Xmas decorations said to degrade wireless signals: baby Jesus hates WiFi
By Evan Blass 
posted December 6th 2006 1:08PM
posted December 6th 2006 1:08PM
Far from being the harmless displays of holiday cheer and good will towards men that their manufacturers would like us to believe, Christmas decorations are now being accused of hitting us where it hurts the most: our WiFi connections. According to a study done in a simulated office environment by Sunnyvale-based wireless network assurance firm AirMagnet Inc., all of those shiny ornaments, blinking lights, and inflatable monstrosities that people like to keep out for the entire Halloween through Easter time frame can actually decrease WiFi signal strength by up to 25% and increase signal deterioration over distances by one-third. It should be noted, however, that many other common objects can also interfere with wireless signals, so this study seems to be more about PR and less about a grand atheist conspiracy to cripple internet connectivity for the pious. It should also be noted that AirMagnet makes its money from selling products and services that analyze and troubleshoot your WLAN, which -- surprise, surprise -- are exactly what you'd need to combat this curse of the holiday decorations. Still, even if this study is completely self-serving, we're not taking any chances: from now on, the only holiday-related swag to grace the Engadget mansion will be a ratty, unadorned tree and a small menorah made out of marshmallows and peanut butter. [Via textually]
Little 8lb 6oz baby jesus...hasn't even spoken a word yet.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Engadget, we know you don't ascribe to any religion yet anytime anything touches Christianity you have to make a snide comment about it. We know engadget is all about the damn snide comments, but can you at least tone it down during certain times of the year??
leave
haha
You religious people think you have some sacred right to be protected for criticism...nope sorry
It's open season on everyone, (free country, eh?)
+I am an atheist, and I loved the "conspiracy" quip
why are you here?
There is a difference between ridicule and criticism. You tried to ridicule an important figure associated with a religion, which is offensive to people believing in that religion. You did not criticize, you ridiculed. I think someone who is happy with simply making anyone out there look or sound ridiculous for what they believe in, is foolish. Criticism is something completely different, and can be debated, ridicule can't.
I didn't find any comments particularly snide. But I suppose I have a sense of humor.
All I know is now I'm hungry for menorahs. Mmm... marshmallows.
As an athiest myself, I will admit that I have no problem with references to religion. In fact, I could care less about politically correct BS. Christmas is a Christian holiday, but I celebrate it for other reasons.
It's a tree, not a cross.
You gunna bash Chrisitanity, then where's your anti jew stuff...anti muslim?? Is it fair to do it to any religion? No. Then don't do it to anyone.
Oh and I do have a sense of humor.....it's a bad joke anyway and so incredibly old.
i dont bash one group of idiots. I bash them all. And when monkys like you come crawling out of the woodwork, ill say it again.
What's wrong with tacky ornaments, blinking lights, and inflatable monstrosities? I know it's kitschy, but that's half the fun!
My christmas tree has so many decorations that you can hardly see the green of the tree. But that's nothing. Last year I went to a Christmas party at a house with over 10,000 lights. Inside there were 2 fully decorated Christmas trees... because one just isn't enough. It was so much fun, it was as if Christmas spirit vomited all over the house!
guys give it a break. i'm sure if it would say baby tetragrammaton everyone woulda been fine. shhhhhhh.
I dare you to make equally snide comments about Islam.
If you don't like Baby Jebus jokes, you're really hate some of the other, adult Jebus jokes I know...
Like the one about Jebus and the M&Ms...
Don't speak for Jesus...
Jesus and I play shuffleboard together on Sundays and he has been plotting WiFis death for years.
Oy vey.
Some people just need to grow up. The whole tone of this site is sarcastic, in a humorous fashion. I'm a Roman Catholic, and I don't take any offense at all to this post. Frankly, I really love the end jab about a ratty Christmas tree and a menorah made out of marshmellows and peanut butter. Friggin hysterical, guys. Keep up the good work, don't let the man get you down, and don't trust anyone over 30.
you misspelled jeebus
Christmas is no longer about Christ anyway. I am an atheist and celebrate christmas. It's a fun winter holiday about sharing, giving and family. There's nothing wrong with it.
I dont know you guys but i saw jesus camping out in front of a best buy for the wii release...
weird.
"baby Jesus hates WiFi" LMAO, you guys are geniuses.
And puffing on a bong none the less.
Anyway it would be possible for the amount of interference created from these things to cause wirless problems. No different than not running network cables next to electric lines or metal ducting.
Awww c'mon people. I'm convinced Jesus would laugh at this. But I also think he likes "Christmas decorations" less than WiFi.
Speaking of the comment about ridicule vs. criticism, I have to say I agree. Ridiculing a figure revered by billions gets us no where, and though it may be funny it's still derogatory. If you wanna criticize, go ahead. At least that's respectful.
Then, speaking of the comment about free speech... well I've just gotta say that of course you have free speech. It's a wonderful thing to have and no one's taking it away from you, but doesn't that free speech come with certain level of responsibility? You allowed to offend as many people as you want, but is that the kind of world you really want to live in? A bunch of people who are in a bad mood? What ever happened to "kindness"... or how about "goodwill to men"? That really supersedes religion and you oughta think about that regardless of what beliefs you hold.
Finally, concerning the comment about offending Christians vs. Muslims. Really, why is it OK to offend members of the majority religion, but it's so un-PC to do it to minority groups? In fact, that doesn't just apply to members of the majority religion, but to the majority at all. It seems the most hated demographic these days is the Christian white male, and it's OK to say all kinds of nasty things about them, but people don't dare say a thing about anyone else. There are a ton of people that belong to Christian, white, or male categories that are really good and nice people, and plenty that are all of these things are still innocent.
My question is, where has simple consideration for other people gone?
By the way, I laugh at some of these jokes - I'm not saying they're not funny, but why have people come to think that comedy should be exempt from the cultural rules of civility and respect? Has our culture really become that callous, cynical, and disrespectful?
I know it's the "in thing" to be anti-Christian, anti-white, anti-male, anti-American... whatever. Just cause everyone's doing it doesn't mean you should, too.
Normally I roll all this stuff off my back and take it with a grain of salt, but I just wish people would think about these things sometimes.
Peace! :)
Speaking of the comment about ridicule vs. criticism, I have to say I agree. Ridiculing a figure revered by billions gets us no where, and though it may be funny it's still derogatory. If you wanna criticize, go ahead. At least that's respectful.
Then, speaking of the comment about free speech... well I've just gotta say that of course you have free speech. It's a wonderful thing to have and no one's taking it away from you, but doesn't that free speech come with certain level of responsibility? You allowed to offend as many people as you want, but is that the kind of world you really want to live in? A bunch of people who are in a bad mood? What ever happened to "kindness"... or how about "goodwill to men"? That really supersedes religion and you oughta think about that regardless of what beliefs you hold.
Finally, concerning the comment about offending Christians vs. Muslims. Really, why is it OK to offend members of the majority religion, but it's so un-PC to do it to minority groups? In fact, that doesn't just apply to members of the majority religion, but to the majority at all. It seems the most hated demographic these days is the Christian white male, and it's OK to say all kinds of nasty things about them, but people don't dare say a thing about anyone else. There are a ton of people that belong to Christian, white, or male categories that are really good and nice people, and plenty that are all of these things are still innocent.
My question is, where has simple consideration for other people gone?
By the way, I laugh at some of these jokes - I'm not saying they're not funny, but why have people come to think that comedy should be exempt from the cultural rules of civility and respect? Has our culture really become that callous, cynical, and disrespectful?
I know it's the "in thing" to be anti-Christian, anti-white, anti-male, anti-American... whatever. Just cause everyone's doing it doesn't mean you should, too.
Normally I roll all this stuff off my back and take it with a grain of salt, but I just wish people would think about these things sometimes.
Peace! :)
Logic is the antidote to fanaticism.
As a devout, card-carrying, Catholic Christian, I want to assure everyone that Jesus has a sense of humor (see the duck-billed platypus)...*providing* you're not committing sacriledge (treating the sacred as common) or stating heresey (theological untruth).
The article's title was funny--it certainly caught my attention. Trust me, God is smart enough to know hyperbole from sacriledge. I'm pretty sure He had a good chuckle over the title.
My only problem with the article was the errant connection (no pun intended) between copious decorations and Christian piety. Sorry guys, it's the other way around.
True pious Christians would have festive but modest decorations (pursuant to humility and better stewardship of their money). It's secularists and secular Christians who light up the night with electric decor overkill. Not a value judgement, just an observation.
Now pass the marshmallow menorah and peanut butter, I've got some roasting to do over my secular neighbor's light show! ;)
Oh boy - sorry for the double post!
I meant to click on the confirmation for a different post, but clicked on a duplicate from engadget.
What I meant to say was:
Why is who here, Abe?
Also, if I may ask, what point are you trying to make?
Fugg U Lee
Chuckling to myself about stuff like this will get me through the christmas season, sanity intact.
Thanks engadget. keep doing your thing.
"It's a bit mysterious that even those of us who are not religious are expected to treat with great deep respect, religious beliefs"
-Dawkins
Tom:
Your mother isn't my mother, but you would be appalled and hacked off if I treated her disrespectfully. Why? Because you love her, she is deeply important to you. If I care for or respect you, I would try to respect the things important to you--even if they aren't important or meaningful to me.
It's common courtesy and respect; something quickly fading from our society thanks to remarks akin to those of Mr. Dawkins, whose misguided logic is a recipe for disaster in any society (where people actually have to live together and get along).
Heck, religious people everywhere would be amazed if Mr. Dawkins showed *any* respect for them and their beliefs, let alone "great deep respect." A mere modicum of respect for people and their deeply held religious beliefs would a be phenomenal first step for him and his colleagues. Alas, I fear even that is too great a request. Amazingly, the world turns without it, too.
Now back to hanging my Christmas bling...
Actually, whenever we have a post that has any religious overtones, we try and run it past someone on our staff who is of that religion. We had one of our Christian writers look at this post, and he agreed it was fine and "in bounds."
This post makes me doubly glad I'm not a Christian.
1: No decorations means a nice strong signal all over my place.
2: I'm not counted among the self-righteous whiners that post their pissy rebukes every time something smacks of teasing.
If I WERE a Christian, my convictions would be strong enough to inure me against whatever paltry mockery I might run into on the average blog. Suck it up, Christians. Or, you know, turn the other cheek and forgive us, for we know not what we do. I know I've heard that somewhere...
What I find so ironic is that Engadget has a cow about BenQ's ad with the World Trade Center in the background, yet they have no problem insulting hundreds of millions of Christians.
Bad form, Engadget, bad form indeed.
Evan Blass needs to be fired. LOLZ
I have 15,000 christmas lights this year - down from 26,000 last year. Plus a handful of giant inflatables. Plus three D-Link DCS-6620G wireless webcams (standard 802.11g) that allow you to view the display. Plus a couple of dozen X-10 SuperSockets/Appliance Modules and Firecracker wireless transmitter with several receivers that allow web surfers to turn stuff on and off ... a LOT of times during the course of the evening. See (and CONTROL) it all at http://www.komar.org/cgi-bin/christmas_webcam
So that would be a decent real-world test of the theory that christmas lights mess up your wireless ... but I don't buy it.
While I haven't done extensive testing, I haven't seen any degradation in wireless performance when things are fired up. More importantly, my wife hasn't complained that when she watches excerpts from her Soap Opera's online that they are running any slower.
My two cents/experience.
Would Engadget have the balls to use the name of Allah in any of their articles? Didn't think so. It's easy to pick on Christians because you're pretty sure they're not going cut your head off or blow themselves up in a crowded place to get revenge.
The Engadget writers are pussies.
Agreed.
my mum makes a great christmas pudding.
It's so easy to misunderstand people like Dawkins if you are religious. Some even quote him out of context to make their religious arguments. The analogy you make is invalid. It is also the exact same analogy I heard from a Catholic brother to try to rationalize the movie theater arsons some years ago when The Last Temptation of Christ re-opened in Brazil. I respect your mom because she exists, and I had a mom, and she also existed. I can respect any of your loved ones, but I wouldn't expect you to respect my imaginary friend, no matter how much I believed he is real.
Jesus and pals are the imaginary friends of millions, and while it would be mean to outright insult him, imaginary friends don't deserve the same respect as actual, real, nice people who have gained our respect by means of being loving in this real world. There is much prejudice, and deaths still being brought forth by religion. Gay bashing and stem cell research criticism are more than 90% purely religious prejudice. Religion does some good too, but there's no reason good can't be done without it, and if you can't, then there's no merit to you doing good only for fear of hell or dream of heaven.
Peace indeed.