ndmckinney|net

In a statement on his 91st birthday, Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet takes “political responsibility” for acts committed in 1973.

[via Reuters AltertNet]

A while back, I wrote about some OS X freeware that I’d been using. I now present the second round of my software adventure, in no particular order.

1Passwd by Agile Web Solutions
Cost: Free to $29.99

1Passwd is a password manager and form filler for OS X. It has a wide array of features that range from simple password management to secure password generation. It integrates quite will with the operating system and seems like a nifty little add-on.

Skype by Skype Ltd.
Cost: Free (additional purchase necessary for full functionality)

Skype is not a new application by any means, but I feel that it is worth mentioning, especially given my upcoming trip. Skype is a Voice Over IP (VoIP) application. It allows users to make free “calls” to other comptuers and to phones at a very low rate. I’m planning on using this on my trip to the Netherlands to keep my phone costs low (and, consequently, my beer fund up).

Quicksilver by Blacktree, Inc.
Cost: Free

I’ve recently discovered this application, and I must say, I’m in love. Quicksilver is an powerful application launcher for OS X. It simplifies the interface process so I never have to take my hands off the keyboard again. I was using Apple’s Spotlight to perfom some of the same functions, but Quicksilver is so much faster, not to mention that it learns what I’m doing. I highly recommend trying this one out.

ChocoFlop by Santiago (Jacques) Lema
Cost: Free

ChocoFlop is a non-destructive image editor for OS X. It runs natively on my Intel Mac and does more than enough for me so that I don’t have to *buy* Photoshop.

UPDATE: I almost forgot an app I use all the time.

Inquisitor 3 by David Wantabe
Cost: Free

Inquisitor is a plugin for Safari that enhances the web search bar. It not only will auto-complete, it will also add search suggestions. “Oh, and it’s free.”

The BBC is reporting that internet scams from Nigeria are costing the UK billions of pounds. How in the world is it possible that this still works? I’ve never even seen one of scam letters before.

How exactly does all this work?

“Dear Sir:

I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. But if you want to give me unfettered access to your bank account, I’d really, really appreciate it.

Yours,
Some Nigerian Scammer”

Come one, people. Think.

The New York Times is reporting that Milton Friedman has died at the age of 94.

Champion of the free market, Friedman has served the dismal science well over the years. He will be missed, even by Ronald Coase.

UPDATE: I would like to point out the different headlines used by the Times. The original headline (the one posted in this article): “Milton Friedman, Nobel Prize-Winning Economist, Dies at 94” [AP Story]

The new headline: “Milton Friedman, a Leading Economist, Dies at 94” [NY Times Story]

I think the Times is not giving Mr Friedman credit he is due.

Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Intel 4004 by building your own.

[via Slashdot]