by Manuelita Beck Daily Lobo If you've seen the movie "Sin City," then you probably know the most important thing about the graphic novels: You either love them, or you hate them. The conversations I overheard while leaving the movie theater after "Sin City" were the same ones I've heard in comic shops and on message boards.
According to my inbox, my LaSalle Bank account has seen suspicious activity - by possible terrorists, drug dealers or money launderers. I'm supposed to click on an e-mail link to verify my identity, or I won't be able to access my account. Yeah, right. One, I don't have an account at LaSalle Bank - if it exists. Two, I've gotten this message several times in one week. Three, I'm familiar enough with e-mail scams to know better than to click a link and enter in confidential information. Apparently, other people are more trusting. According to a study by the Gartner research firm, identity thefts from this practice, known as phishing, cost banks and credit card issuers $1.2 billion in 2003.
You could read Global Frequency without looking at the cover and know it's written by Warren Ellis. His voice is that distinctive, his touch that inimitable. "Back away from the germs, toerag features," one character tells a would-be biological terrorist.
Sometimes technology is just creepy. Take the game "Animal Crossing," for example. The writer of the Game Girl Advance blog wrote a couple months back about how strange it was that the animals in the game all remembered her ex-boyfriend. They would ask about his character and reminisce about his letter-writing skills.
File-sharing made its way to the Supreme Court this week, but it's anyone's guess as to what the outcome will be. Justices heard oral arguments in the case, in which the entertainment industry is trying to shut down online file-sharing services. The court is expected to rule on the case in July.
Water-saving practices can yield big rewards April 1 brings more than funny pranks. Tomorrow, Albuquerque's annual daytime watering restrictions start. Under watering rules, outdoor sprinklers should only be used between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. The restrictions last until Oct.
Before there was "Moulin Rouge" and Nicole Kidman's Chanel commercial, there was a little movie about ballroom dancing. Well, calling "Strictly Ballroom" little is a bit deceptive. Sure, Baz Luhrmann's first movie centers on an unlikely pair who fall in love, overcome numerous obstacles and find success.
UNM The governor signed the General Appropriations Act, which includes funding for UNM, on Thursday. The measure included full funding according to the state's funding formula for UNM. However, the Legislature increased the tuition credit to 4.5 percent. The tuition credit is the amount by which legislators expect a school to raise tuition.
Higher education The state House of Representatives passed a measure creating a new regulatory structure for colleges and universities on Friday. Under the bill, a cabinet-level secretary of higher education would oversee the state's public, post-secondary schools.
I have crazy thoughts sometimes. When my workweek tops 40 hours, or I'm up until 5 a.m. polishing a project, I start to have mad fantasies about just chucking it all and playing "World of Warcraft" full-time. But I know it's a crazy dream. It's one I may indulge in when I'm operating on a few hours of sleep - and that's at least once every week or two - but I wouldn't actually do it.
Solutions by The State News
