Category: Random

I’m in a bit of a mood with SwallowingTacks. I don’t think that was the point at all. Still, never mind, eh?

About bloody time. I have FINALLY updated The Bomb.

I’ve had a great day. On Thursday night at the party I bumped into this guy who I had only met once before (when I was told very firmly that he was straight). Well, I am now reasonably sure that this is innaccurate! We went out for lunch today (Soho, £42 each, OUCH) and then went shoe shopping and looked at sunglasses and watches. We fooled around at every chance we could get. Gap will never be the same. Hopefully will see him again tomorrow when I’m going to see Gladiator with about a thousand other people.

I found text through my referrer log. She was writing really nice things about many of my favourite blogs (and indeed myself). I get a few comments about my colour scheme, but really it is nothing compared to this – a whole block of colours that really really shouldn’t work well together (and which you’d have to have a fair amount of nerve to even try to use together), but which work brilliantly. All in all, an elegant piece of design. Simple and effective.

I know that everyone in the world has blogged it, but still – I’m pretty keen on the MetaCamPage. Gives me the opportunity to keep tabs in a big-brotherish fashion on lots of people at the same time, rather than merely one at a time…

I have finally decided which domain to buy when I shunt the weblog onto a new server. Please god let it not go in the few days it will take me to get organised. I don’t think I can take another reptilebrain fiasco. Obviously not saying a word to you lot, as you’ll rush out and buy it in a shot, which would depress me deeply.

Even though Anti-Microsoft Day is now well and truly over pretty much everywhere in the world, I just thought I’d add one more thing, gleaned from powazek this morning. There is a current discussion at Metafilter about an article at Macintouch that says:

“Macintouch is reporting that Microsoft has disbanded the IE for Mac team and is discontinuing development of IE for Mac. So much for a 5 year commitment….”

I’m really worried that when I move this weblog to a new domain, that you’ll all forget me and won’t link to the new site. Which would really upset me. Nothing I can do about it though really.

It’s Anti-Microsoft Day at Barbelith Towers today, as completely spontaneously I have come across several pieces of information about the many-splendored Macro-Company that have caused me to feel little white-hot daggers of outrage course through my body.

If you feel the same way about these stories, and all the other weirdnesses that Microsoft have done, make it Anti-Microsoft Day all over the web by putting this little banner on your site with a link to your favourite example of their bloody stupidity.

• Microsoft versus Slashdot [Wired]
  Less than 24 hours after I am singing Slashdot‘s praises, I stumble upon an article which says that they are being savaged by Microsoft. And I quote: “Microsoft ordered Slashdot to delete discussions of one of the company’s security products – Miller said he has not deleted the 11 messages that Microsoft claims are illegal under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and is waiting to hear from legal counsel and readers. The response from Slashdot regulars was fast and furious. In the first hour, hundreds of readers weighed in, many condemning Microsoft’s action as another example of the company’s desire to crush free-wheeling discussion in general, and the Linux community in particular. “No matter what Microsoft threatens, no matter what they say, do not give in to them. This is not because it is Microsoft, but because free speech is far too important, especially on a forum such as Slashdot. Give them hell,” wrote one respondent.”

• Microsoft Security Great Big Joke [Peacefire.org]
  And the irony of it all is that on pretty much the same day, a huge and alarming security issue was revealed about Microsoft’s implementation of cookies. An article at Peacefire.org revealed: “By intercepting a cookie set by HotMail, Yahoo Mail or any other free Web-based email sites that use cookies for authentication, the operator of a hostile Web site could break into a visitor’s HotMail account and read the contents of their Inbox. (HotMail cookies do not contain user passwords, but they do allow a third party to access a user’s HotMail account for as long as that user stays logged in, since each separate login generates a new cookie.)” and “A user’s Amazon.com cookie could be used to visit Amazon.com impersonating that user, and access their real name, email address, and the user’s list of “recommended titles” — which can be used to determine what types of books or CD’s the user has purchased from Amazon in the past. (You cannot, however, access the user’s credit card number or their actual list of previous Amazon.com orders, since accessing this information requires a password that is not contained in the cookie.)” See also: Slashdot |
  CNet |
  Newsbytes |
  MSNBC.

[Current participants in the May 12 Anti Microsoft Day: Wanderlust, bluishorange, Dakota Smith (Shameless Self-Promoter), Atesque, L N B B, thegardencafe.com, she says, FrogBlog, Haiku the Blog, linkmachinego, gaylery, L/noleum, Zippyblog, Rasterweb, Golb, Digital Asylum] [People who think I am full of shit and don’t understand that the odd gesture of teenage rebellion never did anyone any harm, even though most of us are using Microsoft products: Ed’s Weblog]

So, I am sitting at work, having spent the day being shown how to force quark documents through extraction tools and sql databases, thinking about organising my travelcard, sending off replies to letters about preview screenings of films and wondering where I am going to stash my gym clothes when I go to the party that Nick, Toby and two other people are organising in a bar in Chalk Farm. It’s supposed to start around 7.30, which give me an hour to get there. It looks like my flatmates aren’t going to be able to make it as they both have work commitments. which means I have to put my chin in the air, down a few satisfyingly strong drinks, and try to find my inner chirpy fun person…