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The Django project released version 1.2, which brings along a slew of nifty new features including the ability to connect to multiple databases, and the "smart if tag", which any Djangonaut will appreciate.

In related news, one of my online homes Dreamhost, posted an entry to their blog yesterday announcing that they'd soon be upgrading to Django 1.2. A couple years ago I had such trouble getting Django to run on DreamHost that I left for SliceHost (and left them in turn for current host Linode). DreamHost is a huge player in the low-budget shared-hosting space, and it's really cool to see tem supporting Django along with Rails. A couple years ago CGI and PHP were the only real options in that world. On the other hand, DH's Python is still at version 2.4.4 so this is not all roses. But two steps forward one step back is still a step forward.

That's right, I've left all my groups, deleted all my photos, and I'm going to be deleting my Facebook account pretty soon. It doesn't mean I don't like you, it just means that I'm tired of Facebook and its (lack-of-)privacy policies. Plus I'm kind of peeved by the whole idea of Facebook. I mean, we already have an Internet, why live inside a fake one?

I and a bunch of open-source free-software hackers are going to be exploring how to set up a decentralized and free social network, one with no big greedy corporation at the center holding all of our information. If you're interested, drop me a line and I'll keep you informed. And you can always follow me here on this site.

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identi.ca/jefurii: Identi.ca is an open-source distributed Twitter-like service/program/comunity-of-communities.

...is the extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men for the nastiest of motives will somehow work for the benefit of all.

-- bumper sticker spotted in LA the other day.

So Apple released a new computer yesterday. It looks like something from some flying-car-personal-jetpack future. The interface is really slick and it's probably a dream to use. I'm sure a ton of people are going to get one, and it probably represents something as profound as the Apple ][, the Macintosh, and the iPod in terms of how people interact with computers. Steve Jobs is most definitely a genius.

But it's also locked down like the iPhone. You can only install the programs that Apple wants you to be able to install, and which you get through Apple's own app store. It also turns people into passive consumers of software and media instead of potential creators.

I don't like being treated like a child. I want to be the one who decides what software I can run, and what I can do, on gadgets that I purchase. I want to be able to run unauthorized programs that I've written myself if I want to. In other words, I want full control over my gadgets in case I feel like exercising it. I'll be taking a pass on this one unless they change it into a real general-purpose computer.

So once again we didn't make it to the Rose Parade even though we live only a couple blocks away from it. Too much fun last night ringing in the new year to raucous Polish dance music, talking into the morning, and staring at that beautiful argent blue moon shining down from the firmament.

Had an interesting experience while slogging through rush-hour traffic on the 10-East last night. I'd heard all the podcasts on my phone so I had my laptop on the passenger seat running the excellent MOC (console audio file player). I found myself driving next to one of those long articulated Foothill Transit buses and remembered hearing that they had free wifi. At a stopping point (this was rush hour) I checked the wireless networks list and sure enough there was foothill-1642. I got behind the bus and the next time traffic stopped I clicked and joined the network. I would have tried loading a page but traffic started moving again after that. Darn!!

If you have waaaay too much time on their hands and you're handy with traceroute you may have noticed that I've moved my personal sites from SliceHost to Linode. SliceHost has been great and I still host all my work sites there, but Linode has a couple new VPS features that I was interested in, particularly the ability to change your RAM or disk sizes independently of each other, plus the fact that they have servers in Fremont, CA which is closer than St. Louis, not that anybody notices that. Mainly it's because I get bored easily and wanted to try something new.

Just listened to FLOSS Weekly # 49 where they interviewed Peter Saint-Andre about Jabber/XMPP. He talks about being an "anarchitect" because he likes things really distributed.

The big news this past week has been The Fires, namely a huge fire north of Pasadena in the Angeles National Forest. Biggest in 100 years, they're saying. Our place is far enough away from any wilderness that it's not a problem for us, aside from bad air and ash all over our cars. It's made for several exciting evenings as we drove around watching the flames. We camped out for an hour south of JPL when the fires were close -- thankfully there wasn't any damage there. For awhile the fire was threatening regional TV and radio transmitters and the observatory on Mt. Wilson. The observatory webcam is currently offline (cable probably burnt or severed) and news is being reported from offsite, but it's looking okay for now. In addition to the smoke it's been really freakin' hot the last week. I can only imagine what it's been like for the firefighters (who totally rawk, I must say). But things are pretty much normal for us. If you're really interested in fire news, our local public radio station has an updates page.

Heard today the sad news that Kansai Time Out is publishing its final issue this month. n my previous life as a JET Programme English teacher in Nara prefecture, I carried a copy with me almost at all times. KTO wrote about local history, off-the-beaten-path places to visit, and all manner of things gaijin needed to know to get by in that strange land. Haven't read it in awhile (hard to find here in LA), but I still have a bunch of issues, and was sad to hear of its passing.

Shout-outs to the KTO crew for all those years of a great read! Happy trails to you all.

Readers' note: KTO is still selling the last couple years' back issues and the yen is right, so if you have fond memories of KTO, head on over there and Paypal an issue or two.