PSA: Password Security

I think that most of the information in This Article is rather straight-forward, almost common sense. But then, I'm technically a security professional, so that's to be expected. Good, baseline advice on passwords that everyone should take note of.

Childhood in the 21st Century

I think I agree almost completely with This Article on the detrimental effects of our over-competitive, over-stimulated culture on childhood. I'd say it's not just British kids who are suffering this; I think Americans pioneered the dysfunction. we're good at that.

More medication

I can not express how angry This Article, on parents requesting ADHD medication to help their non-ADHD children excel in school, makes me. ADHD is something the concerns me mostly because I think it is over-diagnosed and over-medicated, and indicative of the sorts of issues I take with today's society. What really gets me angry is the harm inflicted on these kids for the sake of 'success.' It's disgusting, it's impersonal, and it's ultimately selfish.

An Actual Update!

So, yesterday was... eventful.

A friend convinced me to do a fast on Tuesday which was well-meaning but generally ill-fated, unfortunately. there was a lot of work-stress yesterday, not the sort that could have been foreseen, and combining that with not eating led to a rather trying day with me being generally cranky. in a complete reversal of how the fast should have ended, I determined to go out to eat as a treat to myself because I was feeling down. (Eating because one is sad is a bad habit to make, and is certainly not what a fast is about.)

This led to good things, though. I've been meaning to go to Fuddruckers (a burger place I really like, for those unfamiliar) for a while; I really like their food and haven't been there for months and months easy. The trouble is, most of my time spent down here has been with Leslie and though she's a wonderful person she's kind of a vegan-ish* food snob; Fuddruckers is right out. So I called around to other people I know in the area (most of whom didn't answer) until I got a hold of my old gradeschool buddy Patrick. Pat was free as soon as he picked up his fiance from her doctor's appointment, so we met out there at about 8:00.

Pat's fiance, Melissa (shoot me if I botched that, Pat), showed up wearing a t-shirt with Monty Python's Black Knight ("it's only a flesh wound") and got points right off the bat for that. Pat said she'd wanted to change but he'd convinced her she ought to keep it. So points for Pat, too. Pat and I spent most of the meal catching up on the last five or so years and dropping names of old acquaintances and playing a hometown version of "Where Are They Now?" For the most part I wasn't really surprised at where anyone had ended up; though I couldn't have predicted any of it in highschool, it's all logical follow-ups.

After a bit though we got to talking about Education and it was Pat's turn to sit and nod politely; I have rather critical opinions on the current educational system, from kindergarten through college and Melissa is a gradeschool teacher, so we had a lot to discuss. Generally speaking, I'm not against teachers, just the system that they're a part of. I think teachers hold one of the most noble professions our society has, which just underscores my disdain for the system we have which is so horrid at doing what it ought to. That is, educate.

It was all very good stuff, and I hope to hang out with them more while I'm here. they get married in about a week (!!!), and Pat's looking to get a new job, and we know how crazy-busy I've been (although I think I can pack in more weekday socializing than I have been), but hopefully it'll work out.

*(It's notable that Leslie has chosen a rather interesting diet for herself, it's not because of the strange sorts of principles many vegans -- who won't eat or drink anything that comes from an animal, including milk and cheese and eggs unless I'm mistaken -- espouse. Instead, it's mostly issues of 'being healthy' paired with her personal distaste for the flavor of meat. and while I might question the health value of a diet which cuts out key sources of protein, at least she's not crazy. Just picky.)

More article spam.

To be honest, I'm not really sure how worthwhile it is reading This Article, on losing weight through understanding oneself rather than punishing oneself. Not because I think it's an absurd idea -- I think that it's far more healthy to accept and work with oneself on such things than to be constantly fighting with and tormenting yourself. For my part, though, I think maybe it's a philosophy I ought to incorporate more in handling my spiritual failings. And other personal flaws as well, as I find them.

The Joker

Heath Ledger mentions Something Sinister for his part in "The Dark Knight," and I'm definitely interested in seeing what goes on there. Has Ledger played villains before? I've seen him in pseudo-antihero roles before, but I can't remember him being a villain. He also seems to have a much fouler mouth than I would have expected, but he gets points for naming his daughter Matilda (I like that name).

YouTube

I saw one of these LonelyGirl15 videos once but lost interest when I figured it was just some random video blog. Now that I know it's a staged show with an actual story, I think I might be interested in watching.

Bookmark'd

Because I like names. Haven't looked at the page yet.