There's a great article on Wired about how software patents suck. It's an interview with Ralph Nader. Here's a quote I really enjoyed:

Q: The system must be working for someone. Who benefits?

A: The system protects two groups: software companies with weak products who use patents to harass competitors, and patent lawyers. The ease of getting patents makes it economically attractive to abuse the system in a number of unpleasant ways. People obtain patents and then ask businesses to pay licensing fees that are cheaper than the cost of mounting a legal defense. Also, firms are wary of investing in new products for fear they will be ambushed by an infring

Very true. What kind of idiots work in the patent officies anyways? Do they have any clue about the patents they are granting? Or are they just corrupt?

Dave Hyatt is feeling very hypothetical today. I wonder if Apple likes this weblog talking about Safari the way it is. It is also interesting that Apple hasn't taken any measures to contain the leaked safari build. From what I've seen they haven't sent any letters to people asking them to take their mirrors of the build down.

I guess they must not be too upset. It actually might be better press for them now. People have got interested in this because its 'leaked'. Its like little kids who are having fun since they know they have something they aren't suppose to have. In this case, of course, it really isn't doing any harm, if not good.

diveintomark.org presents Magnetic Poetry in your browser! Time to waste some time.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

PerversionTracker reviews Opera.

Well, it seems that a leaked beta of Safari has a version of tabs included. Good job Apple! Its great that you listen to your users! I can't wait for this to be released in a real version.

So I didn't go camping this weekend afterall. The weather wasn't looking good for driving, so it got cancelled. Yesterday there was freezing rain then snow in the evening. Overnight we got a big dump of snow as well. Too bad. I wanted to work more on our snow shelter and take some pictures. Maybe some other time...

Wired: Why Did Google Want Blogger?

Good insight.

I'm now running Movable Type 2.6.2. Looks like it's working so far.

Today the SQL install on the server was screwed up. I had to re-enter the last few days of posts. Things might not display with the right dates.

An update to Movable Type 2.6 may come soon.

404 of Mass Destruction

Heh

I picked up the Pink Floyd ablum Animals. What an amazing album. Nobody makes that kind of music anymore. The idea of a concept album is essentially dead, its too bad.

From what I've read about it and what I've interpreted I think this album compares various animals (Dogs, Pigs and Sheep) to different human behaviors in society. The dogs are greedy and money-centred, the Pigs are self-centred, ignorant and arrogant people who over indulge in society, finally the Sheep are the ignorant, passive and uninterested followers.

Yet another masterpiece to add to my Floyd collection.

Well, I didn't freeze! Camping was great. Our snow shelter was huge, and it wasn't even completed. The pile of snow is about 7 feet high, or more. When we were almost done hollowing it out half of it collapsed on us. Although rebuilding the colapsed half meant a hell of a lot more work, we all laughed for a while. I was on the outside and the three other guys were burried up to their waists in snow, laughing.

I'll be going back next weekend. My friend and I are going to try and finish it. I'll try to take some pictures of the monster if it is still intact.

Google has bought Pyra, the makers of Blogger. It will be interesting to see how this changes things for weblogs and personal publishing in general.

Crazy Apple Rumors: "Apple Really Trying Hard To Give A Damn About Opera."

Heh.

I'm going winter camping this weekend up at a friends farm. We'll be building snow shelters and doing everythign outside. It should be fun.... but freezing.

So it is Valentines day today. I'm not a big fan of this purely invented holiday. It seems to me that all it is good for is making the card, flower and chocolate companies money and making people who spend it alone, well alone. The part I hate the most is the ads you see that essentially say "buy her an expensive diamond ring to show that you care about her." This is essentially a corporate guilt trip. You don't need to spend that much money to show feelings.

So Happy Valentines Day everyone! I might be being unfair. Its a nice day for many people.

I think I'm bitter.

Apple has released a spec on the XML format, (APXL - Apple Presentation XML), used in Keynote. Apples says that "It is intended for developers who wish to create or modify Keynote presentations programmatically".

Clippy: "It looks like you're suing Microsoft".

Courtesy of Mark Pilgrim.