tcpip: (Default)
Diary of a B+ Grade Polymath ([personal profile] tcpip) wrote2006-09-15 09:30 am

Software Freedom Day, Tax Reform, Diebold and 9/11, Chaos and Madness

Software Freedom Day is tomorrow. I'll be at the Linux Install Fest being held at the Melbourne Unitarian Church from 10 am onwards. There's also the Linux Bazaar at the Melbourne Town Hall and the famous Free Software Walk.

Tax Reform Australia has a new look and new content. Please feel free to elaborate and criticise. Fault the logic if you can. In the meantime I'm dealing with strange constitutional issues with Prosper Australia which deal with a (modest) pecuinary interest and a (very) ambigious constition. On a positive note we're still looking for producers for our documentary.

Princeton University security researchers have taken apart a Diebold voting machine, and installed software which would allow results to be changed - without detection. It was so easy they've publised a paper and made a video to show how easy it was. Diebold tries to stop ISPs distributing information on the matter. From [livejournal.com profile] squidb0i

Smell the fear. John Howard squirms on a Four Corners interview when questioned on 9/11 and Iraq links. Via [livejournal.com profile] horngirl

Chaos. Who killed Pluto? Very appropriately Eris did! Madness. Steve Irwin's death by stingray may be spurring some fans to maim the fish, ten of which were found killed this week.

I've posted this comment a few times this week now..

[identity profile] tatjna.livejournal.com 2006-09-14 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Cutting tails off stingrays is a fairly common (and abhorrent) practice performed by commercial fishermen who catch them as a bycatch. They mistakenly believe that they are making the waters safer by cutting the tail off and releasing a 'harmless' ray.

Anyone who's snorkelled amongst stingrays will know the fallacy of this belief - the ones with no tails generally die, and all that's left are stingrays with stings. It's pointless and cruel, and it makes me sick.

I wouldn't be surprised if the incidence has increased because of Steve Irwin (they loved him so much he's in their quarantine vids at the airports) but I'm sad to say it's something that is done anyway. ;-(

Re: I've posted this comment a few times this week now..

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2006-09-15 12:01 am (UTC)(link)

I read things like this and I despair for the species.

Maybe the inevitable takeover of machine intelligence won't be so bad after all..

Re: I've posted this comment a few times this week now..

[identity profile] mikey-ob.livejournal.com 2006-09-15 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe the inevitable takeover of machine intelligence won't be so bad after all..
Unless of course then machine intelligence was made by Diebold.

Re: I've posted this comment a few times this week now..

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2006-09-15 02:30 am (UTC)(link)

OK, we have a winner...

Re: I've posted this comment a few times this week now..

[identity profile] imajica-lj.livejournal.com 2006-09-15 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
No we want this ... Diebold machines being sooooo increadibly easy to crack.

Machine says:
"Double choco ration for you today citizen, we know you will enjoy your freedom ration."

*~fitz~*

"Double choco ration for you today citizen, we know you will enjoy your freedom ration."

*~fitz~*

"Double choco ration for you today citizen, we know you will enjoy your freedom ration."

*~fitz~*

[identity profile] horngirl.livejournal.com 2006-09-14 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Four Corners, not Lateline, dearie :-)

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2006-09-14 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)

Eh, right you are. Better fix that.

[identity profile] jahbulon.livejournal.com 2006-09-15 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
Take that, Pluto! Stupid asteroid.

Hail Eris!

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2006-09-15 01:00 am (UTC)(link)

It's very, very cool isn't it?

[identity profile] jahbulon.livejournal.com 2006-09-15 06:51 am (UTC)(link)
Eris has always had a heavenly body, but now she is one!