Truth, Allegations, And Things Left Unsaid

The things that maketh murder...

There are many things fishy about the death of web programmer/activist/Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz, one of which being that he didn't get to see his court case (MIT was suing him for $1M and jail time for hacking into their computers and downloading millions of subscription-based articles from JSTOR, an online academic database, and distributing them for free) go through, where he could have made a very public plea for the advancement of a free internet despite having little chances of actual victory.

 Another was the way in which he died: by hanging. His father claims ''the government killed him'', but whether it's metaphorically or as a matter of fact, a noose around one's neck is, indeed, one of the easiest ways to make murder seem like suicide.

Then again, a web-savvy supernerd would know just how many questions would be raised should he be found hanging from a noose, and could have done it on purpose just to awake suspicions and ''get the people talking'', as Will Ferrell would say.

Even I'm talking about it, and I knew nothing of the case when I woke up yesterday morning. ''Touché'', said the priest to the boy.

Video Of The Week: Queens Of The Stone Age

Undoubtably, Queens Of The Stone Age are one of my favourite bands of the last decade.

While they started off as from the remains of Kyuss, which were a lot more metal-oriented, QOTSA were more into making a poppy, very heavy sound - one that has gone less and less pop with every recording since Songs For The Deaf, which included the hit single ''No One Knows''.

Most songs are built around a catchy guitar riff and a sing-along chorus - provided you're willing to sing along to some off-the-cuff lyrics.

I chose this song for this week because it's been in my head since Sunday, probably because I'm one of the few idiots who can manage to catch a cold in near-summer weather.

Bon appétit.

Super Bowl XLIII Invitation

A mere hours before The Game, and a hockey game to watch first. Super Bowl Sunday is the best day for a true sports fan - especially when the main attraction isn't a one-sided affair that falls in the hands of a team you hate.

In the spirit of full disclosure, here's an invitation I sent to my friend Nibble Mark, who had been sick of late.

Feeling better? Bettered? Battered? Buttered?


It's Super Bowl weekend, which means it's legal, just for one day, to overindulge in fatty, sweet, salty and poppy foods and drinks to the point of heart-attackism - and, on Super Sunday, it's illegal for your heart to attack! (from what I have gathered through 42 years of watching the Big Game and having seen it evolve from a sporting event into one of ultramegasuperconsumerism - and from the way Homer behaves on any Simpsons Super Bowl Specials)

This takes place around suppertime, 5 or 6-ish, and lasts until 8 or 9-ish because the Half Time show will likely feature some has-been showing us a bit of skin to try to outsell Britney Spears (I'm hoping for Tina Turner, would settle for Beyoncé, praying it's not Sting - last year was McCartney, John Lennon's old retarded chubby friend)

Not to be left out, Les Habitants battle the Bruins at 2PM to make it the Ultimate Couch Sporting Event of the weekend. Which means I'll be making some spicy chicken wings and/or purchasing fried chicken from a place I love. Doritos might try to come in my house as well, but I'm not sure the Tostitos-mozzarella cheese-actual Mexican salsa combo who are picketing in front of my oven waiting for execution will let them. There are rumours that squishy candies will make an appearance, but this has yet to be confirmed by their PR commitee.

I just thought it could be a good time to come see your new TV (still awaiting your manly touch in my basement) and mooch some food so I don't gain a thousand pounds (of muscle) from this Sporting Event. Bring a friend - I have none myself.

This being that, the Invitation is now lauchned into cyberspace, cowboy. Let me know if you're interesting (as the Chinese say).


Le Seb

Well, he should be here any minute now. The hockey game's starting. My money's on the Habs, of course. Smart money will stay clear of this one.

Super Bowl XLIII

Well, it's upon us. The most important game of the year. The reason you bought an HD TV.

For the third time since Hunter S. Thompson's timely demise, I am attempting to fill the void he has created by voicing my opinion on this year's Big Game. So far, I am 1-1, and last year's defeat has cost me huge.

Football, unlike hockey, basketball and baseball, holds its Final in a one-game Super event. And, like on any given Sunday, anything can happen. We saw that last year, when the New York Giants, who had barely made the playoffs, beat the perfect-season-having New England Patriots in the final minutes of the game.

Again this year, a true underdog, the Arizona Cardinals, face off against the heavily-favoured Pittsburgh Steelers, who are going for a league-leading sixth title with the best defense in the league. And, apparently, defense wins championships. Even Barack Obama is rooting for the Steelers - they can't lose.

But they will. In a best-of-seven series, yes, the cream eventually likely rises to the top, but in a winner-takes-all one-game finale, the team that wants it the most and that commits the fewest mistakes wins. And after over a hundred years of messing up, these guys know this is their only chance at ever winning a Super Bowl.

They have a Super Bowl MVP in Kurt Warner, and an unstoppable force in receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Warner is far superior to his overrated adversary Big Ben Roethlisberger, and no one will be able to touch Fitzgerald, who broke an old Jerry Rice record just last week. Yes, he is that good.

The Steelers' only hope is to get through the Cardinals' offensive line and injure Warner. If he has even a second to find Fitzgerald, the game could turn ugly very fast. Most Las Vegas bookies are giving the Steelers a 6-to-10 point edge in the spread. Worst case scenario is you'll need it, and that would make it a nice, tight game in which logic and common wisdom will have prevailed.

But if all goes well, Cinderella will realize that the shoe fits and we'll have an interesting and spectacular game instead, one that will make a betting man rich.