Is Bush Really Wimping Out on Iraq?

Or is the net just out of control?

he blogoshere is in revolt. The conservative webzines are seething. The cry of “sell-out” rends the air. And a dreadful fear spreads among his conservative and neoconservative supporters that George W. Bush may have shrunk back hesitantly from the historical imperative of invading Iraq and replacing Saddam Hussein in Baghdad. The war on terrorism, they lament, just ended — and with a whimper too.

For almost as bad as the news itself was how it was made known.

You know, I’ll probably have to comment on this later, but I’m just tossing stuff up real quick before I have to work. I’ll be back later with more stuff.

Hey, if you’re a blogger in New York City, you should map yourself and then come back here and tell me how that site works and if it’s any good. Now, I wonder if someone who knows what they’re doing can make one of those for the DC area…

Blogonomics: making a living from blogging

Self-organized networks of bloggers offer advertisers access to previously unarticulated demographics

Martin Nisenholtz claims that the “weblog phenomenon does not represent anything fundamentally new in the news media”.

He’s right, of course. We’ve had OpEd pages for more than 100 years, Xeroxed family Christmas newsletters for 50 years, home pages for a decade. A blog, seen on its own, does no more than mix these old ingredients in a new pot.

Bloggers have thrashed the likes of Nisenholtz with arguments that blogs are better, faster and cheaper than “old” media.

But the point, I think, is that blogs don’t just excel existing media, they are beyond media. Blogs aren’t nu-media but unmedia. Blogs are not rewired Daily Bugles, they are a ferocious crossbreed of Wal-Mart’s cost-efficiency, distribution, and coordination with the Shakers’ passion, patience and craftsmanship.

Adult thumb sucking

Cast Girls Japan

Mentos Commercial Synopses

Peter Pan Casting Call

Garage Games

Nico Van Hoorn TrashLog Collecting a Piece of Trash for the Internet Every Day

World’s first computer bug

3d Pong

“I think that shit is fucking bullshit. Whoever put my shit on the Internet, I want to meet that motherf***er and beat the shit out of him, because I picture this scrawny little dickhead going ‘I got Eminem’s new CD! I got Eminem’s new CD! I’m going to put it on the Internet.’ I think that anybody who tries to make excuses for that shit is a fucking bitch.”

Computer issues at work will continue to keep me from regularly updating J’s Notes today, but that’s fine. For some reason I’m not in much of the mood to hunt for links and post them and all that good stuff today. I might have a couple things to say and I’ll try and say them during my lunch break or once I’m off, but you probably won’t be hearing from me for most of the day. If you’re bored and want to chat, e-mail me and say hey, I’m always up for talking.

But, since I’m here…

Blogosphere: the emerging Media Ecosystem

How Weblogs and Journalists work together to Report, Filter and Break the News

Trying to understand the complex relationship between bloggers and journalists has become my own personal Waterloo.

I’ve taken a few stabs at it already, and learned a lot along the way. Lesson One: Blogs can do a tremendous job breaking news, and journalists are wise to start their own to tap that power. Lesson Two: Some rare bloggers become amateur journalists, a status which brings with it its own unique ethical challenges. Lesson Three: Most bloggers are more like Columnists than capital-J Journalists.

Web logging can serve many roles

Corporate Web logging — an emerging way for companies to get the word out about products and services — is getting quite a bit of notice from the online community. Does it really work? What are its potential uses — and abuses?

Web logs are regularly (even daily) updated Web pages offering a blend of commentary and links. They can be personality-based, news-oriented or topic-specific, but they share the qualities of immediacy, iconoclasm and a highly active feedback loop.

As a grass-roots vehicle, blogs (as they’re nicknamed) have largely been the domain of individuals, not businesses. There are an estimated 500,000 blogs on the Web (nobody really knows the exact number), most of which are broadsides of sorts for their authors.

Weary, Bush mocks reporter

“I wonder why it is you think there are such strong sentiments in Europe against you and against this administration?” the reporter said. “Why, particularly, there’s a view that you and your administration are trying to impose America’s will on the rest of the world, particularly when it comes to the Middle East and where the war on terrorism goes next?”

Turning to Mr. Chirac, he added in French: “And, Mr. President, would you maybe comment on that?”

“Very good,” Mr. Bush said sardonically. “The guy memorizes four words, and he plays like he’s intercontinental.”

“I can go on,” Mr. Gregory offered.

“I’m impressed — que bueno,” said Mr. Bush, using the Spanish phrase for “how wonderful.” He deadpanned: “Now I’m literate in two languages.”

Bugs may control weather: Study

British scientists have launched a study to find out if airborne bugs in clouds control the Earth’s weather.

Scientists believe certain bug species may have evolved the ability to manipulate the weather in order to secure their own survival.

Oh, and so you know I’m working on yet another redesign, but this one’s not because I’m bored with the current design. No, it seems unless you’re using IE 5.x or better or NS 6 or better on a PC you see crap. Well, not really crap, but it doesn’t look as sharp. So I’m playing with another look. I’ll keep you all posted.

Tuesday Things Three

1. Do you like your job?

I like the job, it’s kinda interesting working for a law firm with such big name clients and all. But, I’m bored with the commute and the inability to go to school while doing this. If I lived closer to it and was able to fit classes around it I’d be golden.

2. What can you not live without?

Um…. air? Not sure, I can do without the internet and I can do without my apartment and maybe my guitar if I really needed to (it’s not like I play it as often as I should, anyway). I guess right now I’d have to say Jenn, she’s about the only thing keeping me sane right now.

3. What are you thinking right how?

Jenn because the last question made me think of her. Beyond that I’m thinking I’m pretty damn hungry and need some breakfast.

4. What would Jesus do?

Probably shake his head, throw his hands in the air and shout, “I GIVE UP!” At least, that’s what I do.

5. Does your heart follow your eyes? Could you date the same people you eye day to day?

Not really. I mean, Jenn’s nice and I eyed her before dating her and all, but for the most part, I look at the typical tall women who are pretty damn hot but I couldn’t possibly date them, and not because they’re above me, no, quite the opposite, really. I need more of a mind then they can provide. Now, I’m not trying to stereotype, there are some damn attractive people who are pretty smart (Jenn) and what not, but they’re far and few between. Besides, even if they were smart, they’d have to be low upkeep, not be a damn princess, etc, etc, etc, so, yeah, I probably wouldn’t date them.

But I’ll still look.

PromoGuy’s Monday Mission 2.21

1. What happened this weekend that made you smile?

Um… nothing in particular, I don’t think. It was a plain weekend. I had a barbeque (sp?) at my place last night which was kinda cool and made me smile, I guess. And I had today off of work, so that was cool.

2. Did you make someone smile today? If not, will you try?

Not yet, but I’ll try and Jenn gets home.

3. Have you any clothes or accessories you love to wear but just totally embaras the person you are being seen with?

Nope. Well, maybe my Nike cap, but I’m sure that doesn’t embarrass anyone TOO much.

4. What was the catch phrase you said the most in High School?

Probably “sweet” or “nice guys finish last”. Something like that.

5. Who are you remembering this Memorial Day? (or for those not celebrating it, tell me about someone worth remembering)

My grandfather on my Mom’s side, Pop, because he was a good man.

6. Do you think you are a good friend?

Sure, I put everyone else before me, how can that not be good? (Let’s see what the shrink has to say about THAT.)

7. (continued from MM 2.20) That outing tonight was a blast … but that was last call. I totally overdid it and shouldn’t drive, anything we can do while I try to “dry out?”

Walk and chit chat for a few hours, that’s always cool.

BONUS: Do ya love me, now that I can dance?

Nah, you’re still too white.

Featherless chickens look ready to eat.

Front page of today’s Washington Post Hot lesbian First Lady action!

Cook up some meat How do you play? Well, it’s easy to figure out, but I’ll tell ya. Throw meat on the grill, let it sit for a bit, move it to flip it, let it sit, toss it in the soy sauce and if it’s good you get points. Easy, eh?

The Cheese Family Goes to the Zoo

The World’s Smallest Website

BUMS EVERYWHERE!!!! (look at any of the pictures)

Neat game

Hire your very own personal stalker!

Due to computer issues at work I’m not going to be able to do much with J’s Notes today so you probably won’t get a full dose of me until Tuesday (yea, three day weekend!). Hope you all have a great weekend.

The year: 1997. Most of the world was listening to the sounds of Issac, Taylor and Zach, better known as “the greatest band of all-time,” or Hanson. While all the attention was being put upon these great group of kids, it should have been directed at an even greater group of kids. A group of kids that consisted of little boys with a not so little dream. A dream to create the greatest fanclub of all-time, dedicated to the greatest show of all time, which was about the greatest man of all-time: McGuyver.

Pyra Re-Ups Commitment To Free Blogger Service With Public Mind Partnership

In an era when free web services are either switching to paid-only mode or often disappearing altogether, Pyra Labs (www.pyra.com), providers of the popular free weblog publishing service, Blogger (www.blogger.com), have found a solution for providing effective customer service to over half a million users with Public Mind, Inc. (www.publicmind.com/blogger ).

The newly added Public Mind Active Listening System combines a “dynamic FAQ” system with issue tracking and personalized customer support. Blogger users will have the ability to browse and search a directory of questions and answers, ask more specific questions, comment on issues, and subscribe to topics of particular interest.

In addition, Public Mind software will enable Pyra to better understand users’ wants and needs by providing an organized place to ask for and analyze feedback.

Blogger Help

Stanford Researchers Establish Link Between Creative Genius and Mental Illness

For decades, scientists have known that eminently creative individuals have a much higher rate of manic depression, or bipolar disorder, than does the general population. But few controlled studies have been done to build the link between mental illness and creativity. Now, Stanford researchers Connie Strong and Terence Ketter, MD, have taken the first steps toward exploring the relationship.

Using personality and temperament tests, they found healthy artists to be more similar in personality to individuals with manic depression than to healthy people in the general population. “My hunch is that emotional range, having an emotional broadband, is the bipolar patient’s advantage,” said Strong. “It isn’t the only thing going on, but something gives people with manic depression an edge, and I think it’s emotional range.”

Open-Source Fight Flares At Pentagon

Microsoft Lobbies Hard Against Free Software

Microsoft Corp. is aggressively lobbying the Pentagon to squelch its growing use of freely distributed computer software and switch to proprietary systems such as those sold by the software giant, according to officials familiar with the campaign.

In what one military source called a “barrage” of contacts with officials at the Defense Information Systems Agency and the office of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld over the past few months, the company said “open source” software threatens security and its intellectual property.

But the effort may have backfired. A May 10 report prepared for the Defense Department concluded that open source often results in more secure, less expensive applications and that, if anything, its use should be expanded.

“Banning open source would have immediate, broad, and strongly negative impacts on the ability of many sensitive and security-focused DOD groups to protect themselves against cyberattacks,” said the report, by Mitre Corp.

I WANT ONE!!!!!

Robot opens beer bottles

A University of Florida engineering student has created a robot that opens beer bottles. He calls the robot Abor, which stands for Autonomous Beer-Opening Robot.

The robot operates by rolling along a bar, taking the bottle, steadying it, putting the opener under the cap and liften it before backing away from the bottle.

The robot is built from 150 parts, has 60 feet of wiring and took four months of work.

Jean-Philippe Clerc, a master’s candidate from the French Caribbean island of Guadalupe, said he went through 134 beers for calibrations and testing purposes. However, he admitted, he prefers wine and champagne to beer.

“I was trying to do something that was unusual and had never been done before,” said.

This guy’s getting the damn Nobel Peace Price if I have anything to say about it. Now I can be even lazier when sitting back and drinking beer!

“Essential Blogging”, the upcoming O’Rielly book about blogging, is now available for public review.