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April 26, 2006
IE 7
FINALLY PNG SUPPORT.
PNG is a "Portable Network Graphic" -- it's the successor to "GIF" images -- it doesn't have the annoying GIF patent problems (which are moot now anyway), and it enables true alpha transparency, which means that you can design a semi-transparent graphic that looks nice ontop of any background. With GIFs, you have to change the entire image if you change the background color, and forget about overlaying on top of another image.
Also, it seems like they tore out all the pages from the Firefox manual and a few from Opera -- tabbed browsing, better security (I'll believe that when it doesn't get hacked immediately... but it does do at least on the surface a better job), and the ever-cool "scaling" effect that Opera has had for so many years now.
It's still super-bloaty, and requires a reboot to install it, and it's not like I'm about to even use it for anything but purely testing my designs purposes, due to my inherent distrust of all things MS.
But.... yay for the png support. Even if the CSS positioning support is f'ed up -- in a new, and different, way. Sigh.
Posted by griffjon at 09:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 25, 2006
OCD Moment: Animated subway ads
So, DC just installed animated subway ads. They look like bigscreen TVs on the walls of the tunnel that you watch while going past. Of course, this would in reality just look like a big blur. Coming home tonight we pulled to a stop by them, and they're just little vertical lines. It turns out that they're actually linear zoetropes, designed by an astrophysicist-turned-artist-turned-advertising entrepreneur, Josh Spodek. I'm not sure why I find this so interesting, but read through Spodek's page -- he certainly strikes me more as a geek and artist who stumbled upon a hugely valuable advertising scheme than, well, a slimy advertiser-type. I mean, the guy's an open-source software supporter.
He has patented his linear zoetrope, though. Prior art, I can only imagine, was a bit difficult.
Posted by griffjon at 09:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Fox is evil. Seriously.
Evidentially, billboards and airplane banners reading "6+6+06" are popping up in major metro areas:
A billboard in Chicago's Morgan Park community near the 111th Street exit of I-57 reads: "6-6-06 The signs are all around you."The mark of the beast is being used by 20th Century Fox to promote a remake of the 1976 chiller "The Omen," which will open in theaters June 6. The thriller stars Mia Farrow, Julia Stiles, newcomer Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick as the devil incarnate, and Liev Schreiber, a horror movie regular with roles in "Scream" and "Scream 2."
Banner tows and billboards have also popped up in New York, L.A., on Chicago's North Side and even in Harvey.
Spring breakers in Arizona's Lake Havasu and Panama City, Fla., spotted the "666" banner flying behind a plane and called 911, news stations and even the FBI. "The reaction confirms that the numbers 666 affect people as they have throughout history," Fox spokesman Jeffrey Godsick said.
The "Omen" campaign also includes signs and airplane banners with the menacing date and "You have been warned."
A publicity stunt, which has the extra added benefit of also stirring the 9/11 pot for their neocon friends, reminding us all about the terror threats all around us. The person who thought up trailing a banner behind an airplane reading "you have been warned" should get shot. Actually, I'm surprised that someone hasn't taken the law into their own hands and taken potshots at the plane.
Posted by griffjon at 12:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 14, 2006
Pirate Ninja Monkey Robot
Well, the ATF is taking down the ninjas already, I imagine the pirates are next.
Unless, that is, the ATF was paid off by the pirates, like what happened between the Monkeys and the Robots (ending up with the current imprisonment of all monkeys is major metropolitan areas -- zoos, indeed -- while robots roam free and are silently invading our homes.
Unaware of the controversy? Pirates vs Ninjas, overview of the Pirate/Ninja Monkey/Robot debate...
Posted by griffjon at 03:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 09, 2006
...
I feel sick.
A government consultant with close ties to the civilian leadership in the Pentagon said that Bush was “absolutely convinced that Iran is going to get the bomb” if it is not stopped. He said that the President believes that he must do “what no Democrat or Republican, if elected in the future, would have the courage to do,” and “that saving Iran is going to be his legacy.”
“This is much more than a nuclear issue,” one high-ranking diplomat told me in Vienna. “That’s just a rallying point, and there is still time to fix it. But the Administration believes it cannot be fixed unless they control the hearts and minds of Iran. The real issue is who is going to control the Middle East and its oil in the next ten years.”A senior Pentagon adviser on the war on terror expressed a similar view. “This White House believes that the only way to solve the problem is to change the power structure in Iran, and that means war,” he said.
" ‘Decisive’ is the key word of the Air Force’s planning. It’s a tough decision. But we made it in Japan.”
Have we become so myopic, so coddled and distracted 24-hour-news and Fox that not only are we dooming ourselves to repeat history, but to repeat mistakes that we're currently suffering through?
Posted by griffjon at 12:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
New BlogSpam
I've been getting tons of linkless commet junk recently -- I'm guessing they're spam "pings" to see if the comments get automatically posted, or to get around the TypeKey authentication method -- some systems allow any user, once they've had a comment approved and posted, to post without approval. Anyway, it's very bizarre, but an interesting way to see which entries are "popular"
Posted by griffjon at 12:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 06, 2006
Junk email zen
Is it spam, or Dadaist poetry?
mitt, ride the honey as pianist, the subjunctive!!! caterer electric shock, of pigheaded the parliamentary blameless squander of travels the or bagel to revolutionize a byte of by tacitly, was challenge and snobbery optician, obliteration!!! empower pedagogical social studies!!! news Mar. U-turn, a M.A., wildlife the nicotine shiftless, retrieve rock swear word. hatchback to quill alignment, an congratulate legislator the
Posted by griffjon at 10:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 04, 2006
Delay resigns?
The decision, first reported last night, came three days after Tony C. Rudy, his former deputy chief of staff, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and corruption charges, telling federal prosecutors of a criminal enterprise being run out of DeLay's leadership offices. Rudy's plea agreement did not implicate DeLay in any illegal activities, but by placing the influence-buying efforts of disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff directly in DeLay's operation, the former aide may have made an already difficult reelection bid all but out of reach.
DeLay, who will turn 59 on Saturday, did not say precisely when he would step down, but under Texas law he must either die, be convicted of a felony or move out of his district to be removed from the November ballot. DeLay told Time magazine that he is likely to change his official residence from Sugar Land, Tex., to Alexandria by the end of May. He said he informed President Bush of his decision yesterday afternoon.
Well, 2 outa three ain't bad, but it looks like he's just going to move into the beltway and keep active, according to his statement
I will determine the new ways from various arenas outside of public office that will allow me to continue to contribute to and engage in the policy, political, and cultural issues of national importance to the conservative majority.With that plan in mind, I also intend to relocate to my Virginia property and reside closer to Washington, so that I can dedicate the necessary time and energy to making a successful transition from the public to private sectors for myself and family.
Posted by griffjon at 11:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 03, 2006
Sportz
I think I care less about sports than pretty much everyone I know.
Why do I care whether Team A beats Team B, and their left-ball-hanging-lower-ratio is higher, but not when they play on tuesdays or after playing in cold climates? Honestly.
Posted by griffjon at 10:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 02, 2006
To Have Done List
Things I did this weekend:
*Went salsa-dancing
*Went hiking
*Hosed down my overcoat
*Met up with ISTPers for dinner, Cherry Blossom Festival fireworks, and a party
*Troubleshot Mom's email problem over VNC
*Researched CAFTA/IPR issues for my trade paper
*Found some courses to take next Fall
*Shopped for and made a fancy chiles rellenos style dinner
*One blog entry for IT Policy
Things I didn't do this weekend:
*My reading for Wednesday
*My stats homework and reading for Tuesday
*More catch-up blog entries for IT Policy
*Research for my IT Policy paper
*Any actual writing on my trade paper
I'm severely lacking in motivation, plus, it's finally decent outside and my skin wants some sun and breeze and physical activity! This doesn't work so well with sitting in front of a computer or poring over policy documents.
Posted by griffjon at 10:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The Turducken of Chiles Rellenos
I'm trying an experiment -- jalapenos stuffed with pepperjack cheese, stuffed inside anaheims stuffed inside poblanos (with more cheese added at each step), baked with egg batter, casserolish style.
I've already decided that, while a nice alternative to getting my reading done, that was WAY TOO MUCH TIME spent peeling peppers (this recipe may be better performed in New Mexico, where you can outsource this kinda thing).
It's baking now, and I'm gonna get some reading done.
...
OK, they're alright. one too many peppers -- the jalapenos are still mostly raw while the poblano is crisping and the anaheim is soggy, and the casserole-batter attempt went poorly, but I still like the anaheim-and-cheese-inside-poblano effect, so it's worth a retry.
P.S The mofos are PICANTE
Posted by griffjon at 06:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack