-
The Six Dumbest Ideas In Computer Security (plus six "minor
dumbs" at the end), by Marcus J. Ranum, provides useful
analysis of why each of the ideas in question is ill-advised (even if
you disagree with the conclusions, the discussion points out important
limitations is these common approaches). "Computer security is a
field that has fallen far too deeply in love with the whizzbang-of-the-week
and has forsaken common sense. Your job, as a security practitioner, is
to question - if not outright challenge - the conventional wisdom and
the status quo. After all, if the conventional wisdom was working, the
rate of systems being compromised would be going down, wouldn't it?"
Pay attention when he says, "Signs that you've got this problem are..."
-
Hamlet -- The Text Adventure: Remember "Adventure", or
if you're a young'un, "Zork"? Or "Leather Goddesses of Phobos"? Here's
a Shakespearean one with a web interface ... (Thanks to
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
badmagic for the link.)
- 3,000 images from
medieval Danish church murals, indexed by subject
(click 'Alfabetisk indeks') and by church (click 'Kirkeindeks').
There's a pop-up translating search terms for English users, fortunately,
if you want to use the search box.
(
Thanks to bunnyjadwiga for linking to it.)
- In the biting political criticism department, and in the fashion of Magic:
The Gathering, there is now
Katrina: The Gathering
, with cards representing various pundits, politicians, celebrities,
categories of citizens, etc. In addition to illustrations, descriptions, and
effects on game play, each card includes a relevant quotation (except one,
on which the image itself serves as the quotation).
- Beauty In Music is a
gallery of beautiful classical musicians, describing itself
as "the ultimate guide to the hottest women in classical music" (though
there is fortunately a section for early music performers as well). Not all
the musicians listed/pictured are working as musicians full-time -- and for
some reason a few people have found
one entry startling or brain-hurting, but I found it unsurprising.
Alas, several gorgeous musicians of my acquaintence are not yet listed
there ... (A conceptually-related -- but equal-opportunity -- site is
the famous
Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists, which includes some of
my friends.)
-
US State Slogans according to Diesel Sweeties, as linked to
by several people. "Oklahoma! Like Texas with humility."
- Two more that have been going around:
The 12 Babes of
Christmas (
nominations so far,
FAQ) and The 8
Hunks of Hannukah
(nominations so
far,
discussion/acceptances), holiday cheesecake/beefcake popularity
contests, the results of which will be photos of female and male LJ
cuties displayed for the benefit of everyone's holiday cheer later this
year. Both are in the nomination phases now; voting on the nominees
who accept their nominations will happen later. (I noticed that I've been
nominated as a Christmas babe, but I also notice that text has been added
to the nomination page saying that contest is only for "the ladies" and
that "males" should be nominated in the other contest ... the phrasing
leaves the status of intergendered folks unclear[ [if I want to go into 'rules lawyer' mode], but reading between
the lines I suspect I won't be counted as lady enough. Perhaps I should
start a third contest, either gender-blind or specifically for
transgendered/intergendered/genderqueer folks?)
-
Right-Wing Myths About Katrina, Debunked -- just what it sounds
like: right-wing spin-machine talking points countered by facts and
links to supporting material.
(Thanks
to leemoyer.)
- The Flying Spaghetti Monster
Game
(requires Flash). Touch as many people as possible with your noodly
appendage to turn them into Pastafarians while avoiding the school
administrators. (Thanks to vvalkyri for
bringing the game to my attention -- either it wasn't there
yet or I overlooked it the last time I went to the site ... or I
saw that it needed Flash, was using a machine that didn't have
that installed, and later forgot all about it.)
- Maryland Gas Prices lists
highest and lowest gasoline prices in the last day or two,
searchable by area and brand, but some areas are missing (Catonsville and
Baltimore, for example, so far). Includes a form for reporting prices you've
observed, and a link to resources for other states.
-
"Things I've learned from British folk ballads", by Jim MacDonald,
who explains that "Nothing's more certain to give you a strong sense
of the negative consequences of immoral or imprudent behavior." He
starts with "Don't ignore warnings," and goes on from there, listing
such examples as, "Avoid situations where the obvious rhyme-word is
'maidenhead'," and, "Going to sea to avoid marrying your sweetie
is an option, but if she hangs herself after your departure (and it's
even money that she's going to) her Doleful Ghost will arrive on board
your ship and the last three stanzas of your life will purely suck."
Doleful ghosts appear frequently in these lessons. I found the list
hilarious; anniemal, who knows more of the songs than I
do, laughed herself to tears. Do not miss the pop quiz at the end!
(And there are additional lessons/advice in the comments, of course.)
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Absolutely!
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Back when I was keeping up with a big pile o' webcomics, DS was among them. These days I'm only reading Freefall and Schlock Mercenary regularly. I'm about two years behind on both Sluggy Freelance and User Friendly. *sigh*
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". . . pull our troops out of occupied New Orleans and Iraq . . . "
Um, lady, there are a bunch of people upset that the Guard's not in NOLA but instead in Iraq; get your messages straight before you try to make them more current by adding NOLA to your speeches.
Eesh.
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8 Hunks is open to "transgendered/intergendered/genderqueer" folks; many of the nominees were genderqueer, although unfortunately only two actually ended up submitting pictures. Not every Hunk up there was born with a penis, nor do they all have 'em now! :)
I'll make that clear next year. What I said this year was a vaguer "yes, everyone is welcome". I did specify within the comment threads, when one nominee got huffy that there was a "girl" up there and wanted it to be a contest for "men who were born men". Um. No.