Quote of the Day

Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian.

Robert Orben

The Two-Hour Star Wars Holiday Special in only Five Minutes!

More about this at Wikipedia, which quotes David Hofstede, author of "What Were They Thinking?: The 100 Dumbest Events in Television History", saying it was "the worst two hours of television ever". It was broadcast only once — in 1978. Via MacBreak Weekly. Full length version. Happy Holidays!

Schneier on Security

Schneier on Security: "I tell people that if it's in the news, don't worry about it. The very definition of 'news' is 'something that hardly ever happens.' It's when something isn't in the news, when it's so common that it's no longer news -- car crashes, domestic violence -- that you should start worrying."

The image soaked future

Fascinating article on the rise of the graphic novel and how they developed from comic books. Via h20boro lib blog.

From the article:

"So, why is this rebirth of the serious graphic novel different? Because this new wave arrives when the ascendancy of the image — presciently described by George Steiner, in 1971, in his book In Bluebeard’s Castle — has begun to dwarf the power of the word. The visual arts are booming. The screen fills our lives through television, cinema and computers. Thanks to computers, even when we are obliged to read words, we expect them to be arranged in helpful modules, with plenty of graphics. The computer normalises the graphic novel as a form. The graphical user interface may one day be seen as the most important invention of our time. Through such devices, the imperial image reigns and is, more successfully than ever before, invading the book."

Salon Expo Attendees: Keep Your Chemicals Off Our Towels!

Last month I stayed at the Westin in Long Bench while on a businesses trip. I happened to be there at the same time as the International Salon and Spa Expo.

I noticed a stack of letters at the front desk intended for the expo attendees, and took a copy for myself. From the letter:

"With the large number of Salon and Spa Expo guests, we have put together a special policy regarding hand and bathing towels. Due to the high amount of chemicals some hair and beauty products may contain, it is increasingly difficult to provide clean towels without product residue. We hope that you will assist us in our efforts to provide clean towels for our guests and suggest that guests throughly rinse off all product before using the towels. Should towels be damaged our stained, a fee will be charged accordingly."

The Mall Goes Undercover - It now looks like a city street.

The Mall Goes Undercover - It now looks like a city street. By Andrew Blum: "There's something a bit unhealthy about faux public places designed to attract rich people and make them feel comfortable. (At least the traditional mall didn't try to hide the fact that it was a shopping center.) The lifestyle center is a bizarre outgrowth of the suburban mentality: People want public space, even if making that space private is the only way to get it."

Yahoo! News - Calif. Man Sets Off Nuclear Alert Detector

Yahoo! News - Calif. Man Sets Off Nuclear Alert Detector: "ESCONDIDO, Calif. - A man who recently had received radiation treatment for a medical condition set off a nuclear alert detector on a fire engine, prompting police to close down a roadway in Escondido while authorities searched for a nuclear weapon."