I believe all code is dead unless executing within the computer. For this reason I distribute the source code of my programs in modifiable form to encourage life and spread love. Opening one's code is a beneficial practice that both helps the community and grows the strength of the programmer.

Gallery of Computation | generative artifacts

This should be of interest to anyone who needs to monitor large and disparate data streams looking for uncertain and unclear indicators that, taken together, represent potential risks.

Out of the Ordinary: Finding Hidden Threats by Analyzing Unusual Behavior

Individual users take on roles that only make sense in groups: leader, follower, peacemaker, process nazi, and so on. There are also behaviors that can only occur in groups, from consensus building to social climbing.

Actually, I've found that process nazis and social climbers can be surprisingly vigorous in these pursuits, regardless of the presence or absence of a group.

Of course, when it comes to mailing list software, a few clever, well-placed lines of code can be made to work miracles. Unfortunately, we still have a lot of face-to-face meetings.

If only we had a Real World equivalent of Perl.

Shirky: Group as User: Flaming and the Design of Social Software

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If we lived in a primitive age, the ground at Langley would be laid waste and salted, and there would be heads on spikes. As it is, the answer to the CIA insubordination is not just to move a few boxes on the office flow chart.

David Brooks is clearly taking the President's side, and while I disagree with him on some of the larger issues here, I do share his complaints about this strategy.

What David doesn't say is that this solution is applied everywhere, and not just to deal with "insubordination," but with anything and everything. It's become a general-purpose tool.

In modern business and government, there are only two essential tools to achieving problem solving success:

1. If people aren't getting along, try rearranging the organizational chart.
2. If people aren't doing good work, try a new process.

These are the NOR and the NAND of American corporate circuitry.

The answer is to define carefully what the president expects from the intelligence community: information.

To paraphrase what Jules once said to Vincent, "if your answers disagree with mine, then I will cease asking for your opinion."

The CIA Versus Bush

Via Drudge Report. An impressive collection of battle shots.

Raw Video Captures of The Battle of Fallujah

The Marines know they are being hunted. Boxed from the east and the west in a treacherous kill zone by an enemy they can feel -- but can't see. Their superior firepower is checked by the insurgents' knowledge of the city -- their cunning in using blind alleyways and the crooks and crannies of buildings to pick off the Marines.

Kevin Sites Blog: Fallujah Street by Street

It's fun from the start, but it gets even more so once the gang wars begin. "Your 'hood is under attack!" Quick -- steal a van, round up a posse, and get over there, pronto! Defend your territory and earn the respect of your fellow gang members.

Also, you'll need to buy up some property around town so that you always have a convenient safe house to duck into when the cops get onto you, as well as a garage to stow that fancy sports car you nabbed over on Rodeo.

When you need lots of cash, big pimpin' is the way to go.

Also, if you want to get a sneak peak at Las Venturas before you've opened up the highway, just jump in the water and swim across. The cops will become relentless, and you will die, but if you're good, you'll be able to get a good look at the Strip, including Excalibur and all the rest.

I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin;
I wouldn't let my dear Saviour in.
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night;
Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

    I saw the light, I saw the light.
    No more darkness; no more night.
    Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight.
    Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

Just like a blind man I wandered alone,
Worries and fears I claimed for my own.
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight;
Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

    I saw the light, I saw the light.
    No more darkness; no more night.
    Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight.
    Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

I was a fool to wander astray,
For straight is the gate and narrow is the way.
Now I have traded the wrong for the right;
Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

    I saw the light, I saw the light.
    No more darkness; no more night.
    Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight.
    Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

A reading from the Book of Hank, Chapter 1

If anyone is laughing all the way to the bank this election year, it must be Rupert Murdoch. The Murdoch cultural stable includes recent books like Jenna Jameson's "How to Make Love Like a Porn Star" and the Vivid Girls' "How to Have a XXX Sex Life," which have both been synergistically, even joyously, promoted on Fox News.

One sure-fire way for a Blue pundit to reach the heart of a Red voter is to accuse him of hypocrisy. However, this strategy is unlikely to endear the voter to the Blue Man and his group.

Once again, the blue misunderstand the red, and they put their words into print, simultaneously putting themselves on national display and enshrining their confusion for posterity.

For a little Blue boy exposed as a hypocrit, the charade has ended, and he knows it. He can no longer pretend to be what he is not. But he is unlikely to apologize or mend his ways. The Blue version of mea culpa has more in common with Paul Harvey's catchphrase: "And Now You Know ... the Rest of the Story." If the opportunity presents itself, he might even bask in the publicity.

But for a Red man caught red-handed, it's all about Shame and Guilt. While some lashing out is likely, much of the pain is internalized. Instead of tearing down unrealistic expectations of himself, the brightness of the spotlight leads him into hiding. Alone with his thoughts, he sees these events as part of a life challenge ... a struggle. He seeks Guidance, and with his convictions reinforced, he emerges to the world, often acknowledging his faults, but more than ever, supremely confident in the righteousness of his Path.

He is a Sinner, yes. But he knows the Way, and seeks the Light.

In the mind of the Red man, the fact that he may succumb to Blue temptations in no way makes Right the behavior of the temptress. She is Evil through and through. And so the battle rages on.

On 'Moral Values,' It's Blue in a Landslide