Junk

An axe angles from my neighbor's ashcan;
It is hell's handiwork, the wood not hickory,
The flow of the grain not faithfully followed.
The shivered shaft rises from a shellheap
Of plastic playthings paper plates,
And the sheer shards of shattered tumblers
That were not annealed for the time needful.
At the same curbside, a cast-off cabinet
Of wavily warped unseasoned wood
Waits to be trundled in the trashman's truck.
Haul them off! Hide them! the heart winces
For junk and gimcrack for jerrybuilt things
And the men who make them for a little money,
Bartering pride like the bought boxer
Who pulls his punches, or the paid-off jockey
Who in the home-stretch holds in his horse. (1-12)

-Richard Wilbur

Deep Thinkers
"Cephalopod" means "head-footed" so I guess this makes sense. Who knew?

You're All Felons!
The EFF has a funny little Flash piece about the need for a legal, widespread system that lets you download music.

Of course, while it is reminiscent of this masterpiece, it's not nearly as funny.

Maybe if you join you can help them be funnier.

Doo wacka doo wacka doo.

Lights, Camera, Revolution
Tony earned my undying admiration once again by overcoming adversity, mocking his own celebrity and quoting one of the hardest bands of our time.

Seeing Change
This morning Doc pointed me to Ming the Mechanic and a few of his thoughts on change. Interesting stuff.

Ming was at the "Live From the Blogosphere" event last year. So was Doc. I hope there is something like it again this year.

Increased Productivity
Maybe it can be explained by some kind of planetary alignment. Maybe I have found myself square in the middle of an energy vortex. I don't know what it is that would explain my sudden spurt of motivation. Maybe it's implied peer pressure. I'm not the only one, but I feel like I'm keeping up.

Pet Junkie has been tweaking her site, consequently elevating her level of geekiness.

Circa has changed his entire online identity and his mood seems to have changed with it...which is nice to see. He asked me in an email if I had avoided any big steps since my last job. He wondered if it was possible that the malaise many of our friends have found themselves in was indicative of a societal pace that is burning out a generation of young people at record speed.

I don't think so. I have noticed a trend among friends of mine. They are driven to do things they feel passionate about; things that mean something to them and the world they live in. They are not necessarily motivated by the promise of wealth and material gain. The search for a career has integrated a spiritual element. People want to do the things that will keep them comfortable and that are good for their soul.

But the working world, in this economy, has little room for such noble quests. It's a challenge of the time, prefaced by the jubilation and optimism of the .com boom. We entered the work force during one of the most optimistic, and flagrantly irresponsible, times in our economic history. That has to tweak your perspective some. Things are different now and they seem to be getting better.

In other news...
I am strongly considering a move to Venezuela.

Hippo 2.0
It's the latest in urban and suburban home defense and there is absolutely nothing like it on the market today.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a family. Is Hippo 2.0 safe enough to keep around small children?
We understand that keeping families safe is one of the primary reasons why people are interested in Hippo 2.0. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that our product meets and exceeds the strictest safety standards. Our system of genetic engineering and full complement of optional mechanical controls make our product less of a liability than more common home security measures such as guard dogs or firearms.

How does Hippo 2.0 differ from Hippo 1.0?
While Hippo 1.0 was the inspiration for our exciting new product, it is simply too large and unpredictable to be suitable for home use. During our research we decided that the design could be improved upon through careful genetic manipulation. Hippo 2.0 is smaller, smarter and more versatile than its more familiar counterpart.

Do you have to have a moat to use Hippo 2.0?
While Hippo 2.0 has been optimized for moat installations for the ultimate in home security, we realize that this is not a practical solution for many homeowners. That is why we engineered Hippo 2.0 to be backwards compatible with more common suburban pool environments. We have even taken it one step further by building in features that make it an effective resource for keeping your pool clean (Remora™.)

Is Hippo 2.0 designed exclusively for home security and defense?
Our product is no one-trick hippo, that’s for sure. While designed first and foremost for home defense, Hippo 2.0 capably fulfills the role of a domesticated animal by providing safe entertainment for people of any age. It is possible to teach Hippo 2.0 to fetch, catch, shake hands, and more. Optional upgrades are available that allow Hippo 2.0 to rescue previously identified friends and family from drowning, adding a significant level of poolside safety.

Will Hippo 2.0 fit through the doorways in my house?
Yes! Our product is designed to fit comfortably through any standard seven-foot doorway. There is little need for structural changes to your home if you plan to limit Hippo 2.0 to ground floor usage. Some homeowners may want to get a free home evaluation from one of the trained professionals in our distribution network to determine whether or not their home is structurally capable of handling Hippo 2.0 in multi-level structures.

Will Hippo 2.0 attack friends who come to visit?
Any person who has not been Introduced© to Hippo 2.0 is considered a potential threat. The Introduction Process takes only a few seconds and is comprehensively explained in the Hippo 2.0 Users Manual. We have also built in an Immediate Override System™ (IOS) designed for use when you have uninvited guests.

How is Hippo 2.0 better than traditional home security measures like guard dogs or firearms?
We have successfully engineered a product that is not only more versatile than today’s most common home defense methods; it’s safer. Hippo 2.0 has been tested to be safe and predictable enough to be used around children. Easy training makes introducing new people to Hippo 2.0 simple and our Immediate Override System™ (IOS) helps ensure you never end up having an uninvited guest scaling a tree to safety.

Will I have to house train Hippo 2.0?
While Hippo 2.0 is certainly small enough and smart enough to be allowed into your home for brief periods, we do not recommend you leave your Hippo 2.0 indoors for any significant duration.

Is Hippo 2.0 expensive to maintain?
We have engineered a great deal of efficiency into Hippo 2,0. Despite it’s larger size, it will consume about as much food as a small rabbit. Otherwise, you can expect veterinary bills similar to what you would incur with any other household pet.

Does Hippo 2.0 come with a warranty?
Because Hippo 2.0 is still a product of nature, it is impossible to offer a warranty on parts and labor. It is for this reason that we offer a 5-year replacement guarantee free of charge. We also have optional extensions to 7, 10 and 15-year plans that are available for a moderate fee.

Will a Hippo 2.0 installation help lower the rates for my homeowner’s insurance?
While Hippo 2.0 has been tested and approved by many of the nation’s leading insurance companies, each company is different. We suggest speaking with your insurance agent to find out if Hippo 2.0 can help lower your rates.

Is there anyone who can attest to the overall effectiveness of Hippo 2.0?
No one wants to entrust the safety of their homes and family to an untested and unproven device. Check out our testimonials page to see what some of our satisfied customers have to say about Hippo 2.0.

Testimonials are forthcoming

I Love Doc Searls
Let me get that out of the way first, lest someone think what I am about to say is some inflammatory attempt to generate traffic. The man is smarter than me. He has seen more of the world, and even the state of California, than I have. I believe he is a fellow Mac user. He is a much more reliable blogger...a billion times more.

Now, he is the one who posted a comment about blogrolls first. He said they were a pain in the ass. His words, not mine. He also says old school bloggers like himself maintain them for the edification of their readers. Well Doc, I'm a reader and your blogroll is useless to me...in its current form.

I'm sure there there are a bunch of thought provoking blogs in there. But have you looked at it lately? There are 12,000 cryptically named sites listed. And, well, I'm just too lazy to sort through it using trial and error. (Please refer to the scarce and irregular posts in this blog as proof of my claim.) I need some kind of blogroll etymology that can help me make sense of it all.

My impassioned plea: break it down for me big man. Bring in a subcategory or two. Joi's random faceroll is about as useful to me as your monumental index. As it stands now, I see a list of non sequiturs, something that could be remedied with a modest re-org and a few headers.

Or don't. No one reads on the Web anyway. (Couldn't resist.)

Thanks Aaron
This glorious link was sent to me by the unflappable, unstoppable Mr. Hand. Enjoy!

Mystery Solved
Finally someone offers up scientific proof.