August 29, 2005
Homeland security officer on trial for beating of Chinese tourist
EastSouthWestNorth is following the story of a Chinese tourist that was beaten by customs officers while visiting Niagra Falls. Zhao Yan, the victim, is set to testify tomorrow (8/29) through an interpreter. This case has gotten little news in the American press, but has been full-blown coverage in China, escalating into talks between the Chinese foreign minister and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Posted by darkmoon at 02:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 24, 2005
Books in libraries becoming thing of past?
Seems like the University of Texas thinks so. With the information age at hand, and great resources on the Web such as Google and Wikipedia, the library has become a place for social interaction than books. UT has turned their new library into a multimedia haven with a computer repair shop, and cafe.
Via Slashdot
Posted by darkmoon at 12:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 22, 2005
VR Goggles Heal Scars of War
Technology is wonderful, but it's even better when you know that something that usually isn't used for helping soldiers, is effective.
BoingBoing - Xeni Jardin, "Snip from a story I filed for today's Wired News about a new virtual reality system designed for treating Iraq vets suffering from acute combat stress."
From what little I know about PTSD, this is a tremendously good thing.
Posted by darkmoon at 02:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 19, 2005
Why catching a movie just isn't worth it these days...
Dan Gillmor:
John Fithian, president of a group of theater owners, tells the Wall Street Journal: "Here's what we know about 2005: the movies are not as good. They're not terrible. They're just not as good."
I think he's being kind.
Right on, Dan! In the past year, I've gone from watching American movies to B-rated action flicks from Asia. I suppose it's because I find the B-rated Asian films a lot more enjoyable than the tens of millions dollar productions that don't seem as good.
My blame? MPAA. Instead of actually paying attention to actually making a worthy product, they make B-rated films at 100 times the budget. The SciFi channel usually runs these movies at about a million or two for budgeting. Instead of concentrating on what viewers would like to see, they're out trying to be crime stopping vigilantes like in the comic books.
So listen up movie producers, production studios, et al. This summer, there have only been a couple of worthy movies. That's too bad considering it's one of the hottest seasons for production studios in the past. But until you get some good things on the screen that I can't wait to hand over my $8+ a ticket for, Netflix seems to weigh in as numero uno.
Via DanGillmor
Posted by darkmoon at 09:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 08, 2005
Baby Name Wizard's NameVoyager
Mr. Brown:
This is a fun Java app I found on The Baby Name Wizard book site, called NameVoyager. Type in your name and see how popular it was over the decades.
Interesting for any parent, or heck... if you're interested in if your name is even the slightest popular.
MrBrown < TheBabyNameWizardNameVoyager
Posted by darkmoon at 12:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 26, 2005
Natalee Holloway? And this is more important than London bombings because...
Strangely enough, I read a Kuro5hin Op-Ed and immediately felt the exact same feelings as the writer. Perhaps this makes me a heartless person, but the feeling remains. Why? Nothing against Natalee and I hope to God that she's okay and her family can get closure one way or another, but that's the extent of the concern. Read the article and tell me that you legitimately do not feel the same way. If not, then I want to see receipts for the flights down to help search for her before I hear a peep. And a moment for the family of Reyna Alvarado-Carerra.
Warning on some language in the article.
Via Kuro5hin
Posted by darkmoon at 09:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 19, 2005
Obeying the laws of "movie" security
In a response to the London bombings, New York officials have turned off cell phones in the subways. I'm guessing that this means there is no coverage. The one stupid thing about this all. If I'm not mistaken, the bombs in London were "cell phone" triggered, but they were tied into the alarm function and not a call trigger. Strangely enough, I just don't see terror cells relying on something as unreliable as a cellular call to trigger something. They might be evil, and terror cells, but they're not stupid. Communication uses outweight evil uses. Then again, Bruce also also mentioned that before.
Via BruceSchneier
Posted by darkmoon at 11:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 14, 2005
Two Chinas: Part II
Disclosure: Yes, I am an ABC (American Born Chinese). On with the commentary. Part I is here.
I am forever reminded of people making decisions while being uneducated on the subject matters when it comes to Asian culture, politics and history.
The News and Record did a column by independent columnist Rosemary Roberts on how China is not a military threat on July 8th. In it, Ms. Roberts claimed that there was nothing to fear from China as a military power. What's to fear? They have already dominated economically.
This is easily looked upon as American greed gettin the best of us. For years, we have been acquiring product lines from China because it was cheaper to produce and import than to make in our own country. Now China holds pretty much the all the cards when it comes to manufacturing.... pretty much everything. Oh well, c'est la vie.
Ms. Roberts quotes a couple from the Midwest:
3) if China started firing missiles at Taiwan, the independent island-nation that China claims to be an integral part of China.
Sorry. Taiwan is an independent state, not a nation. One nation, two governments. Read your history books. Ms. Roberts' goes on:
But Item 3 (Taiwan) is the long shot. Despite China's angry noises about Taiwan, it has reason to pause. The Bush administration has said it would defend Taiwan from an unprovoked attack.
Defend Taiwan? Come on. American corporations would suffer billions if we did anything with Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. The more likely story is that we need them since we're caught upon buying things so inexpensively. Philosophy class has always taught that Communism is the sibling of Capitalism. This is shown clearly here.
Ms. Roberts is a bit late on something that has been obvious to all American-Chinese.
Then in the N&R, the Letters to the Editor has one Mike Crouch that writes:
And, if we don't think the Chinese are a threat, their military leaders certainly consider us the most likely military adversary. And the Chinese are in a rush to lock in their oil supplies. Sort of reminds one of the Japanese "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" of the 1930s and '40s. But, not to worry. Rosemary reassures us there is nothing to worry about. I will certainly sleep better tonight.
You have got to be joking. The Japanese were looking to get us by the seat of our pants. The Chinese already have it. Take a look at the textile and manufacturing industry around you. Again, capitalism plays well when it comes to cheap everything. Walmarts are everywhere. We have gone to a country of bulk-sizing everything from fast-food to laundry detergent.
I think the issue is pretty plain and clear. Americans have yet to understand who the Chinese are and where they have been going. Understand the people and you'll understand the plans. Unfortunately, by the time we realize what's going on and try to wave down the China bus, the bus has already left for the next station.
Posted by darkmoon at 10:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 01, 2005
Surfing porn on job can't get you fired
Apparently a recent court decision has made it so that surfing porn on the job, cannot get you fired... at least in Norway.
Posted by darkmoon at 03:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 29, 2005
You too, can look like Sailor Moon!
Japanese anime has infiltrated Western culture by storm, with Pokemon, Ghost in the Shell, and the likes of Full Metal Alchemist. It seems like the new fad in Japan is now to turn teenagers into walking manga characters, complete with black contact lenses and makeup inspired by the anime style. You too can be a walking and talking Sailor Moon! Scary, but true.
Never thought about it this way, but perhaps this is a niche market for plastic surgeons! I'll just wait until they start working on super-deformed characters. Then I'll know the world has gone truly mad.
Posted by darkmoon at 12:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 25, 2005
Police cuff five-year old.
This is what our world has come to and society allows this to happen. Police cuff a five-year old after she throws a tantrum and teachers are unable to control the youngster. Understandably, the teachers only have limited disciplinary tactics. So who should take responsibility of this five-year old's temper tantrum? Where are the parents in all of this? Police interaction? Come on. What a waste of public resources.
Via WizBangBlog
Posted by darkmoon at 09:40 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
April 21, 2005
Microsoft pulls gay rights support
After ten years of support, Microsoft has secretly pulled their support from the GLBT community. Out of nowhere, Microsoft pulled their support for a gay rights bill in Washington State after a religious leader headlined a complaint by a local newspaper, The Stranger.
Personal note: Growing up in Seattle, I know that The Stranger, is what is the equivalent to
The Rhino Timesin Greensboro with some more than interesting classified ads. Why Microsoft would pull their support and change their views after ten years of support due to one pastor's comments in a gossip paper is beyond me. But hey, what do I know, I only grew up there.
Posted by darkmoon at 05:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 18, 2005
This is what taxpayers pay for when you call 911 dispatch
All I have to say is, only in Texas...
Follow through to listen to what the Star Telegram out of Dallas/Fort Worth area has here on a 911 dispatch call. That's hours of training and millions of taxpayer money for ya.
Via StarTelegram
Posted by darkmoon at 10:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 17, 2005
Classic majors rejoice, there shall be more
More what you ask? More texts! Through a infrared technique that was originally developed for satellite imagery, a collection known as the Oxyrhynchus Papyri is being rediscovered. There are already new works by Sophocles, Lucian, Euripides, and Hesiod found. It is thought that this discovery will increase the numbers of classical works by 20%. Ahh. Another brilliant application of technology.
Posted by darkmoon at 12:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 13, 2005
The President has downloaded music on his iPod too
The International Herald Tribune has an article on President Bush and his iPod. Apparently the leader of the free world is outside the bounds of music copyright and RIAA. His iPod has songs downloaded into it by his biking partner. Who knew?
Cory Doctorow says:
President Bush has a treasured iPod full of songs that were decanted into it by a media strategist. This makes him: a downloader, an INDUCEr, a Darknet user and an infringer. Who'd a figgered the prez for a copyfighter?
BoingBoing < IHT
Posted by darkmoon at 12:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Femdefence
Every woman always has in the back of their mind, the fear of scary rapists on the prowl. While the Femdefense tampon is only a concept design to generate discussion on rape prevention, this definitely has some stopping power. Designed by the Swede, Anita Ingmarsdotter after a series of rape cases in Sweden received a plethora of publicity.
Scared? You should be.
Posted by darkmoon at 08:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Identity Theft legal in Ohio due to interpretation of law
In a bizarre interpretation of Ohio state law, liquor agents hired a student to pose as a stripper while they conducted a sting operation for three months of a local strip club. What's so bizarre? The student was given someone else's license and social security number. Identity theft? Is there any doubt.
Via BoingBoing
Posted by darkmoon at 06:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 05, 2005
Starbucks Delocator
Find a non-corporate café near you. Very cool, how it finds The Green Bean and another near my zip code. What will it find near yours?
Visit the Starbucks Delocator, and support your local coffee shops!
Posted by darkmoon at 11:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 29, 2005
Hillary Clinton decrys gaming industry
Hillary Clinton decrys the gaming industry for providing children with games that encourage prostitution, murder, talking poorly about women, and other topics.
"Children are playing a game that encourages them to have sex with prostitutes and then murder them," the US senator and former first lady said.
Strangely enough, here is the other side:
Other studies showed that violent games would not cause serious problems in healthy families, but could do so in families where children were left alone for many hours.
Personal note: I believe I have commented on this before, but if children are effected by games, then the blame doesn't fall to the game but bad parenting. Morals are taught and enforced. If people are crushed by this comment, tough. First, most of those games are rated "M". They shouldn't be able to get them unless an adult purchases it for them at most stores. Second, even if they do play those games, most of the middle school to high school kids I know have more sense than most adults I deal with in society. If they do not, it's a product of the parent(s) not effectively spending time with their children and speaking to them about morals and ethics.
I hope the Democrats don't put up Hillary for President in 2008, since I won't be voting for her. Especially since this issue really drives home that people just want to play the blame game, but won't take responsibility for their own actions. Easier to blame an entity (corporate vendors), then blame yourself.
Posted by darkmoon at 05:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 28, 2005
Dept of State plans to tag all new passports with RFID
The United States Department of State is looking to tag all new passports with RFID. The information contained on the RFID will be the same information in your passport.
Terrorists won't even have to look for US citizens now.
Update:
Bill Scannell says:
I don't expect my country to actively protect me when I am abroad, but I do expect it to not put me actively in harm's way. I don't need a beacon that is an advertisement for my potential victimhood, "Look, over here, an American! Need cash? Credit cards? Want to make a splashy political statement for the news? Act now!"
Personal note: Talk about technologically clueless people pushing technology.
Posted by darkmoon at 04:05 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 25, 2005
Some Silliness of SSI
Needless to say, SSI (Sensitive Security Information) is a very needed and useful thing, especially after the disastrous events of 9/11. But overclassification has thrown our government into a tailspin of trying to cover-up public records.
Ever since Sept. 11, 2001, the federal government has advised airplane pilots against flying near 100 nuclear power plants around the country or they will be forced down by fighter jets. But pilots say there's a hitch in the instructions: aviation security officials refuse to disclose the precise location of the plants because they consider that "SSI" -- Sensitive Security Information.
"The message is; 'please don't fly there, but we can't tell you where there is,'" says Melissa Rudinger of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, a trade group representing 60% of American pilots.
Determined to find a way out of the Catch-22, the pilots' group sat down with a commercial mapping company, and in a matter of days plotted the exact geographical locations of the plants from data found on the Internet and in libraries. It made the information available to its 400,000 members on its Web site -- until officials from the Transportation Security Administration asked them to take the information down. "Their concern was that [terrorists] mining the Internet could use it," Ms. Rudinger says.
Personal note: What I find the most amusing is that terrorists would not go and call up a government official to find out where whatever they're seeking lies. The first source would definitely be a public library, or the Internet.
So, as proven by AOPA that the information is very easily researched from public sources and the Internet, what's to stop terrorists (if they were going to anyways) to do the same?
Also, if the government starts tightening the ropes on public information/records, then where does it end? Will the solution be eventually setting up a Ministry of Information like China to filter all information and censorship based on SSI?
There are so many questions, but not very many answers. However, in this particular case, common sense rules.
Posted by darkmoon at 07:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 18, 2005
B2UP: Need a bigger bustline? chew some gum
B2UP claims that chewing their gum can enhance your bustline by 80%. Just chew three to four times a day and watch them grow!
Uhh.. yeah. right. Now if only there was a gum laced with Cialis...
Posted by darkmoon at 02:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 11, 2005
Apple rolls over citizen journalism
Apple rolls over citizen journalism as two sites represented by an EFF attorney were told by the judge to turn over their sources.
"Case law shows that subpoenaing a journalist must be a last resort," said EFF attorney Kurt Opsahl. "Apple did not use this as a last resort, but did only a perfunctory investigation before going on to subpoena the journalists."
This ruling is expected to be taken to a higher court for appeals. Unfortunately, if appeals is not granted, the two sites publishers will be forced to turn over their sources under the U.S. Trade Secrets Act.
The fact that the judge is defining the differences between public interest instead of having the public define what their interest is a scary prospect. Makes you wonder if the American public actually controls free speech, or if free speech is just what certain branches of the government deem free.
Via Dave Winer, Jeff Jarvis, ZDNET, MSNBC
Posted by darkmoon at 05:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 09, 2005
ChoicePoint sorry for more identity theft, not.
More than 145,000 people have had their identity stolen, says ChoicePoint. But being that there's no law for disclosure of the total number, they have decided that they don't need to tell the rest of the world.
This plus the added fact that their database has errors, and they really have no clue how many people have been compromised.
Great. Just great.
Can we say: "REGULATIONS PLEASE."
Posted by darkmoon at 05:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The beginning of I,Robot at World Expo - Japan
The information booth worker, Actroid, understands 40,000 phrases in Japanese, Chinese, Korean and English. The "bot" looks like a Japanese woman in her twenties, and can do facial expressions and even has a sense of irony.
Why hasn't all the geeks moved to Japan yet, is beyond me. Now if only the Japanese get teleportation working...
Posted by darkmoon at 02:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Shipping Container Lifesaver Clinics
Team Hybrid out of Seattle,WA has come up with some fantastic designs for cargo shipping containers. Using existing containers, third world countries and other areas that are in need of quick and cheap solutions for housing and buildings can benefit from these designs.
The latest creation is a shipping container that has been commissioned for Sri Lanka as long-term clinics. The cost is approximately $10,000 per a unit, and allows portability of the long-term clinics.
NearNearFuture > MetropolisMag
Posted by darkmoon at 01:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
FlashForward2005
From FlashForward2005:
The 13th Flash® Film Festival is an online competition and live awards ceremony showcasing and celebrating the best work on the Web in 16 categories. The Festival and awards ceremony takes place on Thursday, April 7, 2005 at 6:00pm PDT at The Herbst Theatre, following the second day of the Flashforward2005 San Francisco Conference. All attendees who register for Flashforward2005 San Francisco are invited to the live event.
2005 Finalists
NearNearFuture > FlashForward2005
Posted by darkmoon at 01:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Traveling to Minneapolis? Be careful not to get mugged for your shoes
KARE-11 of Minneapolis St. Paul has broadcasted footage from a security camera from a man getting mugged for his shoes. Law enforcement responded immediately and were able to capture two of the three individuals involved. The third got away and the police are asking for help on identification.
The guy was mugged for his boots. Scary.
Posted by darkmoon at 08:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 07, 2005
CitizenPod and SXSW4Pod
CitizenPod is company that has written the interactive schedule for South by Southwest. SXSW2005 is a gaggle of multiple festivals and conferences that incorporate music, interactive media, and film.
Probably the most uber-geek props go to this festival/conference for not only putting their interactive schedules up on the website for the music and film, but also offering a full 2.6G music download via bittorrent for their showcase artists. You read that correctly. OVER 750 full-length songs for your downloading pleasure!
UBERGEEK.
STATISTICS FOR SXSW 2004Music
Showcasing Acts: 1279
Music Venues Participating: 60
Music Conference Participants: 7,213 (with band registrations 8,195)
Approximate Number of Music Media in Attendance: 1,595
Approximate Number of Music Trade Show Attendees: 10,000
Number of Music Trade Show Exhibitors: 175 Film/Interactive
Number of Films Screened: 180
Film Conference Participants: 3,667
Approximate Number of Film Media in Attendance: 352
Interactive Conference Participants: 3,270
Approximate Number of Interactive Media in Attendance: 288
Approximate Number of Film/Interactive Trade Show Attendees: 7,000
Number of Film/Interactive Trade Show Exhibitors: 121 ECONOMIC IMPACT IN AUSTIN FROM SXSW: (Figures provided by the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Music Conference: $19.7 million
Film/Interactive Conference: $9.6 million
All Three Conferences: $29.3 million
Participants from around the world spend on average $264/day ADDITIONAL IMPACT OF SXSW ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN:
Media attention from coast to coast and numerous countries around the world
Music venue revenues increase on the average of 45% over their next highest month, with similar increases at restaurants, bars, etc.
Establishment of relations with international governmental agencies in 17 countries which reinforces the "Live Music Capital of the World" title
Largest annual conference held in the city of Austin
12,291 room nights booked in local hotels
Via BoingBoing
Posted by darkmoon at 01:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 03, 2005
Get kids interested in the library again, through video games!
...through video games! While most children don't read anymore, practically everyone has touched a video game in this decade. Libraries are losing the young mainly due to the stream of personal activities that can be done at home without checking out a book.
Oakland library has landed on something interesting. They have amassed a collection of games (non-mature rating).
Via Joystiq
Personal note: Could be a calling for the Greensboro library. If you can't get kids into the library itself, it doesn't help to push literacy now does it.
Posted by darkmoon at 05:40 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 01, 2005
Rat on Happy Birthday singers
Ever wonder why restaurants quit singing Happy Birthday and started with the ridiculous clapping variant? Old news, but Time Warner holds the copyright is upholding the enforcement of the copyright infringement with this site, Unhappy Birthday.
The melody for Happy Birthday is public domain, but the words are what Time Warner enforces.
Posted by darkmoon at 04:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 26, 2005
Ten million Creative Commons licenses and it just keeps going and going..
Creative Commons has a blog that has been tracking the amount of licenses and has done a distribution of how the licenses pan out. Over ten million websites are using the licenses from Creative Commons! See the distribution here.
BoingBoing < Creative Commons
Posted by darkmoon at 12:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 25, 2005
Maxim art directors are CopyLeft supporters
Creative commies in Maxim? Are you sure? Take a gander at this. If you'll notice, there is the backwards C. Comrade MAXIM! The order exists everywhere it seems.
BoingBoing < George.Hotelling
Posted by darkmoon at 01:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 11, 2005
Southern utilities don't make any sense
melinama of Pratie Place stirred up some old annoyances when I moved here from the West Coast. She talks about plans for consumer's to feed power into the power grid so that the consumer is only charged for the net power that is taken from the grid. Makes perfect sense.
Unfortunately Duke Power didn't think so. To have her initiate her project under their pilot "residential" system, you have to insure ANY line worker in anywhere. Thus, it was denied.
This amused me to no end. Besides my annually rising bill due to fees, and them putting in wireless meter readers that turned off my electricity for a week (I didn't realize since I was on a business trip) and not paying for the damages to all the spoiled food. This was about a year ago. More recently, I realized that the so called efficiency of the wireless meters were pushed back onto the consumer. Joy. But what are you going to do?
Duke Power also does NO maintenance work on trees on the power lines or poles. How I know this? A certain someone I know has called a multitude of times complaining about the trees behind her apartment. The power pole had the safety light out for over six months, even after complaint after complaint. This is the service we have to deal with in the Piedmont area.
On the flip side, Duke Power helps in many disasters and getting Floridians up with power when hurricanes strike. That brings up another brilliant concept for power companies in general. If you know geographically, that area has hurricanes, why don't you move your lines underground? What a waste of federal disaster funds to pay these corporate people their bonuses.
However, it's not all in vain for I'd like to see utility corporations look after the community and perhaps champion efforts to make the area a better place. Why? If there is ever a smaller power company that begins to serve the Piedmont community, Duke as a whole is going to regret screwing with their customers.
You know what's even more amusing than my personal rant above? I haven't even begun to talk about BellSouth.
Posted by darkmoon at 03:08 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 10, 2005
When it says don't touch, go touch!
Energy Gallery at the Science Museum London, 2004
It creates a conflict by tempting the visitor to do precisely what he is warned not to do. This conflict, when resolved through disobedience results in a jolting physical experience. Whenever somebody decides to ignore the warning by touching the pole he receives a significant electric shock amplified by sound.
NearNearFuture < Christian Moeller
Posted by darkmoon at 03:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 27, 2005
Do you need an eyelid tuck?
The most popular surgery alteration in Asia is the eyelid tuck. For those scared of the scalpel, here's some glue that seems to do the trick.
Brought to you by Popgadget
Posted by darkmoon at 03:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 26, 2005
Santa sends coal to RIAA/MPAA
During the month of December, Downhill Battle went on a fundraiser for the EFF, IPAC, and Public Knowledge. Raising $155,800 and promising to send one piece of coal for every $100, Downhill Battle set out on their quest to show the power of Christmas! Here is the blog entry.
Via Downhill Battle
Posted by darkmoon at 01:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack