Isaac.Eiland-Hall.com

Article: Water without hydrogen would warrant warnings (Louisville, KY Courier Journal)

Quote: David Karem, the Waterfront Development Corp.’s executive director, had the signs made to try to keep people out of the water after health officials raised concerns about bacteria in the fountains last year.

Karem said he was counting on a lack of understanding about water’s chemical makeup, and he thought that suggesting a link to one of the world’s most dangerous weapons—the hydrogen bomb—might keep them from jumping in.

Yeah…

I suppose that will keep most away.

Personally, if faced with that sign, although I know the chemical makeup of water, I would probably personally assume that the sign designer was an idiot, and that there was some valid problem with the water…

OTOH, I would also keep out if it simply said “Keep out”........... So this might work for those that don’t catch on, who otherwise would ignore a simple rule to refrain otherwise…

Rather droll, I suppose.

Elvis Song Puts Lover in Heartbreak Hotel—Newsday.com

Quote: PERTH, Australia—A woman stabbed her boyfriend with a pair of scissors because he repeatedly played the Elvis Presley hit “Burning Love” on the King’s birthday, police said Tuesday.

Yes, yes, crime is always bad, and honestly, I certainly do disagree with the actions taken… but I think I can sympathize with the desire....

De Winter Information Solutions – open solutions in an open world – Spyware Sony seems to breach copyright

Quote: The spyware that Sony installs on the computers of music fans does not even seem to be correct in terms of copyright law.

It gets better and better…

It looks like the Sony rootkit, which was intended to prevent copyright violation, is itself a violation of copyright.

Poor Sony… They really have screwed up royally… I have crossed the line from irritation and anger now into pity… not that they shouldn’t face justice, mind…

Freedom to Tinker » Blog Archive » Don’t Use Sony’s Web-based XCP Uninstaller

Quote: Alex Halderman and I have confirmed that Sony’s Web-based XCP uninstallation utility exposes users to serious security risk. Under at least some circumstances, running Sony’s Web-based uninstaller opens a huge security hole on your computer. We have a working demonstration exploit.

It keeps getting worser and worser… (sorry for the bad grammar—I just thought it fit this sad situation…)

Seriously, folks, boycott `em until they change—if they change.

Wired News: Boycott Sony

Quote: After weeks of criticism, Sony has finally agreed to temporarily stand down on an abusive and likely illegal copy restriction practice. Hold the applause.

On Friday, the world’s second-biggest record label pledged to temporarily stop making CDs that leave computers vulnerable to security breaches. This is a step in the right direction, but it does not go nearly far enough toward correcting a serious ethical lapse. In fact, it is proof positive that Sony is unworthy of our trust or our business.

Haven’t decided to boycott Sony yet? Take a gander at this Wired article and join the boycott.

Sony has made a HUGE mistake here, and the continue to make it worse and worse…

Kuwait’s biggest field starts to run out of oil | Editorial Column

Quote: It was an incredible revelation last week that the second largest oil field in the world is exhausted and past its peak output. Yet that is what the Kuwait Oil Company revealed about its Burgan field.

I read somewhere else today that of the estimated two TRILLION barrels of oil in the entire world (i.e., our entire global supply of oil that we ‘started’ with a century ago, that cannot be replaced without millions of years of inactivity), we have used now ONE trillion of those barrels.

In other words, folks, we’ve used half of our entire supply.

Consider that we’ve used the oil that was easier to get to.

Consider that our consumption of oil only continues to rise.

Folks, there’s a problem right here in River City that starts with O which stands for Oil.

We need alternatives—and maybe quicker than we’d thought.

There is a feeling from multiple sources of a general global crisis happening in the 2012-2015 range… I haven’t gone in for such predictions since I was a fundie Southern Baptist (I believe the booklet I remember was ‘88 Reasons Jesus Will Return in 1988’), and I have a big dose of skepticism with this prediction… but in the general “where are we going and why am I in this handbasket” scheme of things, I can’t help but think that I won’t be surprised to see something happen…

Wired News: Sony to Suspend Antipiracy CDs

Quote: Stung by continuing criticism, the world’s second-largest music label, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, promised Friday to temporarily suspend making music CDs with antipiracy technology that can leave computers vulnerable to hackers.

Sony defended its right to prevent customers from illegally copying music but said it will halt manufacturing CDs with the “XCP” technology as a precautionary measure. “We also intend to re-examine all aspects of our content protection initiative to be sure that it continues to meet our goals of security and ease of consumer use,” the company said in a statement.

Maybe that’s the problem.

It was secure and easy to use—it just was one of the most irresponsible actions I’ve seen from a company that should have known much better.

They forgot to add “and legal” to the checklist, I think.

And “temporarily” suspending that tech? Right. Too little, too late. And a slap in the face if they resume…

Rest assured, people will be watching Sony like a hawk now…

The Blog | Bob Cesca: GOP Memo Wishes for Another Terror Attack | The Huffington Post

Quote: I have this crazy theory that warnings of the 9/11 attacks were ignored because elements of the administration and the PNAC neocons, who had previously mused about a “Pearl Harbor event”, needed to secure popular support for war in the Middle East. The “Greater Good” theory.

This, btw, was what pointed me to my previous blog entry…

I’ve wondered the same thing—could Bush or his subordinates have allowed it to happen?

The scary thing, with the track record he’s had… I’m beginning to suspect it’s possible.

Carter Rails Against Bush During Book Tour – Yahoo! News

Quote: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Former President Jimmy Carter questioned the direction of the country and sharply criticized the Bush administration in a book tour stop here.

Word.

Globetechnology: Tragically, it’s not hip – just a sum of No. 1 hits

Quote: The researchers pull data from weblogs, chat rooms and music reviews—anywhere a song is being discussed—and feed it into the computer, which allows the software to gauge the popularity of a certain sound.

Once all the information is tabulated, the computer can listen to an entirely new album and predict how people will respond based on what it knows about the latest reactions to the music it has already heard.

Yeah… One more reason to write off the big labels and seek alternative sources…

WRAL.com – News – Petrick Googled ‘Neck,’ ‘Snap,’ Among Other Words, Prosecutor Says

Quote: Last week, a forensic investigator discovered that Petrick allegedly researched lake levels, water currents, boat ramps and access about Falls Lake just four days before he reported Sutphen missing on Jan. 22, 2003.

Mental note: The perfect crime includes not leaving trails that point to one researching the perfect crime….

Beijing chooses Olympic mascots – Yahoo! News

Quote: The mascots are called “Beibei”, “Jingjing”, “Huanhuan”, “Yingying” and “Nini”, which together mean “Beijing welcomes you.”

Hey Beibei, hey beibei hey…..

What?

My only other comment is that I can’t think of any Olympic mascots that don’t look like they were designed by a committee on drugs…

WGAL.com – Local News – Pat Robertson Tells Dover Residents They Rejected God

Quote: “I’d like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don’t turn to God, you just rejected him from your city. And don’t wonder why he hasn’t helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I’m not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that’s the case, don’t ask for his help because he might not be there.”

I recognize that’s a fringe viewpoint, don’t worry… Just that 15-20 years ago in my life, I probably would have agreed with it. It’s why I’m not Christian anymore…

RED HERRING | Sony Spyware Draws Lawsuits

Quote: “This is a war over who controls the delivery mechanism for music and consumers are getting caught in the middle,” he said.

If Sony loses in court, the company could face serious consequences. Sony might be required to recall all the CDs with the software and compensate consumers, which could cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars, said Mr. Schultz.

I mean really—I can’t imagine they thought they could get away with this.

I tell you what—if I had Sony stock, I’d be selling it like no tomorrow—because that’s what they might have.

Sony’s actions on this have stunned me.

Excite News

Quote: Actress Sutton Foster was rehearsing a number called “I’m An Accident Waiting to Happen” earlier this week when she fell and broke her arm.

This, my friends, is why one makes no mention, for example, of The Scottish Play.

Salt Lake Tribune – Nation and World

It’s too short for a fair-use quote… An amusing explanation of the likely cause of defeat for a man defending himself in court… worth the click.

What a moron.

Dell embraces AMD chips for courtroom duty? | Channel Register

Quote: Why would a computer maker with such a staunch Intel-only stance offer chips that can’t even slot into its own products?

Heh. Nice catch on this one.

New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz: Pair ordered to refund weight-loss pill buyers

Quote: An Auckland man and his company have been ordered to refund $175,000 after falsely claiming a tablet could “melt away” fat and cellulite.

Duh?

Jailhouse Boast Leads Officers to Cash – Yahoo! News

Quote: Investigators failed to find the money in an October search behind a storage and building company in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, but they had success the following week when a former inmate appeared and asked the business for permission to search for money behind the building.

Tip of the day: When asking for permission to search for your hidden cash that you stashed on someone else’s property, try to come up with some sort of reasonable excuse. This is a primary example of what a reasonable excuse is not.

Other bit—this is from Fort Walton Beach, one metro area west along the beach… so it’s kinda close to home. heh.

Body image causes lack of desire – Yahoo! News

Quote: The more a woman perceived herself as less attractive, the more likely she was to report a decline in sexual desire or activity

Please, for the love of all that is anything at all—listen to your partner when they tell you you’re sexy! Please

CNN.com – Iran nuclear game too close for comfort – Oct 24, 2005

I’m stealing the Farkline for this one: Iranians freaking out over cunningly-named game “U.S. attacks Iran”, in which, well, the U.S. attacks Iran.

Yeah.

D’oh.

Good news is that it actually isn’t a screwup by our own government, merely a game by a company whose games I’d check out if I had that ever-elusive disposable income…

The Blog | Alec Baldwin: What Happened to the Party of Lincoln? | The Huffington Post

Quote: My question for today is: Why are contemporary Republicans so full of shit?

My personal answer: Hey, who cares? They’re the only thing making the Democrats look like the better of the two parties… bah-dum-ching.

My question is: How did our two-party system get this deeply [profanity]ed?

And by “two party system” I mean “a system made up of two parties that are very different in rhetoric, but virtually alike when you get down to it – made up of moronic self-serving asshats”...

(Oh, I’m sure there are plenty of exceptional politicians out there, but they sure are rare, aren’t they?)

(Hey, three rants in a row! Do I win a prize? )

New York Daily News – Home – Daily News Exclusive: Bushies feeling the boss’ wrath

Quote: Facing the darkest days of his presidency, President Bush is frustrated, sometimes angry and even bitter, his associates say.

I realize that some of my distaste for this buffoon is probably the result of misinformation and misunderstanding, and that there is a hell of a lot that has to be done that makes our leaders look bad…

But this dude has singlehandedly put us into Vietman II: Hurt The Man That Made My Daddy Look Bad (not really, btw – no need to mess with Hussein on Bush I’s account – I mean, there were no WMDs, so one must assume it was a family affair), screwed our foreign policy around the world, built a coalition of the willing, consisting of ourselves, and oh, we conned the UK (Don’t forget Poland!)............................

At least Clinton’s failings were things that didn’t screw up the nation nearly so badly…

Letters Show Frist Notified Of Stocks in ‘Blind’ Trusts

Quote: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) was given considerable information about his stake in his family’s hospital company, according to records that are at odds with his past statements that he did not know what was in his stock holdings.

Ugh…

Am I surprised by this? No. Not really.

Am I excited by the fact that he’s a Repulican? No—although I am always glad when it’s not a Democrat, there are plenty of asshats on both sides of that picture… Although I admit to taking a small joy that so MANY Republicans are in trouble at the moment… Although I don’t believe the Democrats are good enough to be conspiring to make it happen, so…... I have very mixed feelings on it all, as you can see…

Do I believe the trust was truly blind? I tend not to…

Do I believe this report that the trust wasn’t blind? Well, I am cynical about politicians, so I tend to believe it more than not, but I’m well aware that there’s always more to the story than we plebes get…

Still, all in all, the scale of my emotion tips ever so slightly towards a minor cheer that maybe another asshat will get their comeuppance… even as I sympathize with the hell he’ll be going through over this until everyone forgets…

Not that any of my reaction is unusual… I just decided to write it all out for you… Sort of an anti-rant, since it’s lack of emotion that characterizes this…

Open-Xchange plans expanded e-mail option | CNET News.com

Quote: Open-Xchange—server software for handling e-mail and calendars—is expected to announce on Tuesday an open-source project called Intelligent Design that will permit communications with the Evolution desktop software. Just as Open-Xchange is similar to Microsoft’s Exchange server software, Evolution is similar to Microsoft Outlook letting computer users manage contact lists, appointments and e-mail.

Intelligent Design? Evolution?

..................what?

Okay, I’m seriously afraid now…