They ARRESTED ME for RIDING an ORANGE BICYCLE!!!

weev pointed out something that's been bugging me today also. First boingboing and then Slashdot have carried the "story" that some guy was arrested and led off in chains "for using Lynx".

For those not in the geek way, Lynx is a text-only web browser that's often used on a text console, especially by administrators and others who need a nongraphical view of a website.

The story as reported by the websites is that our hero was just viewing this site using Lynx and then was arrested for being a hacker! Because the "user agent" information that's sent to the site tells you which browser you're using, and that isn't a standard one. Or something.

This cannot be. Anyone who's run a well-trafficked website will tell you that weird-ass user agents clog your logs all the time. Not only do you see lots of variations on every known browser and several programming languages' web routines, but anyone can submit any user agent, so programs with names like SpoogeMonkey-ItalianDinner-0.003a and UrMomHawHaw-43-Kmart go by all day.

I have no idea what this guy was doing, but no one kicks down your door for having a weird user agent.

What a load of ignorant crap. Even for boingboing and Slashdot this is terrible.

Why I get so much interference on my wireless network at home

So annoying. I should just drop my internet service and steal the neighbors' at this point. I'm the only one who tries to secure at all!

Goats, now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4216431.stm

Let’s all sing the Doom Song!

( more technical info behind cut )

We're gonna have a tv party tonight (all right!)

Not too many people showed at D’s tonight, probably due to temperatures in the fifties with a brisk breeze. Too bad; the Gypsies were back (Pasíon Gitana) and they were really good as usual. The band has dwindled over the years from 7 or so people with a lead singer and lots of drum equipment to two guys and a woman who drums on a bongo and a box. Surprisingly they’re still captivating, especially the lead guitarist. As Jared pointed out, he’ll occasionally do something amazing on the guitar as a kind of afterthought while trotting through a flamenco number.

At one point Deanna turned toward me with her adorable innocent face wrapped in her jacket hood and asked me if dogs had a lifetime warranty. I had a good 30 seconds of what the hey before I realized she was saying “Docs” and referring to Dr. Martens boots. Mishearing things is fun.

They’re having a tsunami benefit at Detroit Bar and it’s comedy. And holy crap, they got David Cross and Patton Oswalt. Who woulda thunk it? February 20. Details here or elsewhere at detroitbar.com if that blows up. So that’s two Detroit events I’ll be attending in a month! How odd for me. But Jonathan Richman and David Cross aren’t regular visitors to west Costa Mesa.

I’m on an 80s California punk kick tonight.

Blood stains
Speed kills
Fast cars
Cheap thrills
Rich girls
Fine wine
I lost my sense I lost control I lost my mind!
AAAAAAA