Tuesday, December 28, 2004

World's Worst Natual Disaster

Please help if you can. The scope of this event is staggering and words are not nearly enough to tell just how bad things are. The death toll has climbed over 50,000 and they're still counting. It could easily double by the time they find all the bodies and determine the fate of the missing. In addition, millions have been left homeless and without a way to feed themselves, find safe drinking water or get access to basic sanitary facilities. Homes, farms, businesses, cars & trucks, work places, equipment and boats for fishing and much, much more have all been destroyed, literally shattered and washed away.

Medical supplies are scarce or nonexistent and there are so many bodies that it's impossible to bury the dead in a timely way. This in turn is going to lead to an outbreak of Cholera and other diseases and thousands more will suffer and die.

I can't say this strongly enough. If you have even one dollar to spare please see that it gets to a relief organization. The International Red Cross is one option. They have issued an appeal for funds and will gladly accept any help they can get. Also, the effects of this will be felt for a long time to come so if you happen to read this item six months or two years from now, there are still plenty of people who need help and it's not too late for you to do something.

Monday, December 27, 2004

comScore: Our Monitor Isn't Spyware � MarketingVOX

Links in this piece lead to more info and a broader view of the issues involved. Included is the original report, a CNET News piece, (they use the comScore service), and EarthLink's stance on the definition of spyware. They include tracking cookies.
comScore: Our Monitor Isn't Spyware � MarketingVOX

Friday, December 24, 2004

Controversial 'Bush Monkeys' painting transforms young artist

From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: >>The following Saturday, Turco said, "I got a call and they told me, 'You need to take down this show today, otherwise we're seizing the art and you're going to get arrested.'"<< Turco is the organizer of an art show that displayed 'Bush Monkeys'. I wish he had named the caller who threatened to seize the art and have him arrested because the idea is absurd. Arrested on what charges? And who has the right to seize private property just because they don't like it? The name of the artist is Chris Savido. Check out his web site. Controversial 'Bush Monkeys' painting transforms young artist

Thursday, December 23, 2004

ComScore: Spyware or 'researchware'? | CNET News.com

This is used by corporations and universities among others. According to CNET News '...the software is in the privacy spotlight, tied to warnings from some universities and computer security experts about secretive and invasive software, sometimes known as adware or spyware, that can take over a PC with little or no warning. The company that makes it says, "There's a small group of people in universities who've taken it upon themselves to take an issue with our software," said Dan Hess, senior vice president of industry analysis at ComScore. "We're trying to make them fully aware of the nature of our (products and services). It's a completely voluntary program." The company would prefer the term 'researchware'. More on this as it develops.
ComScore: Spyware or 'researchware'? | CNET News.com

Worst spyware queues up | CNET News.com

This talks about the worst of the worst spyware. There's also a link to a ten worst list.
Worst spyware queues up | CNET News.com

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Friday, December 17, 2004

Back For Real This Time

I'm back. A huge computer blowup that eventually led to my getting a new machine is over. For the most part. I still have files to recover from the old one and I need to figure out how to restore my Sharp Reader subscriptions, (I didn't have them backed up to an .opml file), but that will all get done. In the meantime I can get back to grazing the news and whatever else.

Sunday, December 05, 2004

Wikimedia

It's useful, it has a lot of potential and it's growing every day. This is a good look at what it's all about.

Saturday, December 04, 2004

From An Arab Point Of View

Photos and commentary - Plus selected works of Claude Monet.

Cool Photo Blog

From J. Gilbert, a lot of natural subjects. The world as I see it

From Fender Guitars To Hand Made Chairs

An upgrade to the classic Harvard Chair. They look great and they're for sale.

Butt Boot Camp

Before you get too excited, it's about making a wheelchair more comfortable. From WheelchairJunkie.com

I just Googled Butt Boot Camp. For some reason there's a lot of references to Martians in the results.

Bye Bye Basic Freedoms

I think George III and the Red Coats were into some of this stuff. Which is why the authors of the Constitution made sure point out the fundamental injustice of such practices and to make them illegal. Now George XXXXIII wants to bring them back.
From Andrew Sullivan via The Regular

Wednesday, December 01, 2004

Agency presses Bush to broaden rights for the disabled

An independent federal agency wants President Bush to propose changes in the nation's landmark disability act, citing Supreme Court decisions it says have reduced the status of disabled people "to that of second-class citizens."

Here's an opportunity for President Bush to help all those disabled voters who supported him.
Boston.com / News / Politics / Presidential candidates / George W. Bush / Agency presses Bush to broaden rights for the disabled

Schwarzenegger Torpedos Honesty In Business Supporters

CALPERS advocates for better corporate governance and corporate reform. For this the president of the board makes enemies in business and political circles and next thing you know he's on the way out.  Calpers president loses post; Schwarzenegger blamed - Financial - Specialty Finance - Financial Services - Mutual Funds - Newsmakers - SEC

Sunday, November 28, 2004

Henan, the blighted landHan/

From The Asia Times Online: I started a Google News Alert on Henan Province because I wanted to follow the Han/Hui tensions but there's a lot more, (understatement), going on there. This article gives a good overview.
Asia Times Online - News from greater China; Hong Kong and Taiwan

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Had To Look Again

I got an e-mail ad from Gateway, 'Spreading joy, One Box at a Time'. At first I thought it was pornspam.

Saturday, November 20, 2004

'Evangelical Christianity Has Been Hijacked'

From BeliefNet.com via barefootbelladonna:  An Evangelical minister speaks out.


Well, there's a difference between evangelical and being a part of the Religious Right. A significant proportion of the evangelical community is part of the Religious Right. My purpose in writing the book was to communicate loud and clear that I felt that evangelical Christianity had been hijacked.

When did it become anti-feminist? When did evangelical Christianity become anti-gay? When did it become supportive of capital punishment? Pro-war? When did it become so negative towards other religious groups?


barefootbelladonna | blog

Disability Around The World

From Botswana:  a group of epileptics was joined on the dance floor by two wheelchair-bound boys to jive to the kwasa kwasa number.
Latest News - Republic of Botswana: "
[09 February 2004]"

Wiener Wuns Wild

Wheelchair-bound dog gets disability pass


"It's not as though a crippled, middle-aged, little wiener dog poses a menace to the public," his owner told reporters.

Denied Disability Claims

The settlement resolves issues relating to investigations into UnumProvident's claims handling practices. The investigations focused on assertions that UnumProvident had inappropriately denied claims for benefits under individual and group long-term disability insurance policies.

The settlement announced today requires UnumProvident and its subsidiaries: (1) to reassess approximately 200,000 claims that previously had been denied; (2) to completely restructure their claim handling procedures to ensure objectivity and fairness; and (3) to pay a $15 million fine.
Unum Provident Agrees to Review Denied Disability Claims

Back With This Exciting News

After a week offline and sans computer, thanks to a dead motherboard, I'm back with this from Search Engine Watch Blog. Excited? Try to contain yourself.

A good idea? Yes! Shortcuts can save a searcher time, clicks, and aggravation. They can also help by leading the searcher to high quality info and also allow companies (Time Warner and Yahoo are examples) to leverage content and promo other services they provide.

Search shortcuts might also also offer an early glimpse at how web engines will become answer engines (for certain types of queries) in the future.



The piece is called, 'AOL Joins Search Shortcuts Game'

Saturday, November 13, 2004

It's too early for this much snow


Last Snow Picture Posted by Hello

It looks more like January out there.

This is going to go on your PERMANENT RECORD

In the old days that was just a canard. There was no actual permanent record. Now...the names of these kids and related parties are going to be enshrined in some database for a very long time to come.
ABC News: School Talent Show Draws Secret Service

Friday, November 12, 2004

Bush catches right off guard with Gonzales pick

Gonzales is making the far right unhappy or at least apprehensive, so that's good. But he's still a Bush insider and that's not so good.
By Peter Roff
UPI Senior Political Analyst

The Snow Makes Gains Posted by Hello

Blame The Lawyers For What The Doctors Did

A guy goes to a doctor for a problem. The doctor makes the wrong diagnosis or screws up the treatment and the man suffers permanent injury. So the man hires a lawyer to sue the doctor. Tell me again why the lawyer is the problem here.

First Snow Posted by Hello

First Snow Of The Season

It's sticking on the bare ground but that's it.

Your Worth As A Human Being Is Determined By How Much It Costs To Keep You Around

It says so in the Constitution. Well, if it doesn't now it will soon. All that compassion talk was just to get elected. Too bad Lauren but you're a budget buster.
Rising Hegemon: She is not White & Pregnant so naturally Bushopia Doesn't Give a Shit

Microsoft's Google-killer arrives with a 'whuh?' | The Register

It starts as a review of MSN Beta Search, (he pans it), but ends up as a thought provoking piece on the non technical aspects of what would really make search engines more useful.

From Andrew Orlowski of The Register: If the cult of "information" is as important as technophiliacs tell us it is, we need to develop social mechanisms, not fancier search engines, to get us to the Holy Land. Don't look to the privatized information scavengers of the web for answers.
Microsoft's Google-killer arrives with a 'whuh?' | The Register

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Willoughby

Well I was half right.

Post Paradise

I read this story and I started thinking about the old Twilight Zone episode where a man is traveling to a town called Willoughby. If I remember it right Willoughby is his idea of heaven. Nalcrest might be a modern version.
Times Argus

Now I really really need the name of that bad writing contest

This is old but I just found it.

"The late-afternoon skies over lower downtown Denver were Stygian dark
and Tartarean dreary, as had been the Rockies in the series with the
omnipotent Yankees, when Todd Zeile approached the plate in the
culmination of the 10th inning, and there was a fulmination and
fulguration of thunder and lightning."
Woody Paige; A Ruthian Victory For the Locals; The Denver Post;
Jun 21, 2002.



As Cary Grant said in His Girl Friday, "Kick him down the stairs and tell him his poetry stinks."

Monday, November 08, 2004

Foodgoat ... something tasty every day: I know my anger

Another angle on the religious right.
Foodgoat ... something tasty every day: I know my anger

Relevancy of Google Ads from AdSense

There seems to be a 24 hour delay for the ads to suit the topics. I posted about students yesterday and that has been reflected today. Before that, last Friday's posts generated ads for criminal defense attorneys and incarceration at home.

0 Comments

I'm thinking of changing the blog name to 0 Comments. Whaddya think? Maybe it's already taken.

Quote Of The Month

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however
improbable, must be the truth. - Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930

This statement lies at the heart of the Sherlock Holmes methodology and you know what a whiz kid he was.

Sunday, November 07, 2004

Disability Bill a disgrace and must be withdrawn

From Politics.ie in Ireland

"Another major problem with this legislation is that it exempts the private sector from accessibility obligations. This is in direct contradiction of the recommendations of the Commission on Disability. And it all but lets the public sector off the hook ?giving it 10 years to fulfil its obligations.

Politics.ie - Disability Bill a disgrace and must be withdrawn

In California they're taking a different tack towards deferring or avoiding altogether accessibility obligations.

Students With Disabilities Invited to Apply

Students With Disabilities Invited to Apply for
Congressional Internship Program

Deadline: December 15, 2004

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation and the
American Association of People with Disabilities
( http://aapd-dc.org/ ) are offering, for the fourth
consecutive summer, a congressional internship program
for undergraduate students with disabilities.

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation-AAPD
Congressional Internship Program was created to provide
an opportunity for students with disabilities to work
on Capitol Hill for eight weeks and acquire valuable
work experience that will enrich their academic studies.
As congressional interns, participants gain insight into
congressional office operations, public policy develop-
ment, and constituents' roles in the legislative and
political processes.

Undergraduate students studying at a college or univer-
sity who, at the time of application, are first-semester
sophomores through second-semester juniors are eligible
to complete an official application. Applicants must be
U.S. citizens.

Selected participants will receive a $1,500 stipend to be
disbursed in three installments throughout the internship
period. Transportation expenses to and from Washington,
D.C., will be reimbursed by AAPD. Accessible housing will
also be provided, free-of-charge, to each intern. Academic
credit may be arranged.

Applications can be obtained by visiting the AAPD Web
site.

RFP Link:
http://aapd-dc.org/internships/congress/MEAF05/MEAFinternship05.html

Is it me or is it Blogger?

An Offering of Myself to The World: Is it me or is it Blogger?

It's Blogger!!

Saturday, November 06, 2004

Vintage Poster Classics France, Vintage Automobile Posters

All about Lithography, production of vintage advertising posters, and tips for potential buyers. Good stuff! Graphics and text.
Vintage Poster Classics France, Vintage Automobile Posters

Mail Art Postcard Exhibition

More Mail Art.
Mail Art Postcard Exhibition

A.1.Mail Art Archive

Art sent through the mail, postcards, envelopes and the like. There's some great stuff here. It's also at Flickr.com - search for 'mailart' tag.
A.1.Mail Art Archive

From Web Pages That Suck

" This new, evil form of navigation has moved from trendy design sites to the corporate world and it must be stopped because it violates the first rule of navigation: clearly show people where to go."

This is all very well but what if you don't want people to know where they're going?

Web Pages That Suck learn usability and good Web design by looking at bad Web design

Web Pages That Suck learn usability and good Web design by looking at bad Web design

Paintball Makes A Splash In Iran

Financing was another big hurdle. Despite the fact that paintball is now a multi-billion dollar business, he encountered great reluctance among many Iranians to take a chance on the project.

"Many people thought I was crazy. They prefer to make their money from speculating on real estate," he said.

Paintball makes a splash in Iran - Persian Journal Latest Iran news & Iranian Article News paper

Also from the article - "But once I played I realized it has nothing to do with war. It's a high-intensity, strategic, take-it-all team game. And I realized I was a natural player," he said.

Hunting and targetting have nothing to do wit war????????

Friday, November 05, 2004

Evolution, Creation Collide in Federal Court (Again)

Manely said the Cobb school district is one of dozens across the nation that are bowing to pressure to omit or remove evolution from high-school science curricula or, alternatively, include religious-based teachings in academic coursework. "We are," he said, "just the tip of the iceberg."
Evolution, Creation Collide in Federal Court (Again)

Read Books, Get Brain

Oops!
Yahoo! News - Read a Book, Get Oral Sex?

Country Clubbing

Event organizer Sandy Juarez, 39, was accused of providing the prostitutes. In a deal with prosecutors, she pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to corrupt public morals and testified against Hidden Valley Golf Club general manager Jason Wood, 38, and his former assistant, Darren James Bollinger, 30. The pair pleaded guilty in July to the same charge.

All three were sentenced to 125 days of house arrest.

Two golfers have been convicted of engaging in prostitution, and the mother of the 16-year-old prostitute is charged with child endangerment and prostitution.
Yahoo! News - 3 Sentenced for Golf Prostitution Events

The Onion | U.S. Inspires World With Attempt At Democratic Election

"Despite the specter of corruption in 2000, and even though the procedural problems which surfaced during the previous election were never remedied, the American people chose to put their faith in the system once again this year," said Joseph Mtume, a Kenyan diplomat who traveled to Ohio to view America's democratic proceedings.
The Onion | U.S. Inspires World With Attempt At Democratic Election

Fear of ethnic uprising haunts Beijing

A police loudspeaker van cruises slowly through the village. "If you broke the law, go to the police station and give yourself up voluntarily," the amplified voice says. "The penalties will be less."
Fear of ethnic uprising haunts Beijing - World - www.smh.com.au

Thursday, November 04, 2004

I Got Your Free Lap Top Right Here

Some of these Google ads leave a lot to be desired.

WOW! Wired on Wheels - More Dead Than Alive

Interesting site designed to help people with disabilities find accessible restaurants. This is done through a system of posted reviews. But good luck finding out if you can get your wheel chair in or if there's a braille menu because while there are lots of places listed very few of them have reviews and the whole thing is virtually useless. Good news for those in Boston though, if you like Chinese, Grand Chau Chow is reasonably accessible and the food is terrific. Try the clams in black bean sauce.
WOW! Wired on Wheels

Jacques Derrida


derrida1
Originally uploaded by Candlemaker.
Please pardon our appearance while we undergo deconstruction.

Guardian Unlimited Books | Obituaries | Obituary: Jacques Derrida

Flickr

This is a test post from flickr, a fancy photo sharing thing.

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Three Black Watch soldiers dead

They were there for about a week.
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Three Black Watch soldiers dead

Umair Haque's Bubblegeneration - The Strategy and Economics of Innovation

The First World is the New Third World (Rapture Ready Edition)

"...Which raises the question: Can a people that believes more fervently in the Virgin Birth than in evolution still be called an Enlightened nation?

America, the first real democracy in history, was a product of Enlightenment values - critical intelligence, tolerance, respect for evidence, a regard for the secular sciences. Though the founders differed on many things, they shared these values of what was then modernity. They addressed "a candid world," as they wrote in the Declaration of Independence, out of "a decent respect for the opinions of mankind." Respect for evidence seems not to pertain any more, when a poll taken just before the elections showed that 75 percent of Mr. Bush's supporters believe Iraq either worked closely with Al Qaeda or was directly involved in the attacks of 9/11.....


-- umair // 5:43 PM //

Umair Haque's Bubblegeneration - The Strategy and Economics of Innovation

Annan sees war crimes indications in Darfur

Boston.com / News / World / Africa / Annan sees war crimes indications in Darfur

Follow up on tensions between Hui and Han - Henan Province

Taipei Times - archives

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Tech Policy Outlook

From The Washington Post Tech Policy And Security e-mail newsletter.

The Less Things Change, the More They Stay the Same


When it comes to Congress and technology policy, welcome to at least two more years of the same old thing. The House of Representatives certainly didn't disappoint pundits' predictions that there would be little movement in most districts. That means the House will continue to pursue a pro-business agenda on technology issues that seeks tax credits a go-go, free trade, intellectual property laws that favor the entertainment industry and laws that try to rein in spyware and other attempts to perpetrate electronic fraud -- as long as they don't put too much of a dent in the tech industry's revenue.

As for the Senate, the pending departure of Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (S.D.) after losing his race to Republican John Thune could signal a new approach to handling tech policy issues in the "upper house" of Congress. It's hard to say at this early date what that will mean for tech bills overall.

One item of interest: Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) probably won't have to put so much faith in persuading his moderate GOP colleagues to support him on controversial bills if the Republican majority widens. With a Republican House and the continued likelihood of a second Bush term, it would be interesting to see whether this would spur any action on the Internet tax debate.

– Robert MacMillan, washingtonpost.com Tech Policy Editor

Welsh beaches cleaner than ever

BBC NEWS | Wales | Welsh beaches cleaner than ever

Chamber music in the living room

What a great idea!
BBC NEWS | Wales | South West Wales | Chamber music in the living room

Monday, November 01, 2004

Learn to use TTY

Greater Boston Chapter of Self Help for Hard of Hearing invites you
to a MassRelay presentation by Joan Marcoux of Sprint (Relay NH).
She will discuss the telecommunication relay services and the
various ways one may utilize the relay operators.


Monday November 8
7:00PM to 9:00PM
Behrakis Health Sciences Building
Northeastern University
Room 325
30 Leon Street, Boston MA

The Onion | Republicans Urge Minorities To Get Out And Vote On Nov. 3

'Don't Forget Big Wednesday!'
The Onion | Republicans Urge Minorities To Get Out And Vote On Nov. 3

Bin Laden In Pakistan?

Sounds like he could be. Not that this is news. It's been a pretty good bet all along.Daily Times - Site Edition

Civil Liberterian Andrew Somers Endorses Kerry

"Aside from being an inept and incompetent leader, Bush and his Naziesque Attorney General John Ashcroft, are this nation's worst enemy. They have destroyed civil liberty and freedom, worked to expand governmental powers, invade privacy, and dispense with due process. There is no matter more pressing for any self respecting civil liberties advocate than seeing them out of office. Now."
Civil Liberty Endorsement for President

Bush Alienates Almost Everyone

eTaiwanNews.com/China blasts Bush as 'arrogant' ahead of presidential poll

Brilliant Bush Campaign Strategy

Announce a large scale decisive attack to dampen your opponents criticisms and allow yourself to point to your actions but schedule it so close to the election that the results of any action, or lack thereof, will not be known till after the election. Promises, promises, this is a lot like Bush standing under the Mission Accomplished banner which he later disavowed. Let's get this guy out of office.
Times Online - World

Election Tampering Around The World

.....claims that aside from obstructions and dirty tricks, the government mounted massive fraud at many of the 33,000 polling stations. It says ballot boxes were stuffed and genuine official tallies for voting were switched after intimidation or bribery of local officials.
News

Bin Laden Speaks

He also said al Qaeda has found it "easy for us to provoke and bait this administration." One more reason to vote Kerry and get Bush out of office.
CNN.com - Bin Laden: Goal is to bankrupt U.S. - Nov 1, 2004

Moog - A film by Hans Fjellestad

In theaters now, coming to Boston and other places and available soon/now? on DVD.
See the trailer

Portal for Work Abroad, Overseas Travel, Study Abroad and International Living.

Live and work around the world.
Portal for Work Abroad, Overseas Travel, Study Abroad and International Living.

China Provinces, Autonomous Regions and Municipalities

Almanac type of information with links to maps and more.
China Provinces, Autonomous Regions and Municipalities

Henan Province

Henan Province is the most populous province in China thanks to separating Chongqing from Sichuan. Henan is the breadbasket of China. It ranks first in the production of wheat, beef, and fiber crops. It ranks second in the production of coal, cigarettes, fertilizer, tractors, peanuts, sesame, gold, and cotton. It ranks third in the production of beans, tobacco, apples, pork, mutton, and honey. Zhengzhou, the capital, is the most important rail center in China. Henan has China's largest reserves of molybdenum, asbestos, natural gas, bauxite, coal, perlite and refractory clay. We lived in Xinzheng just south of Zhengzhou for a year.
Google Image Result for http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Provinces/Province-Henan-map.jpg

ABC News: Chinese Police Patrol After Deadly Riots

Han majority clashes with Hui Muslim minority, (approx. 90% Han - 10% Hui)
ABC News: Chinese Police Patrol After Deadly Riots

Silver Wagon: Put on your Red Sox

Problem or solution???????
From Silver Wagon    >>So here we are in 2004, another year in which the U.S. is plagued with problems. ....and the news that "A quadriplegic man succeeded in checking email and playing computer games via a microchip embedded in his brain (source)" are just two of the smaller ones.<<

Silver Wagon: Put on your Red Sox

TaylorTree

Stock market and more on this blog.
TaylorTree

Got the Flu? Blame the Free Market (washingtonpost.com)

What happens after that is left up to the market. And these days the market does not provide much incentive for anybody to make flu vaccine and try to sell it.

Merck & Co. abandoned the business almost 20 years ago. Wyeth pulled out last year after throwing away about one-third of the flu vaccine it made for the 2002-03 season because it didn't sell.

That leaves just three companies in the business -- Aventis Pasteur Inc., Chiron Corp. (the company whose entire output for the United States had to be destroyed because of contamination) and MedImmune Inc. of Gaithersburg, the region's biggest biotech company. Got the Flu? Blame the Free Market (washingtonpost.com)

Friday, October 29, 2004

Technology News: News: Stress Disrupts Brain Function, Yale Study Finds

Some forms of stress can produce an enzyme that interferes with short-term memory and other higher brain functions, according to an article appearing Friday in the magazine Science.

The enzyme is protein kinase C (PKC), the same substance that has previously been implicated in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, according to the Yale University study.
Technology News: News: Stress Disrupts Brain Function, Yale Study Finds

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Bill B

We said a lot of things we shouldn’t have. Please forgive us and come back. RSN

Monday, October 25, 2004

It would be funny if it weren't true

Q. What's the difference between the Vietnam War and the Iraq War?
A. George W. Bush had a plan to get out of the Vietnam War.

Sunday, October 24, 2004

Blogger is F....d!

Trying to republish for the last fifteen minutes. All it does is spin in a circle. If Yahoo or Google started off like this you would never have heard of either one of them.

Senators concerned about report CIA secretly removed detainees from Iraq

''These conventions and these rules are in place for a reason because you get on a slippery slope and you don't know where to get off,'' McCain, R-Ariz., told ABC's ''This Week.''
>>The problem with slippery slopes is not that you don't know where to get off. The problem is that you can't get off because you can't stop sliding.<<
Boston.com / News / Washington / Senators concerned about report CIA secretly removed detainees from Iraq

Sunday, October 17, 2004

Saturday, October 16, 2004


Mile Long Beach - Dennis, MA Posted by Hello

Picasa and Hello

I've just put these two things in and they're working smoothly. Posting pics to the blog with Hello is easy. I'm going to try Flickr too.

A Shop Window In Provincetown Posted by Hello

Kite Flying Down The Cape Posted by Hello

Mary's Silence On Lesbian Squabble

This is the best thing I've read on this whole Cheney thing. Not that it matters much, if you're voting for President based on this particular issue you're a moron.
Gay News From 365Gay.com

Cheney Bodice Ripper

Late at night she would read some of the steamier passages to Dick just to see how he would react.
Mrs. Cheney Not Always So Enraged By Lesbianism

Friday, October 15, 2004

Pusillanimous Wanker II

A really unwieldy title, sounds like it might be British, (wanker) and it looks like there are two of them - or maybe it's just a family name. Could be he has brothers named Servile and Prodigious. Content is political concerning Iraq and the Presidential race. Worth looking at.
Pusillanimous Wanker II

They say free so many times it makes me suspicious

"100% Free To Join" Hmmm!
Need more traffic to your BLOG? Join BlogExplosion.com the internet's largest BLOG traffic generator! 100% FREE! - BlogExplosion.com

Sanford Wallace

Remember that name.
From the Washington Post TechNews.com Tech Policy/Security Weekly e-mail newsletter

Hawking Spyware


The Federal Trade Commission has defined the apex of "online chutzpah," and its name is Sanford Wallace. The one-time "spam king" who in the 1990s pioneered the use of bulk e-mail in trying to ruin our online lives is back again. This time he, along with two companies, is facing FTC charges that he duped Internet users into buying anti-spyware programs by installing spyware on their computers without their consent.

The spyware, the FTC said in its lawsuit, would open the computer's CD-ROM tray and display a message on the monitor that read: "FINAL WARNING!! If your cd-rom drive(s) is open you DESPERATELY NEED to rid your system of spyware pop-ups IMMEDIATELY!" Consumers who responded to the message were prompted to buy programs called Spy Wiper or Spy Deleter for about $30 each.

The lawsuit, filed last week in the U.S. District Court in New Hampshire, does not say whether the anti-spyware programs really cleaned up other spyware software. Sometimes spyware pop-up ads urge people to download anti-spyware programs that in turn insert ... you guessed it, spyware, on their computers. There is also no word yet on how many victims bought into the scheme.

The House of Representatives, meanwhile, passed two bills that would punish spyware purveyors with fines and up to five years in jail. Those bills still require Senate approval and so far the Senate's leading spyware man, Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), favors legislation of his own.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

I'm being spammed I guess. This page has opened in my Mozilla browser at least ten times this morning.
Lifestyle & Wellness | AHealthyMe.com

Insurance Reform Needed More Than Tort Reform??

Second, medical malpractice insurance premiums rose much faster in 2002 and 2003 than was justified by insurance payouts. These price hikes were not connected to actual payouts, jury verdicts or the legal system. Rather, they reflect dropping interest rates and losses experienced by the insurance industry's market investments.

According to Joanne Doroshow, executive director of the Center for Justice & Democracy and AIR co-founder, "These findings undermine one of the central claims of interest groups who seek to blame the legal system for doctors' insurance woes. In fact, the study shows that the causes of, and solutions to, this crisis lie not with the legal system (i.e., "tort reform") but with reforming regulation of the insurance industry, which has been unfairly charging doctors excessive rates to make up for their own investment losses."

According to Study, Insurers Continue to Price-Gouge Doctors Despite Falling Med-Mal Payouts

Chris will rock the Oscars

This is great news!!!!!!!!
Chris will rock the Oscars

Thursday, October 14, 2004

How long does a news link last??

I link to a lot of news stories and would like to be able to go back and refer others back as time passes. This is so I can do follow ups days, weeks or months later, but if the links have expired the system won't work. Can anyone comment, point to more info or ideas?

The Peach

Read the item called Faux News.


Remember Karen Ryan, the phony PR-exec-cum-journalist who appeared in pseudo-news video segments by the Bush administration, promoting its Medicare legislation in a way that Congress found constituted political propaganda in violation of federal law?

She's B-A-A-A-A-CK! That's right, this week The Bush administration was busy promoting the No Child Left Behind Act with a video, featuring Ms. Ryan, that many local TV stations ran unchallenged, as a legitimate news story.......
The Peach

time the dreaded enemy

A UK perspective on events related to the Iraq mess. Also local political issues.
time the dreaded enemy

What's the name of that bad writing contest?

I'd like to make a nomination.
>>THE WIND WAS PUSHING AGAINST THE BACK DOOR LIKE AN IRRITABLE DOG GROWLING TO BE LET OUT BEFORE LEAKING ALL OVER THE FLOOR THAT LATE SUMMER AFTERNOON.
THE WHIRLING SOUND OF THE WINDMILL BLADES WAS DEAFINING AS IT STOOD STEADFAST, IT'S CHEEK TO THE ANGER OF THE STORM ABOUT TO BATTER THE LAND. THE FRESHLY WASHED WHITE SHEETS AND PA'S BIB OVERALLS FLAPPING ON THE CLOTHES LINE LOOKED LIKE KEYS ON A PIANO AS THE WIND STROKED THEM REPEATEDLY IN UNISON WITH THE SOUND FROM THE WINDMILL . EVEN MA'S CHICKENS TOOK TO ROOSTIN EARLIER THAN USUAL BUT NOT WITHOUT A LITTLE COAXING FROM WOOF AS GRANPA WHEELBARROWED IN SOME FRESH HAY FOR THEIR NESTS; OL WOOF SEEMED TO ENJOY ROUNDIN UP THE GIRLS AND MADE SURE EVERY ONE OF EM WAS WHERE THEY WUZ SUPPOSED TO BE BEFORE GRANPA SHUT THE HEN HOUSE DOOR FOR THE NIGHT......I CAN HEAR GRANPA WHISTLING AND TALKING TO THAT OLD BLACK DOG THEY CALLED WOOF AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY BACK TO THE HOUSE, BUT NOT BEFORE HE WALKED AROUND AND CHECKED ON THE COWS AND THE RABBITS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE SECURE FOR THE NIGHT... <<

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

The Web: 'Bots' pushing poll results - (United Press International)

...Bots now make it even easier to do, experts said. They even can participate in online polls, or generate news stories based on poll results, rather than reflect actual public sentiment.

What's one voice against a million bots? How could it ever be heard?

Saturday, October 09, 2004

Just A Bunch Of Happy Idiots

Red Sox relaxed as they prepare for ALCS.

"[Friday] when I walked to the food room, I had a good feeling," Francona said. "Most teams, they're watching Hoosiers. I walk in the food room and there's John Belushi smashing the guitar over somebody's head in Animal House. They're right where they need to be."



Spam Spam Spam Spam

Wonderful spam! This has nothing to do with Monty Python but I'm linking just cause they're so good. Spam in this case refers to the constant barrage of lies, half truths, distortions, absurdities, and sometimes just plain disgusting garbage that arrives in my inbox. Today I got one from a porn site, "Here is 30 free adult links for free Porn to get you started this bright and shinny morning." Apparently they're offering a way for you to shinny up your own pole. So to speak.

And While The Spotlight Shines On Stewart

Coverage of people who committed and people who are alleged to have committed crimes that dwarf Stewart’s are relegated to the business section.Here’s the latest on the good folks from Enron.


And then there’s Richard Scrushy lately of Health South. From The Birmingham Times here's a snipppet and a link to an excerpt from Scrushy's latest indictment.

Indictment of Richard Scrushy

An excerpt between Scrushy and former HealthSouth executives Bill Owens and Ken Livesay
Thursday, September 30, 2004

The following is an excerpt of a recorded conversation that prosecutors say involved Richard Scrushy, then CEO of HealthSouth; Bill Owens, then HealthSouth's chief financial officer; and Ken Livesay, then assistant controller. The conversation is included in a new indictment and makes up part of the evidence in a new obstruction of justice charge against Scrushy. The ellipses are as they appear in the indictment.

Scrushy: I'm okay. I'm gonna talk, talk to y'all just real, this conversation did not take place. Okay?

Owens: I understand.

Friday, October 08, 2004

Stewart Imprisoned

Martha Stewart began her well deserved, according to judge and jury, 5 month prison sentence today and as usual the media was rock hard with excitement. I make it a point to skip the Stewart coverage because as far as I’m concerned it’s ninety eight percent a gossip story. But I did happen to see Rehema Ellis on MSNBC. She did a live shot outside the prison and among other things reported that “it was dark before dawn”. Sure glad I didn’t miss that.

Thursday, October 07, 2004

And Speaking Of Good Writing

From Raymond Chandler - A transplanted Brit who became an American original. I hit on this through Stumbleupon the other day. If you've never read Chandler you have some catching up to do.

'It was one of those clear, bright summer mornings we get in the early spring in California before the high fog sets in. The rains are over, the hills are still green and in the valley across the Hollywood Hills you can see snow on the high mountains. The fur stores are advertising their annual sales. The call houses that specialize in sixteen year-old virgins are doing a land-office business. And in Beverly Hills the jacaranda trees are beginning to bloom.'

Sashinka in London and environs

Intelligent commentary, good writing.
sashinka | observation orientated, with a twist of lime

Guardian Unlimited Politics | Special Reports | My trip to Ukipland

Meet the UKIPs - Prime material for a dramady. Or is it comedra?
Guardian Unlimited Politics | Special Reports | My trip to Ukipland

evhead

An elegant form. I wonder how well it works as a spoon.
evhead

Quote Of The Month

Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped. -- Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)

This is absolutely true. One does not necessarily follow the other.
Cathartic Nemesis

Wednesday, October 06, 2004

Judge to Furcal - Come back when you're not so busy.

The guy drives around drunk presumably endangering the health and safety of the general public, small children etc, and yet somehow he gets to play baseball. Here in Massachusetts judges are appointed but in some places they have to stand for election. Maybe Cobb County GA is one of those places.
The Sports Network - Major League Baseball

".....because it established an atmosphere of lawlessness."

Bush mismanagement in Iraq addressed by Paul Bremer.
MSNBC - Bremer: 'We never had enough troops'

Monday, October 04, 2004

Useful Google

Great for searches and much more. For definitions of words just type define ... in the search bar and you'll get several to choose from. This is much easier than going to a dictionary site.

None Of The Above

Very funny, be creative and see what you can come up with. Save it to your disk and blog it. Suggested by the first debate here's my effort. Bush Sign

Sunday, October 03, 2004

Chipping Away At The ADA

Don Regan, a Republican who is running against Capps in November, said he supports giving businesses extra time to comply.
"It's a necessary amendment to the ADA under the current circumstances," Regan said.
Despite the fact that the ADA has been on the books more than a decade, Regan said, many business owners are still unaware of the requirements and would comply if they knew about them.
>>If this were about thieves and murderers we’d be hearing that ignorance of the law is no excuse. But it’s about businesses so what we’re hearing is that they’re not bad they just don’t know any better and we need to help them. A very liberal sentiment coming from the Republicans. <<

It's Doubletalk But I Sort Of Like It

"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones." John Cage

From RefDesk, a most useful site.

A scary idea is a scary idea, old or new.

Be Careful It's Hot

Finally, something to do in Philly besides cheese steaks, culture and the Liberty Bell.
v-2 Organisation | news | Philadelphia freedom

Molecular Expressions: Science, Optics and You - Secret Worlds: The Universe Within - Interactive Java Tutorial

Perspective on our existence and a quick posting from the V-2 Organisation.

Molecular Expressions: Science, Optics and You - Secret Worlds: The Universe Within - Interactive Java Tutorial

Saturday, October 02, 2004

After hits record, Suzuki gives and receives souvenirs

An amazing acheivment to break an 84 year old record and in the process also set the record for hits over a four year span, 921 if I remember. Aside from Ted Williams .406 BA and the 56 consecutive game hitting streak the only big mark left now is Hack Wilson's 190 RBIs in one season. Ichiro has a shot at two of those.
After hits record, Suzuki gives and receives souvenirs

Friday, October 01, 2004

Questions and Observations Blog

I lean left, the guys at Q and O lean right. But they are definitely worth reading. They had the lowdown on the phony documents from CBS first and they took a good detailed look at it. The downside was their repeated self congratulations for not only exposing a despicable fraud but also single handedly revolutionizing journalism.
Questions and Observations Blog

HubLog: Things Google knows about you

Google knows all and sees all!
HubLog: Things Google knows about you

Thursday, September 30, 2004

Article: Google omits controversial news stories in China�| New Scientist

Support China on censorship now, maybe something else later. Maybe someday they'll be doing so much business in China that they'll take sides against the United States.
Article: Google omits controversial news stories in China�| New Scientist

Saturday, September 25, 2004

StoryCorps - Interview Your Loved Ones

StoryCorps - Interview Your Loved Ones

For recording oral histories: This sounds like a great idea. Do an interview at their booth and you get a free CD. I am wondering though who gets the rights to the story. It will lose a lot of it's appeal if they retain rights and you can't publish the interview.