RIP Geocities

I used to have a page on Yahoo! Geocities about ten years ago. One of my first attempts at establishing a position on the rapidly expanding information highway as the internet was fondly known. While a useful exercise in HTML, I have long since given up writing my own pages, mainly because there are so many services now for creating online publications or profiling oneself to a larger audience. But Geocities was one of the first mainstream methods of establishing an online presence, whether it be an online diary, pet profiles or social commentary.
Ars Technica pays tribute to Geocities which is being shut down by Yahoo after 15 years. Yahoo! itself has a piece here about its origins. Luckily there are efforts underway to preserve the orginal sites, since these very early days of personal web spaces and net presence are of some historical significance.

Message In An Auschwitz Bottle

Builders close to the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp have come across a note inside a bottle buried in what was the concrete wall of a school, according to the BBC. The names and numbers of seven inmates were written on the paper. One of the inmates who survived returned to France and was traced, though he didn´t know why his name was on the paper, the others apparently were poles who were working with him at the time. It is a touching reminder of what happened under the hands of Hitler, that people go to such measures to preserve any trace of their existence.

State Bans Noisy Sex

The BBC reports how in the UK you can get an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) for making too much noise during your early morning hanky-panky. Noisy neighbours are a problem and consideration for your neighbours I can sympathise with. But there´s something about the Nanny State getting involved in bedroom activities which is a little unnerving. It didn´t take long and said ASBO was breached within ten days, with the case to go before a jury.

JSF Databases Hacked

Technical details about design and infrastructure of the Joint Strike Fighter have been stolen after hackers managed to gain access to a Pentagon run database on the fighter, according to The Wall Street Journal. Although the project is still under construction, any technical details will of course give potential enemies inside knoweldge of the workings of the aircraft which may be used against them in combat, as well as being copied for similar programs in other states.

RIP Ian Tomlinson

A newspaper salesman on his way from work, passing close to the G20 demonstrations was attacked from behind by a police officer with a baton and forced to the ground. Minutes later he died from a heart attack. The Guardian reports here including video captured of the moment the unprovoked attack occurred. This won´t do anything to improve the increasingly poor image of the Met and police/public relations.

Homeless Frank

In reaction to the I´m a Mac and I´m a PC nonsense, thanks to The Landline here we have homeless Frank who´s only got 1000 dollars to spend on a computer - what can he do? (Just for fun I´ve posted the I´m a Playstation/Wii comparison too).

Richard Karst Tates

Queens Day was ruined yesterday by an ex-security guard, single, recently made redundant and unable to pay the rent on his house in Huissen. He decided to use his car as a projectile to attack the royal family. He apparently had tried to approach from the north but was turned back by police officers. He rerouted his approach from the west, crashing through barriers and spectators, before proceeding at high speed in the direction of the royal coach. Whether his car was too damaged by the initial crash that he couldn´t steer, couldn´t see beacuse of the broken windshield or whether he was groggy at the wheel for the last few meters is unclear, but he missed the royals and collided with a monument at the entrance to the royal palace. If that hadn´t stopped him he would have hit onlookers on the far side of the road at the palace entrance.



He was conscious when his car finally came to a stop and he told police immediately at the scene that his actions were deliberate. Four people died at the scene including the wife of a local football club organiser and a military officer who was standing guard. One person died later in hospital. Ten other people were injured, some seriously, including members of a drum band. The driver died overnight in hospital, already declared brain dead yesterday evening as a result of severe head trauma.



Apeldoorn is still pretty shocked and subdued at the moment. Festivities were closed down yesterday as a mark of respect and there is a condolence register in the town hall. The mayor is doing a great job, staying calm and handling the press conferences. Well done to the police and emergency services that responded so quickly. My thoughts are with the friends and families of the victims and those unfortunate to have witnessed this first hand. Rest in peace to the five innocents who simply out to have a great day.