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Archives for August 2003
It’s Funny Because It’s True
Think it’s easy to tell a programming language inventor from a serial killer? Think again.
Do You Think We Need One More?
While reading an interesting article about The Onion at the Business 2.0 site, I noticed something a little strange. There were no less than four banner ads for Microsoft Server 2003 on the same page. I’ve highlighted them below:
Somebody over there really knows how to sell banner ads.
Got It Bad, Got It Bad, Got It Bad
My wife is starting a new job this fall. She’s going to be teaching English at an all-girls Catholic high school in McLean, Virginia.
Yesterday I was quite thrilled to learn about “Switcheroo Day,” an annual event the school holds several weeks into the fall term. On “Switcheroo Day” students abandon their traditional uniforms and dress like teachers. Teachers, in turn, spend the day attired in Catholic schoolgirl uniforms–plaid skirt, long socks, the whole deal.
This means my wife will be wearing a Catholic schoolgirl uniform at least once a year.
I think “Switcheroo Day” is my new favorite holiday.
The Sad Truth
Skallas at Metafilter makes a very important point regarding the implications of John Geoghan’s murder:
The real downside here is now that its been established that pedophile priests might be killed in prison, the Catholic church will continue to empty its coffers into better lawyers and do more to cover-up these collar-wearing child molesters’ crimes. Also, expect bigger “hush money” settlements and “forgiving” DAs and judges giving slaps on the wrist.
I’m Not A Real Doctor, But I Am A Real Worm
A story that was posted on Slashdot today raises some interesting ethical questions about computer security.
Network Associates’ online database of computer viruses is now showing an entry for a new worm that exploits the same security vulnerability as the Blaster worm. Essentially, this new worm “attacks” a vulnerable computer and immediately takes steps to fix the security vulnerability. The worm then disables and deletes itself. The infected computer is essentially rendered more secure than before it was attacked, as malicious variants of the same worm can no longer successfully compromise the system.
A few things to consider:
- Unpatched systems are the means by which these worms propagate. An unpatched system therefore presents a reasonable threat to all other unpatched systems.
- It would be difficult to make an argument that any financial damages occur as a result of this worm variant. In fact, a very good argument could be made that it generates staggering financial savings for businesses by enhancing the overall security of systems without requiring any action.
- Writing and distributing this type of worm definitely violates existing laws.
Is it ethical to write and distribute worms that modify a user’s computer without their explicit consent, provided the purpose is to protect other users (and the Internet infrastructure) from the negligence of the “victim.”
Better Than Porn for Pistols
I found an interesting plank from Mary Carey’s gubernatorial platform:
I will coordinate the state’s unemployment and jury systems, so that anyone who applies for unemployment will instantly be called for jury duty. This will save California state and local governments millions of dollars, because we won’t have to pay for jury duty. It will also relieve those with jobs from the stress of serving on lengthy juries.
At first it sounds a little intriguing. After all, if we’re going to have unemployment, we might as well try to get something in return.
Then again, do we really want whole juries composed of the unemployed?
Microsoft Isn’t All Bad
So I turned 25 yesterday and my lovely wife bought me an Xbox. The console came with Sega GT and Jetset Radio Future, but I figured I needed a few other games so I bought the following:
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Finding Nemo
- Frogger Beyond
- Dead or Alive 3
Unfortunately, my wife has already developed a Frogger Beyond habit. I’ve given up on trying to pry her away from the controller. It will definitely be an interesting two weeks until she starts teaching again.
I was wondering if anyone could comment on the Xbox Live service. Is it worth it for people who aren’t really die-hard gamers?
I Use the Fridrich Method, Too, Because I Am Fridrich
Remember the Rubik’s cube? Jessica Fridrich certainly does. She was one of the original pioneers of speed cubing in Eastern Europe during the early 80’s. She even developed a groundbreaking system for solving the cube. To this day, Fridrich can solve a randomized cube in an average of eighteen seconds.
Her website at SUNY Binghamton includes a section on speed cubing. In addition to providing resources for solving the cube, Fridrich also reflects on her last 20 years with the cube.
Of particular interest is a passage on her early attempts to acquire a cube through the black market while living in the Czech Republic in 1981:
I bought the cubes from an old lady who was selling magazines and souvenirs in the street. When I mentioned “Buvos Kocka” to her, she smiled, quickly looked left and right and handed it to me in a brown lunch bag, put her index finger across her mouth, and said “Shhh, one hundred and fifty Forints”.
Fridrich also tells a very amusing story about an encounter she had with another cuber (cubist?) while she was traveling on a train during college.
I received an email from a client today informing me that his wife gave birth to a 6 lb. and 14 oz. boy last Thursday morning. As is usually the case with email birth announcements, photos were attached and the child’s name was mentioned. The email seemed pretty typical until I began to read the second paragraph, in which the client informed me that he needs additional hosting services because he has already purchased a domain name for the newborn, based on the child’s newly given name, so he can setup a website. Something is _very wrong_ in the world. A child who has been out of the womb for less than a week should _not_ have his own domain name. I can only hope the proud parents didn’t spend last weekend crouched around the family computer eliminating potential baby names based on a lack of domain name availability.A guy was sitting next to me playing with the cube. I asked him about his system. He said: “I am using the Fridrich method.” I asked with a surprise in my voice: “You actually memorized ALL algorithms?” His answer was: “No, that’s too much. I know only some of them.” I replied with: “Well, you need to memorize all of them otherwise you are not really utilizing its strength.” He looked at me frawning and said with his mouth half open: “Yeah, so what’s your system?” I answered with a big smile: “I use the Fridrich method, too, because I am Fridrich.” He did not blink an eye, did not say anything and handed me his messed-up cube. I solved the cube in about 20 seconds to prove my words and we both laughed at the coincidence.
I needed to write a function to display random quotes in PHP and I think I pounded out the shortest possible solution:
`$quotes = array(1 => ‘Insert Quote Here’, ‘Insert Another Quote Here’, ‘Insert Last Quote Here’ );
srand((double)microtime()*1000000); echo $quotes[rand(1,count($quotes))];`
Birthday Greetings, Bottle of Wine?
Today the BBC reported on a new dance mix of Cherie Blair singing “When I’m Sixty-Four” to a group of Chinese students in Beijing. It seems that the track has become popular with British clubbers in Ibiza and Cyprus and “music experts predict it could storm the UK’s pop charts.”
It could be this year’s “Let the Eagle’s Soar.” I simply must find a copy.
