TECHNOLOGY: Banks should have a better security system on checks

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

A friend got a check “washed” that had been mailed in a drop box, altered, and cashed.

Needless to say, they didn’t even conceive of such happening.

I suggested a few follow ups on what to do. 

First and foremost, immediately file a police report.

He’d notified bank and changed accounts Updated on the credit reporting agencies (transunion, experian, equifax, etc).

Then, he’s going to notify all the places he hold accounts.

Argh!

I think IMHO the banks should have the ability for account holders to “pre post” the checks they write with the check number and amount.  In effect, “write” it twice — once on paper and once on line.  Then if the check gets altered, the bank will no to reject it.  Seems simple enough to me and would be a great “value added service”.  I’d think it would be real popular with business.  After all the bank’s bill pay is almost that already.

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TECHNOLOGY: Old fashioned keys are “better” than fobs

Monday, April 11, 2022

https://newjersey.news12.com/folly-of-the-fob-skyrocketing-car-thefts-more-proof-that-old-metal-keys-were-better

Folly of the fob: Skyrocketing car thefts more proof that old metal keys were better
Apr 08, 2022, 6:32pmUpdated 10h ago
By: Brian Donohue

# – # – # – # – #

I agree.

It’s funny when I switch cars and look for the start button to press in the truck.

Force of habit and a lack of mindfulness.

How many people still walk around their vehicle and look underneath before driving?  I was taught to look at each of the tires reporting the .  Yes, I’m older than dirt!  Was driving long before tires reported they were flat.

It’s like the habit of opening the (left) driver’s side door with your right hand.  And visa versa.  (With distracted pedestrians on the sidewalk, one has to look out for those fools as well. Argh!)

FWIW.

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TECHNOLOGY: Automating a beehive?

Saturday, April 9, 2022

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/beewise-hives-save-colonies-from-colony-collapse/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=05-04-2022

Company’s Innovative Smart Beehive Gets $80 Million in Funding to Save Bees From Any Hazard

*** begin quote ***

The traditional hive most commonly used in the world today (the Langstroth box) was designed by humans about 150 years ago. Most people are so used to them they mistakenly confuse them with bees’ natural habitat.

By completely redesigning the beehive, a company called Beewise was able to address many of the inefficiencies of the box and significantly improve bees’ well-being and life longevity.

*** end quote ***

I found this fascinating.

And, an example of replacing a 150 year old solution with an improved one.

400$/month? Too rich for my backyard.

Maybe a GoFundMe could put one in a park as a way of “helping”?

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TECHNOLOGY: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Medium deplatforming — are they declaring they are NOT a “common carrier”?

Thursday, March 24, 2022

https://stevekirsch.substack.com/p/the-final-word-from-twitter-on-my?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MTQyNTAzMCwicG9zdF9pZCI6NTA3OTYwMjIsIl8iOiJ3dWtjQSIsImlhdCI6MTY0Nzk1Nzc3NSwiZXhwIjoxNjQ3OTYxMzc1LCJpc3MiOiJwdWItNTQ4MzU0Iiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.q2jPYmNmrf7OZUiHun3q4AojKCwAdEBBdJr06q7nO5s&s=r

The final word from Twitter on my account (after 13 years): we’re deleting you and everything you ever wrote

  • After 13 years on Twitter, I was suspended for life a second time on Feb 6, 2022 and I was just notified today that there is no appeal. It took them 6 weeks to review my appeal.

Steve Kirsch

*** begin quote ***

Summary

Twitter, LinkedIn, and Medium all believe deplatforming me (and others who share my beliefs that early treatments work and the vaccines are dangerous) is a service to their community.

The message these companies want to send to everyone is that if you stick to the popular narrative, you will not be punished.

This is a new America where you need to conform or you will be deplatformed.

*** end quote ***

I guess it’s time for me to leave ANY platform that “deplatforms” ANY ONE for anything other than a “free speech violation”.

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TECHNOLOGY: Old hardware gets a new life?

Friday, February 18, 2022

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/02/google-turns-old-macs-pcs-into-chromebooks-with-chrome-os-flex/

CLOUDREADY BECOMES CHROME OS FLEX —
Google turns old Macs, PCs into Chromebooks with Chrome OS Flex
Google acquisition results in free, downloadable Chrome OS.
SCHARON HARDING – 2/15/2022, 12:00 PM

*** begin quote ***

Google is positioning Chrome OS Flex as an answer to old Mac and Windows PCs that might not be able to handle the latest version of their native OS and/or that might not be owned by folks with budgets to replace the devices. Rather than buying new hardware, consumers or IT departments could install the latest version of Chrome OS Flex.

*** end quote ***

Sounds like something I want to try and maybe better than trying to run some version of Linux on old junk?

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TECHNOLOGY: The cost of EVs are much higher than our current gas vehicles.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

EMAIL FROM LUDDITE

*** begin quote ***

I have been talking a lot with friends about the push for EVs, and am hoping that you would consider doing a segment that investigates the practicality of electric vehicles.  Here are the questions I have that I believe have not been addressed:

1.  The cost of EVs are much higher than our current gas vehicles, that will exclude many from being able to afford one. 

2.  I have also heard that the cost of replacing the batteries in 4-5 years is in the thousands of dollars.  Add that to the high cost of a new vehicle, and it makes it even more prohibitive.

3.  Each home or business that needs to charge their vehicles will require a new electrical circuit installed.

4.  Charging an EV requires anywhere from 25 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on whether the charging station has a fast super-charger or not.  What will the impact be on people waiting to get their EV charged?  First, assume that every current gas station will have to convert to have both gas and electric fill pumps, making them available for older gas vehicles and new EVs, more additional costs and additional space required.  With an EV the average time to “charge up” will be at least 4 times longer (5 minutes for gas versus 20 min for EVs).  Without the “fast” chargers, it could be 12 times longer (5 min vs 60 min) or even longer to charge up.  Think of the impacts, time itself on the traveler, at “least” twice as many charging stations as current gas pumps, waiting locations for travelers while they charge up?

5.  What about apartment/condo dwellers that park outside, or city street dwellers that have to park in the street?  Will chargers be installed in all apartment parking lot locations or street parking spaces? At whose cost?

6.  Where is all the additional electrical power to come from?  Can you imagine the peaks during nighttime charging?

7.  Hazard/space component to storing so many dead batteries after they are no longer useful?

I’m sure there are several more questions that I have not thought of, and many more issues that would need to be addressed.  But it does seem as if the government has “environmental blinders” on, and are not able to foresee the damage that moving to EVs will cause. If they are concerned about “climate change” they shouldn’t be, that’s what our climate does, change.  It’s been very cold and very hot off and on since it’s creation, it’s what the earth does, and we are just along for the ride!

*** end quote ***

EV’s seem to be a dead end technology.

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TECHNOLOGY: Add your COVID vaccination … but should you? (IMHO NO!)

Saturday, February 5, 2022

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4034897/posts

You can add your COVID vaccination certificate to the Apple Wallet… but should you?
TNW ^ | 2/2 | Callum Booth
Posted on 2/2/2022, 5:01:47 PM by nickcarraway

*** begin quote ***

Spoiler: Yeah, why not?

The modern world hurts my brain. Let’s take the news that Apple enables users to store their COVID vaccination certificates in the Wallet and Health apps as an example.

When I first heard about it, I was pumped. Flashing my QR code to enter a restaurant or grab a coffee would be far simpler if it sat in my Apple Wallet. Friends, the time I’d save!

But, of course, the world had something to say about that.

We talked to 4 successful entrepreneurs This is what they wish they knew before getting started

While putting my digital certificate of vaccination in an easy-to-access place is cool… is it safe? And because I can do it, does that mean I should?

Something that seemed simple on the surface is actually a minefield. I wanted some clarity on this issue.

*** and ***

COVID vaccine certificates in the Apple Wallet app: not a huge concern To put it bluntly: there are no obvious dangers of moving your vaccine certificate to the Apple Wallet. This does come with a large caveat though, as this is only true if you tightly control what apps can access your data.

In this way, vaccination certificates differ from digital IDs. The majority of the former are digital by nature, while the most common forms of identification (driver’s licenses and passports) are paper-based. Digitizing them opens a huge and wriggling can of worms — while the vaccine pass system could actually benefit from being incorporated into the Apple Wallet.

So, there you have it! A little bit of respite before the modern world messes with our heads again.

*** end quote ***

It’s just too easy for the Gooferment make this the digital version of “show me your papers”!

It’s a BIG “NO” for me.

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TECHNOLOGY: Wish I could create a manifest of applications

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

https://www.howtogeek.com/778951/why-you-should-get-rid-of-unused-android-apps/ Android
 Android Phones & Tablets
Why You Should Get Rid of Unused Android Apps
JOE FEDEWA
JAN 17, 2022, 8:00 AM EST | 3 MIN READ

*** begin quote ***

Clean Phone, Clear Head

Lastly, cleaning up your phone is a good way to eliminate distractions. A more focused phone experience can make it much more pleasant to use.

We tend to treat email spam and unwanted phone notifications the same way. Rather than spend an extra minute or two unsubscribing, we waste even more time being distracted and deleting them. Don’t let apps you’re not using make your phone more annoying.

Take a few minutes to scroll through your app list and evaluate which apps you’re actually using. Don’t hesitate to delete unused apps. After all, you can just install them once more if you end up needing them again. Your phone will thank you.

*** end quote ***

Now if there was some easy way to create a “manifest” so that apps could be easily tracked.

Same problem exists on IOS!

Argh!

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TECHNOLOGY: Will the developers please consider old people using their stuff?

Monday, December 27, 2021

I, as with many other people, act as “tech support” for our older friends and relatives.

Will the developers please consider this when they push products to the marketplace.

I like tech products to have a “supervisory mode” that his all the “dangerous” functions from the old, and young, users.

Just like enterprises do to their employees with varying degrees of success.

Phones, chromebooks, and computers are my current hot buttons, but as more devices like TVs and streaming sticks become “configurable”, they have the same problem with “fat fingers”.

Argh!

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HARDWARE: iX1500 is neat recommended product based on the added support for external cloud services

Thursday, December 16, 2021

I have had the scanner for awhile.  While good, the cloud implementation to Fujitsu cloud was lame and timed out quickly.

After a complete reinstall after something melted down software-wise, I needed their tech support to walk me through the the process. 

Updated to all the latest “stuff”, I found that the device now supports external cloud services like dropbox, Evernote, etc etc!

So now a scan to the cloud goes right into the appropriate cloud vendor.

This displaces ADOBE’s scan on the iPhone, that wants a monthly subscription.

So all in all a good “update”.

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