Why I love all things Russian.

As some of you know, I have a certain fondness for all things Russian. Maybe it's my slightly over the top love of vodka, maybe it's their ability to consistently produce hot, dumb chicks, maybe it's fact that they produce so much depression it's available for export.

However, they've outdone themselves this time. They took what was an AWESOME grief on Second Life and recreated it (to some extent) in meatspace.

Well played comrades. Well played.

Aliens gone wild?

I want to habeeb!

Oh for the love of god

SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY

You didn't see this coming?

Seriously? C'mon... I understand their value proposition, but the guy was/is simply selling something that doesn't exist. You can use all the technology you like and be as vigilant as it is humanly possible to be and you will still fail. You know why? You can't overcome social engineering with the technology/process that is currently in place, and arguably with any technology/process that's going to be available any time some.

Interestingly enough, this story does to a good job of pointing out some of the glaring weaknesses in the system. If the process is only as strong as it's weakest point, and the weakest point is the person with the education level/life skills that puts them behind the counter at a "fast cash"/payday loan type of place, then the process is very, very broken. As long as all that one needs to cash in on someone else's identity is the ability to out smart a high school dropout, there's going to be problems.

In the mean time, I will continue to take the security measures I do now (to avoid being the slowest gazelle) and hope for the best. It does make a fun intellectual exercise though... As we move more and more towards a culture where you no longer physically posses most of your wealth (no cash, no bag of gold dust, goats, etc.) how do we as a society protect that wealth? The possibilities are really endless and the nexus of technology, sociology, security, ethics, privacy and other issues should have us stumbling towards competency (slowly) for decades to come.

I hate to admit it...

...because it's totally NOT my style, but I find myself really liking this song. It's chaveriffic!

As some of you may know...

...I hate bees. Seriously, I know they are responsible for making wonderful foods and stuff, but they are also FULL OF STINGS AND HATE. That's why this creeped me out so much. That poor guy. Guy: "Bees why do you chase me!!!! Bees I am falling please stop!!! Bees, my bones are broken and cacti are poking me with sharp needles.... SERIOUSLY I quit! Umm.... Bees.... Dying.... Seriously...." Bees: "LOL, pwned"

By the way, Shannon pointed out that this would make the worse carnival ride EVER. "OK Billy, you have 3 tickets.... You can ride the ferris wheel or BEE CANYON!"

If you're blue and you don't know...

...where to go to why don't you go where Carol sits, I mean stands?

"He knows what he's doing..."

Oh hell yeah he does!!! 186MPH through the air.... WITHOUT A F'ING PLANE?! As I have long asserted, and as anyone who know me can attest, the Swiss are made of awesome.

Shannon's home town...

...now has a claim to fame. Make sure and watch the video, it's priceless. "People keep asking where the powder and guns were WWWHHHHARRRRGGGGGBBBBLLLLL NRRRRRRRRRR HHURRRRRRRFFFFFF DURFFFFFFFFFFFFFF". BTW (and don't tell them I said this) that Pizza? Tastes like ass. The secret to it's success? THERE'S NO WHERE ELSE TO GET PIZZA FOR LIKE 20 GOD DAMN MILES!!!!!!! If you're used to eating mud, a 7-11 hot dog seems like the best thing ever.

Don't judge me...

But I found this while doing a GIS for "ow my ass". Anyway, I've only read part of it and I like what I see. C'mon, it's f'ing Survivor with toys!

Bad life choices...

Really Carol?

C'mon, give it a rest. No one's laughing.

Oh no, there goes Toyko...

Grawdzillrah!

I just don't know how to feel....

...about this. One the hand, it's frightening. These insects are responsible for the continued survival of a good deal of our food supply, and they're dying in record numbers for reasons we don't understand. Something is obviously very, very wrong.

On the other hand, I hate bees SO MUCH!

Alas, poor Carol

I knew her, Horatio. Ok, I didn't really KNOW her, but we hung out once.

How awesome is this?

Apparently, these little bastards hatched the day before I came back to work in the building. The funny thing is, during my last interview (days before the little ones hatched), I peered out a window on the other side of the building into a nest of baby pigeons. Circle of life, eh?

Today, while in a meeting, I watched papa/mama/whoever leave the nest and soar around the area looking for tasty, tasty snacks for the hawklettes. I smiled the whole time. Good luck and good hunting you little neo-dinosaurs.

Sorry Carol I was just kidding!!!!

No! Carol! Stop! Oh god help me!

Way to go, stupid carol

Pork - The meat of kings

PORK!

Anyone else...

...find this just a little convenient? Especially considering the fate of one of her employees?

Not that I agree with this fella...

...as I personally think discussions like this are mental masturbation (fun, but you don't accomplish much) and I couldn't care less if the filter is ahead or behind, but this is a very interesting read.

It also brings up a question. I think I'm about done with SETI@home. Yeah it's fun to think about and yeah I think it's worthwhile, but I think those spare cycles (and I have LOTS) might be put to better use on a project with more immediate benefits for people currently alive here on Earth. I'm a pragmatist, and growing more pragmatic as I grow older. At this point, I think discussion of possible extra-terrestrial life is about as important as discussion of religion (meaning not very important at all). I'm more interested something real. I know there's a bunch of boinc projects out there. Anyone have a suggestion or a case for a particular one?

Oh, and while I'm asking questions... Do any of you Mac users know how to make the delete key act like a delete key and not a backspace key? It's pissing me off to no end.