Were they abducted then?

Posted on December 7, 2003 by Arthur

Remember Clonaid, the Raelians, dr. Boisselier and baby-clone Eve? They haven’t been in the news lately and nobody ever has seen proof of the 5 cloned babies. Mark my words: next year they’ll announce another revolutionary technological advance, on eternal youth.

   “Cult chief Dr Brigitte Boisselier, 47, is set to reveal the details of the work at a conference in London next week. However, organisers, who say the cult used a false name to book their facilities, have now cancelled it.”

Beware of the Third Kind of Cloned-and-not-ageing-Babies. Before you know we need to launch our weather balloons to guard off those rodents eating babies. I’m going into resistance. Who’s with me?

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Ho!Ho!Ho!

Posted on December 7, 2003 by Arthur

Yesterday, last night, the first 5 centimeters of snow finally have reached Truro. It’s probably time to clear up the driveway and the steps. I’ll wait until the wind and the (freezing) rain cease down: it’s too windy to actually do stuff anyways, except for walking the dog then.

I don’t think it’s actually cold outside but knowing it will probably be freezing tomorrow, there’s no need to leave the snow melt and freeze up again. Don’t we just love the sound of snowplows?

Update: Actually, the snow is heavy and crispy, meaning that it’s going to be nightmare tomorrow if it’s still freezing. I’m doubting if I should wait for the day and do it after or if I should go at it right away.

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US and Canadian lumber industry end dispute

Posted on December 6, 2003 by Arthur

It looks like that the softwood dispute between the US and Canada will end soon: US producers have agreed to terms proposed by Canadian negotiators (earlier).

According to sources close to the Globe, the deal hammered out today gives lumber exporters duty-free access to the US market up to a level of 31.5 percent. After that a $200 duty per thousand board feet lumber will kick in.

(reminder: disclaimer)

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Microsoft Baseline thing

Posted on December 6, 2003 by Arthur

Via The Register a handy tip about Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (download here).

   “This, in case you weren’t aware, is a handy free tool for checking for vulnerabilities on systems, and has the particular advantage (unlike Windows Update) of allowing you to download the patches and install them on multiple machines, rather than just the one.”

Only for Windows 2003 server, 2000 and XP.

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The mind is a

Posted on December 6, 2003 by Arthur

Weird thing. Sometimes you remember things instantly. Sometimes you don’t.

I was doing some background research on Postgres when I stumbled on the fact that MS SQL Server and Sybase SQL Server had a common codebase. I’m pretty sure I was told of this fact a couple of years ago. I’m also pretty sure it may have been stored in an obscure cell in my brain. Why do I find myself laughing about this? Compare that entry with Sybase’s.

   “In 1993 the codevelopment licensing agreement between Microsoft and Sybase ended and the companies parted ways.”

Rare twist there too: Ashton-Tate initially partnered with Microsoft and Sybase but decided to aim for the ‘desktop market’ (can one say ‘desktop market’ for products like DBase IV?). We all know what happened to Ashton-Tate, but if you don’t, click here (insert Twilight Zone music).

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Oh-la-Roomba-ba

Posted on December 5, 2003 by Arthur

Seen the Roomba commercial? You know, the robot vacuumcleaner that will make your house a ‘haunted mansion’ for the pets? Confirms a Roomba owner:

   “Kaetchen (a 70 pound German shephard) is afraid. Might turn into an interesting cat toy, esp for 8 pound Kidders, who trees groundhogs and chases 70 pound dogs. ”

It actually looks like a good practical solution for taking over that daunting task of vacuuming. That is, for the people who haven’t seen the latest The Nature of Things show at CBC (The weight of the world).

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The last Samurai

Posted on December 5, 2003 by Arthur

I‘m not particularly interested in Cruise’s new movie, ‘The Last Samurai’. For some kind of reason I don’t like Cruise. Seeing him reminds me of Elizabeth Shue (‘Cocktail’ together with Tom Cruise) who was quoted saying:

   “If I’d known that it was just going to be about these guys throwing drinks around then I might have had some second thoughts…”

I don’t know why, but looking at the trailers of ‘The last samurai’, my brain keeps seeing bottles instead of swords. Don’t drink and drive (via Gothamist).

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Did somebody call off the snow?

Posted on December 5, 2003 by Arthur

Busy, so a couple of remarks: Last Wednesday during our visit to Halifax to get my PR forms (and pay that big fee, yes) we had a quick sandwich over at Sweet Basil Bistro, right across the Wharf. They serve good food. I wasn’t particularly fond of their oranges and parsnips (link to images for the Europeans among us) soup but their toasted bread topped everything I’ve had before. Can you say toast?1 (earlier).

NO. But hold on: there is this article over at the Herald’s, wondering about why immigrants move out to other provinces..

1. I think they (the Bistro) bake their own bread.

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P.R.

Posted on December 3, 2003 by Arthur

This very day, I joined the millions of others before me by becoming a permanent resident of Canada. It has been a long rocky road, with many obstacles. It was also a cold day in Halifax. The weather turned to winter, yesterday. Some snow fell too, but not as much for now.

Incidentally, by driving with Acadian Lines forth and back to the Nova Scotian capital, we witnessed the surprising sell out of that same bus company. Irving owns everything somebody mentioned today. Well, that’s minus the Acadian Lines.

We also discovered that Acadian actually stops over at Halifax airport. This is a good thing. Don’t ask me why.

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Test. Test. Test.

Posted on December 2, 2003 by Arthur

Managed to get a test environment running on the Windows side, but actually have to get a test environment running on the Linux part. Halfway OK, I ‘spose.

Make reminder to self, to actually compile the Postgres database for Windows by fetching the latest tarball plus the MingW environment and see how 7.4 compares to 7.2.

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Bread and butter

Posted on November 29, 2003 by Arthur

Talking about food: sm_formula.jpg researchers of the Leeds university (Great Britain) have found the formula for the perfect piece of toast. I do a bold prediction: by the year of 2123, every man will be able to create precious perfect toasts with the push of a button 1 because a smart business man, Bill Gates the 10th incorporated the following formula in his Windows 2123. (Click image to enlarge).

Naturally, Amazon by that time will attempt to patent the formula (‘Device or algorithm to create a crispy perfect toast’), but luckily they have to oppose a bunch of open source programmers led by Linus Junior Junior Junior Junior (and so forth) who manages to provide proof of prior art (Self recursive link to self).

And then I woke up. Toast anyone?

1 Slogan: ‘Push button crispy-buttered-toast power’

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Wha’s that?

Posted on November 29, 2003 by Arthur

Yes, you heard that right. The president of the greatest nation in the world made a surprise landing in Iraq and we at Xsamplex forgot to mention this unique event. John (J-Walk’s) has added a brief entry, so we may just as well (conveniently) link to him.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t really care if this was a propaganda stunt or a well meant surprise to boost morale of hundreds of thousands no, 600 soldiers.

And you know, if the president can land in Iraq, he could land in any other place he wants! For example in the Bronx! Or any other place where true Americans struggle to get supper on the table.

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Centrino

Posted on November 29, 2003 by Arthur

I noticed that Intel’s pushing their Centrino technology (it’s not a chip, according to media it’s a three-part-package consisting of a Pentium M chip, an Intel 855 chipset and a wireless transceiver). You’ve probably seen the commercials starring two guys in a lonesome tent somewhere in the Artics or Antartics. See it works!, the commercial appears to say.

Think of it: are those guys really using that Centrino powered laptop for browsing or as personal heating systems? It wouldn’t surprise me. Reminder to those who use their laptops as heating systems: don’t keep them to long on your lap.

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