Dishes For The Double Wide

From boingboing... 5000 Satellite Channels in West Virginia. Media frenzy.

SETI Security Risk

Odd piece at slashdot regarding the potential threat of alien radio signals downloading 'puter virus to earth receivers via SETI. The ubergeeks discount the risk, but evil code worked wonders in Independence Day, so what do they know!

War Blinking? Chase Blink, Security, and New War Driving

I dunno... I saw an ad for the new Chase blink card. Went and read Chase's FAQ.

Of course it is secure.

But why do I see the forces of entropy and chaos at work?

OMG... Conspiracy sites, already fueled with RFID will love this. And of course, the Slashdot crowd. The new Artful Dodger has to be giving this the once over.

Harry Potter And Cleolinda Jones

I took a pass today on the opportunity to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Recovering from Thanksgiving still.

For others who may be incapacitated from the holiday and need a Harry Potter fix:

I recommend Cleolinda Jones' parody of The Prisoner of Azbakan. Smooking brilliant parody. Plus she has a book now - "Movies In Fifteen Minutes" - which was recently favorably reviewed on Slashdot.

Sustainable Architecture

Interesting piece on Sim Van der Ryn in the New York Times this week (although I find 15,000 square foot residence and sustainable architecture cause damn near terminal cognitive dissonance...)

I'd suggest also a browse at Treehugger.com for some rounding out of opinions on sustainable design. Also the echos of The New Alchemy Institute still communicate a vision from when we all hoped.

Pleased to see sites like http://www.oceanarks.org/ still fighting the good fight.

And we should still hope, just with a lot more do-ing.

Pesticide Testing And Children: Proposed EPA Rules

Late Thursday night, I heard Alex Jones on Coast To Coast AM say that the EPA was considering rules to allow for pesticide testing on children. Did some checking, damn if there isn't something to it.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported

The Environmental Protection Agency's new rules on human testing, which the agency said last week would categorically protect children and pregnant women from pesticide testing, include numerous exemptions, such as one that specifically allows testing of children who have been "abused and neglected."

The blogs are alive with the sounds of Murtha today but this issue merits action.

The proposed EPA testing protocol smells particularly Orwellian... with a grand peppering of cynicism, a dash of eugenics, and a whiff of selective family values.

Comments to the EPA can be made through Organic Consumers Association.

PS: Would very much appreciate correction to this post w.r.t. any errors of fact.

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Sony BMG's Rootkit: Can You Hear Them Now?

"Most people, I think, don't even know what a Rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"

Thomas Hesse, Sony BMG

From "Sony Music CDs Under Fire From Privacy Advocates." Morning Edition, 4 November 2005

Oil Investment Spam: Why Does This Disclaimer Cause Flashbacks?

Statements contained in this press release that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of management with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, or described pursuant to similar expressions.

Ok. Babelfish to Greek:

Οι δηλώσεις που περιλαμβάνονται φύσης σε αυτό το δελτίο τύπου που δεν είναι βασισμένες στο τρέχον ή ιστορικό γεγονός είναι προνοητικής. Τέτοιες προνοητικές δηλώσεις απεικονίζουν τις τρέχουσες απόψεις της διαχείρισης όσον αφορά τα μελλοντικά γεγονότα και υπόκεινται σε ορισμένους κινδύνους, αβεβαιότητες, και υποθέσεις. Εάν ένας ή περισσότεροι από αυτές τις κινδύνους ή αβεβαιότητες υλοποιήσουν ή εάν ελλοχεύουσες υποθέσεις αποδεικνύονται ανακριβείς, τα πραγματικά αποτελέσματα μπορούν να ποικίλουν υλικά από εκείνους που περιγράφονται εν τω παρόντι όπως προσδοκώνται, θεωρημένος, υπολογισμένος, αναμενόμενος, ή περιγραμμένος σύμφωνα με τις παρόμοιες εκφράσεις.

And back to English:

The statements that are included nature in this bulletin of type that is not based on the running or historical make are pronoitjki's. Such pronoitjke's statements portray the running opinions of management with regard to the future makes and being in certain dangers, uncertainties, and affairs. If one or more from these dangers or uncertainties materialises or if lurking affairs are proved innacurate, the real results can vary materially from those that are described en tw paro'ntj as they are expected, considered, calculated, expected, or described according to the similar expressions.

There, that's better. "The running opinions of management with regard to the future..." Priceless

Photo courtesy Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Story Title I Wish I'd Written: What Makes Someone French?

Dunno. Top 10 reasons?

10. Just got my teeth cleaned, check this out, yo!
9. Dinner cost $65 bucks and I'm supposed to stand in the hall?
8. It feels good.
7. I have a big day tomorrow and I want to remember you.
6. My parents are upstairs and this is all we can do.
5. Q: Voulez vous? A: Oui
4. My tests came back negative, let's do it!
3. I really love you, whatever your name is.
2. Everyone else is doing it.
1. I'm sick and tired of instant messages!

The original thoughtful article is from the New York Times "What Makes Someone French", discussing culture.

Ad Review: The Gate thegateworldwide.com

Ok, as far as getting me to read their copy, thegateworldwide.com did a bang up job in the NY Times today.

Why? The photo shows a cow on Madison Avenue with a gun at its head. Copy about killing sacred cows. Who don't they want for customers? Vegans, sure. But Hindoo? Omnivores like me? Pacifists?

What could have been an affirmation of interesting spin turned into another simple minded p.o.s. involving killing an animal for the pumping of bidnez. Right up there with good old Hardee's and the chicken ad.

Look: I frickin' eat meat, wear leather shoes, and all that. But this just offends me. And, by the way, I did and still do find the old National Lampoon advertisement "buy this magazine or we'll kill this puppy" funny.

I checked out the gate website and judge it a Flash in the pan. And after all that advertising spend in the NYT... another boring "ain't we too cool" site.

Dear God, when bad things happen to good code, do I *really* want swinging doors and chartjunk?

Strunk & White, Ed Tufte, hell, Samuel Johnson, Chris Locke... shakes head.

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Broadcast Television Time Shifting

Major broadcasters announce time-shifting of hit programming at Indiantelevision.com.

Now, when will they bring back Uncle Miltie or old Johnny Carson or....?

On Bathrooms, Coffee, and Dress Codes

While waiting for a friend to finish a medical exam...

In the Waiting Room
Noticed two cups of coffee on a ledge in the waiting room. Cold enough that the ersatz cream had separated. Dr.'s staff paid no nevermind. Hmm.

In the Men's Room...
On the "May 2004"(this is November 2005) on the back of the door:

"Please fixed the lock. This door needs a proper lock when a person is trying to their personal business."

Oh, and the form on the back of the door had "Form Revised 09/19/03".


The Best
And the buzz amongst the staff: a minor revision to the daily color-coded dress code. Each day of the week, these folks have to wear the right color.

That's surely trying to their personal business.

Electronics & Software For Baby Boomers: A Void?

Over the last few weeks, I've seen many articles on kid-friendly electronics in the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, and elsewhere.

Given the rapid growth of the 50+ population, why development and promotion of Boomer-friendly interfaces and products amazes me.

Things with big buttons. Things with fonts that scale. Things with voice chips confirming what's going on. Sensible integration of home electronics remotes.

I ain't saying it isn't happening, but I read and listen pretty broadly. I don't see people going for the greying (or, shining, w.r.t. yrs truly here) segment. And the need will be apparent to any at the parent's(or their own)weekend event when the VCR still blinks 12:00.