Random Linkage

Random Linkage 2008-Dec-04 AM

2008-12-03T21:36:23Z

No school like old-school, like this wiretap-proof phone scrambler from 1966 which would be handy to have while President Bush continues his formerly illegal wiretapping program

This scrambler keeps private phone conversations safe from wiretappers and eavesdroppers. Fitted to an ordinary handset, it needs no electrical connection, has its own power source. To hear, a person needs an unscrambler coded identically. Delcon Division, Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif., sells it for $275, keeps your name and code locked in its vault.
Bacon flavored popcorn
Liebermann vote shows Democrats still unable to locate their spines
Mile-long underground “secret” tunnel for sale in London
A history of the Willhelm scream. You’ve heard it, even though you might not realize it
During a terrorist attack, the smart thing to do is share information, not suppress it

This fear is exactly backwards. During a terrorist attack — during any crisis situation, actually — the one thing people can do is exchange information. It helps people, calms people, and actually reduces the thing the terrorists are trying to achieve: terror.

Random Linkage 2008-Dec-03 AM

2008-11-29T16:35:30Z

The online museum of online museums (via DQ). Just one of the hundreds of pointers:

Whether or not you’re a science fiction fan, you’ve got to love more than 650 Philip K. Dick book covers, collected by fans for his official site. As design trends change, and the stories pass through time and language barriers, it’s astounding to see the variety of interpretations. In some cases, it’s particularly interesting to see how the book design influenced the films derived from Dick’s stories (most notably, “Blade Runner” and “Minority Report”) and how the films influenced the design of later printings of the books.
Get Fedora 10 Linux distribution
Apple still hates its customers, particularly Linux users, uses consumer hating DMCA to push its point

In the fall of 2007, as a way of protecting the link between its iPods and iPhones and the iTunes music store databases (iTunesDB) stored on those devices, Apple began employing a hashing algorithm. The result was that transactions between a device and the music store were masked, with a side benefit being that iPods could only conduct transactions through iTunes using only Apple’s software — which is a big problem for computer users with Linux.
Chicks:What’s their deal?
China: We do not fuck around in dealing with criminals

China has executed the leader of a bogus scheme for breeding ants to make aphrodisiacs that conned investors out of 3 billion yuan ($439 million), the official Xinhua news agency said on Thursday.
Indications are President-elect Obama will lift the ban hampering stem-cell research imposed by President Bush 7 years ago. Hypocritical Life begins at conception supporters of fertility clinics which destroy unused embryos object

The question is: Is it ethically more acceptable to destroy these embryos by pouring acid on them, or do you deploy these clusters of cells to create new cell lines that could benefit us in the future?

Random Linkage 2008-Dec-02 AM

2008-11-28T19:06:24Z

The downside of wind energy projects

What happens when trucks carrying gigantic wind turbine parts get lost in small Midwestern towns? In Lincoln, Ill., it means a blocked intersection and some ruffled feathers at the lunch hour, according to the Lincoln Journal, which reported that a turbine truck was fined $20,000 after going astray in town earlier in the year.

It weighed 180,000 pounds, in a city with weight limits of 72,000 pounds.
This is hella-cool, semi-ancient (in tech-time) technology - from March 1992 comes news of a cheap, inflatable canvas tube for setting up temporary or permanent low-water dams

The dam consists of a large canvas tube seven feet in diameter which is anchored in place across the bed of a stream and then pumped full of water. The weight of the gigantic hose makes it conform to irregularities of the bottom. The canvas is protected from the cutting action of sharp stones by an enclosing network of tarred rope.
President Bush leaves wearing the same reality-distorting glasses he’s had throughout his administration which keeps him from seeing the dismantling of the Constitution and of American values he has enabled and advanced

“I’d like to be a President (known) as somebody who liberated 50 million people and helped achieve peace; that focused on individuals rather than process; that rallied people to serve their neighbor; that led an effort to help relieve HIV/AIDS and malaria on places like the continent of Africa; that helped elderly people get prescription drugs and Medicare as a part of the basic package; that came to Washington, D.C., with a set of political statements and worked as hard as I possibly could to do what I told the American people I would do,” Bush said.

Random Linkage 2008-Dec-01 AM

2008-11-29T13:54:51Z

RailBricks magazine, for all your LEGO based railroading needs
My mother assures me that these Hershey’s Dark Chocolate bars with cranberries, blueberries, and almonds are a must-have for chocolate lovers
Best excuses given in an attempt to get out of a traffic ticket

I was driving along one day minding what I thought was my own business, and kind of daydreaming. I must have gone a little faster than I should have and was pulled over and stopped by a state police officer. My husband is a former police officer and told me how he always let someone go if they could tell him a reason for speeding that he hadn’t heard before. I knew I had to think quickly because he was now approaching my door. He advised me that the reason he was stopping me was I had exceeded the posted limit by 15 miles over. I looked him in the eye and asked him sternly Do you have any idea what I did to the last cop who stopped me for speeding? He looked a little shocked and began feeling more cautious. I said, I married him. I believe he is still laughing, he just walked away and said slow down, have a nice day. I was so pleased that for once my husband told me something that would really work.
Gizmodo guides you on calibrating your Hi-Def television for the best viewing performance
Software iPhone unlocking tool works after the latest Apple update - take control of your equipment, don’t like Apple tell you what you can’t run on it

Random Linkage 2008-Nov-30 Sunday Stupids

2008-11-29T17:47:01Z

Canadian Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal of case which decided obese people have a right to two seats for the price of one on airplanes
I don’t have high regards for unions generally, but even my low expectations are crushed by this example of abusing members’ trust by the NFLPA

Even though Defendants concede in their opening brief that they did indeed license retired player group rights, they claim that the retired players are not entitled to any proceeds. According to Defendants, the reason for the lack of entitlement is that, although, the NFLPA promised the retired players that it would share proceeds with “all eligible NFLPA members,” the NFLPA then set up secret criteria for elegibility that required a member to have signed a GLA and [emphasis mine] to be on a current roster of an NFL team.
TSA’s stupid, phull of phail “behavior detection” system is, well, phull of phail. 99% false positive rate is worse than just guessing or flipping a coin (via boingboing)

A TSA program launched in early 2006 that looks for terrorists using a controversial surveillance method has led to more than 160,000 people in airports receiving scrutiny, such as a pat-down search or a brief interview. That has resulted in 1,266 arrests, often on charges of carrying drugs or fake IDs, the TSA said.
Another sad story of man’s inhumanity to man (for values of man meaning humanity) (via Gizmodo)

A Wal-Mart worker died after being trampled when hundreds of shoppers smashed through the doors of a Long Island store [Black] Friday morning, police and witnesses said.

The 34-year-old employee, a temporary maintenance worker, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened at 5 a.m.
Defective-by-Design with details on 35 products that don’t deserve your money because they restrict your rights in some manner

Day 1: And now, once again, Apple have pushed their DRM agenda even further, with the release of the latest revision of their MacBook laptop computers. The new MacBooks contain a hardware chip that prevents certain types of display being used, in an effort to plug the analog hole. Devices such as the HDfury can get around this, but this adds greater cost and inconveinience to what should be a relatively simple procedure.

Random Linkage 2008-Nov-29 AM

2008-11-28T19:13:14Z

A different look at the cost of the financial market bailout (via boingboing)

The $4.6165 trillion dollars committed so far is about a trillion dollars ($979 billion dollars) greater than the entire cost of World War II borne by the United States: $3.6 trillion, adjusted for inflation (original cost was $288 billion).
Indonesians want to implant microchips in all HIV/AIDS sufferers (via /.)

But legislator John Manangsang said by implanting small computer chips beneath the skin of “sexually aggressive” patients, authorities would be in a better position to identify, track and ultimately punish those who deliberately infect others with up to six months in jail or a $5,000 fine.
Obama might be getting rid of DST?
The air freshener of the road rage set
Information on Blockbuster’s new progressive-playback movies-on-demand set top box (note: not streaming video)

For people who want an easy way to rent recent movies online, the Blockbuster device seems like an easy, low-risk deal: rent 25 movies at $2.50 each with no extra expense or continuing obligation. It is certainly better than the other pay-per-view boxes, Vudu and Apple TV, which typically offer the same movies but cost more than $200 upfront.

Random Linkage 2008-Nov-28 AM

2008-11-26T13:25:20Z

The worst designs and ugliest cars (10 of each) ever made

Introduced in 1975 the Pacer met with initial success, but sales dwindled quickly and the model was phased out after only five years. Among its odder features was a passenger side door that was four inches longer than the driver’s side door The idea was to allow easier access to the rear seats. Almost 40 percent of the car’s total surface area was glass, leading to “fishbowl on wheels” wisecracks.
The 30 greatest conspiracy theories in history. Skipping the obvious 9/11, JFK assassination, and fake moon landing bunk, here are a few that made me roll my eyes or chuckle for absurdity:

14. Paul is dead (re:well-known Beatle)

17. Black or unmarked helicopters (no mention of The Catcher in the Rye)

26. Plastic coffins and concentration camps (re: FEMA and martial law)
US Gov’t officials score worse than US voters on basic tests of American history, civics, economics

Forty percent of respondents, meanwhile, incorrectly believed that the US president has the power to declare war, while 54 percent correctly answered that that power rests with Congress.

Asked about the electoral college, 20 percent of elected officials incorrectly said it was established to “supervise the first televised presidential debates.”
Wallpaper is actually a coloring book (via DQ)
Amateurs keeping an eye on the floating space tool bag

The tool bag can be seen through binoculars, a few minutes ahead of the space station’s orbit. The satellite tracker predicts that the bag will be visible through binoculars from Europe and western North America during a series of passes this week. By late next week, the tool bag should appear in the evening skies over most of North America.

Random Linkage 2008-Nov-27 AM

2008-11-25T19:04:41Z

Researchers: “Foreplay is over-rated” (bonus: Americans - ur d01ng it rong)

Results show that for the women in the study, the average duration of foreplay was 15.4 minutes, and intercourse, 16.2 minutes. The researchers point out that 16.2 minutes is considerably longer than reported in American studies, where intercourse was found to last on average seven minutes. They added: “It could be that this reflects, a greater appreciation of intercourse and sensuality by Europeans than by Americans.”
Retiring Sen. Chuck Hagel points out what most of us already know - Rush and those like him have no clucking fue:

“You know, I wish Rush Limbaugh and others like that would run for office,” a sarcastic Hagel continued. “They have so much to contribute and so much leadership and they have an answer for everything. And they would be elected overwhelmingly. [The truth is] they try to rip everyone down and make fools of everybody but they don’t have any answers.”
Gov’t employees responsible for digging up ‘Joe the Plumber’ background information facing disciplinary suspensions
Prisoner outsmarts jailers - mails self to freedom

An inmate escaped from jail in Germany by posting himself out of prison in a giant FedEx box of dirty laundry.

Drug dealer Hans Lang, 42, hid in the laundry room after other inmates had finished work there and bundled himself up in dirty bed sheets in the large box.

Random Linkage 2008-Nov-26 AM

2008-11-21T21:07:16Z

Repairing the LHC to cost $21 Million, delay creation of world-ending black hole until summer 2009
The economy is getting so bad, a Brazilian trader tries to commit suicide on the floor of the stock exchange (via boingboing)

Trading was halted for a few minutes (emphasis mine) after the shot was fired on Monday
First US military execution since 1961 scheduled for next month

A former Army cook convicted of multiple rapes and murders is set to die next month in what would be the U.S. military’s first execution in nearly 50 years.
Spruce up your world view in Google Earth via Feature Preview Layer offering from 360 cities

Now you can travel the world courtesy of Google Earth and 360 Cities’ thousands and thousands of VR panoramas from locations around the globe. 360 Cities is now featured as part of the Gallery layer and Preview layer of Google Earth.

When you open Google Earth, click ‘Gallery’ in the layers window and then select 360Cities. As you navigate the world, you’ll see the 360 Cities icons wherever we currently have panoramas.
Build a three-penny radio. Really

Random Linkage 2008-Nov-25 AM

2008-11-23T05:05:16Z

Socialist Barack Obama want to raise tax rates on richest Americans to the high rate first set by what anti-business leftie?
The official Monthy Python YouTube video channel
The results of California’s vote on Prop. 8 to ban same-gender marriages
Have you got rocket balls? Probably not

The key element is that they are not intended as explosives; it’s the “rocket exhaust” that matters. The burning gas that propels the rocket balls will quickly heat the interior of a building or a bunker to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, destroying the contents.
Company asks nicely for domain held by someone else. Said someone else says “Sure - it’s yours.” The way domain resolution should be done

The note did not contain any threats, veiled or otherwise. It didn’t call me a domain-squatter or mention WIPO’s UDRP. It was polite, friendly — just the sort of thing I’d expect from the people who gave us Free To Be…You and Me. So I called up the lawyer, Cris Criswell, and asked him to tell me more.It turned out that the Foundation was about to publish a 35th anniversary edition of the book, with new art and a bound-in CD, and they wanted to use the domain to promote it. He explained that the Foundation was a charitable 501(c)3, with a board of directors that included Marlo Thomas, Gloria Steinem, and other people I admired and trusted.

Random Linkage 2008-Nov-24 AM Gaming joy

2008-11-22T14:52:19Z

Extreme Tech tells you 5 overlooked games you just have to get (and I agree with all but one)

For a mere $20 on Steam, Impulse, and many other services, Hinterland is a bargain indeed. The goal of the game is to lead a bunch of nobodies into the woods and somehow build a town.
Study says PC gaming is the largest market by a long shot (via Kotaku)
GotGame gives you a browser you can use from within your game. Surf while waiting to spawn/respawn, recovering your phat lewtz, or just standing around while your team gets ready (via TechCrunch)
In non-joy news, word comes that Tabula Rasa will be shutting down on Feb. 28, 2009 (via RPS)

Random Linkage 2008-Nov-23 Sunday Stupids

2008-11-21T21:03:10Z

You work for a wireless cell-phone provider. You have access to lots of user accounts. Respect that access, and you won’t end up in trouble for illegal access to user records of someone like, maybe, the President-elect

Verizon Wireless announced Thursday that “a number of Verizon Wireless employees” had improperly looked at president-elect Barack Obama’s cell phone records. All who accessed Obama’s account—whether or not their access was authorized—have been placed on paid leave pending an investigation.
US Airways looses 83-year-old grandma headed for Tampa. Finds her in Puerto Rico (via Consumerist)
Apple wants you to know that the monitor you buy for your Mac may have display capabilities revoked in the future so the display works, just not with your Mac (via boingboing)

iTunes video rentals and purchases in HD are flagged for HDCP control, and in cooperation with the new Mini DisplayPort connector on the MacBook and MacBook Pro unibody models, those movies and TV shows are refusing to play back on non-compliant external displays.

In this case, ‘compliant’ means HDMI or recent-vintage DVI, but even monitors or TVs that support HDCP may not properly negotiate with the DisplayPort connector to give iTunes and QuickTime the all-clear signal (if so, quitting and relaunching iTunes once the display is hooked up may clear the playback hold).
The good-cops-of-the-year award today going to five sheriff’s deputies who tasered a man while he was acting as a pallbearer at his father’s funeral

Gladwyn Taft Russ III was serving as a pallbearer at the service last Saturday and was loading his father’s casket into a hearse when the undercover deputies approached him.

Relatives said two deputies dressed in coats and ties grabbed Russ and kneed him in his back before using a Taser on him. One deputy’s gun fell out of its holster.