FTP, the File Transfer Protocol, is forty years old today. rfc114, the request for comments that defined the original FTP protocol, was published on April 16, 1971. FTP is one of the oldest Internet standards and remains important today, mostly through its descendants, like SFTP.

If you’re on the Internet, you probably know what it is to “Rickroll.” Maybe it’s been done to you. (Chin up, it happens to the best of us.)

To prove to the world that this prank never gets old, witness the Oregon state legislature Rickroll themselves…

We came across this unusual hilarity by way of Neatorama, which hypothesizes about the strange origins of this video:

1. A video editor carefully sifted through hours of floor speeches and spliced together the lyrics to Rick Astley’s song.
2. The clerks working for the legislators are pulling a huge, well-orchestrated prank.
3. The legislators are reading letters from constituents, who are the true pranksters, into the House record upon request.
4. The legislators themselves are intentionally Rick Rolling their colleagues.

Whatever it was, we’re glad it happened. Happy Friday!

We at USDemocrazy are alarmed by the continued spread of Islam-o-phobia in many parts of the west today.

Recent stories concerning Islam-0-phobia include the burning of a Koran by the wacko-moustachioed “Preacher” in Florida Terry Jones and the banning of mosque minerets in Switzerland.

This week saw the ban of Muslim veil in France (see our coverage of the story) as viewed in the cartoon above featuring French Prime Minister Sarkozy.

We are on the look out for more examples of this alarming trend. Let us know of other stories you discover on the subject. (cartoon by KAL)

Check out these student presentations scheduled for http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad_ed/research/URCAD/URCAD2011.html. Wednesday, April 27 from 9:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the University Center and Fine Arts Building.