Monday 4th of July 2005
Fireworks and probes
Today it´s the birthday of the “land of the free, home of the brave” also known as the United States. Even though in my possibly not so humble opinion, America is anything but free and in the past few years incresingly so. I seem to appreciate the “freedom” ideal as a lot of nationalistic conditioning and an oversimplification of “the world” as seen from within the US itself. I may be generalizing, and I apologize for that, but it seems to me that a lot of people in the States don´t realize that there´s a lot more out there than just the American way of life, and when you only know one way of life, you are forced to believe it´s the best. I am, however, compelled to reach out and congratulate all Americans on this day.
Not because I like where it is going right now, or it´s current political scene, but because of it´s people, of the Americans I´ve met and due to the friendships that they have offered me. In my experience, I´ve found the greastest extremes in the “land of free”, and as such, whilst there is some shitty people, there is also some of the greatest. I believe America does have the potential to be the very best in possibly all aspects, and I invite you all to look at world, read some of it´s history, and apply it. Don´t make the same mistakes we made, let us all grow from them. The road is paved, let us all walk on it.
I´m really not trying to be condescending, and I have probably failed at that, but I say it because I love you. And love hurts sometimes. Bear in mind I do say it with the bestest of intentions.
Now, let´s watch fireworks! from space even! Happy fourth of July everyone!
Friday 18th of February 2005
Educational videos
A while ago I saw walking with cavemen, an educational series by the British Broadcasting Corporation. This spurred me into finding more of them, and they do have quite a bit to choose from. I recently finished Hyperspace (with your friendly host Sam Neill!) and today I decided to look for more.
HaXXXor was brought to my attention, combining hacking with pr0n is an incredible idea, I just wish i had thought of it first. :p
If you’re tired of other videos making empty promises they have no intention to deliver on, we are your solution. Armed with real girls showing all of their hardware. The 2 Percent Crew proudly presents HaXXXor!
They also have a second volume, complete with a pirate girl talking about piracy methods and p2p applications. Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole? Arrr!
Then I searched some more and found Linux virgin:
This amusing series chronicles Karla Grundick, an eager linux groupie schoolgirl, as she is taught how to build a computer by Mistress Koyo, the cyberpunk linux expert. Also starring Roy, the voyeur, and Dog Big, the masturbating Rottweiller.
These lovely and humanitarian girls already have their first episode out. Excuse me while I start this torrent.. for purely educational porpuses, of course.
Wednesday 16th of February 2005
Kyoto protocol: today
I’m watching euronews on the tube box and I was remembered that the Kyoto protocol comes in force today, as of roughtly 5 hours. Interestingly, of the 141 countries that have ratified the treaty and will have to lower their green gas emissions, the United States of America, the country with the largests emissions of planet Earth, is not one. In Bush’s words:
The world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases is China. Yet, China was entirely exempted from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol. This is a challenge that requires a 100 percent effort; ours, and the rest of the world’s. America’s unwillingness to embrace a flawed treaty should not be read by our friends and allies as any abdication of responsibility. To the contrary, my administration is committed to a leadership role on the issue of climate change. Our approach must be consistent with the long-term goal of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
Even more interestingly, China emits 2,893 million metric tons of CO2 per year (2.3 tons per capita) compared to 5,410 million from the USA (20.1 tons per capita), and 3,171 million from the EU (8.5 tons per capita). And while they are exempted initially, they will have to start meeting the goals entering the next decade. The USA now has the economic up-hand againts contries that did ratify the treaty and now have to find other ways to get electricity other than a cheap but very dirty coal plant.
And not to bash on the USA alone, Australia did not ratify the treaty either. Hum.