Author Archives: Michael

Dealing with Stubborn External USB HDs in OS X

If you’ve purchased (or have otherwise come into possession of) an external USB hard drive, and you’re having trouble getting Disk Utility to play nicely with it (i.e. reformat it to HFS+), here’s a trick for you.  Open Terminal and … Continue reading

Posted in Apple, Hacks, Unix | View Comments

Minute Particulars

“He who would do good to another must do it in Minute Particulars: General Good is the plea of the scoundrel, hypocrite, and flatterer, for Art and Science cannot exist but in minutely organized Particulars.” – William Blake I think … Continue reading

Posted in Opinion | View Comments

DIY G1 GPS (OMG!)

So the GPS on your G1 doesn’t seem to be working.  Here’s what I did to fix mine: Go to Settings -> Security & Location and make sure that Enable GPS satellites is checked.  You can also check “Use wireless … Continue reading

Posted in Android | View Comments

The World Cup

It’s FIFA World Cup time again, and like all red-blooded ‘Muricans, I have been waiting in anticipation for each and every game of the World Cup so that I can ignore each and every game of the World Cup. This … Continue reading

Posted in China, Humor, N. Korea | View Comments

Buddy, can you spare a United Future World Currency?

Fellow world citizens, I present… The Future!  United Future World Currency, that is! Comrades, feast your Vulcan squinties on this sparkly bastard!  Available for a limited time, in a limited test run, in a limited joint venture between The Belgian … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, NWO | View Comments

WordPress 3.0

So, I installed WordPress 3.0 and switched over to their new default template.  So far, so awesome. The new functionality, the surface of which I’ve only barely scratched, is great. I only noticed one bug: using the Digg Digg plugin … Continue reading

Posted in WordPress | View Comments

Orthostatic Hypotension

Low blood pressure on standing up (postural or orthostatic hypotension) This is a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up from a sitting position or if you stand up after lying down. Ordinarily, gravity causes blood to pool … Continue reading

Posted in Body | View Comments

The Karate Kid

Just about everyone I know has been asking the same question lately:  “Huh?  ‘Karate’ Kid?  Shouldn’t it be ‘Kung Fu’ Kid?” With the massive ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, controversy over illegal immigration, high unemployment, the still-tanking world … Continue reading

Posted in Budo, China, Humor, Japanese, Movies | View Comments

16 Spy Agencies

President Obama has nominated James Clapper, a retired Air Force Lieutenant General (that’s three stars to you civilian types) to head the United States’ 16 spy agencies. Let me run that past you again in case you missed it:  SIXTEEN … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | View Comments

California: The Boycott State

Today’s essay is brought to you by California Penal Code, Section 834b. 834b.  (a) Every law enforcement agency in California shall fully cooperate with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding any person who is arrested if he or … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, California, Politics | View Comments