Wikileaks

Wikileaks: real Web sites don’t need DNS…

Duck! Bush Jokes About Cheney’s Bad Aim

Duck! Bush Jokes About Cheney’s Bad Aim: ‘While hosting the 2007 Stanley Cup winners at the White House, the President asked the Anaheim Duck hockey champs, “Like, have you noticed a lot of security around here? It’s because the Vice President heard there were some Ducks around.”’ Such a funny guy, too.

Former SCO chair behind Utah WiFi age verification proposal

Former SCO chair behind Utah WiFi age verification proposal : “A bill that would require those operating WiFi networks to verify users’ ages has come under fire. Introduced to the Utah House of Representatives by Rep. Bradley Daw (R-Orem) late last month, the bill seeks to protect children from accessing “material harmful to minors” via public WiFi networks.” Like wow. Also, it seems as if Yarro (formerly of SCO) came up with the CP80 proposal. If that is in any way representative of the technical insights of said company — well, need I say more?

The Arcane Wisdom of Randians

As can be seen somewhere in the right column of this page — at least for now — I am currently reading Donna Tartts’s “The Secret History.” Strangely enough, the second book I have been reading recently that uses a thinly disguised version of Bennington College for a setting.

What struck me about this one, though, was a feeling that somehow, somewhere, there is a thematic similarity with The Magus — a book that I read at a tender young age, but that I hold in considerably lower regard that I do Ms. Tartt’s efforts (at least now — was there a time when I thought The Magus was profound? Blam it on my youth…) Anyways, off to Google to find this: Tell Us What Novels Remind You of The Magus — and, yes, someone else had the same thought.

The extravagant association is one made by a young Randian: The Magus reminds him of Atlas Shrugged? Eh — well: let me not count the ways that that is just plain non-sense: it does have a certain comical effect, though.

Is there any book in the known universe that would not remind those people of the odious oeuvre of their high priestess? I think not.

David Byrne’s Survival Strategies for Emerging Artists—and Megastars

David Byrne’s Survival Strategies for Emerging Artists — and Megastars: “What is called the music business today, however, is not the business of producing music. At some point it became the business of selling CDs in plastic cases, and that business will soon be over. But that’s not bad news for music, and it’s certainly not bad news for musicians. Indeed, with all the ways to reach an audience, there have never been more opportunities for artists.”

Epidemic of Ignorance

Epidemic of Ignorance: “On Thursdays — Jammeh’s healing powers are only available to him on that day of the week he says — the president frequently allows Gambian television to film him as he defeats AIDS: Patients lie flat on their backs as the president whirls around them and mumbles verses from the Koran. He slaps green sludge onto their skin, sprinkles liquid from an old Evian bottle over them and gives them a brown broth to drink. A quick banana snack completes the therapy.” (via Passport)

Michigan treasurer falls for Nigerian scam

Michigan treasurer falls for Nigerian scam: “A public treasurer in the Michigan county of Alcona stands accused of embezzling tax payers out of more than $1.2m, at least part of which was used to cover costs he incurred falling for a Nigerian banking fraud.” Unbelievable…