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Wednesday, June 30, 2004
I smell a future undercover sting operation here...
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Mommy, why are the cows dancing?
Earthquake. (Yawn...) Wait, it's here! Your friendly neighborhood fault line seems to be getting a little frisky. Did you even know there was a major seismic zone under Central Illinois?
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Sunday, June 27, 2004
Biggest Lottery Prize Ever: Win or die!
Finally, an unassailable and clear-cut example of this insane war's horrible cost to average Americans. Halliburton's got your Medicare money. Wanna bet they're not buying you any pills with it?|
Saturday, June 26, 2004
That is one happy judge!
UPDATE: Looks like The Smoking Gun website has the offical petition that state officials filed to remove him.
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You would think that other people in the courtroom would prefer to have a happier judge during their cases.
But then again, you would also think that this guy should have plenty of time to do these kinds of things at home, when he's not working.
Or maybe he does it then too.
And now it is getting creepy...
Perverted justice indeed.
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You would think that other people in the courtroom would prefer to have a happier judge during their cases.But then again, you would also think that this guy should have plenty of time to do these kinds of things at home, when he's not working.
Or maybe he does it then too.
And now it is getting creepy...
Perverted justice indeed.
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Remember that cowboy?
Back in February, we covered the case of Dudley Hiibel. In case you missed it: cop shows up & sees Hiibel leaning on truck, cop demands ID, Hiibel refuses, cop arrests him. The case went to the Supreme Court.Today, Mr. Hiibel lost his case. In a 5-4 decision, Justices Anthony Kennedy, Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Chief Justice William Rehnquist made it a crime for anyone suspected of an offense to withhold his or her name from authorities.
You just lost another civil right. Hope you're keeping count, because it's at the point now where you can legitimately be picked up off the street, held indefinitely, indicted, convicted and penalized, entirely on the suspicion of crimes. Try not to look terroristic, and remember that Big Brother Loves You. (Wal-Mart likes you a lot, too. Honest.)
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Friday, June 25, 2004
Mike's Movie
Michael Moore's new film opens today...
(Helpful review links: Time Magazine calls it a "War on Error"; the Washington Post watched with "dawning appreciation"; and the BBC says it's "not totally one-sided." Go see for yourself.)
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(Helpful review links: Time Magazine calls it a "War on Error"; the Washington Post watched with "dawning appreciation"; and the BBC says it's "not totally one-sided." Go see for yourself.)
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Thursday, June 24, 2004
Beware the "blended" attack!
In the unceasing effort to make you buy some kind of enlargement device, spammers are now adopting the techniques of hackers, viruses and spyware authors to improve personalization of the spam they send: vis, they invade your PC with some spyware which sends personal details back to them, and then they incorporate these details into the subject lines & content of spams, so that you're more likely to open them.
Will these bags of slime ever be stopped? At this point, I might vote to legitimize range hangings of spammers, just like they used to do with horse thieves. Find a spammer, string 'em up - has a certain charm to it, don't you think?
In any case, we at "the Digest" recommend AdAware, Spybot Search & Destroy and Norton AntiVirus/Personal Firewall (which, sadly, only sucks marginally less than McAfee these days). Regular scanning of your Windows PC and extreme caution about what you install will also help.
Of course, the best choice of all would be to find some non-vulnerable software to run. The Firefox browser is both more feature-rich and less vulnerable to common attacks than MS Internet Explorer. Linux operating systems are cheaper, more stable and more secure. And Macs get all these benefits, wrapped in a very pretty, usable package. With all these options, why Windows?
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Will these bags of slime ever be stopped? At this point, I might vote to legitimize range hangings of spammers, just like they used to do with horse thieves. Find a spammer, string 'em up - has a certain charm to it, don't you think?
In any case, we at "the Digest" recommend AdAware, Spybot Search & Destroy and Norton AntiVirus/Personal Firewall (which, sadly, only sucks marginally less than McAfee these days). Regular scanning of your Windows PC and extreme caution about what you install will also help.
Of course, the best choice of all would be to find some non-vulnerable software to run. The Firefox browser is both more feature-rich and less vulnerable to common attacks than MS Internet Explorer. Linux operating systems are cheaper, more stable and more secure. And Macs get all these benefits, wrapped in a very pretty, usable package. With all these options, why Windows?
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Wednesday, June 23, 2004
In memory...
I wanted to take a brief moment away from the political outrage to recall the members of our armed forces serving throughout the world today. The Washington Post has created a page called Faces of the Fallen. The thing that struck me was the ages...
Are we safer than we were four years ago? If you don't think so (and I don't), then let's not waste any more of these fine young people on the wrong work and get started finding our way again. They all deserve at least that much.
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Are we safer than we were four years ago? If you don't think so (and I don't), then let's not waste any more of these fine young people on the wrong work and get started finding our way again. They all deserve at least that much.
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Polygraph
Go hit Bush in 30 Seconds and check out the Polygraph ad. You can order this and other ads on DVD from MoveOn, as well as make donations to buy airtime for broadcasts in battleground states. Help, if you can.
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Slightly heavy-handed, but then there's the marshmallows...
Is law enforcement enjoying the current era of low tolerance and diminished civil rights? Seems like some of the federal guys might be getting just a little too cocky, if you ask me. I mean, leg irons over a $50 fine seems like an unjustifiably disproportionate response. Go look for yourself, and for heaven's sake, no jaywalking until the social pendulum swings a little more to the left.
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Poster-rama!
Trying to think of some rational justification for linking to this site, I originally thought it might be a welcome distraction from all the angst the GOP continually provokes here.Then I thought perhaps I could do a bit of design analysis of the posters, and wax poetic on the stark, evocative minimalism of the poster to the right.
But finally I realized that this site would completely offend the god-fearing (in a non-hypocritical way, of course) Bush family.
What more rationale need I use?
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Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Carlyle Group buys Loews Cineplex
In an amazing move that will give the Bush family and their cronies influence over the world's third-largest movie theater chain, The Carlyle Group has purchased Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corp. for $1.5 billion. I expect Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" and Joe Conason's "The Hunting of the President" to run into hassles, accounting problems, under-reported audience figures and the like. Bastards. Remember freedom of speech? I guess it works until some multi-billionaires don't like what you're saying...
(10 special bonus "cub reporter" points to Diane for hipping us to this one.)
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(10 special bonus "cub reporter" points to Diane for hipping us to this one.)
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Harry? Not the Potter.
Partial answers to one of the questions that does keep me up at night, but c'mon, where is the info we all really want to know???
What about the Swedish women??
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What about the Swedish women??
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Saturday, June 19, 2004
Can I get a ride...
Be sure to watch CNN monday morning.
SpaceShipOne makes its attempt at being the world’s first commercial manned space vehicle. Takeoff is at 6:30 a.m P.D.T. Please place your tray in the upright position.
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Another excellent reason I'm not in New York.
Friday, June 18, 2004
Quick! To the Dick Cave!
Sadly, No! offers this video editorial on Cheney's infamous "undisclosed location" (recently disclosed by Time magazine, and much less recently by others).
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Thursday, June 17, 2004
Mel Brooks might disagree
Who knew the vatican was full of Rupublicans? Apparently they have gotten into the whole 'convenient' renumbering mindset that the White House has been using lately to prove their points...
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Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Rob's long-lost twin?
I thought I was lucky for selling my TurboGraphx for $80 on eBay last month, but this guy looks to outdo me...Methinks this looks strikingly similar to (Chaos Digest's founder) Rob's closet full of cpu warez, which I am sure Ruthie will quickly confirm....
Have a twin we don't know about Robert?
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Thursday, June 10, 2004
Oops! Terrorism's up! D'oh!
The U.S. State Department will need to revise their reported number of terror incidents in 2003 upward, according to this LA Times & Yahoo News article. Why were the numbers off in the first place?
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On Tuesday, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) applauded the State Department for deciding to reissue the report, a step he requested in a letter to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell three weeks ago. But Waxman said the Bush administration so far had refused to address his allegation that it manipulated the terrorism data to claim victory in the U.S.-declared war on terrorism.So, does this mean we're losing the "war on terror," or are we just creating more terrorists? Hmmmm... (Remember the little "D" after Rep. Waxman's name for the next time you get into a ballot box.)
"This manipulation may serve the Administration's political interests," Waxman wrote in his May 17 letter to Powell, "but it calls into serious doubt the integrity of the report."
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Radio that doesn't suck (finally, and free, too).
Take the good alt stuff from the 90's, mix with modern indie rock goodness, throw in a dash of punk (yeah, real punk), cheesy ads, cool promos and slow roast it in Orange County, CA for as long as it takes. Result? Indie 103.1. Choke on that, Clear Channel.|
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
The Bronze Rat
I do not know who to give credit to for this joke. I suppose I could "Google" it but who has the time to verify the source? Maybe if I was paid to check sources... Suffice it to say that I did not write it, I got it in an e-mail from my brother, in effort to make me laugh after this week of scary news. It worked.
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A tourist walks into a curio shop in San Francisco.
Looking around at the exotics, he notices a very life-like, life-size bronze statue of a rat. It had no price tag, but it was so striking he decides he must have it.
He took it to the owner: "How much for the bronze rat?"
"Twelve dollars for the rat, one hundred dollars for the story," said the owner.
The tourist gave the man the twelve dollars.
"I'll just take the rat, you can keep the story."
As he walked down the street carrying his bronze rat, he noticed that a few real rats had crawled out of the alleys and sewers and began following him down the street.
This was disconcerting, and so he began walking faster. But within a couple of blocks, the herd of rats behind them had grown to hundreds, and they began squealing.
He began to trot toward the Bay, looking around he saw that the rats now numbered in the millions, and they were squealing and coming toward him faster and faster.
Concerned, even scared, he ran to the edge of the Bay, and threw the bronze rat as far out into the Bay as he could. Amazingly, the millions of rats all jumped into the Bay after it, and were all drowned.
The man walked back to the curio shop.
"Ah ha," said the owner, "you have come back for the story?"
"No," said the man, "I came back to see if you have a bronze Republican."
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A tourist walks into a curio shop in San Francisco.
Looking around at the exotics, he notices a very life-like, life-size bronze statue of a rat. It had no price tag, but it was so striking he decides he must have it.
He took it to the owner: "How much for the bronze rat?"
"Twelve dollars for the rat, one hundred dollars for the story," said the owner.
The tourist gave the man the twelve dollars.
"I'll just take the rat, you can keep the story."
As he walked down the street carrying his bronze rat, he noticed that a few real rats had crawled out of the alleys and sewers and began following him down the street.
This was disconcerting, and so he began walking faster. But within a couple of blocks, the herd of rats behind them had grown to hundreds, and they began squealing.
He began to trot toward the Bay, looking around he saw that the rats now numbered in the millions, and they were squealing and coming toward him faster and faster.
Concerned, even scared, he ran to the edge of the Bay, and threw the bronze rat as far out into the Bay as he could. Amazingly, the millions of rats all jumped into the Bay after it, and were all drowned.
The man walked back to the curio shop.
"Ah ha," said the owner, "you have come back for the story?"
"No," said the man, "I came back to see if you have a bronze Republican."
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Monday, June 07, 2004
Really remembering Reagan.
The "Great Communicator?" Or just another GOP liar with declining mental faculties and an overambitious staff? Here are some clues from Slate. You decide.
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"Ronald Reagan used to alarm his Soviet counterparts by saying that surely they'd both unite against an invasion from Mars. Ronald Reagan used to alarm other constituencies by speaking freely about the "End Times" foreshadowed in the Bible. In the Oval Office, Ronald Reagan told Yitzhak Shamir and Simon Wiesenthal, on two separate occasions, that he himself had assisted personally at the liberation of the Nazi death camps."Wonder what we'll hear about George Dubya...
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Saturday, June 05, 2004
"Fair and Balanced?" Ummm, no. Not.
BuzzFlash's GOP Hypocrite of the Week is modern-day William Randolph Hearst and Fox "News" owner, Rupert Murdoch. Not a great editorial, but a great topic, to be sure.
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Friday, June 04, 2004
Hacking Retail
In what looks like a cross between massive theft and a social protest, Re-Code.com lets you print new UPC barcode stickers for any product. Really, it's a dramatization meant to highight the differences between corporate theft (unpunished, and even encouraged by the way laws are enforced) and consumer theft (massively, draconianly criminalized). Of course, they're being sued off the map by the greatest retail profiteers of all time...|
Thursday, June 03, 2004
My favs, part 3
As I prepare to leave for the sun-blessed haven know as southern California, I have heard the wailing and complaints that my third installment of my favorite sites is late (yes, again). In my best Ruth-ian impression, this one is full of tree-hugging, granola-eating, makelovenotwar, hippiedippietrippie sentiment. Without further adope... - The Animal Rescue Site: Feed an Animal in Need
- The Rainforest Site: Help Save Our Rainforests!
- The Child Health Site: Help a Child in Need Lead a Healthy, Active Life
- The Breast Cancer Site: Fund Mammograms for Free
- The Hunger Site: Give Food for Free to Hungry People in the World
Just go.
Just click.
You'll feel better.
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Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Remember June 3 is Hunger Day!
Hunger Day.org can help you find events going on in your area. America's Second Harvest can help you find other ways to help!
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Tuesday, June 01, 2004
80% of Americans screwed by wealthy Republicans
While (once again) relying on you not to notice, the White House is getting ready to start paying for all those tax breaks by cutting various federal programs. The New York Times (registration required) takes a good look at the latest Republican rip-off. I will never understand how anyone who makes less than $200,000 a year can vote Republican.
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Military Draft in House and Senate bills.
S 89 and HR 163 are making quiet progress in the Senate and House, respectively, while you're distracted with elections and gas prices. Call your congresspeople! Head off the VietNam-style mass murder of America's next generation. Vote!
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Bush lies. Again. (And again...)
The Washington Post seems to be rejoining the world of journalism! This after spending several months on vacation as White House PR flacks. Here, they debunk some of the Bush campaign's more egregious lies.
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Don't buy CDs until the RIAA can't pay it's lawyers.
The rat bastards at the RIAA have latched onto a single mother making $21,000 a year with a demand for $4,000 in cash to cover her daughter's file sharing sins. She's refusing to settle, since she simply doesn't have the four grand.
The RIAA's vigilante crusade has never resulted in a court case, since everyone's settled for fear of half-million dollar fines. Perhaps Ms. Lafky's case will finally test the legality of freelance law enforcement. If you feel compelled to help, please donate to her legal defense fund and not just to cover the fine.
For more information on defending your fair use rights, fighting the RIAA and the best way to advocate for musicians, check out Downhill Battle, Boycott-RIAA and Illegal Art. Also, there's a nice explanation of the record industry's economic model (delivered by Courtney Love, but I can't picture her writing it). Finally, check out the various P2P tools at ZeroPaid.
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The RIAA's vigilante crusade has never resulted in a court case, since everyone's settled for fear of half-million dollar fines. Perhaps Ms. Lafky's case will finally test the legality of freelance law enforcement. If you feel compelled to help, please donate to her legal defense fund and not just to cover the fine.
For more information on defending your fair use rights, fighting the RIAA and the best way to advocate for musicians, check out Downhill Battle, Boycott-RIAA and Illegal Art. Also, there's a nice explanation of the record industry's economic model (delivered by Courtney Love, but I can't picture her writing it). Finally, check out the various P2P tools at ZeroPaid.
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