Articles written by Phil Dotree

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Computers & Technology > Computers & Technology (Other) Safe ways of destroying your confidential data when dumping your PC: 2 of 15
Ah, secure deletion-one of the most misunderstood computer functions out there.The problem with deleting a file in Windows is that you don't actually destroy it; you merely mark the sectors as "available to be overwritten". Then, when your computer needs space to write a new file (which it does almost constantly, even while s... More..
Entertainment > Music Genres, Trends & Scenes Is Bob Dylan a folk singer?: 2 of 14
Tying down an artist like Bob Dylan to a single genre is nothing more than a grave mistake for a critic to make.In the initial part of his career, Dylan played a lot of acoustic guitar and certainly studied the finer folk songs of artists like Woody Guthrie, but he flew violently out of the period with electric albums that al... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Political Issues The current issues surrounding gay marriage: 6 of 39
There are some people who, despite the nature of our times, insist on being homophobic or outright anti-gay. They've currently cropped up in the gay marriage debate. They usually cling to a few basic talking points, which are easily deconstructed. Let's take a look at the few of the big ones.It's Not Natural!Well, it happens ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Baseball Do baseball salaries buy championships?: 5 of 18
Essentially we're talking about whether capitalism applies to professional sports, and quite frankly, it clearly does.The teams with the most money inevitably attract the best players because they're willing to pay a premium for those players services. It's a very simple case of supply and demand.Sure, there are some players ... More..
Jobs & Careers > Office Politics How to tell if you are a team player: 3 of 10
To tell whether you're a team player, it's important to first understand what the term means-and why it's so important.A team player is someone who works within and supports his entire orgaization. The team player doesn't attempt to do as much work as possible on his own by taking on a ton of tasks, but rather to focus on con... More..
Computers & Technology > MP3 Players Playing regular MP3s on your iPod: 1 of 3
The default form of digital audio for the iPod is the AAC, which is Apple's proprietary digital format. The reason that Apple pushes the AAC format is because it's got a high level of digital rights management, which prevents pirating of copyrighted content.The most popular form of digital audio is MP3s, though, because they ... More..
Entertainment > TV News & Commentary Fall TV previews: "Cavemen," coming to ABC: 5 of 14
Have you ever heard an idea so stupid that you love America a little less?Enter "Cavemen", a sitcom based on a popular (and I use the term in the same way it applies to foot funguses) GEICO commercial with politically correct cavemen. On the plus side, it's hard to imagine it'll be any worse than Pamela Anderson's "Stacked." ... More..
Relationships & Family > The Single Life The benefits of being single: 23 of 61
Being single isn't as bad as it seems. Relationships are complex, and being single is...not. Here are a few of my favorite things about the single life:1. I can do whatever I want all the time. This is obvious, but insanely true; you people in a relationship, did you know that your friends make fun of you for being whipped? N... More..
Computers & Technology > Internet Issues The fuss about YouTube: 6 of 15
YouTube is quickly becoming the most popular site on the Internet for an obvious reason: it's a great way to see anything-pretty much anything at all-that you've ever wanted to see. Any television show, any kid falling off of a trampoline and breaking his ankle, any clip from any movie, anything.YouTube allows its users to up... More..
Entertainment > Entertainment (Other) Modern society has become obsessed by media-driven entertainment: 6 of 15
The word "obsessed" is the rub, in this case.Yes, yes, we all like the media, and we all are big fans of television shows that feature our favorite celebrities and our favorite artists.The word obsession, though, implies that somehow we have an unhealthy fascination with our media; that the artist has usurped the art. I don't... More..