16 Dec 2003
Another Bullshit Patent

Just when I noticed that there hadn't been any news on the "bullshit patent" front comes this gem:

Roxio first target as CD-R patent owner threatens industry. Optima claims ownership of key burning technique [The Register]

00:00 /Copywrongs | 0 comments | permanent link

Back to Basics

Nice piece on the efforts in New England to get agriculture back to it's roots.

Saving the Family Farm "Innovation" might not be the word that comes to mind when you travel the back roads of New England. And "marketing expert" might not be the term you'd apply to the guy cutting hay. But agriculture is changing, and farms are having to change with it. Witness these four examples of farmers breaking with tradition to survive. [The Boston Globe via MyAppleMenu]

00:00 /Agriculture | 0 comments | permanent link

Home Again

Well, back home again. Nearly 1700 miles (round trip) in three days ... not bad for an old geezer! But I need some sleep before I can make any coherent comments.

00:00 /Home | 0 comments | permanent link

More Jobs Leaving

Bastards! I've spec'd my last IBM box for a client...

IBM mulls sending engineer jobs to India. White collar crimes [The Register]

00:00 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link

BioTerror Down on the Farm

Ah, the joys of centralized factory farming! Notice in the piece that there are only 5 major feed lots in the entire US! Un-fucking believeable!

Maybe if we weren't so busy trying to put the small operator out of business, this kind of terrorist attck couldn't be contemplated. It'd be impossible for the bad guys to hit 50,000 farms, eh? But 5? That's gotta be tempting some wacko somewhere...

Keeping Cows Safe From Terrorism. The Department of Homeland Security gives researchers $33 million to study ways to fend off a potential terrorist attack on America's livestock and food supply. By Noah Schachtman. [Wired News]

00:00 /Agriculture | 0 comments | permanent link

Squabbling Illini

Ya know, I think I oughta show up outside the Metrodome in Minnespolis for the next Vkings home game carrying protest signs about the teams name and "mascots"... you have no idea how insulting horned helmets and the "big blond" stereotypes are to us European-Americans trying to reclaim our culture!

It's just horrible! Why, watching the NFL people would think that the Vikings were all just testoterone driven raiders bent on pillage and mayhem, rather than gentle traders ...

If my tongue gets any further into my cheek I'm gonna have another hole in my head.... these "activists" need to lighten up, before they die of an overdose of political correctness.

The Squabbling Illini: Rallying Cries Lead to Rift. The debate over mascots with Indian themes is not new, but the case of Chief Illiniwek at the University of Illinois is unique. By Mike Wise. [New York Times: NYT HomePage]

00:00 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link

Design and Security

Here's a link to a nice piece on the underlying design differences between Unix and Windows ... and why Windows cannot be made secure short of a complete rewrite.

Mac OS X Security Criticisms Countered [Slashdot]

00:00 /Technology | 0 comments | permanent link