Flash exploit explained... really well written.

Even if you have only a slight working knowledge of how a compiled app talks to and works with your computer's memory, this is a totally awesome article that quickly summarizes a report by Mark Dowd at IBM Security Systems (the 25 page report shows how some malicious AS code might use ActionScript's VM to allow access to any of the billions of OS-independent computers that have Flash installed). Yes, a bit geeky, but at least he talks about cyberdine, skynet, the koopa family, and has some nice pitfall animations.

Music music music

I'm a music geek and I thought this was worth a share: Today TED posted Machover's TED talk:

Island of Garbage

So there's been a lot of chatter about the island of garbage the size of Texas floating inches below the surface of the Pacific. A small group of people took it upon themselves to sail 2000 miles out and check it out for themselves. Trash Island.

Shostakovich's Symphony no. 5 - 4th mvt

One of my favorite orchestral pieces. I had never heard Shostakovich's 5th under Bernstein. I get a little bit of an un-easy feeling at around the three-minute mark. I think this is because I'd like a bit more tempo contrast -- but this is an awesome 'version.' Fantastic conducting decisions all around:

google appengine vs aws (or just ec2 and simpledb)

Check back soon for the SmashedApples.com Public EC2 AMI. Also, we hope to quickly incorporate google appengine into the framework to allow usage for either aws or appengine behind your smashedapples flex front-end.

What is Flex?

Today, someone asked me what Flex is. This person has a pretty decent understanding of web technologies though had never used or even heard of Flex. My response, via email, was this simple video (along with a brief explanation):

Click here to watch the video.

April Fools day is interrupting my blind-belief!

April Fools day has officially been an interruption. I have maybe 500 articles that I sift through daily in my Google Reader. Today has provided a great deal more interesting headlines that I've clicked through. Many more than usual at least.

It's April Fools day, so now I'm stuck trying to decipher whether or not members of the AWS team truly developed a Dog Computer Interface. Why can't I just go about my day blindly believing everything I read as I usually do? Damn you April Fools day!!