Ober's Doxology

2007-01-12T15:23:00.000Z

E-Voting Hijinks: Florida Style

Check out this article over at Security Focus on Florida's - and by extension, the country's - e-Voting "issues."

2007-01-12T14:28:00.000Z

2.6.20 Virtualization

I found this article over at Linux.com about the steady progress of virtualization in the Linux Kernel.

The quote one resource from the article: "Essentially this is building a super chroot facility."

2007-01-04T15:06:00.000Z

A Greener Wal-Mart

Yesterday's Times had an article about Wal-Mart's new initiatives to make itself more environmentally friendly. This is similar to an article I read a few weeks ago in Outside mag. (thanks to reader Saw Donkey for the subscription).

The article touches on Wal-Mart's support of compact fluorescent light bulbs. There are plenty of tid-bits about CF bulbs in the article that should convince you to switch if you haven't done so already. Take a look at the multi-media and graphs for more info on CF.

Mrs. Ober and I have 48 bulbs in our house. Since we purchased our house in 2003, we've managed to get 15 of our bulbs to CF. However, the majority of our bulbs are in our track lights, outside flood lights, or hanging lights that have not burned out yet and are not used as often as the lamps. Those are slated to be replaced with CF when the time comes. (Two flood lights are out! Time to up the number to 17 by tonight).

Go Wal-Mart? Go Obers!

2006-12-28T15:49:00.000Z

Winter Upgrade and Maintenance Season

Winter is upon us and so that means two things for cyclists: Riding the road bike on reasonably warm days and overhauling the mountain bikes. We've already put in our orders for our various component needs here at Team Ober. Here's my list.

I'm long overdue for a new crank set. I replaced my bottom bracket this spring but that was only a stop gap. It's sort of obvious what I'm putting on the bike...and that would be the Shimano XT Hollowtech II.

The most embarrassing component on my current bike is the stock stem. At 10 degrees and 90mm it is a very unaggressive and safe configuration that no longer matches my riding style. We've decided to go with another industry staple: The Race Face Deus XC. I like the 5 degree angle and have gone with an added 10mm on the length to get me farther out over the front wheel.

Finally, and predictably again, we're going with an Easton Monkeylite XC rise bar. After talking with just about everybody this seemed like a very logical choice based on the quality and reputation of Easton's products.

My next upgrade is going to involve my seatpost. Easton or Thompson? Can't say just yet.

2006-12-15T15:43:00.000Z

A Season Ends...or Ended Some Time Ago

I guess it has been awhile hasn't it?

The self-anointed Summer of Ober ended back in September with Mrs. Ober and I finishing our respective seasons on high notes. Before we went to Crested Butte, Mrs. Ober managed to win her division in a Triathlon and I had managed to pull my technical head out of my ass so as to be finishing in the top half of races.

Later in the season things started getting interesting. Both of us started performing quite handsomely on all things bicycle. We both chalk it up to the miles and miles of smiles put in on the road bikes. I had traversed the state of Indiana over the summer (1 day; 160 miles) and had put in many long rides - with Mrs. Ober and sans my sweetie.
But the last races of the season - for both of us - were appropriate swan songs.

The last race of my season was a grueling ride over a course that I had never seen. That weekend I drove down to Nickel's / Assface's house to hang with the wife and kid and catch up. He forced me to stay up until 1am the morning of the race and made me drink a number of beers (this was before Floyd Landis made is OK to drink on race day).

On race day, the start line was chaotic at best featuring a race that started 15 minutes late that would cover an undisclosed distance (nice, huh?). Well, the race turned out to be a 25-mile slugfest with nature, machine, and my fellow riders. I wrecked twice, bent my rise-bar, lost the effective use of my front derailleur, and generally felt the burning desire to toss my bike to the side and go back to Assface's house and drink more. I didn't though.

I never got passed during my flirtations with death, doom, and bike destruction; I thought that was a bit odd. Had I moved out front of everybody else? Was I last? Personally, I thought I was last. I reminded myself at that point that the fun was in the suffering and in the effort and that miracles do happen to those that bust their ass.

Shortly after that epiphany, I passed two riders. "Well," I told myself, "Now you're two places from last." I kept riding and shifting. My thumb was killing me and my chain was pleading, "No Mas!" Then another two riders? "How long is this damn race," I was wondering. My odometer was starting to show that I was getting to the normal cut-off for these races which is normally 21 miles - give or take. Then more riders including a rival of mine who beat me by 20 seconds only 2 weeks prior.

In the end, I finished 4th. It was my highest finish in the Sport division to date. The season had ended with my hard work paying off - somewhat. I went back to Nickel's crib and had another beer (he drinks a lot; and beats his dog). I didn't know at that time but that was the last race of the season; work would get in the way of my cycling career. I learned a lesson that I luckily didn't have to learn the hard way: Race every race like it's your last. I know that's a life-lesson. I just have to work harder at applying it. Perhaps we all do. Maybe that's the point of Sport.

Next Post: Individual Sports and Why You Suck Until You Participate in One.

2006-12-12T16:16:00.000Z

Do Over

The Neo-Conservatives want a Do Over just like the American public. This article at Vanity Fair (part of which was leaked before the election) is, at least, interesting in that the likes of Ken Adelman call the Bush administration incompetent. Yeah, welcome to 2000.

Sorry, no Do Over.

2006-12-11T20:24:00.000Z

Updates

Avoiding various cliches, I'll simply note that I've updated my entertainment section with new reading and listening. As always, not the only things I'm reading, watching, and listening to but certainly ones that I'll admit to checking out.

And on that note, look for future posts.

2006-09-25T01:47:00.000Z

Super Bowl Picks

Those that speak with me often or recently know that I made this call last week. However, I'm going to go out on a limb and announce my long-shot, triple-shock-power, Super Bowl XLI matchup. And it is...

Chicago vs. Baltimore.

Mrs. Ober has given me permission to put some bread down on it so perhaps I will do just that.

2006-09-25T01:43:00.000Z

Happy New Year

Here's hoping everyone's Rosh HaShanah was solid.

2006-09-20T14:34:00.000Z

Movie Notes

How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you... -V

While out at Defcon a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of checking out 2005's V for Vendetta. I was completely caught off guard by the content and quality of the film. In fact, after I finished watching it, I hit "play" again and started it over from the beginning. I'm not saying that it's the best movie ever made, but I do recommend it.

Next on the list is Syriana. I thought the movie was a respectable offering worth watching. It did however raise the issue - at least in my mind - of how our democracy handles complex issues. Each and every person I've talked to about the movie gives one of two responses: 1) "Oh, George Clooney! I won't watch it," or 2) "It was too hard to follow." My response: You're all idiots. It's difficult to follow just as the world is complex. If you can't handle a distilled version of modern-day complexities, what does that say about our (your) ability to handle the real world?

This post was supposed to be an in-depth discussion of responsibility in a democracy... but I simply don't have the energy for that tired debate. Just check out the films above; you at least won’t vomit on yourself.

2006-09-20T13:21:00.000Z

Politics + Motorsports = Negative Fun

FIA doesn't think to highly of the Turkish GPs political stylings.

Despite the unparalleled penalty handed out at an extraordinary meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in Paris, the Turkish authorities expressed relief that their race had not been axed.

2006-08-21T17:22:00.000Z

Liquid Terror

I found this article at The Register a few days ago and hadn't had a chance to post it until today. The article discusses the feasibility of the liquid explosive attacks "foiled" last week. You should take a gander for yourself. One interesting quote was this one towards the end of the article:

For some real terror, picture twenty guys who understand op-sec, who are patient, realistic, clever, and willing to die, and who know what can be accomplished with a modest stash of dimethylmercury.
You won't hear about those fellows until it's too late. Our official protectors and deciders trumpet the fools they catch because they haven't got a handle on the people we should really be afraid of. They make policy based on foibles and follies, and Hollywood plots.

2006-08-17T14:50:00.000Z

Formula 1 to US in 2007!

First, Juan Pablo gets shit-canned then I hear F1 is back in the US next year! Not bad at all.

2006-08-16T19:08:00.000Z

Team Ober Cycling Notes

As Hockey season approaches, I thought I'd put out some notes on a few lessons learned and products enjoyed so far this season.

First, I'd like to note that my road bike has changed my life. The amount of riding I'm able to do - in both time and miles - has soared. I've put 1,000 miles on my bike in about 4 or 5 months including 160 miles in 9 hours across the horrible state of Indiana. It has improved my endurance, allowed me to save wear-and-tear on myself and my mountain bike, and been more fun then I could have ever thought. In fact, since returning home from Crested Butte, I've put in 14 miles on my mountain bike. Those miles were put in last night!

I suppose the biggest addition I made to the road bike was a set of Look Keo Sprints and a new pair of pimp-tastic white Sidis to boot. The shoes are great (all Sidis are great!) and the pedals are super light and cheap when compared to Shimano.

On the MTB side of the team, there have been more pronounced (see: expensive) changes. I upgraded to a new set of Mavic XC717 wheels in or around May after crushing a tree at Renaissance Park...or maybe it was the other way around. The 717s are light and durable and a pleasure to ride (or show off).

I've completely given up on Pearl Izumi full-finger MTB gloves. Instead, I'm sporting Garneau these days. I've been riding with the XDH model for several months now and I'm very satisfied. The are thicker then most gloves but break in nicely. They have ample padding and give you a great feel in the fingers. Plus, as a bonus, they don't self-destruct like other gloves.

On the apparel side of the house, I grabbed an Addidas Response jersey the other day and remain surprised by its quality. It fits snug but not tight. The fabric is soft and breathable and doesn't rub or irritate after long rides. The zipper is well placed and the collar is nicely constructed.

Finally, after years of ambivalence about chain lubrication, I've gone to use one lube (or type of lube) exclusively. But the main point here is that White Lightening should never be purchased, spoken of, spoken to, used, or considered with relation to chain lubrication. These days I'm using Finish Line wet lubricant. After previous lubes failed in the dry conditions of Crested Butte and continuously gummed up my drive train, I went in search of something better. For now, Finish Line is it. Most important, White Lightening is not.

Happy riding.

2006-08-16T19:06:00.000Z

Hey, Hey; Ho, Ho; Evolution's Got to Go

...according to Americans (and Turks). Here.

2006-08-02T14:29:00.000Z

DoJ, ATT Surveillance Case Update

This article over at Ars Technica provides a nice synopsis of the latest goings-on with the "Domestic Surveillance" proceedings. The last paragraph is compelling:

It's hard to refrain from pointing out that the precarious course the DoJ now finds itself following could probably have been avoided if the NSA had only utilized traditional court oversight in its monitoring program. While many citizens probably agree that there are times when the government needs to conduct investigations into suspicious activity, it is the blanket avoidance of such oversight which raised privacy concerns in so many quarters and prompted the AT&T suit in the first place.

There is a lot going on with this issue that is not grabbing the headlines.

2006-07-25T12:11:00.000Z

The Myers Park / Booty Loop

Update: It's the Booty Loop! ...as in the 24 Hours of Booty which I'll be doing next year.

Yesterday, with rain closing the trails at Catawba and Renaissance Park, I went in search of road riding in Charlotte. I found few useful tips or directions on any sites or blogs so when I left uptown I simply jumped on 3rd street and started riding.

Then I came across a steady stream of riders in Myers Park.

Here are the directions: From Uptown take Providence Rd. to Queens. Queens then makes an easy right on Selwyn. Take Selwyn to W. Queens Rd. and turn right. Go down the hill and push ride strong back up the hill to the intersection of East, Kings, and W. Queens Rd. Turn right (watch the marbles!) and proceed to the intersection of W. Queens, Granville, and Hopedale. Merge with traffic on Queens and then Turn right on Queens - right back where you started. Here's the hybrid map from Google.

...and yes, I am aware that Queens intersects itself multiple times. Welcome to driving in the South.

2006-07-10T13:15:00.000Z

Vacation in the American Workspace

Having recently returned from a great vacation followed by a long weekend at IMS, vacation is on my mind. On top of that, during that great vacation I picked up my copy of Outside magazine and found an article on "Vacation Deprivation."

The link to one of the surveys quoted in the article is here at Expedia. The survey results can be found here.

In short, American’s enjoy fewer vacation days, take fewer vacation days, and are less productive than a number of other economies.

2006-07-06T12:56:00.000Z

Strand Hill and Upper Loop, et al

And so we come to the end of my recap of a great week of mountain biking in beautiful Crested Butte, Colorado.

I believe it was Wednesday that I journeyed to Strand Hill from town with our new friends (living in our front yard for the week...long story) from Denton, Texas. One mistake we made was riding to the trailhead from town. Although not a real problem, I would have preferred my tires ride single track and not access roads or county roads. One can easily drive out to Strand though which we didn't really know at the time.

Strand is short and sweet (relatively speaking) with a long climb in the beginning at the trailhead. One can use Strand, along with Strand Bonus as a trail in and of itself or as a connector with Teocalli (for the inner masochist)or 409.5. The riding is quick, clean, and challenging. The descent down Bonus is a blast but not as technical as the other trails.

The trails of the Upper Loop, Whetstone, and Tony Trail are not to be missed. More than anything, they're easy to get to. Simply ride your bike down Elk St. and jump on the trail. The trails can be done in either direction and in many combinations including as connections for Strand, Teocalli, and others to the South as well as Snodgrass. The descent down these trails - going from the Upper Loop to Tony's Trail - is some of the most fun I've had with my clothes on. While Tony's Trail isn't necessarily very technical, it allows a rider to go extremely fast with a clear line-of-site of the entire trail. Meaning: You never have to worry about rounding a corner and running over someone; it's just balls-out, big-chain fun.

2006-07-05T22:21:00.000Z

Mountain Bike Hall of Fame

Here is a link to the MTB HoF in Crested Butte. Along with some interesting notes, the HoF site also offers directions to and status on the local trails.

2006-07-05T15:36:00.000Z

Teocalli and Reno Ridge

Following up on FTBW from the previous post comes a note on some of the most challenging riding of my life.

A few days into our time in Crested Butte, Mr. J. Pants and I decided to challenge ourselves and scale Teocalli Ridge. After riding Strand (more on that in the next post) the previous day, I knew that we had to drive closer to the trailhead. Unfortunately, the closest we could get was 5 miles down (what seemed to be) fire roads and double track. The double track was 4 miles of brutal climbing which led to the most wicked sight of my MTB career: 1 mile of vertical single track at the base of Teocalli Mountain.

After pushing our bikes much of the way (I rode small sections; Steve nearly died) and slurring our speak due to oxygen deprivation, we reached the ridge which offered some of the best views either of us had ever seen. The scenery was followed by sick single track and a finale of fast downhill through a mountain-side field of wildflowers (which smelled oddly like burning disc brakes). I wouldn't categorize Teocalli ridge as a fun trail necessarily but it sure was a challenge. Please don’t misunderstand me. I’d do it again and recommend all that are looking for a rush to take a run at it. But it wasn’t exactly like playing in a sandbox. Teocalli was more like a sandbox with army ants.

Days later, I hooked up with one of the group rides. We threw our bikes in a truck and headed to Reno Ridge (although I thought we were going to 401 which is what the schedule said. I later found out that the guides didn't even know about the schedule).
From the point where we jumped out of the truck on Cement Creek rd., I think we climbed for about an hour to the top of Reno divide. The rest of the ride was basically a wash-rinse-repeat of the same thing; nasty climbs followed by incredible downhill. Like Teocalli, it was incredibly challenging with the very dry conditions and difficult climbs. Unlike Teocalli, Reno Ridge had more rewards for your climbing effort including a breath-taking (and terrifying, depending on how you rode it) downhill to top off the ride.

At one point your humble host (me) literally had a mental breakdown on the last climb. My partner for the day, Josh, stopped with the same sort of frustrated posture and said, "You know, I'm no mathematician but the time and distance climbing doesn't seem to add up to our time descending." But all-in-all it was one of the most epic MTB experiences of my life. That experience from that day will not be forgotten.

If you're in the CB area and can get a guide, I highly recommend it. This is especially the case with Reno Ridge as it is way the hell out there and can be difficult (depending on your ability to read a topo) navigating. Reno is certainly not a place where you want to have mechanical problems, get hurt, or get lost.

2006-07-03T16:15:00.000Z

Fat Tire Bike Week: A Recap

Fat Tire Bike Week ended last week. While I didn't have a chance to update this blog during the event, I'll attempt to do so now. After this post on the event proper, I'll update with a review of the actual riding.

We arrived in beautiful Crested Butte on Monday the 19th of June. One's first impressions of the town are of awe and excitement. Awe in the sense that CB is such a lovely, quaint town surrounded but incredible natural beauty. Our excitement was due to the belief that there had to be miles and miles of single track.

The registration had closed at 5pm local time so we had to register ($100) on Tuesday. After registering on Tuesday we received an itinerary of events and a schwag bag. The itinerary was a bit sparse but the schwag bag was worse. It included a few stickers for local merchants, 1 or 2 pain relievers, and some product catalogues. One of the catalogues was from Magura. First of all, I didn't even know Magura was still in business. Second, fuck Magura; they suck, their products suck and their customer service is the worst around. Seriously, who even uses Magura and what the hell's wrong with them?

Monday night we found a local trail and tested it out. There were no issues with altitude and that was a great thing.

On Tuesday we registered and planned our first group rides. In short, most of the group ride was done on a paved trail and the road. Our guide was friendly but his chain hadn't been lubed in a few weeks (a big issue with me) and he didn't know where the trailhead was. Not a good start.

We wandered down to the "festival" which was at the Chamber of Commerce. There really wasn’t much of a festival at all. New Belgium brewery had a tent at which registrants could get 3 beers for free (for the week). Ellsworth and Yeti had demo bikes as did Haro but who was going to ride a Haro? Pedros showed up later in the week with schwag but there really wasn't much to test...maybe a lube or cleaner. Point here is that there wasn't much of a festival. On top of that, the few participating vendors split town on Friday night; there wasn't much if anything to do on Saturday and Sunday even though those were officially scheduled as "Festival Days."

Steve J. Pants and I were looking forward to the clinics. One was at Mt. Crested Butte and the other was at a local business. Both conflicted with rides. We were disappointed that there were only two.

Two days worth of rides were in Gunnison. I didn't like that. I came to ride CB not Gunnison. By the second or third day, the schedule - which was subject to change - had changed so dramatically that there was little or no way of telling what was happening or when. Transportation to and from the group rides wasn't provided ...at least in a way one would think. Basically, someone would muster up a truck and participants would pile in.

The festival events were scarce and of little interest and the organization was really lacking. The attendance of the festival was light and the group rides really showed it. Advanced group rides were fun and well guided (I would have paid $20+ for their guidance on each ride) but at times only 4 people (plus 2 guides) went.

All-and-all the festival itself was a waste of money and I wouldn't participate again.

But before you panic and say, "Oh shit, Ober had a bad vacation" just wait. The riding was truly world-class, the people and times we had were the best, and the memories made were the fondest. But all this despite Fat Tire Bike Week.

2006-06-15T18:34:00.000Z

Charlotte Observer in Guantanamo: Gonzo-burgers

There are more than a few interesting wrinkles in the entire Guantanamo saga and within each incident. Here is but one of my favourites, in quote form, regarding a story the Observer was doing:

"He was doing a hometowner, a hometowner takes one day," the Pentagon press officer told the magazine. "You would think that a man allowed down for a whole week would be a bit more gracious about it. Have the good grace and class to leave."

There's an interesting assumption made by the powers-that-be and made in clear text: the press should be grateful for the limited access it gets and mind its words.

Of course, that's just one man's take.

2006-06-15T15:31:00.000Z

Hopped up on Goofball

While attempting to be more competitive - levels of success questionable - I've made a few modifications to my race and post-workout / post-race nutritional intake.

After experimenting with gels for years I believe I've found a product that can be handled better and offers better results. Enervitene offers at least one very clear advantage to other gels: it can be handled by a rider, mid-race, with full-finger gloves. This is because of the hard plastic neck on the package. Other products simply endanger my life and my competitors’' lives by making me fumble around for them and with them as I try to get them open. Enervitene is easy to ingest as it is a liquid as opposed to a gel and so far the energy boost is at least satisfactory in both the short-term and long.

Post-workout and post-competition, I've started using EnduroxR4. If not mixed correctly, EnduroxR4 tastes like a corpse. But with directions followed and fresh lemon splashed in, it's actually palatable. How does it perform though is what you're really asking right? Well, so far the only thing I've really noticed is a real lack of lactic acid after tough rides and that’s a great thing. Tonight is an important night in our relationship though as I'll be lifting. And cyclists the world over know what a mid-season lift is like (See: horrible pain and suffering). I’ll let you know.

2006-06-15T14:43:00.000Z

NoScript

From the wonderful world of Firefox / Mozilla add-ons comes No Script. No Script takes the "default deny" approach when it comes to JavaScript.

NoScript allows you to create a whitelist of sites and blocks all others. Once you install, you'll be surprised what's happening in the ugly world of JavaScript. Plus, NoScript even allows you to turn on an audio notification (NoScript | Options | Appearance | Audio Feedback when sites are blocked).

Download here.

2006-05-09T12:24:00.000Z

Gillespie on Fox; Idiots Respond

Nick Gillespie from Reason was on Bill O'Reilly's program May 2. He argued consistently in favour of those things libertarians cherish: Free expression and limited government. A transcript can be found here.

What was least funny but most predictable was the batch of letters Mr. Gillespie received from O’Reilly’s viewers. Keep in mind that Reason has a long history conservative / libertarian points-of-view and Mr. Gillespie represents those views well.

Because O'Reilly teamed Gillespie in the typical split-screen face-off with a nationalist Republican (aren't they all?), O'Reilly's viewers assumed Gillespie was a Pinko Lefty...and they noted their thoughts accordingly. Read the letters but prepare not to laugh as Mr. Gillespie is compared to Al-Qaeda, NAMBLA, and is called a "*&^%&&^% WOP."

High Society Indeed.

2006-05-09T12:11:00.000Z

Thanks

I wanted to take a second and thank whoever it was that got me and Mrs. Ober a subscription to Outside magazine. It was unexpected but really appreciated. I've always wanted to subscribe but my subscription to Big Jugs Monthly filled my magazine subscription quota.

2006-05-08T19:22:00.000Z

Notes on Bike Repair

I ran into some headset issues this past weekend and I wanted to post a quick note about it.

If you find you have a loose stem, you may notice a few issues. Most can be detected by riding and feeling slack in your steering or by holding the brake and rocking the front wheel back and forth; you should feel a click and movement where none should be (as you have the front brake on).

But here is the point of my post. You probably already did this search like I did or picked up your copy of Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance. What you may not get from these posts (all very helpful) is how to avoid completely destroying your threads within the headset.

First, when adjusting the headset bolt, you'll notice that the stem (example of a stem here) is connected and sits on top of your spacers. What I found was that you must loosen the stem to allow the headset bolt to be tightened down. If you don't, you will be tightening a bolt without giving it the ability to work its way into more thread space.

Punch line: Loosen the stem when tightening the headset. When the headset is adequately secure / tight, go back and make sure the stem is tight. That way, you'll have a secure stem and headset and avoid striping threads.

2006-05-01T14:25:00.001Z

John Kenneth Galbraith 1908 - 2006

2006-04-28T16:12:00.000Z

Hybrid Cars are New - to George W. Bush

The hybrid vehicle has just hit the road recently, as you know. --George W. Bush

Actually hybrids have been available since 1999. But it's still good to talk to the rest of us like we're learning things as he is. Follow the scripted hilarity here.

2006-04-26T14:26:00.000Z

Paying for Personal Carbon Emissions

Mrs. Ober has directed me to post about Carbonfund.org. Apparently limousine liberals - like herself - like to pay money (that they have in spades) to offset the damage their lavish lifestyles have on the earth.

From the website:

Carbon offsets enable anyone to reduce their climate footprint by supporting projects, typically energy efficiency, renewable energy, sequestration, biomass, etc. that reduce carbon dioxide emissions to offset one’s own climate footprint.

2006-04-25T14:30:00.000Z

Around the Musical Horn

Spring is here and that means new listening. Tops on the list so far - in anticipation of the new Tool record - is the new Built to Spill. Titled You in Reverse I find it to be one of the few truly special records. After listening to it several times it is now up there as one of my favourites.

The Flaming Lips are back with a new offering titled, At War with the Mystics. As usual, the Lips offer an intense, thought-provoking, and sonically challenging record to the listening public. ...and yes, I had to go to the thesaurus for that last sentence. Not for everybody, the Lips continue to produce first-rate material for the discerning ear. That's my way of saying I'm a music snob.

Morrissey has released Ringleader of the Tormentors to mixed reviews. I'll purchase any Morrissey record anytime; that's a given. But how does this record standup for other, less loyal Moz listeners? Well, I doubt most find it too compelling. In the end, it is typical Morrissey in the sense that I like it, I bought it without hearing it, and it offers some incredible tracks. However, there are several tracks and a feel that doesn't seem to push this record over the top. But let's be honest about the aforementioned "top:" it is a damn high threshold.

2006-04-25T14:19:00.000Z

Death and Blogging

No, I'm not dead. Yes, I still update this blog. ...just not with any regularity it seems.

I've been on the road a fair amount lately. That coupled with working hard.

2006-03-19T15:46:00.000Z

The Reversal

After switching to Gary Fisher / Trek a few years ago, as Team Ober owner and captain, I thought we would never go back to Cannodale. While that has been true for the ladies team, riding Trek this year for both MTB and Road, the men’s team is split.

We made the decision last night to literally split our stable down the middle between Cannondale and Fisher (which is part of the Trek family). After researching cost, components, frames, and performance, the candidates were few: Trek and Cannondale. But after an eleventh-hour test ride and meeting with the mechanics we went with Cannondale.

This year, Team Ober will be riding Fisher for MTB but the Cannondale Synapse will be used for road training and competition. While we don't do road racing, we will be riding across a few states this year; namely Indiana. And when we do, we'll be using our new Cannondales.

And if you will be in any of the states in which we compete, we'd love to have you come out and cheer us on. See you there or go to hell!

2006-03-19T15:42:00.000Z

Rumours of Futurama

This is exciting. The possibility of Futurama back on the air? Excellent!

2006-03-19T15:13:00.000Z

The Summer of Ober

As Spring approaches I find myself looking forward to the upcoming season. Reaching a key milestone a few weeks ago, I weighed in at 165 lbs. After eating desert for 2 days in Washington D.C., that climbed a tad. But if you had to put up with Bob Woodward's bloviating, you'd indulge your sweet tooth too. (That's another story; I'll get to that sometime....maybe).

With my body weight decreasing, a successful weightlifting and spinning regimen is paying dividends. I've made a real effort this off-season to put in quality free-weight time and effort. I'm feeling stronger then ever. We’ve hired a team spinning coach to work with us as well. While getting up at 5:30 am isn't much fun, the strength and endurance is noticeable. Simply put, I'm not used to putting in such a long endurance rides at such a high rate of speed this time of year. I attribute the spinning sessions as well as the free-weight work to the high standard I'm setting right now.

But the other Ober in our stable of athletes is preparing for a successful triathlon and mini-marathon season. Mrs. Ober is stronger and more prepared than ever. With a new Trek road bike, Mrs. Ober can begin putting more road miles in and competing in the actual race with a quality machine. (Reader and legendary Triathlon-er Nickel knows something about this).

Finally, we are preparing the the Captain's father-in-law to begin shattering times set last year. Yesterday, the Admiral blew his last year's time away by 14 minutes. As well as Mrs. Ober and I, he is preparing for a watershed season.

It is truly going to be the summer of Ober.

2006-03-11T05:15:00.000Z

Wrong Way

Here in Charlotte, NC, we've had a spate of highway accidents involving drivers going the wrong way on the highway. No, I'm not posting this as a joke. 7 people have died in the last 5 months involved in wrong-way collisions on the interstates. Simply one of the most bizarre things I've every seen.

2006-03-02T16:57:00.000Z

Katrina Video and Article

A few questions raised by this article and video from the AP: First, if it weren't for leaks, nobody would know anything about this administration and the goings-on within it. Second, at what point will people realize this administration has no credibility when they speak?

As George Bush himself said, "Fool me once...shame on...me... Fool me twice....we can't get fooled again!"

2006-02-28T17:00:00.000Z

Rove: Laughable

“There is so much ugliness and viciousness and fundamental untruths...,” he lamented. “It also is a vehicle for ugly rumors, for scurrilous personal attacks, an avenue for the creation of urban legends which are deeply corrosive of the political system and of people’s faith in it.”

No, via Drudge, Karl Rove isn't describing the 2000 South Carolina primary in which John McCain's honour and integrity were assaulted, he is describing the blogosphere. By Rove's description, it sounds like he'd be a perfect blogger.

Simply Laughable.

2006-02-24T18:23:00.000Z

Legal Scope Creep - PATRIOT Act Style

Here's a nice article over at Reason on the implications of the PATRIOT act to our civil liberties. The issue made in the article, and perhaps my opinion, isn't that the PATRIOT Act is neither good nor bad per se, but rather the proverbial doors that it opens are problematic. (I'm not arguing in this post about the PATRIOT Act's virtues or lack thereof).

The article, titled "Making A Meth of the PATRIOT Act", discusses our government's usage of legislation written to stop terrorism to stop everything and anything else "undesirable" to elected officials.

As my wife's liberal ranting around our house pushes me further and further to the conservative - libertarian side, I can't help but look on at the unholy alliance of Dianne Feinstein and Charlie Dent and fear for civil liberty. What people need to do more of is question power itself rather than party affiliation.

2006-02-24T14:28:00.000Z

Sound and Print

I've updated the diverts area of this site for those of you following the things that keep me entertained / sane.

The Strokes new album, First Impression of Earth is pretty good. It's not great but I've listened to it 4 or 5 times now and still find I'm able to rock out. I disagree will most critics who give it a reluctant 3 stars. It's darker and longer (in recording time) then the previous two.

Sigur Ros' new long-player has been out for a while but I finally got around to picking it up. It's an enjoyable record. My buddy at the record store says that the live show was the best he's ever seen; his words, not mine.

Billy Bragg has released new, re-issued material (sort of a contradiction in terms there huh?). I picked up The Internationale / Live and Dubious because it had a DVD and some tracks that I didn't have in my otherwise extensive Billy Bragg collection. My local record store had James Brown Live at The Apollo and the two Cream records noted for $10 so I couldn't pass those up. Readers of this blog and those that are lucky enough to talk to the Ober know he's been listening to a lot of James Brown over the last several months.

Finally, I made the decision to read William Faulkner's The Sound and The Fury. I'm not finished with it but if you pick this book up just out of the blue and begin reading it like your run-of-the-mill Tom Clancy offering, your eyes will invariably start bleeding at some point. You'll want to consult with someone that knows something about the book first, luckily I had a few resources including reader, buddy, and full-time dancer, Razum. If Razum doesn't return your calls, you may try these resources on the web: University of Saskatchewan English department; GradeSaver

2006-02-10T19:38:00.000Z

Bottled Water Drinkers are Idiots

Via Drudge

Once the water is consumed, disposing the plastic bottles poses an environmental risk.
The study, citing the Container Recycling Institute, said that 86 percent of plastic water bottles in the United States end up as garbage and those buried can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade.

I've never understood bottled water. I've blogged about it a few times. The consumption of it strikes me as a most vain, self-absorbed, selfish act. It is pointless, expensive, and ignorant. ...and oh yes, it damages our ecosystem.

2006-02-05T16:40:00.000Z

Fat Tire Bike Week

It's official! Fat Tire Bike Week in Crested Butte will be held June 19 - 25. While the schedule has not been posted to the FTBW site, the schedule can be found at the Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce site.

Hope to see you all there!

2006-02-05T16:14:00.000Z

The NHL and NBC

After last year’s lockout, ESPN decided not to cover the NHL. Frankly, that scared the hell out of me. When I learned OLN would be covering the NHL, that scared me even more. But then a beacon of hope appeared: The NHL on NBC

Every Saturday, NBC covers the NHL in a manner far superior to ESPN could ever. While I miss Gary Thorne a great deal (mostly because he is the only hockey announcer I have ever known), NBC's announcers are sufficiently capable.

What sets NBC's coverage apart - other than being on every Saturday (and Monday's and Tuesday's on OLN) - is what I would describe as the love-of-the-game angle. Unlike ESPN with Barry Melrose just talking about players and league-wide trades and stats, NBC's approach is to embrace the entire game. Bill Clement's love of the game has always been obvious and Melrose's is undeniable. But the ability of NBC to put the hosts in a hockey setting at NBC's studios at 30 Rockefeller plaza far exceeds that of ESPN's (or OLN's) sterile studio environment. Putting the hosts on the ice during intermissions is the icing on the broadcasting cake – so to speak.

Seeing your hosts on the field - or ice - of play is something NFL broadcasters have been doing for years. So why did it take NHL broadcasts so long? What we've all wanted for years is discussion of strategy, X's and O's, player profiles, tips and tricks, and most important, passion. NBC has delivered where ESPN failed for so many years.

Last year's lockout was painful. But from its ashes came a number of good rule changes, a great rookie class (two of them to be precise), and a revamped take on broadcasting hockey. For those of us living in the present, things are good.

2006-01-24T05:06:00.000Z

Natural Deodorant

Those that know the Ober know I have traditionally not used - or at least been a fan of - deodorant. I have long believed, with some good cause, that traditional deodorants are bad for you. If nothing else, I have long had a hunch that putting all those chemicals on your body isn't that great of an idea.

That led me to Nature's Gate products. As I'm not a paid endorser, I'm just going to note that it works for me. If your as paranoid as I am, you'll be happy with Nature's Gate deodorant (I use this one). It is a bit gummy and you have to use it everyday but it works just like traditional deodorant. Granted, I don't sweat as much as most people - being superior and all - but if it can stop me from truly getting a stink on after Hockey and spinning sessions, you should look into it.

2006-01-24T04:54:00.000Z

Confidential UK Docs; US Support of Uzbekistan

A former UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan has released confidential documents detailing relationship between US policy and regimes that violate human rights. Here's the link.

And if you wanted to see a memo from Ken "Sergeant Schultz" Lay to George W. Bush setting up a meeting between the Uzbek ambassador and the Governor, I suppose I can link to that too.

2006-01-11T19:57:00.000Z

Painful Penguins

Michel Therrien on the lackluster Pittsburgh Penguins

"That defensive squad, I'm really starting to believe their goal is to be the worst defensive squad in the league, and they're doing such a great job at being the worst...They turn the puck over, they have no vision, they're soft. I've never seen a bunch of defensemen soft like this."

2006-01-05T18:54:00.000Z

Two days, Over $13,000, from Fox News

What "news" agency pays a member of congress over $13,000 for two days of travel in Texas? Fox News, that's who.

Strange. Please tell me what I'm missing here.

Via War and Piece

2006-01-05T16:13:00.000Z

Home, Reading, Listening

I couldn't stand having a post from the 21st of December still up so I'm posting this. I've updated my diverts section to include much of what I'm listening to - or at least would recommend.

2005-12-21T04:29:00.000Z

Buenos Dias from Green Valley

Greetings, from Green Valley, Arizona. Mrs. Ober and I are enjoying reading (I'm exploring Six Sigma; Mrs. O is deep into Dean Koontz bullshit), working out, and wonderful weather!

A quick note before I turn in tonight: Nobody has grass here and I love it. I love the fact that residence of Green Valley actually embrace the desert in which they live by avoiding grass. It seems so unnatural and wasteful to see grass in the desert when visiting Las Vegas or Phoenix. But here, it seems like a lot of folks actually get it...somewhat. But I'll conduct the usual investigation and get back to you all. Please standby with baited breath.

2005-12-18T16:20:00.000Z

Opposite Ends of the Sporting Spectrum

A few minutes before kickoff and I'm a bit nervous. In fact, this post probably represents the first and only time I've ever posted on the Colts. Nervous about what you ask? How about the let downs of the past? Playoff choking? New England? Go Colts!

On the other end of the spectrum are my beloved Pens. With Mario aging and of questionable health, mid-season coaching changes, injuries, and Sergei Gonchar sucking ass, the only thing that has gotten me by in the Hockey category is OLN's showing of Fearless. For those not familiar with Lemieux's strength, skill, desire, and will, the show is well worth your time.

2005-12-18T15:43:00.000Z

Worthy of their own Amendment

I enjoyed reading this article at Reason detailing the scribes in the media and their response to the killing of an American citizen. From the article:

In the old days, Americans were taught that the media would serve as a check and a balance on government powers. That platitude is fading as news professionals show less regard for private citizens than for government officials who can provide exclusive access and hot tips.

I don't know when the "old days" were but I seem to remember Waco, Ruby Ridge, the attack on Sudan, and the war in Iraq being adequately white-washed in favour of the government.

2005-12-14T20:41:00.000Z

Was I Sleeping?

George Bush refers to the U.S. Constitution as a "Living Document."

Williams: Have you ever entertained the thought, Mr. President, that Iraq's natural state may be three separate pieces, three separate nations?

President Bush: No, I haven't. I think — I know it will be united based upon, you know, kind of universal principles, the ones I outlined in the speech, freedom to worship, rule of law, private property, marketplace, all bound by a constitution which the Iraqis approved, and which the Iraqis will improve upon. And, you know, we improved on our own Constitution. In other words, it's a living document. And no, that would be a disaster, by the way, if it were three separate nations.

But my understanding was that he wanted strict constructionists as judges and held that "opinion" of constitutional law himself. Low-hanging-fruit quote here:

I don't want somebody to go on the bench to try to supplant the legislative process. I'm interested in people that will be strict constructionists...

Although I'm not sure what a "Strict Constructionist" really believes, I do think - or thought - it was at odds with the idea of a constitution being a "living document." This strikes me as an odd comment.

2005-12-13T14:39:00.000Z

Sellin' Crazy Somewhere Else

While navigating the interweb yesterday, I turned off of a few well-known boulevards and rambled onto some country roads - or strange, dark alleys (pick your favourite metaphor).

The first is Conservative Mommy. My two favourite posts are here, where Mommy contends Democrats are anti-Christian and where she predicts "This is an official CONSERVATIVE CENTRAL PREDICTION: we will be in Iran within five years. Get ready, all you spineless donkeys!"

The next site I found by linking off of Mommy's blog. It is called Elmersbro. My personal favourite entry here accuses John Kerry of calling American servicemen and woman "Terrorists." It's quite a leap but read for yourself.

Of course, you are encouraged to find your own favourite comment, post, or moonbat assertion.

2005-12-12T18:52:00.000Z

Prom: Cancelled

"It is rather the flaunting of affluence, assuming exaggerated expenses, a pursuit of vanity for vanity's sake. In a word, financial decadence..."

More from the Times here.

2005-12-12T01:30:00.000Z

Assessing Deployment Risks for Attendant Console

Shops deploying Cisco CallManager tend to also deploy, or at least consider deploying, Attendant Console(AC). While AC allows the user to do a number of things it is primarily used to monitor line-state status. However, there are a number of security concerns AC raises with savvy and security conscious organizations - like yours!

First, AC uses the JRE version 1.4.2_04. This JRE includes a number of vulnerabilities documented here. These vulnerabilities apply to your client side and, as you noticed, include escalation of privileges.

Next, AC uses ephemeral RMI ports from 40000 to 65535. There are also shenanigans that take place when the client authenticates but I can't publish that at this time; sorry. But a port range of ephemeral port numbering over 25,000 practically destroys the segregation of you voice traffic from your data. Whereas previously you would have only allowed ports 80, 443 and some other oddballs inbound, now you have to allow a much wider range. Not good.

Continuing to blow your mind, my colleagues and I have discovered that AC's client account and password, not integrated with AD or LDAP mind you (which is a problem in and of itself), is sent in clear text. Also, AC does not allow the client to manage his or her password. While this presents a limited security risk because it isn't the clients domain password, it sure seems like sloppy coding and an administrative nightmare. AC's domain service account, is a domain account and still sends passwords in the clear. Again, after my testing, I found the service account could only logon locally to a CCM but couldn't do much - anything - after that. But it is still a bad, bad idea to allow accounts to logon locally at all.

When deploying Attendant Console, one should be mindful of the risks it could present to a computing environment.

2005-12-12T01:22:00.000Z

Hockey Town, Charlotte

Friday, I had a chance to check out Charlotte's newest boondoggle in person for the first time. I wasn't there to see a hoops game but rather some hockey.

I was shocked by the quality of the team, the Charlotte Checkers, and the fans. All-in-all, a great time.

Here is a schedule of Charlotte Checkers hockey. See you there in January.

2005-11-30T15:14:00.000Z

Notes on Sport

With Mountain Bike season over, Team Ober returns to the gym and the ice. We sent our bikes to our master mechanic, Mark, for suspension overhauls and other various assorted maintenance operations. It looks like I'm going to have to overhaul my front fork as well as replace my bottom bracket; 'tis the cost of doing business I suppose.

We started our team spinning classes this morning at 6am. Some of the younger guys on the team did a lot of bitching but excellence is touch to come by. As we prepare for the Fat Tire Classic in Colorado next year, we'll need all the leg power we can get.

The sport of Boxing takes an exciting turn on Saturday night as Bernard Hopkins tries to take back his title from Jermain Taylor. The fight may be the most important middle-weight context in 20+ years. Unfortunately, nobody cares about boxing but me and 8 other people and 6 of us probably won't bother to pay for the pay-per view. Way to go boxing!

The NHL is back and Ober couldn't be happier. It took a while to accept the league back after braking my heart last year. With rule changes and parity, the league is as exciting as ever. A new poll suggests that the shoot-out rule for overtime is even popular with the players as well as the fans. Meanwhile, the banishment of the two-line pass penalty has proved to be an exciting change.

Sidney Crosby has revived my hopes for the hapless Penguins and started making is less necessary for me to be a filthy traitor by supporting the Wings. But the Ottawa Senators may be the biggest surprise with their offensive prowess. Danny Heatley has now scored a point in 22 straight games; that's pretty impressive.

And yes, I still hate fencers.

2005-11-28T12:56:00.000Z

The Greatest Actor Who's Name You Don't Know

Odds are you've seen a movie with Chris Cooper. I've made it a point to remember his name and wouldn't you know, have forgotten it time and time again; it's quite frustrating.

Here's my point: After seeing Capote this weekend (and liking it a bunch), I was reminded of William H. Macy's quote about making good choices. Macy once said, in an interview, that all actors at a certain level are roughly equal. What distinguishes them in the end are the choices they make. Naturally, you're wondering how a man that made Jurassic Park III could say this with a straight face...perhaps he was being ironical. But back to Mr. Cooper... Chris Cooper is one of those actors that seems to have made all those right choices.

2005-11-22T14:44:00.000Z

Consumer Reviews: GameRush vs. Gamefly

I recently cancelled my GameRush account at Blockbuster. In lieu of my GameRush account, I've subscribed to Gamefly.

What was the problem with GameRush? First, availability. Games were in short supply when they were first released - which is when you want them. Waiting 30 days to get a new game is not acceptable.

Second, there is no waiting list or way to reserve a game. In short, you show up and hope to catch your game. Bad idea.

Next, is the cost. For $14.95 I can get 1 game at Gamefly or 2 games for $21.95. I usually only focus on 1 game at a time so I went with the $14.95 / 1 game option. GameRush costs $23.31 for 1 game at a time.

On the downside is Gamefly's 2-4 day turn-around. But given how I've waited 23 days for Galactic Battlefront 2 at Blockbuster, is it really an issue?

2005-11-21T17:13:00.000Z

US Torture and Habeas Corpus

Julian Sanches at Reason puts forth a nice piece on the US' torture woes.

An interesting article on its own but notice Mr. Sanches links to this interesting article at the Post. From the Post article titled "Detainees Deserve Court Trials:"

Adel is innocent. I don't mean he claims to be. I mean the military says so. It held a secret tribunal and ruled that he is not al Qaeda, not Taliban, not a terrorist. The whole thing was a mistake: The Pentagon paid $5,000 to a bounty hunter, and it got taken.

The military people reached this conclusion, and they wrote it down on a memo, and then they classified the memo and Adel went from the hearing room back to his prison cell. He is a prisoner today, eight months later. And these facts would still be a secret but for one thing: habeas corpus.

Enjoy?

2005-11-21T02:44:00.000Z

Notes on American Poverty

Yahoo's Finance quizes are usually fairly interesting. This weeks quiz asked what percentage of Americans live below the poverty line. The answer, noted here at QC is 12.7% or 37 million people.

From the notes:

Surprisingly, this increase in poverty occurred during a year when the economy added 2.2M new jobs. Some experts attribute this paradox to the fact that most of the economic growth in 2004 went towards capital gains, dividends, interest and rent instead of towards income growth for lower-wage employees.

2005-11-11T15:48:00.000Z

[The Long Overdue] Time to Reconsider Your Password Policy

This article at Security Focus discusses the new venture at RainbowCrack Online. In short, you send them a hash, cash, and they crack your password for you using the faster time-memory trade-off technique (or RainbowCrack). Of course, this is only for legitimate business purposes right?

The article, and the on-going discussion in the security community, details the fatal flows in our traditional one-factor authentication systems.

Update: Here is a link to a description of types of authentication from Wikipedia.

2005-11-11T15:12:00.000Z

A Fine Tradition

The tradition of poor government in the Americas had a fine advocate in Alberto Fujimori. Not that there weren't some issue he resolved effectively, it just seems he went the route others of his ilk did; authoritarian government with a sprinkle of corruption.

Now, Fujimoro has caused a stinky-poo featuring, you guessed it, his dual-citizenship in Peru and Japan. So yes, the president of a sovereign nation kept his citizenship in another country. Sweet. Way to plan ahead!

2005-10-27T03:39:00.000Z

2006 F1 Schedule and Rule Changes

There are plenty of articles out there with enough information - including the F1 website - about the 2006 F1 season. Here's but one I found.

I'm pleased that the FIA are allowing tire changes, curious about the "knock-out" qualifying format, but overall a little miffed about the constant rule changes. The one thing that concerns me most about the qualifying however, is the likelihood that a lesser-runner will wreck a front-runner. But we'll see how it all works out.

Those of you in North America should mark your calendars and plan on hanging with the Obers in Montreal on the 25th of June and in Indianapolis on the 2nd of July. See you then.

Go Mclaren!

2005-10-26T15:53:00.000Z

Building a Fortune

I read this fine article by David Bach and thought it was worth sharing. His point is that by watching your less pricey expenditures you can amass quite a fortune.

Naturally, the first expenditure I thought of was bottled water. What a waste. Try a drinking fountain you dolts!

2005-10-18T18:44:00.000Z

Seeing, Hearing, Doing

It's been a busy few weeks - noted by my lack of blogging. In the midst of the high holiday season, weddings, a cold, work, and a calf injury have been on my mind.

I did manage to catch up with Built To Spill on tour recently. BTS is one of those bands that is either spectacular or so-so (and sometimes bad). The first night I caught them they were good (7.5 or 8 on a 10-point scale). The second night was not great (but still a 5 or 6). I guess one of my complaints would be the constant tuning and tweaking. But, as those of us that have seen them multiple times know, that's just how they are. I'd still pay money to see them a 5th time.

A nagging calf injury is probably going to cost me my one and only pseudo-competitive MTB ride of the season. It definitely has cost me weeks on the bike. Originally, I planned on doing a 50-mile timed ride. I doubt I'll do any of it now. ...but that is also due to the cold I've been struggling with for the last week.

So, there's the scoop on my whereabouts. Thanks for the Yom Kippur wished "Nickel." Hope your day of atonement was better than mine!

2005-10-18T16:58:00.000Z

Reviews: The Mars Volta's Frances The Mute

Those not familiar with The Mars Volta are going to have a hard time with this review. I'm not much on explaining types of music and I really don't care to explain the concept of The Mars Volta. If you know of them or have heard them, then continue reading. If not, the only thing I can say is that you should not be listening to the first few seconds of each track. As I told a friend of mine, The Mars Volta should be listened to while wearing a smoking jacket and monocle sitting in a nice comfortable faux-leather chair.

After De-loused in the Crematorium, we were all a little confused, impressed, bewildered, shocked, and generally exited to hear what would come next.

Frances the Mute offers the listener an uninterrupted themed (I'm not going to use the "C" word) record tackling a number of styles. First, let me say how much I love albums that are sequenced with a purpose; a lot! Next, I love albums that flow seamlessly. This record does just that.

But what about the tunes you ask? At times I couldn't decide if I wanted to play air lead guitar, air bass, or air drums; some tracks I do all three as best I can. That's my way of saying that the record is "compelling;" it compels me to rock my ass off. It features much of the same musical mastery The Mars Volta have given us live or on previous releases. The jams are great, lyrics are crazy, and the end result is a happy listener - or air guitarist.

While I'm not crazy about the first track, end-to-end, I'm collectively pleased as punch with Frances the Mute.

2005-10-04T16:29:00.000Z

Rosh HaShanah

Here's wishing all a safe and enjoyable Rosh HaShanah. Even the schleps that show up to Temple once a year...

2005-10-04T04:41:00.000Z

I Read So You Don't Have To

Two quick links for those who enjoy political humour. Both links are from Reason magazine.

Titled, Sonny Perdue: Moron and The World's Most Degenerative Body, these articles are sure to make you shake your head. The first is fairly self-explanatory. The second is a quick recap of the Roberts confirmation hearings.

Enjoy.

2005-09-27T14:44:00.000Z

Team Ober Notes

A quick note here on Team Ober MTB. After months of testing and negotiations, we have agreed to terms with Specialized tires. This doesn't mean we aren't still running Gary Fisher bikes or Pearl Izumi gear. It simply means we have jumped ship from IRC tires to Specialized.

Most riders here, including yours truly, are now running the Roll X Pro D2. We found the tire rolled wonderfully, gripped well, provided fantastic stopping power, and was an excellent climber. The Roll X Pro D2 was highly rated by just about every MTB mag on the planet but happened to also offer a great price relief to riders on a budget ($37 per tire).

Earlier this year, I noted that Mark and I changed our chains on all of our bikes to the SRAM PC-89R. After a season of review we have found the move to have paid dividends. We liked the weight reduction, the ease of maintenance, and feel we got a performance boost. Durability - knock on wood - has turned out to not be the issue we both thought. The SRAM PC-89R chain for MTB is probably something into which you should at least look.

2005-09-27T14:03:00.000Z

CBS Preaches Understanding – about Murder and Rape

Normally, we think of sport broadcasts as family-friendly affairs. Foul language is avoided by proper microphone placement, with the exception of Joe Namath, sex is kept to a minimum, and violence is relegated to that which is part of the sport itself. Even the most granola-eating-Berkley liberal would have to admit NFL violence isn't like that which we see on TV and in movies.

On CBS though, viewers are treated to a truly family-friendly experience; the joy of having to tell your 9 year-old what a "snuff" film is. CBS is certainly not the only network that has violent programming. But when I think of sport on TV (and that's all I really watch) CBS' broadcasts are the only ones that feature ultra-violent programming advertised on family-friendly shows at family-friendly hours. That's right; we're talking about violent advertising here not the actual programming itself.

What is my definition of violent (or ultra-violent)? How about a corpse in a trunk? How about kidnapping and torture? Dismemberment anybody? Yep, CBS wants you and your children to know that all these important issues and more can be seen on their network. Is really necessary though to show adverts for violent shows like CSI:(name your city) at 5:30 PM central time or earlier?

It isn't that I want to get rid of these programs; I truly couldn't care less is someone chooses to vegetate in front of such drivel. But such violent advertising for violent programming should be relegated to both later hours and non-family shows.

Update: In the initial draft the word "relegated" appeared in last sentence. However, at time of print, the incompentence fairly came and changed it to "regulated." Damn those fairies!

2005-09-22T00:54:00.000Z

USGP '06!

Get ready to buy some tickets (for which Michelin already compted you)! Still no word on long term plans though; cross your fingers.

This just about makes my day.

2005-09-20T14:40:00.000Z

An Apology Will Do Just Fine

What does Trent Dilfer have to do? Perhaps he needs to save a cat from a burning building? Perhaps he needs master the mystical art of Feng Shu? Maybe he needs to help lead a team to a Super Bowl victory. Oops, he's already done that. Now, it appears that Dilfer is on the road to redemption with the Browns. Perhaps now Dilfer will get just a schtickle of respect.

I'm not claiming Dilfer is a great quarterback. Hell, I'm not even claiming he's a good quarterback. In my opinion, Dilfer is a mediocre-plus quarterback with great leadership abilities and with one ability I like more than any out of my quarterbacks; first, he'll do no harm. (One wonders if the reason his numbers haven't been great is the systems in which he has played; I'll entertain that theory).

Dilfer isn't a risk taker. He has rarely been a game breaker. But Dilfer avoids large-yardage sacks. He avoids costly interceptions and he rarely loses fumbles. (yes, in Seattle, he had disproportionate numbers of interceptions. I chalk that up to extenuating circumstances). Dilfer is a team leader that can learn and run your offence. So where's the love?

In a league of Patick Ramseys, Kyle Bollers, and Joey Harringtons isn't it time to give Trent two things; An apology and a starting role. He's got one but if you need to give him the other, please do.

2005-09-16T13:47:00.000Z

Ranum's Stupid Six

IT Security practioners need know introduction to Marcus Ranum or his work. Recently he posted The Six Dumbest Ideas in Computer Security.

Good Stuff.

2005-09-14T13:03:00.000Z

Science Reporting

Via Slashdot - a few days ago - this article at The Guardian discusses the [sorry] state of reporting on science. ...science is just a theory though!

2005-09-08T16:23:00.000Z

Alas, Not the Watershed Event I Thought

While I could write pages and pages on hurricane Katrina, I think others are doing just fine. I have always been a fan of The Daily Howler and find its "coverage" top-notch as usual. War and Piece has been pretty decent these days too. That being said, this will be my last Katrina-related post.

Originally I believed, like David Brooks, that this anti-9/11 would be the straw that broke the camel's back. I thought like Brooks that "all we can be sure of is that the political culture is about to undergo some big change."

I don't believe that today. Rather than point the blame where if appropriately lays - with both parties at all levels - partisans run wild trying to gain political advantage. The worst of the worst are Matt Drudge and Atrios.

Atrios' calling of the political right "the heartless racist fucks we always knew they were" was perhaps the dumbest thing I've seen in a while. Drudge, on the other hand, did what Republicans (and Bush administration supporters / cronies) do best; attack! Drudges "News Flash" regarding CNN president Jonathan Klein's Nantucket vacation was text-book partisan attack – but also pointless and irrelevant. The problem is that both Atrios and Drudge have tonnes of readers. Worse, people consider both reputable news sources.

As thousands lay dead due directly to the failures of their democratically elected officials, I foolishly thought Americans would storm the Bastille and demand better government; a government that protects all equally. I think I'm wrong. But I know that what was once kitschy - New Orleans' notoriously corrupt government - isn't so kitschy anymore. But then again, political favouritism in appointments to key government posts isn't so kitschy either.

2005-09-07T15:56:00.000Z

Katrina Timeline

Here's a link to the Hurricane Katrina timeline.

Even at this late date, I'm without much to say. Disgust, shame, horror, and sorrow are just a few emotions I've got running through my head. There is no doubt that government - local, state, and federal - failed the people. Hopefully, people will rethink the role of government in their lives. (Like the post below).

I thought it was ironic that Bill Frist was going to hold up debate in the Senate on the estate tax so Hurricane relief could take center stage (sorry, no link found). ...Ironic because the estate tax benefits the rich. Ironic because those that would get no benefit from that "relief" are the ones suffering and dying in New Orleans. I know it is a simplification and does miss the important differences between local, state, and federal governments but the irony is relevant enough to note for my taste.

2005-09-07T14:40:00.000Z

California Schools' Junk-Food Ban

I caught this article over at the Monitor the other day. At first, I thought of legislating junk-food away was a great idea. Being the militant health and fitness guy that I am, I figured getting that garbage out of children’s systems was a good thing.

After further inspection, I can't help but wonder if this is really the right thing. As we investigate our relationship with our government, is this the sort of decision we want the state government making?

2005-09-02T21:37:00.000Z

The President's "Brain"

I about soiled my knickers listening to this today:

The good news is -- and it's hard for some to see it now -- that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house -- he's lost his entire house -- there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch.

Yes, the President and Commander-in-Chief said that today. I'm not trying to make a political statement here; far from it. I'm just saying that this guy is such a bumbling goof it's truly staggering.

2005-09-02T15:15:00.000Z

CBGB to Close - Probably

Those of you either not living in the New York City area either missed this or don't care. You may promptly piss off. For those of you familiar with CBGB you probably know it is closing. Pitchfork notes it here and the Village Voice rattles on here.

Nostalgia runs deep in situations like these but Nick Sylvester from the Village Voice wonders if CBGB shouldn't "go happily."

2005-08-24T22:13:00.000Z

Hell Yes I'm Still Alive

At least I'm updating my Diverts section of this blog right?

2005-08-09T07:11:00.000Z

Simple Pleasures from Neal Boortz

Would it not be to our advantage to capture or kill the people who would do that to us before they come here? Isn't it better to mow down the insurgents in Iraq before they can build a training base and recruit more jihadists to come and kill Americans?

Ahh, the master of the logical fallacy, the guy that claims James Blake Miller will be a movie star (or would be by now), strikes again with more stupidity. I don't disagree with some of his points but his tone is that of a pompous asshole and his listeners are close to the same.

Let me just open this one up to comment from my fine-ass readers. But noodle this one; the concept of striking an enemy before "they come here" is many times called forward defense. Here's a link. Enjoy the context and feel free to point out your favourite ass goblin moment in this link or others.

...Boortz' next paragraph is too obvious but you can take a stab if you like.

2005-08-09T06:39:00.000Z

Monterey and Salinas

Saturday Mrs. Ober and I traveled down the Pacific Coast Highway to Salinas and Monterey. The reasons for traveling to Monterey are many and somewhat obvious. The reasons for a trip to Salinas are not.

Salinas is home to a fertile valley, a rich agricultural tradition, and The National Steinbeck Center. The center was an obvious choice for me as I came all this way and he is my favourite author. However, I have to admit, The National Steinbeck Center was a bit of a disappointment. Not that I didn't enjoy it. I'm just not sure that, 1) It was worth the $10 and, 2) there was much there for those that aren't fans or at least familiar with his work. More importantly, I didn't feel that I came away with a better or more in-depth understand of the man, his life, and his work.

Monterey is simply Monterey. It's a beautiful seaside town nestled on the bay. Mrs. Ober and I climbed down a few rocks, strolled the beach, chatted with some hermit crabs, and shouted slogans at seals. Surprisingly, we actually recommend paying the $8 and going out to Pebble Beach. Gorgeous coastal views, flora and fauna, and wildlife make it well worth the time and money. Slogans optional.

Our drive home featured me familiarizing myself with the "speed limit optional" 101. At about 90 mph, Mrs. Ober, I would later learn, started feeling uncomfortable. Also, mad props to us, for putting "the" in front of the highway numbers. We're locals!

2005-08-08T00:16:00.000Z

How Liberal is San Fran?

So liberal that a few of the street lights (specifically ones close to the San Fran side of the Bay Bridge) have not one but two yellow lights. Now that's a liberal model for traffic control!

2005-08-06T15:30:00.000Z

San Fran Blogging

2005-08-06T15:26:00.000Z

Cisco's IPv6 Cat Out of Bag

Ahhh, the stink; a presentation on a known vulnerability from a company that sells security products and fancies themselves as a security-driven company.

Oh yea, a presentation that Cisco censured. Sweet, sweet, disclosure.

Thanks for the reminder Frodo. Oh gentle hobbit of IT security.

2005-08-03T13:21:00.000Z

Don't Manually Sync Passwords

This greeted me this morning.

Good thing my password was Cisco123.

2005-07-26T04:06:00.000Z

Lucifer Impedes Progress of Free Market

The big and bad Eliot Spitzer has decided to destroy our free market system by black mailing record labels...or so I'm sure some will be saying soon enough.

Read for yourself and decide whether or not the labels, 1) broke the law in the past and, 2) continued to break the law.

Maybe the question people should be asking is not "Why now," but rather, "Why not then."

2005-07-25T14:33:00.000Z

USGP Ticket Refunds

Michellin decided to step up and fix their boo-boo. Nice move. Ticket holders for this year's United States Grand Prix can apply for their refund starting August 8th.

More details here.

2005-07-25T14:11:00.000Z

Security and Intelligent Design

"I'm a god. I'm not *the* God... I don't think" --Bill Murray, Groundhog Day

I started writing this post nearly a month ago. After composing most of it, I realized my beef was the same but my analogue was off. So it was back to the drawing board when out of the blue, idiots swarmed around me like ants on candy.

I realized that during that idiot swarm, I was God...ok, more a god like Bill Murray notes in Groundhog Day. But what had given me god-like powers? I'm simply in the security design and engineering field. A field upon which all rely but few appreciate. A field of which all expect perfection but none understand. And it is that understanding that brings me to my god complex.

What do god and I have in common? Answer: People attribute both of us with the unexplained events that occur around them. Better answer: Lazy people attribute events to both of us because they are either unable or unwilling to seek the truth. The facts may be all around them but they are unable or unwilling to find them. Naturally, not all are unable to seek or find. Some are better or more talented at finding the answers that lay nestled at the bottom of the proverbial haystack. ...and by haystack I mean logs, network traces, and the like. To keep with the analogue, with ID, the haystack is science. And while logging and diagnostic tools and science aren’t silver bullets by any means, it’s better than guessing.

I have fallen upon a spell of being blamed for breaking our network. Unity fails to upgrade, I get blamed; CDR servers fail to grab CDRs from CallManagers and I'm to blame; DNS fails to dynamically update and Security gets called.

In many ways people still haven't adjusted to coding, testing, and developing their products with secure methodologies. When products or technologies are sent to "Security" they enter a black box one way and come out in another state. It is in this state that typical users or admins are unfamiliar with the technology. Any deviations in standard operations are then somewhat foreign or unexpected. My problem is our (the IT community at large) response to that unexpected behaviour. My problem is trying to fill in the blanks with hearsay and conjecture.

Intelligent Design and people blaming me - or security per se - both fail to adequately search for the real relationships between events. Both explain the relatively unexplained with the cause of their choice. Both use phony logic and bias. Both are really starting to piss me off.

2005-07-14T21:54:00.000Z

The 4th Estate in Good Hands with ABC

The network that had its senior anchor tackle the tough issue of UFOs, now tackles the pseudo-science of miracle healers. Oh Mon Dieu!

2005-07-14T16:05:00.000Z

Foreign News Translated

Via the Monitor, WatchingAmerica is a site that translates foreign newspapers into English.

2005-07-14T14:20:00.000Z

More Notes on Homeownership; Fixin' Your Shit

I think we've all given a little thought to what our blogs represent or what we want to contribute to the on-line community. When I look at my site logs I see people referencing my steps on IIS security and CallManager tips it makes me feel all warm inside.

So here goes my weirdest post ever; an esoteric contribution to the world-wide hive-mind known as the internet. Here comes a post on refrigerator maintenance and repair.

If you have a Whirlpool ET18PK refrigerator, you may tend to have water dripping into your lower section - or refrigerator. Please note that this is different from water on the floor or water coming out the back. Repair folks I know tell me the ET18PK model has an inherent design flaw with the way the drain line runs from the base of the freezer unit through the top of the refrigerator and down the back wall. When, and I say WHEN, you wake up and find water in your crisper, don't panic.

First, address the problem immediately; don't wait like I do. Waiting pisses off your wife and ruins your sweet corn. Second, open the freeze and find the 2 screws that hold down the tray on the freezer floor; remove the tray (you have the rack removed too, right?). In the back of the freezer, on the right side below the fan unit - as you face the unit - and below the inner wall lip, you will find a pinky finger-sized tube that is flush with the floor of the freezer.

Check to see whether or not you can visibly see ice forming in the tube. Grab a turkey baster and fill with hella-hot water. Shoot the hot water into the hole; rinse and repeat. You can try to pick at the ice but like a mosquito bite, the more you pick, the more damage you can do; that hose is plastic. That means if you puncture it, you're calling in $300 worth of labour to tear out your unit. You can even try warming the freezer unit with hot air from a blow dryer (please remember to mop up any water first).

When all is done, you should be able to hear the small amounts of water you dump into the hose running through. These steps and more are noted at ApplianceAid.

Showing ass crack as you bend over to work is optional of course...

2005-07-14T14:18:00.000Z

Notes on Home Ownership

Mrs. Ober and I have only been home owners for a few years now and have learned a few lessons. One of the subjects on which we have a few tidbits is that of the home warranty.

I believe there are several companies out there that sell home warranties; we went through HMS after our friends suggested we get it.

Here's how it works (but please read the information yourself): When you buy a home, you send HMS $370 or so and they insure the mechanicals / appliances in your home. So this means if your AC goes out they replace it after you meet your deductible. If your refrigerator needs help, they send a guy out to fix it. You pay the deductible and the rest is covered by HMS.

For 2 years Mrs. Ober and I had a great deal of piece of mind and wonderful service from HMS. The only problem was that we never passed our deductible. This spring, we decided not to renew.

Insurance is a weird thing. Now that Mrs. Ober and I have enough money to offset our risk (appliance related risk that is) we don't need HMS anymore. We just thought we could put the $370+ to better use than HMS. But if you're a new homeowner and cannot offset the risk of mechanical failure yourself, we recommend HMS.

2005-07-12T15:51:00.000Z

Cruise and Oprah

This was sent to me about 5 times last week and the week previous. I'm still finding people that haven't witnessed Tom Cruise electrocuting Oprah.

Enjoy.

2005-07-11T14:02:00.000Z

Ballot Initiative and Term Limits

I was flipping through my usual sites this morning and came across this article or at the Monitor.

At the bottom of the article I found two interesting thoughts. One was on ballot initiative and the other term limits. I'm a long-time opponent of both but found these comments somewhat telling. On term limits:

And some say the state's term limits leave lawmakers less bound by the legislature's traditions of reaching compromises over the long term.

On Ballot initiatives:

...with enough money [anyone] can get almost anything they want on the ballot.

Two thoughts that disturb me: First, the framers had these concerns and built the proper controlling mechanisms into the constitution. Somehow, especially with ballot initiatives, many believe we're just too good for a federal republic. Hey y'all, it's back to ancient Greece wit' yo bad selves!

Second, why doesn't the Monitor actually tackle that debate in any way other than a passing glance?

2005-06-24T22:41:00.000Z

Speaking of Poor Air Quality!

I noted poor air quality in Charlotte earlier (below). It's about to get even worse when they start blowin shit up on Sunday morning. If you like destruction and don't live in the Metrolina area you can watch the old convention center implode on Sunday morning at 7am Eastern.

You can watch it live on the web here.

2005-06-24T22:10:00.000Z

Notes on Charlotte

Due to all the travel recently, I forgot to renew my license. So long story short, I'm sans driving privileges for a while. That leaves me at the mercy of public transportation. It may shock some of you - but probably not - but I've never actually used public transportation in the United States with two exceptions; to get to a Red Wings game in Chicago and in New York City.

The way Americans view public transportation is bizarre. Typically, we think of it as the mode of transportation for poor and/or minorities. Most systems are completely inept and inefficient. I imagine this perception leads, at least in some way, to the horrible air quality in many cities - like here in Charlotte.

Most of my co-workers thing that it's completely off for me to leave uptown Charlotte this week by bus. Even worse, they were shocked when I came in to work this morning after skating at Eastland Mall (the "Black" mall) last night. I suppose they assumed I would rather sit around than be seen on the buses here in Charlotte. Perhaps they were surprised when I noted that I was, in fact, not anally raped on the bus last night.

Charlotte's bus system is remarkably adequate. I can get most places in the city in 15 minutes or so. Now, this is because I'm in uptown and am near the hub. I guess if I had to draw a comparison, I would say it's similar to Dublin's bus system - a hub and spoke; you have to come to the hub to get to most of the spokes. Maybe residents of other areas don't find it so convenient.

Link to the Charlotte Area Transit System here.

2005-06-20T13:40:00.000Z

Outrage

"A lot of people had this as a family event," Arbelaze said. "A lot of people invested money to come in for a good time, and we feel betrayed.

Betrayed? Yep, that's one way of saying it. Disgust, rage, and disappointment would be others. I feel most sorry for those that traveled from other countries - about 100,000 people.

But this situation leaves the Captain in a precarious position; Defending FIA and Ferrari. As the FIA notes, "As it is, by refusing to run unless the FIA broke the rules and handicapped the Bridgestone runners, they [the "other' tire vendor] have damaged themselves and the sport."

Michelin was unprepared. And the Michelin teams wanted to break the rules. For whatever reason, Bridgestone was prepared for the peculiarities of turn 13. Mrs. Ober posited that Firestone may have communicated with Bridgestone the dynamics of turn 13 during Indy 500 running that may have given them an advantage. Of course, we'll learn more as the days progress. But for Michelin to be shocked that there is a turn 13 in Indy and then not be prepared is insane. It isn't as if this race was put on the schedule at the last minute; F1 has been in Indy for 6 years now. I understand new tire compounds are being used this year but the tires should be ready for ALL circuits.

The bottom line is that Michelin teams wanted to break the rules rather than compete with inferior equipment and the fans lost. What an incredibly sad time. Perhaps the saddest part is that attendance was up and the excitement in the air was unlike any of the previous 6 years.

Update: You can read letters here. I don't agree with all but we can all agree that as fans, we just got royaly fucked; Ouch!