What kind of company would use ‘mal’, meaning bad or badly in their name? Mal, found in words like malformation, maladjusted, dismal, malady, malcontent, malfeasance, and maleficent does not really bring to mind the warmest feelings.

Just looking at this old Maltron keyboard I just snagged from the trash heap at a client’s makes my hands hurt! I can’t wait to plug it in and try it out in my cube.

I was out in front of a client’s office building on K street today having a cigarette…

Up pulls a bike messenger.

Messengers generally lock their bikes against poles and grates in front of the building. Said polls and grates are currently under a few feet of snow.

What was the replacement security device implemented by this particular bike messenger?

A pile of fake poop on the seat!

Best.

Security.

Ever.

Judging books by their covers is often the only effective way to find new authors - Jim Munroe’s Everyone in Silico is no expection.

I picked up a copy of the book at Border’s the other day and highly recommend it - I also think I’ve found a publishing company to start buying random books from: four walls eight windows - check out their current offerings.

Munroe has an interesting website called No Media Kings. Especially interesting is that he invoiced companies that recieved product placement in the novel.

Oh, and his writing isn’t bad either.

=/

well this sucks. From CNN:

NASA officials said they last had contact with the shuttle at about 9 a.m. EST, and it had been expected to touch down at about 9:16 a.m. EST.

The shuttle was at 200,700 feet, traveling at 12,500 mph, when contact was lost.

The space shuttle is old technology but every replacement has had it’s budget cut fyi.

=/

I was only six but I swear I remember it, and for the next few years today was an event in schools.

The UDP exploit currently thrashing many internet backbones isn’t really all that interesting, but it makes for interesting graphs…

Update: Microsoft is now using the common name for the vulnerability: Slammer.

If there was ever a better article, it probably used the word “fucktard” even more times than jwz.org’s video on linux rant.

It’s like reading my own rants!

I can’t get enough of this shit.

I wish they’d open a shop in DC (tips well rewarded if there is one). They don’t have the new Solid Steel release in the ninja shop =/

I snagged the last Solid Steel cd, Now Listen! at Borders in my huge post-christmas-gift-certificate-shopping-spree and really dig it.

Boing Boing "…will be wearing a black arm-band for the next day in mourning for our shared cultural heritage, as the Library of Alexandria burns anew."

My gut reaction is that this is a bit overreacting but at the same time - the powers of corporations to continually extend their patent / copyright lifetime with no regard for the interests of the public is certainly scary. Damn, I just sounded like Erk.

/me pinches himself.

The big deal is about this recent supreme court ruling…

A few months ago I sent an e-mail to our Maryland representatives. The letter was pre-composed for me by a digital rights organization - all I had to do was fill in my e-mail address street address. Right now I’m too busy working on client issues to dreg up the link - hopefully I’ll find it later and update this post so that those of you interested can petition your sentators…

Read on from the response I got from Senator Mikulski…

January 13, 2003

Thank you for getting in touch with me. I appreciate hearing from you. I understand your concern that copyright laws have become too stringent. As you know, the Digital Choice and Freedom Act of 2002 (H.R. 5522) was introduced last year to provide increased safeguards for consumers who lawfully obtain digital entertainment. This legislation was not passed before Congress adjourned, and has yet to be reintroduced in the current session of Congress. You can be sure that I will consider your thoughts should the Senate debate this or other legislation dealing with copyright laws in the future. Again, thank you for contacting me. Please let me know if I can be of assistance to you in the future. Sincerely, Barbara A. Mikulski United States Senator

P.S. If I can be of any further assistance in the future, please visit my website at http://mikulski.senate.gov or call my Washington office at 202-224-4654.