[Tacky Pro-Bush Garbage] Sickening Bush campaign contribution questions courtesy of Dean's weblog. Throw this dangerous idiot out of the Washington and back onto his daddy's lap.
Question: "Can I use my personal aircraft for campaign business?"
Answer: "No, you may not use your personal aircraft for campaign business. Corporate aircraft may be used, but only if each person boarding the plane pays the equivalent of a first-class airplane ticket."
Who the hell are these people? "my personal aircraft" in a FAQ? It's quite clear who the Bush Administration is representing and it isn't you.
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Monday, September 29, 2003
["...they have the worst frontman in the history of rock"]
I love allmusic.com. Across all genres they basically try to provide informative, hype-free writing by people who have a breadth of perspective with music. Their evenhandedness dictates that they rarely skewer an artist or band with anything that remotely resembles condemnation. Not so on this piece of critical ass-tearing!
I love allmusic.com. Across all genres they basically try to provide informative, hype-free writing by people who have a breadth of perspective with music. Their evenhandedness dictates that they rarely skewer an artist or band with anything that remotely resembles condemnation. Not so on this piece of critical ass-tearing!
Sunday, September 28, 2003
Saturday, September 27, 2003
Von Dutch - Originator of Modern Pinstriping
"I make a point of staying right at the edge of poverty. I don't have a pair of pants without a hole in them, and the only pair of boots I have are on my feet. I don't mess around with unnecessary stuff, so I don't need much money. I believe it's meant to be that way. There's a 'struggle' you have to go through, and if you make a lot of money it doesn't make the 'struggle' go away. It just makes it more complicated. If you keep poor, the struggle is simple. "
More Von Dutch ("the man, not the hat") links and info at Rumpsville.
There are apparently quite a few people really pissed about how a trend-shop in Hollywood bought the deceased artist's name and trademark and is using them to sell $50 t-shirts.
"I make a point of staying right at the edge of poverty. I don't have a pair of pants without a hole in them, and the only pair of boots I have are on my feet. I don't mess around with unnecessary stuff, so I don't need much money. I believe it's meant to be that way. There's a 'struggle' you have to go through, and if you make a lot of money it doesn't make the 'struggle' go away. It just makes it more complicated. If you keep poor, the struggle is simple. "
More Von Dutch ("the man, not the hat") links and info at Rumpsville.
There are apparently quite a few people really pissed about how a trend-shop in Hollywood bought the deceased artist's name and trademark and is using them to sell $50 t-shirts.
Inconspicuous Consumption
What is inconspicuous consumption? It's about deconstructing the details of consumer culture -- details that are either so weird or obscure that we'd never see them, or so ubiquitous that we've essentially stopped seeing them. This can mean anything from a bizarre canned good, like sauerkraut juice, to a beautifully designed light-industrial object that we've always taken for granted, like the Brannock Device
What is inconspicuous consumption? It's about deconstructing the details of consumer culture -- details that are either so weird or obscure that we'd never see them, or so ubiquitous that we've essentially stopped seeing them. This can mean anything from a bizarre canned good, like sauerkraut juice, to a beautifully designed light-industrial object that we've always taken for granted, like the Brannock Device
Friday, September 26, 2003
If you were a Chip's Challenge junkie back in the Win3.1 days, you'll love the telescope game
Ebay confirms that it'll give customers private personal data to the government without a subpoena. All they have to do is ask.
French card deck names most dangerous U.S. Leaders.
I know this is a valid form of political protest, and the French were never known for their sense of humor, but isn't this card deck thing getting kinda stale?
I know this is a valid form of political protest, and the French were never known for their sense of humor, but isn't this card deck thing getting kinda stale?
The census data showing that more Americans are slipping into poverty will be released today. (NYTimes)
Thursday, September 25, 2003
Floys belong to the flocking Alife creatures variety, sharing with them the social tendency to stick together, and the lifelike emergent behavior which is based on a few simple, local rules.
Vote as often as you like in Maryland. Despite troubling security concerns surrounding Diebold's electronic voting system, Maryland says "what the hell... we'll give it a shot anyway." (NYTimes)
Analysis of the system by Johns Hopkins Security Institute, with the team's response to Diebold's writeoff of their concerns.
Analysis of the system by Johns Hopkins Security Institute, with the team's response to Diebold's writeoff of their concerns.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Mister McCheeseWhiskers lived to the ripe old age of ___
No holds barred oldest mouse contest announced.
This will be especially effective in raising public optimism and interest if the life-extending interventions are only implemented when the mouse has already reached an advanced age, and the prize is partly geared to encouraging such "late-onset" interventions.
No holds barred oldest mouse contest announced.
This will be especially effective in raising public optimism and interest if the life-extending interventions are only implemented when the mouse has already reached an advanced age, and the prize is partly geared to encouraging such "late-onset" interventions.
Gray Davis has his name associated with some good news by passing a privacy law requiring car makers to notify customers of the existence of "black boxes" that spy on driver's and gather stats. (NYTimes)
Monday, September 22, 2003
Recalculating Avagadro's Number and reweighing the Kilogram.
(Nice pic of the original kilogram in Paris, France)
(Nice pic of the original kilogram in Paris, France)
[Gives new meaning to "house-frau"]
Magazine wants its Nazi-loving past burried. (Wired)
Even more strange, the uber-milquetoast rag "Homes and Gardens" is at the center of the controversy. Is this a legit copyright concern, or an attempt for H&G to hide its ugly, fascist-cozy past? Speaking of ultra-right, fascist villians who have no rightful place in public service, who are hell-bent on destroying basic civil liberties, and who shame their countries in the international community, I'd like to see one of these magazines do a piece on John Ashcroft's digs. What's a guy who thinks dancing is satanic and is petrified by a female breast do for a coffee table?
A fawning 1938 article by Homes & Gardens magazine about Hitler's Bavarian mountain retreat remains widely available on the Web, even after the discoverer and original poster of the article took it off his site when the magazine demanded its removal.
(NYTimes article on the same)
Magazine wants its Nazi-loving past burried. (Wired)
Even more strange, the uber-milquetoast rag "Homes and Gardens" is at the center of the controversy. Is this a legit copyright concern, or an attempt for H&G to hide its ugly, fascist-cozy past? Speaking of ultra-right, fascist villians who have no rightful place in public service, who are hell-bent on destroying basic civil liberties, and who shame their countries in the international community, I'd like to see one of these magazines do a piece on John Ashcroft's digs. What's a guy who thinks dancing is satanic and is petrified by a female breast do for a coffee table?
A fawning 1938 article by Homes & Gardens magazine about Hitler's Bavarian mountain retreat remains widely available on the Web, even after the discoverer and original poster of the article took it off his site when the magazine demanded its removal.
(NYTimes article on the same)
Sunday, September 21, 2003
Indian Motorcycles closes its doors 50 years after it closed the first time. And its back to the logo-vomiting, conformist Harley monoculture for the U.S. motorcycle industry...
Googie Motels, Diners, Bowl-O-Ramas and huge signs like they don't make anymore: Roadside Peek
Patio Culture!
Red meat and green salads. The patio wasn't just the center of suburban family life, it was a state of mind!
Red meat and green salads. The patio wasn't just the center of suburban family life, it was a state of mind!
What do hot rodders, physicists, firefighters, fascist groups, religious orders, crusaders, Kustom Kulture junkies and bikers have in common? The Maltese Cross. I used to hear the design referred to as the "surfer's cross" and it's everywhere these days. Sign of a happy-go-lucky free spirit, or something more sinister? You decide.
Thursday, September 18, 2003
[Boycott JetBlue] JetBlue is selling private, personal passinger data to the government for CAPPS II testing. The data includes social security numbers and income, which are being fed to the government without any passenger approval or oversight by privacy or civil rights advocacy groups.
This bit of news dovetails nicely with enemy-of-the-state John Ashcroft's recent tour promoting proposed increases in rights and privacy violations via the absurdly-named Patriot act.
"The head of JetBlue (CEO David Neeleman) stepped forward and volunteered for government testing of CAPPS II," Weyrich said. "I don't know if he was trying to court favor with the government."
This bit of news dovetails nicely with enemy-of-the-state John Ashcroft's recent tour promoting proposed increases in rights and privacy violations via the absurdly-named Patriot act.
"The head of JetBlue (CEO David Neeleman) stepped forward and volunteered for government testing of CAPPS II," Weyrich said. "I don't know if he was trying to court favor with the government."
Reviews of TV Dinners.
Also a great site that has box ad art of food from the past (like this Swanson German-style TV Dinner) Mmmm MMMM!
Also a great site that has box ad art of food from the past (like this Swanson German-style TV Dinner) Mmmm MMMM!
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
"His behaviour was disrespectful to the whole town. A rubber penis is not something that should be brought to parliament."
I strongly agree.
I strongly agree.
Drastic times call for drastic measures, I guess. Lindows is offering you a free PC if you let the sue Microsoft on your behalf. The deal is part of a class action suit for California residents only.
Monday, September 15, 2003
"We put a man on the moon, and we can't even design a robot that implants hair plugs in bald guys?! What's that? We can? " (NYTimes)
Drugs are now terrorist chemical weapons.
In an example of how law enforcement misuses its powers, increasing numbers of people can be handled as "terrorists", whether or not they've committed acts of terror. While drug crimes are certainly criminal acts worthy of vigorous pursuit, use of the Patriot Act permits law enforcement to hold suspects indefinitely with no access to legal counsel.
"Within six months of passing the Patriot Act, the Justice Department was conducting seminars on how to stretch the new wiretapping provisions to extend them beyond terror cases," said Dan Dodson, a spokesman for the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. "They say they want the Patriot Act to fight terrorism, then, within six months, they are teaching their people how to use it on ordinary citizens."
In an example of how law enforcement misuses its powers, increasing numbers of people can be handled as "terrorists", whether or not they've committed acts of terror. While drug crimes are certainly criminal acts worthy of vigorous pursuit, use of the Patriot Act permits law enforcement to hold suspects indefinitely with no access to legal counsel.
"Within six months of passing the Patriot Act, the Justice Department was conducting seminars on how to stretch the new wiretapping provisions to extend them beyond terror cases," said Dan Dodson, a spokesman for the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. "They say they want the Patriot Act to fight terrorism, then, within six months, they are teaching their people how to use it on ordinary citizens."
Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, olny taht the frist and lsat ltteres are at the rghit pcleas. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by ilstef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
From Joi Ito's Weblog
From Joi Ito's Weblog
Friday, September 12, 2003
[Bush vs America XIV] White House urges Supreme Court to allow state funding for ministry studies.
I wonder if they're as generous to those who want to study other forms of subjectivist, fanatical mysticism. Wicca, Voodoo and the various doomsday cult students should be thrilled at the prospect of having their "educations" funded by taxpayers. Ashcroft may have a whole lot more mosques to wiretap if this POS flies.
I wonder if they're as generous to those who want to study other forms of subjectivist, fanatical mysticism. Wicca, Voodoo and the various doomsday cult students should be thrilled at the prospect of having their "educations" funded by taxpayers. Ashcroft may have a whole lot more mosques to wiretap if this POS flies.
The Truth about Torture (Atlantic interview with Mark Bowden, the author of "The Dark Art of Interrogation")
Thursday, September 11, 2003
No Americans need apply. (Courtesy of /. )
I've heard this type of story again and again from laid-off software developers and IT pros. Don't blame the Indian consulting firms that are staffing up to keep pace with the new demand for IT and software services-- these are American companies that are doing this to American workers, yet they'll drape themselves in the flag at the first marketing opportunity available.
He hoped that at the end of his six-month contract he could join the company full-time. But Soong soon noticed something that would not bode well for his future with the company: It had a lot of workers on H-1B and L-1 visas, and every day their ranks seemed to grow.
I've heard this type of story again and again from laid-off software developers and IT pros. Don't blame the Indian consulting firms that are staffing up to keep pace with the new demand for IT and software services-- these are American companies that are doing this to American workers, yet they'll drape themselves in the flag at the first marketing opportunity available.
He hoped that at the end of his six-month contract he could join the company full-time. But Soong soon noticed something that would not bode well for his future with the company: It had a lot of workers on H-1B and L-1 visas, and every day their ranks seemed to grow.
In a House technology Subcommittee, John Schwartz, president of Symantec, called for the illegalization of information and techniques that could be construed to aid hackers.
Virus writers and hackers often learn from each other and share automated tools and code on websites. By making it illegal to post malicious code and information, Schwarz implied, the number of attacks would be reduced. He did not say, though, how legislators would determine the difference between malicious information and that used for legitimate security research, or whether such a law might compromise freedom of speech.
Virus writers and hackers often learn from each other and share automated tools and code on websites. By making it illegal to post malicious code and information, Schwarz implied, the number of attacks would be reduced. He did not say, though, how legislators would determine the difference between malicious information and that used for legitimate security research, or whether such a law might compromise freedom of speech.
More evidence of the Bush Administration's brutal assault on the environment.
In the email, Myron Ebell of the Exxon-funded Competitive Enterprise Institute writes to Phil Cooney, a senior official at the White House Council for Environmental Quality. He describes his plans to discredit an EPA study on climate change through a lawsuit. He states the need to "drive a wedge between the President and those in the Administration who think that they are serving the president's interests by publishing this rubbish."
In the email, Myron Ebell of the Exxon-funded Competitive Enterprise Institute writes to Phil Cooney, a senior official at the White House Council for Environmental Quality. He describes his plans to discredit an EPA study on climate change through a lawsuit. He states the need to "drive a wedge between the President and those in the Administration who think that they are serving the president's interests by publishing this rubbish."
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Strange, Disney-obsessed people
Doug and Roger tell Benji about the woman who is going to wear the Lilo costume this Friday. This leads to a general discussion about dating. Doug and Benji don’t date anyone. Roger is married to a woman who has recently gotten into Disney — but she’s a Pooh fan, Benji tells me, dismissively. “Girls get in the way of the true calling of TWDC,” Benji says. TWDC stands for The Walt Disney Company.
But enough about girls. Benji wants to talk about what’s changed in the park since yesterday.
“Have you seen the new signs in Critter Country?” Benji asks. Roger shakes his head no. “Where have you been?” Benji explodes in a mock rage. “Have you seen the new planters at Tomorrowland?”
Then again, some equate Disney with greed and their assault on U.S. copyright law, flower planters be damned.
Doug and Roger tell Benji about the woman who is going to wear the Lilo costume this Friday. This leads to a general discussion about dating. Doug and Benji don’t date anyone. Roger is married to a woman who has recently gotten into Disney — but she’s a Pooh fan, Benji tells me, dismissively. “Girls get in the way of the true calling of TWDC,” Benji says. TWDC stands for The Walt Disney Company.
But enough about girls. Benji wants to talk about what’s changed in the park since yesterday.
“Have you seen the new signs in Critter Country?” Benji asks. Roger shakes his head no. “Where have you been?” Benji explodes in a mock rage. “Have you seen the new planters at Tomorrowland?”
Then again, some equate Disney with greed and their assault on U.S. copyright law, flower planters be damned.
One particularly monstrous black hole has probably been humming B flat for billions of years, but at a pitch no human could hear, let alone sing, astronomers said on Tuesday.
Tuesday, September 09, 2003
If research consultants know anything at all, it's what the guys who are writing the checks want to hear. Microsoft pays for a study which finds that developing software under Microsoft's proprietary standards is cheaper than developing under the free, open-source Linux environment. (further commentary from TheRegister)
The consultants at Giga research also asked Microsoft what color they'd like the sky to be when their research results were published.
The consultants at Giga research also asked Microsoft what color they'd like the sky to be when their research results were published.
[Fanged-sheep alert] EFF warns against RIAA "amnesty", meanwhile, the RIAA have sued a 12-year old girl. Is there anyone left other than lawyers who support the motives of people like this? Is this what the music industry has come to? Harrassing small children for listening to pop on their computers?! I hope these predators get what they deserve for this sickening outrage.
"I got really scared. My stomach is all turning," Brianna said last night at the city Housing Authority apartment where she lives with her mom and her 9-year-old brother.
"I got really scared. My stomach is all turning," Brianna said last night at the city Housing Authority apartment where she lives with her mom and her 9-year-old brother.
Monday, September 08, 2003
Chalupa smuggler fined.
... or "Is that a Chihuahah in your pants or are you just happy to see me..."
... or "Don't these people have to look at enough bad meat at work?"
... or "Man arrested for bad taste in Taco Bell"
... or "I've seen nicer packages in our condiment bin"
... or "No, sir. I can't super-size it for you"
... or (and I'm nuts about this one) "Bottomless man fined in forkless restaurant".
... or "Is that a Chihuahah in your pants or are you just happy to see me..."
... or "Don't these people have to look at enough bad meat at work?"
... or "Man arrested for bad taste in Taco Bell"
... or "I've seen nicer packages in our condiment bin"
... or "No, sir. I can't super-size it for you"
... or (and I'm nuts about this one) "Bottomless man fined in forkless restaurant".
The Art of the Fake: Egyptian forgeries.
Most museum collections contain a certain number of forgeries, and the collections of the Kelsey Museum of Archeology are no exception. Over the almost one hundred years of museum collecting history, various objects of dubious authenticity have found their way into the collections.
Most museum collections contain a certain number of forgeries, and the collections of the Kelsey Museum of Archeology are no exception. Over the almost one hundred years of museum collecting history, various objects of dubious authenticity have found their way into the collections.
Mysteriously snuffed out candles, weird sensations and shivers down the spine may not be due to the presence of ghosts in haunted houses but to very low frequency sound that is inaudible to humans.
RIAA Amnesty:
The Recording Industry Association of America is smiling, offering a reassuring piece of mind to users who will admit they have downloaded or shared music files in the past.
The Recording Industry Association of America is smiling, offering a reassuring piece of mind to users who will admit they have downloaded or shared music files in the past.
Thursday, September 04, 2003
Study: CDs going the way of the 8-track. In response, Universal will be cutting prices to under $13. Too little, too late.
Wednesday, September 03, 2003
[Bush vs. America XIV] Poverty opens its welcoming arms to 1.3 new Americans (NYTimes)
At least the newly impoverished have their dividend tax-exemption. Perhaps a few thousand of them could assemble to live in a Bushville on the White House lawn so they can thank him for this act of compassion every day.
At least the newly impoverished have their dividend tax-exemption. Perhaps a few thousand of them could assemble to live in a Bushville on the White House lawn so they can thank him for this act of compassion every day.
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
1968-1980 AMC Javelin Spotter's Guide
Loaded with ad pics of this beautiful car (as well as its cousin, the AMX).
There was even a Javelin cop car. When I was a kid, my mom had a late-70s Gremlin which definitely was not as cool then as it would be now. Proving that things always even out over time she later got a Camaro, which was infinitely cooler then (early 80s) than it would be now. I've always hated Camaros.
Loaded with ad pics of this beautiful car (as well as its cousin, the AMX).
There was even a Javelin cop car. When I was a kid, my mom had a late-70s Gremlin which definitely was not as cool then as it would be now. Proving that things always even out over time she later got a Camaro, which was infinitely cooler then (early 80s) than it would be now. I've always hated Camaros.
Robby Todino wants to build a time machine, and he's willing to pay you to get the parts he needs. He's even sent out 100 Million or so requests.
"What bothers me is that some people are trying to sell him equipment and take advantage of him," said Todino Sr. "He's invested a lot of money into it and has been hurt by it."
"What bothers me is that some people are trying to sell him equipment and take advantage of him," said Todino Sr. "He's invested a lot of money into it and has been hurt by it."
MS Delays Longhorn again.
Microsoft grabs bull by horns, turns it around, leads it back to pen.
Microsoft grabs bull by horns, turns it around, leads it back to pen.
Ok. Stop. This gadgetry fetishism has gone far enough.
Toyota Japan is selling a car that parks itself.
Toyota Japan is selling a car that parks itself.
Ordinary People [from The Atlantic]
H. W. Brands argues that too much reverence for the Founding Fathers is unhealthy—and that it's time to take them down a notch or two
H. W. Brands argues that too much reverence for the Founding Fathers is unhealthy—and that it's time to take them down a notch or two