The NY Times has a fascinating look at the White House photographer, Eric Draper: "Generally, the official pictures of Mr. Bush follow the White House's narrative line of a manly, resolute leader, like the photograph of the president clearing brush at his Texas ranch wearing a cowboy hat. Others portray him as deeply engaged in his duties, like one widely used photograph of Mr. Bush in an intense meeting in the Oval Office the morning after the United States opened the war against Iraq."

Free Slurpee Beverages July 11: "The company that created convenience retailing, introduced 24/7 shopping to time-crunched consumers everywhere and made dashboard dining a part of the American vernacular celebrates 75 years in business on July 11 that's 7-11-02. 7-Eleven, Inc. (NYSE: SE) will recognize this diamond anniversary milestone with events across North America that include a frosty giveaway for thirsty customers, a nostalgic salute to the company's humble ice-dock beginnings and a futuristic view of the world of convenience retailing."

Copycat waitresses get bigger tips: "Waitresses who copy their customers' behaviour get substantially bigger tips than those who don't, Dutch psychologists have discovered."

Copycat waitresses get bigger tips: "Waitresses who copy their customers' behaviour get substantially bigger tips than those who don't, Dutch psychologists have discovered"

Congressman Ron Paul addresses the U.S. House of Representatives July 10, 2003:

Will the euphoria of grand military victories-against non-enemies-ever be mellowed? Someday, we as a legislative body must face the reality of the dire situation in which we have allowed ourselves to become enmeshed. Hopefully, it will be soon!

We got here because ideas do have consequences. Bad ideas have bad consequences, and even the best of intentions have unintended consequences. We need to know exactly what the philosophic ideas were that drove us to this point; then, hopefully, reject them and decide on another set of intellectual parameters.

There is abundant evidence exposing those who drive our foreign policy justifying preemptive war. Those who scheme are proud of the achievements in usurping control over foreign policy. These are the neoconservatives of recent fame. Granted, they are talented and achieved a political victory that all policymakers must admire. But can freedom and the Republic survive this takeover? That question should concern us.

Wired concluded its Super Power Issue (image of the cover) by publishing A User's Guide to Time Travel today. The previous two articles in the series, Being Invisible and The Antigravity Underground are also now online.

For your viewing pleasure: What ping pong would look like in the Matrix. via Anil and Kottke.

Ann Coulter: "No serious person thinks that we are in the middle of a civil-liberties crisis."

At work, whenever I step away from my computer, I reflexively press CONTROL-ALT-DELETE and ENTER to lock my Windows 2000 workstation. My laptop, which is generally open on my desk, runs Windows XP. The same three fingered salute doesn't work in XP. Luckily, if your keyboard includes a Windows key, there's an easy key combination to lock XP: Hold down the Windows key and press L. If you're without a Windows key, there are other slightly more complicated options.

Now that John Robb has left Userland and Dave appears to have broken John's permalinks, where is John blogging now? Anyone know? John, if your out there, drop me a URL. Update: NEVER (under any circumstances) publish a weblog to a domain that you don't control