Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Scram?

David Sifry has been running down the Kiddie Porn Spam Scam Scam.

Kevin does the math

Kevin Marks takes Clay's power curve points and rolls them out in a pile of impressive graphs. Well done.

Bluetrain

For $50-something I rode Amtrak's Surfliner from Santa Barbara to San Diego in under six hours, in first class comfort, with laptop and cell phone both plugged into AC power, and a view you don't get when you're riding the pavement instead of the rails.

This photo set, compiled when the Surfliner launched in May Y2K, pretty much tells the story.

There are a few disappointments. For example, those TVs in the backs of the seats apparently crapped out soon after the train was launched. But still, it's a helluva deal.

Operation Desert Hack

Lou sez Iraq's Web site was already been invaded.

And Sheila, pro journo (pun intended) that she is, gets to the bottom of the whole thing. Well done.

Bound to help

The Happy Tutor has set up a Philanthopy, Democracy and Weblogs section in Wealth Bondage.

There goes the neighborhood

Just kidding. I'm sure Mr. Kellner's a fine guy, and I welcome him home to Santa Barbara. It's just too bad he'll be remembered for making one of the dumbest statements in the history of both TV and the Net — at the same time, no less.

Thanks to Britt for the news.

Big blang

This is amazing. More from Joi, Dave and Veer, who developed it.

We're back. Or front. Or something.

I'm writing this on my old TiBook, and it's a huge relief. Still, it's complicated reconciling this one with the one I rented for a week, plus the donated (now semi-fixed) one I'm preparing for my friend Joe, which is now a digital clone (thanks to Carbon Copy Cloner, an amazing piece of shareware) of the rented unit. Unfortunately, it has to go back to the shop for a couple minor glitches (e.g. it doesn't seem to know it has a battery).

Anyway, I've got some Linux Journal items to wrap before I hop on the train for San Diego. Expect light blogging.

Meanwhile, I'll ask some of you techie types the same thing I've been asking in various LJ pieces lately: In what quiet ways is Linux quietly being put to use by the rank & file inside large organizations? I'm not looking for front office PR here. I'm looking for what's actually happening. I know the story differs from one organization to another, but more first-hand detail will help me put together the big picture — something we sorely need right now. Thanks.