Chris

I don’t understand. Why is it that we need to have guns? Oh yeah, its not guns that kill people, its people that kill people. Well, now it’s 10-year old boys that kill people.

Let me say it one more time. As a former gun owner who is very much concerned with civil liberties and freedom I support any law that would take guns out of the hands of 10-year old boys who kill. I know, it wasn’t his gun. But if parents can’t keep their guns under control, they don’t deserve to have them at all.

Of course, we could be French journalists working in Iraq. Or any Journalists working in Iraq for that matter. Not the best place to be.

But, I guess you can get killed almost anywhere. Even right here in the good old USA. I don’t want to end on a sour note so here’s something nice to look at:

People exercising their rights in New York. I should have gone there too. Well, I can always protest in my own way. Right here on this blog.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Later.

Is a good day for cleaning the house and then waiting for the cleaning people to arrive and clean the house. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me that we clean up the house before people come to clean up the house but what do I know, I’m just a man. I just do what I am told, no matter the logic (or lack thereof).

Apparently, freedom from censorship is still something we shouldn’t take for granted as the ALA (American Library Association) recently published the new 100 most frequently challenged books list of the last few years. Of the challenged books, Harry Potter was in the number 7th place in the most frequently challenged.

Also included were ‘Where’s Waldo’ and ‘The Giver’ along with ‘Goosebumps’ and ‘How to Eat Fried Worms.’ These books were challenged, and in some cases, banned from various public institutions. This means mostly public libraries and public schools. They also have the most frequently challenged books of 2003.

Challenged means that a group or individual took exception to something in the book and challenged its suitability to be on public shelves for all to see. Not quite as bad as banning a book, but its in the same neighborhood. So, if you think this kind of thing is wrong, perhaps you will participate in the ALA’s “Banned Books Week” and read a book on the banned list.

Also, here’s a tech-related story about two guys using their brains and their computers to organize protests against Republican National Convention.

Finally, as a counter my last rant against the men’s Olympic hoops team, the women have won the gold. Congrats to them. They showed what a team of determined professionals can do. And they did it with style. We could all learn something from them (I know I could. Especially the style part).

Later.

Although, it isn’t actually Friday night anymore. It’s Saturday morning. If you want to get technical about it. Had a pretty good day today. Things came together pretty well with a big project I’m working on, so that’s good. At least I can relax a little bit this weekend and not think about it so much.

Next week will be shorter as it will be Labor Day Weekend. We will be heading down to Encinitas for some festivities and such with some of the old gang. A BBQ here, a BBQ there, everywhere a BBQ. Food, drink, fun. What more could you ask for? Piece in the middle east? Come on.

Speaking of the middle east, here’s a feel-good one. It seems that their may be a spy in the pentagon. Does he work for some Arab terrorist organization you may ask? No, he’s a spy for out good friend Israel. Isn’t that special?

Some sources say that this “mole” could have been in a position to influence policy during the planning stages before the Iraq war. So that explains it. I was beginning to wonder.

In other news, this is pretty bizarre. Just another reason that I will never smoke or use dip. No funky growths on my back if you please and I will keep the jaw I already have, thank you. I’m quite attached to it.

Last but not least, I really don’t know what to say about this except in a way, I’m glad it happened. Now we can finally put all this “dream team” shit to rest. Those guys were not a team. Just a bunch of spoiled jerks.

I don’t feel sorry for them at all. I feel sorry for the fans who watched this disappointing display. Why they allow professional athletes to compete in the Olympics I still don’t understand. Maybe someone will explain it to me. But for now, let’s all get on with our lives.

Besides, we have more important things to worry about. Kobe’s trial is coming up soon.

Later.

But here on earth, they can. Interesting bit of news. It seems that some of the world’s foremost scientists were interviewed and picked their favorite sci-fi films and sci-fi authors.

“Blade Runner” tops the list of sci-fi films. They are, in order:
1) Blade Runner (1982) — Dir. Ridley Scott
2) 2001: A Space Oddesy(1968) — Dir. Stanley Kubrick
3) Star Wars (1977) / The Empire Strikes Back (1980) — Dir. George Lucas
4) Alien (1979) — Dir. Ridley Scott
5) Solaris (1972) — Dir. Andrei Tarkovsky
6) The Terminator (1984) / Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) — Dir. Jim Cameron
7) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) — Dir. Robert Wise
8) War of the Worlds (1953) — Dir: Byron Haskin
9) The Matrix (1999) Dir: Andy & Larry Wachowski
10) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) — Dir. Steven Spielberg

Pretty close to my own list of top sci-fi films. These are not just good sci-fi films, they are good films in general. Interesting characters, explosive action, good stories, etc. If you have not seen one or more of these, I suggest you take a look.

Also, some other interesting things happened today. Really, probably more important than what I lead with but oh well. Looks like their might be some piece and quiet in Najaf yet. Also, it seems we might have to update those science textbooks and add another planet to our solar system. Pretty good stuff all around.

Later.

The internet was supposed to come crashing down today. But, big shocker, it was all a bunch of bull. It seems our Russian security expert friend has his head stuck in the wrong place or was doing a little media spin for his own ends.

I just wanted to post something here in case it all went away soon. But it seems like it won’t as their are no indications of a large scale attack. Hmm. People trying to get attention by bending the truth or making up stories? That would never happen here. Or, would it?

Also, you may have noticed that I have been fooling around with the design of this here blog. I don’t know how I want it to look, exactly, so it may change again on an infrequent basis. I’m not a web designer or a designer of any kind so I am just feeling my way through the process with the help of a few books and a few friends. So, please bear with me.

More later but until then . . .

Later.

The internet was supposed to come crashing down today. But, big shocker, it was all a bunch of bull. It seems our Russian security expert friend has his head stuck in the wrong place or was doing a little media spin for his own ends.

I just wanted to post something here in case it all went away soon. But it seems like it won’t as their are no indications of a large scale attack. Hmm. People trying to get attention by bending the truth or making up stories? That would never happen here. Or, would it?

Also, you may have noticed that I have been fooling around with the design of this here blog. I don’t know how I want it to look, exactly, so it may change again on an infrequent basis. I’m not a web designer or a designer of any kind so I am just feeling my way through the process with the help of a few books and a few friends. So, please bear with me.

More later but until then . . .

Later.

I’m at Starbucks. What, again? How can this be? Well friends, that’s where the drugs er, I mean . . the . . ah coffee is. So, that’s where I go. Besides, I am currently stealing my friend Tony’s T-Mobile Internet Hotspot account so what the heck. He’s not using it right now so it won’t hurt him. Besides, it’s unlimited so let’s push that limit, dammit! Can you say limewire? I know I can.

Anyway, apparently, the internet is supposed to come crashing down around us on Thursday as a bunch of “terrorists” launch what they like to call “electronic jihad” That has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it. How do we know that it will happen on Thursday? Well, a Russian internet security expert said so. So there.

Isn’t Russia one of the main countries where crackers strike at computers across the internet? Notice please, I used the word “cracker” not “hacker”. And no, I didn’t mean “cracker” as in “red neck” or whatever. I mean “cracker” as in cracker. As in someone who cracks into networks and computers where they don’t belong. Hacker used to have a good connotation but over the years has developed a bum rap. Probably due to that below average movie “Hackers” or maybe even as far back as Matthew Broderick in “War Games”. Although, I really loved “War Games”.

Now a Hacker has to identify himself as a “white hat” or “black hat” or even “grey hat” lest he be lumped into the bad hacker category immedietly. Anyway, i know some hackers and all they ever do is probe and prod to find ways into places so they can inform the people about those vulnerabilities. Not to break into or compromise systems or data.

There is even a poor hacker who did just what I am talking about but is now probably going to jail because of it. Although, what he did wasn’t completely benign. He did add his name to the list of contributors at the New York Times.

Probably not a great idea to use your real name. Oh well, he didn’t actually destroy any data or compromise the system so its a bit of a grey area. I think he deserves a stern talking to but not jail. It’s not like he started “internet jihad” or anything.

So, we will see if the internet is still here come Friday or if we are all offline. What will we do then? Read a book? Go outside? Or, God forbid, talk to other people?

No, I’ll probably just watch TV or something until this “jihad” thing blows over.

Later.

I’m at Starbucks. What, again? How can this be? Well friends, that’s where the drugs er, I mean . . the . . ah coffee is. So, that’s where I go. Besides, I am currently stealing my friend Tony’s T-Mobile Internet Hotspot account so what the heck. He’s not using it right now so it won’t hurt him. Besides, it’s unlimited so let’s push that limit, dammit! Can you say limewire? I know I can.

Anyway, apparently, the internet is supposed to come crashing down around us on Thursday as a bunch of “terrorists” launch what they like to call “electronic jihad” That has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it. How do we know that it will happen on Thursday? Well, a Russian internet security expert said so. So there.

Isn’t Russia one of the main countries where crackers strike at computers across the internet? Notice please, I used the word “cracker” not “hacker”. And no, I didn’t mean “cracker” as in “red neck” or whatever. I mean “cracker” as in cracker. As in someone who cracks into networks and computers where they don’t belong. Hacker used to have a good connotation but over the years has developed a bum rap. Probably due to that below average movie “Hackers” or maybe even as far back as Matthew Broderick in “War Games”. Although, I really loved “War Games”.

Now a Hacker has to identify himself as a “white hat” or “black hat” or even “grey hat” lest he be lumped into the bad hacker category immedietly. Anyway, i know some hackers and all they ever do is probe and prod to find ways into places so they can inform the people about those vulnerabilities. Not to break into or compromise systems or data.

There is even a poor hacker who did just what I am talking about but is now probably going to jail because of it. Although, what he did wasn’t completely benign. He did add his name to the list of contributors at the New York Times.

Probably not a great idea to use your real name. Oh well, he didn’t actually destroy any data or compromise the system so its a bit of a grey area. I think he deserves a stern talking to but not jail. It’s not like he started “internet jihad” or anything.

So, we will see if the internet is still here come Friday or if we are all offline. What will we do then? Read a book? Go outside? Or, God forbid, talk to other people?

No, I’ll probably just watch TV or something until this “jihad” thing blows over.

Later.

It’s still Tuesday. At least for another hour and a half. We just came from a great dinner at Border Grill. It was fun. It was also fun when one of the ladies that owns the place, Susan, came to the table to see if everything was going ok. That was a nice touch and made the wife feel special and look cool to her High School buddies.

Plus, they sent over two giant plates of every dessert. They were all fantastic but I especially liked the Pastel Rufina, which is layers of puff pastry, sweetened cream cheese, chocolate chunks, and fresh berries. Man, that was good.

Anyway, here’s a few tech tidbits of news and stuff to get you through the night:

The fantastic people at the MPAA are suing two microchip makers, alleging they sold their products to makers of equipment that can be used to illegally copy DVDs.

Also, students at Northern Illinois University are testing a legal file downloading service. It is made by Ruckus Network, and was developed by a group of MIT students. NIU pays 5$ a month per student, and the students can get music, movies, TV shows, local content and community features.

John Dvorak over at ABC News is starting to question if it’s time to kill Microsoft Word. With Viable options like Open Office.org available for Windows and Mac OSX, as well as AbiWord and others, do we really need this bloatware anymore? I still use it but only because I already have it and I get it for free. If I didn’t, I would take a hard look at Open Office for sure.

Apple has issued a recall for Powerbook batteries. If you have a 15″ Powerbook, be sure to check and see if yours is affected and get it replaced.

Lastly, if you are searching for great Mac deals, Wired has a story about dealmac, a site devoted to finding the best deal on everything Mac. To be fair, their is also a great site devoted to the Windows PC and other tech bargains. Check it out here.

Oh, one more thing. The Iraqi soccer team still has a chance to win a medal at the Olympics. They play Italy on Friday night to see who gets the bronze medal. Count the seconds before the Bush Campaign uses this in a commercial, especially if they do end up winning a medal. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Gotta have the political fix.

That’s all I can do right now. John Stewart has John Kerry on The Daily Show tonight. I don’t want to miss a minute of that. Although, ever vigilant TiVo will certainly record it.

Later.

It’s still Tuesday. At least for another hour and a half. We just came from a great dinner at Border Grill. It was fun. It was also fun when one of the ladies that owns the place, Susan, came to the table to see if everything was going ok. That was a nice touch and made the wife feel special and look cool to her High School buddies.

Plus, they sent over two giant plates of every dessert. They were all fantastic but I especially liked the Pastel Rufina, which is layers of puff pastry, sweetened cream cheese, chocolate chunks, and fresh berries. Man, that was good.

Anyway, here’s a few tech tidbits of news and stuff to get you through the night:

The fantastic people at the MPAA are suing two microchip makers, alleging they sold their products to makers of equipment that can be used to illegally copy DVDs.

Also, students at Northern Illinois University are testing a legal file downloading service. It is made by Ruckus Network, and was developed by a group of MIT students. NIU pays 5$ a month per student, and the students can get music, movies, TV shows, local content and community features.

John Dvorak over at ABC News is starting to question if it’s time to kill Microsoft Word. With Viable options like Open Office.org available for Windows and Mac OSX, as well as AbiWord and others, do we really need this bloatware anymore? I still use it but only because I already have it and I get it for free. If I didn’t, I would take a hard look at Open Office for sure.

Apple has issued a recall for Powerbook batteries. If you have a 15″ Powerbook, be sure to check and see if yours is affected and get it replaced.

Lastly, if you are searching for great Mac deals, Wired has a story about dealmac, a site devoted to finding the best deal on everything Mac. To be fair, their is also a great site devoted to the Windows PC and other tech bargains. Check it out here.

Oh, one more thing. The Iraqi soccer team still has a chance to win a medal at the Olympics. They play Italy on Friday night to see who gets the bronze medal. Count the seconds before the Bush Campaign uses this in a commercial, especially if they do end up winning a medal. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Gotta have the political fix.

That’s all I can do right now. John Stewart has John Kerry on The Daily Show tonight. I don’t want to miss a minute of that. Although, ever vigilant TiVo will certainly record it.

Later.