June 2006 Archives
We've reported on the African 419 scams before; this guy fights back by scamming the scammers. His latest, in which he tricks a scammer into carving several statues, including a replica of a Commodore 64, and shipping them to the UK, is really a masterpiece of con. You almost feel sorry for the carver/scammer -- until you realize that he's a thief and a liar and would steal your grandma's life savings. Justice is served.
Oh, and in this episode, he gets a scammer to copy all of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by hand.
With annotations. quik maps.
With flag burning in the news again, thanks to the proposed-and-defeated Flag Burning Amendment, I was reminded of something I saw on the internets some time ago: The Forgotten U.S. Civil Flag. According to a few websites like this one, the "Stars and Stripes" flag is really a military banner, and this is the flag of the U.S. civil authority:
Much in the same way that the Confederate battle flag became the de facto C.S.A. flag, these sites aver, the U.S. battle flag has become our de facto national flag. They further state that the suppression of the "real" American flag represents the illegal military authority of the federal government over the states. As you can guess, this argument is popular with the militia / libertarian crowd.
Sadly, it's all a crock. The supposed "civil flag" is actually the flag of the U.S. Customs Service, and there's no evidence that it was ever the "official" flag of the United States. (More here at the Flags of the World site.) However, you can still buy one for $50. Maybe if you're looking for something else to burn, you pinko commie bastard.
Alice Lake in the Sawtooth Mountain Range, Idaho.
I suddenly remembered why I love living in Idaho.
'Nuff said. Just thought I'd share a few shots of the view from my tent this past weekend.
Language and culture form walls between a Hmong refugee family and the public health care system in Merced, California as they both work to treat the Lee's infant epileptic daughter. Fadiman captures both sides of the struggle with amazing tenderness and impartiality, describing the conflict between shamanistic and Western medicine while entering the hearts and minds of the family, doctors and caretakers brought together to save Lia Lee's life.
The False Identity Generator will create a false name, address, email address, phone, mother's maiden name, birthday, and credit card.
Lately in Big Ink! As of a few days ago, I have my computer back at last. (Have you backed up lately?) Now, whenever the humidity drops below a certain point, I can actually get a post in. Your topics: DIY Star Trek fanatics boldy produce what no one has produced before; 15-year-old Ava Lowery schools CNN and triple snaps the neocons; we reinvent the book and the old school quakes in its boots; and finally, what force is powerful enough to save us from global warming? Synergy, baby. A little Orwellian apertif, and we're good to go. More asap. Up, up and away!
Last week I took Lauren, my new assistant and right hand, up to Harlem for a meeting. We were at the corner of 125th and 7th when I heard someone call out, "is anyone crossing the street?" Normally, of course, I avoid listening to anyone (it's the New York Protective Shell) but I happened to glance over and standing there was a blind guy. I'd never actually helped a blind person cross the street but I knew the routine. "I'm standing to your right," I said, and extended my arm so he would take it. He did and we talked a bit as we crossed the street.
And, once we got across the street, I accidentally walked him directly into a scaffolding pole.
I think I may have to give back my "do-gooder" badge.
New York Radio Guide: A Guide to New York Radio Stations. Complete schedule information for New York radio. I could've sworn I blogged this at some point....
J. Henry Waugh, the eponymous proprietor, has invented a baseball game played with dice. In his regular life, he's an accoutant who hates his job. But the game -- the game is more real to him than life. Because he has not only created a game, he has created the players. They have names, characters, history, relationships, politics, sex, songs, a complex world of the imagination that any rivals any novelist's.
As you'd expect, Henry's real life and the game life begin to collide. When the rules of the game run contrary to his own deepest desires, the novel really begins to get interesting. I'm still noodling over what happens in the last chapter.
If you're a fan of metafiction, this is a book to buy. Would make an interesting pair with
There were too many connections when I tried it, but I'll post anyway just because. ASCII-WM 2006 Via Waxy.
This stock-shilling spam I received is nearly a work of art. The actual spam was attached as an image, the text is merely to make the email seem like an actual missive:
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large wave, Urgent letter -- by "Elvin"
Big tree fall down, goat bite he leaf. Experience is a wonderful thing It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again
Coin a phrase Happiness is wanting what you have - not having what you want If you believe everything you read, you better not read
Many things are lost for want of asking Seeing is believing
Talk is cheap A good tree brings forth good fruit. Lil boy nah climb ladder to turn big man.
It is easier to get forgiveness than permission. All lay loads on a willing horse! No Good Building Without a Good Foundation A lender nor borrower be.
A tree never hits an automobile except in self defense. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. Misery loves company Dont teach your grandmother to suck eggs What we see depends mainly on what we look for
He who hesitates is lost.
He who drinks Australian Thinks Australian In a battle between elephants, the ants get squashed There are two sides to every question A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. Its too late to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted Exigency is the matriarch of ingenious contrivance. Seldom seen, soon forgotten Fear lends wings
They that walk much in the sun will be tanned at last
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Civility costs nothing Speak when you are spoken to
Better to be alone than in bad company
Lucky at cards, unlucky in love
People living in glass houses should not pelt stones.
If dutty ah deh ah roof tap, yuh barrel ah catch am. A man is at his tallest when he stoops to help a child.
A stitch in time saves nine. He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon
Never murder a man who is committing suicide
Ask no questions and hear no lies Speak when you are spoken to Everyday is a fresh slate Only time will tell
He who is ABSENT is always in the Wrong A man in love is a fool, and an old man in love is the greatest fool of all. A miss is as good as a mile. Ask no questions and hear no lies
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. Things are not always what they seem. Nothing is certain but death and taxes Give and spend and God will send A great dowry is a bed full of brambles.
Make love not war
Once Upon A Time In Big Ink! Hey there. I've been traveling and—lucky me—had a major hard drive meltdown last week. Thus, I have been far away from my computer, which is probably good for me but doesn't feel like it. Anyway, there are a few new links that might interest you. Once I have my own gear again, I can get back to regular posting (which I know you're all like totally on tinterhooks). So for now: The Judy and Bill Show just gives and gives, unfortunately; Billmon's travels in Egypt; Foser on one-way hype; John Solomon and the WaPo seem to be saying that journalism is hard work; Digby on moving beyond 9/11; despite thinking the worst, my imagination gets undercut again; Matt Cooper's legal Catch-22; Stephen Colbert lets the grads have it; Daou on the media's rope-a-dope strategy; the Solomon case illuminates the blogosphere/MSM dynamic; the PI says "our bad"; hurricanes won't be the only deadly spinning this season; the Plame scandal panel smells like freshly mown justice; and behind the scenes in the VRWC. More after Tekserve calls. Don't tread on me!
Don't click on the WORD SANDWICH! game if you want to get anything done for the rest of the day.
From a list of time-wasting games at good experience.
Ocean vortex 'death trap' discovered.
Captain, there's an ocean vortex death-trap hard to starboard!
It's about 4 in x 2.5 in x 0.5 in. Weighs 2.5 oz. Contains my personal data, identification data, financial information, credit card numbers.
Oh, that's my wallet.
Now my wallet is also a 1 GB hard drive. Or rather, contains one. The Kingmax 1GB Flash Drive is about the length and weight of a paperclip. It's so damn small and light that you can, in fact, stick it in your wallet and not even know that it's there. Newegg sells it for $22.50. Now I get to load it up with stickware, whee!
Our regular readers know that I'm fairly obsessed with preparedness. (Not like this guy, but still.) So I was most happy when my in-laws gave me a
It's 2.5 in long and when locked closed, is the same size and weight as a car key. Includes "a straight knife blade and a serrated cutting surface, a micro-sized screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, an eyeglass screwdriver, and a bottle opener." I've used the blade once and it's pretty sharp! Well worth the six bucks.
1975:
2006:
Here's an even cooler version of the website visualizer mentioned a few days ago: this one will tell you what each tag is.
