The Old Negro Space Program is a parody of a Ken Burns-style documentary. It's pretty amusing.
Wired News reports that hackers can access guest information at hotels using infrared controls within the hotels.
A driver in Missouri leaned out of her car to spit, lost control of the car, and chases it. "I leaned out to spit and I leaned too far."
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Dickie's Quickies
A quiet morning here in outer Monrovia. I've got to run to the store, soon, in order to pick up an orange. I'm going to make orange-cherry corn muffins for breakfast. Last night, Shawn made herbed zucchini pieces and I made a dish with orzo, mushrooms, and fresh peas from the garden. Yum!
In the everything old is new again category, Vital Security is reporting on a new twist to an old virus that infects the user via Instant Messenger. It requires double clicking an exe and then clicking a link in IM, but someone will fall for it.
Think you're up on SQL Server 2005? Take a skills assessment test.
Wrestling? I don't get it. In fact, I've never understood the attraction for it in any form. Here's a definitely NOT WORK SAFE wrestling site featuring naked women with some interesting pin maneuvers and I still don't get it. Via Sexy Fandom.
In the everything old is new again category, Vital Security is reporting on a new twist to an old virus that infects the user via Instant Messenger. It requires double clicking an exe and then clicking a link in IM, but someone will fall for it.
Think you're up on SQL Server 2005? Take a skills assessment test.
Wrestling? I don't get it. In fact, I've never understood the attraction for it in any form. Here's a definitely NOT WORK SAFE wrestling site featuring naked women with some interesting pin maneuvers and I still don't get it. Via Sexy Fandom.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Dickie's Quickies
Spamusement provides poorly drawn humorous cartoons that reflect upon the subject lines from Spam.
Senator Rick Santorum, one of the biggest assholes in Washington - thank you, Pennsylvania, believes that birth control is harmful to women because it allows them to avoid the consequences of sex. Via, Amanda. Via Feministe.
Senator Rick Santorum, one of the biggest assholes in Washington - thank you, Pennsylvania, believes that birth control is harmful to women because it allows them to avoid the consequences of sex. Via, Amanda. Via Feministe.
Friday, July 29, 2005
Friday Random Ten
Two weeks in a row, it's on time!
1) dj BC - Evening High (from Glassbreaks - Philip Glass meets Hip Hop mashup)
2) Prozac For Lovers - Love Will Tear Us Apart
3) Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft (Live)
4) John Cale - Caravan
5) Afro-Mystik - Dreamwalkers
6) Curtis Mayfield - Ghetto Child (Demo)
7) Ely Guerra - Yo No
8) Little Axe - Walk On Water
9) Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings - How Long Do I Have To Wait For You?
10) Queen - You're My Best Friend
1) dj BC - Evening High (from Glassbreaks - Philip Glass meets Hip Hop mashup)
2) Prozac For Lovers - Love Will Tear Us Apart
3) Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft (Live)
4) John Cale - Caravan
5) Afro-Mystik - Dreamwalkers
6) Curtis Mayfield - Ghetto Child (Demo)
7) Ely Guerra - Yo No
8) Little Axe - Walk On Water
9) Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings - How Long Do I Have To Wait For You?
10) Queen - You're My Best Friend
Congratulations!
A big congratulations to my friend, Scott, for being accepted to an intensive acting program and for having the courage to accept the offer to join.
Long Live North Korean Cunnilingus
"Cunnilingus is a dialectic like any other." So says this site which purports to convey a translation of the words of North Korea's Kim Jong-Il set to the music of the gorgeous Nina Simone.
Dickie's Quickies
Newsday.com is reporting that a woman from Utah won her appeal for a vanity license plate that reads: "GAYSROK". Good for her and good for the appeals board for their sound judgment.
As expected, the creator of PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) presented a paper at the Black Hat conference outlining his plan for encrypting VoIP service. His code will be released next month. Initially it will be designed to work with an open source VoIP software. It is hoped that other companies will pick up on the idea and begin to secure our transmissions. I'm happy to see this is getting some attention. I use a VoIP (SunRocket), but I'd like to feel as if someone could not listen into my conversations easily.
Quite possibly, this site on the history of the 1967 Detroit and Newark uprisings is of interest only to me. Having lived in Detroit and it's environs for a number of years, I find the history fascinating. This was a seminal moment in the history of that city and one that has shaped the politics of that region since. The site presents a fairly balanced view of the subject. Anyone interested in the "turbulent" 60s, race relations, urban plight might also be interested.
Now for some Friday artwork. Jenny Hart presents portraits of people in embroidery. Warning: some of the portraits are not necessarily safe for work (as if embroidered tits were going to cause the world to fall apart).
For the Tiki-licious amongst you, and I know you're out there, please take the time to explore Kooch E-Koo. It's fabulous. The picture at the top of this post was borrowed from the site.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Dickie's Quickies
Gaze at the beautiful art of Mexican illustrator Federico Jordán.
Michael Palin's travel books are now online to read for free. The bummer is that they are in HTML pages, rather than downloads, but it's still nice to have access to them.
Want to publicly protest NYC subway searches? Try these nifty back packs with the Fourth Amendment printed on them along with the phrase, "I do not consent to this search!" Or, in a different twist, try the matching thong underwear with the phrase, "I consent to this search!" (via Boing Boing)
Richard Renaldi and his partner have taken photographs of themselves in hotel rooms that they've stayed in around the world over the past 6 years. Many of the photos are quite beautiful and offer an intimate look into a portion of their lives. Warning, NWS (not work safe). Check out some of Renaldi's other work (under "projects").
And I leave you with this commentary on DRM, Microsoft, and Intel. Here's a quote:
Intel has handed the keys to the digital media kingdom to several convicted monopolists who have no care at all for their customers. The excuse Intel gives you if you ask is that they are producing tools, and only tools, their use is not up to Intel. The problem here is that Intel has given the said tools to some of the most rapacious people on earth.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
New York City Subway Search Guide
Archie wrote me the other day suggesting that we go to NYC where we have a reported 1 in 5 chance of being frisked down by a real cop. It was a reference to a time long ago when, on the way to a restaurant for breakfast, we passed a rather good looking, young policeman who was directing traffic in our neighborhood. On the way back, I grabbed a ten dollar bill out of Archie's wallet, leaned out of the window and yelled, "Hey Mr. Policeman! Want to earn some overtime pay?" Archie exclaimed, "Oh my God, Oh My God. Richard, get back in the cab before you get us arrested." The officer stared at us slack jawed, which I pointed out to Archie might be construed as a "Yes". We laughed and laughed as we went our way back home.
The email from Archie reminded me of this fond story, which I haven't told in years. I shared it with Matt in the office, but while he appreciated the tale, he asked me how old I was (mid 20s) and then just stared at me as if something wasn't computing in his brain. Shawn gave me more satisfaction when I told the story to her as she laughed and has come to expect such things from me.
Still, there is a serious issue to be addressed with the reaction some cities are having to the London Bombings. Um, folks, such searches aren't likely to prevent terrorist attacks. The terrorists have infinite targets and many delivery methods. In short, they have the advantage. You can never know where they will target and you cannot protect every site. Terrorists, on the other paw, know exactly what they're targets are and can take the time to plan it out just so.
This isn't to say that we should be scared and hide and nothing should be done. Rather, we should use our resources wisely and target those resources to where they'll be the most effective. We should concentrate on investigating, infiltrating, and prosecuting the terrorists. We should next concentrate on our emergency response preparedness for terrorist attacks. We should not curb our liberties or waste our energy on efforts that will reveal little, if any, results.
In short, if we target our resources to say, frisking people entering subway stations, a well prepared terrorist will just switch targets to say, a concert. If we focus on cell phones as being the trigger of the bombs, then the well prepared terrorist will just switch to another triggering device. This sort of targeting is chasing our tails and to what end? We don't want to allow cell phone usage on airplanes or in subways (although, in both cases, they proved useful to the "good people")? We want to invade the privacy of 20% of individuals who have committed no crime and have provided no cause for the search (thus tossing aside the Constitution)?
For those who want to travel the NYC subway and not submit to a search, here's a website reminding you of your rights. Read it. Use it - or not, but be aware of what your rights are and remember, these policies aren't helping, but they are eroding your democracy.
The email from Archie reminded me of this fond story, which I haven't told in years. I shared it with Matt in the office, but while he appreciated the tale, he asked me how old I was (mid 20s) and then just stared at me as if something wasn't computing in his brain. Shawn gave me more satisfaction when I told the story to her as she laughed and has come to expect such things from me.
Still, there is a serious issue to be addressed with the reaction some cities are having to the London Bombings. Um, folks, such searches aren't likely to prevent terrorist attacks. The terrorists have infinite targets and many delivery methods. In short, they have the advantage. You can never know where they will target and you cannot protect every site. Terrorists, on the other paw, know exactly what they're targets are and can take the time to plan it out just so.
This isn't to say that we should be scared and hide and nothing should be done. Rather, we should use our resources wisely and target those resources to where they'll be the most effective. We should concentrate on investigating, infiltrating, and prosecuting the terrorists. We should next concentrate on our emergency response preparedness for terrorist attacks. We should not curb our liberties or waste our energy on efforts that will reveal little, if any, results.
In short, if we target our resources to say, frisking people entering subway stations, a well prepared terrorist will just switch targets to say, a concert. If we focus on cell phones as being the trigger of the bombs, then the well prepared terrorist will just switch to another triggering device. This sort of targeting is chasing our tails and to what end? We don't want to allow cell phone usage on airplanes or in subways (although, in both cases, they proved useful to the "good people")? We want to invade the privacy of 20% of individuals who have committed no crime and have provided no cause for the search (thus tossing aside the Constitution)?
For those who want to travel the NYC subway and not submit to a search, here's a website reminding you of your rights. Read it. Use it - or not, but be aware of what your rights are and remember, these policies aren't helping, but they are eroding your democracy.
Rent A Negro
Two days ago the Seattle Times ran an article on Portland artist damali ayo and her book, How To Rent A Negro. I was charmed by the article which described the artist and provided excerpts from her book. Her website of the same name has been up for a couple of years, now. Both it and the book are insightful satire aimed at race relations in the U.S. with a particular focus on the way white people interact with minorities. Last night, Ms. ayo appeared at Ellliott Bay Book Company to read from her book, offer insights to origins of certain passages, promote her CD, and, finally to answer questions. In person, she was even more charming than she was during the radio interview on KUOW or in the Seattle Times article on her. damali ayo's work is challenging, funny, and, to some, occasionally uncomfortable. All of which is to say I enjoyed her immensely. The rest of the rather large audience appeared to do so as well (it was a rather large audience...as with Orhan Pamuk's reading earlier this year, the employees at Elliott Bay appeared surprised by the number of people who showed up and delayed the beginning of the reading while opening doors and adding chairs to accommodate the audience size).
Several items struck a note with me, but I probably won't give them their proper due here. One thing ayo said was that her Brown Alumni group in Portland used to invite her to all of their functions. If she wore pink to the function, people in the group would say things like, "damali, you're so colorful." It reminded me of my college radio days when the station manager, Jon Moshier, and I would riff on my radio show about upper class suburban white males and I'd say something like, "I like those African Americans. They're such colorful people" and Jon would lose it on the air.
Another thing damali ayo talked about was the way that some people will walk up to black people and just begin touching their hair. This is an odd thing to me. While I don't have the same boundary issues many people have, I find it odd that people feel the right to walk up and rub my bald head without asking. I'm not offended, by any means, but it's an interesting concept as I wonder if these people would react just as casually if I went up and began feeling their hair. No doubt, some wouldn't care, but I'm sure that some would. Anyhow, this is apparently a common issue amongst black people. I found myself shocked to realize this. It then made me think (with humor, mind you) about a t-shirt that I have: it's from the drunknmunky folks and it features a brown skinned kid in a judo outfit with a big afro. One of the cool things about the shirt is that the Afro is textured in that there is a piece of fuzzy material attached to the shirt. Many people over the years have commented that they like the shirt. A few people have asked to touch the 'fro. Some of that few have even reached out and just started stroking it - over counters, bars, at restaurants. It's crazy to have someone just reach out and start petting your chest, only they are really petting the Afro on your t-shirt. After hearing damali ayo speak, I'm wondering - is it just the fabric they are touching or are they really desiring to touch a black person's hair?
Anyhow, if you see the book, then pick it up and take a look at it. If you get a chance to see damali ayo read from the book, then go see her. Los Angeles was the first stop on her tour and Seattle was the second stop. She's in Portland tonight, then she heads for the Midwest and east coast. More details here.
Several items struck a note with me, but I probably won't give them their proper due here. One thing ayo said was that her Brown Alumni group in Portland used to invite her to all of their functions. If she wore pink to the function, people in the group would say things like, "damali, you're so colorful." It reminded me of my college radio days when the station manager, Jon Moshier, and I would riff on my radio show about upper class suburban white males and I'd say something like, "I like those African Americans. They're such colorful people" and Jon would lose it on the air.
Another thing damali ayo talked about was the way that some people will walk up to black people and just begin touching their hair. This is an odd thing to me. While I don't have the same boundary issues many people have, I find it odd that people feel the right to walk up and rub my bald head without asking. I'm not offended, by any means, but it's an interesting concept as I wonder if these people would react just as casually if I went up and began feeling their hair. No doubt, some wouldn't care, but I'm sure that some would. Anyhow, this is apparently a common issue amongst black people. I found myself shocked to realize this. It then made me think (with humor, mind you) about a t-shirt that I have: it's from the drunknmunky folks and it features a brown skinned kid in a judo outfit with a big afro. One of the cool things about the shirt is that the Afro is textured in that there is a piece of fuzzy material attached to the shirt. Many people over the years have commented that they like the shirt. A few people have asked to touch the 'fro. Some of that few have even reached out and just started stroking it - over counters, bars, at restaurants. It's crazy to have someone just reach out and start petting your chest, only they are really petting the Afro on your t-shirt. After hearing damali ayo speak, I'm wondering - is it just the fabric they are touching or are they really desiring to touch a black person's hair?
Anyhow, if you see the book, then pick it up and take a look at it. If you get a chance to see damali ayo read from the book, then go see her. Los Angeles was the first stop on her tour and Seattle was the second stop. She's in Portland tonight, then she heads for the Midwest and east coast. More details here.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Dickie's Quickies
The Frumious Bandersnatch pointed out that the BBC is reporting the finding of quite possibly the oldest known dildo.
While we're on the subject of phalluses, here are some Japanese condom wrappers to look at. They are much more fun (and some are hysterical) compared to the packaging of condoms in America.
And, after you're done with that one hour stand and are driving home, smoking on a cigarette, be happy that you don't live in New Jersey where one legislator has proposed a ban on driving while smoking.
While we're on the subject of phalluses, here are some Japanese condom wrappers to look at. They are much more fun (and some are hysterical) compared to the packaging of condoms in America.
And, after you're done with that one hour stand and are driving home, smoking on a cigarette, be happy that you don't live in New Jersey where one legislator has proposed a ban on driving while smoking.
Spybot update
Normally, I don't bother mentioning Spybot Search and Destroy definitions updates. I do mention the program updates, but generally not the definitions. However, this morning I was reading the forums at The Elder Geek and noticed that someone posted about the definitions updates and that it snagged two items on their PC. Sunday is usually the day when I run my spyware detectors (excluding the active monitoring I get from some of the programs) and that was the case this weekend, but I decided to check Spybot again just in case. Well, the program is still running, but sure enough, it caught 2 items on my PC. If you're a user, then you might want to download the latest definitions ASAP and run it.
Secure Flight program a mess
Bruce Schneier has an excellent post today on the state of the Secure Flight program. Secure Flight is part of the TSA, which itself is part of the Department of Fatherland Security. Secure Flight is supposed to run airline passenger's names against a check list of known or suspected terrorists. There has been a tendency to expand the data that is collected for this program and make it a much more complicated piece of software that looks at not only names but data from commercial sources such as date of birth, addresses, phone numbers, and, potentially, other bits such as credit scores, job title, how often people moved, etc. Congress has twice passed bills that killed or curtailed this program from collecting this outside data amidst privacy concerns. As Schneier points out, the TSA has ignored this and continued on it's own path. Choice quotes:
If you're interested in privacy concerns, especially involving government entities, please read the complete text of Schneier's post. I also urge you to read the links to the report(s) her recommends in that post. It's good information and it should give everyone a reason to pause and think about where this is heading. Your officials in office have been implementing this program. While some of it makes a great deal of sense, the debate about the efficacy of such programs or how they are implemented has, largely, been beneath the radar screen of most people.
Secure Flight is a disaster in every way. The TSA has been operating with complete disregard for the law or Congress. It has lied to pretty much everyone. And it is turning Secure Flight from a simple program to match airline passengers against terrorist watch lists into a complex program that compiles dossiers on passengers in order to give them some kind of score indicating the likelihood that they are a terrorist.
...But using commercial data has serious privacy implications, which is why Congress mandated all sorts of rules surrounding the TSA testing of commercial data -- and more rules before it could deploy a final system -- rules that the TSA has decided it can ignore completely.
...My fear is that TSA has already decided that they’re going to use commercial data, regardless of any test results. And once you have commercial data, why not build a dossier on every passenger and give them a risk score? So we're back to CAPPS-II, the very system Congress killed last summer. Actually, we're very close to TIA (Total/Terrorism Information Awareness), that vast spy-on-everyone data-mining program that Congress killed in 2003 because it was just too invasive.
If you're interested in privacy concerns, especially involving government entities, please read the complete text of Schneier's post. I also urge you to read the links to the report(s) her recommends in that post. It's good information and it should give everyone a reason to pause and think about where this is heading. Your officials in office have been implementing this program. While some of it makes a great deal of sense, the debate about the efficacy of such programs or how they are implemented has, largely, been beneath the radar screen of most people.
Nice weekend
Yes, indeed. It was a nice weekend out here in outer Monrovia. Friday saw a welcome, but surprising burst of rain in the day. I, of course, had decided that the odds were in the weatherman's favor and gave no thought to rain gear before I left the house in the morning for work. I had shaved my head Thursday afternoon and the water just slid off my clean top. I don't melt - yet.
Friday evening Shawn went out to work with a friend on her website for graduation. She's at least a year away from finishing, but seeing how schoolwork takes up her free time during the rest of the year, Shawn thought she'd get a start on things this summer. It's a smart plan. I filled my night by preparing apricots for more jam, setting some apricots aside for eating and giving away, cleaning up the house a little, and reading.
Saturday began a tad overcast, but the rain stayed away and redeemed the weather forecasters in the area. By afternoon it was sunny and warm with nary a cloud in the sky. We were having friends, Michael and Heather, by for their birthdays. Michael's was Saturday and Heather's was Sunday. They were hoping to celebrate their birthdays with a camping trip to Deception Pass, but plans fell through when they found out that there were no campsites available. Shawn and I discussed it and offered up our house and BBQ to those on the initial invites. We were happy when Michael called to accept.
Saturday morning and early afternoon found us scrambling to get everything ready. We finished cleaning house, bought a Bundt pan for a cake, made apricot jam and canned it, made baba ganoush, prepared a black bean salad, and got the BBQ going. Oh, and Shawn made that cake - a Grand Marnier Cake with Chocolate bits and it was terribly delicious. Michael called before he left the house to announce that he was picking up an ice cream cake, but we didn't get the message in time, so she made one anyhow. Heck, she wanted to make the cake and just was looking for the right excuse. Besides, she had to try out her new Bundt pan!
The party went well. Michael and Heather brought Rowan. Another couple brought their child as well. It was a small gathering. Having the children around kept the party under control - less drinking, lower volume levels on the stereo. It was good seeing some of Michael and Heather's other friends - something we seem to do every couple of years - though we missed out on seeing Leslie and her fiancé. The party wrapped up around 9 or so. Shawn and I finished cleaning up the kitchen and running the dishwasher around 10:30.
Sunday was the day to go out for sushi with Heather and Michael for their birthday. We didn't make it, sadly. It was a beautiful day and we were tired and wanted to relax around the house. Before breakfast, I got outside and attended to lawn mowing - the mowing I originally thought that I'd do on Friday. Shawn worked in the garden and picked peas and more zucchini. We relaxed on the back porch together and discussed plans for the rest of the day. After breakfast, we went out to see "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". It was a good film in a lot of ways, though no better than the first film; just different. I enjoyed Johnnie Depp's performance and still am wondering who really thinks it had any basis in Michael Jackson. To my mind, I saw references to several kid show hosts, but never MJ.
On the way out of the film we found that Shawn had gotten sun burn again in the morning. For someone who has spent years properly chastising me to put sunscreen on my bald head, she still hasn't seemed to get the message herself. Poor thing. Lots of aloe for her for a few days.
We left the movie theater and went to Duvall to buy liquor. Sunday was the first day in decades that Washington state allowed liquor stores to open on a Sunday. Not all stores are open yet. Currently, private contracted stores can apply to be open and Duvall's was one of 35 to apply and receive permission. The state will open 20 of it's stores on Sundays beginning in September. We wanted to demonstrate our approval of the law change as well as show our support for Duvall's business by going down and spending some money at their store. Shawn got a bottle of Lillet and a bottle of Stoli Peach vodka.
The evening was spent cooking. I helped Shawn make a cake - a spice cake rather than the Grand Marnier one - and some cookies. Shawn had left over egg whites from a previous recipe that we needed to use up. Between doing that and working dinner in and doing some reading, my weekend was done. All in all, it was very pleasant.
Friday evening Shawn went out to work with a friend on her website for graduation. She's at least a year away from finishing, but seeing how schoolwork takes up her free time during the rest of the year, Shawn thought she'd get a start on things this summer. It's a smart plan. I filled my night by preparing apricots for more jam, setting some apricots aside for eating and giving away, cleaning up the house a little, and reading.
Saturday began a tad overcast, but the rain stayed away and redeemed the weather forecasters in the area. By afternoon it was sunny and warm with nary a cloud in the sky. We were having friends, Michael and Heather, by for their birthdays. Michael's was Saturday and Heather's was Sunday. They were hoping to celebrate their birthdays with a camping trip to Deception Pass, but plans fell through when they found out that there were no campsites available. Shawn and I discussed it and offered up our house and BBQ to those on the initial invites. We were happy when Michael called to accept.
Saturday morning and early afternoon found us scrambling to get everything ready. We finished cleaning house, bought a Bundt pan for a cake, made apricot jam and canned it, made baba ganoush, prepared a black bean salad, and got the BBQ going. Oh, and Shawn made that cake - a Grand Marnier Cake with Chocolate bits and it was terribly delicious. Michael called before he left the house to announce that he was picking up an ice cream cake, but we didn't get the message in time, so she made one anyhow. Heck, she wanted to make the cake and just was looking for the right excuse. Besides, she had to try out her new Bundt pan!
The party went well. Michael and Heather brought Rowan. Another couple brought their child as well. It was a small gathering. Having the children around kept the party under control - less drinking, lower volume levels on the stereo. It was good seeing some of Michael and Heather's other friends - something we seem to do every couple of years - though we missed out on seeing Leslie and her fiancé. The party wrapped up around 9 or so. Shawn and I finished cleaning up the kitchen and running the dishwasher around 10:30.
Sunday was the day to go out for sushi with Heather and Michael for their birthday. We didn't make it, sadly. It was a beautiful day and we were tired and wanted to relax around the house. Before breakfast, I got outside and attended to lawn mowing - the mowing I originally thought that I'd do on Friday. Shawn worked in the garden and picked peas and more zucchini. We relaxed on the back porch together and discussed plans for the rest of the day. After breakfast, we went out to see "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". It was a good film in a lot of ways, though no better than the first film; just different. I enjoyed Johnnie Depp's performance and still am wondering who really thinks it had any basis in Michael Jackson. To my mind, I saw references to several kid show hosts, but never MJ.
On the way out of the film we found that Shawn had gotten sun burn again in the morning. For someone who has spent years properly chastising me to put sunscreen on my bald head, she still hasn't seemed to get the message herself. Poor thing. Lots of aloe for her for a few days.
We left the movie theater and went to Duvall to buy liquor. Sunday was the first day in decades that Washington state allowed liquor stores to open on a Sunday. Not all stores are open yet. Currently, private contracted stores can apply to be open and Duvall's was one of 35 to apply and receive permission. The state will open 20 of it's stores on Sundays beginning in September. We wanted to demonstrate our approval of the law change as well as show our support for Duvall's business by going down and spending some money at their store. Shawn got a bottle of Lillet and a bottle of Stoli Peach vodka.
The evening was spent cooking. I helped Shawn make a cake - a spice cake rather than the Grand Marnier one - and some cookies. Shawn had left over egg whites from a previous recipe that we needed to use up. Between doing that and working dinner in and doing some reading, my weekend was done. All in all, it was very pleasant.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Friday Random Ten
I'm actually going to get this puppy out on time! Truth be known, it's only because the grass is wet and I cannot mow my lawn. Still, on time, even if it's twice within a few days:
1) Stan Ridgeway - "As I Went Out One Morning"
Lots of Stan Ridgeway this week. Not that this is a problem. Bi the way, his new album with his band, Drywall, comes out the second week of August.
2) dj BC and the Beastles - "Mad World Forever"
Yep, before djBC did the mashup of Philip Glass versus hip hop artists, he did this one of the Beatles versus the Beastie Boys. It has it's moments.
3) Habib Koite - "Kanawa" (live)
I can listen to him forever. His live album is definitely his best.
4) Frank O'Hara - Ode to Joy, To Hell With It
Beat poetry.
5) Ozomatli - "Dejame En Paz"
Playing in Seattle with Los Lonely Boys later this month. To my mind, that was the best line up for the shows on South Lake Union this year. Ozomatli will blow people's minds. Their last album was fantastic.
6) Afrocelts - "Ayub's Song/As You Were"
From their album, "Seed" and when they decided to be known by this name rather than the Afro Celt Sound System.
7) Ishmael Reed - "Sky Diving"
More Poetry.
8) NOWMASH - "Freaky No.5"
Mixing Missy Elliott with the song "Mambo No. 5" Pretty good.
9) Everything But The Girl - "Corcovado"
EBTG has been appearing a lot in my playlists. I need to get other artists on the 'puter.
10) E-Smoove - "The Guitar"
Excellent remix.
1) Stan Ridgeway - "As I Went Out One Morning"
Lots of Stan Ridgeway this week. Not that this is a problem. Bi the way, his new album with his band, Drywall, comes out the second week of August.
2) dj BC and the Beastles - "Mad World Forever"
Yep, before djBC did the mashup of Philip Glass versus hip hop artists, he did this one of the Beatles versus the Beastie Boys. It has it's moments.
3) Habib Koite - "Kanawa" (live)
I can listen to him forever. His live album is definitely his best.
4) Frank O'Hara - Ode to Joy, To Hell With It
Beat poetry.
5) Ozomatli - "Dejame En Paz"
Playing in Seattle with Los Lonely Boys later this month. To my mind, that was the best line up for the shows on South Lake Union this year. Ozomatli will blow people's minds. Their last album was fantastic.
6) Afrocelts - "Ayub's Song/As You Were"
From their album, "Seed" and when they decided to be known by this name rather than the Afro Celt Sound System.
7) Ishmael Reed - "Sky Diving"
More Poetry.
8) NOWMASH - "Freaky No.5"
Mixing Missy Elliott with the song "Mambo No. 5" Pretty good.
9) Everything But The Girl - "Corcovado"
EBTG has been appearing a lot in my playlists. I need to get other artists on the 'puter.
10) E-Smoove - "The Guitar"
Excellent remix.
Oh my
NWS, but there is a company marketing Vulva perfume. Note, it's "Vulva Original" which begs the questions: Will it come in other scents? Will the other scents not be, as the original apparently is, "Authentically Natural Vaginal Flavoured"? Did they mean "Scent" and not "Flavour" and, if not, does that mean you can drink it? Who is behind the scent of "Vulva Original"; am I to believe it's from Eve?
Philip Glass mash up
Boing Boing's Xeni Jardin reported today that there's a Philip Glass mash-up project on the web called Glassbreaks. It's done by dj BC, whose work I'm familiar with. It's a pretty good set, mixing Glass with hip hop. Sometimes the "Glass" work in the mix is pretty minimal sampling.
I only had difficulty downloading one track, but as Xeni's update notes, you can go to the root directory and get any tracks you have difficulty with.
I only had difficulty downloading one track, but as Xeni's update notes, you can go to the root directory and get any tracks you have difficulty with.
Dickie's Quickies
After the reported Greasemonkey security hole, I'm trying out another extension for Firefox: NoScript. Basically, NoScript prevents Java scripts from running unless the user allows them. The user can temporarily allow them or activate them altogether. Thus far, it seems to be working fine. I'm in that "learning" mode of the software, so I get a lot of notices from it about sites and then have to tell it that I trust this site. Still, I'd rather have that than some bad bug. Besides, it's mildly interesting to see how many java scripts some sites are running.
Madness have a new album out next month. The first one in years and my preliminary listening leads me to say it sounds better than they had on the last couple of albums. The fun ska boys are back.
Madness have a new album out next month. The first one in years and my preliminary listening leads me to say it sounds better than they had on the last couple of albums. The fun ska boys are back.
What positive steps can be taken?
What should we do to counter terrorism? Bruce Schneier offers this advice today:
Counterterrorism is most effective when it doesn't make arbitrary assumptions about the terrorists' plans. Stop searching bags on the subways, and spend the money on 1) intelligence and investigation -- stopping the terrorists regardless of what their plans are, and 2) emergency response -- lessening the impact of a terrorist attack, regardless of what the plans are. Countermeasures that defend against particular targets, or assume particular tactics, or cause the terrorists to make insignificant modifications in their plans, or that surveil the entire population looking for the few terrorists, are largely not worth it.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Firefox 1.06 is out
Download it here. This fixes some issues with extensions that they had with 1.05.
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