Friday, July 11, 2008
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
MS update KB951748 and ZoneAlarm --- PROBLEM
Experienced this myself. If you install this update all websites are blocked. You can either not install the update or setting the Internet zone of ZA to medium also works. I did the latter and also turned on windows firewall.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Is site X down for everyone, or just me?
Have you heard that question all too often?
Well Alex Payne has, and he did something about it. He has created downforeveryoneorjustme.com Where you can ask if your favorite site is really down, or if may be your connection.
The article has other details about outages of some of the biggest sites on the web. The article is actually titled : "Internet traffic grows, and so do glitches"
Well Alex Payne has, and he did something about it. He has created downforeveryoneorjustme.com Where you can ask if your favorite site is really down, or if may be your connection.
The article has other details about outages of some of the biggest sites on the web. The article is actually titled : "Internet traffic grows, and so do glitches"
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Getaway day: How to secure your laptop for holiday travel | Zero Day | ZDNet.com
It’s getaway day and as we prepare to hit the road, trudge through airport security and snag that car rental, spare a thought for the valuable data that travels with you on that trusty old laptop.
This is a good article on how to encrypt files on your computer. It's a good idea when you travel.
AlaskaJoe
This is a good article on how to encrypt files on your computer. It's a good idea when you travel.
AlaskaJoe
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Firefox 2.0.0.15 security update, July 1, 2008
Twelve vulnerabilities fixed in total, some platform specific. Four rated critical, four rated high, two rated moderate, and two rated low.
Link above is to the Firefox 2.0.0.15 Release Notes, links from there take you to the list of items fixed.
Link above is to the Firefox 2.0.0.15 Release Notes, links from there take you to the list of items fixed.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
OnComputers Radio show Podcast 06-29-08
This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 06-29-08. 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.
Next week will be the 4th of July weekend and most of the OnComputers hosts will be gone for the weekend. We will be playing the Geek Meet 2007 show from Boston. Have a great 4th of July and be safe!
AlaskaJoe
Next week will be the 4th of July weekend and most of the OnComputers hosts will be gone for the weekend. We will be playing the Geek Meet 2007 show from Boston. Have a great 4th of July and be safe!
AlaskaJoe
Links from the Gregg Zone
1) This first link I am putting up is one that comes with the strongest disclaimer I can think of. I have not watched this video nor do I intend to watch it. It was sent to me by someone connected to the show, they ask me not to divulge their involvement or any reference to the fact they sent it. Please understand I have not watched it and will not watch it, and I like the very weird. But I do not believe in censorship, and the nature of my listings is somewhat related to the very bizarre, this evidently qualifies in spades. Even our friend in California who is banned from the show has expressed utter disgust with this, and has asked me to bury it in the cyber trash heap. If you are an animal lover do not watch this video, if you have a squeamish bone in your body do not watch this video, if you do watch it and are upset by it do not say you were not warned, do not hold me responsible in any way. What we have here is a Russian experiment involving the severed head of a rather cute little dog, kept alive without a body, and experimented on. Frankenstein was fiction this may not be, I hope I made myself clear, please use utmost restraint here http://gizmodo.com
2) Somewhat related although much more palatable is the story of Mike the Wonder Chicken, he was a headless chicken, who lived for a year and a half. Wow I almost feel like Halloween is here. Anyway this is a story I heard about a long time ago and looked up only because of that last link sent to me. Seems there was a chicken in the forties that was making all the side shows; and a lot of money for the owner. The owner was getting a chicken ready for dinner, when he cut off its head the chicken did not even seem to notice. The owners kept Mike alive using an eyedropper to feed him for eighteen months. The chicken walked around, scratched the ground, tried to peck, crow and cluck (but only gurgled), and basically acted like a chicken. He only died because they had forgotten his eye dropper, and he could not be aspirated as he sometimes needed. There is even a holiday in the Colorado town where he lived honoring Mike, now that’s pretty weird. http://www.sideshowworld.com
3) Okay enough of that….. Let’s get back to something a little less macabre. Another link sent to me by one of our listeners, (thanks JavaBeans) something a little easier on the sensibilities. This has to be the oddest green link I have had up since I started with the show. A building that generates its electric power by rotating each individual floor, or apartment. The building never looks the same at any time EVER each of its forty floors rotate individually of each other powered by the wind, and that rotation creates the electric power for the building, it even has some extra to feed into the grid. There are plans to build two of them one in Dubai and one in Moscow. This link to a BBC story complete with video is a must read for those into the green side of the internet. http://news.bbc.co.uk
4) Now still another link sent to me by a listener here in Las Vegas (thanks USS ROVER) for my geek link of the week (actually there are two of them). This is something that everyone should have on their daily schedule, one of those things you click on when you check your mail, and or read the news, just to see what is offered for the day. After all how can you beat something for free, those of us who live in Las Vegas almost worship the very word. This is free software downloads that rotate daily, some are quite expensive if you want to buy them, the catch they are only free for 24 hours, so pay attention. The second link is the same thing only it is for games, sounds like a gamers’ paradise. Thanks again Rover. http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/ http://game.giveawayoftheday.com/
5) Last is something I just found at a site I use on a daily basis, but for some reason just did not notice. I am a devotee, and big fan of craigslist I am there at least once a day and often several times a day. Not sure how I missed the little link on the left side that says “best-of-craigslist”, but this is a great read just check it out even if you are not a user, buyer, or seller. http://www.craigslist.org
2) Somewhat related although much more palatable is the story of Mike the Wonder Chicken, he was a headless chicken, who lived for a year and a half. Wow I almost feel like Halloween is here. Anyway this is a story I heard about a long time ago and looked up only because of that last link sent to me. Seems there was a chicken in the forties that was making all the side shows; and a lot of money for the owner. The owner was getting a chicken ready for dinner, when he cut off its head the chicken did not even seem to notice. The owners kept Mike alive using an eyedropper to feed him for eighteen months. The chicken walked around, scratched the ground, tried to peck, crow and cluck (but only gurgled), and basically acted like a chicken. He only died because they had forgotten his eye dropper, and he could not be aspirated as he sometimes needed. There is even a holiday in the Colorado town where he lived honoring Mike, now that’s pretty weird. http://www.sideshowworld.com
3) Okay enough of that….. Let’s get back to something a little less macabre. Another link sent to me by one of our listeners, (thanks JavaBeans) something a little easier on the sensibilities. This has to be the oddest green link I have had up since I started with the show. A building that generates its electric power by rotating each individual floor, or apartment. The building never looks the same at any time EVER each of its forty floors rotate individually of each other powered by the wind, and that rotation creates the electric power for the building, it even has some extra to feed into the grid. There are plans to build two of them one in Dubai and one in Moscow. This link to a BBC story complete with video is a must read for those into the green side of the internet. http://news.bbc.co.uk
4) Now still another link sent to me by a listener here in Las Vegas (thanks USS ROVER) for my geek link of the week (actually there are two of them). This is something that everyone should have on their daily schedule, one of those things you click on when you check your mail, and or read the news, just to see what is offered for the day. After all how can you beat something for free, those of us who live in Las Vegas almost worship the very word. This is free software downloads that rotate daily, some are quite expensive if you want to buy them, the catch they are only free for 24 hours, so pay attention. The second link is the same thing only it is for games, sounds like a gamers’ paradise. Thanks again Rover. http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/ http://game.giveawayoftheday.com/
5) Last is something I just found at a site I use on a daily basis, but for some reason just did not notice. I am a devotee, and big fan of craigslist I am there at least once a day and often several times a day. Not sure how I missed the little link on the left side that says “best-of-craigslist”, but this is a great read just check it out even if you are not a user, buyer, or seller. http://www.craigslist.org
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Laptop seizures at customs raise outcry
We talked about this very subject on the show on Sunday. Be sure not to have anything you don't absolutely need on your computer and certainly don't have anything personal.
No reprieve: XP phase-out begins June 30 | All about Microsoft | ZDNet.com
It looks like this MIGHT be your last chance to buy a new computer with Windows XP installed.
I find that interesting the day Intel says it is staying it isn't moving to Vista Microsoft decides to pull the plug on Windows XP.
After months of rumors that Microsoft might rethink its decision to pull the plug on Windows XP, the official word is out: XP is on its way out.
Microsoft is sticking to its plan to cease providing PC makers with XP to preload on new PCs after June 30, as Microsoft is now letting customers know via a letter it has posted to its Windows XP and Windows Vista Web sites.
AlaskaJoe
I find that interesting the day Intel says it is staying it isn't moving to Vista Microsoft decides to pull the plug on Windows XP.
After months of rumors that Microsoft might rethink its decision to pull the plug on Windows XP, the official word is out: XP is on its way out.
Microsoft is sticking to its plan to cease providing PC makers with XP to preload on new PCs after June 30, as Microsoft is now letting customers know via a letter it has posted to its Windows XP and Windows Vista Web sites.
AlaskaJoe
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
ICANN to vote on more Top Level Domains
Depending on the vote this week, YOU TOO COULD OWN YOUR VERY OWN TOP LEVEL DOMAIN!
They are not cheap to own from what I have read in the past, but it may be possible soon.
www.alaskajoe.oncomputers ? nah....
They are not cheap to own from what I have read in the past, but it may be possible soon.
www.alaskajoe.oncomputers ? nah....
Sunday, June 22, 2008
OnComputers Radio show Podcast 06-22-08
This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 06-22-08. 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.
Todays guest from the Better Business Bureau
Michael Lauf, Director of Public Relations is with the Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org
Michael has been in Evansville Indiana since 2001. His degree is in Radio-TV Broadcasting from Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel Illinois. Michael worked in radio in Vincennes Indiana from 1983-1993 and ran his own DJ service from 1990-2000.
Michael speaks for free to schools, churches, businesses and helps disabled persons learn to use computers. He is involved with Serotek corporation who allows any visually impaired person in the world a free speech application to use their computer.
www.serotek.com
Blog:
www.bbbconsumereducation.com
Michael has been in Evansville Indiana since 2001. His degree is in Radio-TV Broadcasting from Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel Illinois. Michael worked in radio in Vincennes Indiana from 1983-1993 and ran his own DJ service from 1990-2000.
Michael speaks for free to schools, churches, businesses and helps disabled persons learn to use computers. He is involved with Serotek corporation who allows any visually impaired person in the world a free speech application to use their computer.
www.serotek.com
Blog:
www.bbbconsumereducation.com
Links from the Gregg Zone
1) At the time of writing this on Friday night the 21st of June, 2008, even though I am not big on birthdays, and the like. I must acknowledge a rather auspicious event that happened on this day sixty years past on this very day in Manchester England. According to a linked article here the modern computer as we know it had its sixtieth birthday today. This was the first programmable computer with rewritable memory a whopping 128 bytes, check out the article with a video clip here.
2) As my green link of the week another offering about the water fueled car, this has become a favorite topic of mine. Seems a company in Japan Genepax, just last week announced their new car, running on water. I have seen an awful lot of stuff about this subject, mostly on the fringe and rather questionable, But operating on the principal where there is smoke, you may find fire, I keep my hopes alive. There are two links here the first I ran across from Reuters at engadget with video, released on June 12, and the other at Wikipidea, they already have a reference page. Very interesting stuff. 1) http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/13/genepax-shows-off-water-powered-fuel-cell-vehicle/ 2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genepax
3) Well for link number three I want to start by reviewing a link I posted last week for the new Netflix viewer for your television. I got it and installed it yesterday, it works great, installed in about a half hour, very simple and easy. This is the direction I believe television is headed. In a few years we will not even recognize the way we watch today. As another aside to this concept I offer a link to an article about hoe Hulu is kicking YouTubes tale. The main problem I see to the way most of the online T.V. sites are working is the program guides, when those are modified to the skill level of average people watch out. Article link here and here is YouTube's response to that article.
4) Link number four is offering a spot to do some future preparation for what
will surly be a host of future links coming up. What can I be referring to, well just think about the date, December 23rd 2012 is only a little over four years away. Here is a Wiki page to get you started in regards as to what will surly be one of the main topics around the water cooler very soon. Why not have some ammunition in your corner, there are a lot of quick reads on the major topics, and people here.
5) My on the lighter side link for the week, I have always liked puzzles of different forms. Here is an online free puzzle link, one of many I am sure, but I have managed to waste several hours here with puzzles that I liked. So I thought I would pass it along http://www.freepuzzles.com/
2) As my green link of the week another offering about the water fueled car, this has become a favorite topic of mine. Seems a company in Japan Genepax, just last week announced their new car, running on water. I have seen an awful lot of stuff about this subject, mostly on the fringe and rather questionable, But operating on the principal where there is smoke, you may find fire, I keep my hopes alive. There are two links here the first I ran across from Reuters at engadget with video, released on June 12, and the other at Wikipidea, they already have a reference page. Very interesting stuff. 1) http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/13/genepax-shows-off-water-powered-fuel-cell-vehicle/ 2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genepax
3) Well for link number three I want to start by reviewing a link I posted last week for the new Netflix viewer for your television. I got it and installed it yesterday, it works great, installed in about a half hour, very simple and easy. This is the direction I believe television is headed. In a few years we will not even recognize the way we watch today. As another aside to this concept I offer a link to an article about hoe Hulu is kicking YouTubes tale. The main problem I see to the way most of the online T.V. sites are working is the program guides, when those are modified to the skill level of average people watch out. Article link here and here is YouTube's response to that article.
4) Link number four is offering a spot to do some future preparation for what
will surly be a host of future links coming up. What can I be referring to, well just think about the date, December 23rd 2012 is only a little over four years away. Here is a Wiki page to get you started in regards as to what will surly be one of the main topics around the water cooler very soon. Why not have some ammunition in your corner, there are a lot of quick reads on the major topics, and people here.
5) My on the lighter side link for the week, I have always liked puzzles of different forms. Here is an online free puzzle link, one of many I am sure, but I have managed to waste several hours here with puzzles that I liked. So I thought I would pass it along http://www.freepuzzles.com/
Friday, June 20, 2008
Planning a Trip to the Olympics? ( or most anywhere )
Food for Secure Computing Thought :
When traveling outside your country, LEAVE THE TOYS AT HOME!
Industrial espionage may be more of a threat than theft as you travel abroad. And don't just leave your toys at home, check everything you bring back very carefully! Treat any media as infected, be it optical ( CD/DVD/HDDVD/BluRay ), solidstate ( USB and other flash media, Solid State hard drives ) or magnetic ( internal or external hard drives ).
The article linked above has some very interesting and thought provoking comments.
When traveling outside your country, LEAVE THE TOYS AT HOME!
Industrial espionage may be more of a threat than theft as you travel abroad. And don't just leave your toys at home, check everything you bring back very carefully! Treat any media as infected, be it optical ( CD/DVD/HDDVD/BluRay ), solidstate ( USB and other flash media, Solid State hard drives ) or magnetic ( internal or external hard drives ).
The article linked above has some very interesting and thought provoking comments.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
OnComputers Radio show Podcast 06-15-08
This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 06-15-08. 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) First up for the week has to be my big spend. Yea I just spent $99.00 for a new toy, just because the money I got from those firemen’s pants was burning a hole in my PayPal account, and I did not get enough to buy the microscope I had in mind. This seemed to me to be something we will see a lot of in the future. I heard someone say the other day television as we know it today will be unrecognizable in ten to fifteen years. My toy site here http://www.roku.com/netflixplayer/
2) Now that I’ve calmed down a bit time for my green link of the week. Seems Ford has a new prototype out, a flex-fuel hybrid electric vehicle. The engine is needed after the first thirty miles, provided you keep the speed down. Then once the flex-fuel (85% ethanol) it kicks out a healthy 50 mpg city, and 88 mpg highway. Sounds awfully good to me, another thought Ford stock at the moment is around $6.25 per share. Wonder how many patents they own on this technology, just a thought. Article link here http://gas2.org/
3) This is a link to a short story here falls under the same comment as last weeks cell phone corn popping link. I am fairly sure it will be shot down, but I just had to toss it in. I am not a big fan of happy faces any where, but the thought there is one on Mars just sort of disturbs my sense of faith in the idea of the universe being somehow above all that. I can only hope it does not turn yellow at sunset. For what it is worth here is the link. http://jackbrummet.blogspot.com
4) I was at Mufon the other day doing a quick check on a newspaper article that mentioned a UFO sighting, when it dawned on me that there are most likely people who do not know about the site. Say you heard about a sighting in the next town, or maybe you have seen something yourself. At Mufon you can search by time and location to see if others may have filed reports. They get thousands every year, there are also other things to read there all around an interesting place to visit. http://www.mufon.com
5) My last link was a surprise to me as I found it at a site I visit often. I am referring to New Scientist, I find myself there a lot, by links to stories or text type links. For some reason I noticed and clicked on the video link. I like T.V. stations like Discovery, Science Channel, T.L.C., Edu. 1 & 2, at this site they have the video so you can just start it and it will go to the next. Interesting short science stories, about five min. each. Almost like watching Discovery News. http://www.newscientist.com/
2) Now that I’ve calmed down a bit time for my green link of the week. Seems Ford has a new prototype out, a flex-fuel hybrid electric vehicle. The engine is needed after the first thirty miles, provided you keep the speed down. Then once the flex-fuel (85% ethanol) it kicks out a healthy 50 mpg city, and 88 mpg highway. Sounds awfully good to me, another thought Ford stock at the moment is around $6.25 per share. Wonder how many patents they own on this technology, just a thought. Article link here http://gas2.org/
3) This is a link to a short story here falls under the same comment as last weeks cell phone corn popping link. I am fairly sure it will be shot down, but I just had to toss it in. I am not a big fan of happy faces any where, but the thought there is one on Mars just sort of disturbs my sense of faith in the idea of the universe being somehow above all that. I can only hope it does not turn yellow at sunset. For what it is worth here is the link. http://jackbrummet.blogspot.com
4) I was at Mufon the other day doing a quick check on a newspaper article that mentioned a UFO sighting, when it dawned on me that there are most likely people who do not know about the site. Say you heard about a sighting in the next town, or maybe you have seen something yourself. At Mufon you can search by time and location to see if others may have filed reports. They get thousands every year, there are also other things to read there all around an interesting place to visit. http://www.mufon.com
5) My last link was a surprise to me as I found it at a site I visit often. I am referring to New Scientist, I find myself there a lot, by links to stories or text type links. For some reason I noticed and clicked on the video link. I like T.V. stations like Discovery, Science Channel, T.L.C., Edu. 1 & 2, at this site they have the video so you can just start it and it will go to the next. Interesting short science stories, about five min. each. Almost like watching Discovery News. http://www.newscientist.com/
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Blackmailing Trojan encrypts hard-drive
Kaspersky Labs wants help cracking the endryption used in a "ransomware" scheme. We are going to see more and more of this sort of thing and it may well be that groups of security venders and interested parties (i.e. clients, law enforcement will have to join together to put something of a brake on it.
Check it out.)
Jack
Check it out.)
Jack
Sunday, June 08, 2008
OnComputers Radio show Podcast 06-08-08
This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 06-08-08. 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) Not to sure how green this car is, but BBC says it is the worlds cheapest. That statement causes one to ponder the term cheap. Just how cheap would the world’s cheapest car be? Well this car fresh off the line is $2,500.00; I would have to say that’s cheap considering today’s prices. I don’t think I would want to get in any arguments with SUV’s. http://news.bbc.co.uk/
2) This is one of those links I am going to post feeling there must be more to the story. If the short videos are on the up and up, they will justify my stance on cell phones. If anyone out there has the ability to try this I would like to hear about it, but email me no phone calls. http://icantseeyou.typepad.com
3) The next couple of links are on the subject of my paranoia concerning the invasion of the computer related side of my life. First up an article about using a toaster to hack a computer. While that sounds a little absurd given all the talk around here about heat control in your computer, the general drift about the subject I find disturbing www.darkreading.com/
4) Related to the last link another hacker worry story. Seems this guy using a computer hooked to the television in a hotel can hack into everyone staying at the property, heck maybe the whole chain world wide, why not? http://www.cnet.com.au/
5) Last link for the week is going to be a new gadget the new Polaroid Photo Printer, what caught my eye about this was the Zink Paper. Could this be the return of the concept of film, what made Kodak, Fuji and the other giants so big, was rhe need to use film, a required medium, like ink cartridges for printers. http://www.electronista.com/
2) This is one of those links I am going to post feeling there must be more to the story. If the short videos are on the up and up, they will justify my stance on cell phones. If anyone out there has the ability to try this I would like to hear about it, but email me no phone calls. http://icantseeyou.typepad.com
3) The next couple of links are on the subject of my paranoia concerning the invasion of the computer related side of my life. First up an article about using a toaster to hack a computer. While that sounds a little absurd given all the talk around here about heat control in your computer, the general drift about the subject I find disturbing www.darkreading.com/
4) Related to the last link another hacker worry story. Seems this guy using a computer hooked to the television in a hotel can hack into everyone staying at the property, heck maybe the whole chain world wide, why not? http://www.cnet.com.au/
5) Last link for the week is going to be a new gadget the new Polaroid Photo Printer, what caught my eye about this was the Zink Paper. Could this be the return of the concept of film, what made Kodak, Fuji and the other giants so big, was rhe need to use film, a required medium, like ink cartridges for printers. http://www.electronista.com/
Friday, June 06, 2008
Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for June 2008
Here is Microsoft's announcement of issues addressed in June's "Patch Tuesday". Three are rated "critical", Microsoft's highest rating. Three are rated "important" and one is rated "moderate". Many of the flaws patched have to do with remote code execution flaws and so are ones you will want fixed regardless of their actual rating.
This MS announcement is rather short and it looks like the company has exerted some effort to make them easier to read and digest, too, which is nice.
Jack
This MS announcement is rather short and it looks like the company has exerted some effort to make them easier to read and digest, too, which is nice.
Jack
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