The Digital Life

A recent New York Times article touted the title "A Flash Drive That Holds Your Computer". The article says it works by not only storing files like MSWord Documents but also the system files that allow them to run. Exciting, no? Indeed exciting but also quite troubling. When I went to Jr. High floppy discs and CD's were almost banned because of the threat of uploading a virus to the schools computer. Of course the teachers were mistaken, we had Crapintosh's (once, for fun I checked how many instances of the "I Love You" virus were on a single Mac and lost count at 20. At this point you may be thinking to yourself, "Wow! What kind of firewall did you have?" The answer is, we didn't... At first this seems like a good thing... Then you get to thinking... If one of the world's most destructive viruses DOES NOT WORK on a Macintosh... Something's wrong with the Macintosh... But I digress...) The point I'm trying to make is: If computers can still get infected... Even though they have firewalls and anti-virus tools... Is it really a good idea to make something that can transfer a infected hard drive to a different computer?

The "flash drive" the New York Times was talking about was the "Ceedo Personal" running the "Lexar PowerToGo" software. The flash drive costs $53 to $90 for the 1GB and 2GB models respectively (an impressive 4GB model is set to be released in August). That kind of storage capacity is very frightening to this author. Think about the amount of viruses a disgruntled employee (statistically the most likely to sabotage a businesses computer) could store on a flash drive like that. Worse this could allow someone to unintentionally infect somebody's computer! The article also had worse news:

• "Lexar claims it's "Lightning" [flash drives]... Are two to six times as fast as regular flash drives..."
• "[Lexar's rival] U3 argues that [their flash drive]... offers more security... such as a password for the flash drive..." (U3 makes a special flash drive that allows you to install programs on the flash drive.
• "... [Ceedo's software] requires neither special programs nor special flash drives... It even runs on iPods and other portable drives..."
• "... Ceedo-equipped flash drives trick software installers into [installing]... onto a duplicate of your windows folder..."
• "... there's even a portable, duplicate registry on board..."
• "When you plug your drive into any PC - at, say, a Kinko's, a Airport Waiting Lounge, or at a friends house..."

Scary stuff...

Revenge!

I saw this recently on a chatboard (It's what you call a signature or "siggy". It comes after your message and is usually funny.):

"Americans have different ways of saying things. They say "elevator", we say "lift" ... they say "President", we say "stupid psychopathic git."
Alexai Sayle.


I like our president, but I have to admit... that is pretty funny... I made a funnier one though:

"The British have different ways of saying things. They say "chips", we say "fries" ... they say "teeth", we say "monstrosities"...

Strife_Master

Work Sucks

Recently I've heard the following phrase over and over: "Doesn't Work Give You Such A Satisfying Feeling?" To which I usually respond, "No, but you give me a 'Stepford Wife' feeling." With that aside I will now talk about my opinions on work.

1. Work is not satisfying.


After doing several hours of yard work I would never say, "Wow! How Fulfilling! I Wish I Could Do That Again!" However, I would say, "Damn... What A Waste of Time..."


2. Work does not "Feel Good".


I can honestly say that it has the opposite effect on me. It "Feels Like My Muscles Are Rapidly Atrophying".


3. Work does not give you a sense of accomplishment.


Rather it gives you a depressing feeling. (i.e. "It Looked Better Before...")

I hope this helps you in your decision on what to do this summer... Me, I'm going to Vegas.

EDIT (November 28, 2006): I Really Did Go To Las Vegas That Summer... It Rocked...

Must Kill Bono!

Keane singer Tom Chaplin recently told England's "Q magazine" that one night while the trio was opening up for U-2 last year, he spotted some kitchen knives backstage, and a disturbing thought popped into his head. "The thought just came to me, 'I'll kill Bono.' Like when a train's approaching and you get the urge to jump." No word on whether Chaplin aspires to inherit the suposedly cursed "Bono Ruby".




Source: http://1077theend.com/musicnews.asp

Breaking News!Venture Bros Not Dead!

According To This Picture (Found At "Jackson Publick's" Blog):

Dean and Hank Venture haven't been killed off! It turns out that just needed a break from the glare of publicity and faked their own deaths... Very... Very realistically! Luckily they have just been hanging out in the attic at their home (1297 Venture Compound West). Thaddeus Venture's bodyguard, Brock Samson, is credited with finding the boys. When asked whether he was surprised when he found the two teenagers Brock said, "No, not really. The giggling coming from the attic was just starting to creep me out." We will give more details as soon as more is known about this development.