Sunday, July 31, 2005

Researcher Resigns Over New Cisco Router Flaw

Slashdot | Researcher Resigns Over New Cisco Router Flaw
Marz says:
Just wondering if you saw these articles on /. . Bad implications that Cisco is getting too big for it's trousers...and pissed somebody off enough to commit a big no-no type felony.
Article from July 28
Article from July 29

REALLY quick settlement from Cisco...Lynn's got somebody by the danglies.

On the flipside...FBI's going to be pulling the homeland security card and slapping the shit out of Lynn for being one of the dumbest smart people...that is if he actually did what the article says he did.

That's my news for today....

Saturday, July 30, 2005

French Military Victories!

French Military Victories!
A coworker showed me this yesterday. Go to google and type in French Military Victories then hit the I'm Feeling Lucky button (not the search button!). The result is hilarious!

What's in your Computer? Syncback free backup utility.


2BrightSparks | Downloads
Here is another favorite. Syncback is a really powerful free back up utility. As you can see by the screenshot it has a few configuration options. There is a simple mode too if that looks to daunting for your taste. Supports a gignormous amount of features. They have a Pro version for $20 that will back up open files and do encryption but the free version does everything else. I dump a copy on all the computers (4) and back them up to my server. It supports scheduling, but I just click run it on the computers when I think about it. Works like a champ. I'm not even gonna bother listing the all the features. Just assume that whatever feature you want in a backup software it has and you won't be far off. Here is a link for the direct download. It can be kinda hard to find. Don't grab the SE version. That is a 15 day trial for the $20 one. Use the link below.
Link

What's in your computer? Rss Bandit - Free Rss Reader


RSS Bandit - Rss Bandit
I've decided to start a new series for the blog. Everyone knows what a total pain in the ass it is to reformat your computer. Mostly due to all the little programs that you can't seem to live without. I know I've got a dozen or more. So here is the new series. I am gonna post some of the cool programs that I use and I expect you slackers to respond in kind. Let's see what you got!

Here's my first entry. Last year I didn't know what an RSS reader was, now I freak out if I can't get to mine for 24 hours. Up until recently I was using Feed Demon. However, due to a conflict with them wanting me to buy a copy and me not wanting to I spent last night doing evaluations on a bunch of RSS readers (all free so I can avoid future disagreements).

RSS Bandit is my freebie of choice. It is an opensource project and available at the link above. The best part is I like this one better than Feed Demon. IT supports style sheets (I use one with a larger font cause its easier than wearing reading glasses)and autofeed discovery like Feed Demon. Unlike Feed Demon it's free, has a very cool search feature, works in offline mode, has a feed error folder (so you can actually tell why you favorite feed isn't working, and my favorite - it cascades any links in the post in a drop down menu plus it also cascades links from any feed you subscribe to. Take a look at the screen shot since it probably explains it better than I do. In short, fuck feed demon. I'll keep my $30 and use a better reader to boot.

So, what's in your computer?

Update : Update : Frequency of posts are going to decline (hopefully)

Clubbing Baby Seals...: Update : Frequency of posts are going to decline (hopefully)
Well, they ain't fired me yet so I'm guessing they aren't going to. As predicted, the posts have declined so I will go on a mad posting spree this evening.

RFID jammies for kids - Engadget - www.engadget.com

RFID jammies for kids - Engadget - www.engadget.com
Clothing brand Lauren Scott is introducing a new line of children’s sleepwear (aka jammies) that come embedded with RFID tags so that parents can be instantly alerted if their toddlers try to sneak out for a night of wild partying. The clothes will be sold at Target and work with SmartWear’s RFID system of tag readers that you’re supposed to place near doors and windows. Paranoid/loving parents should be prepared to shell out about five hundred bucks for the whole set up.

It isn't like we didn't know this was coming, but I sure didn't think it would start at Target.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Late with a payment? No wonder car won't start


Southpinellas: Late with a payment? No wonder car won't start
Lutes, owner of Affordable Auto Sales on 66th Street N in St. Petersburg Florida, thinks he has found a solution. It's a device he installs on every car he sells that alerts drivers when they have a payment due. Day by delinquent day, the alert gets increasingly insistent. On the fifth day, the car won't start.
...
The little black box with a four-button keypad is mounted under the dash and connected to the car's electrical harness. Once the dealer and the customer have agreed on a payment schedule - and Lutes insists on weekly payments - the schedule is loaded into a Windows-based computer program in the dealer's office.
As long as payments are made on time, the light on the module shows green. On the first day a payment is delinquent, the light blinks red for 24 hours. On day two it flashes in pulses of two. On day three, there are three pulses in quick succession. On day four it beeps all day long. On day five, the car stops working.

Whaaaaaaat? No credit, no problem. No payment, BIG fuckin' problem.

Sunday, July 24, 2005

I Played the GTA 'Hot Coffee' Mod and All I Got Was This Lousy...


The Raw Feed
You've read about the Grand Theft Auto "Hot Coffee" modification scandal, a.k.a. "CoffeeGate." Now you can buy the T-shirt.

Well, at least some good has come out of this fiasco. Looks like I found my next t-shirt. Link

Monday, July 18, 2005

Video Game Sex Hack Puts Focus on Ratings

Video Game Sex Hack Puts Focus on Ratings - Yahoo! News
Shooting. Killing. Vehicular mayhem. Sexual conquests. Teenagers can experience it all through today's almost-anything-goes breed of video games, primarily among those rated "M" for mature.
"There is no doubting the fact that the widespread availability of sexually explicit and graphically violent video games makes the challenge of parenting much harder," said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who asked the Federal Trade Commission last week to investigate one of the most violent titles, "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."

Speaking of Hillary and Jeb. Looks like the evil video games are Hill's presidential platform. Having played GTA:San Andreas myself I have a few opinions (no surprise) on the subject. For starters, I almost agree (now that surprised ya). GTA is extremely violent and contains a whole bunch of negative social activities (murder, pimping, the list goes way on). Regardless of the sex mod I think GTA should have been rated Adults Only in the first place. Don't get me wrong, I think GTA is one of the best games I've played in years. But it sooooooo ain't for kids. No way, no how, are my kids playing that game. Which brings up where me and Hill disagree. "There is no doubting the fact that the widespread availability of sexually explicit and graphically violent video games makes the challenge of parenting much harder". Um, no. Hell, no. Let's apply my "sucks to be you" method (tm) I invented a while back.
Kid whines, "I want to play GTA".
Adult responds with "The operative word in that statement is want. Unfortunately for you, I want to be a good parent. So the answer is no.
Child whines, "But all my friends are playing it."
Adult responds "Sucks to be you."

GTA does not make parenting harder. Parents inability to say no makes it harder. Parents lack of involvement makes it harder. Parents not looking at the big fucking M 17+ stamped on the box makes it harder. For me!

Because you know what? When the kid says all her friends are playing it, she isn't lying. Twice I've had my daughters friends (11 years old) enter my computer room while I was playing (I hit the escape key to pause and hide the screen). And both times can you guess what they have said? "Are you playing GTA? That game is awesome!" No shit. After ascertaining that they have actually played the game (they had), I quietly fumed.

Fine, lets say a parent has missed all of the inflammatory newspaper articles, magazine articles, web articles, political opportunism, and TV reports about the first three GTA games. All it takes to realize that GTA is fucking inappropriate is to walk through the room for ,literally, one second. That's it. You don't even need to hear the game, just glancing at the game is enough to tell you this ain't made for children. Hell, GTA isn't even made for all adults! If some adults find it so offensive that they are willing to boycott and picket stores that sell it, why would you even think of letting your child play it? At least look at the damn thing. Yeah, I'm ranting. I know it. But is either this, or call up the parents of those kids and really lose it.

So back to Hill and Jeb. If those are the choices I have for President, I'm worse off than a mute 10 year old boy at Neverland when a priest convention is staying there. I sure as shit don't want another god-fearin' Republican in office and I refuse to support any campaign based on preying upon sorry ass parents trying to find something to blame thier fucked up kids on. News flash. If your kids are fucked up, it isn't becuase they played a video game. It's because you fucked up. And yes, I expect those words will come back and bite me on the ass. My kids will be fucked up. Everyone's kids have issues. Just like we adults do. The difference is at least I cared enough to look.

Bush qualifies firing vow in CIA leak case

Bush qualifies firing vow in CIA leak case - Yahoo! News

President Bush vowed on Monday to fire anyone found by a federal probe to have acted illegally in the exposure of a
CIA agent, in a shift from a broader pledge to dismiss anyone found to have leaked information in the case.
Bush, whose top political adviser Karl Rove has been caught up in the investigation, told reporters he did not know all the facts and urged them to wait until the inquiry was complete before "you jump to conclusions."

Well, that's nice. He will fire anyone who acted illegally. Cause it would be kinda hard to do your job from the other big house I guess. Not that I think jack squat will happen to Rove but if it did it begs one serious question. How the hell are you going to get Rove's hand out of George's ass?

Update : Frequency of posts are going to decline (hopefully)

Update : Frequency of posts are going to decline (hopefully)
So far so good. Nobody fired me yet. However, since I have a slightly pessimistic nature and a little bit of paranoia I will reserve judgement until Friday.

MobileOptical Video Eyeware


MobileOptical Video Eyeware
Marz says:
Oh...oh my...Charles, I think you have to clean one of the NOC chairs now:

Bad part: makes you look like Jeordi LaForge from Star Trek

Great part: VIDEO-capable eyewear through phone/PDA service...leads to voice activated webbrowsing, "hands-free browsing" ported to your glasses...leads to lots of people walking around talking to themselves and tripping over cracks in the sidewalk that they didn't see...and then I can laugh at them.

Sweet.

Please, please, please buy a pair Baa! The jokes almost write themselves.

Cohen Defends Reeves As Sinbad

Cohen Defends Reeves As Sinbad
Rob Cohen, who will direct Keanu Reeves in the upcoming fantasy film The 8th Voyage of Sinbad, told SCI FI Wire that he believes the Matrix and Constantine star is perfect as the eighth-century hero Sinbad the Sailor, despite reactions to the contrary. Cohen added that Reeves is not too contemporary an actor to play the role, as some critics have said. "One of the things I love about Keanu is I've always found him a guy out of time," Cohen said while promoting his latest movie, the SF film Stealth. "Even in contemporary movies I find him kind of removed, not [like] the surfer-dude kind of thing he did [in the Bill and Ted movies]."

And now for some bad movie news. Look! Step by step destructions on how to fuck up a remake of those great Sinbad movies. Step 1: Cast Keanu Reeves as Sinbad. Tada! Your work is done. And yes, I know the first Matrix kicked total ass. But face it. Anyone could have done that role and it would have rocked (probably more). Hell, I am a big fan of the Bill and Ted stuff, but it ain't like that required mad acting chops or anything. At least there is Logan's Run to console me.

Logan's Run Eyes Berlin Shoot

Logan's Run Eyes Berlin Shoot

Producer Joel Silver told SCI FI Wire that he is considering shooting his proposed remake of Logan's Run in Berlin as soon as director Bryan Singer finishes up his Superman movie. "Bryan is finishing Superman in Australia," Silver said in an interview at Comic-Con International in San Diego. "I don't know how much he loved that experience. You know, I have no problem, I'll shoot in Australia forever, I love shooting there. But he's got to be there now through September, so it's a very big shoot. We were talking about ... shooting Logan's Run in Berlin, because there's incredible locations. It could be wonderful there." Silver is currently producing V for Vendetta, which partly shot in Berlin.
Singer and other writers are currently finishing up the screenplay for Logan's Run, a remake of the 1976 movie and George Clayton Johnson and William F. Nolan's SF novel, about a society in which young people are killed before they have a chance to grow old. "It's supposed to follow right after [Singer] finishes [Superman], so that's our intention with that," Silver said.

Yes, still posting. I've entered panic attack mode and sleep seems as far away as Paris Hilton's virginity. So I thought I'd drop a happy movie bit on you. Well, if you want to see Logan's Run remade by an excellent director it is happy news. I loved the old version, but let's face it, it's old. So I'm holdin' out hope for the new version.

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Frequency of posts are going to decline (hopefully)

Just to let everyone know, I am starting a new job tomorrow. As a result, I doubt I will be posting as frequently. That is assuming they will still want to keep me on after they see the list of my youthful indiscretions (the recruiter knows, but the employer probably hasn't received the results yet). Needless to say, I will give everyone an update tomorrow.

Ten years old today - a revolution in a decade!

gizmag Article: Ten years old today - a revolution in a decade!
July 14, 2005 Today is the tenth birthday of the MP3 – the file format that has become part of the universal language was named on this day, July 14th, 1995 by researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS. The audio team at Fraunhofer decided to use “.mp3” as the file name extension for their new audio coding technology (replacing “.bit”) following an internal poll and soon MP3 became the generally accepted acronym for the ISO standard IS 11172-3 “MPEG Audio Layer 3“.

Happy Birthday Mp3! Well, not today, but it was Thursday. Of course, the impact of this 10 year old technology is staggering. The only other tech invention to have that kind of impact in 10 years is the Web itself. I wonder what kind of impact bit torrent will have by its 10th anniversary?

Motorized in-wall speakers change position to diffuse sound


gizmag Article: Motorized in-wall speakers change position to diffuse sound
Last week KEF released the motorized in-ceiling speaker and today the company released a new in-wall speaker. The in-wall loudspeaker lies flush within the wall when not in use, and features a motorized, flat-panel, high frequency driver that automatically extends outward to evenly deliver surround effects throughout the entire room. The Ci FDTs combination of genuinely unobtrusive installation and advanced audio engineering creates a highly immersive film experience with performance "well beyond that of stationary in-wall speakers" according to KEF.

Awww man, I think I just Found my new speakers. As many know I have an obsession with blinky lights. However, most are not aware that my blinky light obsession is superseded by way cool motorized stuff. Sweeeet.

MobileBurn’s Bluetooth keyboard shootout - Engadget

MobileBurn’s Bluetooth keyboard shootout - Engadget - www.engadget.com
You want a qwerty keyboard for that cellphone, but you’re attached to that tiny little SMT5600 (or whatever)—well, you can have the best of both worlds. Kind of, if you’re willing to carry another device. And while the market might be a few dozen (non-fabric/optical) keyboards short of making a more complete Bluetooth keyboard shootout, Mobile Burn put the ThinkOutside Stowaway, Nokia SU-8W, and Freedom Input Freedom Keyboard to the torture test of what we assume was a few dozen “quick brown foxes” in rapidfire succession. We won’t tell you who won, but let’s just say it wasn’t the Nokia or Freedom Input.

I think Baa! or EB was nattering something about wanting one of these. Check out the reviews. There is a link for some reviews on the fabric ones too.

Zapped! Homemade RFID Reader-Detector

Zapped! Homemade RFID Reader-Detector
You may have heard the term RFID and possibly even brought one home unknowingly. But what exactly is a Radio Frequency Identification tag? Why are Wal-Mart, the Department of Defense and the Food & Drug Administration sinking big bucks into these little chips and paving the way for mass implementation?
After a brief overview of the technology and its related issues, each participant will receive a Zapped! RFID workbook. Participate in one of several hands-on exercises. You can to build your own RFID keychain detector that will ring, vibrate or light up when a RFID reader is within range and scanning the airwaves for data. Or program a RFID tag to "talk back" to a RFID reader that you may uncover with your Zapped! keychain.

Seems my rampant paranoia is acting up again. No way anyone can abuse RFID. Nope. Add this to the list of useful stalker tools.

Paper Says Edible Meat Can be Grown in a Lab on Industrial Scale

Paper Says Edible Meat Can be Grown in a Lab on Industrial Scale :: University Communications Newsdesk, University of Maryland
Experiments for NASA space missions have shown that small amounts of edible meat can be created in a lab. But the technology that could grow chicken nuggets without the chicken, on a large scale, may not be just a science fiction fantasy.
In a paper in the June 29 issue of Tissue Engineering, a team of scientists, including University of Maryland doctoral student Jason Matheny, propose two new techniques of tissue engineering that may one day lead to affordable production of in vitro - lab grown -- meat for human consumption. It is the first peer-reviewed discussion of the prospects for industrial production of cultured meat.

Ummm...well...not much to say here.

Saturday, July 16, 2005

Audi-Oh iPod Vibrator


Audi-Oh iPod Vibrator : Gizmodo
Here's one for the ladies. The Audi-Oh audio vibrator buzzes in time to any music you run through its audio jack. Want a quickie? Plug in some polka. Want a long and luxurious barn burner? Try Gregorian chant interspersed with NIN. The possibilities are endless. You can even hit a club or go see the Boston Pops and pipe the live audio into your love flower.

What? Like I was gonna pass this one up?

Finger Scanning At Disney Parks Causes Concern

local6.com - News - Finger Scanning At Disney Parks Causes Concern
he addition of finger scanning technology at the entrances of Walt Disney World theme parks for all visitors has caused concern among privacy advocates, according to a Local 6 News report.
Tourists visiting Disney theme parks in Central Florida must now provide their index and middle fingers to be scanned before entering the front gates.
The scans were formerly for season pass holders but now everyone must provide their fingers, Local 6 News reported. They have reportedly been phased in for all ticket holders during the past six months, according to a report.
Disney officials said the scans help keep track of who is using legitimate tickets, Local 6 News reported.

Woah. This give anyone else the creeps? Must just be us conspiracy nuts that are getting the heebie-jeebies.

Rehnquist Decision Could Hurry Bush Choice

Rehnquist Decision Could Hurry Bush Choice - Yahoo! News
William H. Rehnquist's plan to stay on as chief justice clears the way for President Bush to make a swift decision to replace retiring Sandra Day O'Connor. Liberals and conservatives have different ideas about whom that might boost, but they agree Bush will try to move the court to the right.

I can't believe he isn't retiring. As Cartman said, "This guy doesn't want to give Bush another appointment so bad he is holding death off with a spork."

Thursday, July 14, 2005

New TV to bring whole family together -- watching different shows


New TV to bring whole family together -- watching different shows - Yahoo! News
Parents will no longer miss their news programs or movies if their children insist on watching cartoons.
A new television will allow two different programs to air at the same time depending where one sits.
Japanese electronics firm Sharp Corp on Thursday unveiled the liquid crystal display (LCD) set that can simultaneously display different images into the right and left sides of the screen through a backlight.

Neat idea I guess, but I have an alternate solution to the problem of the kids wanting to watch cartoons when the adults want to watch something else. I call it my "sucks to be you" method (tm). Here is how it works.
Adult walks into room and changes channel. Kid whines, "I was watching cartoons". Adult responds with "The operative word in that statement is was. Sucks to be you." See some other enforcement ides here and here.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

NicoShot: Beer with Nicotine

NicoShot: Beer with Nicotine : Gizmodo
Now this is just excellent. A German brewer has created a frosty lager for smoking cessation. Each can contains 6.3 percent alcohol by volume and drinking three cans of the stuff, called NicoShot, is equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes. I think the implications are obvious: smoking makes you skinny and beer makes you fat. So if you add the two together, you get to your ideal weight.

More Beer! Now you can alternate between this and the caffeine beer and be good to go.

Anheuser-Buschs B to E Takes Beer to a New Level


Anheuser-Buschs B to E Takes Beer to a New Level
B-to-the-E (BE), Budweiser's newest entry in a long line of innovative beers by Anheuser-Busch, is a distinctive new product for contemporary adults who are looking for the latest beverage to keep up with their highly social and fast-paced lifestyles.
As the industry leader, Anheuser-Busch is the first major brewer to infuse beer with caffeine, guarana and ginseng. Well balanced with select hops and aromas of blackberry, raspberry and cherry, BE will offer a lightly sweet and tart taste - a great mixture of beer and new flavors for adults to enjoy when out with friends at a club or at a bar after work with colleagues.

Ahhh, beeeeer. Stay up longer so you can drink more beer! Brilliant!

FireFox 1.05 is Available

FireFox 1.05 is Available
Time to update kiddies. Basically a security patch, so grab it before some l33t haX0r d00d ganks your machine.

BBQ Branding Tool


BBQ Branding Tool - from I Want One Of Those
Cooking steaks to perfection is not only an art, but a necessity. The trouble is, of course, that once they're done they all look the same, so how on earth do you remember who wanted it done rare?
This brilliant Branding Iron solves the problem. Simply heat it up in the BBQ and, just like in the Wild West (but without all the mooing), you can brand your steaks. It has three sides, with an 'R' for rare, 'M' for medium and 'W' for well done. Never has steak sizzling been so stylish.

Oh how sweet. Branding your steaks. I wish they had different letters so you could brand the cow's name or pithy remarks on the steak.

Picnic BBQ Grill


Picnic BBQ Grill from I Want One Of Those
This compact and slim-line fold-away BBQ is a great little summer cooker. Easy to stash away when you're not using it, and yet open it up and you've got a 42.5 x 26cm cooking area.
The grill can sit at three different heights, there's an integral wind-break for breezy days, and they've even thrown in a spatula and BBQ fork for flipping your steaks or fish. All that for twenty quid just seems daft.

Now that is a portable grill. More BBQ goodness on the way.

Monday, July 11, 2005

Drug suspects devise rocket to fly away with evidence

Boing Boing: Drug suspects devise rocket to fly away with evidence
A pair of suspected drug dealers were arrested after being caught with a rocket loaded with about $150,000 of methamphetamine in the trunk of their car. The suspects had rigged together a system that would pop open the car's trunk and launch the drug-bearing rocket when they pushed the cigarette lighter on the dashboard.

Ledford explained that a web of ropes and pulleys lifted the rocket into launch position when the trunk lid was opened. The rocket could then be ignited from inside the car using the dashboard cigarette lighter.

Cops are pretty certain the rocket was meant to be an escape pod for the drugs, but Ledford diplomatically declined to speculate.

"But they did have the meth inside the rocket," he admitted, "and it could be launched from inside the car."

Who knew dealing meth was rocket science? Priceless.

Rockstar Games


Rockstar Games
Rockstar's long-awaited videogame adaptation of the cult film classic, 'The Warriors,' comes to PlayStation2 and Xbox this October.We invite you back to The Warriors official splash site to see the debut of the first Teaser Trailer - available in QuickTime and Windows Media formats. See The Warriors in action for the very first time.

Awesome! Rockstar is turning The Warriors into a game! Come out and plaaaay!

Sunday, July 10, 2005

Florida man charged with felony for wardriving

Florida man charged with felony for wardriving
If you've been planning on doing some wardriving in Florida, think again. Benjamin Smith III was arrested and charged with unauthorized access to a computer network, a third-degree felony in the state of Florida. It's not clear, however, whether Smith was attempting to access a computer on the network or just browsing the web and checking e-mail. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, this is likely the first arrest of its kind in the state.

Woah! Well, this is sooo not cool. A fucking felony just for hopping on a signal.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Gangsta Gadgets


Gangsta Gadgets
R. Kelly Golden showerhead! And look! There's a video camera in the head! I love it! Click on the link to see the rest of Sync Magazine's Gangsta gear.

Could a hotel be built on the land owned by Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter?

Could a hotel be built on the land owned by Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter?
A new ruling by the Supreme Court which was supported by Justice Souter himself itself might allow it. A private developer is seeking to use this very law to build a hotel on Souter's land.
Justice Souter's vote in the "Kelo vs. City of New London" decision allows city governments to take land from one private owner and give it to another if the government will generate greater tax revenue or other economic benefits when the land is developed by the new owner.
On Monday June 27, Logan Darrow Clements, faxed a request to Chip Meany the code enforcement officer of the Towne of Weare, New Hampshire seeking to start the application process to build a hotel on 34 Cilley Hill Road. This is the present location of Mr. Souter's home.
Clements, CEO of Freestar Media, LLC, points out that the City of Weare will certainly gain greater tax revenue and economic benefits with a hotel on 34 Cilley Hill Road than allowing Mr. Souter to own the land.
The proposed development, called "The Lost Liberty Hotel" will feature the "Just Desserts Café" and include a museum, open to the public, featuring a permanent exhibit on the loss of freedom in America. Instead of a Gideon's Bible each guest will receive a free copy of Ayn Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged."

Not that I think for a minute that this will go through, but it sure would be just desserts. I still can't believe they (Supreme Court) let this one pass. The government taking land to build a freeway I can at least see the necessity, but taking your land and giving it to an individual because it will create greater tax revenues? That is insane! I didn't even pay attention to this case because it was such a no-brainier. Well, at least we have an amendment to prevent flag burning. Good thing the Senate doesn't have any important issues to address. Bastards.

Exploit Circulates for Veritas Backup Exec Software

Exploit Circulates for Veritas Backup Exec Software - Yahoo! News
Veritas Backup Exec is used primarily for network-based backups. When active, the software "listens" for remote indications from around the network to determine when a backup should begin.
But according to CERT, the Veritas software contains a buffer-overflow vulnerability that will allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker who has found the software to compromise a system, then execute applications using administrative privileges.

Wow, first time I've seen backup software exploited. Anyway, here is a quick way to impress the boss or make your backup admin look bad if he's irritated you. Of course a properly configured firewall would stop this exploit but it never hurts to be safe.

Russian sues Nasa for comet upset

BBC NEWS | Europe | Russian sues Nasa for comet upset
"This impact could have altered the orbit of the comet, so now there is a chance that the Tempel may well destroy the Earth some day!"
This claim was brushed aside by Nasa mission engineer Shadan Ardalan.
"The analogy is a mosquito hitting the front of an airliner in flight. The effect is negligible," Mr Ardalan told BBC News.
However, even if the comet stays at a safe distance from Earth, Ms Bay's own life, she thinks, will never be the same again.
An amateur astrologist, she believes that any variation in the orbit or the composition of the Tempel comet will certainly affect her own fate.

Hahahahahahahahahahaha! Can't breathe! Hahahahahahahahahaha!

Monday, July 04, 2005

Blogger offers 300MB of free image space


Blogger offers 300MB of free image space : Lifehacker
Weblogging software Blogger now offers image upload for free blogs up to 300MB.

Link

New 'Orgasm' Ringtone Screams Your Name

New 'Orgasm' Ringtone Screams Your Name-The Raw Feed
The appropriately named (or, inappropriately named) Orgasmatones web site is offering ringtones featuring a recording of an English woman faking an orgasm and shouting out your name. The site currently features the 500 most popular male names in the UK. The company plans to roll out ringtones with girl's names next week, and, later, ringtones featuring regional accents.

Aha! A non-political post. Unless your name is George I suppose. Wish they had a free sample to link to....

Devoted to God, but Not the Pledge

Devoted to God, but Not the Pledge
Looks like a political theme today....
He has pursued deeply held religious convictions in courtrooms in Loudoun County, Alexandria and North Carolina. He is most passionate about his opposition to reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools, which Myers believes unconstitutionally mingles God and government and dilutes his religion.
A software engineer with no legal training, he plunked down $100 to file a suit in federal court in 2002, figuring he'd represent himself and make a point. He lost at the U.S. District Court level. But three years later, Myers's case has been taken on by a prominent civil liberties attorney and stands poised to help decide the Pledge of Allegiance's legality in schools nationwide.

I know I'm in the minority on this one, but I cetainly didn't think a hard-core Christer would be on my side. And for those who don't know, the "under God" crap was added in 1954 (hah! take that Schram-man) by the Knights of Columbus. And yes, I object to "In God We Trust" on my money too (added after the Civil War).

AMD sues Intel for monopolistic practices

Press Releases
Marz says' "Not that I doubted this for an instant.."
AMD (NYSE: AMD) announced today that it filed an antitrust complaint against Intel Corporation (“Intel”) yesterday in U.S. federal district court for the district of Delaware under Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, Sections 4 and 16 of the Clayton Act, and the California Business and Professions Code. The 48-page complaint explains in detail how Intel has unlawfully maintained its monopoly in the x86 microprocessor market by engaging in worldwide coercion of customers from dealing with AMD. It identifies 38 companies that have been victims of coercion by Intel – including large scale computer-makers, small system-builders, wholesale distributors, and retailers, through seven types of illegality across three continents.

Yup, definitely falls under the no shit category. I thought this might happen when the Japanese government ruled against Intel back in March.

Is It Free Speech If Protesters In Effect Are Put In Quarantine?

Is It Free Speech If Protesters In Effect Are Put In Quarantine? - from TBO.com
Joe Redner loves beautiful women and the First Amendment. When he's not with one, he's studying the other.
So it's no surprise the owner of Tampa's most famous strip club, the Mons Venus, was arrested one November day in 2002 for Scotch-taping case law onto poster board and protesting a ``free-speech zone'' outside the Sun Dome at the University of South Florida, where President Bush was scheduled to rally for his brother.
And it's no surprise he was sitting in a federal courthouse 2 1/2 years later, watching his attorney argue that his civil rights were trampled by those responsible for the arrest.
Women have made Redner a lot of money. The First Amendment is helping him spend it.

Regardless on how you feel about strip clubs, you have to give Redner major props for fighting for free speech all the time. The man must spend a fortune on attorneys. And this quarantine crap Bush has started is one of the most offensive things he has ever done. Protest all you want as long as we don't have to see you. Keep fightin' Joe!

Friday, July 01, 2005

froozepop


Froozepop
On the airport of Singapore, where she had to wait for a connecting flight, she wanted to buy something sweet. She bought Fr-ooze Pop because it was advertised all over the place as the ultimate candy experience. Licking it she suddenly realized that she had a dildo in her mouth. The feeling it gave her was a mix of embarrassment and excitement. She took some pictures and sent them to this magazine. And assured us that it was for real and not a joke.
Fr-ooze Pop is currently being marketed directly to children in Singapore via television ads placed on cartoon shows.The advertisements show young children sucking hungrily on the candy, with the message "squeeze and lick" repeated again and again. The candy is wildly popular with kids. But not so popular with their horrified parents.

Haven't posted anything for a while so I thought I would bring back an old favorite.

Supreme Court Justice O'Connor retires

Supreme Court Justice O'Connor retires - Yahoo! News
Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the
U.S. Supreme Court and a moderate conservative who often controlled the outcome on abortion and other issues, announced her retirement on Friday, setting the stage for a major political battle over her successor.
"This is to inform you of my decision to retire from my position as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, effective upon the nomination and confirmation of my successor," O'Connor, 75, said in a letter to
President Bush.

Welcome to the new America. Hope you aren't pro-choice or not Christian. It will get even more fun when William Rehnquist retires. Bet ya $20 bucks you can kiss the filibuster good-bye too. Everyone practice with me... O Canada! Our home and native land!...