Apple has long been the pioneer of publishing software, video editing, and web development software for 2 reasons. 1. The type of processor RISC and 2. The OS being very simplistic.

RISC technology allows for slower processor speeds to process frames per second faster than the current CISC that Intel Based processors use. Although Intel would argue that their chips work better now dealing with competing with RISC, the truth in the matter is, you can still process more video faster than a more powerful, more expensive PC version. Hell AMIGA systems built entirely around using Lightwave still compete today and these are systems that were developed some 10 years ago. You might remember the AMIGA as the PC system that rendered all of the graphics for Terminator 2 and for Sea Quest to name a few.

Yesterday Apple stated they will be moving over to Intel Chips and the x86 architecture. To me it just blew open their only reason for people who are on the fine line of PC/MAC to stay with PC. IF there is no advantage to going to a MAC other than the OS looks pretty, why then would I bother?

For quite some time I have been pondering purchasing a dual proc g5 and a duel 23″ HD cinema display from Apple for one reason. Web Design and video editing. That was it. I’m never going to leave my PC simply because of how long I’ve been using them, work with them, and you can’t get any games for the MAC. But I have to ask myself, what the hell are they thinking?

bbc link by way of Rob.

If you go here you can submit your RSS or Atom feed and your geo location and you’ll get listed. The problem is the site is clunky and if you’re using blogger you’re in for some fun with your rss feed, I opted to go to atom just so it would take my feed and list me, even still its half way broken. I’m sure it will work soon enough since the site is in beta though.

I’ve placed a link on the left side for local austin bloggers that are currently listed or you can just click here.

Click here. This is what I’ve spent most of yesturday afternoon playing.

I was at a local resturant at 11am today (my normal lunch time) and CNN was turned on following a police chase. They were hoping it’d be another OJ chase and were already working on the graphics. When I got back to work, there was nothing, CNN didn’t have anything, MSNBC, FOX, etc. Nothing.

I had to search to look for local news stations in the LA area and found this one.

ALHAMBRA

If you are my age circa mid twenties, you missed the last major tour of King Tut Exhibit. Now you have your chance to catch it this go-around.

Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, June 16-Nov. 15

Fort Lauderdale: Museum of Art, Dec. 15, 2005-April 23, 2006

Chicago: The Field Museum, May 26, 2006-Jan. 1, 2007

Philadelphia: The Franklin Institute, Feb. 3, -Sept. 30, 2007

I think I’ll see it this time, 2 years to find a way to get to one of these places is do-able.

This past weekend we had what you may call a geek together. Dozens of gamers came to Austin to congregate and play the latest computer games on the market and share files.

having to go back to work after a 4-day weekend sucks.

This are the interesting hits the site has recieved this month:

# hits % Search Field
————————
1 41 5.28% cambodian midget fighting team
2 29 3.74% midgets killed by lion
3 14 1.80% interesting historical facts
4 13 1.68% fluffer pics
5 10 1.29% condoms
6 10 1.29% king tut streisand
7 10 1.29% lion attacks midgets
8 8 1.03% cambodian midget army
9 7 0.90% 42 midgets killed by lion
10 7 0.90% austin blog
11 7 0.90% king tut barbra streisand
12 7 0.90% yang sihamoni president of the cmfl
13 6 0.77% ex-boyfriends penis size
14 6 0.77% lion kills 42 midgets
15 6 0.77% lion kills midgets

Long ago, I maintained that real life was usually far more interesting than fiction. It seems that whatever higher power there is out there has decided to prove that to me in spades- all within the last 24 hours.

See, it seems that my parents have held a secret back from me all my life- and for that matter, most of the time my siblings have been alive. Yesterday, apparently, these secrets decided to be revealed to me despite my best intentions.

It all started with a visist to my grandmother’s house. We began talking about things, and somehow the issue of my birth came up (I swear, I didn’t bring it up). It was then that my grandmother decided to tell me that between the time my sister was born and when I was born, my parents had had more than one miscarriage.

Now, this alone would have been disturbing enough for me. See, my parents never discussed this if it was true. Naturally, I had to confirm this. Cut to four hour later, and I’m fixing my sister’s computer (shockingly). I ask her if she had known about this or if it was legit. My sister said . “No, it isn’t. I had to check about that when I got pregnant the first time.” I mentioned that my grandmother said my mother had a condition called endomitriosis. My sister said “No, she wouldn’t have been able to have any of us if she had that.”

What she said next floored me. “Or her other child.”

…

My parents met in 1968, and were married in 1969. Before then, however, my mother had apparently gotten pregnant and at 16 had a child. She went to New Orleans during the pregnancy, and the child (a boy) was put up for adoption.

My sister found out about this by accident, when my mother (who in 1998 suffered a brain injury) mentioned it in passing a couple years ago. Not knowing if this was true, my sister went to my aunt. My aunt confirmed this, and my sister and brothers discussed this at length. They concluded “Man, how wierd is that?”

Now, I’m finding out about this for the first time. I’m not really sure how to process the information, to be honest. Should I look into this further? Is this person even alive? Who was the father?

Should I even check into this at all?

…

I don’t know, to be honest. And no, I’m not asking for advice. I just need to figure this out.

Out.

My own personal favorite living author has released a new book entitled “haunted”. Chuck Palahiunk has written such masterpieces as “Fight Club” and “Choke”. But with “Haunted he has really outdone himself.

This new book is composed in part of 23 VERY disturbing short stories. One of which has been released for promotion purposes. It is at once disgusting, emotionally disturbing and thought provoking. In other words, exactly what we have come to expect from Chuck.

If you want to read it, go here.

Then please tell me what you think. But be forwarned, at only a few paragraphs in legnth, it is a rough story to get through.

http://news.com.com/2100-7348-5722206.html

Certain things stand out in this article that is supposed to be about “cutting edge” technology. To me its just another aside to 1984.

Hewlett-Packard launched a product on Friday that helps governments check the digital identity of citizens.

The technology, called the HP National Identity System, is designed to be used in conjunction with a number of Microsoft products, including its .Net line of server, database and middleware programs. The companies plan to jointly develop, market and offer training for the authentication system.

The product can be used to authenticate visitors to government Web sites, to control access to services and manage citizens’ online identity, HP said.

In addition, the new product includes technology to make ID documents–such as passports, driver’s licenses and identity cards–more secure and “intelligent,” the company said. The technology can fulfill new secure ID requirements designed to heighten security at national borders, the company said.

The National Identity System can handle numerous tasks, including online and offline identity verification, live capture of demographic and biometric data, and secure access to documents. It’s also compatible with various biometric identification systems and incorporates public key infrastructure and digital signatures, the company said.

The governments of Italy, Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria have already begun to use the tools, HP said.

I find this disturbing. Don’t we already have a Social Security Number? Now we’re talking about a “citizens national id number”? The anonymous internet seems to be getting less and less anonymous. Although you could argue that people who are angry with this idea have something to hide. Well I do have something to hide. My privacy. Simple as that.

The future of the whole .NET infastructure means that every computer running a Microsoft Windows product will have more than just a unique IP address, but an identity that is linked to a data store, a central data store. This brings up all sorts of security risks, and the thought that yes, big brother is watching you and what websites you visit.

Everytime I discuss something like this - you know bring up the fact that it seems our freedoms are slowly going away - I get fnliii telling me, look you’re doing your conspiracy theory thing again. Well the way any government takes away your liberties and keeps track of you is slowly so as you don’t really notice, and the people that do notice and say something are called paranoid. Then before you notice you’re stuck in this world in which we say is free, but we have no real freedoms of expression or thought or speech. Already Muslims are persecuted in this country and if they say something unamerican.. they just might end up locked away with out any rights. I thought this country protected the right to free speech and thought? So is it wrong to call our government bad, to preach out against certain aspects of it?

I’m not saying that what some muslims say or do is right. I certainly don’t agree with the extremists. I say if you want to continue to say bad things about the governement get the hell out of the country. But point being, they should be allowed to say something without thought of the “thought police” locking them up.

I’m not saying this has happened yet, I’m just saying, wake up. Look around you at what might, and might not be happening. Be aware of your surroundings and how people react to things. In 10 years could we fear what we say online because we are tracked and can be locked up? What happened to the Internet being global and not controlled by one central government? Just how much are we giving up by continuing to use Microsoft products that identify and store our data, our personal information?