Political convergences

On one hand, we have Rudy Giuliani claiming that he could end illegal immigration in three years.

On the other hand, we have legal experts pointing out that it's impossible to end illegal immigration.

(You should worry whenever Rudy and a time interval are mentioned in the same sentence. Look up "Giuliani time" to see what I'm talking about.)

The inflection points of love

This article analyzing love from the perspective of calculus seems to be meant for me -- and thus it was meant for this blog.

I suspect that the reason my love life has been so slow is due to thinking like the author of the article.

Throw a chair and show me you care

A commenter on Mini-Microsoft notes:

i like to play a game, it usually consists of me going to yahoo.com and getting a 5yr chart for MSFT and then comparing it to random stocks.

I've yet to find a stock that performs worse - anyone care to enlighten me?

Pwnability

About two months ago, I was deeply pessimistic about the upcoming Leopard's security stance.

When the final marketing language was released, I was optimistic after reading about ASLR and other new features.

Now that I've read Ptacek's analysis, I'm back to being pessimistic.

Congratulations on your Pwnie Award, by the way

Errata Security promises to shoot a taser at one of their employees tomorrow and film it, and you get to vote on which one takes the hit. Currently, David Maynor is "winning".

Do you think that we'll be treated to a video of Maynor licking a 9-volt battery, claiming it's equivalent to a taser blast, and then posting a photo of a disassembled taser unit a year later?

Your central office will be visited by a pickaxe-wielding madman between 8 am and 8 pm

The four stories I've heard from separate AT&T DSL technical support representatives in the past two days:

1) Your DSL service will be activated on the 17th, sometime between 8 am and 8 pm.
2) Who told you that? It could get activated anytime between 8 pm and midnight on the 17th.
3) Your DSL service was activated yesterday on the 17th, at approximately 6:30 pm.
4) Your DSL service will be activated sometime today the 18th between 8 am and 8 pm.

Worst. Revolution. Ever.

I wonder how many people find themselves in this situation:

• relatively uninterested/unknowledgable about politics;
• see a Ron Paul revolution sign on the side of the road;
• go home and Google him;
• find out he's just another dorky old white guy

Meet the man behind the blag

If you live in the Detroit area, and you weren't insane enough to fly out to Cambridge, MA just to hang out at a park, you have a second chance.

Attend Penguicon in April, and you'll be able to meet Randall Munroe!

Your bald-headed ass is part of the problem

I just watched a chunk of a Jim Norton comedy special on HBO where he spends 10 minutes defending Don Imus from all those evil liberal politicians and entertainers, and then subsequently (and non-ironically) starts to complain about our celebrity-obsessed culture.

Wanker.

Our delightful police state

Domestic surveillance doesn't prevent terrorist attacks.

If you supported this NSA bullshit in the name of security, I hope you eventually die with a dildo up your ass.

Bring that beat back

To Bill O'Reilly:

Yes, yes I would. Wholeheartedly.

Southern hospitality

In Mississippi, we get stories like this that make you wonder what conservatives are smoking when they claim we don't need affirmative action:

Back when I had a real job (as opposed to an IT job), my company bought a piston plant in New Albany. I was the Product Manager of the piston line, so I flew down to the plant to talk with the Plant Manager about our plans.
I asked him how long it would take to hire and train a bunch of people, since we planned a big expansion. He said it could take a while, because unemployment ran around 3% there.
I told him the State figures showed over 20% for that area.
He said, "yeah, but they count the blacks."

Spread the purple

Well, this just makes me want to go bumper-sticker shopping.

The leader

Please read Barack Obama's recent speech.

Then please donate some money to his campaign -- he's getting thrashed by Hillary.

The teacher

Holy crap... someone's found footage of Tom Lehrer playing on That Was The Week That Was, and put it on YouTube!

Here's the ever-relevant Send The Marines, and the delightful Catholic anthem The Vatican Rag.

Novak is a traitor twice-over?

Digby has a good post on IOKIYAR, as it relates to criticizing our military leaders.

It's made all the better when you see that his example in this context is Robert Novak, the douchebag of liberty.

Alternative caffeine delivery system

I decided to give coffee another try today, seeing as my default breakfast drink is Coca-Cola.

I'm pleased to report that apart from the taste and the aftertaste, coffee is fantastic!

Cataclysm

Mike Doughty:

I've been watching that Ken Burns The War documentary. Ken Burns docs--my kinda arty-bourgeois diversion. That's Doughty Country.

The best part is that, before the show, when PBS acknowledges its donors, they open with: "Corporate funding for the war is provided by..."--!!!

And then non-commercial commercials for sponsors Budweiser, General Motors, and Bank of America.