Non-Prophet

Win XP Reaching End of Life?

Considering that Windows Vista was released on 1/30/2007, and almost a year and a half later there is talk of ways in which folks will be able to still purchase Win XP you'd think that Vista was a total and complete mess. Is it? Or perhaps the Win XP install base is so huge that there are literally millions of folks that naturally resist change, even when purchasing a new computer? I'm not sure.

I have a Vista machine from Dell running as a media server in my home. Initially I found the thing revolting as the amount of bloat-ware that came pre-installed was truly mind boggling. After spending several hours removing it all, and getting things set up the way I like, I haven't had any major complaints. Some of the pop-up information windows are a bit ridiculous -- such as when you plug in a pair of headphones you get a pop-up telling you that you have done so. My overall impression is that Vista is a lot like Win XP running some kind of silly desktop theme. No big deal.

Yahoo!:

As concern over the end of the road for Windows XP reaches feverish levels, Microsoft appears to be caving yet again on its timeline for killing off the popular operating system, which would ultimately force people into upgrading to Vista. The latest news comes from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, reacting to criticism at a news conference on Thursday, who said "XP will hit an end-of-life. We have announced one. If customer feedback varies, we can always wake up smarter, but right now, we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments."

So basically, Microsoft says that if it smartens up, it might add to XP's lifespan. So... how about it? Well, Microsoft stopped short of announcing a higher corporate IQ, so as of today the June 30 deadline stands, but don't be surprised if we get another extension in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, PC makers may force Microsoft's hand, as they are taking the rare step of openly combating Microsoft's encouragement and demands that vendors move from XP to Vista. HP, Dell, and Lenovo have all said they will downgrade operating systems on new machines from Vista to XP at customer request and will continue to do so until 2009 (specific ending dates vary).

Made in China

Funny. Saw this tonight at an elementary school function. What isn't made in China these days?

Monster Cereals

Oh how I loved them, except for that nasty Count Chocula, which made my milk brown. I think my mom fed me this stuff for the unbelievable savings in valuable coupons that came along with the box. :0)

Wikipedia:

Fruit Brute was one of a line of five monster-themed breakfast cereals produced by General Mills for the North American market. It is also the name of the cereal's mascot, a humorous cartoon werewolf. The frosted fruit-flavored cereal contained lime flavored marshmallows. Other cereals in the product line include Count Chocula (chocolate-flavored), Boo Berry (blueberry-flavored), Franken Berry (strawberry-flavored), and Yummy Mummy (fruit flavored with vanilla-flavored marshmallows).

Netflix Queue Running Dry

Our Netflix queue is really hurting these days. We need suggestions. What have you seen recently that is worth watching?

Painting Elephant

More neat stuff.

Casu Marzu: Maggot Cheese

I've recently been enjoying quite a lot of strong cheese. I'm hooked. I've been eying the available brands and types in an attempt to find one that really knocks my socks off. Today at work I learned of where this fascination could ultimately lead though, and the road to trying progressively more and more pungent cheeses seems to lead to a land upon which I don't really want to trod.

wikipedia:

Casu marzu (also called casu modde, casu cundhídu, or in Italian formaggio marcio) is a cheese found in Sardinia, Italy, notable for being riddled with live insect larvae. Casu marzu means "rotten cheese" in Sardinian and is known colloquially as maggot cheese.

Derived from Pecorino Sardo, casu marzu goes beyond typical fermentation to a stage most would consider decomposition, brought about by the digestive action of the larvae of the cheese fly Piophila casei. These larvae are deliberately introduced to the cheese, promoting an advanced level of fermentation and breaking down of the cheese's fats. The texture of the cheese becomes very soft, with some liquid (called lagrima, from the Sardinian for "tears") seeping out. The larvae themselves appear as translucent white worms, about 8 mm (1/3 inch) long. When disturbed, the larvae can jump for distances up to 15 cm (6 inches).[1] Some people clear the larvae from the cheese before consuming; others do not.

Yaroslav Trofimov, in the August 23, 2000 edition of The Wall Street Journal, describes the cheese as "a viscous, pungent goo that burns the tongue and can affect other parts of the body". Susan Herrmann Loomis reports an encounter (in a 2002 Bon Appétit article):

....

* Risk of enteric myiasis: intestinal larval infection. Piophila casei larvae can pass through the stomach alive (human stomach acids do not usually kill them) and take up residency for some period of time in the intestines, where they can cause serious lesions as they attempt to bore through the intestinal walls. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea.[2]

Because of these health threats, or simply because it is considered a contaminated product, casu marzu cannot be legally sold in Italy. Within Sardinia, enforcement of the ban is sporadic and the cheese is available as a black market item, selling for about three times any other type of pecorino's price.

Boston Dynamics Big Dog

Wicked cool.

Daniel Johnston on NPR

This is totally cool. Springs Culture Cast, in conjunction with the local NPR station has put together a series of of interviews and recordings from the Daniel Johnston show that took place last Friday at the Smokebrush gallery here in town. Check them out here,
here, and here. Awesome job SCC!

More than 1,000 Deserted

This just piles more pain on the pain pile.

nytimes.com:

BAGHDAD — More than 1,000 Iraqi soldiers and policemen either refused to fight or simply abandoned their posts during the inconclusive assault against Shiite militias in Basra last week, a senior Iraqi government official said Thursday. Iraqi military officials said the group included dozens of officers, including at least two senior field commanders in the battle.

The desertions in the heat of a major battle cast fresh doubt on the effectiveness of the American-trained Iraqi security forces. The White House has conditioned further withdrawals of American troops on the readiness of the Iraqi military and police.

Things To Do This Weekend

It's first Friday again, and this weekend looks like a good one to get out there.

Lauren Potereiko will have some new pieces up at Edifice, not to mention it's "The Munny Show." David Twede's "Salon" will feature wickedly cool looking infra-red photography at the Smokebrush, and don't forget Daniel Johnston also at the Smokebrush Gallery! If I'm missing something cool, put it in the comments.