I’ve noticed that whenever the subject of Windows Internet security comes up, we’ll often hear the familiar chorus of “Don’t open suspicious attachments” or “Don’t visit suspicious web sites.” While these are of course both valid pieces of advice, I often sense that they are used in a blame the victim context — the hapless Windows user has done something dumb, and has put his or her computer into a position to be exploited.

However, a story like this in my mind blows away the blame the victim response. It appears that legitimate web searches are being “poisoned,” so that the searchers are unknowingly directed to malicious web sites that attempt to compromise the user’s PC. Apart from frantically trying to keep up with Windows patches (and hoping that these sites don’t contain any 0-day exploits), exactly how is a Windows user supposed to defend him or herself against this kind of attack? At the very least, more users should use a browser like Firefox, that does not have such deep hooks into the Windows operating system. It is simply unreasonable to expect the typical Windows user to be a security expert in the ongoing computer security war.
I await with interest the attempt by the Windows fanboys to spin this kind of attack into another case of user negligence.

Tags: Windows, Internet,Security

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According to a just released study, the amount of homework that children are bringing home from school is a major cause of stress; as the father of two school-age kids, I can’t say I’m too surprised.

When I compare the amount of homework my two girls get with what I remember from my primary school years (1968 – 1975 if anyone is curious) it’s amazing just how much they are expected to complete. Rather than acting as an enrichment or reinforcement of what has been taught, it seems more an act of desperation by a system trying to cram in an unrealistic curriculum.

In addition to the amount of homework, I am also concerned by the nature in which it is assigned; I get the sense that much of the material is not covered in class, but just assigned as homework; parents are drafted as de facto home-schoolers, and I can only imagine how hard it must be for parents whose native tongue is not English or French, and are themselves still working hard to learn English; despite the best efforts of these parents, can their children be said to be getting the same level of education as the children of English speaking parents?

When I get cynical, I wonder if the agenda is really to get this generation of children acclimated to the concept of chronic overtime as a fact of life. They see their parents working longer and longer hours, in a society where working 9 to 5, with everyone sharing a family supper becoming an archaic concept, so it is only natural that the same demands are made on them.

And finally, where is the time for self-directed learning? For exploration, imagination, and dare I say it, play? These are the activities that promote imagination, self-confidence and independent thinking. Although there are some in society who would see these as archaic concepts as well, and would prefer that schools manufacture predictable and obedient automatons who will score well on standardized tests, and go on to become docile workers, passive consumers and non-independent citizens.

Tags: Homework, Education

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It’s been just over a year since the lease ran out on our second car, and we decided not to get a replacement. Instead, I get a Metropass, and commute to work on the TTC (Toronto’s public transit system).

I estimate that I have saved about $6,000 CDN so far, on insurance, car payments, gas, and maintenance. The only drawback is that it takes longer to get to work, but I can get there with my eyes closed, listening to podcasts or music, or reading a book. It’s certainly a lot less stressful than driving on the 401!

When I talk to a co-worker who seems to be cursed with one expensive car problem after another, I certainly don’t feel that I am making a sacrifice for the environment — I’m not seeing a downside. But when I tell people what I am doing I still get a lot of surprised reactions; we are still definitely living in a car culture. I hope that changes soon.

Tags: Driving, Environment, TTC

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I was in a bookstore this afternoon, and was walking by a display of coffee-table books, and one caught my eye; It was large and heavy (as this type of book tends to be), with a beautiful picture on the front cover, but the book was about Global Warming. To me, presenting a topic like global warming in this manner doesn’t make sense.

Coffee table books are supposed to be all about an aesthetic experience, and this kind of this experience conflicts with the message of global warming. To borrow a line once made about quantum physics, anyone who has read about global warming and is not profoundly disturbed by the implications hasn’t understood what he or she has been reading.

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As I write this, I have just finished watching the movie Failsafe again. For those who have not seen it, think of it as Dr. Strangelove without the comic relief. A story of nuclear brinksmanship, distrust, and the inevitable tragic consequences.

One of the most telling characters in the movie is played by Walter Matheau: a civilian professor, but a decided hawk, who I suspect would fit right into the Neo-Con cabal running the United States today. At one point he goes into a diatribe about the Soviets, calling them Marxist radicals, who are calculating machines, who don’t think the way we do. I was struck by the similarity to the language we have been hearing from the Bush administration and their friends, as they rail against “Islamofascists.” Instead of trying to find a solution to pending disaster, this character pushes for a full-out first strike against the Soviet Union. He lives in the cold calculations of carnage.

At the end of the movie (which I won’t give away, in case anyone who hasn’t seen it wants to see it), both the American President and the Soviet Premier realize they have become victims of the mechanics, infrastructure and indeed psychology of war, and I believe both come to the same realization — they are not each other’s enemy, but indeed share a common enemy: war itself, and those who thrive in hatred.

We live in such a time today, and that scares me; the flames are being fanned on both sides. I believe a film like this should be required viewing for all politicians, at the very least. At least those who are not beyond help.

Tags: Failsafe

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I was talking with a co-worker the other day (like me, in his mid-forties). He mentioned the he had borrowed an X-Box 360 game from a friend. It was a variant on a first person shooter, and he was complaining that even at the first level he was only lasting a few seconds before being blasted into oblivion from all sides. He then mentioned that at his age he preferred Tiger Woods Golf.

So I thought, why not combine the two concepts? Since I am not a games programmer, I’ll throw the idea out here. Thus is born:

Bagdad Open

Picture this:

Outside the Green Zone in Baghdad, dozens of residential neighbourhoods are razed to the ground. The residents, merely nameless Arabs who of course don’t matter, are displaced to make way for a private golf course for the use of visiting Republicans, Blackwater executives, members of the radical Religious Right and other heroes of the salvation of Iraq.

But the displaced nameless Arabs, in a stunning and inexplicable display of ingratitude, are attacking blameless foursomes just trying to get in a round of golf. And here the game begins; your mission, as one of the golfers, is to get through as many rounds of golf as possible, alive. In addition to your clubs, you are given a machine gun, hand grenades, and golf balls made of depleted uranium.

As a beginner golfer, your caddy is another nameless Arab, so you will have to watch him closely; he could explode at any moment! (You are however, given a taser to keep the ungrateful little prick in his place. And each ball washing station is also equipped with a water board set-up, in case you really have to show him who’s boss). Also, sniper fire will be coming in from all sides, so you will need to be able to drop your club and pick up the machine gun at a moment’s notice. And you will really have to watch out for those bunker shots! Bullets are flying, women and children are dying, but it’s a glorious day for golf!

Some local rules have been put into place: You can get relief if severed limbs or casual blood is obstructing your shot, and if you nail one of the locals with your tee shot, once the body has been cleared, you can get a mulligan, so you won’t lose a stroke; just make sure to replace your divots!

If you survive the first round, you can enter a tournament, and as you move up, you can get a Blackwater caddy, at taxpayer’s expense. You will also get better clubs and bigger weapons. You will finally be able to carry the dogleg on the par 5 13th with a Patriot missile!

I wonder when we’ll see the next in the series: The Tehran Memorial, a tournament in honour of the late Shah, and a time when local strongmen could be relied upon to keep the local population in its place, while following the orders of their American masters.

Tags: Golf, Bagdhad, Video Games

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Here’s a link to my shared items on Google Reader, if anyone is interested. I’ll add a feed link to the blog roll on the right hand side as well.

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In this story, a top U.S. Intelligence official is saying that “it is time that people in the United States changed their definition of privacy” and that now it “should mean that government and businesses properly safeguard people’s private communications and financial information. ”

This would be funny if it wasn’t so scary. This American official is telling other Americans that they should trust a corrupt government, and their friends in the business elite to protect their right to privacy.

I wonder what other words will need to be redefined: Justice? Democracy? Freedom?

War is Peace….Freedom is Slavery….Ignorance is Strength.

Tags: Privacy, Freedom, USA

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I’ve just finished watching a news item that has my blood boiling. Hard-line French language activists in Quebec are up in arms over the fact that when you call a certain government office and reach the inevitable machine, rather early in the menu options you hear the phrase “Press 9 to continue in English.” One of the protesters is quoted as saying that the fact that the option is near the beginning of the message tells French Quebecers “they are second class citizens.”

Give me a break. There are too many people in Quebec spending too much of their time looking for ways to be humiliated and oppressed. It seems they aren’t happy unless they are angry. And people may call me politically incorrect for expressing impatience; too bad.
Tags: French, Canada, Quebec

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As reported on a number of sites, being a Canadian music downloader does not mean purchasing fewer CD’s. So much for the industry’s main complaint!

I wonder if maybe, just maybe, decreased sales mean people like the mainstream product less than they used to? Personally, Of the last 10 recordings I have bought recently, only one (the new REM live recording) was from a non-independent label. Sites like CD Baby and Magnatunes keep me happy. Also, the CD replaced formats that were either sonically inferior (the cassette), or inherently not portable (the LP), so a lot of sales were replacing the same music on the newer format. For most people, there has been no need to replace CD’s by purchasing new recordings. And 99% of the new mainstream crap isn’t worth buying.
Up yours, Sony etc.

Tags: Canada, RIAA

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