14 November 2004
Tom's Hardware Guide PCs & HowTo: Supersize Your TV for $300: Build Your Own XGA Projector! - Giant Wall Display
Quote: The homemade projector in action - here, testing DVD playback. Its screen size is over six feet, and luminous efficiency is 3,500 ANSI lumens.
13 November 2004
Online Alignment Test
A friend of mine pointed me to this test. He said to take the test for yourself in your current real-life situation and to not read too much into the questions, just answer them.
I was surprised at my outcome:
Based on your answers to the quiz, your character’s most likely alignment is Chaotic Neutral.
Chaotic Neutral
A chaotic neutral character follows his whims. He is an individualist first and last. He values his own liberty but doesn’t strive to protect others’ freedom. He avoids authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. The chaotic neutral character does not intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, he would have to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others) or evil (and a desire to make those different from himself suffer). The common phrase for chaotic neutral is "true chaotic." Remember that the chaotic neutral character may be unpredictable, but his behavior is not totally random. He is not as likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it. Chaotic neutral is the best alignment you can be because it represents true freedom both from society’s restrictions and from a do-gooder’s zeal.
I was surprised at my outcome:
Based on your answers to the quiz, your character’s most likely alignment is Chaotic Neutral.
Chaotic Neutral
A chaotic neutral character follows his whims. He is an individualist first and last. He values his own liberty but doesn’t strive to protect others’ freedom. He avoids authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. The chaotic neutral character does not intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, he would have to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others) or evil (and a desire to make those different from himself suffer). The common phrase for chaotic neutral is "true chaotic." Remember that the chaotic neutral character may be unpredictable, but his behavior is not totally random. He is not as likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it. Chaotic neutral is the best alignment you can be because it represents true freedom both from society’s restrictions and from a do-gooder’s zeal.
12 November 2004
Sensory Overload: Free States vs. Slave States ~Oh How Far We've Come...
Wow. This is really interesting. It shows that the states that voted for Bush were the Slave states pre-Civil War.... That's a really telling sign.
11 November 2004
10 November 2004
ABC News: U.S. Military Wanted to Provoke War With Cuba
In 1962, American military was trying to cause people to THINK that America was being attacked so that the US could hold Cuba by military might??? Why does this sound so familiar?
Slashdot | Wireless Chip Embedded in Paper
Now if they would just mix this with OLED (which is printed used ink-jet technologies)...
Slashdot | U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft Resigns
Link explaining why the guy behind the Patriot Act resigned.
09 November 2004
Close-Minded BS
You know, I am sick and tired of close minded people telling me what to think. It is a bunch of fucking BS.
For the last few months, my mother-in-law has been sending me Pro-Bush email after email. Any time we try to show her any facts, she says that they are propaganda without even looking at them. Ok, she is a bit older, perhaps she is one of those people so stuck in their ways that they can't accept the truth.
But her daughter (my sister-in-law) is another matter. She is the only other republican I know (which she wasn't anything near being republican a few years ago). She doesn't have old-age to account for her close-minded attitude. In fact, she only has her mother and new husband to account for her new mindset. Don't believe me, ask one of her friends (most of the people with blogs to the left). They have all been saying that.
So, the other day my mother-in-law sent my wife an email talking about how disappointed she was that Oregon was blue on the map instead of red, and how it was all of those strong liberal democrats in Portland that caused the problem. My wife felt that the email targetted her specifically (and I felt probably me also, though I am not a democrat). Interestingly enough, this is one of the few political emails her mom did NOT send to me -- probably assuming she wouldn't like my reaction. My wife, on the other hand, usually tries to be really nice so as to not hurt her moms feelings. In this case, she replied (to all) telling her to keep her republican ideals away from us (and mention specifics about anti-gay, bible-banging, etc).
So, my wifes sister (the other republican) started chatting with me today, telling me that I wouldn't believe the hurtful email she sent. Then we started to discuss the fact that my wife feels that her mother and sister are always trying to control her life, and getting pissed off when she doesn't let them.
A little background. A few months ago, they both (same day) tried to convince her that she should give up college and her career plans and work as a flagger for the traffic department. Both of them said the same thing, almost word for word -- but denied talking to each other about it. Then, they got into a little discussion and haven't spoken to each other since. Dino's been waiting for an apology, which will never come.
And then the day of our wedding came up... On that day, Dino was out with her dad getting stuff for the wedding, and her mom told me she should just shoot herself in the head because Dino was pissing her off so much for taking so long. I wanted to slap her so hard - that is not something to joke about - especially to the groom on his wedding day -- and she didn't even say it as a joke. Dino's sister (Lori) said that Dino wasn't appreciating all that her mom had done for her wedding day. Ok, granted her mom spent like $300 for the wedding -- but we paid like $25000 and did everything ourselves. Not only did we organize everything, pay for everything, etc - but we even put them up in a motel that we paid for. So, no matter how you look at it, that comment was not in the least bit justified.
So Lori goes off to explain that Dino isn't following her own path, but convincing herself that my path is her path. If that is true, it would be hard to explain how she was on that path before we got together. But then again, Lori did drop music and singing to work at the administration office where her husband is going to school. Of course, now Lori wants to work in the film industry, not like it has anything to do with her husbands goals or anything.
So, Lori starts going off about how Dino's whole personality has changed because of me. Interesting. Dino has always been somewhat of a rebel, standing up for what she believed in. Of course, Lori has switched from Punk and Singing to a Republican in the film industry. But, of course, Lori must be right. I have turned Dino into... hmm? What?
So then Lori starts going off about how Dino becomes whinny whenever someone says something she doesn't agree with. I pointed out that Dino replied by standing up for what she believed in. Of course, the whole conversation did start off with Lori being pissed off at what Dino had said. Interesting.
Then she said that Bush won, and even had 48% of Portland. I started providing links (like many posted elsewhere here) that show proof of voter and election fraud. She just said that we were so deluded, that it was all propaganda (without even looking at them), and then said the conversation is over.
So, looks like she is as close-minded as her mother about politics. That's OK. Eudora has a nice filtering feature.
For the last few months, my mother-in-law has been sending me Pro-Bush email after email. Any time we try to show her any facts, she says that they are propaganda without even looking at them. Ok, she is a bit older, perhaps she is one of those people so stuck in their ways that they can't accept the truth.
But her daughter (my sister-in-law) is another matter. She is the only other republican I know (which she wasn't anything near being republican a few years ago). She doesn't have old-age to account for her close-minded attitude. In fact, she only has her mother and new husband to account for her new mindset. Don't believe me, ask one of her friends (most of the people with blogs to the left). They have all been saying that.
So, the other day my mother-in-law sent my wife an email talking about how disappointed she was that Oregon was blue on the map instead of red, and how it was all of those strong liberal democrats in Portland that caused the problem. My wife felt that the email targetted her specifically (and I felt probably me also, though I am not a democrat). Interestingly enough, this is one of the few political emails her mom did NOT send to me -- probably assuming she wouldn't like my reaction. My wife, on the other hand, usually tries to be really nice so as to not hurt her moms feelings. In this case, she replied (to all) telling her to keep her republican ideals away from us (and mention specifics about anti-gay, bible-banging, etc).
So, my wifes sister (the other republican) started chatting with me today, telling me that I wouldn't believe the hurtful email she sent. Then we started to discuss the fact that my wife feels that her mother and sister are always trying to control her life, and getting pissed off when she doesn't let them.
A little background. A few months ago, they both (same day) tried to convince her that she should give up college and her career plans and work as a flagger for the traffic department. Both of them said the same thing, almost word for word -- but denied talking to each other about it. Then, they got into a little discussion and haven't spoken to each other since. Dino's been waiting for an apology, which will never come.
And then the day of our wedding came up... On that day, Dino was out with her dad getting stuff for the wedding, and her mom told me she should just shoot herself in the head because Dino was pissing her off so much for taking so long. I wanted to slap her so hard - that is not something to joke about - especially to the groom on his wedding day -- and she didn't even say it as a joke. Dino's sister (Lori) said that Dino wasn't appreciating all that her mom had done for her wedding day. Ok, granted her mom spent like $300 for the wedding -- but we paid like $25000 and did everything ourselves. Not only did we organize everything, pay for everything, etc - but we even put them up in a motel that we paid for. So, no matter how you look at it, that comment was not in the least bit justified.
So Lori goes off to explain that Dino isn't following her own path, but convincing herself that my path is her path. If that is true, it would be hard to explain how she was on that path before we got together. But then again, Lori did drop music and singing to work at the administration office where her husband is going to school. Of course, now Lori wants to work in the film industry, not like it has anything to do with her husbands goals or anything.
So, Lori starts going off about how Dino's whole personality has changed because of me. Interesting. Dino has always been somewhat of a rebel, standing up for what she believed in. Of course, Lori has switched from Punk and Singing to a Republican in the film industry. But, of course, Lori must be right. I have turned Dino into... hmm? What?
So then Lori starts going off about how Dino becomes whinny whenever someone says something she doesn't agree with. I pointed out that Dino replied by standing up for what she believed in. Of course, the whole conversation did start off with Lori being pissed off at what Dino had said. Interesting.
Then she said that Bush won, and even had 48% of Portland. I started providing links (like many posted elsewhere here) that show proof of voter and election fraud. She just said that we were so deluded, that it was all propaganda (without even looking at them), and then said the conversation is over.
So, looks like she is as close-minded as her mother about politics. That's OK. Eudora has a nice filtering feature.
VOTERGATE
This is friggin nuts. Download the video and take a look (they have a low and high bandwidth version on the site).
So, it appears that there are 3 companies that provide voting machines. Two of them are owned by Texan brothers and account for 80% of the votes. The other one was shown to give the wrong candidate the votes. Is it any wonder than Bush keeps winning?
One part of the video shows how to completely swap who the winner is in less than 90 seconds. Not too surprising since any 12-year old kid can spend 5 minutes on Google and figure out how to hack the Access database used (even how to get the passwords).
There are also an interesting clip that shows that the Washington Secretary of State illegally signed off on them, and that the voters have no recourse available.
I know, I know. Some of you will download and watch it because you already believe it was all fraudulent -- and the others of you (like my Mother-in-Law) will assume it is all propaganda and fake and wrong because it doesn't fit with what the Republican party told her. Whatever.
So, it appears that there are 3 companies that provide voting machines. Two of them are owned by Texan brothers and account for 80% of the votes. The other one was shown to give the wrong candidate the votes. Is it any wonder than Bush keeps winning?
One part of the video shows how to completely swap who the winner is in less than 90 seconds. Not too surprising since any 12-year old kid can spend 5 minutes on Google and figure out how to hack the Access database used (even how to get the passwords).
There are also an interesting clip that shows that the Washington Secretary of State illegally signed off on them, and that the voters have no recourse available.
I know, I know. Some of you will download and watch it because you already believe it was all fraudulent -- and the others of you (like my Mother-in-Law) will assume it is all propaganda and fake and wrong because it doesn't fit with what the Republican party told her. Whatever.
Wired 12.11: The Real da Vinci Code
The article explains how they found out that the da Vinci cart was actually a programmable robot. Perhaps this quote will get you to read it: "steampunk for the Middle Ages".
08 November 2004
What does the GOP really stand for?
I was curious what the "official" Republican platform was, so I checked out their website: www.gop.com
GOP says: "Commits America to an aggressive strategy to cut greenhouse gas intensity by 18% over the next 10 years. " (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=1)
Bush disagrees: "President Bush is holding fast to his rejection of mandatory curbs on greenhouse gases that are blamed for global warming, despite a fresh report from 300 scientists in the United States and seven other nations that shows Arctic temperatures are rising." (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041106/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_global
_warming&e=6&ncid=703)
GOP says: "promote energy efficiency " (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=8)
Bush goes to war for more oil
GOP says: "Millions of low-income Americans made eligible for coverage." (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=4)
Oregon Health Plan says that they no longer have enough funding, and even unemployed (without ANY income) I don't qualify
GOP says: "No Child Left Behind has made significant new resources available to states and local school districts" (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=3)
Schools have been closing, dropping teachers (and increasing class sizes), dropping programs (like art and music). Teachers with Masters degrees can hope for 1/2 the income an Intel employee can get fresh out of high school.
GOP says: "Defending our nation against its enemies is the first and fundamental commitment of the federal government. " and "We will preserve the peace by fostering an era of good relations among the world’s great powers. " (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=5)
We have more enemies now than we have had in a very long time. The world sees us as immoral, breaking international law, and thinking of no one but ourselves. The majority of the world thinks the US=terrorist. And now we are going to break a 1967 international treaty? (http://www.guardian.co.uk/space/article/0,14493,1345460,00.html and http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/space1.html )
GOP says: "And we will extend the peace by seeking to extend the benefits of freedom and prosperity across the globe. " (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=5)
Not only do the people we are helping think we are taking their freedoms away; and not only do people in our own country feel oppressed; but the whole idea of HOW we spread peace goes against the ideals of the founding fathers:
"We surely cannot deny to any nation that right whereon our own government is founded, that every one may govern itself according to whatever form it pleases and change these forms at its own will... The will of the nation is the only thing essential to be regarded." --Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 1792. ME 9:36
GOP says: "Department of Homeland Security to improve protection against today’s threats" (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=6)
Homeland Security spends their time making Vancouver toy stores take toys off the shelf for being too similar to an expired Rubix Cube patent (http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/10/29/0014250&tid=155&tid=187&tid=1)
GOP says: "TTIC will merge and analyze all threat information collected domestically and abroad in a single location." (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=6)
If they truly believe in it, then why did they have to rename it when the public complained? It used to be known as Total Information Awareness (TIA) (http://www.eff.org/Privacy/TIA/)
GOP says: "The FBI transformed into an agency focused on preventing domestic terrorism." (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=6)
Then why did CBS report TODAY that the FBI was dealing with the terrorists being released in Afghanistan? I am pretty sure that Afghanistan is not domestic.
GOP says: "Deliver critical help to unemployed citizens." and "Provide help for unemployed Americans, including extending unemployment benefits and creating new re-employment accounts to help displaced workers get back on the job. " and "Every worker who has lost his or her job and qualifies for unemployment benefits will get more help, and many will qualify for new, more flexible Personal Re-employment Accounts, which provide a bonus if they find work quickly." (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=2)
Then why is it as a currently unemployed citizen, I can not even apply for unemployment until January? In fact, the Oregon Employment Department specifically told me that they do NOT have any extended benefits for the first time in years.
GOP says: "Our trade with other nations is expandingbringing the lower prices that come from imports, and the better jobs that come from exports. " (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=2)
The reason we have so few jobs is that the businesses get incentives to outsource their jobs to other countries. We do not get better jobs from exports, we loose jobs to exports.
GOP says: "Commits America to an aggressive strategy to cut greenhouse gas intensity by 18% over the next 10 years. " (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=1)
Bush disagrees: "President Bush is holding fast to his rejection of mandatory curbs on greenhouse gases that are blamed for global warming, despite a fresh report from 300 scientists in the United States and seven other nations that shows Arctic temperatures are rising." (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041106/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_global
_warming&e=6&ncid=703)
GOP says: "promote energy efficiency " (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=8)
Bush goes to war for more oil
GOP says: "Millions of low-income Americans made eligible for coverage." (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=4)
Oregon Health Plan says that they no longer have enough funding, and even unemployed (without ANY income) I don't qualify
GOP says: "No Child Left Behind has made significant new resources available to states and local school districts" (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=3)
Schools have been closing, dropping teachers (and increasing class sizes), dropping programs (like art and music). Teachers with Masters degrees can hope for 1/2 the income an Intel employee can get fresh out of high school.
GOP says: "Defending our nation against its enemies is the first and fundamental commitment of the federal government. " and "We will preserve the peace by fostering an era of good relations among the world’s great powers. " (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=5)
We have more enemies now than we have had in a very long time. The world sees us as immoral, breaking international law, and thinking of no one but ourselves. The majority of the world thinks the US=terrorist. And now we are going to break a 1967 international treaty? (http://www.guardian.co.uk/space/article/0,14493,1345460,00.html and http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/space1.html )
GOP says: "And we will extend the peace by seeking to extend the benefits of freedom and prosperity across the globe. " (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=5)
Not only do the people we are helping think we are taking their freedoms away; and not only do people in our own country feel oppressed; but the whole idea of HOW we spread peace goes against the ideals of the founding fathers:
"We surely cannot deny to any nation that right whereon our own government is founded, that every one may govern itself according to whatever form it pleases and change these forms at its own will... The will of the nation is the only thing essential to be regarded." --Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 1792. ME 9:36
GOP says: "Department of Homeland Security to improve protection against today’s threats" (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=6)
Homeland Security spends their time making Vancouver toy stores take toys off the shelf for being too similar to an expired Rubix Cube patent (http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/10/29/0014250&tid=155&tid=187&tid=1)
GOP says: "TTIC will merge and analyze all threat information collected domestically and abroad in a single location." (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=6)
If they truly believe in it, then why did they have to rename it when the public complained? It used to be known as Total Information Awareness (TIA) (http://www.eff.org/Privacy/TIA/)
GOP says: "The FBI transformed into an agency focused on preventing domestic terrorism." (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=6)
Then why did CBS report TODAY that the FBI was dealing with the terrorists being released in Afghanistan? I am pretty sure that Afghanistan is not domestic.
GOP says: "Deliver critical help to unemployed citizens." and "Provide help for unemployed Americans, including extending unemployment benefits and creating new re-employment accounts to help displaced workers get back on the job. " and "Every worker who has lost his or her job and qualifies for unemployment benefits will get more help, and many will qualify for new, more flexible Personal Re-employment Accounts, which provide a bonus if they find work quickly." (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=2)
Then why is it as a currently unemployed citizen, I can not even apply for unemployment until January? In fact, the Oregon Employment Department specifically told me that they do NOT have any extended benefits for the first time in years.
GOP says: "Our trade with other nations is expandingbringing the lower prices that come from imports, and the better jobs that come from exports. " (http://www.gop.com/GOPAgenda/AgendaPage.aspx?id=2)
The reason we have so few jobs is that the businesses get incentives to outsource their jobs to other countries. We do not get better jobs from exports, we loose jobs to exports.
U.S.'s new Iraq Dictator?
CBS was reporting today that the newly appointed Iraqi President has declared Martial Law. The interesting bit was when they said that it is the strictess since Saddam Hussein. So, did we put yet another Dictator in power? Guess in a couple years we will have to attack him as being some evil terrorist.
Of course, they also commented about how Afghanistan is releasing terrorists that plan on attacking the US. Aren't we supposedly allies with them?
Personally, I think this whole thing is just another cog in the US oil-war.
Of course, they also commented about how Afghanistan is releasing terrorists that plan on attacking the US. Aren't we supposedly allies with them?
Personally, I think this whole thing is just another cog in the US oil-war.
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