NSLog();

File this one under "if you're stupid enough to run a 108k 'Office 2004' Installer from a peer-to-peer network, you deserve to have all of your ~/ deleted":

Intego, the Macintosh security specialist, was notified by Macworld (UK) on May 10, 2004 about a Trojan horse, discovered by one of its readers who downloaded and ran an application from the Gnutella peer-to-peer network. The AS.MW2004.Trojan is a compiled AppleScript applet, a 108 KB self-contained application, with an icon resembling an installer for Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac OS X. This AppleScript runs a Unix command that removes files, using AppleScript's ability to run such commands. The AppleScript displays no messages, dialogs or alerts. Once the user double-clicks this file, their home folder and all its contents are deleted permanently.

run shell script "rm -rf ~/". BTW, I love the screenshot they've got on their site: "What would you like to do: repair?" Just friggin' delete the damn thing, what's a repair going to do but leave you with an AppleScript that doesn't do anything? And when you're done deleting that, delete your P2P software too.

In other exciting news, I've just finished iTunes 4.6!!! It circumvents the iTunes Music Store and lets you download music for free. Plus, it works in Europe and Antarctica!!! Download it here (157k .dmg).

Uh huh.

So MovableType 3 is out. I have two concerns:

• Pricing: it's now $69.95 at least. I only run one blog, dammit, and I gave them $50 over a year ago, and now I still have to pay another $25?
• Plugins: I use MT-Macro, MT-Blacklist, and MT-Timer. That's it. Yet I see no mention of how to upgrade.

The only thing that I think I might have to upgrade in my templates is the comment section of the individual page archive to use the new TypeKey thing. But where are these instructions? Do I get them if I fork over $24.95? I don't know.

So, for today, given that I a) resent having to pay more, b) am not sure my plugins will work, and c) am not sure what other work I might have to do, I am not upgrading to MovableType 3.0. Maybe another day when I feel like wasting six hours for, what, TypeKey and a new admin area?

Is anyone in need of a Motorola v60? I've got the wall charger and a very nice plastic belt clip. The phone is in excellent condition and currently set to work on Cingular's network. The first person to make a serious offer and PayPal the cash: the phone is yours. It sold for about $300 to $400 around two years ago.

Question: Does Mac OS X need an "Extension Manager?" Something that, similar to its Mac OS 8/9 counterpart, could enable or disable InputManagers, contextual menu modules, kernel extensions, and so on.

My Answer: I think that, if nothing else, there may be a tremendous market for a third-party here. However, I do feel that it's Apple's responsibility to provide at least a basic tool. Plus, I miss the game that was always included as a Conflict Catcher easter egg.

P.S. Alfred exists but it never really suited me. Perhaps it deserves another look.

You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.

No, I'm not talking about the kind at a cathouse. Instead, I'm talking about:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSWindowResizeTime .1

Thanks again to Mac OS X Hints.

Question: What is your favorite drink recipe?

My Answer: An easy one: half chocolate milk, half amaretto. Mmmmmmmm, warm. Smooth. Mmmm. 🙂

You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.

Chris has posted a review of an advance copy of PulpFiction - understandably based on his own expectations, opinions, etc. - and I'm hoping that it's not in poor form to respond. After all, the dang thing ain't even out yet. I'll attempt to be brief.

…the overall responsiveness is, well… not very.

This has been improved, and will continue to improve as we learn how people use the application. The advance copy of PulpFiction was sent out with a lot of threads running in a queue and locking up the UI. We now update the UI less frequently, run some database transactions in parallel, and do what we can to speed things up. Speed is a sensitive issue, and it's one we're committed to improving with each release. That having been said, and without saying "twice as fast" or anything like that, I can say that significant leaps have been made here.

NSLog(@"Finish Reading %d Words", 997); »

There's been much discussion lately over the demo limitations we've chosen to place in PulpFiction. Currently, the demo limitation is 10 subscriptions. Full functionality - aside from this limit - is allowed. Filters, labels, AppleScripts, etc.

In the interest of what I called yesterday "an open discussion" (among other things), I'm opening up the thought process a little here to try to solicit some honest feedback from anyone who reads this blog regularly and has an interest in using PulpFiction in particular.

NSLog(@"Finish Reading %d Words", 637); »

Question: Have you ever had a stalker? Been one?

My Answer: No, and no. Though I have liked and been liked quite a bit. Far from stalker levels, though. Thank goodness.

You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.

Perhaps I've missed some sarcasm, or I am not quite getting it, but I disagree quite a bit with this, what… "rant." As someone who's recently seeded "software amongst reviewers/ bloggers/ journalists," as well as someone who's reviewed software for MacAddict and his own 'zine (Apple Wizards), I certainly speak from experience here.

I'm usually loathe to review software I've received for free because it seems to me to be, well… dirty. Unethical. They've solicited the review and are, in effect, paying for it. It's cash for comment.

Actually, by providing you with a copy of a license key or whatnot, they've allowed you to perform the function of reviewing: nothing more, nothing less. MacAddict wouldn't dare dream of reviewing some demo version of an app. That's not what customers buy and that's not what they review. A license to a piece of software unlocks the full features, enabling a full review.

NSLog(@"Finish Reading %d Words", 821); »

I've got some code for a GUI app I never finished. The logic is done, the UI is hell. The logic is more a process than anything else. I'd like to convert it to a console app to be run on the command line. Unfortunately, I lack the time right now to do so, what with PulpFiction and all.

I'm willing to give whomever takes this project on and solves it within a decent amount of time a free copy of PulpFiction as well as FTPeel and Rock Star. Most of the work involved will simply be stripping away UI code. The resulting work (again, based in large part on the existing work I have to hand over) will be released as a freeware tool here on NSLog();.

The tool would facilitate the decision-making process used here. Specifically, quickly ranking many options. I'll share more info with interested parties who IM me. I'm only going to give the code to one person at a time, so please do not IM and ask to be given the chance if you're not serious.

PulpFiction: ADVance (i.e. 1.0b5) has been seeded to beta testers. We're also sending advance copies to a few of your favorite or most prominent Mac bloggers, so look for some PulpFiction coverage around the Web this week.

If you're interested in adding badges to your site, grab 'em here. You may also want to read my initial PulpFiction introduction. The product page @ FSS is online, but you can't order PulpFiction yet. We're not even sure what the price will be just yet…

Less than one week. May 15. We will have introductory pricing and it will last approximately one week. We've got 1.0.1 and 1.1 specified, and they will be free upgrades. You will be surprised by what we're able to pack into 1.1, so you may wish to take advantage of the introductory pricing even if, for example, you really want to see smart folders (yes, clueless, that's a hint).

P.S. You may also want to check out the PF Developer Blog. There's nothing earth-shattering there, but you can see how we debated some issues or changed our minds during development.

Question: Does your mom still exist in living form?

My Answer: Yes. Though I must say that unless I consciously think of it, I picture her as being 40 and not {her-real-age}. It's very odd how we remember people in spite of the passage of time. 😛 Happy Freakin' Mother's Day!

You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.

I've got phone book groups for Friends, Family, Hotties, Work, and General (i.e. everything else). I'm now faced with the burdensome task of trying to decide which custom ringtones to assign to each group.

Friends are, quite obviously, friends. They're people that I care about quite a bit and acquaintances are in "General" or "Work," not "Friends." Family is my parents, sister, and grandmother. Work are those numbers relating primarily to work, and General acts as my catch-all category. Unknown numbers not in my address book will get the general ringtone.

I won't defend my inclusion of the "Hotties" group other than to say that there's a very real reason why I might want to know when one is calling (and it's usually so I can not take the call lest I be sucked into a looooong conversation about the latest mistreatings of Hottie #3's current boy toy, etc.). Anyway, they're hot (and usually needy) gal friends.

So then: what MP3s are appropriate as ringtones for each of these? I have only just begun. "Bang the Drum All Day" for the work group (y'know, "I don't want to work…")? Suggestions?

P.S. Any suggestions on the software I should use to convert my MP3s, M4As, and M4Ps to low-bit-rate (32 or so) MP3 versions? Ideally said software could also crop out the good 15-second snippet and put fades on the ends. Suitable for ringtones, you see…?

Question: What's the most powerful song you can think of?

My Answer: Either of the songs I mention in a post I've made here: "Hallelujah" or "I Don't Like Mondays." Both of them from West Wing, yes.

You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.