A Million Things That Bug Me

This is a serious warning for users of Paypal the online payment service. TechTV is reporting a new e-mail scam. It appears to be a variant of an old AOL scam. Two different versions have appeared, one requests the information be sent via e-mail, which should fool only the most novice internet user, and another which directs the user to input the info on the web, providing a realistic-looking, but bogus, Paypal site. Both attempt to gain password and credit card information. Remember, the real Paypal site is a secure site (which you can determine by looking for the https:// at the beginning of the URL, and the closed lock icon on the bottom of your browser window) and never to send sensitive information by e-mail, to anyone.

On a lighter note, the U.N. Human rights commitee has upheld a French ban on dwarf tossing. Apparently some dwarves make a living allowing themselves to be tossed in bars for the amusement of others. New York and Florida have similar laws on the books. I am most certainly against the involuntary tossing of dwarves. As a someone short-statured person, I wouldn't want to be subject to random tossing. However, as much as I question the logic and sanity of a person who would choose to do this, will we now start making all stupid or self-destructive behavior illegal? In addition to the fact that our already overburdened criminal justice system would be crushed by such a caseload, don't people have a right to act stupidly?

Rant of the Day: What the hell was up with last night's Sopranos? Slate sums up my complaints quite nicely here.

If you have anything to do for the next few hours, like sleep or something, don't click this link whatever you do. Seriously. Insaniquarium. Very, very dangerous game. If that's not disruptive enough to your life, how about Qbeez or Collapse? Like I don't spend enough time playing Dungeon Siege or Zoo Tycoon, I need online games, too. I have carefully avoided massively multiplayer online games like Everquest and Anarchy Online, but Star Wars Galaxies looks pretty cool. Maybe I need a 12 step program...

According to ABC News the Oxford English Dictionary is now recognizing such pop culture words as Jedi and Klingon. Apparently the standard the OED uses for inclusion in new editions is appearing in five printed sources in five years. I just wonder what five sources in the last five years used "bunny-boiler," which is supposedly a reference to Glenn Close's poor anger management techniques in Fatal Attraction. Who are these people?

Take all your unanswered questions and head to this site: asktheferret.com. While I certainly wouldn't trust my own bunch of weasels to make any life-altering decisions for me, as their answer usually is, "Give us more treats," this super cute talking magic 8 ball ferret makes me laugh every time. If you have trouble with Shockwave, or the 522k download, the non-talking version is available here. The author provides the following disclaimer: "THE FINE PRINT:
What are you, nuts? Why are you trusting some silly ferret page with the most important questions in your life? I mean, really! That would be like trusting a Magic 8 Ball ®! Just say no! Everyone who's anyone knows that all the answers to life's questions can be found in Leave it to Beaver reruns!" Damn, just when I was going to ask what I should be when I grow up!

Less than 24 hours after the premiere of Survivor Thailand we have an announcement of the latest "reality show", Rupert Murdoch's "American Candidate." Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. The producer describes it as a cross between "American Idol" and "The War Room." One hundred contestants will vie to win a nomination for President of the United States. I suppose this was an inevitable progression of the reality TV genre, but it is still disturbing.

Napster Returns! (Er, not quite in it's original form)

A Spanish "adult entertainment" company has made an offer to acquire Napster. I just don't know what to say about that...

Also, Trillian users will want to download the latest version. Power users will want to try the new Pro version, available for a mere $25. If you ever donated a dollar or more to the makers of Trillian, you will be entitled to a copy just for being a loyal user. Both versions are great. The big feature of the Pro version is the addition of plugins. Right now I'm using it to get Lockergnome and Slashdot's RSS feeds. I'm afraid they may be succumbing to ICQ-style bloat, but at least you can pick and choose your plugins.

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
-John Stuart Mill

It was a long time in coming, but Napster is officially dead. The beleaguered file swapping site was completely shut down Tuesday. We all know this was coming, but it is sad nonetheless.

Meanwhile in Major League Baseball, the Oakland Athletics won an American League record twenty games in a row. They blew an early 11-0 lead only to win with a walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth to win 12-11. Now they can chase the Major League record of 26 straight wins. I think my Yankees should be afraid. Very, very afraid.