GIF Liberation Day!

All GIF images and software are now Patent-Royalty free as of today. The LZW compression algorithm (also used in some forms of Zip), patented 20 years ago, is now in the public domain.

So now we don't have to avoid using GIF images 'cause of royalty payment worries...

...we can avoid using them 'cause they just plain suck.

The Hair Thing

1. Is your hair naturally curly, wavy, or straight? Long or short?

Straight. splits very easily...long (at least 15 inches, possibly more...haven't measured it).

2. How has your hair changed over your lifetime?

Was straight brown, highlighting itself in the summer, through most of my childhood. At 22, I was expecting it to start turning grey (my dad's hair was white by the time he was 30), but instead, an auburn-red streak showed up.

now, i'm about 1 in 20 silver-white...and increasing.

3. How do your normally wear your hair?

ponytail.

4. If you could change your hair this minute, what would it look like?

all i want is some way to be able to leave it down and not have it fly in my face within 2 seconds. i get headaches when things are in front of my eyes.

5. Ever had a hair disaster? What happened?

when it was short, it was a disaster every morning when i woke up.

oh how i miss those days...

Harry Potter followup: the Author Speaks!

Rowling in an interview with the London Times supports my claim on the age of the Potter characters and actors:

I always wanted them to grow up. I have a real problem when they just remain static. I find it creepy.