May 2007
Monthly Archive
Thu 31 May 2007
Posted by foxnomad under
Security[2] Comments
A good article by Schneier on Security.
The key to these countermeasures is to find the pattern: the common attack tactic that is worth defending against. That takes data. A single instance of an attack that didn’t work — liquid bombs, shoe bombs — or one instance that did — 9/11 — is not a pattern. Implementing defensive tactics against them is the same as my safari guide saying: “We’ve only ever heard of one tourist encountering a lion. He stared it down and survived. Another tourist tried the same thing with a leopard, and he got eaten. So when you see a lion….” The advice I was given was based on thousands of years of collective wisdom from people encountering African animals again and again.
Compare this with the Transportation Security Administration’s approach. With every unique threat, TSA implements a countermeasure with no basis to say that it helps, or that the threat will ever recur.
A bit on the long side, but worth the read.
Thu 31 May 2007
Today is World No Tobacco Day, sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO). In an effort to get people to stop smoking and using tobacco products every year themed day is set aside to make people aware of the dangers of smoking.
This year??s theme, “Smoke-Free Environments,” urges the public to go smoke-free which, according to WHO, is “the only effective measure to protect people from exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) which has been classified as carcinogenic to humans. Going smokefree is the only answer as neither ventilation nor filtration can reduce exposure levels of tobacco smoke indoors to levels that are considered acceptable.”
Tobacco does kill a large number of people each year, but they’ve done a piss-poor job of managing their public relations and could improve. It’s an uphill battle for the WHO since smoking is so cool, even pictures of it are neat.
Thu 31 May 2007
Posted by foxnomad under
Tech[2] Comments
StationRipper is a Windows program that lets you record streaming audio from the Internet. StationRipper is available in 3 downloads, with the free version allowing for up 25 records. After that is requires are reinstall. The other versions begin at $19.99 and allow for virtually unlimited recording. (Linux users can download this version.)
Those of you overseas can record satellite radio, watch movies will Alluc, rip and burn DVDs - or straight to your iPod, to keep in touch with home.
Wed 30 May 2007
Posted by foxnomad under
Politics ,
Security[2] Comments
Norway is rated the most peaceful nation on the planet, with Iraq the least. The GPI uses a variety of indicators to determine the entire list.
Each nation has detailed ratings by the GPI on a variety of peace factors (the USA - 96th - for example). Further click-thru will reveal what each parameter is and how it was calculated.
Scandinavia tends to do well on these sorts of surveys (like privacy), and in fact Europe in general.
Wed 30 May 2007
Posted by foxnomad under
CultureLeave a Comment
The largest party in the Swiss parliament is attempting to pass legislation that would ban minarets on buildings. The right-wing Swiss People’s Party argues that minarets (pictured right) are not required for worship, but rather are a symbol of Islamic law.
Across the country, there are only two small minarets, one in Zurich and one in Geneva, neither of which are permitted to make the call to prayer. In Switzerland’s capital Berne, the largest mosque is in a former underground car park.
Tensions between Europe’s governments and large Muslim immigrant population are on the rise. Do measure such as this help to reduce extremism or simply fuel the fire? Either way there is certainly an escalation on both sides and few attempts at looking at the causes of fundamentalism and reactionism.
Wed 30 May 2007
Posted by foxnomad under
Funny[3] Comments
Around here at foXnoMad, we’re always looking for some good travel tips from those who know the game.
Borat is currently working of book of travel advice to be set in two parts - one for Kazakhs and the other for Westerners. The book titled, Borat: Touristic Guidings To Minor Nation of U.S. and A and Borat: Touristic Guidings To Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan already has a publisher making a release date seem soon in the works.
Personally, if the book is half as good as the movie - and how can it not be - I’ll pick it up ASAP. Until then you can munch on some offensive Borat quotes and Sacha Cohen’s comments on racism.
Wed 30 May 2007
Posted by foxnomad under
Car ,
Tech[2] Comments
Those of you searching for directions using Google Maps in major cities across the US can get real-life images from the ground.
Next to the “Map-Satellite-Hybrid”options at the top of any Google map you can see what San Francisco actually looks like.
[via Lifehacker]
Tue 29 May 2007
Posted by foxnomad under
Culture ,
FunnyLeave a Comment Tue 29 May 2007
Posted by foxnomad under
Food1 Comment
On almost any international trip we’ve certainly encountered some foods that, well, we are just not accustomed to. Even New York and Louisiana are home to two of the top 10 most bizarre travel foods.
- Malaysia - Durian; Durian is considered a delicacy in some parts of Malaysia, and has been known to sell for $50 (U.S.) for one fruit. Many people love the taste of durian, but its powerful aroma is so offensive to some that airplanes, trains, and buses often prohibit the fruit in passenger areas.
- Madrid, Spain - Callos; A casserole made with blood sausage and tripe, which comes from the intestines of various domestic animals. This dish is popular in Taberna de Antonio Sanchez in Madrid, Spain, where it is often served as tapas, small dishes designed for sharing.
read the rest of this post >>
Tue 29 May 2007
Posted by foxnomad under
CarLeave a Comment
The next time you hit the road on business, make sure to calculate your millage using multiple online map services. For business road trips you are reimbursed for the number of miles driven, not gas bought. Differences in online map services means a variation of an average of 2 miles.
So if you use Google Maps and compare to MapQuest, you might be able to squeeze out a few extra bucks. At 48.5 cents per mile, and a few road trips per year, it adds up.
To maximize the efficiency of your gas millage avoid traffic, find out the weather forecast along the way, or take public transportation.
Next Page »
Loading ...
