Scanner Darkly

If you haven't read a Phillip K Dick novel, do yourself a favor and pick one up at the library. This guy's stories are the basis for countless movies. The next one in line looks to be Scanner Darkly [QuickTime trailer]. It looks pretty darn cool, check out the cool motion capture to animation technique.

UPDATE: Thanks to the guys at Boing Boing for posting this by Rustmonkey, earlier concept for Scanner Darkly. I like it better.

OSX v Windows

I just read this article. The author wonders why people put up with the viruses and worms that attack Windows installations when one could just buy a Mac and engage in worry free computing for the rest of their lives. I agree that preventing attacks on a Microsoft's operating system does add considerable complexity for novice users, and at best minor annoyance for power users. I also agree that OSX is a far superior implementation of an operating system based mostly on the face that it's a Unix variant. But I think this kind of blanket assumption that OSX is impervious to viruses and worms is shortsighted and dangerous.

While the general security model that OSX inherits from Unix has more than proven itself over the years and it is extremely difficult for any process not running as root on a Unix machine to do damage outside a user's accessible data, that doesn't mean that you can't do damage. Consider a small process that simply deletes a users data and empties the trash. Very damaging if one does not have the proper backups.

The author also fails to mention the possibility that applications running on a Mac might expose buffer overflows or other bugs that could make it possible to damage a system. Keep an eye on CERT advisories, you might be surprised how many issues are Unix applications with bugs. These tend to be fixed very quickly, but failure to patch an application can result in damage. How many viruses for Windows attack up dated applications? None. Only users who fail to install the security patches are attacked (I can't ingnore the fist time install paradox however).

I think the real crux of the matter here is that attackers will attack the broadest possible audience. Why write a virus for a Mac when you can write one for Windows? To say that OSX is invulnerable is not considering all of the facts. To say that right now, OSX is convenient would be more responsible.

For the record, I'm considering a Mac, but not for the reasons mentioned in the article.

APL... Speeeeeeeelit!

Bought APL at 27 bucks, It's almost 80 now and they announced a split for Feb 18th! Sweet!

Coroline

I recently finished a book called Coraline, by Neil Gaiman. It waited patiently for me to finish my obligation to Neal Stephenson and his speed bump sized books. It waited patiently for me to work my way though another Michael Crichton book that seemed like something I'd read at least tem times before. It even waited patiently while Lemony Snicket made me wollow in the grief of the Baudelaire orphans. Then it could be patient no more. I read it.

I read it in two nights. A book like this should only be read at night by the way. At night in a dark room by candlelight, so dark flickering shadows draw your attention to the mysterious spector waiting in the corner to steal your sole.

This book was fantastic. It takes you to that world that only Gaiman can create, where nothing is ordinary and nothing is expected. I hesitate to describe it, because I cannot. But do yourself and your kids a favor and go buy this book and read it too them... At night... In bed...

My new best friend, Wood Putty

I am now convinced that anything woodworking-wise can be fixed with a healthy gob of wood putty.

I attached the bookshelf base two nights ago. I did a pretty good job of measuring so the bookcase fit snugly into the base. There was a rather noticable gap however between the base and the bottom of the bookshelf in the center, as if the base bowed out a bit in the middle. My solution to this was to just fill the gap with wood putty and sand it down level to the bottom of the shelf. It shouldn't be noticable after painting, but I'm concerned about it cracking later.

Next time I think I'd build the base directly onto the bookshelf and then reinforce it afterward, rather then build the base seperatly from the shelf. I think that would be more appropriate for my XP style of building things.

Anyway, a little more putty and some backing material and we're ready to paint! Pictures when done.

Ouch, no iPod for me!

Well, I tried to get my free ipod via freeipods.com and I got my account placed on hold. I referred some family members in my own house and that's against the rules. Now I'm waiting for them to consider my excuse and do nothing about it. In the mean time, I'm determined to get something from these guys:

http://www.FreeiPodShuffle.com/?r=13994920