what self-mutilation are you?
pretty pictures and environmental disasters
note the use of "and" and not "of" in the subject line. my first link here is for the photography site of Declan McCullagh. i subscribe to a mailing list he moderates called politech, a list for news articles that are related to politics and/or technology -- sometimes a very interesting read. anyway, he's a professional photographer and publishes a great many of his pics online here, which is where i found some really nice pics of san francisco at night.
the second link i have here isn't nearly as pleasant. the chinese government has seen fit to accidentally dump chemical pollutants into a river that is the only useable water source for 1million chinese citizens. more information on this ecological mess can be found here. just a wandering thought here but, why hasn't civil unrest and terrorism erupted in that country? why haven't the citizens started blowing up government buildings? is it a cultural thing? or does the government just have too much control there?
the second link i have here isn't nearly as pleasant. the chinese government has seen fit to accidentally dump chemical pollutants into a river that is the only useable water source for 1million chinese citizens. more information on this ecological mess can be found here. just a wandering thought here but, why hasn't civil unrest and terrorism erupted in that country? why haven't the citizens started blowing up government buildings? is it a cultural thing? or does the government just have too much control there?
gascd: music to support global activism
a really cool picture on deviantart
you don't have to buy your clothes from a sweatshop
those of you who are still interested in listening to your concience might want to check out american apparel. they're one of the first companies i've ever heard of (outside of mountain equipment co-op) that produces all of their clothing in north america, in unionised factories, with livable working conditions. they just recently opened a new retail store in montreal and as far as i'm concerned, if my order comes through looking good, i'll be buying all of my tshirt stuff from them. check them out yourself.
more fun quizzes
courtesy of angela. maybe i should read this one.
One of the best known people in your community, you have become something of a phenomenon. People have sung about you, danced in your honor, created all manner of art in your name. And yet your story is one of failure and despair, with a few brief exceptions. A hopeless romantic, you'll never stop hoping that more good will come from your failings than is ever possible. Beware detectives and prison guards bearing vendettas.
Take the Book Quiz.
and i found this one on the same site.
Most people think you're ineffective, but you are trying to completely save the world from itself, so there's always going to be a long way to go. You're always the one trying to get friends to talk to each other, enemies to talk to each other, anyone who can to just talk instead of beating each other about the head and torso. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, and you get very schizophrenic as a result. But your heart is in the right place, and sometimes also in New York.
Take the Country Quiz.
You're Les Mis�ables!
by Victor HugoOne of the best known people in your community, you have become something of a phenomenon. People have sung about you, danced in your honor, created all manner of art in your name. And yet your story is one of failure and despair, with a few brief exceptions. A hopeless romantic, you'll never stop hoping that more good will come from your failings than is ever possible. Beware detectives and prison guards bearing vendettas.
Take the Book Quiz.
and i found this one on the same site.
You're The United Nations!
Most people think you're ineffective, but you are trying to completely save the world from itself, so there's always going to be a long way to go. You're always the one trying to get friends to talk to each other, enemies to talk to each other, anyone who can to just talk instead of beating each other about the head and torso. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, and you get very schizophrenic as a result. But your heart is in the right place, and sometimes also in New York.
Take the Country Quiz.
some decent links
i've run across a couple links worth checking out over that past couple days and i thought i'd share.
iams pet food is not a good company. i found the site by accident while surfing the canucks forum and it was enough to keep me the hell away from them.
and even for those of you who don't understand computer stuff all windows users should read this article. but for the lazy, here's the gist:
basically a new bug was discovered in internet exploder that, coupled with another bug that was discovered three years ago and never fixed, all explorer users are now very vulnerable to a security hole that microsoft either (a) doesn't know how to fix, or (b) doesn't want to.
how's the hole work? basically, you go to a website and click on a link that says something like "download this pdf". you think you're downloading a pdf (pdf's can't hurt me right?). then, when you open the file in your browser *poof* the bad guy and do whatever (s)he wants to your computer.
so what can you do? well microsoft hasn't fixed this problem for three years, so it's safe to say they're not interested in making your browser work properly. you can start using another browser like mozilla or opera, switch to an o/s that has real support like linux or buy a new computer and get mac osX.
either way, i'd advise you to stay the hell away from internet explorer. it's not safe anymore and they can't (or won't) make it safe.
iams pet food is not a good company. i found the site by accident while surfing the canucks forum and it was enough to keep me the hell away from them.
and even for those of you who don't understand computer stuff all windows users should read this article. but for the lazy, here's the gist:
basically a new bug was discovered in internet exploder that, coupled with another bug that was discovered three years ago and never fixed, all explorer users are now very vulnerable to a security hole that microsoft either (a) doesn't know how to fix, or (b) doesn't want to.
how's the hole work? basically, you go to a website and click on a link that says something like "download this pdf". you think you're downloading a pdf (pdf's can't hurt me right?). then, when you open the file in your browser *poof* the bad guy and do whatever (s)he wants to your computer.
so what can you do? well microsoft hasn't fixed this problem for three years, so it's safe to say they're not interested in making your browser work properly. you can start using another browser like mozilla or opera, switch to an o/s that has real support like linux or buy a new computer and get mac osX.
either way, i'd advise you to stay the hell away from internet explorer. it's not safe anymore and they can't (or won't) make it safe.
read this article
"the medium is the message -- i think that the internet makes you into a libertarian to a certain extent. because you can see non-hierarchical, non-centralized systems working, and it becomes hard to credibly claim that we need increased centralization in order to create order or equity or equitableness."
-- cory doctorow on the internet
www.shift.com/content/web/451/1.html
read the article, and if you have the time, you can download his book for free or buy it on hardcover.
-- cory doctorow on the internet
www.shift.com/content/web/451/1.html
read the article, and if you have the time, you can download his book for free or buy it on hardcover.
quick funny link
i found this a day or two ago, but haven't had time to post it. it's from a site called "diesel sweeties. check it out here.
blogger changes & i-groceries
i've recently upgraded the blogger to handle something micros~1 calls "accessibility options". this a feature i plan to expand on later, but for now, certain people who have trouble with small, low contrast fonts will have an easier to read layout once they've logged in. it's based on a set of dynamically-called stylesheets, which are in turn based on the style engine. and the code is near ready to post. i just have to include a few docs with it first.
to add to the list of cool stuff online, i offer you grocerygateway.com. it's what i've always heard should be available, but until now, i've not seen anywhere. order all of your groceries online, at normal prices, in the sizes you like. i just placed an order and it'll be here on thursday (sadly, next week. i ordered too late to get it tomorrow morning). when it comes in, i'll post a review.
to add to the list of cool stuff online, i offer you grocerygateway.com. it's what i've always heard should be available, but until now, i've not seen anywhere. order all of your groceries online, at normal prices, in the sizes you like. i just placed an order and it'll be here on thursday (sadly, next week. i ordered too late to get it tomorrow morning). when it comes in, i'll post a review.