random bits

We got a new furnace this year, but I don't yet know how to assess its performance. Just comparing gas bills to last year doesn't help; I can look up the rate difference, but I don't know how to account for the differences in weather. (This winter has been warmer than last so far.) I guess I need to find control data -- local people with the same gas company who haven't changed their usage patterns.

From a FAQ for a new appliance: "What does it mean that this is UL-certified and how do I know it is?". I really doubt that's a FAQ. If people ask anything like that, it's probably "how do I know this is safe to use?". I have no objection to them including this information; I merely object to the misuse of that "F" in "FAQ". :-)

You've probably seen the "rules for being an evil overlord" -- things like "when I'm an evil overlord, I won't reveal my secret plans before killing the hero". Here's an IT spin: security lessons of evil overlords.

Shopping penguin, from gnomi. Bizarre but cute.

In Germany, if you can't muster your party faithful for a protest, you can now rent a protester (link from jducoeur). At those rates, though, I have trouble seeing how it could be cost-effective.