Well, it's "new music Tuesday" on iTunes, so as usual Joe is on top of the new releases. We discussed the arrival of the new Extreme album- neither of us was terrifically inspired to buy it. That band is full of incredible musicians, but Joe and I agree that there's something chessey in the mix that just doesn't work for us.
Joe thinks it's Gary Cherone - he may be right. I have a hard time connecting with Gary's character as a singer. I can' figure out who he is. It's much easier with some guys, take David Coverdale for example. Old Brit with an unrelenting need to sing about chicks and love. Vince Neil- sleazy LA rocker leftover who still looks and acts like a kid. Easy. It's all about being believable in context when it comes to singers.
Gary has little in the way of character, and the context isn't very compelling.
I haven't heard the tunes yet- but I'm feeling pessimistic.

Now, I don't drink a lot of coffee but when I do drink it, it must be very, very good.

Enter Gourmet Plus on Frankel Avenue. I've blogged about Gourmet Plus before.

NTFS Alternate Data Streams. In my years in IT and working with Windows systems I had never heard of alternate data streams (ADS) until I saw this blog. ADS, or hidden streams, is a functionality of the NTFS file system that allows a file to be attached to another file, in essence hiding the existence of the attached file. The attached file can be executable, even if the original is not. Just imagine hiding Malware.exe in GroceryList.txt. From what I've read, certain virus scanners don't always pick up these threats. The potentials for malicious use are numerous; thankfully Microsoft has helped decrease that potential in Vista & Server 2008 by making ADS files easier to find and not allowing those files to be executable. Click the link above for the entire blog post with all the details.

Full DNS Vuln Notes - Kaminsky Presentation. Now that the details of the DNS vulnerability found by Dan Kaminsky have been released, you can find a good summary of it in this blog post on his site; the Power Point slides from his presentation are a must read for a good understanding of the associated implications.

So, today, I'm at Starbucks writing this blog post, and thought I'd review the new orange mango blend. While I am a bit irritated at the perkiest Barista ever being not only perky but incompetent, I will let my coffee shop jack ass ways not have an effect on this review. Whenever you drink Mike's hard lemonade, after you take the top off, the very first sip you can taste the alcohol, but the alcohol taste goes away the more you drink it starts to taste more like lemonade. Well, at Starbucks the new mango orange blend starts out the same way, except that the starting taste partying in your mouth tastes like (Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, Dihearrea) pepto-bismal. As a kid I couldn't decide if I enjoyed the artificial taste of pink pepto hanging out in my mouth, or I preferred it to the phony grape taste of Robbitussin. Either way, I don't think starbuck's first taste idea was supposed to be pepto-bismal. The drink tastes much better after first sip, and you can really taste the flavors the way the drink makes it sound as if they are  supposed to taste. Once you get passed the pepto phase the drink tastes cool and fruity. I'm a huge fan of the banana added to the drink, probably because I like bananas mixed with oranges. I'm not sure about whether or not I like the accompanying taste of mango. Don't you think an orange banana shake would truly rock? I did drink the entire drink. yes. and I will say that as far as drinks go, this isn't the worst one out there.

Personally, I'd be more than happy if I found any one of these in my mailbox.

Top left: "Spilled Coffee" print by Red Heather

Bottom left: "Bitches get stuff done" pillow by Artful Artsy Amy

Middle: "The usual subjects" print by Craftonite

Right: "Time to eat" print by CMZ Art

If you’re visiting Chennai, then tasting Filter Coffee is the nice experience for you. South Indian Coffee also known as Madras Filter Coffee is especially popular in the southern states and especially in Tamil Nadu. People of Karnataka are also fond of filter coffee. The credit of popularizing filter coffee or “degree’ coffee must go to South India, especially in the Tamil society. 

The filter coffee is made from dark roasted coffee beans (70%-80%) and chicory (20%-30%). The most commonly used coffee beans are Peaberry, Arabica, Malabar and Robusta grown in the hills of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Coffee preparation is an art. First of all the chosen coffee beans is roasted to preserve the original aroma. These roasted beans are powdered and the flavour of rich ground coffee powder is used to make filter coffee. Even at this age there are households who use hand operated coffee grinding machines. Now let us prepare filter coffee. To start with boil the water very hot and bubbly. Coffee maker (filter) is set with the required spoons freshly ground coffee powder. With a gentle tap, boiling water poured in a circular motion. The filter is covered with the lid immediately. The coffee decoction drips slowly. Later fresh milk (not diluted) is boiled. With required sugar coffee decoction is added and then hot milk is poured into davara – tumbler. The aromatic coffee is ready. 

A cup of Filter Coffee is the most refreshing thing for any one.  It should be served too hot with the right amount of sugar and coffee decoction.  Now close your eyes and breath deeply to smell the aroma of the steaming coffee. Slightly sip the coffee and enjoy the taste. What ever may be the spiraling cost, you may not ready to leave the habbit drinking Madras filter coffee.

Now it is our filter coffee time. How about a cup of Filter coffee?

It's Cofee [Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor], from Microsoft.

COFEE is a USB drive that allows law enforcement to run more than 150 commands on a live computer system and save the results on the portable drive for later analysis. This preserves valuable information that could be lost if the computer had to be shut down and transported to a lab--files that are stored in active memory would otherwise be lost.

COFEE was developed in 2006 by Ricci Ieong and Anthony Fung, both members of the High Tech Crime Investigators Associate's (HTCIA) Asia South Pacific Chapter. Fung now works for Microsoft's Internet Safety Enforcement team in Hong Kong and used to be on the police force there. Ieong is founder and principal consultant for eWalker Consulting.

COFEE consists of plain text scripts; the data collected from these scripts is routed to a provided USB drive. Although intended for use with a command line, there is also an option for GUI. Raw text captures generate either SH1 or md5 checksums. The results for an acquisition are then presented in either plain text or HTML. Each operation produces its own log file to help investigators.

Although Microsoft would not confirm any specific tools included within COFEE, it did say that all the tools were publicly available.

A law enforcement agent connects the USB drive to a computer at the scene of a crime and it takes a snapshot of important information on the computer. It can save information such as what user was logged on and for how long and what files were running at that time, Fung says. It can be used on a computer using any type of encryption software, not just BitLocker.

"COFEE doesn't break BitLocker or open a back door, it captures live data on the computer"

Similar tools which have been in use and which are also being worked upon are:

RAPIER, SwitchBlade, USBDumper, MacLockPick, WFT.

Microsoft

Nitin Kushwaha

Microsoft have developed a new technology that can rapidly extract forensic data from laptops, phones, cameras and other electronical devices. Great for helping border control agents in identifying incriminating material - and hopefully preventing the need for them and other law enforcement agencies to seize innocent computers!

The technology is called COFEE (Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor), and is software built into a USB drive.  Although it's only just coming to light, it has been in use since last June, having been distributed to 350 different law enforcement agencies. Microsoft have said that they developed the device after an attack of conscience, and not as a way of making even more money.

For more details on how it works, visit http://mashable.com/2008/04/29/microsoft-cofe/

By Ida Siegal, Reporter

When I was a kid, coffee was one of those grown-up mysteries I never understood. Why on earth would they drink that hot brown stuff that smelled so weird?

I now appreciate the varied aromas and the desire for a jolt of caffeine, but I never developed a taste for the coffee itself. I've been told I'm the better for it; perhaps, perhaps not.

Either way, if you’re like me, when your producer tells you to become an expert in a couple days, you become slightly anxious. Not only did I need to learn about coffee, but also, I needed to find the best bang for the buck. Yes, good, cheap coffee.

It turns out that you don't have to drink coffee to understand that it is like most other things in that you get what you pay for.

While there are plenty of places to get a decent Cup of Joe at a good price, there is a reason Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts do so well.

I found a newsstand on 42nd Street offering a cup for 69 cents. It was the cheapest cup we could find.

The owner said he is loosing money on the coffee, but was new to the block and needed to attract customers. He also offered a 99-cent cup of "café chino," according to his sign.

Though I didn't taste it, it smelled good and people seemed to like it enough. However, they didn't have lattes, whipped cream, special syrups or non-fat soy options. And they didn't have that round, green stamp of brand approval we all know so well.

Thankfully, I didn't need to taste the Starbucks brew to understand why people are willing to pay $4 for a cup. Nor, did I need to taste the 99-cent café chino to understand why these days, brand approval or not, it may very well be the better cup. Non-fat soy is great, but a café chino that is $3 cheaper may be even better.

COFEE se conecta en el USB de la PC y en cuestión de segundos corre 150 comandos capaces de desencriptar passwords, analizar las actividades en internet y los datos almacenados en el disco duro.

Microsoft ha diseñado esta aplicación para las policías en el mundo y desde Junio ha empezado a distribuirlo silenciosamente en distintos países para ayudar en el combarte de los crímenes. ¿Ya les habrá llegado a la Policia Cibérnetica de la PFP?

Solo queda una pregunta: ¿Correrá en Mac o Linux?

Enlace: Seattle Times

I believe I've made the best out of my holiday. Let's just let the pictures talk.

Note: captions are under each photo.

Edit: I think this is the longest entry i've ever written, probably ever will. Take note of the time when you start reading.

.

Wednesday evening {post-Zara} and Starbucks Obsessions:

Some random cheesecake that I never tried.

My Mango Passion Fruit Ice Blended

Zulz's.

Thus ended Wednesday.

.

The whole of Thursday was dedicated to the Gang.

Morning was spent at Wei's place watching Sweeney Todd. I liked the movie a lot.

He got me this nice address book {he called it "the dumb book"}.

We met up with rest of the peeps after Sweeney, and I can't remember what spent the entire afternoon doing.

Dinner with Special Guest - Ellsie. I haven't seen him since ages! He hasn't changed much though, not at all, actually.

I need not say more.

Eldwin [Loco]'s artistic side.

Mervin doesn't have that, though. {Btw merv, somehow i look at this picture and you remind me of Squidward lolol don't ask me why}

.... act cute.

SK

Eldwin. Note his earhole... those are, if i don't remember wrongly, 56 earsticks you're looking at.

"...wtf is this.."

"HAHA"

I was too starved therefore I skipped the picture-taking process and proceeded to devour on my sushis the moment they arrived.

Anyway, desserts.

Ellsie's.

Mine.

Cookie and cream ice-cream. I like.

Esplanade next.

The angle sucked. But I was too lazy to move from my spot.

Balloon! <3

"Eldwin, the file isn't being transferred!"

Okay actually I said "Eldwin, your phone is screwed."

I've always known I'm smaller-sized compared to the rest of them. But this is unacceptable.

...

I look tiny.

Moving on to somewhere brighter to take photos.

This photograph is nice. I look so happy (:

Artistic works that didn't seem to make much sense.

... show off.

Self-timer pains.

Try spotting me.

Love this photo. A mountain of friends! :>

...

LOL Mervin.

Child abuse. Does my head resemble some kind of arm rest or something .. .

I love this photo. Look at Mervin's expression.

Too much.

Stupid Muscleman didn't want to act cute with me.

Shaz and I.

WeiWei and I.

SK and I ~

Uncle Ellse's big grey eyes.

Eldwin's big blue eyes.

Big Colored Eyes competition.

Eldwin is also known as Loco. And Loco means 'crazy' in Spanish.

Ahhh... now you know why.

Us. Mervin forever has that "What do you want" kinda expression.

I like this photo! I like it so much you can click here for the bigger version, in case you want to download and use as wallpaper :D:D

This one as well. Here :D

It was about 11.30 then, the rest went home while Mervin, Wei and I went to the airport to uhm, stone.

Sexy legs.

Terminal 3.

It was freezing cold.

That's me trying to sleep at 4 in the morning, and Wei took a picture. With flash.

Very helpful.

Oh, he went on to complain that I "look like ghost".

Home on the first train.

Slept for 3 hours.

.

Friday- Meet up with Ryan, KC, Nathanael, Rankie.

Screw angles. My feet hurt and I need to sit.

I haven't seen Ryan since late 2006! It was fun catching up with each other.

He's been doing street magic of late. Amazed me with those card tricks, he did! For most of the tricks it was just pure fun. And for the last one he totally bought me over.

So I get a deck of card. I shuffle it under the table without letting him see, I pick a random card, look at it,  put it back and shuffle the deck again.

Then I was to squeeze his wrist really hard, repeating and visualizing the card in my mind.  He told me that he could tell the card I picked just by looking at his wrist after that. I laughed.

And then...

.... he got it right 3 times in a row. The numbers really did appear!

I spent the next 2 hours wondering how he did it. Can someone tell me? He didn't even touch the freaking cards.

"You're not gonna get a full-face photo of me."

Said goodbye. Slacked around Plaza Singapura for a while more and then KC joined me.

Trying to take photos from a weird angle.

The long queues died. There were around 4 people in front of us when we decided to join in and find out if the donuts really taste that good.

Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Donut.

Now that i've tried it, why did people queue 3 hours for them a few months back? Mediocre. Overrated.

Nathanael is totally like what I'd expected. Let's leave it at that ;D

Reached home. Exhausted. Packed.

Overslept the next morning. Rushed like hell for the darned plane.

Gift from Shaz. Cookie Monster in a green raincoat :D

New member of the Mooie Family. From Garfield.

Wei loaded a lot of movies into my Zen, and I spent the entire flight watching Step Up 2!

That was so random.

Anyway some other pictures..

Eliz and my camera. I like this photo.

Us.

...

--

I've finally finished this entry!!! I think I took 3 hours.... -_-  How long did you take to read? TELL ME.

step 1: brew fresh coffee
setp 2: mix 1 can sweetened condensed milk with coffee
step 3: chill slightly. pour over the rocks and serve, drink, be satisfied!

use 1 regular can of sweetened condensed milk to 10 cups of brewed coffee...note, this really does make a lot of iced coffee, so you may want to make only half, depending on how many people you are serving.

Simple...Tasty...Coffee

La prima riguarda Cofee, un programma sviluppato da un programmatore cinese, capace di superare in circa 20 minuti le difese di Windows.

La cosa non desterebbe scalpore, se non fosse che programma e programmatore sono stati entrambi "arruolati" da mamma Microsoft, che in questi giorni sta tenendo una serie di corsi a centinaia di esperti delle forze dell'ordine di circa una trentina di paesi, per insegnargli come violare la privacy assicurata da Windows, alle informazioni contenute sui pc dei vari utenti.

Se gia' ti si sono rizzati i peli sul collo, cosa dire della brillante trovata dell'Agenzia delle Entrate, che ha pubblicato sul web le dichiarazioni dei redditi del 2005, in nome di un malinteso senso di trasparenza?

Alla luce di queste informazioni, emerge in tutta la sua gravita' l'incoerenza di quegli Stati, che se da un lato tartassano le aziende con norme e dispositivi atti a tutelare la privacy dei cittadini, dall'altra si sentono dispensati dal loro rispetto.

Tutto secondo uno scenario da "Far West tecnologico", secondo cui la ragione e' dalla parte del piu' forte!

Read entire story here.

Segnala link non funzionante

(※この映画の一般公開は2008年5月31日。以下の内容は、当然ネタバレ(Spoiler)を含みます。観るつもりの人は自己責任で)

映画『おいしいコーヒーの真実』公式サイト
http://www.uplink.co.jp/oishiicoffee/
Black Gold : A Film About Coffee And Trade
http://www.blackgoldmovie.com/

FACTORY | フォレステーション VOL.19 「フェア」
http://www.uplink.co.jp/factory/log/002582.php
「

5月の公開に先駆け、ドキュメンタリー作品「おいしいコーヒーの真実」の先行上映会を行います。上映後、コーヒーにまつわる基礎知識から、国家間貿易モデルのあり方まで、専門家の方々の意見を交え、トークショーを行います。ご来場いただいた皆様と、新しい世界のあり方を考えてみたいと思います。

」

最初に、この映画へのぼくの評価を書いておく。

この映画が直接描いているのは、エチオピアのコーヒー農家の困窮という辛い状況だ。問題への関心を深めることができる点ではよい。が、適切なフレーム・オブ・リファレンス(問題認識の枠組み)を与えてくれるかどうかという点では、ちょっと厳しいんじゃないかと思った。

話は、エチオピアのオロミア州という貧しいコーヒー産地の農協の代表、タデッセ・メスケラ氏がセールスのために欧米をまわる姿と、西欧諸国でコーヒーが嗜好品としていかに愛されているかを交互に紹介しながら進む。

エチオピアはコーヒー発祥の地。アフリカ最大のコーヒー産地であり貿易収入の7割弱をコーヒーに頼っている。が、「コーヒーの価格は悲しいほど安い」。先進国ではコーヒー(トールサイズ)が330円するが、それに占めるコーヒー豆の原価は1～3%だという。

メスケラ氏の話に戻ると、彼が消費国を飛び回る姿はエチオピアの窮状と共にヒロイックに描かれている。が、やや冷めた見方をすれば、どんな国のビジネスパーソンだってこういう苦労をするんじゃないかなぁ、とも思う。

コーヒー豆の価格下落には、背景がある。1989年、「国際コーヒー協定」の破綻だ(と映画内では説明されていたが、調べてみると、国際コーヒー機関による協定の輸出割当制度のみ停止、のち削除という流れ via 国際コーヒー機関 - Wikipedia )。

コーヒーの価格は、ニューヨークとロンドンの先物市場で決まる。特にNYの価格が基準値になっているという(映画には出なかったが、NYはアラビカ種、ロンドンはロブスタ種を扱っているらしい)。
一方で、イタリアのilly社はNY市場が扱う普及品ではこだわりの味は出せないと扱わず、NY市場に従うことは高品質な豆の産地を脅かすという理由で別ルートで調達するロンドンの会社も登場する。

また、コーヒーの製造・焙煎では多国籍企業であるクラフト、ネスレ、プロクター・アンド・ギャンブル、サラ・リーの4社が強い力を持つ(この映画の最後には、4社から取材を拒否された、と出る)。

1971年に開業したシアトルのスターバックス1号店の、誇りに満ちた女性店長へのインタビュー映像の後、そのスターバックスも使うコーヒー豆を生産するエチオピアのシダモ( スターバックス コーヒー | エチオピア シダモ )地区が飢餓に見舞われ、栄養補給センターで子供が泣き叫ぶ姿が映る。
この対比はショッキングだ。これを見たとき強く感じたのは、「世界はフラットになったとかなんとか言うが、全然つながっていないな」ということ。

一方でこのあたりでは、「他の国のコーヒー産地も、エチオピア並みにひどいんだろうか?」という疑問も湧いた。

後半、やや唐突に2003年のWTO(世界貿易機構)閣僚会議(メキシコ・カンクン)の場面に移る。アフリカの代表やNGOは、ECやアメリカの自国農業保護のための補助金をめぐる交渉に臨むが、数の面でまったく太刀打ちできず、不利な交渉を強いられる。
ここでぼくは、「なるほど、先進国の自国農業保護政策のひとつにコーヒーも含まれているから、途上国のコーヒー産業は悲惨なんだな」と思った。コーヒーは南北の貿易不均衡の象徴ということなのか、と。

ラスト、カメラはアフリカのジブチ共和国へ飛ぶ。そこで、アメリカ輸出用の小麦の袋詰め作業の現場をバックに「現在のアフリカは、かつてないほど緊急支援が必要な状況だ」「世界貿易にアフリカが占めるシェアは1%以下。それが1%増えるだけで全援助額の5倍に匹敵する」といったテロップが出る。

ちょっと構成がわかりづらいけど、この映画のメッセージは南北の貿易を公正なものにしろということか。
ただ同時に、この問題を考えるためには少なくとも以下のような点は調べてみたいと思った。

• 他の国に比べ、エチオピアのコーヒー産業だけが困窮しているのか?
• エチオピアでは、コーヒー産業従事者だけが特に困っているのか?
• コーヒー産業では、生産者だけに不利な構造があるのか?

後半は、北澤肯さん( フェアトレードリソースセンター )、川島良彰さん( 日本サステイナブルコーヒー協会 )によるトーク。

このトークライブの、特に川島さんのお話で、納得できたり理解の手がかりが得られたところが多かった。

特に重要だと思った点は以下。

• この映画は2003年から起こった「コーヒー危機(Coffee Crisys)」の時期を描いたもの。同じくコーヒー産地であるニカラグアでも飢饉が起きるなどひどい状況だった。
• が、現在ではコーヒー相場は回復している。価格は1.6ドルまで上がっており、むしろ消費国のコーヒー産業の方が大変な状況。
• 1997年に、NYコーヒー市場にファンド筋の投機が入ったため(注：ここ聞き間違いかも)暴騰した。その反動が2001年になって起きたのがコーヒー危機。コーヒー生産では、シェア3割を握るブラジルの動向が鍵を握ることが多い(例：価格暴騰→増産→ダブつき→価格暴落)。が、2001年の危機はコーヒーが投機対象になったために起こったもので、これまでとは性格が違う。
  (
  注：これのことか?
  アラビカコーヒーのハーベストプレッシャー
  http://www.ecommodity.co.jp/market/gud_050520_2.html
  「1997年にもう一度大暴騰がありましたが、これは霜害の懸念だけで深刻な被害は無く、価格こそ大幅に上昇しましたが、5月には早々に天井となり、相場は下落しています。」
  )
• この映画は生産者に焦点を当てているが、価格や供給が不安定であれば当然輸出業者や消費国も打撃を受ける。生産国は、暴騰すると「ノンデリ」(契約不履行)することなどもある。
• やはりコーヒー協定のような生産国・消費国の取り決めは必要だろう。
• 生産者側も、フェアトレード、スペシャリティ、オーガニックなどオルタナティブな市場との関係を培っておくことは重要。
• WTOの話が出てくるのは理由がわからない。コーヒーは保護品目ではなく、関係ないはず。
  (注：という話だが、「News headline 「コーヒー危機」の理解と解決策の検証(5)」では、米国市場(?)でのアジアやアフリカ産コーヒーをターゲットにした輸出障壁について言及あり)
• エチオピアは植民地化されなかった珍しい国。なのに貧しいのは、部族間対立や支配層による搾取などの原因もある。自助努力も必要。「教育」はその鍵のひとつではないか(映画内、貧しいコーヒー農家たちが学校建設のためにお金を出し合うシーンがある)。

この映画を見る前、「貧しいコーヒー農家を救う切り札はフェアトレード!」と思い込んでいたが、そんな単純な話ではないと思った。

そのフェアトレードについての話もあり、特に納得したのは以下の点。

• フェアトレードコーヒーは、サステイナブル(サスティナブル)コーヒー( 日本サステイナブルコーヒー協会／サステイナブルコーヒーとは？ )のひとつ。
• 「コーヒーが農産物であることを日本人は忘れているのではないか」。サステナブルコーヒーに取り組む団体は、それぞれ独自のスタンスを持っており、それを知った上でコーヒーに接してほしい。
  (注：「日本サステイナブルコーヒー協会／サステイナブルコーヒーの種類」にある、コンサベーション・インターナショナル、レインフォレスト・アライアンス、グッドインサイド、バードフレンドリーのような団体。)

なるほど、フェアトレードは小規模農家を対象とすることが多いが、たとえばブラジルでは大農園も多い。そこで働く小作人の権利保護や、環境破壊も考えなければ、ということか。

(一応言っておくと、トークライブはこのような話ばかりだったわけではなく、ぼくが興味を惹かれた部分をメモっただけもの。)

ともかくこの映画、グローバル化と南北問題、自由市場の問題、生産国同士の対立など、大きな問題のいくつかの部分だけを取り上げている。問題の枠組みをきちんと示すという点で、舌足らずだ。
これを観て「コーヒー農家は(一様に)悲惨だ」「フェアトレードで解決できる」と理解してしまったら、それは短絡的だと思う。

が、このイベントに参加できたことはためになった。こういう映画を日本に紹介するために努力したり、応援したりする人たちにも敬意を表したい。

ぼくはもちろんこの問題の専門家ではなく、理解が浅い点や誤りもあるだろう。
そういう点は、コメント欄で指摘してほしいと思う。

参考になりそうなWebページを挙げておく。

News headline よく練れていないコーヒー産業の計画
http://tmr.or.jp/headline/1052392402.html
News headline 「コーヒー危機」の理解と解決策の検証(1)
http://www.tmr.or.jp/headline/1053410235.html
News headline 「コーヒー危機」の理解と解決策の検証(2)
http://www.tmr.or.jp/headline/1053411271.html
News headline 「コーヒー危機」の理解と解決策の検証(3)
http://www.tmr.or.jp/headline/1053477600.html
News headline 「コーヒー危機」の理解と解決策の検証(4)
http://www.tmr.or.jp/headline/1053478695.html
News headline 「コーヒー危機」の理解と解決策の検証(5)
http://www.tmr.or.jp/headline/1053567524.html

コーヒーから見える政治状況(20051221)
http://www.randdmanagement.com/c_seiji/se_145.htm

歴史的な南北の激突―カンクンWTO閣僚会議報告（その１）―
http://www.jca.apc.org/%7Ekitazawa/wto/wto_cancun_1_2003.htm
カンクンWTO閣僚会議報告（その２）
http://www.jca.apc.org/%7Ekitazawa/wto/wto_cancun_2_2003.htm

//このブログ書くのに半日費やしたー。

*The lineup for the Pitchfork Music Festival has been announced. Also, I am old and poor.

*Countertrend (local): The Mill City Live (free outdoor music) slate has been announced. [switchblade comb]

*More on Grand Theft Auto's music store (and other music ties) from Scientific American. [mediaeater]

*Starbucks and in-store music apparently no longer mix.

*Countertrend: Midlake guitarist launching his own line of coffee. [getty images]

*Madonna's new album, the execrable (surely?) "Hard Candy" is streaming on her MySpace page prior to its official release. [mashable]

*Amy Winehouse was arrested for headbutting a guy outside a London bar, but she was not charged by police. Headbutting. [huff po]

*The Dead are history. (They're donating a bunch of old stuff – not their recordings, though – to a university library in Santa Cruz.

*Add your (or others') twitters to your online calendar with Twistory. What people do with Twitter data is getting more and more interesting. (My relatively boring Twitter stream is here, fwiw.) [techcrunch]

*I will post less boring things soon. Also, this is my 1,000th. In under a year. Lots of stupid videos, but still. Goodbye.