RouseWorld | Main -- July 2003 Archives

That geek test

So there is this geek test — but the reality of geekiness is much more complicated. But even then, why ask how much geek, before we answer what is geeky?

New look

A slightly new look for the site, based on some troubleshooting of my css and trying out a slightly different look. The layout is evolved from MT's Gettysburg style.

Edit this song

I can't remember where I was, when I ran into this edits page. In case you haven't checked out the edits scene, the idea is people mixing up and cutting back and forth between songs as they do sometimes live in clubs (i.e. - real DJing).

Some of the stuff is pretty good, or at least amusing.

What, Monday already?

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you can't really list your accomplishments but only retain a sense of dread and frenzy? In any event, I hope this week will be a little bit better. Less frenzied and more productive anyway.

Stick it to the Man?

I really like the UK Register, it is one of the best technology industry overview magazines I've found. The only problem is that some of their staff get a tiny bit excited about certain subjects.

So I have to be a little skeptical when they talk about bombs and fuses and an anti-trust complaint brought against the RIAA. As much as I'd like to see that organization driven from existence, I just don't see a anti-trust complaint going very far in today's environment.

Of course, maybe I just want Orlowski to be wrong.

Supposedly cleaning up

I told myself I'd spend some time cleaning up today, and for the most part I have. But in a pile of paper in my backpack I found a print of an essay for The Atlantic written by Michael Benson called A Space in Time. Its a nice essay reminding us not only of the wealth of information brought to us by space exploration but also the beauty of the photography.

So, of course, in addition to spending time re-reading the article I spent even more time looking through the NASA photo archives.

Sidebars to the article suggest some places to start, but I found the Catalog of Spaceborne Imaging to be a good place to start for planetary images. NASA's Solar System site also has links to pictures, but it is more focused on the individual missions that took the pictures. If you just want to browse, a good range of planetary and extra-planetary pictures can be found at the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day site.

My favorite planetary picture so far has been the Voyager 1 picture of Io and Europa with Jupiter in the background. Human experience looking at things on Earth totally fails you as you try to get a sense of scale with this picture.

Some additions

I've added a "Friends of RouseWorld" section on the navigation bar. The folks there are good people, so be nice to them, especially R-C ... she'll kick yer butt.

And if anyone on the list would rather not be there, just let me know.

Short notes

I had to work late, so no time for a long episode, but I did want to drop a few things on you (that I found looking at Slashdot sigs).

* DO NOT LEAVE IT IS NOT REAL

* The Dobbertin Surface Orbiter is not yet a submarine.

ALS for drunks

Okay, I apologize in advance for this, but it really brightened my day ... in a very wrong and twisted way. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present, American Sign Language for Drunks.

 You call the shot.
 I will follow you to tequila hell, my captain.

Priceless.

The strangest spam, part II

I'd really like to hear an explanation of this, a second in a series. I'm guessing that it is some kind of really strange marketing experiment or someone's really clever attempt to validate email addresses, but still.

Also, does anyone know what is at the location described in the email?

(I've deleted the email address and the tracking garbage text at the bottom of the letter)

Hello,I'm a time traveler stuck here in 2003. Upon arriving here my dimensional warp generator stopped working. I trusted a company here by the name of LLC Lasers to repair my Generation 3 52 4350A watch unit, and they fled on me. I am going to need a new DWG unit, prefereably the rechargeable AMD wrist watch model with the GRC79 induction motor, four I80200 warp stabilizers, 512GB of SRAM and the menu driven GUI with front panel XID display.I will take whatever model you have in stock, as long as its received certification for being safe on carbon based life forms.In terms of payment:I dont have any Galactic Credits left. Payment can be made in platinum gold or 2003 currency upon safe delivery of unit.Please transport unit in either a large brown paper bag or box to below coordinates on Monday July 28th at (exactly 3:00pm) Eastern Standard Time on the dot. A few minutes prior will be ok, but it cannot be after. If you miss this timeframe please email me.Twenty-three inches in from the outside edge of the corner at the South WestCorner of Cummings Ave. & Village Street in Woburn, Mass. is at Latitude42.4845467 & Longitude -71.1576157 and the ground is 101.3' above sea level.WARNING: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRANSPORT ITEM BY REGULAR MEANS OF TELEPORTATION. THEY ARE MONITORING AND WILL REDIRECT THE SIGNAL!!(NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO TRANSPORT ANYTHING SO FAR WITHOUT THE TRANSFER BEING DEFLECTED). I DO NOT CARE HOW YOU HAVE TO GET IT HERE, JUST DO IT IN A WAY THAT NO SPYING EYES WILL POSSIBLY BE ABLE TO REDIRECT THE TRANSFERENCE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU BE ABLE TO MONITOR THE TRANSFER.Although those coordinates are a secure guarded area, these channels through email are never secure. Unfortunately it is the only form of communication I have right now.After unit has been sent please email me at: xxxx@xxxx.comwith payment instructions. Do not reply directly back to this email.Thank You