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2 May, 2003

Photos After the Rain

It's been raining most of the day. But then all of a sudden it stopped, and the sun came out -- a perfect time to take some photos. Here are a few of them (click to enlarge).


Posted on 2 May, 2003

Rejected Google Logos

Good stuff from Fark. Example:

(via Geisha asobi blog)

Posted on 2 May, 2003

RIAA Preparing to Get Nastier?

From the New York Times: Software Bullet Is Sought to Kill Musical Piracy

Some of the world's biggest record companies, facing rampant online piracy, are quietly financing the development and testing of software programs that would sabotage the computers and Internet connections of people that download pirated music, according to industry executives.

The record companies are exploring options on new countermeasures, which some experts say have varying degrees of legality, to deter online theft: from attacking personal Internet connections so as to slow or halt downloads of pirated music to overwhelming the distribution networks with potentially malicious programs that masquerade as music files.

It sounds like a declaration of war. The coming months might be very interesting.

Posted on 2 May, 2003

New From Microsoft: Internet Outhouse

From Business Week: Sit and surf: MSN UK tests portable potty

How far will MSN go to get new subscribers? Apparently to the portable potty at your local summer concert or festival. MSN UK is creating what Microsoft calls the world's first Internet outhouse, or iLoo, complete with flat-screen plasma display, wireless keyboard and broadband access.

Posted on 2 May, 2003

Writing For Hallmark Cards

Did you ever wonder how greeting card companies come up with all of those cards? This Washington Post article provides an inside look:

The conference table is covered with impossibly cute photographs of cats and dogs. There are soft, gauzy images of puffy white kittens with blue eyes playing with pink yarn. There are wrinkly puppies lying upside down on red velvet with their tongues wagging. There are all manner of yippy little dogs with pink and red bows tied around their necks.

It is 10 a.m. and I am trying to write captions that will transform these photos into Valentine's Day cards -- "Cutes" in Hallmark parlance

Posted on 2 May, 2003

Short and Long Domain Names

This site claims to have the longest domain name:

http://www.llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch.com/

And so does this one:

http://www.ireallythinkthatthiswebsitenamehastobethelongestwebsitenameever.com/

The shortest, of course, would be a single-letter domain name. I tried a few random single-letter Web sites, but most of them don't go anywhere. A few that do work are

Posted on 2 May, 2003

Crashing Internet Explorer

By current standards, Microsoft Internet Explorer is fairly stable. For me, it crashes only once or twice a week (and I use it a lot).

I was surprised to find this link, which describes how to crash IE with a single HTML statement. It tried it, and it works.

Posted on 2 May, 2003

Wait 364 Days

I try to keep up with the major holidays, but I blew it. Yesterday was No Pants Day.

No Pants Day is a day where everyone, be they students, respectable businessmen, or cherished community leaders, leave their pants behind. Usually this means wearing thick, appropriately modest boxer shorts, but bloomers, slips, briefs, and boxer-briefs all work as well.

Now you'll need to wait 364 more days.

Posted on 2 May, 2003

Bonsai Potato

If you've ever had an urge to create a bonsai from a potato, you're in luck.

According to The Art of the Bonsai Potato, Bonsai Potato is "the art of nurturing the artistic vision of a potato through various forms of encouragement and manipulation." To me, a Bonsai Potato can be so much more. I find that the 30 to 45 seconds that I spend trimming, whispering encouraging remarks or just admiring my Bonsai Potato are the most relaxing moments of my day. 

You can purchase a kit, view photos in the gallery, and view the FAQ. For example, you'll find the answer to this common question:

How can I maintain aesthetic balance in a multi-variety arrangement dominated by a mono-planar asymmetrical alternating branch stalk?

Posted on 2 May, 2003

Jerry Hill Presents Names

This site has more than 500 links to other sites that deal with names. All are nicely categorized for your surfing pleasure.

Posted on 2 May, 2003