective immediately. Dr Langdell had served on the Board since March 2009.
The resignation means that Dr Langdell’s seat on the Board is vacated, and will be up for election in early 2010. The special meeting called for the membership in Oct. on this matter will no longer take place.
Oh yeah, and…
Full story, after the jump »
