tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26859820759357219472024-03-06T01:55:49.902+11:00Bastard SheepMusings of a woolly dolphin.Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-71911114851143336582009-06-22T12:50:00.001+10:002009-06-22T12:52:05.321+10:00I have relocated.After holding the domain for almost a year and doing nothing with it, I have finally moved my blog from blogspot to it's new home ...<br /><br /><a href="http://bastardsheep.com/">http://bastardsheep.com/</a><br /><br />All previous entries can be found there, so please update your bookmarks and start using that URL instead.Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-17494885867334623362009-05-18T16:00:00.001+10:002009-05-18T16:05:46.204+10:00Lesson #5489 in getting media sympathy: violate human rights worse than your neighbor.<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXshpeTkYwllWWDIKZKSU7LU6yg-jEKhaHnSw_Q9u5T3vQpznRuocVoOYOXVNz6lV6cWSDXHiJ-dhyphenhypheno3TZjS-M099IndulMEv8OroKut3AAft-NDR_J9wErRAqiO5WSPyVF1cGjS04L1fw/s1600-h/Tamil+tiger_Sri+Lanka.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXshpeTkYwllWWDIKZKSU7LU6yg-jEKhaHnSw_Q9u5T3vQpznRuocVoOYOXVNz6lV6cWSDXHiJ-dhyphenhypheno3TZjS-M099IndulMEv8OroKut3AAft-NDR_J9wErRAqiO5WSPyVF1cGjS04L1fw/s200/Tamil+tiger_Sri+Lanka.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337040031705078818" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">What the f*%k is up with the media in the last 12 months? Anywhere there's a conflict happening, the reporting is as arse-backwards as it could possibly be, if not more so. Case in point, the current fighting happening in Sri Lanka between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers. I am yet to see a news story that doesn't demonify SL while glossing over the TT. Sri Lanka attacked a hospital, they injured and killed women and children. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm sorry, but the only reason not only the women and children were attacked as well as the hospital in the first place was because the Tigers set up their base of operations INSIDE the hospital, using the women, children, sick and injured as human f*%king shields! That's a horrendous act. It's low. It's despicable. It's cowardly. It's pathetic. It's a MUCH worse violation of human rights than what Sri Lanka are doing, yet it's only Sri Lanka getting demonified for it! WHAT THE F*%K IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE???</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I don't give a rats arse how bad it is that Sri Lanka attacked because comparitively the act of hiding where they did and using innocent civilians as they have done is a hundred times worse. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's the same with Israel/Palestine in their conflict earlier. Hamas regularly send salvo after salvo at Israel trying to provoke them, yet every time Israel fire back they are the ones demonified. In the latest invasion of Palestine by Israel, it was as a direct response to regular attacks on Israel despite cease fires being in place. Again, Hamas hid troops inside peoples homes using civilians as human shields. They set up their base of operations in hospitals using the sick and injured as human shields. They booby-trapped hospitals, schools, and peoples homes trying to lure Israeli soldiers inside often resulting in civilian deaths as the traps went off or were detonated prior to soldiers going in. Who copped all the blame in the media and calls for humans rights violations? Was it the ones who set up the innocent civilians to be injured and went out of their way to ensure innocent people were between them and the guns? No, it was Israel! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Damned f*%king straight I'm pissed off, and with good reason. I understand the people of Palestine want their independance, same for those in the area where the Tamils are, but the actions of the Tigers and Hamas are so horrible, despicable and cowardly they defy words. I can't think of anyone more deserving of going up against the human rights courts, yet by all accounts they appear to be getting off scot-free, and it just makes me sick.</span><br /></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-43827911173323970382009-04-24T12:39:00.010+10:002009-04-24T13:06:01.816+10:00The difference between supernatural and natural: underinformed.<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">One often wonders how there can be so many people out there that believe in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">supernatural</span> things. Or for that matter, how people can not believe in them when there's so many websites, books and documentaries about such things. So much information, but is it enough?</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Despite all the information these sources have, they're always incomplete. They always paint a picture of what is directly observed but highly lacking in surrounding information. It is usually in this surrounding information that the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">explanation</span> lies. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Take a look at <a href="http://skepticblog.org/2009/04/16/can-you-solve-this-ufo-mystery/">this post</a> by Brian Dunning. You can tell straight away he's a sceptic by the amount of seemingly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">irrelevant</span> information he's providing. A believer for example would talk about the hills and the cars driving on those hills, the houses, and that's it. They wouldn't talk about the trees, the clearness of the sky, or mention the security guard in such detail. Without that key but seemingly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">irrelevant</span> information that a believer wouldn't include, one would have no hope of coming up with the right <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">explanation</span> for the lights as per Brian's second <a href="http://skepticblog.org/2009/04/23/the-ufo-mystery-solved/">post here</a>.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe1Mk-yL-5GxuSyhZIkrRMEhxdw7sPjmzExe8koEIprbsWB4jCN5jMhMHhhyeR0CTSwA4XRDPhZjZZhBXB5Sc3cjSK41hx7BcXLeje44t6LKzBkp1b5IVNNXN665WWofmEhh5Uqfa1YRd/s1600-h/lpatterntimedemonstratirh9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe1Mk-yL-5GxuSyhZIkrRMEhxdw7sPjmzExe8koEIprbsWB4jCN5jMhMHhhyeR0CTSwA4XRDPhZjZZhBXB5Sc3cjSK41hx7BcXLeje44t6LKzBkp1b5IVNNXN665WWofmEhh5Uqfa1YRd/s200/lpatterntimedemonstratirh9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328083048256422210" border="0" /></a>It reminds me of a discussion at another forum with someone about so called light angels. This particular image (right) was the example he used of a mysterious light that appeared for 3 days in a row. These would appear before the sun was up and would <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">disappear</span> and re-appear quite quickly. I've seen these before so instantly knew what it was and tried to explain them to him, but no matter what I said he wouldn't believe me. His most common <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">rebuts</span> were that the sun wasn't up and that these were in a shaded area.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEODaHXbhRbWpWbpPP5OkjudFSuxGYAqJUOCYgcJLyjCognQS2L_BYxnr-eqduvlZmTClBP9mfvftxRA3EQwRwKwO8FkuMcvGLyqc5OpAHifNZ2eSlDInj7kpRjFxkWSSiYGepN4nCOWD/s1600-h/lpatternsiteqn7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEODaHXbhRbWpWbpPP5OkjudFSuxGYAqJUOCYgcJLyjCognQS2L_BYxnr-eqduvlZmTClBP9mfvftxRA3EQwRwKwO8FkuMcvGLyqc5OpAHifNZ2eSlDInj7kpRjFxkWSSiYGepN4nCOWD/s200/lpatternsiteqn7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328083519727949522" border="0" /></a>After a lot of very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">persistant</span> questioning he started a new thread and included a location (Novy Jicin, Czech Republic), a rough map (left), sunrise (5:22am) and times it appeared (6am-7:30am). From this I was able to track down the location in Google Maps. From google maps, I could use the shadows of the buildings and surrounding trees to scope out the size of them in comparison to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">each other</span> and low and behold, all the evidence backed up my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">explanation</span> to a tea.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuhPmPslh2ESq7WVTH-sfawvBgQSWTk7It4EjMcXeFugUCNlnMrZp99OMdG-HkvQDnZ5glAQm2Ch4I_UhNy4NI0ITPhev9iGxKsC5_0r0aP5A9eU_maooGXDbjcQFqVXVw_fY-CE7F_tq/s1600-h/lpatternsiteqn7-googlemaps.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuhPmPslh2ESq7WVTH-sfawvBgQSWTk7It4EjMcXeFugUCNlnMrZp99OMdG-HkvQDnZ5glAQm2Ch4I_UhNy4NI0ITPhev9iGxKsC5_0r0aP5A9eU_maooGXDbjcQFqVXVw_fY-CE7F_tq/s200/lpatternsiteqn7-googlemaps.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328084002761897666" border="0" /></a>What was happening was that it was early in the morning. In both maps you can see roughly where the photographer was located. They were in a position that kept them in the shade. The building to the south blocked the direct light from the sun to the person. The building behind the person was taller than the building to the south. The walls of that building are not reflective enough to reflect much of the light. The windows on the other hand, were.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuFmzTpCpxl1mlLsfKksic2fpGOUJL6RdRpPb4vB6FqekoIidMADCrr6x7UlVIaMJ6b5oT2TTG0IBbfuvoTbaOxoZO3EmvIHUPfiUGqvqq0GYo6rymwPdZ_5Ee3jetm7qNi_GvxJoOc2c/s1600-h/lpatternsiteqn7+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 62px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuFmzTpCpxl1mlLsfKksic2fpGOUJL6RdRpPb4vB6FqekoIidMADCrr6x7UlVIaMJ6b5oT2TTG0IBbfuvoTbaOxoZO3EmvIHUPfiUGqvqq0GYo6rymwPdZ_5Ee3jetm7qNi_GvxJoOc2c/s200/lpatternsiteqn7+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328084097740258578" border="0" /></a>As the sun caught the windows, they not only reflected the light but also expanded as things do. With nowhere to expand due to the window pane, the glass formed an ever so slight concave shape which warped the light being reflected. This light then <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">shone</span> over to the building across from it, warped, forming the shape seen in the picture. It only appeared in the morning when the sun was in the right position and at the right height.<br /><br />The trees to the south of the southern building as well as clouds meant the lights appeared and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">disappeared</span> suddenly. The change in path of the sun through the seasons means it only <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">occurred</span> for a 3 week period.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX6UFZ_YYFEZt9CZwmYUgA4bsnudF9KDdNqOQOc-F2NUHMH8f5dpxNrE_zQhAC2XN5wycZmj8kE-ucxUdQ7UJFe4iRb_uvBIicoOUe2J4uE0rVFzOZhF2bdzD1gT-oTa92Ab0dm_GiVUS/s1600-h/tovarna.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX6UFZ_YYFEZt9CZwmYUgA4bsnudF9KDdNqOQOc-F2NUHMH8f5dpxNrE_zQhAC2XN5wycZmj8kE-ucxUdQ7UJFe4iRb_uvBIicoOUe2J4uE0rVFzOZhF2bdzD1gT-oTa92Ab0dm_GiVUS/s200/tovarna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328084171159307058" border="0" /></a>Here we have a perfect example of the warping of the light. The ones in red are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">unwarped</span>, the ones in yellow are warped.<br /><br /><br />Evidence which he hadn't payed enough attention to himself to take note of happened to be the key evidence required to find the rational and correct explanation, no supernatural one required.</span></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-24081815862796508202009-04-19T09:33:00.011+10:002009-04-19T11:17:12.032+10:00Is nothing safe? Woo is now involving wine!<span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizflEhx6TpRmECD-M4T3v_DiqZVJMVHzt5NGMPYvb4sMXQkXGvTBuVUUCLmLCrgRgB4VPZinNyG6sckEa3DwJ5v_c9UyHdj-agPqeGkkR9nbGy2-QT5eZuY_8pce4ACDA07MpRBAXWn1x_/s1600-h/Sandwormmouth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizflEhx6TpRmECD-M4T3v_DiqZVJMVHzt5NGMPYvb4sMXQkXGvTBuVUUCLmLCrgRgB4VPZinNyG6sckEa3DwJ5v_c9UyHdj-agPqeGkkR9nbGy2-QT5eZuY_8pce4ACDA07MpRBAXWn1x_/s200/Sandwormmouth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326181028746067938" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Today I tried to summon a sandworm. I know full well they are a fictional creature, but sometimes you come across something that affects you in a way that you just cannot help but to create a rhythmic thumping sound similar to that used in their summoning. I'm sure you too have experienced such things. One moment you're innocently browsing the internet, reading the paper or watching TV. The next moment there is an emanating thump, thump, thump, thump, as your forehead repeatedly hits the palm of your hand or the desk in front of you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXLKGTxXqM77uPG3Eou6zGDtGrqJ6bX495qFjW8wcK2eYrFmh5rUWaknmozJUKag7TCYMSbOSVhFASXsWF3N59bqOOBO1YHmyMSLJeDgA6DfSD5HYrXOdPsx_cK9xzj8yFs7TPTOlzRpJ/s1600-h/stoness.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXLKGTxXqM77uPG3Eou6zGDtGrqJ6bX495qFjW8wcK2eYrFmh5rUWaknmozJUKag7TCYMSbOSVhFASXsWF3N59bqOOBO1YHmyMSLJeDgA6DfSD5HYrXOdPsx_cK9xzj8yFs7TPTOlzRpJ/s200/stoness.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326193067440959298" border="0" /></a>Today's summoning comes from a story on BoingBoing about an apparently new trend taking rise mostly in England, Germany and America. The story is about a method of farming called "biodynamics". The methods read word for word as though from occult, magical, and mystic traditions although the purveyors of it do not advertise it that way. They tend more to claim it as a method of organic farming, free of modern "harsh" chemicals and sprays.<br /><br />Before reading further, I would like to request you ensure you are seated and have a collection of cushions ready. Please place one either in the palm of your hand, or on the table in front of you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcOZFBoIfnwRpzt50phDbIVDPHkHhs1TW6rPk3BpauVGJKYHaoZbeQerCJYlVXgePpwSp4_DVTyOLcKBvpiH2nuQDjppSZ7re8d2NJGnI2XjoVdpB42sfAXXl0KwUvCba-qbBU_je99Zk/s1600-h/cowhead.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcOZFBoIfnwRpzt50phDbIVDPHkHhs1TW6rPk3BpauVGJKYHaoZbeQerCJYlVXgePpwSp4_DVTyOLcKBvpiH2nuQDjppSZ7re8d2NJGnI2XjoVdpB42sfAXXl0KwUvCba-qbBU_je99Zk/s200/cowhead.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326193623101290402" border="0" /></a>It was all started by one Rudolf Steiner in 1924 who claims to have come upon this after communicating telepathically with spirits. Please add another cushion. The two most popular are to place either fermented cow manure in a horn, or ground oak bark in a cow's fresh skull. This horn or skull is then buried in a shallow moist hole in a field for two seasons upon which time it is extracted and the contents applied in nearly undetectable quantities (akin to homeopathy) throughout the field.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeoAEWB3EtimtvnFSxs7bRXVvfaUPSNDIBXurFvWn9tbzIPAgArU8F-bQM6IQtSg_OqdT67Sh7cHkB4BaAUrDhjfuc-dwr3h0VUJJo9ge2CxARzzq1nP8t-apAJXaYl_7kbZL032DGsEd/s1600-h/man-astrology.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeoAEWB3EtimtvnFSxs7bRXVvfaUPSNDIBXurFvWn9tbzIPAgArU8F-bQM6IQtSg_OqdT67Sh7cHkB4BaAUrDhjfuc-dwr3h0VUJJo9ge2CxARzzq1nP8t-apAJXaYl_7kbZL032DGsEd/s200/man-astrology.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326193690471198898" border="0" /></a>It doesn't stop there. Biodynamics extends beyond the farm too. Please add another cushion. The two wine producers responsible for almost one third of the wine sold in the U.K. have started using biodynamics in their wine tasting too. You see, it's not just about the growing of the plants, there's also the consumption to consider. The consumption times are based upon a combination of moon cycles and astrologyy to seperate the days and hours out in to periods known as fruit, flower, leaf and root, the former two being the best for tasting and the latter the worst. How one figures out which period is which is a tightly held concept, but of course they are more than happy to let you know what times are good and bad ... by selling you an overpriced calendar containing this information.<br /><br />So, biodynamics can be summed up as a combination of druidic, wiccan, magic and occult practices, ghosts and other-worldly beings, homeopathy and finally astrology. I bet these people claim to be christian too. Those of you who didn't add enough cushions throughout reading this most likely also have wormsign.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source1:</span> <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2009/04/18/uk-wine-sellers-decl.html">BoingBoing</a>.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source2:</span> <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/apr/18/wine-lunar-calender-tesco-supermarkets">The Guardian</a>.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source3:</span> <a href="http://www.sfweekly.com/2008-11-19/news/voodoo-on-the-vine">SF Weekly</a>.<br /><br /><br />As an aside, I've heard many people speculate that thanks to modern medicine, human evolution has all but come to an end. Sometimes though when I look at all the woo and people purposefully and willingly choosing the options which have zero supporting evidence and deriding the options that have mountains of supporting evidence ... I start to wonder if this increase in willing ignorance is actually a new evolutionary change to once again bring back the possibility of survival of the fittest. </span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-41793000617989226932009-03-25T16:29:00.003+11:002009-03-25T16:32:21.924+11:00The piddler fails again.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQWu-8FUKp4yxMrLtXZMIn2F8jZuicNcf7eNATUR7VLvkjIY_yX6bQLb5M0Qjy_BNygOu_Ag-onq_eCyZ6HAJj9aTMwNIvKpgdwgUsMjdAtRF0n-rOxmNye5MF2roAbfUDOlGFeeQ7kJ1/s1600-h/conroy_fail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQWu-8FUKp4yxMrLtXZMIn2F8jZuicNcf7eNATUR7VLvkjIY_yX6bQLb5M0Qjy_BNygOu_Ag-onq_eCyZ6HAJj9aTMwNIvKpgdwgUsMjdAtRF0n-rOxmNye5MF2roAbfUDOlGFeeQ7kJ1/s200/conroy_fail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316993677450223762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/Paul-Sheehan/A-piddling-offence-and-worse/2004/12/05/1102182154324.html">The piddler</a> is continuing on his campaign of misinformation and blatant lies about the filter. Anybody else would have gotten sick of being caught out so many times, but fortunately for Conroy, the media for the most part don't really care so it's only those of us who are informed about the Rabbit-Proof Firewall who seem to notice how pathetic and incompetent he is at anything other than backstabbing and weaseling.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Case in point, according to <a href="http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/296839/govt_undeterred_by_blacklist_leaks">this article</a> at computerworld, at a press conference earlier today Senator Conroy stated "It is completely untrue that the leaked blacklist contains political content. This is a list which contains sites that promote incest, rape, child pornography and child abuse."<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">I would like him to point out the incest, rape, child pronography and child abuse at abbey winters, a website whose tours and opening page are on the blacklist. I'd also like to see how any of those are promoted by euthenasia websites. Amongst the other pronographic websites, is he going to stand by his words that every single one of them promote those things? Most of the ones I dared visit to check certainly didn't, nor did an Australian reseller of toys and media whose address is located in Queensland and again is on the very same list.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mr Conroy, I believe these words of yours could well be considered defamation by those whose websites are on the list who do not promote such things. Are you willing to back up your claims?<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Source: <a href="http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/296839/govt_undeterred_by_blacklist_leaks">ComputerWorld</a>.</span></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-45229511287689004922009-03-25T15:44:00.003+11:002009-03-25T16:14:43.478+11:00Agnry on the filtar!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtfxDjp2_14KDopegk-lrs5cDzwb3cIJoXxF4ivlLXOpKlud1xVUqHQVnm-QVbMjeBp0f4bkFBFjrYpqX6rHwdaXVBwKu-pYr_0Qd8AxmDqVGuwMVWoAywMIXMgOwhy4ScvtHB8Jc0Sji/s1600-h/RabbitProofFenceWA1927.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtfxDjp2_14KDopegk-lrs5cDzwb3cIJoXxF4ivlLXOpKlud1xVUqHQVnm-QVbMjeBp0f4bkFBFjrYpqX6rHwdaXVBwKu-pYr_0Qd8AxmDqVGuwMVWoAywMIXMgOwhy4ScvtHB8Jc0Sji/s200/RabbitProofFenceWA1927.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316982254144222786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm regularly being surprised by the number of people who are letting their anger at the Australian Rabbit-Proof Firewall cloud their judgement and ability to analyze things clearly. I too am completely opposed to the Rabbit-Proof Firewall in its current form, but lets take some realistic looks at what can be seen on the list.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">One thing that majority of people seem to be forgetting, Michael Meloni and Mark Newton included, is that it's not just about the content hosted on the site. It is also about the delivery methods. I know people hate comparing new media to old media, but it's the clearest way I can think of to give an example of what I am talking about.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Old Media:</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">When it comes to pornography on old media, most people think magazines. There's limites to not only what you can and can't show in magazines, but also in what you can and can't show depending on the restriction methods. If you want to have skin showing but no boobs or genetalia on the cover, your magazine is allowed to have its entire cover being displayed on the stand. Exposed boobs require a bit of censorship, the more you show inside the magazine and on the cover the more restrictions you have in place right down to the magazine having to be in a sealed plastic cover with a large non see-through patch covering the magazine.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now in the final example where the magazine is one that must be in a non see-through sealed plastic bag, although the content itself (the pictures in the pages) themselves are legal. If you take two copies of the magazine, take one out of the sealed plastic cover and put both back on the shelf, what do you have? One is now illegal and one is now legal. They are both the EXACT same magazine with the EXACT same content, but because one is being distributed WITHOUT the required age verifications, that makes that particular magazine's distribution illegal.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">New Media:</span></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />For new media I will use an example which has been mentioned on almost every website with an article about the blacklist ... abbywinters. The ONLY parts of Abbywinters which are blocked are the free tours and the base page, both of which display full frontal nudity without age verification. This method of distribution according to all Australian laws is illegal. These are examples of the magazine that is not inside the sealed plastic cover.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />The sections of abbywinters behind the login page (which does adequate age verification at time of signup) and the login page itself are all accessible! These are examples of the magazine still inside the sealed plastic cover. The difference is the distribution method, nothing more nothing less.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />This is the key to what can be seen on the ACMA blacklist. Same website, same images in some cases, but examples of legal and illegal distribution. It is only the sections being distributed illegally that appear on the 18th March 2009 ACMA blacklist.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">----------------------</span><br /><br />99.99% of the list then can be summed up as the following: Illegally distributed porn, childporn, terror on teh interwebs (anti-zombie website which tells you how to make a small bomb), incest, euthenasia instructions (not just discussion). </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />There's that, and 3 other pages.<br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">1. A website link anonymiser. The idea behind it is that the linked-to website cannot see in the server logs where the person who clicks on the link is coming from. I am completely at a loss as to how this is illegal.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />2. The dutch blacklist. Again, I'm at a loss as to how this is illegal. The best possible excuse I can think of is that it is a link to a link to a page of links to illegally distributed content.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />3. A ballroom dancing website's guestbook which has had the crapola spammed out of it. Again the best possible excuse I can think of is that it is a link to a link to a page of links to illegally distributed content.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Can anyone tell me if it is actually illegal to link to such things in this country, or are all three examples above overly-zealous?</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">----------------------</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I'm sure there's more 100% legal pages and sites I missed when perusing the list, but that's the best I have found for now.</span></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-3927612860877716832008-11-13T12:31:00.004+11:002008-11-13T12:52:31.463+11:00Tequila. The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkfYr256LVp7JzIXrrgO3DJHUXLJahecu3QO5zxLWZt5W1PMxbLK-vVHmx3MARLExAoHkZ7KvTeloSmqajC_1fl7HZGIvUDW2AHRz53JRTo6pFGUFJmncuEoNnZE0oMJaNCjTL2FQ5Be0/s1600-h/tequila.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkfYr256LVp7JzIXrrgO3DJHUXLJahecu3QO5zxLWZt5W1PMxbLK-vVHmx3MARLExAoHkZ7KvTeloSmqajC_1fl7HZGIvUDW2AHRz53JRTo6pFGUFJmncuEoNnZE0oMJaNCjTL2FQ5Be0/s200/tequila.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267951006579689602" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">If anyone had tried to tell me this I would have just looked at them strangely and allowed the word "bullshit" to flow out of my mouth. However, this is found on the internet so it MUST be true!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />It seems some scientists in Mexico have found a way of using Tequila for more than just getting people drunk, getting ugly people laid, and making people worship the porcelin god. They claim that they've found a way to turn it in to "diamonds" which can be used for detecting radiation, coating mining equipment, and even as a replacement for silicon in computer equipment.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Can someone explain to me how a drinking alcohol, a radiation detector, a solid coating for mining tools and a silicon replacement can be even remotely related? <br /><br />They say that due to restrictions on tequila/cactus harvesting many Mexican farmers have changed to hashish farming. Methinks the scientists have been smoking a tad too much of their produce. Read the article and decide for yourself.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/12/2417347.htm">ABC.net.au</a>.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Via:</span> <a href="http://www.overclockers.com.au/">OCAU</a>.</span> </span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-3800790015196343832008-11-13T12:05:00.003+11:002008-11-13T12:12:02.947+11:00Nananananananananananananana Batmaaaan!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KNZLK-FunMs9iLSPxBXad7-vjhab1f2WYdu51wnXj-1YErKuAhR1WmSV8e_ZL6vV0_WZyQcup0Hp8K9FVV_zGfCkfdoYonDaZRlFXppmJvnB55k3VL9iQjEh_ZmhEnX-oin4KvHnPKZG/s1600-h/batman-and-robin-scaling-a-wall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KNZLK-FunMs9iLSPxBXad7-vjhab1f2WYdu51wnXj-1YErKuAhR1WmSV8e_ZL6vV0_WZyQcup0Hp8K9FVV_zGfCkfdoYonDaZRlFXppmJvnB55k3VL9iQjEh_ZmhEnX-oin4KvHnPKZG/s200/batman-and-robin-scaling-a-wall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267943374701929154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The cheap-arsed money grabbing mayor of Batman in Turkey is ruining the credebility of his town and making the entire world and their dog laugh at them by sueing Nolan and the WB for royalties from the success of the Batman movies.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nobody seems to have told him that for this to be successful he needs to have trademarked the name Batman, plus there needs to be some correlation between the brands. Maybe if the city was called Gotham or something? Maybe.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm too busy chuckling about this to be able to think of much more that can be said.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">Source:</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/12/batman_city_sues_batman/">El Reg</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-40055770952481515712008-11-13T11:59:00.003+11:002008-11-13T12:04:58.466+11:00It's a beautiful day.<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHShQUvFj96jPyauXGm8jIzHYATkT257luQlPzFXxUwzbUOfdo6sp35vlmy6rm0rxpVqqohu61L0NicNW1BmKUmzqa5oRUZbtyA9d2EOC1DEb-MBQ_qp74nPw10n2So8ikOBLM9S-yY7E/s1600-h/despam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHShQUvFj96jPyauXGm8jIzHYATkT257luQlPzFXxUwzbUOfdo6sp35vlmy6rm0rxpVqqohu61L0NicNW1BmKUmzqa5oRUZbtyA9d2EOC1DEb-MBQ_qp74nPw10n2So8ikOBLM9S-yY7E/s200/despam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267941331429741810" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In relation to this post below, it seems that although the amount of spam getting past the filters in my inbox has gone up, the overall spam volume has gone down by a massive 50%. That number is almost impossible to believe, but that's what they're reporting over at Security Fix as well as numerous other non-affiliated IT news websites.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Good news? This is friggin brilliant news. I wonder which bastards are next.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >Source:</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/11/spam_volumes_drop_by_23_after.html">Security Fix</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-55532761730566816632008-11-13T11:24:00.004+11:002008-11-13T11:47:58.410+11:00NebuAd sued.<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aykbAPlRRYccT6zKxZ0Kr5_22HmXrRPZvz3pNN__PVV4w2uKNrW43m-gHsZOJW1jYCdeXyN37MEJ1kNWAns_Gl1oE8u70Dah8jdJjJ6rmsnE5CacNIbzNFgzqxBx5gK9uRW3XEXfE-g-/s1600-h/big-brother-poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aykbAPlRRYccT6zKxZ0Kr5_22HmXrRPZvz3pNN__PVV4w2uKNrW43m-gHsZOJW1jYCdeXyN37MEJ1kNWAns_Gl1oE8u70Dah8jdJjJ6rmsnE5CacNIbzNFgzqxBx5gK9uRW3XEXfE-g-/s200/big-brother-poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267932444692747890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Normally I'm against America's over litigatious ways, but this is one case where I can't help but feel glad it is happening. A class action suit has been filed against the company and numerous US ISP's in regards to trials of their new products at said ISP's.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In a nutshell, NebuAd are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NebuAd#Relationship_with_Claria_Corporation">ex-Claria (who used to be known as Gator) staff</a>, a company infamous for silently installed adware and spyware which was notoriously buggy and difficult to remove. At NebuAd these staff are using similar lack of scruples and working in secret with ISP's to spy on customers without any notification what so ever in order to sell this data to advertising companies for split profit.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">They were found out though, and it was only after numerous people spoke up and the media latched on to any of this that anything was made public. Understandably people are upset and hopefully this will be one more nail in the coffin of these people and their ways. I somehow doubt it, though.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081111-nebuad-isps-sued-over-dpi-snooping-ad-targeting-program.html">Arse Technica</a>.</span><br /></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-89472339551131035852008-11-12T21:59:00.005+11:002008-11-13T11:48:42.260+11:00BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3U_mESuT9BVoPaW9IkqUlGOQtsNOU9ZPH6tM2_mHq9dQrHrAKn9rFIYqvdgEy9UBZC7o-CQ-yow8eoB4sq11hJcTK-9BhKhaLw1As4P6Lp6etYDUYWqVGNH6xzVcnT-v8b543jrsMHM_/s1600-h/feng_electric_circuit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 101px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3U_mESuT9BVoPaW9IkqUlGOQtsNOU9ZPH6tM2_mHq9dQrHrAKn9rFIYqvdgEy9UBZC7o-CQ-yow8eoB4sq11hJcTK-9BhKhaLw1As4P6Lp6etYDUYWqVGNH6xzVcnT-v8b543jrsMHM_/s200/feng_electric_circuit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267724277499399330" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Gullible? Idiotic? Moron? Then we have the deal for you. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The 4000 year old ancient chinese art of placing furniture where you're most likely to find it in the middle of the night with your shin, has now been modernised with this all new ultra fab ... Electronic Feng Shui Compass!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yes, that's right for the low low price of the contents of your wallet and 1/3rd of your brain cells you too can be ripped off and demonstrate to your friends just how idiotic you are with this handy wallet sized Feng Shui Compass. Be the envy and embarressment of your friends, order one today!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2008/11/this_is_the_worlds_first_electronic_feng_shui_compass.html">Gizmodo</a>.</span><br /></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-70503337194437518632008-11-12T21:05:00.005+11:002008-11-13T11:48:26.722+11:00The hills are alive, to the sound of dead hard drives!<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDmz_FfHQUGn5y9VjsVOGwAi-puc0M6qSkgqkWBCGTb9Osh_AqXSoefPOldQhD9hdqsYOzLGRMw6qxDo9pRdsJKNGu-Wm3ao8NI8Nf64sh8Al0t3vtRHaCm4RTAjk1I3U5DPuzjfARiuU/s1600-h/dead_hdd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDmz_FfHQUGn5y9VjsVOGwAi-puc0M6qSkgqkWBCGTb9Osh_AqXSoefPOldQhD9hdqsYOzLGRMw6qxDo9pRdsJKNGu-Wm3ao8NI8Nf64sh8Al0t3vtRHaCm4RTAjk1I3U5DPuzjfARiuU/s200/dead_hdd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267710682953043954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I saw this on <a href="http://slashdot.org/">/.</a>, and got very excited. I quickly opened up the site, then it hit me just how sad it was. However, I don't care. This site goes off like a sog in a frock. I can't think of a decent way to describe it, so I'll just quote some text from the site itself.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >"These are some typical sounds we hear in our data recovery lab.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >To listen to the sound simply click on the play button. Click on the drive manufacturer next to the sound button to learn more about common problems these drives experience."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://datacent.com/hard_drive_sounds.php">Hard Drive Sounds</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Via:</span> <a href="http://slashdot.org/">/.</a>.</span><br /></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-46440885689794879122008-11-12T15:46:00.003+11:002008-11-12T16:02:44.707+11:00CC companies do something non-useless.<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjXvG0-W_DMOJ8jp7Cm8cTQU0bS73YbADHqynzdQPPxx-UUg_8hQq1g5UFX6xglEclDDU3l2dlGDDHLEK992K2KeWwsQmW7kxBJ5iqTRw2MkXuM6_4ns9woH8SrD0Bqj6cq_a_f8ALea8/s1600-h/password-protected-credit-card.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjXvG0-W_DMOJ8jp7Cm8cTQU0bS73YbADHqynzdQPPxx-UUg_8hQq1g5UFX6xglEclDDU3l2dlGDDHLEK992K2KeWwsQmW7kxBJ5iqTRw2MkXuM6_4ns9woH8SrD0Bqj6cq_a_f8ALea8/s200/password-protected-credit-card.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267628092181587938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Most people dislike security because it adds complexity. One could almost say "with greater security comes greater complexity", but it is in no way true that "with greater complexity comes greater security". And in this lies the problem, many a time companies add to the complexity in the name of security, but they don't actually add any security at all.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Credit card companies are brilliant at this. That 3 digit number thing (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">CCV</span> - remember this term) on the back of your card for example, if someone is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">skimming</span> visually then when you turn the card over that is read too. Microchips, no more secure than the magnetic strip just read in a different way. It's like writing a sentence in English twice, but the second time using crayons rather than felt tip pen. It's still in English, it's still the same information. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">RFID</span>? That's LESS secure as it can be skimmed simply be being in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">vicinity</span> of the card. It really does make me angry and glad my current card only has the magnetic strip. I hate the idea of any cards I carry around with having <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">RFID</span> to be honest.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The credit card companies or to be more accurate, Visa, has now actually done something intelligent that DOES add to security. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Looky</span> at the picture above. The basic idea is that you enter your PIN on to your own card (so the PIN cannot be skimmed except for visually), then then generates a one-time code to use in place of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">CCV</span>. This means the theif needs to visually note your PIN then actually steal your card (at which point you'll know to cancel it immediately), they can't just copy it with a skimmer.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >THAT IS FUCKING BRILLIANT!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">If these come out in Australia and only on Visa, I'll definitely be switching (I have a MC at the moment). It's the first change CC companies have made in 5-10 years which hasn't angered me. My hat goes off to you, Visa.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://www.darkreading.com/security/privacy/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212001898"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">DarkReading</span></a>.</span><br /></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-69728820885437259782008-11-12T12:02:00.003+11:002008-11-12T16:00:15.547+11:00Spam and scams and other S words.<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxsY90vUscdDDs-0npgJRQ2dU9_5_sBe5-u_XKyJ0KtQQR4LavzvrIh_7JoY9uf4XAz_L6LnCDc0eiYDLD-VrSn5YICC-K0ZVxkk7hrs0N4GEWdvMQCUjmVdujY_ZPLwuP-GyJAX576Ld/s1600-h/spam_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxsY90vUscdDDs-0npgJRQ2dU9_5_sBe5-u_XKyJ0KtQQR4LavzvrIh_7JoY9uf4XAz_L6LnCDc0eiYDLD-VrSn5YICC-K0ZVxkk7hrs0N4GEWdvMQCUjmVdujY_ZPLwuP-GyJAX576Ld/s200/spam_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267570790431793906" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">My home email is weird. It seems every time there's a success against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">spammers</span> or other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">malware</span> pundits, the amount of email getting through my filters actually increases. This morning for example I had 3 times as much through the filters (which I only tightened two weeks ago), and now I read this.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It appears Brian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Krebbs</span> from Security Fix has, on the back of his assistance in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">take down</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">EstDomains</span>, struck a blow at another large <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hoster</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">malware</span> and malicious websites. This is one I haven't actually heard of before, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">McColo</span> Corp. After gathering data on this company over the last 4 months, just the other day they contacted a few <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ISP</span> hosts to see if they would assist in doing something about it. Although only one of them has so far, it has resulted in the homepage for the company as well as other sites of theirs vanishing in to thin air. Unfortunately some of their clients are still online, so we are waiting for the other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ISP's</span> to react and to see what their reaction is.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/11/major_source_of_online_scams_a.html">Security Fix</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In other related news (so part of this post rather than as its own <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">separate</span> post), it seems SPAM isn't quite as affective as researches used to think. Every mailing results in a significantly smaller return than previously thought. For example, one mailing of 350 million addresses resulted in only 24% making it to a mailbox. Of that 82 million, only 10,500 resulted in clicks, and only 28 resulted in a purchase. You can read more below.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://www.darkreading.com/security/attacks/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212001611"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">DarkReading</span></a>.</span><br /></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-58510327789450232342008-11-12T11:53:00.005+11:002008-11-12T12:20:05.575+11:00Revisit: Rabbit Proof Firewall.<a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTvxXxcPhbz_syWQ7mWxBFzNMU_jysywRtwVUAZIZhp99INUtxp9jLkDi_GOqWerqiu_IgIO75Ib5cPWs1sY82Pz4tJrM9Luxiy7Pp-I9_GvpzH4fPsOd1QKIODcng-7N1CUjNaeisvJa/s1600-h/rabbit+fence.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTvxXxcPhbz_syWQ7mWxBFzNMU_jysywRtwVUAZIZhp99INUtxp9jLkDi_GOqWerqiu_IgIO75Ib5cPWs1sY82Pz4tJrM9Luxiy7Pp-I9_GvpzH4fPsOd1QKIODcng-7N1CUjNaeisvJa/s200/rabbit+fence.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267568902337707346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's been a while since I've done an update, so I thought the best way to start would be by explaining a post a page or two back. The post in question is this one in regards to <a href="http://bastardsheep.blogspot.com/2008/01/great-sharknet-of-australia.html">Australia's Rabbit Proof Firewall</a>.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Well, at the time I was under the impression the filter would either be on or off. The on setting being one designed to protect the children, off being no filtering what so ever. My biggest gripe was that I had just come from an argument with the people on <a href="http://www.overclockers.com.au/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">OCAU</span></a> about it, me saying this is all it would ever be and those saying it would be more need to dump the paranoia and to look at things in a more realistic sense, there's no way the sky is falling and their claims/worries could be even remotely accurate.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I was wrong. They were right. I'm leaving my post for posterity as I'm not afraid to admit when I fail. In fact, they couldn't have been more right. This <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">internet</span> filter is looking worse and worse by the day as more information comes out. It's also coming out VERY slowly with <a href="http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/worst-comms-minister.jpg">Conroy</a> not wanting to let anybody know what is really in the works. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />For starters, the only reason we even have any information right now is due to a technician at a large <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ISP</span> came forward in a forum and told the world what it is he was currently working on. If he hadn't have done that, every man and his dog would still be completely in the dark in regards to it. <a href="http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/worst-comms-minister.jpg">Conroy</a> has also been lying left right and centre about what is and isn't happening. He lies about the tests, he lied when he said initially that it was only one filter (it's now two filters, a kiddie one and an adult one), he lied about what the filters were (the adult one was originally just illegal material, now he's added "other unwanted" to that).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's beyond a joke, and <a href="http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/worst-comms-minister.jpg">Conroy</a> deserves to have his political career unceremoniously stripped from him. He's abusing his position and those he's supposed to represent. What he's doing isn't democratic, it's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">unaustralian</span>, and it's just plain wrong. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />For more information follow the below links.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/">Somebody Think of The Children</a> - Discussing censorship and moral panic in Australia.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><a href="http://www.nocleanfeed.com/">No Clean Feed</a> - Stop Internet Censorship in Australia.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Censored_rubber_stamp.svg/550px-Censored_rubber_stamp.svg.png">Censored</a> - Add this image to your avatars/website images in protest.</span></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-46148905105660942492008-10-22T11:11:00.002+11:002008-10-22T11:21:13.535+11:00Poe's law as it applies to the internets.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://miscellanea.wellingtongrey.net/2008/04/07/what-hath-captcha-wrought/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOwRVPx08-p_G13AGzHTSscDVlitByeTh9VQEmgoStpZz4djIExaaOkucHa9DTXBwJjjysm-SDkPrTDRYlfcQAWSuIzfO1tEIS85lwaxbwdgarGW8G5IdhTH2Bj7f0y0wh-x70q153oMS/s200/2008-04-07-what-hath-captcha-wrought.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259764439877706770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Poe's Law — Without a blatant indicator such as a smiley, it is impossible to tell the difference between religious Fundamentalism and a parody thereof."</span><br /><br />I suggest an addition to this. "Without a blatant indicator, it is impossible to tell the difference between a comic strip and real life." What brings forward this suggestion? Well, the numerous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xkcd#Life_imitates_xkcd">real life actions</a> inspired by the comic <a href="http://xkcd.com/">XKCD</a>, and now <a href="http://www.securecomputing.net.au/News/126176,new-version-of-captcha-reduces-spam-to-yahoo-and-hotmail.aspx">changes to the (in?)famous CAPTCHA system at Yahoo and Hotmail</a> which to me hints at the idea they are moving slowly towards <a href="http://miscellanea.wellingtongrey.net/2008/04/07/what-hath-captcha-wrought/">this</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://www.securecomputing.net.au/News/126176,new-version-of-captcha-reduces-spam-to-yahoo-and-hotmail.aspx">Secure Computing</a>.</span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-5851104450468792132008-10-21T15:56:00.003+11:002008-10-21T16:04:29.740+11:00Voting machine musings.<a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuW5OAX3A_31Dd9LZuchuBO15_i74s9fL6ljkNT0phTNpTchtT0LmZbmV2kCseJAbuh-SoalAHLK7rqgo8xSqodrm1U2Bqjefp2lj9fuM7m3tV1u1joxR8AT1E8lgeEMzmRn5IgBnYlmW/s1600-h/diebold_pres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuW5OAX3A_31Dd9LZuchuBO15_i74s9fL6ljkNT0phTNpTchtT0LmZbmV2kCseJAbuh-SoalAHLK7rqgo8xSqodrm1U2Bqjefp2lj9fuM7m3tV1u1joxR8AT1E8lgeEMzmRn5IgBnYlmW/s200/diebold_pres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259467584423481538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >Is it just me, or every time <a href="http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/10/voting-machine.html">there's a test</a> (or live usage) of voting machines and the votes screw up, it's always in favour of Republicans?<br /><br />Am I imagining things?</span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-36779762383421550842008-04-05T09:37:00.003+11:002008-04-05T09:42:36.467+11:00Blu-ray price hike.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraD8NhplEv5BFQML_l4859AmDAcyQpNiRhqdSGLtuenJ2mvZcm8Wb-_0z3UM_CSx5tbHRpKPr9jKAQNtXUmh4S5B6IWKVGXzrL5t9lp38z2DjHp2sEK2nPS4dJerMA_paXXOEnnFekTX1/s1600-h/Blu-ray+rootkit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraD8NhplEv5BFQML_l4859AmDAcyQpNiRhqdSGLtuenJ2mvZcm8Wb-_0z3UM_CSx5tbHRpKPr9jKAQNtXUmh4S5B6IWKVGXzrL5t9lp38z2DjHp2sEK2nPS4dJerMA_paXXOEnnFekTX1/s200/Blu-ray+rootkit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185523132793553330" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">According to an article at the SMH, the price of Blu-ray players has gone up 5% since the announcement that Blu-ray won the format wars.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">To be perfectly honest, I'm surprised it isn't the discs themselves not only for royalties for other companies to make, but also for the movies they come out on (ie, hikes on two seperate fronts).<br /><br />This hike in players isn't surprising. No more competition from another format, so manufacturers can afford to charge more for the product now as they're only competing against other manufacturers of the same format.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/articles/bluray-price-hike-as-winner-takes-all/2008/04/04/1207249417350.html">SMH</a>.</span></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-68477047994678459122008-04-03T10:19:00.004+11:002008-04-03T10:22:52.499+11:00DDoS's make up 2% of all traffic in the tubes.<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuG2TKGUzg9eJ1sgr_dl0gFz2CjmQYFKkheotQ4FaU5AS1strrorzntXu2m-rnrgMhJb3_zvBkhiwZzcgEuD2wGbRCGorfFz5SWY-5MXktFAELsRCMEaPb-HXjHceLC4dOoU1W9W0rp6r/s1600-h/46b04019063ef.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuG2TKGUzg9eJ1sgr_dl0gFz2CjmQYFKkheotQ4FaU5AS1strrorzntXu2m-rnrgMhJb3_zvBkhiwZzcgEuD2wGbRCGorfFz5SWY-5MXktFAELsRCMEaPb-HXjHceLC4dOoU1W9W0rp6r/s200/46b04019063ef.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184791755697619362" border="0" /></a><br /></span><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">One out of every 50 packets on the internet is malicious junk intended simply to clog the tubes, according to a high level traffic analysis by Arbor Networks.</span></p> <p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Distributed Denial of Service attacks or DDoSes aim to bring a site down by bombarding it with fake requests for a web page or image. It's like having 1,000 people continually crank calling a company -- the real customers can't get through. </span></p> <p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Arbor now says those attacks account for <a href="http://asert.arbornetworks.com/2008/03/2-of-internet-traffic-raw-sewage/">about two percent of internet traffic</a>, with peaks of up to five percent.</span></p> <p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Some DDoSes are spurred by online grudges, such as the ones that occasionally target the anti-phishing site <a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=41">CastleCops</a> or the large one launched against Estonian targets by Russian nationalists last year. Others are launched by cyber-criminals as part of an extortion attempt against an online retailer.</span></p></blockquote><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Plagerised from:</span> <a href="http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/04/ddos-packets-ar.html">Threat Level</a>.</span></span><br /></p>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-89336925562694059442008-04-02T11:50:00.003+11:002008-04-02T12:09:21.257+11:00You can't help but laugh.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaFB-vWmZ3fZipzLZRPXspK1CdpeD6R-onuRmeqZNtr9jf1RVvm9VG12QZ74RF_YPumdW6f4K-jBT5PiU3LXcE_galxUzk-LEicblHoWu_j_VyVzQI1ECeo14bYNrAtFA_R7J2V60LO1v/s1600-h/PirateBay_Sony.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaFB-vWmZ3fZipzLZRPXspK1CdpeD6R-onuRmeqZNtr9jf1RVvm9VG12QZ74RF_YPumdW6f4K-jBT5PiU3LXcE_galxUzk-LEicblHoWu_j_VyVzQI1ECeo14bYNrAtFA_R7J2V60LO1v/s200/PirateBay_Sony.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184447252075839890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sony, infamous for their proprietry formats, DRM, rootkits, and coming down VERY hard on anyone who doesn't use their products exactly the way they demand (including plugging a PS3 in to a powerboard), have been caught out as being the hypocrits you'd expect them to be.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.pointdev.com/index-en.php"></a><blockquote><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.pointdev.com/index-en.php">PointDev</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">, a French software company that makes Windows administration tools, received a call from a Sony BMG IT employee for support. After Sony BMG supplied a pirated license code for Ideal Migration, one of PointDev's products, the software maker was able to mandate a seizure of Sony BMG's assets. The subsequent raid revealed that software was illegally installed on four of Sony BMG's servers. The Business Software Alliance, however, believes that up to 47 percent of the software installed on Sony BMG's computers could be pirated.</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><br />Comedy gold I tells ya.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080331-sony-bmgs-hypocrisy-company-busted-for-using-warez.html">Ars Technica</a>.<br /></span></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-76813244309196590432008-03-28T10:22:00.004+11:002008-03-28T10:30:00.736+11:00Comcast pretending to do the right thing.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kC8-ylRlRHF8PVvWrcfIG0MVW14sM19taEJqbGTYD1ZkGrdQwSAyoD_FXn6-dVb7UMkjViSyR8WK1nt-ENvjC6hKWw3E6Bp0oMikEvyKRFGSHKHTA1bE9euwP1AiaJ8tymPj0EWoMwFX/s1600-h/comcast_china.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kC8-ylRlRHF8PVvWrcfIG0MVW14sM19taEJqbGTYD1ZkGrdQwSAyoD_FXn6-dVb7UMkjViSyR8WK1nt-ENvjC6hKWw3E6Bp0oMikEvyKRFGSHKHTA1bE9euwP1AiaJ8tymPj0EWoMwFX/s200/comcast_china.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182566000565617026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In case you're not aware, comcast were caught out last year cancelling all bittorrent traffic. Their method for doing so was by illegally injecting their own data in to all torrent traffic on their network. The data they injected ended all torrent downloads as though no more data was available even though it was. It is not known how long they were doing this for before they got caught red handed.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><blockquote>Comcast, under federal inquiry over its throttling of BitTorrent traffic, said Thursday it will deploy a so-called "agnostic" approach to traffic management and treat all data equally by year's end.</blockquote></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So it takes an entire year to flick a switch and turn off an illegal data injector?</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.comcast.com/"></a><blockquote><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.comcast.com/">Comcast</a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"> said it was working with </span><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.bittorrent.com/">BitTorrent Inc</a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">. of San Francisco, to develop a neutral, traffic management protocol, and said government intervention was unnecessary.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">They have to work with the creators of bittorrent to figure out how to stop themselves from purposefully interfering with a protocols data? <br /><br />This is all a load of shit, it makes you wonder what new dodgy deeds they are planning. I feel sorry for those in the US, generally you're limited in ISP options depending on where you live so some people have no choice but dial-up or comcast. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/03/comcast-adoptin.html">Threat Level</a>.<br /></span></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-56254845333369594442008-03-24T11:02:00.003+11:002008-03-24T11:05:08.114+11:00Happy Bunrum day, everyone.<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9ATJE_LayYfAjt2H1taqE9B_VrkdZ82PXdWHM6QiAsJgF-LcrEyGINMNgQ3nyCnKb5qEnAO1OsiCZQe0hHrXSkyB8vrMMeiY8fxvKsXC3jOqAA5db7lHS6XFBzFsQ4HmurYorDgmN2u8/s1600-h/crucified_easter_bunny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9ATJE_LayYfAjt2H1taqE9B_VrkdZ82PXdWHM6QiAsJgF-LcrEyGINMNgQ3nyCnKb5qEnAO1OsiCZQe0hHrXSkyB8vrMMeiY8fxvKsXC3jOqAA5db7lHS6XFBzFsQ4HmurYorDgmN2u8/s200/crucified_easter_bunny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181092100933615986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">THE LEGEND OF BUNRAM, THE RATIONAL RABBIT</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bunram was a rationalist rabbit who brought himself into conflict with the strictly theist majority, the Order of Gallus. The Gallusians were chickens who subscribed to the belief that by simply pondering the question of which came first -- the chicken or the egg -- one could attain perfect grace. Resolution to the question was considered impossible for any creature to attain, and the very asking of it was an affront to the Feeder.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This perfect mystery was reaffirmed, the Gallusians believed, by the existence of the Ovum, an unhatched egg that was said to contain an eternally self-replenishing supply of shelled corn, soybeans, oats and alfalfa (this is now only subscribed to by the orthodox sects, whereas the 'modern' or 'reform' denomination supports the later high-fructose corn syrup creeds of the Council of Cadbury).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bunram, by contrast, believed this approach led only to infinite regression and raised far more questions than it answered. He felt the creation question was a scientific one, and that it could be answered definitively by rationality, reason, and, of course, scientific experimentation on unfertilized eggs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In response to this 'haresy', the Gallusians waged a campaign of persecution against the minority population of rabbits (now ethnically reclassified as Bunrammites, or simply 'bunnies'). Being faster than a tortoise was considered incontrovertible proof of haresy, and punishable by being pecked to death. Rabbits were often accused of tempting innocents to follow them down into holes, where all manner of unnatural phenomena was said to occur, and suspicion of this activity could also result in death. It soon became apparent that if a rabbit could get by with a simple pecking off of the foot ('keychaining'), they could consider themselves among the lucky.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This dark epoch achieved its zenith with the massacre of twelve newborn chicks ('The Extirpation of the Peeps'), which was blamed on Bunram. He was mercilessly pecked, covered in a rich layer of chocolaty excrement, placed in a basket (some accounts say the basket was pink, others yellow, and still others make no mention of the basket at all), wrapped in cellophane and left in a field to suffocate.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">According to the legend, Bunram broke free of the trap (The 'Decampment'), stole the Ovum, and disappeared to the East. The chickens' attempts to find Bunram and their sacred egg have remained fruitless for more than two millennia. It seemed that no matter how far East they travelled in search of him, they could never be 'more East' than Bunram.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, we celebrate Bunram's heroic defense of logic and scientific inquiry by boiling the unfertilized eggs of the Gallusians' descendants and playfully hiding them, consuming the likeness of Bunram in excremental chocolate (the Lapin Transubstantiation) and watching 'Bugs Bunny vs Foghorn Leghorn', which ABC-TV plays every year on this day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy Easter, Bunramists!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://www.rationalresponders.com/forum/13176">RRS</a>.<br /></span></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-23319936826081090792008-03-23T09:51:00.002+11:002008-03-23T09:54:30.820+11:00The Profit.<span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-95ZJt7ACcfmvmc8sepVfmriIPtuiy3NALpXhGrMG6yGrqz45IVHFQSM_wBTLQeE87o3C8MPbXVpBL1cAtLk7_f4oB8swk_PAFKsAx9Bu2NxsdcB1L2dJ5C52cpEvfA8tASPGMHJ-rOV/s1600-h/381px-The_Profit_movie_poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-95ZJt7ACcfmvmc8sepVfmriIPtuiy3NALpXhGrMG6yGrqz45IVHFQSM_wBTLQeE87o3C8MPbXVpBL1cAtLk7_f4oB8swk_PAFKsAx9Bu2NxsdcB1L2dJ5C52cpEvfA8tASPGMHJ-rOV/s200/381px-The_Profit_movie_poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180702770738168130" border="0" /></a><br />The Profit is a feature film written and directed by Peter N. Alexander. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 2001. Distribution of the film was prohibited by an American court order which was a result of a lawsuit brought by the Church of Scientology, although the filmmaker says that the film is not about Scientology. The Disinformation Book Of Lists and The Times have characterized The Profit as a banned film in the United States.<br /><br />The film was described by its producers as a work of fiction, meant to educate the public about cults and con men. It was widely seen, however, as a parody of the Church of Scientology and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. The main character L. Conrad Powers leads an organization called the "Church of Scientific Spiritualism", and many elements about both the Church portrayed in the film, and Powers' life have been compared to Scientology and Hubbard. The film was mainly produced and shot in Tampa Bay, Florida, and the cast included actors from the area and cameos from a few Scientology critics.<br /><br />More Information: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Profit">Here</a>.<br />Torrent: <a href="http://thepiratebay.org/tor/4092650">Here</a>.<br /></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-75710195184881176312008-03-22T15:01:00.006+11:002008-03-23T11:53:17.426+11:00Bastard Exclusive: Vatican ahead of japan in android technology.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljJug7J32d64QkKE0YaWi_M9yGmvnO5ES0N5uFnXkGwuIX5bqgTQvpW-kLRW03Z-s0vRTaVyIUq-jGFiA-qUXaJdJq37JiQGYy0znJdwYdRAowZ3jRjUFBZGJdUXR1LQigQdPh7n46J4K/s1600-h/popeFR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljJug7J32d64QkKE0YaWi_M9yGmvnO5ES0N5uFnXkGwuIX5bqgTQvpW-kLRW03Z-s0vRTaVyIUq-jGFiA-qUXaJdJq37JiQGYy0znJdwYdRAowZ3jRjUFBZGJdUXR1LQigQdPh7n46J4K/s200/popeFR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180412611337584946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The vatican has shown today that it is the world leader and years ahead of Japan when it comes to cybernetic and android technology, many think thanks to secrets held in their vast library.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Shown here is their cream of the crop, the best kept secret the vatican have had for the last 40 years - their Joseph Ratzinger android. The Joseph Ratzinger Mk.XVI (development name), also known as Pope Benedict XVI or Emperor Palpatine (production names) is a return to the tried and tested older wind-up technology. Shown (left) is a bishop demonstrating the cap-winder.<br /><br />They made this move due to the slow failure and meltdown of their previous battery operated attempt, Pope John Paul II. Others say they should have just used <a href="http://www.energizer.com/Pages/default.aspx">Energizer</a> instead of <a href="http://www.duracell.com/landing.asp">Duracell</a>.</span></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2685982075935721947.post-20831292696282610552008-03-22T13:24:00.003+11:002008-03-22T13:37:54.975+11:00Blu-ray made usable.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQDj0yAqAm4NwkRjSB6llgz16iV4-EJCkCY-vBdw_4BL_ENBr6PRKREo5tNda1C5vf7AmhyphenhyphenBWitfKfWWMAEnDxI_Z1b87B3IrpVDMit4Klm4hMIlSA5eEY7mvYWnzEUV-7V6Q0KfXiT-r/s1600-h/Blu-ray+rootkit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQDj0yAqAm4NwkRjSB6llgz16iV4-EJCkCY-vBdw_4BL_ENBr6PRKREo5tNda1C5vf7AmhyphenhyphenBWitfKfWWMAEnDxI_Z1b87B3IrpVDMit4Klm4hMIlSA5eEY7mvYWnzEUV-7V6Q0KfXiT-r/s200/Blu-ray+rootkit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180386515116294434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The next-gen DVD war was won unfortunately by sony, a company renowned for proprietary formats, not playing well with other products/companies, and rootkits.<br /><br />Fortunately, the good people at <a href="http://www.slysoft.com/en/">SlySoft</a> have worked their magic and made the Blu-ray format usable.<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Richard Doherty of the Envisioneering Group will have to revise his statement from July, 2007 regarding BD+: "BD+, unlike AACS which suffered a partial hack last year, won't likely be breached for 10 years". It is worth mentioning that since he made that statement only eight months have gone by.</span><br /></blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2008/03/21/blurays-bd-drm-broke.html">BoingBoing</a>.<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><blockquote></blockquote></span></span>Bastard Sheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17753696707470921721noreply@blogger.com0