Along with my friend DJ, guess who else has a new blog? Bill Maher. I don't always agree with Bill Maher. But when I do agree with him, BOY, do I agree with him. He's the best kind of pundit -- someone who isn't apologetic about sounding preachy but always letting you know that it's only his opinion, either by saying it explicitly or with is ascerbic wit. He's a person who is for whatever doesn't screw honest people out of their rights, whether its Republican or Democratic. He's no Ann Coulter or Noam Chomsky, and I respect that.

My buddy DJ got himself a domain name. Good for him.

I've got an idea. Let's start an office pool where everybody buys a square for a dollar, wagering when the next catastrophic terrorist attack will occur. Perhaps where the purchases clump up will actually be the next attack?

Funny. Kind of sick, but funny, right?

Unfortunately, it's not my idea. It's the government's idea.

As an artistic statement, this game mod is pretty powerful. But will people get it?

Yes, it's time to change your Windows password. Swiss researchers have found a way to crack your password in under two minutes.

Microsoft can't be entirely blamed for this -- sure, their password encryption scheme sucks compared to UNIX-derived systems (like my personal favorite), but most people choose passwords that are too easy. Your pet's name is not a good password. Hell, I'm fully aware that MY password is lame.

But no more. For every system that requires a password, if it allows characters other than alphanumeric (a-z, A-Z, 0-9), I'm going to add some. Even if its just a period in the middle of the password, that's enough to throw off this new technique.

Here's my beef, though. The researchers were kind enough publish worldwide, now telling every hacker on the planet how to do it. Why is it that when so-called white-collar hackers exploit weaknesses in software that they have to tell the world exactly how they did it, putting the tools in to the hands of hacker groups like Cult of the Dead Cow? Isn't it enough to say, "Hey, we cracked your shit?" and give the software companies involved a chance to fix the problem? I'm sure there are plenty of security experts out there who do this, and thanks for that. But now millions of systems are at risk because any scriptkiddie with a top-of-the-line computer (and most have them) can use this method to crack open networks.

Believe me, if I had the knowledge to find holes in Windows, I'd tell Microsoft -- not the world -- so they could fix it before it gets exploited, no matter how much I despise Microsoft. And Microsoft better fix this password encryption business toute suite. After all, now that the security of our nation is resting on Microsoft's shoulders, I'd kind of like to know that Donald Rumsfeld's network password is safe.

No matter what side of the aisle you're on, duplicity is duplicity.

More arguments against hydrogen-powered cars.

One point that is made in this article that I think is very important is to note that environmental groups (not sure which ones) are angry about the hydrogen initiatives in the US and Europe because they put too much emphasis on generating hydrogen fuel with oil and coal and not enough on renewable resources like solar and wind (and biomass, which isn't mentioned). Hydrogen can be generated with renewable energy sources much more efficiently than if we plugged our cities directly into, say, windmills. That's the point, and I'm sorry to see that the governments are missing that. I mean, it's not like Operation Iraqi Obfuscation was about oil, right?

These researchers are also missing the point. We need to stop using fossil fuels entirely. I say to these researchers -- present a plan by which we can use fuel efficent cars now to achieve the desired effect in the meantime while we move towards fuel cells. I have never understood the opposition to raising fuel efficiency standards just a little every year, anyway.

Be honest with me -- am I getting old?

Last Saturday, I attended a concert at Empty Bottle given by one of my favorite electronic musicians -- µ-Ziq. According to his bio on the Astralwerks website, "And he actually plays 'live', as opposed to playing from DAT: 'Water falls on the equipment and it blows up. It's only then that people realise its not all on tape'."

That may be the case, but it sure didn't appear that way. When Mr. Paradinas ascended the stage, he stood in front of a Powerbook propped up on his laptop bag, the mouse unceremoniously placed on an empty case of beer. Occasionally, the mouse moved, and volume would change on certain instruments, but for the songs that I recognized from his albums, they seemed intact and unaltered.

It didn't help, either, that the only discernable light show was six par cans and the LCD reflection in his glasses.

So was he simply pressing play on his Powerbook and, as my buddy Frank hypothesized, "checking his e-mail"? It sure seemed possible.

I've heard plenty of stories of DJs using iPods. And when I get myself an iBook or Powerbook, I look forward to procuring a copy of Traktor DJ. I could care less if the DJ or musician setting the mood is manipulating vinyl or a mouse. But it's one thing for a club situtation -- I'm there to dance. Not a concert, where music fans are going to look at the stage at least occasionally. µ-Ziq's music, as incredibly well crafted as it is, as musically adept as any analog musician, is rarely danceable. At a concert, I think the musician has a responsiblility to put on a show worth watching. Standing in front of your Powerbook just isn't going to do.

One of the opening acts, on the other hand, had the right idea. Salvo Beta, whose album "Abrasive Stuttering" lives up to its name, performed with a live drummer that worked his ass off. And of course Mr. Wolfe worked with a laptop, but he also had several noise-making gizmos hooked up to effects pedals. He was performing the music live, obviously, moving his mouth and body with all of the whistles, clicks, wails he manipulated with his fingers and feet. He was a joy to watch, and he had a set list that lent itself to live performance. See? Put on a show.

I have to note that this is the SECOND time that I've been to a big electronic show where an opener completely upstaged the headliner for the exact same reasons. Amon Tobin, who also stared at his laptop for over an hour while a video projection screen looped the same 10 minutes of video -- at least he tried -- was completely spanked by Prefuse 73 (latest album), playing loops and bits of hip hop with drum pads, blowing the audience away with its spontenaiety.

Perhaps the openers know they need to gain the audience's attention. Twice they've gotten mine. So I guess from now on, when I go to electronic shows, I won't go for the headliner but the opener.

And for the record, the act before Salvo Beta lip synched his own songs as an iTunes play list ran on an iMac.

Eventhough the Senate killed a bill that would make the Bush administration accountable for the money it is spending on the war in Iraq, one good thing came out of it. Read the last paragraph:

The bill also blocks funds for the Terrorism Information Awareness program, a Bush surveillance initiative to cull records for evidence of terrorist activity. The administration said the provision will ''deny an important potential tool in the war on terrorism.''

This is good news for those of us who appreciate, oh, I don't know, personal freedom. Remember, this program was once called the "Total Information Awareness" program. That this Big Brother program will not receive funding (at least, as far as we know) is a victory for American freedom.

Having grown up in a pentacostal household makes me feel guilty enough.

My hypothesis that Star Wars Episode III will feature a young Han Solo has not been confirmed, but seeing as how Peter Mayhew spilled the beans on some of what Chewbacca will be doing in the movie adds to my confidence.

I am excited about seeing the first large gathering of Wookies since the Star Wars Holiday Special.

Still don't know what candidate to support? Find out by taking this survey about what issues you stand for.
http://www.selectsmart.com/president/

It's creepy how accurate it is. The survey reported that the candidate closest to my feelings on the issues is Kucinich, with Howard Dean a very close second. Of course, the survey doesn't take into account human qualities like charisma, experience, and chutzpah -- which is why Dean is still on top for me -- but with nine democratic candidates, this survey could prove surprisingly helpful.

I will blog more... I will blog more... I will blog more...

I will redesign my blog next weekend... I will redesign my blog next weekend... I will redesign my blog next weekend...

I was about ready to give up on this blog, but something interesting is happening this week -- Lawrence Lessig, a fantastic proponent of copyright reform -- is turning the reigns of his blog this week over to none other than Howard Dean. As of this post, Dr. Dean has not posted anything yet. I will, however, keep a browser window open to see when he posts.