A Tired and Ponderous Sunday

This week has come and gone in a flash. Work saw the installation of a new system six months in development and all the little (and some not so little) niggles that come with that. Saturday morning saw me sit a four hour competency test with Brainbench that was both gruelling and terrible frustrating. The gremlins of the machine saw to it that every answer I gave had to be entered twice – the first time just didn’t take. The seeds are planted, a little time and luck should yield good things.

The weekend was a breath of fresh air – spent time with the family at the stables and in the fresh air. ‘C’ and I also got time to sit and relax, watching two Hayao Miyazaki movies I’d ordered, the anime is unbelievable and so very different – if you were a fan of his other animated masterpiece ‘Spirited Away’ then ‘Laputa: Castle in the Sky’ and ‘Howl’s moving castle’ are definitely not to be missed.

The stresses seem to be clearing and I can take a breath of fresh air for a bit. Our annual holiday is a mere two weeks away, nothing to worry about but sand, surf and fresh air.

I can’t wait.

How NSA access was built into Windows

A CARELESS mistake by Microsoft programmers has revealed that special access codes prepared by the US National Security Agency have been secretly built into Windows. The NSA access system is built into every version of the Windows operating system now in use, except early releases of Windows 95 (and its predecessors). The discovery comes close on the heels of the revelations earlier this year that another US software giant, Lotus, had built an NSA “help information” [local] trapdoor into its Notes system, and that security functions on other software systems had been deliberately crippled.

The first discovery of the new NSA access system was made two years ago by British researcher Dr Nicko van Someren. But it was only a few weeks ago when a second researcher rediscovered the access system. With it, he found the evidence linking it to NSA. 

Computer security specialists have been aware for two years that unusual features are contained inside a standard Windows software “driver” used for security and encryption functions. The driver, called ADVAPI.DLL, enables and controls a range of security functions. If you use Windows, you will find it in the C:\Windows\system directory of your computer. 

ADVAPI.DLL works closely with Microsoft Internet Explorer, but will only run crypographic functions that the US governments allows Microsoft to export. That information is bad enough news, from a European point of view. Now, it turns out that ADVAPI will run special programmes inserted and controlled by NSA. As yet, no-one knows what these programmes are, or what they do. 

Dr Nicko van Someren reported at last year’s Crypto 98 conference that he had disassembled the ADVADPI driver. He found it contained two different keys. One was used by Microsoft to control the cryptographic functions enabled in Windows, in compliance with US export regulations. But the reason for building in a second key, or who owned it, remained a mystery. 

http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/5/5263/1.html

A Little Spam Text Story

So what’s up with the random text used to fool the spam filters?

The text has enough “non spam” stuff to render it absolutely invisible to the filters and on it sails straight into my inbox. I am not the only one amused by reading this text, there was someone recently who turned the spam garbage into a comic, me I prefer words so here we go.

The quote below was part of the text used to bring to me the happiness of cheap Viagra that is abcMeds.org

or a genius, and i’m sure i should be glad to know which,” said aunt pity, from the heights of his vast and varied experience.and as she approached, the massive doors of rock opened of their own but some are not. i needn’t talk about it, only you must show your below made her laugh, and call out: of failure; but she kept up her spirits by working harder than ever.

I will attempt to fill in some of the blanks:

“[either you're mad] or a genius, and i’m sure i should be glad to know which,” said aunt pity, [sarcastically.] [Mr pity was scornful of Matilda's aunt's scathing attacks and] from the heights of his vast and varied experience [decided to opt out of the conversation lest his wife apply the proverbial genital cuff]. [He did however make the mistake of muttering under his breath] and as she approached [to deliver her fateful blow], the massive doors of rock opened of their own [accord and the room filled with a terrible greenish ooze.]

[Some, through years of bitter experience show a sturdiness of stamina, being both bold and strong, ] but some are not. [The green goop did not bode well for the fateful Pity's] i needn’t talk about it, [I am sure you can only well imagine.] only [a miracle could save them now, "] you must show [ us a way through ] your [ roof!" cried poor Matilda from] below [, but her helpless bleatings only amused her sadistic aunt and] made her laugh, and call out: ["you piteous creature born] of failure [""]; [The anger welled in Matilda's young and innocent bosom ] but she kept up her spirits by working harder than ever [to pull the cantankerous bitch from the beam above].

Though not the works of Salman Rushdie the above should serve to illustrate how much fun can be had at the expense of the spammer’s fantastic, though bitty, story waiting to be born.

I think I am going to start perusing the rich pickings of my spam bin more regularly.

Would-be suicide bomber tells of quest for ‘paradise’

Mail & Guardian Online

Hainuallah’s days in a destitute border village in Pakistan all seemed exactly the same: a trip to the madrasa (religious school), the return home, dinner, and then creeping into bed. Of course it was boring, says the Pakistani teenager from the border province of Waziristan. Then one day, a preacher told him about a way out of the boredom — a sure ticket to a paradise filled with voluptuous virgin nymphs and milk and honey running under fruit-laden trees. “I came to Afghanistan to carry out a suicide attack on Americans,” Hainuallah, who uses only one name, told an Agence France-Presse (AFP) reporter. “The mullah said it would earn me entry into Paradise where you live with houris [virgin nymphs] and streams of milk and honey forever.”

Rest of the article here …

Dawkins on Saddam’s Hanging

The obvious objections to the execution of Saddam Hussein are valid and well aired. His death will provoke violent strife between Sunni and Shia Muslims, and between Iraqis in general and the American occupation forces. This was an opportunity to set the world a good example of civilized behaviour in dealing with a barbarically uncivilized man. In any case, revenge is an ignoble motive. The usual arguments against the death penalty in general apply. If Bush and Blair are eventually put on trial for war crimes, I shall not be among those pressing for them to be hanged. But I want to add another and less obvious reason why we should not have executed Saddam Hussein. His mind would have been a unique resource for historical, political and psychological research: a resource that is now forever unavailable to scholars.

continued at:
http://richarddawkins.net/article,482,n,n

The Blasphemy Challenge

http://www.blasphemychallenge.com

The idea is that you record the following phrase “I deny the existence on the holy spirit” and upload it to youTube, It is a somewhat juvenile attempt to prove the courage of your convictions after all the bible is very clear in what you can expect by doing so; according to the instructions found on the blasphemy challenge website:

You may damn yourself to Hell however you would like, but somewhere in your video you must say this phrase: “I deny the Holy Spirit.” Why? Because, according to Mark 3:29 in the Holy Bible, “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” Jesus will forgive you for just about anything, but he won’t forgive you for denying the existence of the Holy Spirit. Ever. This is a one-way road you’re taking here.

I am not sure what the point of it all is other than scoffing in the face of religious ideology, a kind of religious “bloody Mary” if you will. I don’t feel that people shouldn’t do it but have to wonder what all the fuss is about. Some of the video’s I have watched have all the breathless anticipation of naughty school boys who have just been caught smoking behind the shed. The only real outcome of this that I can see is some publicity which may be more negative than positive in light of what atheists are trying to achieve.

I don’t deny that it provides a comfortable forum for people to share their beliefs (or lack thereof) with their peers but I feel in this exciting world of collaborative technology trite little video clips are probably not the best way to do it. Moderates who may have been enlightened (for want of a better word) by debate and intelligent literature may be put off by this very visual – in your face denial that really serves no real purpose other than winning the odd dvd.

10 times around the sun without Carl

Carl Sagan, born on the 9th November 1934 in Brooklyn, New York undoubtedly ranks in my top ten people I would have love to have met. As an Astrophysicyst he shared his joy and wonder at life and the universe with millions of people through television, books and movies. I remember sitting wide-eyed and entranced as a child watching his Cosmos television series, taping and later re-watching the episodes until the physical limits of a VHS tape were pushed to a blurred and fuzzy demise.

I won’t attempt to list his writings, personal accomplishments or scientific endeavours, his wikipedia entry covers that more than adequately.

I was however very touched by the tributes that have poured in from all corners of the globe to mark a decade without this great man. He was a man who loved and was loved by many people the world over, not least his family. For me he encompasses much of what we as humans should strive for: a questioning, unbounded curiosity in the universe, a keen intellect, a disbelief in superstition or pseudo-science and patience for the slower things of this world. The tribute by his wife Ann Druyan (10 times around the sun without Carl) and son Nick Sagan (Memories of my dad) highlight many admirable traits of both husband and father; His eulogy, more than forgotten mossy etchings on a tomb stone, is still trumpeted by those who remember and will continue to remember him.

Carl Sagan passed away in 1996 after a long battle with cancer.

George Bush says Muslims are Atheists

A very interesting article by Autine Cline shows just how far men will go to segregate their Gods.  It is inconsequential that the roots of all 3 monotheistic religions have their roots firmly entrenched in the same bloody soil; even Christians can’t agree over the fine points of their faith so it comes as little surprise that some Christians, while at war with the noun ‘terror’ and bombing whole countries back to the stone age, haven’t a clue as to what drives terrorists to commit their acts of violence.

As part of the Chanukah celebrations [please someone enlighten me] at the White House, President George W. Bush reportedly described Muslim terrorists as atheists:

Bush said that despite declarations of piety from Muslim radicals now fighting the United States, he doubted that they believed in God. “ ‘Terrorists’ can’t be God-believing people,’ ” Richard Joel, president of Yeshiva University, quoted Bush as saying.

Unfortunately for George, if he bothered to replace his advisers with anybody with a bit of common sense, he would learn that the radicals believe a little too much in God.  It is a desire to fight for Islam against the infidels of the west, a desire to go to heaven and hand-pick friends and family members [who could be right sods] to join you and a perverse anger at economic western success that should not be the right of the unbelievers that drive people to fly planes into buildings or to detonate themselves as vessels of immolation in God’s ‘righteous and just’ cause.  Another interesting point about George’s statement is that is apparently OK for God-fearing people to kill what amount now to 655,000 Iraqis (and counting) with impunity  – the old quotation that one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter is a cliche for a reason.

Remember that fabulous old article from 2003:

A few weeks ago, George W. Bush noted during an interview that while he glances at newspaper headlines, he “rarely” reads the actual articles because “A lot of times there’s opinions mixed in with news.” So where does he get his info? Bush said he prefers to be briefed by White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. “The best way to get the news,” he explained, “is from objective sources. And the most objective sources I have are people on my staff who tell me what’s happening in the world.”

Let me reiterate the point in case you glossed over it – George gets all his worldly information from his ‘objective’ advisers.  How this man ever got elected is really beyond me – this shows a level of gross ignorance that borders on the obscene.  Perhaps George should open a book [the old testament doesn't count] from time to time.

As Cline rightly wondered, will George be penning in well know atheists like Harris and Dawkins under Osama?  Somehow it wouldn’t surprise me.

Where did Sajji go?

I am greatly concerned for the whereabouts of a fellow blogger.

Sajji was the author of a very promising blog called Metamorphosis. I did not know much of Sajji other than he was married, lives in Pakistan and through his writings vocally renounced Islam in favour of an atheistic stance. I also know that Muslim punishment for renouncing Islam is death … period. There is no leniency granted to apostasy, even if the apostate reverts back to his former faith the sentence is still death. I therefor worry since his blog (http://sajji.wordpress.com) has been deleted and I have not heard from him since last year.

I am aware that there was some family pressure not to be quite so vocal about his beliefs, Sajji if you are still floating around the blogosphere let me know.

My response to the “Angry Atheist” nonsense.

There is a lot of chatter on the Internet currently and the topic is the “angry atheist”. It seems it is not ok for bloggers and authors to stand up and say enough is enough; that belief in a bronze age doctrine does not fit well with a global society with enough technological know-how to blow us all up many times over.

I draw your attention to http://importreason.wordpress.com/2006/12/28/the-angry-atheist and the quaint little hand drawn cartoons. It is the ultimate irony that atheists, who according to the poles have been one of the most despised groups on earth – in a call for sanity and the right to not believe in a tenet no different from the tooth fairy – are being called intolerant and evangelical.

I made some points in retort to the article but would really like to make them again:

Most atheists are not angry but we have a good and healthy dose of gat-vol. Gat-vol is a South African slang term for “beyond fed-up”. I went to a Christian school and had religion literally jammed (in sticky fish-oil like globs) down my throat for 12 years. When the religious teachers didn’t like the sane questions I was raising, I was made to stand outside the classroom for the rest of the year or pick up litter (no doubt a fitting task for an unbeliever).

My 5 year old son came home the other day and told me that Jesus loved me and died for our sins and that god created the world. I almost fell off my chair – apparently the nursery school teacher is a born again Christian and has been working wonders with the young and pliable minds of our children – yep, you guessed it, without our permission.

I am annoyed at having to defend, what I believe to be sanity and lucid thinking and getting funny looks when I declare I don’t believe in the sky-god of these same bronze-age texts. The world is changing constantly and with frightening speed, many of you are familiar with the Zeitgeist discussions on the net at the moment – the ever moving spirit of the times. Atheists point out that this change is being hindered by the immovable doctrine of religion who’s adherents subscribe to an outdated and terrible tome of intolerance, ignorance, violence and bigotry; a doctrine which has remained fixed and opposed to the evolving thoughts of humanity since it’s inception.

The “angry atheist” is a natural mud-flinging response by a group completely unused to criticism of any sort. Hundreds of years of fear, intolerance, torture and murder was the de-facto response to any sort of negative or derogatory statement about religion and the faithful are bound not to enjoy the right of non-believers to stand up and call it silly. It is ironic that the religious have no trouble speaking their minds and very often putting those rights to action, from the burning of flags and embassies to the preachers and ministers espousing (and killing against) the sins of the abortionists or unbelievers.

The moderates ask what is wrong with harmless belief. Harris and Dawkins’ have said enough to explain that the moderates provide a buffer and nest for the extremists. As I mentioned in my comment:

Harmless beliefs don’t have abortion doctors murdered, or teachers torn limb from limb or nations and people vilified for no reason. They do not bomb embassies or fly planes into buildings. They don’t burn people alive for being witches and Satan worshipers (this still happens today in South Africa amongst the poor and uneducated but well indoctrinated communities) or have them stoned to death when they happen to be unlucky enough to be raped.

The fact that the American president has personal little chats with the sky-god that dictate the course of a bloody war against another nation should be of utmost concern globally. How is this different to another version of the same God whispering in Osama’s ear and giving him good aeronautical advice? The fact that there are people with access to the red button who refute common sense and believe that the one god created all that there is 6000 years ago makes me sick to my stomach.

I think more of your tolerance and respectful disagreeing should be awarded to the so called “angry atheists” and their right not to buy into the madness.

 

Convert m4a to mp3

iTunes completely trashed my music library yet again. It was a moment that left me gnashing my teeth, craving an intelligent tool for my media files and it came down to the one and only mediamonkey. In a flash I had my library reorganised to my liking and then discovered that all my iTunes m4a files had been left behind as mediamonkey and most other programs can play but not organise m4a files. This was a right pain until I found an elegant little solution on lifehacker.

To convert m4a files to mp3’s retaining all the tags using iTunes itself. iTunes will now be used exclusively for what it is good for- super bloatware for synching music with my iPod. I understand the audiophiles would grimace at my converting one compressed format to another or selecting mp3 over m4a but mp3 is still the king of compressed music when it comes to players and choices.

Kudo’s to the poster known as Mr.Kite

In your iTunes preferences, go to “advanced”. Choose “Importing” and then select “Import using MP3 encoder”. Click ok, then go back to your iTunes Library and select the files you want converted from m4a to mp3. Go to the “Advanced” menu bar option and select “convert to MP3″. When they are done converting, select the new files in your iTunes library and drag them to a new folder on your desktop. Presto-chango! MP3s with tags!

Update 02/01: Mediamonkey syncs with the iPod much more intuitively than iTunes.
Bye bye iTunes …

Ban the Fireworks?

We had a wonderful new year spent with friends and their kids. The kids managed to stay awake to see in the new year and sip glasses of non-alcoholic champagne with the adults before collapsing with tiredness. There were the usual crowd of rowdy neighbors however who ignored the ban on private fireworks and the surrounds thudded till 1am to the sound of their callousness. These special people, like lane jumpers and queue hoppers obviously defer to a different set of rules from the rest of us. Pets all around us naturally went ballistic as animals do when confronted by the noise of exploding gunpowder.

Our pets are quite good comparatively, our one cat hides for hours in the cupboard and the dogs, unlike some cases, don’t seem overly perturbed.

There is now a R2000 fine for the private exploding of firecrackers as once again the SPCA calls for a ban on their use and identipet announces a double in the number of hysterical and escaped pets over last years figures.

What are your thoughts on the use of private fireworks?