Dokken vs. Chicken:
Death To Acrobat Reader
Acrobat Reader is a constant sore spot for me. Thanks to the various security holes it has in older versions, I’ve had to clean up many a system that have been infected by hidden embedded PDFs that take advantage of those security problems. When I’m cleaning up a system, one of the most common things I’ll do it just flat-out turn off JavaScript in Acrobat or install another PDF reader. Just to be safe, I’ll still turn off JavaScript in FoxIt. Has anybody seen useful JavaScript in PDF files? I haven’t.
Ideally, PDF would be a browser-native format that wouldn’t require plugins or external programs to view them. But there are at least a few other ways to do things: Thanks to Waxy, I now know how I’m going to embed PDFs into pages: Use an undocumnted featured in Google Docs to stick it right on the page. That way hopefully nobody will have Acrobat Reader execute to view the file, which will cause much less trouble for everybody involved.
Apparently other services offer similar functionality, like PDFMeNot.
Sadly, though, if you try to print the embedded document, it still appears to open your default PDF reader, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Techcrunch Gets Punk’d By Facebook
So TechCrunch discovers a new “feature” on Facebook that nobody else has reported on. They go live with a story about Facebook’s new “Fax Your Photos” feature. The problem? The feature doesn’t actually exist unless you’re on TechCrunch’s network — TechCrunch got pranked pretty good.
Way To Screw Up Big Time, CNN
While I generally think CNN is a better cable news station than some (**cough**Fox News**cough**), it is ridiculous how bad they screwed up this morning.
CNN unnerved the nation Friday morning with live reports of Coast Guard teams firing on a suspect vessel on the Potomac River that would not stop when ordered. We know now it was just radio chatter, part of a “routine and low-level” Coast Guard exercise. And to top it all off, it came on the morning of the anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
At one point, CNN reported on the air that a reporter had seen a boat challenge Coast Guard vessels and refuse to stop. We now know that did not happen.
Speaking of 9/11, have things changed for the better or worse eight years later? Discuss.
This Is A Monty Python Joke Waiting To Happen.
In a race to get 4GB of data across the country, a pigeon easily outpaced South Africa’s DSL service.
Time Killers For The Evening
I’ve finally got around to creating a “Games” category on this site (adding a “Videos” category next), and will be trying to move old entries into the category as time allows.
Meanwhile, here’s something for the category:
- Civiballs 2, a sequel to a game I posted a while back.
- Upgrade Complete is a silly game where the entire goal is to make the game functional.
- Spelunky is a frustratingly challenging game for Windows that will kill off many hours/days/weeks if you let it.
Enjoy!
Somebody Might Find This Useful
I’m not a drinker, but you have to be impressed with the amount of work it takes to make a kegerator. If you really feel like pimping it out, you can give it some flames.
Movie Coming To Britain: Attack of the Baked Goods
Only the Brits could have startling stats like this:
Oh crumbs – it seems up to half of all Britons have been injured… by a humble biscuit.
Flying fragments and daredevil dunking in scalding tea have all led to millions suffering at the hands of their favourite snack, according to fun research.
Among the more unusual – and daft – injuries are a man who poked himself in the eye with a biscuit and people who have fallen off chairs while reaching for a tea-time treat.
No, I’m Not Your Son
Parents really shouldn’t be allowed on Facebook, as sometimes they just don’t know better.
Why I’m A Geek and Not A Nerd, Dweeb, or Dork
Finally, a graph that explains it all perfectly:
So you can call me geek, and I accept it as a compliment. But call me nerd, dork, or dweeb, and them’s fighting words.