Wikileaks pwns US State Department

Berlusconi (left) and Putin (right) are reported to be good bros, and it looks like Vladi has some grade A jokes.

I just wanted to usher you towards to the latest from Wikileaks, which continues to pwn the US government.  Most of the files they released are full of boring shit, but thanks to the New York Times, we'll have summaries of some juicy tidbits that the US State Department didn't think were going to make it to the public sphere.  Secretary Hillary has definitely got her panties in a bunch over this one.  Here's the first serving.  I hope you'll keep up on their upcoming series; it should be an intriguingly candid look at the occult world of American Diplomacy.

Tech Update

     I'm a flaming technophile, and wildly interested in technologies of all types, from software to hard. What I really enjoy is a piece of hardware with some really sexy software to go with it. Remember when some programs would only work for Windows PCs, and not Mac, or vice versa? I thought that was pretty weak! Nowadays we see apps for both android and iOS (Angry Birds was so pop for iPhones, and we android users have been pretty keen on it since crossing platforms), games for all consoles (Wii isn't seeming so unique any more, will their market share shrivel?), etc.

     Today, however, I wish to enlighten thee about QR Codes in case you're still a hawb gNOBlin to these.   QR Codes have been old news in Japan (or as I call it, Robotland), pasted and posted on anything and everything to deliver smartphone users information or rich content (via barcode scanner or Google Goggles). Now, when I get syked about something I usually do some Googling on it, and so, without boring you with my own words, let me suggest viewing my findings here: http://www.foxypropaganda.com/qr-codes-top-reasons-to-use-qrcodes/ They're being used on everything from restaurant menus to beer cans to scavenger hunts, but I wonder...

     Could someone make a QR code that leads to a virus? Is there an underground culture of "QR Spotters?" What if vandals decided to put QR code stickers up that led curious people to a lewd website? The larger question perhaps is, just how integrated will our online and offline lives become?

Judging Books By Their Title...

...Is for effing KNOBZ! Case in point: Three Cups of Tea, which is a book with a cover that's just as much a turn off (for young gentlemen like myself who may or may not judge books on this basis). The title, in my mind, associates itself to such titles as Eat, Pray, Love.

This book ain't gay, corny, or boring. In fact it's what every American needs to read. Some things my fellow nationals should to know before "committing" to the read:
     > Republican or Democrat, it's hard to argue that what the book's main character, Greg Mortenson, is doing - building schools across Pakistan and Afghanistan - is anything but heroic.*
     > There are pictures
     > The pacing is fast enough. The author includes relevant historical information and context to offer the reader a well-rounded and balanced idea of what exactly the socio-political climate looks like.
  
*Though the Bush Administration is known for taking a military-action type of approach regarding the Afghan/Iraq wars and "rehabilitation," republican Mary Bono actually introduced Dr. Mortenson to Congress in an effort to enlighten our policy-makers on how to actually go about squashing terrorism; it just so happens that a balanced, secular education that also empowers women is something far more powerful and long-lasting than $$$-fueled indoctrination by Taliban radicals. The book also talks about how wealthy Iranian radicals take their sponsored madrassas' top students for personal tutelage to ensure anti-American sentiments live on for generations to come.
______________________

So before any of you jump to the conclusion that America and its people are war-mongering assholes, read this story of a doer, a go-get-'er. Not a talker (though a speaker). Our government's actions don't necessarily reflect the beliefs and sentiments of its people, and sometimes our concepts of bravery, honor, and duty are purely subjective and awaiting redefinition.

For further reading and research on America's foreign affairs, especially concerning war, I recommend Googling embedded journalists (one of my favorites is Michael Yon). I also sometimes cross reference local and international news media(s) with US sources in the effort to gain a balanced perspective of events and issues.

Support our troops and God bless,
Cyrus

Economix, Politix and Old People

Old lady pwning n00bz. 

As an American abroad, it has been hard for me to get a grasp on what the recent election meant for the U.S.  However, I have been doing my metaphorical homework in order to get a better idea.  What I have basically surmised is that we are going to be stuck for the next two years in a kind of political deadlock, and might undo some of the progress that was made over the last two years.  I find this particularly unsettling, especially as China and India continue to see double digit GDP growth while the U.S. is mired in an insufficiently stimulated economy.  Spending money, in my opinion, on education (an area in which we are falling behind rapidly on a global level), our infrastructure (which is shit-tastic to say the very least) and on projects for sustainability (renewable energies, improved public transit, greener cities, etc.) would all be good ways to boost job growth as well as our ability to continue to play the part of world leader for the next 50 years or so.  The national consensus seems to be that the government needs to tighten its belt, and that we can't afford to go any further into debt, but, as basic keynesian economic theory suggests, in order for us to leave this recession more quickly government spending needs to rise.

How to Know I'm Still American

I've got apps, ninja,
     everything from fruit slice to paypal for ma ebayz

     My PSP's only purpose is to transfer pix across PRO Micro cards (ghey!) from Sony Cybershot DSC-H20 to compewtur.

     apps, foo, that allow me to be lazier: computer remote control on my phone. Don't think I won't get that bluetooth to open Gary the Garage. It's automatic, nuff said.

     I can has cheezeburgerz.

An Environment and Climate Update for n00bz

              Take this planet you silly white child, your forefathers effed it up just for you!  

Here are two fairly recent articles that struck me as particularly important as of late.  The first, from the New York Times, is about the Montreal Protocol, a piece of climate legislation, which pushed for the elimination of CFCs (a propellent which is extremely harmful to the ozone layer) upon which there was unanimous international agreement.  The treaty was passed during the Reagan era.  WHAT?  Yeah that's right, even the fucking Reagan administration was down.  Let's see if the current international regime can modify the treaty, and help to crack down on the use of ozone-damaging refrigerants.  It'd be a relatively easy way to buy us some more time climate-wise.  (Side-note: if you don't believe that human beings are doing sufficient damage to the global climate at the moment, you should return to your daily dose of FOX News propaganda, and go fuck yourself).

Thai Food - From n00b to l33t

Asian food is wildly popular throughout the world. Thai food is exceptionally popular, and this little denubification is for westerners who may be able to use a few pointers with regards to this oh so exotic cuisine.

- Thais use fork and spoon to eat everything except for noodle soup. If and when you ask for chopsticks instead of fork and spoon to go with your kao putt, or fried rice, you're not looking cultured, you're looking like a total gnoblin. Why would you make eating something more difficult for yourself anyway?
- Phad/pad Thai - is Thailand's signature dish plain and simple. It's authentic, and everyone loves it. But in case you do want to come off as not so uncultured while ordering at a Thai restaurant, pronounce it as "putt" like in golf. I believe the first dubbers intended pahd, but please, for your sake and Thais' don't say "pad Thai," and definitely don't say "fad Thai."
     > The Thai language has 44 consonants and 30 vowels causing some to literally get lost in translation.
- Stars. It seems like this is something most Asian cuisines have adopted in order to gauge degrees of spice.
     > Dao is Thai for star; 1 = neung; 2 = song; 3 = sahm; 4 = see, and 5, well if you dare go five, the word is ha*

Phad Grapao - Ground pork w/holy basil stir fry - ez 2 make even 4 n00bz

*Fun fact: because 5 is pronounced ha in Thai, Thai texters and l33t haxorz commonly type 555 to denote "hahaha" or "lol" in l33tspeak

If you don't know what l33t, 1337, or LEET means and haven't googled it by now, then you may just be a lost cause nubzor.

Photos of a real life n00b. Your Walter

For me, Noshavember = Noobvember

Maybe in 20 years my beard will grow where these lonesome strands poke through

Open ur blowhole

Well ladies and gentlemen, it's been a long time comin now, and I think you might've sensed it (months ago before I attained a gf)... that I would be coming out with a fully live and sexy BLOG. Considering how sexy it's gonna be, however, I couldn't rely on just me simple self. So I've recruited Jimmy Mahady to be my co-blogger. Our mission is quite simple, and stems from the first-hand experience of interacting with [sic] n00bz.

n00b is not a new term. If you think it is, you are a raging n00basaurus rex, and absolutely need to read this blog ASAP. My attack will be on technology, drinking, etc. Jim's will be social intercourse, and human behavioralisms (which I don't know a fuck about). In other words: We'll be versing you, us, and our generation on wtf's important, and why. Stay tuned ;)

Sincerely yours,
CWH & JAM