Well, it looks like they finally caught me. I tried to download a firmware update for my new 3Com wireless LAN card that includes 128-bit encryption, but got the following e-mail instead:

"Your request to download software from 3Com Web site has been denied because you have supplied invalid information or your company or name is listed on the U.S. Government's Prohibited Parties list. Federal regulations prohibit 3Com from engaging in business transactions with companies or individuals that are on this list."

Now let's hope John Ashcroft doesn't detain me.

Flak Magazine: Review of BBSes, 11-23-01

A nostalgic article for those of us who stil remember BBSs. May they rest in peace.

Spain Sets Hurdle for Extraditions

Ironic that the Europeans are forcing us to apply our own constitutional principles.

CNN.com - China plans moon landing

Hey China: bad idea.

I love holiday weekends, particularly those occurring near Christmas.

Yesterday, I had Thanksgiving dinner with Geoff, Sarah and Geoff's family, who are visiting from Arizona (if you can really call Sun City Arizona), Gregg P. and crazy Jamie. Afterward we all watched a DVD with the first season of the Simpsons. It was nice, but I would rather have been in Phoenix. I slept in until 1:30 p.m. and totally missed the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Bummer.

Today, I went into work to find maybe four people in the whole building, so I went to the mall for lunch (Rubio's), visited the new Apple store and bought the new Castle Wolfenstien game. Naturally, I went home early. Awesome graphics and gameplay, but for multiplayer, I still say there's nothing better than Tribes 2, even when some dork calls you a "dumbass" for mounting an AA barrel on a turret to replace the ELF turret when it's clearly the better choice. But that's another story...

I saw "Shallow Hal" tonight. Not exactly challenging, but cute.

Wow, it's been a few days.

Comdex was good, though it seemed far less crowded and spectacular than in past years -- it was almost like a big trade show. I saw a few cool things, including a 3-D glasses system that' supposed to make any Direct X or Open GL game (that's just about any PC game made these days) three dimensional. I bought a pair, but Nvidia hasn't updated their drivers for Windows XP yet.

Speaking of graphics cards, I finally figured out what setting was causing all those lockups. I was so happy to have my games working again I ended up playing Tribes 2 until four in the morning.

Oh yeah -- the other cool thing I saw at Comdex was a 3Com 802.11b wireless card with a retractable antenna. I didn't see them for sale at the show, and haven't seen them at Fry's, Circuit City or MicroCenter, so I bid for one on eBay. So far, I'm winning the auction, so I may just get a refurbished unit for $50. Sweet!

Watched the Britney Spears concert tonight on HBO. I haven't seen anything that cheesy since the 1989 Debbie Gibson concert at ASU.

TNR Online | Hit the Ground by the Editors

The case for ground troops.

Gauging Bush’s credibility index

Someone finally writes what I've been thinking for awhile.

Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Arizona finds 9th-inning magic

Yankees rally in 10th to win Game 4

Crap.

Economists are cool to stimulus plan

Amazing. Republicans managed to turn a national tragedy into corporate tax cuts.

It's too good to be true: after six months of having to park a mile away in a garage that constantly oversold its spaces, the Business Journal finally got parking across the street. Suddenly I'll have more free time, happier feet and the ability to leave stuff in my car. It's like a dream.

Speaking of simple pleasures:

I got this cool super-backpack, which I believe will make me the ultimate road warrior. I mean, this thing has pockets for everything. The only thing missing was a shoulder-strap holster for my cell phone (the one that came with the backpack was too small), but lo, I saw the perfect holster at an event I was covering called SyncFest and bought it on the spot. So now, I have the perfect traveling setup. NO ONE CAN STOP ME!!!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

TNR Online | The Big One by Gregg Easterbrook

If Anthrax doesn't scare you, this will.

Sometimes I get pleasure from the simplest things. This weekend I bought a much-needed nightstand -- a last-minute purchase I almost didn't see at "Bed, Bath...and Beyond!" Anyway, it's a surprisingly elegant little prefab unit that looks like a carefully handcrafted wooden shelf, stained with a rich brown finish. It's funny what a little piece of furniture can do to a room. In addtion to finally giving me a place to put my cell phone, wallet and keys, it makes everything look a little neater. I love going into my room.

Well, I feel better, so I guess I didn't have Anthrax. That's a relief.

Tonight I had a bowl of Cap'n Crunch for the first time in years. I'd forgotten how delicious Crunch Berries are, and completely unaware that they now come in three different colors. That's progress for you. Unfortunately, they're still physically hard on the mouth. They really ought to work on a softter shape.

If you haven't seen this yet, it's a cool collection of 3D models of U.S. jets.

Wow, it's been a few days since I've updated this. I'm finally getting over a fierce cold/flu. I'm not sure how I got it, but I think a week of getting no sleep in New York finally got to me. I spent all day today inside, alternating between playing video games and sleeping. I think I'll do the same tomorrow, but will try to get out for church and a little grocery shopping.

I set up a wireless network at work, which should make life just a little easier at the office. It'll be nice to be able to use the laptop anywhere in the building and have one less thing to plug in every morning.

Waging war by remote control

Finally, the killer robots we've all been waiting for.