They're Just Trying To Do Their Job

But reporters still get harassed by people -- a lot, as this site shows.

Should We Bail Out Detroit?

I don't think so.

Ziff Davis To Close PC Magazine Print Edition

One of the oldest computer magazines is shutting down its print edition. The magazine arguably created the concept of comparative reivews and benchmarks, and its columnists and Editor's Choice awards were always great. I'm sad to see it go, but the reality is that tech print publications are slowly dying, and most of the writers are doing more of their writing online. I knew PC Mag would be going away from print soon, as their magazine had just gotten smaller and smaller. I bought a copy a couple years back when I went to Colorado, expecting to have plenty of reading material for the plane ride (as PC Mag was usually full of articles and content), and there was little content -- mostly short blurbs that said to read more at their Web site.

It saddens me, too, because back in the day, long before I got married and had kids, I went to college to become a journalist, specifically a technology journalist, and would've loved to have written for one of these types of publications. When I got married and had a family to feed (which was before I got out of school), I gave up being a reporter and decided that tech was going to pay my bills and feed my family while being a geek writer probably wouldn't. I always had a place in my heart for tech magazines, and even did several reports and assignments on a few of them (was the only guy in my classes that did, with most of them focusing on music/culture magazines). I still have a WinMag coffee mug from when I got published on the back page of the magazine back in the day.* But I saw this day coming, like I'm sure most folks did.

* That coffee mug, a couple Intel bunny people dolls, my "Cloned by Ghost" ghost doll (before Symantec bought the program), and my "I'm Feeling Lucky" Google boxers that I won during Google's original beta period (long before they were re-released) are probably my geekiest historical things that aren't computer parts. What do you guys have?

Free To Good Home: Small Critters

We have a long-haired Guinea Pig and a Teddy Bear Hamster with full cage setup that need homes. The Guinea Pig just doesn't get along with our current pig, but is very nice and friendly and calm piggie otherwise (easy to handle and does fine by itself), and the hamster is just too nocturnal for us. They're both very sweet and nice. I'm posting it here as I know many of the people who comment on this site, and hopefully will find somebody who can give it a good home. E-mail me (or comment below) if you're interested.

Another Reason to Love Google: LIFE Photography Archive

Google is now hosting LIFE Magazine's photo archive. Some of the world's most memorable news photos were published in that magazine, and having an archive of the LIFE library -- most of which were never published -- is an amazing resource.

Link via the Google Blog

Want to Lose Your Lunch?

If you cover your eyes, these female body builders look like men with bikini tops.

Thanks Kottke -- now I need to go bleach my brain.

Baltimore's One Scary Place

Apparently Baltimore is more dangerous than Mogadishu (screenshot with highlighted text below as because with all Wiki type of sites, this will probably get changed pretty quick):

Update: And as I post this, it's already been changed. You can see the historical page here.

"These cuts on my arms? I was trying to be a hero..."

"It has nothing to do with the break in at the adult toy store up the street. Really. I promise."

There's A Fetish For Everything...

...and for those people, here's a blog with nothing but pictures of cute girls at tea (safe for work, don't worry).

Insanely Difficult Game For The Day

Try as I might, I wasn't able to get this guy to go past three meters. Apparently there's a long jump pit if you make it far enough.

Here, try this far less frustrating game instead.

Did Bend Have A Ninja Problem in the Early 80s?

It's a good question that Jon asks, based on what he found in the Bend City code.

Possession of a Throwing Star.

(1) Definition: "Throwing Star" means any instrument, without handles, consisting of a metal plate having three or more radiation points with one or more sharp edges, and designed in the shape of a polygon, trefoil, cross, star, diamond, or other geometric shape for use as a weapon for throwing.

(2) A person commits the offense of possession of a throwing star if the person knowingly manufactures, causes to be manufactured, brings into the city, keeps for sale, offers for sale, exposes for sale, gives, lends or possesses a throwing star as defined in section l herein.

(3) Possession of a throwing star is a Class A misdemeanor.

[Section 5.070 added by Ord. NS-l398, passed 6-20-84]

I wonder how often this law is enforced. I remember seeing them for sale at some store around town at one point in recent memory, but can't remember where.

But Jon's inspired me -- I think I'm going to have to start digging into the city code. I'm sure there are some goodies in there.

Update on 11/15: Thanks to Cheryl, who talked to some folks at the city, we have an answer:

Yes, the problems was associated with one store owner who was importing various weapons and selling them to kids. The police asked that the owner not sell the throwing stars to kids under 18, but the store owner wouldn't comply. Then the newspaper got wind of the concern expressed by some folks in the community and it was referred to the Council and became a total ban.

Here We Go Again

Bend's formally pregnant "man" -- created all sorts of press locally, had a baby just four months ago -- is apparently pregnant again, due on June 12.

Am I the only one that is starting to get sick of this guy/gal/whatever?

Thanks Cheryl for ruining my day.

Luke Skywalker Is An Idiot

I love Star Wars fans who can look at the lighter side of things. Like Luke's plan to rescue Han:

You: "Okay, if you can just use your Force powers to get in to the palace and all the way to Jabba, then let's just have you go in right now and get Han out."

Luke: "No, that's stupid. I'm going to get myself captured. Because then you see, we'll be taken to the sarlacc pit and then, when we're on the skiff, I'll get sent out first and then R2-D2 will manage to get to the top of Jabba's sail barge and shoot out my lightsaber, and then with Lando's help, we'll just rescue everyone and then everything will be fine!"

You: "That is the stupidest plan I've ever heard of."

Luke: "I've thought of everything."

Best Halloween Costume Ever

While we all know how much I love Halloween, I would dress up in this costume.

Steven Segal Runs Like A Girl

But he could still kick your butt:

On a related note, I still get odd-ball comments on this really old Steven Segal entry.

Kids These Days

Either I'm getting too old or teenagers are getting too stupid. Or probably a bit of both...

Can't Afford A Winter Coat?

This guy's got enough dryer lint that you could probably make one. Mirrored after the jump.

Just In Case You Needed To Be Told...

...texting while driving is not a good idea.

Take the red pill, get the blue screen

If the Matrix Ran on Windows...

On a side note, while I like the Matrix movies a lot, this guy was a much better actor than Keanu Reeves.

Going To The Duck Game

I'm heading over to Eugene in about an hour to watch the Duck game, and have ended up with an extra reserved ticket (as the folks who were originally going to go with me ended up bailing on me). If anybody wants it for dirt-cheap and will happen to be in Eugene anyway or wanted to head over there, email me using the form at right. I'll have my Blackberry so I'll be checking email, and will check my email before I head out of town as well as when I get near Eugene (the game's at 12:30 today).

Update: Nobody claimed the ticket, and I couldn't even give it away at the stadium. Why? It was a rainy, nasty mess and nobody was really trying too hard to get into the stadium. Despite wearing a rain coat, I was still soaked, and after the 3rd quarter, started the sloggy hike back to my car as I was totally soaked and could've probably have rung out my pants. Thankfully they won, but at least I did get to see some ol' college buddies while I was there.

Need A Car?

This local guy's pimp mobile might fit the bill:

1989 Cadillac Sedan Deville Pimp mobile for sale. Perfect for the up and coming pimp who isn't quite ready to step up into an Ex-calade. This fine example of Motor vehicle pimpery comes stock with no hubcaps, because as you know any real baller is just gonna drop dubs on it anyway. The stereo isn't working, but then again, a real mac like you is going to drop some change to make this bitch rumble. The trunk is extra large in case you have a ho who steps out of line, you can put her in there. A good feature because if you spend enough time with hos, eventually you're going to have to lock a bitch up.
in case of drive-bys where you need to light up some suckers that have been perpetrating this car has a special window that comes off its tracks so you don't have to wait for it to slide down. Just roll up on that fool, drop the window, and blast him with that burner. Which comes to my favorite part of the car. The engine is a v8 which means its quick to get away from the Po-po but at the same time still gets 22-24 miles to the gallon on the highway so even with a bitch in the trunk you aren't destroying the environment. Even Gs need a momma, and her name is Gaia. If you are interested in this whip shout me a holla at (503)383-2310 and ask for Joseph, or as my Hos call me "Yeast" because I raise the dough.

FCC Opens Investigation Into Pricing at Cable Companies -- Including BendBroadband

This was in the Bulletin's business section, but I couldn't find it on their web site (I think it was a wire story -- don't have the paper in front of me), so you're getting the CBSNews link:

The Federal Communications Commission has opened an investigation into the pricing policies of major cable operators and Verizon Communications Inc.

The agency wants to ensure the companies' customers are getting treated fairly, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin in an interview with The Associated Press.

"I'm certainly concerned with the increasing cable prices that consumers are facing," Martin said. "They are getting less and being charged the same or more."

The FCC wrote on Oct. 30 to cable operators including Comcast Corp., Time Warner Cable Inc., Cox Communications Inc., Charter Communications Inc., Cablevision Systems Corp., Bright House Networks, Suddenlink Communications, Bend Cable Communications, GCI Company, Harron Entertainment and RCN Corp.

So I'd like to hear what the cable operators have to say. I know BendBroadband (aka Bend Cable) folks read this site: Care to comment?

On a related note, AT&T is going to start capping bandwidth, much like BBB already does.

Post Election Wrap Up

You can read the local results here, but basically, quite are few groups aren't getting any money from bond measures. La Pine supported their own with the Park and Rec and RFPD bonds, but Bend, Redmond and County voters all turned down any bill that would even remotely cost them money. The Bend Area Transit and COCC bonds failed, the transient room tax failed, Mike Daly got the axe, many of the Sizemore measures failed (can't remember exactly which ones were his), Smith/Merkely is still too close to call (Jack thinks Merkely's going to pull it out), and we don't have a white guy for President for the first time ever. I don't pay attention to politics a ton, so feel free to share opinions/reactions below.

The Snow Is Falling

There is a good chunk of snow on the highway and around my office. I'll be getting my snow tires on my car tomorrow so I can hopefully have a bit of help when the out-of-town crazy drivers try to run me off the road in their four-wheel-drive.

In the meanwhile, here's a fun and simple little winter-themed game. I got 53970 after a few attempts -- how'd you do?

What Happens If There's A 269-269 Tie?

If the electoral college were to tie, things start to get confusing.

Electoral-Vote.com has things as a pretty good landslide for Obama today, anything can, and usually does happen. Like four years ago, Kerry looked like he might win the day before the election, so take it all with a grain of salt.

Just get out and vote. Ballot drop sites are here. And laugh at this little image that Yoleen sent my direction:

Why the Electoral College Is Flawed

This is sad to me...

In the unlikely event that all 213 million eligible voters cast ballots, either John McCain or Barack Obama could win enough states to capture the White House with only 47.8 million strategically located votes. The presidency could be won with just 22 percent of the electorate’s support, only 16 percent of the entire population’s.

How Strong Is Your Password?

I like to use strong passwords for obvious reasons, and according to this site, using a brute force attack (as a dictionary attack would be useless), the password I use to edit this site would take 6,758,137,437,016,672,809,517,056 hours or 281,589,059,875,694,666,842,112 days to crack. My root server password? Quite a bit longer.

How I Plan To Vote Next Time

I've already turned in my ballot (or at least filled it out -- will drop it off tomorrow), but I'm thinking I'm going to change my voting thought process during the next election. Next time around, I'm going to keep a tally on which ballot measures or political offices put the most crap in my inbox, my mailbox, or on my doorstep, and the group or candidate that badgers me the least will get my vote. I came home on Saturday after being gone most of the day to find my mailbox filled and door hangers all over my porch and front yard. I can only imagine the countless trees that were killed during this election cycle trying to convince me that a certain measure or candidate is good or evil.

I don't know about you, but whatever the outcome, I'll just be happy when this election is over.

More Time Killers

Since co-workers are getting annoyed that they have nothing to do and that I'm not posting enough games, here are a few more (feel free to share more in the comments):

• Splitter, a fun, but frustrating little physics puzzle game (there's a walk-through here, should you need it).
• Shift 3, a sequel to a platformer I posted a while back (thanks Peter for the link).
• rLax, a fast-paced click-fest.
• The Eyeballing Game -- how close can you get to making true shapes?
• Commando, for you folks who feel like spending your morning defending the Allies from the scourge of Europe.
• Boombot 2, because dropping bombs to shoot a little robot around the screen is fun (walkthru).

Happy Halloween

Everybody who has read this site for long knows how much I love Halloween </sarcasm>. Just the same, thanks to Cheryl, here's something entertaining for you.

Edit: Fixed the 2nd link -- wouldn't want anybody to miss out on my labels.