Karen’s Replicator is a straight-forward backup utility that copies individual files and folders to another location

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp

Karen's Replicator is a straight-forward backup utility that copies individual files, folders and even entire drives to another location. Its key feature is to schedule automatic backups. Simple, effective and … … free!

I use it to backup my luggable to my home desktop and my old laptop. While not precisely the same, if luggable would die unexpectedly, then I could take my oldlap laptop and not miss too much data wise. I would really like to be in the position of having two identical platforms but who can afford that? If I ever do it again, then that's what I'd do. It would be interesting since one would know what fouled up the environment. Sigh. Till then, I'll be using Karenware's replicator to duplicate data directories.

Of interest, the only trick I had to use was to define the other machines on the network to LUGGABLE so that they would each have drive letters. 

Hmm, other ideas?   

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Posted by reinkefj

Automatic 401(k) options

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200605/NAT20060517a.html

Bipartisan Push for Automatic 401(k) Plans
By Randy Hall
CNSNews.com Staff Writer/Editor
May 17, 2006
***Begin Quote***

(CNSNews.com) – Former vice presidential candidates John Edwards and Jack Kemp joined forces on Tuesday in Pentagon City, Va., calling on corporations to offer automatic 401(k) options in an effort to boost the financial security of middle and lower-income American families.

***End Quote***

As usual, when the two political parties agree on anything, you can be sure of one thing, it must benefit them.

Once again, the public is being "helped" by Mommy Government, backed up by the rules of Father State.

You're too dumb to save money on your own, so Mommy is going to make sure you are "signed up" from Day One. And, of course, Father State will make rules to interfere with the established employer employee relationships.

AND, it ignores the fact that "one size fits all" solutions are be their very nature not what some people need.

401ks can be subject to errors in judgement by selecting badly or failing to diversify because of restricted choice. DOn't forget that most 401k offerings come with high fees as well.
Now let's look under the covers and question why these two politicians are worried about you. Hmmm, could it be that the Ponzi scheme Social Security "Insurance" is broke and gettin' broker!

So there we have it!

We're being given something that won't work for most "for our own good" backed up by laws by a pair of politicians with something to gain. Hmmm!

1 Comment | LIBERTY, MONEY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Put a plastic bag over the Statue of Liberty?

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/05/17/a_glimmer_of_hope_on_immigration/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+–+Op-ed+columns

A glimmer of hope on immigration
By Derrick Z. Jackson, Globe Columnist  |  May 17, 2006
***Begin Quote***

PRESIDENT BUSH slipped just enough humanity into his national immigration address to show this is one issue he sees with complexity. After saying he will send the National Guard to the borders and build new fences and walls, he acknowledged that millions of people are here to stay and millions are still going to try to come here to stay.
***End Quote***

We are no longer welcoming immigrants to the US. "Illegal Aliens" is like Jumbo Shrimp.

If they are draining "our" social program (I didn't institute them), then let's eliminate the welfare. At the very least, require people seeking benefits to prove they are a citizen.

Seems simple to me. Fix the problem. Not bandaid the symptoms. 

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Posted by reinkefj

Montezuma’s revenge

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

The Universe gave me a time out for I guess something I did wrong. It took a day out of my life. Inopportune but not a disaster.

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Posted by reinkefj

Spammers kill Blue Frog! Now we know who runs the internet!

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/74524

Spammers Defeat Blue Security
Shutting down operations after Russian DDoS attack
Posted 2006-05-17 11:44:57

**Begin Quote***

Anti-Spam outfit Blue Security posted a statement on their currently off-line website stating they were ceasing their war on spam and shutting down, after a Russian spammer essentially DDoS'd the company to death. The outfit had some half-a-million of their members recently bombard spammers with e-mails requesting they cease operations. While some spammers complied, one outfit launched a denial of service attack on the company they simply couldn't overcome, claims the company in a statement:
"Over the past few months we were able to leverage the power of the Blue Community and convince top spammers responsible for sending over 25% of the world's spam to comply with our users' opt-out list. We were making real progress in eliminating spam from the lives of our users.

However, several leading spammers viewed this change as a strategic threat to their spam business. The week before last, these spammers launched a series of attacks against us, taking down hundreds of thousands of other websites via a massive Denial-of-Service attack and causing damage to ISPs, website owners and Internet users worldwide. They also began a relentless campaign of email intimidation against many members of the Blue Community.

After recovering from the attack, we determined that once we reactivated the Blue Community, spammers would resume their attacks. We cannot take the responsibility for an ever-escalating cyber war through our continued operations."
The Washington Post has a good read on the company's lost battle against spam.
***End Quote***

Well, I think we now know who runs the internet. It's not the ISPs, the gummamint, or the users. It's the spammers!

We have to very quickly get a strategy that works — verified senders, a mail "tax", or whatever. 

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Posted by reinkefj

Visual Basic version of the confederate coding mechanism

Monday, May 15, 2006

*** Begin Quote ***

Recently read the frontpage story of breaking the confederate code 137 years late… Figured I would write a visual basic version for fellow VB nerds to play with on digg.

*** End Quote ***

Adds on to the interesting story with a resurgence in private cryptology. Like brain surgery for amatuers. :-)

read more | digg story

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Posted by reinkefj

Cracking an old code! AND an implication in today’s news.

Monday, May 15, 2006

http://rz1.razorpoint.com/index.html

How I Broke The Confederate Code (137 Years Too Late)

*** Quoted from DUGG *** 

A very interesting read about a former NSA cryptologist cracking a confederate code from the Civil War. Rather topical in light of the recent cracking of some WWII enigma codes, the current NSA stories in the news and, of course, all the "cryptography" in the imminent release of the Da Vinci Code. Interesting stuff.

*** End Quote ***

Having certified as crypto geek at NSA, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this crack. Note the extensive use of history, knowledge, geography, feel, emotion, and hunches. This demonstrates how far we have come. Once has to be extremely careful in any crypto operation. I am amused that PA has adopted eNotary. I'd be much more circumspec about the widespread deployment of cypto.  

*** Begin Quote ****

Electronic Notarization Comes to Pennsylvania!On January 3, 2006, the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania began accepting applications from currently commissioned notaries in the state for becoming approved electronic notaries (eNotaries). eNotaries are permitted to engage in electronic notarizations after receiving approval from the secretary. An application may be filled out online and printed from the secretary's Web site at http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel. Complete instructions and more information are also available on the Web site. 

*** End Quote **** 

HMmmm? 

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Posted by reinkefj

When networking, write personalize emails.

Monday, May 15, 2006

I try to keep a large number of plates spinning in a whole variety of activities. I really would like to "network" with all 8k of people that I have in my rolodex. But, that ain't humanly possible. And, certainly not by a lazy guy like me.

I ty to give something to my networking contacts that they will find useful. Quick answers to questions. Leads. Sources of further information. Ideas. Everything but money. I need all I have for myself. And, my favorite charities.

So, from time to time, when I have something I think is useful, I send it to them. Like most people that have taken a marketing course at one time or another, I try to segment my effort. What portion of that 8k might find it more useful than others. A sample! 

Now how will I "do" it. Email. Has to be. It fast, cheap, and is "do-able". 

In the past, I'd send an email to myself and bcc my sample.  Last time, one of my "stuckees" called me and sounded slightly miffed at my approach. I was taken aback. I had never thought anyone would be insulted or hurt. So, I took the idea back to the drawing board.

This time, and probably from hence forth and ever more, I'll send each one a unique individual email.

It still will be a bunch. But it will appear one2one. It that cheating?

I don't have that many good ideas that that I could have 8k of them. I'm lucky if I have one a month. It'd would take me 8,000 months to get to every contact. Arggh! 

SO, I used Word to do an email merge. It produces a unique email customized to each recipient.

Yell if you want more details.

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Posted by reinkefj

Taking Inventory of Program Files

Monday, May 15, 2006

Easy to start

Open dos window

cd /program files

dir *.* > /dirprog.txt

edit dirprog.txt

trim the extra

CNTL-A CNTL-C

Open excel CNTL-V 

Add some headings

Then the hard work begins.

Categorize: Huh?, Utility, Application

Arghh! 

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Posted by reinkefj

Medicare Rx Plan Deadline

Monday, May 15, 2006

Arghhh, I had to sign up three old folks for Medicare Part D today. PIA! I used the AARP plan since it seemed the "best". Not that I understand the nuances of what's going on. $25.month is like playing the lotto. And, they were talkign about paying penalties if you didn't pick one by today. So it's done. All the old folks hate taking drugs anyway. What part of "non compliant" do these docs not understand. If'n' I was a doc and I had one of these geezers I was tryin' to help, I would not prescribe anything other than once a day in the morning pills. No joke, I had one doc rx my mom with a sequence of pills during the day. First up take a 25, at 11am take a 50, at 3pm take 25, and at bedtime take a 50. I know fromt he drug bills that she's taking ~ one 50 a day. When I brought it do the doc's attention, "no big deal" and "any improvement from the drugs would be marginal at best". Arghhh, I should have made the doc take the pills. Another quick horror story. Another geezer, my aunt, love dearly but would love to strangle sometimes, goes to her regular doc, who KNOWS how she hides pills under her toungue to spit out later. He rxs her with 90 day supply rx that cost 800 $!!!! Those pills are STILL sitting on top the refigerator. Arghhhh!! I hate: the gummamint, docs, and pharmacies! It's a conspiracy. Why do I need to pay a doctor to get a drug. The drug war. It's absurd. It's like having to bring a note from your parents. Mommy Gummamint! What a system.

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Posted by reinkefj

Flood Insurance is welfare for rich people!

Sunday, May 14, 2006

http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/articles/2006/05/14/cover_yourself_against_flooding
THE COLOR OF MONEY
Cover yourself against flooding
By Michelle Singletary  |  May 14, 2006

***Begin Quote***

It's hard to forget last year's hurricane season and the lessons we all should have learned from it.

One of the chief lessons for both homeowners and renters: Consider getting flood insurance.

Here are two facts I bet you didn't know: Floods occur in all 50 states. And most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.

***End Quote***

Aghhh! One lesson we need to learn is that we are STUPID!

OK, follow along kiddies. Hey Mommy Government treats like you are too stupid to run your own life. Why shouldn't everyone?

Where does most flood damage occur?

For those who went to gummamint skoolz, it's the coast line.

Who lives on the water?

For those of you who have not looked into or dreamt about buying something on the "water", it's rich people.

What happens when a disaster happens?

For those of you lucky enough to not to have had this happen, the government cuts a check and you rebuild.

What happens after you rebuild?

Get another flood insurance policy and wait for another disaster. Most people when they rebuild build something better.

Who pays for the flood insurance program?

Everyone who buys it and the taxpayers.

What if you never have a loss?

You're among the losers in this game of rich people's roulette!

What if you're a poor slob, who can just barely afford life?

You might not buy flood insurance and cross your fingers.

So the taxpayer and the dummies who buy flood insurance and never collect pay for rich people to build and rebuild every better houses in dangerous areas.

Solution is simple. End this form of welfare. End federal flood insurance. If insurance is desired, the marketplace will provide it. If no one wants to insure that risk, (i.e., a New Orleans mansion next to the old flood wall), then why should the taxpayer.

If you can't end it — government programs never die — like a vampire they're eternal, then restrict it to one check per location. Rebuild in the same spot at your own risk!

Seems simple to me? 

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Posted by reinkefj

A Libertarian solution to the “illegal immigrant problem”!

Sunday, May 14, 2006

http://www.ncc-1776.org/tle2006/tle367-20060514-03.html  

***Begin Quote***

The simple solution is to require welfare recipients, public school students and recipients of government medical care handouts to PROVE that they are US Citizens.
***End Quote***

It's obvious to any Libertarian (defined as: I don't support the use of force to achieve social or political goals.) that the problem is the government "services". You know those things that they do TO us for our own good that we'd rather they not do. I find it amusing that I can't opt out of their "services". And, that I am force to pay for them.

One quick example. I use sugar. The government "protects" the sugar growers in the US with a high tariff which is essential a tax on me. I don't want to protect sugar growers. Look at a truly free market. Division of labor. The cheapest producer is the best producer. If I wanted to "protect" US Sugar Grower, then I could just "Buy American". My choice. If "protecting" US Sugar Growers was important, I coudl do it. I'm sure some smart advertiser could announce "made with only the best US sugar". They could put little American flags on the boxes. But in the end the US consumers woudl vote with their pocketbook imho. Government "protection" at the point of a gun. Government protection = no freedom; market protection = you choose. 

So when someone says  "illegal immigration problem, we have to immediately fire back "end government welfare". The freedom solution.

But if we eliminate welfare (i.e., checks; publik skooolz; hospital subsidy), everyone will starve, be stupid, and die! Yeah right. There will be no charities: feeding those that deserve help,  helping the poor, teaching those who want to learn, or caring for the sick. Hey gang, wake up, those things were originally done by other than the government before some one fell for the idea that the gummamint could do it better.

We have to recognize that Government Socialism kills. It did in the Soviet Union, a 70 year experiment in misery. Greed is good. It motivates people to help each other. We are a good and charitable people. Look at the 911 fund, the tusamni, and the Katrina efforts. The Government is inept, corrupt, and stupid. Let's trust ourselves. Who do you want to rely on WalMart or FEMA?

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Posted by reinkefj

Strange things happen to my linksys network this moring

Sunday, May 14, 2006

When I arrived on duty this morning (i.e., got up and went to check my email), I discovered that LUGGABLE was disconnected from my wifi net. First thing I did a repair and opened up wifi icon. My faithful OREGON wasn't there. Hmm. I wnt to OLDLAP and it do was disconnected. Now I know Comcast is in their Mother's Day freeze so it's unlikely that it was them. SO I went and restarted the linksys wap.

I checked my UDP forwards that Azureus was griping about while I was there. They all were all their as I thought. udp 5000 – 5099 maps to 100, 5100 – 5199 maps to 101, you get the idea.

WAP restarts and I see the blinking lights on the WAP, the WAN, and the cable modem. SO I return OLDLAP is now connected. AND now to LUGGABLE, it too has reconnected.

Sort of. Look around and everything seems OK but it's running like mud. Lookout seems to be taking all the cycles. Blue Frog is offline and won't come back. Azureus is griping about UDP settings. No choice reboot. Argh! Reboot takes for ever because nothing is shutting down. Everything has to be closed out. Rebooted.

All coming up OK. Except blue frog. It takes a runtime error and says call hq. Call hq and they are offline for maintenance. Good service blue frog! There's a strike against them. Argh.

Everything else seems RTN (returned to normal) but how can you ever know with windows.

Takeaway: I would like to find a Flight Data Recorder for the PC. Something as trivial as ping a know good site (i.e., yahoo, google) say every 15 minutes and record the results. It runs routinely and logs when external connectivity is lost. If I had that on all my boxes, I might be able to trace the culprit. By know precisely when connectivity was lost, you'd at least have a fact. Now all I know is that it dies between bedtime and wakeup. Arghh, arghh!

Takeaway: Blug Frog still down. 

Comments? Ideas? 

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Posted by reinkefj

If you can’t afford a T1, maybe you can get by with two residential services?

Saturday, May 13, 2006

http://t1rex.blogspot.com/2006/05/when-cheap-broadband-becomes-too.html

***Begin Quote***

The professional Internet service you want, regardless of whether your office is a spare bedroom or a storefront, is called T1 Internet or Dedicated Internet.
 
***End Quote***

Thought I might contribute an anecdote and an idea.

Anecdotally, I ran a home based consulting business twice – first time for four years and the second time for two years – I used cable residential service and a dial account for backup. While I’m not consulting now, I have moved from the dial account to verizon wireless broad band.

An idea for some one who needs a better (i.e., cheaper) solution than that a 500 $ per month T1, which sounds great, might be — if available — two combine TWO high speed residential services (e.g.: DSL and Cable) for say 200 $ month. Not the greatest solution, but it would be cheaper that a T1. You’d have to put in a real router and do some configuration to ensure that you’re not becoming a peer in between two isps. BUT, 300 $ per month  might be good enough.

That doesn't solve your disaster recovery issues. What happens if you lose power? A "Katrina" might force you to abandon your location, what happens then?

I think that servers belong in datacenters; not homes. When I look at pricing, it seems cheap enough.

Comments?

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Posted by reinkefj

Homeland Security took this fellow’s site and whole bunch more

Saturday, May 13, 2006

http://grigorioneurope.wordpress.com/2006/05/13/homeland-security-stole-my-site/

***Begin Quote***

I go to my web host's site – 2MHost; after this ordeal I won't give them the honour of a direct link – and look for a phone number. None to be found. I suddenly lose all my faith in the up until now fairly reliable host. I get onto their Live Chat, wait for about 10 minutes for the guy to tell me what the hell has happened. Then get a canned response to the effect that the US Department of Homeland Security (there it is, oh {Expletive Deleted}!) has confiscated their hard drives. 'Objectionable material'. Possibly terrorist documents? 'We don't think we will get them back in a timely manner so we have restarted all logins with blank accounts …. 3 months free hosting to compensate'. Oh thanks. Three months hosting what? I have no files.

*** AND ***

Thanks for that watercooler. It does look like that Democrats site was hosted by the same company, 2M Host.

Hopefully they can put some pressure on the DHS or ask some questions. I completely agree with what those guys said about giving reasons for the seizure. Of course I understand what needs to be done needs to be done – if it was some kind of terrorist data or child porn – but a reason would be nice.

***End Quote***

See Big Government Law#3, "Big Government Programs create new problems (aka Unintended Consequences)"!

For anyone involved in technology as a provider or user, backup, backup, and then backup again. For content creators not to have all their content stored all over the place, local and onnet and offsite and in lots of places is inexcusable.

See in my mind the villians of this piece is into DHS or whatever unnatural disaster that happened. No the bad guys are the author and the service provider. Either or both could have made this a non-event.

In my mind, you would think that one service provider would have a reciprocal agreement with another for recovery.

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Posted by reinkefj

REALID in NH, a battle for the soul of the American Revolution

Saturday, May 13, 2006

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060512/REPOSITORY/605120346/1037/48HOURS

***Begin Quote***

Kurk, a Weare Republican, has been among the most vocal opponents of Real ID. When two-thirds of the House voted in favor of bucking the program, he earned the praise of privacy advocates, those who favor limited government and a group of Christians who believe a national ID card is the Biblical "mark of the beast" and, thus, a harbinger of the Apocalypse.

*** AND ***

Real ID has also upset the National Governor's Association and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, who predict it will be too costly and time-consuming for many states.

*** AND ***

The federal law, he said, allows the government to change the rules, and could eventually to lead to licenses with computer chips or a national database of citizens.  

***End Quote***

This is right out of a WWII spy move. "Vere isss you pape ers?"

First kiss your privacy goodbye. Just as we couldn't have had "identity theft" without the social security number. Remember that was "never to be used for identification". Yeah, another government assurance! I remember that was printed on my first socsec card. "NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES"! Yeah right. Sure. I'd formulate a Sixth Iron Law of Big Government: "Don't believe any assurance that you are given." The AMT (alternative minimum tax) was to catch the rich people cheating by paying no taxes. Now more people are caught by the AMT. And Intelligent Designer forbid you sell something big.

Why do we need any gummamint id at all?

Functionality? Cost estimates? Refer to Harry Browne's Five Iron Laws of Big Government

1. Big Government Programs don't work (But never end!)
2. Big Government Programs often make things worse for the very people they're intended to help (Government Help is like Jumbo Shrimp)
3. Big Government Programs create new problems (aka Unintended Consequences)
4. Big Government Programs are costly and wasteful (Multiply all estimates by VXCM or infinity)
5. Big Government Programs divert money and energy from positive, productive uses (Broken window fallacy)

Don't believe "could". It will!

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Posted by reinkefj

What is a blog and why should I care?

Saturday, May 13, 2006

What the {expletive deleted} is a “BLOG”?

A blog is an easy-to-use web site, where you can quickly post thoughts, ramblings, rantings, and just about anything else you can tap out with your fingers. Akin to writing on the stall in a public bathroom, and some of them are that crude, it has evolved into a Jay Leno-esque medium. A monologue with some interaction with readers. It’s like Anne Frank's 1944 diary, Samuel Pepys’ in 1660, or George Washington’s. Well ok nothing that great but it is collective knowledge of the great unwashed. As a noun, it’s the diary. As a verb, it’s the act of writing. As an adjective, adverb, or other part of speech: egotistical mental mas … … let’s just say self satisfying waste of time … and let it go at that. Bear in mind that like webpages, blogs tend to be forgotten.

You should care for two reasons: (1) The inet has the memory of an elephant. Once you cast the electrons out into cyberspace, they can never be recalled, canceled, edited, modified, or deleted. So if you says something on the net, be prepared to have it come back and smack you upside the head when you least expect it and at the most inopportune time (i.e., job interview; legal proceeding; unauthorized biography; Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary; Retirement Party; Funeral Eulogy). (2) It can be useful for establish your expertise or brand in the market place. You can use it to advance you Unique Value Proposition or your Unique Selling Proposition.

If you want to read a blog, you can just go to their webpage. Blogs can be annoying to read from a web browser. You have to remember to check them regularly check for new content and find nothing. Most blogs offer RSS feeds that can be read with an RSS reader. You can avoid the “I forgot” or “visit for nothing” problems by using a webpage such as MYYAHOO, or install free software like RSSBANDIT.

If you are interested in starting to BLOG, you can your own one FREE at http://wordpress.com/ or http://www.blogger.com/start.

I have always thought that many of my efforts would be best done as a series of BLOGS based on topical areas so that the readers ship could subscribe based on “channels” of interest. But, I have never put the effort in to make that happen. Too much heavy thinking, planning, and lifting. Any volunteers?

Yell if you need help.

1 Comment | ALUMNI, JOBSEARCH, Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Honor Mother’s Day by bringing all “our” boys and girls home from everywhere overseas!

Saturday, May 13, 2006

http://www.lewrockwell.com/woolley/woolley20.html

Happy Mother’s Day
by Miles Woolley
May 13, 2006

Miles Woolley is a disabled Vietnam veteran living in Miami, Florida. He served with the 9th Infantry Division in The Mekong Delta in a Ranger unit doing reconnaissance 1968–69 where he received a gunshot wound to the head leaving one side severely paralyzed. He is a father of four grown children and grandfather of seven, including a set of triplets.

***Begin Quote***

So as Mother’s Day approaches and I see that our death toll in the Iraq war has reached nearly 2500 Americans, I reflect on all the mothers who will not have their son or daughter to be with them this year and how difficult it must be for them. I imagine the pain is like someone took a spoon and scooped out every good feeling and memory of their child and just threw it onto the ground. What must hurt is the area in their souls or bodies where the good feelings and love they had for their child used to be.

Can we now stand up to our moronic leaders and say Enough! Have we not lost enough Americans and caused enough pain?

To all the mothers who have their children safely back and can appreciate the joy of watching them grow into mature citizens, have a very happy Mother’s Day! Enjoy your good fortune and if you are so lucky, enjoy your grandchildren. Take today’s opportunity and hug them all. Hug them a little extra just to ensure they get the message. To the mothers who know the pain of losing your child, my heart goes out to you. I was fortunate to have had a loving mother and fortunate as well to know that had I not made it back, she would have been destroyed.

***End Quote***

I have often ranted about politicians who send "our" boys and girls off to war while they sit at home safe and sound with their only care being reelection, how they can enrich themselves from the public trough, satisfy their contributors, reward their friends and punish their enemies. Fathers have to tell "Father Government" that their children are not toy soldiers to be squandered. Moms have to tell "Mommy Government" that their children are not the government's play toys used at whim and discarded.

Bring the troops home now!

From all the four corners of the world. Tell the world that this is a new era in America's isolationism. The world thinks of us as a "global bully". Great. Let's get out of the business entirely. If we are to learn anything, we have very few friends in the world. Israel, England, Canada, Austrailia, and possibly Japan. If countries think they can do so well with out us, let's let them do it. Time for everyone to step up to the plate for their own soverignty.

Oh, and let's get out of the UN. It's a failure that we are paying for. Not ethe Rights Comission with all the thugs. Financial corruption. It's the worst idea ever! Let us return to the dead old white guy's ideal of "no entangling alliances".

Moms and Dads have to lead this charge of our troops back to the US!

Politicians that don't listen, which is most of them, need to be sent back to productive work. Some general rules: Vote the incumbents out. Don't vote for a D or an R! When no third party candidate is available write in the catcher of your state's baseball team (i.e., Catcher's are the smartest guys on the field look at Yogi). If you don't have baseball team, or it's for a local election, write in the name of the busiest businessman you know. A local realtor would be a good choice. All else fails, write in your neighbor's name. Don't know your neighbor, write in your spouse's.

Stop the nonsense now!

Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Planning my next reinstall

Friday, May 12, 2006

Having been forced by winrot into rebuilding luggable, I am thinking it would be wise to plan for the next reinstall.

Last time, I was lucky because the was essentially nothing wrong with the hard drive. It was windoze that was screwed up. At least one program was lost that I know of (i.e., the Intel Wireless Configuration utility). Data and applications were duplicated. Clean up is a mess.

Why do programs have to be installed?

So my thinking is I need to identify all applications. Catagorize them as: those I can reinstall because I have media and those I can't. For the ones I can't what is my plan?

So I need to create a data strategy. That is somewhat easier. During the reinstall, I found that Windows, certain Applications, and some slovenly habits on my part allowed data to be scattered across the directory structure. I need to come up with a plan for data. Some data is by the nature of the application is automagically off-sited. For example, Corex's Cardscan saves its data on the Corex site. In recovery, it can, after the application is reinstalled, be brought down from the cloud. It's questionable if it MUST be brought down form the cloud (i.e., restoring is useless because it has to be brought from the cloud to be syncable back to the cloud). So it has it's own gotcha. Data could be restricted to a data drive and backup to something like that book drive. Or off-site service like Streamload or such?

So there are lots of apps and lots of data that all needs work.

There is also a class of stuff that needs consideration. Drivers, configurations, and other things need to be accounted for.

Keyboarding everything stinks. So there has to be scripts, batch files, or other ways to recover and minimize the amount of time and effort to do it.

So I have a lot of work cut out for me.

Since I won't move to Vista, I need to identify how I can stay behind until my move to Linux.

My thought is that ideally I'd like to get a base that I could image and then that would always serve as a jumping off point.

One idea would be to create images as I begin to beat this into shape.

So where do I start?

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Posted by reinkefj

Are Condi’s actions inconsistent with BC’s values, Catholicism, and Jesuit traditions. (WWJD?)

Friday, May 12, 2006

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/05/12/condoleezza_rice_at_boston_college_i_quit/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+–+Op-ed+columns

Condoleezza Rice at Boston College? I quit
By Steve Almond  |  May 12, 2006

An open letter to William P. Leahy, SJ, president of Boston College.

***Begin Quote***

DEAR Father Leahy,

I am writing to resign my post as an adjunct professor of English at Boston College.

I am doing so — after five years at BC, and with tremendous regret — as a direct result of your decision to invite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to be the commencement speaker at this year's graduation.

Many members of the faculty and student body already have voiced their objection to the invitation, arguing that Rice's actions as secretary of state are inconsistent with the broader humanistic values of the university and the Catholic and Jesuit traditions from which those values derive.

But I am not writing this letter simply because of an objection to the war against Iraq. My concern is more fundamental. Simply put, Rice is a liar.

She has lied to the American people knowingly, repeatedly, often extravagantly over the past five years, in an effort to justify a pathologically misguided foreign policy.

***End Quote***

Well, this fellow is a great exemplar of Catholic values (i.e., charity, forgiveness, humility, temperence, honesty).

Now I am not so sure that there might NOT be whole bunches of liars in Washington. Socialist and Statists by the boatload sure! But, "liars"? I think one has to be very circumspect about calling anyone a "liar". Now I have no use for politicians of either ilk in general. Having said that, the last time I thought a politician was a "liar" was when Bill Clinton parsed the word "is". And he gave that testimony himself!

If a politician says X Y or Z, then I am inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt as far as lying is concerned. Stupidity, incompetence, and immaturity should be self-evident. Truth is not.

As far as memos and papers and emails and conversations, I am willing to bet that "stuff" gets lost. Leadership in business and government has the attention span of a 4 year old. Get them to read a memo and they zone out. When I make a presentation to them, I try and make it only one slide. AND, even that they'll forget. Tell them your opinion and they'll go right out an do the opposite. We are an error prone species.

Liar? That verdict I'll leave to the accused and the Intelligent Designer.

Too many of the accusers have forgotten Jesus and the adulteress tale.

"Let he, who is without sin, cast the first stone."

It sure isn't me!

Sorry, Steve. I think you're making a mistake and I hope you unemployment checks may teach you a little about humanity.

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Hillary Clinton proposes minimum wage increase tied to Congressional wage raises!

Friday, May 12, 2006

From http://mhaille.livejournal.com:

***Begin Quote***

. While I am not a particular fan of hers *, and I realize that there are economic ramifications to making a drastic jump in minimum wage that I don't fully understand, you really have to admire the beauty of that concept. It's a good thing I'm nearly as easily amused as I am pissed off. * She and Lieberman are still on my shit list for their stance on violent video games and music.

***End Quote***

Sounds like a positive feedback loop!

The FED inflates the currency. Congress raises the minimum wage. All the union and government workers make more money. All the federal non-union "executives" have to make more than those they "manage" so they get a bump. All the gummamint execs can make more than Congress so they get a bump.

Now, if Congress legislates a rise in the minimum wage when Congress gets a raise, the it completes the feedback loop.

When I was in injineering school, we waz taught that positive feedback loops eventually destroy themselves. Power increase means increasing power. Very quickly the whole thing melts.

Back to Hillary's latest "proposal", who melts down? The taxpayer (higher taxes), seniors on fixed income (inflation), non-union non-gummamint workers (higher prices), property owners (higher taxes), small businesses (have to pay higher wages), low wage workers (unemployed if wage exceeds value generated), and welfare recipients (they don't get more but inflation get them).

Great plan!

I got an IDEA! Peg congress critters and their staffs to a dollar a year. It's an honor to serve your country. They would have to rely on what they steal. They do that anyway. Just think, no government salaries, pensions, or paid heathcare. Double dippers could have TWO dollars!

Wow we'd save gobs and gobs of money!

Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

LBTY: Gas tax revolt (Had enough yet?)

Friday, May 12, 2006

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060512/D8HI16JO0.html

States Weigh Cutting Gas Taxes
May 12, 12:46 AM (ET)
By ROBERT TANNER

***Begin Quote***

(AP) UPDATES with most recent state gas tax numbers; graphic shows state gas taxes and historical…

With a gallon of gas breaking $3 and voters unhappy, state leaders across the country are taking a sudden, sharp dislike to gasoline taxes, proposing to eliminate the levies that are a mainstay for road programs – or at least suspend them for the summer.

***End Quote***

Gee, I wonder what was their first clue? Maybe it was constituents coming for them with torches and pitchforks.

As blogged previously, I don't think we have any worries. They will not forgo this tax or any other without a fight.

Tax revolt? Count me in

Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

A Technology Strategy for email and a desire to go paperless with crypto

Friday, May 12, 2006

I use lots of email addresses. One for immediate attention. But each of my other email ids has a specific purpose. Politics, professional job search networking, techie stuff, Manhattan College alumni aka Jaspers, Manhattan Prep aka my high school alums, one for work, and lots of secret ones for personal use. All it costs me is setup time! Outlook can poll lots of mailboxes pretty quickly; most only get looked at once per day.

;-)

Many of the email addresses are just a random string (e.g. HJPP 0S9L C9AW EBTY  @ gmail or W363 N93A DPO8 POAS @ gmail). I have several, probably a dozen, dedicated email addresses for different purposes.

I have “lost” a lot of addresses to spammers.

In one case, I know they used an alpha progression to eventually “discover” every address.  I wised up to it when some dumb spammer had “reinke @ att.net, reinkea@, reinkez@ reinkeaa@, …” in the To field. I noted that he quit at 12 so I went to 16 character names. So, I have adopted the long random strings as the “user” part.  Since 99% of the email use is “reply”, no one cares. Also since no one invests any time in the “name”, I can change it when needed (i.e., if it starts to be spammed). 

I have many ways for people to keep in or get back in touch, so it seems to work for me. For eample, http://public.2idi.com/=reinkefj or Plaxo or LinkedIn or Corex Cardscan or … …

It makes for compartmentalizing one’s email. AND, it makes spam and phishing laughable (i.e., a financial institution coming in on the manhattan prep account can be discarded without further adieu). Each financial institution has it’s own gmail account that is never used elsewhere. Hence, an email on the proper account has a high degree of reliability.

You might want to think about what strategy would work for you.

I really really want the financial institutions and every business to truncate paper. I always seemed to be buried in it. If they offer it, I have them discontinue the paper mail. No one does yet but one can only hope they will pick the idea up.

Having a background in cryptology, public key crypto should make this trivial.

The institution could accept my public key and give me theirs. Then they could encrypt my paper (e.g., a statement; bill; receipt) with their private key. Then, they encrypt it with my public key. And put it in the public email to my registered address. I could then decrypt it by using my private key and then decrypt it by using their public key. It is worthless to anyone without my private key.

Note the order of which they do it — SEQUENCE ONE their private key first then my public key; or SEQUENCE TWO my public key then their private key — doesn't matter.

They'd have to register my public key in their keyring somewhere. But when you consider the cost of mailings, they would have to save money. And, I'd be happier.

Wonder when?

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECH: “SYNCURA” online

Friday, May 12, 2006

20060512 @ 133 zulu

I see that it's back. It don't need it right now but one has to remember it's a free beta. Can't depend on what you don't pay for.

Leave a Comment » | Ranting, Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

YAHOO ANSWER:How to “invest” a small amount for a few years? Buy a CD.

Friday, May 12, 2006

*** begin quote ***

I want to buy stock/share for $700 long term investment?

Can Anyone let me know, Because I want buy the stock for long term investment, I am thinking to buy walmart stock.
Please let me know the sugestion, I dont like to trade, I want to keep it for 2-3years.

Which stock that are good that 2-3 years investment.

*** end quote ***

Seven hundred dollars, while it might seem to be a lot, isn’t. You can’t get into the game with that stake. Further, long term in the stock market is ten to twenty years. That’s based on the conventional wisdom that the market hasn’t “lost” in any ten year period in modern time. May I suggest that if you are adamant about WalMart for three years that you consider using http://www.foliofn.com/index.jsp… that would allow you to get in and out without being eaten alive. Don’t get me wrong, just because you can do something doesn’t make it a good idea to do it. I’d suggest a CD until you learn more and have more.

UPDATE: Best Answer – Chosen by Asker

Leave a Comment » | YahooAnswers, YahooAnswers - Best | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECH: When the internet slows down (Frustration!)

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Around 2200 zulu 10MAY tonight, all sorts of strange stuff began happening. The cable burped. Then the inet slowed down. I was so frustrated I actual shifted to vwbbie and it was slow. So I don't know what was going on. I'd rant but I don't know who to rant at? About 0030 zulu 11MAY, everything began to flow normally again. So I dropped down off vwbbie and back to wifi. Hmmmm, it certainly seems that this points to the thin client with inet versus fat client with everything local. It pointed out the flaws with RSSBANDIT that refreshes from the net. I'd have liked it if it cached the pages locally. Hmmm squared.

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

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