3:55 PM CST     0 comments

Boo yah: Sinfest (07/28/2000)

The truth about cats and dogs.

2:08 PM CST     0 comments

Damn: RIP squishy

My thanks go out to Pamie for some great laughs and a few tears as well. Best of luck in whatever you choose to do in the future, we'll be here when you're ready to come back.

1:30 PM CST     0 comments

Ugh: Pyra Moving Sale

This is so unbelievably sad. I don't have the words. I mean, you hear about all of these dot-bomb closings, but to actually see a list of the furnishings and equipment and toys... it's just sad.

8:48 AM CST     0 comments

Yep: Woman pulls the plug on TV pole

I suppose it's true after all... you don't mess with Texas.

[link courtesy of The Obscure Store]

8:27 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Ruling puts XP in the cross fire

Perhaps I spoke too soon... it appears Microsoft may have to pay the piper after all. At this point Microsoft's biggest advantage is that it can release software much faster than the DOJ can decide who's on first. XP will likely be preloaded and shipping long before Ashcroft can do anything about it.

8:20 AM CST     0 comments

Whoa: Inside Mesa for OS X

Talk about a blast from the past. I used Mesa on my old NeXTcube nearly ten years ago. Glad to see they stuck with it, but really... ten years is a long time to do anything.

8:13 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: MySimon email flame gets too hot to handle

Customer Service, anyone?

1:36 PM CST     0 comments

Damn: Court reverses breakup of Microsoft

I guess the whole process starts all over now. By the time anyone gets around to actually attempting to punish Microsoft, the government may have to ask Microsoft's permission to do so.

12:52 PM CST     0 comments

Hmm: POV: Popularity Index

"Heidorn, as a surname, does not exist in this database, because it is not among the top 55,000 most common names in the US. And you are the only one with that name of the 15227 visitors of this web page."

Well, at least I'm in good company.

8:58 AM CST     0 comments

Sigh: Microsoft to host official Olympics site

Remember how well the 1998 Winter Olympics site worked? IBM used some pretty amazing load balancing techniques combined with ultra-fast RISC based machines to handle what was, at the time, the largest website audience in history. Microsoft, on the other hand, will likely decide that Win2k Data Center running IIS on a cluster of Intel machines will suffice just as well.

Let's just say "cluster" is closer to the truth than they may expect.

8:53 AM CST     0 comments

Oh well: Napster to dump old software

Starting today the unfiltered version of the Napster client will be blocked from the service. Only users willing to download and install the new "sealed for your protection" model will be permitted to connect to Napster servers. I can't say I'm surprised by this move, but it seems likely that this may be the final nail in the coffin for the company.

8:46 AM CST     0 comments

Ooh, burn: SSH hits the fan for Cisco on security

"In order to exploit these bugs you need to be able to sniff traffic or have already penetrated a firm's external box, which also happens to be a hub. This is easier said than done and would take a lot of skill certainly far beyond that needed to exploit a Microsoft glitch," said Read.

Now that's just cold. Funny as hell, but cold.

8:45 AM CST     0 comments

Surprise: MS kills off WinXP smart tag plans

Well, sort of. "kills" being a relative term.

2:05 PM CST     0 comments

Who's Ear: Snow-tubing plan might resurrect arena rubble

Never let it be said that we Hoosiers lack imagination.

"I know Rufus, let's just pile that shit up and ski on it!"
"Great idea, Cletus! Momma always said you were the smart one."

9:36 AM CST     0 comments

Schweet: Google Image Search

Damned cool tech, even if it does take ages for anything to load. I used to use Lycos image search, but at some point they stopped updating it. Hopefully Google has the bandwidth to pull this off.

9:32 AM CST     0 comments

Hehehe: Sinfest (6/27/01)

Gotta love that Pooch.

9:25 AM CST     0 comments

Hell yeah: Red-light cameras threat to privacy

Go get 'em Dick!

9:11 AM CST     0 comments

Finally: Microsoft's XP - Hardware changes a turnoff

I wondered how long it was going to take CNet et al to report on ZP activation issues. The Reg has been carping about this for months.

9:08 AM CST     0 comments

w00t: New IBM monitor is detail-oriented

Now that's a hi-res monitor.

9:06 AM CST     0 comments

Yes sir: LDAP flap as passwords put at risk

This proves what I've always said about directory services. Whenever you put all your eggs in one basket you'd better make sure it's a titanium plated basket and mount armed guards on that sucker. Otherwise you're just inviting trouble.

Sure it's a pain in the keister to administer users on multiple boxes, but you can be sure that an attacker is limited to the box on which the exploit works. Any other boxes remain secure.

9:02 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: Stratus applies fault tolerant tech to Wintel boxes

The only hitch? You still have to reboot when you select a different screensaver.

1:55 PM CST     0 comments

Hi.

I'm not sure how long I'll be here, but things seem to be working ok for now at least. No comments yet. No archives either. Oh... and the journal? Uh-uh. Other than that everything's perfect.

I'll likely end up leaving the site here since I can't depend upon my ISP to stay online longer than a few days at a time. More news as things develop.

Thanks for dropping by.

8:23 AM CST     0 comments

Sigh: Apple kills Cube?

Fair Cube, we hardly knew thee...

8:19 AM CST     0 comments

Tsk, tsk: MSNBC doctors anti-MS WSJ story

You would think as much as they harp on the complete division of church and state at MSNBC this sort of thing would never happen. Then again, I have long suspected that they were merely waiting until MSNBC had sufficient credentials and then they would start twisting the news to their benefit.

1:26 PM CST     0 comments

Schweet: Spinal Tap action figures

I sorely tempted to spend far too much money on this site. I'd certainly have an office that was the envy of my peers, even moreso than I do now.

[link courtesy of Narilka]

8:51 AM CST     0 comments

Hell yeah: Sinfest (6-15-01)

Now there are a few movies I'd really like to see.

2:01 PM CST     0 comments

WTF: Mario Twins

I'm speechless.

[link courtesy of Ryan]

10:03 AM CST     0 comments

Duh: Windows XP - Too much for some PCs?

Hello? That's the whole point of each Windows upgrade... to increase Microsoft's profits and to artificially advance hardware requirements. If WinXP could run in a smaller footprint than that required by Win2k then why would anyone buy new hardware?

In fact, you could take it a step further and surmise that the real reason Microsoft wants to protect their source code is that someone would surely spot the obvious and purposeful waste of system resources.

9:45 AM CST     0 comments

Yep: Lara Croft's Cup Size

I'm glad we cleared that up.

9:36 AM CST     0 comments

Sigh: Slim Shady takes a hit from the FCC

Here we go again. The goverment has once again set itself up as arbiter of all things obscene or indecent. The problem has aways been, a likely will always be, that the standards used to define obscenity are vague and wide open to vastly different interpretations. It's likely that if you asked three judges their opinion on a given piece of entertainment in relation to the FCC obscenity standards you would get three very different responses.

The problem is not necessarily that there are indecency, but that record companies and radio stations have no way of knowing what is going to be censored and what will slide by. Laws which cannot be obeyed are, by definition, deeply flawed.

9:25 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: Defining Cool

Fortune.com defines cool? Now I've seen everything. Next thing you know WSJ.com will be publishing Hot/Not lists.

They did name Danger Research in the cool products section, however, so they at least appear to have some taste.

9:22 AM CST     0 comments

Right: Microsoft "incredibly sorry" about goofed fix

"This will not happen again," said the Microsoft spokesperson. "Period."

Famous last words.

9:27 AM CST     0 comments

Evil: Q293151 - About Office Activation and Reduced Functionality

This is Microsoft's official explanation of the activation scheme implemented in OfficeXP and, one assumes, all future (and possibly past) Microsoft products. There is still a standard license available which MS calls a "Perpetual License". Other than that you'll have to "renew" each of your licenses once per year and assumably pay the appropriate fee at that time.

9:05 AM CST     0 comments

Uhm, yeah: Couple Discovers Raccoon Waste in New Home

I don't care how you think about it, a half ton is a lot of poop.

8:58 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: Microsoft tries to get smart

I usually try not to link to opinion pieces, but this one is simply too good.

8:53 AM CST     0 comments

Ugh: AT&T's animation gives spam a new image

<Bender>What can I say? I'm thrilled.</Bender>

8:46 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Windows XP - A Firewall for All

It seems BusinessWeek is assuming that if everyone pretends that XP is a Good Thing then Microsoft's stock will go up and take the market up with it. The sad thing is that they are probably right.

8:36 AM CST     0 comments

Yep: WinXP IE6 spells death for Doubleclick

As much as I hate DoubleClick and everything it stands for, I have a problem with turning that entire market over to Microsoft. I would much prefer that there were no market to turn over, but I suppose that's wishful thinking at this stage.

1:10 PM CST     0 comments

More HappyFunFTP problems with my ISP yesterday and today. Sorry for the bloggus interruptus.

10:54 AM CST     0 comments

Ugh: Cuba, Denied Rum Brand, Could Make 'Coke'

This is a very big deal. If this decision is allowsed to stand any trademark is only valid in the country which grants it. Forget Open Source, this is the true intellectual property killer.

9:12 AM CST     0 comments

Far out: Fluorescent LANs Light the Way

This almost sounds like one of those April Fool's articles. Who would have ever guesses such a thing was possible? Talk about a wide-area network... just think about all the fluorescent fixtures in an airport. The mind boggles.

9:09 AM CST     0 comments

Facinating: Hot on the Scent of Information

It may be pop-sci, but I like this theory. It seems logical to me.

9:02 AM CST     0 comments

Amazing: Ballmer would not launch MSNBC again

I'm stunned. Microsoft seems to be raising the white flag to AOL and doing it in a rather public fashion. I'm wondering if this little announcement has anything to do with the IE/AOL contract expiring? Perhaps AOL has agreed to continue shovelling IE onto AOL desktops in exchange for Microsoft killing their content division?

It makes sense for everyone involved. Microsoft is freed to dump all its spare cash into convincing everyone we need to rent our software and AOL is free from worrying about countering the mass-media attacks of the 800lb gorilla. It's a win-win. Well, perhaps not for the consumer, but then who cares about the consumer these days? That is so 90s.

8:48 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Smart Tags due in Win-XP browser

This can't be good. In fact, it's a rather scary thought.

8:44 AM CST     0 comments

Hell yeah: SDMI crack team launches preemptive suit

I'm happy to see that the Professor is still fighting the good fight. He has a lot more moxie than I ever expected.

9:39 AM CST     0 comments

Whatever: Hostile Code, not the Windows XP Socket Implementation, is the Real Security Threat

This is Microsoft's response to Steve Gibson's complaint last week that XP will enable an army of DDOS zombies. I can't say I blame them for trying, but their response falls short in both length and substance. As long as security takes a backseat to feature bloat, Microsoft will always be chasing their tail with patch after patch.

[link courtesy of those fine blokes at The Reg]

8:59 AM CST     0 comments

Ugh: Amazon.com to sell PCs online

I'm having trouble seeing this as good news.

8:49 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Sun finds Jxta fan in start-up

"A start-up called eMikolo Networks says it has found a use for Sun Microsystems' recently released Jxta software"

Remember when people would have a problem and a group of industrious programmers would work long into the night fueled by equal parts challenge and caffeine, cobbling together a solution using whatever language best suited their needs? Apparently those days are long gone and Sun is happy about it. Not to say they've lost their roots, but I wouldn't stand too close to Scott McNealy in a brisk breeze.

8:41 AM CST     0 comments

Oh well: Dead in the watermark, SDMI turns to chips

Speaking of uncopyable music files, SDMI has made some announcements regarding its membership and adjusted goals. It's sort of a good news/bas news scenario. The good news is that there was a massive defection of members which weakens the movement to include a watermark on all CDs and in all CD players. The bad news is that they have released a portable device specification which is "in widespread use".

I guess just hoping they'll go away isn't going to work.

8:35 AM CST     0 comments

Whoa: Napster signs away its soul

Not only is Napster going with a subscription-based plan, but they are moving away from MP3's. Their plan is to create a uncopyable music file, a pretty lofty goal to be certain. What's really funny though is that Roxio has been tapped to provide the software muscle.

Yes. Roxio. The company who can't even write decent burn software is going to be protecting the world from music pirates. Needless to say I'm a bit skeptical.

11:10 AM CST     0 comments

w00t: Dam! It's a Killer Beaver!

Boring story, but man, what a headline!

10:50 AM CST     0 comments

Whoa: What are those words that trigger Echelon?

That's certainly a long list. The one that puzzles me is 'redheads'. Apparently someone really hates Carrot Top.

10:46 AM CST     0 comments

Uhm, ok: Web Behind Walls

Pardon me if I don't think this is a problem. If a consumer is accessing the internet through a set-top box, I see no reason that a "guided experience" shouldn't be employed by cable operators. It will ease the tech support burden for the operator and help less experienced users have a more enjoyable experience.

Well, that and it'll keep at least a few of the morons off of the real web... but that's just a happy side-effect.

10:31 AM CST     0 comments

Hmm: Cisco says No light at end of tunnel

I'm wondering if Cisco's "inventory glut" has anything to do with the huge number of barely used switches flooding the resale channels as dot-coms implode? It's a safe bet that six month old gear for less than half the street price of new gear would turn a lot of budget-conscious heads in IT departments. That said, the trend has to reverse itself at some point. Let's hope Cisco can hold on that long.

10:25 AM CST     0 comments

Yikes: Hotmail could spread viruses even faster than Outlook

I suppose it has always been a good practice to disable javascript before checking your Hotmail, but I'm wondering how many people actually bother? Not many I'd wager.

10:18 AM CST     0 comments

Deja Voodoo: all your hyperlinks are belong to MS

Office XP has a bit of a problem with unconventional path names. Notice I didn't say invalid path names... merely unconventional ones. AutoText has long been a thorn in my side and it seems likely that XP is making things worse on that score.

9:25 AM CST     0 comments

Heh: Infineon lets Rambus retain SDRAM patents

Pretty sneaky, Sis.

3:10 PM CST     0 comments

Ever have one of those days? Yeah. Me too.