Condominium?

Our son is reading The Mote in God's Eye, by Niven and Pournelle, a classic bit of space opera. I was looking for a sequel, and while browsing through Pournelle's other books, I saw this Amazon listing for one of the books in his Co-Dominium series: Condominium: Revolt on War World, which is evidently a ripping yarn about the brutal clash of far-future homeowner's associations. Knowing Pournelle, it probably features a retired colonel leading a revolt against the new regulations imposed by the craven, lily-livered, socialistic condo association overseers, who rule with a wimpy yet iron fist. Despite near-impossible odds, Our Hero, using a space-based anti-missile system, saves the day, makes the condo community safe from global cooling, and secures a nice spot by the pool, where Free Men can gather.

Guardian on Science, cont.

The Guardian article I pointed to yesterday appears to be one of a series. Today's is The battle for American science, and it's also well worth your time.

Welcome to the new battlegrounds of American science. No conspiracy, nor even one political agenda, links the incidents above. But US scientists say they are indicative of a new climate that has emerged under the Bush administration: one driven partly by close relationships with big business, but just as much by a fiercely moral approach to the business of science.

Bricks on power strip solution

Via Brad, it's the Power Strip Liberator Plus. Basically, it's a 1 ft extension cord, but that's enough to get a power brick out of the way so that your 6-outlet UPS actually has 6 outlets. Wish I'd had a few of these a few days ago when I was setting up the new office.

Something bites, but it's not Bluetooth

You know that Bluetooth is turning into a real technology when you see stories like this: Bluetooth Can Bite. Eek! Scary! Someone turned on BT, turned off authentication, and turned off the firewall (both of which come turned on by default), and then acted surprised when an adjacent Mac could access their files. They've coined a phrase: "War-toothing."

Sheesh, folks. Re-check "Require authentication" in the pref pane already. Voila, problem solved. Horror stories about, "I turned off every security feature, and then anyone (within 10 meters who had Bluetooth and was looking) could get in!" are just BS.

Sciencs vs. Pessimism

A really good piece from the Guardian: We've never had it so good - and it's all thanks to science by Matt Ridley. Science, optimism, GM crops, organic farming, and more. Go read it. (via Jerry Kindall)

Though I still don't think the Iraq war will do much to make the US safer from terrorism, it's touching and somewhat humbling to see the joyous reactions of the people of Baghdad to the fall of Saddam's regime. The TV pictures today are just amazing; the tearing down of statues, the trampling and burning of posters, the raising of the old Iraqi flag, the one from before Saddam took over, the wholesale destruction of all of the idolatry that was the regime. Of course, the looting is less impressive. But it is clear that the US has done something good for the people of Iraq. May they rise to the challenge.

Really going to hell

Unsuprisingly, someone objected to my Jesus-joshing post of March 31; surprisingly, it was because it was "old hat." Instead, I was told, I should point to the God of the Month Club, and I have done so, lest I be struck down.

Forbes likes SE Clicker

Does someone at Forbes read this blog? If so, ya shoulda given me some credit for your piece Better Mac Living Through Bluetooth. If not, well, great minds think alike, I guess. But it does sound a lot like Sunday's post.

First Post

If this works, it's my first entry from the DSL line in my new office.

If this works, it's my first entry using my Netgear router in the new office (i.e., I'll be able to hook up more than one computer).

And if this works, it's my first wireless entry in my new office, so I can work from the couch.

Looks good so far. Damn, I love it when things work they way they're supposed to!

Buy the T68i. Now.

Remember a few days ago when I mentioned how cool software like the Sony Ericsson Clicker is if you have a Bluetooth phone and Mac? Since then, there's a new (waaay cool) release of SEC, and the price on the Sony Ericsson T68i Phone at Amazon has dropped to -30 dollars. No, that's not $30, but -$30. This is the phone I have, and it's a blast being able to control my Mac (including the mouse!) from my phone.

Wondering what I'm talking about? Check out this Quicktime movie.

Today's Doonesbury

Really good Doonesbury today. Check it out.