Folkwolf.net2021-08-22T19:50:24+00:00http://mattrose.github.ioMatt Rosemattrose@folkeolf.netConcern Trolling2017-11-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2017/11/07/concern-trolling
<p>People speak of algorithms as if they’re some weird black box, but they’re just a detailed descriptions of the decision-making process that all of us go through every day, just fed into a computer. The really hard “Computer Science” part is breaking down the decision making process into steps so stupid a computer can understand it.</p>
<p>For example, if YouTube actually thought that videos like the ones the author was complaining about was an actual problem[*], they could fix it. They have done so with music and other video content. In fact, they’re famously overzealous for taking down or demonetizing videos that violate copyright, using the very same algorithms the author is decrying The only reason that they haven’t fixed this with kids videos is that they haven’t seen it as a problem yet.</p>
<ul>
<li>So, this is where my huge beef with this article comes in. I have a 5 year old son who loves YT Kids, and would spend all day on it if we let him. Monitoring and restricting the content he watches is just part of raising a child these days, like making sure he has a nutritious lunch. So I’ve watched a LOT of YT Kids, and have never seen any evidence of these problematic videos that he found. Do they exist? Sure, do they come up in normal YT kids usage? Not as far as I’ve seen. Sure, there are copyright violations up the yin-yang, but I’ve never seen any evidence of Peppa Pig snuff videos.</li>
</ul>
<p>This is just my anec-data, but again, YT Kids being rife with these weird videos is just his, so…</p>
planning fail2017-03-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2017/03/30/planning-failAleppo2016-12-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2016/12/16/aleppo
<p>A friend on Facebook, pointed me to this <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/syria-war-neil-macdonald-1.3898371">great Op-Ed on the CBC by Neil MacDonald</a>, suggesting that it was controversial, so this was my response:</p>
<p>You want an even hotter take?</p>
<p>What is happening in Aleppo is not unprecedented, or unusual. Look back, and there’s the bombing of Sarajevo, the Srebernica massacre, the genocide in Rwanda, and that’s only in the past 25 years.</p>
<p>It is, however, the first time such a thing has happened in the age of instantaneous live international communications, with twitter, and facebook and snapchat letting the entire world see, immediately, and in real time on an extremely personal level, the depths humanity is willing to plumb.</p>
<p>What is actually happening in Aleppo is sadly common. The novel part is that we can’t turn our heads, we can’t couch it in the terms of international diplomacy. People are screaming, and for the first time, we can hear them.</p>
<p>FOOTNOTE:</p>
<p>As a weird footnote, during the NATO air campaign in Serbia, I was on an email mailing list of artists and writers from all over the world (a concept that was in itself revolutionary in those days), and one of the other people on the list was a Serbian artist, who, in great detail and with great language, narrated the bombing of Novi Sad, where they lived and talked about all of the wonderful things that we had bombed. The buildings lost, the architectural heritage lost, and the lives that were lost.</p>
<p>“This,” I thought, “This technology will change the world”</p>
<p>It hasn’t yet, but I often think back to that random Serb, and his unfiltered missives, and it gives me a little bit of hope.</p>
Stage Races vs One day races2016-09-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2016/09/14/stage-races-vs-one-day-racesnew post2016-09-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2016/09/13/new-post
<p>From <a href="http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.ca/2016/09/bike-lanes-are-destroying-america.html">BikeSnobNYC</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The upshot of their hatred of physics and their refusal to accept the laws concerning how matter and energy interact is that they feel they should be exempt from those laws. They should not have to pay the expense, and they should not have to exercise the care. Governments and police mostly agree, which is why they’ve done their best to bend time and space for drivers. Sure, your SUV takes up lots of space, but even in the most dense cities they’ve made sure there are plenty of voids where only the cars can go. And sure, if you lose control of your SUV you’ll cause all sorts of destruction and mayhem, but at least you won’t be responsible for any of it.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>But that’s not enough. If drivers are forced to obey the laws of physics, cyclists should be forced to obey them too–not the laws of physics that govern bikes, but the ones that govern cars. Cyclists should pay money for resources they don’t consume, and they should use an infrastructure designed exclusively for fast-moving vehicles that weigh thousands of pounds. At this point I’m waiting for someone to suggest all cyclists should be forced to tow a trailer that’s at least the size and weight of a Honda Accord.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>And most importantly, drivers should never be forced to acknowledge the fact that the “free ride” of a bicycle is also available to them. After all, if we’re getting such a sweet deal you’d think they’d want to get in on it too. I can only assume the reason they don’t is that they’re afraid of other drivers like themselves</p>
</blockquote>
Steak Tartare2012-12-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/12/06/steak-tartareThis is for <a href="http://twitter.com/gutfrag">@gutfrag</a> who writes <a href="http://dudecook.blogspot.com">"Dude, Cook!</a>
A recipe for steak tartare, a dish I've loved the idea of since I was young (what can I say, I love raw meat, of all kinds), but never got to try until last year in Quebec City. I wasn't sure it would measure up to those years of expectations, but it was yummy.
<blockquote>
But I urge you to make it at home. A lot of folks are worried about bacteria, and with good reason. Poorly handled meat can make you sick. That’s why it’s important to buy whole muscles. Choose the cheapest leanest cut you can find (if you have access to farm raised beef, even better), which is usually top round or eye of round. Bacteria don’t exist on the interior of meat so you only need to deal the the exterior. First, wash your hands, then rinse the meat thoroughly under running water. Then give it a thorough coating of salt—a uniform coating, can’t use too much—for an hour or so, refrigerated. Then rinse it, grind or chop, season and serve
</blockquote>
from <a href="http://ruhlman.com/2011/06/how-to-make-steak-tartare/">http://ruhlman.com/2011/06/how-to-make-steak-tartare</a>
Awesome Cheetah Video2012-12-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/12/05/awesome-cheetah-video<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_uwB6K5XvQg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<pre>
Cheetahs are probably the least deadly of the big cats. Yes, they have
razor sharp claws, but they're very light, and very agile, which means they
have less bite force and strength than your average German Shepherd.
That's not to say I would be entirely relaxed were one to get that close to
me, but having been within reach of one before, I was perplexed when the
people in the car were relieved when it left. I would have sat there for
hours watching it (Maybe they did. After the first edit, the sun did seem
lower in the sky)
It definitely saw a high point where it could scan the horizon for miles
around, and it turned out to be fairly comfortable, once it got used to the
people around.
Regarding the traffic jam, I don't think it was a traffic jam, just all of
the drivers have radios, and cheetah sightings are *extremely* rare.
I've been on hundreds of game drives like that since 1980, and I
can count on one hand the number of cheetah sightings I've had.
A cheetah that stayed out in the open for that long, well, probably every
tour bus driver within 20 miles started heading in that direction.
(Funny factoid: When we started driving around game parks, we would find
big cats by looking for vultures circling over kills. Now we just look
for tour buses)
For those of you who are curious why I've been on hundreds of game drives
like that, I spent a good chunk of my childhood in Tanzania and Kenya, and
even when I grew up, my parents only moved back to Canada from Nairobi in
2004 or so. So every time we had visitors, we would go to Amboseli, or
the Serengeti, or Masai Mara, or the Ngorongora Crater. My dad loves
driving, especially in challenging conditions, so we've driven 4x4s around
most of the parks in that part of the world.
Sometime in the 90s, we got blase about the whole thing: "The tyranny of
the charismatic megafauna" is the phrase my sister used to refer to the
usual game drives, and it's true, there's about 10 animals people go on
game drives to see, and once you've seen them a bunch of times, well...
Then we discovered bird-watching, which was endlessly fascinating. There
are hundreds of different bird species, and they're harder to find. So
while all of the tour buses were circled around a pride of lions, we would
be staring fascinated into some tree trying to determine whether something
was a kingfisher or a honey-eater, all the while the person who was
visiting would be giving us funny looks.
</pre>
True BS: I’ve been riding with intent for not quite 30 years now. Spent a few...2012-12-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/12/01/true-bs-ive-been-riding-with-intent-for-not-quite-30<p><a href="http://truebs.com/post/36216301671/ive-been-riding-with-intent-for-not-quite-30" class="tumblr_blog" target="_blank">billstrickland</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I’ve been riding with intent for not quite 30 years now. Spent a few of those with no car at all, pedaling (and coasting) wherever I had to go. I’ve ridden in Europe and Africa and Australia in addition to the United States, commuting and touring and racing and vacationing and engaging in arcane…</p></blockquote>
<a href="http://truebs.com/post/36216301671/ive-been-riding-with-intent-for-not-quite-30">True BS: I’ve been riding with intent for not quite 30 years now. Spent a few...</a>
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The truth and the bike. - Alison Tetrick2012-11-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/11/29/when-you-hear-hellos-from-people-that-dontWhen you hear “hellos” from people that don’t shave their legs, have any kind of bike with bells and whistles, and a neon yellow jacket. And then you see it. You see that smile. That pure smile that only means one thing. Utter joy. You can’t help but giggle. You can’t help but love every second of it. it doesn’t matter if you are turning squares or circles. It doesn’t matter if you are riding for 12 miles or 100 miles. You are on your bike, and you are happy.
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In Silicon Valley, Technology Talent Gap Threatens G.O.P. Campaigns | Hacker News2012-11-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/11/29/more-money-can-replace-all-the-non-money-thingsMore money can replace all the non-money things, in the same way tofu can replace bacon
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/36783914800">Tumblr</a>
4 reasons why you should never believe a Cracked.com article2012-11-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/11/29/4-reasons-why-you-should-never-believe-a-cracked-com<p>To all the people who forward me articles or retweet articles from Cracked.com, just stop. I’m not going to look at them anymore, and I hope everyone who dreams up this drivel ends up on the street.</p>
<p><strong>1. Linkbait</strong></p>
<p>Cracked.com is not out to inform, they’re the Howard Stern of Websites.</p>
<p><strong>2. List-Mania</strong></p>
<p>They never actually write anything substantial just lists of “facts” designed to grab your interest</p>
<p><strong>3. Factually Incorrect</strong></p>
<p>The “facts” that they do cite come from questionable sources, usually with an axe to grind behind the scene.</p>
<p><strong>4. Terrible analogies</strong></p>
<p>To “dumb it down” for you, they make terrible analogies trying to illustrate their point </p>
<p><strong>Example:</strong> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/4-reasons-why-fair-trade-coffee-scam/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=fanpage&utm_campaign=new+article&wa_ibsrc=fanpage" target="_blank">4 Reasons Why Fair Trade Coffee Is a Scam</a></p>
<p> <strong>“Fact” 1</strong>: Growers Are Paid Very Little for Fair Trade Coffee. Cracked.com says that the floor rate of $1.40 is less than the price that growers can sell on the open market, and it dreams up prices of 3 to 4 times that. </p>
<p><strong>Actual Fact</strong>: If you <a href="http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=robusta-coffee" target="_blank">check an actual market</a>, the price is $1.02 per pound, and that’s after the grower has sold it to a distributor, and the coffee market is at a 34 year high. In reality, most growers around the world that are selling it get around .50c per pound. </p>
<p><strong>Terrible Analogy</strong>: This is like a Blockbuster clerk being able to earn more cash if he just takes all the videos home and charges admission to his living room.</p>
<p><strong>“Fact” 2</strong>: Consumers Are Charged Much More for Fair Trade Coffee</p>
<p><strong>Actual Fact</strong>: A pound of French Roast that I get from a Mexican Co-op through <a href="http://www.bridgehead.ca/en/ProductType.asp?LangID=1&CatID=3" target="_blank">Bridgehead costs CAD 16.67</a>, A pound of French Roast from <a href="http://www.starbucksstore.ca/French-Roast/011015571,en_CA,pd.html?utm_source=Sbuxcom&utm_medium=CoffeePDP&utm_campaign=11015571&utm_term=Evergreen" target="_blank">Starbucks costs CAD 16.95</a> This is even with the .10c/pound Fair Trade certification and the floor price. If you’re paying more for Fair Trade coffee, you’re doing it wrong.</p>
<p><strong>Terrible Analogy</strong>: Otherwise, they’d just filter day-old coffee from the break room through the manager’s sock, call it something with “Nicaraguan” or “Colombian” in the name, and sell that to you</p>
<p><strong>“Fact” 3</strong>: Fair Trade Is Essentially a Marketing Organization</p>
<p><strong>Actual Fact</strong>: <em>Missing the forest for the trees edition</em> Yes, they do marketing, but what they’re marketing is coffee from growers whose marketing budget would otherwise be Sweet Fuck-All, growers who would otherwise get paid less, and have no marketing. Those bastards. They also work with <a href="http://www.fairtradeusa.org/fair_trade_for_all" target="_blank">everyone from the World Bank to small individual farmers to try and make their lives better</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Terrible Analogy (<em>Bonus Edition</em>)</strong>: that’s like Drew Rosenhaus collecting 50 bucks for every Terrell Owens jersey that gets sold —- This is the same relationship that Disney has with children.</p>
<p><strong>“Fact” 4</strong>:Growers Receive a Higher Percentage from Non-Fair Trade Coffee Sales</p>
<p><strong>Actual Fact: </strong>This “Fact” is not really wrong, it’s just nonsense. It cites a Finnish study (which you can’t read) that says that 12% of the revenue from Fair Trade Coffee goes back to the farmers, then in the very next sentence “ That is, none of that revenue […] was making it back to their countries in any way”, so according to new Cracked.com math 12% = 0. I’m pretty sure they’re just making shit up at this point because Cracked.com rules says pointless lists have to have more than 3 “facts”</p>
<p><strong>Terrible Analogy</strong>: the FLO is like KONY 2012 </p>
<p>And there you go. Better than any Cracked.com article, and actually true. </p>
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Silk — Interactive generative art2012-11-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/11/20/silk-interactive-generative-art<p>Too much fun</p>
<a href="http://new.weavesilk.com/">Silk — Interactive generative art</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/36138547021">Tumblr</a>
Will Routley: "The Article"2012-11-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/11/17/will-routley-the-article<p>Background on the absolutely amazing op-ed he wrote for the Vancouver Sun a few weeks ago. I didn’t even know I was following Will Routley on tumblr. </p>
<p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://willroutley.tumblr.com/post/35678998328" target="_blank">willroutley</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>By now it would be safe to say my article is sufficiently “out there.” In the days following it’s publication I was truly amazed at the response. It has been overwhelming how positive and supportive people have been.</p>
<p>When I wrote the article, my daily routine consisted of waking up to the sound…</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://willroutley.tumblr.com/post/35678998328">Will Routley: "The Article"</a>
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The Meters' Leo Nocentelli denied lodging for being black2012-10-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/10/22/the-meters-leo-nocentelli-denied-lodging-for-being<blockquote>
<p>Nocentelli went to the hotel with several of the musicians he is performing with. At the reservation desk the musicians were told, “We don’t take credit cards from those people. You have to pay in cash.” The police were called to the scene. The police have been called to the Travelodge Central for similar issues in the past.</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/the-meters-leo-nocentelli-denied-lodging-for-being-black">The Meters' Leo Nocentelli denied lodging for being black</a>
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Dick pound on Lance Armstrong2012-10-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/10/20/you-can-intimidate-some-of-the-people-all-of-theYou can intimidate some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.
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Surf’s up!2012-10-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/10/18/surfs-up<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc3snxf5qC1qdfvsoo1_1280.jpg">
<p>Surf’s up!</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/33847840603">Tumblr</a>
Good attitude2012-10-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/10/18/life-is-much-more-fun-for-me-when-i-give-up-tryingLife is much more fun for me when I give up trying to win any argument, but instead just take pleasure in expressing myself as clearly as I can.
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breakcorechoirboy: So a friend of mine pitched down the sound of a baby crying and 2012-10-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/10/15/breakcorechoirboy-so-a-friend-of-mine-pitched<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://assets.tumblr.com/swf/audio_player.swf?audio_file=http://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/folkwolf/33651151469/tumblr_mbp3qfcqKp1rukfpq&color=FFFFFF" height="27" width="207" quality="best" wmode="opaque"></embed>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/33651151469">Tumblr</a>
Reason #432 I ride my bike. K&P Rail trail near Bur Brook Rd near Kingston, Ontario2012-10-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/10/08/reason-432-i-ride-my-bike-k-p-rail-trail-near<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbl0cyGAzm1qdfvsoo1_1280.jpg">
<p>Reason #432 I ride my bike. K&P Rail trail near Bur Brook Rd near Kingston, Ontario</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/33163942628">Tumblr</a>
Paul Kimmage: ‘UCI just want to shut me up’ | Latest News | Cycling Weekly2012-09-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/09/28/my-intention-would-be-to-fill-a-boeing-747-fullMy intention would be to fill a Boeing 747 full of people, but that won’t actually be enough, in terms of people who’ve been disenfranchised and have witnessed how badly the sport’s been run firsthand.
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/32470785648">Tumblr</a>
Less hockey, but look—more Bettman! - Scott Feschuk - Macleans.ca2012-09-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/09/28/less-hockey-but-look-more-bettman-scott-feschuk<a href="http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/09/28/less-hockey-but-look-more-bettman/">Less hockey, but look—more Bettman! - Scott Feschuk - Macleans.ca</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/32466273292">Tumblr</a>
The art of the metaphor - Jane Hirshfield (by TEDEducation)2012-09-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/09/25/the-art-of-the-metaphor-jane-hirshfield-by<iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/A0edKgL9EgM?fs=1&feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/32264004035">Tumblr</a>
An Oral History of Burning Man, the Biggest, Weirdest, Most Clothing-Optional Desert Carnival on the Planet - Page 1 | Events | OutsideOnline.com2012-09-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/09/25/an-oral-history-of-burning-man-the-biggest-weirdest<a href="http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/events/Hot-Mess.html?page=1">An Oral History of Burning Man, the Biggest, Weirdest, Most Clothing-Optional Desert Carnival on the Planet - Page 1 | Events | OutsideOnline.com</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/32269387929">Tumblr</a>
Romney defines “middle income” as $200,000-$250,000 and less - Salon.com2012-09-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/09/14/romney-defines-middle-income-as-200-000-250-000-and<p>Un-fucking-believable. All I got on this one…</p>
<a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/09/14/mitt_romney_defines_middle_income_as_200_250000/">Romney defines “middle income” as $200,000-$250,000 and less - Salon.com</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/31529022227">Tumblr</a>
Social Media Junkie2012-09-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/09/11/social-media-junkie<p>I’ve joined YASN, called Zurker, if anyone wants in on the beta http://www.zurker.ca/i-372123-qsplooeowi</p>
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Clinton’s speech: Yep, it was that good - Blog Central, Feschuk on the famous, U.S. Politics - Macleans.ca2012-09-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/09/07/if-i-can-generalize-and-im-pretty-sure-i-canIf I can generalize – and I’m pretty sure I can – Democrats tend to be more dynamic and genuinely excited than their Republican counterparts when it comes to speaking in front of a crowd. They see speechmaking as a pastime akin to their sex lives: something to enjoy, to throw themselves into with abandon, to work with purpose towards a memorable moment. Whereas Republicans see speechmaking as a pastime akin to, well, to their sex lives: something to do while staring at a screen for three minutes and feeling ashamed.
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YourOttawaRegion Article: From Kanata to Ottawa by bicycle2012-08-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/08/13/yourottawaregion-article-from-kanata-to-ottawa-by<p>The 2nd half of this is the result of an interview with yours truly</p>
<a href="http://www.yourottawaregion.com/community/article/1463941--from-kanata-to-ottawa-by-bicycle">YourOttawaRegion Article: From Kanata to Ottawa by bicycle</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/29336345845">Tumblr</a>
The Last Will and Testament of Silverdene Emblem O'Neill2012-07-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/07/25/new-post
<p>I, SILVERDENE EMBLEM O’NEILL (familiarly known to my family, friends, and acquaintances as Blemie), because the burden of my years and infirmities is heavy upon me, and I realize the end of my life is near, do hereby bury my last will and testament in the mind of my Master. He will not know it is there until after I am dead. Then, remembering me in his loneliness, he will suddenly know of this testament, and I ask him then to inscribe it as a memorial to me.
I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their days hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep worrying about how to keep the objects they have, and to obtain the objects they have not. There is nothing of value I have to bequeath except my love and my faith. These I leave to all those who have loved me, to my Master and Mistress, who I know will mourn me most, to Freeman who has been so good to me, to Cyn and Roy and Willie and Naomi and – But if I should list all those who have loved me, it would force my Master to write a book. Perhaps it is vain of me to boast when I am so near death, which returns all beasts and vanities to dust, but I have always been an extremely lovable dog.</p>
<p>I ask my Master and Mistress to remember me always, but not to grieve for me too long. In my life I have tried to be a comfort to them in time of sorrow, and a reason for added joy in their happiness. It is painful for me to think that even in death I should cause them pain. Let them remember that while no dog has ever had a happier life (and this I owe to their love and care for me), now that I have grown blind and deaf and lame, and even my sense of smell fails me so that a rabbit could be right under my nose and I might not know, my pride has sunk to a sick, bewildered humiliation. I feel life is taunting me with having over-lingered my welcome. It is time I said good-bye, before I become too sick a burden on myself and on those who love me. It will be sorrow to leave them, but not a sorrow to die. Dogs do not fear death as men do. We accept it as part of life, not as something alien and terrible which destroys life. What may come after death, who knows? I would like to believe with those of my fellow Dalmatians who are devout Mohammedans, that there is a Paradise where one is always young and full-bladdered; where all the day one dillies and dallies with an amorous multitude of houris, beautifully spotted; where jack rabbits that run fast but not too fast (like the houris) are as the sands of the desert; where each blissful hour is mealtime; where in long evenings there are a million fireplaces with logs forever burning, and one curls oneself up and blinks into the flames and nods and dreams, remembering the old brave days on earth, and the love of one’s Master and Mistress.</p>
<p>I am afraid this is too much for even such a dog as I am to expect. But peace, at least, is certain. Peace and long rest for weary old heart and head and limbs, and eternal sleep in the earth I have loved so well. Perhaps, after all, this is best.</p>
<p>One last request I earnestly make. I have heard my Mistress say, “When Blemie dies we must never have another dog. I love him so much I could never love another one.” Now I would ask her, for love of me, to have another. It would be a poor tribute to my memory never to have a dog again. What I would like to feel is that, having once had me in the family, now she cannot live without a dog! I have never had a narrow jealous spirit. I have always held that most dogs are good (and one cat, the black one I have permitted to share the living room rug during the evenings, whose affection I have tolerated in a kindly spirit, and in rare sentimental moods, even reciprocated a trifle). Some dogs, of course, are better than others. Dalmatians, naturally, as everyone knows, are best. So I suggest a Dalmatian as my successor. He can hardly be as well bred or as well mannered or as distinguished and handsome as I was in my prime. My Master and Mistress must not ask the impossible. But he will do his best, I am sure, and even his inevitable defects will help by comparison to keep my memory green. To him I bequeath my collar and leash and my overcoat and raincoat, made to order in 1929 at Hermes in Paris. He can never wear them with the distinction I did, walking around the Place Vendôme, or later along Park Avenue, all eyes fixed on me in admiration; but again I am sure he will do his utmost not to appear a mere gauche provincial dog. Here on the ranch, he may prove himself quite worthy of comparison, in some respects. He will, I presume, come closer to jack rabbits than I have been able to in recent years. And for all his faults, I hereby wish him the happiness I know will be his in my old home.</p>
<p>One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: “Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved.” No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.</p>
Apartment Rentals in Lucca2012-07-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/07/25/apartment-rentals-in-lucca
<p><a href="http://www.luccaholidayhomes.it">Lucca Holiday homes</a></p>
inrng: Tyler Farrar, lanterne rousse. The American is last overall in the Tour de France, 2:37:16 behind Bradley Wiggins. But after 2402km it’s not a big margin. Cycling is one of the few sports that venerates losers. This is because it is relative. Farrar might be last but that means he’s struggling with injuries and misfortune that would overwhelm most. Consequently the last rider is often the bravest, fighting pain as well as the road. In the Tour de France the last rider is called the lanterne rouge or “red light”, as if they are the last wagon on a train. 2012-07-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/07/14/tyler-farrar-lanterne-rousse<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m761ty5jPo1ropreyo1_1280.jpg">
<p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://inrng.tumblr.com/post/27209805532/tyler-farrar-lanterne-rousse" target="_blank">inrng</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Tyler Farrar, lanterne rousse.</p>
<p>The American is last overall in the Tour de France, 2:37:16 behind Bradley Wiggins. But after 2402km it’s not a big margin.</p>
<p>Cycling is one of the few sports that venerates losers. This is because it is relative. Farrar might be last but that means he’s struggling with injuries and misfortune that would overwhelm most. Consequently the last rider is often the bravest, fighting pain as well as the road.</p>
<p>In the Tour de France the last rider is called the <em>lanterne rouge</em> or “red light”, as if they are the last wagon on a train.</p>
</blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/27210367088">Tumblr</a>
My rant on the NCC's peculiarly 1960s vision of urban planning2012-07-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/07/09/my-rant-on-the-nccs-peculiarly-1960s-vision-of-urban<p>I wrote this in response to a <a href="http://westsideaction.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/lifes-a-beach-even-downtown/#comment-4911" target="_blank">comment</a> by <a href="http://ottawabikeguy.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Ottawa Bike Guy</a> on Eric Darwin’s most excellent <a href="http://westsideaction.wordpress.com" target="_blank">West Side Action blog</a></p>
<p>Really? The best thing about Ottawa is the NCC Parks? Ottawa is thrice blessed by having three waterways run straight through it’s centre (4, if you count the Gatineau). Yet, with the terrible exceptions of the NAC’s Le Cafe (terribly expensive), and the Canal Ritz (just awful), there is nothing. Absolutely nothing.</p>
<p>Every other city that is similarly blessed has vibrant waterfront promenades that are enlivened by patios, shops, restaurants, promenades, and life! What do we get? Parks. Miles and miles of parks.</p>
<p>To add insult to that particular injury, these are not nice parks, they’re not the secluded hideaways from urban life that parks should be. No, they have stupid “Parkways” running through them. The intent was to have people be able to do scenic Sunday drives on them. If there was ever an idea that is both backwards and stupid, that’s it.</p>
<p>Those “Parkways” have become yet another way for drivers to get from point A to point B 5 seconds faster than some other useless road. Even the proprietor here calls the Ottawa River Parkway, the Ottawa River Commuter Expressway. Nobody’s done a “Scenic Drive on them since about 10 minutes after they ripped out the trees and laid asphalt down.</p>
<p>“But,” you say “what about the greenbelt?” To which I respond, “Oh, you mean those farms that were meant to reign in urban sprawl?” from my desk in Kanata. Yeah, that was a HUGE success. Now we’re ripping up ecologically sensitive forests, and much needed farmland outside of the city limits, so that the NCC can play landlord, badly I might add, to a bunch of ignorant city people who want to run a farm downtown.</p>
<p>But, you’re absolutely right. Kingsmere and Gatineau park was a good idea.</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE</strong>: <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/DenVan" target="_blank">Dennis Van Staalduinen</a> also tried to defend the NCC, and earned my wrath </p>
<p>“Real public space”, like Lebreton Flats (moonscape), or Moffat Farm(suburban subdivision), or The Daly building (condos), or Sparks St (No comment necessary, really)? Really the successes of the NCC almost seem like accidents compared to the astounding failures we see around us every day.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the NCC. I’m able to bike 24 kms to work almost exclusively on NCC pathways from downtown to Kanata, but every time I travel to another city, I see the shortcomings of Ottawa, and when I see more of the same old bureaucratic nonsense here, I just want to weep.</p>
<p>Parks especially make me turn into URBAN PLANNING HULK! In Ottawa, the default solution for any urban planning problem seems to be “More Parks! We should put a park there”, even though Ottawa already has a ton of parks, and they’re all terrible.</p>
<p>Prospect Park and Central Park in NYC, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Hyde Park in London, Villa Borghese and Villa Ada in Rome. Those are parks. What has the NCC got? Major’s Hill? The Garden of the Provinces? Useless. Absolutely useless.</p>
<p>Along my daily commute there are vast areas which *could* be nice, except for the huge four lane expressway running through it. Oddly enough, the nicest area, and the area where I usually stop if I’m so inclined is the city-run Britannia park.</p>
<p>Even Gatineau Park pales in comparison to the GGNRA, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.</p>
<p>The NCC has been screwing up for 50 or 60 years now. Why do we keep banging our head up against that wall, hoping for them to do something right for once?</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/26840457231">Tumblr</a>
Folkwolf Status Update2012-07-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/07/06/folkwolf-status-update<p><em><strong>UPDATE: </strong></em>The resize is now complete and everything should be running as normal.</p>
<p>Those that use the folkwolf have forced me to take drastic measures, and move the folkwolf from a super-cheap rackspace instance to a slightly less super-cheap rackspace instance.</p>
<p>Double the RAM and disk-space. It’s migrating over now so it’ll be down for a while. Not sure how long but I wouldn’t touch it for an hour or two</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/26637726658">Tumblr</a>
Maybe I should just run Janice Kennedy over with a semi trailer2012-06-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/06/30/maybe-i-should-just-run-janice-kennedy-over-with-a-semi<p>It would serve her right for trying to take over the road with her wimpy automobile, when the road is clearly designed for cargo vehicles. Physics wins every time.</p>
<a href="http://theincidentalcyclist.blogspot.ca/2012/06/physics-eternal-enemy-no-really.html">Maybe I should just run Janice Kennedy over with a semi trailer</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/26236917097">Tumblr</a>
Trek World Racing DH || Aaron Gwin training run Fort William (by trekworldracing)2012-06-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/06/25/trek-world-racing-dh-aaron-gwin-training-run<iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bUd0cPLgcM4?fs=1&feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/25852201284">Tumblr</a>
These are as good a set of rules for moderating as any other.2012-06-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/06/22/these-are-as-good-a-set-of-rules-for-moderating-as-any<p>Lately though we’ve adopted some totally random rules to cut down on the sheer volume. If your IP address has “23″ in it we immediately delete w/o reading. If your wordpress handle has “girl” or “free” or “media” or “Tech” we delete immediately. If you start with foul language or are extra angry we delete. Unless of course we want you to look stupid then we publish your comments. Today we searched for all comments that contained the words “market” “zero” or ”marginal” and bulk deleted. This was specifically cause we don’t really want to explain that fixed costs really do matter and no matter what you heard from some idiot on the internet. If you play bass we delete. Also “”McPherson”: bulk delete. The use of the words “consumer” , “ointment” , “dude”, “gatekeepers” and “dubstep” also resulted in a fair number of deletions. We are only joking about some of this. If you feel that this somehow infringes your freedom you have the whole free internet out there to express we’ve infringed your freedom.</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/25658942854">Tumblr</a>
Henry Ford on Bootstrapping, Funding, & Going Public « Unicornfree2012-06-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/06/11/either-henry-ford-is-a-time-traveling-superEither Henry Ford is a time-traveling super startup spy… or nothing ever fucking changes, just every generation believes it came up with something new.
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/24854015468">Tumblr</a>
Go Ryder2012-05-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/05/27/go-ryder<p><em><strong><br/></strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>UPDATE: </strong></em>Ryder has been selected not only to be on the TdF team but to lead the team in the fight for the overall. I give him a good chance to podium and beat Steven Bauer’s record 4th place.</p>
<p><em><strong>This is what I wrote last July on Ryder</strong></em></p>
<p><span>All year long, I’ve been watching (as Phil Leggett would put it), “a certain Canadian rider”. I watched him perform really well in all the great spring classics.</span><br/><br/><span>I fully expected him to finish somewhere in the lower half of the Tour, not because he couldn’t do well, but because I knew he would go balls-out to help Christian Vande Velde win, and he would spend the first parts of each stage at the front, and then the last part at the back, exhausted, just trying to make it home after putting in a Herculean effort to help VDV. </span><br/><br/><span>When VDV crashed out of the tour, I saw a slight hope of glory for Ryder. The next day was the cobbles stage, and I’d seen Ryder fly over the pave in races like Paris-Roubaix, I knew that while the rest of the tour, including all of the other classics specialists, would be doing whatever they could to shepherd their respective team leads through the pave stages, and that would leave Ryder free to go out with the break-away, and then power over the last 30 - 50k and see who could hang on.</span><br/><br/><span>For the first 100k of the stage, it went exactly as I dreamed. He got into the break and got a substantial lead, and left the rest of the break to solo to the finish. Unfortunately, the Saxo and Cervelo teams had other ideas, and two of the strongest Classics racers in the world (Cancellara, who had beaten the best of the cobbles riders in an amazing solo break just a few months prior, and Thor Hushovd, who had won two previous editions of Paris-Roubaix). When I saw those two towing Andy Schleck up, I repeated “Go Ryder” over and over again for the last 20k of that stage, like it was my own personal mantra. I knew it was going to be a nail-biter.</span><br/><br/><span>It was. Ryder finished 5th on that day, and the best hope of a stage win for Garmin went out the window. But the silver lining on that cloud was that Ryder had gained a bunch of time on the rest of the field, and, if he could just hold on, he could, I figured, hold on to a high overall place in the race through the Alps.</span><br/><br/><span>It was a slim hope, the Tour has the best riders in the world, all tuning their form up for this three week period. It’s got hellacious hills, that riders climb at insane speeds. Ryder’s a climber, but he’s a big guy, and he has an extra 5-10 kg over pure climbers to drag over those cols. All I could think was, if he can find the big group of elite climbers, and just hang on the back for as long as possible, he’ll be the best Canadian finish in 22 years. And he was. </span><br/><br/><span>Garmin was outstanding. They didn’t seem to be able to help him much on the climbs themselves, but he was always in the first 20-30 riders up the climbs, and he never had to try and bridge any gaps on the early climbs, and he was always in the mix on the climbs. Through the alps he rode his own pace, and managed to find other climbers that were going the same pace. The amazing thing was the riders that he managed to stay with: past tour winners like Sastre, mountain goats like Joaquin Rodriguez, tour heavyweights like Denis Menchov, and Andreas Kloden. The creme-de-la-creme of Tour riders. Every day through the Alps, he found his pace, and he managed to stay with some of these guys.’</span><br/><br/><span>Even so, he wasn’t doing *that* great. On the stage into Mende, just before the Pyrenees, he was in another break that came up against the desires of the Astana team, who drove the main pack fiercely to put their team leader on the top of the hill overlooking the town of Mende on top. Ryder, who had been in the break all day, couldn’t stay with the pack up the short fierce final climb.</span><br/><br/><span>Still. He was in 13th place, and he could even lose big chunks of time in the Pyrenees and keep a top-20 finish, which, in the Tour de France, is something that other riders have built entire careers around.</span><br/><br/><span>Going into the Pyrenees was tense. He hadn’t done that well through the Alps, and the stage into Mende had obviously put him on the rivet. I was nervous. What made it worse was constantly searching for him in the peloton, especially in the stages through the Alps. He was still an also-ran, and Phil and Paul *never* mentioned him. Liz and I spent the entire three weeks looking for the orange helmet poking up over the rest of the mountain goats. We’d shout excitedly when we saw him. “There’s Ryder! He’s still in it!” Meanwhile, Phil and Paul would be moaning over the abysmal performance of Lance Armstrong.</span><br/><br/><span>But every stage, into Ax-3-Domains, over the Port de Bales, over the toughest climbs in the Pyrenees, Ryder was right there, not sacrificing much time, and staying with the best riders in the Tour, climb after climb. Phil and Paul started out in wonderment “How is this big Canadian staying with the mountain masters?” they asked, after the stage into Ax-3-Domains, then, they started to mention him more, they would look for him in the leading groups, and mention him, using words like “Phenomenon” and “Surprise Talent”, and my favourite “Weight of a Nation”. He started getting post race interviews. It was wonderful. He moved up from 13th to 10th over those 3 stages.</span><br/><br/><span>Then, the Queen stage. The second ever mountain-top finish on the Tourmalet. Everybody expected a mano-a-mano duel between Contador and Schleck, and that’s what they got. My eyes were focussed behind, in the 2nd group on the road up the famous climb. A small group had formed including Tour giants like Menchov, Sami Sanchez, and Roman Kreuziger. They were the lucky few that could grab Contador and Schleck’s wheel for just a few pedal strokes, and they were constantly about a minute and a half behind. The entire climb was through a dense layer of clouds on the mountainside, and the TV cameras would only flash back occasionally to the 2nd group on the road. About 2 km from the top, I stopped seeing Ryder in the group he’d been all climb. “Oh Well,” I thought “He won’t lose that much time, and he’ll lose a couple of places, tops” It was still the best in over 20 years.</span><br/><br/><span>Contador and Schleck came in first, then they just had the camera going on the finish line. Joaquin Rodriguez finished about a minute back, and then about 30 seconds later, the camera zooms in on a figure emerging from the clouds near the finish line. “Menchov must have had good legs today” I thought. Then Liz said “Is that Ryder?!”, and I saw the distinctive orange helmet coming into view, and it was! Ryder had attacked all of the best mountain climbers in the biggest stage, in the biggest and best bike race in the world, and come in 4th. Not the best, but better than anyone had ever hoped for. That day alone jumped him up into 8th place overall.</span><br/><br/><span>The Tour de France is the biggest pressure-cooker. It only takes one bad day to lose the race entirely. The list of contenders who dropped far, far out of contention in one bad day is filled with champions like Lance Armstrong, Ivan Basso, and Cadel Evans, who, in the Alps went from 1st to 18th, and lost nearly 18 minutes. Nearly every stage was, for me, filled with trepidation. Would this be the day that Ryder started going backwards? The time trial (a.k.a, the race of truth) was no different. He had never performed spectacularly in a Grand Tour TT, and he didn’t in this one either, but the field ahead was full of mountain climbers, most of whom are notoriously bad at TTs. He managed to claw 2 minutes out of Joaquin Rodriguez and jump into 7th.</span><br/><br/><span>Most Canadians woke up to see him on their morning paper this morning. I can imagine them sitting back and reading the paper thinking “Huh. Seventh, eh? That’s not bad, I s’pose”</span><br/><br/><span>This is when I want to shake them up and say “Not Bad?! Not Bad! It’s fucking fantastic is what it is!” I considered myself one of the biggest Ryder fanbois in the entire world, and even I was prepared to be amazed if he finished in the double digits. Top ten was inconceivable.</span><br/><br/><span>Chapeau, Ryder, and chapeau, Garmin. Every year, you manage to surprise the world with a top-ten finish that no-one expected. </span><br/><br/><span>Wiggins learns too late who is Wigan, and who is really Manchester.</span></p>
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inrng: Ryder Hesjedal holds the Canadian flag on the podium of the 2012 Giro d’Italia. Note the ice hockey stick that was used as a flagpole.2012-05-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/05/27/giro-hesjedal<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4p54dSlXP1ropreyo1_1280.jpg">
<p><a href="http://inrng.tumblr.com/post/23879358891/giro-hesjedal" class="tumblr_blog" target="_blank">inrng</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>Ryder Hesjedal holds the Canadian flag on the podium of the 2012 Giro d’Italia.</p>
<p>Note the ice hockey stick that was used as a flagpole.</p></blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/23882414114">Tumblr</a>
cyclocosm: “To race bicycles is to drink greedily from a bottomless chalice of agony” (from a piece on Hesjedal in last July’s Walrus Magazine) 2012-05-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/05/27/cyclocosm-to-race-bicycles-is-to-drink<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4nsfqgOt91qf2tsno1_500.jpg">
<p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://cyclocosm.tumblr.com/post/23867038334/to-race-bicycles-is-to-drink-greedily-from-a" target="_blank">cyclocosm</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>“To race bicycles is to drink greedily from a bottomless chalice of agony”</span></p>
<p><span>(from <a href="http://walrusmagazine.com/articles/2011.07-sports-the-pain-principle/" target="_blank">a piece on Hesjedal</a> in last July’s <em>Walrus Magazine</em>)</span></p>
</blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/23870872089">Tumblr</a>
cyclocosm: keirp: Ryder Hesjedal just won the Giro. Back when. Nice Jersey! My local club jersey2012-05-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/05/27/cyclocosm-keirp-ryder-hesjedal-just-won-the<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4ov8w4YmH1qzxofno1_1280.jpg">
<p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://cyclocosm.tumblr.com/post/23866811298/keirp-ryder-hesjedal-just-won-the-giro-back" target="_blank">cyclocosm</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://keirplaice.com/post/23866669627/ryder-hesjedal-just-won-the-giro" target="_blank">keirp</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Ryder Hesjedal just won the Giro.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Back when. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Nice Jersey! My local club jersey</p>
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President Obama in North Carolina today on why Congress has to act to prevent interest rates on student loans from doubling (via barackobama)2012-04-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/04/25/for-the-first-eight-years-of-our-marriageFor the first eight years of our marriage, [Michelle and I] were paying more in student loans than what we were paying for our mortgage. So we know what this is about. <br/><br/>
And we were lucky to land good jobs with a steady income. But we only finished paying off our student loans—check this out, all right, I’m the President of the United States—we only finished paying off our student loans about eight years ago.
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Clara Hughes explains how Cycling is a team sport.2012-04-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/04/20/clara-hughes-explains-how-cycling-is-a-team-sport<p>Clara Hughes is awesome. She inspired me to take up Speed Skating, and is also an amazing writer and an inspiring all-round person. When she puts up a piece of writing, I have high expectations, and they’re always met or surpassed.</p>
<p>This time, she blew my expectations away. When I say to people that cycling is a team sport, people often look at me like I have two heads. I try and explain tactics, and effort, and drafting, and it all falls apart, and people just shake their head, and walk away, unenlightened.</p>
<p>With one simple anecdote, she explains beautifully how and why she went on the attack in Fleche Wallonne, and how that helped Evie Stevens win the race. With typical modesty, she doesn’t mention that Marianne Vos had to chase her because she could easily have won and Vos knew it.</p>
<a href="http://clara-hughes.com/scared-shitless-in-belgium-winning-fleche-wallonne-as-a-team/">Clara Hughes explains how Cycling is a team sport.</a>
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An Open Letter to NHL Owners From a Hockey Parent | GeekDad | Wired.com2012-04-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/04/18/fighting-in-hockey-is-for-cowards-if-youre-suchFighting in hockey is for cowards. If you’re such a tough guy, get in a ring with someone. Forget ice, skates, pads. Get down to black shorts and box. Anything else is cheap, weak, and unworthy of whatever you call a sport.
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I love lawyer humour. Dry as an Oakland Martini2012-04-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/04/14/i-love-lawyer-humour-dry-as-an-oakland-martini<p>I note parenthetically that the Court did not comment on who may have abducted the Lindbergh baby. However, silence on such an issue does not suggest that the City or the Court condones kidnapping.</p>
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OMGPOP’s CEO Dan Porter: Goofus or Gallant? — Global Nerdy2012-04-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/04/10/if-youre-a-developer-who-hasnt-been-screwed-overif you’re a developer who hasn’t been screwed over by some stuffed shirt, you haven’t been in the industry long enough
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Great last 2 paras from @acoyne2012-04-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/04/05/great-last-2-paras-from-acoyne<p>His entire column is good, but the last 2 paragraphs are, or at least should be, a punch in the gut to anyone who thinks that Parliamentary processes are archaic niceties, or for that matter, that the Conservatives care about how taxpayer money is spent. </p>
<blockquote>
<p>Had Parliament been given the costing information it demanded, we might have been in a better position to judge who was right, the government or its critics — before the last election, not after. Remember, it was the government’s refusal to provide just this information that was, in part, the reason for the motion of no-confidence that precipitated the election.</p>
<p>So this is also what comes of Parliament’s prerogatives, its powers to hold ministers to account, being ignored or overridden. These aren’t procedural niceties, of concern only to constitutional law professors — “process issues,” as more than one member of the press gallery sneered at the time. They’re the vital bulwarks of self-government, the only means we have of ensuring our wishes are obeyed and our money isn’t wasted.</p>
</blockquote>
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Why does Katy Perry have fireworks shooting out of her … chest?2012-04-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/04/04/why-does-katy-perry-have-fireworks-shooting-out-ofhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw
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Gerlach sign shows civic pride, humor2012-04-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/04/03/gerlach-sign-shows-civic-pride-humor<p>Gerlach-ians are awesome</p>
<a href="http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012303250066">Gerlach sign shows civic pride, humor</a>
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Mike Daisey Is a Liar, and So Am I 2012-03-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/03/19/mike-daisey-is-a-liar-and-so-am-i<p>I’ve been trying to find the best story on the whole Daisey, <em>This American Life,</em> Apple, Foxconn debacle. I think this one takes the cake.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>The thing is, that these lies, these distortions, these fabrications, these untruths don’t make for a </span><em>better</em><span> story. They make for an </span><em>easier</em><span> one, a story with fewer thorns to swallow on the way down, a less complicated story.</span><span><br/><br/></span></p>
<p>Maybe I’m just suspicious of these “better” stories because to me, the best stories are the most complicated ones, the ones that refuse to resolve in easy ways. Those are the stories that are most true because resolution is something that always remains just beyond our grasp.</p>
<p>For example, the <em>TAL</em> story of the retraction of Mike Daisey’s is far more riveting that the original tale of Daisey’s trip to China, I promise.</p>
<p>But I think there’s a deeper truth here, a motivation that extends beyond the transparent B.S. that these lies are in the service of a higher calling.</p>
<p>What these lies invariably do to the stories is take the focus off the story itself, and place it on the storyteller.</p>
<p>Even before Daisey’s lies were exposed, his use of them served to make himself more central to the tale. The story is no longer about exploited workers, but about an intrepid and dogged Mike Daisey who cares so darn much he has to go and witness firsthand how his gadgets get made, and once there, connects so personally and profoundly with these workers, that only he can come back home and tell the story in a way that will change hearts and minds. Daisey isn’t in it for the money, but for the ego.</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/education-oronte-churm/mike-daisey-liar-and-so-am-i">Mike Daisey Is a Liar, and So Am I </a>
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The only way penguins fly (by JAWorthingtonRoth)2012-03-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/03/16/the-only-way-penguins-fly-by-jaworthingtonroth<iframe width="459" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XPFeGJuKYOw?fs=1&feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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the-o-dot: Big Box Mall Welcomes New "MileKelTana's" Restaurant To The Parking Lot2012-03-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/03/05/the-o-dot-big-box-mall-welcomes-new-milekeltanas<p>People ask me why I don’t move to Kanata. This is exhibit #1, a parody that is uncomfortably close to the truth</p>
<a href="http://www.theodot.com/2012/03/big-box-mall-welcomes-new-milekeltanas.html?spref=tw">the-o-dot: Big Box Mall Welcomes New "MileKelTana's" Restaurant To The Parking Lot</a>
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Andrew Breitbart, 1969-2012—David Frum - The Daily Beast2012-03-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/03/02/andrew-breitbart-1969-2012-david-frum-the-daily<blockquote>
<p>Many of our most important public figures have gained their influence and power by inciting and exploiting the ugliest of passions—by manipulating fears and prejudices—by serving up falsehoods as reported truth. In time these figures will one by one die. What are we to say of this cohort, this group, this generation? That their mothers loved them? That their families are bereaved? That their fans admired them and their employees treated generously by them? Public figures are inescapably judged by their public actions. When those public actions are poisonous, the obituary cannot be pleasant reading.</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/01/andrew-breitbart-1969-2012.html">Andrew Breitbart, 1969-2012—David Frum - The Daily Beast</a>
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This is why you should always use a DOT approved gasoline container.2012-02-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/29/this-is-why-you-should-always-use-a-dot-approved<p>NC man accidentally drinks from jar of gasoline, smokes cigarette, causes fire that kills him - The Washington Pos</p>
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/nc-man-accidentally-drinks-from-jar-of-gasoline-smokes-cigarette-causes-fire-that-kills-him/2012/02/28/gIQAPC3rgR_story.html">This is why you should always use a DOT approved gasoline container.</a>
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jessicavalenti: My new favorite politician. Oklahoma Senator Judy Eason McIntyre holds a sign at a pro-choice rally yesterday that reads, “If I wanted the government in my womb, I’d fuck a Senator.” (It’s too bad, though, that the mainstream press seems focused on this particular sign rather than the fact that so many people came out to protest the awful personhood bill. 2012-02-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/29/jessicavalenti-my-new-favorite<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m05zeyclxb1qaqasro1_1280.jpg">
<p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://jessicavalenti.tumblr.com/post/18498605151/my-new-favorite-politician-oklahoma-senator-judy" target="_blank">jessicavalenti</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>My new favorite politician. Oklahoma Senator <a href="http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/biographies/eason_mcintyre_bio.html" target="_blank">Judy Eason McIntyre</a> holds a sign at a pro-choice rally yesterday <a href="http://newsok.com/article/3653186" target="_blank">that reads</a>,<strong> “If I wanted the government in my womb, I’d fuck a Senator.”</strong> (It’s too bad, though, that the mainstream press seems <a href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=336&articleid=20120229_16_A1_CUTLIN534240&allcom=1" target="_blank">focused on this particular sign</a> rather than the fact that so many people <a href="http://www.oudaily.com/news/2012/feb/29/oklahomans-rally-capitol-protest-personhood-legisl/" target="_blank">came out</a> to protest the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/us-oklahoma-personhood-idUSTRE81F0ES20120216" target="_blank">awful personhood bill.</a></p>
</blockquote>
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gmancasefile: TSA: Fail2012-02-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/29/gmancasefile-tsa-fail<blockquote>
<p>Frankly, the professional experience I have had with TSA has frightened me. Once, when approaching screening for a flight on official FBI business, I showed my badge as I had done for decades in order to bypass screening. (You can be envious, but remember, I was one less person in line.) I was asked for my form which showed that I was armed. I was unarmed on this flight because my ultimate destination was a foreign country. I was told, “Then you have to be screened.” This logic startled me, so I asked, “If I tell you I have a high-powered weapon, you will let me bypass screening, but if I tell you I’m unarmed, then I have to be screened?” The answer? “Yes. Exactly.” Another time, I was bypassing screening (again on official FBI business) with my .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a TSA officer noticed the clip of my pocket knife. “You can’t bring a knife on board,” he said. I looked at him incredulously and asked, “The semi-automatic pistol is okay, but you don’t trust me with a knife?” His response was equal parts predictable and frightening, “But knives are not allowed on the planes.”</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://gmancasefile.blogspot.com/2012/01/tsa-fail.html">gmancasefile: TSA: Fail</a>
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A painful shot to Google’s private parts - Scott Feschuk2012-02-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/27/a-painful-shot-to-googles-private-parts-scott<blockquote>
<p>Summer 2014: In the span of a few months, the informal but long-standing Google corporate motto—“Don’t Be Evil”—will be subtly tweaked to “Don’t Be Too Evil,” “Don’t Be Always Evil” and, finally, “MWAHAHAHA!”</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/02/06/a-painful-shot-to-googles-private-parts/">A painful shot to Google’s private parts - Scott Feschuk</a>
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What Bike Racing Taught Me About Driving 2012-02-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/24/what-bike-racing-taught-me-about-driving<p>I especially like:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Or maybe it’s because I’ve lost enthusiasm for cars and now revel in frustrating motorists by obeying the speed limit and coming to complete stops at stop signs.</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://bicycling.com/blogs/ramblingman/2012/02/23/what-bike-racing-taught-me-about-driving/?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-Bicycling-_-Content-Blog-_-RM-driving">What Bike Racing Taught Me About Driving </a>
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We’re about to lead the G8 in ‘cuddly’ - Scott Feschuk2012-02-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/22/were-about-to-lead-the-g8-in-cuddly-scott-feschuk<p>Scott Feschuk is awesome. ’nuff said</p>
<a href="http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/02/20/were-about-to-lead-the-g8-in-cuddly/">We’re about to lead the G8 in ‘cuddly’ - Scott Feschuk</a>
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Burning Man, Disney-fied.2012-02-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/22/burning-man-disney-fied<p>Reading more stuff based on <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/17961765196/the-jumping-shark-seems-like-a-fitting-epilogue" target="_blank">this story</a> I got the following links from a fellow burner</p>
<p><a href="http://www.taryncoxthewife.com/?p=9769" target="_blank">http://www.taryncoxthewife.com/?p=9769</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.notesonaparty.com/index.php/2011/09/23/krugs-desert-dinner-party/" target="_blank">http://www.notesonaparty.com/index.php/2011/09/23/krugs-desert-dinner-party/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.silkstonenyc.com/category/food/" target="_blank">http://www.silkstonenyc.com/category/food/</a></p>
<p>I can’t get over my absolute horror. I’ve worked hard on multiple installations over the years (my absolute fave is, of course, Matisse’s FSG), and the fact that there are people who think that an invite-only Krug-sponsored party is in any way representative of Burning Man really makes me want to puke all over my shoes. The fact that I, and a lot of other people worked our asses off for the enjoyment of some spoiled uber Sparkle Ponies makes me want to projectile vomit into the next county</p>
<div></div>
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The jumping shark seems like a fitting epilogue.2012-02-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/20/the-jumping-shark-seems-like-a-fitting-epilogue<a href="http://andihatchblog.com/featured/featured-town-country-november-2011/">The jumping shark seems like a fitting epilogue.</a>
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Nailed it!2012-02-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/20/nailed-it<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzplx5p4YL1qdfvsoo1_250.jpg">
<p>Nailed it!</p>
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Best mashup ever noiselyta: Five Step, a mashup of 15 Step by Radiohead and Take Five by Dave Brubeck. 2012-02-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/20/best-mashup-ever-noiselyta-five-step-a-mashuphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYa7furgQsA
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Apparatus for Facilitating the Birth of a Child by Centrifugal Force (Issued 1965)2012-02-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/18/apparatus-for-facilitating-the-birth-of-a-child-by<p>We’re going through all the Prenatal classes now, but I wouldn’t need them if this patent were implemented. Plus, wheeee!</p>
<a href="http://www.joeydevilla.com/2012/02/17/patent-of-the-day-apparatus-for-facilitating-the-birth-of-a-child-by-centrifugal-force-issued-1965/">Apparatus for Facilitating the Birth of a Child by Centrifugal Force (Issued 1965)</a>
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Jay Michaelson: The Truth About Burning Man2012-02-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/15/of-course-we-dont-hear-about-these-other-peopleOf course, we don’t hear about these other people, which, to me, says more about the puerility of the default world than the sexuality of Black Rock City. It’s as if radical self expression is boring, but if it means naked people on drugs, then it’s titillating, easy to condemn — and also comprehensible. Oh, I get it. You don’t get it.
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From “Animals that do people things”2012-02-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/15/from-animals-that-do-people-things<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz57v2Ebz41qhsuv2o1_500.jpg">
<p>From “Animals that do people things”</p>
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Bon Iver and the Roots2012-02-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/09/bon-iver-and-the-roots<iframe id="NBC Video Widget" width="512" height="347" src="http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/widget/widget.html?vid=1384071" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/17334579918">Tumblr</a>
Vermont Inmates Hide Image Of Pig On Police Decals : The Two-Way : NPR2012-02-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/08/vermont-inmates-hide-image-of-pig-on-police-decals<p>HAHAHA. Pigs.</p>
<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/02/03/146358114/vermont-inmates-hide-image-of-pig-on-police-decals">Vermont Inmates Hide Image Of Pig On Police Decals : The Two-Way : NPR</a>
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The jaw drops...2012-02-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/06/the-jaw-drops<p>In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Discount Gun Sales is proud to team up with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to offer the Walther P-22 Hope Edition. A portion of the proceeds for every P-22 Hope Edition sold will be donated to the Seattle Branch of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.</p>
<p><img height="350" src="http://www.discountgunsales.com/images/P/Walther%20P22%20Hope%20Edition.jpg" width="350"/></p>
<a href="http://www.discountgunsales.com/walther-p-22-hope-edition-34-pr-5575.html">The jaw drops...</a>
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fascinated: How to report the news by the BBC. Pleasantly literal (via Alex) 2012-02-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/06/fascinated-how-to-report-the-news-by-the-bbc<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YtGSXMuWMR4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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“Mediocre Guitar Player” Magazine2012-02-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/04/mediocre-guitar-player-magazine<a href="http://www.joeydevilla.com/2012/02/02/mediocre-guitar-player-magazine/">“Mediocre Guitar Player” Magazine</a>
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Let's take a hike, or, why software estimations are always wrong2012-02-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/04/lets-take-a-hike-or-why-software-estimations-are<a href="http://www.quora.com/Engineering-Management/Why-are-software-development-task-estimations-regularly-off-by-a-factor-of-2-3/answer/Michael-Wolfe">Let's take a hike, or, why software estimations are always wrong</a>
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10 years of Folkwolf.net2012-02-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/02/04/10-years-of-folkwolf-net<p>I started blogging long before the term was well-known and <a href="http://www.barneystinsonblog.com/" target="_blank">on TV</a>. It all grew out of my desire to share stuff I found online with my friends. It started out as plain html, just prepending stuff to a page and trying to add the date. Since then, it’s progressed from a database-backed PHP site (wordpress), to a full on ruby on rails, to a hosted site (tumblr), and now I’m back to, pretty much, plain HTML (tho with some tech on the backend)</p>
<p>I’ve consistently broken all the rules for blogging, like “focus on one topic” or “post daily” and 10 years later, I still have 0 followers.</p>
<p>Most of my early posts are gone in an HD crash from about 9 years ago, but I’m shocked how many I was able to suck out of various blog engines and hosted sites.</p>
<p>The formatting sucks, and there’s a lot of weird character translations, but, a good chunk of my life, both online and off is on this page</p>
<a href="http://mattrose.github.com/">10 years of Folkwolf.net</a>
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two of @lizmcdermott’s favourite things. Dogs and Star Wars2012-01-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/01/19/two-of-lizmcdermotts-favourite-things-dogs-and<iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6ntDYjS0Y3w?fs=1&feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/16133483586">Tumblr</a>
The “I Didn’t See the Cyclist” Defense | Road Rights | Bicycling.com2012-01-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/01/19/five-cyclists-set-out-on-a-morning-ride-fromFive cyclists set out on a morning ride from Kanata, Ontario to Pakenham and back. Three miles into their ride, Luangpakham drifted into the bicycle lane. He hit one of the cyclists. And then another. And another. And another. And another. He hit all five cyclists, and continued driving. Luangpakham’s excuse? He thought he had hit a pole.
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The only way to play guitar (by spassfull)2012-01-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/01/16/the-only-way-to-play-guitar-by-spassfull<iframe width="459" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/v9qE-qXI11I?fs=1&feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Sorry, World. We fucked up.2012-01-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/01/13/sorry-world-we-fucked-up<a href="http://sorryworld.ca/">Sorry, World. We fucked up.</a>
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Shark Song (by Whitehouse Content)2012-01-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/01/11/shark-song-by-whitehouse-content <iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/32174063" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>
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Obama Openly Asks Nation Why On Earth He Would Want To Serve For Another Term | The Onion - America's Finest News Source2012-01-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/01/11/obama-openly-asks-nation-why-on-earth-he-would-want-to<a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/obama-openly-asks-nation-why-on-earth-he-would-wan,26933/">Obama Openly Asks Nation Why On Earth He Would Want To Serve For Another Term | The Onion - America's Finest News Source</a>
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Churchill LRT ticket machines will sniff out terrorist threats2012-01-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/01/11/churchill-lrt-ticket-machines-will-sniff-out-terrorist<p>Who the fuck is gonna bomb Edmonton? Well, other than Wiebo Ludwig…</p>
<a href="http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Churchill ticket machines will sniff terrorist threats/5975839/story.html">Churchill LRT ticket machines will sniff out terrorist threats</a>
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All Of Area Man's Hard Work Finally Pays Off For Employer | The Onion - America's Finest News Source2012-01-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/01/11/all-of-area-mans-hard-work-finally-pays-off-for<a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/all-of-area-mans-hard-work-finally-pays-off-for-em,26957/">All Of Area Man's Hard Work Finally Pays Off For Employer | The Onion - America's Finest News Source</a>
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Cheaper than Free « Bandcamp2012-01-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2012/01/04/cheaper-than-free-bandcamp<p>Last month I got in a conversation with @advincent and a few others at a bar over the sad state of for pay online music. I still think that bandcamp are the ones that are trying the hardest to make online music work for both musicians and the general public</p>
<a href="http://blog.bandcamp.com/2012/01/03/cheaper-than-free/">Cheaper than Free « Bandcamp</a>
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[M]etabrain [E]ntry [L]og » Blog Archive » Cloud computing is like a laundromat or a big office printer2011-12-31T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/31/m-etabrain-e-ntry-l-og-blog-archive-cloud<p>Good analogy.</p>
<a href="http://blog.melchua.com/2011/12/31/cloud-computing-is-like-a-laundromat-or-a-big-office-printer/">[M]etabrain [E]ntry [L]og » Blog Archive » Cloud computing is like a laundromat or a big office printer</a>
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“The Pain Principle” 2011-12-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/30/the-pain-principle<p>This is an article about Canada’s best athlete. It’s someone you never heard of.</p>
<a href="http://www.walrusmagazine.com/articles/2011.07-sports-the-pain-principle/1/">“The Pain Principle” </a>
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What is up with Noises? (The Science and Mathematics of Sound, Frequency, and Pitch) (by Vihart)2011-12-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/29/what-is-up-with-noises-the-science-and<iframe width="459" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/i_0DXxNeaQ0?fs=1&feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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The War Against Christmas2011-12-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/29/the-war-against-christmas<p><img height="1004" src="http://theinspirationgrid.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/520d-photography.jpg" width="530"/></p>
<a href="http://theinspirationgrid.com/?p=3793">The War Against Christmas</a>
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Jens Voigt Gives a Gift on Alpe d’Huez | Hardly Serious with Jens Voigt | Bicycling.com2011-12-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/29/at-that-point-i-just-decided-to-stop-my-bike-turnAt that point I just decided to stop my bike, turn around and start rolling down the hill again. All these people on the side of the road are watching me in awe and silence. They were probably asking themselves, “Is Jens going to abandon? Is he injured? Why is he turning around in the final of a mountain stage?” But I was just looking for that man who tackled that little boy. All this time, the crowd remained silent, waiting for would happen next. Finally, I saw the guy and stopped in from of him and just pointed at his bag and told him that the bottle he grabbed was for this kid standing next to him. Of course at that point he hands over that bottle
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North Wapiti Blog: Not A Creature Was Stirring...2011-12-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/25/north-wapiti-blog-not-a-creature-was-stirring<p>for @sugardogsco</p>
<a href="http://northwapiti.blogspot.com/2011/12/not-creature-was-stirring.html">North Wapiti Blog: Not A Creature Was Stirring...</a>
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doing well by doing right2011-12-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/23/doing-well-by-doing-right<p>Louis CK made $1m in 12days. In the spirit of him I have two words. Holy Fuck!</p>
<a href="https://buy.louisck.net/news">doing well by doing right</a>
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Joseph Stiglitz: “A Banking System is Supposed to Serve Society, Not the Other Way Around” | Politics | Vanity Fair2011-12-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/19/joseph-stiglitz-a-banking-system-is-supposed-to-serve<p>A Nobel Prize winning Economist, the author of “Globalization and its Discontents” and creator of one of the building blocks of modern economics. </p>
<a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2012/01/stiglitz-depression-201201.print">Joseph Stiglitz: “A Banking System is Supposed to Serve Society, Not the Other Way Around” | Politics | Vanity Fair</a>
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Hi I’m Louis C.K. and this is a thing : IAmA2011-12-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/18/rollingsound514-1150-points-5-days-ago-do-you[–]Rollingsound514 1150 points 5 days ago<br/>
Do you really edit the whole thing yourself? I heard Joe Rogan talk about your process on his podcast and wasn’t sure his description was accurate. He basically stated you just sit there on a macbook and do the whole show start to finish? If this is the case, good job!<br/>
permalinkparent<br/>
[–]iamlouisckLouis CK[S] 2086 points 5 days ago<br/>
yeah I do the whole thign. On season 1 I had an editor and we shared it about half. But season two i edited without any help. It was fucking hard. and yes, i sit at the macbook and just put it together from start frame to finish.<br/>
permalinkparent<br/>
[–]woomobile 1972 points 5 days ago<br/>
That’s insane. You’re a talented motherfucker.<br/>
permalinkparent<br/>
[–]iamlouisckLouis CK[S] 2755 points 5 days ago<br/>
shut up.
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Bike Snob NYC2011-12-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/16/we-all-suck-at-riding-bikes-and-that-the-one-ofwe all suck at riding bikes, and that the one of us who sucks the least wins the Tour de France
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Jesus H Christ on a Hoverdonkey, don't buy a dog from a pet store2011-12-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/16/jesus-h-christ-on-a-hoverdonkey-dont-buy-a-dog-from-a<p>I was perusing my blogawa feed when I came across this post from Zoom on her Knitnut.net blog. It started off nicely, but then she mentioned going to a pet store and looking at a dog there. I don’t even go into pet stores that sell dogs. I think they’re evil. So I wrote this in response</p>
<blockquote>
<p>do <strong>NOT</strong> buy a dog from a pet store. NOT NOT NOT. Pet stores are what keep kennels like Paws R Us in business, actively hurting dogs. Just please god don’t.</p>
<p>Rescues are a mixed bag. Yes, you’re saving a dog, but unless that dog spends a good amount of time at your house (2 – 3 days), you’re not going to know how they react around you and others. As another commenter said, it takes them a few days to settle down and integrate.</p>
<p>My Jack is a sweet, sweet dog and around us, and people he knows, he’s fantastic, but he barks at strangers constantly, scaring them, and he plays really rough dominance games with other dogs at the dog park. He’s been improving but it’s a long slow process (currently 3+ years for us). This is 100% due to the fact that he was taken from his litter early, and a traumatic 1st year and a half. It’s been a tough road at times.</p>
<p>Secondly, the sweetest dogs can have a strong prey drive, and your birds might very well be prey. My Whiskey is a beautiful, sweet, kind dog who loves everyone, and everyone loves her, but she’s killed a rabbit, a budgie (that was a terrible day) and more mice than I can count.</p>
<p>Any dog you do end up getting, make sure that they’re right for you, and that the seller will take them back if they don’t work out.</p>
<p>Reputable breeders will take a dog back at any time, for any reason. Reputable rescues as well. Most rescues have the best interests of the dogs at heart and will take a dog back if it’s not working out. If they don’t offer to, look for another rescue.</p>
<p>If you must <strong>buy</strong> a dog, here’s where I turn my nose up and turn into a real snob, (and this will probably make some people’s blood <strong>boil</strong>) but hear me out.</p>
<p>Go to the Canadian Kennel Club website, and research breeds, and temperaments, and local breeders. Go out and visit them and spend some time seeing the facilities these dogs are born and raised in. Only buy a dog that has been registered with the CKC, and only buy a dog from that breeder if they’re not willing to take it away from it’s litter before it’s 8 weeks old.</p>
<p>Purebred dogs are actually cheaper than “Designer dogs” like doodles and other poodle mixes, and the CKC has strict standards for breeders, as well as dogs. Breeders of these “Designer Dogs” are usually farmers making a little money on the side. There’s no way to tell how many of these dogs will turn out.</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.knitnut.net/2011/12/should-we-adopt-this-puppy/#comment-75650">Jesus H Christ on a Hoverdonkey, don't buy a dog from a pet store</a>
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In Memoriam: Christopher Hitchens, 1949–2011 | Blogs | Vanity Fair2011-12-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/16/in-memoriam-christopher-hitchens-1949-2011-blogs<p>He’ll live on in all of us.</p>
<a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2011/12/In-Memoriam-Christopher-Hitchens-19492011">In Memoriam: Christopher Hitchens, 1949–2011 | Blogs | Vanity Fair</a>
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HTTP Status Cats - a set on Flickr2011-12-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/15/http-status-cats-a-set-on-flickr<p>Terribly geeky intersection of IETF RFC’s and lolcats.</p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girliemac/sets/72157628409467125/">HTTP Status Cats - a set on Flickr</a>
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Great news, everybody! The recession's over! | jwz2011-12-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/15/great-news-everybody-the-recessions-over-jwz<a href="http://www.jwz.org/blog/2011/12/great-news-everybody-the-recessions-over/">Great news, everybody! The recession's over! | jwz</a>
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Bearded Dragon playing Ant Crusher (by ThatSpecialGuy)2011-12-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/15/bearded-dragon-playing-ant-crusher-by<iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WTpldq3myV0?fs=1&feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Idiotic article that idiots comment on2011-12-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/09/idiotic-article-that-idiots-comment-on<a href="http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/12/07/lrt-wont-fix-commuter-gridlock">Idiotic article that idiots comment on</a>
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An “American Tradition” is anything that happened to a Baby Boomer twice. (via xkcd: Tradition)2011-12-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/09/an-american-tradition-is-anything-that-happened<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvy3wkCogf1qdfvsoo1_1280.png">
<p>An “American Tradition” is anything that happened to a Baby Boomer twice. (via <a href="http://xkcd.com/988/" target="_blank">xkcd: Tradition</a>)</p>
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Cigarette smoking: an underused tool in high-performance endurance training2011-12-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/08/while-athletes-endanger-their-careers-andWhile athletes endanger their careers and well-being in attempts to gain small benefits with illicit or inconvenient practices, a legal, nonprescription alternative has been largely ignored by athletes, coaches and exercise physiologists alike. Cigarette smoking has been shown to increase serum hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, increase lung volume and stimulate weight loss — characteristics all known to enhance performance in endurance sports. This paper will discuss the potential benefits of cigarette smoking to endurance performance
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DNA Lounge:2011-12-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/08/dna-lounge<p>@jwz is the owner of one of the best bars in SF. Get in touch with him if you’re setting up a tour in Cali. </p>
<a href="http://www.dnalounge.com/backstage/log/2011/12/08.html">DNA Lounge:</a>
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‘Mythbusters’ cannonball hits Dublin home, minivan2011-12-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/07/there-the-6-inch-projectile-bounced-in-front-of-aThere, the 6-inch projectile bounced in front of a home on quiet Cassata Place, ripped through the front door, raced up the stairs and blasted through a bedroom, where a man, woman and child slept through it all - only awakening because of plaster dust. The ball wasn’t done bouncing. It exited the house, leaving a perfectly round hole in the stucco, crossed six-lane Tassajara Road, took out several tiles from the roof of a home on Bellevue Circle and finally slammed into the Gill family’s beige Toyota Sienna minivan in a driveway on Springvale Drive.
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I was asked not to share the name of this airline employee2011-12-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/06/see-now-to-the-bean-counters-that-makes-a-warpedsee, now, to the bean counters that makes a warped kind of sense: that<br/>
600 lbs., in their tiny little bean counter brains, somehow equals (at<br/>
the FAA-standard presumed weight per passenger of 189 lbs.) 3.17 more<br/>
passengers per video system removed i.e. INCREASED REVENUE! if you<br/>
don’t show movies. Nevermind that you cannot smash those 3.17<br/>
passengers into the now-vacated video cabinet, that’s somebody else’s<br/>
department.<br/><br/>
Not to worry though, another Bean Counter will come along and the<br/>
light bulb will go off in their tiny little bean counter brains and<br/>
they will suggest “you know, if we moved every seat row an inch closer<br/>
together we can fit those extra few seat in the back end and voila!, i<br/>
get coffee & doughnuts tomorrow for my brilliance!”<br/><br/>
And who will these insular little cretins sell their bizzaro-logic<br/>
ideas to for approval? An executive who, if they don’t fly personal<br/>
corporate jets to get around in the first place, if they DO deign to<br/>
fly the airline they themselves run, they most certainly *never* fly<br/>
Economy. The Bean Counter’s boss’s boss’s boss brings the idea to the<br/>
big guy, and he says “Sounds good, let’s do it.”<br/><br/><br/>
Meanwhile the passenger base flees as fast as it can to the likes of<br/>
JetBlue, Virgin, and SWA, because their legs don’t go numb during those<br/>
flights, and they get to watch “30 Rock”. And US Air is simply<br/>
befuddled, and *cannot* figure out why their planes are only 72% full,<br/>
while the other guys are going out with full boats because they may<br/>
actually give a care about the quality-of-life experience of the<br/>
passenger.
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Hockey2011-12-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/06/hockey<p>A damning series of articles in the NYTimes about Derek Boogerd, a hockey enforcer who committed suicide, most likely due to side effects of CTE, and drug addiction. A compelling picture, not only of the culture of violence that pervades pro hockey, and the costs that are borne by the enforcers, but also a moving picture of a kid growing up in Saskatchewan with a dream of playing in the NHL </p>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/sports/hockey/derek-boogaard-a-boy-learns-to-brawl.html">Hockey</a>
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fuckyeahmcluhan: Banks are dangerous in the hands of man. 2011-12-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/06/fuckyeahmcluhan-banks-are-dangerous-in-the<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvqvnhTSWz1qji1wao1_400.jpg">
<p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://fuckyeahmcluhan.tumblr.com/post/13786707649/banks-are-dangerous-in-the-hands-of-man" target="_blank">fuckyeahmcluhan</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Banks are dangerous in the hands of man.</p>
</blockquote>
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xkcd: Space Launch System2011-12-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/03/xkcd-space-launch-system<p>“If you want something done right, learning from the Nazis isn’t enough, you have to actually put them in charge”</p>
<a href="http://xkcd.com/984/">xkcd: Space Launch System</a>
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who-is-bon-iver: BREAKING NEWS: Bon Iver nominated in EVERY category. Wait, wait, I know this one!2011-12-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/02/who-is-bon-iver-breaking-news-bon-iver<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvil0j8Uyz1r7xwe7o1_1280.png">
<p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://who-is-bon-iver.tumblr.com/post/13582991197/breaking-news-bon-iver-nominated-in-every" target="_blank">who-is-bon-iver</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>BREAKING NEWS: Bon Iver nominated in EVERY category.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Wait, wait, I know this one!</p>
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Puppies :) and Lawyers :(2011-12-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/12/02/puppies-and-lawyers <iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" width="480px" height="270px" src="http://specials.washingtonpost.com/mv/embed/?title=Kremlin%20critics%20active%20online%20ahead%20of%20elections&stillURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Frf%2Fimage_606w%2F2010-2019%2FWashingtonPost%2F2011%2F12%2F02%2FForeign%2FVideos%2F12022011-23v%2F12022011-23v.jpg&flvURL=%2Fmedia%2F2011%2F12%2F02%2F12022011-23v.m4v&width=480&height=270&autoStart=0&clickThru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fworld%2Fkremlin-critics-active-online-ahead-of-elections%2F2011%2F12%2F02%2FgIQACuheKO_video.html"></iframe>
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In Positive Economic Sign, Walmart Customers Killing Each Other to Buy Shit « Borowitz Report2011-11-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/30/with-many-customers-using-pepper-spray-and-otherWith many customers using pepper spray and other weapons to get a shopping advantage, however, Mr. Logsdon advised Americans not to enter a Walmart unarmed. “If you want to get your hands on a doorbuster, you’d better have a firearm,” he said. “Fortunately, Walmart is offering several great doorbusters on firearms.
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Fuck Glory – Startups are One Long Con « Unicornfree2011-11-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/30/fuck-glory-startups-are-one-long-con-unicornfree<p>I think I followed the trail on this one. Michael Arrington posted <a href="http://uncrunched.com/2011/11/27/startups-are-hard-so-work-more-cry-less-and-quit-all-the-whining/" target="_blank">STARTUPS ARE HARD. SO WORK MORE, CRY LESS, AND QUIT ALL THE WHINING</a>. He actually had the gall to use<a href="http://www.jwz.org/gruntle/" target="_blank"> JWZ’s old gruntle pages</a> ( a great read if you want to get a sense of Silicon Valley in the 90’s ) to try and prove that if you’re working for a startup, you should work harder, for less money, all in the hopes of a big pay-off. <a href="http://www.jwz.org/blog/2011/11/watch-a-vc-use-my-name-to-sell-a-con/" target="_blank">JWZ is a little pissed about it</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>He’s trying to make the point that the only path to success in the software industry is to work insane hours, sleep under your desk, and give up your one and only youth, and if you don’t do that, you’re a pussy. He’s using my words to try and back up that thesis.</p>
<p>I hate this, because it’s not true, and it’s disingenuous.</p>
<p>What is true is that for a VC’s business model to work, it’s necessary for you to give up your life in order for him to become richer.</p>
<p>Follow the fucking money. When a VC tells you what’s good for you, check your wallet, then count your fingers.</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://unicornfree.com/2011/fuck-glory-startups-are-one-long-con/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed: unicornfree (Unicorn Free)">Fuck Glory – Startups are One Long Con « Unicornfree</a>
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This is why you put your herding dog on a leash. flecton: BENTON! BENTON! jesus christ. BENTON! BENTON! 2011-11-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/25/this-is-why-you-put-your-herding-dog-on-a-leash<iframe width="960" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3GRSbr0EYYU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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A letter from Australia. (via theeconomist) PS: I love the fact that the economist is now putting their letters to the editor on tumblr2011-11-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/25/sir-thanks-for-the-story-nine-years-ago-on-theSIR – Thanks for the story nine years ago on the benefits of office clutter (“In praise of clutter”, December 21st 2002). I located the article this week in a pile of important material set aside for review. The system has worked perfectly, as you said it would.
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An idea from Philadelphia. (via theeconomist)2011-11-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/25/sir-i-wonder-why-i-along-with-countless-other<p>SIR – I wonder why I, along with countless other Americans, bother to follow the Republican race at all, as none of the candidates is providing a compelling vision to challenge Mr Obama in next year’s election. One reason for remaining interested could be that the dramas which unfold each week are yet another type of sensationalist reality television. Perhaps politics could learn something from that format, by kicking candidates off the island, making them leave the house, or allowing a sharp-tongued Simon Cowell to berate their performance and decide upon their legitimacy.</p>
<p>A weekly voting system to get the clowns off the stage does not at this point seem such a terrible idea, especially since the prize is the nomination for a run at the chance to be ruler of the free world.</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/13299526656">Tumblr</a>
#RescueBronson my letter to @JimWatsonOttawa et al 2011-11-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/25/rescuebronson-my-letter-to-jimwatsonottawa-et-al<p>I’m very sad I wasn’t able to make the only Open House for the Bronson Avenue widening. The mere fact that this is being proposed, and that Diane Holmes is opposing it, is a symbol of something wrong with the planning process for this.</p>
<p>I live between Preston and Bronson, and where once the two streets were pretty much the same, Preston is now a joy to walk, cycle or drive down, and Bronson is still the same dangerous, unfriendly street.</p>
<p>In fact, the city has gotten a lot of things right recently, with the road diet on Scott, the SBL on Laurier, and the revitalization of both Preston and Wellington W.</p>
<p>Why then is Bronson being singled out for such retrograde planning? Honestly it’s like the traffic engineers were being transported from the ’50s. I drive down Bronson to and from work on average twice a week at rush hour, and, the frustrations I have with driving down Bronson cannot be fixed by merely widening the lanes.</p>
<p>The flow of traffic on Bronson has more to do with the problems of cars turning left on side streets (all of them, not just Somerset and Gladstone), and cars parked sporadically in the right lane. Driving down Bronson requires constantly changing lanes almost randomly to avoid unexpected obstacles. This is what causes traffic slowdowns on Bronson north of Gladstone, not the width of lanes.</p>
<p>There is nothing in the the current plans for Bronson Avenue that would alleviate any of the problems I face as a driver on Bronson, much less a cyclist or pedestrian. If there were I might support it.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the Bronson Road Diet plan, along with parking areas for cars protected by bulbouts, such as those on Wellington W, or Preston, would get rid of all of these problems, and make my commute to work far more pleasant, no matter which way I chose to commute.</p>
<p>Thank you for your time, and please take the interests and experience of a resident who walks, or bikes, or drives down Bronson nearly every day into account.</p>
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Kirstie Alley is leaving on a jet train - The Oatmeal2011-11-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/22/kirstie-alley-is-leaving-on-a-jet-train-the-oatmeal<p><img height="641" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/theoatmeal-img/comics/top_tweets/jet_train.png" width="713"/></p>
<a href="http://theoatmeal.com/pl/top_tweets/jet_train">Kirstie Alley is leaving on a jet train - The Oatmeal</a>
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Dogs and bikes. My two faves.2011-11-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/22/dogs-and-bikes-my-two-faves<object width='500' height='281'><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true' /><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always' /><param name='movie' value='http://www.pinkbike.com/v/227689/l/' /><embed src='http://www.pinkbike.com/v/227689/l/' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' width='500' height='281' allowFullScreen='true' allowScriptAccess='always'></embed></object><p><a href="http://www.pinkbike.com/video/227689/">Lily Shreds trailside.</a> on <a href="http://www.pinkbike.com">pinkbike.com</a></p>
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God help me, I'm quoting David Frum, in an admiring way no less...2011-11-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/21/god-help-me-im-quoting-david-frum-in-an-admiring-way<blockquote>
<p>The first decade of the 21st century was a crazy bookend to the twentieth, opening with a second Pearl Harbor and ending with a second Great Crash, with a second Vietnam wedged in between.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The parallels are not exact, but damn that is a good summation of the first decade of the 21st century.</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE:</strong> found another good quote:</p>
<blockquote>
<p> This isn’t conservatism; it’s a going-out-of-business sale for the baby-boom generation.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://nymag.com/news/politics/conservatives-david-frum-2011-11/index.html" target="_blank">http://nymag.com/news/politics/conservatives-david-frum-2011-11/index.html</a></p>
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esteetabernac: flecton: nineteenfiftysix: Mclusky - What We’ve Learned (Mclusky Do Dallas, 2002) he gave it all up to be on television Banditas opened for these mofos, they broke up shortly after. We thought it was our fault. 2011-11-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/16/esteetabernac-flecton-nineteenfiftysix<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://assets.tumblr.com/swf/audio_player.swf?audio_file=http://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/folkwolf/12882635310/tumblr_ltsh379sWg1qb7daz&color=FFFFFF" height="27" width="207" quality="best" wmode="opaque"></embed>
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http://whatever.scalzi.com/2011/11/10/omelas-state-university/2011-11-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/15/heres-what-i-think-about-that-right-now-im-a<p>Here’s what I think about that, right now. I’m a science fiction writer, and one of the great stories of science fiction is “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas,” which was written by Ursula K. Le Guin. The story posits a fantastic utopian city, where everything is beautiful, with one catch: In order for all this comfort and beauty to exist, one child must be kept in filth and misery. Every citizen of Omelas, when they come of age, is told about that one blameless child being put through hell. And they have a choice: Accept that is the price for their perfect lives in Omelas, or walk away from that paradise, into uncertainty and possibly chaos.</p>
<p>At Pennsylvania State University, a grown man found a blameless child being put through hell. Other grown men learned of it. Each of them had to make their choice, and decide, fundamentally, whether the continuation of their utopia — or at very least the illusion of their utopia — was worth the pain and suffering of that one child. Through their actions, and their inactions, we know the choice they made.</p>
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Empire, Nevada - Washoe County - 10 acres2011-11-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/13/empire-nevada-washoe-county-10-acres<p>Is it wrong of me to want to pay 8G for 10 acres of a ghost town?</p>
<a href="http://www.landsofnevada.com/nevada/index.cfm?detail=&inv_id=966583">Empire, Nevada - Washoe County - 10 acres</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/12747927038">Tumblr</a>
flecton: Sweet.2011-11-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/10/flecton-sweet<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lugmdzAicm1qd5funo1_1280.jpg">
<p><a href="http://flecton.tumblr.com/post/12606667834/sweet" class="tumblr_blog" target="_blank">flecton</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>Sweet.</p></blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/12607030006">Tumblr</a>
Learning to Review Bicycles | The Selection | Bicycling.com2011-11-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/09/somewhere-in-there-say-14-or-15-years-in-i-hadSomewhere in there, say 14 or 15 years in, I had so much bike knowledge, and, thanks to all those years of riding everything from $300 to $10,000 bikes week after week, I had so much knowledge of so many bikes that if someone wanted to know why a bike steered the way it did, I could finally give an answer that those old mentors of mine wouldn’t have been able to refute or even expand upon. I knew it all. And that is the high point of any sort of knowledge or pursuit from which, of course, if you’re lucky and persistent, you find out you know practically nothing. You finally get up high enough to get a clear view of how much more there is out there to know. It’s humbling.
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The Social Graph is Neither (Pinboard Blog)2011-11-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/09/social-networks-exist-to-sell-you-crap-the-ickySocial networks exist to sell you crap. The icky feeling you get when your friend starts to talk to you about Amway, or when you spot someone passing out business cards at a birthday party, is the entire driving force behind a site like Facebook.
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Man I was cool as a teenager2011-11-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/04/man-i-was-cool-as-a-teenager<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lu49zeSEGP1qdfvsoo1_1280.jpg">
<p>Man I was cool as a teenager</p>
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Tim Hortons to put in cappuccino makers 2011-11-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/03/tim-hortons-to-put-in-cappuccino-makers<p>I read about this in the paper yesterday, but I didn’t think it affected me, it took Ken Gray, a columnist I usually disagree with strongly, to connect the dots and help me realize how this was actually the best thing Tim Horton’s could do for me, personally. Not sure how it’ll work out as a business decision </p>
<a href="http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2011/11/03/god-bless-tim-hortons/">Tim Hortons to put in cappuccino makers </a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/12282950890">Tumblr</a>
@johnbairdOWN, The Elephant in the Room2011-11-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/03/johnbairdown-the-elephant-in-the-room<p>listening to <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/q/blog/2011/11/01/is-there-a-moral-obligation-to-come-out/" target="_blank">CBC’s Q on the radio tuesday night</a>. In particular, this discussion between a Globe&Mail editorial writer <span>Karim Bardeesy</span> and (I have to quote this) “Head of the University of Toronto’s Mark Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies” Brenda Cossman</p>
<p>You’ve probably seen <a href="http://youtu.be/J1OvtBa2FK8" target="_blank">this rant by Rick Mercer</a>. If you haven’t go watch it now. I’m not gay, but it resonated with me. It reminded of <a href="http://youtu.be/Pvfexvihri8" target="_blank">a great speech by Harvey Milk</a> about how it’s easy it is to demonize gay people when you don’t know any, but when you realize that your friends and neighbours are gay, it becomes harder and harder. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/no-rick-mercer-not-all-gay-public-figures-need-to-step-forward/article2216358/" target="_blank">The Globe and Mail editorial</a> was in response to the Rick Mercer Rant, saying that calling on gay people to come out is a moral obligation too far. People in public life have to sacrifice so much, we should be able to respect this one privacy. Not a position I agree with, but not a wholly unreasonable one either.</p>
<p>If you want to get caught up, and really understand, I recommend reading all the material above.</p>
<p>In the Rick Mercer rant, he specifically mentions “Cabinet Ministers” in the litany of types of gay people he knows. That caught me, because I don’t know of any openly gay Cabinet Ministers. </p>
<p>In the Q discussion, Karim Bardeesy talks specifically about the risks of coming out to hypothetical Conservative Party politicians.</p>
<p>And I’ve been getting more and more frustrated, because they keep dancing around the<a href="http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/So_much_for_John_Bairds_reputation_as_a_gutsy_brawler-8197.aspx" target="_blank"> not-so-openly gay John Baird</a>. Nobody even mentions his name, and the multiple times he’s been outed. Nope, they keep dancing around the issue. It seems to be what everyone is referring to, but nobody is mentioning it by name. </p>
<p>Baird even appears in the <a href="http://%22it%20gets%20better%22%20video" target="_blank">“it gets better” video</a> that the Conservative Party put out, but he didn’t say it then, when it really mattered. </p>
<p>I think what really frustrates me is that this should not be an issue, but it is.</p>
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Villages all but wiped out as storms batter Italy's 'Cinque Terre' - Telegraph2011-11-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/11/01/villages-all-but-wiped-out-as-storms-batter-italys<p>Oh shit. This is one of my favourite places in the world. I recently wrote a long post somewhere about the hike along the shoreline of Cinque Terre, but I can’t find it.</p>
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/8850032/Villages-all-but-wiped-out-as-storms-batter-Italys-Cinque-Terre.html">Villages all but wiped out as storms batter Italy's 'Cinque Terre' - Telegraph</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/12194908805">Tumblr</a>
No wonder the local beavers bite off their wotsits: Why one man won’t be joining the rush to move to Canada | Mail Online2011-10-31T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/31/these-doctors-and-nurses-should-be-warnedThese doctors and nurses should be warned, however, that their work, to quote the America humourist P.J. O’Rourke will mainly involve ‘treating hockey injuries and curing sinus infections that come from trying to pronounce French vowels’. Ah yes, hockey. If you thought British sport was becoming crude and violent, try watching two teams of toothless brutes sliding around on ice and pausing every few minutes to beat the daylights out of each other. It makes the Premiership look like synchronised swimming. However bad Britain may seem, trust me, moving to Canada is not the answer. Why not try somewhere more appealing. Siberia, for example.
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/12161459339">Tumblr</a>
Keith Mills (Royal Marines officer)2011-10-31T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/31/sod-that-ill-make-their-eyes-watersod that, I’ll make their eyes water
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Adult Swim: Oddities of Stop Motion2011-10-31T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/31/adult-swim-oddities-of-stop-motion<p>I’ve kept this tab open for too long. maybe watch these later</p>
<a href="http://www.adultswim.com/blog/gobbledegook/oddities-of-stop-motion.html">Adult Swim: Oddities of Stop Motion</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/12161430593">Tumblr</a>
Vim Text Objects: The Definitive Guide | The Carbon Emitter2011-10-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/28/vim-text-objects-the-definitive-guide-the-carbon<a href="http://blog.carbonfive.com/2011/10/17/vim-text-objects-the-definitive-guide/">Vim Text Objects: The Definitive Guide | The Carbon Emitter</a>
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Kid’s Tour of Flanders2011-10-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/28/kids-tour-of-flanders<p>We saw something similar when we went to see Orvieto to see a stage of the Giro D’Italia. I remember thinking “Not only does that kid have a better bike than I do, but they can probably kick my ass”</p>
<a href="http://tenspeedhero.com/projects/kids-tour-of-flanders/">Kid’s Tour of Flanders</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/12034701586">Tumblr</a>
Is it Stupid Day? | Bike View in Ottawa2011-10-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/28/is-it-stupid-day-bike-view-in-ottawa<p>I want to show this to every person who ever talks about how bicycles shouldn’t be on the road because they don’t follow the rules, unlike motorists.</p>
<p>In fact, this will now be my standard response. Thank you for providing the service.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Come on people, you’re driving a weapon there. Don’t #$%^ around. Notice, I’m pretty well illuminated, helps with the license plates too!</p>
</blockquote>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/taCHMjLXCWs" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<a href="http://www.bikeview.ca/2011/10/27/is-it-stupid-day/#comment-1200">Is it Stupid Day? | Bike View in Ottawa</a>
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You can have my gun registry data when you pry it from my cold, dead hands 2011-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/27/you-can-have-my-gun-registry-data-when-you-pry-it-from<p>@glen_mcgregor REALLY pisses off gun nuts.</p>
<a href="http://afewtastefulsnaps.net/?p=1365">You can have my gun registry data when you pry it from my cold, dead hands </a>
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Wall Street Isn't Winning It's Cheating | Matt Taibbi | Rolling Stone2011-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/27/wall-street-isnt-winning-its-cheating-matt-taibbi<p>Matt Taibbi is usually a hyperbolic left-wing loonie, but this is a well-reasoned, balanced perspective on the #occupy POV</p>
<a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/owss-beef-wall-street-isnt-winning-its-cheating-20111025?link=mostpopular2">Wall Street Isn't Winning It's Cheating | Matt Taibbi | Rolling Stone</a>
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Stars - La Blogothèque2011-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/27/stars-la-blogotheque<p>Some of the best memories in my life are of this very neighborhood of SF. </p>
<p>When I first moved down to SF, I was staying at a tiny little hostel on Sacramento in between Montgomery and Kearny, almost exactly where the Financial District, meets Chinatown, meets North Beach. the hostel room had 20 other people in it, and, while I had to go to work every morning, everyone else there was on vacation. I would generally go out with whatever Aussies were passing through that night, and usually head down to Vesuvio, or Specs, across the street for some beers to help me sleep.</p>
<p>Then in ‘04 or ‘05 or so, Liz and I decided to go to San Francisco for a few days before heading out to Burning Man. We ended up staying in the Green Tortoise Annex, just off Broadway, and had a great time. One night we went to City Lights and bought about $300 worth of books, wandered down the road to the SF Brewing Co, and drank beer and read books. </p>
<a href="http://en.blogotheque.net/2011/02/04/stars-en/">Stars - La Blogothèque</a>
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Must-see-TV RMR: Rick’s Rant - Teen Suicide (by MercerReport)2011-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/27/must-see-tv-rmr-ricks-rant-teen-suicide-by<object width="480" height="270"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wh1jNAZHKIw?version=3&feature=oembed"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wh1jNAZHKIw?version=3&feature=oembed" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Dumbest Letter to the Editor ever...2011-10-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/25/dumbest-letter-to-the-editor-ever<p>And I quote:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A lot of deer get hit by cars west of Crown Point on U.S. 231. There are too many cars to have the deer crossing here. The deer crossing sign needs to be moved to a road with less traffic.</p>
<p>- Tim Abbott, Crown Point</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_c3a6319b-8e09-5a70-8814-e1c56d754a9b.html">Dumbest Letter to the Editor ever...</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11908521453">Tumblr</a>
@scottfeschuk tries to get people to unfollow him2011-10-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/24/scottfeschuk-tries-to-get-people-to-unfollow-him<p>With hilarious consequences…</p><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">In a bid to lose at least 100 followers today, I will tweet only the things that make me unfollow other people.</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127379313019465729&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127379313019465729&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127379313019465729&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127379313019465729&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127379313019465729" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">Wow my personal trainer gave me SUCH a workout today. Quads, consider yourselves blasted!</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127379603898630144&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127379603898630144&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127379603898630144&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127379603898630144&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127379603898630144" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">Service on my blackberry/iPhone/Android sucks. Might be time to switch to an iPhone/Android/Blackberry. (Thx, @richardwarnica)</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127388269443948544&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127388269443948544&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127388269443948544&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127388269443948544&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127388269443948544" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">Today seems like a good morning to tweet the lyrics from my favourite songs.</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127385614650834946&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127385614650834946&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127385614650834946&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127385614650834946&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127385614650834946" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">This cab driver does not appear to know the directions to my destination.</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127388123394097152&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127388123394097152&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127388123394097152&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127388123394097152&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127388123394097152" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">RT @AndyChalk: @scottfeschuk NICKELBACK FTW</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127385939839422464&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127385939839422464&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127385939839422464&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127385939839422464&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127385939839422464" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">Guys, I’m hungry.</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127379954378866688&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127379954378866688&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127379954378866688&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127379954378866688&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127379954378866688" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">This isn’t a muffin. THIS IS MORE LIKE A CAKE.</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127384977515085825&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127384977515085825&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127384977515085825&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127384977515085825&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127384977515085825" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">Oh my god, guys. Guys! GUYS!!!!!! GUUUUUUUUUUUUYYYYYSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127384183050993665&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127384183050993665&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127384183050993665&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127384183050993665&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127384183050993665" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">Let me tell you about some great new jazz records I’ve heard. (Thanks, @ArmourJim)</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127383879165288449&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127383879165288449&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127383879165288449&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127383879165288449&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127383879165288449" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">If you’re not watching this TV show that I love, you’re an idiot. (Thanks @someMarkFarrell)</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127383606682333184&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127383606682333184&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127383606682333184&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127383606682333184&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127383606682333184" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">My bus is slightly late.</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127382169822822400&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127382169822822400&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127382169822822400&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127382169822822400&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127382169822822400" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">My next 327 tweets will be play-by-play accounts of a soccer game you’re already watching if you care about it.</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127383292390551552&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127383292390551552&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127383292390551552&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127383292390551552&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127383292390551552" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">Rain?? W.T.F.?????</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127381911227207681&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127381911227207681&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127381911227207681&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127381911227207681&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127381911227207681" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">Lacking any insight of my own, here is a quote from someone else.</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127381640468119552&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127381640468119552&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127381640468119552&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127381640468119552&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127381640468119552" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">I have a distant and ultimately inconsequential personal link to a current news figure which I will now tell you about.</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127381226364485634&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127381226364485634&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127381226364485634&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127381226364485634&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127381226364485634" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">A lineup? AT STARBUCKS???????</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127382856984051712&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127382856984051712&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127382856984051712&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127382856984051712&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127382856984051712" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">A retail sales experience is not going as I had hoped and I feel the need to inform everyone of this.</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127380348924469248&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127380348924469248&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127380348924469248&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127380348924469248&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127380348924469248" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">Woot.</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127380734754291712&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127380734754291712&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127380734754291712&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127380734754291712&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127380734754291712" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div class="storify_html"><div style="max-width:370px;margin:0 auto 20px;padding:3px" class="s-quote"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan="2" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="font:64px Georgia,serif;color:#ccc;">“ </span></td><td valign="top" style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><span style="display:block;margin:13px 0 0;font:17px Georgia,serif;line-height:22px;color:#4A4A4B;">Result: I have gained 14 followers. You people disgust me.</span></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;"><table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;float:right;margin-top:5px;"><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" style="padding:0;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;color:#000;text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">scottfeschuk</a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk" target="_blank"><img src="http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/486190343/79520014_normal.JPG" style="width:32px;max-width:32px;height:32px;margin:0 5px;border:0;padding:0"/></a></td><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;" rowspan="2"><div style="display:inline-block;margin:0;" class="s-twitpic-actions"><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127386300973195264&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=127386300973195264&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=679,height=337');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/reply.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;max-width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0;"/></a><a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127386300973195264&via=mattrose" style="padding:0;" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://twitter.com/intent/retweet/?tweet_id=127386300973195264&via=mattrose', 'intent', 'width=550,height=230');return false;"><img src="http://static.storify.com/css/img/retweet.png" style="background:none;display:block;width:14px;height:11px;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;"/></a></div></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0;border:0;border-top:0;vertical-align:top;line-height:1;text-align:right;width:100%;"><span style="display:block;"><img src="http://twitter.com/favicon.ico" style="width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin:0;border:0;padding:0"/><a href="http://twitter.com/scottfeschuk/status/127386300973195264" style="color:#939393;text-decoration:none;margin:0 0 0 5px;font-size:11px;" target="_blank">October 21, 2011</a></span></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><p class="storify_html"><a href="http://storify.com" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;"><img src="http://storify.com/public/poweredby.png?permalink=http://storify.com/mattrose/scottfeschuk-tries-to-get-people-to-unfollow-him" border="0"/></a></p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://storify.com/mattrose/scottfeschuk-tries-to-get-people-to-unfollow-him.js?header=false"></script>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11872324635">Tumblr</a>
bonedeth: If anyone needs that sandwich it’s you Andy Hampsten. 2011-10-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/24/bonedeth-if-anyone-needs-that-sandwich-its-you<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1jq1dDMDz1qajdexo1_500.jpg">
<p><a href="http://bonedeth.tumblr.com/post/553809170/if-anyone-needs-that-sandwich-its-you-andy" target="_blank">bonedeth</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If anyone needs that sandwich it’s you Andy Hampsten.</p>
</blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11869913333">Tumblr</a>
add Herman Cain to the list...2011-10-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/24/add-herman-cain-to-the-list<p>I sent this link to George Takei and Stephen Wicary over twitter, but it took me a damn long time to find it, so here I immortalize the paragraph and link</p>
<blockquote>
<p> When I hear the phrase “lifestyle choice,” I visualize a couple of tanned, toned, and mustachioed men sitting around reading brochures so they can make a truly informed choice. On one brochure, a suburban family piles into a cream-colored SUV on the way to Wal-Mart to stock up on toilet paper and Pringles. On the other brochure, a crew of oiled-up muscle studs in Speedos sip from coconuts at a pool party while the DJ takes it up a notch. After browsing through both brochures, one guy finally says to the other, “Mario? I think we should make the gay lifestyle choice after all.”</p>
</blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11865397670">Tumblr</a>
esteetabernac: Banditas covering Lync’s Electricity from These Are Not Fall Colors 2011-10-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/23/esteetabernac-banditas-covering-lyncs<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://assets.tumblr.com/swf/audio_player.swf?audio_file=http://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/folkwolf/11833547295/tumblr_ltj51nHUiX1qfmjeq&color=FFFFFF" height="27" width="207" quality="best" wmode="opaque"></embed>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11833547295">Tumblr</a>
Barrieres Canadienne2011-10-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/20/barrieres-canadienne<p>If you’ve driven through open range land, you would know what these are. Apparently they’re named after Canadians in France.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Basically, it’s a term for the metal rods in the road that stop cows passing through. On my favourite climb in the 2012 Tour - Col du Grand Colombier - there is not much up top except several barrières Canadiennes on each side. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Apparently, a Potluck dinner is called a Picnique Canadienne as well. Those crazy French!</p>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<a href="http://www.podiumcafe.com/2011/10/19/2501196/5-unimportant-facts-about-the-2012-tour-de-france-route">Barrieres Canadienne</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11693790949">Tumblr</a>
Generation X Is Sick of Your Bullshit2011-10-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/19/generation-x-is-sick-of-your-bullshitGeneration X is sick of your bullshit.
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11653054602">Tumblr</a>
The Truth Behind Dubstep2011-10-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/18/the-truth-behind-dubstep<p>There was way too much Dubstep at Burning Man this year…</p>
<a href="http://www.joeydevilla.com/2011/10/18/the-truth-behind-dubstep/">The Truth Behind Dubstep</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11619412291">Tumblr</a>
Take Away Shows (Les Concerts a Emporter)2011-10-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/18/take-away-shows-les-concerts-a-emporter<p>There’s a great site out there where a blogger talks different performers into doing very stripped down versions of their songs in different locations, like an elevator (Arcade Fire), the Steps around the Arsenale in Paris, or the arcade of a Parisian apartment (Bon Iver). Look through the list of shows and I’m sure you’ll find a different and surprising take on a song you thought you knew</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="276" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x5sbdq_93-3-bon-iver-for-emma-forever-ago_music"></iframe><br/><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5sbdq_93-3-bon-iver-for-emma-forever-ago_music">#93.3 - BON IVER - For Emma, Forever Ago</a> <em>by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.dailymotion.com/lablogotheque">lablogotheque</a></em></p>
<a href="http://en.blogotheque.net/toutes-les-videos/?filter_serie=concert-a-emporter">Take Away Shows (Les Concerts a Emporter)</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11613059693">Tumblr</a>
I love the Yes Men2011-10-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/17/i-love-the-yes-men<p><em>I got on their mailing list years ago back when they were originally at the WTO riots, when we were on the nettime mailing list, mainly full of Eastern European radical anarchists. ( I have a story back in the archives about that, that I should dig up ). Anyhoo, I get fun email like this from them.</em></p>
<p>Dear Friend,</p>
<p>You’re on the Yes Men mailing list, which means you’ve probably seen some of our corporate crime-fighting mischief. Now it’s time to spring into action yourself—by becoming <a href="http://www.occupytheboardroom.org/" target="_blank">Best Friends Forever (BFFs)</a> with the 1% who have wrecked the economy and left <em>us</em> with the bill.</p>
<p>Visit <a href="http://www.occupytheboardroom.org/" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.occupytheboardroom.org" target="_blank">www.occupytheboardroom.org</a></a> to find hundreds of available 1%ers today; then figure out how to reach them. The idea is to reveal, through hilarious action (like that <a href="http://buffalobeast.com/?p=5045" target="_blank">phone call to Gov. Walker</a>, for instance), something about your new 1% BFF and their nasty, people-destructive practices.</p>
<p>There are many ways to do this. There’s the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBnSv3a6Nh4" target="_blank">telephone</a>, of course, and there’s <a href="http://motherjones.com/media/2005/03/yes-men-be-careful-what-you-ask" target="_blank">email</a>. Or how about giving them <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoQkVYn0gCU&feature=relatedbe.com/watch?v=XoQkVYn0gCU&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL4AAFD96C4FCC4F51" target="_blank">an award</a>, or paying them a visit in <a href="http://theyesmen.org/hijinks/euro" target="_blank">costume</a>? For more suggestions, <a href="http://www.occupytheboardroom.org/" target="_blank">go pick your new BFF now</a>! Whatever you do, make it revealing, nonviolent, and funny; document it well, and email images, video, audio or text to <a href="mailto:bff@occupytheboardroom.org" target="_blank">bff@occupytheboardroom.org</a>. The funniest interactions, that reveal the most about the 1% (or just your particular BFF), will win prizes.</p>
<p>This isn’t easy to do—but then neither is sleeping out in the rain, let alone digging ourselves out of the mess that the 1% have created.</p>
<p>We can’t wait to see what you come up with!</p>
<p>Onwards!<br/> Your friends at <a href="http://www.yeslab.org/" target="_blank">The Yes Lab</a></p>
<p>p.s. This is a big project by a whole bunch of people.</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11572564588">Tumblr</a>
3 Keys To Creating Great "Good Places" | Co. Design2011-10-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/16/3-keys-to-creating-great-good-places-co-design<p>One of my favourite “Hikes” in the world is the walk through Cinqueterre in Italy.</p>
<p>When you go hiking up in say … Gatineau Park, you need to take along food, water, and while there’s a few cabins about, they’re not really social spaces.</p>
<p>Cinqueterre on the other hand, is a fantastic hike, because you can start in the morning with a cornetto and machiato in Monterosso al Mare, do a semi difficult hike through olive groves to Vernazza, grab a panini and sit in a piazza and have lunch, do a quick hike to Corniglia, have a swim, go up the stairs for a coffee, and then have very flat, very easy stroll to Riomaggiore.</p>
<a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665202/3-keys-to-creating-great-good-places">3 Keys To Creating Great "Good Places" | Co. Design</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11526992837">Tumblr</a>
The Best definition of "The Cloud" I've seen so far. With a visio diagram to illustrate2011-10-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/13/the-best-definition-of-the-cloud-ive-seen-so-far<p><img height="281" width="723" src="http://lbdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/shiticareabout.png"/></p>
<a href="http://lbdigest.com/2010/08/10/what-is-the-cloud-the-cloud-is-shit-i-dont-care-about/">The Best definition of "The Cloud" I've seen so far. With a visio diagram to illustrate</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11406089399">Tumblr</a>
jimbryson: Here is what Fell off the Dock sounded like before the Falcon Lake shake. @chrispager is playing the harmonized solo. We recorded this the summer before at the Bathhouse Studio’s thanks to the kindness of the Tragically Hip. 2011-10-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/13/jimbryson-here-is-what-fell-off-the-dock<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://assets.tumblr.com/swf/audio_player.swf?audio_file=http://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/folkwolf/11402792912/tumblr_lt0iv3NVzd1qzbyi0&color=FFFFFF" height="27" width="207" quality="best" wmode="opaque"></embed>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11402792912">Tumblr</a>
Google2011-10-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/12/google<p>this is both a little bit of a glimpse behind the scenes at both google and amazon, and a way for companies without Steve Jobs to succeed. </p>
<a href="https://plus.google.com/112678702228711889851/posts/eVeouesvaVX">Google</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11364764502">Tumblr</a>
(via Big fan of this ‘Tech Troubleshooting’ diagram in g… on Twitpic)2011-10-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/11/via-big-fan-of-this-tech-troubleshooting<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsx4kdBycW1qdfvso_500.jpg">
<p>(via <a href="http://twitpic.com/6yityj" target="_blank">Big fan of this ‘Tech Troubleshooting’ diagram in g… on Twitpic</a>)</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11326758865">Tumblr</a>
Mountain Biker gets taken out by BUCK - CRAZY Footage - Only in Africa (by mcsmcc) (via @bikezilla1 on twitter)2011-10-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/11/mountain-biker-gets-taken-out-by-buck-crazy<object width="480" height="270"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S2oymHHyV1M?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S2oymHHyV1M?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11316179384">Tumblr</a>
Cessna 310 Ditches Into the Pacific Ocean Near Hawaii After Running Out of Fuel (by NYCAviationTV)2011-10-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/11/cessna-310-ditches-into-the-pacific-ocean-near<object width="480" height="270"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Pt0K1OwlKQM?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Pt0K1OwlKQM?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11316481191">Tumblr</a>
Surviving the Burning Man experience | Photographers Blog2011-10-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/07/surviving-the-burning-man-experience-photographers<a href="http://blogs.reuters.com/photographers-blog/2011/09/06/surviving-the-burning-man-experience/">Surviving the Burning Man experience | Photographers Blog</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11142035488">Tumblr</a>
Everything is fine. Keep Shopping2011-10-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/07/everything-is-fine-keep-shopping<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llcvduAdpM1qcetpzo1_500.jpg">
<p>Everything is fine. Keep Shopping</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11146864608">Tumblr</a>
Churchill v Grammar2011-10-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/07/churchill-v-grammar<p>Supposedly an editor had clumsily rearranged one of Churchill’s sentences to avoid ending it in a preposition, and the Prime Minister, very proud of his style, scribbled this note in reply: “This is the sort of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put.”</p>
<p>But apparently clumsy editors continue to thrive at the Ottawa Citizen </p>
<p><a href="http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/debate+within+fairy+tale/5516153/story.html" target="_blank">http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/debate+within+fairy+tale/5516153/story.html</a></p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11146818031">Tumblr</a>
Burning Man at 25 years - The Big Picture - Boston.com2011-10-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/07/burning-man-at-25-years-the-big-picture-boston-com<a href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/09/burning_man_at_25_years.html">Burning Man at 25 years - The Big Picture - Boston.com</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11141989021">Tumblr</a>
untitled2011-10-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/10/06/jayne-and-jane<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls2f4vpflo1qj8ok1o1_1280.jpg">
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/11101535570">Tumblr</a>
Punk Isn’t Dead2011-09-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/30/punk-isnt-dead<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lscm9tNviX1qdfvsoo1_500.png">
<p>Punk Isn’t Dead</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/10854254308">Tumblr</a>
Only @LizMcdermott will find this funny...2011-09-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/30/only-lizmcdermott-will-find-this-funny<p>Twitter conversation between @adammyerson, @iamtedking et al. In reverse chronological order.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Ted King @AdamMyerson One, you’re wrong. Part of being a dictator ofstyle is, two, I’m always right. Three, thanks for the DVD. I will study tonight</p>
<p>Sep 29 15:48:40 in reply to</p>
<p>» Adam Myerson @crashlights @iamtedking @resultsboy Well, Teddy, maybe not. Maybe not. <a href="http://t.co/ADI0Akw2" target="_blank">http://t.co/ADI0Akw2</a></p>
<p>»» Mike Hoover @iamtedking @resultsboy @AdamMyerson the short sleeve skinsuit/long finger glove cx fashion faux pas was the reason u were tagged as aposer</p>
<p>»»» Ted King @resultsboy I hope he was impressed how that poser went so far as to get the team sponsor bike.</p>
<p>»»»» colinr @iamtedking after the race one of the officials commented on howodd it was to see one of those protour poser kits in the elite race.</p>
<p>»»»»» Ted King @resultsboy: As predicted, the bar cam at night didn’treally work. But every once in a while it did. <a href="http://t.co/vaRGOvI4" target="_blank">http://t.co/vaRGOvI4</a> He looks fast.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Followed up with</p>
<blockquote>
<p> Adam Myerson @iamtedking It’s not your fault you didn’t know there was already an arbiter of cyclo-cross style. You’re new around here. Happy to help.</p>
</blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/10852930848">Tumblr</a>
The best article in "Defense AT&L" ever2011-09-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/29/the-best-article-in-defense-at-l-ever<blockquote>
<p>Even worse, it turns out getting a moon-sized project back on track requires the personal presence of a Sith Lord. Let me assure you, if your project’s success depends on hiring someone whose first name is Darth, you’ve got a problem. Not just because Sith Lords are make-believe, but also because they’re evil.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Also see<a href="http://deathstarpr.blogspot.com/2011/09/open-letter-to-pentagon-re-death-star.html" target="_blank"> the @DeathStarPR rebuttal.</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Anyway, like YOU’RE so amazing. We took a look at some of YOUR operational shortcomings, Mr. Perfectagon. We even made it into a LIST to make it really simple for you. You:</p>
<p>Are made of bricks. Nice impenetrable defensive system!</p>
<p>Don’t have any shield generators on nearby forest moons.</p>
<p>Can’t reach lightspeed.</p>
<p>Can’t even FLY AT ALL. LAME.</p>
<p>House no planet destroying superlasers, or even a single turbolaser battery.</p>
<p>Can’t disguise yourself as a small moon.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote></blockquote>
<a href="http://www.dau.mil/pubscats/ATL Docs/Sep-Oct11/Ward.pdf">The best article in "Defense AT&L" ever</a>
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Random tweet2011-09-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/28/random-tweet<p>@angrydeveloper is kind of an idiot. Funny part is: The “FreeRADIUS guys” is one guy. A really nice guy, with, admittedly, little patience for idiots. </p>
<a href="http://twitpic.com/5p28ah">Random tweet</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/10767884975">Tumblr</a>
Arts & Academe - The Chronicle of Higher Education2011-09-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/27/arts-academe-the-chronicle-of-higher-education<p>Three, count em, three poems by Jane Hirshfield. Go buy her book <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Come-Thief-Poems-Jane-Hirshfield/dp/0307595420" target="_blank">Come, Thief</a></p>
<a href="http://chronicle.com/blogs/arts/mondays-poems-three-by-jane-hirshfield/29895">Arts & Academe - The Chronicle of Higher Education</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/10736533694">Tumblr</a>
A CUP OF JO: Dutch subway slide2011-09-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/27/a-cup-of-jo-dutch-subway-slide<p>Screw the escalator, All subways need this!</p>
<a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2011/08/dutch-subway-slide.html">A CUP OF JO: Dutch subway slide</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/10737817880">Tumblr</a>
Carney questions bank lobby’s stand against financial regulations - The Globe and Mail2011-09-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/26/if-some-institutions-feel-pressure-today-it-isIf some institutions feel pressure today, it is because they have done too little for too long, rather than because they are being asked to do too much, to soon.
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/10685797893">Tumblr</a>
Dunning-Kruger Effect in action2011-09-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/26/dunning-kruger-effect-in-action<p>These <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/dgardner/status/118337772946857984" target="_blank">two</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/dgardner/status/118338090539565056" target="_blank">tweets</a> from <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/dgardner" target="_blank">@dgardner</a> illustrate the <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/dgardner" target="_blank">Dunning-Kruger effect</a> nicely</p>
<blockquote><strong>Dan Gardner</strong> Blowhard on radio, who has all the economic answers, reads an email that includes “Keynesian.” Blowhard pronounces it “Kuh-nayz-ian.”</blockquote>
<blockquote><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/dgardner/status/118337772946857984" target="_blank"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/dgardner/status/118337772946857984" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/#!/dgardner/status/118337772946857984</a></a></blockquote>
<blockquote><strong>Dan Gardner</strong> I believe that is a demonstration that one must know something to know one is ignorant.</blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/10694658327">Tumblr</a>
A Little Deception Helps Push Athletes to the Limit - NYTimes.com When a coach says to give 110%, this is what they mean.2011-09-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/22/then-dr-thompson-asked-the-cyclists-to-raceThen Dr. Thompson asked the cyclists to race against an avatar, a figure of a cyclist on a computer screen in front them. Each rider was shown two avatars. One was himself, moving along a virtual course at the rate he was actually pedaling the stationary bicycle. The other figure was moving at the pace of the cyclist’s own best effort — or so the cyclists were told. In fact, the second avatar was programmed to ride faster than the cyclist ever had — using 2 percent more power, which translates into a 1 percent increase in speed. Told to race against what they thought was their own best time, the cyclists ended up matching their avatars on their virtual rides, going significantly faster than they ever had gone before.
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/10517736455">Tumblr</a>
Matt's obsession with US politics continues unabated2011-09-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/22/matts-obsession-with-us-politics-continues-unabated<p>This year’s GOP candidates are a bumper crop of stupid. <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/06/10/241830/top-10-thing-texas-gov-rick-perry/" target="_blank">Rick Perry</a>, <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/michele-bachmanns-holy-war-20110622" target="_blank">Michelle Bachmann</a>, and perennial libertarian outsider, Ron Paul</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“We should be like 1900; we should be like 1940, 1950, 1960,” Paul said. “I live on the gulf coast, we deal with hurricanes all the time. Galveston is in my district.</p>
<p>“There’s no magic about FEMA. They’re a great contribution to deficit financing and quite frankly they don’t have a penny in the bank. We should be coordinated but coordinated voluntarily with the states,” Paul told NBC News. “A state can decide. We don’t need somebody in Washington.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_08/ron_paul_rejects_fema_role_in031821.php#" target="_blank">Ron Paul rejects FEMA role in hurricane response</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The dead bodies were so numerous that burying them all was not possible. The dead were initially weighted down and dumped at sea, but when the gulf currents washed many of the bodies back onto the beach, a new solution was needed.[27] Funeral pyres were set up wherever the dead were found and burned for weeks after the storm. The authorities passed out free whiskey to sustain the distraught men conscripted for the gruesome work of collecting and burning the dead.[17] More people were killed in this single storm than the total of those killed in all the tropical cyclones that have struck the United States since.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Galveston_Hurricane_of_1900&redirect=no" target="_blank">Galveston Hurricane of 1900</a></p>
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fuckyeahmcluhan: I support everyone’s troops 画 2011-09-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/22/fuckyeahmcluhan-i-support-everyones-troops<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrv2vjcKXX1qzma4ho1_400.jpg">
<p><a href="http://fuckyeahmcluhan.tumblr.com/post/10484440752" target="_blank">fuckyeahmcluhan</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I support everyone’s troops <a title="IMG OPS: edit, save, share, more" href="http://imgops.com/i.imgur.com/Ojwuf.jpg" target="_blank">画</a></p>
</blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/10517485304">Tumblr</a>
An Economist reader reminds us of our responsibilities. And rightly so. (via theeconomist)2011-09-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/21/sir-i-must-object-in-the-strongest-terms-to-theSIR – I must object in the strongest terms to the use of the oxymoronic neologism, “bottomless shallows”, in a Banyan column. Please inform your Mr Banyan that oxymorons must be stamped out wherever found, and are particularly galling in a newspaper of your standing and heritage. I am certain that Messrs Samuel Johnson, Walter Bagehot and Henry Watson Fowler are all spinning in their respective graves at this slight, albeit at different speeds. You know well how lapses like this affect school truancy, foment social disorder and encourage a preference for margarine on one’s scones. Sin not again.
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untitled2011-09-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/21/flecton-just-had-her-at-1210-est-this<p><a href="http://flecton.tumblr.com/post/10410452459" target="_blank">flecton</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Just had her at 1210 est this afternoon. she was 11 pounds. C section. Mom and daughter are both Healthy.</p>
</blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/10490325406">Tumblr</a>
Damnit! Why didn't I think of that?2011-09-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/21/damnit-why-didnt-i-think-of-that<p><img height="431" width="720" src="http://static.happyplace.com/assets/images/2011/09/4e6e31c8a69aa.jpg"/></p>
<a href="http://www.happyplace.com/10430/the-most-enjoyably-cantankerous-notes-ever-posted-in-the-workplace">Damnit! Why didn't I think of that?</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/10489856989">Tumblr</a>
Sept. 11 and the Cycle of Revenge - NYTimes.com2011-09-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/20/sept-11-and-the-cycle-of-revenge-nytimes-com<blockquote>
<p>What if the government had simply decided to turn the other cheek and forgive those who sought to attack it, not seven times, but seventy times seven? What if the grief and mourning that followed 9/11 were allowed to foster a nonviolent ethics of compassion rather than a violent politics of revenge and retribution? What if the crime of the Sept. 11 attacks had led not to an unending war on terror, but the cultivation of a practice of peace — a difficult, fraught and ever-compromised endeavor, but perhaps worth the attempt?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Not actually from the article, but a poem written by Jane Hirshfield after 9/11</p>
<h3>The Dead Do Not Want Us Dead</h3>
<blockquote>
<pre> The dead do not want us dead;
such petty errors are left for the living.
Nor do they want our mourning.
No gift to them--not rage, not weeping.
Return one of them, any one of them, to the earth,
and look: such foolish skipping,
such telling of bad jokes, such feasting!
Even a cucumber, even a single anise seed: feasting
</pre>
</blockquote>
<p><em>Jane Hirshfield</em></p>
<a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/the-cycle-of-revenge/">Sept. 11 and the Cycle of Revenge - NYTimes.com</a>
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The Sunday Poem: Jane Hirshfield | gwarlingo2011-09-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/16/the-sunday-poem-jane-hirshfield-gwarlingo<a href="http://www.gwarlingo.com/2011/the-sunday-poem-jane-hirshfield/">The Sunday Poem: Jane Hirshfield | gwarlingo</a>
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Polar bears and dogs playing (by FirstscienceTV) The funny thing is that the Sled Dog at the very end reminds me of Whiskey, and the Polar bear reminds me of Liz, trying to give Whiskey “cuddles”2011-09-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/16/polar-bears-and-dogs-playing-by-firstsciencetv<object width="480" height="270"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JE-Nyt4Bmi8?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JE-Nyt4Bmi8?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Richard Dawkins on the "Theory" of Evolution2011-09-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/15/richard-dawkins-on-the-theory-of-evolution<section><dialog>
<dt>Darwin’s idea is arguably the most powerful ever to occur to a human mind. The power of a scientific theory may be measured as a ratio:</dt>
<dd>the number of facts that it explains divided by the number of assumptions it needs to postulate in order to do the explaining. A theory that assumes most of what it is trying to explain is a bad theory. That is why the creationist or ‘intelligent design’ theory is such a rotten theory.
</dd>
<dt>What any theory of life needs to explain is functional complexity. Complexity can be measured as statistical improbability, and living things are statistically improbable in a very particular direction:</dt>
<dd>the direction of functional efficiency. The body of a bird is not just a prodigiously complicated machine, with its trillions of cells - each one in itself a marvel of miniaturized complexity - all conspiring together to make muscle or bone, kidney or brain. Its interlocking parts also conspire to make it good for something - in the case of most birds, good for flying. An aero-engineer is struck dumb with admiration for the bird as flying machine: its feathered flight-surfaces and ailerons sensitively adjusted in real time by the on-board computer which is the brain; the breast muscles, which are the engines, the ligaments, tendons and lightweight bony struts all exactly suited to the task. And the whole machine is immensely improbable in the sense that, if you randomly shook up the parts over and over again, never in a million years would they fall into the right shape to fly like a swallow, soar like a vulture, or ride the oceanic up-draughts like a wandering albatross. Any theory of life has to explain how the laws of physics can give rise to a complex flying machine like a bird or a bat or a pterosaur, a complex swimming machine like a tarpon or a dolphin, a complex burrowing machine like a mole, a complex climbing machine like a monkey, or a complex thinking machine like a person.
</dd>
<dt></dt>
<dd>Darwin explained all of this with one brilliantly simple idea - natural selection, driving gradual evolution over immensities of geological time. His is a good theory because of the huge ratio of what it explains (all the complexity of life) divided by what it needs to assume (simply the nonrandom survival of hereditary information through many generations). The rival theory to explain the functional complexity of life - creationism - is about as bad a theory as has ever been proposed. What it postulates (an intelligent designer) is even more complex, even more statistically improbable than what it explains. In fact it is such a bad theory it doesn’t deserve to be called a theory at all, and it certainly doesn’t deserve to be taught alongside evolution in science classes.</dd>
</section></dialog>
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Bill Simmons (via snakelinksonic) don’t avoid The Wire. believe the hype. it’s worth your time. (via flecton)2011-09-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/15/now-im-wondering-if-i-avoided-the-wire-becauseNow I’m wondering if I avoided ‘The Wire’ because its central themes — drugs, corruption, urban decay — were realities that I simply wanted to ignore. Instead of being haunted by a show like this, it was easier and safer to skip it entirely. Most people feel this way, I’m guessing; it’s the only conceivable reason why five times as many people would watch “The Sopranos” instead of a show that’s better in every way. See, when most Americans dabble in inner-city TV shows or movies for our ‘taste’ of street life, we’re hoping for the Hollywood version. We don’t want despair and decay, we want hope and triumph. We don’t want the zero-sum game of drug dealers killing each other, we want The Rock coaching juvie kids and turning their lives around in two hours. We want them to win the big football game, we want the movie to end, and we don’t want to think about these people ever again.
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WARNING2011-09-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/14/warning<p>Warning: If you see a link that offers you free tracks from Nickleback’s new album DO NOT CLICK ON IT. It actually goes to a link with free tracks from Nickleback’s new album. **PLEASE REPOST**</p>
<p>h/t to Steve “Stokes” Peringer</p>
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On (re)gaining perspective | OpenFile A very touching little memento on the occasion of Jack Layton’s lying in state.2011-09-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/09/12/then-next-thing-you-know-one-of-those-doorsThen, next thing you know, one of those doors opens and a few thousand of them walk in. And then it’s like, “fuck,” because you remember that people took time off work, took the time to bring their kids, took the time to take the time, basically, in the face of all those denied entries, to do something heartfelt and decent and genuine anyway.
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Top Gear's wild ride - 60 Minutes - CBS News2011-08-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/22/top-gears-wild-ride-60-minutes-cbs-news<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7376846n&tag=contentMain;contentAux">Top Gear's wild ride - 60 Minutes - CBS News</a>
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Book Review: Motorcycles & Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor - Blogcritics Books2011-08-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/19/book-review-motorcycles-sweetgrass-by-drew-hayden<p>Looks interesting. </p>
<a href="http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-motorcycles-sweetgrass-by-drew/">Book Review: Motorcycles & Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor - Blogcritics Books</a>
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Tom Waits/Cookie Monster mashup - God’s Away On Business (by cookiewaits)2011-08-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/17/tom-waits-cookie-monster-mashup-gods-away-on<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/U5X4N2exOsU?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/U5X4N2exOsU?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Remember, kids, Rotate Your Owl (by mrweebl)2011-08-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/17/remember-kids-rotate-your-owl-by-mrweebl<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9hBpF_Zj4OA?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9hBpF_Zj4OA?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Humans and Dogs: A Domestic Partnership — Tenspeed Hero2011-08-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/17/humans-and-dogs-a-domestic-partnership-tenspeed-hero<p>Two of my favourite things. Biking and dogs.</p>
<a href="http://tenspeedhero.com/features/dogs-of-the-tour-de-france/">Humans and Dogs: A Domestic Partnership — Tenspeed Hero</a>
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BBC - Dimensions - The Burning Man festival2011-08-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/17/bbc-dimensions-the-burning-man-festival<p>If Burning Man were held in Ottawa, it would cover the entire downtown, from Scott’s place in Hull, out past Einoch and Kim’s in Hintonburg, with the lower left corner in the Glebe.</p>
<a href="http://howbigreally.com/dimension/festivals_and_specticles/burning_man#k1r_7e8">BBC - Dimensions - The Burning Man festival</a>
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Why I'm voting for the NDP this year2011-08-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/14/why-im-voting-for-the-ndp-this-year<p>Kelly Egan triggered a rant from me <a href="http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/Kelly+Egan+Cyclists+need+space+other+vehicles+road/5252544/story.html" target="_blank">with his column</a></p>
<p>I really do not understand the objections to this law. As a motorist, I have absolutely no trouble slowing down for a cyclist. All I have to do is wait for an opportunity to pass, then once that opportunity arises, put my foot on the gas and go. Is going the speed limit for the entire drive worth anyone’s life? Is getting to where you’re going one minute faster worth someone’s wife losing her husband?</p>
<p>Like it or not, cyclists are entitled to the entire lane whenever they deem it necessary, and, as a cyclist, you can’t always ride on the edge of the road. That’s where all the potholes are, that’s where all the glass is.</p>
<p>And, here’s the kicker. Mr. Egan brings up the useless rhetorical device of the , and I quote</p>
<p>“reckless ones who fly through stop signs, red lights, hop on sidewalks, and whatnot.” As if drivers _never_ break any laws at all. As if I don’t see at least 10 Highway Traffic Act infractions any time I drive to work. Speeding, unsafe lane changes, and even, yes, running stop signs and red lights. (Even when you’re making a right on red, you have to come to a full and complete stop)</p>
<p>Here’s the big difference. When drivers break the law, somebody’s life is inevitably at stake. You want to know why cars have to be licensed, and bicycles don’t? Bicycles weigh 25 - 30 pounds and travel between 25 and 30 kph. Cars are 2000 lb death machines traveling at 100 Kph. </p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, I have a car, and I even love my car, but I’m always conscious that I hold people’s lives in my hands every time I get behind the wheel. In Canada, nearly 3000 people are killed by car every year. (or at least in 2004)</p>
<p><span>And to pour salt on that wound that Mr. Egan opens up with this column, he has the audacity to blame cyclists for somehow using the road that they’re entitled to. For some reason, Mr. Egan seems to think that, if the roads are dangerous and crowded, it’s the cyclists fault for daring to tread on the sacred pavement that is reserved for cars. He does not seem to put two and two together, and realize that if the road is dangerous, that cars are bigger and heavier and an infinite amount more dangerous, and instead blames the 6 car/bike fatalities on cyclists, even though most of them were even riding in bike lanes. <br/><br/>Mr. Egan, I have news for you. If the roads are dangerous and crowded, it’s not the cyclists that are to blame.</span></p>
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Riots are always political2011-08-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/11/riots-are-always-political<p>This paragraph from some article about the UK Riots pissed me right the fuck off.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>But Croydon is not Selma, and Tottenham is not 14th Street in the Washington, D.C., of 1968. The rioters are not fighting for a cause.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Repeat after me kids. <em><strong>Riots are always politlcal. </strong></em>Happy people do not riot. People who are content with their lives do not decide to loot and burn down shops. </p>
<p>People who have nothing to lose and feel disconnected from their neighbors and fellow citizens do riot.</p>
<p>This is a political problem, just because they don’t know who the PM is, doesn’t mean their aims are not political, it just means they don’t watch the news much</p>
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Restaurant websites: Why are they so awful? Which ones are the absolute worst? - By Farhad Manjoo - Slate Magazine2011-08-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/10/restaurant-websites-why-are-they-so-awful-which-ones<p>The best restaurant website I know of is <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/hintonburger" target="_blank">Hintonburger’s twitter page</a>. Everything you need to know is at the top.</p>
<a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2301228/pagenum/all/">Restaurant websites: Why are they so awful? Which ones are the absolute worst? - By Farhad Manjoo - Slate Magazine</a>
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Full HD High Speed Movie - Eagleowl - Photron SA2 (by vurtrunner)2011-08-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/10/full-hd-high-speed-movie-eagleowl-photron-sa2<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/37MNE8tOBG4?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/37MNE8tOBG4?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Penny Red: Panic on the streets of London.2011-08-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/09/noone-expected-this-the-so-called-leaders-whoNoone expected this. The so-called leaders who have taken three solid days to return from their foreign holidays to a country in flames did not anticipate this. The people running Britain had absolutely no clue how desperate things had become. They thought that after thirty years of soaring inequality, in the middle of a recession, they could take away the last little things that gave people hope, the benefits, the jobs, the possibility of higher education, the support structures, and nothing would happen. They were wrong. And now my city is burning, and it will continue to burn until we stop the blanket condemnations and blind conjecture and try to understand just what has brought viral civil unrest to Britain. Let me give you a hint: it ain’t Twitter.
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London riots: the underclass lashes out - Telegraph2011-08-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/09/europes-leaders-our-own-prime-minister-andEurope’s leaders, our own Prime Minister and Chancellor included, were parked on sun-loungers as London burned. Although the epicentre of the immediate economic crisis is the eurozone, successive British governments have colluded in incubating the poverty, the inequality and the inhumanity now exacerbated by financial turmoil.
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(via “Danger” Signs on Elgin Street — The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the 21st Century)2011-08-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/08/via-danger-signs-on-elgin-street-the<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpm8nmruln1qdfvsoo1_1280.jpg">
<p>(via <a href="http://www.joeydevilla.com/2011/08/08/danger-signs-on-elgin-street/" target="_blank">“Danger” Signs on Elgin Street — The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the 21st Century</a>)</p>
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dertoddertod: A raven stretches its wings as it sits on a post inside the 30 km (18 miles) exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear reactor near the village of Babchin, Belarus on December 23, 2009. The sign reads: “Radiation hazard”. (Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko) 2011-08-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/08/dertoddertod-a-raven-stretches-its-wings-as-it<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpl99fLcgZ1qda41zo1_1280.jpg">
<p><a href="http://dertoddertod.tumblr.com/post/8628270655" target="_blank">dertoddertod</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A raven stretches its wings as it sits on a post inside the 30 km (18 miles) exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear reactor near the village of Babchin, Belarus on December 23, 2009. The sign reads: “Radiation hazard”. <span class="if1024">(Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko)</span></p>
</blockquote>
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Al-Qaeda Claims U.S. Mass Transportation Infrastructure Must Drastically Improve Before Any Terrorist Attacks | The Onion - America's Finest News Source2011-08-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/07/al-qaeda-claims-u-s-mass-transportation-infrastructure<a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/alqaeda-claims-us-mass-transportation-infrastructu,21008/">Al-Qaeda Claims U.S. Mass Transportation Infrastructure Must Drastically Improve Before Any Terrorist Attacks | The Onion - America's Finest News Source</a>
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Yep. This is spot on. xkcd: CIA2011-08-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/06/yep-this-is-spot-on-xkcd-cia<p><img src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/cia.png" width="578" height="263"/></p>
<a href="http://www.xkcd.com/932/">Yep. This is spot on. xkcd: CIA</a>
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That truck driver you flipped off? Let me tell you his story. | StarTribune.com2011-08-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/06/that-truck-driver-you-flipped-off-let-me-tell-you-his<p>This situation is what Liz and I call a Wyoming traffic jam. Truck Drivers in most of North America are patient, overworked pleasant souls who I generally admire. Truck Drivers on the 401 are still jerks tho </p>
<a href="http://www.startribune.com/opinion/otherviews/126619568.html">That truck driver you flipped off? Let me tell you his story. | StarTribune.com</a>
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Technologically mediated Syncronicity2011-08-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/06/technologically-mediated-syncronicity<p>In my Google Reader feed, <a href="http://kottke.org/11/08/technology-ushers-in-golden-age-for-extroverts" target="_blank">Jason Kottke</a> points me to an <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/07/4-ways-technology-can-enable-your-inner-introvert/242469/" target="_blank">article from The Atlantic</a> about how social networks are enabling introverts to better socialize, then Jon Carroll <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/02/DDTF1KGSMH.DTL&feed=rss.jcarroll" target="_blank">has a hilarious post</a> about the consequences of such introvert enabling </p>
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New Cosmos series2011-08-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/06/new-cosmos-series<p>Neil DeGrasse Tyson? Good. Carl Sagan’s Widow. Good. Seth McFarlane?? Hopefully it’ll be entertaining</p>
<a href="http://kottke.org/11/08/new-cosmos-series">New Cosmos series</a>
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Mariachi Connecticut Serenades a Beluga Whale (by captainkickstand)2011-08-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/08/05/mariachi-connecticut-serenades-a-beluga-whale-by<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZS_6-IwMPjM?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZS_6-IwMPjM?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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For Amy « Russell Brand2011-07-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/26/when-i-first-met-her-around-camden-she-was-justWhen I first met her around Camden she was just some twit in a pink satin jacket shuffling round bars with mutual friends, most of whom were in cool Indie bands or peripheral Camden figures Withnail-ing their way through life on impotent charisma.
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(via Dog bites shark off Australia’s coast - video | World news | guardian.co.uk)2011-07-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/22/via-dog-bites-shark-off-australias-coast-video<object width="460" height="370">
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Spike Jonze Ikea ad (by WhitetheDark)2011-07-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/22/spike-jonze-ikea-ad-by-whitethedark<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TsQXQGaasUg?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TsQXQGaasUg?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Yet another reason to love Jane Hirshfield2011-07-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/21/yet-another-reason-to-love-jane-hirshfield<p>I may have discussed Jane Hirshfield before, she’s a Zen Buddhist Monk and poet who I was introduced to on the WeLL. Recently a book was released <a href="http://fire-monks.com/fire-monks/" target="_blank">“Fire Monks”</a>, that describes a group of Zen Monks who fought to save the <a href="http://www.sfzc.org/tassajara/" target="_blank">Tassajara Zen retreat</a> in the hills south of Monterey, California. Jane happened to show up the day before the fire started, and she describes the experience like this.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>for me, it was like an old war horse hearing the bugle—nostrils flare, neck arches, tail waves, even gets to trot a few steps as if young again…</p>
<p>I felt so at home under those circumstances, even while I knew that I no longer have the strength or capacity to do what I did</p>
</blockquote>
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Voeckler To Reconsider Tour De France Approach | Cyclingnews.com2011-07-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/21/the-frenchman-admitted-that-he-almost-didnt-touchThe Frenchman admitted that he almost didn’t touch his bike during the week preceding the start in Vendée, as he became a dad for the second time three days before stage 1. He also realised during stage 17 that it’s worth going to reconnoiter the crucial stages in advance. Before the Dauphiné, he told Cyclingnews that he wasn’t a fan of training camps in the mountains but his new status as a GC contender has made him change his mind.
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Rwanda’s Cycling Team : The New Yorker2011-07-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/20/rwandas-cycling-team-the-new-yorker<p>Long, weird, oddly heartbreaking, oddly inspiring article on the Rwandan Cycling team</p>
<a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/07/11/110711fa_fact_gourevitch">Rwanda’s Cycling Team : The New Yorker</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/7844733408">Tumblr</a>
Reality Check | Toronto's libraries are under threat of privatization. Tell city council to keep them public now.2011-07-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/20/reality-check-torontos-libraries-are-under-threat-of<p>Two sentences. Each of them terribly, drastically wrong.</p>
<a href="http://ourpubliclibrary.to/2011/07/19/reality-check/">Reality Check | Toronto's libraries are under threat of privatization. Tell city council to keep them public now.</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/7842626286">Tumblr</a>
Dave Zabriskie » The Beauty & Agony of the Tour (Part 2)2011-07-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/20/later-he-would-explain-his-split-second-choice-asLater he would explain his split second choice as riding off the road or riding up the back of Thor and wiping them both out. I’ll say what you already know, Vino’s a warrior.
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Ani DiFranco - Not A Pretty Girl - Rdio2011-07-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/20/ani-difranco-not-a-pretty-girl-rdio<p>Not sure if this is objective, or some kind of Dan Levitin neurological imperative, but so far in the Ani Difranco back catalog, this is my favourite album. Displays a musical complexity that wasn’t there in earlier albums. </p>
<p>However, this could just be that this was my first Ani Difranco record, and the first time I saw her was when she was on tour promoting this one. </p>
<a href="http://www.rdio.com/#/artist/Ani_DiFranco/album/Not_A_Pretty_Girl/">Ani DiFranco - Not A Pretty Girl - Rdio</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/7845285773">Tumblr</a>
I can’t NOT laugh at this. HONK (by PlanktonBouy)2011-07-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/19/i-cant-not-laugh-at-this-honk-by-planktonbouy<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s-33i2b17nc?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s-33i2b17nc?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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“the bluebird” by Charles Bukowski from The Last Night of the Earth Poems 2 Poems by Charles Bukowski: “Bluebird” & “The Great Escape” « whisper down the write alley2011-07-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/15/theres-a-bluebird-in-my-heart-that-wants-to-get<p>there’s a bluebird in my heart that<br/>
wants to get out<br/>
but I’m too tough for him,<br/>
I say, stay in there, I’m not going<br/>
to let anybody see<br/>
you.</p>
<p>there’s a bluebird in my heart that<br/>
wants to get out<br/>
but I pour whiskey on him and inhale<br/>
cigarette smoke<br/>
and the whores and the bartenders<br/>
and the grocery clerks<br/>
never know that<br/>
he’s<br/>
in there.</p>
<p>there’s a bluebird in my heart that<br/>
wants to get out<br/>
but I’m too tough for him,<br/>
I say,<br/>
stay down, do you want to mess<br/>
me up?<br/>
you want to screw up the<br/>
works?<br/>
you want to blow my book sales in<br/>
Europe?</p>
<p>there’s a bluebird in my heart that<br/>
wants to get out<br/>
but I’m too clever, I only let him out<br/>
at night sometimes<br/>
when everybody’s asleep.<br/>
I say, I know that you’re there,<br/>
so don’t be sad.<br/>
then I put him back,<br/>
but he’s still singing a little<br/>
in there, I haven’t quite let him<br/>
die<br/>
and we sleep together like<br/>
that<br/>
with our<br/>
secret pact<br/>
and it’s nice enough to<br/>
make a man<br/>
weep, but I don’t<br/>
weep, do<br/>
you?</p>
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The Apostasy of Idiocy | Boulder Report | Bicycling.com2011-07-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/14/the-apostasy-of-idiocy-boulder-report-bicycling-com<a href="http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2011/07/13/the-apostasy-of-idiocy/">The Apostasy of Idiocy | Boulder Report | Bicycling.com</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/7611083746">Tumblr</a>
Julian Dean surveys his fiefdom ... in a bathrobe2011-07-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/14/julian-dean-surveys-his-fiefdom-in-a-bathrobe<p>This was taken on the latest rest day. The Garvelo crew had the good fortune to be put up in a 4 star hotel that night</p>
<p><img height="480" width="640" src="http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg741/scaled.php?tn=0&server=741&filename=65ef.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640"/></p>
<a href="http://yfrog.com/kl65efj">Julian Dean surveys his fiefdom ... in a bathrobe</a>
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Made of win. (via They Might Be Giants covers Chumbawamba | Video | A.V. Undercover 2011 | The A.V. Club)2011-07-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/11/made-of-win-via-they-might-be-giants-covers<iframe frameborder="no" width="480" height="270" scrolling="no" src="http://www.avclub.com/video_embed/?id=53068"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/they-might-be-giants-covers-chumbawamba,53068/" target="_blank" title="They Might Be Giants covers Chumbawamba">They Might Be Giants covers Chumbawamba</a>
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Car Vs. Bike at the Tour De France. This actually looks worse not in slo-mo (by matthewilluminating)2011-07-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/10/car-vs-bike-at-the-tour-de-france-this-actually<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i_umKmcQpQk?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i_umKmcQpQk?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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主人,你怎麼把肉都吃光了~ 這配音真經典 (by LibraAaron) 2011-07-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/05/by-libraaaron<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M-kYJlsjT8A?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M-kYJlsjT8A?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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American will be first cyclist to ride a vegan Tour de France - Americas, World - The Independent2011-07-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/07/05/american-will-be-first-cyclist-to-ride-a-vegan-tour-de<p>The nearly vegan Tour de France diet looks absolutely awful. ”white rice with maple syrup and cinnamon”? </p>
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/american-will-be-first-cyclist-to-ride-a-vegan-tour-de-france-2304496.html">American will be first cyclist to ride a vegan Tour de France - Americas, World - The Independent</a>
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Politics2011-06-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/30/i-think-we-journalists-have-to-grapple-with-theI think we journalists have to grapple with the fact that the public is perhaps more willing to believe a blatant partisan report than a perhaps complicated work of journalism. Repetition works; even when the facts being repeated are wrong. It may mean that this 50-year-old experiment, treating journalism and politics as a measurable science, with absolute rights and absolute wrongs, is coming to an end. And what rises up in its place?
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Economist humor. Those guys really know how to have a good time theeconomist: Found in a kitchen frequented by our Daily Charts team. Those chaps really love their work. 2011-06-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/30/economist-humor-those-guys-really-know-how-to<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lnk0espHBU1qd65vgo1_400.jpg">
<p>Economist humor. Those guys really know how to have a good time</p>
<p><a href="http://theeconomist.tumblr.com/post/7046015329" target="_blank">theeconomist</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Found in a kitchen frequented by our <a href="http://theeconomist.tumblr.com/tagged/chart" target="_blank">Daily Charts</a> team. Those chaps really love their work.</p>
</blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/7089160446">Tumblr</a>
Dial-up sound 700% slower (Creepy) (by Darkfalky)2011-06-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/30/dial-up-sound-700-slower-creepy-by-darkfalky<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IF2v32xCD0Y?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IF2v32xCD0Y?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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tour day schmalz 2011 preview | NY Velocity - New York bike racing culture, news and events2011-06-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/30/andy-and-frank-had-gilbert-outnumbered-at-lbl-thisAndy and Frank had Gilbert outnumbered at LBL this year, and then proceeded to take kitten-like swipes at him until Gilbert just got annoyed and rode away from them.
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This is possibly the EuroTrashiest thing I’ve ever seen (thx to @lemay ) Le Velo (by RobinMoore)2011-06-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/29/this-is-possibly-the-eurotrashiest-thing-ive-ever<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jn0FF1KwL4I?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jn0FF1KwL4I?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/7044369468">Tumblr</a>
This seems made for Shawn “Jam” Hill Vegan Black Metal Chef Episode 2 - Easy Meal Ideas of The Ages (by VeganBlackMetalChef)2011-06-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/28/this-seems-made-for-shawn-jam-hill-vegan-black<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jy2my_diH6A?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jy2my_diH6A?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Rick Rubin talking to Billboard (via jukevox)2011-06-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/24/people-love-music-more-than-they-ever-have-andPeople love music more than they ever have and are willing to pay for music. It’s just a question of finding the best way for that to happen, without holding onto any of the past. I think with certain artists you want to hear their album and then there are other artists who I like where maybe it’s more about the single. I don’t think there is going to be one way that everything works. I think people will have many more options and choices of how to digest music, and hopefully the labels will get to the point where they are in the business of serving the audience instead of trying to hold on to an old model.
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MPs entirely miss the point of this ESPN ranking. You have MPs from the region all lining up at the mic saying how loyal and committed Toronto fans are, as if that’s somehow disproving the ESPN ranking. Actually, it’s proving the ESPN ranking. Toronto fans are insanely loyal to their teams, who don’t return that loyalty at all, by, say, making it past the first round of the playoffs. MPs stand up for Toronto’s long-suffering sports fans - The Globe and Mail2011-06-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/23/the-sports-network-recently-declared-toronto-theThe sports network recently declared Toronto the worst city in North America for professional sports. It arrived at this finding by ranking and weighting team performance against fan commitment, including the amount of money and emotion fans invest in their teams without results.
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The Incidental Cyclist: Get scared or get stubborn2011-06-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/23/okay-fine-fine-i-thought-and-again-i-kind-ofOkay, fine. Fine, I thought. And again I kind of surprised myself: I got mad, and I got defiant. If they were going to keep blowing past me, then I was going to get out into the lane and make it impossible. So I came out about a metre into the lane - where, technically, I should be, but way further out than I usually ride - and I stayed there, determinedly ignoring the sounds of cars coming up from behind me. Or at least, not ignoring them, but not letting them push me sideways. I was absolutely done with being intimidated by cars.
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Slump in construction industry creates a Sheetrock ghost town - CSMonitor.com2011-06-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/22/slump-in-construction-industry-creates-a-sheetrock<p>This is sad. I’ve gotten to know Sunny and Tammy over the past 2 or 3 years, as I rent a storage space from them, and I stop in every year on my way to the Playa, and pay them. They always invite me into their home and offer me a beer and have a good long conversation with them and they’re generous, gracious people. I hope they can do OK, but it’s hard to see how, with the entire town shutting down.</p>
<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2011/0611/Slump-in-construction-industry-creates-a-Sheetrock-ghost-town">Slump in construction industry creates a Sheetrock ghost town - CSMonitor.com</a>
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FilibusterWatch: Don't start fluffing the parliamentary pillows yet, House pages... - Inside Politics2011-06-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/22/filibusterwatch-dont-start-fluffing-the-parliamentary<p>Reason #1 to follow @kady on twitter. She uses tags like “a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel” which is one of the best lines in the entire Black Adder canon</p>
<p>
<object width="459" height="55">
<param name="movie" value="http://ecdn0.hark.com/swfs/player.swf?1305835355"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="flashvars" value="autoplay=false&dataPath=http://www.hark.com/clips/ccwbgrsxds.json"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://ecdn0.hark.com/swfs/player.swf?1305835355" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="autoplay=false&dataPath=http://www.hark.com/clips/ccwbgrsxds.json" width="459" height="55" wmode="transparent"></embed></object>
<span> (<a href="http://www.hark.com/clips/ccwbgrsxds-ive-got-a-plan-so-cunning-you-could-put-a-tail-on-it-and-call-it-a-weasel" target="_blank">Link</a>) View more <a href="http://www.hark.com/collections/brmpdhnfbd-black-adder" target="_blank">Black Adder Sound Clips</a> and <a href="http://www.hark.com/collections/zbjmtrkvtz-rowan-atkinson" target="_blank">Rowan Atkinson Sound Clips</a> </span></p>
<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2011/06/filibusterwatch-dont-start-fluffing-the-parliamentary-pillows-yet-house-pages.html">FilibusterWatch: Don't start fluffing the parliamentary pillows yet, House pages... - Inside Politics</a>
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Ah, to be scottish and drunk2011-06-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/22/ah-to-be-scottish-and-drunk<p>I got this from @taylorphinney, a fantastic cyclist who posted it on twitter:</p>
<p>It starts with:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A FUMING bride DECKED her kilt-wearing hubby when he sat on her knee at the reception and left a SKIDMARK on her wedding dress</p>
</blockquote>
<p>and ends with:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It’s believed that Angus and Sarah were reconciled when they sobered up, and have no memory of the melee</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://yfrog.com/z/kedztqj">Ah, to be scottish and drunk</a>
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A E.R. nurse's thoughts on an instigator's "apology"2011-06-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/22/a-e-r-nurses-thoughts-on-an-instigators-apology<p><a href="http://riot2011frontlines.tumblr.com/post/6682186192" target="_blank">riot2011frontlines</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ln28gvGysH1qjmahb.png"/></p>
<p><em>Ambulance cars line the streets outside of St. Paul’s Hospital’s emergency triage centre for those injured on the night of June 15. </em>Photo credit: <span class="name"><strong class="username"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jandresgo/" target="_blank">Andrés Goñi</a></strong></span></p>
<p>Tim,</p>
<p>Just because you can string an apologetic sentence together does not mean you are sorry. Perhaps I should make you aware of the consequences of your action. To you, it’s just an overturned car that you set on fire. To me, it’s walking into an overflowing ER and helping treat a girl with a severe asthma attack because she was exposed to the noxious, acrid smoke of a burning vehicle. To her, it was just a chance to be a part of a group cheering for her team. Little did she know that later on, we were thinking of sticking a breathing tube down her throat if her condition did not improve.</p>
<p>To you (yes, I am lumping you with all the douchebag rioters in the ER that night), it’s a chance to congregate in the ER waiting room, pounding on the triage window demanding to be seen for teargas exposure and cuts from looting and fighting, while posturing and bragging about how you kicked the crap out of somebody and smashed shit up. To me, it’s taking my time away from the little old quiet lady having chest pain or taking time away from the person you “shit-kicked” for trying to stop the looting.</p>
<p>To you, it’s just a fight. To me, it’s the ER social worker looking for a teddybear to console a 4 year old girl because she just witnessed her dad get a broken nose as he was trying to get his daughter out of the hotzone.</p>
<p>To you, it’s writing a letter saying “you will do whatever it takes to help clean the city.” To me, it’s walking home after a long shift and seeing all these people at 7:30 in the morning armed with garbage bags cleaning up YOUR mess and realizing that these people have more class in their pinky finger than you could ever muster in your whole life.</p>
<p>To me, it’s getting home to shower, only to have my elderly neighbour knock on my door and ask me if he should make an appointment to this doctor because he was experiencing shortness of breath which later turned to chest pain in the morning. He did not think about leaving his window open as he went to bed at 9 o’clock. The smoke from all the burning cars made it to our building, into his room and triggered his asthma, which then raised his heart rate, which then became a small heart attack. I asked him why he didn’t go to the ER, and he answered, “I turned on the tv this morning and saw the rioting, I did not want to be a burden.” To you, it’s just an overturned car that you set on fire.</p>
<p>Why am I blaming you for all this? Because you are the instigator. You ask people to leave your family, friends and co-workers alone?! I think they need to know how much of a colossal douche you are. Remember that your parents worked themselves to the bone so they can move to this country and give you your god-given right to flip cars over and set them on fire.</p>
<p>You, Tim Kwong, are a douchtard. Apology not accepted.</p>
<p><strong>— from a E.R. nurse<br/></strong></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://riot2011frontlines.tumblr.com/post/6682186192" target="_blank">Read More</a></p>
</blockquote>
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Creepy フェイスバンク 2種セット (by netpricetv)2011-06-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/20/creepy-2-by-netpricetv<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xln8tbtHi6Y?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xln8tbtHi6Y?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Canadian Cyclist - Racer's eye view of Preston Street Criterium2011-06-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/20/canadian-cyclist-racers-eye-view-of-preston-street<p>Man, they did that lap in less than 1:20.</p>
<a href="http://canadiancyclist.com/dailynews.php?id=22024">Canadian Cyclist - Racer's eye view of Preston Street Criterium</a>
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This is why I’m for the Lansdowne rebuild in Ottawa. Gotta get my whole foods on Whole Foods Parking Lot - Music Video [HD] (by FogandSmogFilms)2011-06-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/17/this-is-why-im-for-the-lansdowne-rebuild-in<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2UFc1pr2yUU?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2UFc1pr2yUU?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Laurens Ten Dam has a 70s style shag wagon! De Chevy van Laurens ten Dam (by RaboSportTV)2011-06-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/17/laurens-ten-dam-has-a-70s-style-shag-wagon-de<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vrGyklNmf3w?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vrGyklNmf3w?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Awesome. cyclocosm: queenstage: Tyler Farrar dedicates his win today to Wouter Weylandt with a W salute. (Photo via @Cervelo) (see also) 2011-06-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/16/awesome-cyclocosm-queenstage-tyler-farrar<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmw9yfPDYO1qa3ggpo1_1280.jpg">
<p>Awesome.</p>
<p><a href="http://cyclocosm.tumblr.com/post/6593250902" target="_blank">cyclocosm</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="http://queenstage.tumblr.com/post/6592635321" target="_blank">queenstage</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Tyler Farrar dedicates his win today to Wouter Weylandt with a W salute.</p>
<p>(Photo via <a href="http://www.twitter.com/cervelo" target="_blank">@Cervelo</a>)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taimages/4599240736/" target="_blank">see also</a>)</p>
</blockquote>
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Weezer - Paranoid Android (by weezer)2011-06-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/06/01/weezer-paranoid-android-by-weezer<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4nTo8rjo-lM?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4nTo8rjo-lM?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Varsity Bookmarking: My Job Pt.1 — I have no idea what I'm doing2011-05-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/05/29/varsity-bookmarking-my-job-pt-1-i-have-no-idea-what<p>Huh. An Honest CEO. </p>
<p><a href="http://pieratt.tumblr.com/post/5450242474" target="_blank">pieratt</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I am the CEO of <a href="http://svpply.com" target="_blank">Svpply</a>, Inc., a social shopping S-Corp operating out of New York City. My company has been the recipient of over half-a-million in investor dollars, for the stated purpose of building an unknown, 3,000-member web service into a cultural phenomenon, and I truly have very little…</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://pieratt.tumblr.com/post/5450242474">Varsity Bookmarking: My Job Pt.1 — I have no idea what I'm doing</a>
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And I Should Know2011-05-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/05/29/and-i-should-know<p>Roseanne, on being a woman in TV</p>
<a href="http://nymag.com/print/?/arts/tv/upfronts/2011/roseanne-barr-2011-5/">And I Should Know</a>
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frothyparadise: There’s no way this is not the best full-page ad ever taken out in any paper, ever. 2011-05-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/05/28/frothyparadise-theres-no-way-this-is-not-the<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llw37k00F51qz4y20o1_1280.png">
<p><a href="http://www.frothyparadise.com/post/5921265898" target="_blank">frothyparadise</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>There’s no way this is not the best full-page ad ever taken out in any paper, ever.</p>
</blockquote>
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An oddly moving tribute to WW, and the sport that he loved Real sport, real sportsmanship - The Drum Opinion (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)2011-05-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/05/20/there-three-quarters-of-the-way-up-an-ascent-thatThere, three-quarters of the way up an ascent that would have been murder to ride, and only slightly less murder-like to walk, was a man (it could only be a man, let’s face it) in a full chicken suit. Alone. Probably ignored by the riders, who’d had the whole murderous ascent thing to worry about, and not even realising that he hadn’t been on TV at all, this no doubt utterly exhausted man in a chicken suit was scratching his groin as the chopper flew past. All that effort in dressing up and dragging his obviously girlfriend-less butt all the way up that mountain, and he’s on TV for a second and a half, scratching himself.
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Fiscally I’m A Right-Wing Nutjob, But On Social Issues I’m Fucking Insanely Liberal | The Onion - America’s Finest News Source2011-05-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/05/19/so-in-conclusion-the-african-american-communitySo, in conclusion: the African-American community will never receive justice until there is an armed insurrection against Whitey in the streets, Pepsi-Cola should run our government, the elderly are our greatest national resource except for child labor, which I support, slavery should be legalized, as well as rape, and if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen! It’s not the government’s job to pamper you and hold your hand unless you want funding for a massive public arts project that involves a giant pile of human feces shaped like the American flag, in which case nothing should stand in the way of your First Amendment rights. I only wish there were more people out there as open-minded as I am
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This is what’s wrong with Border Collies… (by jamiegoodwin87)2011-05-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/05/17/this-is-whats-wrong-with-border-collies-by<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q8DiOthAKek?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q8DiOthAKek?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Vague Recollections of an Italian Vacation (Travel and Arrival)2011-05-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/05/10/vague-recollections-of-an-italian-vacation-travel-and<p>So we left Ottawa at 5pm and drove to montreal, where we had the regular 3 hour airport nightmare, and we flew Air Transat, which is a special level of hell. Terrible food, hard seats that are too narrow to fit anyone comfortably. It was 8 hours of being in a cattle car. When we arrived at Rome, we had to go pick up our rental cars. For some reason, this took an hour of waiting while the one person at the rental counter processed 6 people ahead of us. Finally we got our rental cars, and were on our way.</p>
<p>A note about driving. I’ve only driven once in Italy before, and that was relatively comfortable, but after driving with my parents enough times around Rome, I got the feel for the particular challenge that is driving in Italy. I was, I admit, somewhat eager to take up the challenge. After a few days I’d decided that the trick to driving in Italy was to realize that nobody really wanted to hit you, even though it really looked like they did.</p>
<p>Dad and I drove the two rental cars, and we knew that the first bit was going to be all relatively easy freeway driving. Liz was up front as my trusty navigator, and it was fine getting to the M25 (the big ring road around Rome). I saw the exit for the road to Florence, but Dad didn’t. Unfortunately I was “following” him, as he supposedly knew the terrain. I think he realized shortly after the exit that he had missed it, and we turned off into the Italian equivalent of a truck stop. I had the 1st of many delicious Caffe Macchiati (It’s not what you get at Starbucks, it’s just a shot of Espresso with a little milk) and a Panini which is so far (well into the second week) the best sandwich I’ve had all trip. Dad was able to ask for the way to get back to the road to Florence, and then we were on our way again.</p>
<p>Liz knew that we were going to a small village near Cortona, and she had the map out and was checking it regularly against our progress up the road to Florence. At a certain point, she said “If I was leading I would have turned off by now”, so I signalled Dad, and we pulled into a gas station for a palaver. It turns out didn’t have a map or his GPS out, and had, well, not much of a plan. We decided to turn off at the next exit and take secondary roads back to Cortona. After a few more wrong turns, we managed to find our way to Cortona and get on the road to Mercatale, with Liz navigating. David, one of our fellow travellers, really wanted to get to a grocery store, and, passing by one in a small town called Pergo, the seven of us in our party descended on this small town grocery like a pack of kids in a candy store.</p>
<p>Fully provisioned we then set off up a steep twisting mountain road that, in Italy at any rate, is two lane. After driving over the range of hills behind Cortona, not really sure that we were going anywhere, we dived down the other side of the hills into Mercatale, and thence onto the villa that we had rented. The Villa was…</p>
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Lost Your Tent? There’s an App for That! 2011-04-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/28/lost-your-tent-theres-an-app-for-that<p>1st thought. Stupid. 2nd thought. Actually, I can see how that would be useful at Burning Man.</p>
<a href="http://outdoorottawa.com/2011/04/28/lost-your-tent-theres-an-app-for-that/">Lost Your Tent? There’s an App for That! </a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/5024677929">Tumblr</a>
You are listening to San Francisco2011-04-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/27/you-are-listening-to-san-francisco<p>techno and live cop radio. It’s an entrancing mix</p>
<a href="http://youarelistening.to/sanfrancisco">You are listening to San Francisco</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/4991536192">Tumblr</a>
3 Major Issues with the Latest iPhone Tracking “Discovery” | Alex Levinson2011-04-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/23/3-major-issues-with-the-latest-iphone-tracking<p>good reasons why Apple stores location data</p>
<a href="https://alexlevinson.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/3-major-issues-with-the-latest-iphone-tracking-discovery/">3 Major Issues with the Latest iPhone Tracking “Discovery” | Alex Levinson</a>
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Twitter / @Sun Meida: Yes we should, Kent! @Info ...2011-04-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/20/twitter-sun-meida-yes-we-should-kent-info<p>I’m not sure when I became of the age that all the news people on TV and radio have the same pop culture tastes as I do, but ISTR that they used to be old and stodgy, and definitely not fans of the Simpsons, or the Pixies. </p>
<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/kady/statuses/60774414064685056">Twitter / @Sun Meida: Yes we should, Kent! @Info ...</a>
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Of Hybrids & Horror: Interview with Howie Tsui (by Sarah Tue-Fee)2011-04-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/20/of-hybrids-horror-interview-with-howie-tsui-by<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/22624567" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0"></iframe>
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Lester Bangs on "Astral Weeks"2011-04-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/20/lester-bangs-on-astral-weeks<p>I just like “there it is and it feels right, but I can’t say for sure what it means.” The rest is there for context.</p>
<p>“I’m not surprised that people get different meanings out of my songs,” he told a Rolling Stone interviewer. “But I don’t wanna give the impression that I know what everything means ‘cause I don’t… . There are times when I’m mystified. I look at some of the stuff that comes out, y’know. And like, there it is and it feels right, but I can’t say for sure what it means.”</p>
<a href="http://personal.cis.strath.ac.uk/~murray/astral.html">Lester Bangs on "Astral Weeks"</a>
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'The Economist' To Halt Production For Month To Let Readers Catch Up | The Onion2011-04-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/19/the-economist-to-halt-production-for-month-to-let<p>Only my dad can finish the entire economist in a week, but that’s ‘cause he’s retired…</p>
<a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/the-economist-to-halt-production-for-month-to-let,20090/">'The Economist' To Halt Production For Month To Let Readers Catch Up | The Onion</a>
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I never thought anyone would even try to cover Mclusky, but japandroids do a pretty good job of interpreting the original stupid crazy wall of fuzz and drums that only Mclusky could do. Japandroids - To Hell With Good Intentions (by 64chris64)2011-04-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/19/i-never-thought-anyone-would-even-try-to-cover<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FxVzNOC227g?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FxVzNOC227g?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Posting this on the momentous occasion of Shatner “dropping” his latest album William Shatner - “Rocket Man” (1st Generation Copy) (by basetapes)2011-04-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/14/posting-this-on-the-momentous-occasion-of-shatner<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DvQwXOCKNLY?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DvQwXOCKNLY?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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This is Awesome, just awesome mandaflewaway: CLICK TO MAKE SOME MUSIC 2011-04-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/12/this-is-awesome-just-awesome-mandaflewaway</p>
<div align="center"><object width="600" height="600" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=5,0,0,0" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param value="http://www.sembeo.com/media/Matrix.swf" name="movie"><param value="high" name="quality"><embed width="600" height="600" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" quality="high" src="http://www.sembeo.com/media/Matrix.swf"></object><br/><a href="http://www.sembeo.com/">Insurance</a></div>
<p>
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How To Steal Like An Artist (And 9 Other Things Nobody Told Me) - Austin Kleon2011-04-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/09/how-to-steal-like-an-artist-and-9-other-things-nobody<a href="http://www.austinkleon.com/2011/03/30/how-to-steal-like-an-artist-and-9-other-things-nobody-told-me/">How To Steal Like An Artist (And 9 Other Things Nobody Told Me) - Austin Kleon</a>
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Margaret Atwood, on the subject of why readers really should not want to meet writers whose work they admire2011-04-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/08/if-you-like-pate-dont-ask-to-meet-the-duckIf you like pate, don’t ask to meet the duck.
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Group Think2011-04-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/08/group-think<p>I couldn’t get through any of Gladwell, or Chris Anderson’s books. I couldn’t figure out why I hated them so much until I read this article</p>
<a href="http://nymag.com/print/?/arts/books/reviews/tina-rosenberg-2011-3/index1.html">Group Think</a>
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Not usually partisan, but I found this liberal ad funny Hey Stephen Harper, stop creeping me on Facebook (by liberalvideo)2011-04-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/04/07/not-usually-partisan-but-i-found-this-liberal-ad<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o6hDv6gCe1I?version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o6hDv6gCe1I?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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I’m always hearing about how cyclists never obey the rules of the road, like stop signs… from Bike View Close Call for Another Cyclist (by BikeViewCA)2011-03-31T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/03/31/im-always-hearing-about-how-cyclists-never-obey<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xv7V8Np1XPQ?start=12&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xv7V8Np1XPQ?start=12&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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When the Yogurt Took Over: A Short Story « Whatever2011-03-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/03/30/when-the-yogurt-took-over-a-short-story-whatever<p>I still like “To Serve Yogurt” as a title, but it’s brilliant nonetheless</p>
<a href="http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/10/02/when-the-yogurt-took-over-a-short-story/">When the Yogurt Took Over: A Short Story « Whatever</a>
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West of the West2011-03-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/03/29/west-of-the-west<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/28/DD5L1IITSN.DTL&feed=rss.jcarroll">West of the West</a>
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Stranded raccoon taunts dog, homeowners | peicanada.com - news that matters to prince edward island2011-03-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/03/29/stranded-raccoon-taunts-dog-homeowners-peicanada-com<p>This has to be the biggest “Slow News Day” item out there. As a newsie friend put it:</p>
<blockquote>
<p> My last news editor sent me out to cover some pointless shit</p>
<p> before…but that might be the all-time winner.</p>
<p> ”Jonesy! Grab your pad and get over to Elm Street! There’s a dog! And</p>
<p> it’s barking at a raccoon!! See if you can get the dog to comment.”</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://peicanada.com/eastern_graphic/publication/stranded_raccoon_taunts_dog_homeowners">Stranded raccoon taunts dog, homeowners | peicanada.com - news that matters to prince edward island</a>
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jayparkinsonmd: The latest New York Magazine cover article is about the bike lane wars happening in NYC for the past few years. The bike lane war can be summed up fairly easily. It’s a war between one side who believes that cities and neighborhoods shouldn’t be designed to support health and exercise. They champion: Selfishness. They want their cars to own the road. Laziness. They want to expend as little energy as possible to get from point A to point B. Ignorance. They’ve never seen a city where biking is just as vital as driving. The other side champions: Exercise. Health. Equal sharing of the road. Fun. Why is it that people in America who want to pursue health have to fight so hard to be healthy? Are there people out there who believe that a hellish, unsupportive environment is good for raising children? A healthy transportation culture should be as universally accepted as the importance we place on fostering an optimal environment for children. But then again, our education system in America is woefully underfunded, so maybe we don’t believe in creating supportive environments for children. If we don’t get our priorities right, Wall-E is just around the corner. (via Is New York Too New York for Bike Lanes?) 2011-03-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/03/28/jayparkinsonmd-the-latest-new-york-magazine<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_limrdzXHOU1qz72ywo1_1280.jpg">
<p><a href="http://blog.jayparkinsonmd.com/post/4089996947" target="_blank">jayparkinsonmd</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The latest New York Magazine cover article is about the bike lane wars happening in NYC for the past few years.</p>
<p>The bike lane war can be summed up fairly easily. It’s a war between one side who believes<span> that cities and neighborhoods shouldn’t be designed to support health and exercise. They</span> champion: </p>
<ul><li>Selfishness. They want their cars to own the road.</li>
<li>Laziness. They want to expend as little energy as possible to get from point A to point B.</li>
<li>Ignorance. They’ve never seen a city where biking is just as vital as driving.</li>
</ul><p>The other side champions:</p>
<ul><li>Exercise.</li>
<li>Health.</li>
<li>Equal sharing of the road.</li>
<li>Fun.</li>
</ul><p>Why is it that people in America who want to pursue health have to fight so hard to be healthy?</p>
<p>Are there people out there who believe that a hellish, unsupportive environment is good for raising children? A healthy transportation culture should be as universally accepted as the importance we place on fostering an optimal environment for children. But then again, our education system in America is woefully underfunded, so maybe we don’t believe in creating supportive environments for children.</p>
<p>If we don’t get our priorities right, Wall-E is just around the corner.</p>
<p>(via <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/bike-wars-2011-3/" target="_blank">Is New York Too New York for Bike Lanes?</a>)</p>
</blockquote>
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An Indian Raga re-imagining of the Knight Rider theme twilight-galaxy: mundian to bach ke by panjabi mc 2011-03-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/03/28/an-indian-raga-re-imagining-of-the-knight-rider<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://assets.tumblr.com/swf/audio_player.swf?audio_file=http://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/folkwolf/4163239044/tumblr_lftgbyl6RE1qzit26&color=FFFFFF" height="27" width="207" quality="best" wmode="opaque"></embed>
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This video shows just how awesome dogs are http://jrnl.ie/1060042011-03-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/03/18/this-video-shows-just-how-awesome-dogshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3TM9GL2iLI
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/3945815929">Tumblr</a>
Nuclear versus wind power - Greater Ottawa2011-03-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/03/18/nuclear-versus-wind-power-greater-ottawa<p>I posted this in response </p>
<blockquote>
<p>It’s amazing how the fight has moved from “Wind and solar are pipe dreams” to “Well they can generate some power, but not all” which is also false</p>
<p>Wind can be a replacement, and, with a good transmission system, makes a better baseload generation system (Think: the wind may not always blow, but is the whole province ever wind-free?) than any gas or nuclear.</p>
<p>With respect to complexity and work. Doing that math, wind power is *far* less than half the price per installed MW, and at a year over year average of 50-75% peak capacity, actually still works out cheaper per running watt-hour than nuclear.</p>
<p>That does not even factor in the cost of Waste disposal, (estimated at at least $24 million), or liability costs in case something goes wrong. Ontario’s nuke plants regularly leak tritium into the Great Lakes. </p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/greaterottawa/archive/2011/03/17/nuclear-versus-wind-power.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage">Nuclear versus wind power - Greater Ottawa</a>
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Doin' the Nuclear Math2011-03-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/03/16/doin-the-nuclear-math<p>Cost of Nuclear, per installed MW = $3.9 Million</p>
<p>Cost of Wind, per installed MW = $1.4 million.</p>
<p>IE, for the amount of money that Ontario wants to put into Nuclear power over the next 20 years, we could be generating over twice as much power with wind. Next time someone says we can’t afford renewables, throw that stat in their face. </p>
<p>Now, the nay-sayers amongst you will be saying “but Matt, the wind doesn’t blow all the time”, and you’d be right. On a year over year basis, the wind turbines will generate about half their installed capacity, which still puts us ahead of nuclear.</p>
<p>The best part of this is that this is just the basic numbers, and doesn’t include waste disposal, which will cost at least $24 million, or insurance, which is basically impossible to price, and is basically 100% subsidized by the gov’t, which basically prays that we won’t have an accident.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.energyquest4nanticoke.ca/suzuki.htm" target="_blank">StatSource</a></p>
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Ze Joke2011-03-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/03/01/ze-joke<p>This joke is going around Facebook these days, but I can’t find any real attribution, just a bunch of names that peter out…</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A unionized public employee, a member of the Tea Party, and a CEO are sitting at a table. In the middle of the table there is a plate with a dozen cookies on it. The CEO reaches across and takes 11 cookies looks at the Tea Partier and says,”look out for that union guy, he wants a piece of your cookie.”</p>
</blockquote>
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HBGary v Anonymous2011-02-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/02/21/hbgary-v-anonymous<p>Anonymous wins. I find this story more and more fascinating the more I dig into it. I forget where I first heard about it, but this article has most of the source material</p>
<a href="http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/02/spy/all/1">HBGary v Anonymous</a>
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Cheap Truth2011-02-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/02/21/cheap-truth<p>Bruce Sterling’s zine from the 80s. I was *far* too young to read this at the time, but I had much of the same feelings, even when I was that young</p>
<a href="http://www.its.caltech.edu/~erich/cheaptruth/">Cheap Truth</a>
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Ministerial Resignations2011-02-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/02/18/ministerial-resignations<p>A full list of them, including reasons, going back to Confederation</p>
<a href="http://www2.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/compilations/federalgovernment/MinisterialResignations.aspx">Ministerial Resignations</a>
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Lazy dog via media.englishrussia.com2011-02-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/02/18/lazy-dog-via-media-englishrussia-com<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgtzdyrSQ71qdfvsoo1_1280.jpg">
<p>Lazy dog via <a href="http://media.englishrussia.com/new_images/streetcleaner-31.jpg" target="_blank">media.englishrussia.com</a></p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/3367576743">Tumblr</a>
nationalpost: Separated at birth? Beleaguered Canadian Minister of International Cooperation Bev Oda and classic rock legend Roy Orbison (Photo: Chris Wattie)National Post editorial board: Bev Oda should resign… or be fired “Minister of International Cooperation Bev Oda has another responsibility, too: to act ethically and tell the truth. Her failure in this regard means she is no longer fit for Cabinet.” 2011-02-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/02/16/nationalpost-separated-at-birth-beleaguered<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgq7aqVSsz1qze0z6o1_1280.jpg">
<p><a href="http://nationalpost.tumblr.com/post/3330459678" target="_blank">nationalpost</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Separated at birth? Beleaguered Canadian Minister of International Cooperation Bev Oda and classic rock legend Roy Orbison (Photo: Chris Wattie)<br/><br/><strong><a href="http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/02/15/national-post-editorial-board-bev-oda-should-resign-or-be-fired/" target="_blank">National Post editorial board: Bev Oda should resign… or be fired </a></strong><br/>“Minister of International Cooperation Bev Oda has another responsibility, too: to act ethically and tell the truth. Her failure in this regard means she is no longer fit for Cabinet.”</p>
</blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/3330782571">Tumblr</a>
How to detect a Meth Lab. via www.well.com2011-02-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/02/15/how-to-detect-a-meth-lab-via-www-well-com<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgnwrzbpVm1qdfvsoo1_400.jpg">
<p>How to detect a Meth Lab. via <a href="http://www.well.com/~peoples/temp/meth.jpg" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.well.com" target="_blank">www.well.com</a></a></p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/3309198405">Tumblr</a>
Nokia Saunas2011-02-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/02/11/nokia-saunas<p>This does not surprise me. When I lived in Dar es Salaam, a hot, coastal tropical city in Africa, we lived around the corner from the Finnish compound. There were many saunas.</p>
<a href="http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/02/10/nokia-bath-time">Nokia Saunas</a>
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Michael Geist - Saving the Best for Last: Bell's Network Congestion Admission2011-02-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/02/11/michael-geist-saving-the-best-for-last-bells<a href="http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/5631/125/">Michael Geist - Saving the Best for Last: Bell's Network Congestion Admission</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/3236106806">Tumblr</a>
Indian Music MLP2011-02-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/02/11/indian-music-mlp<p><a href="http://www.apt613.ca/2011/02/11/wilbur-does-winterlude-dont-be-affraid-of-the-canada-cold/" target="_blank">Tamil visits Ottawa</a>, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfyLcoKB5Ic" target="_blank">Steelers (banghra) fight song</a></p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/3237069566">Tumblr</a>
Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie | Men’s Journal2011-02-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/02/08/everything-you-know-about-fitness-is-a-lie-mens<p>I never thought I’d say this, but this is a really good @MensJournal article. via @taylorphinney</p>
<a href="http://www.mensjournal.com/everything-you-know-about-fitness-is-a-lie">Everything You Know About Fitness is a Lie | Men’s Journal</a>
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OttawaStart Blog: Ottawa signs: Ice or crocodile?2011-01-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/30/ottawastart-blog-ottawa-signs-ice-or-crocodile<a href="http://ottawastart.blogspot.com/2011/01/ottawa-signs-ice-or-crocodile.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FsBHK+%28OttawaStart+Blog%29">OttawaStart Blog: Ottawa signs: Ice or crocodile?</a>
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Damn, I forgot about that one. flecton: esteetabernac: banditas recorded a wire cover during the last drag sessions. it didn’t make the album due to copyright bs, but here it is for free. one two ex you. three four double you me. 2011-01-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/28/damn-i-forgot-about-that-one-flecton<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://assets.tumblr.com/swf/audio_player.swf?audio_file=http://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/folkwolf/2979218335/tumblr_lfpzeti68f1qfmjeq&color=FFFFFF" height="27" width="207" quality="best" wmode="opaque"></embed>
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Gazan youth issue manifesto to vent their anger with all sides in the conflict | World news | The Observer2011-01-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/27/fuck-hamas-fuck-israel-fuck-fatah-fuck-unFuck Hamas. Fuck Israel. Fuck Fatah. Fuck UN. Fuck UNWRA. Fuck USA! We, the youth in Gaza, are so fed up with Israel, Hamas, the occupation, the violations of human rights and the indifference of the international community!
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The Inside Story of Matt White's Firing - Versus2011-01-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/25/the-inside-story-of-matt-whites-firing-versus<p>@velonews, and @Cyclingnewsfeed and a few other places referred to an email sent to the USADA by Floyd Landis, but nobody linked to any kind of source. So I went digging</p>
<p>This is actually a google webcache copy of an article by @neilroad which was subsequently removed by Versus. Really, that makes it even more interesting.</p>
<a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:YjzOUvimLhQJ:www.versus.com/blogs/the-experts-opinion/the-inside-story-of-matt-whites-firing/+the+inside+story+of+matt+white's+firing&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca">The Inside Story of Matt White's Firing - Versus</a>
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Riding is My Ritalin2011-01-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/23/riding-is-my-ritalin<p>the story of one cyclist, backed by 30 years of scientific research.</p>
<a href="http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured-stories/riding-my-ritalin?page=0,0">Riding is My Ritalin</a>
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140 Characters in Search of a Story 2011-01-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/23/140-characters-in-search-of-a-story<p>good article on @kady and @wicary and @davidakin. I live in Ottawa, 4 blocks from Parliament Hill, but I’m completely outside “the bubble” I have one friend from high school in the PCO, but he tries as hard as he can to stay outside “the bubble” Following people like Kady O’Malley and Rosemarie Barton lets me know about what happens in “the other Ottawa”</p>
<a href="http://rrj.ca/m11740/">140 Characters in Search of a Story </a>
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Sad But True 2011-01-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/22/sad-but-true<p>for @chrispager</p>
<p><img height="450" width="600" src="http://www.joeydevilla.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/sad-but-true.jpg"/></p>
<a href="http://www.joeydevilla.com/2011/01/21/sad-but-true/">Sad But True </a>
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Hilarious British animal voiceovers. [VIDEO]2011-01-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/21/hilarious-british-animal-voiceovers-video<p>Alan! Alan! Alan! Alan! Al! Alan!</p>
<a href="http://www.wimp.com/animalvoiceovers/">Hilarious British animal voiceovers. [VIDEO]</a>
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Yikes! Icy Pittsburgh Morning - Cars Slide/Crash Down Hill - 1.18.11 (via ScrappleCheesesteaks)2011-01-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/19/yikes-icy-pittsburgh-morning-cars-slide-crash<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/F7O3abzX298?fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/F7O3abzX298?fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Nicolas Sarkozy is adopting a more presidential tone after being accused of ‘mistreating’ the French language. In November he nailed the fiendishly difficult imperfect subjunctive. Triple axels are easier. (via theeconomist) Sarkozy has nothing on Jean Chretien, he mangled both of Canada’s official languages with ease.2011-01-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/18/most-political-leaders-struggle-to-speak-fluentlyMost political leaders struggle to speak fluently in a foreign tongue. Only the exceptional manage to mangle their own.
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flecton: esteetabernac: everybody’s talking about two kinds of violence, but i keep walking past the shutters and the blinders. damn the torpedoes, pay attention to the rhythm, there’s only one left, and we might die with it. everybody’s talking. i can hear them talking 2011-01-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/18/flecton-esteetabernac-everybodys-talking<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://assets.tumblr.com/swf/audio_player.swf?audio_file=http://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/folkwolf/2815944449/tumblr_ley5g9TTPx1qfmjeq&color=FFFFFF" height="27" width="207" quality="best" wmode="opaque"></embed>
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Good exchange on twitter2011-01-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/14/good-exchange-on-twitter<p><em><strong>@joaoisme Joao Correia</strong></em> Walking your kid to school in NYC is sort of like leading out a sprinter. Everybody’s in a hurry and chopping you off with somebody in tow.</p>
<p>Followed by Ted King</p>
<p><em><strong>@iamtedking Ted King</strong></em> Throw elbows @joaoisme . And if you’re feeling saucy, toss a waterbottle b/t someone’s legs as you zip by.</p>
<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/joaoisme/statuses/25916245337440256">Good exchange on twitter</a>
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What are the Windows A: and B: drives used for?2011-01-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/12/what-are-the-windows-a-and-b-drives-used-for<p>Good God I’m old…</p>
<a href="http://superuser.com/questions/231273/what-are-the-windows-a-and-b-drives-used-for">What are the Windows A: and B: drives used for?</a>
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Equation: Sync Up With the Sunrise 2011-01-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/12/equation-sync-up-with-the-sunrise<p>Surprisingly simple equation, given all the factors. Compare that to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_chill#North_American_wind_chill_index" target="_blank">Wind chill equation</a>.</p>
<a href="http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/12/st_equation_solar/">Equation: Sync Up With the Sunrise </a>
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Don't go blaming guns2011-01-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/12/dont-go-blaming-guns<p>This just about covers the state of the gun control debate in the US.</p>
<a href="http://www.salon.com/entertainment/comics/this_modern_world/2011/01/10/this_modern_world">Don't go blaming guns</a>
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The Incidental Cyclist: Elite? Me?2011-01-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/10/the-incidental-cyclist-elite-me<p>Randall Denley actually starts an interesting conversation about the Laurier St. bike lane, and brings up a lot of good points about why bike lanes might be bad.</p>
<p>What it boils down to is: As a policy implementation, bike lanes work. In city after city, the evidence shows that cities that install proper bike lanes have increased cycling. This is the goal, and bike lanes are a proven means to achieve that goal</p>
<a href="http://theincidentalcyclist.blogspot.com/2011/01/elite-me.html">The Incidental Cyclist: Elite? Me?</a>
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Star Wars Episode 3 review2011-01-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/04/star-wars-episode-3-review<p>Sweet!</p>
<a href="http://www.redlettermedia.com/sith.html">Star Wars Episode 3 review</a>
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bike on the Behance Network2011-01-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2011/01/04/bike-on-the-behance-network<p>This one’s for @bikesnobnyc <a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2058598" target="_blank">jdietrich on HackerNews</a> put it best</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>The designer had seemingly no interest in the century of development behind the modern bicycle and no inclination to investigate why the status quo is as it is. He bumbled in and designed something cool-looking but useless, because he obviously has no interest in such trivia as the laws of physics. Personally, I think that these bicycle concepts embody the antithesis of good design - a useless, style-led attitude that rarely leads to anything but last year’s model wearing this year’s tailfins.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/bike/111883">bike on the Behance Network</a>
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For @bikesnobnyc Portlandia - Dream of the 90s (via dogsdoneit)2010-12-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/28/for-bikesnobnyc-portlandia-dream-of-the-90s<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FE_9CzLCbkY?fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FE_9CzLCbkY?fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Forget 200 lines, Red Hat speeds up Linux with 4 lines of code - InternetNews:The Blog - Sean Michael Kerner2010-12-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/23/forget-200-lines-red-hat-speeds-up-linux-with-4-lines<p>Not only that. Userspace code. I’ll have to try this on my Linux box.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>To his credit Poettering did come back with a response to prove Torvalds wrong. Poettering provided a non kernelspace patch that speeds up Linux systems. The patch involved a simple edit of a users <em>~/.bashrc file </em>with four new lines of code<em>.</em><br/><br/><pre> if [ "$PS1" ] ; then <br/> mkdir -m 0700 /sys/fs/cgroup/cpu/user/$$<br/> echo $$ > /sys/fs/cgroup/cpu/user/$$/tasks<br/> fi<br/>Then, as the superuser do this:<br/><br/> mount -t cgroup cgroup /sys/fs/cgroup/cpu -o cpu<br/> mkdir -m 0777 /sys/fs/cgroup/cpu/user</pre>
</span></p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://blog.internetnews.com/skerner/2010/11/forget-200-lines-red-hat-speed.html">Forget 200 lines, Red Hat speeds up Linux with 4 lines of code - InternetNews:The Blog - Sean Michael Kerner</a>
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for @lawrencewall and @alannealottawa It Doesn’t Get Any More Canadian Than This2010-12-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/23/for-lawrencewall-and-alannealottawa-it-doesnt<img src="http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/folkwolf/2422536651/1/tumblr_lduu10k0Wc1qdfvso">
<p> for @lawrencewall and @alannealottawa <a href="http://www.joeydevilla.com/2010/12/22/it-doesnt-get-any-more-canadian-than-this/" target="_blank">It Doesn’t Get Any More Canadian Than This</a></p>
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Bruce Sterling on WikiLeaks2010-12-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/23/bruce-sterling-on-wikileaks<p>A rambling, somewhat melancholy, essay on WikiLeaks, Assange, cypherpunks, diplomats, and the state of the world today. As I said, rambling. His view on diplomats is a little skewed, and his view on the state of the world post WikiLeaks is despondent. </p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>
<p>I don’t say these cruel things about Julian Assange because I feel distant from him, but, on the contrary, because I feel close to him. I don’t doubt the two of us would have a lot to talk about. I know hordes of men like him; it’s just that they are programmers, mathematicians, potheads and science fiction fans instead of fiercely committed guys who aspire to topple the international order and replace it with subversive wikipedians.</p>
<p>The chances of that ending well are about ten thousand to one. And I don’t doubt Assange knows that. This is the kind of guy who once wrote an encryption program called “Rubberhose,” because he had it figured that the cops would beat his password out of him, and he needed some code-based way to finesse his own human frailty. Hey, neat hack there, pal.</p>
</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>But</strong>, it has some really good bits on cypherpunks.</p>
<a href="http://www.webstock.org.nz/blog/2010/the-blast-shack/">Bruce Sterling on WikiLeaks</a>
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Coffee and a sweet treat to think better? Caffeine and glucose combined improves the efficiency of brain activity2010-12-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/22/coffee-and-a-sweet-treat-to-think-better-caffeine-and<p>I knew there was a reason I put so much sugar in my coffee</p>
<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101123101751.htm">Coffee and a sweet treat to think better? Caffeine and glucose combined improves the efficiency of brain activity</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/2409830861">Tumblr</a>
A Holiday Message from Ricky Gervais: Why I'm An Atheist - Speakeasy - WSJ2010-12-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/22/a-holiday-message-from-ricky-gervais-why-im-an<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/19/a-holiday-message-from-ricky-gervais-why-im-an-atheist/">A Holiday Message from Ricky Gervais: Why I'm An Atheist - Speakeasy - WSJ</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/2410741020">Tumblr</a>
Sunsetting this site.2010-12-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/21/sunsetting-this-siteSee <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com">folkwolf.tumblr.com</a> for more details
You know, when I call @TheBanditas hardcore, Liz always argues with me, and says that bands like Bikini Kill are way more hardcore. After watching this, I’m pretty sure that Liz could take Kathleen Hanna. twentyfourbit: Watch: Kathleen Hanna Sings “Smells Like Teen Spirit” + “Rebel Girl” Iconic punk/riot grrrl singer Kathleen Hanna, Beastie Boy Ad-Rock (her husband, Adam Horovitz, of course), and others performed at NYC’s Joe’s Pub earlier this week for the latest in the “Our Hit Parade” series, a string of concerts inspired by an old radio show that ran from the mid-1930s to late-’50s in which cast members would perform sketches based on popular songs. For their performance, Hanna and friends adjusted the formula a bit by taking on the hits of the ’90s with Hanna reminiscing on her salad days hanging out with the likes of Kurt Cobain (she says she penned the words “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on his wall with a Sharpie while drunk, which, obviously, went on to inspire a certain song by the same name) before breaking into two different versions of said infamous grunge anthem — one lounge-y take and a distorted guitar-backed faithful version. Oh, and then they rock out to Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl” with Ad-Rock on the bass. Enjoy this completely awesome clip (note: parts are NSFW) above. 2010-12-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/21/you-know-when-i-call-thebanditas-hardcore-lizhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWO4JnP2T40
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Sunsetting blog.folkwolf.net2010-12-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/21/sunsetting-blog-folkwolf-net<p>Seeing as all the <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2010/12/19/why-sunsetting-delicious-matters/" target="_blank">cool kids are doing it</a>, and while I’ve posted 60-odd times to folkwolf.tumblr.com, I haven’t posted once to blog.folkwolf.net, I’ve decided to move the folkwolf.net “landing page” over to tumblr, after moving some links over here.</p>
<p>This is also a test of one of the features that I’m trying to shoe horn into tumblr</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/2403095999">Tumblr</a>
James Burke on YouTube2010-12-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/21/james-burke-on-youtube<p>Seriously, his entire collection, it’s science-history nerdvana.</p>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/JamesBurkeWeb">James Burke on YouTube</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/2401801566">Tumblr</a>
Damn Cool Pics: Best Burning Man Photos2010-12-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/21/damn-cool-pics-best-burning-man-photos<p>My pic of the Belgian Waffle (official name: Euchronia) is better, but there’s some other really good ones here.</p>
<a href="http://damncoolpics.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-burning-man-photos.html">Damn Cool Pics: Best Burning Man Photos</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/2405075715">Tumblr</a>
Bar Thinks They Have Curling Figured Out | The Onion Sports Network2010-12-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/21/after-three-hours-of-watching-canada-take-onAfter three hours of watching Canada take on Denmark in women’s curling Friday, regulars at the Cargo Grill in suburban Pennsylvania felt they had the rules and traditions of the sport sufficiently sussed out. “We basically think it’s like horseshoes but with ice,” bar patron Jim Comito said of the 500-year old sport. “The middle part of the bull’s-eye thing is worth two points unless they both get their pot-looking thing in the middle. Tommy said they use the brooms to clear little ice particles out of the way, but I still think it’s a static electricity thing.” By the tenth end, the entire bar felt they had enough information at their disposal to chant “Curl! Curl! Curl!” at the television.
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This is a fantastic and beautiful track, davey. flecton: malenursesongs: male nurse - 349 - the power won’t be staying on for long (arrivals) i put a hell of a lot of work into this one. probably my favorite song of the year, so i wanted to do it justice. i also added some kanye-esque (my other favorite of the year) distorted auto tune vocals. whatever. i’m happy with it. here are the lyrics, because they are great. i used to stand so firm with little givelike a sky scrapernow i’m flash paperi used to think i knew how we could livebut now everything’s a questionslight of handand misdirectionnow i seethe forest for the treesit’s timber falling down without a soundtalk to your mother cuz the power won’t be staying on for longi used to think that life was what it seemedwith our time stablewith our minds ablewe digitize the beauty that we dreamnow our generation’s historyfloats like ghosts in my periphery now i seethe forest for the treesit’s timber falling down without a soundtalk to your brother cuz the power won’t be staying on for long i agree. this is a great tune man. 2010-12-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/20/this-is-a-fantastic-and-beautiful-track-davey<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://assets.tumblr.com/swf/audio_player.swf?audio_file=http://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/folkwolf/2380104493/tumblr_ldjedk3qP31qaw4oq&color=FFFFFF" height="27" width="207" quality="best" wmode="opaque"></embed>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/2380104493">Tumblr</a>
I find my courage where I can, but I take my weapons from science Awesome2010-12-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/20/i-find-my-courage-where-i-can-but-i-take-my<img src="http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/folkwolf/2393649604/1/tumblr_ldr1cvKODe1qdfvso">
<blockquote>
<p>I find my courage where I can, but I take my weapons from science</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Awesome</p>
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JULIAN ASSANGE SNL Character (via thewalden)2010-12-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/19/what-are-the-differences-between-mark-zuckerbergWhat are the differences between Mark Zuckerberg and me? I give private information on corporations to you for free, and I’m a villain. Zuckerberg gives your private information to corporations for money and he’s Man of the Year.
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/2379956548">Tumblr</a>
Fairness and the woonerf - Greater Ottawa2010-12-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/14/fairness-and-the-woonerf-greater-ottawa<p>David Reevely, who I normally agree with, wrote this post in response to Eric’s post about Cambridge, between Somerset and Primrose.</p>
<p><em><span>I’m not really crazy about the deliberate impression it gives that the street is blocked to cars. Streets are meant to be publicly accessible, not secret passages for those in the know; particularly in a downtown with a lot of one-way streets and sometimes difficult parking, having an open street that pretends it’s something else seems like bad design to me. </span></em></p>
<p>Cambridge St. is perfectly accessible for all, and it’s far easier to deal with than measures used in the suburbs to prevent through traffic. Mr. Reevely, you talk about fairness, but it seems to be fine for you to say that all streets downtown should be widely accessible only to cars (which makes them pretty inaccessible to everyone else), but when I find myself driving in Barrhaven or Kanata, I find that streets are far more inaccessible to cars due to their twisty nature. Every residential street in Kanata is a “secret passage only for those in the know”</p>
<p><em><br/></em></p>
<p>Suburban developers want to provide safe streets for kids to play in. Why can’t urbanites have the same thing? There are plenty of arterial streets downtown where cars are king. Let the residents of the downtown neighborhoods have safe residential streets, just like the residents of Barrhaven, Orleans, or Kanata.</p>
<p><em><span>Part of the case for gridded streets is that they do a good job providing alternative routes in the event of blockages or, presumably, really bad traffic. If Bronson can’t handle all the load, then it makes sense for neighbouring streets to take it up.</span></em></p>
<p>Just by the tone of your post and your comment, you seem to be forgetting that people, even families with young children, live on these streets. You seem to be viewing them as some kind of impediment to you getting where-ever you’re going. There are plenty of arterial roads near Bronson that can be detours without sending tons of speeding cars down residential streets like Cambridge</p>
<a href="http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/greaterottawa/archive/2010/12/13/fairness-and-the-woonerf.aspx">Fairness and the woonerf - Greater Ottawa</a>
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Red Hat At $1 Billion - CIO Central - CIO Network - Forbes2010-12-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/10/the-success-of-linux-also-shows-that-bizarreThe success of Linux also shows that bizarre hybrid governance models can be successful if everyone is motivated and aligned. IBM, Intel, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Oracle, NEC and others collectively pumps hundreds of millions of dollars into developing Linux. Linus Torvalds sits at the center, not all powerful, but a major factor. Powerful players used to getting their own way must get along. The culture of development is still very community-based. IBM cannot just force developers on the project and have them accepted as committers. Red Hat and other participants provide the equivalent of product management, collecting requirements and feeding them into the process. If you designed this model and proposed that one of the most important layers of software on the planet would be created and managed this way, nobody would believe it would work. But it does.
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My New Filing Technique is Unstoppable!2010-12-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/10/my-new-filing-technique-is-unstoppable<blockquote>
<p>“Sorry, we need all of our troops back at home because we’re starting the world’s biggest military ska band.” We could call it the Skanfidels. Or Shock & Skawe</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/69791/">My New Filing Technique is Unstoppable!</a>
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ALIGNMENT CHART -- The Wire2010-12-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/10/alignment-chart-the-wire<p>It’s true. If you have not watched The Wire, you are less of a human being. Also, a good primer on D&D alignments</p>
<a href="http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2010/12/09/alignment-chart-week-the-wire/">ALIGNMENT CHART -- The Wire</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/2165066912">Tumblr</a>
Why conservatives don't seem to like urbanism - Greater Ottawa2010-12-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/07/why-conservatives-dont-seem-to-like-urbanism-greater<p>I’ve only skimmed it, but I think that conservatives, especially American ones, don’t understand or appreciate the trade-offs in living in a densely populated environment. The author of that post wonders why even conservative think-tanks aren’t concerned with urban issues, and posits that urban planning is too liberal, but those same conservative think-tanks are populated by 3-car owning, half-acre lawn, McMansion suburbanites. </p>
<a href="http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/greaterottawa/archive/2010/11/21/why-conservatives-don-t-seem-to-like-urbanism.aspx">Why conservatives don't seem to like urbanism - Greater Ottawa</a>
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The Nervous Breakdown2010-12-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/07/the-nervous-breakdown<a href="http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/nmissildine/2010/11/why-i-never-commented-on-your-post/">The Nervous Breakdown</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/2133533703">Tumblr</a>
the gamification back-backlash2010-12-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/12/07/the-gamification-back-backlash<p>I started thinking about this because of <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/dings/pawned-gamification-and-its-discontents" target="_blank">this slideshow</a>, and <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1408869637/the-gamification-of-everything" target="_blank">this video</a>. Not to mention @jeffreymcmanus’s <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/jeffreymcmanus/status/1749364116561920" target="_blank">complete disdain</a> for the slideshow. I later learned that part of the reason for his disdain is that he (very much unlike me) actually does stuff with his talents, and has <a href="http://codelesson.com/" target="_blank">a startup</a> that is <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/jeffreymcmanus/status/1752641398902784" target="_blank">actively using</a> these very techniques <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/jeffreymcmanus/status/1767749252550657" target="_blank">successfully</a>. He even, like me (but better, of course), wrote a <a href="http://blog.codelesson.com/why-we-have-achievements-and-badges/" target="_blank">longer, well-reasoned essay</a> on why he was using these gamification accoutrement for Codelesson.</p>
<p>I got to thinking about what badges mean. In the best cases, badges are meant to outwardly reflect achievements that may not be otherwise reflected The backlash against gamification In Codelesson’s case, the Badges are an advertisement, not only for Codelesson, but an advertisement of the individual’s knowledge. As Jeffrey puts it:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Nobody’s going to hire you on the basis of whether you have unlocked the RateItAll stamp on Gowalla, but it might be possible to get a job after getting the WordPress Wrangler badge on CodeLesson.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>At their best, badges should externally represent knowledge of someone that would otherwise only be known, either by the system or by long-standing participants in the community. </p>
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jukevox: Kent State festival reminds us why live music matters more that a social media campaign. - Via my brother and AdFreak 2010-11-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/24/jukevox-kent-state-festival-reminds-us-why-live<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lcergbgPBf1qzdayjo1_500.jpg">
<p><a href="http://jukevox.tumblr.com/post/1672802374/kent-state-festival-reminds-us-why-live-music" target="_blank">jukevox</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Kent State festival reminds us why live music matters more that a social media campaign. - Via my brother and AdFreak</p>
</blockquote>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1673114110">Tumblr</a>
I have mattrose@gmail.com as an email address. It means that I get a lot of misaddressed mail. Everybody who knows a Matt Rose seems to send me email at one point or another. Every once in a while it works out2010-11-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/23/i-have-mattrose-gmail-com-as-an-email-address-it<img src="http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/folkwolf/1659170166/1/tumblr_lccf3t2z5b1qdfvso">
<p>I have mattrose@gmail.com as an email address. It means that I get a lot of misaddressed mail. Everybody who knows a Matt Rose seems to send me email at one point or another. Every once in a while it works out</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1659170166">Tumblr</a>
Best quote ever: RL Burnside. Fat Possum label keeping Blues alive | Music | The Observer2010-11-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/23/i-didnt-mean-to-kill-nobody-i-just-meant-to‘I didn’t mean to kill nobody. I just meant to shoot the sonofabitch in the head and two times in the chest. Him dying was between him and the Lord.’
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1659198407">Tumblr</a>
Hard truths about why conservatives and libertarians hate urbanism | Market Urbanism2010-11-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/22/hard-truths-about-why-conservatives-and-libertarians<p>good links here</p>
<a href="http://marketurbanism.com/2010/11/20/why-conservatives-and-libertarians-hate-urbanism/">Hard truths about why conservatives and libertarians hate urbanism | Market Urbanism</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1647853925">Tumblr</a>
Generation Why? by Zadie Smith | The New York Review of Books2010-11-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/19/everything-in-facebook-is-reduced-to-the-size-ofEverything in Facebook is reduced to the size of its founder. Blue, because it turns out Zuckerberg is red-green color-blind. “Blue is the richest color for me—I can see all of blue.” Poking, because that’s what shy boys do to girls they are scared to talk to. Preoccupied with personal trivia, because Mark Zuckerberg thinks the exchange of personal trivia is what “friendship” is.
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High on ecommerce2010-11-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/16/so-anyway-i-was-browsing-around-the-other-daySo anyway, I was browsing around the other day when I noticed that someone had bought a bunch of Whip-It! whipped cream chargers. Four 50-packs for around $115. “Whoa!” I exclaimed to my wife, “Someone out there really likes whipped cream!
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1586600492">Tumblr</a>
NOVA | Dogs Decoded2010-11-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/16/nova-dogs-decoded<a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/dogs-decoded.html">NOVA | Dogs Decoded</a>
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I was watching an episode of Season 3 of the Wire last night, where the District Commander said. And I’m paraphrasing, because I can’t find the quote online “We’re not Police anymore, as soon as we declared War on Drugs, we became soldiers in a war, not police. Now we’re an occupying force” Head of armed forces says victory over al-Qa’ida is not possible - Home News, UK - The Independent2010-11-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/15/sir-david-richards-the-head-of-british-forcesSir David Richards, the head of British forces, has declared that a military victory against al-Qa’ida and the Taliban is not possible. Attempts by the West to achieve this were unnecessary, said Sir David Richards, the Chief of General Staff, who also defended the right of fundamentalist Muslims to adhere to beliefs which underpin their lives. He stressed that one cannot defeat ideas merely through fighting wars.
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See also: Cake's cover of "I will survive"2010-11-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/15/see-also-cakes-cover-of-i-will-survive<p><a href="http://jimbryson.tumblr.com/post/1575004056/rt-chrispager-ive-always-loved-that-the-guitar" target="_blank">jimbryson</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>RT @chrispager: i’ve always loved that the guitar solo in cinnamon girl is only one note. #cbcottawa</p>
</blockquote>
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Yellow Peril 2.0 — The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the 21st Century2010-11-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/12/to-anyone-whos-a-bit-freaked-out-over-asiansTo anyone who’s a bit freaked out over Asians taking over universities, I have two things to say: Would it kill you to crack open a math book once in a while and solve for x?<br/>
Remember the sage words of “Jack” (the TV exec on 30 Rock played by Alec Baldwin): “This country was built by immigrants. The first generation works their fingers to the bone building it from the ground up. The second generation goes to college, drives innovation, and makes a better life for their families. The third generation…[sigh] snowboards and takes improv classes.
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Porpoises rescue Dick Van Dyke | Film | guardian.co.uk2010-11-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/12/the-porpoises-were-unavailable-for-commentThe porpoises were unavailable for comment.
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The Google Alphabet2010-11-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/12/the-google-alphabet<p>This is the top entry on Google Canada for each letter of the alphabet when you type in just one letter. How much do I love that LCBO is the top search for L.</p>
<ul><li>air canada</li>
<li>best buy</li>
<li>canada 411</li>
<li>dictionary</li>
<li>ebay</li>
<li>facebook</li>
<li>gmail</li>
<li>hotmail</li>
<li>ikea</li>
<li>job bank</li>
<li>kijiji</li>
<li>lcbo</li>
<li>mapquest</li>
<li>nfl</li>
<li>osap</li>
<li>pizza pizza</li>
<li>quotes</li>
<li>rogers</li>
<li>skype</li>
<li>ttc</li>
<li>utube</li>
<li>via rail</li>
<li>walmart</li>
<li>xbox</li>
<li>youtube</li>
<li>zellers</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.google.ca/">The Google Alphabet</a>
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I don’t even know what to say about this (via sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net)2010-11-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/12/i-dont-even-know-what-to-say-about-this-via<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbsjs4ARCR1qdfvsoo1_500.jpg">
<p>I don’t even know what to say about this (via <a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs914.snc4/72752_496960175188_501925188_7593047_1689744_n.jpg" target="_blank">sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net</a>)</p>
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Vimeo, Video Sharing For You2010-11-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/09/vimeo-video-sharing-for-you<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/16339841" width="400" height="218" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/16339841">Postcard from Bali (Canon 5d MkII)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/skotch">Stephan Kot</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
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Video Mania 3: Art at it’s most interesting. “1945-1998” by Isao Hashimoto: CTBTO Preparatory Commission2010-11-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/08/video-mania-3-art-at-its-most-interesting<embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AeaDFAI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="350" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>
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Video Mania 2. Music is god Alice Dancing Under the Gallows - Official Promo (via AliceTheFilm)2010-11-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/08/video-mania-2-music-is-god-alice-dancing-under<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QlccsLr48Mw?fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QlccsLr48Mw?fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Video Mania 1 The first 5 minutes are good, the rest gets a bit polemic. Science Saved My Soul. (via philhellenes)2010-11-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/08/video-mania-1-the-first-5-minutes-are-good-the<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/r6w2M50_Xdk?fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/r6w2M50_Xdk?fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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McSweeney's Internet Tendency: The Williamsburg Address.2010-11-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/08/mcsweeneys-internet-tendency-the-williamsburg<p>OK, ragging on Williamsburg Hipsters has been done to death, but this is funny</p>
<a href="http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2010/11/4kaye.html">McSweeney's Internet Tendency: The Williamsburg Address.</a>
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‘Blindsided’ - A President’s Story - NYTimes.com Apparently Harper does have a sense of humour sometimes…2010-11-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/08/he-writes-of-a-visit-to-russia-when-putin-showedHe writes of a visit to Russia, when Putin showed him his black Labrador, Koni. “Bigger, stronger, and faster than Barney,” Putin bragged. Later, when W. recounted this to Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister, Harper drolly noted, “You’re lucky he only showed you his dog.
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Next Munk Debate2010-11-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/05/next-munk-debate<p>BITR: Religion is a force for good in the world. Pro: Tony Blair. Con: Chris Hitchens. Bring on the erudite British Fireworks!</p>
<a href="http://www.munkdebates.com/home.aspx">Next Munk Debate</a>
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Morals Without God? - NYTimes.com2010-11-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/05/morals-without-god-nytimes-com<p>Why morality is divorced from religion.</p>
<a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/morals-without-god/">Morals Without God? - NYTimes.com</a>
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more awesome. Hi Jim!2010-11-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/03/more-awesome-hi-jim<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/16015221?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/16015221">JIM BRYSON & THE WEAKERTHANS - Freeways in the Frontyard</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mitchfillion">Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca)</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1472478486">Tumblr</a>
Grumpy Old Men are Grumpy2010-11-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/03/grumpy-old-men-are-grumpy<p>My Response to <a href="http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/bulldog/archive/2010/11/02/the-twitter-generation-s-political-apathy.aspx" target="_blank">Ken Gray’s blog posting</a></p>
<p>I read <a href="http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Former+ambassador+shocked+young+voter+apathy+Canada/3755071/story.html" target="_blank">that Robert Fowler article</a>, but I thought the title should be “Grumpy old man thinks young people are ruining society” Why am I not surprised to see you with a blog post that could have the same headline?</p>
<p>The fact is, neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives are speaking to issues that young people care about. Even the NDP is seen as a bunch of hide-bound Union activists amongst younger voters. Younger voters care deeply about Social Justice, the environment and education. Are any of these issues on the radar of the Liberals or the (Hah!) Conservatives? </p>
<p>The parties that do engage younger voters are seen as fringe parties, and voting for one of them is seen as “throwing away your vote”. Why bother going all the way to the polling station to throw something away?</p>
<p>Andrew Jeanes linked to this talk by Dave Meslin that addresses some other points that are brought up by Fowler and Gray, and even has some suggestions on fixing it.</p>
<p>
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</p>
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Cyclist Friend Explains Necessity Of $35 Socks | The Onion - America's Finest News Source2010-11-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/03/cyclist-friend-explains-necessity-of-35-socks-the<p>The onion channels <a href="http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">@bikesnobnyc</a></p>
<a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/cyclist-friend-explains-necessity-of-35-socks,18259/">Cyclist Friend Explains Necessity Of $35 Socks | The Onion - America's Finest News Source</a>
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Awesome2010-11-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/03/awesome<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/16013428?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/16013428">JIM BRYSON & THE WEAKERTHANS - Raised All Wrong</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mitchfillion">Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca)</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
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fascinated: Lykke Li - Get Some This exploded onto the blogs in the past few days, with good reason. Pleasantly NSFW in spirit. 2010-11-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/02/fascinated-lykke-li-get-some-this-exploded<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://assets.tumblr.com/swf/audio_player.swf?audio_file=http://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/folkwolf/1465423000/tumblr_lazk5it6KB1qz6arf&color=FFFFFF" height="27" width="207" quality="best" wmode="opaque"></embed>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1465423000">Tumblr</a>
This sign works on so many levels! From The 100 best signs at the Rally to Restore Sanity2010-11-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/01/this-sign-works-on-so-many-levels-from-the-100<img src="http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/folkwolf/1454462715/1/tumblr_lb7vlwbich1qdfvso">
<p>This sign works on so many levels! From <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-100-best-signs-at-the-rally-to-restore-sanity" target="_blank">The 100 best signs at the Rally to Restore Sanity</a></p>
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Less funny, but still clever. Provenance unknown2010-11-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/11/01/less-funny-but-still-clever-provenance<img src="http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/folkwolf/1454961466/1/tumblr_lb802lcYlM1qdfvso">
<p>Less funny, but still clever. </p>
<p>Provenance unknown</p>
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Matt's Haiku version of Jane Hirshfeld's Buddhism in 7 words2010-10-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/29/matts-haiku-version-of-jane-hirshfelds-buddhism-in-7<p>Everything changes; everything is connected; pay more attention</p>
<p>It’s not as good as Jane’s, because I couldn’t find a better word than more, but it’ll do for now</p>
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PEOPLE ARE AWESOME. (via Hadoukentheband)2010-10-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/28/people-are-awesome-via-hadoukentheband<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vo0Cazxj_yc?fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vo0Cazxj_yc?fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
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Fox News North – Not: Savour the victory - Vancouver Sun Community of Interest2010-10-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/28/fox-news-north-not-savour-the-victory-vancouver<a href="http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/communityofinterest/archive/2010/10/06/fox-news-north-not-savour-the-victory.aspx">Fox News North – Not: Savour the victory - Vancouver Sun Community of Interest</a>
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Blood Alcohol Content Calculator - The Police Notebook2010-10-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/28/blood-alcohol-content-calculator-the-police-notebook<p>Wow! According to this I can pound 8 beer in 3 hours and still drive (barely)</p>
<a href="http://www.ou.edu/oupd/bac.htm">Blood Alcohol Content Calculator - The Police Notebook</a>
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Magic at Uluru - ABC Alice Springs - Australian Broadcasting Corporation2010-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/27/magic-at-uluru-abc-alice-springs-australian<p>Uluru (the big Aussie rock formerly known as Ayers) as you’ve never seen it before.</p>
<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/10/20/3043874.htm?site=alicesprings&xml=3043874-mediarss.xml#bigpicturepos">Magic at Uluru - ABC Alice Springs - Australian Broadcasting Corporation</a>
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Probably my fave Leonard Cohen song. This song is actually an adaptation from “La complainte du partisan”, written in London during 1943, by Emmanuel D’Astier de la Vigerie (called “Bernard” in the French Resistance) and Anna Marly. (via jukevox)2010-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/27/les-allemands-etaient-chez-moi-on-ma-dit-resigneLes Allemands étaient chez moi<br/>
On m’a dit résigne toi<br/>
Mais je n’ai pas pu<br/>
Et j’ai repris mon arme.
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Interview: Bill Strickland - Podium Cafe Why I love bike racing2010-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/27/in-the-simplest-combination-when-you-break-awayIn the simplest combination, when you break away with one opponent you become conspirators against the rest of the pack. You desperately need each other - right up until the point when you will turn on each other in the most vicious way.
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Interview: Bill Strickland - Podium Cafe Good stuff in this interview, apparently2010-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/27/i-was-in-a-break-once-in-a-little-race-here-inI was in a break once in a little race here in Pennsylvania with two riders from one team and two from another, and I was friendly with all four - and knew they were all better than me. I said, ‘I know I can’t win and I’m not going to work with any of you, so I’m just going to attack over and over until I blow up.’ And, you know, that was pretty fun. It made the last laps exciting. I don’t think those sorts of textured experiences exist in zero-sum sports.
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The Gamification of everything!2010-10-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/26/the-gamification-of-everything<embed wmode="transparent" src="http://g4tv.com/lv3/44277" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="VideoPlayer" width="480" height="415" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false"></embed> <div style="font-size:0.9em;">
<a href="http://vodpod.com/watch/3082518-dice-2010-design-outside-the-box-presentation-videos-g4tv-com">DICE 2010: "Design Outside the Box" Presentation Videos - G4tv.com</a>
- Watch more <a href="http://vodpod.com/tech">Tech Videos</a> at <a href="http://vodpod.com">Vodpod</a>.</div>
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Tools Explained2010-10-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/25/tools-explained<p>The source is unknown, but how many of these have you done?</p>
<p>DRILL PRESS:</p>
<p> A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar</p>
<p> stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings</p>
<p> your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which</p>
<p> you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.</p>
<p> WIRE WHEEL:</p>
<p> Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the</p>
<p> workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and</p>
<p> hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to</p>
<p> say, “Oh, shit!”</p>
<p> SKILL SAW:</p>
<p> A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.</p>
<p> PLIERS:</p>
<p> Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of</p>
<p> blood-blisters.</p>
<p> BELT SANDER:</p>
<p> An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs</p>
<p> into major refinishing jobs.</p>
<p> HACKSAW:</p>
<p> One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle…</p>
<p> It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and</p>
<p> the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your</p>
<p> future becomes.</p>
<p> VISE-GRIPS:</p>
<p> Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If</p>
<p> nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense</p>
<p> welding heat to the palm of your hand.</p>
<p> OXYACETYLENE TORCH:</p>
<p> Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your</p>
<p> shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub</p>
<p> out of which you want to remove a bearing race..</p>
<p> TABLE SAW:</p>
<p> A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles</p>
<p> for testing wall integrity.</p>
<p> HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK:</p>
<p> Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed</p>
<p> your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the </p>
<p> bumper.</p>
<p> BAND SAW:</p>
<p> A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good</p>
<p> aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash</p>
<p> can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside</p>
<p> edge.</p>
<p> TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST:</p>
<p> A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you</p>
<p> forgot to disconnect.</p>
<p> PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER:</p>
<p> Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening</p>
<p> old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but ,</p>
<p> can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw</p>
<p> heads.</p>
<p> STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER:</p>
<p> A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common</p>
<p> slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.</p>
<p> PRY BAR:</p>
<p> A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you</p>
<p> needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.</p>
<p> HOSE CUTTER:</p>
<p> A tool used to make hoses too short.</p>
<p> HAMMER:</p>
<p> Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as</p>
<p> a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the</p>
<p> object we are trying to hit.</p>
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Watson on walking and cycling2010-10-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/23/watson-on-walking-and-cycling<p>#ottvote my answers to Jim Watson’s questions on cycling. Peter Raaymakers has been interviewing the mayoral candidates on Public Transit in Ottawa, and Jim Watson asks questions, mainly rhetorically I think, but I have some answers:</p>
<p>Question 1 is in relation to the segregated lane pilot project on Somerset.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span><em>f it means, for instance, they’re going to lose a good portion of their parking, and they rely on their parking for customers, are there ways that we can accommodate both the parking and the cycling</em></span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>Simple: move the parking area out past the bike lane. Other than the obvious benefit of not taking away parking from merchants, this allows an additional layer of protection to cyclists, to have parked cars between the bike lane and the cars whizzing past, this is done in Portland, Seattle, NYC and others. Here’s a picture in Seattle: http://www.publicola.net/2010/07/21/the-citys-bike-master-plan-needs-an-update/</span></p>
<p><span>Question 2, on the same subject:</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><em><span><span>Is there a street better than Somerset that would be less disruptive to the business community?</span></span></em></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span><span>Short Answer: No.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Long Answer: There are many reasons why the answer is no.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>1. Somerset is the only street that traverses the entire core of Ottawa, from Hintonburg to Sandy Hill (with the new corkstown bridge) Any other street would not actually provide a way to get through downtown without many turns, some of which would be particularly daunting. If you’re doing this to make cycling more attractive, this is the only street in Ottawa.</span></span></p>
<p>2. Side streets don’t need a bike lane. Nobody’s scared of cycling on the little side streets downtown, the problem is when they have to get on Somerset, to get to an actual destination, which leads us to three</p>
<p><span><span>3. No destinations. If you were to put a bike lane on say, McLaren, or Lisgar, people would still need to get off the bike lane to get groceries, or Beer, or Pho. Again, if you’re trying to encourage cycling, you need to put a bike lane on a street where shops are actually located, so that people can use their bikes to get to destinations that matter.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>4. The last point is: publicity. Nobody will use a bike lane if they don’t know it exists. You can have all the ribbon-cutting ceremonies in the world, but it won’t reach most potential users of a bike lane. On the other hand, everyone downtown goes to Somerset, it’s one of the main shopping streets, so if they see a bike lane, either when driving to the beer store, bussing to pick up some milk at the Hartman’s or walking out to dinner in Chinatown, they will see the bike lane and it could cause them to think about taking their bike next time they have to run errands.</span></span></p>
<p>This took so much effort I even went to the bother of mailing Mr. Watson himself on it.</p>
<a href="http://www.transitottawa.ca/2010/10/2010-election-watson-on-walking-and.html">Watson on walking and cycling</a>
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Roger Ebert on life after death2010-10-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/22/roger-ebert-on-life-after-death<p>On the <a href="http://www.well.com" target="_blank">the WeLL</a>, there’s pretty much a neverending debate about reincarnation, mainly in a Buddhist context. With as little patience as I have for “The Supernatural”, I find it surprisingly engaging. However, on the actual topic, I pretty much agree with Roger Ebert. This is actually surprisingly conformant to certain schools of Buddhism.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I’m drawn to this thinking by Clint Eastwood’s new film, “Hereafter.” You may have absorbed the idea that it’s about the afterlife. It would be fairer to say it’s about the common human need for there to be an afterlife.</p>
<p>When I write that I expect to experience no more after death than I experienced before birth, I receive comments from people who pity me. They wonder how I can possibly live with such a bleak prospect.</p>
<p>I find it more cheerful than most of the other possibilities that have been floated. I don’t want to come back as an insect, haunt unquiet places as a ghost, or gaze down benevolently on my loved ones below as they, and all their generations to the end of time, die from mayhem or disease. I am also offered the possibility that I will be absorbed in God’s love for all eternity, which is a better offer, but lacking in definition. If that means what it seems to mean, and if God is infinite (as he must be), then the role played by “me” can hardly be aware or conscious in any meaningful way. But I will become part of the universal, you say? I already am. You, too.</p>
<p>There is, however, one form of immortality that is guaranteed, if unrewarding. We certainly live on indefinitely in our constituent atoms, which will be recombined in dust, flowers, trees, the wind, other living beings, and eventually in cosmic stardust.</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/10/your_new_age_and_mine.html">Roger Ebert on life after death</a>
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Religions venn diagram of the day - Atheism soup2010-10-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/22/religions-venn-diagram-of-the-day-atheism-soup<p>This venn diagram really tells you something.</p>
<a href="http://atheism.soup.io/post/83186454/Religions-venn-diagram-of-the-day">Religions venn diagram of the day - Atheism soup</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1372911307">Tumblr</a>
I share a birthday and a first name with The Oatmeal.2010-10-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/22/i-share-a-birthday-and-a-first-name-with-the-oatmeal<p>and National Punctuation Day…</p>
<a href="http://theoatmeal.com/blog/punctuation_birthday">I share a birthday and a first name with The Oatmeal.</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1374862688">Tumblr</a>
Jens Voigt talks about move to Luxembourg Project - VeloNews2010-10-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/22/fuck-jens-voigt-rocks-i-dont-want-to-be-the<p>Fuck Jens Voigt rocks.</p>
<p>“I don’t want to be the boring, established rider who takes a paycheck and says, ‘Yeah, I’ll do whatever you want.’”</p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1373738720">Tumblr</a>
Shipwreck survivor recalls how town altered his idea of race2010-10-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/21/shipwreck-survivor-recalls-how-town-altered-his-idea-of<p>The story of a black WWII sailor who was stunned when Newfoundlanders treated him like a fellow human being. More of the story on <a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/201/them" target="_blank">This American Life</a> about 35 minutes. It’s part 3.</p>
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/15/AR2010091507189.html">Shipwreck survivor recalls how town altered his idea of race</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1367150277">Tumblr</a>
jukevox: The Music Industry is dying! (again!) Time Machine back to 1980 with a “sky is falling” 20/20 report. 2010-10-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/21/jukevox-the-music-industry-is-dying-againhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vz7Z42Fl9s&feature=player_embedded
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1367559003">Tumblr</a>
Good advice from a lawyer2010-10-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/21/good-advice-from-a-lawyer<blockquote>
<p>Let’s say you’re on probation, and officers have previously found marijuana at your residence. Let’s further say that you’re thinking about having a friend send you a huge package of weed from California in the mail.</p>
<p>Let me give you a piece of advice in such settings. <strong>Do not</strong> — I repeat, do not — go to your local post office shortly before this shipment and ask the postmaster whether your local post office conducts dog searches to look for drugs in the mail. Because you know what? Once you ask, they will. At least with respect to your post office box.</p>
<p>And entirely rightly so. Your question alone generates reasonable suspicion up the ying yang. So when your post office box gets a handwritten package addressed to a strange dude who’s not you, guess what? They’re going to search it. And no one — not the district court, the Ninth Circuit, or your local law professor — will have the slightest problem with that.</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://calapp.blogspot.com/2010/10/us-v-lozano-9th-cir-oct-18-2010.html">Good advice from a lawyer</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1366400555">Tumblr</a>
The Yes Men2010-10-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/20/the-yes-men<p>Checking my email this morning, I thought; “Why am I getting a <a href="http://chevron-press.com/article/Radical-Chevron-Ad-Campaign-Highlights-Industry-Problems/" target="_blank">press release from Chevron</a>” Curious, I continued to read it, and realized what was going on…</p>
<p>I don’t know how I got on the Yes Men’s mailing list, I think it has to do with my online involvement with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nettime" target="_blank">bunch of Slovenian artists/anarchists</a>, but it’s provided me with advance warning of hoaxes for years now. My most recent fave was when I got a <a href="http://theyesmen.org/content/canadian-announcement" target="_blank">press release from Environment Canada</a> saying that Canada would pay up to 5% of it’s GDP to countries affected by it’s past environmental policy</p>
<p>What constantly amazes me is how many legitimate media organizations get taken in by what is obviously satire, and even more amazingly <a href="http://theyesmen.org/etc/chevron/chevron-fastcompany-chevrons-new-ad-campaign-makes-lemonade.html" target="_blank">print it</a></p>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1358829454">Tumblr</a>
Video of Christine O’Donnell. The best part is when he quotes the first amendment in response to her question2010-10-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/19/video-of-christine-odonnell-the-best-part-is<object width="448" height="284"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailykostv.com/flv/player.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="flashvars" value="config=http://www.dailykostv.com/w/002765/vxml.php?448"></param><embed src="http://www.dailykostv.com/flv/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="448" height="284" flashvars="config=http://www.dailykostv.com/w/002765/vxml.php?448"></embed></object>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1353092131">Tumblr</a>
Tea Party bonehead maneuver of the week 2010-10-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/19/tea-party-bonehead-maneuver-of-the-week<p>In front of a law school audience Christine O’Donnell said “Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?”</p>
<blockquote>
<p>When Coons responded that the First Amendment bars Congress from making laws respecting the establishment of religion, O’Donnell asked: ”You’re telling me that’s in the First Amendment?”</p>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/19/AR2010101902501.html?hpid=topnews">Tea Party bonehead maneuver of the week </a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1352262739">Tumblr</a>
The Helix Nebula needs to be renamed to the Eyeball Nebula2010-10-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/15/the-helix-nebula-needs-to-be-renamed-to-the-eyeball<p>Seriously. Take a look at number 3, and tell me that doesn’t look like a blue-eyed Sauron</p>
<a href="http://www.eso.org/public/images/archive/top100/">The Helix Nebula needs to be renamed to the Eyeball Nebula</a>
<hr>imported from <a href="http://folkwolf.tumblr.com/post/1321033963">Tumblr</a>
Not that theres anything wrong with that2010-10-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/10/01/not-that-theres-anything-wrong-with-thatI'm not gay, but I had to laugh at this paragraph from the fantastic writer Steve Silberman, who is gay.</br>
<blockquote></br>
When I hear the phrase “lifestyle choice,” I visualize a couple of tanned, toned, and mustachioed men sitting around reading brochures so they can make a truly informed choice. On one brochure, a suburban family piles into a cream-colored SUV on the way to Wal-Mart to stock up on toilet paper and Pringles. On the other brochure, a crew of oiled-up muscle studs in Speedos sip from coconuts at a pool party while the DJ takes it up a notch. After browsing through both brochures, one guy finally says to the other, “Mario? I think we should make the gay lifestyle choice after all.”</br>
</blockquote></br>
</br>
</br>
From: <a href="http://blogs.plos.org/neurotribes/2010/09/30/want-to-prevent-gay-teen-suicide-legalize-marriage-equality/">Want To Prevent Gay Teen Suicide? Legalize Marriage Equality</a></br>
White Collar Holler2010-08-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/08/11/white-collar-hollerThis song was taught to me during an otherwise execrable time in my life, by a fantastic music teacher. I was thrilled to meet him and yet again be in his choir as an adult, both at the Blue Skies Music Festival, and the Ottawa Folk Festival.</br>
</br>
Stan Rogers has been heralded as the voice of the ordinary Canadian, and while most of his songs are about Fishermen, or Farmers, this one proves that he could empathize with all walks of life. It's become a kind of anthem of mine, as much as Jeannie C is an anthem of Nova Scotia Fishermen, or The Field Behind the Plow is an anthem of Canadian Prairie Farmers.</br>
</br>
I just think the concept of an old style Holler about working in a cube farm is hilarious and ingenious at the same time</br>
</br>
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Go Ryder2010-07-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/07/26/go-ryderAll year long, I've been watching (as Phil Leggett would put it), "a certain Canadian rider". I watched him perform really well in all the great spring classics.</br>
</br>
I fully expected him to finish somewhere in the lower half of the Tour, not because he couldn't do well, but because I knew he would go balls-out to help Christian Vande Velde win, and he would spend the first parts of each stage at the front, and then the last part at the back, exhausted, just trying to make it home after putting in a Herculean effort to help VDV. </br>
</br>
When VDV crashed out of the tour, I saw a slight hope of glory for Ryder. The next day was the cobbles stage, and I'd seen Ryder fly over the pave in races like Paris-Roubaix, I knew that while the rest of the tour, including all of the other classics specialists, would be doing whatever they could to shepherd their respective team leads through the pave stages, and that would leave Ryder free to go out with the break-away, and then power over the last 30 - 50k and see who could hang on.</br>
</br>
For the first 100k of the stage, it went exactly as I dreamed. He got into the break and got a substantial lead, and left the rest of the break to solo to the finish. Unfortunately, the Saxo and Cervelo teams had other ideas, and two of the strongest Classics racers in the world (Cancellara, who had beaten the best of the cobbles riders in an amazing solo break just a few months prior, and Thor Hushovd, who had won two previous editions of Paris-Roubaix). When I saw those two towing Andy Schleck up, I repeated "Go Ryder" over and over again for the last 20k of that stage, like it was my own personal mantra. I knew it was going to be a nail-biter.</br>
</br>
It was. Ryder finished 5th on that day, and the best hope of a stage win for Garmin went out the window. But the silver lining on that cloud was that Ryder had gained a bunch of time on the rest of the field, and, if he could just hold on, he could, I figured, hold on to a high overall place in the race through the Alps.</br>
</br>
It was a slim hope, the Tour has the best riders in the world, all tuning their form up for this three week period. It's got hellacious hills, that riders climb at insane speeds. Ryder's a climber, but he's a big guy, and he has an extra 5-10 kg over pure climbers to drag over those cols. All I could think was, if he can find the big group of elite climbers, and just hang on the back for as long as possible, he'll be the best Canadian finish in 22 years. And he was. </br>
</br>
Garmin was outstanding. They didn't seem to be able to help him much on the climbs themselves, but he was always in the first 20-30 riders up the climbs, and he never had to try and bridge any gaps on the early climbs, and he was always in the mix on the climbs. Through the alps he rode his own pace, and managed to find other climbers that were going the same pace. The amazing thing was the riders that he managed to stay with: past tour winners like Sastre, mountain goats like Joaquin Rodriguez, tour heavyweights like Denis Menchov, and Andreas Kloden. The creme-de-la-creme of Tour riders. Every day through the Alps, he found his pace, and he managed to stay with some of these guys.'</br>
</br>
Even so, he wasn't doing *that* great. On the stage into Mende, just before the Pyrenees, he was in another break that came up against the desires of the Astana team, who drove the main pack fiercely to put their team leader on the top of the hill overlooking the town of Mende on top. Ryder, who had been in the break all day, couldn't stay with the pack up the short fierce final climb.</br>
</br>
Still. He was in 13th place, and he could even lose big chunks of time in the Pyrenees and keep a top-20 finish, which, in the Tour de France, is something that other riders have built entire careers around.</br>
</br>
Going into the Pyrenees was tense. He hadn't done that well through the Alps, and the stage into Mende had obviously put him on the rivet. I was nervous. What made it worse was constantly searching for him in the peloton, especially in the stages through the Alps. He was still an also-ran, and Phil and Paul *never* mentioned him. Liz and I spent the entire three weeks looking for the orange helmet poking up over the rest of the mountain goats. We'd shout excitedly when we saw him. "There's Ryder! He's still in it!" Meanwhile, Phil and Paul would be moaning over the abysmal performance of Lance Armstrong.</br>
</br>
But every stage, into Ax-3-Domains, over the Port de Bales, over the toughest climbs in the Pyrenees, Ryder was right there, not sacrificing much time, and staying with the best riders in the Tour, climb after climb. Phil and Paul started out in wonderment "How is this big Canadian staying with the mountain masters?" they asked, after the stage into Ax-3-Domains, then, they started to mention him more, they would look for him in the leading groups, and mention him, using words like "Phenomenon" and "Surprise Talent", and my favourite "Weight of a Nation". He started getting post race interviews. It was wonderful. He moved up from 13th to 10th over those 3 stages.</br>
</br>
Then, the Queen stage. The second ever mountain-top finish on the Tourmalet. Everybody expected a mano-a-mano duel between Contador and Schleck, and that's what they got. My eyes were focussed behind, in the 2nd group on the road up the famous climb. A small group had formed including Tour giants like Menchov, Sami Sanchez, and Roman Kreuziger. They were the lucky few that could grab Contador and Schleck's wheel for just a few pedal strokes, and they were constantly about a minute and a half behind. The entire climb was through a dense layer of clouds on the mountainside, and the TV cameras would only flash back occasionally to the 2nd group on the road. About 2 km from the top, I stopped seeing Ryder in the group he'd been all climb. "Oh Well," I thought "He won't lose that much time, and he'll lose a couple of places, tops" It was still the best in over 20 years.</br>
</br>
Contador and Schleck came in first, then they just had the camera going on the finish line. Joaquin Rodriguez finished about a minute back, and then about 30 seconds later, the camera zooms in on a figure emerging from the clouds near the finish line. "Menchov must have had good legs today" I thought. Then Liz said "Is that Ryder?!", and I saw the distinctive orange helmet coming into view, and it was! Ryder had attacked all of the best mountain climbers in the biggest stage, in the biggest and best bike race in the world, and come in 4th. Not the best, but better than anyone had ever hoped for. That day alone jumped him up into 8th place overall.</br>
</br>
The Tour de France is the biggest pressure-cooker. It only takes one bad day to lose the race entirely. The list of contenders who dropped far, far out of contention in one bad day is filled with champions like Lance Armstrong, Ivan Basso, and Cadel Evans, who, in the Alps went from 1st to 18th, and lost nearly 18 minutes. Nearly every stage was, for me, filled with trepidation. Would this be the day that Ryder started going backwards? The time trial (a.k.a, the race of truth) was no different. He had never performed spectacularly in a Grand Tour TT, and he didn't in this one either, but the field ahead was full of mountain climbers, most of whom are notoriously bad at TTs. He managed to claw 2 minutes out of Joaquin Rodriguez and jump into 7th.</br>
</br>
Most Canadians woke up to see him on their morning paper this morning. I can imagine them sitting back and reading the paper thinking "Huh. Seventh, eh? That's not bad, I s'pose"</br>
</br>
This is when I want to shake them up and say "Not Bad?! Not Bad! It's fucking fantastic is what it is!" I considered myself one of the biggest Ryder fanbois in the entire world, and even I was prepared to be amazed if he finished in the double digits. Top ten was inconceivable.</br>
</br>
Chapeau, Ryder, and chapeau, Garmin. Every year, you manage to surprise the world with a top-ten finish that no-one expected. </br>
</br>
Wiggins learns too late who is Wigan, and who is really Manchester.
God apparently has a sense of humour2010-06-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/06/09/god-apparently-has-a-sense-of-humourWikipedia surfing brought this to my attention. It's a diary entry from a party that crossed the Great Salt Desert in 1850.</br>
</br>
<blockquote>Finally Allen and one of the other men dropped to the ground exhausted, when, to the amusement of the others, Allen began to pray.</br>
</br>
"O Lord Almighty, send us just one drop of rain!" Immediately from a few fleecy clouds scattering rain drops began to fall, and as Allen and his companions had a rubber blanket, they quickly spread it out. But not a sufficient quantity of water fell to admit of its running together</blockquote></br>
</br>
Smells like fraud2010-06-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/06/03/smells-like-fraudApparently, in their application, BP said they had "proven equipment" for dealing with a deepwater spill much bigger than the one currently spewing in the Gulf of Mexico.</br>
</br>
<blockquote>"This is an unprecedented situation, not just for BP but for the oil industry," BP communications chief Andrew Gowers said at one point, "and we are inventing new technologies on the go to tackle this."</br>
</br>
BP global CEO Tony Hayward has deemed some of the failures "real-time learning."</br>
</br>
The exploration plan for the now-blown-out well, filed with MMS, says the company was capable of handling a "worst-case scenario," which it describes as a leak of 162,000 barrels per day from an uncontrolled blowout. That is 6.8 million gallons and 32 times more than the original estimate of 5,000 barrels of crude per day. That estimate has since risen to 12,000 to 25,000 barrels a day.</br>
</br>
Asked in a Senate hearing to reconcile the "proven equipment" statement with the trial and error taking place in the Gulf, the British firm's top U.S. executive, Lamar McKay, struggled to come up with an answer.</br>
</br>
"Obviously, when that document you're quoting was turned in, we weren't expecting this," he said.</blockquote></br>
</br>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/06/02/02greenwire-industry-claims-of-proven-technology-went-unch-55514.html">Original Article Here</a>
Two Poems about War2010-06-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/06/02/two-poems-about-warMonday was Memorial Day, so my American friends were talking about war, and the commemoration of it. </br>
</br>
Two Poems, one familiar, one not. You can tell from reading them why the latter is unfamiliar, it's as dense as a black-hole, but packs way more of a wallop than the sing-songy first poem.</br>
</br>
<a href="http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm">In Flanders Fields</a></br></br>
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) </br>
Canadian Army</br>
<pre></br>
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow </br>
Between the crosses row on row, </br>
That mark our place; and in the sky </br>
The larks, still bravely singing, fly </br>
Scarce heard amid the guns below.</br>
</br>
We are the Dead. Short days ago </br>
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, </br>
Loved and were loved, and now we lie </br>
In Flanders fields.</br>
</br>
Take up our quarrel with the foe: </br>
To you from failing hands we throw </br>
The torch; be yours to hold it high. </br>
If ye break faith with us who die </br>
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow </br>
In Flanders fields.</br>
</pre></br>
</br>
<a href="http://www.ppu.org.uk/learn/poetry/poetry_ww2_2.html">How to Kill</a> by Keith Douglas</br></br>
</br>
<pre></br>
Under the parabola of a ball,</br>
a child turning into a man,</br>
I looked into the air too long.</br>
The ball fell in my hand, it sang</br>
in the closed fist: Open Open</br>
Behold a gift designed to kill.</br>
</br>
Now in my dial of glass appears </br>
the soldier who is going to die.</br>
He smiles, and moves about in ways</br>
his mother knows, habits of his.</br>
The wires touch his face: I cry</br>
Now. Death, like a familiar, hears</br>
</br>
and look, has made a man of dust</br>
of a man of flesh. This sorcery</br>
I do. Being damned, I am amused</br>
to see the centre of love diffused</br>
and the waves of love travel into vacancy.</br>
How easy it is to make a ghost.</br>
</br>
The weightless mosquito touches</br>
Her tiny shadow on the stone,</br>
and with how like, how infinite</br>
a lightness, man and shadow meet.</br>
They fuse. A shadow is a man</br>
when the mosquito death approaches.</br>
</pre>
The Single Story of Africa2010-05-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/05/30/the-single-story-of-africaI've <a href="http://blog.folkwolf.net/2006/01/28/granta-how-to-write-about-africa-by-binyavanga-wainaina">written</a> about this <a href="http://blog.folkwolf.net/2008/12/27/binyavanga-wanaina-on-the-response-to-how-to-write-about-africa">before</a>, but Chimamanda Adichie talks about it much better. It's worth every second of the twenty minute runtime.</br>
</br>
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Laundry Eureka2010-04-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/04/12/laundry-eurekaLiz does all the laundry, and then carts it upstairs for me to fold.</br>
</br>
I now have to learn how to do this.</br>
</br>
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Damn You Pogue!2010-04-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/04/03/damn-you-pogue<p>I will not fit nicely into your neat little box, even though I fit all the criteria below (Yes, even including the pants…)</p> <blockquote> <p>Read the first one if you’re a techie. (How do you know? Take this simple test. Do you use BitTorrent? Do you run Linux? Do you have more e-mail addresses than pants? You’re a techie.)</p> </blockquote> <p>From Pogue’s review of the iPad.  Liz wants one…  That’s what I’ll say if we ever get one.</p>
Freedom of Speech isnt free2010-03-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/03/24/freedom-of-speech-isnt-freeI wrote this in response to Blake Batson's post.</br>
</br>
http://www.blakebatson.ca/?p=781&cpage=1#comment-28895</br>
</br>
Maybe I'll flesh it out later</br>
</br>
1. If you read Houle’s letter, it was very deferential, and not threatening at all. It did remind Coulter that there’s no constitutional right to freedom of speech in Canada, and that things she might say could get her (and more importantly), the University, arrested and charged. Not a threat, but a statement of fact from a bureaucrat afraid to get his institution in hot water.</br>
</br>
2. This sentence from the Ottawa Citizen kinda says it all:</br>
</br>
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/speech+cancelled/2718270/story.html</br>
</br>
<blockquote>Ezra Levant [...] told the half-filled hall that no more people would be able to enter and that Coulter had been advised it would not be safe for her to appear. Coulter’s bodyguard ultimately made the judgment.</blockquote></br>
</br>
</br>
Coulter wasn’t barred from appearing. She *chose* not to appear. Freedom of Speech, in my books, means that if you’re saying unpopular things, you should have to face the consequences of that unpopular speech. Coulter’s speech is so odious to Canadians that we don’t want to hear it, and obviously, she doesn’t think it’s important enough to say if there’s enough opposition.</br>
She was invited to speak, she chose not to. That’s not a freedom of speech issue, that’s a courage issue.</br>
</br>
Oh, and the milking it for all it’s worth? It’s already started. I’m sure it’ll play well to her coward “base”.
The perfect shot2010-03-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/03/18/the-perfect-shot<p>When I lived in Africa, and went up to the parks, I was always amazed and a little jealous about the zoologists and others that got to live in the parks and study animals for long periods of time, it seemed heavenly to me. Sometimes it’s not.  Here’s <a href="http://www.gregdutoit.com/index.php">one photographer’s</a> quest for <a href="http://www.gregdutoit.com/index.php?page=ftf_blood">the perfect shot</a>.</p>
What could have been...2010-03-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/03/11/what-could-have-beenIn a weird bit of synchronicity, these two posts came across my "desk" recently. </br>
</br>
1. <a href="http://urbsite.blogspot.com/">Mid-century Modernist</a> put up some <a href="http://urbsite.blogspot.com/2010/03/ralph-burton-on-lebreton-flats.html">old paintings of Lebreton Flats</a></br>
</br>
2. The New York Times put up some pictures of <a href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/the-gowanus-in-all-its-gunky-glory/">The Gowanus Canal</a>, in Brooklyn.</br>
</br>
It got me thinking as to what could have been on the flats. Sure, the Gowanus is a Superfund site that needs major clean-up, but so is the flats (read back on what they had to do to get the War Museum in there). The similarities are eerie. Each site was a major industrial center, with a canal running through it. The difference is how they were treated. Ottawa has a rich, mainly industrial history, the factories, trainyards and warehouses that were part of Lebreton were a part of Ottawa's industrial heritage that the federal government wiped out because it didn't fit into Greber's master plan. Now the rich industrial heritage of Ottawa has been wiped out and nearly forgotten.</br>
</br>
I think it's just because, as David Francey said "I love a good industrial landscape", and as excited as I am about some of the newer developments in Ottawa, it's really sad to realize what could have been here, rather than the harsh and impersonal mixture of Condos and moonscape that exists here now.
Howard Rheingold gets it2010-02-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/02/03/howard-rheingold-gets-itHe does a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00591rn">fairly good interview here</a>, with a few lovely stories about the WeLL, the online community I've been a part of for over 10 years now.</br>
</br>
The iPad and the end of the GP Computer. Part I2010-01-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/01/30/the-ipad-and-the-end-of-the-gp-computer-part-i<p>All the apple fanboys are in a tizzy because of the iPad. The idea of the iPhone OS running on a platform that is getting closer and closer to a "General Purpose Computer" is scaring them. For the best example see <a href="http://al3x.net/2010/01/28/ipad.html">Alex Payne's essay</a>.</p> <p>They see the iPad as a scary, closed computer.    Alex sees it as a “Tinkerer’s Sunset”, Someone else bemoans the fact that he won’t be able to “peek” and “poke” his way to mastery of his device.  </p> <p>Apparently, they were OK with this, as long as the form factor could fit in your pocket, and didn’t compete with Macs.  But the iPad is different, it’s an “actual computer.”  As opposed to an iphone I guess, which, in my opinion is also an actual computer, but all of the apple fanboys were OK with.</p> <p>It is, in their opinion, a death of the Open, transparent computer.  They talk about it splitting the market into two distinct segments, one for people who just want to use their computer to consume stuff, and a general purpose computer market for “hobbyists and developers”.  There are two problems with this statement.</p> <p>1. Non “hobbyists and developers” don’t create anything, they just consume.  This is just bullshit.  Most people use computers as a tool.  Writers, Musicians, they use computers without knowing how they work all the time.  My wife knows nothing about MIDI, or Objective-C, but when presented with just GarageBand and the samples that came with the computer, she was able to use it to create a piece of music that I, a professional computer developer, couldn’t dream of matching.  Even worse, she said it was easy.  Creative people use Macs every day, it’s the OS that is preferred by creative people, and I hate to say this, but it has nothing to do with how “Open” Macs are.  It has to do with the better interface, and the ease of use of the Mac.  </p> <p>For those who aren’t hobbyists or developers, a computer is a tool.  Nothing more.  The best kind of tool is the one that gets out of your way and lets you do your job without having to think about the tool.  Macs have always been famous for this ability to get out of the way, and just let you create, which leads me into my next point…</p> <p>2.  There has always been two target audiences, Apple is just the first company who has been able to create distinct products for both.  People who want to write, or compose, or design don’t want to have to worry about filesystem minutiae, or memory management, or pre-emptive multitasking.  They want to be able to open their toolbox, pick out the appropriate tool for what their doing, be it a web browser, word processor, music editor, or whatever.  For everyone who wondered “How does it do that? (the hobbyist or developer)”, there are 10 or 100 people who don’t care, but just want to sit down and write, or design.</p> <p>For the past 30 years, We (and I definitely count myself amongst the developer crowd), have had a fantastic advantage in that the same machine we used to create the tools was the same machine that people used to just use the tools.  We could compile code, and just give it to someone else, and they would be able to run it.   This makes computer programming so much easier.  Programmer’s can just write software.  Making sure someone else can use the software, or making sure the software doesn’t screw up the user’s machine?  That’s someone else’s problem.  Usually Tech Support’s, or MIS’s problem.</p> <p>This is long enough, and I’ve got other stuff to do.  Next time:  Why this is changing, and the nature of Open Vs. Closed computing.</p>
Frasier Spears gets it.2010-01-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/01/30/frasier-spears-gets-it<p>Just after I finished my last post, I saw <a href="http://speirs.org/blog/2010/1/29/future-shock.html">this</a>.  This is kinda what I was talking about</p> <p>If the iPad and its successor devices free these people to focus on what they do best, it will dramatically change people's perceptions of computing from something to fear to something to engage enthusiastically with. I find it hard to believe that the loss of background processing isn't a price worth paying to have a computer that isn't frightening anymore.</p>
The End of Suburbia2010-01-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/01/21/the-end-of-suburbia<strong>I wrote this in response to a blog post a while ago. It's pretty good as is</strong></br>
</br>
Ah, Kunstler, my favourite car-hating, scare-mongering dystopian. Let's go through his points.</br>
</br>
Price of gasoline will become prohibitively expensive: Absolutely, but it will be on a pace that we can keep up with. People will buy smaller cars, governments will invest more in public transit, crazy-ass zoning laws will change to encourage businesses and residential neighborhoods to occupy the same space, we'll get rid of parking subsidies (somebody pays for that "free parking" at Walmart). These are just the cheap solutions.</br>
</br>
People will not be able to afford to buy, maintain or run a car: Cars lose their value through use. More expensive gas means less use, therefore, cars will last longer and need less maintenance. Besides, unless we somehow run out of money at the same time, car maintenance won't be our biggest problem</br>
</br>
Suburbanites will have difficulty commuting to work, shopping, schools: Maybe that'll encourage them to move schools, shopping, etc. closer, remember. This will happen over the course of 20 - 50 years, even at the most pessimistic estimates. Suburbs will be different, not gone.</br>
</br>
Suburbanites and others living in McMansions will not be able to afford to heat their homes: Two words. Electric Heat. A good percentage of our electricity comes from hydro and other renewable sources, I'm not sure Ontario has that many gas-fired turbines in the first place.</br>
</br>
Like the Victorian mansions of days gone by, McMansions will be chopped up into several apartments housing more than one family: One word. Yep. Is this really a bad thing? Maybe it'll solve their heating problem.</br>
</br>
Kunstler believes the suburbs will become slums; others think with a little vision and foresight we can convert them into self-sufficient villages: Count me among the latter group.</br>
</br>
Since North America does almost no manufacturing of its own anymore, we will have difficulty getting goods from China:</br>
First, because of the high cost of shipping</br>
Second, because we will be competing with China for energy resources and they will cease to be a friendly trading partner: </br>
I love this one. "America doesn't make anything anymore" As soon as stuff from China becomes more expensive than making stuff here, America will start making stuff again. You know, my friend built himself a little machine called a "cupcake", that makes stuff for him. He feeds it a CAD drawing, and it will make the desired object out of plastic. Amazing stuff. Making stuff is the easy part, why do you think we off-shored it to the Chinese for so many years.</br>
</br>
We will not longer be able to afford to import or transport food thousands of miles: and... Seriously, I fail to see the downside of this one.</br>
</br>
Agriculture in North America is heavily dependant on petroleum products since our soil is pretty much completely depleted and crops can be raised only because of extensive use of petroleum-based chemicals, (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.): So you're saying that we won't have factory farms anymore. There are ways to farm without these things. Letting fields lie fallow, alternating nitrogen-depleting crops like corn, with nitrogen-fixers like beans, etc. Go out and ask an Organic farmer about more of these tricks.</br>
</br>
Growing food therefore will become more labour intensive necessitating more human labour and less machinery: Yep, there will be more farm workers, it's back-breaking, thankless, low-pay labor. This one'll suck.</br>
</br>
Anyone who has land will have to start growing crops to help feed their families and/or sell in their communities: Most people who have enough land suitable to grow food on, already do. More marginal land may have to start being farmed on, but if you have land, you may have to start growing vegetables, rather than a lush green lawn of Kentucky bluegrass. Again, failing to see the downside.</br>
</br>
Centralized energy plants will cease to exist and we may have to go to energy co-operatives using windmills to provide energy locally: Given a choice between this and Hydro One spending $75 billion dollars on new nuclear plants, I'd love to be forced into this choice.</br>
</br>
A whole host of businesses, industries and professions will no longer be sustainable: Yep, buggy-whip makers will be missed.</br>
</br>
The trucking industry, for instance, will need to be replaced with an efficient rail system. (Third World countries apparently have a much better people -and-goods rail systems than we do in North America): Three words. Holy fucking shit! Are you fucking kidding me? I've lived in 3rd world countries. Go look at the railroad from Uganda to Mombasa, and then look at the Railroad from Salt Lake City to Oakland. The one in Kenya has small trains, mainly designed for moving people about, not very quickly, the other one can move 200 full-size containers from SLC to Oakland in the same time as the Kenya train takes to move 20 from Mombasa to Nairobi. I swear to god, the only thing worse than the railroads in 3rd world countries are the roads themselves.</br>
</br>
Other than the one outright stupid point, and the one that I concede, will kinda suck, You have a recipe for a more sustainable world. It's all in the perspective. If you love Suburbia, in it's present cookie-cutter, Centrum, tree-killing form, then yes, it'll suck, but I don't, and I won't miss it.
We need more Albertans like Corb Lund2010-01-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/01/15/we-need-more-albertans-like-corb-lundand less like Stephen Harper.</br>
</br>
<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Iz8SZgKI1eU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Iz8SZgKI1eU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>
Blast from the past.2010-01-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/01/12/blast-from-the-pastBack when I was young, and they still had LP's, my parents had an LP of a whole bunch of BBC comedy skits culled from shows like Round the Horne, the Goon Show, and Monty Python. It also had this sketch, which I still find hilarious.</br>
</br>
<object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/asUyK6JWt9U&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/asUyK6JWt9U&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>
Well, that makes it easier.2010-01-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2010/01/04/well-that-makes-it-easierFacebook has now made my life easier, and given my life new purpose, because now I can hunt down and kill every "fan" of this page: </br>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Theres-a-perfectly-good-path-right-next-to-the-road-you-stupid-cyclist">There's a perfectly good path right next to the road you stupid cyclist!</a></br>
</br>
I fucking hate people today.
Tom Waits2009-12-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/12/23/tom-waitsFrom an <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/tom-waits/article1407145/">interview</a> with the Globe and Mail:</br>
</br>
<blockquote>But people hear music in all kinds of different ways. Some people experience music as colours; others just see grey water pouring out of the speakers. Some never listen to lyrics, they just fall under a spell. Some eat it whole. Some just take a bite. Some of us like to get on our backs and roll around in it like a dog. </blockquote>
How many cyclists does it take to power a house2009-12-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/12/06/how-many-cyclists-does-it-take-to-power-a-house<p>Answer? <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8394055.stm">80 can do it, but just barely.</a> I should see if I can find the full episode for this</p>
Boo.2009-12-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/12/06/boo<p>Every morning when I worked in Oakland, I would get on the <a href="http://bayarea.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/riders-say-goodbye-to-some-sf-bus-lines/">7-Haight </a>at the corner of Divisadero and Haight St. in San Francisco. The 7-Haight would take me to the BART line under Market St, which would then take me to work in Oakland. </p>
Microsoft, Orwell, whats the difference?2009-11-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/11/27/microsoft-orwell-whats-the-difference<p>Remember kids, it's <a href="http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2009/11/turning_dog_food_into_ice_cream_and_other_tidbits_from_microsofts_cio.html">Ice Cream, not Dog Food</a></p>
Ferran Adria also gets it…2009-11-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/11/26/ferran-adria-also-gets-ithellip<p>From a <a href="http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6105.html">case study</a> of a high end restaurant.</p> <blockquote> <p>The case also highlights the distinction between understanding and listening to customers. "Adrià's idea is that if you listen to customers, what they tell you they want will be based on something they already know," Norton observes. "If I like a good steak, you can serve that to me, and I'll enjoy it. But it will never be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To create those experiences, you almost can't listen to the customer."</p></blockquote>
Billy Bragg gets it…2009-11-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/11/26/billy-bragg-gets-ithellip<p>And he’s trying to do something about it, which includes going to Parliament Hill, and trying to speak truth to power, and go about the messy business of changing the status quo.</p> <object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wNiBt3C2p6Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wNiBt3C2p6Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>
“It was just an accident”2009-11-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/11/20/ldquoit-was-just-an-accidentrdquo<p>Every time you get in a car, you are handling a lethal weapon.  If you do not do so with the utmost care, <a href="http://bicycling.com/blogs/roadrights/2009/11/18/traffic-injustice/">someone could die</a>.  </p> <p>Pedestrians and cyclists don’t have a “safety cage” around them, like all modern cars do.  Pedestrians are separated by a kerb.  Cyclists are required by law to share the road with people like the ones mentioned in the article above.  Even at a low speed, cars can and have killed cyclists.  Wearing helmets, and safety gear, even in a bike lane.  To a motorist, an accident is an inconvenience, 99.9% of the time, they have to repair their car, at worst.  To cyclists, any collision with a car has a very good chance of death.</p> <p> </p> <p>Think about that next time you see a cyclist…</p>
Yes we can.2009-11-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/11/19/yes-we-can<p>Boulder Colorado did it.  So can we…</p> <object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6666520&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6666520&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6666520">Boulder Bike Story</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/bikesbelong">Bikes Belong</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
Why I love my dog2009-11-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/11/17/why-i-love-my-dog<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gyUec-lv_jI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gyUec-lv_jI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I must see this movie2009-11-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/11/17/i-must-see-this-movieBest Line in it: "Problem is, Civilians dragged us into this war. Once you've been to war, you never want to go back. It's like France"
<embed src='http://www.ifcfilms.com/mediaplayer/player-licensed-viral.swf' height='349' width='616' allowscriptaccess='always' allowfullscreen='true' flashvars='autostart=true&state=PLAYING&image=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.ifcfilms.com%2Fimages%2Fvideos%2Fvideo-preview-image%2Fin-the-loop_616x349.jpg&file=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.ifcfilms.com%2Fflv%2Fin-the-loop-trailer_480x272.flv&plugins=viral-1d'/>
Test From Windows Live Writer2009-11-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/11/15/test-from-windows-live-writer<p>As some of you may know, I got a windows desktop a while back.  This is just a test from windows live writer to see if I can get a decent blog writer so that I can annoy everyone from my windows desktop.</p>
How Wall Street affects Main Street2009-10-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/10/23/how-wall-street-affects-main-street<p>Let's turn around and assume pure motives for all the actors in the drama <br /></br>
that has become the US economy, rather than just spout slogans about <br /></br>
"Greedy Banksters" <br /></br>
<br /></br>
Put yourself in a bank's shoes for a second. If I buy a house, and get a<br /></br>
mortgage from you, you effectively have a house. You let me live there<br /></br>
and pay insurance and taxes on it, but the house is pretty much yours. <br /></br>
Now, several hundred of my friends buy houses, and get their mortgage from<br /></br>
you. Now you own several hundred houses, but you're a bank, and have no<br /></br>
use for several hundred houses. <br /></br>
<br /></br>
Now the factory that employs 1/2 the workers in your small town comes to <br /></br>
you and says "Our equipment is all falling apart, and we could make more <br /></br>
money and hire more workers if you lend us 200 million dollars to retool <br /></br>
the factory". You'd love to lend them the 200 mil, but all you have is a <br /></br>
bunch of houses. You think "these houses are worth money, but there's no <br /></br>
way to turn those houses into money"<br /></br>
<br /></br>
Then along comes Big NY Investment Bank, and they say "We will give you <br /></br>
money for the houses that you have" and it's the perfect solution. You <br /></br>
get money for your houses, which weren't doing that much for you in the <br /></br>
first place, and you can turn around and lend that money to the factory.<br /></br>
<br /></br>
The failure was not that they weren't investing money in real stuff, they<br /></br>
were just doing it poorly. Very poorly in fact. <br /></br>
<br /></br>
If everybody had been able to pay off their NINA loans, and housing prices<br /></br>
had flattened rather than cratered, then there would have been a slight<br /></br>
contraction, and everybody would continue on.<br /></br>
<br /></br>
At their heart, the goals behind CDOs are actually good goals. They take<br /></br>
a pretty solid asset, and let the investment banks turn that asset into a<br /></br>
more liquid form so they can use the asset to lend money to other people <br /></br>
and businesses, so that they can build factories, or hire more people.<br /></br>
<br /></br>
But, they failed. The fact that they're still in business is a little<br /></br>
puzzling to me, but they kinda have the entire US economy over a barrel,<br /></br>
so I think some people let this one slide, while they figure out how to <br /></br>
fix the big problem, which is that the US economy has become far too <br /></br>
dependent on credit for day-to-day activities, and if that falls apart, <br /></br>
then a lot of shit goes down with it.<br /></br>
<br /></br>
Having said all that, there was a lot of shit that happened, that should <br /></br>
have been regulated, that shouldn't have happened, that was downright <br /></br>
criminal, or should be, but just because the tools didn't work in this one <br /></br>
instance doesn't mean we should throw the tool out. We should just fix <br /></br>
it.<br /></br>
</p></br>
<p>The stock market used to be a much more concrete indicator, back when stocks<br /></br>
paid dividends. Back then, you would buy 200 shares of GE, not so that you <br /></br>
could turn around and sell them for more money later, but because GE would <br /></br>
pay out annual or quarterly dividends to it's stockholders, and if you got <br /></br>
any money on top of that from selling a share, that was a bonus. <br /></br>
<br /></br>
Nowadays, you "Buy Low, Sell High". So you buy a share not on the <br /></br>
expectation of a steady return over time, but because you think a share is <br /></br>
under-valued. You're betting on the fact that the company will make more <br /></br>
money next quarter, or next year, than it is now. A year ago, everyone was <br /></br>
pretty sure that the next year (ie: the year that just passed) was going to <br /></br>
be pretty crappy for pretty much every company. They were right. Now it <br /></br>
seems a lot of people are betting that companies are going to make more <br /></br>
money than they did last year (which is actually not that bad a bet, <br /></br>
considering how bad the last year was). So they invest in stocks that they <br /></br>
think will go up.<br /></br>
<br /></br>
This has the effect of putting more money into companies so that they can <br /></br>
turn around and expand, and hire more people.<br /></br>
</p>
Im Back!2009-10-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/10/07/im-back<p><img alt="" style="width: 384px; height: 477px;" src="http://www.folkwolf.net/jack-nicholson-the-shining-photograph-c10101822jpeg.jpg" /></p></br>
<p>Our long national nightmare is finally over, and I have a webserver, and a blog back</p></br>
<p>Next on the list is webmail, and the photo gallery...</p>
Folkwolf mail is down (on purpose this time)2009-08-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/08/18/folkwolf-mail-is-down-on-purpose-this-timeI've moved mail (sending and receiving) over to the new fancy colo'ed server. Right now, if you're impatient and have to get mail *now*, you'll have to repoint your mail client to calcata.folkwolf.net As usual, support is, leave a comment or send me a message somehow, and I'll try and help you through it if you need help. </br>
</br>
If mail works well over the next day or so, everything will be moving over there, and I'll point all of the dns over there, and you won't have to do anything.</br>
</br>
My favourite blue skies quote this year2009-08-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/08/06/my-favourite-blue-skies-quote-this-yearFrom David Scrimshaw's post <a href="http://davidscrimshaw.blogspot.com/2008/08/guide-to-blue-skies-music-festival.html">A guide to Blue Skies Music Festival</a></br>
<blockquote>Although Blue Skies is an amazing cooperative event completely created by volunteers and dedicated to the creative arts, the environment and peaceful coexistence, the race for good camping spots is a savage competition that requires speed, strength and guile</blockquote></br>
</br>
Changes coming to the folkwolf2009-07-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/07/03/changes-coming-to-the-folkwolfI've been wanting to upgrade the folkwolf, this humble server that I've had for over 10 years now. As some of you may know, and our motd attests to, reliability ain't been a hallmark.</br>
</br>
This has been for a few reasons.</br>
</br>
1. It's sitting on a home DSL connection.</br>
2. It's on an ancient 500MHz machine, with 512 MB of RAM. Fercrissake the iphone has a faster CPU than the folkwolf does...</br>
3. I think the disk is starting to go.</br>
</br>
So last week, after a friend of mine on the well made up <a href="http://blog.jeffreymcmanus.com/1403/comparitive-pricing-for-virtual-hosting-providers/">this chart</a>, I bit the bullet and signed up for <a href="http://www.rackspacecloud.com/">Rackspace Cloud"</a>. Rackspace Cloud is a nifty service that will let you run a Virtual Server in their datacenter. For 1.5c / hr, It'll cost me ~ $11/mo to run the folkwolf, which, really, is about the same as I pay for it having it sit under my desk. As pros for this, a better, more reliable connection, free snapshot backups, and an upgraded OS (CentOS 5, rather than the woefully out of date version of Fedora that's currently there)
TED Talks2009-06-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/06/24/ted-talksTwo fascinating talks by people that you may not think are that fascinating. Make sure you have about 35 minutes. It'll fly by</br>
<hr></br>
Adam Savage comes across on "Mythbusters" as "the goofy one" you get occasional flashes of what makes him interesting, but nothing quite as interesting as listening to him talk about what he's interested in.</br>
<hr></br>
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</br>
<hr></br>
Mike Rowe is the narrator of "The deadliest catch", and the host of "Dirty Jobs". In both shows he displays so much respect for the subjects of the shows. This gives you an idea why. Also, why "follow your passion" is the worst career and life advice </br>
<hr></br>
<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IRVdiHu1VCc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IRVdiHu1VCc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>
Quote of the Day2009-06-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/06/23/quote-of-the-dayThis quote captures so many things in one paragraph, the stupidity of organized religion, the monolithic perception of Islam in the western media, etc. All I can say is: Allahu Akbar.</br>
</br>
<a href="http://www.sparksflyup.com/2009/06/end-of-one-islam-lie.php">John Green:</a> </br>
</br>
<blockquote>Those who feel the guidance of God as revealed through the Quran are protesting for freedom and political representation. And the people savagely beating those protesters also feel the guidance of God as revealed through the Quran.</blockquote>
Open Source is grown up2009-06-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/06/22/open-source-iisi-grown-upMy <a href="http://twitter.com/cfetter">brother-in-law</a> has, I swear, been trying to goad me for the past couple of days over twitter. Actually, I'm probably just personalizing, but it's funnier this way. Also, because of the well-known limitations of twitter, I could only post <a href="http://twitter.com/mattrose/statuses/2224968796">this</a> as a response.</br>
</br>
This phrase from Matt Asay's latest entry is what really drew my ire</br>
</br>
<blockquote>Google, in short, is what open source wants to be when it grows up</blockquote></br>
</br>
I think it's the other way around. Google is the first sign of a "grown-up" Open Source ecosphere. It's one of the big, otherwise unnoticed differentiators between Web 1.0, and web2.0. Web 1.0 was built on big SUN servers running Solaris, and Oracle. Google was thrown on a bunch of commodity hardware running Linux, with python as glue-code. </br>
</br>
Matt Asay's got it backwards. Google is not what Open Source wants to be. Google is a sign of Open Source's maturity.</br>
The powerful majority fights back2009-06-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/06/19/the-powerful-majority-fights-backWow, it's exactly like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass">Critical Mass</a>, except that automobiles have all the power on the roads today.</br>
</br>
Oh, wait, they're just being <a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jun/16/boulder-drivers-blockade-sunrise-century/">jerks</a>
Music critique in the age of twitter2009-06-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/06/19/music-critique-in-the-age-of-twitterThis is an amazing rant about the state of music criticism, and the state of the music industry in general.</br>
</br>
<embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AYGKjgCYiSs" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="340" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>
Been there, done that2009-06-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/06/19/been-there-done-thatMy <a href="http://twitter.com/cfetter">brother-in-law</a> has, I swear, been trying to goad me for the past couple of days over twitter. Actually, I'm probably just personalizing, but it's funnier this way. Also, because of the well-known limitations of twitter, I could only post <a href="http://twitter.com/mattrose/statuses/2224968796">this</a> as a response.</br>
</br>
It pains me to say this, because I have it on good authority that Matt Asay is a smart guy, and Alfresco is a good company. But all I could think of when I read <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10266288-16.html">this article</a> was "DUH!, you don't think that's already occurred to people??"</br>
</br>
This article pissed me off because the author thinks that he's coming up with something new. He thinks that "we should emphasize the cheapness" is something revolutionary that he just thought of, rather than something that was debated 20 god-damn years ago. We (being the Open Source community) tried that already. </br>
</br>
In response, Microsoft came out with Gartner Group bullshit ^H^H^H^H^H^H^H "studies" that came up with concepts like "Total Cost of Ownership" to show that, even though Linux was 100% free, it somehow cost more to maintain than NT and IIS.</br>
</br>
And, to an extent, they're right. In certain cases, it is cheaper to run a web server off of Windows and IIS, rather than setting up your own LAMP stack. So, honestly, his argument is actually pretty bogus. </br>
</br>
Besides. Cost is a relative thing. IT departments don't care as much about the upfront dollar cost of a piece of software. They care about how well they know it, and how it integrates into their environment. Cost is probably third or 4th on their list of considerations. I don't care how much windows costs, if you have a big IT department, it's going to be cheaper than training all your techs to be Linux experts.</br>
The ride to conquer cancer continues2009-06-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/06/11/the-ride-to-conquer-cancer-continuesI have great news, Liz and I are going to be riding after all. 200km from Toronto to Niagara Falls this Saturday and Sunday.</br>
</br>
How can this be you ask, have you met your fund-raising totals? Well we have not yet met the $2500 we are required to raise but we have received and extension and therefore we can ride!</br>
</br>
It was the fantastic financial and emotional support, we have received throughout this adventure which had allowed our continued commitment.</br>
</br>
For those of you who have donated thank you very much, I appreciate it and am overwhelmed by individuals generosity.</br>
</br>
For those of you who are considering a donation, let me reiterate that the money goes to the Princess Margaret Hospital, one of the leading cancer fighting hospital in Canada.</br>
</br>
To donate to Matt:</br>
http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/mattrose</br>
</br>
To donate to Liz:</br>
http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/lizmcdermott</br>
</br>
Anything would help, forward this if you are so inclined,</br>
Thank you,</br>
Matt and Liz</br>
</br>
P.S. we have raised almost $1000 each and thank you all.
Latest Ride2009-06-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/06/06/latest-rideThis is probably getting tiresome, but I gotta share.</br>
</br>
<iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=a74c2f0495eefc1973f7c62dc772a248&u=e&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/ottawa/496124432187464474">iMapMyRide 6-Jun-09 4:57 PM</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/ottawa">Find more Bike Rides in Ottawa, Ontario</a></iframe>
Ride to Conquer Cancer2009-06-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/06/01/ride-to-conquer-cancerWell in Two weeks Liz and I are scheduled to ride our bikes from Toronto to Niagara Falls. This is to raise money for the Princess Margaret Hospital and their cancer research and fighters. We will not be able to ride unless we raise enough money, sadly it looks as though we will fall short. I know many of you saw Liz and I at Kelpfest this year, riding a stationary bike, during each show. This was part of our fund-raising efforts and along with being good training it was great fun.</br>
</br>
Please help Liz and I realize our fund-raising goals and help us to ride to conquer cancer.</br>
</br>
To donate to Liz, you can go to</br>
</br>
<a href="http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/lizmcdermott">http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/lizmcdermott</a></br>
</br>
and to donate to me, you can either go to </br>
</br>
<a href="http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/mattrose">http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/mattrose</a></br>
</br>
or if you have a facebook account, you can go to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Matt-Rose/871795392#/profile.php?id=871795392&ref=profile">my facebook profile</a> and click on the Donate Now button in the ride to conquer cancer box</br>
First Ride to the Gatineau Hills2009-05-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/05/30/first-ride-to-the-gatineau-hillsI did my first ride up to the Gatineau Hills today. It was as hard as I expected, but it was still a lot nicer than I remember it. I only made it to the bottom of the Pink Lake Hill because I want to go on another bike ride tomorrow, so I didn't feel like pushing it.</br>
</br>
Also, there's a whitewater kayak course right near my house in behind the new condo building accross from the War Museum</br>
</br>
</br>
<iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=e8ea6f4a4fbc270f686b16ad67722c44&u=e&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/ottawa/743124372492397358">iMapMyRide 30-May-09 7:08 PM</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/ottawa">Find more Bike Rides in Ottawa, Ontario</a></iframe>
first long ride2009-05-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/05/18/first-long-rideI did my first long bike ride of the season. My lungs are killing me, but other than that, I feel surprisingly OK. Details are below. I've taken to using my iphone and imapmyride to map my rides, and it's actually pretty handy, also, it lets me embed my training rides for everyone on the internets to make fun of.
<iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=70a7afde11172d918933a969f1fcf800&u=e&t=ride" height="500px" width="350px" frameborder="0"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/on/ottawa/938124268238373093">iMapMyRide 18-May-09 5:32 PM</a><br/><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/canada/on/ottawa">Find more Bike Rides in Ottawa, Ontario</a></iframe>
Random Google Earth2009-05-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/05/17/random-google-earth<a href="http://www.panoramio.com//photo/2252423">This</a> is where we camped after our first year going to BM. It's only about a 6 hour drive from Burning Man to the Northern California coast, but you might as well be on a different planet. After being in the desert, the cold damp was a huge shock. We ended up wearing all of our winter gear all the time, usually good to about -25C
Glenn Gould2009-05-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/05/17/glenn-gouldA Canadian treasure, and so far ahead of his time that only now are we starting to catch up to his vision. The interview starts after about 5 minutes, but I suggest you watch the whole thing. Thanks to Steve Silberman for linking to this on facebook originally
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Why is Jon Stewart the toughest interviewer on TV?2009-03-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/03/13/why-is-jon-stewart-the-toughest-interviewer-on-tvThis is for all the Canuck viewers out there, but this <a href="http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart/full-episodes/march-12-2009/#clip147737">interview with Jim Cramer</a> is actually uncomfortable, it's pressing, it's everything a good interview should be. It's not very funny, for that see <a href="http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart/full-episodes/march-12-2009/#clip147736">part 1</a>, but man is it good.</br>
</br>
At the end of the show, Jon Stewart says "I hope that was as uncomfortable to watch as it was to do". Yep.
Nostalgica2009-03-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/03/12/nostalgica<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C_Y6231uAmo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C_Y6231uAmo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
New Pups!2009-02-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/02/24/new-pupsStory later, I have to go take him to the pet hotel where everyone is anxious to see him, for now here's a pic of Jack and Whisky lying peacefully on the floor. It didn't last... <hr> <img border=0 src="https://dl.getdropbox.com/u/20605/whiskyjack.jpg">
Broken gets fixed, shoddy lasts forever.2009-02-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/02/04/broken-gets-fixed-shoddy-lasts-foreverIn a weird zeitgeist moment. This truism has popped up twice today.
The first was a post on the anaconda devel list <a href="https://www.redhat.com/archives/anaconda-devel-list/2009-February/msg00054.html">here</a>
<blockquote>Most of what we work on is either giant new features or critical bugs
that prevent installations from succeeding. What gets lost in all this
is the pile of very small, very simple, but very annoying bugs that
don't cause anaconda to fail but don't make it look good either.
You know the kinds of bugs I'm talking about - deprecation warnings,
messages getting printed to tty1, dialogs that either don't go away or
don't display in the right place, progress bars that don't move, etc.
</blockquote>
and then a link from kottke <a href="http://designaday.tumblr.com/post/75496791/truism">here:</a>
<blockquote>One of the developers I work with said this after I complained about a lingering issue in one of our products. It rings true. When deadlines are tight, and there is more work to get done than there are developers or hours in the schedule, it’s not the squeaky wheel, but the jammed one that gets the grease. The lesson, then, is to make sure it gets done right the first time. You never know when you’ll have the opportunity to revisit it.
</blockquote>
It's a constant irritant at my work. I put something in that works, but doesn't work perfectly, I think I'll get around to fixing it later. Later never comes. If it's not done right the first time, it's going to hang around and irritate you forever. Lesson: Do it right the first time.
Not so indie2009-01-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/01/26/not-so-indieWas <a href="www.twitter.com/lizmcdermott">liz's</a> comment when I told her about <a href="http://mashable.com/2009/01/25/band-website-displays-copyright-claim-from-its-own-label/">this</a>
metallic, with a hint of fruit2009-01-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/01/26/metallic-with-a-hint-of-fruit<a href="http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2009/01/innovation-or-catastrophe-scratching.html">Bike Snob</a> makes me look positively sociable:
<blockquote>The world, as we all know, is filled with idiots. This is particularly apparent if you travel by bicycle. The bicycle allows you to cover great distances, thus exposing you to a wide cross-section of idiocy. Also, because you are exposed and at street level, there is no barrier protecting you from that idiocy. While you can see idiocy from the window of a car, bus, or train, you don't also get to feel, touch, taste and smell idiocy like you can while on a bicycle. (If you're wondering, idiocy tastes metallic, with a hint of fruit.)
</blockquote>
Joey Devilla and the Chief Freetard2009-01-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/01/26/joey-devilla-and-the-chief-freetardOr, <a href="http://www.globalnerdy.com/2009/01/26/winning-the-gnu/">Micro$oft and the Free Software Hero</a>.
Joey Rocks. That's all I have to say.
Day Fucking 482009-01-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/01/20/day-fucking-48Here's at least a little something to brighten up the 48th day of the OCTranspo bus strike...
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aU5X7m9kUio&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aU5X7m9kUio&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Ugh. Gym.2009-01-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/01/14/ugh--gym<p>So, I started going to a gym. No, I am not hitting a middle-age crisis as some people think *cough*IWS*cough*. I am not a "gym person", but when Liz and I signed up to do the <a href="http://to09.conquercancer.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=to09_homepage">Ride to Conquer Cancer</a> in June, I knew that we needed to start training, around now, and since it's too cold, and frankly, unpleasant, to bike outdoors right now, Liz and I decided to join a gym.</p>
<p>I actually like the <a href="http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/parks_recreation/facilities/rec_centres/plant/index_en.html">gym we joined</a>. We never go there without running into a friend of ours. It's basically a gym where I don't feel terribly out of place.
</p>
<p>The gym overwhelms you with metrics these days, at least the bike machines do. No longer is a bike machine a "stationary bicycle" It's got different settings, different workout routines built in, it's got displays that tell you the resistance, the amount of time, the amount of calories you've burned, your heart rate, rpms, and distance. You can measure your performance six ways from sunday. I was originally excited, and then I thought. "why bother, I just want to fucking bike". In the end, I don't get gym culture.</p>
<p>My attitude is more like the <a href="http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/">NYC Bike Snob</a>, as detailed in this post.
</p>
<p><blockquote>And this isn't only true of the bicycles themselves. It's also true of the way people ride them. It's no longer just enough to get on your bike and go. You need goals, and you need an agenda. And most importantly, you need a coach. A reader recently forwarded me this article from the Los Angeles Times (Isn't that cute? LA has its own Times, just like a real city!) about how to "Bicycle Your Way To Fitness." Presumably, this is intended for novices, and it features bits of practical advice from a coach by the name of David Brinton, such as:
</p>
<p><cite>Keep a training diary. "It gives you a reference of where you started and where you are today," Brinton says. "If you time yourself going up a hill at a particular heart rate, how do you know if you've improved if you haven't been logging it?"</cite></p>
<p>Yes, it's absolutely vital to keep a training diary and to know whether or not you've improved. Actually, I apply this technique to every area of my life. For example, I also keep an eating diary. I mean, sometimes I have a sandwich for lunch and I think it's pretty good, but how do I know if it's as good as the sandwich I had yesterday? If every lunch isn't incrementally better than the previous one, then I'm just not eating productively. Life is meant to be improved upon, not enjoyed.</blockquote></p>
A taxonomy of Heavy Metal band names2009-01-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/01/12/a-taxonomy-of-heavy-metal-band-namesToo good not to post
<a href="http://www.comicvsaudience.net/images/flow_heavymetal.jpg">Heavy Metal</a>
Ruby Gem Abuse.2009-01-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/01/05/ruby-gem-abuseI wanted a way to automatically tweet the new xkcd comic every day. I have no idea why. But I was able to whip this up in a few minutes.</br>
</br>
<b>Update:</b><br></br>
So, I figured that if I was setting up a cron job to tweet XKCD, I figured I might as well broadcast to everyone when I put up a new blog post. If you find this annoying, message me and I can turn it off. I swear to god, I only blog every once in a blue moon, so it shouldn't be a big deal...</br>
</br>
<typo:code></br>
#!/usr/bin/env ruby</br>
require 'rubygems'</br>
require 'open-uri'</br>
require 'hpricot'</br>
require 'httparty'</br>
require 'atom'</br>
</br>
class XKCD</br>
def initialize</br>
@url = 'http://xkcd.com'</br>
@hp = Hpricot(open('http://xkcd.com'))</br>
end</br>
def comic</br>
info = (@hp/"h3").collect{ |inf|</br>
inf.inner_text.split(': ')[1]</br>
}</br>
return info</br>
end</br>
end</br>
class Twitter</br>
include HTTParty</br>
base_uri 'twitter.com'</br>
basic_auth 'mattrose','password'</br>
def initialize(user, pass)</br>
self.class.basic_auth user, pass</br>
end</br>
def post(text)</br>
self.class.post('/statuses/update.json', :query => {:status => text})</br>
end</br>
end</br>
</br>
class Folkwolf</br>
def initialize</br>
@feed = Atom::Feed.load_feed(URI.parse("http://blog.folkwolf.net/xml/atom10/feed.xml")).entries</br>
end</br>
def latest</br>
latest = @feed.entries[0]</br>
return latest</br>
end</br>
end </br>
</br>
image_url = XKCD.new.comic</br>
feed_url = Folkwolf.new.latest.links[0].to_s</br>
feed_updated = Folkwolf.new.latest.updated</br>
ffile = '/tmp/.folkwolf_latest'</br>
`touch #{ffile}`</br>
if feed_updated != open(ffile).read</br>
open(ffile, 'w') { |f| f.write("#{feed_url}") }</br>
Twitter.post('/statuses/update.json', :query => {:status => "New Blog post: #{feed_url}"})</br>
end</br>
file = "/tmp/.xkcd_latest"</br>
if RUBY_PLATFORM !~ /mswin32/</br>
`touch #{file}`</br>
end</br>
if open(file).read != image_url[0] </br>
if RUBY_PLATFORM !~ /mswin32/</br>
open(file, 'w') { |f| f.write("#{image_url[0]}") }</br>
end</br>
Twitter.post('/statuses/update.json', :query => {:status => "d mattrose #{image_url[1]}"})</br>
end</br>
</typo:code></br>
xkcd 2009-01-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2009/01/02/xkcdI think half the brilliancy of xkcd is the author's knowledge of geeky obsessions, and her willingness to alienate a good chunk of her audience just to make a small chunk of her audience laugh uproariously. The other half is the brilliant writing...</br>
</br>
<img border=0 src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/nighttime_stories.jpg">
Yay for Jon Carroll2008-12-31T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/12/31/yay-for-jon-carrollJon Carroll is a columnist with the San Francisco Chronicle. It's one of my holdovers (that and Peet's coffee) from my time in SF that I still read his column. A few weeks ago, he wrote a <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/17/DDIU14OHEQ.DTL">heartbreaking column</a> about how his local Animal Shelter was shutting down for the week between Christmas and New Year's.</br>
<blockquote></br>
<p>Well, wrong - no humans die. Animals, however, can and will die. The Oakland Animal Shelter, which is at 1101 29th Ave. (right off the Fruitvale exit of Highway 880 South) - there's a reason I'm telling you this - will have to euthanize animals that might otherwise live.</br>
</p><p></br>
It's the roach motel dynamic - the animals check in, but they don't check out, or rather they can't check out, because no member of the public can get through the door to adopt them. I now announce my personal bias in this matter - my kitten, Pancho, was adopted from one of the OAS' mobile adoption centers, and the woman who handled the adoption was Willow Liroff, who turns out to be the capo di tutti capi of shelter volunteers. </p></br>
</blockquote></br>
</br>
The next day, he posted this on the WeLL</br>
<blockquote></br>
Oakland mayor Ron Dellums announced that the OAS center would stay</br>
open after all, except for December 25 and December 26 and Jan 1, and</br>
would be accepting animals and processing animals. No columnists were</br>
thanked during this announcement.</br>
</blockquote></br>
More on listening to Africans2008-12-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/12/29/more-on-listening-to-africansThis guy's an american, but he does spend time listening to Africans. From <a href="http://africaunchained.blogspot.com/2008/12/whats-wrong-with-this-picture.html">Africa Unchained</a>
Binyavanga Wanaina on the response to "How to Write About Africa"2008-12-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/12/27/binyavanga-wanaina-on-the-response-to-how-to-write-<p>I <a href="http://blog.folkwolf.net/articles/2006/01/28/granta-how-to-write-about-africa-by-binyavanga-wainaina">blogged</a> about the <a href="http://www.granta.com/Magazine/92/How-to-Write-About-Africa?view=articleAllPages">original article</a> back in 2006, and Binyavanga Wanaina has done a "quick response" that's a 25 minute lecture.</p>
<p>It's long, but it's worth listening to. Be prepared to have your preconceptions about Africa turned on their head. We get trapped into a certain method of thinking about what to do about the problems that occur in other countries, and we never really get to question our thinking, because of the mediated images we see.
</p>
<p>On the news we see unrest, violence, and starvation, and god help you if you watch daytime TV, and those atrocious ads for self-serving Christian Organizations like "Save the Children". All we seem to think is "how can I help? What can I do?" Maybe, just maybe, we should think "How did this happen? What needs to happen to stop atrocities like this in the first place?" </p>
<p>An entire infrastructure of NGOs has arisen to answer the first questions. You give them money, they go there and help people. This has been the answer to the first question for fifty years, and people are slowly coming to the realization that it doesn't work. </p>
<p>Jeffrey Sachs, and Bono, and other Celebs have come to the conclusion that it's not working because we haven't given enough. Their conclusion is that Africa's governance is poor, because Africans are poor. He wants to throw enough money at Africa so that everyone gets a dollar a day. This is throwing money at a problem until it goes away. </p>
<p>This might work, but if you actually listen to africans, this is not what they're asking for. It's much more likely that it's not working because it's the wrong approach. It's not working because it's answering the wrong questions. It's answering the easy questions, and the real answers are hard.</p>
<p>I don't know what the right approach is, but we can only come to the right questions by listening to Africans, not by coming at it with our own ill-conceived notions and prejudices, and applying the same solutions that haven't worked for the past 50 years, except more</p>
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<br>
Part 2 is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7puuPMzxRU&feature=related">here</a> and part 3 is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81HRvT8m8Ys&feature=related">here</a>
I am quickly turning into an anti-atheist atheist.2008-12-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/12/18/i-am-quickly-turning-into-an-anti-atheist-atheistI do not believe in God, an after-life, wood nymphs, or anything else that hasn't been proven by science. It's just easier.</br>
</br>
Fr. Geoffrey Farrow 10.05.08* (Respect Life Sunday)</br>
</br>
As most of you know, I was appointed pastor here at the Newman Center</br>
on April 15th of this year. When I arrived, I set out to address a</br>
series of various projects to repair our facilities. To date, most of</br>
these deferred maintenance items have been addressed. In the middle of</br>
dealing with contractors, the parish finance committee, the building</br>
department of the diocese, neighbors, etc., I received a FAX from the</br>
bishop�s office on the 30th of June. It was the bishop�s pastoral</br>
letter for the month of July.</br>
</br>
This single FAX threw my whole summer, and in fact, my whole life into</br>
a turmoil. Recently, I was speaking with some of our parishioners who</br>
advocate for the ordination of women. In the course of our</br>
conversation, a question arose which has haunted me: "At what point do</br>
you cease to be an agent for healing and growth and become an</br>
accomplice of injustice?" </br>
</br>
By asking all of the pastors of the Diocese of Fresno to promote</br>
Catholics to vote "Yes" on Proposition 8, the bishop has placed me in a</br>
moral predicament.</br>
</br>
In his "Pastoral," the bishop states: "Marriage is much more than</br>
simply two persons loving each other. Marriage is naturally, socially,</br>
and biologically, directed to bringing forth life."</br>
</br>
Actually, there are TWO ends to marriage: 1) Unitive and 2)</br>
Procreative. The unitive end of marriage is simply a union of love and</br>
life. The Procreative end is, of course, to create new life. It is</br>
important to understand that the unitive end of marriage is sufficient</br>
for a valid marriage. The Church sanctions, and considers a sacrament,</br>
the marriage of elderly heterosexual couples who are biologically</br>
incapable of reproduction. So, if two people of different genders who</br>
are incapable of reproduction can enter into a valid marriage, then why</br>
is that two people of the same gender, who are incapable of</br>
reproduction, cannot enter into a valid marriage.</br>
</br>
The objections which are raised at this point are taken from Sacred</br>
Scripture. Scripture scholars reveal the problematic nature of</br>
attempting to use passages from the Hebrew Scriptures as an argument</br>
against same gender relationships. Essentially, these scriptures are</br>
addressing the cultic practices in which sex with temple prostitutes</br>
was part of an act of worshiping Pagan gods. With regard to the Pauline</br>
epistles, John J. McNeill, in his book: "The Church and the</br>
Homosexual," makes the following point: "The persons referred to in</br>
Romans 1:26 are probably not homosexuals that is, those who are</br>
psychologically inclined toward their own sex-since they are portrayed</br>
as �abandoning their natural customs.�" The Pauline epistles do not</br>
explicitly treat the question of homosexual activity between two</br>
persons who share a homosexual orientation, and as such cannot be read</br>
as explicitly condemning such behavior. Therefore, same gender sex by</br>
two individuals with same sex orientation is not "abandoning their</br>
natural custom."</br>
</br>
In 1973, as a result of a greater understanding of human psychology,</br>
the American Psychological Association declassified homosexuality as a</br>
mental illness. In 1975, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of</br>
the Faith (the Church�s watchdog for orthodoxy) produced a document</br>
entitled: "Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics." </br>
</br>
In this document, they made the most remarkable statement. They stated</br>
that there are "homosexuals who are such because of some kind of</br>
innate instinct." While these statements are hardly glowing</br>
affirmations of gay and lesbian persons, they represent a watershed in</br>
human perception and understanding of gay and lesbian people.</br>
</br>
These new insights have occurred as a result of the birth and</br>
development of the science of psychology and understanding of brain</br>
development in the 19th and 20th centuries. The California Supreme</br>
Court cited and quoted an amicus brief filed by the APA in the Court�s</br>
opinion issued on May 15, 2008 that struck down California�s ban on</br>
same sex marriage. Specifically, the court relied on the APA�s brief in</br>
concluding that the very nature of sexual orientation is related to</br>
the gender of partners to whom one is attracted, so that prohibiting</br>
same sex marriage discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation,</br>
rather than just imposing disparate burdens on gay people.</br>
</br>
In directing the faithful to vote "Yes" on Proposition 8, the</br>
California Bishops are not merely entering the political arena, they</br>
are ignoring the advances and insights of neurology, psychology and the</br>
very statements made by the Church itself that homosexuality is innate</br>
(i.e. orientation). In doing this, they are making a statement which</br>
has a direct, and damaging, effect on some of the people who may be</br>
sitting in the pews next to you today. The statement made by the bishop</br>
reaffirms the feelings of exclusion and alienation that are suffered</br>
by individuals and their loved ones who have left the Church over this</br>
very issue. Imagine what hearing such damaging words at Mass does to an</br>
adolescent who has just discovered that he/she is gay/lesbian? What is</br>
the hierarchy saying to him/her? What are they demanding from that</br>
individual? What would it have meant to you personally to hear from the</br>
pulpit at church that you could never date? Never fall in love,</br>
never kiss or hold hands with another person? Never be able to marry?</br>
How would you view yourself? How would others hearing those same words</br>
be directed to view you? How would you view your life and your future?</br>
How would you feel when you saw a car with a "Yes on 8" bumper sticker?</br>
When you overheard someone in a public place use the word "faggot?"</br>
</br>
I remember the first time I heard that word, faggot, I was hanging out</br>
with my cousins. They all played on the football team of the Catholic</br>
high school in our town. One of them spat out the word in the form of a</br>
curse. I was just a kid in the 5th grade, I�d never heard the word</br>
before, and so I asked: "What�s a faggot?" A faggot is a guy who likes</br>
other guys, was the curt reply. Now pause. Think. What would those</br>
words mean to someone in junior high school who discovers that he/she</br>
is attracted to people of their same gender? The greatest fear that</br>
he/she would have is that they would be rejected by the people they</br>
love the most-their family. So, their solution is to try to pass as</br>
straight, deceive, and in effect-lie. Of course, this leads ultimately</br>
to self loathing. It should come as little surprise that gay teenagers</br>
have elevated suicide rates. According to the Center for Disease</br>
Control�s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (1999), 33% of gay youth will</br>
attempt suicide.</br>
</br>
The bishop states: "The Church has spoken out constantly that those</br>
with a homosexual orientation must be respected with the dignity of</br>
every child of God. Every individual is created in the image and</br>
likeness of God and should never be subjected to prejudice or hatred." </br>
A pious thought uttered by a cleric, robbed of any substantive</br>
meaning, as the executioner begins his work. Only a few select people</br>
actually read those documents. What most Catholics hear about being gay</br>
or lesbian at their parish church is silence. A numbing silence, which</br>
slowly and insidiously tells them, "You don�t belong here, this is not</br>
for you, and you are not welcome." It is not the crude overt vulgarity</br>
of some churches. But rather, it is the coldness of a maitre d� who</br>
simply won�t seat you, or the club which has put you on a waiting list</br>
with no intention of allowing you to join. And simply asks you to wait</br>
in polite almost, apologetic tones.</br>
</br>
In effect, the bishops are asking gay and lesbian people to live their</br>
lives alone. Why? Who does this benefit? How exactly is society helped</br>
by singling out a minority and excluding them from the union of love</br>
and life, which is marriage? How is marriage protected by intimidating</br>
gay and lesbian people into loveless and lonely lives? What is</br>
accomplished by this? Worse still, is to intimidate a gay or lesbian</br>
person into a heterosexual marriage, which is doomed from its</br>
inception, and makes two victims instead of one by this hurtful</br>
"theology." This "theology," which is parroted by clerics in polished</br>
tones from pulpits, produces the very prejudice and hatred in our</br>
society which they claim to abhor.</br>
</br>
When the hierarchy prohibited artificial birth control, most of the</br>
faithful in the United States, Canada and Europe scratched their heads</br>
in wonderment and proceeded to ignore them. There is an expression in</br>
theology: "the voice of the people is the voice of God." If your son or</br>
daughter is gay/lesbian let them know that you love them</br>
unconditionally. Let them know that you are not ashamed or embarrassed</br>
by them. Guide them as you would your other children to finding true</br>
and abiding love. Let them know that marriage is a union of love and</br>
life and is possible for them too.</br>
</br>
I do not presume to tell you how to vote but I do ask that you pray to</br>
the Creator of us all. Think and consider the effects of your vote on</br>
others, especially minorities in our society who are sitting next to</br>
you in church, and at work. The act of casting a vote takes you a few</br>
minutes but it can cause other human beings untold happiness or sorrow</br>
for a lifetime. It can grant them hope and acceptance, or it can cause</br>
them to lose civil rights. It can be a rebuff to bigotry and hatred, or</br>
it can encourage bigotry and hatred. Personally, I am morally</br>
compelled to vote "NO" on Proposition 8. It is my hope that the people</br>
of California will join with those others around the world such as</br>
Canada, Europe and South Africa who welcome their gay and lesbian</br>
family members fully into society by granting them the civil right to</br>
marry.</br>
</br>
I know these words of truth will cost me dearly. But to withhold them,</br>
would be far more costly and I would become an accomplice to a moral</br>
evil that strips gay and lesbian people not only of their civil rights</br>
but of their human dignity as well. Jesus said, "The truth will set you</br>
free." He didn�t promise that it would be easy or without personal</br>
cost to speak that truth.</br>
Random Thoughts on Twitter/Facebook2008-12-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/12/14/random-thoughts-on-twitterfacebookOn Facebook, you become friends with people
On Twitter, you follow people.
I kinda like the twitter metaphor better, words are descriptive, and while I wouldn't consider Lance Armstrong a "friend", I am interested in what he has to say. Also, <a href="http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/12/extra-ordinary-from-publicity-to-p-fars.html">following his drug tests are interesting</a>. Friend has so much extraordinary baggage. I would be embarassed to ask Lance Armstrong to be my "friend" on Facebook. Both 'cause it appears dorky in the extreme, and because I don't really want to be friends with Lance Armstrong. He'd always be lecturing me about smoking...
Linux Desktop2008-12-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/12/14/linux-desktop<pre></br>
sudo rpm -Uvh http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-10.rpm http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-stable.noarch.rpm http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-stable.noarch.rpm</br>
</br>
sudo yum install kmod-nvidia</br>
</pre>
Raccoons.2008-12-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/12/11/raccoonsAnother poem by Jane Hirshfield. </br>
</br>
</br>
<pre> </br>
This August night, raccoons,</br>
come to the back door</br>
burnished all summer by salty,</br>
human touch: enter secretly & eat.</br>
</br>
Listen, little mask-faced ones,</br>
unstealthy bandits whose tails</br>
are barred with dusk:</br>
listen, gliding green-eyed ones:</br>
I concede you gladly</br>
all this much-handled stuff,</br>
garbage, grain,</br>
the cropped food and cropped heart.</br>
may you gnaw in contentment</br>
through the sleep-hours</br>
on everything left out.</br>
</br>
May you find the house</br>
hospitable,</br>
well-used,</br>
stocked with sufficient goods.</br>
I'll settle with your leavings,</br>
</br>
as you have settled for mine,</br>
before startling back into darkness</br>
that marks each of us so differently.</br>
</pre>
my morning.2008-12-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/12/10/my-morningThis post was originally a response to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/imckenna">@imckenna</a> when he sent me a facebook message responding to <a href="http://twitter.com/mattrose/status/1049142177">this tweet</a> but I ended up liking it enough to republish it here.</br>
</br>
I kinda included snow removal, but seeing as I don't have a driveway, that really shouldn't affect things. Here's a more complete timeline.<br></br>
<ul></br>
<li>7:00 PM the night before. Try desperately to get up to my usual parking spot on the street. Can't make it. Decide to park, w/o permission, in the parking lot across the street, mainly because it's had a plow run more recently and there's only 5-10 cm of snow in one part of the lot, whereas there's at least 25 on the street.</br>
<li>10pm Go to bed.</br>
<li>6:10 Get up, have a shower, make coffee, get dressed.</br>
<li>6:40 Glance out my front window, and notice the plow working on aforesaid parking lot, thinking to myself "I don't want him to call a tow-truck" I don my coat, and head out. I start sweeping and scraping.</br>
<li>7:00 The plow nicely comes by and plows around the car, giving me the freedom to move around the parking lot a bit. Also giving him the freedom to plow out my old spot. I thank the plow driver and he proves himself a mensch by saying "Well, it was either that, or get out of the truck and help you push" The plow and I dance around the parking lot for 15-20 minutes while he opens up more of the parking lot. While there is a direct line to the street that is plowed, the street is covered with 35 cm of snow, and If I drive down the length of the street, there's a really good chance I'll get stuck. If I wait until the plow clears the lot, I only drive down about 40 ft of the street, reducing my chances of getting stuck, so I dance around with the plow.</br>
<li>7:20. Park the car in an already cleared area, and get out to say goodbye to liz</br>
<li>7:30 Help push a car out that got stuck on the street.</br>
<li>7:35 Get to the corner.</br>
<li>7:40 Finally rock the car off the snowbank that it got hung up on on the corner.</br>
</ul></br>
</br>
Update: I got a parking pass from the lovely people at the Good Companions center, and I made a map:</br>
<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=45.413376,-75.710295&spn=0.001864,0.00353&t=h&msid=100947923974869877042.00045dbca05a0796aedb0&output=embed&s=AARTsJqSISyiQcY3sqBlDfiQE6xsRNf3mA"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=45.413376,-75.710295&spn=0.001864,0.00353&t=h&msid=100947923974869877042.00045dbca05a0796aedb0&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>
Cue The Spirit of the West2008-12-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/12/02/cue-the-spirit-of-the-westVenice is Sinking. Waist-high water today in La Serenissima.</br>
</br>
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/01/italy-venice-flooding">Venice sees worst flooding in 20 years</a> Flood levels 5'3" over normal high tides!
Why I no longer read BoingBoing2008-11-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/11/25/why-i-no-longer-read-boingboingBoingBoing was one of my favourite sites. For a while in 2000, Cory Doctorow and I both had recently moved from Canada to the US, and we ran into each other virtually on the well, occasionally.</br>
</br>
<blockquote><p>BoingBoing's music coverage consists almost entirely of articles about how musicians that are giving their music away for free are still successful. What they don't cover are the many musicians who give their music away for free that aren't successful, or how much less money musicians that give their music away for free are making than they would have otherwise, which seems a little unfair given that they were the ones who put in the labor to make the product in the first place, not to get all Marxist or anything. The idea is constantly brought up that you don't need money to make music anymore, that it's not costing anyone anything, and so why shouldn't it be free? To which I say: bullshit.</br>
</p><p></br>
I suspect that the people promoting this idea are mainly writers, since writers are one of the few groups who can make art without any up-front money.[5] But almost every other artistic genre requires money to do, from a little to a lot. Visual art is fundamentally impossible without money, since you have to buy materials. Movies are impossible without money, at least if you want to make a good movie and have lighting and sets and like that. Classical music and opera are certainly impossible without money, at least if you want to actually perform them. And dancers need costumes!</br>
</p><p></br>
The key caveat here is "if you want to make a good" whatever. It is possible to make music totally for free (assuming you are middle-class and have a computer already). But it's very limiting in terms of what you're going to do. Maybe one of the key problems with music no longer coming to listeners as a physical object is that they tend to think the production of the music involved no physical objects either. But most music does, at least if it's going to be good, and physical objects, regrettably, cost a lot. Sure, Girl Talk's music can be made with nothing but a laptop. But do we really want all our music to sound like Girl Talk?</p>
How the Cretaceous Era influenced the US President2008-11-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/11/22/how-the-cretaceous-era-influenced-the-us-president<a href="http://vigorousnorth.blogspot.com/2008/11/black-belt-how-soil-types-determined.html">Fascinating...</a>
An eerie glimpse of the 50s2008-11-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/11/22/an-eerie-glimpse-of-the-50sWTF?
From the <a href="http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?q=smoking+source:life&imgurl=1609e6906d02a405">new life archives</a>
<img src="http://images.google.com/hosted/life/f?q=smoking+source:life&imgurl=1609e6906d02a405">
How not to buy a house.2008-10-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/10/18/how-not-to-buy-a-house<ol></br>
<li>Do not buy the first house you see</li></br>
<li>Don't get into a bidding war</li></br>
<li>Don't buy a house without the following conditions</br>
<li>House Inspection</li></br>
<li>Financing</li></br>
</li></br>
<li>Give yourself lots of closing time</li></br>
</ol></br>
<p></br>
We broke all those rules. Yet we still ended up with a fantastic house. </br>
</p><p></br>
The story starts almost three weeks ago, when Liz was looking at MLS on a lazy saturday and said, "we should go look at this open house tomorrow", we thought about it, and 2 pm rolled around the next day and we discussed it some more, and we were both a little uneasy about seeing the house:</br>
</p><p></br>
Liz; "It's a big deal, it just weirds me out a bit"<br></br>
Me: "I'm just afraid we're gonna want to buy it"<br></br>
Liz: "No, we won't, it won't have a backyard, or a basement, it'll be terrible, besides it's a huge investment, we won't just buy the first thing we see"<br></br>
Me: "Like our car, or our dog..."<br></br>
</p><p></br>
Needless to say, a half hour later we found ourselves asking: "So, how do you buy a house?"</br>
</p><p></br>
We got the name of a realtor from our parents, who had just bought a house the same weekend we got married. We met with the realtor at the house a couple of days later, and she said... "This house is so hot we're going to need oven mitts, you better think about how much you want this house, because if you want, we're going to have to go all in, and make an offer with *no* conditions, no house inspection, no financing conditions, you're going to have to make an offer that doesn't just compete on price, but makes it easier for the seller to sell to you than any other offer" </br>
</p><p></br>
So Liz and I thought about it overnight, and decided we wanted to go all in. We arranged for a house inspection on a house we didn't have an agreement to buy, and we met with our wonderful financial advisor, who jumped through all the hoops, and even possibly bent a few rules to make sure that we could ensure that financing was in place, before even putting an offer on the house. </br>
</p><p></br>
The seller started accepting offers at 7pm the next saturday evening, so we met saturday afternoon and discussed offers. We decided to on two numbers. If there were no other bidders, we were going to go under the asking price, and if there were other bidders, we were going to go with an offer that was significantly over the asking price, with no conditions, and a closing date of two weeks. We were hoping that would be no other offers that night. </br>
</p><p></br>
A few hours later, I got a text message (as a sidenote, we did an amazing amount of communication over text messages. The last time I had a celphone was before the days of SMS, so this whole text messaging thing was a weird novelty), saying that there was at least one, and probably three other offers on the house. OK, big offer. </br>
</p><p></br>
We all trooped down to the realtors office at 6:30, and filled out the offer sheet, since we were all kind of mad at being made to spend our saturday night at a realtors office, we made the offer close at 7:45. The seller didn't make it 'til 7:15, so we presented our offer, and the other three bidders presented their offer, and we spent a very tense 15 minutes, and when the seller's agent came in at 7:30 and said that our offer had been accepted, the looks on our faces must have been something to see, because the seller's agent said "Don't look so shocked!"</br>
</p><p></br>
So monday, I went looking around at Insurance. The House Inspector had said that the 60A incoming circuit would be a problem getting insurance. I still can't figure out why, as the less electricity coming into the house, the less chance of fire, but there you go. And I discovered that when you say your house is over 50 yrs old, getting insurance is much more involved of a process that takes running back and forth between me, the broker, and the insurance inderwriter. That was dealt with by Wednesday of last week, and then, it was pretty quiet for a week. </br>
</p><p></br>
A week of painful waiting. Both Liz and I like things to be 100% assured, and for a week, things were almost 100% sure, but not a done deal yet, so neither Liz nor I slept very well that week. </br>
</p><p></br>
On Tuesday, we met with the banker and signed a few more papers, and she went over the mortgage. Thursday, we went to the Lawyer's office and signed our names what seemed like thousands of times (a whole bunch of documents, three copies of each, with each page initialed by both Liz and I)</br>
</p><p></br>
And ta-da! Friday afternoon, Liz went and picked up the keys.</br>
</p><p></br>
Today.... </br>
</p><p></br>
Moving. Ugh. I hate moving.</br>
</p></br>
</br>
Unconventional downtime notification2008-10-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/10/17/unconventional-downtime-notificationThe Folkwolf services will be temporarily unavailable sometime in the near future, hopefully this weekend, as I am moving into my new house.</br>
</br>
That is all.
The Onions prescience amazes me more and more each day2008-10-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/10/15/the-onions-prescience-amazes-me-more-and-more-each-After <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33930">Fuck Everything, We're Doing Five Blades</a>, I realized that The Onion was some kind of hilarious Oracle. <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28784">Bush: 'Our Long National Nightmare Of Peace And Prosperity Is Finally Over'</a> has once again proved my faith.
The following was written <strong>Eight Years Ago</strong>
<blockquote>During the 40-minute speech, Bush also promised to bring an end to the severe war drought that plagued the nation under Clinton, assuring citizens that the U.S. will engage in at least one Gulf War-level armed conflict in the next four years.
"You better believe we're going to mix it up with somebody at some point during my administration," said Bush, who plans a 250 percent boost in military spending. "Unlike my predecessor, I am fully committed to putting soldiers in battle situations. Otherwise, what is the point of even having a military?"
On the economic side, Bush vowed to bring back economic stagnation by implementing substantial tax cuts, which would lead to a recession, which would necessitate a tax hike, which would lead to a drop in consumer spending, which would lead to layoffs, which would deepen the recession even further. </blockquote>
A brief history of the US Credit Crisis.2008-10-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/10/12/a-brief-history-of-the-us-credit-crisis<a href="http://alsoatalker.blogspot.com/">Another blogger and friend</a> is obsessed with the NPR program, <strong>this american life</strong>, she does a lot of driving in the course of her workday, and she loads it up to listen to while driving around. I don't drive around that much, so I don't actually get to listen to long-form radio shows that often, but someone on the well pointed out these two episodes of the show, that listened to in the right order (I listened to them in the wrong order) basically lay out in a very compelling narrative, the last 6 months, what led up to the global credit crisis, and how we got to where we are today.
This episode, <a href="http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=355">"The Global Pool of Money"</a>, aired in May, and actually sugues nicely into the episode that was just recorded last week, called "<a href="http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1263">Another Frightening Show About the Economy"</a>
Open letter to people that want to use open wifi connections2008-10-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/10/11/open-letter-to-people-that-want-to-use-open-wifi-coIf you use up all of the bandwidth of somebody who was generous enough to leave their wifi connection open, and make their internet connection dog slow.</br>
</br>
1. They will notice you.</br>
2. You'll probably piss them off enough to close it off</br>
</br>
That is all, thank you
Jane Hirshfield2008-10-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/10/09/jane-hirshfieldJane Hirshfield is an award-winning poet, Zen buddhist, and all around great woman, who regularly on the well (The oldest chatroom on the internet) tosses off phrases like the following.</br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
Rwanda was not a place where people routinely went around chopping one another into pieces on a scale of 800,000 at a go. Rhetoric matters. <b>There are embers in every heart that even its owner may not be aware of until they are fanned into flame.</b></blockquote>
Time Machine is the shiznit2008-09-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/09/27/time-machine-is-the-shiznitI was able to buy a new hard drive, plug it into my macbook, boot from the Leopard install CD, and restore all the contents from my last Time machine backup (an hour ago), and have my computer back up and running exactly the same way it was in 2.5 hours. It's fantastic
Hello, Q? We have a problem with your new gadget2008-09-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/09/25/hello-q--we-have-a-problem-with-your-new-gadget<img src="http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/2/5/5/0564552.jpg" border=0>
Looking to buy a PC2008-09-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/09/15/looking-to-buy-a-pcI've decided to re-join the dark side, and get another PC with (ewww) windows. Problem is, the last PC I bought was probably about 8 years ago, and I have no idea what I'm looking for anymore. Basically I want it to play games, but I'm not looking for a hardcore gaming machine.</br>
</br>
I'm asking the lazyweb where to buy a PC in Ottawa, I went to Best Buy, and they didn't have anything compelling there, and I went to Future Shop, but I couldn't get a sales-guys attention, even though I was standing around in the computer aisle playing halo for at least 10 minutes...</br>
</br>
bad geek humour2008-09-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/09/12/bad-geek-humour<pre></br>
(04:09:53 PM) iws: killer koala</br>
lazy lemur</br>
</br>
(04:10:18 PM) netfrost: didn't we go through this the other day?</br>
(04:10:35 PM) iws: you and matt may have, but not in channel (i don;t think)</br>
(04:10:51 PM) netfrost: yeah it was</br>
(04:10:56 PM) netfrost: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DevelopmentCodeNames</br>
(04:11:00 PM) mattrose: nihilistic numbat</br>
(04:11:06 PM) netfrost: mushy monkey?</br>
(04:11:07 PM) netfrost: wtf</br>
(04:11:32 PM) mattrose: better. nihilistic nene</br>
(04:12:12 PM) mattrose: obese ocelot</br>
(04:12:17 PM) iws: Moonlight Minnow!</br>
(04:12:25 PM) netfrost: crackheads</br>
(04:12:27 PM) iws: Mad Meerkat</br>
(04:12:39 PM) mattrose: pissed off panda</br>
(04:12:45 PM) netfrost: HAHAHA</br>
(04:12:58 PM) iws: Queer Quail</br>
(04:13:29 PM) iws: Rabid Raven</br>
(04:13:44 PM) iws: Saucy Skunk</br>
(04:13:59 PM) iws: n/m</br>
</pre</br>
On growing up.2008-08-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/08/17/on-growing-upThey say, 30 is the new 20. I say 40 is the new 20, but I'm immature. I was reflecting on the fact, and writing this post, as I'm taking one of my far too many breaks from packing for burning man. The first time we went to burning man, Liz was the only one out of the 4 of use who went who had a job, I spent the last of my savings, and some money I borrowed from my parents, on renting the minivan, which we dubbed "Old Faithful".
Liz had some gas money, and we had all of our food, but we were tight. I remember spending our last 7 bucks on a buy one get one free pack of Camels, in the liquor store across from the Zeitgeist in SF. We were, in a word, nuts.
The only reason we ever got home was because of the generosity of Kim's parents, and the poor/good decision they made to give Kim their credit card, in case anything went wrong. Oh, it did. We were idiots.
This year, I have one credit card which has more money available, than we ever had before on the way to Burning Man. Then I have another credit card that's virtually empty, then, in case we have to, say, buy a new car or something, we have a savings account... I'm not saying we could get a nice car, but we could get home...
It's a comforting feeling. It may not be quite as much fun, in a weird "bet the farm" kinda way, but it's nice. I think that is what growing up is all about. It's not about mortgages, or kids, or responsibilities. It's the trade-offs you make so that you're sure, when you do something crazy, you're self-sufficient enough to get out of it on your own.
My little corner of NV2008-08-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/08/17/my-little-corner-of-nvFor those of you who are curious about what I'm saying when I talk about my Storage Space in NV, here's a sattelite view of what I'm talking about</br>
</br>
<iframe width="300" height="300" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&s=AARTsJozxQIrAJl0cS4pt_jTmhk3A0jNdQ&msa=0&msid=100947923974869877042.000454a79abdb070a608a&ll=40.576021,-119.336243&spn=0.002445,0.003219&z=17&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=100947923974869877042.000454a79abdb070a608a&ll=40.576021,-119.336243&spn=0.002445,0.003219&z=17&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>
21st century nagging2008-08-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/08/17/21st-century-naggingI just got this message from my mom...</br>
</br>
You're going to have to change your relationship status on your facebook!</br>
</br>
Just teasing, Mom!
wisdom from twitter2008-08-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/08/12/wisdom-from-twitter_why the lucky stiff is the best.</br>
</br>
<a href="http://twitter.com/_why/statuses/881768089">Why's twitter</a></br>
<blockquote></br>
when you don't create things, you become defined by your tastes rather than ability. your tastes only narrow & exclude people. so create.</blockquote>
Shark Porn2008-07-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/07/30/shark-porn<p>Liz has an unhealthy fascination with sharks, I don't think <a href="http://http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/2007attacksummary.htm">this</a>'ll ease her mind, but it should, </br>
</p></br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
The single fatality resulting from an unprovoked attack in 2007 was recorded from New Caledonia. This is the fewest number of fatalities in two decades (the previous low was 0 in 1987). The mean number of unprovoked deaths from 2000-2007 is 5.0 per year. The number of serious attacks in the current decade, as measured by fatality rate (7.6%), has been lower than that of the 1990's (12.3%), continuing the downward trend of the twentieth century. This reduction in fatality rate is reflective of advances in beach safety practices and medical treatment, and increased public awareness of avoiding potentially dangerous situations. </blockquote>
iPod Touch minimalist2008-07-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/07/14/ipod-touch-minimalistI love my ipod touch. It's actually convinced me to buy an iphone. This guy has found a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shamama/2663290959/in/pool-770882@N25">novel use for his</a>
Vista is now officially one below XP2008-06-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/06/26/vista-is-now-officially-one-below-xpFrom <a href="http://www.neilgaiman.com/">Neil Gaiman</a>'s latest <a href="http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/06/not-cute.html">blog entry</a>
<blockquote>With the help of the webgoblin, I recently upgraded my Panasonic W7 from Windows Vista to Windows XP, and it now runs like a dream. It's nice not to have to wait for words to appear once more.</blockquote>
The funny part, is that nobody even considers it a "downgrade" anymore.
Yay, I can blog again!2008-06-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/06/18/yay-i-can-blog-againI always blog sporadically, I know, but I've been blogging even more sporadically than usual, because my <a href="http://www.scribefire.com/">usual blogging software</a> stopped working with my blog. I tried to use <a href="http://macromates.com/">Textmate</a>'s blogging plugin to blog, but that didn't work either
So when I heard that MarsEdit released a new version. I went out (virtually), to <a href="http://www.red-sweater.com/>Red Sweater Software</a> and took <a href="http://www.red-sweater.com/marsedit/">MarsEdit</a> for a spin. And it works. If you're quick you can still see my test post.
Woe betide my Credit Card2008-06-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/06/18/woe-betide-my-credit-cardI've finally done it. I've finally drunk the iTMS kool-aid.
Back when I used to work in the Glebe, I would visit Compact Music at least twice a week. I would usually buy at least one or two items at least once a week. I listen to music constantly, at work, or at home when I'm sitting by myself.
Somebody gave me a $20 itunes card for Christmas, which I found not that long ago. I used it to buy a couple of CDs. Then, a week or so later, I heard something on the radio, and bought that CD, then, "Old Man Luedecke" popped into my head, so I had to get his entire collection. Then somebody mentioned that they really liked the new Constantines CD, so I bought that.
This makes me sad on a lot of levels2008-06-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/06/18/this-makes-me-sad-on-a-lot-of-levelsNumber 1, and least consequential, it makes me feel old. When I lived in Somalia, they had an effective central Government. Not fair, not just, but effective. Number 2: WTF? The last time the Somalis had an effective government, the Cold War was still on. Younger folk (like <a href="http://www.thedustyfoot.com/">K'Na'an</a>, an amazing hiphop artist), don't even remember a time when Somalia had a government, and have lived their whole lives in conditions too atrocious to comprehend.
My mother worked there a few years back, as a Red Cross hospital administrator. When she saw two people shot in a hospital Mogadishu, she asked what happened, and the local administrator said: "They were just walking down the street, and got caught in a gun battle, it happens every day"
Every day. 17 years. Damnit.
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7342292.stm">BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Pirates release French yacht crew</a>
<blockquote>Somalia has not had an effective central government for more than 17 years and is plagued by insecurity. </blockquote>
I love John Hodgman2008-06-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/06/18/i-love-john-hodgmanJust watch<br>
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t1JIa5r5nkE&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t1JIa5r5nkE&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
The Linux Haters blog2008-06-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/06/16/the-linux-haters-blogWe hate Linux, and you should too.</br>
</br>
It's not often I advertise that I found a [new blog](http://linuxhaters.blogspot.com/), but [this post](http://linuxhaters.blogspot.com/2008/06/evolution-of-ubuntu-user.html) convinced me that this blog was something special. I think it's actually a sign of the maturity of the Linux Community. Though [some people](http://tuxtraining.com/2008/06/11/get-the-facts-straight/) don't have a sense of humour about it, and write pages-long screeds in response, the general response of the community is positive. It's funny, and it's true.</br>
</br>
Here's a snippet that is *remarkably* true.</br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
Here's the difference: Take a software product from some commercial company. If you ever get a chance to get through the marketing folks and talk to their devs, chances are that they know exactly all the ways concerning how their products suck. They'll have a huge list of reasons of why they can't implement some feature that you, non-paying, ass-hat, non-customer, wants. And then they'll tell you what they should, "Show me the money, or bugger off. We're working here." And then they'll talk shit behind your back about how you have no idea what it takes to ship reliable working complex software.</br>
</br>
What do you get in the Linux world? Actually, most of the devs are the same. They wrote the code. They know how it sucks. They wrote it for fun, and they don't give a fuck. But some fucktard user who thinks his limp dick is great software comes along and starts talking like it is the shit. And he has to tell everyone else. And if you don't agree? fuck, you must be in that other camp.</br>
</br>
But really, thanks for that comment. Sometimes it does take someone to shit on my front porch before I can really describe the stench to you.</br>
</blockquote></br>
</br>
<b>UPDATE:</b></br>
</br>
I've been working on a Mac port of [Terminator](https://launchpad.net/terminator) recently, It's written in Python, so it would be easy you would think. Except I haven't gotten past the font-rendering conundrum. The [Linux Hater](http://linuxhaters.blogspot.com/) feels my pain. I'm going to have to figure out how to hook vte into the mac font renderer.</br>
Somalias beaches2008-06-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/06/10/somalias-beachesI bought my mom a book on the [world's most dangerous places](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0062737384/sr=1-2/002-5547113-1219215). Because she's been to most of them. So I was entertained by [this article] in Foreign Policy magazine entitled [Top Tourist Spots Americans Cant Visit](http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4328)</br>
</br>
I spent every friday (Muslim Holy day) at the beaches in Somalia when I lived there in the 80s.</br>
</br>
Mogadishus Beaches</br>
</br>
Location: Somalias east coast</br>
</br>
Why you should go: The beaches that separate Mogadishu from the Indian Ocean rank among the most beautiful stretches of sand in the world, say many of the very few Western travelers who ever venture there. Coral reefs teeming with fish are easily accessible from the shore (although tourists pursuing aquatic leisure should leave all valuables at home in case their boat is hijacked by pirates). Back in Mogadishu, visitors can find virtually anything in the citys outdoor marketsexcept peace of mind. A 2004 Economist article noted that hand grenades go for a mere $10, and other popular items include antiaircraft guns and mortars.</br>
</br>
Why you cant: Because a good day in Somalia is the worst day of your life almost anywhere else. The constant state of anarchy, lawlessness, and piracy is usually enough to deter most folks from traveling to Somalia, the worlds third most failed state, according to the 2007 Failed States Index. Michael Sailor of intrepid travel agency Abercrombie & Kent perhaps puts it best when he says that Somalia is not exactly a top-of-mind recognition for a travel destination. The U.S. government does not maintain any consular presence in Mogadishu, so an American in trouble is likely to stay there. Most troubling is the fact that with little recognized, governing authority in Somalia, simply identifying which of the seemingly endless string of warlords and criminals has just kidnapped you is an important first step in negotiating your release. Still, the water is lovely.
You know youre getting old when...2008-06-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/06/07/you-know-youre-getting-old-whenYour mother sees what music you're listening to, and gets excited, and recalls all the times that she's seen him.</br>
</br>
The [Music in Question](http://www.myspace.com/oldmanluedecke)
Yet another tale of the music industry2008-06-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/06/07/yet-another-tale-of-the-music-industryHere we go again. This one's good.</br>
</br>
[When Pigs Fly: The Death of Oink, the Birth of Dissent, and a Brief History of Record Industry Suicide. ](http://www.demonbaby.com/blog/2007/10/when-pigs-fly-death-of-oink-birth-of.html)</br>
<blockquote></br>
I tagged along on $1500 artist dinners paid for by the labels. Massive bar tabs were regularly signed away by record label employees with company cards. You got used to people billing as many expenses back to the record company as they could. I met the type of jive, middle-aged, blazer-wearing, coke-snorting, cartoon character label bigwigs who you'd think were too cliche to exist outside the confines of Spinal Tap. It was all strange and exciting, but one thing that always resonated with me was the sheer volume of money that seemed to be spent without any great deal of concern. Whether it was excessive production budgets or "business lunches" that had nothing to do with business, one of my first reactions to it all was, "so this is why CDs cost $18..." An industry of excess. But that's kind of what you expected from the music business, right? It's where rock stars are made. It's where you get stretch limos with hot tubs in the back, where you get private jets and cocaine parties. Growing up in the '80's, with pop royalty and hair metal bands, you were kind of led to think, of course record labels blow money left and right - there's just so much of it to go around! Well, you know what they say: The bigger they are...</br>
</blockquote>
New to my blog: Poetry interpretation2008-06-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/06/06/new-to-my-blog--poetry-interpretation[Jane Hirshfield](http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/19013) upon hearing the news about the vandalism of Robert Frost's cabin in the woods, and the [unusual sentence given the vandals](http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/06/02/frost.house.ap/index.html), posted the poem in question. I think it's past copyright now, so I repost it here.</br>
<hr></br>
The Road Not Taken</br>
</br>
</br>
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,<br></br>
And sorry I could not travel both<br></br>
And be one traveler, long I stood<br></br>
And looked down one as far as I could<br></br>
To where it bent in the undergrowth; </br>
</br>
Then took the other, as just as fair,<br></br>
And having perhaps the better claim,<br></br>
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;<br></br>
Though as for that the passing there<br></br>
Had worn them really about the same, </br>
</br>
And both that morning equally lay<br></br>
In leaves no step had trodden black.<br></br>
Oh, I kept the first for another day!<br></br>
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,<br></br>
I doubted if I should ever come back. </br>
</br>
I shall be telling this with a sigh<br></br>
Somewhere ages and ages hence:<br></br>
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I.<br></br>
I took the one less traveled by,<br></br>
And that has made all the difference.<br></br>
</br>
<hr></br>
I haven't read it since high-school, and I read it entirely differently now than I did then. For me, back in high school about being different, choosing "The road less traveled"</br>
</br>
Re-reading it now, it seems almost wistful. The subject of the poem is reflecting on the one choice, that seemed almost inconsequential at the time. At the time, he thought " Oh, I kept the first for another day!" Then in the very next line he says " Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back."</br>
</br>
We all make potentially life-altering choices each day, and each one, no matter how minor it seems at the time, can have drastic effects on not only your life, but the lives of all the people you effect.</br>
</br>
The final lines of the poem I read entirely differently now, with the first line of the final stanza setting an entirely different tone.</br>
</br>
for Darwin, Kyoto, and Picasa2008-05-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/05/26/for-darwin-kyoto-and-picasa This is so great:</br>
</br>
<a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3XVo5LawdNeCcDBoxu9YP45ZVJgD90QP7H00">Lost parrot tells veterinarian his address</a></br>
</br>
</br>
TOKYO (AP) � When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost,</br>
he did exactly what he had been taught � recite his name and address</br>
to a stranger willing to help.</br>
</br>
Police rescued the African grey parrot two weeks ago from a neighbor's</br>
roof in the city of Nagareyama, near Tokyo. After spending a night at</br>
the station, he was transferred to a nearby veterinary hospital while</br>
police searched for clues, local policeman Shinjiro Uemura said.</br>
</br>
He kept mum with the cops, but began chatting after a few days with</br>
the vet.</br>
</br>
"I'm Mr. Yosuke Nakamura," the bird told the veterinarian, according</br>
to Uemura. The parrot also provided his full home address, down to the</br>
street number, and even entertained the hospital staff by singing</br>
songs.</br>
why RMS is a jackass2008-05-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/05/14/why-rms-is-a-jackass<a href="http://radian.org/notebook/sic-transit-gloria-laptopi">This guy</a> says it better than I could.</br>
<blockquote></br>
Keeping that in mind, Richard Stallman's missive on the subject just riled me up:</br>
<blockquote></br>
Proprietary software keeps users divided and helpless. Its functioning is secret, so it is incompatible with the spirit of learning. Teaching children to use a proprietary (non-free) system such as Windows does not make the world a better place, because it puts them under the power of the system's developer perhaps permanently. You might as well introduce the children to an addictive drug. </br>
</blockquote></br>
Oh, for fuck's sake. You really just employed a simile comparing a proprietary OS to addictive drugs? You know, ones causing actual bodily harm and possibly death? Really, Stallman? Really?</br>
</br>
If proprietary software is half as good as free software at aiding children's learning, you're damn right it makes the world a better place to get the software out to children. Hell, if it doesn't actively inhibit learning, it makes the world a better place. The problem is that Stallman doesn't appear to actually give an acrobatic shit about learning, and sees OLPC as a vehicle for furthering his political agenda. It's shameful, the lot of it.</br>
</blockquote
HA2008-05-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/05/14/haI love harmonicas. I hate Star Wars. I find this hilarious</br>
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3eZBevXohCI&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3eZBevXohCI&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
Yet another tale of the music industry2008-05-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/05/11/yet-another-tale-of-the-music-industryI'm watching <a href="http://cbc.ca/sunday/">CBC News Sunday</a>, and there's an interview with Alannah Myles. Apparently, she just got her first royalty cheque. April 1st 2008. Her records made $160 million dollars, and she just got her first royalty cheque, 18 years after recording her first album. On the face of it, this looks a lot like a textbook re-enactment of Steve Albini's <a href="http://www.arancidamoeba.com/mrr/problemwithmusic.html">Some of your friends may already be this fucked</a> or Courtney Love's speech where she <a href="http://cdbaby.com/courtney">does the math</a>.</br>
</br>
Now here comes the difficult part. She claims that all of her previous royalties went to pay off the $7 million that she owed the record company.</br>
</br>
The more I think about it, the more I think this is an extravagant amount. </br>
</br>
$ 7m for two albums. Even with the most expensive producers, and the most expensive studios, and the most expensive backup bands, and videos, and all of the other expenses that go into making a "hit record". That's 3.5 million per album.</br>
</br>
Adding up all the album expenses in "fucked" I get a number around 450,000. Now, even given that Atlantic may have wanted to make a bigger splash than Albini's theoretical indie band, I can see tripling that number. This is absolutely inconceivable to me. Most of the people I know, their biggest expense is in studio time, and mixing and mastering, and that usually, comes out to maybe 20 - 30 grand. But let's say that all of the expenses in making the album came out to 1.5 mil.</br>
</br>
That still leaves $2mil / album</br>
</br>
Now I think, OK, I can't imagine how a record could cost 3.5 mil, so what's being left out? How did she end up owing her record company $7million dollars? I can imagine all kinds of bad decisions being made, if you don't listen to that little voice in your head. If you don't realize that all this money that's being spent on, I dunno, red m&m's or some bullshit like that. That's all yours, and maybe you should keep some track of it.</br>
</br>
What other bad decisions did she make along the way?
Sam2008-04-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/04/20/samHas done it again. Except worse this time. </br>
</br>
For a month or so, We've gone to the dog park, and played with a beautiful half-husky/half-lab puppy called Sam, sam was a sweet, feisty four month old puppy, and when we chatted with the owner, we found out that the owner was, in fact, fostering him on behalf of the Ottawa Humane Society. A few weeks ago, we were chatting with the Sam's foster-mom, and she was saying that she was thinking about giving Sam back to the Humane Society. She was going to be taking care of her parents older dog, and she was assured by the Humane Society that they would find a good home for Sam quickly. She was agonizing over the decision, but based on the assurances of the Humane Society, she gave him back, thinking that he would be better off.</br>
</br>
Instead, we found a note posted on the fence of the dog park today, saying that she had returned Sam to the Humane Society, and the dog failed the aggression test, and was put to death. This was *not* in any way an aggressive dog. The Humane society's aggression tests are notoriously unreliable</br>
</br>
They killed Sam, over the protests of the owner, who pleaded to be allowed to take him back.</br>
</br>
I'll see if I can get more of Sam's owner's story, but *please*, let people know about this, and write to ohs@ottawahumane.ca telling them of their outright fraud. This cannot now be reversed, but this is the second time that this has happened. I don't want it to happen again. I'm terribly sad, and angry, and I feel powerless to do anything more.</br>
</br>
<a href="http://web.mac.com/reformtheohs/iWeb/RTOHS/Home.html">Reform the OHS</a>
Linux and the Desktop2008-04-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/04/20/linux-and-the-desktopReading through this article on "Open Source, 10 years after", I was reading Larry Augustin (head of VA), Russ Nelson, and others bemoan the state of the Linux desktop space. All of them wanting more consumer adoption of linux on the desktop. Then I see this by Paul Vixie.</br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
Consumers have been sheep-eating whatever Microsoft and Apple feed them, letting themselves be milked as a recurring revenue source based on habit and coolness factor and inertia rather than on competitive value.</blockquote></br>
</br>
So, according to Paul Vixie, because I use an Apple at home and iPod, and dare to use the iTunes Music Store, I'm a sheep. </br>
</br>
I think I found a pretty good reason why Linux doesn't have any desktop market. Insulting your potential customers and calling them sheep is not the best way to get them you use your product.</br>
</br>
Apple has put a lot of work into making products and services that people want to use. It's hard, and they've done a much better job than Linux. Same with Microsoft.</br>
</br>
I've been using Linux on the Desktop for the entire ten years since "Open Source" was coined. In many ways,
Contrast and Compare2008-04-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/04/20/contrast-and-compareRedHat: An explanation: as a public, for-profit company, Red Hat must create products and technologies with an eye on the bottom line, and with desktops this is much harder to do than with servers. The desktop market suffers from having one dominant vendor, and some people still perceive that todays Linux desktops simply dont provide a practical alternative. Of course, a growing number of technically savvy users and companies have discovered that todays Linux desktop is indeed a practical alternative. Nevertheless, building a sustainable business around the Linux desktop is tough, and history is littered with example efforts that have either failed outright, are stalled or are run as charities.</br>
</br>
</br>
Larry Augustin: On the positive side, Open Source has made incredible progress into all parts of software. Not only are there now open source alternatives for virtually every part of the enterprise software stack, but those layers are widely adopted and have significant (sometimes even dominant) market share. If 10 years ago you had predicted that open source would be competitive in ERP, CRM, Business Intelligence, Messaging, etc. I don't think anyone would have believed you. Open source has grown from a concept understood mostly by the hacker community into a well understood and accepted way of building enterprise software. If you step back and compare then to now the industry truly has been transformed.</br>
</br>
On the downside, I'm disappointed by the lack of progress in consumer software. The acceptance of open source in the consumer market still lags. Probably more troublesome is that I don't think anyone really understands yet how to change that.
Why I spend too much time reading the Well2008-04-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/04/16/why-i-spend-too-much-time-reading-the-well<img src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png">
I miss my thinkpad...2008-04-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/04/07/i-miss-my-thinkpad<br />I'm now pretty much an apple fanboy, but when I see something like this, it brings back memories of my first laptop...<br /><br /><a href="http://xkcd.com/243/">xkcd - A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language - By Randall Munroe</a>
Deleted all trackbacks2008-04-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/04/05/deleted-all-trackbacksI deleted all the pings to the blog. It was 54000 records of spam. Sorry if someone had a valid one. I've also disabled them on all old posts.</br>
</br>
One of these days I'll set up the anti-spam measures I had on my wordpress blog.
database funnies2008-04-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/04/03/database-funniesI find this hilarious. It just shows you how geeky I am really.
<img src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/exploits_of_a_mom.png" />
Ubuntu and the Future2008-03-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/03/29/ubuntu-and-the-futureI saw this paragraph in a <a href="http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/magazine/16-04/bz_apple">wired article</a>, and it mirrors what I said on the WeLL recently about Ubuntu. I think Mark Shuttleworth is on the same wavelength as Steve Jobs. The days of the big money in computers being in the "Enterprise" Market are over. The big money in the computer and tech industry in the future will be in the consumer market. Just look at the fall of Comdex, an old-school "Computer" show, and the rise of EEE and CEbit as trade shows
<blockquote>When hardware and software makers were focused on winning business clients, price and interoperability were more important than the user experience. But now that consumers make up the most profitable market segment, usability and design have become priorities. Customers expect a reliable and intuitive experience — just like they do with any other consumer product.</blockquote>
It brought back this post I made on the WeLL
<blockquote> When everybody else was, and still is, aiming for the enterprise
market, he went the other way. I think there is money to be made in enterprise
Linux, but I think, with a critical mass, it's possible to make far more in
Desktops. Shuttleworth didn't make the mistake of going public too early, like
Redhat, Mandriva, and other linux companies. I think it gives him the leeway
to try something harder, but with more of a long-term payoff.</blockquote>
Every driver should see this2008-03-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/03/16/every-driver-should-see-thisI'd heard about the study, but this is a great reminder that yes, you have to pay attention.</br>
</br>
<a href="http://www.dothetest.co.uk/">Do the test</a>
Im apparently a crotchety old geezer.2008-03-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/03/13/im-apparently-a-crotchety-old-geezer<br />Now this may not be news to anyone else, but it's news to me.&nbsp; Despite my not having a cell phone, or a PC, I like to keep up on software and hardware.&nbsp; I have an iPod Touch, I upgraded to Leopard very shortly after it was released.&nbsp; I've been using Linux for well over 10 years.&nbsp; <br /><br />But I'm attached to text.&nbsp; I like it.&nbsp; It takes a little bit more work to accurately convey thoughts, using pure ASCII, but the payoff is way better than a/s/l ROTFLMAO LOL BRB cya :), or my favourite bullshit, fake html &lt;sarcasm&gt; tags.<br /><br />I swear to god, it makes people sound like idiots.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/technology/12inertia.html?_r=1&amp;oref=slogin">Tech’s Late Adopters Prefer the Tried and True - New York Times</a> <br /> <blockquote>And on the Well, a pioneering online community founded in 1985, hundreds of people communicate using an archaic text-only system, even though a Web-based graphical interface has been available for years.
“Every other online conversational space has a toolbar where you can plug in your favorite winking face,” said David Gans, a musician and radio host, who has been a member of the Well for 22 years. Mr. Gans says he uses the Well’s text interface, in part, because it helps to keep the quality of conversations high.</blockquote>
I present to you, always the soul of tact and discretion, Harlan Ellison2008-03-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/03/13/i-present-to-you-always-the-soul-of-tact-and-discre<br /><a href="http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2008/02/harlan-ellison-reacts-to-proposed-wga.html">United Hollywood: Harlan Ellison Reacts to the Proposed WGA Contract</a> <br /> <blockquote>IT IS A SHIT DEAL. We finally got a timorous generation that has never had to strike, to get their asses out there, and we had to put up with the usual cowardly spineless babbling horse's asses who kept mumbling "lessgo bac'ta work" over and over, as if it would make them one iota a better writer. But after months on the line, and them finally bouncing that pus-sucking dipthong Nick Counter, we rushed headlong into a shabby, scabrous, underfed shovelfulla shit clutched to the affections of toss-in-the-towel summer soldiers trembling before the Awe of the Alliance.</blockquote>Oh, and apparently, they made a movie about him.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/btm/feature/2008/03/13/ellison/">Still has a mouth, and still must scream - Beyond the Multiplex - Salon.com</a>
Memo to Liz. We need to buy all our socks from these guys...2008-03-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/03/06/memo-to-liz--we-need-to-buy-all-our-socks-from-thes<br /><a href="http://www.throx.com/home.html">THROX - THREE SOCKS for when you lose one.</a>
Freaky!2008-03-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/03/06/freaky<br /><br /><a href="http://cubo.cc/">CUBOCC</a>
blogging from my iPod2008-03-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/03/01/blogging-from-my-ipodblogging from my new ipod touch. Mer and Colin's wedding was very nice
Ubuntu Linux is fucking slick2008-02-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/02/27/ubuntu-linux-is-fucking-slick I finally got a new computer at work here, and after hearing about Ubuntu</br>
for years, I decided to take the plunge. I installed ubuntu.</br>
</br>
I have to admit, I am impressed. I spent years getting my old Fedora Core</br>
5 Desktop up to a point where it was comfortable, and functional. It fit</br>
me like an old skin. I think I compiled most of the GUI myself, and</br>
tweaked it to my satisfaction. It was at least hundreds of hours of</br>
effort.</br>
</br>
Ubuntu is better. I know what I'm doing, but Ubuntu is so fucking slick.</br>
</br>
Every little thing, Like the multimedia keys on my fancy-dancy MS keyboard </br>
that I got working after a few hours of futzing about. On ubuntu, they </br>
worked perfectly. Fonts look nice, for the first time *ever* in Linux, </br>
and they look nice with the change of one radio button. My music player </br>
displays the song name. Evolution notifies me of new emails seamlessly, </br>
and unobtrusively. OpenOffice works great out of the box. VMWare works </br>
great out of the box. My fancy 22" widescreen works better than it does </br>
in XP. I could go on and on.</br>
</br>
Give it a couple of years, it'll give Mac a run for it's money UI-wise.</br>
In some ways it's already better.</br>
</br>
</br>
What I find most impressive is the Ubuntu Forums. Most problems are</br>
solved by the forums at www.ubuntuforums.org, with not only a search</br>
function that lists really good, relevant results, but if, say, you do a</br>
search, and don't find anything, and start typing a post to the forum</br>
titled "X problems with Foo", the forum will look up similar posts.</br>
</br>
I know this is way late, and I'm getting on this bus near the last stop,</br>
but I've been thinking about these problems for a long time. I've been a</br>
Linux User for more than 10 years now, I've seen Linux run on just about </br>
every piece of hardware known to man. I've supported Linux for more than </br>
5 years, and I've developed Linux (not the kernel, just a distro) for more </br>
than 3 now. They really have solved every problem. Now it's just a </br>
matter of traction and mindshare.</br>
Why I go to Burning Man2008-02-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/02/26/why-i-go-to-burning-manPeople ask me all the time, "Matt, why do you keep going back to Burning Man, year after year?" The answer is, a unique mix of geekery, insanity, and debauchery. Building intricate structures in an extremely harsh environment. Seeing the <a href="http://www.folkwolf.net/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=1113">Crazy</a> <a href="http://bigrigjig.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/lushioussmall_500x336.jpg">Shit</a> that <a href="http://www.folkwolf.net/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=1040">people</a> <a href="http://www.folkwolf.net/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=1206">build</a> there. Getting Drunk and going out and listening to music.<br /><br />A lot of the fun is the planning that goes into the entire deal. This is harder to explain, but when my longtime well-friend and former co-worker at SFInteractive posted <a href="http://www.matisse.net/bm/2008/">this</a> on the <a href="http://www.well.com">well</a>, I had to ask him if I could post it here. It illustrates so many things of what I like about Burning Man. Plus, if you're planning on attending, he's still looking for Range Safety Officers, so if you're planning on being at Burning Man, and have First Aid training, I highly suggest giving him a hand.<br />
Folkwolf in lockdown mode2008-02-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/02/22/folkwolf-in-lockdown-modeOne of the users on my little system got their account hacked and the hackers put up a fake paypal site. I had my connection disabled, and was vaguely threatened with legal action if it happened again.</br>
</br>
I've disabled all websites on the folkwolf for now, and I'm going to tighten up the password rules, as well as look at other options for tightening up security. It seems running a publicly accessible website is an invitation to get sued these days.</br>
</br>
I want to keep the server publically accessible, but I can't have the risk of having being liable for other people having their account hacked.</br>
</br>
If anyone has any ideas on how to resolve this, shoot me an email.</br>
</br>
I'm going to disable all accounts. If you want your account re-enabled shoot me an email and I'll reset your password. Unfortunately, this is the only way to be sure that everyone has a secure password
Telexes2008-02-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/02/09/telexesWhen I was growing up in Somalia, <a href="http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10609367" title="Telex | A faint ping | Economist.com">telexes</a> were the main means of communication for the UNDP. My Dad would come home from work occasionally and tell us about sending an "angry telex" when things were going wrong. I'm amazed and somewhat delighted that they still exist.
Security Consultants2008-02-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/02/09/security-consultants Ugh, don't get me started on "security audits". Most vendors are extremely</br>
diligent about releasing patches to security issues. The problem is, they</br>
often do it by backporting the security fixes to the release that they're</br>
running. This is often much preferable to releasing the updated software, </br>
as that may introduce changes that you don't want.</br>
</br>
The big problem with this is that when "Security consultants" run</br>
their automated scanners against a server, they see the banner for "Sendmail</br>
8.x.x" and they say that we're running a vulnerable version of sendmail. </br>
</br>
I get handed this report with red alarm bells all over it, and I have to</br>
explain, yet again, that we are not running a vulnerable version of X</br>
software, it's just that whatever team of "security consultants" that the</br>
client hired are a bunch of con men who charge through the nose to run a</br>
TCP scan, and don't actually do any penetration testing at all.</br>
</br>
Or there's the time that the security team from a Fortune 500 high-tech firm </br>
ran a scan against </br>
our webserver and reported hundreds of perl, and php scripts that just do </br>
not exist anywhere on our webserver, we got a list of URLs that looked </br>
something like this.</br>
</br>
http://<webserver>:443/cgi-bin/guestbook.pl</br>
</br>
There were hundreds of them, all of them exploitable web scripts, most of </br>
them were actually familiar and I knew that none of them had ever existed </br>
on this java webserver. But they were all responding to the request with </br>
weird garbage. It took me over an hour of going over the webserver config </br>
before I realized that the garbage they were getting back was encrypted </br>
http, because they were requesting http over the https port. So the </br>
garbage they were getting back was an encrypted 404 message.</br>
Kenya2008-01-31T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/31/kenyaBradburn and I have been dominating the conversation in the africa topics on the well these days, as his parents live in Kenya, and my parents lived in kenya, and are hoping to move back soon. Naturally, we've been feeding each other stuff, and he just posted this, which is from a blog comment thread. It's amazing.</br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
Anonymous said...</br>
</br>
My fellow Kenyans,</br>
I am a kenyan, one who has had the privilege of living with the</br>
Luo, the Kalenjin, the Kisii, and others. I am Kikuyu. I have read all</br>
the above dialogue with much sadness. It is clear from it what is</br>
eating our nation: Ignorance. As a Kikuyu, I know, as any half brained</br>
Kenyan does, that the election had some serious problems. But really,</br>
Odinga or Kibaki, the end result would have been the same: The pooir</br>
people of Kenya would have remained what they have always been: Hard</br>
working, honest, hopeful, suffering, and poor. On that note, we all</br>
need to wake up and realize one thing. In Kenya there are ACTUALLY ONLY</br>
TWO TRIBES: The politicians, and the rest of us. ON that note, Kibaki,</br>
Raila, Ruto, and the other parliamentarians are one tribe. Real</br>
brothers. They live in palatial homes, with guards at the gate. They go</br>
to Europe for medical treatment, and they would not even take their</br>
cow to Kenyatta hospital, Kisumu Provincial, or any hospital in Kenya.</br>
They travel in government maintained cars, and they enjoy fat salaries.</br>
ALL OF THEM. Presently, the population in KIbera has destroyed two kms</br>
of railway line. I have travelled that line to the rift valley, and I</br>
have been out all the way to Kitale, Kisumu, etc. It is an important</br>
line for the common KEnyan (the second tribe, the rest of us). Now that</br>
it is destroyed, the poor Luo who was hoping for pricews to stay down</br>
and the price of malariaquin to stabilize will suffer this coming rainy</br>
season. So will the Kikuyu who lives in Kisumu, and the Luhya who</br>
lives in BUtere. But Kibaki, Ruto and Raila will never mourn the</br>
railway line. They never use it. Raila flies to Kisumu. Kibaki has a</br>
government jet. Ruto can fly to Eldoret.</br>
When I lived IN kericho, I (kikuyu) visited many Kalenjin homes. I</br>
am of the opinion that the most generous, givng people in Kenya are</br>
Kalenjins and Muslims. When I went to High school, I shared cofee and</br>
toothpaste with some Luos. We drank tea from the same cups, and we</br>
huddled togetherer for the same cup of coffee which we passed on from</br>
person to person. We had little, very little. As far as life in Kenya</br>
goes, these luos, Kalenjins and some Luhyas we shared the dormitory</br>
with were my brothers.</br>
The problem now is that Ruto and Kibaki and Moi and Odinga would</br>
have us believe if one of them is in power, that tribe eats. I can go</br>
to a court of law to defend many kikuyus because when Kenyatta was</br>
president, many of us did not eat. The eaters were Kenyatta, Moi,</br>
Odinga Snr (I personally have a lot of respect for Jaramogi Oginga</br>
Odinga, and I believe he should be more prominet in Kenya's history</br>
books than he is now), Kibaki, etc. But all ppoliticians who were anti</br>
Kenyatta told their tribes the Kikuyu were eating. All I remember</br>
during KEnyatta's time were the many days I was home without school</br>
fees. During MOi's reign, I lived in Kericho. Although I live out of</br>
the country now, I still visit Kericho when I go home. It is my second</br>
home in Kenya, although I have no land there. I love the town, and the</br>
community around it. Anyone who thinks the Kalenjins were eating during</br>
Moi's time should go see how hard working the Kalenjin community is,</br>
and how many of them I saw could not buy sugar. I met many a Kalenjin</br>
during the Moi era who were without. I saw many die at the little</br>
equipped Kericho hospital, which Moi never visited (or any other</br>
politician except maybe the local politicians). But when Moi and</br>
Kibakin travelled in the Kericho and Nyanza area, they stayed at the</br>
Highland hotel. You have to be one of this tribe to afford it.</br>
The Luos and the Kikuyus now living and dying in Kibera are</br>
rothers. and their relatives are in Mathari. Here, they live on 100</br>
shillings a day--when they get it. When Omolo's son gets sick, they ask</br>
Kamau's wife to lend them 50 shillings. KIbaki and Odinga are usually</br>
at the Intercontinental, paying sh300 for a soda. Now that tribe wants</br>
Kenyans to get up and fight, and on this blog, that is what you are</br>
doing, my brothers. If you are LUo, you are as much my brother as the</br>
Kalenjin or Nandi in the Rift valley. If you don't believe it, go to</br>
Kenyatta hospital. Your mother and my mother will be lying in</br>
neighboring beds, dying without medicine. You and I will have left our</br>
children at home, to come to the hospital to care for our parents. ON</br>
the bed across the isle will be Mama Choge, dying also, without</br>
medicine. the pain, frustration, fear, hand hopelessness on thier faces</br>
will know no tribe. It will be our mothers, one dying as surely as if</br>
she was the other, dying under the same system of operation. If you get</br>
to the hospital before I do, please prop our mothers up for comfort. I</br>
will do the same when I get there. Kibaki, Odinga, and Ruto will not</br>
be there. Their tribe will be in another hospital, or at the</br>
intercontinental, waiting for us to get home and fight to secure their</br>
comfort. So, what tribe are you now? </br>
</br>
January 27, 2008 2:25 AM</br>
</blockquote>
Toxic Data2008-01-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/30/toxic-dataCory Doctorow has an article about <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jan/15/data.security">Toxic Data</a>
</blockquote>The financial data in question came on two CDs. If you're into downloading movies, this is about the same size as the last couple of Bond movies. That's an incredibly small amount of data - my new phone holds 10 times as much. My camera (six months older than the phone) can only fit four copies of the nation's financial data.</blockquote>
Virtualization for Mac.2008-01-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/28/virtualization-for-macAfter seeing my post on <a href="http://blog.folkwolf.net/articles/2008/01/22/free-virtualization-for-mac">Free Virtualization for Mac</a>, Colin was kind enough to give me a copy of<a href="http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/"> VMWare Fusion for Mac</a>. I have to say, it was a big improvement over the free VirtualBox. Not Free, but I had one mission for both:<br /><br />Get fullscreen working properly on my 1200X800 MacBook screen.<br /><br />With VirtualBox, I had to go in and edit the xorg.conf file directly to get my screen res working. With VMWARE, it was just a matter of picking the right screen res.<br /><br />Plus for VirtualBox, the VirtualBox tools install much easier on Ubuntu than the VMWare tools do<br />
How the record companies are out to screw you today2008-01-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/28/how-the-record-companies-are-out-to-screw-you-todayThis came across my virtual desk. Thought I'd share. I'll clean it up a bit later.<br /><br />For those playing along at home. The RIAA is the five big record companies. the NMPA is the songwriters and publishers.<br /><br /><br /> > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<br /> ><br /> > On Monday, January 28, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) begins the<br /> > hearing that will determine mechanical rates for every songwriter<br /> and<br /> > music publisher in America. It will be the most important rate<br /> > hearing in the history of the music industry because in addition to<br /> > setting rates for physical products, rates will be set for the first<br /> > time ever for digital products such as digital downloads,<br /> subscription<br /> > services and ringtones.<br /> ><br /> > The National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) will be<br /> representing<br /> > the interests of songwriters and music publishers and will be<br /> fighting<br /> > vigorously to protect those interests to ensure that musical<br /> > compositions are compensated fairly.<br /> ><br /> > On the other side of this fight stands the Recording Industry<br /> > Association of America (RIAA) and the Digital Music Association<br /> > (DiMA). Both the RIAA and DiMA have proposed significant reductions<br /> > in mechanical royalty rates that would be disastrous for songwriters<br /> > and music publishers. This is literally a fight for the survival of<br /> > our industry.<br /> ><br /> > To give you an example of what is at stake, the current rate for<br /> > physical phonorecords is 9.1 cents. The NMPA is proposing an<br /> increase<br /> > to 12.5 cents per song. The RIAA, however, has proposed slashing the<br /> > rate to approximately 6 cents a song - a cut of more than one-third<br /> > the current rate!<br /> ><br /> > For permanent digital downloads, NMPA is proposing a rate of 15<br /> cents<br /> > per track because the costs involved are much less than for physical<br /> > products. The RIAA has proposed the outrageous rate of approximately<br /> > 5 - 5.5 cents per track, and DiMA is proposing even less.<br /> ><br /> > If you find that troubling, it gets worse. For interactive streaming<br /> > services, which some analysts believe will be the future of the<br /> music<br /> > industry, NMPA is proposing a rate of the greater of 12.5% of<br /> revenue,<br /> > 27.5% of content costs, or a micro-penny calculation based on usage.<br /> > The RIAA actually proposed that songwriters and music publishers<br /> > should get the equivalent of .58% of revenue. This isn't a typo -<br /> > less than 1%. And DiMA is taking the shocking and offensive position<br /> > that songwriters' and music publishers' mechanical rights should be<br /> > zero, because DiMA does not believe we have any such rights!<br /> ><br /> > The initial hearing will last four weeks, with the three permanent<br /> > Copyright Royalty Judges hearing arguments Mondays through Thursdays<br /> > from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm each day. At the conclusion of the initial<br /> > hearing, there will be more discovery, followed by a rebuttal<br /> hearing<br /> > in May, and a final decision expected on October 2.<br /> ><br /> > The NMPA will be spending millions dollars in this proceeding to<br /> > protect the interests of songwriters and music publishers against<br /> the<br /> > much larger record labels and digital media companies. And although<br /> > we face such an enormous fight, we have an incredible advantage - we<br /> > represent songwriters, without whom the record labels and digital<br /> > music services could not exist.<br /> ><br /> > Please forward this to anyone who is involved in the songwriting and<br /> > music publishing industry. We will be sending out regular updates as<br /> > the CRB progresses to keep you informed. Through your networks, we<br /> > hope to reach the vast majority of the industry. If you did not<br /> > receive this directly, and would like to be added to the master NMPA<br /> > communications list, please send your contact information to Jamie<br /> > Marotta at jmarotta@nmpa.org.<br /><br />
A webpage only a statistian could love.2008-01-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/28/a-webpage-only-a-statistian-could-love<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tkcs-collins.com/truman/monopoly/monopoly.shtml">Probabilities in the Game of Monopoly®</a> <br /> <blockquote>I recently saw an article in Scientific American (the April 1996 issue with additional information in the August 1996 and April 1997 issues) that discussed the probabilities of landing on the various squares in the game of Monopoly&reg. They used a simplified model of the game without considering the effects of the Chance and Community Chest cards or of the various ways of being sent to jail.
I was intrigued enough with this problem that I started working on trying to find the probabilities for landing on the different squares with all of the rules taken into account. I ran into some interesting problems but finally came up with the right answers, which you will find here along with some other useful derived data. Incidentally, I'm not much of a Monopoly® player myself, but I've always enjoyed interesting problems involving probability and statistics, of which this was one.</blockquote>
Development in stages2008-01-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/27/development-in-stagesI'm working on a blog engine. I hope to have it eventually replace this blog, but I'm working on it in my spare time, so I leave it fallow for weeks at a time, and then pick it up and add a feature. </br>
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So I picked it up just now, saying to myself "I should implement comments", I fired up rails, and Lo, there was comments. </br>
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That's my work done for the day.</br>
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Now I just have to figure out what to do next
Top Gun is fucking terrible!2008-01-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/26/top-gun-is-fucking-terribleWhat a god-awful movie. I'm watching it on AMC right now, and it has the worst lines delivered badly. Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis are terrible.</br>
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That is all</br>
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Free Virtualization for Mac2008-01-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/22/free-virtualization-for-macI've finally hopped on the <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com">Ubuntu</a> bandwagon. I've been excited about Ubuntu for quite some time, and I've been meaning to try it since <a href="http://releases.ubuntu.com/6.06/">dapper drake</a>, or so, but due to a lack of hardware and time, I've never actually gotten very far into it. I recently installed 2Gigs in my macbook, and all that extra ram has been burning a hole in my laptop. So I decided to try out <a href="http://www.virtualbox.org/">Virtual Box</a> and Ubuntu. It didn't <a href="http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-612790.html">work perfectly</a> out of the box, but with a few adjustments, it now works perfectly.</br>
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Nimby-ism at its worst2008-01-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/21/nimby-ism-at-its-worstIn the same vein as <a href="http://blog.folkwolf.net/articles/2007/07/11/snowbird-this">Snowbird this!</a><br /><br />Fuck you, "protect Amherst Island" Do you think your fucking cottages will look good in the desert that will cover Amherst Island when global warming hits? Do you think there will be anything left of "<span style="color: windowtext;" lang="EN"><font size="4"><font size="3">the unique habitat and way of life on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Amherst</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island." if the temperatures rises by 10 degrees? </st1:placetype></st1:place></font></font></span><font size="3"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"></st1:placename><st1:placetype w:st="on"></st1:placetype></st1:place></font><br /><br /><a href="http://www.protectai.com/">protectai.com - Home</a> <br /> <blockquote>The Coalition to Protect Amherst Island was formed in 2006 in response to a proposal to build a 100-turbine wind power plant on Amherst Island. Amherst Island is one of the Thousand Islands in Lake Ontario. </blockquote><a href="http://blog.folkwolf.net/articles/2007/07/11/snowbird-this"><br /></a>
Good Rant.2008-01-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/21/good-rant<br />I just posted this on the Well, after someone else pointed out <a href="" http:="" www.canada.com="" ottawacitizen="" views="" story.html?id="791ff590-40cf-494d-8a94-6ed7548c0ce7&p=2""> this column</a> by one of the columnists in the local paper<br /><br /> Denley's column is the same old crap the crotchety old fucker is<br /> always spouting off. I can't believe the Citizen pays a columnist who has<br /> just noticed that the housing market in Florida is screwed, only after<br /> he's had the fact shoved in his face by actually going there.<br /><br /> Then, to top it all off, the smug, pompous git has this to say as a<br /> closer.<br /><br /> All of that makes one appreciate Canada more. We have a federal<br /> government in surplus, universal health coverage and a stable housing<br /> market. Those are all things Americans can only dream about.<br /><br /> Yeah, 'cause everything is just fucking GREAT up here. That's why the TSX<br /> is down 10% over the past week, and the RIM-jobbers in my building are all<br /> pissed off 'cause their stock is down 50% from last monday. Just keep<br /> whistling past that graveyard, fucker.<br />
I love america2008-01-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/12/i-love-americaOnly in America do you have a survival kit with a gun.</br>
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<a href="http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=11101&storeId=10001&productId=49906&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=15702&isFirearm=Y">Smith & Wesson Survival Kit</a>
Why Pitbull bans are dumb.2008-01-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/11/why-pitbull-bans-are-dumbMalcolm Gladwell has written a nice article that talks about our little town, <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/02/06/060206fa_fact?currentPage=1">in the New Yorker no less.</a> It starts off like this:</br>
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<blockquote></br>
One afternoon last February, Guy Clairoux picked up his two-and-a half-year-old son, Jayden, from day care and walked him back to their house in the west end of Ottawa, Ontario. They were almost home. Jayden was straggling behind, and, as his fathers back was turned, a pit bull jumped over a back-yard fence and lunged at Jayden. The dog had his head in its mouth and started to do this shake, Clairouxs wife, JoAnn Hartley, said later. As she watched in horror, two more pit bulls jumped over the fence, joining in the assault. She and Clairoux came running, and he punched the first of the dogs in the head, until it dropped Jayden, and then he threw the boy toward his mother. Hartley fell on her son, protecting him with her body. JoAnn! Clairoux cried out, as all three dogs descended on his wife. Cover your neck, cover your neck. A neighbor, sitting by her window, screamed for help. Her partner and a friend, Mario Gauthier, ran outside. A neighborhood boy grabbed his hockey stick and threw it to Gauthier. He began hitting one of the dogs over the head, until the stick broke. They wouldnt stop, Gauthier said. As soon as youd stop, theyd attack again. Ive never seen a dog go so crazy. They were like Tasmanian devils. The police came. The dogs were pulled away, and the Clairouxes and one of the rescuers were taken to the hospital. Five days later, the Ontario legislature banned the ownership of pit bulls. Just as we wouldnt let a great white shark in a swimming pool, the provinces attorney general, Michael Bryant, had said, maybe we shouldnt have these animals on the civilized streets.</br>
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A tragic story, and obviously, one that changed the law. But after 5 pages of talking about dog bites, and racial profiling in general, Gladwell gives us the backstory.</br>
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Jayden Clairoux was attacked by Jada, a pit-bull terrier, and her two pit-bullbullmastiff puppies, Agua and Akasha. The dogs were owned by a twenty-one-year-old man named Shridev Caf, who worked in construction and did odd jobs. Five weeks before the Clairoux attack, Cafs three dogs got loose and attacked a sixteen-year-old boy and his four-year-old half brother while they were ice skating. The boys beat back the animals with a snow shovel and escaped into a neighbors house. Caf was fined, and he moved the dogs to his seventeen-year-old girlfriends house. This was not the first time that he ran into trouble last year; a few months later, he was charged with domestic assault, and, in another incident, involving a street brawl, with aggravated assault. Shridev has personal issues, Cheryl Smith, a canine-behavior specialist who consulted on the case, says. Hes certainly not a very mature person. Agua and Akasha were now about seven months old. The court order in the wake of the first attack required that they be muzzled when they were outside the home and kept in an enclosed yard. But Caf did not muzzle them, because, he said later, he couldnt afford muzzles, and apparently no one from the city ever came by to force him to comply. A few times, he talked about taking his dogs to obedience classes, but never did. The subject of neutering them also came upparticularly Agua, the malebut neutering cost a hundred dollars, which he evidently thought was too much money, and when the city temporarily confiscated his animals after the first attack it did not neuter them, either, because Ottawa does not have a policy of premptively neutering dogs that bite people.</br>
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On the day of the second attack, according to some accounts, a visitor came by the house of Cafs girlfriend, and the dogs got wound up. They were put outside, where the snowbanks were high enough so that the back-yard fence could be readily jumped. Jayden Clairoux stopped and stared at the dogs, saying, Puppies, puppies. His mother called out to his father. His father came running, which is the kind of thing that will rile up an aggressive dog. The dogs jumped the fence, and Agua took Jaydens head in his mouth and started to shake. It was a textbook dog-biting case: unneutered, ill-trained, charged-up dogs, with a history of aggression and an irresponsible owner, somehow get loose, and set upon a small child. The dogs had already passed through the animal bureaucracy of Ottawa, and the city could easily have prevented the second attack with the right kind of generalizationa generalization based not on breed but on the known and meaningful connection between dangerous dogs and negligent owners. But that would have required someone to track down Shridev Caf, and check to see whether he had bought muzzles, and someone to send the dogs to be neutered after the first attack, and an animal-control law that insured that those whose dogs attack small children forfeit their right to have a dog. It would have required, that is, a more exacting set of generalizations to be more exactingly applied. Its always easier just to ban the breed.</br>
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Which is a long way of saying. There are two very nice pitbulls that come to the dog park. Their owner is very nice, and works at a veterinarian's office, and knows how to behave with dogs. One of them is actually very timid, they're both perfectly nice dogs, and shouldn't be illegal.</br>
The Answer to Americas problems2008-01-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/11/the-answer-to-americas-problems<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/i_got_what_america_needs_right?utm_source=EMTF_Onion">I Got What America Needs Right Here | The Onion - America's Finest News Source</a> <br /> <blockquote>Way I see it, America needs a president who's gonna somehow un-royally screw up the Middle East, do some serious cleaning up after you dropped your pants and took a steaming dump all over the fucking environment, and—boom!—restore dignity, honor, and all that shit to these United States.
See, I got solutions to all your problems—I got 'em right here in my big, hairy ballsack.
You better get down on your hands and knees and kiss Jimmy Carter's rosy-red Georgia-peach-picking ass and beg me to run your fucking country again, because there's no way I'm ever gonna come to you fuck-knobs and politely ask you if I might please be a presidential candidate in your precious fuckin' election. So you can just bite my cock. I've had it with you jerkoffs and your jerkoff candidates.</blockquote>
Tata Nano2008-01-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/11/tata-nanoThis is all the buzz at work today. It's a $2500 car with a 33bhp 625cc engine that seats 5. It's 0-60 time can probably be measured in minutes, if not hours, but for a little run-about, it's pretty perfect.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Nano">Wikipedia</a> has a few errors on it, but they've got it mostly right.<br />
Digging through delicious2008-01-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/10/digging-through-deliciousI use <a href="http://del.icio.us">del.icio.us</a> to use as a general bookmarking site. It's great for when I come across something I want to reference later, or read later, or blog about later. I've been using it somewhat promiscuously, making up tags or using ones that other people had used. Consequently, I have hundreds of tags, which decreases the usefulness, IMO. Luckily, del.icio.us has a great, easy to use <a href="http://del.icio.us/help/api/">API reference</a> that makes it easy to write a quick ruby script that makes batch tag renames easy. I wrote up the quick little ruby script. This changes every tag from macosx to mac. To change the tags, I just changed the first variables in the script.</br>
<typo:code></br>
require 'net/https'</br>
</br>
old_tag = "macosx"</br>
new_tag = "mac"</br>
</br>
http = Net::HTTP.new('api.del.icio.us', 443)</br>
http.use_ssl = true</br>
http.start do |http|</br>
request = Net::HTTP::Get.new("/v1/tags/rename?old=#{old_tag}&new=#{new_tag}")</br>
request.basic_auth('mattrose', 'foobar')</br>
response = http.request(request)</br>
puts response.body</br>
end </br>
</typo:code></br>
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This is of course a long way of saying, that, while I was going through delicious, I found this, and this guy speaks for me when it comes to <a href="http://www.slackermanager.com/2006/04/how-to-avoid-office-politics.html">office politics</a>
The old with the new.2008-01-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/04/the-old-with-the-newIn doing a little background research on David Byrne, I came across <a href="http://journal.davidbyrne.com/2007/11/11032007-social.html">this post</a> on <a href="http://journal.davidbyrne.com/">his journal</a>. <br /><br /><blockquote>IKEA is huge. We went up to the second floor where the shelves, sofas,
tables and lamps are all arrayed into tasteful little room settings —
rooms, but with mysterious tags hanging everywhere. Immediately I
thought it was like entering a videogame world. Who lives here? What do
they do? Why is that book on the table? Is that significant? Could it
be some kind of clue to the occupant’s identity?</blockquote>Which of course, brought to mind <a href="http://blog.folkwolf.net/articles/2004/01/26/ikea-walkthrough">this</a><br />
Google AdSense cracks me up.2008-01-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/04/google-adsense-cracks-me-upI'm sure they have some supersmart algorithm for choosing ads based on page content, but it just seems to me that they pick one post that I make, and base all of their ads on that. Right now, all of my ads are centered around <a href="http://blog.folkwolf.net/articles/2007/12/17/adventures-in-closed-source-programming-part-1">Mac OS, and Sync</a> <br /><br />Next time I check, they'll probably be referencing SEO and AdSense.<br />
David Byrne on Music2008-01-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/04/david-byrne-on-musicYou know, I buy <a href="http://www.wired.com">Wired Magazine</a> whenever I get the chance. I seek it out at newsstands, and I often wonder why, especially after the last few years, but the last few issues have been good reads again, and anyone who will pay David Byrne to write a long essay on the business of music deserves my cold hard cash.<br /><br />A few choice bits from <a href="http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/16-01/ff_byrne?currentPage=5">David Byrne's Survival Strategies for Emerging Artists — and Megastars</a> <br /><br /><blockquote>(Calling the product [the record companies sell] music is like selling a shopping cart and calling it groceries.)<br /><blockquote></blockquote>In the past, music was something you heard and experienced — it was <br />as much a social event as a purely musical one. Before recording<br />technology existed, you could not separate music from its<br />social context. Epic songs and ballads, troubadours, courtly<br />entertainments, church music, shamanic chants, pub sing-alongs,<br />ceremonial music, military music, dance music — it was pretty much all<br />tied to specific social functions. It was communal and often<br />utilitarian. You couldn't take it home, copy it, sell it as a commodity<br />(except as sheet music, but that's not music), or even hear it again.<br />Music was an experience, intimately married to your life. You could pay<br />to hear music, but after you did, it was over, gone — a memory.<br /><br /><br /><br />Technology changed all that in the 20th century. Music — or its<br />recorded artifact, at least — became a product, a thing that could be<br />bought, sold, traded, and replayed endlessly in any context. This<br />upended the economics of music, but our human instincts remained<br />intact. I spend plenty of time with buds in my ears listening to<br />recorded music, but I still get out to stand in a crowd with an<br />audience. I sing to myself, and, yes, I play an instrument (not always<br />well).<br /><br /><br /><br />We'll always want to use music as part of our social fabric: to<br />congregate at concerts and in bars, even if the sound sucks; to pass<br />music from hand to hand (or via the Internet) as a form of social<br />currency; to build temples where only "our kind of people" can hear<br />music (opera houses and symphony halls); to want to know more about our<br />favorite bards — their love lives, their clothes, their political<br />beliefs. This betrays an eternal urge to have a larger context beyond a<br />piece of plastic. One might say this urge is part of our genetic makeup.</blockquote> <br /><p></p><blockquote>Ultimately, all these scenarios have to satisfy the same human
urges: What do we need music to do? How do we visit the land in our
head and the place in our heart that music takes us to? Can I get a
round-trip ticket?
<br /><br />Really, isn't that what we want to buy, sell, trade, or download?</blockquote><p> </p><br /><a href="http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/16-01/ff_byrne?currentPage=5">David Byrne's Survival Strategies for Emerging Artists — and Megastars</a> <br /> <br />
Happy belated New Year!2008-01-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/03/happy-belated-new-yearSleater-Kinney covering Rock Lobster. Enjoy!
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Switching folkwolf.net email over to Google apps for your domain.2008-01-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/01/switching-folkwolfnet-email-over-to-google-apps-forI was thinking of switching mail to google apps for your domain.<br /><br />Now that gmail is fully IMAP capable, and has a useful interface, and a whole bunch of other tie-ins <br /><br />Would folkwolf.net users be interested in this?<br />
For Colin2008-01-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2008/01/01/for-colinColin had never heard of Fake Steve Jobs before I mentioned it to him. Here you go Colin. <a href="http://fakesteve.blogspot.com">The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs</a></br>
<blockquote>That's what some dude says here to explain why Gates always gives the big keynote address at the CES show. Money quote: "He's kind of like the pope of our industry. And as the pope, he always draws a crowd and people follow every word he says. You either go to heaven or you don't, if you have the Microsoft blessing." Holy crap. I just threw up in my mouth. FWIW, this year's CES show begins Sunday, if you care. I know I don't.</br>
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DISCLAIMER: Bill Gates is not actually the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic church.</blockquote>
Big Brother is better than a flying toaster2007-12-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/12/17/big-brother-is-better-than-a-flying-toasterSomeone has written a screensaver that just takes the output of network accessible surveillance cameras, and makes them into a screensaver. Mac only for now, but apparently someone is working on a windows version<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i.document.m05.de/?p=418">i.document » Blog Archive » SurveillanceSaver alpha 0</a>
Adventures in Closed Source Programming (Part 1)2007-12-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/12/17/adventures-in-closed-source-programming-part-1A few years ago, I bought a Mac, and immediately fell in love. It was the UNIX desktop machine I'd always wanted. I've been playing around with the default utilities, and I've noticed a few shortcomings. When I've noticed shortcomings on Linux, I've just literally programmed my way out of it. Most Linux utilities are good about exposing CLI interfaces you can use to script new functionality, or use it to interface with other utilities. One thing I've noticed is the Calendar, which I love, will only sync to .Mac, or Google Calendar, if you pay $25.<br /><br />You can "Publish" a Private Calendar, or "Subscribe" to a Remote Calendar. But Remote Calendars are read only. After reading around on all the apple sites, I could not find a way (for free, I'm super cheap after all) to get the functionality I wanted. So I've fired up Xcode, and looked up the Documentation for Sync Services, and am all set to learn Objective C.<br /><br />It's painful.<br /><br />UPDATE: Fuck it. I just started to use sunbird, which does exactly what I want, and doesn't make me do a whole bunch of hacking to get it to work. I basically have this setup now.<br /><br />Create a Remote Calendar with Sunbird.<br />Use Sunbird as your main calendar utility, as it reads and writes to the remote calendar directly.<br />For Ipod and/or Iphone (If canadian telcos ever get their act together and offer the damn things) syncing, I just subscribe to the remote calendar that I created and edit with sunbird.<br /><br />You know, it kinda pisses me off that I can't use iCal the way I want to, and have it just work.<br />
This means something profound. If only I could express what.2007-12-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/12/11/this-means-something-profound-if-only-i-could-expre<br /><a href="http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/12/time_hackers">Amateur Time Hackers Play With Atomic Clocks at Home</a> <br /> <blockquote>"If you have one clock ... you are peaceful and have no worries," says Van Baak, fingering a length of cable connecting two of his machines. "If you have two clocks ... you start asking, 'What time is it, really?'"<br /><p>
He wanted his children to see that relativity is proportional. So he
loaded the family's blue minivan with portable power supplies,
monitoring equipment, and three HP 5071 cesium clocks. Three, because
time is always marked relative to other clocks: More clocks mean more
accurate time. With his three kids and some camping gear in tow, he
drove the winding roads spiraling up Washington's Mt. Rainier and
checked the family into a lodge 5,319 feet above sea level.
</p><p>They hiked the trails, and the kids relaxed with board games
and books, while in the imperceptibly lessened gravity, time moved a
little bit faster than at home. Van Baak found himself explaining to
park rangers more than once why a minivan filled with inscrutable
equipment was idling in front of the national park lodge for hours on
end. But the effort paid off. When the family returned to the suburbs
two days later, the cesium clocks were off by the precise amount
relativity predicted. He and his family had lived just a little more
life than the neighbors.
</p><p>
"It was the best extra 22 nanoseconds I've ever spent with the kids," Van Baak says.
</p><br /></blockquote>
Damn, coyotes are cute when theyre pups.2007-12-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/12/06/damn-coyotes-are-cute-when-theyre-pups<img src="/files/ears.jpg" /></br>
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<a href="http://dailycoyote.blogspot.com/">The Daily Coyote</a>
Why we never went to the hospital in Dar.2007-11-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/30/why-we-never-went-to-the-hospital-in-dar<br /><br /><a href="http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/11/23/tanzanian_who_had_wrong_surgery_dies/6311/">Tanzanian who had wrong surgery dies - UPI.com</a> <br /> <blockquote>Emmanuel Mgaya, 19, died hours after undergoing brain the surgery Thursday. The procedure was performed two weeks later than planned because when he was originally due for brain surgery doctors erroneously performed a knee operation, the BBC reported.
<br />Meanwhile, Emmanuel Didas -- who underwent brain surgery even though he had been hospitalized for a knee problem -- was recovering but partially paralyzed, the British broadcaster said. Didas cannot move his right side following the operation on his brain. </blockquote>
Untitled2007-11-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/30/untitled<br />The more I hear about Garret Lisi, the more I like him. Turns out, he's also a burner<br /><a href="http://sifter.org/%7Eaglisi/burn.html">The Burn</a>
Best Euphemism ever.2007-11-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/20/best-euphemism-ever<a href="http://www.boingboing.net/">Boing Boing</a> <br /> <blockquote>Instantiated the Unfuckatron<br /></blockquote>To be used as a euphemism for getting to work on fixing shit.<br /><br />As used in a sentence<br /><br />"Matt, what happened to the build?" "Don't worry, I've instantiated the unfuckatron"<br /><br />
Facebook Rant2007-11-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/18/facebook-rantI have interesting, intelligent friends. I swear I do. Unfortunately, you would never know it by the stupid crap that I get sent on facebook. </br>
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People publishing rehashed insipid email memes from the 80s as notes, People sending stupid apps. No, I don't want to be a Vampire, Zombie, or get sent a goddamn sprite sip (This one hasn't happened yet, but...)</br>
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"Friends" spamming my FunWall with the latest stupid video.</br>
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My friends aren't goddamn sheep, but you would never know it by facebook.</br>
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http://www.roughtype.com/archives/2007/11/the_social_graf_1.php</br>
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One funny thing to end the day.</br>
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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/fashion/08Cyber.html</br>
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</br>
</br>
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As if anyone cares2007-11-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/18/as-if-anyone-caresWhat I'm reading right now.<br /><br />Good stuff on the WGA strike at <a href="http://www.plaintivewail.com/">www.plaintivewail.com</a><br />and a blog by some guy I've never heard of <a href="http://www.roughtype.com/index.php">www.roughtype.com</a><br />
The coolest physicist ever.2007-11-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/17/the-coolest-physicist-everYou know. Theoretical Physicists have an image problem. I think Garrett Lisi is the cure for that problem.<br /><br />He's put together a theory of everything. Yes, the same one that eluded Einstein. And unlike Einstein, who came up with his theories while working a boring job at a patent office, Garrett Lisi came up with his theory while surfing in Hawaii, and snowboarding at Tahoe. This is one extreme physicist.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=f7a6c5bb-05e9-4041-abdb-d8c4fbd0495a">Just maybe, this surfer knows everything there is to know about physics</a> <br /> <blockquote>For years, theoretical physicists have been searching to find the relationship underlying all the particles and forces in the universe -- a unification model. There's been a model around for 30 years, dubbed the standard model, but it's lacking one somewhat well-known force: gravity.
Some physicists have looked to string theory, which proposes that all particles are made of tiny strings, to bring gravity into the fold. But Mr. Lisi disagrees, claiming that the string theory is full of holes. In fact, pressure to agree with string theory enthusiasts led Mr. Lisi to abandon books for surfboards.
However, an organization called the Foundational Questions Institute last year awarded Mr. Lisi a research grant to pursue his own theory, which is based on finding parallels between particle relationships and the points on a complex, eight-dimensional mathematical pattern called E8.
"I think the universe is pure geometry -- basically, a beautiful shape twisting around and dancing over space-time," Mr. Lisi told New Scientist. "Since E8 is perhaps the most beautiful structure in mathematics, it is very satisfying that nature appears to have chosen this geometry."
Mr. Lisi's theory also makes room for gravity, the force responsible for all those leaves on everybody's lawns this time of year. This has earned him kudos in the physics world.</blockquote>
Roadside Attractions2007-11-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/17/roadside-attractionsMost roadside attractions are tourist traps that do everything in their power to draw tourists into the town to stop at the local diner, or advertise a piece of local history.<br /><br />Every time we drive to Burning Man, after hours of driving through the Great Salt Desert in Utah, we come across this:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.folkwolf.net/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3852&g2_serialNumber=2" /><br /><br />There's no plaque, no radio station, It's illegal to even pull over and take a picture of the damn thing. And it's stuck out in the middle of nowhere. I always had a vague curiousity as to what it was. I was sure it was a piece of art, but why would someone build a huge tree in the middle of the desert.<br /><br />I used the internets to discover:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.utah.com/amusement/metaphor_tree.htm">Metaphor: Tree of Utah | Utah.com</a>
In the immortal words of the Who.2007-11-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/17/in-the-immortal-words-of-the-who<br />Won't get fooled again.<br /><br />Seriously. Words cannot describe the stupidity displayed by the so-called "Computer Techs" in this Marketplace segment<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2007/10/03/geeks/">CBC.ca - Marketplace - What you should know before you call a geek in to fix your computer</a>
All the elements of a good story.2007-11-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/17/all-the-elements-of-a-good-story<br />Love, Deception, Lies, the Internet, Harlan Ellison, Hollywood screenwriters, and a good ending, if not a happy one.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/the-life-and-death-of-jesse-james/17427/">LA Weekly - News - The Life and Death of Jesse James - Josh Olson - The Essential Online Resource for Los Angeles</a>
Just wrong.2007-11-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/16/just-wrong<br />On so many levels.<br /><br />May not be SFW<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ukimagehost.com/uploads/05e2120dc4.jpg">05e2120dc4.jpg (JPEG Image, 640x480 pixels)</a>
Big Brother is better than a flying toaster2007-11-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/09/big-brother-is-better-than-a-flying-toasterSomeone has written a screensaver that just takes the output of network accessible surveillance cameras, and makes them into a screensaver. Mac only for now, but apparently someone is working on a windows version<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i.document.m05.de/?p=418">i.document » Blog Archive » SurveillanceSaver alpha 0</a>
This is just too much2007-11-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/07/this-is-just-too-muchThe CAD was at 1.10 USD. At my favourite currency watching site <a href="http://www.xe.com/">http://www.xe.com/</a>, they actually have a note on the CAD-USD section. that says:<br /><br /><blockquote>Rate Explanation. <br />This rate means that the Canadian Dollar is worth <b><u>more</u></b> than the USD.<br /></blockquote><br />So proud.
Weird2007-11-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/05/weird<em></em><br />I haven't fully explored this yet, but it looks interesting so far<br /><br />The explanation<br /><a href="http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/144">TED | Talks | Jonathan Harris: The Web's secret stories (video)</a><br /><br />The site<br /><a href="http://www.wefeelfine.org/">We Feel Fine / by Jonathan Harris and Sep Kamvar</a>
More on Daphne Sheldrick2007-11-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/05/more-on-daphne-sheldrick<br />This segment was just re-aired on 60 Minutes a few nights ago.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/06/60minutes/main1479398.shtml">The Elephant Orphanage, A Place Where Baby Elephants Find "Surrogate Mothers" - CBS News</a>
I wore that?!2007-11-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/05/i-wore-that<br />Oh yes, I did.<br /><br /><a href="http://15minutelunch.blogspot.com/2007/10/strap-in-shut-up-and-hold-on-were-going.html">15 Minute Lunch: Strap in, shut up and hold on. We're going back.</a>
Synchronicity2007-11-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/04/synchronicityThe evening I posted the last entry, the entry about elephants, I happened to watch <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/">the nature of things</a>. The <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/gameover.html">documentary</a> was about the mixed history of conservation in Kenya. The two prominent figures in it were, of course, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Leakey">Richard Leakey</a>. The other one was <a href="http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/index.asp">Daphne Sheldrick</a>.<br />
OS X Leopard is here.2007-11-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/01/os-x-leopard-is-here<br />This is a *very* long review. It is probably one of the best reviews of an OS that I've ever read though. Very technical, occasionally delving into the depths of kernel design, while still remaining extremely readable.<br /><br /><a href="http://arstechnica.com/reviews/os/mac-os-x-10-5.ars/1">Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: the Ars Technica review: Page 1</a>
I think that alimony beats out Tie Domis2007-11-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/01/i-think-that-alimony-beats-out-tie-domisA fascinating, and funny look at how the other half live, and divorce<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/21/AR2007102101643.html">Low Road to Splitsville - washingtonpost.com</a> <br /> <blockquote>As part of a temporary settlement, 60-year-old Ritchie Scaife is currently cashing an alimony check that at first glance will look like a typo: $725,000 a month. Or about $24,000 a day, seven days a week. As Richard Scaife's exasperated lawyers put it in a filing, "The temporary order produces an amount so large that just the income [sic, I think the author meant interest] from it, invested at 5 percent, is greater each year than the salary of the President of the United States."</blockquote>
Elephants2007-11-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/11/01/elephantsThey're amazing. I wonder if <a href="http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org">Daphne Sheldrick</a> knows about this research<br /><br /><a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/10/19/elephant-intelligence.html">Discovery News : Discovery Channel</a>
Bad Taste, Good Dancer2007-10-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/10/26/bad-taste-good-dancerI checked my gmail account and found this in an email that originated with mer and colin<br /><br /><a href="http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html">http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html</a><br />
I hate baseball2007-10-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/10/22/i-hate-baseballThe Colorado Rockies want to trademark, "Rocktober"<br /><br />WTF?<br /><br />That is all.<br /><br />well, except for three links<br /><br />Dry and detailed<br />http://www.vegastrademarkattorney.com/2007/10/colorado-rockies-seek-registration-for.html<br /><br />More impassioned<br />http://thetriplelindy.blogspot.com/2007/10/is-nothing-sacred.html<br /><br /><br />
Folkwolf Network Upgraded2007-10-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/10/21/folkwolf-network-upgradedWhile I was visiting family in Toronto, I took the opportunity to visit the Apple Store. I needed a new battery for my laptop, it had dis-appeared when I came back from Burning Man. For some reason, even though the batter was installed, it wouldn't charge, and it wouldn't show up in the battery monitor. The Apple Store was nice enough to replace it free of charge, and they even cleaned up my grotty keyboard. So I bought an Apple Airport Extreme, and plugged it in to the network, so hopefully, the periodic outages will now go away. Also, the whole wireless network is up to 802.11n now, so it's a lot faster<br />
If I have a mantra, this is it.2007-10-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/10/17/if-i-have-a-mantra-this-is-it"Buddhism in Seven Words" by Jane Hirshfield<br /><br />Everything changes, everything is connected; pay attention.<br /><br /><br />I even love the punctuation.<br /><br />Btw, sorry for the long outage, everyone, and for the forced email vacation.<br />
I love juxtaposition2007-09-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/09/21/i-love-juxtaposition<br />This is the best example of juxtaposition I've seen in a while<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/37319">Get Smooved | The Onion - America's Finest News Source</a> <br /> <blockquote>Then, when we have each finished eating our meals, I will lay your body down on a bedsheet comprised of 100 percent silk, which I will purchase in advance from the finest store in this city. Then, just before we freak, I will inquire as to how you like the feel of the sheets. If you inform me that you do not like it, I will travel to other cities around the world until I locate a store that sells sheets that are more to your satisfaction. Then, I will purchase those sheets and return home to put them on the bed for you.
<br /><br />It is then that I will hit you doggy-style.
</blockquote>
Have we progressed?2007-09-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/09/21/have-we-progressedI don't often quote poetry, but this seems apropos.<br /><br /> Turning and turning in the widening gyre<br /> The falcon cannot hear the falconer;<br /> Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;<br /> Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,<br /> The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere<br /> The ceremony of innocence is drowned;<br /> The best lack all conviction, while the worst<br /> Are full of passionate intensity.<br /> Surely some revelation is at hand;<br /> Surely the Second Coming is at hand.<br /> The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out<br /> When a vast image out of "Spiritus Mundi"<br /> Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert<br /> A shape with lion body and the head of a man,<br /> A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,<br /> Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it<br /> Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.<br /> The darkness drops again; but now I know<br /> That twenty centuries of stony sleep<br /> Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,<br /> And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,<br /> Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?<br /><br /><br /> -- William Butler Yeats, "The Second Coming"<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/37319">Get Smooved | The Onion - America's Finest News Source</a> <br /> <blockquote>Then, when we have each finished eating our meals, I will lay your body down on a bedsheet comprised of 100 percent silk, which I will purchase in advance from the finest store in this city. Then, just before we freak, I will inquire as to how you like the feel of the sheets. If you inform me that you do not like it, I will travel to other cities around the world until I locate a store that sells sheets that are more to your satisfaction. Then, I will purchase those sheets and return home to put them on the bed for you.
It is then that I will hit you doggy-style.
</blockquote>
random thought2007-09-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/09/19/random-thoughtAnd all I could think was. "Fuck, I've got 50 bucks (USD) in my pocket that's devaluing as I sit here." I bought it two weeks ago and already lost 1CAD just by doing nothing but keep it in my wallet for the two weeks.</br>
Im just old enough now to find this really, really funny.2007-09-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/09/13/im-just-old-enough-now-to-find-this-really-really-f<br />I include the entrire description in this because ebay links go stale after a while.<br /><br /><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130144061675">LOT OF POKEMON CARDS THAT MY KIDS TRIED TO SNEAK BY ME - (eBay item 130144061675 end time Aug-22-07 12:03:50 PDT)</a> <br /> <blockquote>I'm selling a bunch of Pokemon cards. Why? Because my kids sneaked them into my shopping cart while at the grocery store and I ended up buying them because I didn't notice they were there until we got home. How could I have possibly not noticed they were in my cart, you ask? Let me explain.
You haven’t lived until you’ve gone grocery shopping with six kids in tow. I would rather swim, covered in bait, through the English Channel, be a contestant on Fear Factor when they’re having pig brains for lunch, or do fourth grade math than to take my six kids to the grocery store. Because I absolutely detest grocery shopping, I tend to put it off as long as possible. There comes a time, however, when you’re peering into your fridge and thinking, ‘Hmmm, what can I make with ketchup, Italian dressing, and half an onion,’ that you decide you cannot avoid going to the grocery store any longer. Before beginning this most treacherous mission, I gather all the kids together and give them “The Lecture“.
“The Lecture“ goes like this…
MOM: “We have to go to the grocery store.”
KIDS: “Whine whine whine whine whine.“
MOM: “Hey, I don’t want to go either, but it’s either that or we’re eating cream of onion-ketchup soup and drinking Italian dressing for dinner tonight.”
KIDS: “Whine whine whine whine whine.“
MOM: “Now here are the rules: do not ask me for anything, do not poke the packages of meat in the butcher section, do not test the laws of physics and try to take out the bottom can in the pyramid shaped display, do not play baseball with oranges in the produce section, and most importantly, do not try to leave your brother at the store. Again.”
OK, the kids have been briefed. Time to go.
Once at the store, we grab not one, but two shopping carts. I wear the baby in a sling and the two little children sit in the carts while I push one cart and my oldest son pushes the other one. My oldest daughter is not allowed to push a cart. Ever. Why? Because the last time I let her push the cart, she smashed into my ankles so many times, my feet had to be amputated by the end of our shopping trip. This is not a good thing. You try running after a toddler with no feet sometime.
At this point, a woman looks at our two carts and asks me, “Are they all yours?” I answer good naturedly, “Yep!
“Oh my, you have your hands full.”
“Yes, I do, but it‘s fun!” I say smiling. I’ve heard all this before. In fact, I hear it every time I go anywhere with my brood.
We begin in the produce section where all these wonderfully, artistically arranged pyramids of fruit stand. There is something so irresistibly appealing about the apple on the bottom of the pile, that a child cannot help but try to touch it. Much like a bug to a zapper, the child is drawn to this piece of fruit. I turn around to the sounds of apples cascading down the display and onto the floor. Like Indiana Jones, there stands my son holding the all-consuming treasure that he just HAD to get and gazing at me with this dumbfounded look as if to say, “Did you see that??? Wow! I never thought that would happen!”
I give the offending child an exasperated sigh and say, “Didn’t I tell you, before we left, that I didn’t want you taking stuff from the bottom of the pile???”
“No. You said that you didn’t want us to take a can from the bottom of the pile. You didn’t say anything about apples.”
With superhuman effort, I resist the urge to send my child to the moon and instead focus on the positive - my child actually listened to me and remembered what I said!!! I make a mental note to be a little more specific the next time I give the kids The Grocery Store Lecture.
A little old man looks at all of us and says, “Are all of those your kids?”
Thinking about the apple incident, I reply, “Nope. They just started following me. I’ve never seen them before in my life.”
OK, now onto the bakery section where everything smells so good, I’m tempted to fill my cart with cookies and call it a day. Being on a perpetual diet, I try to hurry past the assortment of pies, cakes, breads, and pastries that have my children drooling. At this point the chorus of “Can we gets” begins.
“Can we get donuts?”
“No.”
“Can we get cupcakes?”
“No.”
“Can we get muffins?”
“No.”
“Can we get pie?”
“No.”
You’d think they’d catch on by this point, but no, they’re just getting started.
In the bakery, they’re giving away free samples of coffee cake and of course, my kids all take one. The toddler decides he doesn’t like it and proceeds to spit it out in my hand. (That’s what moms do. We put our hands in front of our children’s mouths so they can spit stuff into them. We’d rather carry around a handful of chewed up coffee cake, than to have the child spit it out onto the floor. I’m not sure why this is, but ask any mom and she’ll tell you the same.) Of course, there’s no garbage can around, so I continue shopping one-handed while searching for someplace to dispose of the regurgitated mess in my hand.
In the meat department, a mother with one small baby asks me, “Wow! Are all six yours?”
I answer her, “Yes, but I’m thinking of selling a couple of them.”
(Still searching for a garbage can at this point.)
Ok, after the meat department, my kids’ attention spans are spent. They’re done shopping at this point, but we aren’t even halfway through the store. This is about the time they like to start having shopping cart races. And who may I thank for teaching them this fun pastime? My seventh “child”, also known as my husband. While I’m picking out loaves of bread, the kids are running down the aisle behind the carts in an effort to get us kicked out of the store. I put to stop to that just as my son is about to crash head on into a giant cardboard cut-out of a Keebler elf stacked with packages of cookies.
Ah! Yes! I find a small trash can by the coffee machine in the cereal aisle and finally dump out the squishy contents of my hand. After standing in the cereal aisle for an hour and a half while the kids perused the various cereals, comparing the marshmallow and cheap, plastic toy content of each box, I broke down and let them each pick out a box. At any given time, we have twenty open boxes of cereal in my house.
As this is going on, my toddler is playing Houdini and maneuvering his little body out of the seat belt in an attempt to stand up in the cart. I’m amazed the kid made it to his second birthday without suffering a brain damaging head injury. In between trying to flip himself out of the cart, he sucks on the metal bars of the shopping cart. Mmmm, can you say “influenza”?
The shopping trip continues much like this. I break up fights between the kids now and then and stoop down to pick up items that the toddler has flung out of the cart. I desperately try to get everything on my list without adding too many other goodies to the carts.
Somehow I manage to complete my shopping in under four hours and head for the check-outs where my kids start in on a chorus of, “Can we have candy?” What evil minded person decided it would be a good idea to put a display of candy in the check-out lanes, right at a child’s eye level? Obviously someone who has never been shopping with children.
As I unload the carts, I notice many extra items that my kids have sneaked in the carts unbeknownst to me. I remove a box of Twinkies, a package of cupcakes, a bag of candy, and a can of cat food (we don’t even have a cat!). I somehow missed the box of Pokemon cards however and ended up purchasing them unbeknownst to me. As I pay for my purchases, the clerk looks at me, indicates my kids, and asks, “Are they all yours?”
Frustrated, exhausted from my trip, sick to my stomach from writing out a check for $289.53, dreading unloading all the groceries and putting them away and tired of hearing that question, I look at the clerk and answer her in my most sarcastic voice, “No. They’re not mine. I just go around the neighborhood gathering up kids to take to the grocery store because it’s so much more fun that way.”
So, up for auction is an opened (they ripped open the box on the way home from the store) package of Pokemon cards. There are 44 cards total. They're in perfect condition, as I took them away from the kiddos as soon as we got home from the store. Many of them say "Energy". I tried carrying them around with me, but they didn't work. I definitely didn't have any more energy than usual. One of them is shiny. There are a few creature-like things on many of them. One is called Pupitar. Hee hee hee Pupitar! (Oh no! My kids' sense of humor is rubbing off on me!) Anyway, I don't there's anything special about any of these cards, but I'm very much not an authority on Pokemon cards. I just know that I'm not letting my kids keep these as a reward for their sneakiness.
Shipping is FREE on this item. Insurance is optional, but once I drop the package at the post office, it is no longer my responsibility. For example, if my son decides to pour a bottle of glue into the envelope, or my daughter spills a glass of juice on the package, that’s my responsibility and I will fully refund your money. If, however, I take the envelope to the post office and a disgruntled mail carrier sets fire to it, a pack of wild dogs rip into it, or a mail sorting machine shreds it, it’s out of my hands, so you may want to add insurance. I will leave feedback for you as soon as I’ve received your payment. I will be happy to combine shipping on multiple items won within three days. This comes from a smoke-free, pet-free, child-filled home. Please ask me any questions before placing your bid. Happy bidding! :)
</blockquote>
When Math and Knitting collide2007-09-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/09/12/when-math-and-knitting-collide<br />Now with Bad Math Jokes!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kleinbottle.com/klein_bottle_hats.htm">Klein Bottle Hats and Scarves</a>
Weird Interview/Article format2007-09-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/09/12/weird-interviewarticle-format<br />Bruce Sterling calls this "One of the Best William Gibson Interviews Ever"<br /><br />It's probably because it's more of a "Feature" more than an interview. There are a few questions the author asks, but more are asked by an almost "deus ex machina" appearance of Sterling himself, asking the interviewer to ask the subject poignant questions.<br /><br /><blockquote>
He used to hang out in West Coast junk shops, cool-hunting. Not so much now. "Is <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/eBay+Inc.?tid=informline" target="">eBay</a> a much scarier thing than a pawnshop?" asks <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Bruce+Sterling?tid=informline" target="">Bruce Sterling</a> in an e-mail.<br /></blockquote><br /><a href="http://blog.wired.com/sterling/2007/09/this-is-one-of-.html">Beyond the Beyond - Wired Blogs</a>
Synchronicity2007-09-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/09/12/synchronicityI was just looking at my <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20020523190728/http://www.folkwolf.net/">first post ever</a> to my blog (scroll to the bottom), and noticed it was actually a copy of a v. good rant on slashdot.<br /><br />Now I'll post another good /. rant<br /><br /><a href="http://ask.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=286207&cid=20442145">Why Are So Many Nerds Libertarians?</a>
Well miss you.2007-09-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/09/11/well-miss-you<br />Her books made my teenage years not so bad. Probably one of the most sensitive writers ever. <br /><br />Dig up her stuff if you can<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/books/07cnd-lengle.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin">Madeleine L’Engle, Writer of Children’s Classics, Is Dead at 88 - New York Times</a> <br /> <blockquote>children’s literature is literature too difficult for adults to understand</blockquote>
GIGO2007-08-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/08/17/gigoIn computer programming terms, there's a very old one, called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garbage_In,_Garbage_Out">GIGO</a>, or "Garbage In, Garbage Out. In human terms, it's equivalent is: You get out of something what you put into it. <br /><br />In this column: <a href="http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=ffc24ebc-e654-4d4c-8e32-7482412337e5">Daniel Drolet • Lonely connectedness</a> writes:<br /><br /> <blockquote><p> I don't know about you, but I find myself increasingly lonely these days.</p><p>Now, I've said "lonely," but I don't think that's quite the right word. In fact, I don't know that a word has been invented yet that adequately describes the way I'm feeling.</p><p>You see, I find that while I have plenty of contact with plenty of people, much of it is virtual - via e-mail, text messaging or Internet-dependent platforms such as Facebook. So while I am always connected, I am - in very important ways - disconnected and, for lack of a better word, lonely.<br /></p><p>My Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines lonely as "solitary, isolated, without companions."</p><p>By that definition, I am not lonely.</p><p>I share my life with a partner, I have regular contact with family and friends, I have a social life and participate in a number of outside activities. Even though I am self-employed, I do not work at home. Instead, I share office space with three other self-employed people. And because I usually walk to work, I always bump into people I know. I do not lead a solitary existence.</p><p>But the way I interact with people has changed. It's speeded up and it's increasingly done through the Internet.</p><p>For example, because my computer is always on, I find that when something crosses my mind it's easy just to send an e-mail. It might be a query to my partner about a social event on our calendar, or a quick note to my mother to let her know I'm back from a holiday. I like having a collection of Facebook friends, too, and enjoy keeping them updated and reading about their exploits.<br /></p><p><br /></p></blockquote>This is a common trap. I find myself falling into it all the time. You get spread so thin, that any interactions you have online are brief, easy "Post and Go". You're not really engaging with people, you're just reciting a soliloquy. You find your passion fading away. When this happens to me, I tell myself, "You only get out of something what you put into it", and I go back to trying to engage, and remind myself of all the fascinating people out there, and go seek them out and engage with them. Daniel Drolet on the other hand, writes a column, and blames the medium<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><p>I can't argue with the ease and speed of communication the Internet brings. But I am increasingly convinced that it is the Internet itself, the time we spend on it, that keeps us from connecting properly to real live people.</p><p>I stress the word "properly."</p><p>That's because there's more to being connected than the ability to communicate via e-mail, Facebook, a text message or a new video on YouTube. Internet connections are quick, efficient for communicating information, but in the end they are superficial. What's missing to make the communication "proper" (and ultimately satisfying) is the added dimension that dealing with real live people brings.<br /></p></blockquote>After saying how convenient it is to keep in touch with people online, he then blames the internet itself for his loneliness, and his lack of connection, not deeming it "proper"<br /><br />
Todays lesson in rhetoric: "False Dichotomy"2007-08-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/08/14/todays-lesson-in-rhetoric-false-dichotomyFrom today's <a href="http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=55473ea1-5633-4559-923e-56f95f05c521">Citizen Editorial</a><br /><blockquote><p>Some<br />of Mr. Ignatieff's mea culpa is insightful. He wisely notes that many<br />of those who predicted disaster in Iraq - the ones crowing now - did so<br />not out of judgment but out of ideology. For them, it was about the<br />appetite for oil and other impulses of the American Empire. Or, as he<br />puts it more bluntly, the idea "that America is always and in every<br />situation wrong."</p><p>Put differently, many were right on Iraq for<br />the wrong reasons. There were others in this camp, as well, such as<br />those who do not believe that anything is ever worth fighting for. This<br />would be the view of many New Democrats, who want Canada to leave<br />Afghanistan and avoid anywhere else Canadians may be in harm's way.<br />They believe only in peacekeeping.</p></blockquote>In Andrew Cohen's World, you were either:<br /><br />1. For the war, for the right reasons.<br /><br />2. Against the war, for the wrong reasons.<br /><br /><br />This is a great rhetorical device, as it entirely ignores the people who were against the war for the right reasons.<br /><br />Many people, inside the US and outside, were against the war for the right reasons. There were no WMD, Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11, and overthrowing a stable, if corrupt and tyrannical country in such a reason was far more likely to destabilize the region than bring it any stability.<br /><br />In his essay, which, admittedly, I've only read excerpts of, he says: "I went to northern Iraq in 1992. I saw what Saddam Hussein did to the<br />Kurds. From that moment forward, I believed he had to go."<br /><br />This was his over-riding reason for going to war. So, to paraphrase, Ignatieff believed that "the ends justified the means". It didn't matter what people were making up to get Saddam out. Whatever it was would satisfy Ignatieff as long as Saddam was booted. <br /><br />This shows such a lack of respect for the opinions of ordinary people, that Ignatieff was perfectly willing to go along with whatever reasons the Bush White House made up that day to achieve the end he desired. No matter that it cost thousands of American lives, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives. The Butcher of Baghdad was gone, and that was all that mattered to Ignatieff. <br /><br />I also feel insulted by this column. I have nothing against war in particular, and believe in<br />fighting when necessary, and actually like America. Don't get me wrong, the Bush White<br />House is despicable, and Congressmen like Tancredo and Brownback bring<br />shame to the wonderful institution of the US Congress. But... America<br />is still one of the most vital, independent-minded, crazy places in the<br />entire world. I love it there, and there are many Americans I respect<br />and admire. <br /><br />But according to Mr. Cohen, the only reason I could have for being opposed to the war was either Anti-Americanism, or some weird lefty pacifism. <br /><br />Never mind my ideological disdain for the disastrous concept of "Preventive Aggression." The Iraq war, with it's faulty intelligence, has hopefully put that notion to bed. <br /><br />Or the ridiculous concept that the Saddam regime, a mainly secular, Arabist regime, was supporting Al-Qaeda, a fundamentalist Islam political movement, calling for a Global Caliphate run by Mullahs. <br /><br />Never mind that the intelligence for WMDs came down to, as Paul Wolfowitz said in an interview, "he must have them, or he wouldn't be hiding anything"<br /><br />Nope. I'm a pacifist, lefty NDP hippie.<br />
Todays lesson in rhetoric: "False Dichotomy"2007-08-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/08/14/todays-lesson-in-rhetoric--false-dichotomyFrom today's <a href="http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=55473ea1-5633-4559-923e-56f95f05c521">Citizen Editorial</a><br /><blockquote><p>Some
of Mr. Ignatieff's mea culpa is insightful. He wisely notes that many
of those who predicted disaster in Iraq - the ones crowing now - did so
not out of judgment but out of ideology. For them, it was about the
appetite for oil and other impulses of the American Empire. Or, as he
puts it more bluntly, the idea "that America is always and in every
situation wrong."</p><p>Put differently, many were right on Iraq for
the wrong reasons. There were others in this camp, as well, such as
those who do not believe that anything is ever worth fighting for. This
would be the view of many New Democrats, who want Canada to leave
Afghanistan and avoid anywhere else Canadians may be in harm's way.
They believe only in peacekeeping.</p></blockquote>In Andrew Cohen's World, you were either:<br />
1. For the war, for the right reasons.<br />
2. Against the war, for the wrong reasons.<br />
<br />This is a great rhetorical device, as it entirely ignores the people who were against the war for the right reasons.<br /><br />Many people, inside the US and outside, were against the war for the right reasons. There were no WMD, Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11, and overthrowing a stable, if corrupt and tyrannical country in such a reason was far more likely to destabilize the region than bring it any stability.<br /><br />In his essay, which, admittedly, I've only read excerpts of, he says: "I went to northern Iraq in 1992. I saw what Saddam Hussein did to the
Kurds. From that moment forward, I believed he had to go."<br /><br />This was his over-riding reason for going to war. So, to paraphrase, Iggy believed that "the ends justified the means". It didn't matter what people were making up to get Saddam out. Whatever it was would satisfy Iggy as long as Saddam was booted. <br /><br />This shows such a lack of respect for the opinions of ordinary people, that Ignatieff was perfectly willing to go along with whatever reasons the Bush White House made up that day to achieve the end he desired. No matter that it cost thousands of American lives, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives. The Butcher of Baghdad was gone, and that was all that mattered to Ignatieff. <br /><br />I also feel insulted by this column. I have nothing against war in particular, and believe in
fighting when necessary, and actually like America. Don't get me wrong, the Bush White
House is despicable, and Congressmen like Tancredo and Brownback bring
shame to the wonderful institution of the US Congress. But... America
is still one of the most vital, independent-minded, crazy places in the
entire world. I love it there, and there are many Americans I respect
and admire. <br /><br />But according to Mr. Cohen, the only reason I could have for being opposed to the war was either Anti-Americanism, or some weird lefty pacifism. <br /><br />Never mind my ideological disdain for the disastrous concept of "Preventive Aggression." The Iraq war, with it's faulty intelligence, has hopefully put that notion to bed. <br /><br />Or the ridiculous concept that the Saddam regime, a mainly secular, Arabist regime, was supporting Al-Qaeda, a fundamentalist Islam political movement, calling for a Global Caliphate run by Mullahs. <br /><br />Never mind that the intelligence for WMDs came down to, as Paul Wolfowitz said in an interview, "he must have them, or he wouldn't be hiding anything"<br /><br />Nope. I'm a pacifist, lefty NDP hippie.<br />
Matt gets mad at environmental stupidity again2007-08-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/08/09/matt-gets-mad-at-environmental-stupidity-again<br />In the second installment in what seems like it could be <a href="http://http://blog.folkwolf.net/articles/2007/07/11/snowbird-this">an ongoing series</a>, I found this.<br /><br />WTF? A bylaw against <u><b>not</b></u> watering your lawn? Fucking Utah.<br /><br />Actually, I kinda like Utah. Half the state super-mountainy, half the state super-flat. It's got it all, scenery wise.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ksl.com/?sid=1444771&nid=148">ksl.com - Woman Arrested for Not Watering Lawn</a> <br /> <blockquote>A widow and grandma spent the morning in jail, arrested for refusing to give a policeman her name when he tried writing her a ticket for failing to water her yard. The woman hasn't watered her lawn in more than a year, and the condition of her yard violates an Orem zoning ordinance.</blockquote>
Thank you NYT.2007-07-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/07/11/thank-you-nyt<br />This Editorial in the NYT plainly puts the case for getting the fuck out of Iraq now. It manages to be both succinct, very convincing, and bring up argument after argument hammering the point home that the Bush Administration has fucked. up. big, and fixing it is going to be even harder than the original invasion.<br /><br />It's probably going to go behind a pay wall at some point, so I'll put the most interesting excerpts here.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/opinion/08sun1.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin">The Road Home - New York Times</a> <br /> <blockquote>It is time for the United States to leave Iraq, without any more delay than the Pentagon needs to organize an orderly exit.<br /></blockquote><blockquote>Like many Americans, we have put off that conclusion, waiting for a<br />sign that President Bush was seriously trying to dig the United States<br />out of the disaster he created by invading Iraq without sufficient<br />cause, in the face of global opposition, and without a plan to<br />stabilize the country afterward.<br /><br /><p>At first, we believed that after destroying Iraq’s government, army,<br />police and economic structures, the United States was obliged to try to<br />accomplish some of the goals Mr. Bush claimed to be pursuing, chiefly<br />building a stable, unified Iraq. When it became clear that the<br />president had neither the vision nor the means to do that, we argued<br />against setting a withdrawal date while there was still some chance to<br />mitigate the chaos that would most likely follow.</p><p>While Mr. Bush<br />scorns deadlines, he kept promising breakthroughs — after elections,<br />after a constitution, after sending in thousands more troops. But those<br />milestones came and went without any progress toward a stable,<br />democratic Iraq or a path for withdrawal. It is frighteningly clear<br />that Mr. Bush’s plan is to stay the course as long as he is president<br />and dump the mess on his successor. Whatever his cause was, it is lost.<br /></p><p>Continuing to sacrifice the lives and limbs of American soldiers is<br />wrong. The war is sapping the strength of the nation’s alliances and<br />its military forces. It is a dangerous diversion from the<br />life-and-death struggle against terrorists. It is an increasing burden<br />on American taxpayers, and it is a betrayal of a world that needs the<br />wise application of American power and principles.</p><br /><p>That conversation must be candid and focused. Americans must be<br />clear that Iraq, and the region around it, could be even bloodier and<br />more chaotic after Americans leave. There could be reprisals against<br />those who worked with American forces, further ethnic cleansing, even<br />genocide. Potentially destabilizing refugee flows could hit Jordan and<br />Syria. Iran and Turkey could be tempted to make power grabs. Perhaps<br />most important, the invasion has created a new stronghold from which<br />terrorist activity could proliferate.</p><p>The administration, the<br />Democratic-controlled Congress, the United Nations and America’s allies<br />must try to mitigate those outcomes — and they may fail. But Americans<br />must be equally honest about the fact that keeping troops in Iraq will<br />only make things worse. The nation needs a serious discussion, now,<br />about how to accomplish a withdrawal and meet some of the big<br />challenges that will arise.</p></blockquote><blockquote>Despite President Bush’s repeated claims, Al Qaeda had no significant<br />foothold in Iraq before the invasion, which gave it new base camps, new<br />recruits and new prestige. <br /><p>This war diverted Pentagon resources from Afghanistan, where the<br />military had a real chance to hunt down Al Qaeda’s leaders. It<br />alienated essential allies in the war against terrorism. It drained the<br />strength and readiness of American troops. </p> <p>And it created a new front where the United States will have to continue to battle terrorist forces<br /></p><p>One of Mr. Bush’s arguments against withdrawal is that it would lead to<br />civil war. That war is raging, right now, and it may take years to burn<br />out. Iraq may fragment into separate Kurdish, Sunni and Shiite<br />republics, and American troops are not going to stop that from<br />happening.<br /></p><p>The United States military cannot solve the problem. Congress and<br />the White House must lead an international attempt at a negotiated<br />outcome. To start, Washington must turn to the United Nations, which<br />Mr. Bush spurned and ridiculed as a preface to war.<br /></p><p>Washington also has to mend fences with allies. There are new<br />governments in Britain, France and Germany that did not participate in<br />the fight over starting this war and are eager to get beyond it. But<br />that will still require a measure of humility and a commitment to<br />multilateral action that this administration has never shown.<br /></p><p>President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have used demagoguery<br />and fear to quell Americans’ demands for an end to this war. They say<br />withdrawing will create bloodshed and chaos and encourage terrorists.<br />Actually, all of that has already happened — the result of this<br />unnecessary invasion and the incompetent management of this war.</p><p>This<br />country faces a choice. We can go on allowing Mr. Bush to drag out this<br />war without end or purpose. Or we can insist that American troops are<br />withdrawn as quickly and safely as we can manage — with as much effort<br />as possible to stop the chaos from spreading. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span class="bold"><br /></span></p><br /><br /></blockquote>
Snowbird this!2007-07-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/07/11/snowbird-thisI don't fucking believe it. Anne Fucking Murray doesn't want a wind farm, why?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=29ddb9b3-8b06-42d2-9de4-ef2c358206c9&k=87383">Murray says Nova Scotia wind farm hits wrong note in cottage country</a> <br /> <blockquote>“They are imposing structures and not the sort of thing one would wants to see from a golf course,” Murray wrote Tuesday in a commentary published in a Halifax newspaper.<br /></blockquote>'cause it'll spoil the view from her fucking Golf Course?!<br /><br /><br />
Paging Shawn Hill!2007-07-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/07/11/paging-shawn-hill<img src="/files/angel.jpg"><br /><a href="http://musicthing.blogspot.com/2007/06/ebay-of-day-awesome-sword-guitar-with.html">Music thing: eBay of the day: Awesome sword guitar with wings</a><br /><br />
I love fake Steve Jobs.2007-07-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/07/06/i-love-fake-steve-jobs<br />He actually really pins the nail on the head with this one<br /><br /><a href="http://fakesteve.blogspot.com/2007/07/music-industry-nobs-have-finally.html">The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs: The music industry nobs have finally figured out what we're doing</a><br /><br /><blockquote>Here's the thing. These guys could have done what we did. In the early</br>
days of the Internet, everyone figured the majors would build digital</br>
distribution arms. But they didn't do it, because they didn't</br>
understand technology, and they didn't want to invest in building this</br>
expertise, and they were freaked out about piracy and paralyzed with</br>
fear. So we stepped in. We made the big investment. We hired</br>
programmers. We developed software that's easy to use and works</br>
flawlessly. (If you think that's trivial, think again. It's huge.) We</br>
ran the system. We promoted it, we marketed it, we haggled with all the</br>
majors and struck deals. We took all the risk, which was considerable.</br>
Now we're reaping the reward. And the majors want a bigger slice. Um,</br>
for what? We did all the work. Ain't gonna happen, slick.</blockquote></br>
</br>
Gratuitously ripped from the comments 'cause it amused me:</br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
Q: Have you heard the one about the lo-fi indie musician?<br></br>
</br>
A: I have that joke at home on vinyl.</br>
</blockquote></br>
Matt Needs2007-06-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/06/22/matt-needsSomebody said on the WeLL said. Hey, instead of asking a magic 8 ball, kids today ask google what they need, and they type "Name Needs" into google, in quotes.<br /><br />So I did.<br /><br />Disturbing...<br /><br />Matt needs prayers, and help and maybe just a balloon, a rainbow or a little fairy dust now and then<br />Matt needs to have his bottom bared and a paddling needs to be administered.<br />Matt needs someone to bend him over and give him 20 paddles in his shorts<br />matt needs a xbox 360.<br />mAtt NEEDS to be punched in the face<br />Matt Needs Money.<br />Matt needs to date a midget or something next<br />Matt needs to perform his own sex change<br />Matt needs people to jam with!<br />"Matt Needs" to not play every little blog meme that comes along<br /><br /><br />The disturbing part is, every one of those is true. at least if you ask me.<br /><br /><br /><br />
Amazing Safari Footage2007-06-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/06/16/amazing-safari-footageIt sounds like it was shot in South Africa. Anytime you hear the tour guide say, "Whoa! I've never seen anything like that before" It's pretty astounding</br>
</br>
<a href="http://www.clipaday.com/videos/amateur-safari-footage">http://www.clipaday.com/videos/amateur-safari-footage</a></br>
</br>
<div align="center"><span id="amateur-safari-footage"></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://clipaday.com/ufo.js"></script><script type="text/javascript"> var FO_297 = {movie:"http://clipaday.com/flvplayer.swf",width:"425",height:"350",majorversion:"7",build:"0",bgcolor:"#FFFFFF",allowfullscreen:"true",flashvars:"file=http://media1.clipaday.com/embed/m_videos/amateur_safari_8jh4.flv.flv&image=http://media1.clipaday.com/embed/m_videos/thumbs/amateur_safari_8jh4.jpg&lightcolor=0xF6C230&backcolor=0x000000&frontcolor=0xCCCCCC&logo=http://clipaday.com/images/playerlogo.png&link=http://clipaday.com" };UFO.create(FO_297,"amateur-safari-footage");</script></div>
Swiffer != environmental disaster?2007-06-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/06/15/swiffer--environmental-disasterI always thought of Swiffer mops as the ultimate in wasteful, environmentally harmful products. This interview witth the designer has me questioning some of my earlier assumptions. Water and detergents also have an environmental impact, too.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/06/09/swiffer-sustainability-the-swiffer-designer-speaks-up">Inhabitat » SWIFFER SUSTAINABILITY: The swiffer designer speaks up</a> <br /> <blockquote>Gianfranco: The development of the Swiffer was the result of our analysis of what average American households actually do to clean their floors. We discovered—by doing a lot of research and observation in people’s homes—that, on the average, kitchen floors are washed once a week and that it requires a lot of hot water and detergent for washing and then more hot water for rinsing. We further realized—just by watching a lot of people mop their floors—that people spend more time cleaning the mop than cleaning the floor.</blockquote>
Yay Canada, Yay Joey, Yay Craig2007-06-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/06/13/yay-canada-yay-joey-yay-craig<br />Joey Devilla is an all-around great guy. If this doesn't prove it, nothing does<br /><br /><a href="http://joeydevilla.com/2007/06/11/a-craigslist-wedding/">» A Craigslist Wedding » The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the 21st Century</a>
Frequently Asked Questions to an anarcho-punk collectivist rock band.2007-06-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/06/13/frequently-asked-questions-to-an-anarcho-punk-colle<br /><br /><strong><br /></strong><a href="http://www.chumba.com/FAQ5.html"></a><br /><a href="http://www.chumba.com/FAQ5.html">FAQs/EMI</a> <br /> <blockquote>I had this fantasy in my head where I join an indie label and become a really big punk rocker who's highly respected like, say, Crass. Then I sell out and go to a major label but I hold on to my principles. My band hits it big and I become the Kurt Cobain of anarcho-punk. Then my band sticks it to the Man by teaching people about anarchist principles then I get murdered by a Christian fundamentalist. I never actually believed it could work, but then I found out that Chumbawamba did exactly that! My questions are: 1) Would you recommend other anarchists, who are adamant in thier convictions and cannot be swayed by money, to do what you did? 2) Is that even plausible? 3) Do you like Nirvana? 4) Is it pointless to spread Anarchism that way?<br /></blockquote><br /><br />There's also this:<br /><blockquote>Repeat the mantra, "Music is a business, not an art." If the kids pick
up on something that isn't manufactured... either strangle it at birth
or create a hundred manufactured imitations with all the style but none
of the content. Kids are being taught that rocknroll/pop is a career,
not an artistic and creative labour of love. 99% of them will fail and
end up in crap jobs and on anti-depressants. The bosses and producers
will continue to get richer.<br /></blockquote>
Talk about trust2007-06-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/06/06/talk-about-trust<br /><br /><a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/06/05/graying_duo_keep_passenger_in_check/">Graying duo keep passenger in check - The Boston Globe</a> <br /> <blockquote>Hayden's wife of 42 years, Katie, who was also on the flight, was less impressed. Even as her husband struggled with the agitated passenger, she barely looked up from "The Richest Man in Babylon," the book she was reading.
"The woman sitting in front of us was very upset and asked me how I could just sit there reading," Katie Hayden said. "Bob's been shot at. He's been stabbed. He's taken knives away. He knows how to handle those situations. I figured he would go up there and step on somebody's neck, and that would be the end of it. I knew how that situation would end. I didn't know how the book would end."</blockquote>
Poutine in the NYT2007-05-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/05/24/poutine-in-the-nyt<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/dining/23pout.html?_r=1&ref=dining&oref=slogin">A Staple From Quebec, Embarrassing but Adored - New York Times</a> <br /> <blockquote>Siobhan O’Connor, a journalist who moved to New York from Montreal five years ago, has a different view. “The only people who don’t like poutine are people on a diet,” she said. “It’s the first thing you want when you go back, a real late-night post-drinking thing.”</blockquote>
Must have for Burning Man2007-05-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/05/24/must-have-for-burning-man<br /><p><font color="#0000ff" face="Balloon XBd BT" size="4"><img src="http://www.americanspeedster.com/sk21.JPG" align="right" border="8" height="330" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="440" /></font></p>
<p><br /></p><br /><br /><a href="http://www.americanspeedster.com/side-kick.htm">The side kick is a two passenger four wheel bike with six speeds, that can support the addition of an electric or gas engine.</a>
WTG, Al2007-05-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/05/22/wtg-al<br />Al, why are you not President of the USA? Why?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1622015,00.html">Book Excerpt: The Assault on Reason | TIME</a> <br /> <blockquote>At first I thought the exhaustive, nonstop coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial was just an unfortunate excess—an unwelcome departure from the normal good sense and judgment of our television news media. Now we know that it was merely an early example of a new pattern of serial obsessions that periodically take over the airwaves for weeks at a time: the Michael Jackson trial and the Robert Blake trial, the Laci Peterson tragedy and the Chandra Levy tragedy, Britney and KFed, Lindsay and Paris and Nicole.
<br /><br />While American television watchers were collectively devoting 100 million hours of their lives each week to these and other similar stories, our nation was in the process of more quietly making what future historians will certainly describe as a series of catastrophically mistaken decisions on issues of war and peace, the global climate and human survival, freedom and barbarity, justice and fairness. For example, hardly anyone now disagrees that the choice to invade Iraq was a grievous mistake. Yet, incredibly, all of the evidence and arguments necessary to have made the right decision were available at the time and in hindsight are glaringly obvious.</blockquote>
Word2007-05-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/05/13/word<br /><br /><a href="http://diveintomark.org/archives/2007/05/02/silly-season">Silly season [dive into mark]</a> <br /> <blockquote>Reactions? “The web just got richer.” Well, somebody’s getting richer, but I doubt it’s gonna be the web. And did you hear the news? You’ll write it one time, and test it one time (for real this time, we promise). And Microsoft “rebooted the web.” I guess that’s all you can do after freezing up for five years. Hey, look over there, shiny objects! That poster may as well be titled “Fucked 6 Ways From Sunday,” because that’s what you’ll be if you buy into any of this.</blockquote>
For my peeps at work2007-05-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/05/11/for-my-peeps-at-work<img src="http://www.lolcats2.com/full/e3ecattech.jpg" align="middle" />
Dog Spam2007-05-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/05/10/dog-spamI've had a dog for two months and I've already got my 1st dog spam. Yes, spam for dog food, and dog houses, actually it's "Casas por perros" and "alimentos por perros y gatos". I figure it's because of because of <a href="http://www.emergentchaos.com/archives/2007/05/facebook_hangover.html">Facebook</a><br />
Matts obsession with IKEA.2007-05-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/05/07/matts-obsession-with-ikea<br />Sure, they seem like harmless Swedes, but they're apparently nefarious terrorists, intent on gridlock in the Bay Area.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ikeadid429.com/">IKEA Did 4/29</a>
That does it, Im definitely a dog person.2007-04-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/04/23/that-does-it--im-definitely-a-dog-personFound this in my travels.<br /><br /> In 1870, nine years before he became a U.S. Senator, attorney George<br /> Vest (D-MO) defended a farmer whose hunting dog, "Old Drum," had<br /> allegedly been killed by a neighbor. Vest didn�t call anyone to the<br /> witness chair or trot out exhibit A, B, C or D. Instead, he simply<br /> said this...<br /><br /> Gentlemen of the jury:<br /><br /> The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and<br /> become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving<br /> care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us,<br /> those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become<br /> traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It<br /> flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most.<br /><br /> A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered<br /> action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor<br /> when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice<br /> when failure settles its clouds upon our heads. The one absolutely<br /> unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one<br /> that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or<br /> treacherous is his dog.<br /><br /> Gentlemen of the jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and<br /> in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold<br /> ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if<br /> only he may be near his master's side.<br /><br /> He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the<br /> wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the<br /> world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince.<br /> When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and<br /> reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in<br /> its journey through the heavens.<br /><br /> If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world,<br /> friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than<br /> that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his<br /> enemies, and when the last scene of all comes and death takes the<br /> master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no<br /> matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside<br /> will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad<br /> but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death."<br /><br /><br />
Cool Arcade Fire video2007-04-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/04/21/cool-arcade-fire-video<br /><div><object height="250" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/3VQhLmiNQxCHIaRbL"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/3VQhLmiNQxCHIaRbL" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="250" width="425"></object><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1jgpp_41-arcade-fire-neon-bible-wake-up">#41 - Arcade Fire - Neon Bible & Wake Up</a></b><br /><i>Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/lablogotheque">lablogotheque</a></i></div><br /><a href="http://www.blogotheque.net/article.php3?id_article=2868">Blogotheque: Take Away Shows!</a> <br /> <blockquote>Win Butler had to slouch a little to fit into the freight elevator. He went directly to the back, leaned against the iron door, turned around, and taking a look at the grudging space, asked us : « Think we can all go back now ? » Then he smiled a smile that a kid would give, so pure and honest like he had just found his hiding place. in Butler smiled, and five weeks of work seemed to crumble before us.</blockquote>
Im weird.2007-04-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/04/19/im-weirdI came accross this snippet on the WeLL just now, and I'm like "Wow, that's kind of funny, I wonder who wrote that?" Turns out it was me.<br /><br /><blockquote>Topic 19 [yahoo.ind]: Questions for Yahoo! Experts!<br />#24 of 25: shillin' thru my pseud: g opensource.ind (mattrose) Fri Mar 24 '06 (07:33) 4 lines<br /><br /> You're absolutely right, that would violate the holy doctrine of<br /> Transboingification. The process where a post on boingboing<br /> *becomes* truth through the power of boing.<br /></blockquote>I really do like that. I think just because I like the word transboingification<br />
Wiki Gone away2007-04-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/04/18/wiki-gone-awayMy wiki was being used exclusively for linkspamming, so I took it down. An Open Wiki is, unfortunately, something out of the "good old days" of the internets. I'll set up one with authentication if anyone needs it. (Allison, I'm looking at you specifically, as I know you've used it in the past)<br />
funny Onion article2007-04-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/04/17/funny-onion-article<br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/majority_of_parents_abuse_children">Majority Of Parents Abuse Children, Children Report | The Onion - America's Finest News Source</a> <br /> <blockquote>LOS ANGELES—A chilling national poll of U.S. children ages 3 through 12 estimated that nearly 75 million youngsters suffer both physical and psychological abuse at the hands of their parents on a daily basis. Enlarge Image Majority Of Children An abused child awaits her single allotted hour of television per day. The poll, whose findings are part of a 700-page report released Tuesday by a coalition of child abuse monitoring and prevention organizations, indicts nearly 95 percent of American parents. It documents abuses ranging from less severe offenses, such as children being denied snacks just before dinner, to more egregious, long-term cases of neglect, such as never ever getting what they want, ever.<br /></blockquote><br />The funniest part is the end.<br /><br /><blockquote>The National Parents Association declined to comment on the
overwhelming levels of abuse. When asked why they wouldn't comment, the
NPA released a tersely worded statement: "Because we said so."<br /></blockquote><blockquote><br /></blockquote>
As the Kids say2007-04-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/04/17/as-the-kids-sayOMG.<br /><br />I just put the dots together between Hugh Laurie, the tormented angsty doctor of "House", and Hugh Laurie who played the extraordinarily stupid and vain Prince George on "Blackadder the third". He's by far Rowan Atkinson's funniest comic foil. Go out and find it<br /><br />That is all.<br /><br />
Roll Call!2007-04-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/04/16/roll-callI'm kinda curious as to who's reading this. People keep mentioning "I saw such-and-such on your blog" to me at parties. I'm intensely curious as to who's reading. Just leave a comment with your name in it, or more if you feel like it.<br />
13 years later2007-04-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/04/15/13-years-laterWhen I got my first apartment with Einoch, we ended up running a sort of shelter for the little siblings of some of our friends. This is a picture of Jocelyn, Jill, Einoch and I who all ran into each other at Einoch's B-day</br>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?e&pid=295697&subj=871795392"> <img src='/files/lyonst.jpg'></a>
All fear compubeaver!2007-04-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/04/13/all-fear-compubeaver<br />Seriously. Best casemod ever.<br /><br /><a href="http://yourpsychogirlfriend.com/beav/">Compubeaver</a>
Who is this?2007-04-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/04/12/who-is-this<br />This is a fascinating quote. It goes on. I still can't believe who the author is.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bordersstores.com/features/feature.jsp?file=wherehavealltheleadersgone">Borders - Feature - Where Have All the Leaders Gone?</a> <br /> <blockquote>Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, "Stay the course."
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned Titanic. I'll give you a sound bite: Throw the bums out!
You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore. The President of the United States is given a free pass to ignore the Constitution, tap our phones, and lead us to war on a pack of lies. Congress responds to record deficits by passing a huge tax cut for the wealthy (thanks, but I don't need it). The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq, the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving pom-poms instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of America my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?</blockquote>
this cracked me up2007-04-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/04/04/this-cracked-me-up<br /><br /><a href="http://www.macalope.com/2007/04/03/waaaaaah/">The Macalope » Blog Archive » Waaaaaah!</a> <br /> <blockquote>Why not give Ryan Block a pony?! <i>Because he’d only bitch that he wanted a bigger, shinier pony.</i></blockquote>
Reminds me of a joke2007-03-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/30/reminds-me-of-a-joke<br />Q: How many U2 members does it take to screw in a lightbulb?<br /><br />A: One. Bono holds the lightbulb motionless, and the world revolves around him.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-People-Bono.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">Bono Becomes Knight of the British Empire - New York Times</a> <br /> <blockquote>"You have permission to call me anything you want -- except sir, all right? Lord of lords, your demigodness, that'll do," he told reporters afterward.<br />Because he is an Irish citizen, Bono won't have the title of "sir" before his name. <br /><br />[...]<br /><p>Reddaway paid tribute to Bono's work as a campaigner against poverty
and disease in Africa -- but first asked whether he was disappointed
that becoming a knight no longer involves a sword or kneeling. </p><p>"Please, I wasn't expecting you to kneel," said Bono, his hand on the ambassador's shoulder. </p><br /></blockquote>
Just do it2007-03-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/26/just-do-itA great essay, as a response to this question:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/mwt/col/tenn/2007/03/26/i_want_to_be_a_musician/index.html?source=newsletter">I'm dying to be a musician | Salon Life</a> <br /> <blockquote>I want to be a musician but I am afraid that I don't have it in me. I want to play an instrument and sing and create music and perform it. I don't really care about fame. I want to admire myself for being a more realized person, and I want to enjoy the company of artists, and until I am one I would be nothing but a fake, or worse yet, labeled a groupie.</blockquote>The columnists response. (among many other things)<br /><blockquote>To play an instrument you need an instrument and you need hands. You
put your hands on the instrument and make sounds come out. You listen
to the sounds and make more of the sounds you like and less of the
sounds you don't like. You let it speak.<br /></blockquote><br />
Yahoo pipes2007-03-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/18/yahoo-pipesSome stuff from O'Reilly about Yahoo Pipes<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2007/02/yahoo_pipes_dec.html">O'Reilly Radar > Yahoo! Pipes: Deconstructing a Pipe</a><br /><a href="http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2007/02/yahoo_pipes_the_1.html">O'Reilly Radar > Yahoo! Pipes: The Modules For Building Pipes</a><br /><a href="http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2007/02/pipes_and_filte.html">O'Reilly Radar > Pipes and Filters for the Internet</a><br /><a href="http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2007/02/yahoo_pipes_som.html">O'Reilly Radar > Yahoo! Pipes: Some Tips</a>
Facebook2007-03-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/16/facebookYou know, I've signed up for a whole bunch of "Social Networking" groups. and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/p/Matt_Rose/871795392">Facebook</a> is I think the best one by far. It's spreading around work like wildfire, at any rate. If you're on it, add me as a friend.<br />
Colins way lazier, and smarter than I am2007-03-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/15/colins-way-lazier-and-smarter-than-i-amHe put up an <a href="http://feed43.com/davidsheldrickwildlifetrust.xml">rss feed</a> for the <a href="http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/index.asp">David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust</a>. A great non-profit organization in Nairobi Kenya that takes in orphaned elephants, raises them, and re-introduces them to the wild successfully. They're the only organization that is able to do so, AFAIK. Go give them money if you can
Curling from a Yankee perspective.2007-03-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/14/curling-from-a-yankee-perspective<br />I love Curling. It's like chess, but with physical skill and mental toughness. You have to think three or four rocks ahead, but there's no telling what your opponent will do, or if you will make all the shots that you have in mind. <br /><br /><a href="http://salon.com/news/sports/col/kaufman/2002/04/19/curl/index.html">Salon.com News | Everybody must get stoned</a>
Crazier than Liz and I?2007-03-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/14/crazier-than-liz-and-i<br />I know what you're thinking, is such a thing possible?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.barrystiefel.com/">Barry Stiefel</a> is nuts. He did <a href="http://www.barrystiefel.com/50_states_in_a_weeks_vacation/50_states_in_a_weeks_vacation.htm">50 States In A Week's Vacation</a> and <a href="http://www.barrystiefel.com/21_states_in_one_day/21_states_in_one_day.htm">21 States in One Day.</a><br /><br />Averaging around 1,000 miles a day for 8 days. Nuts.<br /><br />Liz and I do about 1,000 miles a day for 2 days. That's hard. Basically, hotel rooms and McDonalds are luxuries. This guy brought MRE's to save time.<br /><a href="http://salon.com/news/sports/col/kaufman/2002/04/19/curl/index.html"><br /></a>
Ahh, to be in security showbiz2007-03-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/14/ahh-to-be-in-security-showbiz<br /><br /><a href="http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/detail?articleId=10624">Inside Job: My Life as an Airport Screener : Condé Nast Traveler on Concierge.com</a> <br /> <blockquote>Last fall, Condé Nast Traveler aviation correspondent Barbara S. Peterson applied to work as a Transportation Security Administration screener. Her mission: to investigate reports that despite a five-year, $20 billion overhaul of the passenger screening system, checkpoint personnel are failing at the job. Being hired was only her first surprise. Peterson's two months at the airport revealed how this overtaxed but dedicated workforce copes with equipment shortages, budget cuts, and record numbers of (not very pleasant) passengers. Here is an unprecedented look at the reality of America's last line of defense</blockquote>
The new generation gap2007-03-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/11/the-new-generation-gap<br />Kids these days!<br /><br /><a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/27341/">Kids, the Internet, and the End of Privacy: The Greatest Generation Gap Since Rock and Roll -- New York Magazine</a> <br /> <blockquote>It’s been a long time since there was a true generation gap, perhaps 50 years—you have to go back to the early years of rock and roll, when old people still talked about “jungle rhythms.” Everything associated with that music and its greasy, shaggy culture felt baffling and divisive, from the crude slang to the dirty thoughts it was rumored to trigger in little girls. That musical divide has all but disappeared. But in the past ten years, a new set of values has sneaked in to take its place, erecting another barrier between young and old. And as it did in the fifties, the older generation has responded with a disgusted, dismissive squawk.</blockquote>
The Black Rock Desert2007-03-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/11/the-black-rock-desert<br />I love this little corner of the world.<br /><br />Panoramas at Black Rock Station<br /><br /><a href="http://rawfire.torche.com/%7Esquat/ghostdancer.com/burningman_pages/bm_index_images/nv_props_index.htm">nv_props</a>
Science Scouts!2007-03-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/11/science-scouts<br /><br /><a href="http://scq.ubc.ca/sciencescouts/">ORDER OF THE SCIENCE SCOUTS OF EXEMPLARY REPUTE AND ABOVE AVERAGE PHYSIQUE</a> <br /> <blockquote>The "destroyer of quackery" badge.
In which the recipient never ever backs down from an argument that pits sound science over quackery.
(http://scq.ubc.ca/sciencescouts/index.html#10)
<br /><br />The "I may look like a scientist but I'm actually also a ninja" badge.
Lethal when in combination with the "destroyer of quackery" badge.
(http://scq.ubc.ca/sciencescouts/index.html#11, AC) <br /><br />The "I'm a freaking rock star who sings about science!" badge.
In which the recipient has released music where a science concept has been broached.
(http://scq.ubc.ca/sciencescouts/index.html#12)
</blockquote>
Landslide in San Francisco2007-03-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/11/landslide-in-san-franciscoThere was a landslide right near where we stayed in SF a few years back.</br>
</br>
</br>
<img alt="http://www.folkwolf.net/~mattrose/images/sf-sat.png" src="http://www.folkwolf.net/%7Emattrose/images/sf-sat.png" width="492" /></br>
</br>
Hostel Location: Is the location of the Hostel we stayedat, and had breakfast every day, and Dinner tuesday and thursday, IIRC.</br>
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Carpark: Is where we had stashed the car for most of the time we were in SF.</br>
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Room: Is the room where we stayed at. It belonged to the hostel, but, as you can see, it was about a block and a half away.</br>
</br>
As you can tell, we walked right past the location of the landslide several times a day.
Funny joke2007-03-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/09/funny-jokeFound on the WeLL, filed under the lighter side of terrorism<br /><br /> The coach had put together the perfect team for the Oakland Raiders.<br /> The only thing missing was a good quarterback. He had scouted all the<br /> colleges and even the Canadian and European Leagues, but he couldn't<br /> find a ringer who could ensure a Super Bowl victory.<br /><br /> Then one night, while watching CNN, he saw a war-zone scene in<br /> Afghanistan. In one corner of the background, he spotted a young Afghan<br /> Muslim soldier with a truly incredible arm. He threw a hand- grenade<br /> straight into a window from 80 yards away. Then he threw another<br /> grenade from 50 yards down a chimney, and then hit a passing car going<br /> 80 miles per hour.<br /><br /> �I've got to get this guy!" coach said to himself. "He has the<br /> perfect arm!" So, he brings the young Afghan to the States and teaches<br /> him the great game of football ..... and sure enough the Raiders go on<br /> to win the Super Bowl.<br /><br /> The young Afghan is hailed as a hero of football, and when the Coach<br /> asks him what he wants, all the young man wants to do is call his<br /> mother.<br /><br /> "Mom," he says into the phone, "I just won the Super Bowl!"<br /><br /> "I don't want to talk to you," the old Muslim woman says. "You<br /> deserted us. You are not my son!"<br /><br /> "Mother, I don't think you understand," pleads the son, "I've just won<br /> the greatest sporting event in the world!"<br /><br /> "No! Let me tell you," his mother retorts, "at this very moment there<br /> are gunshots all around us. The neighborhood is a pile of rubble. Your<br /> two brothers were beaten within an inch of their lives last week, and I<br /> have to keep your sister in the house so she doesn't get assaulted!"<br /> The old lady pauses, then tearfully says, "I will never forgive you for<br /> making us move to Oakland!"<br /><br />
new scouts2007-03-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/07/new-scouts<br /><br /><a href="http://scq.ubc.ca/sciencescouts/">ORDER OF THE SCIENCE SCOUTS OF EXEMPLARY REPUTE AND ABOVE AVERAGE PHYSIQUE</a>
My new Girlfriend2007-03-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/05/my-new-girlfriendHere's a picture of my new baby. It's an Epiphone Sheraton II, made by Samick in Korea. It is a sweet guitar.</br>
<img src='http://blog.folkwolf.net/files/MyPicture.jpg'>
I knew the WeLL was handy2007-03-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/05/i-knew-the-well-was-handyI've been wondering about this for a while.<br /><blockquote>Topic 1635 [macintosh]: Garage Band!<br />#351 of 355: John F. Whitehead (jfw) Fri Mar 2 '07 (22:57) 6 lines<br /><br /> you can do those to some extent with garageband. if they're orange<br /> tracks convert them to purple first (ctrl-opt-g) and then the region<br /> editor will allow you to adjust them.<br /><br /> if you need more features, Logic Express and of course Logic give you<br /> a lot more control.<br /></blockquote>
Chris Chelios reflects on his junior coach2007-03-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/03/02/chris-chelios-reflects-on-his-junior-coach<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E8s6aid04pw"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E8s6aid04pw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
The state of the music "industry"2007-02-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/02/27/the-state-of-the-music-industry<br />I think this is a great idea, not so much as an anti-RIAA protest movement, but as a bunch of good ideas for supporting artists who are trying to work outside of the record industry. If you go to a record store this month, look for the album by an independent artist on an independent label.<br /><br /><a href="http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/putting-our-money-where-our-mouths-are-boycott-the-riaa-in-march-239281.php">Putting Our Money Where Our Mouths Are: Boycott the RIAA in March - Gizmodo</a> <br /> <blockquote>Gizmodo is declaring the month of March Boycott the RIAA month. We want to get the word out to as many people as humanly possible that we can all send a message by refusing to buy any album put out by an RIAA label. Am I saying you should start pirating music? Not at all. You can continue to support the artists you enjoy and respect in a number of ways.
Firstly, I encourage everyone to purchase music from unsigned bands and bands on independent record labels. There are tons of great artists out there, many of which you're probably already a fan of, that have nothing to do with the RIAA. Buy their records at eMusic, an online store that sells independent tunes in beautiful, DRM-free MP3 format.</blockquote>
The privacy wall2007-02-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/02/25/the-privacy-wall<br />The problem of identity theft comes up frequently on the WeLL, this is a nice programmatic start.<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.footle.org/2007/02/22/protecting-your-users-data-with-a-privacy-wall/">footle » Protecting Your Users’ Data with a Privacy Wall</a> <br /> <blockquote>The idea is simple: don’t have any direct links in your database between your users’ “public” data and their private data. Instead of linking tables directly via a foreign key, use a cryptographic hash [1] that is based on at least one piece of data that only the user knows—such as their password. The user’s private data can be looked up when the user logs in, but otherwise it is completely anonymous.</blockquote>
15 Answers to Creationist nonsense2007-02-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/02/25/15-answers-to-creationist-nonsenseWe don't have many Creationists here in Canada, even among the religious community, but in case you're in the US...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000D4FEC-7D5B-1D07-8E49809EC588EEDF&pageNumber=1&catID=2">Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: 15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense -- Opponents of evolution want to make a place for creationism by tearing down real science, but their arguments don't hold up</a> <br /> <blockquote>To help with answering them, the following list rebuts some of the most common "scientific" arguments raised against evolution. It also directs readers to further sources for information and explains why creation science has no place in the classroom.</blockquote>
This is how to run a good support department2007-02-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/02/22/this-is-how-to-run-a-good-support-department<br />A few years back I got burnt out on doing Systems Admin work, and went to doing Technical Support. I've worked for a number of companies in their support departments. I've been lucky enough to work for companies and managers I've worked for have espoused a number of these principles. Never all of them, but some of them.<br /><br />When I worked at Mitel, I was talking to one of the other support guys, I'm pretty sure it was Richard Turner, and he was telling me a story about a really thorny problem he was trying to troubleshoot. The product line support manager walked in, said "How are things going?" "No good" says Richard, " I still don't know what's going on".<br /><br />Half an hour later, the Support Manager walks in "How are things going?" Same answer. Half an hour after that, the Director walks in, and has the same conversation. A little while later, the VP walks in, and has the same conversation. At this point Richared is like "Why won't the bigwigs just leave me alone to work this?" Anyone who's ever worked in support has thought this on numerous occasions. A little while later, the CTO walks in, and has the same conversation.<br /><br />About three hours into troubleshooting, Terry Matthews walks in and asks the tech how things are going, and gets the same answer. He then asks "Would it help if you were on site?". Richard says "yes", then Terry says, "All right, be at the airport at 2:00" Terry and Richard fly down to St. Louis on Terry's private jet, arrive in St. Louis and have the problem solved by 4pm, St. Louis time.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/customerservice.html">Seven steps to remarkable customer service - Joel on Software</a> <br /><br />Update: Seth Godin has his own ideas here<br /><br /><a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/02/starting_over_w.html">Seth's Blog: Starting over with customer service</a>
Stephen Colbert2007-02-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/02/13/stephen-colbertI've never quite seen Stephen Colbert relish his role as "Stephen Colbert"<br /><br />You have to <a href="http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/index.jhtml?ml_video=81955">see this</a> <br />
SXSW2007-02-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/02/09/sxswThere are 33 bands from Montreal going to SXSW this year<br /><br />that is all.<br />
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself2007-02-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/02/04/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itselfBruce Schneier updates the immortal Roosevelt speech. Truer now than ever.<br /><br />This was my favourite quote<br /><br /><blockquote>Imagine for a moment what would have happened if they had blown up 10
planes. There would be canceled flights, chaos at airports, bans on
carry-on luggage, world leaders talking tough new security measures,
political posturing and all sorts of false alarms as jittery people
panicked. To a lesser degree, that's basically what's happening right
now.<br /></blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.schneier.com/essay-124.html">Refuse to be Terrorized</a>
They Fight Crime is back!2007-02-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/02/01/they-fight-crime-is-back<br />Sinisa at work was asking me how I got my signature. So I explained to him about how I originally found it, but the site was, alas, no more.<br /><br />So on a chance, I went looking for it and found this<a href="http://ala.sda.ir/index.php?s=fight+crime"> "ala.sda.ir</a>" So go, and fight crime at<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theyfightcrime.org/">They Fight Crime!</a><br /><br />It's still sheer genius, and I laugh a little every time I write an email. It looks like they may have added content, but they don't display all the content in the view source any more, so I may have to ask them if I can get the newest version.<br />
How to make biodiesel2007-01-31T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/01/31/how-to-make-biodieselI went to an hour-long workshop last year at blue skies that told me about as much as <a href="http://agbe.typepad.com/the_african_uptimist/2007/01/how_to_make_bio.html">this graph does</a> on the production of biodiesel.<br />
In the vein of "Rosencrantz & Gildenstern"2007-01-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/01/22/in-the-vein-of-rosencrantz--gildenstern<br />A retelling of "Star Wars, Ep. IV." From the POVs of Chewbacca and R2D2, and with new knowledge gained from the three prequels.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.morningstar.nildram.co.uk/A_New_Sith.html">A New Sith, or Revenge of the Hope</a>
Google "Einoch"2007-01-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/01/21/google-einochGo ahead, <a href="http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=einoch&btnG=Google+Search&meta=">I dare you</a><br /><br />Apparently Einoch came across <a href="http://blog.folkwolf.net/articles/2006/12/04/einoch-the-unhappy-hippie">this</a> when trying to impress some girl at work. He was not impressed.<br /><br />
Regaining hope in the US Congress.2007-01-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/01/18/regaining-hope-in-the-us-congressSen. Patrick Leahy has provided the first ray of hope in the US Congress I've had in a long time. Blasting Alberto Gonzales over the Arar Affair, he called Canada the US's closest allies.<br /><br />Thanks, Sen. Leahy.<br /><br />From:<a href="http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=de7c1541-0a4a-41e1-81a4-0e9b41b66a29&k=0"> U.S. Senate demands answers from White House on Arar affair</a><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><p>“We knew damn well if he went back to Canada he wouldn’t be
tortured. He would be held and he would be investigated,” Leahy
thundered, wagging his finger at Gonzales. </p><p>“We also knew damn
well if he went to Syria he would be tortured. And it’s beneath the
dignity of this country, a country that has always been a beacon of
human rights, to send somebody to another country to be tortured. It’s
a black mark on us. It has brought about the condemnation of some of
our closest and best allies.”<br /></p><p>“Canadians, who have been our closest allies, longest unguarded
frontier in the world, they’re justifiably wondering what’s happened to
us ... Let’s not create more terrorism around the world by telling the
world that we cannot keep up to our basic standards and beliefs.”</p><p>After Leahy paused, Gonzales told the senator “before you get more upset, perhaps you should wait to receive the briefing.”</p><p>Replied
Leahy: “I’ll wait (until) next week for that briefing. If we don’t get
it, I guarantee you there will be another hearing on this issue.”</p></blockquote><br />
Weird US Double standards.2007-01-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/01/17/weird-us-double-standards<br />Apparently, one Pizza chain in the southwest is creating a huge uprising by accepting Mexican pesos. But all touristy places in the Northeast take CAD, some even at par. Even Disney in FL takes CAD. Where's the outcry on that?<br /><br /><a href="http://news.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=127">News - Pizza Chain Takes Pesos, and Complaints</a><br /><br /><br />
memo to me2007-01-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/01/08/memo-to-me<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kottke.org/07/01/the-best-links-2006">The Best Links 2006 (kottke.org)</a>
Moms job.2007-01-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/01/07/moms-job<br />For those of you that are wondering. <a href="http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=20795">This is a story</a> about a village that was bombed out by the Sri Lankan Air Force. This is <a href="http://www.tamilnet.com/pic.html?path=/img/publish/2007/01/03_01_07_pada_aerial_at_01.jpg&width=1199&height=683">a picture of my mom and two co-workers</a> inspecting the damage in the village on behalf of <a href="http://www.icrc.ch/">the ICRC</a><br />
The Erdos Bacon number.2007-01-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2007/01/05/the-erdos-bacon-numberThis has to be the nerdiest entry on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number">Wikipedia.</a><br /><br /><blockquote>An individual's <b>Erdős–Bacon number</b> is the sum of one's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erd%C5%91s_number" title="Erdős number">Erdős number</a>—which</br>
measures the "collaborative distance" in authoring mathematical papers</br>
between that individual and Hungarian mathematician <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Erd%C5%91s" title="Paul Erdős">Paul Erdős</a>—and one's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacon_number" title="Bacon number">Bacon number</a>—which represents the number of links, through roles in films, by which the individual is separated from actor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Bacon" title="Kevin Bacon">Kevin Bacon</a>.<br /></blockquote><br />The people with the lowest numbers are mathematicians, as expected.<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Kleitman" title="Daniel Kleitman">Daniel Kleitman</a>, a mathematician at MIT, was an advisor for the movie <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Will_Hunting" title="Good Will Hunting">Good Will Hunting</a></i> and appeared briefly as an uncredited extra. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnie_Driver" title="Minnie Driver">Minnie Driver</a> appeared in that movie, and she also appeared in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleepers_%28film%29" title="Sleepers (film)">Sleepers</a></i></br>
with Kevin Bacon. So Kleitman's Bacon number is 2. On the other hand,</br>
he coauthored a paper with Erdős. This gives him an Erdős–Bacon number</br>
of 3. This would probably be the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum" title="Minimum">minimum</a> over all existing Erdős–Bacon numbers. <br /><br /><p>For a time, the sole person with the lowest known Erdős–Bacon number was popular <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory" title="String theory">string theorist</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Greene" title="Brian Greene">Brian Greene</a>. He appeared in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_%28film%29" title="Frequency (film)">Frequency</a></i> with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Di_Benedetto&action=edit" class="new" title="John Di Benedetto">John Di Benedetto</a>, who was in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleepers_%28film%29" title="Sleepers (film)">Sleepers</a></i> with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Bacon" title="Kevin Bacon">Kevin Bacon</a>, for a Bacon number of 2. He also wrote a paper with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shing-Tung_Yau" title="Shing-Tung Yau">Shing-Tung Yau</a>, who wrote a paper with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Graham" title="Ronald Graham">Ronald Graham</a>, who wrote a paper with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Erd%C5%91s" title="Paul Erdős">Paul Erdős</a>, for an Erdős number of 3 and a combined Erdős–Bacon number of 5.</p><p>Brian Greene was later topped by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Bayer" title="Dave Bayer">Dave Bayer</a>, mathematical consultant to <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Beautiful_Mind_%28film%29" title="A Beautiful Mind (film)">A Beautiful Mind</a></i> who received a minor role on screen in the movie. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rance_Howard" title="Rance Howard">Rance Howard</a> was also in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Beautiful_Mind_%28film%29" title="A Beautiful Mind (film)">A Beautiful Mind</a></i> and in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13_%28film%29" title="Apollo 13 (film)">Apollo 13</a></i> with Kevin Bacon to give Bayer a Bacon number of 2. Bayer wrote a paper with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persi_Diaconis" title="Persi Diaconis">Persi Diaconis</a>, who has an Erdős number of 1 due to a jointly authored 1977 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_University" title="Stanford University">Stanford University</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_report" title="Technical report">technical report</a>, later published in a 2004 compilation<sup id="_ref-DiEr_0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number#_note-DiEr" title="">[5]</a></sup>. So Bayer's Erdős–Bacon number is 4.<br /></p><p>This is when it gets really weird<br /></p></blockquote></br>
<blockquote><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danica_McKellar" title="Danica McKellar">Danica McKellar</a>, most famous for her role as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnie_Cooper" title="Winnie Cooper">Winnie Cooper</a> in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonder_Years" title="The Wonder Years">The Wonder Years</a></i>, has an Erdős–Bacon number of 6, having coauthored a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematics" title="Mathematics">mathematics</a> paper published while an undergraduate at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCLA" title="UCLA">UCLA</a>. This gives her the lowest known Erdős–Bacon number for a professional actor/actress. Her paper gives her an Erdős number of 4<sup id="_ref-ChayesMcKellar_0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number#_note-ChayesMcKellar" title="">[9]</a></sup><sup id="_ref-ChayesKotecky_0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number#_note-ChayesKotecky" title="">[10]</a></sup><sup id="_ref-KoteckyPreiss_0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number#_note-KoteckyPreiss" title="">[11]</a></sup><sup id="_ref-Erdos1_0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number#_note-Erdos1" title="">[12]</a></sup>, and she and Bacon have both worked with Margaret Easley.</br>
</p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Portman" title="Natalie Portman">Natalie Portman</a> has an Erdős–Bacon number of at most 9. She collaborated with David A. Boas<sup id="_ref-lobe_0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number#_note-lobe" title="">[13]</a></sup> (using her birth name, Natalie Hershlag), who has a collaboration path<sup id="_ref-reduction_0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number#_note-reduction" title="">[14]</a></sup><sup id="_ref-parallel_0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number#_note-parallel" title="">[15]</a></sup><sup id="_ref-2D_0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number#_note-2D" title="">[16]</a></sup><sup id="_ref-logic_0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number#_note-logic" title="">[17]</a></sup><sup id="_ref-fault_0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number#_note-fault" title="">[18]</a></sup> leading to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Harary" title="Frank Harary">Frank Harary</a>, who has an Erdős number of 1<sup id="_ref-Erdos1_1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdos-Bacon_number#_note-Erdos1" title="">[12]</a></sup>. Bacon and Portman have both worked with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Dillon" title="Matt Dillon">Matt Dillon</a>, giving Portman a Bacon number of 2 and an Erdős number of at most 7.</p></blockquote></br>
<b>Update:</b> <a href="http://www.benjaminrosenbaum.com/blog/archives/2004_09.html#000082">Ben Rosenbaum</a> was kind enough to correct me on and say that he didn't dream it up, he merely re-invented i it.Apparently, it was dreamed up by a SF writer Ben Rosenbaum, at WorldCon a few years ago. As mentioned on <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2004/09/14/erdosbacon_numbers.html">BoingBoing</a><br />
Pachelbel Canon Medley2006-12-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/12/23/pachelbel-canon-medleyI found this on youtube.<br /><br />D-A-B-F#-G-D-G-A<br /><br /></br>
</br>
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says it all.2006-12-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/12/22/says-it-all<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kottke.org/06/12/addictive-little-online-games">Addictive little online games (kottke.org)</a>
Top 50 music videos of 20062006-12-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/12/16/top-50-music-videos-of-2006<br />Some good videos here<br /><br /><a href="http://docopenhagen.blogspot.com/2006/12/top-50-music-videos-of-2006.html">DoCopenhagen: Top 50 Music Videos Of 2006</a>
memo to me2006-12-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/12/15/memo-to-meI should see if I can find this book, and others by the same author<br /><br /><a href="http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7791908">Fiction from Africa | Where magic is reality | Economist.com</a>
Myspace is fuckin hilarious2006-12-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/12/13/myspace-is-fuckin-hilarious<br />A friend of mine <a href="http://www.kelprecords.com/bands/av/index.htm">AV</a> just recently wrote a song for an <a href="http://www.oldnavy.com/customerService/info.do?cid=3152">old navy ad</a>, you may recognize it if you've been near a TV lately. So for some reason I was hunting around on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/avandthepirates">www.myspace.com/avandthepirates</a> and, if you read the comments in chronological order, it starts out with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/flectonbigsky">Mich</a>, and <a href="http://www.howietsui.com/">Howie</a>, and a whole bunch of AVs actual friends, and then you can tell when the ad comes out because it's full of<br /><br />"<small>that would be fantaastiiiic <333"</small><br /><br />and <br /><br />"<big>OMG I LOVE YOU</big>
"<br /><br />comments.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I love that AV is getting the exposure, and it's great that so many people are realizing he's a fucking genius, but reading those comments just cracked me up.<br /><br />Also, that "snow shake" song has two verses. Who knew?<br /><br />
Craig Newmark kicks ass2006-12-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/12/13/craig-newmark-kicks-ass<br />Jim Buckmaster, the CEO of <a href="http://www.craigslist.com">Craigslist</a> meeting Wall street bankers.<br /><br /><a href="http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/08/craigslist-meets-the-capitalists/?8dpc">Craigslist Meets the Capitalists - Mergers, Acquisitions, Venture Capital, Hedge Funds -- DealBook - New York Times</a><br /><br /><blockquote><strong>UBS</strong> analyst Ben Schachter wanted to know how
Craigslist plans to maximize revenue. It doesn’t, Mr. Buckmaster
replied (perhaps wondering how Mr. Schachter could possibly not already
know this). “That definitely is not part of the equation,” he said,
according to MediaPost. “It’s not part of the goal.”<br /></blockquote>
sitting at home, bored, thought Id share.2006-12-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/12/12/sitting-at-home-bored-thought-id-shareThe airplane-treadmill conundrum<br /><br /><blockquote>“Imagine a plane is sitting on a massive conveyor belt, as wide and as
long as a runway. The conveyer belt is designed to exactly match the
speed of the wheels, moving in the opposite direction. Can the plane
take off?
“I say no, because the plane will not move relative the the ground and
air, and thus, very little air will flow over the wings. However, other
people are convinced that since the wheels of a plane are free
spinning, and not powered by the engines, and the engines provide
thrust against the air, that somehow that makes a difference and air
will flow over the wing.”<br /></blockquote><br />The plane will take off. It's a badly worded question. Why?<br /><br />This article is something that only happens in bad novels, or so I thought. Somebody finds an acetate of the first studio sessions of the Velvet Underground, that was never released, and bought it in a yard sale in Chelsea for a quarter.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goldminemag.com/Default.aspx?tabid=825&articleid=4688&articlemid=4972#4972Articles">Goldmine - The Collector's Record and Compact Disc Marketplace</a><br /><br />Cory Doctorow says I should read this. I always listen to Cory.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.rifters.com/real/shorts.htm">Rifters.com: Peter Watts' Backlist</a>
Ode to North Beach2006-12-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/12/07/ode-to-north-beachI've loved North Beach for 6 years now. I took a job in Oakland, and after having 6 days of living in a hotel on the waterfront in Oakland, having nearly no human contact, and running short on cash, I moved to a hostel not far from North Beach, and immediately fell in love. I loved all the bars, I loved the crazy shit that happened, and the crazy people that lived. I would go out to the bars every single night with people from the hostel 'til all hours, and then drag myself out of bed at 7am to catch the BART across the bay. Last time Liz and I went to San Francisco, we spent a great time at a hostel in North Beach, and spent every night going to the San Francisco brewing co, having beers and conversations with people, or going to City Lights bookstore, and buying way too many cool books. This is a fitting tribute to North Beach<br /><br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2006/12/05/north_beach/index.html">North Beach forever | Salon.com</a>
In Joke2006-12-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/12/04/in-joke<br />I think only <a href="http://www.treekick.com">Mer</a>, Geoff and I get this joke, but I think it's cool<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.uhuru.de/?p=951">iMatatu « Kikuyumoja’s realm</a>
Humour2006-12-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/12/04/humourWas it Mel Brooks who said "Me getting a paper cut on my finger is tragedy. Someone else falling through a manhole and dying is comedy"<br /><br />In that vein, my new favourite joke: "I wish my lawn were emo, so it would cut itself"<br />
Einoch the Unhappy Hippie2006-12-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/12/04/einoch-the-unhappy-hippieThis picture cracks me up, I think einoch looks so sad because he worries all his ultra-hip emo friends now have proof that he's a dirty hippy <br><img src="/files/TiedyeMan-prees.jpg">
Andrew Vincent is a golden god.2006-12-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/12/01/andrew-vincent-is-a-golden-godHere's the proof.</br>
</br>
I Just saw this ad on TV.</br>
</br>
If you like his song, you should go check out <a href="http://www.kelprecords.com/bands/av/index.htm">his website</a>, or buy a CD</br>
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nEOM9RnaRkA"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nEOM9RnaRkA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Source Code Control Zen2006-11-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/11/30/source-code-control-zenone of my main responsibilities at work is source code control and integration. This could be considered a somewhat trivial work, but these horror stories keep me motivated. <a href="http://moishelettvin.blogspot.com/2006/11/windows-shutdown-crapfest.html">moblog: The Windows Shutdown crapfest</a> <br /> <blockquote>In small programming projects, there's a central repository of code. Builds are produced, generally daily, from this central repository. Programmers add their changes to this central repository as they go, so the daily build is a pretty good snapshot of the current state of the product.</br>
</br>
In Windows, this model breaks down simply because there are far too many developers to access one central repository -- among other problems, the infrastructure just won't support it. So Windows has a tree of repositories: developers check in to the nodes, and periodically the changes in the nodes are integrated up one level in the hierarchy. At a different periodicity, changes are integrated down the tree from the root to the nodes. In Windows, the node I was working on was 4 levels removed from the root. The periodicity of integration decayed exponentially and unpredictably as you approached the root so it ended up that it took between 1 and 3 months for my code to get to the root node, and some multiple of that for it to reach the other nodes. It should be noted too that the only common ancestor that my team, the shell team, and the kernel team shared was the root. </blockquote><a href="http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/11/29.html">Joel on Software</a><blockquote>A young Windows engineer writes:</br>
</br>
prior to the restart effort of Longhorn, there were about seven [branches], reverse-integrating into one main branch every two or three weeks perhaps. Now, imagine several thousand developers checking in directly into seven branches. This will lead to two things:</br>
</br>
you check in frequently, and there's a very high chance of either breaking the build, or breaking functionality in the OS, or 2., as a counter-reaction, you don't check in very often, which clearly is bad, since now you don't have a good delta history of what you did.</br>
</br>
So this clearly didn't scale. As part of the restart effort, we decided that each team would get its own feature branch, each feature area (multiple teams) would go up to an aggregation branch, and those would lead up to the final main branch. (As such there's now north of a hundred branches in tiers, leading up to about six aggregation branches.) Teams were free to choose how many sub-feature branches they wanted, if any, and they were free to choose how often they wanted to push up their changes to the aggregation branch. As part of the reverse-integration (RI, i.e. pushing up) process, various quality gates had to pass, including performance tests. Due to how comprehensive those gates ended up being, this would take at least a day to run, plus perhaps a day or two to triage issues if any cropped up; so there was a possibly considerable cost to doing an RI in the first place. However, these gates were essential in upholding the quality of the main branch, and had they not existed, the OS would have never shipped. I suppose it's one of those 'what doesn't kill you...' type deals.</blockquote>
ipod tip from the well2006-11-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/11/30/ipod-tip-from-the-welljust so I don't forget, and in case anyone wants to know, i found this tip for showing voltage on an ipod<br /><br />WRT checking battery life, you can ask the current owner to do this on<br /> a Mac:<br /> <br /> touch /Volumes/iPodname/iPod_Control/Device/_show_voltage<br /> <br /> Or on a PC, create a file named _show_voltage (no file extension) in<br /> iPod_Control/Device via notepad or something.<br /> <br /> This will force the iPod to display a numeric readout of the battery<br /> voltage ranging from 0 to 519. If you ask the owner to fully charge it<br /> and then let it play for 10 minutes to see how much it depletes, you'll<br /> have a good idea of the quality of the battery.<br /><br />
An ode to Java House2006-11-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/11/30/an-ode-to-java-house<br />I read a few blogs from Africa, and <a href="http://blog.uhuru.de/">this</a> is one of my favourites. Java House is one of the places I remember fondly from visiting my parents in Nairobi. It's a great coffee chain. <br /><br />also, he has the same kikoy as I do.<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.uhuru.de/?p=948">Dear Java House… « Kikuyumoja’s realm</a>
Im inordinately proud of this2006-11-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/11/29/im-inordinately-proud-of-thisThis is a <a href="/files/gimp-mac.tiff">Screen shot</a> of <a href="http://www.gimp.org/">the GIMP</a>, a program designed for the X Windows system, running natively on Quartz, on my beloved MacBook. I of course take all the credit here, but it's all due to the good people at <a href="http://www.imendio.com">Imendio</a>, who are porting GTK over to Quartz. You can read about their efforts</br>
<a href="http://developer.imendio.com/projects/gtk-macosx">here</a></br>
Slavitch has a blog2006-11-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/11/24/slavitch-has-a-blog<br /><a href="http://badredapple.blogspot.com/">Bad Red Apple</a><br /><br />Interesting stuff on local politics, energy, sustainability and technology. He's a bright guy, and opinionated as hell. Fun stuff.<br />
This picture of Toronto is breathtaking2006-11-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/11/21/this-picture-of-toronto-is-breathtaking<br />I gotta figure out how to make that into a wallpaper suitable for my MacBook.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/86319709@N00/301027317/in/set-72157594382815679/">IMG_0988.JPG on Flickr - Photo Sharing!</a>
How now, brown bureaucrat2006-11-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/11/21/how-now-brown-bureaucrat<br />You know, I would have loved to have lived the life of Jack Kerouac. People keep calling me a hippie, but I like to think of myself more as a Beatnik. When I lived in San Francisco, I would compulsively go to City Lights Bookstore, and buy books. Hell, I still go back there and spend literally hundreds of dollars every time I'm even near SF. <br /><br />I watched this, and this overwhelming urge to have a Camel and a highball came over me.<br /><br />If you've never read it, you should go out and buy "On the Road"<br /><br /><a href="http://easydreamer.blogspot.com/2006/11/on-road-with-jack-and-steve.html">PCL LinkDump: On the Road with Jack and Steve</a>
Balkanized By Fantasy.2006-11-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/11/16/balkanized-by-fantasyA weird Plate o' shrimp moment. It seems a lot of people are thinking about Atheism today.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wordyard.com">Scott Rosenberg</a> has a pointer in <a href="http://www.wordyard.com/2006/11/15/miscellany-drapes/">one of his posts</a> to a <a href="http://www.wired.com/news/wiredmag/1,71985-0.html">Gary Wolf article</a> in <a href="http://www.wired.com">Wired</a><br /><blockquote>Wolf concludes that, although atheism is the logical and philosophically sound stance for a scientific person, there's something off-puttingly evangelical about its most fervent advocates, and that's why the great bulk of us non-believers tend to identify as agnostics instead.<br /><br /></blockquote>I think Scott's painting atheists with an overly broad brush. To get a view that more lines up with my view on atheism, Jon Carroll has a great <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/16/DDGOULJCD31.DTL&feed=rss.jcarroll">column</a> that puts a more tolerant, less fundamental, evangelical spin on atheism.<br /><blockquote><font size="2">I don't believe that it's religion's fault. I believe that human nature is <br />responsible for war and torture and intolerance. I believe that we are beasts, <br />and that every institution we set up reflects our bestial nature. If we drag <br />God into it, it's because we feel shame for our actions. "Sure, seems bad to <br />kill babies, but God told me to do it, so it must be OK."<br /><br /></font><p><font size="2">But we are also more than beasts. At the core of every religion are
notions of peace and grace and understanding. Is there hypocrisy? Sure --
hypocrisy is as human as love or murder. But hypocrisy is not all there is.
There are good works, plenty of them -- selfless behavior, charity, devotion.
Of course you don't need to believe in God to have those virtues, but religion
can serve as an organizing principle to make these virtues manifest on Earth.
</font></p><br /></blockquote><br /><br /><br />
The last word on Static vs. Dynamic typing2006-10-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/19/the-last-word-on-static-vs-dynamic-typing<br />This is a constant flamewar on the ruby-talk mailing list about static v. dynamic typing, and which one is more productive. The obvious answer, neither, is hard to put into words. Or was until Steve Yegge put it into this perspective<br /><br /><a href="http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2006/10/egomania-itself.html">Stevey's Blog Rants: Egomania Itself</a> <br /> <blockquote>If there's one thing I've learned over the years about type systems, it's that you have your slob type systems and your neat-freak type systems, and it comes down to personal preference. The neat freaks (Java, C#, C++, Pascal) know damn well that the slobs (Perl, Python, Ruby, JavaScript) are just as productive. Maybe even more so. Nobody really knows for sure. One thing is clear, though: everyone's getting stuff done, regardless of their language choice. The whole debate isn't actually about productivity at all, even though most people still think it is. It's about whether you can stand to live in a house where the bed isn't made.</blockquote>
Thought of the day2006-10-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/18/thought-of-the-daySpeed doesn't kill, large differences in speed do.<br />
Google keeps coming up with new reasons to be the coolest company ever2006-10-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/18/google-keeps-coming-up-with-new-reasons-to-be-the-cI can't tell you how good this is.<br /><br /><a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/corporate-solar-is-coming.html">Official Google Blog: Corporate solar is coming</a> <br /> <blockquote>Soon we plan to begin installation of 1.6 megawatts of solar photovoltaic panels at our Mountain View campus. This project will be the largest solar installation on any corporate campus in the U.S., and we think it's one of the largest on any corporate site in the world. The panels will cover the roofs of the four main buildings of the Googleplex, and also those of two additional buildings across the street. There will also be a portion of this installation on new solar panel support structures in a few parking lots. The amount of electricity that will be generated is equivalent to powering about 1,000 average California homes. We’ll use that electricity to power several of our Mountain View office facilities, offsetting approximately 30% of our peak electricity consumption at those buildings. <br /></blockquote>
Futuristic. Cool. I want hundreds.2006-10-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/18/futuristic--cool--i-want-hundreds<a href="http://www.sun.com/emrkt/blackbox/story.jsp">Project Blackbox</a> is the newest product from SUN Microsystems. It's a Datacenter in a shipping container. <br /><br />Plug in a network connection, and power, and you've got up to 2000 CPUs, 1.5 petabytes of Disk Storage, and 7 TB of memory.<br /><br />It's portable, in a weird sense of the word. <br /><br />There is one thing that this project doesn't have, that it needs to succeed, IMO.<br />a BIG HONKING UPS. If you put one of those in there, you could place it anywhere, cover it in solar panels, and you'd be off to the races.<br />
Bill Maher getting truly bitter.2006-10-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/14/bill-maher-getting-truly-bitter<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEJY6g-Z3nE"></a><br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/10/13/foley_kids/">The real menace to American kids | Salon.com</a>
Im saving this for posterity2006-10-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/12/im-saving-this-for-posterityThe Wayback machine is unreliable, so I thought I'd repost this so that I could always link to it.<br /><br />http://web.archive.org/web/20011113013913/http://segfault.org/story.phtml?mode=2&id=38b40d78-087dd360<br /><br /><font color="#ffffff" face="Helvetica,Arial" size="+2"><b>"What If Linus Torvalds Gets Hit By A Bus?" - An Empirical Study</b></font><br />
<p>The question on the lips of everyone in the Linux community is, "What
if Linus Torvalds (affectionately known to the trade press as 'Linux
Torvalds') gets hit by a bus?" Reams of virtual paper have been wasted
on idle speculation about the results of what is a fairly simple
experiment. We decided it was high time someone actually took the
trouble to find out what would happen if Linus Torvalds were to get
hit by a bus. Our preliminary findings are printed below; we hope that
this study will eventually be published in peer-reviewed Linux
publications such as Linux Journal and Slashdot. Well, Linux Journal.</p>
<p><b>Methodology:</b></p>
<p>Our sample consisted of 200 Linus Torvaldses separated into a test
group of 100 and a control group of 100. 97 members of the test group
were hit by buses at speeds ranging from 5 MPH to 70 MPH. The other
three test subjects ran into stationary buses on their own power. A
different bus was used for each trial so as to ensure that the trials
would be independent.</p>
<p>The control group was observed over a period of six months, in which
none of the subjects was hit by a bus.</p>
<p><b>Observations:</b></p>
<p>Only nine members of the test group survived; two of these were
seriously injured. All survivors had been assigned to the lower end of
the velocity scale, as can be seen in Figure 1.</p>
<table align="center">
<tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="bottom"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20011113013913/http://segfault.org/binary.php3?relatedto=stories&relatedid=38b40d78-087dd360&filename=figure1.jpg" alt="[IMAGE: Figure 1: Survival rate versus bus velocity]" /></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="bottom"><font face="Helvetica,Arial" size="-1">Figure 1: Survival rate versus bus velocity</font></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>No fatalities were reported in the control group. One member choked on
a muffin during the second week, but recovered after an application of
the Heimlich maneuver. No buses were present during the incident.</p>
<p><b>Conclusions and Recommendations:</b></p>
<p>Our study's bottom line: given standard traffic patterns, Linus
Torvalds has an 8.9% (plus or minus 1.4%) chance of surviving and
fully recovering from a collision with a bus. Due to Torvalds'
development skills and acknowledged importance to the Linux community,
we hereby recommend that Linus Torvalds be kept out of the path of
oncoming buses. Also, his muffin intake should be monitored.</p>
<p>Linux kernel development was not significantly affected by our
experiment; however, we attribute this to the large sample size used.</p>
<p><b>The Future:</b></p>
<p>We plan to do similar tests to determine the effects of buses on
Miguel de Icaza, Larry Wall, and Eric S. Raymond. Our confident
prediction is that we will obtain similar results.</p>
<p>Instructions on getting hit by a bus will soon be posted to our
project Web site, so that the average developer will be able to gauge
his or her importance to the Open Source community.
</p><p><br clear="all" />
<font face="Helvetica,Arial">
Posted on Wed 23 Feb 08:45:54 2000 PST<br />
<b>Written by Leonard Richardson</b> <<a class="nou" href="mailto:leonardr@segfault.org">leonardr@segfault.org</a>></font></p><br />
Best dinner ever.2006-10-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/10/best-dinner-everDad was in town friday and saturday, and when dad said, "is there anywhere outside of town you want to go to for dinner", I immediately thought of <a href="http://www.soupcon.biz/html/welcome.html">Tanya's restaurant</a>. We drove up saturday on back roads through the Gatineau Hills, and ended up in Wakefield, with the sun setting over the Gatineau River. Halfway through the appetizer, the moon rose over the hills and the river, beautifully framed by the window of the restaurant. This isn't a restaurant review, so I won't go over what everyone had, but let me just say that the food was outstanding. We all agreed it was one of the best evenings we ever spent in a restaurant. <br /><br />
Best. Rider. Ever.2006-10-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/06/best-rider-everAnd I mean that in both senses. </br>
</br>
I've been in a band (never one that could get away with a rider), and I've done sound crew and stage crew stuff since I was a teenager. In that capacity, I saw a lot of riders. None were as funny or as informative as <a href="http://http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1004061iggypop1.html">this one</a>. </br>
</br>
I've always felt Road Managers lived between a rock and a hard place. Their entire livelihood depends on how someone else "feels" on a particular day. All they can do is have everything set up so that the performer has the best environment possible. Which means they have to be the most demanding motherfuckers. This manager obviously is comfortable with the fact, and has fun with it.</br>
</br>
Favourite quotes:</br>
</br>
<blockquote>1 X KORG 2000 DIGITAL RACK TUNER. Digital in the sense that it works via an electronically generated number system, not digital because it only works if someone holds it together with their fingers.</br>
</blockquote></br>
<blockquote>For the sidefills, can we have two great big enormous things please, of a type that might be venerated as gods by the inhabitants of Easter Island, capable of reaching volumes that could provide the power for a Monster Truck Rally.</br>
</blockquote></br>
<blockquote>Can I just sat that we like to keep it as clear as possible, especially at the front? My insurance doesn't cover me for allowing Rockstarts to fall off the front of the stage. [ ... ] This way, Iggy can run around in his customary manner, like a crazed running-around-type-thing, and we can all relax in a haze of self-satisfied panic.</br>
</blockquote></br>
<blockquote>NO YAMAHAS and NO BLEEDING DIGITAL or I will chop it into a hundred pieces, and each of those pieces I will chop into a hundred pieces ... so that's like, er ... tenty hundred? Anyway, then I will douse them in petrol and burn them. In accordance wuth local and national guidelines on the burning of bits of shit mixer, of course.</br>
</br>
</blockquote>
Our camp from space.2006-10-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/05/our-camp-from-space<br /><br /><a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=19&ll=40.774275,-119.226363&spn=0.001042,0.001749&t=h">Google Maps</a> has a picture of our burning man camp from space. It's the silvery structure right in the top left corner of the picture, with our big brown tent at an angle right beside it.<br />
This gets real yuks at Developer Conferences2006-10-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/03/this-gets-real-yuks-at-developer-conferencesQ: "Why doesn't C++ have garbage collection?"<br />A; "Because there would be nothing left."<br /><br />
News about Tanzania2006-10-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/02/news-about-tanzania<br />Some news about tanzania, I gotta read <a href="http://www.economist.com/">the Economist.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://bankelele.blogspot.com/2006/10/kikwete-impresses.html">bankelele: Kikwete Impresses</a>
Joel Spolsky2006-10-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/02/joel-spolsky<br />I don't always agree with Joel Spolsky, especially when he's talking about algorithms, but he has a lot of good stuff to say in this article from two years ago.<br /><br /><a href="http://archive.salon.com/tech/feature/2004/12/09/spolsky/print.html">Salon.com Technology | The Shlemiel way of software</a><br /><br /><p class="poweredbyperformancing">powered by <a href="http://performancing.com/firefox">performancing firefox</a></p>
Ive been looking for this paper for a while2006-10-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/02/ive-been-looking-for-this-paper-for-a-while<br />I still haven't read it, I'll update when I do<br /><br /><a href="http://lwn.net/Articles/200422/">LWN: Kernel developers' position on GPLv3</a>
Interesting2006-10-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/10/02/interesting<br />I had this idea in line at the grocery store yesterday. <br />PV systems are pretty cheap these days, and pretty simple, except for a few parts. This article talks about the problems that plague existing setups. I don't think they're insurmountable.<br /><br /><a href="http://greenvolts.blogspot.com/2006/09/tanzania.html">Heliotropic: Tanzania</a>
Sorry about the interruptions2006-09-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/09/28/sorry-about-the-interruptionsI've been using this blog to develop a couple of sidebars, and their performance has been ... well, terrible doesn't begin to describe it. I've given up, and am now doing development in it's own little sandbox. Boo.<br />
Craig Newmark is wicked.2006-09-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/09/28/craig-newmark-is-wicked<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/biztech/09/28/craigslist.reut/index.html">CNN.com - Craigslist founder says he won't cash in - Sep 28, 2006</a> <br /> <blockquote>"We both know some people who own more than a billion (dollars) and they're not any the happier. They also need bodyguards," he said.</blockquote>
Sysadmin words to live by2006-09-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/09/16/sysadmin-words-to-live-byMore words of wisdom for <a href="http://mcmanus.typepad.com/">Jeffrey McManus's blog</a>.<br /><br />From this entry <a href="http://mcmanus.typepad.com/grind/2006/09/launch_day_is_f.html">Jeffrey McManus: Launch Day is "Fun". Sorta. Well, Not Really.</a><br /><br /><blockquote>A while back ninja sysadmin Martin Kelly dispensed some pertinent
advice: the first task a sysadmin should perform when faced with a
crisis is to go outside and have a cigarette.<br /></blockquote>Trust me. This works. It got me through well over ten years of SA work, support, and now, build engineering<br />
Matts obsession with US politics, part IV, subsection 32006-09-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/09/16/matts-obsession-with-us-politics-part-iv-subsectionI was up late (or early, actually I had slept earlier that night) at Burning Man, guarding the temple of Hope and Fear. The guys from Disorient had brought out their bus with the Massive PA system, and there was a rave going on all night behind us. In the middle of it, I heard <a href="http://blog.folkwolf.net/files/03_Not_In_Our_Name.mp3">this tune</a>, which was remixed from <a href="http://blog.folkwolf.net/files/Def_Poetry_Jam_-_Saul_Williams_-_Not_in_Our_Name.mp3">this poem</a>.<br /><br />What brought it all back, in a weird way, was this "remix" of the tired "Neville Chamberlain" appeasement argument, where American columnist Keith Olbermann, turns the argument on its head in a quite brilliant manner.<br /> <a href="http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/08/30/keith-olbermann-delivers-one-hell-of-a-commentary-on-rumsfeld/">http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/08/30/keith-olbermann-delivers-one-hell-of-a-commentary-on-rumsfeld/</a>
Alcohol use helps boost income2006-09-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/09/16/alcohol-use-helps-boost-income<a href="http://mcmanus.typepad.com/grind/2006/09/alcohol_use_hel.html">this</a> explains a lot...<br /><br />
Welcome Jon2006-09-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/09/15/welcome-jon<a href="http://www.johnnyeden.folkwolf.net/">Johnny Eden</a> (some of you may know him as Jon Eaton) has moved his website over to my little server. <a href="http://banditas.ca">the Banditas</a> are on here as well. I'm becoming a webhost to the stars. Go and visit their sites, and go out and catch a show.<br />
The connections between me and Larry Page grow.2006-09-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/09/14/the-connections-between-me-and-larry-page-growhis g/f is an old acquaintance of mine, and now I learn he goes to BurningMan. I wonder what his "Playa Name" is? Apparently, he holds people who go to burning man in <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/31/technology/BurningManTalent_futureboy.biz2/">high esteem</a><br />Maybe I should ask him for a job<br />
Visit the well, and see how people used to communicate on the internet in the old days.2006-08-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/08/23/visit-the-well-and-see-how-people-used-to-communicaI'll put this "stub" up for now, but someone on the WeLL described it as "The Colonial Williamsburg of the Internet" What immediately hit me is "it's so funny 'cause it's so true"
Too many blog posts2006-08-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/08/23/too-many-blog-postsI really should be actually working to get my blog out of stupid development mode, and back in to production (ie fast) mode, but I'm too busy ripping off <a href="http://blog.lauralemay.com/">Laura Lemay's blog</a> posts, and reposting them here. <a href="http://blog.myspace.com/kaiserjan">Jan Ullrich's Myspace blog</a>. Well, actually not really, but stupid funny to fans of cycling, with quotes like this</br>
<blockquote></br>
Q: Oh great and mighty Jan, who doth fill this vale of tears with fire and death with every stroke of your massive thighs, why do you ride such big gears. - Eli from Valencia</br>
</br>
A. Because the cycling is pain. The cycling is soul crushing pain. The cycling is meant to make mothers weep, to make children scream, to crush the souls of the weak. The cycling is not spin class. Sure the Jan could ride a gear that is being the size of a tea cup, like Marinara Boy Basso, but the Jan is not here to dance. The Jan is here to reap. </br>
</br>
Q. Oh my cruel dark lord, the Jan, master of all that dies and is never reborn. What is with Dave Zabriskie? - Sara from, um, the Antartica.</br>
</br>
A. The Jan is having no idea. Dave Zabriskie is being the only mortal on this earth that is giving the Jan the willies. The Jan sees him in the interviews and it is like, dude, that guy is totally being a psycho robot. He is being having less personality than a roll of carpet. Personally, the Jan thinks he is being invented by Bjarne Riis and the CSC as an android who feels no pain, which is being the only way he is coming close to challenging the Jan in the time trials.</br>
</blockquote></br>
and this</br>
<blockquote></br>
There was being much rain and wind and lightning when Jan did begin to pedal yesterday, but that was totally being the Jan's fault. The Jan must be careful when pedaling, for when the Jan's massive thighs begin to spin so close together, they are creating a low pressure system centered on the Jan's "special place" that is often causing massive weather anomalies and atmospheric disturbances. It can be embarassing. There have been many cases where the Jan is being totally breaking it down on the dance floor, and then busts out with the Jan's favorite move, the Roger Rabbit, and then whole villages are blown away into ash and smoke, and for nights afterward there are being many sightings of strange lights in the sky.</br>
</blockquote>
The hi-tech knitter2006-08-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/08/22/the-hi-tech-knitterI thought <a href="http://banditas.ca/">Liz</a> and <a href="http://www.matildazine.com">Jen</a> would get a kick out of this: You can now <a href="http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2006/08/sewing_patterns_over_itunes.html">get knitting patterns through itunes</a>
The economics of the Peloton2006-08-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/08/22/the-economics-of-the-pelotonThis article is one of the best explanations of why cycling is at once the most interesting, and the most boring of all sports. Plus, there's two stories in it that had me laugh out loud.</br>
<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/26/magazines/fortune/peloton_greatteams_fortune_0612/index.htm">Pack Mentality</a>
Flying above I802006-08-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/08/22/flying-above-i80This is a page published a pilot, who has great pictures of a flight he took from California to Oshkosh, WI. A lot of the route he's flying over is very familiar to Liz and I from the ground, as he's following the I80 for much of the trip. </br>
<a href="http://silvairehair2.home.comcast.net/072806/">here's the page</a>
Blog Speed Improvements2006-08-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/08/19/blog-speed-improvementsThose of you who've tried to visit lately have noticed that the blog is almost unusably slow these days. I've tried to fix this by changing around a lot of the back end stuff. It's described in the new <a href="/pages/installation">Installation page</a>. I'll be monitoring it over the next few days to see if it's improved as much as I've hoped. If not, I may just hack on either the sample blog app that comes with <a href="http://redhanded.hobix.com/bits/campingAMicroframework.html">Camping</a> or the one that comes with <a href="http://www.nitroproject.org/">Nitro</a>. If there's one thing I've learned lately it's that writing a blog is easy. Writing a decent one is hard.</br>
</br>
UPDATE: My plans suffered a huge setback when <a href="http://scottstuff.net/blog/">Scott Laird</a>submitted a <a href="http://scottstuff.net/blog/articles/2006/08/17/the-typo-4-1-development-cycle-has-begun">huge patch</a> to <a href="http://www.typosphere.org">Typo</a> That simultaneously broke (temporarily) the entire blog, and (permanently) the two custom sidebars I wrote. I'll re-write the sidebars.
from IWS via Netfrost2006-07-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/07/26/from-iws-via-netfrost<font size="3"><br/> </font> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"> <font size="3">My monkey is angrier than yours.</font><br/> <font size="3">Actually, it's not really a monkey</font><br/> <font size="3">More like some pro-simian,</font><br/> <font size="3">like a lemur.</font><br/> <font size="3">It's not really that angry either</font><br/> <font size="3">More like disaffected</font><br/> <font size="3">It's quite depressed too.</font><br/> <font size="3">It got caught out in the rain today.</font><br/> <font size="3">Now it's its a soggy, depressed, lemur.</font><br/> <font size="3">I think it needs to see the vet too.</font><br/> <font size="3">It may have a bad chest cold,</font><br/> <font size="3">As it sniffles a fair bit.</font><br/> <font size="3">Mind you, the sniffles</font><br/> <font size="3">May be its trying to hold back tears.</font><br/> <font size="3">Yeah. So I don't have a monkey on my back,</font><br/> <font size="3">I have a wet & depressed lemur.</font><br/> </div>
To the ten people who read this blog2006-07-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/07/23/to-the-ten-people-who-read-this-blogI'm sorry for the blog outage over the past week. The move up to the bleeding-edge version of <a href="http://www.typosphere.org">Typo</a> brought a lot more pain than I thought it would. I had to rewrite a lot of mine, and other people's code to get it all working the way I thought I wanted. I ended up having to move from <a href="http://www.mysql.com/">MySQL</a> to <a href="http://www.postgres.org/">PostgreSQL</a> because of a weird <a href="http://www.rubyonrails.org/">Ruby on Rails</a> issue where it was using up all of the MySQL connections, and not letting them go. That brought a whole new world of hurt because of MySQL's dumb way of handling boolean values. I had to pretty much edit the insert statements by hand. Nobody's written a good way of dumping data from a rails database out in a way that can be read in to another database. Anyway, long story short, it's back up now.
Blog Posting tools2006-07-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/07/23/blog-posting-toolsI've been playing around with blog posting tools lately. I'm posting this using <a href="http://ranchero.com/marsedit/">MarsEdit</a>, I've also been using <a href="http://performancing.com/">Performancing</a> and <a href="http://www.writely.com">Writely</a> So far, they all have their bonuses, but none really stand out.
An Inconvenient Truth2006-07-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/07/16/an-inconvenient-truthI'm probably the last blogger to see this, but I have to say, as well as everyone else. Go See This Movie.<BR> I originally wrote this in a response to someone on <A HREF=http://www.well.com TITLE="The WeLL">The WeLL</A> over a week ago, before I even saw this movie. <BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> Global Warming is very alarming. That's why Al Gore is trying to make people more aware of the problems it will pose. The "degrees of disagreement" are *tiny*.<BR> <BR> The Global Warming nay-sayers, few as they may be, get an instant megaphone from the oil, and other companies. These companies make sure that the one study that casts doubt gets more dissemination to the public than the thousand other studies that confirm that global warming is here.<BR> <BR> We will all have to make massive changes in the very near future. Believe it or not, Al Gore is on the side of making a few, relatively benign choices now rather than making the vast, sweeping changes that will be necessary if we do nothing now.<BR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <BR> Here's the next version with edits after seeing the movie.<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> Global Warming is very alarming. That's why Al Gore is trying to make people more aware of the problems it will pose. The "degrees of disagreement" are <SPAN STYLE="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN STYLE="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">non-existent.</SPAN></SPAN> In the movie itself the statistic is given that in peer-reviewes scientific journals, 0 out of 962 articles on global warming dispute the scientific basis for global warming. The popular press had over 50% of more than 600 articles that said that the science of global warming was ambivalent, or wrong. This is spin and PR on the scale we rarely see, and it's killing the planet. Anytime you see a study that debates the scientific merit of global warming, you <SPAN STYLE="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">know</SPAN> that the study has been paid for by the energy companies, and has been ignored by the scientific community.<BR> <BR> We will all have to make massive changes in the very near future.<BR> Believe it or not, Al Gore is on the side of making a few, relatively benign choices now rather than making the vast, sweeping changes that will be necessary if we do nothing now. Near the end of the movie he outlines 4 or 5 relatively small things that people can do to reduce the CO2 emissions back down to below 1970 levels. If we do not do these things now, we won't have any easy things to do in the future.<BR> <BR> <BR>
MacBooks are Cool2006-07-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/07/15/macbooks-are-cool I'm posting this from my Dad's MacBook via Writely. I took some pictures using the Built in camera, and Photo Booth, and I played around with iWeb to help my dad. Aside from really only being able to plug into the .mac stuff, it's actually quite nice, and you can publish to a folder, and then upload the folder.<br>
Dog Breeds and Racial Profiling2006-07-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/07/15/dog-breeds-and-racial-profilingMalcolm Gladwell has been a contributor to the New Yorker for quite some time, as well as a well-known author of non-fiction books like "Blink". In this article of the New Yorker, he talks about the dog attacks that happened in Ottawa, the "Pit-bull" type ban in Ontario, and the close parallels with Racial Profiling.<br><br>http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060206fa_fact
Kunstlers Rant.2006-07-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/07/11/kunstlers-rantI like a good rant. This one is really good, but has no permalink, so I'll reproduce it here.<br /><blockquote><br /> The energy debate around the US has taken a definite turn this spring, since oil prices stepped back up to the $70 zone, but the thinking around these issues has only gotten worse. That's because there is only one idea dominating the public discussion: how to keep our cars running by other means, at all costs.<br /> We're certainly hearing more about energy from government and business. President Bush made the "addicted to oil" confession in January. Chevron and British Petroleum (or <em>Beyond Petroleum</em>, as BP wishfully styles itself) have both run ad campaigns acknowledging the oil-and-gas crunch, and the mainstream media has joined the campaign to pimp for bio-fuels. But all the talk is driven by the assumption that we will keep running WalMart, Disney World, and the interstate highway system just like we do now, only with other "alternative" liquid fuels.<br /> The more naive members of the environmental sector have been suckered into this line of thinking, too -- especially the college kids, who imagine we can just divert x-amount of acreage from Cheez Doodle production and re-direct it to crops devoted to making liquid fuels for Honda Elements. They need to get some alt.brains.<br /> Nobody is talking about the much more likely prospect that we'll have to reduce motoring drastically, and make <em>other arrangements</em> for virtually every aspect of daily life, from how we get food, to how we do business, to how we inhabit the landscape. The more we resist thinking about the larger agenda for comprehensively changing daily life, beyond our obsession with cars, the more likely we will veer into hardship, political trouble, and violence.<br /> The reason for this collective failure of imagination seems pretty obvious: the older generations are hopelessly vested and invested in the hard "assets" of suburbia, which they feel they cannot walk away from; and the younger generation is too demoralized by the fear that they will never be vested in any assets (while many seek refuge from thinking at all in the electronic sensory distractions of video games and Ipods, or else in irony and other forms of manufactured alienation).<br /> If I was a kid now, I'd find a lot more to rebel against than what we faced in the 1960s: the draft and the insipid program of Levittown. I'd rebel against a generation of adults selling the future for obscene pay packages. I'd rebel against everything from the mendacious nonsense of Rem Koolhaas to the profligate stupidity of Nascar. I'd want to eat Donald Trump for lunch (and set free the wolverine that lives on his head.) I'd utterly reject the false commoditized reality and set out to discover the world. I'd get busy building a society with a plausible future (and be real excited about it).<br /> Sometimes I wonder if we just enjoy lying to ourselves. Sometimes I think: if this nation could somehow harness the energy in all the smoke it blows up its own ass, we'd all be able to drive to heaven in Cadillac Escalades.</blockquote>
Blog Posting via Writely2006-07-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/07/11/blog-posting-via-writely<BR> This is a blog posting via <A HREF=http://www.writely.com TITLE=Writely>Writely</A> . The Google-owned web word-processor. So far it's pretty sweet.<BR> <BR>
Jon Lebkowski and Jaron Lanier2006-06-13T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/06/13/jon-lebkowski-and-jaron-lanier<a href="http://www.weblogsky.com/">John Lebkowski</a> is a very accomplished thinker, and I've read his stuff with interest for years, but he made a <a href="http://www.weblogsky.com/archives/000906.html">post on his blog</a> that drove me to make this comment</br>
<blockquote></br>
Umm, why do you think Jaron's essay was flawed? I thought it was a great warning against putting too much faith in the idea of "the Wisdom of Crowds" Sometimes, as in Wikipedia, when the crowd is focused on one goal, the crowd is wise. Sometimes, it's not. It's important to understand the situations where the sum is greater than the whole, and situations where everything descends to the lowest common denominator. See Digg for example.<br /><br />Also, he talks about the loss of authorship on these sites. One of the things I like about the internet is it's unabashed first person voice. Sites like Wikipedia and Digg tend to take away that voice, and dilute it down to a bland monotone.<br /><br />Now how is that "flawed?"<br /><br />I agree with a lot of the comments and refutations on the essay, but I think they serve to clarify Jaron's point, not blindly dismiss it as you do.<br /><br /></blockquote><br />
The last angry young man2006-06-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/06/09/the-last-angry-young-man<a href="http://www.lastangryman.ca/">This guy</a> has a <a href="http://www.angryman.ca/rants.html">Big List</a> of things that make him angry. It's hilarious, and oddly enough, it turns out he's from Ottawa as well. <a href="http://www.netfrost.ca">Netfrost</a> thinks he knows him from IRC. But he's got a lot of local content. Such as:</br>
<blockquote></br>
<h6>Cold Weather</h6></br>
Do you know how cold it was in Ottawa last week? Forty-five degrees Celcius below zero. That is so incredibly cold. On my way home from work, afraid that I wouldn't survive the 15 minute walk, I started to think about just how cold -45 is. Think of ice. I think we can all agree that ice is pretty cold. Ice is in fact synonymous with extreme cold. Ice is zero degrees Celcius. Last week the air was 45 degrees colder than ice. How nuts is that?</br>
</blockquote></br>
<blockquote></br>
<h6>The Colborne Big Apple</h6></br>
If you've spent any time on Ontario's Highway 401, you've no doubt seen the big apple. You couldn't miss it if you wanted to. And believe me, you want to. It's about thirty-five feet tall and resembles an apple only in that it is red and round. It could just have easily been called the big tomato, the big pomegranate, or the humongous cherry. With millions of people driving down the 401 every year, I know hundreds of thousands of dorks in minivans are making Big Apple jokes. You've probably thought of a couple already. Keep them to yourself. If I'm ever filthy rich, I'm going to buy a piece of land right down the rode from Colborne and build a slightly bigger apple. Thirty-five feet two inches. Colborne, your days are numbered.</br>
</blockquote></br>
<blockquote></br>
<h6>Billing Inserts from the Hydro Company</h6></br>
What's worse than an inexplicable billing insert from the hydro company? How about two billing inserts, one from the hydro company and one from the hydro company's regulator, both of which use the same euphemistic language to explain in the same confusing way that your rates are "changing." They're not changing man, they're going up. Just say that my rates are going up. I am strongly suspicious that a larger part of my bill goes towards printing billing inserts which I neither want nor understand than goes towards providing electricity. But these are the hydro people, so I guess I shouldn't be shocked.</br>
</blockquote>
TODO list2006-06-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/06/01/todo-listI put up a little <a href="http://www.folkwolf.net/blog/pages/todolist">TODO list</a> for the blog.
The End2006-05-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/05/20/the-endI've caught bits of the [cbc](http://www.cbc.ca) newsworld series ["The End"](http://www.cbc.ca/theend) with [Jian Ghomeshi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jian_Ghomeshi). It's a cbc documentary on the old-news "Old Media vs. New Media" debate. The series itself is somewhat tiresome, but I've noticed that on both the episodes I've seen, I've seen someone I've known while I was living in San Francisco. I'm not sure what that means, or even if it's important to anyone else, I just thought it was weird.
New Webmail2006-05-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/05/16/new-webmailI installed squirrelmail. They finally got it working right so that I could use it with UW-IMAP and pine, and it's less complicated and badly ambitious than the horde/imp webmail I was using before. It looks pretty ugly right now, but I might prettify it and add the address book feature in soon. As it is, hammer away at it <a href="http://www.folkwolf.net/smail/">here</a>
Jane Siberry is cool2006-05-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/05/05/jane-siberry-is-cool<a href="http://www.smoe.org/nbh">Jane Sibbery</a> is one of the nicest musicians I've ever had the privilege to meet. She asked me to be her roadie at one point. In 1996, she'd decided to get the rights back to all the songs that she could, and release them on <a href="http://www.sheeba.ca/">her own record label</a>. Just recently, she decided to change her pricing policy on her online record store. She calls it "self-determined pricing"</br>
</br>
the "Freakonomics" author <a href="http://www.freakonomics.com/blog/2006/05/03/how-is-a-canadian-art-pop-singer-like-a-bagel-salesman/"> likes it</a></br>
As well as <a href="http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004201.php"> the EFF</a>
Ugh. No blog.2006-05-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/05/04/ugh--no-blogSorry for the utter quiet from this corner. I seem to be more obsessed with the back-end of this blog these days. I'm having a lot of fun with it, but it's all on the development side, and it's not public. Looks pretty though.
Weird Adventures in WiFi2006-04-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/04/14/weird--adventures-in-wifiAs I type this, there are 5 wifi networks within my reach, and I've never figured out how to get the Airport software on my mac to use just my connection if it's available, so I often log onto one of my neighbors networks by mistake. I guess that happened to me this morning. I turned on iTunes this morning to listen to some music, and I noticed a weird drive in my iTunes sidebar called "Brendan Waddell's LimeWire" So I looked at this drive, and there was some really great music on this drive. I was listening to Xavier Rudd earlier (I caught his set at the BluesFest last summer), and now I'm listening to The Curious George soundtrack from Jack Johnson. Brendan, I don't know who you are, but thanks for the tunes! I gotta go out and buy a few new CDs.
Sorry Everyone2006-04-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/04/07/sorry-everyoneSorry all for the extended downtime from Saturday morning to Tuesday, noon. It was a tragedy of errors on <a href="http://www.bell.ca">Bell</a>'s part that kept them from being able to fix my phone line.
I dont know what Im doing, DAllaire can defend himself.2006-03-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/03/04/i-dont-know-what-im-doing-dallaire-can-defend-himseI saw this comment from someone in the new Rwandan Survivors blog at this entry:<a href="http://rwandansurvivors.blogspot.com/2006/01/general-romo-dallaire-talks-tonight.html">Rwandan Survivors</a>, so I felt compelled to defend D'Allaire. I think I may have gotten a little too impassioned.</br>
</br>
<b>His comment:</b><b></br>
<blockquote></br>
I don't mean to be too rude but is the irony here not apparent to anyone? Immediately before the post once again touting the heroic General Dallaire, is a post with these words in it from the story of a Rwandan Genocide survivor:"On 6 April, we made our way to the Ecole Technique Officielle (ETO), where some people had already sought refuge with the UN. We had protection and felt safe, but on 11 April, the UN troops drove away. As they left, the Interahamwe and government soldiers came. They told us we would be taken to Nyanza. They made us run. Some people were praying, others singing. As we ran, some people were hacked with machetes and others killed…"Now why is it again that the leader of the U.N. troops who deserted these people is a hero? Seriously what did he do that was so wonderful? It seems quite likely to me that General Dallaire's impotence was a leading factor in encouraging the genocide. And he's a hero in Canada? Has the world gone mad?</br>
</blockquote></br>
</b><b>My response, which I emailed to him as well:</b></br>
<blockquote></br>
From: mattrose@folkwolf.net</br>
Subject: Your post in the Rwandan survivors blog</br>
Date: January 28, 2006 11:54:26 AM EST (CA)</br>
To: goyomarquez@sbcglobal.net</br>
</br>
re: http://rwandansurvivors.blogspot.com/2006/01/general-romo-dallaire-talks-tonight.html</br>
</br>
I saw your comment, and I felt compelled to respond with this comment. Please try to learn more about what happened in Rwanda, so that it can never happen again, as it is about to in Darfur. We, the citizens of powerful nations like yours and mine have a responsibility to speak out, and demand that something be done. You can learn more from Romeo D'Allaire's book and documentary called "Shake Hands with the Devil". To save you the trouble of going back to the site, I have copied my comment below.</br>
</br>
Thank you</br>
Matt Rose</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
Greg, I also suggest you educate yourself before condemning D'Allaire in such a harsh way. The impotence you mention is not that of General D'Allaire, but rather, a result of the uncaring attitude of the world community, including You and I, of shrugging it's shoulders, and turning it's back. We, the citizens of the western world, took away D'Allaire's power, and he is doing everything in his power to make sure that it never happens again.</br>
</br>
Those forces you mention were pulled out by the Belgian and other gov'ts without his agreement, and against his direct requests for more troops. He asked for 44,000 troops, and after the Belgian gov't withdrew their troops, he was left with far less than 1,000 Should he have done more? Undoubtedly. Could he have done more? I don't think there's anyone that could honestly, unequivocably say yes.</br>
</br>
D'Allaire did all he could to save all the people that he could, and in reward, the UN pulled his troops out, and left him there to watch hundreds of thousands of people die, while he tried in vain to save those the few people he had the forces to protect.</br>
</br>
The trauma of that experience mentally and emotionally incapacited him with PTSD on his return to Canada. He ended up attempting suicide.Now, rather than trying to "put the past behind him", or attain "closure" he loves Rwanda, goes back there on a regular basis, and he's going around the world to try and get that message out, so that it never happens again.</br>
</br>
Although I am a Canadian, and I consider him a hero, he himself does not. I'm sure if you asked him, he would agree with you more than with me.</br>
</blockquote>
Granta: How to write about Africa by Binyavanga Wainaina2006-01-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/01/28/granta-how-to-write-about-africa-by-binyavanga-wain<a href="http://www.granta.com/Magazine/92/How-to-Write-About-Africa?view=articleAllPages">Granta: 'How to write about Africa' by Binyavanga Wainaina</a></br>
A sign of (faint) hope2006-01-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/01/26/a-sign-of-faint-hope<a href="http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/004032.html">WorldChanging: Another World Is Here: Compostmodern</a></br>
<blockquote>Roian Atwood from American Apparel had a lot to say about the garment industry and their successful bucking of the trends. America's textile industry is dead--98% of clothes sold in America are foreign-made, and of course tales of sweatshops are infamous. But American Apparel makes all of their clothes in the US, from materials almost entirely grown/made in the US, and pays their factory workers $13 - $20 an hour plus benefits. Far from struggling along for the sake of a mission, they're growing wildly. They're a vertically integrated company, from farm to store, and at present their main obstacle to offering more organics is the lack of spinning mills left in the country, which makes it difficult to specialize. And for those that haven't already heard, they don't use models for their ads--they're workers from the company or anyone off the street, with no airbrushing and minimal makeup. Their much-lauded practice of having no logos on anything was actually an outgrowth of the fact that they started as wholesale suppliers of "blanks" which brand-name companies printed their logos on--when American Apparel started retailing for themselves, they didn't want to compete with their existing customers.</blockquote>
Yay, no more fucking BIOS.2006-01-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/01/25/yay-no-more-fucking-biosIn this article:<a href="http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060125-6045.html">Red Hat to make Linux run on Intel macs</a>, I read this quote: </br>
<blockquote></br>
The current impediment is the Extensible Firmware Interface, a relatively new BIOS replacement designed by Intel that is not yet commonly used or widely supported.</br>
</blockquote></br>
</br>
All I could think of was Yay! Somebody finally realized that the PC BIOS, which has been around unchanged since the 80s, is fucking dumb. Even dumber than OpenBoot, which has also been around since the 80s, but had the bonus of being written in Forth, IIRC
Support Musicians by opposing the Music Industry.2006-01-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/01/11/support-musicians-by-opposing-the-music-industryIt doesn't make sense, but it does. If you want to stop DMCA style legislation in Canada, go sign the online petition at <a href="http://www.OnlineRights.ca">Online Rights Canada</a>. A joint venture by the <a href="http://www.eff.org">EFF</a> and <a href="http://www.cippic.ca/">CIPPIC.</a></br>
</br>
This is the email they wanted me to send out to up to 5 friends, but instead of spamming you, I'll just put it here</br>
</br>
.</br>
Check out Online Rights Canada's petition asking politicians to swear off money from big copyright holders:http://www.OnlineRights.ca/get_active/copyright_pledge_petition/email.php</br>
</br>
They have 103 signatures, and they're trying to get as many as possible before the election.
Karma2006-01-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/01/11/karmaWhat horrifies me is not that he threw a live mouse onto the fire, though that does seem unusually cruel, it's that he was BURNING LEAVES in the middle of the worst grass fires in the southern US.</br>
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4593682.stm" /></br>
</br>
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4593682.stm"> </a><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4593682.stm"> </a><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4593682.stm"> </a><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4593682.stm">Blazing mouse sets fire to house</a></br>
</br>
<font size="2"> <!-- S BO --> <!-- S IIMA --></font></br>
</br>
<!-- E IIMA --><font size="2"> <!-- S SF --> <strong>A US man who threw a mouse onto a pile of burning leaves could only watch in horror as it ran into his house and set the building ablaze.</strong> </font><font size="2"></br>
Luciano Mares, 81, of Fort Sumner, New Mexico, found the mouse in his home and wanted to get rid of it. </font></br>
</br>
<font size="2">"I had some leaves burning outside, so I threw it in the fire, and the mouse was on fire and ran back at the house," he was quoted as saying by AP. </font></br>
</br>
<font size="2">Though no-one was injured, the house and everything in it was destroyed. <!-- E SF --> </font></br>
</br>
<font size="2">"I've seen numerous house fires, but nothing as unique as this one," Fire Department Captain Jim Lyssy said. </font></br>
</br>
<font size="2">New Mexico has seen several major blazes after unseasonably dry and windy conditions which have destroyed 10 homes and devastated more than 53,000 acres (21,200 hectares) of land.<!-- E BO --> </font>
Irony2006-01-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/01/11/irony<strong style="font-size: 14px">TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) -- Firemen in a small Japanese town were left red-faced after a party to mark the end of a fire awareness promotional event ended in a blaze that badly damaged their station.</strong></br>
</br>
The two-story wooden fire station in Shimohetsugi, southern Japan, was extensively damaged by the Sunday blaze, a spokesman for the Oita prefectural fire department said.</br>
</br>
No one was injured in the fire, which is thought to have been started either by a gas canister used for the firemen's barbecue or by a kerosene heater.</br>
</br>
"It's very embarrassing that this should happen to people whose job it is to go and put out fires," the spokesman said.
Chuck Norris Facts2006-01-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/01/11/chuck-norris-factsPhew. Busy today. This site just popped up on my radar again, and I love it</br>
</br>
<a href="http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/">Chuck Norris Facts </a></br>
</br>
Apparently it's just a rip off of t<a href="http://www.4q.cc/chuck/">his site</a>, but that one sucks, where as chucknorrisfacts.com is slick and contains such Chuck Norris Facts as:</br>
</br>
Chuck Norris does not hunt because the word hunting infers</br>
the probability of failure. Chuck Norris goes killing.</br>
</br>
Crop circles are Chuck Norris' way of telling the world that sometimes corn needs to lie the fuck down.</br>
</br>
The Great Wall of China was originally created to keep Chuck Norris out. It failed misserably</br>
</br>
There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Chuck Norris allows to live.
Thats only -4degC2006-01-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/01/10/thats-only--4degcAhh, the onion...</br>
</br>
<a title="Man From Canada Acts Like He's Not Cold" href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/43952">Man From Canada Acts Like He's Not Cold</a></br>
<p class="meta">January 4, 2006 | <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/index/4201">Issue 42•01</a></p></br>
BOSTON—While visiting family in Boston, Geoff MacArdle of Ottawa refused to admit that he was cold Monday. "This is nothing—this is like May in Ottawa," insisted MacArdle, wearing a light spring jacket despite 23-degree temperatures. "Where I'm from, we have picnics in this weather." MacArdle then went indoors, saying he had nothing to prove.
Im halfway done my six-year quest2006-01-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/01/09/im-halfway-done-my-six-year-questBack in <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/19991008095256/http://www.folkwolf.net/">1999</a> I told people that I was coming out with an e-commerce strategy <a href="http://www.hacker-dictionary.com/terms/Real%20Soon%20Now">RSN</a>. Well, 6 years later, my plan has come to fruition. See if you can spot the change.</br>
</br>
My Web Community strategy came and went a little while ago, but I'm planning for Community3.0, due out RSN. Meaning, probably another 6 years.
Self referential post.2006-01-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2006/01/03/self-referential-postI've mentioned <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/carroll/">Jon Carroll</a>, from the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/">SF Chron </a>numerous times before, and I've also mentioned <a href="http://fafblog.blogspot.com">Fafblog</a> numerous times. In <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/01/02/DDG5TG01E31.DTL">this column</a>, JRC imitates Fafblog.
This article was filed under funny.2005-12-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/12/04/this-article-was-filed-under-funnythis article on newsforge was filed under humour: <a href="http://os.newsforge.com/os/05/05/18/2033216.shtml?tid=149">Windows rapidly approaching desktop usability</a> I find it 100% accurate. I guess that's why it's funny</br>
Weird thought on Concerts2005-11-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/27/weird-thought-on-concertsI went to see U2 Friday night, and while I was waiting for the Arcade Fire, my thoughts turned to Pearl Jam, and how, to combat bootleggers, they released CDs for the entire tour, one CD per show. The distribution and marketing of that was apparently a nightmare, and they had to fight their record company to do it. So the idle thought is: Why does every band not release MP3s or some DRMed version of MP3, of their show after it's done? Put the MP3s up on their website, charge $5 for it, and that would be a way to make even more money from shows, which seem to be the only way that musicians make money these days.
the WWW is just too much2005-11-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/27/the-www-is-just-too-muchbetween <a href="http://www.bloglines.com/">Bloglines</a>, <a href="http://www.del.icio.us/">Delicious</a>, and sites like <a href="http://www.blogafrica.com/">BlogAfrica</a>. I'm spending too much time on the www. More on this later.
Open source and Developing markets2005-11-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/25/open-source-and-developing-marketsIn <a href="http://timbuktuchronicles.blogspot.com/2005/11/open-source-and-developing-markets.html">Timbuktu Chronicles: Open source and Developing markets</a>. Emeka Okafur, points to <a href="</br>
http://news.com.com/Open+source+Developing+markets+look+for+alternatives+to+U.S./2100-7344_3-5951509.html?part=rss&tag=5951509&subj=news">a CNET article</a> on Open Source in the developing world. It brought to mind this quote from Bruce Perens speech at the WSIS conference in Tunis.</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
I bring you greetings from the hundreds of thousands of Open Source Software developers around the world. We embody many of the goals of the United Nations: we are a community without borders, a global network that shares knowledge, a social movement that produces real products available equally to the rich or poor, an economic reality that has engaged the world's largest companies and talented individuals in a collaboration of equals. Our work facilitates global e-inclusion and a sustainable infrastructure for technology and innovation in developing nations. Millions of people use our software to create global markets for local business through the Internet.</blockquote></br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
We create wealth for all. Our work, by metrics for conventional software creation, is valued in the billions of dollars. For our reward we ask only that you use our software. If you find it effective, perhaps you will join us in augmenting it.</blockquote></br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
Others offer developing nations charity and a relationship as vassals, captive markets and providers of labor at a salary the developed world would not accept. Open Source offers developing nations technological empowerment, control of their own infrastructure, and an equal technological partnership with developed nations.</br>
</br>
</blockquote></br>
</br>
</br>
This brings up the question: Why the hell aren't more people talking about this? All the pieces are in place, and have been for some time now. Extremely low cost computers are there. Open Source IS easy to use, if you're not used to windows. This is not only a great opportunity for Africa and the rest of the Developing world to get into ICT on a level playing field with the Developed world, but it is also a HUGE opportunity for Linux and other Open Source projects to gain true "World Domination," not just the domination of the small percentage of the world's population that already uses computers</br>
</br>
<a href="http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/002262.html">Jambo OpenOffice</a> is a start, I guess.
Intelligence Failures?2005-11-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/23/intelligence-failuresIn this article: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/11/AR2005111101623.html">The Right Way in Iraq</a> John Edwards says</br>
<blockquote></br>
The argument for going to war with Iraq was based on intelligence that we now know was inaccurate. The information the American people were hearing from the president -- and that I was being given by our intelligence community -- wasn't the whole story. Had I known this at the time, I never would have voted for this war.</br>
</blockquote></br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
And in <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/18/AR2005111802397.html">this article</a> Sen. Bob Graham tellingly states:</br>
<blockquote></br>
The American people needed to know these reservations, and I requested that an unclassified, public version of the NIE be prepared. On Oct. 4, Tenet presented a 25-page document titled "Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs." It represented an unqualified case that Hussein possessed them, avoided a discussion of whether he had the will to use them and omitted the dissenting opinions contained in the classified version. Its conclusions, such as "If Baghdad acquired sufficient weapons-grade fissile material from abroad, it could make a nuclear weapon within a year," underscored the White House's claim that exactly such material was being provided from Africa to Iraq.</br>
</blockquote></br>
<blockquote></br>
From my advantaged position, I had earlier concluded that a war with Iraq would be a distraction from the successful and expeditious completion of our aims in Afghanistan. Now I had come to question whether the White House was telling the truth -- or even had an interest in knowing the truth.</br>
</blockquote></br>
</br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
On Oct. 11, I voted no on the resolution to give the president authority to go to war against Iraq. I was able to apply caveat emptor. Most of my colleagues could not.</br>
</blockquote></br>
</br>
What happened wasn't an intelligence failure, it was a deliberate distortion of intelligence that Senators "fell for". This has to come out at some point.</br>
</br>
Holy accessible, Batman!2005-11-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/23/holy-accessible-batmanAt the same time as I'm impressed that the CEO of a company is asking you to call him to ask him a question, I can't help but thinking "Shouldn't he have more important things to take care of?"</br>
</br>
<a href="https://goffice.com/Spreadsheets.aspx">gOFFICE.com - Presentations</a></br>
</br>
We would LOVE to hear from you now if you have suggestions about how the spreasheet application should work. Please feel free to call us and speak with our CEO, Kevin. His number is (415) 391-9200. We also have a toll-free number which works in the US. That number is (800) 890-2013.
Augh. Why do spammers try and spam my shoutbox?2005-11-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/21/augh--why-do-spammers-try-and-spam-my-shoutboxIt is entirely useless, afaict. I guess it's the whole mentality.
Yet another uninformed opinion2005-11-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/20/yet-another-uninformed-opinionPosts like <a href="http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2005/11/14#a11784">this one</a> make me angry. Oh, let's go against ALL collective wisdom on Africa, and pull out one statistic, two anecdotes out and no first-hand experience, and say "No, people in Africa are happy!" btw phil, The celphone statistic is because: 1. most africans have never had a landline, 2. celphones are actually far cheaper in africa, and 3. Celphones are actually far more advanced in africa than they are in North America. The may not have cameras in them, but you can take your sim card with the same phone number to a different phone on a different provider. </br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
[The folks who've actually spent time in Africa feel a lot less sorry for Africans. One fellow at the Hacker's Conference spent nearly a year on a road trip through Africa with www.dragoman.com. He said "In a lot of the villages where we stayed, folks only have to work about two months per year to pay for all of their food and shelter. They're so much happier than Americans." My friend who work in public health and have spent years in Tanzania don't shed tears for the locals, either. And there is some evidence that Africans may not be as bad off economically as the dry statistics suggest. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/gear/2005-10-16-africa-cellular_x.htm notes that "an estimated 100 million of [Africa's] 906 million people" have mobile phones.]</blockquote></br>
</br>
Another quote from <a href="http://githush.blogspot.com/">Githush</a>. This <a href="http://githush.blogspot.com/2005/07/irony-is.html">post</a> should provide a little more context into the problem</br>
<blockquote></br>
Nothing weird you say, well on another channel - Bravo - they have a marathon of the reality show, The Restaurant. Now imagine this, on one channel you are watching a chef slathering a whole pig with butter, frying up some chicken, and grilling a ribeye steak. On the other channel you see folks (Ethiopian) forced to eat grass - which the refer to as cababage - a Sudanese family forced to go 3 weeks without food, and North Koreans forced to eat human flesh in order to survive. Curious are we, there is more.</blockquote></br>
<blockquote></br>
The patrons in the restaurant can not stop complaining, ohh the food is not hot enough, it's taking too long, it's not in the right plate etc.. But the Ethiopian, Sudanese and North Korean just accept what little they have (though they try hard to get better) and do not keep complaining. Those with plenty bitch about not having enough or not the right knd, but those with little accept what they have, thank the lord for what they have and continue on with life. Kweli hardship hardens the skin.</br>
</blockquote>
Weird news.2005-11-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/19/weird-newsI've been vaguely following the story of what Canada's been doing to help with the situation in the Darfur region of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/sudan/default.stm>Sudan</a>. Mom was posted there with the <a href="http://www.icrc.org/">Red Cross</a>, and also the story of <a href="http://www.david-kilgour.com/">David Kilgour</a> who insisted that Canada send troops to Darfur, when the Sudanese gov't wouldn't let them in. The compromise that was come up with was that Canada would send APC's for the AU troops to use. The Sudanese gov't wouldn't even let those in, and there's been constant stories in the Canadian news on how these APC's were languishing in West Africa doing nothing. Then I read <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4441996.stm">this story</a> about the Sudanese gov't finally allowing the APC's in. But I only found out by reading the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/default.stm">BBC Africa</a> website.
The death of Usenet2005-11-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/19/the-death-of-usenetJack kapica from the Globe and Mail writes about <a href="http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051117.gtjkcolumnnov17/BNStory/Technology/">The death of Usenet</a>. I haven't used USENET in years, but I'm kind of sad about it's decline. Some of my best experiences online were on usenet in the early days. I even found my <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/alt.my.head.hurts/browse_thread/thread/8e0d5011aa90623b/c278823853d69bae?lnk=st&q=mattrose%40achilles.net&rnum=112#c278823853d69bae">My first post</a>. Dorky, huh? Remember kids, whatever you write online is archived somewhere, forever.
Bloglines2005-11-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/18/bloglines<a href="http://www.bloglines.com"> Bloglines</a> is my new favourite utility/web site. A long time ago I discovered blogs, but my memory is horrible, and I would go months forgetting to check them. Then I discovered RSS feed readers. <a href="http://ranchero.com/netnewswire/>NetNewsWire on the Mac was an early feed reader, but I don't have a Mac, so I was out of luck. Then the <a href="http://liferea.sf.net">Linux Feed Reader</a> for <a href="http://www.gnome.org">the GNOME desktop</a> came out, and I started using that. It's pretty good, and it integrates well into the desktop, but it has one big drawback. It's only available on the desktop, so I can't check it from where ever I am. My rule, it seems, is that everything I do has to be network-transparent. Normally, I would find an RSS reader that I could install on my website, but one doesn't seem to exist yet, really. Bloglines fits all my criteria, and will do nicely until I write my own. The other feature I like is the clippings folder. I have at least three or four more blog entries stored there. Go check it out
UniverseCandidates - Ubuntu Wiki2005-11-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/09/universecandidates---ubuntu-wiki<a href="https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UniverseCandidates">UniverseCandidates - Ubuntu Wiki</a></br>
Removed a bunch of web apps2005-11-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/09/removed-a-bunch-of-web-appsI removed a bunch of php web applications into an archive on the folkwolf, and removed their permissions. There's a <a href="http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Worm-Exploits-Linux-Vulnerabilities-11896.shtml&cid=1102259967">worm </a> going around that exploits <a href="http://www.php.net">php</a> code. Most of the applications that I run on the folkwolf are php apps, and there was a lot of dead weight lying around, and I didn't feel like auditing all that code, so I just removed all the stuff that I don't use. If anyone wants anything back, lemme know
Front Page - rBuilder Online2005-11-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/09/front-page---rbuilder-online<a href="http://www.rpath.com/">Front Page - rBuilder Online</a></br>
Cool but abandoned applications | FootNotes2005-11-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/09/cool-but-abandoned-applications--footnotes<a href="http://gnomedesktop.org/node/2457">Cool but abandoned applications | FootNotes</a></br>
Civ4 Introduction2005-11-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/09/civ4-introduction<a href="http://www.civ4info.com/Sullla/civ4intro.html">Civ4 Introduction</a></br>
The Ottawa Citizen sucks2005-11-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/08/the-ottawa-citizen-sucksI was riding up in the elevator, and I had bought a copy of <a href="http://www.ottawacitizen.com">The Ottawa Citizen</a>, and had it tucked under my arm when a co-worker said, "Wow, reading a right-wing rag", "Yep". And I came across a telling series of events that illustrated my co-worker's point. The paris suburbs have basically descended into anarchy over the past two weeks, everybody agrees that they've been a problem for some time as <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4414442.stm">this article</a> points out. But instead of looking at what is actually going on in the country, this op-ed piece by <a href="http://www.keithspicer.ca">Keith Spicer</a> of which I can only give quotations because the Ottawa Citizen, among their other flaws, doesn't actually publish their material online. So I can only give you clap-trap like</br>
<blockquote></br>
Even more than elsewhere, French politicians paly in a little sand box of their own, with their own games, theit own ambitiions, their own vague, impenetrable vocabulary. "Social growth", "social fracture", "solidarity", damnable "ultra-liberalism". The entire French political establishjment is now mired in fuzzy leftist language. [...] </br>
</blockquote></br>
and</br>
<blockquote></br>
The dreamy model of multiculturalism promoted by Europe's leveral intelligentsia has been going up in smoke on the streets of Paris</br>
</blockquote></br>
<blockquote></br>
Some have tried to link [the original two children's] deaths to police racism. That strikes as too simplistic</br>
</blockquote></br>
If you were to read the Citizen, you would think that the riots in Paris were caused by fuzzy leftist thinking. However, if you read real news, you realize that this analysis is 100% wrong. France is not a fuzzy leftist paradise. The prime minister can most liberally be described as center-right, and the minister of the interior is even far to the right of the prime minister. The riots in Paris have nothing to do with "Ultra-liberalism" and everything to do with the following, gleaned from the article linked to above in the beeb.</br>
<blockquote></br>
Last April, Amnesty International singled out the violence and racism of the French police towards the non-white people of the suburbs for particular criticism.</br>
</blockquote></br>
<blockquote></br>
Nicolas Sarkozy, the Interior Minister, now seems to be playing politics with the situation by appealing to the most basic and resentful attitudes of conservative France.</br>
</blockquote></br>
This second viewpoint fits in with what I know of France. France is not some ultra-left country, it nearly elected <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_marie_le_pen">a neo-nazi</a> not too long ago. It's very socially conservative, though their values are slightly different than conservative values in the US or Canada.</br>
</br>
Normally I would chalk this up to a media bias that is different from mine, but the editorials in the Citizen seem to be attributing these riots to "fuzzy leftism" when, even as they acknowledge later, there is no evidence of this, and plenty of evidence to the contrary. When specified for details, they describe the french minister of the interior as a "Law and order man," they describe the prime minister as "on the right" They admit to the possibility that "The Paris riots are perhaps a backlash against France's clumsy efforts to homogenize the population" and "de Villepin ridiculed Britain's multicultural model, slyly referring to the London subway bombings as a consequence of too-soft policies"</br>
</br>
What the Citizen seems to be saying is that, although all the people in control are right-wing, the riots are the result of "Fuzzy leftist thinking". Sounds like "Fuzzy right-wing thinking" to me.</br>
Mers blog2005-11-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/07/mers-blogMer and Colin have <a href="http://treekick.blogspot.com/">set up a blog</a> where they announced the long-awaited (at least if you talk to Mom) date for their wedding</br>
</br>
I need to set up a blog roll for friends and family. I know Geoff has a blog that he never posts to, but I can't find it anymore.
Another reason not to run Windows2005-11-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/11/01/another-reason-not-to-run-windowsin <a href="http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html">Mark's Sysinternals Blog: Sony, Rootkits and Digital Rights Management Gone Too Far</a> This guy discovers that when he puts a CD into his windows machine, it installs DRM software that hides itself, and makes calls that could crash the machine running it. It also creates ways for other malware to hide itself, if it detects the DRM software. This is commonly called a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootkit">rootkit</a></br>
telnet2005-10-31T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/31/telnetI shut off telnet a long time ago, mainly because it's not secure. There is a program that replaces telnet for windows that is secure, and free. You can <a href="http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe">get it here</a>.</br>
</br>
just download that and run it. It's the same kind of thing as telnet, only encrypted.</br>
Only in Canada (Time for a picture)2005-10-31T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/31/only-in-canada-time-for-a-pictureOnly in Canada is there Hockey/Computer Gaming Humor</br>
<img src="http://folkwolf.net/~mattrose/sens-vs-leafs-oct-29-2005.jpg" alt="PWN3D! 8 ZIP ottawa" />
redhat.com | Integrating your applications into the desktop, Part 12005-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/27/redhatcom--integrating-your-applications-into-the-d<a href="http://www.redhat.com/magazine/012oct05/features/freedesktop/">redhat.com | Integrating your applications into the desktop, Part 1</a></br>
Kenya maths paper fails to add up2005-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/27/kenya-maths-paper-fails-to-add-upThis is not fair at all</br>
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4374348.stm">BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Kenya maths paper fails to add up</a></br>
Jon Udell: Attention economics2005-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/27/jon-udell-attention-economics<a href="http://weblog.infoworld.com/udell/2005/10/19.html#a1324">Jon Udell: Attention economics</a></br>
Insurance Photos Hall of Fame2005-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/27/insurance-photos-hall-of-fame<a href="http://famguardian.org/Subjects/Scams/Humor/InsPhotosHallOfFame.htm">Insurance Photos Hall of Fame</a></br>
CNET News.coms Blog 1002005-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/27/cnet-newscoms-blog-100<a href="http://news.com.com/2311-10784_3-80212.html">CNET News.com's Blog 100</a></br>
A guided tour of the Microsoft Command Shell : Page 42005-10-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/27/a-guided-tour-of-the-microsoft-command-shell--page-<a href="http://arstechnica.com/guides/other/msh.ars/4">A guided tour of the Microsoft Command Shell : Page 4</a></br>
nfg1969.swf (application/x-shockwave-flash Object)2005-10-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/21/nfg1969swf-applicationx-shockwave-flash-object<a href="http://www.hallmark.com/wcsstore/HallmarkStore/images/products/ecards/nfg1969.swf">nfg1969.swf (application/x-shockwave-flash Object)</a></br>
eBay: DKNY Mens Leather Pants I Unfortunately Own (item 8335653541 end time Sep-23-05 12:50:38 PDT)2005-10-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/21/ebay-dkny-mens-leather-pants-i-unfortunately-own-it<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8335653541">eBay: DKNY Men's Leather Pants I Unfortunately Own (item 8335653541 end time Sep-23-05 12:50:38 PDT)</a></br>
ou are bidding on a mistake.</br>
</br>
We all make mistakes. We date the wrong people for too long. We chew gum with our mouths open. We say inappropriate things in front of grandma.</br>
</br>
And we buy leather pants.</br>
</br>
I can explain these pants and why they are in my possession. I bought them many, many years ago under the spell of a woman whom I believed to have taste. She suggested I try them on. I did. She said they looked good. I wanted to have a relationship of sorts with her. I’m stupid and prone to impulsive decisions. I bought the pants.</br>
</br>
The relationship, probably for better, never materialized. The girl, whose name I can’t even recall, is a distant memory. I think she was short.</br>
</br>
Ultimately the pants were placed in the closet where they have remained, unworn, for nearly a decade. I would like to emphasize that: Aside from trying these pants on, they have never, ever been worn. In public or private.</br>
</br>
I have not worn these leather pants for the following reasons:</br>
</br>
I am not a member of Queen.</br>
I do not like motorcycles.</br>
I am not Rod Stewart.</br>
I am not French.</br>
I do not cruise for transvestites in an expensive sports car.</br>
</br>
These were not cheap leather pants. They are Donna Karan leather pants. They’re for men. Brave men, I would think. Perhaps tattooed, pierced men. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say you either have to be very tough, very gay, or very famous to wear these pants and get away with it.</br>
</br>
Again, they’re men’s pants, but they’d probably look great on the right lady. Ladies can get away with leather pants much more often than men can. It’s a sad fact that men who own leather pants will have to come to terms with.</br>
</br>
They are size 34x34. I am no longer size 34x34, so even were I to suddenly decide I was a famous gay biker I would not be able to wear these pants. These pants are destined for someone else. For reasons unknown - perhaps to keep my options open, in case I wanted to become a pirate - I have shuffled these unworn pants from house to house, closet to closet. Alas, it is now time to part ways so that I may use the extra room for any rhinestone-studded jeans I may purchase in the future.</br>
</br>
These pants are in excellent condition. They were never taken on pirate expeditions. They weren’t worn onstage. They didn’t straddle a Harley, or a guy named Harley. They just hung there, sad and ignored, for a few presidencies.</br>
</br>
Someone, somewhere, will look great in these pants. I’m hoping that someone is you, or that you can be suckered into buying them by a girl you’re trying to bed.</br>
</br>
Please buy these leather pants.
About Me2005-10-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/21/about-meMatt Rose is a 32 year old male doing Product Support for a small software company in the town formerly known as Kanata, now part of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. His interest include Linux, music, international politics, and socio-economics. He plays keyboards in The Mighty Eagle Band, but mainly does it cause he really likes band practice. Matt is finding it really weird writing about himself in the third person, so he's going to finish this off by showing you a picture of what he looks like.</br>
<hr /></br>
<img src="http://www.folkwolf.net/~mattrose/images/goldengatematt.jpg" alt="Matt at Golden Gate Bridge" />
Worlds Most Elusive Rat Dead After 18-Week Chase2005-10-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/20/worlds-most-elusive-rat-dead-after-18-week-chase<a href="http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/051019_rat_race.html">World's Most Elusive Rat Dead After 18-Week Chase</a></br>
VMware Player2005-10-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/20/vmware-player<a href="http://www.vmware.com/products/player/">VMware Player</a> is cool. I already have VMs for a whole bunch of OSes.</br>
Dangerous Windows2005-10-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/20/dangerous-windows<a href="http://www.murrayc.com/blog/tech/2005-10-20-11-00"></a></br>
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Wars less frequent, less deadly2005-10-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/20/bbc-news--world--americas--wars-less-frequent-less-I get an RSS feed from the BBC and this showed up, the day after I went to see Romeo D'allaire. It was, terrible timing, to say the least.</br>
</br>
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4350860.stm">BBC NEWS Wars 'less frequent, less deadly'</a></br>
</br>
</br>
That's a really rose-colored report. When you think of all the genocides</br>
and ethnic cleansings and child armies that have exploded since the end of</br>
the Cold War, war may have gotten slightly less deadly, but a whole lot</br>
dirtier. I was at a lecture by Romeo D'Allaire, the commander of the UN</br>
forces during the failed Rwanda mission on Tuesday, and he asked a</br>
question which illustrates war in these times, I'll have to paraphrase it,</br>
because I didn't take notes, but the question goes something like this.</br>
</br>
"We came upon a small village in Rwanda, and we were looking for</br>
survivors, and once we came upon the church, villagers started streaming</br>
out of it, which was unusual, because the normal way of doing things was</br>
to round up the entire village, lock all of the villagers in the church,</br>
and burn it down. In this case, we thought we were lucky, because the</br>
villagers came streaming out of the church when we came into view.</br>
Suddenly a bunch of young boys between the ages of 9 and 14 came out of</br>
the jungle on our right, and started firing at us with AK-47s. Then a</br>
bunch of young girls about the same ages, some of whom were pregnant,</br>
appeared out of the jungle on our left, they were being used as human</br>
shields by yet more young boys with AK-47s firing at us, and the villagers</br>
coming out of the Church. Now, knowing that most of these children were</br>
forced into camps, brainwashed, and pressed into service under penalty of</br>
death, knowing that these children had a "Buddy system" where if your</br>
buddy ran away, you were shot, knowing that these children where only</br>
unknowing automatons, probably given drugs to commit this act, what do you</br>
do? You have nanoseconds to make a decision, and bullets are killing</br>
both your soldiers, as well as the villagers all around you."</br>
</br>
</br>
What do you do, indeed. It's a heartbreaking question. Luckily, he</br>
didn't ask us the answer to the question, and I think the answer he came</br>
up with on that spot has haunted his dreams for more than 10 years now.</br>
I like Vermontians2005-10-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/17/i-like-vermontiansAside from Voting in Howard Dean is as governor, they also run <a href="http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2005/08/minutemen-home-for-extremists_08.html">the minutemen</a> <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2005/10/16/volunteers_get_cold_reception_in_vermont?mode=PF">out of town</a>
should be sub-titled "The even ruder pundit"2005-10-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/14/should-be-sub-titled-the-even-ruder-punditIn the vein of <a href="http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/">The Rude Pundit</a>, there's <a href="http://ifuckedanncoulterintheasshard.blogspot.com/">I Fucked Ann Coulter in the Ass, Hard</a>, and <a href="http://backinanncoultersasssaddleagain.blogspot.com/">Back in Ann Coulter's Ass-Saddle Again</a></br>
</br>
Truly lowering the political discourse. And really really wrong.
Confidential to IWS2005-10-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/14/confidential-to-iwsI'm up for a <a href="http://www.deficient.ca/iws/2005/10/12/rye-night/">rye night</a> anytime other than this weekend coming.
I think IWS needs a hug2005-10-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/10/07/i-think-iws-needs-a-hugI think <a href="http://www.deficient.ca/iws/2005/09/27/vooboom/">his job</a> is getting him down
More Burning Man stuff.2005-09-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/09/23/more-burning-man-stuffI found this quote on the <a href="http://traces.burningman.com/bbrc/bbrc05/archive/2005/08/22/cameragirl-theres-nothing-like-a-good-pounding">Burning Man/DPW blog</a>, and I really think it fits.</br>
</br>
They say Burning Man is about community or art or expression... and it is, but behind most of that is some really hard core engineering, planning and logistical dynamics, and elegant execution of these feats under the worst possible conditions.
Countries Ive visited2005-09-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/09/20/countries-ive-visited<img src="http://www.folkwolf.net/~mattrose/countries2.jpg"/><br /></br>
<a href="http://douweosinga.com/projects/visitedcountries">create your own visited countries map</a></br>
</br>
Update: Apparently I should add zambia to that map, according to my mom.
Aviation/BurningMan Geek Humour2005-09-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/09/20/aviationburningman-geek-humourThis has to be the most obscure form of humor, but <a href="http://marc.merlins.org/perso/bm/Pix/index.php?album=2005/1_BRC/19_Airport&img=107_Arrival.jpg">it's fucking funny</a> to me. The list of Cautions on the Jeppesen map is funny, as well as the X-Ray advisory.
Goddamnit, just give money to the red cross.2005-09-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/09/19/goddamnit-just-give-money-to-the-red-crossI've heard lots of stupid reasons not to give money to the red cross. I'll give you one damn good reason to give money to the red cross.</br>
</br>
They are the agency that best knows what they're doing, and how best to do it. MSF comes a close second.</br>
</br>
www.redcross.ca, go there now, and donate 20 bucks towards Katrina Relief.
Why does GM remind me of Powell Motors2005-08-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/08/11/why-does-gm-remind-me-of-powell-motorsan exec working for the Chinese division of GM designs a minivan that gets 43mpg and sells for $5000. It makes the Chinese division of GM the most profitable car company in China. So, does GM bring him to the US to revamp their product line? Do they follow his success in building modern small vehicles?</br>
</br>
No, he's seen as a threat to other executives and so they <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/09/automobiles/09mini.html?hp&ex=1123646400&en=39dec4f0be9f3532&ei=5094&partner=homepage">fire him</a></br>
</br>
The state of Somalia2005-08-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/08/11/the-state-of-somaliaAs some of you may know, I spent two years (1985 - 87) in Somalia, I left Mogadishu while it was at its peak, before the civil war that started to destroy the country. I read all of the articles on <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/somalia/default.stm">this page</a> from the BBC. It makes for fascinating reading.
I like this US Judge2005-08-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/08/11/i-like-this-us-judgeI wish everyone would pay attention to this judge. Human Rights, including the right to a free and open trial are the cornerstones of any decent civilization. </br>
</br>
The <a href="http://http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20Millennium%20Terror%20Judge">transcript</a> of U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour's comments during Wednesday's sentencing hearing for Ahmed Ressam, the Millennium Bomber</br>
</br>
Some of my favourite points:</br>
</br>
Secondly, though, I would like to convey the message that our system works. We did not need to use a secret military tribunal, or detain the defendant indefinitely as an enemy combatant, or deny him the right to counsel, or invoke any proceedings beyond those guaranteed by or contrary to the United States Constitution.</br>
</br>
Most importantly, all of this occurred in the sunlight of a public trial. There were no secret proceedings, no indefinite detention, no denial of counsel.</br>
</br>
Folkwolf Revamp2005-08-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/08/04/folkwolf-revampI've done a lot of work behind the scenes lately to the various programs that make up the web portion of the folkwolf. </br>
</br>
1. I've installed <a href="http://wordpress.org">wordpress</a>, the software that is running this frontpage. I like it so far, it's much easier to administer than moveabletype, plus, you can add yourself as a user, and make posts, if you like.</br>
</br>
2. I've upgraded gallery to the final beta of 2.0. This version is far more secure by design, and also a lot easier to administer.</br>
</br>
3. I've played around with squirrelmail, and so far it has not made me happy. It's ugly, it doesn't do folders properly (or how I think it should). I'll do some more playing around with it, as well as a bit more hunting, but if anyone comes across a nice webmail app, lemme know.
How to use Folkwolf Gallery2005-08-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/08/03/how-to-use-folkwolf-galleryI've upgraded Gallery to the latest version, and I still haven't finished playing with it, but it does have an option for registering yourself, so that if you want to add an album, you can register for your own account. It'll create an account for you automagically, after that, you can login and create new galleries. If you want access to edit your existing albums, you can email me and I'll reset the permissions once you get a new account.
Hey, I want an account!2005-08-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/08/03/hey-i-want-an-accountIf you want a folkwolf.net account, just email me and I'll set one up.
Echinacea proven useless, again.2005-08-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/08/03/echinacea-proven-useless-againThis <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/28/health/28cold.html?incamp=article_popular">NY Times article</a> talks about a study that once again, and in new ways, refutes any claims to a cold remedy.</br>
</br>
Some cool quotes.</br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<blockquote> The study, being published today in The New England Journal of Medicine,</br>
involved 437 people who volunteered to have cold viruses dripped into their</br>
noses. Some swallowed echinacea for a week beforehand, others a placebo.</br>
Still others took echinacea or a placebo at the time they were infected.</br>
</br>
Then the subjects were secluded in hotel rooms for five days while</br>
scientists examined them for symptoms and took nasal washings to look for</br>
the virus and for an immune system protein, interleukin-8. Some had</br>
hypothesized that interleukin-8 was stimulated by echinacea, enabling the</br>
herb to stop colds.</br>
</br>
But the investigators found that those who took echinacea fared no</br>
differently from those who took a placebo: they were just as likely to</br>
catch a cold, their symptoms were just as severe, they had just as much</br>
virus in their nasal secretions, and they made no more interleukin-8.</br>
</blockquote></br>
</br>
</br>
</br>
<blockquote> Now, with increasing evidence that echinacea does not work for colds,</br>
scientists are confronting a problem, Dr. Sampson said, in that "there is</br>
no 'demarcation of the absurd,' a point at which it is unwise to pursue an</br>
investigation further."</br>
</br>
For Dr. Turner, that point is here.</br>
</br>
"We should assume that echinacea does not work until somebody proves it</br>
does," he said. That, he added, "is the flip side of where we've been."</br>
</br>
</br>
</blockquote></br>
</br>
We need one of these!2005-07-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/07/28/we-need-one-of-theseWe need <a href="http://http://www.boingboing.net/2005/07/27/incar_pizzaoven.html">one of these</a> for our drive down to <a href="http://www.burningman.com">Burning Man</a>
Vino signs with Liberty Seguros!2005-07-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/07/28/vino-signs-with-liberty-segurosAlexander Vinokourov has signed with Liberty Seguros. An excerpt from the article:</br>
</br>
Alexander Vinokourov has signed with the Spanish Liberty Seguros cycling team in the belief he will win the Tour de France in the next two years.</br>
</br>
Vino single-handedly made the Tour De France exciting this year, especially considering the dominating power of the Discovery team, and managing to single-handedly beat out an entire peloton going flat out at 60 km/h. I've never seen anything like that.
Time for a new picture.2005-07-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/07/28/time-for-a-new-picture<img src="http://www.folkwolf.net/~mattrose/images/cant-have-a-pony.png" alt="No! You can't have a pony!" border=0 />
funny web shiznit2005-07-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/07/20/funny-web-shiznit<a href="http://www.gelfmagazine.com/">This guy</a> does what I've always wanted to do. He takes the excerpts from movie reviews that movies put in their ads to entice people to go, and look up the context of the ad. He calls it <a href="</br>
http://www.gelfmagazine.com/mt/archives/blurb_racket_61805.html">the Blurb Racket</a></br>
</br>
for example:</br>
</br>
David Ansen, Newsweek: "Hilarious! A knockdown, drag-out romantic comedy."</br>
Actual line: " 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' works far better as a knockdown, drag-out romantic comedy than as an action movie. The obligatory table-turning plot twists in the third act are neither convincing nor particularly interesting. And there were more than a few moments when I hadn't a clue what was going on: what was the warring couple doing at a construction site where Mrs. Smith threatens to blow up an elevator carrying Mr. Smith?"</br>
</br>
Also. <a href="http://mcsweeneys.net/2005/7/19yaffa.html">THE BOY IN THE BUBBLE</br>
REVIEWS NEW YORK CITY'S MOST FASHIONABLE AND TRENDY NEW RESTAURANTS</a> is hilarious.
Directions to Starbucks from I 802005-07-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/07/20/directions-to-starbucks-from-i-80As some of you may know, liz and I often drive down to burning man in Nevada. It's a straight haul from Gary, Indiana to San Francisco, and every year, one of the most unpleasant things about the drive is the weak-ass dishwater that truck stops along the I80 try to pass off as coffee.</br>
</br>
So I decided to look up locations of starbucks in towns along the route. This makes me stupidly happy.</br>
</br>
see below for version 1.0</br>
Remind me not to order Tsing Tao anymore.2005-07-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/07/18/remind-me-not-to-order-tsing-tao-anymore<a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/15/content_3224016.htm">link</a><br /></br>
</br>
Chinese beer safe: quality watchdog</br>
</br>
BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese beer is safe to drink as</br>
its formaldehyde content is much lower than the ceiling set by the</br>
World Heath Organization (WHO), China's quality watchdog reported</br>
Friday.
first python release2005-07-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/07/12/first-python-releasethis is a little snippet I wrote to monitor the bugzilla server at work, and put a tray icon in my GNOME panel to tell me that there is a bug in the queue.</br>
</br>
the code is below. there's probably some wordwrap issues.</br>
</br>
The huge todo list.</br>
Properly deal with when someone reassigns a bug out of the queue, and kill the notification.</br>
properly background the process, so that I can just run it out of the gnome session manager.</br>
have the ability to configure the icon</br>
have the ability to pass in the filename containing the url on the command line, or pass in the url on the command line.</br>
Later on:</br>
Properly deal with more than one entry in the queue, and print out a list of bugnumbers and summaries. I already set up the dictionary to do this right, but I can't figure out what to do with it. I probably should look at porting libnotify to python, if no-one else has.</br>
folkwolf.net moved2005-07-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/07/11/folkwolfnet--movedNot physically, but internetally. After all the problems we had with <a href="http://www.istop.com/">istop</a> ,we decided to switch providers. We're now connected through <a href="http://www.magma.ca">magma</a>, and hopefully much better and more reliable for it. There was a lot of short-term pain involved, because I didn't really plan anything, but hopefully, things are back to normal now, and it'll work out to a lot of long term gain.
meditations on terrorism2005-07-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/07/08/meditations-on-terrorismI'm sitting here listening to Buck 65, Riverbed part 4. It's an oddly hypnotic song that goes along with a blog entry from one of the Gnome developers.</br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
Our might does not make right. Our present and historical invovlement in the mideast is conveniently unknown or forgotten. Effects and causes are disjoint. The West Wing's Toby Ziegler might be right - maybe they will like us when we win. But maybe they'll like us if we simply stop doing everything within our power to fuck with their lives. There's a good New Testament quote to the effect of "they will know you are a Christian through your actions and good deeds." Let's spread freedom through our good example instead of our tanks. </br>
</blockquote></br>
</br>
Maybe we need a more Buddhist, kung-fu style approach to the War on Terror. I don't understand how we can win a War on Terror, when our enemies are ourselves. They could be our friends, our neighbours, or they could be people a million miles away. Terrorists are our enemies, but how can you tell a terrorist? They don't wear uniforms, they're not all one colour,creed, or race. They could be our friends, our neighbours, or they could be people a million miles away. There's now way we can tell them apart, there's no way we can fight the terrorists without fighting ourselves as well. As soon as you declare a War on Terrorists, you're declaring a war on the whole population. So what to do? We can't lock everyone up who looks at us funny, try as we might, maybe the only way to end the War on Terror is to follow the teachings of the Buddha.</br>
</br>
<blockquote></br>
"Everyone fears punishment," he says, "everyone fears death, just as you do. Therefore do not kill or cause to kill. Everyone fears punishment; everyone loves life, as you do. Therefore do not kill or cause to kill." He also said, "Hatred cannot put an end to hatred; love alone can. This is an unalterable law."</br>
</blockquote></br>
</br>
Or Jesus, as he said in the Sermon on the Mount:</br>
<blockquote></br>
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. <br /><i>Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 35 - 44</i></br>
</blockquote>
Hillary Rosen gets it, Finally.2005-06-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/06/28/hillary-rosen-gets-it-finally<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/hilary-rosen/the-wisdom-of-the-court-_3259.html"Holy Belated "Duh", Batman</a>.</br>
</br>
Hillary Rosen finally gets the fact that suing grokster, napster, kazaa, whatever music stealing app is in this week, etc is not going to make any kind of dent in the online music sharing phenomenon. People are going to continue sharing music until the labels under the auspices of the RIAA ( the almost universally loathed big Five) dramatically change their business. They can continue to play whack-a-mole suing various companies, but people aren't going to be told what kind of music they can listen to for much longer.</br>
Excerpt is below.</br>
To all folkwolf users.2005-06-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/06/22/to-all-folkwolf-usersTed has been secondarying my mail for me for almost as long as the folkwolf has been around, it's a great service when the folkwolf becomes unavailable, as mail queues up on his machine.</br>
</br>
So if you get spam, and you happen to see headers that say it was relayed by bombshelter.ca, PLEASE don't report it to rogers, because it gets him in shit.</br>
</br>
> Note: forwarded message attached.</br>
></br>
> Matt, apparenlty someone's decided that my relaying</br>
> for you is a spam. Can you fixie? Maybe I shouldn't be</br>
> listed as your relay anymore?</br>
</br>
I'm sorry, I'm not sure what to do. Tell rogers that as the postmaster of</br>
folkwolf.net, I agreed to accept any mail that you relay to me as my</br>
secondary, and I'll tell my users that your mail server is supposed to</br>
relay mail to me, and not to bitch to rogers if they see your mail server</br>
in the header path.</br>
</br>
></br>
> Ted
Infernokrusher: when SF meets Burning Man meets the monster truck rally2005-06-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/06/02/infernokrusher--when-sf-meets-burning-man-meets-theSome people have decided we need a new SF movement. The last one was Cyberpunk, and some of the latest tomes of SF have been lumped into a movement called "Slipstream" Which Meghan McCarron Calls <a href="http://www.chrononaut.org/log/archives/000547.html#4942">wussy</a>.</br>
</br>
So a bunch of people have come up with "Infernokrusher" SF, with catchphrases such as:</br>
</br>
<ul></br>
<li>Core Infernokrusher fiction would never forget to fill up the tank. Infernokrusher is always intense.</br>
</li><li>More than the death of the Reader, Infernokrusher prizes the sudden, violent dismemberment of the Reader </br>
</li><li>Infernokrusher fiction explodes stagnant genre conventions, e.g., that its not okay to have all your characters run over by a monster truck in what would seem to be the middle of the story</br>
</li><li> Infernokrusher is a violently anti-materialist movement, regardless of the materials involved</br>
</li><li> While other attitudes to art yearn to communicate truths, to move people, to challenge, or to entertain, infernokrusher art wants to blow stuff up</br>
</li></ul>
Cool pic of Liz2005-06-02T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/06/02/cool-pic-of-lizCool <a href="http://pwi.blogspot.com/2005/05/quien-tiene-mas-rock.html">write-up</a> too. It's nice to see that "sausage-fest" comment getting the attention it was intended to get.
Really, I should just copy Fafblog.2005-05-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/05/27/really-i-should-just-copy-fafblog'cause they're so Kewl.</br>
</br>
I especially like this paragraph.</br>
<blockquote></br>
For all its vaunted human rights record, Canada has done precious little to help torture its citizens on behalf of the United States government; indeed, it has opposed this critical counterterrorist measure at every turn. Likewise, despite Sweden's remarkably open society, the Scandanavian nation hasn't turned a single thumbscrew in the struggle against our Islamist enemy. Why, next to stalwarts like Pakistan, Egypt, and Jordan, France is a veritable red flag for regime change! Until the Bush administration starts getting serious with dirty-fingered allies in the anti-freedom axis like Germany, Luxembourg, and Holland, how can its message of freedom be taken seriously at all?</blockquote>
I fucking hate US media.2005-05-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/05/27/i-fucking-hate-us-mediaWhy was <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/international/asia/20abuse.html?">this</a> not shown all over CNN? Hell, why was it shoved in some back page of the fucking NY Times?</br>
</br>
I'm from Canada. We had 4 soldiers mistreat a Somali boy in custody, who was caught breaking into a Canadian Army base. Because of the mistreatment of one Somali boy, our entire Airborne platoon was disbanded, and never recreated. It was front-page news for months, and it left a permanent and deep scar on the Canadian military. But apparently, American soldiers can torture whoever they like, whenever they like without repercussion or at worst, a possible slap on the wrist.</br>
</br>
The entire article is below.</br>
WANT2005-05-19T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/05/19/want<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/civilizationiv/preview_6125513.html">NOW!</a>
A good metaphor for RFC terms2005-05-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/05/10/a-good-metaphor-for-rfc-termsFirst, a primer on RFCs:</br>
</br>
All of the internet is run on RFCs. It's the agreed upon standard for transferring data accross the internet. If I wanted to write, say, a web server, I would look up <a href="http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc1945/rfc1945">RFC 1945</a> Otherwise known as version 1.0 of the HTTP RFC, and that would tell me how to serve up pages so that any web browser that also followed that document could read what my web server sent. Consider the RFC as the "language" of HTTP. If I speak Croatian, and you speak english, we can't understand each other, if we're both speaking the mythical language of HTTP, we can understand each other fine. The RFC contains all of the syntactic and grammatical rules of this mythical HTTP "language"</br>
</br>
All of which is prelude to saying, that when an RFC says you <a href="http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc2119.html">SHOULD</a> do something, that means you better have a damn good reason not to do it, or as <a href="http://bitworking.org/news/I_m_sorry__I_can_t_kiss_it_and_make_it_better_#X14">l.m orchard</a> put it:</br>
<blockquote></br>
'SHOULD NOT This phrase, or the phrase "NOT RECOMMENDED" mean that there may exist valid reasons in particular circumstances when the particular behavior is acceptable or even useful, but the full implications should be understood and the case carefully weighed before implementing any behavior described with this label.'</br>
</br>
To me, this implies that the "you" who has to "live with it" is the implementor-- i.e. anyone who's implemented a GET as a DELETE.</br>
</br>
For instance, while it might be acceptable or even useful to whack yourself between the eyes with a ball-peen hammer if there happens to be a poisonous alien bug sitting there with a weakness for ball-peen hammers-- it's not really recommended in general practice.</br>
</blockquote>
Why I hate Star Wars2005-05-09T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/05/09/why-i-hate-star-wars<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/05/06/1115092681717.html?oneclick=true">This article</a> explains it nicely.</br>
</br>
It's nice to have validation sometimes.
Chicken Coop for the 21st Century2005-05-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/05/05/chicken-coop-for-the-21st-century<a href="http://www.omlet.co.uk/about_us/about_us.php?subgroup_selected=the%20eglu">The eglu!</a><br /></br>
Give your chickens the best! The eglu is a coop for the 21st century, featuring spacious open plan living for 2 medium size chickens or 3 bantams, it is a stylish and practical addition to any garden. Designed to be comfortable for the chickens and effortless for you, the eglu makes keeping chickens rewarding and fun.
On the nature of Govt2005-05-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/05/04/on-the-nature-of-govtI monitor a lot of technical blogs, to keep up with current events in Linux. Occasionally something really profound comes out. I especially like this paragraph from one of the AbiWord hackers.</br>
</br>
the full article is <a href="http://www.advogato.org/person/cinamod/diary.html?start=41">here</a></br>
<i></br>
It is supposed to be an infrastructure that we as a society can build on. In no small part, it should be an enabler. It is supposed to do the hard things that we can't do individually, but are collectively achievable. Sometimes we need to do the right thing, even if the right thing isn't the cost-effective thing. To this end, government should sometimes be a check against the "free" market and sometimes a carrot that leads the market to the ends society desires. </br>
</i>
Geek RPG humour2005-04-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/04/22/geek-rpg-humourSomebody should really send <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~cklarock3/chick.htm">"The New World of Darkness"</a> out to Kim, Einoch, Nick, Chris, Angie, Stu, Brian, et al. The moral of the story is:</br>
</br>
Remember kids, D&D lets you become a god, and forget how lame you are, Vampire leads to LARP and LARP leads to Furries.
More IM Wisdom from IWS2005-04-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/04/21/more-im-wisdom-from-iwsSo I was talking with <a href="http://www.deficient.ca/iws/">IWS</a>, and teasing him that I was more mature than he is. He comes back with this:</br>
(Maturity), it seems like a great excuse for being a slave to ritual, work, and perceived obligations. Bob is 32 years old. He's over-worked, under-paid, and an absolute killjoy. Bob is very mature for his age. Makes me think of <a href="http://www.salon.com/people/feature/2002/03/13/hicks/">Bill Hicks'</a> "It's Just a Ride"</br>
</br>
I was speechless, and suitably humbled.</br>
</br>
And then he sent me a pointer. And I will reproduce the whole thing here, 'cause it's very, very cool.</br>
<b></br>
The world is like a ride at an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it, you think it's real, because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round and it has thrills and chills and it's very brightly colored and it's very loud. And it's fun, for a while.</br>
</br>
Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question: 'Is this real? Or is this just a ride?' And other people have remembered, and they come back to us and they say 'Hey! Don't worry, don't be afraid - ever - because... this is just a ride.' And we kill those people.</br>
</br>
'Shut him up! We have a lot invested in this ride! Shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry; look at my big bank account, and my family. This has to be real.'</br>
</br>
It's just a ride. But we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that - ever notice that? - and we let the demons run amok. But it doesn't matter, because... it's just a ride, and we can change it any time we want. It's only a choice. No effort. No worry. No job. No savings and money. Just a choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your door, buy bigger guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one.</br>
</br>
Here's what we can do to change the world, right now, into a better ride. Take all that money we spend on weapons and defense each year and, instead, spend it feeding, clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would do many times over - not one human being excluded - and we can explore space together, both inner and outer, forever. In peace.</b></br>
</br>
I miss Bill Hicks. He was so angry, and so hopeful at the same time.
From now on, everyone must call me "Brother Sword of Compassion"2005-04-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/04/10/from-now-on-everyone-must-call-me-brother-sword-of-I've loved <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/carroll/">Jon Carroll</a> ever since I joined the well, and I always considered his columns in the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/">Chron</a> the best editorials in the United States. <a href="http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/04/08/DDG27BCFLG1.DTL">This</a> is why. Apparently it has started a <a href="http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=unitarian+jihad&btnG=Search&meta=">cult</a>, including a <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/whump/ujname.html">name generator</a>, which is where I got my new name.
On being a "Rock Widow"2005-03-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/03/18/on-being-a-rock-widowOr in my case, a "Rock Widower". At any rate. I can now see the attraction in being a groupie. You get to hear albums WAY before they get released to the public.
Burn 2004 pics finally online.2005-03-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/03/01/burn-2004-pics-finally-onlineAfter meaning to post pics up of our trip to BurningMan and San Francisco since we got back from the trip in early September, Liz went ahead and just posted em.</br>
<a href="http://www.folkwolf.net/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=BurningMan2004">See 'em here</a>
Dave Winers an idiot.2005-02-27T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/02/27/dave-winers-an-idiotI came across this article on <a href="http://www.well.com/">the WeLL</a> today.</br>
</br>
Dave Winer apparently has a long diatribe on the "Danger" of the Google Toolbar, more specifically, the AutoLink feature. He gives <a href="http://www.thetwowayweb.com/2005/02/22#a272">a very scary description</a> of how this service works. Yoz Grahame has <a href="http://cheerleader.yoz.com/archives/001927.html">this sarcastic reply</a> Which very obviously pokes holes in his argument. To which Winer doesn't come up with a rational reply, but posts this <a href="http://archive.scripting.com/2005/02/27#When:11:48:04AM">pouty, ad-hom attack</a>. To which I'll intersperse my responses</br>
</br>
We're not having a serious discussion about the Google AutoLink feature. </br>
</br>
<i>Umm, actually we are. You're just not taking part in it here</i></br>
</br>
Boing Boing points to a sarcastic non-refutation of my piece. </br>
</br>
<i>Actually, that was a sarcastic <b>total refutation</b> of your piece</i></br>
</br>
If this is the best we can do, we deserve what we get. </br>
</br>
<i>That's not the best we can do, that's the best <b>you</b> can do. You're right. It's not much.</i></br>
</br>
To the BB people, Google hasn't drawn any kind of line, saying where this can't go. </br>
</br>
<i>Actually, I believe this falls nicely into the "Don't be evil" philosophy espoused at Google, but keep putting up that "Slippery Slope" straw man, Dave.</i></br>
</br>
And consider what heat would be generated if what Google is doing to us were done to Google. Can I put up a Web app that scrapes Google and replaces their ads with mine, or adds mine to theirs? Could Microsoft? Could AP or the New York Times? </br>
</br>
<i>Ahhh, here's the meat of his argument. What if everybody started doing "Evil" stuff, like making a browser plugin that replaces ads without you knowing, or replaces content without you knowing. To which, my only reply would be "So what. Say Google, or MS, or NYT developed this insidious browser plugin. Would you download it and use it? Would anyone you know do so? Would anyone at all download an app that did that to their browser? Of course not! Aside from being absolutely useless, anyone would feel dirty just using it" The slippery slope argument doesn't work in this case, because nobody would buy it. Hell, MS even tried to do something like that, and it went over like a lead balloon.</i></br>
</br>
When you take that first step down the slope, take a good look at what's further down the hill, because you're going there for sure. I keep hoping for intelligent discourse in the tech blogging community, it's still pretty rare. </br>
</br>
<i>Wow, isn't that the pot calling the kettle black! Yoz comes up with an honest dissention, even if it was sarcastic and funny, and you resort to questioning not only his intelligence, but that of an entire community. </i></br>
</br>
And to Yoz, I care, but I'm not obsessed. I think I'm looking out for you, how about helping out? Same with anyone else who publishes on the Web. </br>
</br>
<i> You can keep it Dave. See <a href="http://cheerleader.yoz.com/archives/001928.html">Yoz's response</a> to your post for a more polite and restrained version of what I said.</i>
How sick is this?2005-02-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/02/25/how-sick-is-this"What good is fresh air if you have a lot of unemployed people breathing it?"</br>
-- Robert Stec, president and CEO of Lexington Home Brands</br>
</br>
To which I respond:</br>
</br>
"What good is money when you have a lot of CEO's spending it?"
Fear and Loathing in Elko2005-02-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/02/24/fear-and-loathing-in-elkoYou know, at some point between Wells, Nevada, and Elko, Nevada (see below for HST's apt description of this part of the world), on the I80 there's an unnumbered exit onto some two-bit tarmac road that leads two tiny towns that don't even merit the term "one-horse" These two towns are called Deeth, and Starr. </br>
</br>
So when you're really tired, driving down the I80 in the middle of the night after driving for 48 hours without breaks, and you come across a freeway sign that says <b><i>"Deeth Starr 1/2 mi."</i></b>, you really think you've gone to a galaxy far, far away.</br>
</br>
This is a <a href="http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2005/02/23/notes022305.DTL">fitting tribute</a> to <a href="http://www.gonzo.org/">HST</a>. I suggest everyone read it.</br>
</br>
He has the <a href="http://www.gonzo.org/elko.txt">best description of Northern Nevada</a> that I ever heard.</br>
<blockquote></br>
So what? I thought. I know this road -- a straight lonely run across </br>
nowhere, with not many dots on the map except ghost towns and truck </br>
stops with names like Beowawe and Lovelock and Deeth and </br>
Winnemucca.... </br>
</br>
Jesus! Who made this map? Only a lunatic could have come up with a </br>
list of places like this: Imlay, Valmy, Golconda, Nixon, Midas, </br>
Metropolis, Jiggs, Judasville -- all of them empty, with no gas </br>
stations, withering away in the desert like a string of old Pony </br>
Express stations. The Federal Government owns ninety percent of this </br>
land, and most of it is useless for anything except weapons testing </br>
and poison-gas experiments. </br>
</blockquote>
even more administrivia.2005-01-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/01/21/even-more-administriviaIt seems like these are the only blog entries I make these days, but whaddaya gonna do.</br>
</br>
Remember kids, the idea of folkwolf.net support is laughable in itself, the idea of there being a support TEAM at folkwolf is inconceivable. Therefore, any messages that purport to come from the folkwolf.net support team are viruses and will do horrible nasty things to your computer if you open it. If a message doesn't come from me or chris, then you can feel free to ignore it. Most general info will go up here.
more administrivia2005-01-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/01/18/more-administriviaI tweaked some sendmail settings that were introduced in the latest version, that should help combat spam, but could also cause some temporary delays of email. If you have any mail that should have gone to you, but were bounced back, send me the bounce message, and we'll work it out. More details on exactly what I did are below</br>
Calendar and Tasklist added2005-01-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/01/17/calendar-and-tasklist-addedI added a tasklist and calendar to the webmail program.
Unscheduled maintenance, an oops, and upgraded webmail.2005-01-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/01/16/unscheduled-maintenance-an-oops-and-upgraded-webmaiIn the administrivia Category:</br>
</br>
So in an odd turn of events, I had two requests last week for improvements to the webmail system on folkwolf, and a co-worker showed me the new versions of the same program. So I decided to upgrade the webmail program to the newest version. To upgrade just the libraries that run the webmail program would have been a major chore. Luckily Chris's housewarming party was last night, so I went over to chris's with the brand spanking new Fedora Core 3 CDs, and put the CD in and proceeded to upgrade, thereby taking the server and unfortunately, as Adrian pointed out, the map to chris's new house, just as the party was starting. Sorry to everyone who was looking for directions to Chris's party last night.</br>
</br>
But I did manage to upgrade the server last night. and I managed to upgrade the webmail program this morning it is at <a href="http://folkwolf.net/horde3/imp4/">http://folkwolf.net/horde3/imp4/</a> and you can also get to it by clicking on the link on the left.</br>
</br>
Coming Soon: Calendar and todo list support, because Jamie asked for it.
The ultimate War Simulation.2005-01-15T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/01/15/the-ultimate-war-simulation<a href="http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/monkeysphere.html">David Wong</a> doesn't think that games like Command and Conquer and Starcraft are <a href="http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/games/wargames.html">realistic enough</a>.
Irony2005-01-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/01/07/ironyRead <a href="http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/09/17/414a5a030e91d?in_archive=1">this editorial in the Daily Nebraskan</a>, then <a href="http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2005/01/05/local/doc41db350078259784029686.txt">this article in the Lincoln Journal Star</a>.</br>
</br>
Nothing defines irony better than this.</br>
</br>
btw, Lincoln, NE is a nice oasis in the desert that is the midwest.
Jon Stewart 1, Crossfire 02005-01-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2005/01/06/jon-stewart-1-crossfire-0Mr. Klein is the president of CNN.</br>
</br>
<i>" Mr. Klein specifically cited the criticism that the comedian Jon Stewart</br>
leveled at "Crossfire" when he was a guest on the program during the</br>
presidential campaign. Mr. Stewart said that ranting partisan political</br>
shows on cable were "hurting America."</br>
</br>
Mr. Klein said last night, "I agree wholeheartedly with Jon Stewart's</br>
overall premise." He said he believed that especially after the terror</br>
attacks on 9/11, viewers are interested in information, not opinion."</br>
</i>
Cleaning up fucking comment spam.2004-12-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/12/29/cleaning-up-fucking-comment-spamI think I have finally washed my blog clean of all comment spam, and managed to figure out a way of making the spammers go away. I couldn't figure out the MTCloseComments plugin, so I just figured out my own way of closing off comments after one week. Email me if you want to know what I did, also, I went through the db, and cleaned out all the old spam that I missed the first time.</br>
</br>
The one downside of this is: Now, no-one can comment on a post after one week. If you find yourself trying to comment on closed posts a lot, email me and I can tweak the settings.
I love the internets (I hate stale links)2004-12-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/12/23/i-love-the-internets--i-hate-stale-linksIt gives everyone novel venues to <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=25&item=3770539257">vent their disgruntlement</a></br>
</br>
That link is dead, so I give you this instead.</br>
<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8335653541">eBay: DKNY Men's Leather Pants I Unfortunately Own (item 8335653541 end time Sep-23-05 12:50:38 PDT)</a></br>
ou are bidding on a mistake.</br>
</br>
We all make mistakes. We date the wrong people for too long. We chew gum with our mouths open. We say inappropriate things in front of grandma.</br>
</br>
And we buy leather pants.</br>
</br>
I can explain these pants and why they are in my possession. I bought them many, many years ago under the spell of a woman whom I believed to have taste. She suggested I try them on. I did. She said they looked good. I wanted to have a relationship of sorts with her. I’m stupid and prone to impulsive decisions. I bought the pants.</br>
</br>
The relationship, probably for better, never materialized. The girl, whose name I can’t even recall, is a distant memory. I think she was short.</br>
</br>
Ultimately the pants were placed in the closet where they have remained, unworn, for nearly a decade. I would like to emphasize that: Aside from trying these pants on, they have never, ever been worn. In public or private.</br>
</br>
I have not worn these leather pants for the following reasons:</br>
</br>
I am not a member of Queen.</br>
I do not like motorcycles.</br>
I am not Rod Stewart.</br>
I am not French.</br>
I do not cruise for transvestites in an expensive sports car.</br>
</br>
These were not cheap leather pants. They are Donna Karan leather pants. They’re for men. Brave men, I would think. Perhaps tattooed, pierced men. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say you either have to be very tough, very gay, or very famous to wear these pants and get away with it.</br>
</br>
Again, they’re men’s pants, but they’d probably look great on the right lady. Ladies can get away with leather pants much more often than men can. It’s a sad fact that men who own leather pants will have to come to terms with.</br>
</br>
They are size 34x34. I am no longer size 34x34, so even were I to suddenly decide I was a famous gay biker I would not be able to wear these pants. These pants are destined for someone else. For reasons unknown - perhaps to keep my options open, in case I wanted to become a pirate - I have shuffled these unworn pants from house to house, closet to closet. Alas, it is now time to part ways so that I may use the extra room for any rhinestone-studded jeans I may purchase in the future.</br>
</br>
These pants are in excellent condition. They were never taken on pirate expeditions. They weren’t worn onstage. They didn’t straddle a Harley, or a guy named Harley. They just hung there, sad and ignored, for a few presidencies.</br>
</br>
Someone, somewhere, will look great in these pants. I’m hoping that someone is you, or that you can be suckered into buying them by a girl you’re trying to bed.</br>
</br>
Please buy these leather pants.
How were viewed in San Francisco2004-12-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/12/20/how-were-viewed-in-san-franciscoThis is from one of my favourite columns from the San Francisco Chronicle.</br>
<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2004/12/15/notes121504.DTL">Canada goes to hell</a> Don't worry. They're just jealous.
Sorry All2004-12-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/12/05/sorry-allSorry to everyone affected by the Outage from Thursday at approximately 11am to friday at approximately 3pm. A total of 28 hours. Unfortunately, I trusted my internet provider to do a lot of the things that ISPs are supposed to do. Needless to say, Chris and I are working on a plan to alleviate such failures in the future. Sorry all. I was just as pissed of as I'm sure some of you were.
Hunter S. Thompson speaks2004-10-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/10/21/hunter-s-thompson-speaksOne phrase, referring to George bush, really jumped out at me from <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/_/id/6562575?&rnd=1098394261180&has-player=true">this article</a></br>
</br>
<b>In four short years he has turned our country from a prosperous nation at peace into a desperately indebted nation at war</b>
How Liz and I met.2004-10-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/10/07/how-liz-and-i-metLiz and I met while she was <a href="http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2004/10/07/crush/index.html">working the counter</a> at the bakery next door to my work.
Speechless2004-10-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/10/06/speechlessI'm not sure what to say about this link, other than</br>
</br>
1. You have to <a href="http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2004/10/05/harris-naked">Check it out</a>, and </br>
2. May not be work-safe, depending on how prudish your workplace is.
Does God Hate Florida?2004-10-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/10/06/does-god-hate-floridaThis is a wicked <a href="http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2004/10/01/notes100104.DTL&nl=fix"> </br>
column</a> from the SF Chron</br>
</br>
So then, the vicious hurricanes can't possibly be God's wrath, because Florida is Jeb Bush Country and everyone knows all Bushes are blessed WASP Mafioso with first-class seats on the glory train to salvation, and therefore the storms can only be explained by that other barely tolerable thing the Bible set really hates trying to comprehend: science.</br>
[...]</br>
But wait. That can't be right. It can't be science because the storms can't be in any way related to climate change or global warming, because as Bush policy has shown, nature is a merely a huge, exploitable sandbox for the rich and global warming is a big fat liberal myth and the Kyoto Treaty is a pathetic joke despite all those reams of international, world-class scientific evidence to the contrary. So, you know, screw science.
Matts obsession with US Politics, Part 3, subsection 72004-10-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/10/05/matts-obsession-with-us-politics-part-3-subsection-<a href="http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/">The Rude Pundit</a> is my new 2nd favourite US Political blog. Nothing can beat the <a href="http://fafblog.blogspot.com/2004_09_26_fafblog_archive.html#109664781417153432">sheer genius</a> of <a href="http://fafblog.blogspot.com/">Fafblog</a> "The world's only source of Fafblog", but <a href="http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2004/10/what-edwards-should-say-rude-version.html">this comes close</a>.</br>
</br>
This snippet is the start of a rant which gets much, much worse...</br>
</br>
What Edwards Should Say (Rude Version):</br>
If, at tonight's "debate", when Edwards is asked, "How do you believe your career as a trial lawyer affects your approach to government?", he doesn't answer, "What the fuck kind of question is that, Gwen? What the fuck are you implying? Holy fuck, have you even looked at the cases I've tried? Doesn't the press do any actual goddamn research on, say, Lexis-Nexis or even fuckin' Google? Or maybe my fuckin' book? My legal career was based on helping individuals dicked over by the very kind of corporate and government culture this evil motherfucker across this stupid ass table has fostered. And don't you fuckin' gimme that stroke victim smirk, Dick, or I'll come across and start shovin' aluminum tubes up your ass, all 60,000 of 'em, one anodized tube at a goddamn time.</br>
</br>
The full text is below.</br>
</br>
btw, if the rude pundit happens to come accross this, I'll take down the full text if you want.</br>
pimpin: aka the bimonthly blog entry2004-10-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/10/01/pimpin-aka-the-bimonthly-blog-entry<a href="http://www.well.com/">The WeLL</a> is offering a 2 month membership for $2. I know there are those of you who want to join, <a href="http://www.well.com/conf/pre.vue/prevueoffer.html">go do it now.</a>
the next war?2004-08-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/08/18/the-next-warI was listening to <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent">The Current</a> this morning, and they were talking about the environmentalist who said that the next war would not be fought over terrorism, or territory, but over natural resources, all I could think was "Wasn't <a href="http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&edition=us&ie=ascii&q=iraq&btnG=Search+News">the last one?</a>"
Finns2004-07-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/07/23/finnsI can't stand it when other people pass around their lame jokes in emails that I'm not interested in. So when I find a good joke I just put it on my webpage. </br>
</br>
A Finn and a Swede walk into a bar. The Finn sets a bottle of vodka</br>
on the table and pours two glasses. Neither says a word.</br>
</br>
When both glasses are empty, the Finn refills the glasses. The two</br>
men continue to drink, staring silently across the table, with the Finn</br>
refilling the glasses after each round.</br>
</br>
Eventually the bottle is empty. After a short pause, the Swede says,</br>
"You think we should get another bottle?"</br>
</br>
"Did we come here to drink or talk?" says the Finn.
More Ikea2004-07-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/07/12/more-ikeaI'm thinking of renaming this the IKEA-blog, and have it be entirely links to IKEA, the sociology and psychology of IKEA-Lovers and IKEA-haters. I think it would be fascinating, but ah, why bother, I <a href="http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,64088,00.html">have a life.</a> Instead I give you this <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1240462,00.html">nice Guardian article</a> instead, from which I also give you a quote.</br>
</br>
Flatpack meant making things so cheap, in fact, that furniture, instead of accumulating emotional weight as it was passed down the generations, would come to seem transient and disposable - and that one recent soggy Saturday, in a seethingly crowded branch of Ikea at Brent Park, north London, a young couple would gaze at a Lack sidetable, and then, with fond exasperation, at each other, and have the following conversation:</br>
</br>
"But it's only £8."</br>
</br>
"But we don't need it."</br>
</br>
"But it's only £8!"</br>
</br>
"But we don't ... OK. Whatever. Whatever."
Craigslist.2004-07-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/07/07/craigslistI don't know if I would have been able to survive in San Francisco without it. I found two apartments with craigslist, as well as a ton of other stuff. Plus I found loads of <a href="http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/27499971.html">entertaining postings</a> on it.
my new motto.2004-06-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/06/28/my-new-mottoProfanity is the literary crutch of an inarticulate motherfucker.
go vote today2004-06-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/06/28/go-vote-todayFor all of you that live in Canada. Today's the day to vote. I'm not going to tell you to vote for, however I highly suggest not voting for <a href="http://www.liberal.ca">Liars</a> or <a href="http://www.conservative.ca">or Fascists</a>
Why DRM doesnt work2004-06-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/06/24/why-drm-doesnt-workThis seems to be my week for putting geeks up on pedestals. My last entry was JWZ, this one talks about <a href="http://www.craphound.com/">Cory Doctorow</a></br>
</br>
Cory gives the most concise definition of why DRM doesn't work I've ever heard, and if you know anything about cryptography, you'll see why DRM falls down.</br>
</br>
But there's the rub. Alice wants Bob to buy Pirates of the</br>
Caribbean from her. Bob will only buy Pirates of the Caribbean if</br>
he can descramble the CSS-encrypted VOB -- video object -- on his</br>
DVD player. Otherwise, the disc is only useful to Bob as a</br>
drinks-coaster. So Alice has to provide Bob -- the attacker --</br>
with the key, the cipher and the ciphertext.</br>
</br>
There's a lot of good stuff in there about why DRM doesn't work, as well as a lot of information about why DRM ultimately won't work.<a href="http://craphound.com/msftdrm.txt">Go read it</a>
More Metaphor2004-06-24T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/06/24/more-metaphorThe whole <a href="http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_shows/thedailyshowwithjonstewart/">Mess o' Potamia</a> is tolerable if spoken about in metaphor. It reduces the <a href="http://www.onlisareinsradar.com/archives/002132.php#002132">utter absurdities</a> to jokes. In the spirit of <a href="http://www.folkwolf.net/blog/archives/000044.html">Post 44</a>, I give you <a href="http://fafblog.blogspot.com/2004_06_06_fafblog_archive.html#108684557988712665">the hypothetical motorcycle.</a>
Sister Machine Gun.2004-06-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/06/21/sister-machine-gun<a href="http://www.jwz.org/gruntle">JWZ</a> is one of the few people in the world who know a lot about computers and the internet, and "Content" He missed out on Linux, but that's OK, we love him anyway. He runs a nightclub now in the SOMA neighbourhood of SF. It's a v. cool place, and he REALLY tries to hype local musicians, and music he likes. It's not much of the music I like (More like the music Gorester likes) but anyone who's willing to go out on a limb like he did deserves many kudos. </br>
</br>
The preceding paragraph is entirely beside the point, which is about the music industry, a subject I'm very interested in for many reasons, two of the biggest are <a href="http://www.banditas.ca">my girlfriend</a> and <a href="http://www.kelprecords.com/bands/av">my room-mate</a>. The record industry is in a fucked up state right now, and nothing displays that more humourously than this quote that JWZ heard Sister Machine Gun say on <a href="http://www.dnalounge.com">his stage</a></br>
Boondocks metaphor2004-06-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/06/07/boondocks-metaphor<img src="http://www.folkwolf.net/~mattrose/bo040607.gif" border=0/></br>
</br>
Thanks Nick!
Matts obsession with US Politics continues unabated2004-06-01T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/06/01/matts-obsession-with-us-politics-continues-unabatedI always enjoy a good speech. To me, it seems like the idea of a good speech is one that is more highly prized in Canada than most places. I could go on and on about what constitutes a good intelligent speech, but <a href="http://www.moveonpac.org/goreremarks052604.html">This speech</a> by Al Gore fits all the criteria. Even if you don't agree with the content, he makes a good case for it.
GWBs New, Improved plan to end the occupation2004-05-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/05/26/gwbs-new-improved-plan-to-end-the-occupationPersonal Note. Why is "Just Leaving" So hard? What's so hard about the US just taking their toys and going home.</br>
</br>
<a href="http://fafblog.blogspot.com/2004_05_23_fafblog_archive.html#108550167783858410">Fake Q&A</a> with George Bush regarding his New plan to "transfer sovereignty".</br>
</br>
Q: What are the new five steps?</br>
A: They are: 1. Handing over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government. 2. Establishing security. 3. Continuing to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure. 4. Moving toward a national election in Iraq.</br>
Q: Those are good steps!</br>
A: We are glad you like them.</br>
Q: How are they different from the old five steps?</br>
A: They are the same as the old five steps, but they have the newly-added quality of newness.</br>
Q: But -</br>
A: We are staying the course.</br>
</br>
Q: How will security be established?</br>
A: Quickly, and with the aid and cooperation of the Iraqi people.</br>
Q: Wow, that sounds like a great idea, it makes me wonder why we didn't think of it before!</br>
A: We did, but back then, that idea was an old idea. Now it sparkles with the sheen of the New. Its ridges are hard and bold and striking. Its curves are supple and smooth and inviting. It bounces with the ebullient step of youth, fresh to the world like a newborn babe.
The smart anti-globalization activists bookshelf2004-05-08T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/05/08/the-smart-anti-globalization-activists-bookshelfSo I'm sitting here watching an interview with Joel Bakan, who wrote "The Corporation" and I thought I'd write down the four books I've read that have helped crystallize my political opinions.</br>
</br>
<a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/15630">Globalization and it's discontents</a>, by Joseph Stiglitz</br>
<a href="http://books.guardian.co.uk/firstchapters/story/0,6761,402483,00.html">No Logo</a>, by Naomi Klein</br>
<a href="http://www.thecorporation.tv/">The Corporation</a>, by Joel Bakan.</br>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/schlosser-fast.html">Fast Food Nation</a>, by Eric Schlosser
Too stereotypical2004-05-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/05/07/too-stereotypicalUNIX Geeks and pizza, <a href="http://www.beigerecords.com/cory/pizza_party/">together at last</a></br>
</br>
Only UNIX geeks would take a perfectly good web-enabled pizza ordering system, and make a complicated, arcane command line utility out of it...</br>
</br>
I'm so proud!
How I want my eulogy to start.2004-05-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/05/04/how-i-want-my-eulogy-to-startAfter hearing platitude after platitude about how Pat Tillman was "at home" and "at peace" and "with God now" Rich Tillman started off his speech at the memorial service for his brother thusly.</br>
</br>
"Pat isn't with God,'' he said. "He's fucking dead. He wasn't religious. So thank you for your thoughts, but he's fucking dead.''</br>
</br>
I think this is the perfect way to start a eulogy, not sad acceptance, not religious comfort, nothing but sheer unadulterated rage at the unfairness of chance. Whether you're religious or not, the fact that a person isn't there, is not around to talk to, to commiserate with, to change the world for the better, or worse. You can never see, or feel, or hear them again. That makes me angry. Religious people comfort themselves with these platitudes about being "at home" and "with god" to feel better about the gut-wrenching sense of loss.</br>
</br>
Wow, after all that, all I really wanted to do was post a pointer to <a href="http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/05/04/SPG5K6FD091.DTL">this article</a>. It's about mis-placed hero worship. It's very good. I guess I just outed myself as an atheist there, eh?
Link-O-Rama2004-04-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/04/30/link-o-rama<a href="http://poseur.4x4.org/futuresuv.html">My New Car</a></br>
<a href="http://www.eecs.harvard.edu/~yaz/en/squirrel_fishing.html">My new Hobby</a></br>
<a href="http://www.fotolog.net/putto/?pid=37444">My New Dog</a> (actually, this is putto, the cutest ugly dog known to man</br>
And this link is just so that <a href="http://www.deficient.ca/iws/">IWS</a> will know <a href="http://www.brokennewz.com/reports/olsentwins.asp">when it's legal</a>
IKEA claims another 10,000 lifestyles.2004-04-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/04/29/ikea-claims-another-10000-lifestylesIn the next installment of my ongoing chronicle of IKEA humor, I present you <a href="http://theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4017&n=1">The latest Onion article</a>
Angry White Boy Polka2004-04-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/04/28/angry-white-boy-polkaI love <a href="http://www.weirdal.com/polka/angrywhiteboy.htm">weird al</a>
Albequerque.2004-04-28T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/04/28/albequerqueThis is a huge time-waster</br>
<a href="http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm">The AsK Al Archive</a></br>
</br>
Way back when I was just a little bitty boy living in a box under the stairs in the corner of the basement of the house half a block down the street from Jerry's Bait Shop... you know the place... well anyway, back then life was going swell and everything was juuuuust peachy... except of course for the undeniable fact that every single morning… my mother would make me a big ol' bowl of sauerkraut for breakfast… Arggggh! Big bowl of sauerkraut!! Every single morning!! It was driving me crazy! I said to my mom, I said, "Hey! Mom! What's up with all the sauerkraut??" And my dear sweet mother, she just looked at me like a cow looks at an oncoming train, and she leaned right down next to me, and she said, "Unhhhh... It's goooood for you!" And then she tied me to the wall and stuck a funnel in my mouth and force-fed me nothing but sauerkraut until I was twenty-six and a half years old. That's when I swore that someday, someday I would get out of that basement and travel to a magical, far-away place where the sun is always shining and the air smells like warm root beer and the towels are oh-so-fluffy... where the shriners and the lepers play their ukuleles all day long and anyone on the street will gladly shave your back for a nickel. Wocka wocka doo doo yeah. Well, let me tell you, people, it wasn't long at all before my dream came true, because the very next day a local radio station had this contest to see who could correctly guess the number of molecules in Leonard Nimoy's butt. I was off by three, but I still won the grand prize... That's right, a first-class one-way ticket... to Al…buquerque! Al…buquerque! Oh yeah… You know, I'd never been on a real airplane before, and I gotta tell you, it was really great… except that I had to sit between two large Albanian women with excruciatingly severe body odor, and the little kid in back of me kept throwing up the whole time, and the flight attendants ran out of Dr. Pepper and salted peanuts, and the in-flight movie was "Bio-Dome" with Pauly Shore, and three of the airplane engines burned out and we went into a tailspin and crashed into a hillside and the plane exploded in a giant fireball and everybody died… except for me… you know why? 'Cause I had my tray table up… and my seat back in the full upright position, had my tray table up… and my seat back in the full upright position… had my tray table up… and my seat back in the full upright position… Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! So I crawled from the twisted, burning wreckage… I crawled on my hands and knees for three full days… dragging along my big leather suitcase and my garment bag and my tenor saxophone and my twelve-pound bowling ball and my lucky, lucky autographed glow-in-the-dark snorkel. But finally I arrived at the world-famous Albuquerque Holiday Inn where the towels are oh-so-fluffy… and you can eat your soup right out of the ashtrays if you wanna. It's okay, they're clean! Well, I checked into my room and I turned down the AC and I turned on the Spectravision and I'm just about to eat that little chocolate mint on my pillow that I love so very, very much when suddenly there's a knock on the door. Well, now who could that be? I say, "Who is it?" No answer. "Who is it?" There's no answer. "Who is it??" They're not sayin' anything. So finally I go over and I open the door, and just as I suspected… it's some big fat hermaphrodite with a Flock of Seagulls haircut and only one nostril. Ohhhh, man, I hate it when I'm right. So anyway, he bursts into my room and he grabs my lucky snorkel and I'm like, "Hey! You can't have that! That snorkel's been just like a snorkel to me!" And he's like, "Tough!" And I'm like, "Give it!" And he's like, "Make me!" And I'm like, "'kay!" So I grabbed his leg and he grabbed my esophagus and I bit off his ear and he chewed off my eyebrows and I took out his appendix and he gave me a colonic irrigation. Yes indeed, you better believe it. And somehow in the middle of it all the phone got knocked off the hook and twenty seconds later, I heard a familiar voice, and you know what it said? I'll tell you what it said. It said, "If you'd like to make a call, please hang up and try again. If you need help, hang up and then dial your operator... If you'd like to make a call, please hang up and try again. If you need help, hang up and then dial your operator..." in Al…buquerque! Al…buquerque! Well, to cut a long story short, he got away with my snorkel. But I made a solemn vow right then and there that I would not rest… I would not sleep for an instant… until the one-nostriled man was brought to justice. But first I decided to buy some donuts. So I got in my car and I drove over to the donut shop and I walked on up to the guy behind the counter and he says, "Yeah, whaddaya want?" I said, "You got any glazed donuts?" He said, "No, we're outta glazed donuts." I said, "Well, you got any jelly donuts?" He said, "No, we're outta jelly donuts!" I said, "You got any Bavarian creme-filled donuts?" He said, "No, we're outta Bavarian creme-filled donuts!" I said, "You got any cinnamon rolls?" He said, "No, we're outta cinnamon rolls!" I said, "You got any apple fritters?" He said, "No, we're outta apple fritters!" I said, "You got any bear claws?" He said, "Wait a minute, I'll go check……………..No!! We're outta bear claws!!" I said, "Well, in that case... in that case, what do you have?" He says, "All I got right now is this box of one dozen starving, crazed weasels." I said, "Okay. I'll take that." So he hands me the box and I open up the lid and the weasels jump out and they immediately latch onto my face and start biting me all over. Arr arrrr arrrrh. Oh man, they were just going nuts. They were tearing me apart! You know, I think it was just about that time that a little ditty started going through my head. I believe it went a little something like this: "Arrrrrrgh!!! Get 'em off of me!!! Get 'em off me!!! Argggggh!!! Get 'em off!! Get 'em off!! Arrrrrrrrgh... Arggggggghh!!!" I ran out into the street with these flesh-eating weasels all over my face, waving my arms all around and just running, running, running like a constipated wiener dog. And as luck would have it, that's exactly when I ran into the girl of my dreams. Her name was Zelda. She was a calligraphy enthusiast with a slight overbite and hair the color of strained peaches. I'll never forget the very first thing she said to me. She said, "Hey. You've got weasels on your face." That's when I knew it was true love. We were inseparable after that. Aw, we ate together, we bathed together, we even shared the same piece of mint-flavored dental floss. Aw, the world was our burrito. So we got married and we bought us a house and had two beautiful children, Nathaniel and Superfly. Oh, we were so very, very, very happy. Oh yeah. But then one fateful night, Zelda said to me, she said, "Sweetie Pumpkin… do you want to join the Columbia record club?" I said, "Whoa! Hold on now, baby! I'm just not ready for that kind of a commitment!" So we broke up and I never saw her again. But that's just the way things go... in Al…buquerque! Al…buquerque! Anyway, things really started looking up for me, because about a week later I finally achieved my life-long dream. That's right, I got me a part-time job at the Sizzler. I even made Employee of the Month after I put out that grease fire with my face. Oh yeah, everybody was pretty jealous of me after that. I was gettin' a lot of attitude. Okay, like one time, I was out in the parking lot trying to remove my excess ear wax with a golf pencil, when I see this guy Marty trying to carry a big ol' sofa up the stairs all by himself. So I say to him, I say, "Hey! You want me to help you with that?" And Marty, he just rolls his eyes and goes, "Nooo, I want you to cut off my arms and legs with a chain saw." So I did. And then he gets all indignant on me! He's like, "Hey, man, I was just being sarcastic!" Well, that's just great. How was I supposed to know that? I'm not a mind-reader, for crying out loud. Besides, now he's got a really cute nickname - Torso Boy - so what's he complaining about? Say, that reminds me of another amusing anecdote. This guy comes up to me on the street and he tells me he hasn't had a bite in three days. Well, I knew what he meant, but just to be funny I took a big bite out of his jugular vein. And he's yelling and screaming and bleeding all over, and I'm like, "Hey! Come on! Don't you get it?" But he just keeps rolling around on the sidewalk, bleeding and screaming, "Ahhhhh!! Ahhhhh!! Ahhhhhh!!!" - y'know, completely missing the irony of the whole situation. Man, some people just can't take a joke, y'know? Anyway, I uh... Um… where was I?...... I kinda lost my train of thought. Uh… Well, okay, anyway, I know it's kind of a round-about way of saying it, but I guess the whole point I'm trying to make here is... I... HATE... SAUERKRAUT!! That's all I'm really trying to say. And by the way, if one day you happen to wake up and find yourself in an existential quandary, full of loathing and self-doubt and wracked with the pain and isolation of your pitiful, meaningless existence, at least you can take a small bit of comfort in knowing that somewhere out there in this crazy ol' mixed-up universe of ours, there's still a little place... called Al…buquerque! Al…buquerque! Albuquerque! Albuquerque! Albuquerque! Albuquerque! I said, A! (A!) L! (L!) B! (B!) U! (U!) ...querque!! (Querque!!) Albuquerque! (Querque!!) Albuquerque! (Querque!!) Albuquerque! (Querque!!) Albuquerque! (Querque!!) Albuquerque! (Querque!!) Albuquerque! (Querque!!) Albuquerque! (Querque!!) Albuquerque! (Albuquerque!) Al…… buquerque!
Eerie2004-04-23T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/04/23/eerieA young girl's photo essay of her motorcycle ride, <a href="http://www.kiddofspeed.com/chapter1.html">through Chernobyl.</a> She apparently goes riding through Chernobyl a lot.
weird URL time2004-04-21T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/04/21/weird-url-timeI know that Star Trek II (The wrath of Khan) was the best trek movie ever, and William Shatner is (as the kids would say) da bomb, but this just seems a little over the top.
<a href="http://www.khaaan.com">www.khaaan.com</a>
Actually, I've been listening to it while writing this post, and I think It's beginning to hypnotize me...
Khan!
Rules for Office Politics.2004-04-14T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/04/14/rules-for-office-politicsI found this on the well this morning and thought it deserved a wider audience.
If jet should find this and freak out, I tried getting in touch with you, and I'll take it down if you ask.
Dear Coworkers Playing Power Politics,
Ten rules for you to remember when playing politics:
Mmmmm, Caffeine intoxication2004-04-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/04/07/mmmmm-caffeine-intoxication<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/06/health/nutrition/06CASE.html">Something new to shoot for</a>
From the New York Times
After the habitual two cups of Starbucks coffee, Adam set to work. So far, so good. But as the academic pressure mounted, he had to work longer hours, and that meant more coffee — a lot more coffee than he had ever consumed in his life. In fact, for six weeks, he had been drinking up to 10 cups of Starbucks coffee daily.
That is a lot of caffeine, considering that each large cup contains on average about 375 milligrams, according to a 2003 study of caffeinated coffee published in The Journal of Analytical Toxicology. With 10 cups a day, Adam was turbocharged with nearly four grams of caffeine.
So Adam was not just nervous about his academic work; he was also suffering from caffeine intoxication.
logorrhea2004-04-07T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/04/07/logorrheaI've seen this word numerous times on the well, and I've finally figured out what it means, by looking at the odd combination of the first half latin root word, and the second half english root word. I've decided I like it. That is all
Wisdom from JWZ2004-04-06T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/04/06/wisdom-from-jwzThe quote from <a href="http://www.deficient.ca/iws/">IWS</a> came in the context of a discussion that he and I were having over the utter stupidity of virus writers. <a href="http://www.jwz.org/gruntle/virus.html">This URL</a> came across my virtual desk</a> Apparently anti-virus writers are no smarter.
Phillip Pullman vs. The Archbishop of Canterbury.2004-04-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/04/05/phillip-pullman-vs-the-archbishop-of-canterburySomeone on the WeLL pointed this page from the Daily Telegraph which is an interesting discussion between Phillip Pullman, the author of the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, which has been criticized as being anti-catholic, and anti-organized religion in general. It's a series of fantasy books that's extremely well-written, but not one of those earth-shattering books, especially if you're an atheist or agnostic already. I took it as fairly light reading. However, there did seem to be a sense of something more, something that the author was saying, but that was a little beyond thought, or comprehension. This discussion is what all debate should be like. Intelligent, thoughtful discourse on a subject that both participants have extensive and intimate knowledge of. (I realize that sentence ends with a preposition, it just makes more sense that way)
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2004/03/17/bodark17.xml">Phillip Pullman vs. The Archbishop of Canterbury.</a>
Update. Ugly prose back there. Will fix it up if I get the chance.
IM wisdom from IWS2004-03-31T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/03/31/im-wisdom-from-iwsI just got this pearl of wisdom from <a href="http://deficient.ca/iws">IWS</a>
Geeks can't be evil enough. They can be stupid, anti-social, awkward etc. but evil is something only professionals and marketoids can manage
Helpful phrases for going to see "Passion"2004-03-04T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/03/04/helpful-phrases-for-going-to-see-passionDa'ek teleyfoon methta'naanaak, pquud. Guudaapaw!
Please turn off your mobile phone. It is blasphemous.
Shbuuq shuukhaaraa deel. Man ethnaggad udamshaa?
Sorry I'm late. Have I missed any scourging?
Een, Yuudaayaa naa, ellaa b-haw yawmaa laa hweeth ba-mdeetaa.
Yes, I'm Jewish, but I wasn't there that day.
Ma'hed lee qalleel d-Khayey d-Breeyaan, ellaa dlaa gukhkaa.
It sort of reminds me of Life of Brian, but it's nowhere near as
funny.
B-zabnaa d-qeenduunos, tayyeb lkuun uurkhaa d-mapaqtaa.
In case of emergency, prepare ye the way of the exit.
Laa baakey naa-eeth gelaa b-'ayna deel.
I'm not crying; I've just got a mote in my eye.
Spreet mets'aayaa deelaak huu. [Or, if addressed to a woman, Spreet mets'aayaa deelek huu!]
Thine is the medium Sprite.
<http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,4120,1159068,00.html>
Pagan Hierarchy2004-02-18T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/02/18/pagan-hierarchyTo all my pagan, or people who hate pagan, friends (you know who you are), I give you, <a href="http://seapagan.org/pagan-hierarchy/pagan-hierarchy.gif">the pagan hierarchy</a>
My guitar on the radio2004-02-17T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/02/17/my-guitar-on-the-radioThrough a weird twist of fate, my guitar, a beautiful parlour-size <a href="http://www.artandlutherieguitars.com/intro.htm">Art&Lutherie</a> that Liz, [update: Jamie pointed out, rightfully, that he and Joachim and Sue also pitched in for it. I thank all of them] bought me for my birthday, is going to be on the <a href="http://www.ckcufm.com/">radio</a> today. When I moved my guitar into the house, <a href="\http://www.kelprecords.com/bands/av/index.html">AV</a> started picking it up and playing it, just while he was watching TV. Which is pretty much what I do with it, and what I wanted it for. It's got a really sweet sound to it, and it's just very user-friendly. He has an appearance from 2:30 - 3:00 pm this aft on CKCU.
Sterling on Amsterdam2004-02-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/02/12/sterling-on-amsterdamYa know, a lot of my friends smoke dope, and all of them consider Amsterdam some weird kind of Pothead Mecca. They feel that they must make a Hajj to the red light district in amsterdam, and smoke some hash in a coffee shop. I don't smoke up, so I never get this. I've been to Amsterdam a lot, usually on 8 hour or so layovers flying from Africa. Bruce Sterling sums up my impressions of Amsterdam in a weird impressionistic ... poem is the closest word I can find for this kind of <a href="http://wiredblogs.tripod.com/sterling/index.blog?entry_id=221877">impressionistic stream of consciousness writing</a>, but poem is not the word.
thirty minutes at a euro and a half
in an allnight Amsterdam internet joint
that reeks of Afghani hash
midnight streets shiny and
haunted by toothless spare-changing derelicts
and lemur-eyed female junkie bag thieves
the Red Light District must be somewhere
near here, I can sense that Somerset
Maugham air of human degradation, you get
to where you can smell it after a while
Uncle Patricks advice to kids2004-02-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/02/11/uncle-patricks-advice-to-kidsI seem to be in funny list mode. In the spirit of 5ives, and 213 Skippy isn't allowed to do, I give you: <a href="http://badnewshughes.blogspot.com/2004_01_01_badnewshughes_archive.html#107541745599672714">Uncle Patrick’s Advice to Children</a> From <a href="http://badnewshughes.blogspot.com">Bad News Hughes</a>; striving to find a way to punch people in the face by using the Internet.
How not to tow a car.2004-02-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/02/11/how-not-to-tow-a-carRemember kids ALWAYS attach the tow rope <a href=" http://www.yukoneer.com/misc/videos/car_stuck_snow_bumper_ripped.wmv">TO THE FRAME</a>!
Cool electricity movie2004-02-11T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/02/11/cool-electricity-movie<a href="http://www.wiseguysynth.com/larry/day.htm">here</a>
Cory Doctorow kicks all kinda ass!2004-02-05T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/02/05/cory-doctorow-kicks-all-kinda-assThe man is a writing machine. he once outlined his publishing schedule, and he's publishing about 5 books over the next couple of years. He's just published his second novel, and he's made it available for free over the internet. He explains why <a href="http://craphound.com/est/000041.html">here.</a> I've reproduced it below. It's a very lucid and well-thought out argument for him to put stuff out there for free.
I've also mirrored <a href="http://craphound.com/est/">the book</a> right <a href="http://www.folkwolf.net/~mattrose/Cory_Doctorow_-_Eastern_Standard_Tribe.html">here</a>
Top fives2004-01-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/01/26/top-fivesthis is probably the funniest site I've ever seen.
<a href="http://www.5ives.com">5ives</a>
PS. Red Letter day today, cause I made two, count 'em two, posts today.
IKEA Walkthrough2004-01-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/01/26/ikea-walkthroughWalkthroughs are a form of cheating for video games. It's basically a description of the game, the missions, some easy ways of doing the missions, and locations for various items that might come in handy. This is the best and funniest walkthrough I've ever seen.
The <a href="http://www.themorningnews.org/archives/how_to/the_nonexpert_ikea.php">link is here</a>, and I found it on <a href="http://boingboing.net">boingboing</a>
I took away the text of it below. The Morning News guys told me it was copyrighted and I'd have to talk to them about reproducing it. I think that's entirely fair, and I encourage everyone to go to their site to see it.
For Joachim2004-01-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/01/26/for-joachimWelcome back Kim. In honour of your joyous return, I give you <a href="http://www.avalanchetankers.us/archives/000058.html">213 things skippy is not allowed to do in the US Army</a>
3 posts today. A new record. This Moveable type is not too bad.
Canada: the new police state2004-01-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/01/22/canada-the-new-police-stateRemember Maher Arar, the Canadian Citizen that was disappeared from La
Guardia Airport by the US authorities, to Syria, where he was tortured?
The story continues. Back in November, reporter Juliet O'Neill wrote a
couple of stories concerning RCMP collusion with US DOJ Authorities in the
Ottawa Citizen, citing a confidential source in the RCMP. Yesterday
morning, Ms. O'Neill was woken up by 10 RCMP officers, who took all of her
files, datebooks, computer hard drives, CDs and floppies from her home and
office. She is charged under the new Security of Information act, which
AFAICT, makes it a crime, punishable by 14 years in jail, just to know
stuff that you're not supposed to know. What's more, from accounts I
heard on the radio from the Editor of the paper, the lawyer representing
the paper, and the reporter herself. It's clearly an intimidation tactic
by the RCMP to try and force her to give up the source. She was told
several times that "All these problems would go away" If she gave up her
source.
I'm going to update this story with links and other stuff as I find time. For a good overview on the story, here's the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/01/22/international0939EST0506.DTL">AP wire story</a>
Update: <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/01/22/ararapaper040122">Paul Martin says Canada is not a police state</a> Reminds me of an old joke from
<a href="http://www.yes-minister.com/">Yes, Minister</a>. The way to confirm something is true is to hear a politician deny it.
I first came accross this story listening to the 6:30 news update, as I was driving home from work. Then, I listened to <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/insite/AS_IT_HAPPENS_TORONTO/2004/1/21.html">As It Happens</a> Scott Anderson relays some shocking things that were told to Ms. O'Neill by the police. Basically along the lines of "You can make all this go away, by revealing your source" This is something that is usually said in Third World dictatorships, where the concept of a free press is foreign.
Then This morning, I listened to an interview with the reporter herself, and the lawyer for the Ottawa Citizen on <a href="http://ottawa.cbc.ca/ottawamorning/highlights/search.html">Ottawa Morning</a> [Warning: The preceding link is just for today, probably, I'll try and update once they have a more permanent link to the archives]
Then I heard more on <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2004/200401/20040122.html">The Current</a>
Each story got more and more unbelievable.
Check it out.
slashdot redux2004-01-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/01/16/slashdot-reduxI don't actually read the comments on <a href="http://slashdot.org">/. </a>anymore, I just check out the ones that make it to <a href="http://www.well.com">the well</a>. In honour of <a href="http://www.folkwolf.net/blog/archives/000013.html">my first blog post</a>, I give you <a href="http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=92889&cid=7980169">this</a>.
It's actually posted below if you don't want to click on the link.
My long dark search is over!2004-01-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/01/16/my-long-dark-search-is-overI finally have a job. It's at <a href="http://www.mkcnetworks.com">MKC Networks</a>, doing product support for their tres cool SIP PBX (basically a VoIP office phone switch) It's actually the same one I worked on at <a href="http://www.mitel.com">Mitel Networks</a> (Mitel Networks was contracted to do the initial support and release, IIRC) so I know the product.
I'm tres happy, and I'm going out to see <a href="http://www.kelprecords.com/bands/1978/index.html">South of 78</a>, and <a href="http://www.tunevault.com/artist/show.asp?ID=256">the Fiftymen </a>tonight at Irene's so if anyone wants to come out and celebrate with me, as well as listen to some kick-ass alt-country, the more the merrier.
Plug for Chris Page.2004-01-10T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2004/01/10/plug-for-chris-pageSo as I'm discovering more and more people are actually reading this thing, I decided to put my erstwhile influence to talk about something I really believe in. Like Pimping music by local bands I like. In that Vein, I bring you
<b>Matt's Record Reviews</b>
So last night I went to the CD Release Party for <a href="http://www.thestandgt.com">Chris Page's </a>new CD <i><a href="http://www.kelprecords.com/bands/page/index.html">Decide to stay and swim</a></i> I first discovered chris page probably about a year and a half ago, and I was really struck by his music. It's very sparse, usually he goes on stage with just his Les Paul, and a really nice amp. It's all really fast-paced, stripped-down power-pop style electric guitar playing, but with no accompaniment at all, just his very good vocals on top of it. The music begs comparison to Billy Bragg, but without all the political content.
Opening for Chris Page was the GoldenSeals, and <a href="http://www.kelprecords.com/bands/av/index.html">Andrew Vincent and the Pirates</a>. Read more for a review of the show. Suffice it to say, you should go out <b>right now</b> and buy both Chris Page's CD and AV's If you're still not convinced, check out these tracks by <a href="http://www.kelprecords.com/cgi-bin/kelp_mp3.cgi?/page/killing_time.mp3">Chris Page</a> and <a href="http://www.kelprecords.com/cgi-bin/kelp_mp3.cgi?/av/OneTwoThree.mp3">AV</a>
Brand New Innards2003-12-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2003/12/03/brand-new-innardsUpgraded the OS on the folkwolf today. If you notice anything weird ... and you probably will ... let either chris or I know, and we'll fix it for you, if we can, when we get around to it.
Official Unveiling2003-11-26T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2003/11/26/official-unveilingWell, I've started to backport my old weblog entries into the new system, enough so that the page isn't glaringly bare. So here it is. The old blog is at http://folkwolf.net/~mattrose/blog.html, if there's something there you want to see.
Brand New Weblog2003-11-25T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2003/11/25/brand-new-weblogI have decided to enter the 21st century, webwise, and ditch my older, simpler weblog in favour a shiny new Moveable Type system, with all the bells and whistles.
Temple Burn2003-09-12T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2003/09/12/temple-burnI got this on the Sunday night of Burning Man 2003. It's the Temple of Honour burning.
<img src="http://www.folkwolf.net/~mattrose/templeburn.sized.jpg">
The F Word2003-08-20T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2003/08/20/the-f-wordThis definitely wins the award for "The best Legal Document of the Year", and maybe of all time. The lawyer who wrote it shows a dry, subtle sense of humour in writing a defense of, and a history of <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/fword1.html">The F word</a>
Black Rock Paper2003-07-22T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2003/07/22/black-rock-paper<a href="http:///www.burningman.com/themecamps_installations/themecamps/03_camp_vill_al.html#B"">YAY! </a>(search for Black Rock Paper). In short. The Good people that run Burning Man are big believers in our Black Rock Paper project, and are giving us prime real estate at Center Camp, so that we can get lots of people at our camp, and lots of paper to recycle into pretty new paper!
My Hero2003-07-16T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2003/07/16/my-hero<b>Today</b> <a href="http://www.theonion.com/onion3927/unemployed_man.html">This man</a> is my hero
AF2003-05-30T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2003/05/30/af<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3610653876&category=10851">Pugs</a>: Always funny.
Pre-Party Cleanup2003-05-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2003/05/29/pre-party-cleanupI'm avoiding cleaning up for a party this weekend, by surfing the net. I've always been suspicious about Warren Buffett. Somebody that famous for merely being rich (most people would say he's smart as well, I just think he's rich) I don't tend to like on general principle. However, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13113-2003May19.html">this op-ed</a> in the Washington Post has really caused me to think twice about the guy. I think his entire argument about the dividend tax break is right on the money. Think about it this way. If you give rich people a tax break while the economy is down, they're not going to rush out and spend it, because they don't need to. They can wait for an upturn in the economy before buying a house, or investing in a company. However, if you give a middle-class person a tax break, they're far more likely to spend it immediately, because the car's on it's last legs, and they need a new one, or they just had a baby, and they need a bigger house, or on any one of a hundred things they've been putting off buying because they just didn't have the money before.
I don't know why I'm so obsessed with the US Economy, I just am
Indian President2003-05-29T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2003/05/29/indian-presidentI wish the canadian Prime Minister (or all world leaders, for that matter) was as smart as the <a href="http://presidentofindia.nic.in/S/html/speeches/others/may28_2003_2.htm">Indian President</a> Quite an interesting speech.
best. rant. ever2002-03-03T00:00:00+00:00hhttp://mattrose.github.io/2002/03/03/best--rant-everThis is probably the best straight out rant I've ever read.</br>
read more to check it out.</br>
</br>
for some reason, a long time ago, back when I imported this into WordPress, I lost the original text. I found it again. I long ago lost the slashdot URL, but it was by an AC anyway...</br>
</br>
Re:That's nice. Hope you don't love slashdot...</br>
by Anonymous Coward on Fri Mar 01, '02 10:14 AM (Score:5, Interesting)</br>
(#3091399)</br>
</br>
I've been targeted right out of the market.</br>
</br>
I've had it. I can't take any more advertising. Television, radio,</br>
magazines, billboards, even the Internet for Christ's sake. Everywhere. Why</br>
do they keep targeting me? I never did anything to them. I don't even buy</br>
anything! They're wasting their time! Fast food makes me feel like shit,</br>
soft drinks make me dizzy, candy is disgusting, chips make my stomach hurt,</br>
I don't smoke, and any band that has ever been advertised anywhere sucks</br>
unequivocally. I eat tortillas and vegetables, I drink tap water. I ride my</br>
$40 bike for entertainment. I buy a new pair of Dickies at the army navy</br>
store every year and I get all my other clothes at Costco in 3-packs. My car</br>
works fine, I use my Internet connection for long distance, I've had the</br>
same boots for three years and re-sole them when they wear out. As far as</br>
booze goes, well, as long as it's wetŠŠ.</br>
</br>
So why do they keep attacking me? Why are they filling every square inch of</br>
every available space in my life? Above urinals, on concert tickets,</br>
underneath the ice at hockey games, on blimps, in video games, as props in</br>
movies, plugs in rap songs, on shitty Web Sites (No, I will not visit your</br>
motherfucking sponsor. If you're not in it for the love, and you can't</br>
figure out any better way to pay for your site than by slapping some ugly,</br>
corrupted banner across the top of your pathetic work, then fucking close up</br>
shop, kill yourself, and leave the Web to non-polluters). They'd advertise</br>
on the backs of my eyelids if they could get away with it, and I can't hack</br>
it anymore. They win. I lose. They succeeded. I failed. Like Brian Wilson, I</br>
just wasn't built for these times. I fold. Here are all my cards. Keep the</br>
pot, keep my ante, keep the goddamn jacket on the back of my chair for all I</br>
care, I can get another at Costco. I'll be out in the parking lot getting</br>
drunk and yelling at cute girls because I can no longer stand the taste of</br>
tentacles. Marketing has poisoned everything worthwhile under the sun, so</br>
I'm giving it all up. Everything.</br>
</br>
But the way I figure it, there's no real loss. I've seen all of the episodes</br>
of the Simpsons 200 times each. Most of the good writing was done 100 years</br>
ago. I haven't listened to FM radio in years. I could play all my records</br>
beginning to end alphabetically and I'd be 76 years old when I got to the</br>
Zeni Geva. Online culture is a fucking yawn, only good for buying stuffed</br>
goats on Ebay and getting cracked copies of $1000 software. Movies always</br>
end up at the 99 cent video store across the street eventually, and you can</br>
fast forward through those commercials. My girlie's cute and the corner bar</br>
has Pabst on tap. What else matters?</br>
</br>
True, by shutting myself off to everything, I'm probably limiting my future</br>
potential as a 'community building' or 'bleeding edge' cog in someone's</br>
nightmarish vision of Internet profitability, but fuck, a simple read</br>
through my writing should've cured that anyway (Note to potential employers:</br>
The bidding starts at $120,000 a year with full dental).</br>
</br>
So I'm out. No more.</br>
</br>
I just feel bad for those of you I'm leaving behind. You'll be wearing your</br>
Slave Labor Nikes, sweating under a Third World Vest, listening to Everqueer</br>
or Fratboy Slim, your hair styled stupidly with gasoline and aborted pig</br>
placentas, trying to choke down a Double Meat Fuck Splattered Cow Testicles</br>
On The Slaughterhouse Floor Pus Coagulated Lactacious Secretion Yellow Dye</br>
#2 Deluxe. Man, will you be looking dumb. It makes me want to cry. You poor,</br>
oversugared demographic you. You're filling your apartments, your bodies,</br>
and your minds with useless junk. You stagger under your own weight,</br>
throwing money in random directions until you collapse and die, buried by a</br>
bunch of people who you failed to create meaningful human bonds with, who</br>
forget about you on the way home from the funeral.</br>
</br>
Maybe I'm just oversensitive, but I actually feel those fingers reaching out</br>
at me - cute little girl fingers, feeling at my face like a bind man,</br>
pulling at the loose threads all over my brain, trying to find a sensitive</br>
one, one that tweaks me. Desires to be successful, attractive to the</br>
opposite sex, spiritually satiated, or conversely, the fears of disease,</br>
dismemberment, of being outcast, of repressed homosexual desires. Herd</br>
mentality as dictated by herd mentality. A gas mask of soiled wool, worn in</br>
a steaming shower of chlorinated pond water. A lumbering culture created by</br>
profit motive, existing as window dressing to disguise the brutal cynicism</br>
of the architects, the brassy checks and balances of accountants bleating</br>
commands to the flunky tastemakers on the production line. The subversion of</br>
anything subverting. The conversion of something dangerous into something</br>
profitable. The gutting of the lion and the championing of the taxidermist.</br>
And the puffy vests, my god, the puffy vestsŠŠ..</br>
</br>
I give it one more shot.</br>
</br>
I hit that little "on" button, and immediately this little red dot appears</br>
on my forehead. I feel the barrel rising on the other side of the glass as</br>
some powersuited executive attempts to get me in his sights. His scope is</br>
the best money can buy, but my nausea and skittishness mark me as difficult</br>
prey. I make a sprawling leap over a pile of books, spilling a glass of wine</br>
and sending my cats scattering. The TV takes a shot at me. It misses, but</br>
after the smoke clears, there's a shimmering can of Pepsi on the coffee</br>
table, seductively held by a well manicured (but severed) hand. Then the</br>
Taco Bell dog is outside, scratching at my window, singing "That's Amore",</br>
the secret code that alerts Col. Sanders and Ronald McDonald to get their</br>
tumor inducing grease guns at the ready. "We have a resistor! Alert Cap'n</br>
Crunch and Mrs. Butterworth. Tell Hogan to pull that Subaru around!" And</br>
then, as the entire posse of 1-800-COLLECT goons attempt to joke their way</br>
through the front door, a helmeted uberyouth does a backflip on rollerblades</br>
against the window, almost crushing the Taco dog, thankfully getting tangled</br>
in the iron jungle of security bars designed for such a moment. The severed</br>
Pepsi hand launches itself across the room onto the stereo, turns it to</br>
HOTROCK 99.5 FM and starts dancing suggestively on the turntable. Warm,</br>
gooey songs ooze from the speakers, blurring the lines between commercial</br>
and product, product and art. The walls are running with honey, blood, and</br>
Gatorade. Limp Bizkit tries to sign me up for the Rap Metal MasterCard, but</br>
is outvolumed by a chorus of creepy NY Gap models, dead eyed and Children of</br>
the Damned style, singing nostalgic 80s songs with cool detachment, trying</br>
to sell me vests. Close inspection reveals UPC codes on the backs of their</br>
beautiful necks and a legion of bulimic girls behind them, mascara mixing</br>
with puke on ten thousand toilet bowls. Budweiser frogs are crawling out of</br>
the toilet bowls. A one-eyed, mutilated Asian girl holds a pair of new</br>
Levi's against the window with a thin, purple arm and starts screeching</br>
"It's a Small World After All" at the top of her lungs. Magic, The Old Navy</br>
dog, is sniffing butts with the Taco Bell dog, who had since bit the Asian</br>
girl on the leg and now yelling something about Gordidas. A waifish beauty</br>
suddenly appears on my bed, vying for my attention, trying to talk me into a</br>
new car, her hand slowly unbuttoning her blouse, batting her doe-ishly brown</br>
eyes, "C'mon Mark. It's only a test drive. No one ever has to know."</br>
</br>
Realizing my one escape, I yank my battered wallet out of my back pocket and</br>
pull out a twenty dollar bill. The entire scene freezes. All eyes are</br>
transfixed to the damp, smelly piece of paper. Andrew Jackson snickers and</br>
you can almost smell the cannibalized Indian on his breath. A miraculous</br>
cross breeze flows through my apartment, and I let the money go. It catches</br>
an upward draft, a hot air thermal, and is gone out the window.</br>
</br>
And then, something even stranger happens. The spokespeople, animals,</br>
models, body parts, and corporate whores all disappear in a anti-climactic</br>
'puff' of yellow smoke, leaving a slight smell of perfumed intestine</br>
twisting through the air. My twenty freezes in mid flight about thirty feet</br>
above the ground. A helicopter drops out of the sky, and lowers a rope down</br>
to the cash. A man in a business suit slides down the rope, commando style,</br>
and captures the money in his mouth, gives a contemptuous snort, mumbling</br>
something like "sucker" under his breath. And then the helicopter is gone,</br>
vanishing somewhere behind the radio towers spiking the top of Queen Anne</br>
Hill. Everything is quiet again.</br>
</br>
I didn't just turn that TV off. I unplugged the motherfucker.</br>