Interesting links and notes on updates to my main website.



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Indeed the United States is very advanced in its protection of rights.
For example, the rights of... perishable food products.
The Constitution at Work: Veggie Libel Laws and Free Speech, Texas Statute.
Yes, in Texas, as Oprah W. found out to her brief dismay and eventual triumph, you can be sued for libel by... meat.
Very enthusiastic protectors of rights, those Texans.

Of course humans, they are not so much with the rights.
Pesky humans interfering with unlimited police rights of investigation.
This comes to mind both because in Murder by Numbers, Our Hero Sandra gets the DNA for a match from her suspect's garbage bin and because Daypop sez.... Rubbish.
Odd how the enthusiasm for personal invasion never seems to extend to the promoters of such invasions themselves.

I must say, this whole DNA thing... as a perfect proof plot device... erm, if you have the (mis)fortune to have access to any average teenaged boy's waste basket, I'm guessing you can gather enough DNA "evidence" to frame them for several hundred crimes. I'm just saying. posted by Richard at 21:19 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Corporate Personhood Is Doomed. Via Daypop.

This would be very good.
The US has a couple bizarre notions which get it into a heck of trouble.
One is corporate personhood.
Which is to say, a corporation, for some reason, has all the rights that attach to a person. It is a person under the law.

Which leads to stuff like tobacco companies being able to fight advertising bans based on their "free speech rights".

Ok, people, human beings, have free speech rights.
The rights of a corporation should be zero. Zip. Nada. Government wants to ban tobacco ads. Poof! Hey presto, no more cig ads. The idea that fundamental human rights enshrined in national constitutions should apply to corporations is just, it's perverse. Frankly, if Trudeau had asked me for advice on writing the Canadian Constitution (which inexplicably he didn't), I would have said, put in the Corporate Clause, as follows:
"Corporations are not persons under the Constitution of Canada, and can claim none of the individual rights therein enumerated" or something to that effect.

The other ridiculous thing in the US is the ruling that "money = speech", thereby preventing any restrictions on campaign expenditures because to restrict the free flow of money would, bizarrely, be "restricting the freedom of speech". posted by Richard at 20:55 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I guess I have been pushing the envelope for a long time, because, obsessive HTML spec reader that I was in the early days (see me asking picky HTML questions, circa 1995) I have always used the CITE tag whenever referring to a book, magazine, or newspaper.

Via blogdex. posted by Richard at 20:46 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Why do spammers send unsolicited emails that open with "this is not an unsolicited email".
Um, like what, I'm reading this unwanted email from a total stranger advertising stuff I have no interest in but I'm going to say "oh, well in that case, I guess I must have requested this, silly me"? posted by Richard at 20:40 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Ottawa Ph{oto}log and more by John Lee.
Nice commentary on the different Bank Street camera stores.
I am happy in my proximity to Bank.

Oh oh, that reminds me.
The Mint.
Lost $1.2 million.
Not as in perdue.
As in whoops we spent more than we made.
The Mint. Lost money.
Only in Canada. posted by Richard at 20:32 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Watched "Murder by Numbers".
Not bad.
I thought the shootout at the end was a bit weak.
The Prisoner's Dilemma scene I liked a lot. I wonder if they knew they were doing a Prisoner's Dilemma.
I also liked the fact that the technical perfection of the crime was as always foiled by human frailty.

I must say though, I thought it was a bit weak of the movie to skirt around a certain issue between the two clever clever boys by avoiding any scene or videotape which showed them to be, erm, more than just friends.

It's sort of a remake of a classic old black and white movie, I think that takes place in a single room, with a similar theme. Fortunately Roger Ebert has pointed the way for me, it's Rope by who else, Hitchcock. posted by Richard at 20:22 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I don't get the Segway.
U$5000 so you don't have to walk?

I prefer my own Legway. Costs U$5 to keep them working.

"The Segway. Too slow for the road, too fast for the sidewalk."

Maybe they make sense in the US where no one walks anyway, leaving the sidewalks conveniently empty.
Otherwise in any normal city, it's going to be the Get-in-my-way.

"The Segway. Like a bicycle you have to stand up on, but less convenient."

Any other slogan suggestions? posted by Richard at 17:45 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Googling.
Why am I the #2 hit for ottawa blogs
but only the #7 hit for ottawa blog
?

O mysterious oracle. erm gooracle. posted by Richard at 16:54 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

kitty posted by Richard at 16:51 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

The Group of Seven exhibit at the AGNS is recommended.
I was expecting it would be like 12 paintings or something but it actually fills the entire third floor.
I liked some of the abstracts by FitzGerald.

In case Ottawonians are dismayed, I have good news: this collection of over 100 paintings, organized by the Glenbow in Calgary, will also be stopping at the NGC, October 10, 2003 to January 4, 2004. Its full title is "The Group of Seven in Western Canada".

Here are some related links:
* Historical exhibition kicks off in Calgary
* Halifax Herald: In seventh heaven at AGNS posted by Richard at 15:49 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Had nice breakfast.
Time to shower and then off to the Big City (Halifax) to visit the AGNS, do a few other things, and then gather provisions at the Chickenburger for tonight's supper. posted by Richard at 09:24 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

baggins.mov (QuickTime)

via my brilliant friend Krista.

It is the most bizarre thing I have seen in many a day. posted by Richard at 08:16 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Reykjavik 2002 pics by Ulf Rompe.

The Icelandair flight that used to come to Halifax was awesome.
If Halifax had any sense they would strive unceasingly to increase ties with Iceland because
1) They are close
2) They are cool
3) The babes man, the babes. posted by Richard at 08:14 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Blogging Ecosystem stats for Manifesto Multilinko.

I had forgotten about that "recommended reading" thing, it's cool. posted by Richard at 08:07 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

The updated HotBot lets you search using different engines, including Google. It's pretty hard for any engines other than Google to stay relevant and compete these days. posted by Richard at 21:11 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Wil's pointer to the Fark Star Trek: The Next Movie PhotoShop contest is also good.

I vote for Fark Trek II: The Wrath of Kun. posted by Richard at 20:59 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Wil Wheaton. Funny.

Here's the thing about red pepper flakes: even when you wash and dry your hands really well after you're done? The oil that makes them spicy is still on your hands. So when you absentmindedly scratch your chin, or rub your eye, or go to the bathroom, every single thing you touch will immediately burst into flames.

Every. Single. Thing.

Burns.

Oh, how it burns.

posted by Richard at 20:52 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Went to see "Catch Me If You Can". It's good. Recommended. Nice light entertainment.

But again too long. Clocks in at 2:20. They could have cut a half-hour out, easy. Particularly the "wait while we slooowly set the stage for the rest of the movie" beginning.

However, before the beginning, I have to give them kudos on their titles.
Best titles I've seen in... well almost ever.
If there is a Oscar for best title design, they must win it. posted by Richard at 20:49 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I'd like to take Latin.
I wonder if there are any good courses in Ottawa. posted by Richard at 20:43 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Mr. Picky Language Person

So in the movie they all say Sméagol the way a naive English speaker would: Smee-gol.
But if the accent is the same as in French, shouldn't it be Smeh-a-gol? posted by Richard at 17:03 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Cheney + Osama "new odd couple" reports: other news, Osama declares "jihad on junk". posted by Richard at 15:23 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

This is potentially good news for small NS companies and startups: Funds under gun to invest in Maritimes. posted by Richard at 15:07 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

MicroWarehouse.ca is having a "clearance stock sale" until December 31, 2002. posted by Richard at 15:03 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Delightful mountain photography: Suiattle River Valley by Brian Ernst. Via Moon Farmer. posted by Richard at 14:11 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Very interesting McWetloggage where Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens discuss some of the changes they made to the film version of The Two Towers. posted by Richard at 14:06 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Some international Mac rantage:

While I am glad that OS 9 now recognizes that Halifax and the associated Canadian Atlantic timezone actually exist...
It still seems to be pretty keen on placing Halifax in Europe, at least based on giving me A4 as the default paper size all the time.

This is at least slightly better that OS X 10.2, which won't let me set any international settings at all.
I can click to change Month/Day/Year to Day/Month/Year, but it ignores it completely.
Argh. posted by Richard at 14:01 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Every time I go to Bartleby, I get one of two Match.com ads featuring women, either
"I'm more naughty than nice" or the rather puzzling...

Um, is this some new thing? The kids today, with their alternate lifestyles... posted by Richard at 11:01 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Selected quotations:

I may not here omit those two main plagues and common dotages of human kind, wine and women, which have infatuated and besotted myriads of people; they go commonly together.

Note to self: develop more skilled wine palate.
From Robert Burton. 1577-1640, Anatomy of Melancholy.

That's odd, I've never found women's anatomy to be at all melancholic.

To continue:

Qui vino indulget, quemque alea decoquit, ille
In venerem putret
(He who is given to drink, and whom the dice are despoiling, is the one who rots away in sexual vice).

—Persius: Satires
Note to self: must find dice from AD&D days...

I just noticed, there is an HTML CITE tag, but no CUTE tag.
I think there should be a CUTE tag. posted by Richard at 10:54 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

On the second day of Killmas my true love gave to me: two wars across the sea.

Could Rumsfeld be any more nuts?

Rumsfeld Says, If Necessary, U.S. Can Fight 2 Wars at Once

Man, I'll have to get a bigger TV to watch the split-screen on CNN between "Nuking NK" and "Getting Back at Irak". posted by Richard at 09:10 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

This is really cool: The Diary of Samuel Pepys. As seen on Blogdex. posted by Richard at 09:01 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

And to swing us back to our regularly scheduled planetary doom: Alea jacta est. posted by Richard at 08:57 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

More fun with words:

aleatory
which leads one to the rather unusual dual-purposed
frottage
Note to self: be very clear when inviting artists over...

Seems to me in the second, erm, duel-purposed sense, phrottage might capture the meaning more accurately.

And the derivation for aleatory tells (tales?) me that when Caesar said alea jacta est, "the die is cast", it must have been a die as in gaming. I always wondered whether it meant "the die (1d6?) has been thrown" or "the form for the shaping of iron has been forged".

Yes, I enjoy word play.

Also note, although we usually say see-sar, it's actually supposed to be a hard C, hence the German: Kaiser. posted by Richard at 08:47 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

More from MoonFarmer: the courtship crisis.

On the one hand, it is true that there are no longer structured venues for meeting people.
On the other hand, speaking as a single 30something male, I must express some ongoing annoyance that while in theory everything is equalized, it seems to me the onus still rests with the man to seek out and initiate everything.
IMHO, if women want to solve the courtship crises, checking for ringless wedding fingers and asking the non-ring-bearers out would be a start. posted by Richard at 08:36 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Don't blame me, Kelly Ripa started it... Pubic relations.

OMG, I don't see why people worry about Lingerie Barbie... it turns out all these years she's been Brazilian Barbie. posted by Richard at 08:30 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Canadian Tire also has a Boxing Week sale, ends January 1, 2003. posted by Richard at 08:00 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

A reasonably good review of How we handled infosec in 2002. posted by Richard at 07:54 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Slashbloggage.

Bad news: Many Tools of Big Brother Are Up and Running.

Good news: Euro DMCA Fails. posted by Richard at 07:35 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

If, like me, you are reading the Tolkien books one by one, before each movie, you may find a bit of a book gap during the rest of the year.

I recommend Michael Scott Rohan's "The Winter of the World" series: The Anvil of Ice, The Forge in the Forest and The Hammer of the Sun. I found it to be a very interesting mix of fantasy with elaborate discussion of the finer details of forging.

If your taste for escape lies more with SF, I suggest Mary Gentle's Golden Witchbreed and the sequel Ancient Light. Both are extremely well done and the second was I thought a spectacular exploration of "how does an author deal with the creation and destruction of a world she loves"?

If humor is what you seek, you can't do any better than the classic Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome. As a bonus, it is out of copyright (remember when books used to come out of copyright?) so it is available in lots of electronic forms, you can start at the Project Gutenburg edition. The sequel, Three Men on the Bummel is also good but (at least in my opinion) mainly during the trip preparations, not so much during the actual trip itself.

Erm, in case you're wondering, a bummel is like a sort of hiking trip. posted by Richard at 07:01 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Today's best search hit:
"The Return of the King" -Elvis -Presley

I can see how they could get mixed up. posted by Richard at 20:11 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Watched K-19: The Widowmaker.
Meh.

And, no, I still don't know why "the finest submarine in the Soviet Navy" has duct tape on the front.

I wasn't able to recognize any of Halifax (where much of it was filmed).
You can see my photos of the sub in my Halifax Harbour 2001-09-30 gallery. posted by Richard at 20:08 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Fun with language.
So you're wondering, erm, suppose I want to get MADD...
Well you're in good company (not just with Kelly Ripa:)

According to the vast wisdom of the Internet, number 322:

It was considered elegant for aristocratic ladies of the sixteenth century to let their ... hair grow as long as possible so it could be pomaded and adorned with bows and ribbon.

And when they say hair erm, not so much the hair on your head.
Which leads me to wonder, I wonder if you can get a merkin pre-ribboned?
Seems like it would save a lot of work.
Which leads to the delightful word grimalkin.

I was going to include links to dictionary definitions, but my computer has decided for whatever reason, that it doesn't want to talk to www.bartleby.com (via Sherlock 2).
Don't ask me how one minute it can be working fine and the next minute you click and it's unreachable.
The wonders of the Internet. Time to fire up WhatRoute.

Update: Now it works just as mysteriously as it didn't. posted by Richard at 16:48 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Um, where are you supposed to tie that ribbon, exactly?

I support MADD, but I can't resist:

This year MADD is joining forces with a new face to help raise awareness with the Tie One On For Safety campaign: Kelly Ripa. The popular television star... is the national chairwoman for the 15th annual Tie One On For Safety campaign. ...

Previous national campaign chairpersons ... supported the campaign by appearing at national events or other media appearances and through pubic service ads.

From Tie One On For Safety: Overview. posted by Richard at 16:18 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

FutureShop.ca is having a Boxing Day sale. posted by Richard at 14:49 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Circadian bloggage related to Shift: they visit a Meet Market (Toronto Meetup) and they have a blog.

It's a good thing they didn't try to come to our perpetually-never-enough-people-to-activate Ottawa meetup.
Ok people. New Year. January. With the meeting. As always, discussion group available (see left-hand sidebar) if you prefer to plan outside of the Meetup envelope. posted by Richard at 10:24 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Although the snow lies thick upon the ground, there's always time for a Dandelion Break. posted by Richard at 09:50 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Mac stuff:

My iMac is not the silent temple that Steve Jobs intended. The monitor has developed a very annoying high-pitched whine. Anyone know of a solution?

I upgraded to GraphicConverter 4.4.4 and also bought the upgrade to 4.5 and beyond.
To do the 4.5 upgrade though I need both the new reg code that I bought and my old code, which I will have to dig up from my files.

I got a Canon i550 printer, so far I am pleased. Fast and reasonably quiet. Also both the input and output trays close to keep out dust. I like having the four separate ink tanks too. It comes with ImageBrowser 2.6, I ran the upgrade to 2.7 that I got from Canon's site.

I did a quick print of a flower taken with my Canon PowerShot S20 and the results are very pleasing, even on just Weyerhauser ImagePrint paper (not photo paper). It's not primarily intended for photos anyway (which is why I didn't get a photo printer). A combination of text and some photos is what I anticipate. It is supposed to be quite fast in text mode, and even the photo I thought jetted out pretty quickly, certainly compared to my venerable Epson Stylus Color 740. posted by Richard at 07:35 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Happy Boxing Day.

I could never quite get the story of this holiday straight, is it a day for the servants to clean up all the boxes, or is it a day where the servants get a boxed gift?

In any case, whatever your servants are doing, it may be a good day to relax. In Nova Scotia yesterday much talk was of the Giant Storm, which has arrived as previewed. Lots of snow on the ground, but I must say I am disappointed at the current lack of blizzard conditions in the air. Blizzards are cool.

If you're looking for something to watch, may I recommend the angel-themed Wings of Desire.
Not sickly-sweet angels of the type favoured in our religious southern neighbour.
Very good movie. By Wim Wenders. German title is Der Himmel über Berlin, which a Viennese colleague told me was a bit of word play, as Himmel is both sky/heaven (thus: The Sky over Berlin) and the roof of a car (for which you will have to see the movie to understand).

The American remake, City of Angels, I found quite uninspiring. posted by Richard at 07:23 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Watched Minority Report.
It was ok.
But way too long. It was like two and a half hours long.
They could have cut an hour out and it would have been fine.
I liked the cars that could go horizontal and vertical. posted by Richard at 10:44 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Season's Greetings. I hope your holidays are going well. posted by Richard at 09:38 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Globloggage: All I want for Christmas is some music on demand. A balanced article. posted by Richard at 17:34 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Credit card(s) not maxed yet? Chapters Boxing Day sale (ends January 6). posted by Richard at 17:14 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

A small xmas prezzie for you (CS) students: USENIX Student Stipends.

To my amazement, they paid my entire way from Dalifax to LISA 2001 in San Diego. Well worth applying for.

If you're past the student stage, and/or on the job hunt, where better than www.nrc.ca/careers

Or to be CLF compliant I should say careers-carrieres.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/

I think there will probably be lots of full-time careers helping people to find the Government of Canada web pages they are looking for... posted by Richard at 16:18 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

If you have an older version of Canon PowerShot Browser or ImageBrowser for the Mac, and you have your original CD handy, you can upgrade to ImageBrowser 2.7 for MacOS 9 or MacOS X. posted by Richard at 15:49 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

I love this picture - brings thoughts of pagan winter festivals


Or you may prefer a more erm, Venusian celebration.

(I do have the original of the "pagan" image, which I may rescan sometime. For more information about it, see my January posting.) posted by Richard at 15:24 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Not sure if I've linked to this before. I hate light bulbs.
A solid future for lighting (about LED lights). posted by Richard at 15:01 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Peeve Farm links to another TTT mini-review whose theory is "Rohirrim rule".

I am sticking to my Aragorn paragon theory. posted by Richard at 14:59 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

A pretty girl sat next to me on the plane.
We talked.

Ok well technically she talked to me briefly at the end of the flight when there was turbulence.
To mention that her fiancee is terrified of flying so he was driving.
But still.

The guy on the other side of me as he was getting ready to leave I noticed he had the exact same MEC shoulderbag that I have, and that it was covered with hair just like mine. "Do you have cats?" I said. "Yes," he said, "two."

I miss my kitty, I hope she is ok while I am away. posted by Richard at 08:51 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Other xmas: tickets to events.
Don't give gift certs. They are a scam that exploit the same human frailties as mail-in rebates. posted by Richard at 06:27 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

For your last-minute xmas shopping needs: Wilde's and S Seduction Lingerie. That should have all your erm bases covered. posted by Richard at 06:26 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Time to pack and such :( posted by Richard at 20:21 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

One pill to speed up, one to slow down...

U.S. pilots 'guinea pigs,' lawyer says.

[insert your own pithy commentary about Drug War ironies, combining this and their no-sleep soldier plan, etc.] posted by Richard at 20:16 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Two Towers, take two.

The Entmoot and Faramir are particularly annoying.
The rest is ok.

The Entmoot implies old men are fearful, insular, afraid of war, slow and hesitant.
Only the young and bold are brave enough to face it.

This is patently ridiculous.
Old men love going to war. They'll go at the drop of a hat.
It's the young men who don't like the idea.

Also, I'm thinking, if you were black, you might not like seeing the image on the screen flash from the blonde, blue-eyed children in the caves, eyes wide with fear, and the dark orcs menacing outside.

But overall, it is a great movie. The time flies. It is spectacularly well done. posted by Richard at 20:02 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Mac bloggage and an intelligent Two Towers review at Peeve Farm. Link from McWetlog.

I'm going for my second round of Towers today, I will see if my opinion moderates.

My opinion being that it is a great film, but most of Jackson's modifications from the book annoyed me. posted by Richard at 11:55 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Perhaps this will make me enormously more interesting to my blogcrushes:
I met a girl through a colleague. We went to Bridgehead. She likes classical music. I have invited her to a to-be-determined symphony concert next month. posted by Richard at 07:21 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Another Illuminati retreat: Information Awareness Office Website Deletes Its Logo. From Blogdex. posted by Richard at 07:02 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

More flowers: Asagao sanjuu rokka sen. posted by Richard at 06:56 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)

Scanner photography: Flowers by Katinka Matson. posted by Richard at 06:52 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)