I put this in Flamer's Corner just in case.

This covers believers, sceptics, non-believers and people who would rather not discuss it. Have I left anyone out?

It must be, above all else, easy to use. Not "intuitive" -- easy.

It needs to work with software that is also easy to use. Easy to organize thousands of titles into playlists. Easy to archive rarely listened-to tracks. The emphasis is on an existing library of tracks (from CDs and LPs), but it should also be easy to buy new releases.

It should play video. Why not, eh?

So, what shall it be: Apple, Microsoft, Creative Labs or something else?

Please. Help me.

My day will start at 3 am, when I will light some hardwood charcoal in my Weber and begin cooking a 25 lb. turkey.

How is your day shaping up?

I beat this dead horse deader than dead over to HackerNetwork, yet lo! now do I feel a resurgent urge to beat it yet more.

The Meaning of 'Hack'

"The word hack doesn't really have 69 different meanings", according to MIT hacker Phil Agre. "In fact, hack has only one meaning, an extremely subtle and profound one which defies articulation. Which connotation is implied by a given use of the word depends in similarly profound ways on the context. Similar remarks apply to a couple of other hacker words, most notably 'random'."

Hacking might be characterized as 'an appropriate application of ingenuity'. Whether the result is a quick-and-dirty patchwork job or a carefully crafted work of art, you have to admire the cleverness that went into it.

An important secondary meaning of hack is 'a creative practical joke'. This kind of hack is easier to explain to non-hackers than the programming kind. Of course, some hacks have both natures..."

Read more...

Also:

The Story of Mel, A Real Programmer

(From The New Hacker's Dictionary, Hacker Folklore section. Be sure to read A Story About Magic, too.)

So... anyone care to boast about any recent hacks?

I have found it.

And of course it's always been there. I simply wasn't paying attention in class.

I've been politically aware all my life (one of my cherished childhood memories is being in a peace march with 150,000 fellow San Franciscans in April of '67). Over the years, I've run the gamut from left to right and back, settling, like most people, somewhere in the middle. But I've always had problems with labels. I'm both liberal and conservative, and also other things those labels don't cover.

In recent years, I've gravitated towards libertarianism, even though I can't agree with its most extreme aspects. The reason I like it, however, is because it makes sense to my jaded lefty sensibilities.

Well, today I came upon a discussion in which the term "classical liberalism" was used interchangeably with "libertarianism". I looked it up.

And behold!

This is who I am.

Lookin' good!

Ha-ha! The Digg "rebellion" got front-page coverage in the LA Times this morning: link.

Two things I enjoyed in the article:

One member digitally altered a church sign to spell out the code after the words "Jesus says."

My, what a clever member! HOW DID HE DO THAT?!? HE MUST BE UBERLEET!

Early this week, a Digg user posted a link to a story that referenced the so-called hex code...

That's like saying "The LA Times article is written in the so-called English language." I swear, the writer or editor of the article thinks "hex code" is some kind of edgy hacker term made up by D&D geeks.

Oh, yes.

So a couple of nights ago, Number 1 son and I were watching Family Guy, and at one point Peter briefly bangs out an accoustic version of Rock Lobster. Number 1 son then did his old man proud by asking, in a slightly awed and excited voice, "Dad... Is that a real song?"

"Why, yes!" I assured him, adding, "I have it on vinyl, but I will be glad to get you a CD later this week. It's by a band called The B-52's, on their first album."

"That's ok... I'll be right back," he threw over his shoulder as he ran up to his room. Ten minutes and less than ten dollars later, he had the album on his iPod, and was marvelling at Planet Claire, Dance This Mess Around, and the iconic Rock Lobster.

I mean, it never occured to him to buy the CD. I asked him, "Don't you want to have the hard copy, like for the cover art, or in case your PC blows up?" His reply was that CDs just get in the way and clutter up his room.

So... What does this portend for the future of CD and DVD sales?

We have at least two mega-musicophiles here. Pbsaurus, Demosthenes -- are you going to continue buying CDs and DVDs to the dieing end, or are you already changing your buying patterns?

How long before these discs of plastic are seen by everyone the same as they are seen by my teenage son -- as completely useless?

Someone gives you a flat tab delimited text file, and wants you to beat it against a SQL database and append a column or two.

How do YOU do it?

I think it's absurd. We should vote for Governor, US Senator, US Representative and Mayor. Everything else should be decided by the duly elected officials. The Lt. Governor position should be abolished.

I'm surprised they don't have the frikken Dog Catcher on here.


Governor; State of California

    * Elisha Shapiro, Independent (Write-in)
    * Dealphria Christina Tarver, Independent (Write-in)
    * Phil Angelides, Democratic
    * Janice Jordan, Peace and Freedom
    * Robert C. Newman, II, Republican (Write-in)
    * James E. Harris, Independent (Write-in)
    * Donald "Dr Don" Etkes, Independent (Write-in)
    * Vibert Greene, Independent (Write-in)
    * Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican
    * Edward C. Noonan, American Independent
    * Art Olivier, Libertarian
    * Peter Miguel Camejo, Green

Lieutenant Governor; State of California

    * Tom McClintock, Republican
    * Stewart A. Alexander, Peace and Freedom
    * Jim King, American Independent
    * Donna J. Warren, Green
    * Lynnette Shaw, Libertarian
    * John Garamendi, Democratic

Secretary of State; State of California

    * Debra Bowen, Democratic
    * Margie Akin, Peace and Freedom
    * Bruce McPherson, Republican
    * Gail K. Lightfoot, Libertarian
    * Forrest Hill, Green
    * Glenn McMillon, Jr., American Independent

State Controller; State of California

    * Laura Wells, Green
    * Tony Strickland, Republican
    * Donna Tello, Libertarian
    * John Chiang, Democratic
    * Warren Mark Campbell, American Independent
    * Elizabeth Cervantes Barron, Peace and Freedom

State Treasurer; State of California

    * Gerald Sanders, Peace and Freedom
    * Mehul M. Thakker, Green
    * Claude Parrish, Republican
    * Marian Smithson, Libertarian
    * E. Justin Noonan, American Independent
    * Bill Lockyer, Democratic

Attorney General; State of California

    * Kenneth A. Weissman, Libertarian
    * Jerry Brown, Democratic
    * Jack Harrison, Peace and Freedom
    * Chuck Poochigian, Republican
    * Michael S. Wyman, Green

Insurance Commissioner; State of California

    * Steve Poizner, Republican
    * Jay Earl Burden, American Independent
    * Larry Cafiero, Green
    * Cruz M. Bustamante, Democratic
    * Tom Condit, Peace and Freedom
    * Dale F. Ogden, Libertarian

Board of Equalization

State Board of Equalization; District 3

    * Michelle Steel, Republican
    * Mary Lou Finley, Peace and Freedom
    * Mary Christian-Heising, Democratic

US Senate

United States Senator

    * Jeffrey Mackler, Independent (Write-in)
    * Michael S. Metti, Libertarian
    * Connor Vlakancic, Independent (Write-in)
    * Richard "Dick" Mountjoy, Republican
    * Dianne Feinstein, Democratic
    * Todd Chretien, Green
    * Marsha Feinland, Peace and Freedom
    * Don J. Grundmann, American Independent
    * Lea Sherman, Independent (Write-in)
    * Kent P. Mesplay, Green (Write-in)

US Representative

United States Representative; District 42

    * Gary G. Miller, Republican

State Assembly

Member of the State Assembly; District 71

    * Todd Spitzer, Republican
    * Irene "Charlie" Lachance, Democratic

Judicial

California State Supreme Court (Yes/No)

    * Joyce L. Kennard
    * Carol A. Corrigan

California State Court of Appeal; District 4; Division 1 (Yes/No)

    * Cynthia G. Aaron
    * Judith McConnell
    * Richard D. Huffman
    * Joan K. Irion
    * Judith L. Haller
    * Patricia D. Benke

California State Court of Appeal; District 4; Division 2 (Yes/No)

    * Douglas P. Miller
    * Art W. McKinster
    * Betty A. Richli
    * Jeffrey King

California State Court of Appeal; District 4, Division 3 (Yes/No)

    * Raymond J. Ikola
    * Kathleen E. O'Leary

Superior Court Judge; County of Orange; Office 4

    * Lyle J. Robertson
    * Sheila Hanson

State Propositions

Proposition 1A Transportation Funding Protection
    Should the California Constitution be amended to further protect the state sales tax revenues for transportation purposes from general-purpose use and require any funds borrowed to be repaid to the transportation fund?

Proposition 1B Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security
    Should the state sell $19.9 billion in general obligation bonds to fund state and local transportation improvement projects to relieve congestion, improve movement of goods, improve air quality, and enhance safety and security of the transportation system?

Proposition 1C Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006
    Should the state sell $2.9 billion in general obligation bonds to fund housing for lower-income residents and development in urban areas near public transportation?

Proposition 1D Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities
    Should the state sell $10.4 billion in general obligation bonds to fund repair and upgrade of public schools, including kindergarten through grade 12, community colleges, and state universities?

Proposition 1E Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention
    Should the state sell $4.1 billion in general obligation bonds to finance disaster preparedness and flood prevention projects at the state and local levels?

Proposition 83 Sex Offenders. Sexually Violent Predators. Punishment, Residence Restrictions and Monitoring
    Should California amend existing laws relating to violent and habitual sex offenders and child molesters to increase penalties and monitoring?

Proposition 84 Water Quality, Safety and Supply. Flood Control. Natural Resource Protection. Park Improvements
    Should the state issue $5.4 billion in bonds for a wide variety of projects related to water safety, rivers, beaches, levees, watersheds, and parks and forests?

Proposition 85 Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor's Pregnancy
    Should the California Constitution be amended to require notification of the parent or legal guardian of an unemancipated pregnant minor at least 48 hours before performing an abortion?

Proposition 86 Tax on Cigarettes
    Should the state impose an additional tax of $2.60 per cigarette pack to fund new and expanded health services, health insurance for children, and expand tobacco use prevention programs?

Proposition 87 Alternative Energy. Research, Production, Incentives. Tax on California Oil Producers
    Should California establish a $4 billion Clean Alternative Energy Program to reduce California's oil and gasoline consumption by 25 percent through incentives for alternative energy, education, and training?

Proposition 88 Education Funding. Real Property Parcel Tax
    Should the California Constitution be amended to levy an annual $50 real property tax on most parcels with the funds allocated to five K-12 education programs?

Proposition 89 Political Campaigns. Public Financing. Corporate Tax Increase. Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Limits
    Should eligible candidates for state elective offices receive public campaign funding that is supported by new taxes on corporations and financial institutions, and should contribution limits be imposed on those candidates that do not receive public campaign funding?

Proposition 90 Government Acquisition, Regulation of Private Property
    Should the California Constitution be amended to require government to pay property owners for substantial economic losses resulting from some new laws and rules, and limit government authority to take ownership of private property?

Local Measures

Measure M Renewed Measure M Transportation Ordinance and Investment Plan -- County of Orange (Ordinance - 2/3 Approval Required)
    This measure would authorize the Orange County Transportation Authority to construct specific transportation improvement and traffic congestion relief projects in Orange County by continuing the existing of one percent retail transaction and use tax for thirty years from the expiration of the current Measure M on April 1, 2011.

The ultimate Cosmic Joke played on us humans is, of course, our mortal sentience. All other Earthly beings, as far as we know, have no concept of their personal destiny. Whether you believe our self-awareness emerged spontaneously or was granted from up high, it is a cruel, cruel thing to have foisted upon us. Good news: you know you exist! Bad news: you know you will die! Ah, for the blissfull ignorance of beasts and insects.

This is what religion is all about. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, I'M GONNA DIE?!?!" Yeah, it makes no sense. Why should intelligence evolve only to confront its own irrevocable demise? There must be more to it, right?

Anyway, just wondering how y'all deal with it.