Goodbye, Internet Explorer:

I timed it: it took 90 seconds after opening IE for my homepage to come up; it was another 84 seconds to open a new tab. I swear, it gets longer every time I use it, and, as I noted from day one of this test of Microsoft's Windows 7, Internet Explorer has some serious lag problems. I don't know why, and I don't care. Why? Because Firefox works fine and so did Google Chrome. Granted, there is clearly a problem with IE (I might even entertain the possibility of a user malfunction); it's just not clear to me why I would want to fix it in any way other than simply not using IE. So, uninstall happens. Oh wait, I can't uninstall it... I can only "turn Windows features on or off" (shakes head in disgust).

I should note that IE (64-bit) works comparably to Firefox. I am on a 64-bit machine, but most plug-ins don't support 64-bit internet browsers, so the 32-bit IE is the one that gets used.

So, strike one, Windows 7. When there are plenty of internet browsers that just work out-of-the-box, there simply isn't any motivation to investigate very deeply. Most people will just not use your product.

I have other issues. Stay tooned.

The 'Dump Recommends: Moon

The cake is a lie.

Charles Bolden:

This is from an old Navy/Marine Corps News program from February 1995. What else is great about Bolden?

Graduate of Annapolis
Marine Test pilot
100+ missions over Vietnam
680+ hours in space
4 Shuttle missions
General USMC (ret.)
And a nice guy, to boot...

From this article:

"Bolden says NASA needs to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers who will help replace an aging workforce and develop the technologies for a human mission to Mars, which he wants, but which he says is two decades away. He acknowledged noticing a different attitude towards space among schoolchildren. "If I go to a classroom today, it's different than when I went when I was an astronaut in 1980," he said. "I could ask, 'How many of you want to be an astronaut?' -- and every hand went up. When I go today and ask that question, I may see three hands. All of them want to go into business.""

Damn kids (shakes fist)....

Read Bolden's statement to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation here.

District 9:

Train vs. Tornado:

Whoa. Thanks Awesomer.

Pickens' Plan Setback:

Read about it here. Wait, what is Pickens' Plan, anyway?

Hitler Finds Out Michael Jackson Has Died:

Thanks 3quarksdaily.

Google Chrome OS:

Targeted (initially) at netbooks, Google Chrome is moving beyond mere web browsing and into the world of open-source operating systems. The code is supposed to be available later this year, with netbooks available to consumers in 2010, but it's unclear to me from this announcement from Google what stage development is in. They do note that this is not merely an extension of Android, but an entirely new project. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Read the announcement

Update: More here.

LucasArts on Steam:

Valve's Steam platform will be carrying old LucasArts games for download (starts tomorrow). Ah, I fondly remember the days of playing Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. And now I can go back and play The Dig, too. But you know what I'm really waiting for? Sam and Max, motherfucker.

Thanks for the heads-up, Awesomer.

Robert S. McNamara (1916-2009):

I heard on NPR this afternoon that Robert S. McNamara, a man whom I greatly admired, passed away today. He is perhaps best known as the first President of the Ford Motor Company not from the Ford family, and as Secretary of Defense under John F. Kennedy. If you've never seen The Fog of War, the Errol Morris documentary that tells of the lessons learned by McNamara in his life, you've missed out. Take a couple of hours, and watch the video below:



Now, I don't know why this hasn't been front page on CNN, or what the fuck is in the water that's killing public figures in recent days, but thanks to NPR for reporting on this event. It's a sad day. I'd like to see some flags at half-mast, but I doubt I will.