3. 2006 March

3.1 Wednesday, March 1

1. Illegal, warrant-less surveillance authorized by Bush: [239], [252], [7]

2. ``When Democracy Failed: The Warnings of History''. [115]

3.2 Wednesday, March 8

1. Senate agrees to ignore Bush's warrant-less, illegal surveillance: [349], [150]

   Here's the body of the letters I sent to my sentators & my representative:

   Regarding the decision on 2006 March 7 of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence not to continue investigation of the illegal, warrant-less surveillance which was authorized by President Bush:

   This is outrageous. This may be the worst possible outcome because, with the establishment of a seven-member subcommittee, the Senate is legalizing the surveillance AND keeping it secret.

   The surveillance is illegal & the perpetrators should be on trial in a criminal court. And if the surveillance is to be legalized, it must be controlled through the FISA court.

   The Senate has given away our 4th Amendment rights. Maybe the members of that Senate committee were not so concerned with justice & legality as with being in on the action.

   The Senate has betrayed us.

3.3 Thursday, March 9

1. Freedom of Information Act at United States Department of Justice

2. The Freedom of Information Act 5 U.S.C. section 552, As Amended By Public Law No. 104-231, 110 Stat. 3048. It isull text of the Freedom of Information Act in a form showing all amendments to the statute made by the ``Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996''.

3. FOIA at National Security Agency.

   Take note of ``Joules'', NSA's own cute cartoon character. I've visited half a dozen government web sites today, & I've seen only one cute, cuddly cartoon character (or attempts at one). The NSA has the only one. Could it be their attempt to change their image as the favorite tool of a fascist Big Brother?

3.4 Saturday, March 11

1. The Adventures of Inspector Lestrade. By M.J. Trow. [411]

3.5 Sunday, March 12

1. Chaos and Order in the Capital Markets. By Edgar E. Peters. [211]

2. Component-Based Software Engineering. Edited by George T. Heineman and William T. Councill. [117]

3. ``Silver bullet'' milestones in software history. By Robert L. Glass. Commun. ACM. 2005 August. [101]

4. WiFi attack vectors. By Hal Berghel and Jacob Uecker. [30]

5. Is the thrill gone?. By Sanjeev Arora and Bernard Chazelle. [17]

6. Spyware was inevitable. By Steve Gibson. [99]

7. Why spyware poses multiple threats to security. By Roger Thompson. [407]

8. What do consumers really know about spyware?. By Xiaoni Zhang. [435]

9. The deceptive behaviors that offend us most about spyware. By Neveen Farag Awad and Kristina Fitzgerald. [19]

10. Is spyware an Internet nuisance or public menace?. By Qing Hu and Tamara Dinev. [130]

11. Spyware: a little knowledge is a wonderful thing. By Mark B. Schmidt and Kirk P. Arnett. [240]

12. Web browsing and spyware intrusion. By Sudhindra Shukla and Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah. [259]

13. Busting the ghost in the machine. By Kirk P. Arnett and Mark B. Schmidt. [16]

14. Spyware: a view from the (online) street. By Robin Poston and Thomas F. Stafford and Amy Hennington. [217]

15. Competitor analysis and its defenses in the e-marketplace. By Yihua Philip Sheng and Peter P. Mykytyn, Jr. and Charles R. Litecky. [246]

16. Software as art. By Gregory W. Bond. [36]

17. Sharing research in the 21st century: borrowing a page from open source software. By Donald E. Hardaway. [112]

3.6 Monday, March 13

1. ``Congress folds on Bush spying''. [288]

   Most important paragraph in that article, in my opinion, is ``This is a frightening moment in U.S. history that transcends partisan politics. Fundamental checks and balances to the power of the executive are being trampled.''

   The only detail in which I disagree with the author is that, in her final paragraph, she suggests that the Democrats would fix the problem if they held the majority. I used to believe that, but now I'm sure that the Democrats are thoroughly impotent. Freedom will find no saviour among the Democratic members of Congress.

2. ``Wiretaps require warrants''. [378]

3. ``Domestic spying: Still in the dark''. [297]

4. ``Democratic senator Feingold plans speed on Bush censure''. [294]

3.6.1 What warmongering Bush says about Iran

1. ``Bush blames Iran for some bombs in Iraq''.

2. ``Nuclear expert: Too late to stop Iran''. At Aljazeera.net. [353]

3. ``Tyan brings supercomputing to the desktop''. By Charlie Damerjian. [56]

4. ``Bush defends Iraq policy, points finger at Iran''. At Reuters. [278]

5. ``Bush says some Iraqi bombs made in Iran''. At Reuters. [284]

6. ``After Iraq, Bush Will Attack His Real Target''. By Eric Margolis. 2002 November. [181]

   It's amazing that Margolis's essay was published in 2002.

7. ``History of Iran: Arming Iraq: A Chronology of U.S. Involvement''. By John King. [149]

8. ``International Terrorist George W. Bush''. By Kersplebedeb. [147]

9. ``Bush the Infallible''. By Jeffrey A. Tucker. [412]

3.7 Tuesday, March 14

1. ``Blair warns Iran over Iraq bombs''. At BBC News. 2005 October 6. [264]

   This was on 2005 October 6, & it says that some British diplomat originated the accusations the day before. So Bush's accusations yesterday were not original.

   The news story says that Iraqi President Talabani doubts the accusations.

2. ``Exclusive: Iraq Weapons - Made in Iran?''. By Brian Ross. 2006 March 6. [229]

   Notice that ABC News's information came from ``U.S. military & intelligence officials''.

3. ``US 'pushing for Iran regime change'''. At Aljazeera.net. [371]

4. ``Israeli Forces Lay Siege to Palestinian Jail''. By Steven Erlanger and Greg Myre. At The New York Times. [83]

   The British & U.S. governments removed their monitors from the prison in fear for the safety of the monitors.

   I would think the fears were inspired my knowledge that Israel was about to raid the prison, but Israel says it raided the prison because the monitors were removed, & that removal broke the agreement to imprison Mr. Arafat & the other prisoners.

   Israel wants it their way or no way. Absolut Israel.

5. ``UN Council members still divided over Iran crisis''. At Reuters. [361]

6. ``UN impasse on Iran''. [362]

7. ``Russian, Iran hold nuclear consultations in Moscow: official''. [343]

8. ``Sure, Let's Vote on That Censure Resolution, Republicans Say''. By Melanie Hunter. [134]

9. ``Supporting Feingold''. By Stephen Elliott. [79]

10. ``Feingold in Cheney's sights''. [305]

11. ``Flavia Colgan: The Republican Guard Protects the President''. By Flavia Colgan. [45]

12. ``Note to Moronic Democratic Senators: Americans Can't Stand George Bush''. By Cenk Uygur. At Huffington Post. [415]

3.7.1 Too much information

Here at work, we're noticing that if you give a technical person too much information (& not just on technical topics), he is at worst bored for a few seconds while you talk, & he's probably at little interested. In other words, no harm done whatsoever.

However, if you give too much information to a non-technical person, you can ruin their day. Seriously. They are like ``You told me more than I wanted to know. You hurt me. You really hurt me.'' It's like using their brains even the tiniest more than they wanted to use it causes them great pain. ``You hurt me, man. I'm going to cry.''

3.8 Wednesday, March 15

1. ``Powell: Iraq hiding weapons, aiding terrorists''. [336]

2. ``Iraq Denial and Deception: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Addresses the U.N. Security Council''. By White House. [127]

3. ``US: Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction''. By Neil Mackay. [178]

4. ``Iraq and Weapons of Mass Destruction''. By Jeffrey Richelson. [225]

5. ``CIA's final report: No WMD found in Iraq''. [265]

6. ``Federal habeas corpus pending in publisher's case''. [304]

7. ``Bush censure: Democrats tempted''. By David Lightman. [168]

   Representative John B. Larson ``could be persuaded'' to vote to cencure or impeach Bush if he had more information? More information? More informatoin?!!?

   Bush himself says he authorized the un-warranted surveillance which violates FISA & the 4th Amendment of the Constitution, & he says he will keep authorizing it. Jezus H. Krist what more information do they need?

   The Republicans are almost fascists, but the Democrats are spineless pussies.

8. ``Congress won't defend us''. [290]

3.9 Thursday, March 16

3.9.1 United States launches major offensive in Iraq

It's the largest air assult since the US invaded Iraq.

It's target is a resistence stronghold north of Baghdad.

The US military predicts the operation will last several days.

1. ``US and Iraq forces launch major offensive''. [364]

2. ``U.S. begins large air assult in Iraq''. [365]

3.9.2 Iran

President Bush said today that Iran is the greatest threat that the United States faces.

Bush says that a diplomatic solution is important, but he repeats that he may resort to military action.

Iran says it would be happy to discuss & negotiate about Iraq. Two news stories ([282] & [315]) say that the US has responded to Iran's invitation to talk with a reminder that Bush's first strike policy is still an option. A third story ([241]) says that the United States would like to talk to Iraq.

Which version is correct? Is it possible that the first two stories were released before the United States had replied to Iran's invitation, & the third story was released after the United States accepted Iran's invitation?

I notice that even with their acceptance of Iran's invitation, the United States implies that it will reject the offer if the discussion topic is limited to Iraq. Sure, it would be nice to discuss Iraq & nuclear disagreements, but discussion must start somewhere. If the United States demands some kind of all-or-nothing, our-way-or-the-highway (which it has demanded for the past six years), diplomacy will never begin. Then both sides will claim that the reason diplomacy hasn't begun is that the other side won't cooperate.

Even while saying it would like to accept Iran's offer to talk, the United States continues economic sanctions against Iran. [281]

1. ``Bush identifies Iran as major challenge to security''. [282]

2. ``Iran ready to talk with US about Iraq''. [315]

3. ``U.S. willing to talk with Iran about Iraq''. By Bary Schweid. [241]

4. ``Bush extends U.S. economic sanctions against Iran''. [281]

5. ``L.A. Times rewrites history of Bush incompetence on Iran''. By Nico. [201]

3.10 Friday, 2006 17

1. ``Recursive Conditional Schema Theorem, Convergence and Population Sizing in Genetic Algorithms, local copy''. By Riccardo Poli. [216]

2. ``An Upper Bound on the Convergence Rates of Canonical Genetic Algorithms''. By Yong Gao. [95]

3. ``Adaptive Reservoir Genetic Algorithm: Convregence Analysis''. By Christian Munteanu and Agostinho Rosa. [195]

4. ``Not all linear functions are equally difficult for the compact genetic algorithm''. By Stefan Droste. [68]

3.11 Sunday, March 19

1. Rogue Berserker. By Fred Saberhagen. [235]

2. ``Why DRM is bad for everyone''. By Cory Doctorow. [64]

3.12 Monday, March 20

1. ``The Surprising Truth About Ugly Websites''. By Mark Daoust. [57]

   Though the title implies that ugly web sites sell, the Mr Daoust concludes that simple, functional web sites sell.

   Simplicity & functionality is more important than initial appearance? Big shocker.

2. ``CIA Officers Warn of Iraq Civil War, Contradicting Bush's Optimism''. By Warren P. Strobel and Jonathan S. Landay. 2004 January. [388]

   Summary: In 2004 January, the CIA warned President Bush that Iraq was heading towards civil war.

3. ``US senators warn of Iraq civil war''. By Justin Webb. At BBC News. [420]

   Summary: In 2004 April, the two party-leading senators warned President Bush that Iraq could be heading for civil war.

4. ``US envoy warns of Iraq civil war''. At BBC News. [368]

5. ``Civil War in Iraq?''. By William S. Lind. 2004 July. [169]

   Summary: Mr Lind makes the case that civil war was in progress in Iraq in 2004.

6. ``President Addresses Nation, Discusses Iraq, War on Terror''. 2005 June. [266]

   In 2005 June, President Bush said ``The terrorists - both foreign and Iraqi - failed to stop the transfer of sovereignty. They failed to break our Coalition and force a mass withdrawal by our allies. They failed to incite an Iraqi civil war.''

7. ``Fact: Up in the air''. By Seymour M. Hersh. 2005 November. [122]

8. ``Bush downplays Iraq civil war fear''. [279]

9. ``Impeach Bush chorus grows''. By Sarah Baxter. [24]

10. ``Push to impeach Bush deserves Congress' time''. By Rick Senften. [242]

11. ``GOP senators introduce bill on surveillance''. By Katherine Shrader. [253]

3.13 Wednesday, March 22

1. ``Security Council tries to end Iran impasse''. At Aljazeera.net. [345]

2. ``Afghan convert's trial put in doubt''. At Aljazeera.net. [271]

3. ``Iraqi civil war threatens region''. At Aljazeera.net. [319]

4. Shi'a Islam at Wikipedia

5. Sunni Islam at Wikipedia

6. P3D: a Lisp-based format for representing general 3D models. [425]

3.14 Monday, March 27

1. ``Senate Struggles to Craft Immigration Reform Compromise''. By Johanna Neuman. [198]

   Aren't you glad that our senate is spending it's time with the very important, urgent issue of illegal emmigrants? It's not like there's anything nearly as important which they could address instead.

   • It's not like we're at war with Iraq.

   • It's not like we're in a sticky diplomatic situation with Iran.

   • Or North Korea.

   • It's not like the president has authorized wiretaps without warrants, ...

   • admitted to authorizing them, & ...

   • said that he'll keep doing it.

   Nope, our diligent senators have chosen to address the most important issue it can: a few thousand wetbacks who are trying to make ends meet.

2. ``Iraq recruitment centre blast kills 40''. At Aljazeera.net. [317]

3. ``Baghdad buries mosque raid victims''. At Aljazeera.net. [276]

   Note: The article claims that US troops may have killed the Shia.

   I know that you're thinking ``America is the freest country the world has ever known, & I know this because I have such good access to information''. With such a sophisticated communications network & such a toothless press, how can you be sure? If you read newspapers from other countries instead of drinking the cool-aide, you wouldn't be so sure.

4. ``30 beheaded bodies found in Iraq''. At Aljazeera.net. [268]

5. ``Moussaoui admits to White House plot''. At Aljazeera.net. [328]

6. ``American unease over Iraq grows''. At Aljazeera.net. [273]

7. ``OR ... why every city council needs at least one geek''. By hughesjr. [132]

8. ``Virtual Virus is First Simulation of an Entire Life Form''. By Ker Than. [404]

9. ``Windows is so slow, but Why?''. By Steve Lohr and John Markoff. At The New York Times. [174]

3.15 Tuesday, March 28

1. Ratpoison window manager. http://www.nongnu.org/ratpoison/

3.16 Wednesday, March 29

1. ``EBay case goes before Supreme Court''. By Bambi Francisco. [88]

2. ``Supreme Court hears arguments on Guantanamo tribunals''. [355]

3. ``Supreme Court justice scolds reporters over interpretation of gesture''. [357]

4. ``Supreme Court judge says civil rights for Guantanamo inmates 'crazy'''. [356]

5. ``Guantánamo's day of reckoning in Supreme Court''. [309]

6. ``Man gets 30 for Bush assassination plot''. By Matthew Barakat. [22]