Password attacks

Why you might consider lengthening your password beyond 8 characters.

Google Health features

In her Web 2.0 Summit speech unveiling some of the projects Google Health has in the works, Marissa Mayer launched her presentation with a few jokes. Her tongue-in-cheek top 10 list of things you might see from Google Health (abridged):

• Google's cookie expiration is now based on your expiration date.
  
• An "I'm Feeling Yucky" button.
  
• Viagra spam only goes to users who actually need it.
  
• Typing in symptoms returns "Did you mean estate planning?"
  
• Google paternity search.

Wired

The spirit of materialism

Why begin marketing a holiday store in early October, seven weeks before the official start of the season and 12 weeks before Christmas?

“Everyone can use a little Christmas right now, after a summer of toy recalls,” Ms. Waugh said. “It’s time to remember what toys are all about.”

NY Times

Making credit freezes difficult

In the ongoing story of credit reporting agencies and protecting your credit history,

Credit bureau Experian has joined rival TransUnion in allowing people in all 50 states to freeze their credit reports. The third major credit agency, Equifax, says it will soon join as well.

[...]

But don’t start applauding yet.

Credit bureaus don’t release the number of security freezes in place, but have said that it is low. It’s not surprising: the process of freezing and unfreezing your credit is complicated and aggravating. (NY Times)

Credit reporting agencies have no incentive to make this easier for the consumer unless it involves putting money in their pockets. They have every incentive to dissuade you from using this service.

Serenity 2?

Everybody in the Firefly crew – and that includes the ones who died in the movie – are excited about the prospect of doing another.

Alan Tudyk on how Serenity DVD sales may have convinced Universal to do sequel (via Looking Closer).

Atheist lobby

Embracing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories does not seem the most effective way for atheists to expand their influence, at least not in America. Besides, to what end exactly does Dawkins seek to expand atheists' influence? Does he want to create a homeland for atheists, à la Israel? But there already was one -- it was called the Soviet Union -- and we all remember how well that worked out.

Best of the Web on Richard Dawkin's designs for an atheist lobby (via Mere Comments).

VW Up!

Volkwagen may be working on an electric or hybrid version of its Up! concept car. Check out the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. (Wired)

McCain's voting preferences

Several Jewish organizations criticized John McCain on Monday after the Republican candidate said he would prefer a Christian president over someone of a different faith.

[...]

The American Jewish Committee, an international think tank and advocacy organization based in New York, issued a statement criticizing the Arizona senator, arguing that McCain should know that the United States is a democratic society without a religious test for public office.

Yikes. McCain wasn't arguing for a "religious test for public office". He was expressing a personal preference. And, last I checked, a voter could apply whatever "test" he wants to when considering whom to vote for.

And is this Jewish organization going on record as saying they wouldn't prefer a Jewish president? It's unbelievable the nit-picking politicians are put through these days.