Intel CPU detection in MacOS X

Don’t ask me what I was doing when I found this… 🙂 I just noticed that when you do a ‘strings’ on the MacOS X login application, loginwindow.app, it does some CPU detection, and in part of that CPU detection it’s looking for Intel CPUs.

[TiMonkie:loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS] rose% pwd

/System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS

[TiMonkie:loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS] rose% strings loginwindow | grep Intel

Intel 486

Intel x86

[TiMonkie:loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS] rose% strings loginwindow | grep Pentium

Pentium

Pentium Pro

Pentium II

The Aqua/Quartz foundation that MacOS X is built on comes from OpenStep, which once ran on x86. I wonder if this is legacy, or if Apple is really planning something… (just feeding the rumor mill) ;-p

Hackers for peace

From BBC World Service… This conflict has seen a new breed of hacktivist, in the shape of pro-peace campaigners who have been joining pro-Islamic hackers and pro-American groups in expressing their grievances online.

The cost of paranoia

From The Economist… While the war may help al-Qaeda’s recruiting drive, it may not lead to any more of the terror network’s trademark spectacular attacks any time soon. These, it seems, tend to require long-term planning: the September 11th attacks, after all, were years in the making. Suicide bombers, or lone fanatics who disagree with America’s policies, are more of a worry. As Tom Ridge, America’s homeland-security chief, has said, the threat can be reduced, but it cannot be eliminated.

Most Americans think the war against Iraq is linked to September 11th

This is sad. See this CNN article.

“If we don’t act now to get these weapons away from him, we are going to suffer.”

When the war is over, keep your eyes peeled for reports of finding those mystical “weapons of mass destruction.” I have a feeling that when all this is over, the cause that everyone thought we were fighting for will have been forgotten.

Blatant propoganda

Bush just gave his evening speech, and during and afterwards I heard two things that disgusted me:

Bush: “…we will fight in Iraq so we do not need to fight with firefighters, police, and doctors on our own streets…”

Analyst after the speech on Fox news: “…the military is now working to take out key Al Queda I mean Iraqi leadership…”

I feel sick… The war in Iraq has nothing to do with terrorism or regime change… it’s about oil.

Anti-war protest idea: Gas boycott

It would never happen, but it makes sense. Protestors: stop waving your banners in front of public buildings and start blocking the entrances to gas stations. That would send a strong message…

Economics of war

I would appreciate it if someone could enlighten me. The economics of this war do not make sense. According to past articles I’ve read (see previous posts on my blog), the oil in Iraq is estimated to only be worth $20B at full production. According to part articles I’ve read about what this war is going to cost, both in military terms and oil infrastructure rebuilding terms (see previous posts, again), I can’t figure how this war is going to cost us any less than $10B.

$10B profit, at an additional cost of:

a) the rest of the world hating us, increasing the likelyhood of terrorism against our nation => increased fear => increased “homeland security” spending and aa) decreased international investment in America.

b) continued investment into the middle east protecting the 51st state (my little joke).

c) many dead Americans and even more dead Iraqis on our hands.

d) more Americans ashamed to be American => reduced productivity

e) oil gets a 10-20 year additional lease on life

I would really appreciate a solid explanation. It doesn’t make sense…

Dear Secretary of State Colin Powell,

I have great respect for you as a leader and a politician, and I feel that you may be able to answer a question I have related to the “brain drain” that is going on this country and how it is related to the [impending] war with Iraq.

In your writing (Lessons for Leaders slidedeck, etc.) you stress America’s current state and future as a “brain-based economy.” I interpret this to mean that strengthening education and building core compentencies as a nation are goals we should strive for. Example: We are the #1 exporter of software and airplanes, but that lead is slipping fast; we need to find new and fund existing “brain-based” industries in this country if we want to remain competitive and ahead of the curve in the international market.

Talent scouts are coming to this nation almost weekly now and enticing our best and brightest to leave the country for jobs in other countries. Last month I heard of a group from Australia that was trying to persuade Californians to move to Australia to start new businesses.

One of Bush’s first decisions in office was to impose a 30% tariff on steel imports. This allowed steelworkers to keep their jobs in a dying industry rather than be retrained in another. Owners of steel companies remain wealthy.

Academics everywhere are banding together to oppose the war with Iraq. Many are threatening walkouts. Students are striking. Entire univeristy faculty bodies are issuing statements against war. Meanwhile state’s budgets are hurting, education spending is decreasing, and the cost of tuition is skyrocketing.

People all across this nation, including myself, have come to the conclusion that America is not a place they would want to raise children. Who wants to bring a child into a world where they can not get a decent education?

Is this Administration attempting to implode the United States of America by stripping it of it’s “brain based” resources?