High School Students Needed For ABC Reality Show

This is cool... a reality show ("The Scholar") whose grand prize is a full-ride scholarship to the university of the winner's choice! It's nice to see the whole reality-TV thing being used productively, as in Last Comic Standing where people were actually furthering their careers instead of romping about on an island in hopes of a cash prize.

I might actually turn on the TV for this show... lately, I haven't watched anything but movies and whatever sitcom rerun is on the WB when I go exercise at my apartment's fitness center.

iPod Socks coming in Dec.

This article made me chuckle. Apple is actually creating socks with iPod-sized pockets. I guess this is for when you're listening to tunes around the house and you're in boxers and a t-shirt (or other attire sans pockets)?

I think it's a cool idea, but a bit silly. Of course, if I actually had an iPod, I'd probably get some (of these socks, that is).

(UPDATE: After checking out Apple's Web page, I found out that these are knit "socks" in which to store your iPod, not real footwear with iPod-sized pockets. My apologies for any confusion, which was probably very limited due to the incredibly tiny readership of my blog.)

Gmail Users Soon Able to Check E-Mail Via Outlook

Well, I'm sure this will be a draw from some users, but I think POP3 access for gmail is kind of silly. For me, the best part about gmail is the Webmail access... the ability to see my Inbox in exactly the same state no matter what computer I use to get online.

I suppose the big advantages will be: a) the ability to view emails "like you're used to," through whatever POP3 client you usually use, and b) the ability to view emails while not connected to the Internet. For me, though, I really like the gmail Web interface and wouldn't dream of going back to using Outlook. Also, I'm never at a computer without Internet access, so viewing messages while offline really is never an issue.

I suppose it *could* be an issue if I ever started using my PowerBook anywhere but at home or in my office, but I hope eventually to be able to be able to go online via my cell phone. Also, whenever I go to grad school I'm sure there will be plenty of Ethernet jacks around campus and in libraries. WiFi/AirPort networks would be best, of course (and that's what I use at home).

To get back to the original topic... honestly, I think that the whole POP3-gmail thing is for the people who aren't comfortable on the cutting edge of technology. Which isn't a bad thing, but it's not me.

The Onion | U.S. To Send 30,000 Mall Security Guards To Iraq

'A force of security guards trained to protect retail stores across America will be deployed to the Persian Gulf region,' said Maj. Peter Archibald, a spokesman for Central Command. 'Once in Iraq, security teams will fortify ground forces and assist them in keeping the peace and quelling any horseplay.'

Stalled Immigration Reform 'High Priority' for Bush

Immigration 'reform'? In what sick and twisted way does 'reform' mean "let's let a bunch of poor people come drain our economy legally?"

Before we ever do a deal with Mexico, or get as friendly with Vicente Fox as Colin Powell seems to be in the picture on this news story, we need to deal with all of the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS who have, by coming here ILLEGALLY, already commited a FEDERAL CRIME.

I know Bush doesn't give a sack of wet beans about what happens in California since it's clearly a Democratic state, but the massive influx of illegal immigrants can be, and in some cases clearly is, hiding terrorists who come into the country with fake Latin American names and two-for-a-peso Matricula Counsular cards that are purportedly "official ID" from the Mexican government. For that matter, I doubt that a Democrat president would care about California's current condition since he'd feel that our vote was "in the bag," so to speak.

This is definitely a Homeland Security issue, but the DHS hasn't lifted a finger to help stem the tide. In fact, Asa Hutchinson, Undersecretary of the DHS, bent to the slightest pressure from Congressman Joe Baca (D-Calif.) and stopped the proactive efforts of police in Riverside County to rid our streets of these economic leeches.

I'm more pissed about this "deal" with Mexico than can be descibed in words on a webpage, but to hear more about the shaft California has been getting please listen to John and Ken on KFI (3-7pm weekdays, Pacific Time).

Legal challenges come to mayoral vote count

This looks promising... apparently, after a closer look at the San Diego charter, it seems that there is a case for completely dismissing Donna Frye as a candidate for mayor. No matter how many votes she winds up getting once the write-ins are counted.

A Liquid Thanksgiving: Turkey in the Straw

Just read it... there's no way I'll do this article justice in a summary. Besides, you have to see the picture.

Actor Colin Farrell Not Interested in 007 Role

Wait a second... I thought Dougray Scott has already been chosen to play the next 007. What up with Colin Farrell even thinking it was a possibility for him to turn down?

I'm confused.

Firefox Browser, a Microsoft Rival, Fully Released

Well, it looks like Reuters is reporting this momentous occasion as well. More reason for you to go check it out. :)

Firefox 1.0!

Awesome!

Finally, Mozilla Firefox (the best Web browser on earth) has gone 1.0. For the uninitiated, this means that it's finally a full-fledged product and is no longer in "beta test" mode. It works great, has an awesome popup-blocker, has a tabbed interface (as all *real* browsers these days must), and is also impervious to all of those stupid hacker tricks that exploit flaws in Internet Explorer.

Try it out! It's what I use in both Mac and Windows, and it's fantastic. One of the really cool things about it is that it's based on a plug-in sort of architecture... which basically means that it comes off-the-shelf (well, off-the-site) with only the most basic options necessary to run the browser, and then you can add on Extensions (from update.mozilla.org, as well as a number of other places) to add on only the features that you want. This means that it runs very quickly, as it's not hampered down by a full-fledged feature set of which you'll only end up using half.

Click the link on this post's title, and try it today!