Shark Infested Waiters
I tried out a new freeware file manager (Master Commander) yesterday, and, as part of my testing, I watched a previously downloaded video in its built-in, pop up viewer. It's a pretty good file manager, but I'll be sticking with FreeCommander. It's more configurable, viewing videos doesn't need a pop up viewer, and it seems more intuitive to use (which I'm likely to think because I've been using it for years and got comfortable with any quirks it might have a long time ago).
I've also been trying out SpiderOak, an online backup/synchronisation service similar to Dropbox. If you follow tech/software blogs you'll know that Dropbox has come in for some criticism of late over its security. SpiderOak uses what it calls comprehensive 'zero-knowledge' data encryption, by which it means that, unlike Dropbox, it has absolutely no means of access to the content of files stored on its servers - the encryption happens locally on the user's device before it is sent. It works well and has some additional features too.
The standard free account offers 2GB of storage, but you can get 3GB by signing up and downloading the application via this link. (Yes...of course I get extra free storage as well!)
So what's all this got to do with sharks and waiters? Well, the video I watched was the one embedded below, which shows sharks as I've never seen them before. It reminded me how difficult it seems to be to convince authorities to curtail the trade in fins (the ones hacked off the sharks, fins which end up in soup served by the waiters). Perhaps the image of sharks as presented in films such as Jaws makes the public feel a bowl of soup is 'just deserts' (sorry!) for sharks.
Gimme A Hug.wmv
Watch on Posterous
It's a few months old, but this article in The Independent gives some info on the shark fin industry, together with some links to organisations which are trying to stop it.
And finally, twenty-two years ago today: Tiananmen Square
