Friday, July 23, 2010

Time to break the "Windows = Computing" paradigm

Microsoft on Tuesday said that hackers could exploit the unpatched Windows shortcut vulnerability using drive-by download attacks that would trigger an infection when people simply surf to a malicious website.
A noted vulnerability researcher Wednesday confirmed that such attacks are possible.

Feed the world's hungry with... wait for it...


In what can only be seen as the pinnacle of affluent arrogance FarmVille users are "feeding" the planet's hungry one virtual blueberry at a time.  bon appétit

Forrest Gump: Stupid is as stupid does. 

Posted via email from Pa^2 Patois

NASA maps forests

What other uses can you image for NASA's map of our world's forests? What other kinds of data would you like to see them add to this set?[img credit: exlibris]


Posted via email from Pa^2 Patois

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Extending grace, worthy of praise


'mantle' mosque by daniel andersson and christiane flügel 
all images courtesy of daniel andersson, christiane flügel and via traffic


'mantle' by freelance architects daniel andersson (finland) and christiane flügel (germany) 
is a shortlisted competition entry for the 'design as reform' competition organized by dubai-based 
design collective traffic. the architecture category of the multi-disciplinary competition called 
for the design of a new, contemporary mosque. 

William Meloney
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Voice: 270-215-4275

Posted via email from Pa^2 Patois

Anonymous Comments a Right? NO! A privilege



Should people be allowed to comment anonymously online? That question is currently making its way through the U.S. legal system. A New York couple has issued dragnet subpoenas to Google and Yahoo demanding the identities of users behind 10 email accounts, 30 blog operators, website administrators, and the identities of anyone who had ever commented on those sites. That's hundreds of people! Riding to the rescue of our privacy and freedom are our heroes -- the EFF.


Anonymous comments should be a privilege.  Now here is the very hard part - this is a privilege earned not by position, reputation or political sway but by a much more rigorous criteria - content.  Anonymous comments should be allowed to exist only if the content warrants its existence.  Common sense, albeit scarce in these quickly evolving times, should be used to temper decisions about whether a given anonymous post should be allowed to exist or not.

If an anonymous poster's offering is denied on such grounds then that individual has three courses of action.  1.) Rewrite the posting in a manner that doesn't violate the common sense rules of valid content. 2.) Repost and own up to a possibly contrary perspective or point of view.  3. ) STFU

Contrary to the seemingly popular belief we do not have the unalienable right to say anything we want without owning up to it.

It is time for common sense to be the rule in our civilized society.

Posted via email from Pa^2 Patois

Happy Birthday Nelson Madela (92)


Nelson Mandela is surrounded by children at his home in Johannesburg yesterday.
Debbie Yazbek / Nelson Mandela Foundation / AP


Posted via email from Pa^2 Patois

EFF: many remain critical of Google

"...many remain critical of Google's decision to stay in China..."

Many Westerners remain critical because they haven't taken the time to learn the Chinese way.  A critical reading of this article shows that careful "cultural" concessions being made by the Chinese are engendering significant freedoms.  Simply to say that China should adopt Western values in the blink of an eye is very unrealistic, if not naive.

As for Google's relationship with China: Read the writing on the wall people!  Everyone would do well to have a working relationship with the #1 superpower on the planet.  Moreover, everyone would do well to have access to the largest national/cultural market in the world.

Posted via email from Pa^2 Patois

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