just act like you know what you are doing
…and I can type it entirely with my left hand.
Interesting new possibilities in efficiency are afoot!
Here are the characters available (assuming I break the rule about using the opposite-hand shift key):
(thirteen letters)
…and the right hand:
(eleven letters)
(both numbers are prime)
Filed under: Computers, Funny, Security
Wow! My UN*X desktop operating system of choice, PC-BSD is now sold at MicroCenter! I feel so … mainstream (almost).
I found and fixed a problem in one of my DNS zone files today, and I thought I might take a moment to have a line-by-line discussion about what is in a zonefile and why. Ok, at least an overview with a clear example…
Filed under: Computers, documentationIn the course of my work today I ran across a pair of links produced by Jose Nazario of Arbor networks who spends a lot of time analyzing rootkits and viruses. He’s created a couple of handy lists of free anti-rootkit and free anti-virus packages. Now, normally I try to avoid Windows (and also plague), but every so often I get a panicked call from a friend who is trying to salvage a PC from the ravages of some malware. Because they are my friend they put up with my snarky comments for a while and because I am their friend I attempt to help them. For now, I will just direct them to these lists and consider my duty to the poor Windows-saddled user to be done thus leaving me more time for snarky comments.
Filed under: Computers, Security, The InternetBefore I begin, let me restate an important point: I belive that any job is best done using the most apropriate tool, even if that turns out to be Microsoft software.
In an interview published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said:
…for basically the whole 18, 19 years that we’ve been pursuing the server and enterprise opportunity, our number one competitor in the data center for new applications has been Unix.
But wait, Windows 3.0 was released in 1990 and then without a networking stack. And Windows NT didn’t even come out until 1994. This makes me really curious what they were doing 18, 19 years ago that he is referring to. I don’t believe they can legitimately be said to be pursuing any “market” without at least releasing a product into that market, right?
Later he says that “[Microsoft's] job has got to be to help our customers get interoperability.” Which is interesting because “In 2004, the European Commission found that Microsoft had abused its market power by deliberately restricting interoperability between Windows PCs and non-Microsoft work group servers.” I wouldn’t be so sure of the sincerity in these claims.
Lies, cowardice, and deceit to breed fear, uncertainty, and doubt. This keeps minds in line. Keeps them from straying from the easiest and widest path.
Note: I’m not addressing the key point of the article at all, which is that Microsoft claims key parts of Linux infringe on their intellectual property rights. I don’t think those claims deserve a response until they are substantiated by proof from Microsoft.
Filed under: ComputersThat’s me on the left, you on the right. Note how I look like the bad guy, but I’ve got him pinched in my really long claw-arm? My job is awesome (especially on days like today when I call in apathetic sick).
Last week I accidentally learned of the existence of SSL-Explorer: The World’s First Browser-Based, Open Source SSL VPN. This looks like a relatively easy way to set up a VPN for almost no cost, plus they have commercial support if you get stuck. Cool!
Filed under: Computers, documentation, SecurityWow, this really shouldn’t be so difficult. All I want to do is export (or “share” in Mac parlance) a directory so that network machines can dump files there. Then I want to make use of my new FreeNAS box in a simple, straightforward, and familiar fashion.
So after much searching, I found the MacTechNotes weblog by some guy in Colorado named Bryan. He as obviously gone to a lot of effort in his Notes. Especially with all the cropped screenshots. Thanks, Dude.
And if that doesn’t get you all hot, read this one:
Filed under: Computers, WorkstationChaosreader is a perl program for taking tcpdump logs (pcap files) and beating them into a readable, usable format. HTML, for example. If you ever work with tcpdump files this is a must see.
Filed under: Computers, documentation, Security
