June 18, 2006
Video of Adriana Malinici
I don’t know who Adriana Malinici is, but I like her posin’!
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April 18, 2006Pharmaceutical company mergersMore from my friend: Pharmaceutical company mergers tick me off too, but that’s another story. What’s the last revolutionary drug to cure a major illness you can remember? Aren’t you tired of all the erection drugs, antacids, happy pills, and various other over-marketed crap we have to put up with these days? The pharmaceutical industry has lost sight of its mission to better mankind. Their new mission is to produce the slickest ads to make people buy shit they don’t need — or worse, things that ACTUALLY MAKE people worse. If your heart hurts when you eat an entire double cheese pizza with sausage, pepperoni, hamburger, Canadian bacon, and buffalo chicken, maybe you should start eating a little differently instead of just masking the heart pain symptoms, eh? I love it. And people who are stressed out 100% of the time, instead of needing to slow down and take care of themselves, can now pop happy pills during the day to take away the edge, and happy penis pills at night. In fact, some antidepressants or other medications actually take away the libido anyway, which means the pharmaceutical companies benefit twice, once for making pills that have negative side effects! You’ve got to admire Glaxo though. Instead of researching cool new drugs, they just keep researching new uses for the crappy old ones they already have (and sometimes renaming them). Wellbutrin is apparently not only an antidepressant, but also an anti-obsessive-compulsive-disorder drug, an anti-smoking drug, and an anti-impotence drug! What next? Cancer and AIDS? Pharmaceutical industry is a bunch of no good punks. I’d like to smack them all upside the head with a giant bar of Fight Club soap. April 16, 2006Tax day is April 15… usuallyWhen are taxes due? can the internet tell me? no search on “taxes due” “tax due date” “tax filing date” or whatever came up with anything. You’d think the IRS page would have something big on their front page, but no. Like most gov pages, they really are not user friendly at all. Finally, Wikipedia helped me out. Here’s the skinny. Taxes in America (the united states of, that is) are due on april 15 unless that day falls on the weekend (such as this year, 2006) in which case they are due the following Monday. Post offices stay open late that day, till midnight, for all of the procrastinators. April 15, 2006Any Final Argument for Apple?OK — I called Apple today and asked them about the issues I had with running Windows on a Mac laptop. I asked them about the mouse and the keyboard, among a few other things. The biggest issue for me is that the touchpad only has one button. This is one area where Steve Jobs has been more stubborn than visionary because the second button really comes in handy. Anyway, having a Windows laptop with only one touchpad button would be kind of a bummer. There’s probably some keyboard combination to rectify it, but if I’m going to be Windows it would be nice to have a Windows keyboard. Not surprisingly, rather than answer my questions — and to be fair, this Boot Camp thing is very new — the guy on the phone tried to talk me into switching to OS X outright. He picked the wrong guy to make the case to because I’m pretty familiar with both. I could have gone for the kill, but I decided to go easy on him. It’s sometimes entertaining talking to the guy who won’t acknowledge the big pink elephant in the room. The official word at Apple is apparently that there is NO [legitimate] REASON anyone could want to run Windows. I explained to him about all the little programs and things I have installed that would be hard to replace in OS X. At the very least, I would have to research them all over again, and might have to pay for some of them (if available at all). I very tactfully told him that Windows has like 500 bazillion times more software than OS X, and he of course used the “quality vs. quantity” argument. This is a peculiar argument that assumes that anyone who chooses OS X is by definition a more quality person than someone who chooses Windows, and similarly anyone who codes for OS X magically codes higher quality. Therefore the fact that 20 times more (being more realistic) software is available is a moot point. I remember being in the “inferiority complex” computer camp way back when, so I know the psychology. People will defend their platform to no end regardless of the evidence presented. Even though probably four out of five points I conceded to OS X over Windows, the other one I would not concede and that was very important to me basically rendered me an “untouchable” is this guy’s eyes. When I told him toward the end I thought I didn’t have enough information about running Windows on a Mac to do it with confidence just yet, and that I would probably be buying a Windows laptop, he seemed heartbroken and was eager to get me off the phone as quickly as possible — not, I felt, because his time was so valuable, but more likely because a) he thought I might possess some rare power of argument that could conceivably crush his world (and selling ability) if I kept talking to him, and b) because he was about to cry. Anyway, before I go and commit this unspeakable deed, any final argument? April 12, 2006List of OSX Filesharing Apps RankingsxFactor - 7.4
Poisoned - 7.3
Limewire - 6.9
iSwipe - 6.5
Ratings from http://www.zeropaid.com. April 11, 2006Virtualization Vs. Emulation“Virtualization” just sounds like a buzzword. This was already possible for the most part with emulation; the only difference is that emulation is a little slower (and a little less accurate, although Virtual PC seemed pretty accurate — and RISCs are good at emulating more complicated processors). And since Apple had switched over to a lot of PC style hardware, Windows running on OS X already had pretty good access to much of the hardware. Anyway, we will see virtualization going both ways. My guess is we will see an explosion of it on Windows. There will probably be more ways to run OS X on Windows than to run Windows on OS X in the not too distant future. The only catch of course will be that to run OS X on Windows you will probably need a dumped copy of a Mac ROM. At the moment, I would rather stick to Windows rather than make my life more complicated than necessary by changing over, even with the ability to boot Windows. When the ability to run OS X fast from within Windows comes around, I’ll jump on that. I may try the PearPC emulator to emulate a PowerPC first — although it seems a bit silly at this point. I’m sure PearPC, as an open source project, will be one of the emulator-type projects to support Intel-based OS X (which will speed it up enormously). This is certainly one downside from Apple’s point of view — while before the Windows emulators were much stronger on Mac than vice versa (or at least the one mainstream one), now it will be pretty even. I still have a good Mac OS 8 (or 9?) emulator on here (somewhere), and it was free. I wonder if that guy will do this easy emulator/virtualization project. It’s still not easy — it requires some (low level) programming expertise for sure — but not having to emulate the CPU, and having so much hardware compatibility, should make it a cinch by emulator standards. When I get the new computer, I will have to dig up some emulators. I wonder how MAME is coming along. Always good for a game of Donkey Kong Jr. Or Mortal Kombat, or whatever…I’m sure it’s pretty advanced by now. The Amiga emulator was neat, and of course the Apple IIGS one was a must. (One of the best Apple IIGS emulators is only on the Mac, not surprisingly. It’s called Bernie ][ the Rescue.) There are also quite of few emulators only on Windows, but that’s not really the end of the world. The real question for me with right-clicking would be with dual-booting. With dual-booting, there’s no emulation or virtualization software layer that could trap keystrokes or clicks and convert them — if you know what I mean… So there would almost have to be a Windows mouse driver installed just to convert control-click into a right-mouse-click. I’m sure eventually those wrinkles will be ironed out, but in the meantime it’s probably more hassle than I need. Speaking of virtualization, what about Linux in Windows, or Linux in OS X, etc.? I wonder if there is Windows within Linux? I sort of figured that was what the virtualization stuff was about, but I didn’t see that. I’m not sure the author of that article really gets “virtualization.” I would classify Wine as an emulator, not a virtualization thing, because what it does I believe is convert Windows calls to Linux calls. In other words, programs really are running under emulation. And they will look and act differently, even though the CPU is the same. In the Wine FAQ, it says, “Wine Is Not a (CPU) Emulator.” So the acronym is one of those geeky recursive things. But the reason they put “CPU” in parentheses is because it does emulate the Windows API. Here’s what it says. Wine “consists of a program loader, which loads and executes a Windows binary, and a set of libraries that implements Windows API calls using their UNIX or X11 equivalents.” In other words, if OS X had something similar to Wine, it would make Windows applications run on OS X but look more similar to regular OS X applications because it would convert the Win API to the Mac API. It would also break quite a few things, as I believe Wine does in Linux. But Wine is basically an API emulator. (And in that case, even including the word “virtualization” just confuses things I think — whether or not it belongs there.) Anyway though, thanks for the interesting link. April 10, 2006Virtualization on Mac IntelNow that Mac is Intel based, virtualization is possible. Wired has an article on at least one of the new virtualization offerings. No word yet on how right-clicks and right-clicking works if you are using a Mac laptop (MacBook or MacBook Pro) where there is no right mouse button. Will control-click (crtl-click) do it? So, I might get a non-Apple tomorrow (or soon). Can you think of a compelling reason to change my mind? Any idea how right clicking and stuff works on SoftPC or whatever the PC emulator is called? I found it ironic that switching to Intel made the PC emulator software stop working — although it makes sense and also makes the software’s chore somewhat hilarious: un-emulating what the Mac is emulating. Certainly too bad Microsoft now publishes that program. I think antitrust people should have stepped in and said that’s bad for business. There used to be two PC emulators on the Mac, correct? And then one, and now one owned by Microsoft. Apple could have made a play for that company to keep it away from Microsoft — but they may not have wanted Microsoft’s legal team hovering over them waiting for an excuse to pounce. As is, though, it does seem like development has slowed down and Microsoft has made development of that thing somewhere near 143,531st on its list of things to do. 143,530th is to send Judge Joe Jackson Christmas and birthday cards. April 6, 2006Friends Looking for a New Ultraportable LaptopI haven’t even looked at Gateways really. Maybe they have some high end models that wouldn’t bug me though. It’s not that I want a Rolex of a computer. But if I spend a bunch there’s no reason for the manufacturer to put cheap plastic on it. I laugh at the desktops in the store (literally). Their cases look like they are made out of soft drink cup plastic. I told that to one of the laptop guys I talked to on the phone, and HE laughed. At me. I am still very hurt by that. No, but the difference between Apple and the clone maker desktops is like the difference between hot magma and dry ice. Why is there so little middle ground? Doesn’t anyone else like to buy stuff that feels like it doesn’t come with a Happy Meal? Sometimes I think I’m the only one who even cares. “Time to get your small on.” And always a good sign with something comes with a “processor we’ve yet to hear anything about.” Two irrelevant points about that processor. 1. It’s called the Intel Core Solo 1300 ULV. That sounds like a Gateway laptop model. They at least used to have some called “Solo.” 2. The new Intel chips are “dual core.” Is this a “dual core” called Core Solo. If so, that’s weird. If not, that’s weird to advertise specifically that’s single core. Anyway, Intel = weird. Gateway = just wanted a chip that includes the word “Solo” in its name. 3.15 pounds! Wow. Insane in the membrane. I don’t know if I mentioned it, but right now the two I’m looking at most closely are a Thinkpad with 15″ normal screen @ very high resolution, and a 17″ HP wide screen with a normal keyboard + keypad. Actually, the only thing holding me back from buying the Thinkpad was that I was trying to figure out whether it might actually be TOO high resolution. I don’t think stuff would be too small to see, but I think Macs adjust better to different screen dpi’s than Windows — although XP is better, and my guess is Vista will take that another step further. I would actually welcome your advice on this. (And when I say “would actually,” I don’t mean I wouldn’t normally, but rather I was guessing you would be skeptical that that was the case.) I like the Thinkpad in that lots and lots of high caliber IBM engineering went into it. Makes it easy to love. Similar engineering time to an Apple. Just engineering crammed into every crevice, which I love. It’s also lighter, has better battery life, and has little extras like wireless internet compatibility (as in, mobile - anywhere). Of course that would require signing up. But it also has stuff like an airbag-type sensor that parks the hard drive when dropped but before landing. I noticed the Toshibas have that too but I’m not sure about HPs. Just lots of little things like that on a Thinkpad, as well as a nice keyboard, not to mention two pointing devices (eraser and touchpad). This particular Thinkpad also has a killer graphics chip but does run at 1600×1200 resolution, which seems like sort of overkill on a 15″ screen. HP has a ton of engineering might but it doesn’t put as much as Apple does and IBM did into its laptops. There is some, but when you look at an HP laptop you are not blown away by the elegance and engineering prowess. However, I can obviously live without that. The one I was looking at is 17″ @ 1680 x 1050. It’s not as thin or as sleek as the Thinkpad (1.3 inches and I’m guessing 7.5 to 8 lb), but it has the wide screen. And the Thinkpad design has been around so long it’s almost retro at this point anyway — though I don’t really mind that. I’d say the wide screen is a very slight advantage but not a big deal for me. While the Thinkpad has those little features that make me rationalize leaning toward it, the HP does have one — the LightScribe DVD writer. That is a cool technology. It etches labels on DVDs, using a laser, from inside the drive itself. The 17″ wide screen would be nice at times, but it’s bigger than I need and would make this thing just a tad large to lug certain places I think. I basically narrowed these down using two criteria most people don’t worry that much about. 1. Looks. Looks are critical to me. Sorry. That is to say, it at least can’t be ugly. The HP ain’t really a looker, but it doesn’t seem to have any ugly features either. I have discovered that most American products are ugly. I would rather have minimalist design than ugly design. 2. Video chip. My current computer is so old that it’s been a very long time since I could run modern software, including games. I’d like to get one with a decent video chip, even though it would probably go to waste. I would just feel better buying a computer knowing the video chip was copacetic. Three years from now, even if I never used a single program that took advantage of it (or even used it 25%), I would still say, “Glad I got that.” The new Apples have 256 MB video, and that’s basically what I was aiming for. It does narrow the choices, however, because most laptop makers cater to people who don’t know what the hell a video chip is and skimp in that area. One thing about Thinkpad is that it’s made by Lenovo and I get the impression that engineering has really slowed down since they took over (a real shock, right?). They bought these things about a year ago, and I think these are nearly frozen in time as far as actual engineering goes to a year ago. I’m not sure whether or not IBM would have changed over to wide screens or not, but I’m not sure Lenovo even knows how to do that without wrecking the careful IBM engineering. There are some wide screen models; I think this one may be geared for graphics people who don’t really want a super wide screen but rather just a high res normal screen, though. Computer Shopper also gave Lenovo support a C-, although the review was shaky because they only tried to resolve two issues. With the Toshiba rep, they solved the problem right away so Toshiba got an A. Sounds pretty scientific. I’m sure if one rep is good, they all must be just as good, right? So the final issue is should I just forget about the 256 MB graphics? If I do that, I open up more possibilities. 128, etc. Honestly, I know I don’t need 256. You just can’t upgrade the video and I know there’s a chance it will be another 8 years before I buy a new computer and I’d like to start out as close to the curve as possible. (To be ahead of the curve, you really need a desktop.) I also looked at a Viao, which was pretty cool except the resolution was only 1200 x 800 for the 15″ wide screen. Even though Sony itself MANUFACTURES high end LCDs, they apparently can’t think of any reason anyone would want anything higher than that. It just seems a little low for that size screen. If you get a 12″ ultracompact one, I would not be surprised if it came with that resolution. In fact, I think the Sony I looked at in the store was at that resolution. My parents’ 15″ Apples are 1440 x 900 (pretty sure). IF I COULD JUST FIND A FREAKING PC LAPTOP WITH THE SAME SPECS AS AN APPLE LAPTOP I WOULD BE HAPPY! Is it really so hard to engineer a normal computer the right way? Motherfucker! Anyway… The two laptops above also have nice hard drives. I believe the HP allows 4 GB of memory whereas the Thinkpad allows 2, but I’m not sure about that. They also have 100 GB hard drives max, which is a little lower than they could be (for max at least), however the Thinkpad includes a fast one and the HP has the option for a similar fast one (7200 RPM Serial ATA — see, I know my nerd shit, bitch!). Looks like the HP does have the feature to park the hard drives in case of excessive motion… I’m guessing the Apples have that as well. Not sure who else does. I belive both have an option for a fingerprint reader. Or maybe standard on what I’m looking at; not sure. Not really my first priority. One other note. The Thinkpad is a good deal because Lenovo has made the pricing more competitive. The Thinkpad line used to go into the clouds pricewise, like $3…, $4…, even $5…., maybe $6…. It looks like Lenovo has stopped all that, but at the same time like I said I don’t expect the same level of R&D to continue either. However, if you buy right now, you get IBM engineering at “Lenovo” pricing (whatever the hell a Lenovo is — some Chinese company). Thoughts appreciated! Although this isn’t a big deal, it kind of irks me that more stuff that I would consider to be logically engineered (like an Apple) — and in many cases engineered in just some common sense, obvious avenues — are so hard to find among PCs. I know competition is supposed to produce better stuff, but sometimes it just produces a bunch of crap that caters to the lowest common denominator. I mean, even the high end stuff tends not to be that well engineered. In this case, Apple’s dictatorship wins. They aren’t even outrageously priced anymore. April 4, 2006List of Mutual FundsI have yet to get any ranking data, but until then, here is a list of mutual fund links. With mutual funds we can have mutual fun!
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