Saturday, May 31, 2008
All you need to know about Chicago in one handy sentence
"Patrick O'Connor said his wife's success has nothing to do with developers' dependence on his approval. And, he said, there is nothing wrong with him making zoning decisions on projects where his wife ultimately earns a commission."
More Here
More Here
Race To Zero
These guys are holding some sort of contest to see how many people can sneak viruses and malware past antivirus software.
I must say I can't believe that the contestants will be all that challenged. I am frequently given virus- and spyware- infected computers to try to repair, although lately I have had limited success, as the latest malware has just gotten so complicated and hides itself so well.
In every case, the victim will be running one of those glossy, useless products like Symantec or McAfee. The last computer I was given to try to sort out was running McAfee and there were no less than nine McAfee processes running on the machine. Did they prevent the spyware installing itself? Of course not.
As far as I can see, all Symantec/McAfee does is sap the computer's processing power and plague the user with unwanted popups until the time comes that they get some real malware on their machine.
The difference of course is that the hapless user has had to pay for these dubious benefits.
Personally, the first thing I do on any computer is remove all the AV bloatware. If I'm lucky, this won't render the machine unbootable. But at least I will then not see the hard disk constantly thrashing as the AV software endlessly churns through all my files.
It strikes me the Symantec/McAfee business model is to milk the gullible for subscriptions for their utterly useless products while employing the dumbest people in the industry to keep pushing out so-called 'updates'. The most junior Russian hacker can and does run rings around them.
I must say I can't believe that the contestants will be all that challenged. I am frequently given virus- and spyware- infected computers to try to repair, although lately I have had limited success, as the latest malware has just gotten so complicated and hides itself so well.
In every case, the victim will be running one of those glossy, useless products like Symantec or McAfee. The last computer I was given to try to sort out was running McAfee and there were no less than nine McAfee processes running on the machine. Did they prevent the spyware installing itself? Of course not.
As far as I can see, all Symantec/McAfee does is sap the computer's processing power and plague the user with unwanted popups until the time comes that they get some real malware on their machine.
The difference of course is that the hapless user has had to pay for these dubious benefits.
Personally, the first thing I do on any computer is remove all the AV bloatware. If I'm lucky, this won't render the machine unbootable. But at least I will then not see the hard disk constantly thrashing as the AV software endlessly churns through all my files.
It strikes me the Symantec/McAfee business model is to milk the gullible for subscriptions for their utterly useless products while employing the dumbest people in the industry to keep pushing out so-called 'updates'. The most junior Russian hacker can and does run rings around them.
Friday, May 30, 2008
This trial is a travesty. It's a travesty of a mockery of two travesties of a mockery of a sham
As everybody who works for a living knows, the Government has an endless need for cash to fund its operations, which can be categorized into two main areas:
- Hiring Fuckwits who then find ways to irritate the working man
- Spending large amounts on disastrous projects, where the consultancy firms doing the work later hire the government employees responsible into no-work positions at generous salaries
And in the US, of course, there are two wars to fund. Putting your best and your bravest in body bags and wheelchairs is not cheap!
So the tax authorities are always on the lookout for people who might actually want to spend the money they earn on themselves rather than giving 50% of it to fund the foregoing. The latest victim of this crusade is hardworking Wesley Snipes
He's somebody who never "phones in" a performance. His films may not make all that much sense, but you can tell he always gives 100%.
So anyway poor Wesley is looking at three years in the slammer on some technicality to do with filling out forms. He's on bail at the moment, but as you can see, things do not look good for him.
I remain hopeful that he will be ok, because in his own immortal words from the excellent Passenger 57 ...
"Always bet on black!"
- Hiring Fuckwits who then find ways to irritate the working man
- Spending large amounts on disastrous projects, where the consultancy firms doing the work later hire the government employees responsible into no-work positions at generous salaries
And in the US, of course, there are two wars to fund. Putting your best and your bravest in body bags and wheelchairs is not cheap!
So the tax authorities are always on the lookout for people who might actually want to spend the money they earn on themselves rather than giving 50% of it to fund the foregoing. The latest victim of this crusade is hardworking Wesley Snipes
He's somebody who never "phones in" a performance. His films may not make all that much sense, but you can tell he always gives 100%.
So anyway poor Wesley is looking at three years in the slammer on some technicality to do with filling out forms. He's on bail at the moment, but as you can see, things do not look good for him.
I remain hopeful that he will be ok, because in his own immortal words from the excellent Passenger 57 ...
"Always bet on black!"
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Ban All Knives
There must be something about living off public money which softens the brain.
How else to explain a bunch of ER doctors in the UK (part of the National Health Service) who have come up with a brilliant solution to the problem of large numbers of teenagers stabbing each other to death.
Simple -ban sharp pointed knives
That should do the trick! Even though these kids make their living thieving and dealing drugs, and regard arrest as little more than an occupational hazard, knowing the chances of their being jailed are almost non-existent, they are sure to obey a blanket ban on knives.
Congratulations, doctors! Case closed! Socialized medicine at its finest!
Dickheads.
How else to explain a bunch of ER doctors in the UK (part of the National Health Service) who have come up with a brilliant solution to the problem of large numbers of teenagers stabbing each other to death.
Simple -ban sharp pointed knives
That should do the trick! Even though these kids make their living thieving and dealing drugs, and regard arrest as little more than an occupational hazard, knowing the chances of their being jailed are almost non-existent, they are sure to obey a blanket ban on knives.
Congratulations, doctors! Case closed! Socialized medicine at its finest!
Dickheads.
Bear Stearns RIP
So for those of us who thought there was no justice in the world, we got proved wrong back in March when the market delivered the finest kicking you could wish for to those arrogant, pompous, blowhards at Bear Stearns
Nobody who's ever worked there or had dealings with them was surprised by what happened.
So now as Bear passes into history, the question remains, who will play former boss Jimmy Cayne in the TV movie?
My money's on William Shatner.
"Jimmy Cayne" "Jimmy Cayne" "Jimmy Cayne"
Check out the stock price. I could look at that chart all day. I know it's bad to rejoice in the misfortunes of others, but in their case, I'll make an exception.
Nobody who's ever worked there or had dealings with them was surprised by what happened.
So now as Bear passes into history, the question remains, who will play former boss Jimmy Cayne in the TV movie?
My money's on William Shatner.
 |  |
| Cayne | Shatner |
"Jimmy Cayne" "Jimmy Cayne" "Jimmy Cayne"
Check out the stock price. I could look at that chart all day. I know it's bad to rejoice in the misfortunes of others, but in their case, I'll make an exception.
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