I’m getting many, many, many requests to my home PC on port 3396 today. My firewall software is keeping them from getting thru – I think – and my PC isn’t sending anything out – but it’s too weird not ask – any of you out there are seeing something like this today? I use Comcast digital cable, I’m used to a few script kiddies doing port scans daily, but the nonstop requests to 3396 is freaking me out.
Lack of free web based java apps – a conversation at JavaLobby
Some interesting posts in this discussion on the lack of free Java web apps.
Some point to the lack of web hosts that provide Java services. I think Kattare, the host I am using, is great and I recommend them, but this is correct – there must be many more then there is today. Sun would do Java a world of good if it evangelized to web hosting providers and made it easy for them to provide basic services.
Some mention a difference in approach between the Perl/PHP/Python folks and the Java folks. Supposedly Java developers get overconcerned with archetecture and forget the real task is to get the job done. There’s some truth to that. I’ve run into many developers like this. I’ve been accused on occasion 🙂
Eventually it’s going to be projects like Roller and miniblog that will change people’s attitudes.
Man am I sorry I missed it
It’s universal – Al Gore rocked SNL.
Coding…a writer’s perspective
Gervase Gallant muses on how the process of writing code could be as natural as the process of writing prose. I like this piece.
A Must Read If You Haven’t Already
I highly suggest printing, reading, and re-reading this piece from Tim O’Reilly on piracy and distribution if you havn’t already.
Oh I Get It! THAT’s Compassionate Conservatism!
Read it and weep at the Washington Post.
Hey, at least this is a whole lot more honest. The typical tract is to leave loopholes only those who can afford it can find.
And need I Say It?
Critical Flaws and How to Ruin American Enterprise
Posted so close together you’d figure these two are conspiring.
First read at the Washington Post what you already know, cultural critics deploy the same kinds of arguments again, and again, and again. A perfect how-to for you webloggers that want to get in the game!
And lo and behold the weblogosphere has started to link to this Benjamin J. Stein article on how our culture is slowly poisoning us.
From Yesterday’s Inquirer
It was good reading yesterday. Let me share some highlights…
First, the Inquirer covers how Street’s biggest contributors do very well at City Hall. That’s pretty much the way it’s always been and Street simply hasn’t faught the “way it is”. Actually, he seems to embrace it according to the article. Of course this has a whole lot to do with campaign finance and Philly isn’t following other cities’ attempts at reform.
Related to what I said yesterday about Philly slowly losing the control to govern itself, Tom Ferrick details just how well the state (Republican) takeover of the parking authority has gone.
In Silencing the demons Ralph Vigoda shares the story of Larry Boettcher. Suffering from schizophrenia, not taking his medication, he set himself up to be shot by the police.
Zeitgeists and Top 50s
Pretty much every weblog out there has linked to Google’s Year-End Zeitgeist, but let me direct you to the almost forgotten Lycos Top 50 for some similar fun. “Dragonball” was the most searched for term at Lycos.
Reading a related Slashdot thread discussing the results, ya gotta wonder, what do they say about us?