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About Marci Sischo

After watching her parents murdered by a mugger in a back alley, Marci Sischo grew up vowing to become the world's greatest detec -- wait, that's Batman. Theorizing that one could time travel within her own lifetime, Marci Sischo stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished -- no, no. That's Dr. Sam Beckett. Drat. Marci Sischo grew up in northern Michigan, and moved to Oregon in 2009. Yes! She's the Commuter's webmaster, pursuing a journalism degree at LBCC, and in her dwindling spare time, she's co-authoring an urban fantasy novel. You can stalk Marci at her blog, on Twitter, at Facebook, and on Google+.

Series of Tubes: Browser Extensions

Browser extensions are additional bits of code that you can add to your browser to make them do more and/or better things. They’re super-easy to install – generally it’s a one-click process. Depending on your browser or the extension you picked, you may have to close and reopen your browser, too. Something that simple can add a wealth of new features and solve a ton of Internet annoyances – for free! Continue reading

Series of Tubes: Why Internet Piracy is a Service Issue

We live in an age of instant gratification when it comes to media consumption. No matter what kind of media you’re looking for, you can have it delivered to you through various devices pretty much instantly. So, tell me, Content Industry, why do I have to fight to get you to take my money? Continue reading

Series of Tubes: Social Media Privacy

This past Friday (March 30), Cult of Mac writer John Brownlee published an article about a smartphone app called “Girls Around Me.” This article exploded in a privacy backlash before the weekend was over, resulting in one social media network pulling the app’s access to its data, a second investigating the app for a possible terms of use violation, and the makers of the app voluntarily pulling “Girls Around Me” from the iPhone market. Continue reading

A Series of Tubes: Pinterest

Pinterest.com is the hottest new social network. I know, I know, I can hear you thinking OMG, not another one! right through my computer screen. And to be honest, a few weeks ago, I would have been right there with you. Seriously, one person can only handle so many social media networks. Continue reading

Movie Review: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Marvel‘s Ghost Rider is one of those characters who has always been far cooler in concept than in execution. From his inception in 1972, this character, who could have served in any capable writer’s hands as a meaty, juicy angst-generator, powering page after page of gritty Good vs. Evil drama, has instead suffered through 40 years of stories composed almost entirely from corn and cheese. As evidence, I submit this official character summary, which reeks of Gouda and is rife with retconning. Continue reading

Series of Tubes: Operation Blackout Coverage

Today is the big day: Operation Blackout (AKA: the most productive work day in modern history). Congressional hearings over the Protect-IP Act begin today. At the time of this writing, over 7,000 websites have gone dark to protest the Stop Online Piracy and PROTECT-IP Acts. Among them are Reddit, the Cheezburger Network (all 50+ sites), Wikipedia, and WordPress, and Google has joined in with a blackout banner and links to an online petition on their front page. Continue reading