Interesting links and notes on updates to my main website.



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In his latest blog entry, Wil Wheaton not only crashed his computer but he set himself on fire trying to reboot it.

He is my hero. posted by Richard at 20:21 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

If you're running Windows, you might want to try running the free LavaSoft Ad-aware program. It may discover some spyware on your computer you're unaware of. posted by Richard at 18:52 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Aha! Finally proof of my US foreign policy theory:
.

Photo © Reuters 2002. All rights reserved.

It's from January 2, 2002.
I used the Reuters Photo Gallery to locate the pic, since I remembered seeing it a few days ago. Here's the caption page with the larger photo. I don't know how long they keep these photos/pages up. posted by Richard at 15:51 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Levitican Law

Leviticus 11: dietary laws (a small extract)

[9] These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
[10] And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
[11] They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
[12] Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
[13] And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

Funny, I don't hear many sermons condemning sushi.

And the sacrifices. Whoo boy you don't want to screw one of those up.
Fortunately Leviticus 1 through 10 explain in great detail how to do proper sacrifices.
Funny I don't see any of those in the church any more either. posted by Richard at 15:35 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Northern Michigan River Panorama. Nice. 3826x800 image, 593 KB. By Mark Weaver, as seen on rec.photo.digital posted by Richard at 13:16 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

First 11 Steps to Survival and now 11 bombs to destruction. As seen on daypop. posted by Richard at 11:46 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Existential Dishwasher has an interesting posting on hot scientists. Or something to that effect :) posted by Richard at 11:33 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Wil Wheaton's coolness quotient (which was already high) goes astronomical.
How can I fault a guy who links to

and


Ok, I don't actually know what the second one is, but when I clicked on the link, the Amazon page says "Explore similar items". That's sounding like fun to me. posted by Richard at 11:17 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Alex's photography is awesome. posted by Richard at 11:08 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

CS/Dal/Halifax Socializing...
They should have bigscreen Buffy every Monday in the CS auditorium. That would rock.
Now there's an election platform I would support (but all the CS government wins by acclamation 'cause hardly anyone cares anyway).

LoTR expedition next week?

Just a couple suggestions, since normally I spend my time alone staring (and/or swearing) at computer screens all day and night. posted by Richard at 11:02 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I was trying to find some citiations for the common stat that "80% of crime is caused by men aged 18-24 (or 18-34, or whatever)" but I couldn't find anything direct. I found The Real Causes of Violence and Crime though. posted by Richard at 10:17 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Violence in the United States (guess what, guns kill people, no wait bullets kill people. Let's ban bullets.) posted by Richard at 10:04 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

The Progress of Canada's Children, 1996 .

What kills young Canadians (although you'd never know it by the amount of attention placed on other things):
1. accidents, mostly cars
2. suicide

Highlights:

* Injury is the leading cause of death among children between the ages of one and 20. In 1994, 1,624 children died of injuries.
* The majority of injury-related deaths are caused by motor vehicle accidents.
* Although the rate of injury-related deaths is declining, injuries still account for 57% of all deaths among children up to 19 years of age.
* Youth between the ages of 15 and 19 are the most at risk of death from injuries, particularly teenage boys.

Facts about Teens: 15 to 19 years

* The teen suicide rate has increased dramatically over the past 30 years in Canada. After injury-related deaths, suicide is the second leading cause of death -- 13 per 100,000 teens. The majority of suicide deaths involve teenage boys.
* Suicide rates among Canadian youth aged 15 to 24 are higher than those of many other countries: the rate for Canadian males was 22nd among 32 countries, and for females it was 24th. (Being ranked first out of 32 countries meant having the lowest sui cide rate.)
* Alcohol is the drug of choice for teens; 70% consumed alcohol in 1994.
* The pregnancy rate reached a low in 1987 and has climbed slightly since. In 1992, 41.6 of every 1,000 Canadian women in this age group became pregnant, less than half the American rate.
* Many teens -- particularly girls -- report feelings of loneliness, sadness and depression. posted by Richard at 09:52 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

True Wireless. Wireless power. This is what I'm saying. As seen on Justin Hall's http://www.links.net/, which is 1. ancient in Internet terms and 2. sort of a precursor to blogging. posted by Richard at 23:55 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Hee hee hee

Enron CEO Kenneth Lay speaks out on the problem of CEO abuse:
It cost us so much money to get Bush into office that we went bankrupt!

from http://www.gwbush.com/ posted by Richard at 20:59 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I got a google search hit on buckaroo banzai dvd canada and now I'm thinking hey, I have the exact same question. The special edition DVD was supposed to come out on January 4, but I can't find it at any Canadian online stores. I see Amazon.com has it of course, for US$15 which actually is not too bad of a price. posted by Richard at 19:50 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Is CD Copy Protection Illegal?. We have the exact same issue in Canada (with the added bonus of a fossilized government and no control over our entertainment market). You pay a fee on every blank CD. Then they turn around and want to put copy protection on. Wankers. Representative Boucher rox. posted by Richard at 19:32 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I was watching History Television this other day, and they had this thing on the Diefenbunker (which apparently, Dief didn't want to go into anyway without his wife. Anyway, they showed a bunch of scary Canadian Emergency Measures films reminiscent of Atomic Alert. One is apparently also a booklet, which someone has HTMLified and put online: 11 Steps to Survival.

Note: There is a Diefenbunker in Debert.
If there had been a nukewar, Halifax would have been either directly nuked (as Canada's eastern navy harbour) or we would have gotten massive fallout from Debert, which definitely would have been nuked, as it is the site of all NATO communications for eastern North America or some such thing. posted by Richard at 18:14 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

thoughts on Willow's gayness... from alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer.

I'm no expert but personally I'm thinking: in love with Oz + in love with Tara = biwillow.

What's the deal on Buff anyway, are there new eps coming?
The last one I saw was crazed magic addicted Willow and Buff+Spike housebanging aftermath I think. posted by Richard at 17:51 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Adolescence now lasts to 34. Woohoo!
As seen on Using Bees.
Oh wait, adolescence sucks. Damn. posted by Richard at 15:04 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

The Geek Hierarchy
as seen on blogdex. posted by Richard at 14:20 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Woe is me

http://slashdot.org/~rakerman/friends/
Your friends:
You are alone in the world. posted by Richard at 12:10 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

They don't make holidays like they used to:

Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day
Washington, D.C. - August 12, 1861

Whereas a joint Committee of both Houses of Congress has waited on the President of the United States, and requested him to "recommend a day of public humiliation, prayer and fasting, to be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnities, and the offering of fervent supplications to Almighty God for the safety and welfare of these States, His blessings on their arms, and a speedy restoration of peace:"

posted by Richard at 10:33 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Bin Laden Granted Asylum in Mordor
"He is evil," says Lord Sauron, "but I have no problem with that."

As seen in Ironic Times. posted by Richard at 10:27 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

The Jackhammering.
Incredibly.
Unbelievably.
Continues.

I was going to write a rant but instead imagine the following in 48 point font:
FVCK posted by Richard at 07:22 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I got one of these Kodak Smart Picture Frames (was US$99 when I got it). Very cool.
More info at http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/faqs/faq1644.shtml posted by Richard at 20:51 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Win a year of Aliant (MTT etc.) DSL Internet: http://www.atlanticzonecontests.com/ posted by Richard at 20:48 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

This is pretty good about the early days of USENET: I Remember USENET. posted by Richard at 20:28 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

The Herald has an AirCan seatsale today. $198 return Halifax <-> Boston. posted by Richard at 08:45 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

A couple from Slashdot /.

Fuel-Cell Power With Methanol

Monsanto and PCBs. Monsatano maybe. Monstroso. Better technology for better evil. posted by Richard at 07:31 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Herald says 50% off at Sams starting today. posted by Richard at 18:10 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I thought the 60-minute hour was from the Babylonians, but according to the Economist, they got it from the Sumerians. The Sumerians also had a lively mythology. The Economist reports "Sumeria's Gilgamesh epic describes the rite of passage through which Enkidu the ape-man became human, thanks to the obliging Shamhat:"

While the two of them together were
making love,
He forgot the wild where he was born.
For seven days and seven nights
Enkidu was erect and coupled with
Shamhat.

posted by Richard at 18:06 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

"Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18."
-- Mark Twain posted by Richard at 18:03 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Hey Daligonians, when is the deadline for paying the Winter term fees? I usually pay like the day before the fees are due. posted by Richard at 16:47 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

The Economist reports in The health of nations that if rich countries spent an additional $27 billion a year to provide health aid to poorer countries, 8 million lives could be saved. The report is based on the findings of the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health. posted by Richard at 16:31 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I had a nice email from a visitor to my main website. Here's a photo that I liked on his website. posted by Richard at 16:15 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I've probably mentioned this before, but I see so many gloomy blog postings, so here it is (maybe) again: Adbusters, "the journal of the mental environment" thinks our Toxic Culture may be driving us all mad. It also has some choice words on how easily legal (and incredibly powerful) drugs are dispensed for a profit of $billions, while illegal drugs (which you can see below don't even show up in the major death statistics) continue to be demonized and "fought" at a cost of $billions. posted by Richard at 08:04 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Richard saves uman lives, part 2: drunk and distracted driving.
Wil Wheaton issues an anti-drunk-driving plea.
Yesterday the headline on the Globe was "Drunk driving cases increase".
I would extend this concern also to cover distracted driving - all it can take is a moment's inattention, whether it's a conversation you're having on your cellphone, or something going on in the back seat, or looking down to adjust the A/C.
Cars are hurtling metal death cages.
Be careful. And if you're particularly concerned, get MADD. posted by Richard at 07:56 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Richard saves uman lives, part 1: suicide.
The Economist reports in Such a waste that

In 1998, the last year for which government data are available, suicide was the third commonest cause of death for young Americans, after accidents and murder. More adolescents and young adults killed themselves than died from all the next seven main causes of death.

In an earlier posting I gave the stats for all Canadians.

In general, what kills people:
- smoking (tobacco)
- suicide (sadness, solitude)
- cars (drinking or not thinking)
- drinking (alcohol)

I always thought, hey, as long as I don't smoke, don't drive, and don't drink, I'm safe.
But solitude can kill too.

The American stats are somewhat different from the rest of the world, always, for two reason: guns and ghettos. What in the rest of the world would be attempted murder, attempted suicide, and an accident requiring stiches turns in the US through the magic of guns into murder, suicide, and accidental death. As well, violence and death statistics from the inner city distort the overall numbers. posted by Richard at 07:37 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Why the HRM Shouldn't Privatize the Halifax Harbour Clean-Up Project. As seen on existential dishwasher. posted by Richard at 20:17 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Richard, you ask, what are the dates and prices on your Tolkien books

The Hobbit 1979 $3.50
The Fellowship of the Ring 1974 $2.75
The Two Towers 1978 $2.50
The Return of the King ? $2.75
The Silmarillion 1979 $2.95

I never made it through The Silmarillion. It made my head hurt. Of course it probably didn't help that I was like 11 at the time. posted by Richard at 20:05 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

This is the verse as I remember it from CBC Radio today

Ring the bells that are left to ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

I don't know what the exact words are. It's by Leonard Cohen. posted by Richard at 14:23 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I discovered in Live365 that by pulling down the "Live365 Stations" part of the search selector, you can search by artist played, so you can find all stations that play e.g. Jane Siberry. posted by Richard at 10:09 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Cape Chignecto is a huge new Nova Scotia Provincial Park with hiking trails.
Here are some links:
* http://www.capechignecto.net/ is supposed to be the main site, but it has been down for weeks.
* Explore Nova Scotia - Cape Chignecto including photo gallery.
* A Crown Jewel by Ron Robinson for Outdoor Nova Scotia.
* Nova Scotia Provincial Parks - Cape Chignecto.

I found the history of the area quite interesting. It was a major shipbuilding centre.

At the time of Confederation in 1867, Nova Scotia was the most prosperous province in Canada, due mainly to its shipbuilding, lumbering and fishing industries... In those halcyon days, wooden shipbuilding gave Nova Scotia the third largest merchant marine in the world, after England and France, and a reputation for its "wooden ships and iron men".

from "A Preliminary History of the Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Area, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia". posted by Richard at 09:37 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I'll probably have a Boston photogallery by Friday. I have a bunch of updates to do to my main website and several photogalleries to do. Then project project project. posted by Richard at 06:07 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

2002
moon on the new fallen snow

I have to finish my grad project pronto.
Then get a job. Preferably in network security, or 2nd choice sys admin with a large net security component. Location preference:

1. Ottawa
   
2. Boston
   
3. Europe
   
4. Halifax
   

posted by Richard at 05:56 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

This is pretty cool: the Amtrak Acela Express between Boston and Washington DC. It says it goes 150 miles per hour. There are multiple departures each day. It says it takes 3.5 hours to get from Boston to New York. I would have thought it would be faster. Still you could go from Boston to NY in the morning, take in a Broadway matinee, and come back in the evening. posted by Richard at 08:27 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I walked half way across town trying to find Time magazine, neither store I went to had it.
So fine, I'll read it online for free then.

Take your pick: Time has two reviewers select their Cinema Best and Worst 2001. One selects Moulin Rouge as the worst movie of the year, the other picks it as his second best.
My review of Moulin Rouge is "a musical for people with a short attention span".

PS I liked Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet. posted by Richard at 14:41 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

This is cool: Evolutionary Computing Via FPGAs. I read an article about it before in Discover magazine or somewhere. As seen on Slashdot /. posted by Richard at 09:04 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I only saw a fragment of the movie Paris - When It Sizzles on TV. The part I saw was a movie-within-a-movie. I mention it mainly because it has Audrey Hepburn in Paris, which kinda links to Amelie, which has Audrey Tautou in Paris. posted by Richard at 08:58 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

The article by Heather Mallick ties together with some stuff I've written, and of course with the classic election map and "Let's Ditch Dixie" posting. posted by Richard at 08:44 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Refine your prejudices: Heather Mallick writes in Saturday's Globe and Mail that we should be anti-Heartlanders, not anti-Americans. posted by Richard at 08:36 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

CNN selects three Canadian locations as "best places to vacation": Vancouver, Montreal, and Nova Scotia. As seen on Cassie's journal. posted by Richard at 08:11 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)