Ryan's Currently Unnamed Blog

Just when you thought the dust had setteled... Just when Microsoft had established dominance over Netscape. Along comes Firefox.

Sure, Internet Explorer actually had some nice innovations. But, it came down to Microsoft being able to throw more development effort into their product, and they were able to leverage their operating system dominance and use the average computer persons knowledge to solidify their stranglehold on the browser market.

There were some Netscape holdouts, and there were some people who stuck to small projects like Opera. Netscape was dead and they spun off their browser as an open source project, and have seen many short release cycles.

The result? A browser with built in features like pop up blocking and tabbed browsing. Actual innovations that make searching the web easier to use and safer for your sanity all at the same time. Meanwhile, Microsoft is stuck dealing with security holes and basically gives you the same browser you had 3 years ago.

Don't like something Firefox does (or doesn't)? There's probably an extension available to it that adds that functionality. And, there's a lot more sanity to controling what extensions get added to your browser.

Is it perfect? No. There's many websites that don't look quite right. More then likely the website is not adhering to standards in favor of building their websites for Internet Explorer. And, there have been a handful of security holes as well. However, compare a Firefox bug to a IE bug and you'll find that not only are the bugs less severe with Firefox, but they get updated much faster. Normally in a matter of days, as opposed to months with Microsoft.

3 days ago, they released a preview edition of version 1.0 of the Firefox browser. They set a lofty goal of getting one million users to download it within 10 days. Well, they currently sit at over 700,000 with a week to go.

So, you are not alone! There are hundreds of thousands of people already behind it! You are not limited to just the choices presented to you by the people in control of the marketplace. There arealternatives! (And, bah! I can't get through a post without saying something that can apply to Michael Badnark, the 'alternative' Presidental Candidate!)

Currently, of all browser traffic to this blog, I see about 28% Firefox traffic vs. 62% Internet Explorer. Above average, but then again, if you are reading this you are probably above average already! =p

So, download it or read more about it. Its a small download and it doesn't overtake your machine or install any other software. If you don't like it, it removes itself cleanly!

So, back in July, several Democrats asked the United Nations to watch over our election in November. Republicans everywhere were outraged! Even Rush Limbaugh railed them! Some even went so far as to start a petition to censure those making the request, and they got 1,648 signatures.

Now, we have Bush making the same request. Can't wait to see what Rush has to say about this.

What's the difference between these guys again?

Ever get that feeling your being watched?

The government wants to put 'Black Boxes' in every car. I first heard of this new proposal over the weekend, and it scared the hell out of me. And tonight, the author of an article about it was on the radio. Sure, car manufacturer's put them in high end cars with new features and they are meant to be used by maintenance people to diagnose problems. And, if you wanted to make a big stink about it, you probably could go in and take it out and nobody would really care. Sure, they wouldn't be able to fix your car as easily or tell you what's wrong right away, but its your car and you can what you want with it.. right?

Well, not if the government has its way. The NTSB is suggesting to the NHSTA to require all cars by 2008 to record the last 8 seconds before a crash, and the 6 seconds after. This would force your car to incriminate you in an accident (against your 5th amendment rights, no doubt). Sure, sure, this could all be brushed aside with a "it's for the common good" or "if your not speeding and wearing your seat belt, what's the problem?' type of argument, but what is really frightening is what it opens the door to. How long before its expanded where it records say, 2 minutes. And, its equipped with a wireless transmitter. And, every couple minutes, it uploads your location, speed, seat belt use, and possibly alerts the authorities that you are a criminal and need to be apprehended?

Sound far fetched? All the technology is here already! In many cases, like OnStar for example, its voluntary and people want it. However, that's something you Opt-in for and it isn't a mandate by law.

Call me a privacy nut, but i'd prefer to keep my business to myself thank you very much. And, somehow, I don't believe that the government is looking out for my best interests.

You're only paranoid if they aren't really watching you.

Just when you thought it was safe, the monster prepares to take a second swipe at our freedoms.

We all heard about the Superbowl halftime show and Howard Stern, and everything else that might be objectionable to someone and the drastic steps that the FCC is taking to protect us, the helpless citizens of this country. But apparently it doesn't end at profanity or nudity. Next up is Violence.

Yes, we have been through this dance before and the result was the V-Chip. Now, they are gearing up to investigate violence and I gotta believe that they aren't going to find that everything is just fine.

Stay tuned, this oughta get interesting.

Today's Fun Fact:
Aspirin would never have made it to the market if it was required to get today's FDA's approval.

I highly recommend Mary Ruwart's book Healing Our World (1993 version available for free online). The book takes a very critical look at the actual results of our attempts to make the world a better place.

Unfortunately, this story is not unique. Aspirin deforms the unborn young of almost every animal species but humans (31) and could not be marketed today if it had to go through FDA evaluations as a new drug! Penicillin, digitalis, and fluroxene might have met a similar fate, (32) costing thousands upon thousands of lives. Many more lives have probably been lost by the aggression of licensing laws than have been saved.

References 31 and 32 on her website.

Everyone knows that when you run for public office, you are put up to public scrutiny. That is, if you are a Republican or a Democrat. Normally they don't bother with anyone else because they are irrelevant. And, in the past couple elections, they have been right.

This year, things are different. Some stories have already broken reporting about Michael Badnarik executing his rights to protest.

Read more!

So, I'm out with some friends celebrating our independence and it seems quite ironic that on the way home I'm greeting with a nice little roadblock.

Literally.

Our friendly Lake County Sheriff took it upon themselves to stop every single car along a 4 lane divided highway. So, I'm forced off the road to drive through a parking lot with these blindingly bright lights. I quietly wait my turn to get to the head of the line. An officer approaches my car with a flashlight, and I open my window enough to talk to him. He tells me that they are conducting a 'safety check' and tells me to open my window further. I oblige and he proceeds to stick his flashlight into my car. I ask him what kind of 'safety check' requires him to look through the backseat of my car, and he gets very short with me and asks to see my driver's license and registration. I reluctantly start getting my papers for him to look at while I ask him what that has to do with 'safety'. He never answers.

I roll my window back up while he walks away for a little while, meanwhile several other officers are walking around my car. I note that in total, there was about 10 people directing traffic, 2 people inspecting my car, the officer I spoke to, and about 5-10 other people sitting around doing nothing. These people were sitting next to a large Lake County Sheriff vehicle wearing latex gloves. Somehow I think they are looking for more then to see if I'm wearing my seatbelt. Luckily, my paper's were in order, and the officer returned to my car to return my papers.

I'm just glad that I'm white, speak English well, didn't have anything to drink at all (lest I have any sent of alcohol about me), not on any terrorist watch lists, was wearing my seat belt, and paid off the state for the privilege of owning a car for the year.

So... I'm 'free' for another day and only managed to have about 15 minutes of my day wasted. I can only imagine how much they paid those officers for overtime, holiday, late night work.

So, I have a craving. I don't have this craving often. But, when I do, I head out to Burger King for Tacos.

Yes... That's right Tacos at Burger King. Not having Jack in the Box in the Chicago market, these tacos were a throwback to childhood. And... it was good.

Further investion needs to take place to see if this is a local thing to my local Burger King, if its just the franchises around here.

For the love of all that is holy, bring em back!

So, change of plans tonight and I ended up seeing Speilberg's Terminal tonight. While I thoroughly enjoyed the movie despite some moments when it got a bit slow, I think this may have had something to do with the fact that I haven't seen the trailer for it.

I came to the realization that the majority of the trailers we see before movies nowadays have to be some of the worst conceived pieces of advertising in recent memory. I'm not claiming that I could make them better, but who in their right mind would want to shell out $9 to see a thriller that exposes every single plot twist right in a trailer? How about a comedy that has the best one-liners and gags given away for free?

I have to wonder if Hollywood is merely blaming their decline at the box office on the much easier target of Piracy, rather then the product they are producing or the way they are selling it.

I'm not quite sure if I'm just getting old, I've seen too many movies, or Hollywood really is just pumping out more and more crap. With a few notable exceptions, I'd rarely leave a theater thinking, 'Wow, I really got my money's worth on that movie!'. Perhaps I'm just frugal in seeking discounts or matinees, but maybe... just maybe... this is the free market at work!

Anyway... waaaay off topic. Terminal. Good Movie. Paid a whole $6.50 for it, and it was definitely worth that! What I found most interesting about it was that the guys I went to see the movie with were happy to see that it wasn't made to be too 'Anti-American'. I didn't go into it thinking this guy was being held down by 'the man', but I did feel a twinge of dread on seeing the Department of Homeland Security Seal. For me, the movie peaked at the beginning... his initial 'processing' and the explanation of his situation. I can only imagine how very very frightening it would be to be striped of all of my rights, to be 'unacceptable'.

Lastly, the main theme for me was the perseverance of the Human Spirit. Its been an idea I've been working on (and I'm sure I'm not the first to come up with it) that in the face of adversity, people find a way to make it. Yeah, the guy was given a raw deal. He probably had SOME legal recourse he could have exercised in the 9 months that he was there, but he made the best of it, and he did pretty well for himself without resorting to panhandling or crime. What would he have done if every day the 'Field Commissioner' were to hand him a couple food vouchers every day? Would he have been motivated to pitch in and work hard and get ahead?

Phew... well.. I guess that's not bad for a first 'real' post. I'll get the hang of this soon enough!

Like all "First Post" Posts... this one has no meaning... and no substance...

What will appear here and what this site will become over time is a complete unknown!