December 31, 2003
Israel stops buying Microsoft software
Full Story @ Globetechnology
JERUSALEM — In an apparent showdown over price, Israel's government has suspended purchases of Microsoft productivity software and is encouraging the development of an open source alternative.
A spokeswoman for the Finance Ministry, which oversees government purchases, said Tuesday that government agencies would use existing Microsoft Office products for the time being rather than upgrade to newer versions.
The Israeli government also will encourage the development of lower-priced alternatives to Microsoft software in an effort to help expand computer use by the public.
December 28, 2003
Now that's good Engrish!
For those who have not had the pleasure of meeting someone who speaks engrish, I present to you a very, very funny web site. Engrish.com
The wife and I sat here tonight laughing ourselves into physical pain.
I really enjoyed seeing the "No Smorking" signs, I guess the Japanese feel very strongly about people not smorking. ;-)
I believe he's wanting that sign to say "Offlimits", but that's just a guess.
Oh the beauty that can come from maligning a language.
December 26, 2003
Red Hat goes Corporate, Fedora to the People
For those familier with Red Hat Linux, your not anymore.
Red Hat Linux has gone corporate, they will no longer be making linux for the common man. They began Fedora Linux to fill in the void left by Red Hat. So if your using red hat forget any support from them after April.
December 25, 2003
Merry Christmas from the Marketing Dept.
Well since Christmas has been lost to the Marketing whores of the world I thought I'd bring us back to where it all started. So while your all worrying about presents, wrapping paper, who's cookies are better you might remember where it all came from.
Merry Christmas One and All.
December 24, 2003
Linux Penguins in the BCFL
Here is a few others he made for me. Great stuff.
December 19, 2003
Court: RIAA lawsuit strategy illegal
Full Story @ CNET News.com
update A federal appeals court on Friday handed a major setback to the record industry's legal strategy of tracking down and suing alleged file swappers.
Reversing a series of decisions in favor of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Washington, D.C., court said copyright law did not allow the group to send out subpoenas asking Internet service providers for the identity of file swappers on their networks. The ruling came in favor of Verizon Communications, the first ISP to challenge the recording industry's actions.
"We are not unsympathetic either to the RIAA's concern regarding the widespread infringement of its members' copyrights, or to the need for legal tools to protect those rights," the court wrote. "It is not the province of the courts, however, to rewrite (copyright law) in order to make it fit a new and unforeseen Internet architecture, no matter how damaging that development has been to the music industry."
While it is a blow to the recording industry, Friday's decision is unlikely to derail the RIAA's ongoing lawsuits against hundreds of individual file-swappers. The ruling focuses on the unconventional subpoena power that the organization had claimed in order to seek ISP subscribers' identities and did not address the legality of the lawsuits that have already been filed.
December 18, 2003
REPUBLIC vs. DEMOCRACY
Full Text @ Republic vs. Democracy
I would like to thanks DF for bringing this up. I enjoy a mental challenge that does have to do with computers, haha. Keeps the blood flowing.
REPUBLIC vs. DEMOCRACY
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In the Pledge of Allegiance we all pledge allegiance to our Republic, not to a democracy. "Republic" is the proper description of our government, not "democracy." I invite you to join me in raising public awareness regarding that distinction.
The distinction between our Republic and a democracy is not an idle one. It has great legal significance.
The Constitution guarantees to every state a Republican form of government (Art. 4, Sec. 4). No state may join the United States unless it is a Republic. Our Republic is one dedicated to "liberty and justice for all." Minority individual rights are the priority. The people have natural rights instead of civil rights. The people are protected by the Bill of Rights from the majority. One vote in a jury can stop all of the majority from depriving any one of the people of his rights; this would not be so if the United States were a democracy. (see People's rights vs Citizens' rights)
In a pure democracy 51 beats 49[%]. In a democracy there is no such thing as a significant minority: there are no minority rights except civil rights (privileges) granted by a condescending majority. Only five of the U.S. Constitution's first ten amendments apply to Citizens of the United States. Simply stated, a democracy is a dictatorship of the majority. Socrates was executed by a democracy: though he harmed no one, the majority found him intolerable.
Liger Zero Phoenix Fight Scene
Ok, since some have been looking for a video clip of the Liger Zero Phoenix during a fight I made up one.
1:52 long and 29.8Mb in size. Video is an mpeg2 encoding. (as in SVCD or DVD type codec)
Enjoy!
Download Here
December 14, 2003
Saddam Hussein Captured Alive Near Tikrit
Full Story @ Excite News
"Ladies and gentlemen, we got him," U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer told a news conference Sunday, eight months after American troops swept into Baghdad and toppled Saddam's regime.
"The tyrant is a prisoner."
In the capital, radio stations played celebratory music, residents fired small arms in the air in celebration and passengers on buses and trucks shouted, "They got Saddam! They got Saddam!"
Washington hopes Saddam's capture will help break the organized Iraq resistance that has killed more than 190 American soldiers since President Bush declared major combat over on May 1 and has set back efforts at reconstruction. U.S. commanders have said that while in hiding Saddam played some role in the guerrilla campaign blamed on his followers.
In the latest attack, a suspected suicide bomber detonated explosives in a car outside a police station Sunday morning west of Baghdad, killing at least 17 people and wounding 33 more, the U.S. military said.
Saddam was one of the most-wanted fugitives in the world, along with Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al-Qaida terrorist network who has not been caught despite a manhunt since November 2001, when the Taliban regime was overthrown in Afghanistan.
Saddam was captured at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in a walled farm compound in Adwar, a town 10 miles from Tikrit, said Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq. The cellar was little more than a specially prepared "spider hole" with just enough space to lie down. Bricks and dirt camouflaged the entrance.
A Pentagon diagram showed the hiding place as a 6-foot-deep vertical tunnel, with a shorter tunnel branching out horizontally from one side. A pipe to the concrete surface at ground level provided air. The entrance to the hide-out was under the floor of a small, walled compound with a room in one corner and a lean-to attached to the room. The tunnel was roughly in the middle of the compound.
December 13, 2003
PowerPoint Makes You Dumb
Full Story @ NYTimes.com
In August, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board at NASA released Volume 1 of its report on why the space shuttle crashed. As expected, the ship's foam insulation was the main cause of the disaster. But the board also fingered another unusual culprit: PowerPoint, Microsoft's well-known ''slideware'' program.
NASA, the board argued, had become too reliant on presenting complex information via PowerPoint, instead of by means of traditional ink-and-paper technical reports. When NASA engineers assessed possible wing damage during the mission, they presented the findings in a confusing PowerPoint slide -- so crammed with nested bullet points and irregular short forms that it was nearly impossible to untangle. ''It is easy to understand how a senior manager might read this PowerPoint slide and not realize that it addresses a life-threatening situation,'' the board sternly noted.
PowerPoint is the world's most popular tool for presenting information. There are 400 million copies in circulation, and almost no corporate decision takes place without it. But what if PowerPoint is actually making us stupider?
December 11, 2003
MPAA Sending out the Wrong Message?
I happened across this little gem of a quote the other day.
"But wait, I saw Pirates of the Caribbean yesterday and the moral at the end was something like,
"Sometimes you need a little piracy in order to do the right thing."
But the MPAA says it's bad. Why must Hollywood send me conflicting messages?"
quoted from http://slashdot.org/articles/03/07/22/1853256.shtml?tid=188&tid=97
December 10, 2003
US Army Making Headway in Iraq; Kills Senior Fedayeen Officer
The US Army - which I routinely criticize for its inffeciencies and deficiencies - has been taking cues from the Marine Corps' way of doing things and has been taking care of business of late in Iraq. The latest today being the raid on the home of a Saddam Fedayeen colonel.
Read the story here.
Israel gets new fighter, need becoming more obvious.
Full Story @ Jane's Defence News
Israel's F-16I fighters to go down a storm
A total of 102 two-seat F-16Is will be delivered to Israel under two production contracts worth a combined $4.4 billion. The first aircraft will arrive early next year and subsequent deliveries will occur at a rate of two per month spanning about four years.
Acquired through the US government's Peace Marble V programme, the fighters will gradually replace the IAF's existing inventories of A-4 Skyhawk ground-attack and F-4 Phantom strike aircraft (Jane's Defence Weekly 30 April). The F-16 will provide the backbone of the air force's future strike capability - the latest acquisition brings to 362 the number of the aircraft delivered to the IAF. Dubbed the Soufa (Storm), the new aircraft will augment more than 230 F-16s now in service, as well as the IAF's fleet of more than 90 F-15-series fighters.
## And now why they need them.. ##
Syria's fear
Full Story @ Jane's Middle East/Africa News
The Israeli military intelligence service, Aman, has informed the government that the Syrian leader, President Bashar Al-Assad, has instructed his army to get ready for an Israeli military attack.
He has also called for a resumption of peace talks with Israel. But Israel, under the leadership of the hardline expansionist, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, does not take Assad's call for a resumption of negotiations seriously, especially when Sharon apparently has no intentions whatsoever of withdrawing from the Golan heights, which has artillery batteries within firing range of Damascus, the Syrian capital.
In open provocation of Syria, Israel has been conducting air force flights over Syrian airfields, barracks and other military interests, and has attacked 'terrorist' targets within Syrian territory. On 5 October, Israeli F-16 jets bombed an empty Palestinian training base near Damascus. It was the first assault on Syrian soil in 30 years and the Syrians were stunned, failed to retaliate and were mocked throughout the Arab world for letting the Israelis humiliate them. In October, eight Israeli F-15's crossed the international border with Lebanon, flew over Beirut and all the way over the 35,000 Syrian troops stationed in northern Lebanon.
December 07, 2003
A Day of Infamy
Today, for those of your who do not know, is December 7th, 2003. It has been 62 years since a Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, HI and the Aleutian Islands (where they actually took and occupied American soil) occured, virtually destroying the United States' ability to make war in the pacific, and subsequently bringing the US into WW2.
The flag (as seen above) here in the Chappo Area (22 Area) of Camp Pendleton was raised to half-mast today in rememberance of the Marines and Sailors who died on that fateful day, which President Roosevelt laster declared "A day that will live in infamy."
62 years later, another day, much more recent, stands out in most American's minds. September 11th, 2001 has overshadowed Pearl Harbor as our worst tragedy to date. It has also brought us into yet another global war, except this time, one where sides are blurred.
The world has also changed since 1941. In 1941, it was no question in most people's minds that we should go to war. In 1941, if you were of age and not running to join the military then you had to walk around showing that you were 4-F, or that your services were needed stateside. In 2001, attacking the people who attacked us became a topic of protest and dissent. In 2001, enlistments initially dropped (although eventually they skyrocketted.)
As you go about your day, remember those that serve and those who have died in the fight for the freedom of this nation. To many people today believe the fight to be something other people do, but it is a fight be all must take part of, and it requries the sacrifice of many.
December 06, 2003
Judge orders SCO to show Linux infringement
Full Story @ CNET News.com
IBM won a tactical victory Friday in a legal battle with SCO Group when a judge ordered SCO to show within 30 days the Linux software to which it believes it has rights and to point out where it believes IBM is infringing.
But SCO also said it will open a new copyright infringement claim in its legal attack.
In a hearing in Salt Lake City, Federal Judge Dale A. Kimball required SCO to produce two key batches of information IBM had sought in the case.
In one batch, called Interrogatory No. 12, IBM sought "all source code and other material in Linux...to which plaintiff (SCO) has rights; and the nature of plaintiff's rights." In the second, Interrogatory No. 13,
Big Blue sought a detailed description of how SCO believes IBM has infringed SCO's rights and whether SCO ever distributed the source code described in Interrogatory No. 12.
The information IBM sought is at the heart of the case, a bold lawsuit SCO began in March that alleges IBM moved technology from Unix to Linux against the terms of its contract with SCO, violating trade secrets in the process. SCO is seeking $3 billion from Big Blue, and is also trying to compel Linux-using corporations to license SCO's Unix. The judge's decision is one of the first moves in a case that will affect not just IBM but also other computing giants including Oracle, Hewlett-Packard, SAP and Dell that have embraced Linux.
IBM in August countersued with four patent violation claims and a defense that charges SCO with violating the terms of the General Public License (GPL) that governs Linux.
In the spring, when SCO first said Unix code had been copied into Linux, Chief Executive Darl McBride told CNET News.com, "We will be happy to show the evidence we have at the appropriate time in a court setting," but thus far the company hasn't done so.
*Muddy's Notes* LOL this is by far the best part of this. "SCO and IBM have each filed several motions to try to compel the other side to release information. In a motion Wednesday, IBM criticized SCO for delivering source code to IBM that had been printed on 1 million sheets of paper."
Now if you can't figure out that SCO's claim is nothing more than smoke and mirrors your numb to the world. If SCO had proof they would be very happy to have delivered it so IBM would pay up. Only someone who is bluffing stalls and then ... stalls some more. Let's get real here, every time I hear SCO open it's mouth all I hear is Wolf!
Intel scientists find wall for Moore's Law
Full Story @ CNET News.com
Moore's Law, as chip manufacturers generally refer to it today, is coming to an end, according to a recent research paper.
Granted, that end likely won't come for about two decades, but Intel researchers have recently published a paper theorizing that chipmakers will hit a wall when it comes to shrinking the size of transistors, one of the chief methods for making chips that are smaller, more powerful and cheaper than their predecessors.
Manufacturers will be able to produce chips on the 16-nanometer manufacturing process, expected by conservative estimates to arrive in 2018, and maybe one or two manufacturing processes after that, but that's it.
"This looks like a fundamental limit," said Paolo Gargini, director of technology strategy at Intel and an Intel fellow. The paper, titled "Limits to Binary Logic Switch Scaling--A Gedanken Model," was written by four authors and was published in the Proceedings of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) in November.
Although it's not unusual for researchers to theorize about the end of transistor scaling, it's an unusual statement for researchers from Intel, and it underscores the difficulties chip designers currently face. The size, energy consumption and performance requirements of today's computers are forcing semiconductor makers to completely rethink how they design their products and are prompting many to pool design with research and development.
Resolving these issues is a major goal for the entire industry. Under Moore's Law, chipmakers can double the number of transistors on a given chip every two years, an exponential growth pattern that has allowed computers to get both cheaper and more powerful at the same time.
Mostly, the trick has been accomplished through shrinking transistors. With shrinkage tapped out, manufacturers will have to find other methods to keep the cycle going.
December 04, 2003
Baghdad Journal: Toys for Iraqi Tots
Full Story @ FOXNews.com
The dictator's priorities were clearly not focused on children. The schools are dilapidated and ill-equipped.
A U.S. Army officer who calls himself "Chief Wiggles" is doing his part to change all that.
Chief Warrant Officer Paul Holton, from Salt Lake City (search), Utah, is an army interrogator based in Baghdad.
One day he saw a crying child on the other side of the razor-wire fence separating the American enclave from the rest of the city. He helped reunite the child with her mother, and calmed her down by giving her a stuffed animal.
That small gesture has grown into a major effort to help the children of Iraq.
"I knew the way to touch the Iraqi people was through the children," says Holton.
As an interrogator, he says, "a big part of my job is connecting with the Iraqi people so that we build a relationship, build trust. A big part of that is reaching out to them, and a lot of times that is through their families, through the children. That way, we're able to build a connection and change attitudes about America."
*Muddy's Note* I lost it when I read this line, "As an interrogator, he says, "a big part of my job is connecting with the Iraqi people". I had to post this, it was too funny. That line goes together about as well as "As a sniper a big part of my job is to reach out to those around me." hahaha
December 02, 2003
Cops Connect 12 Shootings Along Ohio Highway
Full Story @ FOXNews.com
Four of the shootings -- three at vehicles and one at an elementary school last month -- were from the same gun, Franklin County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Steve Martin said Tuesday.
Although ballistics tests could not link the rest of the shootings along Interstate 270, investigators said they "are comfortable" saying all 12 are connected, he said. He would not elaborate.
Authorities have received more than 500 tips, but would not speculate about who the shooter might be and would not release the type of weapon.
"Collectively, we think it's not good for us to put that information out," Martin said.
The shootings began in May along Interstate 270, the freeway that circles Columbus. Many were not reported until after Nov. 25, when 62-year-old Gail Knisley was killed by a bullet that pierced the side of a car driven by a friend.
The latest shooting linked to the spree was a Nov. 11 shooting at Hamilton Township Elementary School in Obetz, about two miles from the freeway.
Superintendent Bill Wittman said he believes the shooting was not meant to harm anyone because it happened overnight, but nervous parents expressed concern.
Tiffany Ellis, 32, said her son's second-grade classroom faces the front of the school, where the bullet struck.
"It makes me angry to be honest with you, that I have to drive down the road worrying about getting shot," Ellis said Tuesday.
*Muddy's Note* What puzzles me is how a few shootings here and one death can make world headline news, I just checked fox, cnn, msnbc and even bbc and this story is on the front page of each. It's even on news sites that I can't read because I don't speak that language. Nice going Ohio, nobody makes a big deal about normal happenings like us. A drunk redneck (and we're full of them) and a hunting rifle should not take precedence over real news.
Muddy Needs Zoids Fuzors Episode 5
I'm finished converting the rest of the Fuzors episodes to mpeg2 and all I'm missing is episode 5. I would have it but had some Mythtv problems that day.
Episode 5 "The Kid Called Matt" was broadcast on November 1st.
If anyone has it in mpeg, avi or pretty much any format I'd be ever so grateful if you'd make it available to me. You can Email me or leave a reply here.
Much Thanks.
December 01, 2003
DVD Forum chooses standard
Full Story @ CNN
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Toshiba and NEC won a round in the fight for standardizing the DVD formats as their technology has been embraced by an industry forum, but the real battle is won by convincing consumers and Hollywood.
Japan's Toshiba and NEC received the support from the DVD Forum last month, but the news spread into the public domain over the weekend.
Last year, the two companies pitched their version of a blue-laser DVD player against that of a consortium of the world's biggest electronics makers, including Japan's Sony Corp. and Matsucrapa and Dutch firm Philips.
Sony and Philips are also members of the DVD Forum.
Blue-laser DVD players will replace the current generation of red-laser DVD players in a few years' time. A blue-laser disc can store around five times more information than red-laser discs -- which is up to three hours of high definition video.
The DVD Forum, an industry association of some 220 electronics and media companies, said it will endorse only one technology. By backing the so-called HD DVD standard from Toshiba and NEC, a new format war is looming.
Ohio Commuters Warily Return to Freeway
Full Story @ Atlanta Journal Constitution
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)--At least a dozen times a day, Edward Sparks drives his tractor-trailer along the stretch of beltway where authorities are investigating the shootings of 11 vehicles.
``You're constantly looking,'' he said.
After the long holiday weekend, commuters returned Monday to the five-mile stretch of Interstate 270 where the shootings began earlier this year, most in the past two months.
Terry Daugherty, of Pikeville, Ky., passed through the stretch of highway Monday on his way home from visiting family for Thanksgiving. The shootings were a topic of discussion during the holiday, and relatives told him to be careful during his drive.
``Life goes on. You've still got to live, travel and visit,'' he said while buying coffee and candy at a gas station. ``You don't want to go through the heart of the city. You can't shut down the freeway for a couple of shootings.''
Authorities did not connect the cases until a 62-year-old woman was killed Tuesday while riding in a car driven by a friend; she was the only person hit in any of the shootings.