Do you trust Microsoft?

Seriously. Do you trust them as a company? Would it disturb you to learn that Microsoft has designed, and supplied to a variety of law enforcement agencies a device that can be used to forensically examine your computer, if you are running a Microsoft operating system. Now I can understand the need to examine a computer, computers are often used to commit crimes. Where I have an issue, is that until Microsoft decided to do this, most computers were relatively safe from Joe Public, but by issuing over 5000 of these devices, they have guaranteed that the bad boys will manage to get hold of one, and from that point you have no privacy at all. After one of these is stolen, it will be duplicated in no time, and thousands will be on the streets.

Just think. Someone gets their hands on one, accesses your computer, and now they have ALL of your passwords, access to your bank account and credit cards, EVERYTHING.

Microsoft has just betrayed every Windows user on the planet
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2004379751_msftlaw29.html
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080429/095514977.shtml

But – why should I care? I don’t run Windows. Instead I should just sit back and laugh.

But I can’t do that. I care. Folks, be smart. Dump Windows, before Microsoft’s latest screw up hurts you.

Activism in Italy

V2 Day was Friday, April 25, 2008. V stands for “Vaffanculo” (“F… off”). It’s an Italian grass roots movement aiming to reform the Italian state. Needless to say it is not popular with the political class, and it’s been mostly ignored in the Italian media, even though there was a huge turn out on Friday, possibly as many as 1.5 Million people.
http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n139202
http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-dealzone/2008/04/25/italians-protest-media-consolidation-in-style/
http://africa.reuters.com/odd/news/usnL25256113.html

Of course Italy is different. The current Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, elected earlier this month, owns most of the television stations, and a lot of the newspapers in Italy. As one columnist said, imagine Barrack Obama owning Fox, ABC, and CBS, controlling 90% of the TV Americans get to watch. As a result it’s not possible to get the sort of media coverage that would be possible with an independent press, so Italians have been organizing on the internet, where as comedian Beppe Grillo says, “We are all journalists.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120822109482414819.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

This is something that the politicians don’t like at all. Italy’s press is licensed, a hold over from the Mussolini regime, that was placed into law before World War II, and never withdrawn after Italy surrendered in 1943. An attempt was made to require all bloggers to be licensed, which thankfully died a quick death.
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/10/22/italy-proposes-a-min.html

There’s an excellent article on the BBC which everyone should read, and those of us who don’t live in Italy should watch to make sure that the same thing doesn’t happen to us:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2008/04/clown_prince_of_bloggers_takes.html

Windowz Sucks

We never could get the sound working on Vicky’s laptop, so about two months ago we switched it back to Windowz from Linux. Her only complaint about Linux was the lack of sound, and no matter how heard I searched, I couldn’t find a sound driver that would work for it.

Today Windowz blew up. Totally. The message we got when we tried to reboot it was “Operating System missing”.

Yeah, right. We discussed the situation, and since we the computer is probably going to be replaced in a week or so, I did not want to install Windows XP on it again, so Vicky is now using my laptop which has had Ubuntu installed on it for over a year, and is rock solid.

I hate Windowz.

The Green Pope

I’m happy. Really happy. Why? Because Pope Benedict has declared “polluting” a sin!

http://www.newsweek.com/id/132523?from=rss

I’m not a Catholic, and don’t believe in Papal Infallibility as a doctrine, but I do believe that Pope Benedict was divinely inspired when he preached this, and I’d like to join those worldwide who are cheering him on.

Oh, and the Vatican is now Carbon Neutral. Let’s see the other denominations follow in the footsteps of the Catholics.

Geek Squad isn't so geeky

I read this, and just about fell off the couch laughing.

Don’t drink anything while reading <G>.

Sex!

Live Science has a really interesting SEX quiz. I scored a 8 out of 10. Go try it.

Top 10 Ways to Green Up Your Sex Life

Never thought of making my sex life “Green” before, but I found this by accident, and after I stopped laughing, decided to pass it along.

Have fun.

2008 Democratic National Convention Schedule of Events

I found this on the web – can you tell this person doesn’t like democrats?

2008 Democratic National Convention Schedule of Events

7:00 pm ~ Opening flag burning

7:15 pm ~ Pledge of Allegiance to the U. N. in Spanish

7:20 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

7:25 pm ~ Nonreligious prayer and worship with Barack Obama

7:45 pm ~ Ceremonial tree hugging

7:55 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

8:00 pm ~ ‘How I Invented the Internet’ – Al Gore

8:15 pm ~ ‘Gay Wedding Planning’ – Barney Frank presiding

8:35 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast & explains the new amnesty program

8:40 pm ~ ‘Our Troops are War Criminals’ – John Kerry

9.00 pm ~ Memorial service for Saddam and his sons – Susan Sarandon

10:00 pm ~ ‘Answering Machine Etiquette’ – Alec Baldwin

11:00 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

11:05 pm ~ Collection for the Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund – Barbara Streisand

11:15 pm ~ ‘Free the Freedom Fighters from Guantanamo Bay’ – Sean Penn

11:30 pm ~ ‘Oval Office Affairs’ – William Jefferson Clinton

11:45 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

11:50 pm ~ ‘How George Bush Brought Down the World Trade Towers’ – Howard Dean

12:15 am ~ ‘Truth in Broadcasting’ – by Michael Moore

12:25 am ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

12:45 am ~ Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Nancy Pelosi

1:00 am ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast & provides swimming lessons

1:05 am ~ Coronation of Hillary Rodham Clinton

1:30 am ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

1:35 am ~ Hillary Rodham Clinton announces Bill Clinton as her running mate for VP

1:40 am ~ Bill Clinton asks Ted Kennedy to drive Hillary home

Scaredy Dog

I took Mark for a walk just as the storm was starting. I got towed home, poor thing was terrified. So terrified that he’s been shaking like a leaf since we got in.

Poor thing.

Writer's Block: *Lightbulb Goes Off*

When I realized that I have a lot more self control than I thought, my wife told me that even when I was in the worst pain, I was OK to be around, up till then I had thought I was a total grump when the pain hit (well I sure felt like one!)