Processing 1.0 _ALPHA_ >> Examples

This is a new Graphics/Animation program I read about in Wired this month. The sample linked below is very cool. Open Source ROX!

Processing 1.0 _ALPHA_ >> Examples

Missouri State Supreme Court Rules Execution of Juvenile "Cruel and Unusual"

Hopefully, this will be a growing trend and become the overwhelming precedent.

SC84454: State ex rel. Christopher Simmons, Petitioner v. Donald P. Roper, Superintendent, Potosi Correctional Center, Respondent.

There's more on Simmons' case on my client's site, the International Justice Project

Nominees unveiled for 4th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards

One of my favorite bands and friends from Miami made the list. The Spam Allstars have been nominated in the category of "Best Pop Instrumental Album" for ¡Fuacata! Live. The Latin Grammy's air tomorrow night.

Nominees unveiled for 4th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards

Peanut the Camera Van

I had a van once. I never dreamed of turning into a camera though!

Camera Van .net

Guantanamo Bay Articles - the International Justice Project

A site that I built and continue to maintain has just developed a new page with articles on issues with Guantanamo Bay. It's quite informative and will continue to be updated. The IJP really is becoming an incredible resource for information on Death Penalty issues. Check it out:

Guantanamo Bay Articles - the International Justice Project

Overtime Plan Draws Angry Letters (washingtonpost.com)

Let's hope the people who wrote letters also vote.

Overtime Plan Draws Angry Letters (washingtonpost.com)

Perfect Bush rebuttal

"I never said anything about Nuclear capabilities--I said Nukular. Everybody knows there ain't no such thing as Nukular weapons!"

The T'inator

Go ahead, send the A Team's biggest baddest ass to rough up your favorite (or not so favorite) web site:

The T'inator

A Totally Pointless Game

I played this game way too long last night and my thumb is KILLING ME. Waste time at your own risk:

save a diving hellicopter

Cold Soups to Counteract Summer Swelter (washingtonpost.com)

I was with my wife in NYC a couple of weeks ago. We visited a restaurant called Cookies and Couscous near the Washington Square/NYU area. There was no doubt that we would eat there when she saw they had cold soups. Everything we ate was divine and the chef/owner was a trip. He not only pontificated on the African wine we were considering, but also let us sample it before buying a bottle. Check it out sometime.

Here's an article with some recipes for cold soups:

Cold Soups to Counteract Summer Swelter (washingtonpost.com)

Book Swap - Neat Idea

American University, the school where I work, is hosting a book swap. This is such a cool idea:

"Bring up to 10 books (fiction, non-fiction, biographies, travel, children’s books) in good condition, paperback or hard cover (no textbooks/no magazines), to the lobby of Bender between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. the morning of the Swap. Come back between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and take away the same number of books you brought. No monies will be exchanged."

"Also, if you are interested in being a “book buddy” to the person who chooses to read your book, put a note at the front of the book with your contact information so that after the book has been read, you might discuss it. "

"Books left over will be donated to the University Library"

Imagine if this was a music swap. . .the RIAA would go nuts!! OK, fine--not really. Exchanging original, bought copies of music recordings is neither illegal nor unscrupulous, but somehow it seems that a community based sharing system like this is exactly what the copyrighted industries wish to prevent. Alright, maybe not--but still. . .they suck anyway. . .for all sorts of reasons. . .

House Votes to Allow Overhaul of Overtime (washingtonpost.com)

Finally, more press on this crock-of-a-plan. Sorry I didn't finish my own analysis/report on it. It's a lot to digest!

House Votes to Allow Overhaul of Overtime (washingtonpost.com)

'AOL Journals' To Bring Blogs To Millions (TechNews.com)

This entry was a dandy done through the new beta google companion bar button, ". . .create a blog post pointint to this web page. . ."

Also in the article:
TiVo settings from your AIM through a bot!
Blurb on "weapons of mass destruction" search through google and the "I'm feeling Lucky" button.

'AOL Journals' To Bring Blogs To Millions (TechNews.com)

More Thoughts on Fairness in Labor

I've done more reading on the FLSA issue, namely the Economic Policy Institute's Briefing Paper "Eliminating the Right to Overtime Pay", and I've also begun talking with friends about underlying and otherwise similar issues. I still find it fascinating that I cannot easily find direct documentation of the proposed changes on either the White House web site or the Department of Labor's. This underscores for me the evident motivation behind these kinds of policy changes.

Here's a basic outline of the changes that are described and analyzed in greater detail in the EPI's briefing:

The current weekly salary level under which all employees are guaranteed overtime pay is $155 a week. The proposed changes would raise this to $425 a week. This seems like the only unambiguously positive change in the proposal. With this proposed change, more low wage workers will have the right to overtime pay. The report points out, however, that the proposed change is "not indexed for inflation" and so "will protect fewer and fewer workers over time." This is a reality that is constantly troubling in most economic policies that I have ever learned anything about which affect the quality of living and the statndards for income levels in the US. The minimum wage is a perfect example of policy that is both out dated and totally out of touch with the realities of current economic rates--evidenced by many institutions' and states' adopting living wage policies.

I've got to go see more of NYC now, so I'll have to write more on this later. . .is anybody out there. . .breathing?

Overtime Pay

First, take a look at the double speak from the official White House web-site.

Can someone please explain what this statement, or the proposed act means? Stock options, overtime calculations. . .? What the. . .? I couldn't find anything on the White House web site that was more directly related to the "Family-Time Flexibility Act."

Next, there has been slow, limited coverage of the government's move to revise the FLSA rules on overtime pay. Here's an AlterNet article on the "Family-Time Flexibility Act."

One study shows that these changes could eliminate overtime pay for nearly 8 million workers. The Economic Policy Institute reports that the "Department of Labor proposal means lower pay, longer hours for millions of workers." So, is this an integral part of the President's plan to put and leave more of the American worker's hard earned money in his own pocket? Notice how the majority of news on this issue came out a couple of days after the Departmen of Labor's 90-day public comment period which ended Monday, June 30, 2003.

This policy is so obviously geared toward protecting Bush's bottom line--corporate America's bottom line--profits. A nice smelly crock for us all to steep.

the (anti) ad continues?

I can't help it, I live in the world of the end user. . .

Google has a new beta of their browser companion bar out. It's got like a million new tools/buttons. My favorites so far:

- Pop-Up blocker. It's quickly toggled on and off and you can Ctrl-click on a link that promps a pop-up so you can allow just that one and add it to a list of allowed pop-ups.

- Previous and next search result buttons. Do a google search, follow a result link and never return to the results page for the next or previous result. Just click the appropriate button on the Google companion

- AND more appropriate for this medium--Blogger button. Click to create a blog post pointing to the current web page! Snazzy!

blogkomm

that's what I'm talking about!! thanks to for some great, practically drag and drop, PHP.

Status of blogbuoy

Alright, I've scoured the web looking for a way to allow users to respond to blogbuoy. I've found several possible solutions and will be testing them out soon. Meanwhile, if you have any comments, questions or suggestions, email me at blogbuoy@webbuoy.net.

Soon enough, I will loosen up, quit the business talk, and get on with the literofunk. 'till then. . .tata!

Groovin'

Alright, for starters, if you're not listening to 3wk yet, you must start now! These folks have it all right as far as I'm concerned. Free underground internet radio--modern and classic. You can pay for a Hi-Fi signal if you want, but the lo-fi isn't too bad.

I've picked up so many new bands and titles--old and new--on the constant stream from 3wk! My favorite memory of listening to 3wk is a recurring one--ah the memories. . .(note to self, start a discussion on recurring dreams--I've got some doozies!). . .listening to the classic underground half, sort of passively, and hearing someone just ripping on vocals. I thought to myself, "Man, that sounds like Jeff Buckley. I wonder who it is." So, I click over to the player and there it is--Tim Buckley, Gypsy Woman!. Now I have heard of Jeff's dad before and have even downloaded the occasional MP3, but I had never heard anything like this. I resisted the urge to go home, turn off the lights and dive into my depression listening to Grace and, instead, linked to Insound where I bought my first Tim Buckley CD.

That's all for now. Sorry if this came out like an ad for 3wk. I just couldn't help myself.