Stretching the Search for Signs of Life

The Allen Telescope Array is finally coming on-line.

I know a lot of you have stopped doing seti@home since the transition to BOINC, but this might be the time to start. There will be a veritable flood of new data needing to be processed and you can be part of it.

Jack

OpenStreetMap project imports US government maps

At last! The prospect of public domain mapping for my GPS and Linux, along with other operating systems, looms. There is a lot of work to do, but the prospect tantalizes. In fact; I think I am going to investigate the possibilities of my helping them out.

Check this one out.

Jack

DOS lives! Secrets of the Windows command prompt

Just print this to a file and keep it around. I did.

There are times when the command line is faster, cleaner and easier, if only you have practiced enough that it is not really alien to you. That's all you need to do in preparation. When the time comes, you simply rip out your how-to literature and have at it.

I used the command line this morning to remove a rootkit from a Vista machine. It was easy, fast and saved me having to download a removal tool and use that. The AV program would not do it alone and so I stepped in and did it by hand. The machine is now clean and I saved a bundle of time.

You can, too.
Jack

New Features Discovered in Windows XP SP3: Is It Better Than Vista?

Beta News has an excellent preview of features due to be released as XP Service Pack 3 (SP3). It is becoming clear that SP3 is not just a security roll-up, as we have been led to believe. There is a lot more to it than that.

Jack

How big FOSS projects work

I've run across things like this before but never one short enough to post for everyone to read. This is an email mailing list exchange about and by developers of the PHP language. It's one brief page and explains well how FOSS projects can react faster to bugs and other problems than proprietary projects can.

This is worth a read. Plus, it's almost humorous in it's friendliness.

Jack

Microsoft's Patch Tuesday Security Summary

It's that time of the month, folks. Patch Tuesday. We did not talk about it Sunday, but here's part of the information you need. More to come if necessary.

Jack

New ASUS "Instant-On Linux" Details

We had been told that interesting things like embedding an operable system on the mainboard were coming, but I did not expect to see them quite so soon and I think the cast of the show told you so, as well.

So much for my prescience, eh? Asustek has already done it; embedding the better part of a fully functional desktop on the mainboard. It's out now. You can get it. The embedded system is Linux and quite capable in it's own right. Check it out.

Jack

Ten Ways to Make More Humane Open Source Software

Now here is a great set of thoughts on software usability. They are rarely followed, whether by open source/Free software types or proprietary developers. They need to be.

While you are looking at this article, be sure to follow the links to Neal Stephenson's excellent essay "In the Beginning, There Was the Command Line", which will enlighten you further. I promise this set of essays are very much worth your time, whether you develop software or simply use it.

Jack

Stephenson

The Difference Between Theory and Practice

Here is a very interesting little essay. The study by McAfee it refers to is linked from the story, too, and I recommend reading it.

We seem to be entering some sort of new era, where evil lurks at every turn on the Internet and we, the users, can no longer behave as if our security product producers will shield us from the bad guys. They will not. They are merely aids to safety. Tools for us to use, if you will. We will have to educate ourselves a bit and work within the framework of best practices from now on, or we will become part of the problem. That is all there is too it.

Jack

Critical Security Fixes on Tap for Windows, Outlook

"Patch Tuesday, with four critical bulletins, also will bring fixes to Windows Mail, Internet Explorer and Word."
Microsoft will be putting out seven security advisories on Patch Tuesday, Oct. 9, with four critical bulletins out for Windows, Outlook Express, Windows Mail, Internet Explorer and Word.

We would like to remind everyone to "Do your Windows Updates".

The article is from KoffeeBeanz
AlaskaJoe

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 10-07-07

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 10-07-07. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific thats 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Links from the Gregg Zone!

1) If you have not heard about global dimming, and think you have concept of how global warming works, you may want to watch this video. Seems global dimming has been protecting us from global warming; they are related and interact in a way that has caused us to greatly underestimate our problem. While green house gasses have been retaining heat and warming the planet the particles created by pollution have been causing the clouds to act as giant mirrors and reflect sunlight causing less solar energy to reach the planet. If we reduce our pollution with out balancing it against the green house gas problem, an activity we are doing world wide, we are running the real risk of increasing the warming of the planet ten fold. The problem is very much more complex than we thought. Much of the evidence was produced by 911, due to the shutting down of air traffic for three days, that research, combine with chance discoveries during research into the pan evaporation rate, and research into the amount of solar energy reaching the planet, these statistics are needed to plan irrigation systems, the researchers noticed the changes worldwide during independent studies. Anyway, here is a link to a 50 min. BBC movie on the subject, very interesting. http://video.google.com

2) This is a set of links from Buzz in chat, and Joe about a program to give laptop computers to kids in poor countries. I thought I had already done this, but when I went to my blog to try and find it I realized it was one of those links in a folder I keep for possible show stuff, started never finished, like a lot of other things in my life. Anyway there are several links about the program, it is really very cool, a wind up laptop for $100.00, no batteries, no wall plug, no electric plant, just educate and open the world to people with few paths to advance their position in the world. I remember reading about how those wind up radios were all over in third world countries, donated by the man who invented them, he set up factories in country so they could not only advance their society, but also provide jobs. I believe it is through the action of individuals, not government programs that we can change the world. Once again, the power of the internet demonstrates the power to change everything, by developing avenues to channel our creativity and distribute our good will. May we continue to use it wisely. First, the original site I found in my folder.http://www.laptop.org/ The follow up site from Joe and buzz http://www.xogiving.org/ A story in the New York Times http://www.osnews.com And an article about how India may turn down the whole thing http://www.infoworld.com Sorry about so many links, just found another on the price increase.http://www.cio.com/article/106450

3) Here is a very interesting medical article about nanobodies, these are very small antibodies recently found that promise to cure everything from cancer to dandruff. What was surprising to me was that it is another of those breakthroughs made almost by accident. Being of a metaphysical bent in the way I view the world, I always think there is more to these incidents than mere coincidence, but then who knows anyway, here is the link, it is well worth the read. http://groups.google.com/

iPhone Turned into Pocket-Sized Hacking Platform

"All iPhone applications run with full root privileges and any application vulnerability means winner takes all. The iPhone has been turned into a 'pocket-sized … network-enabled root shell,' said H.D. Moore, thanks to the well-known security researcher having published shell code for the smart phone and instructions on how to use it as a portable hacking platform."
If you have an IPhone beware and don't make it an IBrick!
Thanks KoffeeBeanz

AlaskaJoe

Links from the Gregg Zone!

1) Of all the stuff I have put up so far, I think this is the one I like the most. I was watching an interview with President Clinton on T.V. last night when he mentioned a site called kiva.org, a site for “micro financing small business in the third world” with as little as $25.00; ever curious I had to check it out. This, has to be the best of the how can I help change the world sites I have seen. You can lend money to people in small countries around the world, which they use to start small businesses, I lend as little as twenty-five dollars, they repay the loan, I can withdraw my money, or recycle it back out to help start another business somewhere else. The rate of repayment is over 98%, wow a 2% fail to repay rate now that is low. Stop and think in a country like Peru where the average yearly wage is $500.00 dollars give or take a few. An $800.00 loan put up by as many as 24 individuals can change lives by providing jobs, increasing the opportunity for education, and countless other ways.

The way I am planning to use this is with Ebay. I’m going to find some stuff that is just taking up space in my closets, put it up on Ebay, the money goes into PayPal, and then I will just lend it out from there. I get to recycle my junk help out people with few opportunities, and then when it is repaid I can do it again, with out any out of pocket at all. I really think this is the easiest and most efficient way I can donate resources to help people in need. Check it out at http://www.kiva.org click on the New York Times video, it’s best place to start.

2) This is a link that I just found a couple of days ago, reading something about switching the way our brain perceives the world through our five senses. They were talking about seeing with your tongue, I mean how could possibly I pass something like that up? So I googled, it came up with the article I have linked to titled “Can You See with Your Tongue” no surprise. Very interesting article, I am just starting to look in to this subject, I am sure much more has been done on this, since the article came out as it is dated 2003. This is just amazing to much to get into here, check it out, I am sure I will be posting more on this in the near future. http://discovermagazine.com

3) The third link here is a place to get free down loads of some very useful stuff. The catch is you only get a twenty-four hour period, to download them free, and then it changes to a new download, and drops the old one, unless of course you want to buy the old one. Joe downloaded a Skype recorder from it the other day; we used that program to record my segment of the show this week. That was something pretty that was nice for a freebie. Seems to me if you get your timing right, say ten min. before the one for today expires, you get a chance to do the next one right away. That way you get two in fifteen min. instead of one every 24 hrs, anyway here is the link worth checking in occasionally. http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/

SetPoint 3.3 Patch Available - Keyboard - General Discussion - Logitech Forums

SetPoint 3.3 Patch Available - Keyboard - General Discussion - Logitech Forums

I think this was talked about in the show's chat this morning. I wanted to share it with everyone.

Thanks GHOST RIDER for posting it to our News Group.
AlaskaJoe

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 09-30-07

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 09-30-07. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific thats 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Despite AOL’s claim, AIM worm hole still wide open

It's like Joe says; "Friends don't let friends use AOL". However; a lot of people do. Disabling the AOL Messenger client until this is fixed (in mid-October) is the recommended course. I have no idea how or even if this affects GAIM/Pidgin and other multi-protocol clients users. I suspect it does not. Still, one can't be too careful and if this is affected by the AIM server, it might be wise to disable that protocol until all is definitely fixed.

Jack

Giveaway of the Day - free licensed software daily. Today: Skype Recorder - Skype Recorder is a surprisingly easy-to-use tool for recording Skype audi

Giveaway of the Day - free licensed software daily. Today: Skype Recorder - Skype Recorder is a surprisingly easy-to-use tool for recording Skype audio conversations. Skype Recorder can record Sky

This is a free download for a Skype recorder. it's only good for 2 hours once you click the site.

Thanks Riley.

IBM CoScripter

Basically, it is a really, really easy to script automation of certain web-based tasks. I just started playing with it on my Linux machine and I think it's a hit. Be warned that this is an experiment and might have some real bugs in it, though I have not found anything to warrant concern in my brief trial of it.

MissM is going to love this. I think the rest of you will, too.

Jack

Stealth Windows update prevents XP repair

Thanks to Scott Dunn at Windows Secrets for this one.

A fix is provided and can be implemented by anyone. I'd recommend this article being saved and printed out, just so everyone has it.

Jack