This story on Planet Xbox 360 addresses the question of whether violent games have a causal relationship to violent acts.

"Unfortunately, these men and their victims would never have had a chance to play the latest violent games.  The crimes took place in 1991, a year before the first Mortal Kombat ever hit arcades, and seven years before the clumsy top-view Grand Theft Auto.  These are men, like millions before them, who did harm to their fellow man because of something about them and their circumstances that entertainment could never have extinguished or encouraged. "

I got some spam this morning:

 

From:  Emery Nadeau <coker@[redacted]> To:  andrew@[redacted] Subject:  Hot monday granny Date:  Mon, 18 Sep 2006 06:12:19 -0060 (19:12 NZST)

 (Emphasis added.  Obviously.)

Tuesday September 19th is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Time to re-read Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Treasure Island and practice your "Arrrrgh" and "Yo ho ho". Here's a nice e-text version of Treasure Island which may prove better for portable reading.

I regularly find myself astounded that the entertainment industry appears to be not just indifferent to my purchasing dollar but seems to be actively fighting to avoid availing themselves of my disposable income. Allow me to explain.

John Kheit, in his Devil's Advocate column at Mac Observer covers the history of the UI on some detail. Numerous links within.