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Wednesday, July 23, 2003 |
dive into mark
Greg Reinacker comments on "Aggregator HTTP tests". NewsGator's report card: http://www.rassoc.com/gregr/weblog/archive.aspx?post=6296:17:17 PM 
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Burningbird
Welcome Sign6:12:47 PM Howl into the void []
Burningbird
Al-l-l-most6:12:47 PM Howl into the void []
Burningbird
Perfect Little Princess. I kid you not, I was taking photos of my rock collection (rocks, Halley! Lots of them! You can have one of mine!) when Zoe lept up on the velvet backdrop and started posing. This cat is a natural -- bring out a camera and she poses. I can be running flash, strobes, what have you, and she just eats it up. Mama's little princess. And no cracks about Burningbird losing it over a cat....6:12:46 PM Howl into the void []
Slashdot
Missouri Wins American Solar Challenge6:12:42 PM Howl into the void []
Slashdot
The RIAA's Hit List Named6:12:42 PM Howl into the void []
Orcinus
The forgotten terrorist. Hey, what happened to that anthrax guy anyway?You know, the one who killed a handful of people and terrorized the nation for the better part of two months?Yeah, that one. The one the FBI can't seem to nail down.The case that was a clear case of atte
6:12:38 PM Howl into the void []
Orcinus
Ichiro, Ichiro. Another sign of Ichiro Suzuki's utter coolness:Why No. 51? I'd originally heard that he wore the number 51 (he wore it in Japan as well) after the Yankees' Bernie Williams, who wears the same number. But Suzuki later told an interviewer (during the 2001
6:12:37 PM Howl into the void []
New York Times: International News
Iraqis Wait to See U.S. Proof That Hussein Sons Are Dead6:12:30 PM Howl into the void []
New York Times: International News
Palestinians and Israelis Still Far Apart on Prisoners6:12:29 PM Howl into the void []
New York Times: International News
S--o Tom/ Agreement Reinstates President; Mutineers Pardoned6:12:28 PM Howl into the void []
New York Times: International News
Canada Recalls Envoy From Iran After Burial of Detained Reporter6:12:27 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
RIAAHitList. The RIAA hit list. Are you sued or not? I would have thought defaultuser@kazaa would get targeted.6:12:03 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Tyler wins Stage 16!. Tyler Hamilton on his win today in State 16 of the Tour de France. [via the brilliant notd tour blog]6:12:02 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Journos really are crazy for the truth. Unbiased (ideally) but not inhuman (hopefully) The Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma at the University of Washington studies the effects of crazy badness ("if it bleeds, it leads") on reporters and studies ways in which the news media can better cover traumatic events in the life of the world: War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death. From a piece on the site, "9-11 Journalists Share Memories, Support," "Long before Sept. 11, he was interested in how journalists respond to the pain and misery they encounter in their work, and the lack of support they often find in a traditionally tough-minded business. Then he nearly died while photographing the World Trade Center attack, and found those issues hit closer to home than he ever imagined."6:12:00 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Now you see it, now you don't. Now you see it, now you don't. The infamous blink tag, maligned for so long by almost, but not quite everyone, can now be supported in IE. Isn't that great news?6:11:59 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Is the Moon a Good Place to store your Data?. Is the Moon a Good Place to store your Data? A company called TransOrbital of La Jolla, Calif., is seriously considering the idea of putting storage facilities on Earth's only natural satellite.6:11:58 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Surgical Simulators. They[approx equal]¥úre a little like Operation. Today students can practice all sorts of skills on surgical models like TraumaMan¨, the Hillway Man, or Geri, the Geriatric, who comes complete with wrinkles. There[approx equal]¥ús spinal surgery, gall bladder surgery, ultrasound/amniocentesis, suturing, and casualty kits. Some of them give me the I[approx equal]¥úm-a-silly-git giggles and naming a company Limbs & Things doesn't help. There[approx equal]¥ús the head with all sorts of things wrong with it, including [approx equal]¥[fl]Extraneous Lumps[approx equal]¥ÿ. The toe with refills is pretty nifty, but disturbingly life-like. There are strap-ons and table-top models.(Possibly NSFW) Some could make interesting conversation pieces.(Also poss. NSFW)
In addition, Somso, maker of the [approx equal]¥[fl]dial-a-prostate[approx equal]¥ÿ model above, also makes interesting non-interactive models like this fandex of a head, a larynx with tongue, or a fingertip. They also have neat models of animals, fungi, and flowers.
6:11:56 PM Howl into the void []
Oliver Willis: Like Kryptonite To Stupid
Bye, Joe. I don't know why Joe Lieberman doesn't just turn in his DNC card today. Because his attack on fellow Democrats is as good as a slam from the Bush Team. Since Al Gore boosted him into the national spotlight, Senator...6:11:37 PM Howl into the void []
Oliver Willis: Like Kryptonite To Stupid
A Tragedy. What happened to councilman James Davis in New York today was horrible, and based on his stirring biography it should also remind us how many people - especially young black men - are taken down in their prime every day...6:11:36 PM Howl into the void []
Oliver Willis: Like Kryptonite To Stupid
Sign #1 That You Have Arrived. People make merchandise like this about you. He-he! (via Mefi) Britney has one, you should too... ("found" by mr. crash davis)...6:11:35 PM Howl into the void []
Oliver Willis: Like Kryptonite To Stupid
Now It's Time For Phase Two. Bring on the tv show and the groupies....6:11:33 PM Howl into the void []
Jeffrey Zeldman Presents: The Daily Report
ALA betta. A List Apart is recovering from server problems that plagued the site today.6:11:31 PM Howl into the void []
Jeffrey Zeldman Presents: The Daily Report
Buymusic.com: out of tune with the times. Chris Kaminski of The WaSP on Buymusic.com's decision to support one browser and one platform instead of them all.6:11:30 PM Howl into the void []
Jeffrey Zeldman Presents: The Daily Report
Kickin' it Dash style. Interesting links on a bed of one-liners.6:11:29 PM Howl into the void []
Sam Ruby's Comments
Well Specified Web. NewsGator's report card. Posted by Greg Reinacker6:11:25 PM Howl into the void []
Slashdot
Re-Opened Computer History Museum Explored4:19:24 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
My eyes! I'm blind!. Erotic pictures. Of clowns. NSFW, obviously. [more inside]4:18:30 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Teenagers find the internet very difficult to use ..... Teenagers find the internet a frustrating experience A survey in the north east of England finds that teenagers are increasingly being alienated in their online experience because they aren't being given the skillsets to cope with finding or using the information. Seems to be the old story of schools buying computers but the kids not being engaged enough on how to use them (which has been the case since I was stuck in front of an Acorn Archimedes fifteen years go). Here is a similar article from Australia which describes how their eductation system is coping with the issue.4:18:26 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
killing kittens?. Have you or your neighbors killed any kittens lately? Way back in the mists of time, a farkism combined a kitty with a couple of domo-kuns and came up with a saying equating masturbation with killing a kitty.
This site has taken the concept and is attempting to make it into a community weblog -- except the community is limited to those who are taking solo flights into orgasm.
The site seems almost innocent, at least now (though it'll probably get over-run with explicit commercial grossness in a while).
Although the interface is nowhere near as clean, my experience with the site reminded me of the early days of amihotornot. I was at it for hours, tripping out on who was masturbating in my state, and what they were thinking, let along who was doing what in other places all over the world (not many global participants, yet).
With this wierd mixture of deeply personal revelations and total anonymity, is this one of those things that only the internet can do? Or am I a total git for thinking this is interesting? (via memepool)
4:18:21 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Surgical Simulators. They?re a little like Operation. Today students can practice all sorts of skills on surgical models like TraumaMan¨, the Hillway Man, or Geri, the Geriatric, who comes complete with wrinkles. There?s spinal surgery, gall bladder surgery, ultrasound/amniocentesis, suturing, and casualty kits. Some of them give me the I?m-a-silly-git giggles and naming a company Limbs & Things doesn't help. There?s the head with all sorts of things wrong with it, including ?Extraneous Lumps?. The toe with refills is pretty nifty, but disturbingly life-like. There are strap-ons and table-top models.(Possibly NSFW) Some could make interesting conversation pieces.(Also poss. NSFW)In addition, Somso, maker of the ?dial-a-prostate? model above, also makes interesting non-interactive models like this fandex of a head, a larynx with tongue, or a fingertip. They also have neat models of animals, fungi, and flowers.
4:18:12 PM Howl into the void []
Sam Ruby's Comments
The Message Is The Medium. The title comes from Rohit's Rant on Personal Servers. <a... [more][back]Trackback from Mod-pubsub blog3:20:44 PM Howl into the void []
Sam Ruby's Comments
The Message Is The Medium. The title comes from Rohit's Rant on Personal Servers. <a... [more][back]Trackback from Mod-pubsub blog3:20:41 PM Howl into the void []
Morons Dot Org
Satire: Entire Town of Pipestone, MN Accepts Responsibility for Bush Blunder. The entire town of Pipestone, Minnesota has accepted blame for Bush's bogus assertion that Iraq tried to buy uranium from Africa...3:20:12 PM Howl into the void []
She's Actual Size, Nationwide, Believe
Re: You just gotta let it go
The second most screwed-up guy I know, the one who's skittish and paranoid, who spends compulsively and throws a tantrum whenever anyone disagrees with him or, you know, has anything like a good time or a fortunate windfall... the onw who turns every conversation into a discussion of HIS feelings and HIS problems... the one who bitched and moaned about being lonely until he met his girlfriend, then went and married her after nine months...
His (I assume equally screwed-up) wife is having a baby.
There's nothing I can do about it, so I'm just trying to let it go.
Some people just aren't happy until they can bring another person into the world to screw up .
3:19:08 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Kevin Smith and Greasy Reese Witherspoon. Proving that he is the geekiest man in film, Kevin Smith relates the tale of how he almost got to egg the house of Reese Witherspoon, and why he wanted to in the first place - a rather funny story. Would that all Hollywood ego-battles could be resolved in such a fashion.An old link, but worth checking out
3:18:57 PM Howl into the void []
John Robb's Weblog
Great icon from a Javanese dance festival (thanks Dody and the NYTimes).3:18:42 PM Howl into the void []
Christian Science Monitor
Overheated Europe struggles with drought3:17:53 PM Howl into the void []
Christian Science Monitor
Bumper year for Afghan poppies3:17:50 PM Howl into the void []
Christian Science Monitor
Bad summer movies wither on Web grapevine3:17:45 PM Howl into the void []
Slashdot
Microsoft's Patent Problem3:17:10 PM Howl into the void []
rushkoff.blog
Real Estate. Real estate in NYC has gotten pretty damn expensive. I mean, really expensive. They want a million dollars for a loft these days. A two-bedroom in the village? One million dollars, please. Cobble Hill? Just under a million - but nothing's available, anyway. And even at these price levels, we're talking crrrap.My wife and I want to find a relatively safe and friendly place to live for a good long time, make or borrow some kids, send 'em to school, and not keep wasting everything we earn on rent. Please don't make us go to the suburbs...
Can we talk? I mean, there's so many issues to tackle, here: is NYC a place where the middle class (meaning those of us who aren't millionaires) can no longer live comfortably? Where will culture go if the artists and writers can't afford to be here? Is there a cool town somewhere else where our peeps are gathering? Asheville? Charlotte? Chicago? Oakland? Beacon? We'll go - someone just tell us. Or send a secret map-point.
Business-wise, this just isn't making sense to me. The real estate people say the high prices and low turnover is an indication that everything's going to go up even further. They say that just about everyone who is in their apartment is happy and doesn't want to sell it. I have trouble with this analysis. If it were the stock market, a low volume bull market means bad things. That it's not really real. I think the volume is low (and the prices have stabilized at these outrageous heights) because the people who want to sell are waiting for the real estate market to resume its rise. And this, in turn, would mean that a crash is imminent.
Or maybe I'm wrong, and the true community spirit has returned to NYC. Maybe these people are just happy to be where they are, and unwilling to sell at any price. If that's the case, then it means one can't really join one of these communities without a whole lot of dough, and then the only alternative is to start a community of our own.
Anybody ready?
2:20:18 PM Howl into the void []
rushkoff.blog
The Jewish Press Widens its Perspective!. The Jewish Week has won the rare distinction of publishing the Jewish print press's first review of my book, Nothing Sacred, that does not descend into paranoia, racism, or personal attack.The writer, Sandee Brawarsky, actually sidesteps most of the unnecessary controversy and gets to the heart of what I meant to explore in the first place: the possibility for a post-dualist relationship to belief and identity.
Yay!
2:20:12 PM Howl into the void []
rushkoff.blog
What's Next for Rushkoff?. First, some interesting stuff about the book, Nothing Sacred, at Zeek magazine. (Although one of the two reviewers, in an effort to critique my "scholarship," claims I've written that the Orthodox movement grew out of the holocaust, which I don't say. On page 73 I explain how it was a reaction to German reforms of the 1800's.)As for me, professionally and creatively, I'm moving "beyond" Judaism - at least explicitly - and back into some fictional and non-fiction considerations of what we might call 'open source reality.' (No, I won't actually be using that term.)
The first project is a graphic novel version of the comic I was writing for BPM magazine, called ClubZeroG. It's about some kids who realize they've all been dreaming the same dream together, and come to learn it may be more real than what they're living.
The second is a book based on a talk I've been doing for the past 5 years called "Follow the Fun." I'm still in early stages, but - most basically - it's about finding better ways of motivating ourselves to do good things. We're too dependent in this society on the very bottom level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs: we use survival fears to propel us, even if our survival as individuals is not in question. I've been proposing that this defensive crouch is a great motivator for those who need it, but has limited value to those who have moved beyond it and might be able to apply their effort to helping others (networking). And this latter strategy will actually yield greater 'success,' especially as our definition of success evolves beyond acquisition. (But don't tell the Ferengis this.)
2:20:09 PM Howl into the void []
rushkoff.blog
Still Lapsed, After all these Months. In a particularly distressed moment, I made a remark in one of the comments sections, below, that:"As for me, I think my association with Judaism is coming to an end. I'm interested in it as an intellectual and as an ethicist, but I don't see it as a fruitful spiritual path - at least not as my exclusive spiritual path."
And a lot of folks got concerned that I was surrendering to organized Judaism's reaction to my book, or giving up, or taking my ball and going home after a little of what should have been expected resistance.
This is not the case. But my retreat from my statement may have also been wrong.
In all honesty, I remain a "lapsed Jew," (who happens to read Torah and observe the Sabbath). I also happen to believe that an informed, educated, lapsed Judaism might also be the most true form of the religion, today. And this is a large part of why I wrote my book. I was looking for evidence in Judaism that the religion could serve, or was even meant, as more of a runway than an airplane. A means, and not an end in itself. Better yet, a vehicle. And it seemed that everyone was staring at the car and no one was getting inside, for fear it would take them to a new place. And those of us who were actually driving around in it were being called 'lapsed.'
So I wrote my book, explaining that I saw Judaism as a process. And that we had to at least consider that this process (of ritual and text promoting iconoclasm, abstract monotheism and social justice) might have been lost as Judaism (for very understandable reasons) became more concerned with itself than its mission of protecting and promoting this process. I was writing for lapsed Jews like me, to give us the courage and ammunition to practice and argue for this new form of Judaism, whether or not it's called Judaism at all. And to reassure us that we're not abandoning something, we're evolving something.
Certain factions in institutional Judaism saw in my arguments something they had been looking for: a way to convince lapsed Jews (particularly GenX ones) to come back to Judaism. And I saw in these factions a willing audience for my ideas. So I ended up putting myself on a book tour where I engaged mostly with these people, and wrote mostly for their magazines. These are pretty much the only people who wrote reviews of my book, scathing and closed-minded though they may have been. This is all fine.
But - fundamentalist attacks, boycotts, and censorship aside - my conversation became increasingly about Judaism for Judaism's sake. My own focus began turning inward on the question of where and whether there were institutions offering the "kind of Judaism" I mean to practice, and whether the federations, philanthropies, or synagogues are to "blame" for Judaism's situation. This was a detour, and was a lot less fun, and a lot less interesting to me. On the whole, and as a result, I started to find it easier to speak about spiritual issues with Catholics (lapsed Catholics, mostly) than Jews.
So, on returning home from a harrowing tour, I ended up saying something very similar to what I started out saying. I honestly believe that who I am, intellectually, spiritually, and ethically, has been greatly informed by Judaism. But I'm a Jew looking out, not a Jew looking in. And I feel more "Jewish" when I'm engaged in helping the world or making it more beautiful or loving than when I'm working on Judaism or hanging out in a synagogue.
In this sense, my "association with Judaism" - meaning my focus on Judaism for Judaism's sake - must really come to an end, for my own good. I'm not interested in going to services, or in figuring out how to devise services that I *would* want to go to. I no longer want to think about what I can do for Judaism, but what Judaism can do for the world.
And that does mean interfaith support, social justice, the arts, literature, conversation, education, and thought.
I got an email that said, basically, my adversaries may be right - the process of inquiry that I'm advocating may take people away from Judaism. To which I say, yes and no. No - that's not really what my adversaries are saying. But yes, if you 'do' Judaism right, and keep asking questions, it becomes more of a runway to something greater than itself.
Judaism was created - yes created - as a means to get people to a more conscious, loving, caring, ethical place. It is a process that I've used, and I do believe it was divinely inspired.
But if you do it really right, I'd argue, it kind of disappears. The process shows you how nothing is sacred. And, more importantly, that the 'nothing' you end up with is truly sacred.
2:20:04 PM Howl into the void []
STANDING ROOM ONLY
FREDDY, JASON AND ME
SRO: Well thanks guys for coming to SRO for an interview. Youâre both about to appear in a movie together, Freddy Vs. Jason, right?
JASON: YES Yes yes yes yes...
SRO: Cool. Fighting together, being all evil and ugly. Good times.
FREDDY: IN YOUR DREAMS... DREAMS OF DEATH!
SRO: Uh, yeah. I donât really have alot of dreams like that. My dreams usually involve beauty products.
J: KIEHLS Kiehls kiehls kiehls kiehls...
SRO: Yes, Kiehls of course. I love their shaving cream.
F: COME CLOSER AND IâLL SHAVE YOU... TO THE BONE!
SRO: Oh! Wanna see my new scar?
J: COOL Cool cool cool cool...
F: WHEN I'M DONE WITH YOU, YOUâLL BE SCARRED... FOR DEATH!
SRO: Itâs pretty much healed. Knife fight, you know.
J: NO SHIT Shit shit shit shit???
SRO: Sort of. Now which one is related to Jennifer Leigh?
J: ME Me me me me...
F: Oh, yeah. Thatâs Jason, Iâm more my own franchise. I couldâve brought in some girl - let me tell you, Carmen Electra was calling night and day - but these starlets today... oy. They all think theyâre J-Lo and itâs gimme this, gimme that. Who needs it? Iâd rather work... ON YOUR COLD BLUE BODY!
SRO: Whatâs with the voice? Weâre right here.
F: Itâs my voice... OF EVIL!
SRO: I guess. Take it down a few.
J: CHILL Chill chill chill chill...
SRO: So the two of you, is this a posse or something? Iâm seeing Bad Boys II with headgear, maybe young it down. Replace the fedora with a mesh Trucker hat, rethinking the hockey angle. A whole Buddybuddy/ Action thing. Are you both ãBad Boysä?
F: Duh. Weâre psychopathic killers. WEâRE...
SRO: Do you both - oh Iâm sorry. Didnât mean to interrupt, my bad. Go on.
F: Oh. I was just going to say... uh... oh yeah, KILLERS OF YOUR FUTURE!
SRO: Grrrr... spooky. Villains then.
F: Have you ever seen any of our movies?
SRO: Actually no. I was busy those 48 hours of my life.
J: KILL Kill kill kill kill...
F: THIS WILL BE THE LAST MOVIE... YOUâLL EVER SEE!
SRO: Do you work for Blockbuster? I was a little late with The Goodbye Girl, jeez.
J: DULL Dull dull dull dull...
SRO: Tell me about it. Well good luck fellas with the new flick. Iâm sure Iâll see it, uh, at some point.
F: ON THE POINT OF MY BLADES!
SRO: Could you watch the sofa? I just got it covered.
F: Oh, sorry. Nice choice.
J: TWILL Twill twill twill twill...
SRO: Bye now.
2:19:56 PM Howl into the void []
Corante: Social Software
Ethnic clustering in blogging communities.This report by Hat Nim Choi studied and compared the LiveJournal and Xanga weblog communities, both of which seem to predominantly attract teenagers. While I'm not 100% confident about the methodology, the first figure from the results section is quite striking.
A LiveJournal user picked at random is overwhelmingly likely to be white, while a random Xangan is much more likely to be Asian or Asian-American. The author offers an explanation for this difference towards the end of the report:
Xanga's mostly Asian community could be due to how it is promoted. One of the reasons why Xanga has such a large community is because Xanga users tell their friends to create a Xanga site. They want more friends to read their web logs and get involved. Mehra, Kilduff, and Brass (1998) found that the relative rarity of a group in a social context tended to promote members' use of that group as a basis for shared identity and social interaction. Since Asians are in the minority in the U.S., it would seem that they would interact more with other Asian-Americans and therefore spread the use of Xangas among Asian-Americans. This could be one reason why Xanga users are predominantly Asian.
Interestingly, the Mehra citation directly echoes the content of Clay's earlier "Odd Associates with Odd" post.
Another interesting observation is embedded in this: teenager weblogs are often started by friends who already know one another and word of mouth is an important factor in growth in community sites such as LiveJournal. I'm not sure this is equally true of weblogging at large.
2:19:27 PM Howl into the void []
New York Times: International News
U.S. Reluctant to Broadcast Proof of Hussein Sons' Deaths2:19:15 PM Howl into the void []
Slashdot
A Geek's Tour Of North America?2:19:08 PM Howl into the void []
The Motley Fool
Kodak's Blurry Picture. Plus, Amazon keeps booking, and AOL stays on track.2:18:40 PM Howl into the void []
The Motley Fool
AOL Stays on Track. The media giant reports solid Q2 results and keeps paying down debt.2:18:39 PM Howl into the void []
Tomalak's Realm
MIT Technology Review: Don't Break E-Mail To Save It. Vipul Ved Prakash, founder and chief scientist for Cloudmark. My perspective on design of spam filtration solutions is centered around exploitation of the various constraints of the spammer. One thing we don't talk about enough is the fact that spammers have rather serious constraints.2:18:05 PM Howl into the void []
Tomalak's Realm
News.Com: From June 19, 2002; Start-up wants your help to fight spam.2:18:02 PM Howl into the void []
plasticbag.org
Ponces and Spies...2:17:43 PM Howl into the void []
plasticbag.org
As spies, so pundits?2:17:41 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Congress to bicyclists: get a car!. Congress to bicyclists: get a car! A new transportation appropriations bill would eliminate $600 million of annual federal funding for "transportation enhancements" (more info here), such as bike paths and walkways, while increasing funding for highways. Is this a proper reflection of U.S. transportation habits, or just a scheme to deprive alternate transportation of much-needed funding?2:17:36 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
killing kittens?. Have you or your neighbors killed any kittens lately? Way back in the mists of time, a farkism combined a kitty with a couple of domo-kuns and came up with a saying equating masturbation with killing a kitty.
This site has taken the concept and is attempting to make it into a community weblog -- except the community is limited to those who are taking solo flights into orgasm.
The site seems almost innocent, at least now (though it'll probably get over-run with explicit commercial grossness in a while).
Although the interface is nowhere near as clean, my experience with the site reminded me of the early days of amihotornot. I was at it for hours, tripping out on who was masturbating in my state, and what they were thinking, let along who was doing what in other places all over the world (not many global participants, yet).
With this wierd mixture of deeply personal revelations and total anonymity, is this one of those things that only the internet can do? Or am I a total git for thinking this is interesting? (via memepool)
2:17:33 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
xray gallery. online archive of x-ray images2:17:24 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Morals vs Money. Sinn Fein "cashing in on the victims"? As Sinn Fein launch their new website they have been accused of "promoting the IRA and cashing in on violence". From a party which is bound by the Good Friday Agreement, is it acceptable to promote goods associated with the atrocities committed in Northern Ireland since the 1960's?2:17:21 PM Howl into the void []
The Motley Fool
Berkshire Hathaway. How do you compute fair market value for unique assets?1:20:24 PM Howl into the void []
Scott Rosenberg's Links & Comment
Bruce Umbaugh reminds us that today marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of Salon Blogs. (Here's a link to my first day's posts from a year ago.) Thanks to everyone who has chosen to pitch their blog-tents on our virtual turf!1:20:17 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Shots fired from within NY City Hall. Shooter still on the loose, but apparently wounded.1:19:12 PM Howl into the void []
New York Times: International News
West African Group to Send Troops to Liberia1:18:43 PM Howl into the void []
New York Times: International News
President Returns to Sao Tome as Deal Ends Coup1:18:41 PM Howl into the void []
New York Times: International News
Canadian Buried in Iran, Envoy to Leave Tehran1:18:39 PM Howl into the void []
Slashdot
Skeptical Reactions To SCO From Around The Globe1:18:35 PM Howl into the void []
How to Save the World
WHERE THIS BLOG IS GOING. I've just updated my Tables
of Contents (at top left), and realized that some of my categories have
begun to slop together. My business writing is often about business
weblogs and social software, and I'm not sure if that belongs in the 'Business Papers',
'Science
& Technology'
or 'Blogs
& Blogging'
category. My 'Environmental
Philosophy' posts often encroach into 'Politics
and Economics'. And do my book summaries (they're
not
really reviews) that include my own rambling perspectives belong in 'Arts
& Literature' or (since the books are often
political) in 'Politics
& Economics' ?
Such is the nature of taxonomy, and it points out the futility of the
efforts and dreams of some bloggers to create some kind of universal
ontology or taxonomy around the whole blogosphere. Won't work, guys.
Learn to appreciate complexity. That's why Google still rules.This post is to let my patient readers know where I think I'm going with How to Save the World. About a month ago I listed topics I was thinking of writing about, and asked for advice on priorities. Based on your preferences, I wrote eight articles, and gave up after zealous false starts on a few others (the argument for decentralization of business, for example, is something that interests me but is a nightmare to articulate or even make a compelling case for, as decentralized businesses seem to be struggling more than most these days). I've decided it's time to make a start on my book, tentatively called The World That Could Be. It will likely consist of a 100 page novella about a Utopian future (a dramatized version of what consultants call a Future State or what change managers now call an Invented Story), followed by a roughly 50-page quasi-'Instruction Book' (drawing from several of my 'signature' 'Environmental Philosophy' posts on New Collaborative Enterprises and Post-Capitalist Economics) explaining how that Utopian state might practicably be reached. No more preaching environmental philosophy, it's time for vision and action. If you're going to dream, dream big. I'm also going to put some structure around the Social Network Enablement and Social Software posts in my 'Business Papers' category, drawing about ten articles (some still to come) into a logical series. I have already granted two universities and a magazine permission to republish them, so it's clearly time to organize them into something cohesive. Business Innovation and Knowledge Management, two other major threads of my 'Business Papers' category, will continue to have irregular but lengthy posts. There is much being written on these subjects, but, from what I can glean, precious little actually being implemented. I was recently credited as an 'Idea Practitioner' in Davenport and Prusak's new book What's The Big Idea, and have been invited to participate in a KM study for the European Commission, but haven't blogged on either because, damn it, I want to proffer practical advice that business can actually use, and there's far too little of that going around. Now that my first stab at co-editing VO is complete, new 'Creative Works' will probably await news of whether my short story The Box has been accepted for publication. The latest issue of the literary journal to which I submitted it has been mysteriously delayed. But to show I bear no grudge, I will promote the journal as soon as it comes out even if it is Box-less. That might get me writing fiction again, either way. In case you haven't noticed, I'm no quitter. In any case look for more articles on the writer's art. Those who can't do, teach. I have quietly been building a website for my high school graduating class (1969, yes, I'm ancient) in an invisible category of How to Save the World, and am contemplating setting up another, more visible one for Salon bloggers' recipes, if there is interest. Is there? My 'Blogs & Blogging' category has always been inexplicably popular, so if I can figure out anything new and intelligent to say on that subject, I will post more. Ideas are welcome. As for 'Politics & Economics', I'm discouraged. There are some very fine political writers in the blogosphere (my blogroll has more political bloggers than any other category, too many in fact to keep up with). Being a Canadian, I feel out of the loop and completely unable to understand the continuing popularity of Bush. All that hasn't stopped me from expressing my uninformed and clumsy political opinions thus far, but you'll notice I've been more coy recently. There are others that simply do a better job of it than I, including quite a few of the Salon bloggers on my blogroll at left. My hat goes off to you, for your skill, your passion, and your dedication to the vital task of ridding America and the world of the undeserving and dangerous idiot who stole your highest office. Filling in the spaces, especially on weekends, will be shorter, lighter fare, on whatever takes my fancy -- travel, science, literature, film, music, photographs, and educational and whimsical posts on important subjects like ecological taxation and being good to yourself, as well as other subjects I know just a little about, but hope to learn more about by exposing you, kind reader, to my endlessly staggering ignorance and unfathomable conceit. Thank you for your patience as I figure it out. |
1:18:23 PM Howl into the void []
Morons Dot Org
Random: Stories we missed on Jul. 20, 2003. Here are URLs that were submitted to our queue on Jul. 20, 2003 but didn't make it into actual stories...1:17:24 PM Howl into the void []
birdhouse.org
TiGutz. Had a great visit from an Apple rep yesterday, came to help us solve some persistent Final Cut Pro lab issues. When he booted his laptop, saw this great wallpaper -- an x-ray of the very TiBook he was using. He sent me a copy. Higher-def version for posterity here. Something about this seems vaguely naughty, like it must have felt in the 1800s to catch a glimpse of a woman's calf or something. Music:...12:21:41 PM Howl into the void []
the reverse cowgirl's blog
Photo of the Day.
Marilyn and Building, Hollywood
12:21:34 PM Howl into the void []
Christian Science Monitor
Signs of new momentum in Iraq12:21:18 PM Howl into the void []
Christian Science Monitor
Anatomy of the raid on Hussein's sons12:21:16 PM Howl into the void []
Christian Science Monitor
Daily Update: Affirmative reaction12:21:13 PM Howl into the void []
Christian Science Monitor
Constructive lessons12:21:11 PM Howl into the void []
Workbench
Internet routes around decency. This weblog is getting hundreds of hits from Google users looking for the name and pictures of Kobe Bryant's accuser (which have never been published here -- the issue was discussed recently).
The first weblog to reveal her name and photos has taken them offline after receiving 53,000 hits yesterday (compared to less than 100 on a typical day). The author's explanation for the takedown: "partly because it isn't fair to the accuser, and partly because people like to leech off my server."
Now that radio talk show host Tom Leykis has begun naming her, it's likely that others in the professional media will follow suit.
Searching the Internet for her name at this point is like wading through a cesspool -- wanna-be Matt Drudges, hucksters, and racists are all over it. The worst may be the site that's using photos and her home address and phone number to generate hits for these text ads (links omitted):
BUY SEXUAL DRUGS
Increase size and sexual stamina now!
$150/hr. Online Work
Get Paid for Taking Online Surveys/Polls
BUY SEXUAL DRUGS
Hot sexual stimulants for men and women.
Interestingly enough, Drudge is choosing not to reveal the name, even though he knows the information.
12:21:05 PM Howl into the void []
New York Times: International News
Killing of Hussein's Sons Should Reassure Iraqis, Bush Says12:20:52 PM Howl into the void []
New York Times: International News
U.S. Will Give Iraqis Proof of the Deaths of Hussein's Sons12:20:46 PM Howl into the void []
dive into mark
Mark comments on "Aggregator HTTP tests". Yes, and an XML tutorial, and an HTML tutorial, and so on...However, given the historical lack of compliance with even the most basic HTTP, XML, or HTML consumption practices, a few words of advice would not be out of line. And there's nothing wrong in general with taking general rules (like RFC 2616) and rewriting them as specific rules that go into greater depth about how a specific class of applications should behave. And writing test cases that cater to that specific class.
Likely it would go in its own RFC. But it's something that needs to be written, and it needs to be written specifically for aggregators, otherwise the entire class of applications will (based on previous experience) simply ignore the rules out of ignorance.
Simple question: how many aggregators pass all these tests today? Based on my logs, very very few. So there's obviously a need here.
12:20:44 PM Howl into the void []
Sam Ruby's Comments
Signing Comments. Prior efforts from Paul Bausch, using PGP to protect identity: http://www.onfocus.com/pgp-demo.asp http://www.onfocus.com/index.asp?xml=2002_11_01_past.xml#3005 Posted by scottandrew12:19:54 PM Howl into the void []
John Robb's Weblog
Dan Bricklin opines on the importance of domain ownership when publishing a weblog (or anything for that matter). My weblog is used as an example. In regards to the photos he attached: I am now 10 lbs lighter and dropping fast (thanks levoxyl) ;->12:19:26 PM Howl into the void []
Rayne Today
| Ä |
Feeling blue? Or maybe color #25?
Maybe a little dose of something lighthearted will pick up your spirits. Have a little fun and do some painting-by-number. You can do it at your desk, no muss, no fuss (assuming your internet access will let you get to this link).
You can even choose from a number of artistsâ works to paint. Iâm partial to Georgie OâKeefeâs floral works, myself.
Let me know what you pick; I'd love to hear what you think!
12:19:18 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Keyless Keyboard. A keyless keyboard designed to reduce RSI and other typing related injuries - sounds interesting, but slow, and of course useless for gaming. Bit pricey as well.12:18:15 PM Howl into the void []
MetaFilter
Surgical Simulators. They[approx equal]¥úre a little like Operation. Today students can practice all sorts of skills on surgical models like TraumaMan¨, the Hillway Man, or Geri, the Geriatric, who comes complete with wrinkles. There[approx equal]¥ús spinal surgery, gall bladder surgery, ultrasound/amniocentesis, suturing, and casualty kits. Some of them give me the I[approx equal]¥úm-a-silly-git giggles and naming a company Limbs & Things doesn't help. There[approx equal]¥ús the head with all sorts of things wrong with it, including [approx equal]¥[fl]Extraneous Lumps[approx equal]¥ÿ. The toe with refills is pretty nifty, but disturbingly life-like. There are strap-ons and table-top models.(Possibly NSFW) Some could make interesting conversation pieces.(Also poss. NSFW)In addition, Somso, maker of the [approx equal]¥[fl]dial-a-prostate[approx equal]¥ÿ model above, also makes interesting non-interactive models like this fandex of a head, a larynx with tongue, or a fingertip. They also have neat models of animals, fungi, and flowers.
12:18:11 PM Howl into the void []
Slashdot
The Wifi Slugfest Over Portland's PGE Park12:17:33 PM Howl into the void []
Gawker
To-Do List. 1. Try the oysters at the Mermaid Inn. 2. Pretend like it's 1991 all over again at Lollapalooza at the...12:17:24 PM Howl into the void []
Slashdot
Japan's War On E-Waste11:20:10 AM Howl into the void []