fauxstor.net

sporadic web manipulation

December 23, 2003

Atom and his Package

Yay, now there is an Atom 0.3 version of this blog. As if I don't support enough RSS versions already. Well, now I have Atom, as well. Why? because...it's...new! Everyone loves NEW!

Only, mine does not validate. Why? Embed tags are BAD. So no quicktime or Flash is allowed in your posts, apparently:

This feed does not validate. 
line 339 , column 4: content should not contain embed tag [help ]
</content> 
^

See for yourself. And the point of <![CDATA[ tags is...what again?

Also, anytime I update MovableType, Safari hates logging me in. So, now that I went to MT 2.65, it's Camino time.

Posted by justin at 8:36 PM

December 20, 2003

Where is everything?

Well, the generators kicked on, but we didn't have enough diesel to get all 488 servers throught the 2 1/2 hour blackout. Thank you PG&E.

However, airdrop.org, airblogging.com, airblogger.com, and blogbook.org are all back online.

You may have noticed that "widespread use of fuel cells" was conspicuously absent from my 2004 Tech Predictions list, below.

### UPDATE ###

Let alone enough backup power to cover the "we didn't put the fire all the way out" blackout that ensued a scant 30 minutes later, and lasted until 1:40 am PST.

Posted by justin at 8:55 PM | Comments (1)

December 13, 2003

Tech Predictions: 2004

In the scant 31 years that I have been alive, I have seen video games go from squares shooting squares at squares to 128-bit home consoles and PC systems with 128Mb video cards. While you can do things like play Atari 2600 games on a PS2, why would you? "Combat" has its charm, but SOCOM 2 online is where it's at (I am in the top 1%, btw).

The personal computer was invented, and as of this writing is more powerful than anything the U.S. military had until 1995. Okay, so that last part is classified, but it is classified because it is true and the Pentagon is frankly too embarrassed by it. Not only that, but the Dual 2.0 Ghz G5 costs $2999 compared to the $300,000,000 the U.S. military paid for its system - one hundred thousand times the cost of the G5.

My first computer contact was with an Apple II, and my first home computer was a Commodore 64. Now, I am still rocking the Apple (Power Mac, silly). And Wang Computers: need I say more?

In the Early Eighties: "Cordless (home) telephones" - Gee, whiz! Now pass me my Sony Ericsson P900.

I witnessed an entire media revolution be adopted and discarded - The Compact Disc. It turned out that the most revolutionary aspect was the new ways the Music Cartel could rip off artists and consumers.

I saw Betamax go to VHS go to LaserDisc go to DVD. You know how the retrocycle keeps compressing? Well, in the case of DVDs, it is the neocycle that has compressed: WE ALL KNOW DVDs ARE ALREADY OBSOLETE. Superbit DVDs aren't going to cut it on those HD systems that we will soon be (federally mandated) to own - at risk of doing time at Guantanamo Bay (part of the Patriot II Act). Yes, you will have to buy all your DVDs again, people.


Enough memory lane, here are the predictions:

  1. 100% Lossless music encoding scheme that is the size of 128 kbps mp3 files will be introduced.
  2. Every DRM scheme introduced by the cartel will be defeated.
  3. Due to predictions #1 and #2, the cartel will start showing real signs of its collapse. One of the Big Five will file for Chapter 11. Two more will do so in 2005. The remaining two will finally play by the new rules, after having sacrificed 4 years of potential profits. Derivative shareholder lawsuits will be filed.
  4. Apple will finally unveil its convergence device. What, exactly, will converge on this thingy? Cell Phone, PDA, MP3 player (via HDD), and, how about a pocket gaming system to compete with the Nokia.
  5. In an Ironic twist, Red Hat Linux and SCO will BOTH file for bankruptcy. IBM will grab all their IP for pennies. Mere Pennies, I say!
  6. Some iteration of Jungle Cat on Intel. 'Nuff said.
  7. Nextel will declare bankruptcy (why haven't they already?).
  8. G5 laptop.
  9. A cellphone with no buttons and only voice recognition will be introduced by Nokia.
  10. Cellphones will capture video, and
  11. Somebody's murder will be captured by said cellphone.
  12. Digi-Q and Medicom will team up to make an R/C Kubrick.
  13. Cheese, with chalk, and a beard.
  14. And to get a little Jean Dixon on yo' asses: We will make contact!

Posted by justin at 7:36 AM | Comments (1)

December 9, 2003

Another reason to hate the homeless in San Francisco

Thanks to homeless people, slick businessmen who outspend grassroots independent party candidates TEN to ONE get elected mayor in San Francisco.

Just think, all you had to do was be drunk only half the time, keep accosting grown men for money instead women and children, and then Matt Gonzalez would be our mayor.

And thanks for the suspiciously timed 5 part series from the Chronicle last week reminding why I should move to New York.

It would have been nice to have a mayor who rides the bus and rents his home, after the Willie Brown era of Wilkes Bashford suits and limousines.

Posted by justin at 9:19 PM | Comments (5)

December 1, 2003

Next Up: the "a little to the left" cushion

deepo.jpgIn an attempt to google the Scout Walker Kama Sutra, this excellent floor pillow came up in the sponsored links. I suppose some people need all the help they can get.

The "inventor" who came up with this - Richard Moody (yes, that's right: Dick Moody!) - apparently has a proven track record:

His entrepreneurial skills were recognized in 1996 when he was awarded the State of Hawaii’s prestigious Small Business Person of the Year award, presented by President Clinton.

That makes sense. Only, define the word "sexual" in "sexual aid."

Posted by justin at 9:41 PM