THE VIEW FROM CHAOS MANOR View 240 January 13 - 19, 2003 |
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This week: | Monday
January 13, 2003
The week began with an error. I received an urgent message concerning a new virus. My wife was calling me to come with her on our morning walk. I had to decide fast, so I decided to send a warning to subscribers. The message went out, we took our walk, and I came back to find that the virus was not only a hoax, but one I had been aware of. My wife calls it Klutzheimer Syndrome. In general I would rather have a false warning that doesn't require me to DO anything, than have no warning when one is needed. Of course I could just assume that all my readers and subscribers are aware that if you open unexpected mail attachments you are asking for trouble, and not bother to send warnings regarding viruses that require you to open a mail attachment, but viruses lately have a way of faking the sender so that you think it's someone you know, and the subject as one that you'll want to look at and might have expected from the sender. They're getting clever about that. In any event I won't repeat the hoax here. On reflection, this is NOT a "blog". It might be called a "web log" which is a less ugly phrase, but I began it before people talked about "blogs", and I called it a Journal; it is also a VIEW, and that will just have to do for what to call this place. And the day just turned better. My cholesterol is down, 176 with the "bad" stuff at 96 according to my last blood test. My blood sugar is fine. Apparently developing good habits pays off... And now I am off to do errands neglected last week when this cold had me laid out. At least my energy is returning. And the doctor called about cholesterol results and while he was on the phone we discussed the cold, and from my symptoms it would be pointless to add to the meds, so I just tough it out. But it is getting better. And I have mail from many of you to the effect that the 14 day cold is now a lot more common. Sigh. But I can work again, which is the blessing I needed. REAL Virus Warning: see mail. No hoax this.
John Hurstock I have a payment from you but no email address! Please communicate.
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This week: | Tuesday, January
14, 2003
Time to get some work done. It's a lovely day in Los Angeles, I am slowly recovering from this stupid cold, and it's time to get back up to the Monk's Cell. Lots of mail, some of which I have time to post. Those with an interest in Biblical archeology will want to look at http://www.msnbc.com/news/858803.asp?0cv=CB20 which was found by Roland Dobbins. Also
from Roland http://www.washingtonpost.com/ on drugs for kids, as opposed to kids on drugs... It's certainly cheaper to zonk them on drugs as opposed to teaching them to be good citizens and to control themselves. Apparently it's the only alternative we can afford now.
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This week: |
Wednesday, January
15, 2003
Let me recommend After the War Stanley Kurtz http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_1_after_the_war.html For all those who think about the coming war. And a question: how do you think the war will start? What incident will provoke it? Or will there just be a sudden invasion? http://www.fredoneverything.net/Charlotte.shtml and I am trying to think about what he said. For comments see mail. And my thanks to Paul Walker, who did a complete edit of the Book Of The Month reviews page, and added links. This page is now in good shape, or I believe it is. And a matter of some importance to Linux users: Subject: More on Ethernet driver vulnerability. http://linuxworld.com.au/news.php3?nid=2124&tid=1 --- Roland Dobbins If you use Linux and don't know about this, you should. Also from Roland, and of interest to Linux users: Subject: Outageous, if true. http://www.sys-con.com/linux/articlenews.cfm?id=381 http://newsforge.com/newsforge --- Roland Dobbins A protection racket? Regarding The Skeptical Environmentalist: Dear Jerry, An interesting analysis of Lomborg's book is here if you are interested. http://www.csicop.org/si/2002-11/environment.html Best regards & Scratch the pup's ears for me, Lee W. Plaisted --- "Even in the valley of the shadow of death, two and two do not make six." Leo Tolstoy on his deathbed, refusing to reconcile himself with the Russian Orthodox Church But in fact I don't find that analysis very informative: it keeps telling us that Lomborg is wrong, but it doesn't tell much about what is in fact wrong. I did find that the original Scientific American articles with Lomborg's replies have been posted (Lomborg took it down due to legal threats from Scientific American). The place you will find the original and Lomborg's replies may surprise you: http://www.greenspirit.com/lomborg/ I did find that interesting because specific; I fear the Skeptical Inquirer stayed too general for my tastes. In any event, I do urge that readers look at Lomborg's replies, which are given with the original Scientific American critique. Once that is digested it's easier to evaluate just what is going one. And I return to my own views: we need to invest in finding out what the devil is happening to the climate; but rushing about to apply remedies before we know what is wrong is not the proper way to go about it. [This is repeated and included in Mail, where discussion of Fisher will also be found. The thread last week begins here.] Anyone who has any interest in the health care system needs to read http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/ which is from TIME, and summarizes a considerable problem. Need a doctor? Call a lawyer, the doctors are on strike. And who can blame them? Get your lawyer to take your kid's tonsils out. As the article says, tort reform isn't rocket science, and ending capricious "punitive damages" is a simple matter of legislation. Not that we will do it. The Democratic Party is pretty well a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trial Lawyers, and everyone knows it. And look for filibusters in the Senate if any kind of tort reform does get through the House. When this country finally does choose a tyrant, it will be because at least a tyrant COULD do something about things; Congress is unable.
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This week: |
Thursday,
January 16, 2002 About to go take a walk. Much about Fred on Everything over in Mail when I get back. Got some work done today. And lots of mail posted and commented.
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This week: |
Friday,
January 17, 2003 Had our walk. Now to work. So far no firestorms...
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This week: | Saturday,
January 18, 2002 Another discussion of race, IQ, and Head Start begins with a new reference to Fred... Mrs. Virginia Heinlein, widow of Robert A.
Heinlein, died last night, in her sleep. An old friend and widow of an old
friend and colleague. Requiescat in Pace. Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine:
et lux perpétua lúceat eis. http://hymnal.fc2web.com/hymn/rh/rhp312_1.htm
And go read The Man Who Traveled In Elephants.
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This week: | Sunday,
Click below to view new FBI monitoring method http://users.chartertn.net/ Note: This web site says it uses Java script and is thus unlikely to work for anybody who has that turned off. And I'm sure its a joke--for now..... ------ Anybody who wishes to run a server of any kind on their DSL or cable modem connection is advised to read their terms of service carefully. Many systems forbid such use and may disconnect you if they observe traffic that indicates such use. --Jim Ouch. Subject: The rewards of trying to help those less fortunate Man gives up lucrative career to teach in inner city school. Receives $20 million law suit for his trouble. http://www.city-journal.org/html Which tells more than you want to know about the future of the nation.
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