Thursday, October 31, 2002

Yahoo is switching to the open-source scripting language, PHP, for all of its dynamic webpages [News.com].
12:54:52 PM    


Have you ever wondered what could be so bad about those little silica gel packets that prompts manufacturers to place the label "DO NOT EAT" on them? Wonder no more [lunarpolicy.net].

Friends, it turns out we have been cruelly decieved. There is absolutely no reason that we should not eat silica gel. It is, in fact, quite harmless. Silica gel is sodium silicate, and is similer to a purified form of sand. It is used to keep products at low humidity, and can absorb up to one third of its own weight in water.

That's making me hungry, I think I'll go try a packet. [link from MetaFilter]
12:46:31 PM    



I'm sure everyone has made the comparison between George Dubbya and Dan Quayle, but let's make the comparison more concrete [Seattle P-I].
12:13:18 PM    


Victoria's Secret modelThere's been a lot of talk lately about the Washington Supreme Court's decision that "up-skirting" does not qualify as an illegal practice under that state's current voyeurism laws. Now, the city of Seattle is looking at passing a law that would make this a misdemeanor [Seattle P-I].

I don't really see what all of the fuss is about. Magazines, newspapers and TV are constantly showing ads of women in nothing more than underware or lingerie. Go to a public beach or pool and you will see women wearing bikinis or tight fitting and revealing swim suits. Yet, this is considered acceptable public display. So, why is looking up a skirt so much worse than these other things? If a woman feels uncomfortable about her underwear being seen in public, she should dress in such a way that would conceal the view of these "private" garments from any would-be voyeur. For instance, she could choose to wear jeans instead of a skirt, or she could put on a pair of shorts under her skirt.

I will agree with the court that this type of behavior is odd, but the angry reaction to it is odd as well. What moral law is being broken here? What harm is being committed? If a person chooses to wear clothing that so easily exposes what is, to them, a very private thing, that is their decision. The blame should not be placed on others simply for the act of looking, even if the act of looking requires effort. Certainly, many a husband has gotten a kink in his neck trying to get a view of a young, unavailable woman walking by.
11:48:53 AM    



The world's third largest automaker is planning to convert their entire line of vehicles to gas-electric hybrids by 2012 [Auto.com]. Toyota, maker of the Prius hybrid, says that through mass production, they can bring down the extra $3000 per car cost of current hybrids.
11:25:51 AM