Let’s say your walking down the platform at the train station to the farther end of the train and you wonder if you can make it there before the train leaves.

My approach: I see a service wagon in front of train. It’s about to change tracks to make way. Adding some time for resetting the switch and the formalities, I assume I still have 1-2 minutes left.

Better approach: Turn the view about 5° from the current focus to the big clock, which is also at the end of the plattform and find out you still have 6 minutes before departure.

Why do I always instinctively choose the indirect way of doing things?

Laut einer Mail, die mir heute gestern ins Postfach geflattert ist, liegt eine Nachricht aus meiner Nachbarschaft bei einem Internetportal rum. Eine Nachricht für mich? Aus meiner Nachbarschaft? War der Weg bis zu meiner Tür oder dem Briefkasten zu weit? Oder ist das die neue Zustellmethode der Post, um einen Alternativplan für die Streikzeiten zu haben? Aber da mich die Mail mit meinem vollständigen Namen angesprochen hat, wurde ich neugierig und öffnete den Link in meinem abgesicherten Browser.

Begrüßt wurde ich auf Nachbarschaft24.net (nicht hinsurfen, nur als Hinweis) mit einem nahezu komplett ausgefüllten Anmeldeformular. Name, Adresse, alles da, bis auf das Geburtsdatum und das Häkchen für die Absegnung der AGBs. Dazu der Hinweis, das eine ganze Nachricht auf mich wartet.

Da ich glücklicherweise nicht so blöd bin wie ich aussehe und mich gelegentlich verhalte, vermied ich es das Formular abzuschicken. Mal abgesehen davon, dass es generell mehr als suspekt ist, sprechen zwei Zitate der Webseite dagegen.
“Durch die Absendung der vollständigen Registrierungsdaten gibt der Nutzer ein Angebot zu einem kostenpflichtigen Vertragsabschluss mit nachbarschaft24.net ab. Der Anbieter nimmt dieses Vertragsangebot des Nutzers an, indem er diesem eine Registrierungsbestätigung per E-Mail übermittelt, damit ist der Vertrag zustande gekommen.”
Was richtig teuer wären, denn:
“[...]melde dich jetzt an und teste unsere Community vierzehn Tage kostenlos. Danach fällt ein 9 Euro Monatsbeitrag an. Die Mitgliedsdauer ist auf zwei Jahre aus- gelegt.[...]“
Dazu noch eine Firma aus Dubai? Alles andere als vertrauenswürdig.

Ein Blick ins Internet zeigt, dass ich nicht der Einzige bin, der Nachbarn hat, die den unpersönlichen Kontakt bevorzugen. Ich bin jetzt mal gespannt ob da noch was nachkommt, denn zuzutrauen ist es derartigen Vereinen ja. Aber ich sehe die Sache gelassen. Nur dass die meine Adresse haben stört mich. Also weniger die Tatsache an sich, als die Frage woher. Wenn ich mal ausschließe, dass die einen Bot haben, der systematisch Adressen aus Impressen liest, bedeutet das wohl, dass eine der Seiten denen ich im vollsten Vertrauen meine Adresse genannt habe (sehr selten), diese einfach weitergegeben hat. Datenschutz anyone?

Wie dem auch sei. Falls ihr ähnliches erlebt habt und sich das womöglich zu einem Problem entwickelt hat, habe ich einen Link für euch. Computerbetrug.de hat dafür eine sehr gute Zusammenfassung zum Thema Kostenfalle veröffentlicht. Auf der Seite finden sich natürlich auch noch weitergehende Informationen für alle, die es genauer wissen wollen.

My “new” car is in the shop quite often these days. There is a small problem with the engine not running smoothly and they can’t figure out what it is (did already cost me quite a sum). That reminded me, that there’s a new car I want to have (not as badly as a 1969 Ford Mustang Shelby Fastback of course).

A complete electric car, the Tesla Roadster.

Now that the dollar is down, that would be a real bargain. A fully configured version would cost me € 68.188,28 ($107,775). Anyone got some spare grand? A bit more would help, so I can bribe some people to get an approval for road service.

The only thing this car is missing would be a flux capacitor.

Anti Warlock Guide

I lol’ed .

This week so far had two major down setbacks. Gary Gygax, one of the creators of Dungeons & Dragons, as well as Joseph Weizenbaum (hard to find a decent article n English, but if you understand German, please read about it on Heise), computerpioneer, computercritic and mostly renowned for creation of the ELIZA bot, both died this week.

Rest in peace guys. You did so much and will be greatly missed.

Now that’s a strange title you might think. In German it’s called “Feinstaubplakette”. Some time ago, particle pollution through fine particles (Feinstaub) became the new media hype to alert and thrill the masses. Fine particles where everywhere and of course everyone was suffering. And while the discussion of the subject ain’t new, some rules are.

We now have emission stickers in Germany, that classify cars based on the particle pollution they produce. Some areas (mostly metropolitan) were declared Green Zones and you may not drive in(to) a zone, if your car doesn’t wear the correct sticker. The classification depends on the engine type, filters and all that stuff. Sounds difficult, but I must say it was really hard to find cars that wear a sticker that ain’t the highest classification. Tonight in Stuttgart was the first time I saw one. Yes, the rules have been watered down to almost nothing. Even the old car of my mother, which wouldn’t get a sticker last year without modification, can get one now without breaking a sweat. And in case you still wouldn’t get one, there are exceptions for oldtimers and cars you own long enough (so you don’t have to afford a new one).

It’s kind of a bouncer thing. You’re ugly, you don’t get in. But if you’re old, it’s okay to be ugly. And if you’ve been ugly all your life, that’s cool, too. Only if you recently got ugly and can’t make enough excuses, then maybe… only maybe, you will not be let in. Ah, but what the heck, just step on it and they’ll try to make a rule to justify it.

Funny how concepts that are based on good ideas can go down. But while we’re at it, I’d like to suggest something to make life on and near the streets more enjoyable. Based on the bouncer, try a Good Looks Sticker. No more ugly cars on the street.
“Try washing your car for a change, junky.”
“Fiat Multipla? Fsck no!”
“You painted your 1967 Mustang GT500 Shelby Fastback… pink?!? Die and go to hell!!!” *bang bang bang* (Seriously, saw a photo of that… as if millions of big blocks suddenly cried out in terror…)

Sorry for the lack of updates, but I was a bit busy. Did a few investments. For example into a new (used) car. A VW Polo 6N, with small modifications. It’s everything I didn’t want. It’s too small, too red, too few airbags (i.e. one) and too I dunno. But it drives well, is in a very good condition for it’s age, very economical and on top of it was quite inexpensive for what it’s worth. Who knows, in a few years I might be able to sell it for the same amount. But the best part is, that I’m mobile again. No more annoying classes of children in the morning bus. Already put in a new radio with an USB port, I always wanted to do that in my old car. Now I can listen to Computerclub 2 while driving. (”You just ran a red light!” - “Shh, they’re talking ’bout Debian!”)

In other news, I finally got all parts for my HTPC. It’s assembled and now I can go on with installation and configuration. Got a little more expensive than I was planning, but I’ll make it worth it. And I already have a lot of plans for additions. Starting with some Wii-Mote utilization (I showed this to Junkie a few weeks ago and now he’s already ahead of me… dang), over to using it to control some other equipment, which, as the final stage, could be triggered by voice recognition. Not sure if I can make any of these plans real, but we’ll see.

Speaking of projects. Next week the HTPC will be running (report coming up) and in a few weeks everything should be fine, so that I can forget about the machine and just use it. There’ll be a space in my project list. Well, maybe there wont. The Dungeoneering Dad, has a list of gaming tables. That inspired me to design one myself (in Blender, so I work at stuff there again). Maybe even build it with the Horde. We’ll see. Would be so cool to play at a table like that.

Speaking of RPG. I’m the gamemaster again for a few weeks. That will be fun for a change. Now I can dig out some ideas from my old Rasundra campaign, which we never finished. Downside is, that it’s so much work… but I’ll manage somehow.

Yesterdays trailers before the sneak were nice… Indiana Jones and Star Trek. I already love this year. It’s like geek-o-rama. Can’t tell you how eager I am to see those. (Don’t you dare to make crap movies out of those titles and break my heart, hollywood. I still have hope for ya, really.)

The other trailers… The Call, The Game Plan… all unintentionally scary in their own ways… and I already seem to have cleared my memory of the last trailer… not a good sign. But the actual film was good. I really have to catch up those reviews.

I knew it!

Which OS are You?

But depending on the mood I can be Slackware or Amiga OS as well.

Lauch oder Porree? Schornstein oder Kamin? Reicht’s oder langt’s jetzt? Wo ist der zu gewinnende Blumentopf geläufig? Und wie nennt man eigentlich das Stofftuch zum Naseputzen in anderen Teilen unseres Sprachraums?

Diese und weitere Fragen klären die Erhebungen im Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache (AdA) von den Germanistikern der Uni Augsburg. Hochinteressant.