Monday, December 29, 2003

Forum: The fish that threatened national security

That TSA supervisor needs to be kicked squarely and firmly in the balls. Pardon my language, but why the f*&^ is a small fish not allowed on an airplane? What, precisely is the reasoning behind this particular steadfast rule? Grr...

Offline NT Password & Registry Editor

Something no Windows NT admin should be without.

Christopher Hitchens said:

(click here for some back-and-forth about this article.)

"Watching the towers fall in New York, with civilians incinerated on the planes and in the buildings, I felt something that I couldn’t analyze at first and didn’t fully grasp (partly because I was far from my family in Washington, who had a very grueling day) until the day itself was nearly over. I am only slightly embarrassed to tell you that this was a feeling of exhilaration. Here we are then, I was thinking, in a war to the finish between everything I love and everything I hate. Fine. We will win and they will lose. A pity that we let them pick the time and place of the challenge, but we can and we will make up for that."

To which I have to say "I doubt it." (here is why...note the article's date and content).

***note*** Credit for this tidbit goes to GMontag

Monday, December 22, 2003

NEWS.com.au | Rats to SARS, diners still lap it up (December 22, 2003)

I'm sorry...did they say something about turning rats into wine? No thanks, I'm driving.

False historical fact of the month (December, 2003)

Origin of "dildo" as a word:

The origin of this word, interestingly enough coincides with diffculties in obtaining canning materials in Texas in the early 1900's.

There was a great deal of public discussion about high tarrifs on the metals used to make the lids used in the canning of various vegetable products in the southern US. Clever canners found that they could use bits of rubber as as stoppers instead.

As a result, the same canners coined a new word for these stoppers (as well as some alternative uses for them): didlo is "od(d) lid" backwards...

Trouble at the airport

If you're a reporter from Austrailia, I guess you better be *reeeeeealy* polite at the airport. This goes under my "what the F***?" section.

Friday, December 19, 2003

Gribblog

Random, slightly odd 'blog I stumbled upon.

Thursday, December 18, 2003

Japanese Liquor Store owners committing suicide in droves

Man...bad time to have a liquor store in Japan, I guess.

Guardian Unlimited | Life | Goodbye sunshine

Hey...is it getting dark in here, or is it just me?

Wednesday, December 17, 2003

Tuesday, December 16, 2003

Mossyrocks News: "December 12: What NOT to Do... "

Number 6 still has me laughing every time I read it...

Friday, December 12, 2003

Thursday, December 11, 2003

The Animal Rescue Site : Feed an Animal in Need

Click your mouse, save a kitty (or doggie, or mouse, or alligator, etc)...no charge, the site needs to generate some click-through revenue.

Landover Baptist | Where the Worthwhile Worship. Unsaved Unwelcome.

Satire for the holier than thou. Funny stuff...unless you happen to be christian and don't have a really good sense of humor where religion is concerned.

Thank god I'm agnostic...oh, wait...hmm.

Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Monday, December 08, 2003

Don't be so literal?

Warning to liberals...the first paragraph may irritate you...it's worth reading past, however (paragraph 4, especially so).

Breast-feeding driver found guilty

Apparently the "my husband ordered me to do it" defense failed the first time around...wonder if it'll do better on appeal.

Thursday, December 04, 2003

States where atheist's can't legally be governor

From the "laws that sounded like a good idea at the time" department...interesting. Now, I'm agnostic, so does that mean they're not sure if I could be governor or not?

Software paraphrases sentences TRN 120303

"The method could eventually allow computers to more easily process natural language, produce paraphrases that could be used in machine translation, and help people who have trouble reading certain types of sentences."

That just about made me spray coke all over my monitor...

Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Fear Continues To Masquerade As Justice (washingtonpost.com)

Quote: The jurors would have been more convincing had they just come out and said they were seeking revenge on behalf of all who wanted it, people such as Marion Lewis, father of Lori Lewis Rivera, who was killed Oct. 3, 2002.

"I think I'd like 10 minutes alone with [Muhammad]," he said. "They wouldn't have to worry about an execution."

But we all know that it would be wrong to let him do that. Why, then, is it right for the state to do it not just on his behalf, but for the "public good"?


Fair enough, up to the last of those paragraphs...had Marion Lewis had the chance to kill Muhammad immediately following the shooting of his daughter, he might have stood a good chance of walking away a free man...wrongness is a variable thing.

I can't really buy the "for the public good" argument, either, unless it's "for the good of the public's sense of fairness". What is right and what is fair are often at odds, and many people feel that it's fair for Muhammad to die, even if it's not "right", in the sense that killing people is wrong.

I know that I would feel similar to Marion Lewis, were I in his shoes, and in a sense, because of the fact that the media carries events like this to everyone at the same time, I *was* in his shoes. I imagined how it would feel to have one of my children taken from me that way, and I got very angry...not a good argument for the death penalty, but an indication of how deeply the killings affected everyone, including myself.

The death penalty may be vile, but one could argue it is far less so than the crimes of those who receive it. I don't know if it's right for Muhammad to die, but it seems fair to me.

L.A. Wants to End 'Master' and 'Slave' Equipment

Okay...there are some situations where using the words "master" or "slave" might reasonably be construed as being offensive, racist, etc. Hard disk drives are not one of them.

As a matter of fact, in addition to posting this link, I'm going to rant a bit.

I am sick and tired of people looking for things to be offended about. I can understand being upset by something that another person says to intentionally make you upset or put you down, but things are getting out of hand. If what I read from day-to-day is honestly true, and the people I read about are honestly getting this upset, I don't know how they manage to make it through life at all.

I'm tired of pretty much every argument, discussion, or issue that has race as its foundation...yes, I'm aware of history and I understand that there are a lot of hard-fought rights that I am able to enjoy.

As far as racial issues go, the only time I'm faced with them seems to be when I see inspirational messages about things like "How to survive in a hostile environment" that seem to say that I'm supposed to assume that everyone thinks I can't do my damn job because I'm not "joe white-guy". I seldom have to think about race, except when some stupid form asks me to provide mine...I typically have fun checking every applicable checkbox:


  • white: check

  • black: check

  • native american or pacific islander: check


I like people in general...some people are obviously assholes and *those* people, I don't like. None of that has anything to do with race.

I also like computers...been messing around with them for years. Been familiar with the terms "master" and "slave" as they relate to disk drives for years, too, and somehow *gasp* I NEVER got offended by them, or, for athat matter "male" and "female" connectors (male connectors have pins, female connectors have sockets...simple, right?).

Anyway, I heard this on the radio this morning, and saw the article online today, and I just want to put in *my* two cents. This looks like a good place to do it, eh?

MPAA and RIAA permanently exempt from being monopolies?

So, they're trying to get the statement above enacted as a federal law...I think that idea deserves a healthy dose of "NO F*ING WAY!". Read up, and follow the links...

Friday, November 21, 2003

wnbc.com - News - $3M Verdict In Penile Surgery Case Sparks Court Flap

Pending further reading that sways my opinion, I'm with the judge on this one...I think $3,000,000.00 (or $2,999,999.99) is an appropriate award in this case.

Thursday, November 20, 2003

Forbes.com: Hot Wheel

Okay...this thing is just frigging COOL looking. I want mine in black...

Wednesday, November 19, 2003

The Ladder Theory

Beyond "When Harry Met Sally". "Men and women can't be friends" greatly expanded on, explained in rigorous detail, and stuff. Don't bother reading it if you can't take unusual points-of-view.

Monday, November 17, 2003

New Zealand News - World - Case for war made up, say top names

I'm not against the war in Iraq (I want Saddam gone...we put him there, we should get him out), but I'm also not for being fed a load of crap. Sounds like I've been possibly getting great heaping spoonfulls.

Arrested for drinking...in a bar?

Granted, this article may not be mainstream press, but it seems important enough to point out to the approximately zero-to-one people that read my blog...

Friday, November 14, 2003

DNC: The DNC on Judicial appointments

Okay...so, I've been hearing a lot about this filibuster. My question is this: Why not just say "no"? Are the justices guaranteed to be appointed if the motion is heard? Why be quiet about it...say what you want, right? Isn't that what's supposed to happen? I'm really, really confused about this mess.

[Added] Okay...I found a fairly concise description of the process here. It seems that a majority can confirm the appointment *unless* a senator filibusters it, in which case, a 3/5 supermajority is required for the confirmation.

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

The Memory Hole >Reasons Not to Invade Iraq, by George Bush Sr.

Hmm...the case of the mysteriously dissappearing article. It's one thing if the article is missing, but pulling the reference to it from the table of contents is just, well, wrong. I think that we should have gone to war in Iraq (for completely different reasons than we say we did), but this just seems WAY too fishy to me. Censorship in action? Time for me to fire off a few e-mails to Time Magazine...

Thursday, October 16, 2003

Current Kids Play Classic Games

Dammit, they're ruining my nostalgia! Donkey Kong *didn't* suck...did it?

Monday, October 13, 2003

BOFH Episode 10

Okay...this isn't new, and it's not news or anything, but I rediscovered it today, and it made me laugh out loud when I got to the end.

If you have no idea what a BOFH is, allow me to LART you into cluefullness.

Tuesday, October 07, 2003

FCC says "fucking" is fine

Shocked? Me too...not upset, mind you, but definitely shocked. Apparently the FCC really, really likes Bono (and I better get on the phone to George Carlin to let him know he's going to have to amend his act further***)

*** I note that on NBC's "Will and Grace" a character recently (almost) said "tits". She actually said "ka-tits" (emphasis on syllable 2), but it was plain enough. Oh, and I've heard "shit" once or twice this past year, as well.

Sunday, October 05, 2003

Wanna give the Telemarketers a piece of your mind? Here is their phone number.

Dave Barry does good things for my mood sometimes, and this article is one of them. Maybe I'll call and say "Please hold for an important message!"

Saturday, October 04, 2003

Friday, October 03, 2003

There are no WMD in Iraq...

...however, 2 days earlier, the same paper reported this interesting tidbit. True or not, I'd like to hear some more details about it.

Now, there's an odd duck

I used to think it was just humans that have odd sexual habits...I have no words to describe this. If you have problems with ducks, necrophilia (in ducks), or homosexuality (once again, of the feathered variety), skip this one.

Thursday, October 02, 2003

Do Not Call (DNC from the DNC)

Well, it does mention the Do Not Call list briefly...apparently the list has something to do with our current president, a white house ceremony, and flying pigs (I just rolled my eyes, in case you didn't pick up on that).

Wednesday, October 01, 2003

A billboard sporting a naked, genetically engineered woman whose four breasts are being milked is designed to 'disturb', its creator says.

Yes, as a matter of fact, there *is* a picture with the article...I noticed it after the, um, obvious social relevance of genetically modified food caught my attention...yeah, that's what it was.

Hey look, a representative with a bad memory

Let me start out by saying that if you've never heard of THOMAS (the congressional record online), you should check it out. I found my first self-researched inconsistency with something a public figure has said (albeit, a small one). I remembered that the house and senate had both passed bills to support a war in Iraq overwhelmimgly, so I looked until I found this. Waters' was one of 11 "nay" votes, against 392 "yeas".

Seems a pretty stark contrast to her statement that "we have been asked for $87 billion to continue this war that was a preemptive strike that most of us, or many of us, did not agree with.". Don't take my word for it, though...read it for yourself.

I bet there's some really interesting stuff in there...

APOD: 2003 October 1 - A Daytime Fireball Over South Wales

Now, here's something you don't see every day (and if you did, you'd do well to think about moving). Sky. Meteor. Fireball. Need I say more?

Antibiotics raise kids' allergy risk

This news isn't entirely new, but it's still noteworthy. Makes me worry about my oldest daughter (who has been on antibiotics for years to guard against reflux-related bladder/kidney infection).

Monday, September 29, 2003

Science Toys

Okay...this site is just plain fun. I'm going home and building a film can cannon with my kiddo's tonight.

For those who won't bother to look unless they get a cookie first, it's a web site full of little experiments that you can put together with household stuff that demonstrate various scientific principles (and can be fun to to as well). Launch a plastic film can 20 feet in the air with a cigarrete lighter clicker, 2 wires, and a little squirt of binaca...intrigued?

CNN.com - Private space race nears finale - Sep. 29, 2003

Ahh, at last, a subject near and dear to my heart (one I care about where a worthy article isn't one that makes me irritated). I don't know about you, but I want to take a space vacation someday. All I can say is "good luck!" (I have everything crossed that I can think of).

Friday, September 26, 2003

IBM Files New Claims Against SCO in Linux Case

Interesting...SCO's stock doesn't seem to have fared well after this hit the news...I'm, like, all sad and stuff.

Thursday, September 25, 2003

Ananova - Electronic paper may lead to watchable clothing: "Electronic paper may lead to watchable clothing"

I think the title says it all, really. Might be interesting, if you're a geek like me.

Monday, September 22, 2003

ICANN says "Whoa, there, Verisign..."

They may be largely ineffective these days, but apparently, ICANN is at least going to ask Verisign politely to "please suspend this 'service' until we can find out how bad it is". Evidently 20,000 or so screaming netizens got heard, or at least their screaming was noticed.

Now if only we could get the DOJ to ask Darl McBride to "voluntarily self-immolate", we'd be all set.

Friday, September 19, 2003

Trusted Computing FAQ TC / TCG / LaGrande / NGSCB / Longhorn / Palladium

Ever wonder just how little control over your PC you can plan on having? Read up. No words for the lazy this time, this is worth reading.

TCS: Tech Central Station - Just Add Water

Dehydrated water, anyone? Well, not quite, but a damn fine invention, nonetheless. I can think of more than a few situations where this invention would come in handy.

Once again, for those too lazy to read...It's a plastic bag with very tiny holes (600 times smaller than the smallest bacterium). You stick it in some water...dirty as you please, and it fills up with uncontaminated H2O.

Thursday, September 18, 2003

Verisign SU-UUUUUCKS! So does it's CEO. A lot. I'm not even kidding.

If you haven't heard about the hijacking of the internet (courtesy of Verisign), you probably won't understand why this is interesting.

For those too lazy to read...Verisign decided to abuse it's position as the company entrusted to run the .com and .net name-servers (they tell your web browser how to get to a particular website when you type in it's address), by showing an ad-driven search-page for non-existent addresses. This means that every time somebody mis-types a domain name, verisign gets ad revenue. Hardly fair to other companies that have domain name registration services, and probably illegal. It also breaks some things about the domain name system (DNS) that make it harder to fight spam.

Want to know what Stratton D. Sclavos (Verisign's CEO) is thought of by the "voting" public? 4% approval rating, and falling fast. Click the "Verisign sucks" link at the top of this entry, and look for Stratton's name, to cast your vote.

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

The Genetically Modified Bomb

It's a short comment from here (page 60) that the article author greatly expands upon. What the hell are these people thinking?

I'm running for president in 2008

Click the link to find out where I stand...I'm a pretty reasonable guy, I think. Agree with me? Fed up with dems/republicans/libertarians/etc? Let me know.

CNN.com - Making a video screen out of thin air - Sep. 15, 2003

Somewhat interesting stuff...not the holographic projector I was hoping for, but hey, it's a start...