29 Oct 2002
Today I poked around the USPTO website trying to find out what trademarks are out there for ecash/e-cash/e cash. I was cutting and pasting the URL’s to the intresting bits, but then, much to me horror, discovered that the URL’s expired. It’s very hard to collect information about something on the web when your primary source is unlinkable.
Artimage suggested writing a script that will execute the searches needed to find the url I want and then forward the user to the current url. A good idea. I’m now writing webmaster@uspto.gov to find out why they have a broken website.
28 Oct 2002
Here is a script in python that will allow you to post to your blog using whatever editor you have defined in the EDITOR env var. You have to create a config file first with your login info. Read the top of the file for info on that.
#python
23 Oct 2002
I’ve been reading about the Free State Project with interest. One interesting note from their FAQ talking about if the Feds would stop them in their endeavor:
However, these tactics [regulations on the sale of property or tightening voter registration requirements] did not stop left-liberals and socialists from taking over Vermont in a coordinated effort.
Poking around on Google for a few minutes I couldn’t find anything about it… Kibo do you know the answer?
22 Oct 2002
So Friday SprintPCS annouced new rates. One very intresting tidbit is they are doing unlimited CDMA 1xRTT data for $10 more to whatever plan you have. Apparently they got hit with a cluestick about how to get new customers and have people like me go and create some killer apps for it. Others think this is suicidal, but I think not. You need unlimited to get people to pay attention to it. I’m just have a hard time swallowing they fact that SprintPCS has a clue enought to do this.
So given that the cable co won’t even give me an estimate on running a 0.6 mile cable run to my house will be and Sprint, the local phone co, won’t return my calls, I’m going to get a Merlin C201 PCMCIA card (which works under linux) and give it a go. If I read the coverage map correctly the service will work where I live and if it works at all I should get over 28.8kbps which is what I’m stuck at now.
11 Oct 2002
2600 has an interesting article up about a current General Accounting Office report that says most satellites have next to no security. Anyone with the right equipment can send them commands. Ouch! Even more intresting is the link to article about a brit hacker who claims to be reciving “American surveillance pictures relayed from US spy planes”. There’s some “Must see TV”!