http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/76218
OpenDNS
Everyman DNS services
Posted on 2006-07-10 17:37:27
Kind words
“OpenDNS has done an amazing job running this free Internet resource. It’s a very impressive service built by experts in the field.”
—David E. Weekly, founder, PBWiki
****
Worth trying.
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Posted by reinkefj
My free trial of CHOICEMAIL ended after thirty days. Remember it was pitched as “free for one account”. Guess it isn’t. Cause it just stopped working. Then, when you refuse to spend 59$ it picks up it’s marbles and goes home. That is it doesn’t restore your old email settings. AND, it doesn’t allow you to leave email on your email account forever and ever, it deletes it upon receipt. Arghh! Well, from free or beta software, I don’t expect much, or even that it’s housebroken, or even a well mannered guest. From a commercial product trying to convince me to buy, I expect a lot more. On a picky detail note, the product never figured out no matter how many times I told it, that YAHOO GROUPS was OK, not a spammer, and to pass it right along. So, I definitely will return to the trenches fighting spam on my own. I’ll just pray to Great Blue Frog Spirit in the sky for the coming of the Giant Blue Frog to save us all. Maybe that is IPv6!
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Posted by reinkefj
http://2idi.com/contact/=reinkefj
People have expressed interest in my “Bat Line” for urgent email contact.
I use different email accounts for different purposes and handle a LOT of email. So, it would be nice to have a spam free channel for urgent emails. Outlook rules move mail to the correct account if someone uses an odd one wrong.
A gmail id was created just for this purpose with one of my “patented” email addresses (i.e., long random gibberish string for the name). So it’s unguessable or find-able by the alpha spammers. I also use
But, friends, Customers, and others who know my system can get my immediate attention by putting a message in via this mechanism.
If I’m on any one of my computers, then the IM client tied to that email address will fire and alert me of “incoming” on that special account. I attend to anything coming in on that one ASAP.
It’s my signal to don my cape and save the world. :-) At least in my own mind!
Questions?
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Posted by reinkefj
DRUDGE REPORTS
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/07/12/060712191204.9i5b29n0.html
US unveils emergency alert system for mobile phones, computers
Jul 12 3:12 PM US/Eastern
***Begin Quote***
The US government unveiled a communications system that in case of emergency should soon allow it to send SMS alerts to Americans’ mobile phones and computers.
“We have the ability to do this. It’s a major step,” Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director David Paulson told reporters outside the US capital as he unveiled the program’s design.
The Digital Emergency Alert System (DEAS) will include the participation of television networks and public radio stations and be based on an existing alert system built in the Cold War era for use in the event of a nuclear attack.
*** AND ***
Internet-linked computers will automatically switch on to a video message from the US Department of Homeland Security while downloading instructions prepared specifically from natural disasters, chemical and nuclear attacks, and other calamities.
***End Quote***
HUH! What else can they do? And, how are they doing that. More importantly, what else can they do with “my” equipment without my permission. Arghh!
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Posted by reinkefj
http://www.lewrockwell.com/bovard/bovard30.html
The Fraudulent Meaning of Elections
by James Bovard
***Begin Quote***
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Cal.) complained that many states used “more sophisticated technology” for lottery tickets than for elections:
<Quoting Waters> Incredibly even in those few jurisdictions that have moved to electronic voting … we do not require a verifiable paper trail to protect against vote tampering. If an ATM machine can give each user a receipt that that user can rely upon, then a voting machine should also be able to give a receipt.
***End Quote***
Now I’m no fan of any politician, but it seems obvious to me.
(1) The voting machine (a computer, whose pedigree and programming is unknown, thus deemed insecure) needs to produce a paper record that the voter can verify.
(2) We don’t want people to be able to “prove” to the ward heeler outside the poll that they voted for the “right” candidate and paid for their vote. So that peice of paper needs to be “cast” into a ballot box as the official record of the voter’s intention.
(3) Recounts could then be done if the machine tally is suspect. (Since it’s basically an ATM receipt, it MUST be printed on non-thermal paper.) Recounts of the official box should match the machine totals.
Seems obvious to me, but what do I know!
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Posted by reinkefj
http://ricksegal.typepad.com/pmv/2006/07/four_points_1_e.html
Four Points 1, Embassy Suites 0
***Begin Quote***
So, I’m in the room and turn on the laptop. There is a fixed line net connection in the room for the low low price of 8 bucks plus tax. No wireless except downstairs in the lobby which you have to pay for as well. Not one to just click bill the room and having left my EVDO card at home, I look for available WiFi. Right across the street is a Sheraton Four Points Hotel and their free WiFi is bouncing her way over here to my room on the fourth floor. Sweet.
***End Quote***
The question is “where will you stay next time”. If it’s not Four Points, then Embassy Suites slid by.
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Posted by reinkefj
As decided yesterday, I did a backup of my lovable LUGGABLE laptop. (It’s one heavy sucker!) My Western Digital Passport Drive that I snagged at Sam’s awhile ago for a little under a 100$ was the magic charm. I found out from the blogosphere that WD had it’s own sync software, which after a few high jumps, I was able to download. I tried yesterday during the day, but it takes a while to run and I have little patience. So last night, before retiring to sleep, I set it up and started it running. Seemed to go AOK. Tonight, I’ll run a restore to an old pos pc and let’s see what happens. After BACKUP MONDAY can’t be a success unless and until RESTORE TUESDAY works OK. Now what can we do on Thursday, siesta?
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Posted by reinkefj
http://www.gobelins.fr/galerie/animation/gen2006-1.htm
I’m not sure I understand it. But, I did think it was funny!
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Posted by reinkefj
Similarly to when I created “wireless wednesday”, I am “creating” Backup Monday.
Wireless wednesday was my short hand way of scheduling one day a week that I would take VWBIIE out and exercise it.
As an old IT guy, I know that assumptions are silently invalidated by the universe. Like the old ture-isms, “diversely routed networks aren’t”, “disaster recovery wont”, and “you never find the last bug in your application”, “backup doesn’t”, one has to aggressively prove that stuff works.
It’s an article of faith in the IT “religion”, that you can leave something working, or have something that works flawless every time you try it, but as soon as you turn around, depend upon it, or try to demo it — typically to a Customer or your boss’ boss — it will appear as if it never ever worked. Evil spirits will come from far and wide to sprinkle bad luck upon you and ever device you then touch.
So, on Mondays I will focus on “backups”. Take them and off-site them. Test them. See what works and what doesn’t.
One has to try to defeat those evil spirits any way you can.
When was the last time you used a backup? Care to be on it working? Just tell me if you need it to or not. ;-)
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Posted by reinkefj
http://jxymxu7sn5ho9d.googlepages.com/home
Neat way to throw up pages.
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Posted by reinkefj
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FJohn Reinke
Consultant at Technology Legacies LLC
Advisor, Computer Governance Committee at Manhattan College
Editor / Publisher at Jasper Jottings
Greater New York City Area
JJ Positraction JJ Endnotes Downsize DC
Philosophy of Liberty
I have NOT received any gagged governmental information requests
Reinke Faces Life 
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