Category: Uncategorized

Don’t mess with my internet.

https://plus.google.com/115040231829422107651

Experiencing slow/intermittent internet connection on Linux Mint 11?

If your NIC uses a Realtek chipset, you may want to update your driver. It can be downloaded from http://www.realtek.com/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=7&PFid=10&Level=3&Conn=2.

No package, tarball only, but it sure fixed my network issues.

http://www.realtek.com/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=7&PFid=10&Level=3&Conn=2

Rest in Peace Harry Morgan
I don’t recall a role he played that I didn’t like.

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-harry-morgan-20111115,0,5809818.story

Inside Carrier IQ-gate.

A scandal erupted this week around the discovery of secret software running on most smartphone handsets in the U.S. that tracks and logs personal activity on the phones.

The software is marketed to carriers and handset makers as a diagnostic tool that can be used to improve phone service. Critics say it’s a hard-core violation of privacy. And the critics are right.

A security researcher named Trevor Eckhart posted a video Tuesday showing Carrier IQ software harvesting personal data without permission or even the option to turn it off.

When you learn the ugly details (on the other side of the link), you’ll see that we can’t trust Carrier IQ. We can’t trust the carriers and handset makers that use Carrier IQ. And we can’t even trust the companies that don’t use Carrier IQ.

Here’s what you need to know:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222371/Inside_Carrier_IQ_gate

* * *

For the most part I have my new PC built and running. I had put storage on the bottom of the priority list because HDD storage had been stable and SSD storage was dropping. I wasn’t expecting a flood to wipe out the largest portion of the manufacturing sector for HDD devices for the next couple of quarters.
I’ve been checking the prices on HDD drives, they have skyrocketed. SSD drives haven’t changed much…Yet. I do expect these prices to climb in the coming months due simply to supply and demand. As HDD prices climb SSD drives may begin to be a more viable option.

HDD Pricewatch: You know where it’s going — we tell you how much it’s going to hurt

* 23 ADULT TRUTHS *
1. Sometimes I’ll look at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind-of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day..
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.
13. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Light than Kay.
17. I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option.
18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
19. How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?
20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
22. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.
23. The first testicular guard, the “Cup,” was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

I just installed Linux Mint 11. I had heard a little about it and Ubuntu 11.04 was pretty sluggish on my dated hardware. So far I’m fairly impressed with it. It didn’t have the options I’m used to with a typical Linux install, which made me a little nervous, but it everything worked when the install was complete.

I figured I would take it for a short test drive on my old desktop. Later today I’m going to go pick up the MB, ram, & HDD I need to get my new build running. It won’t be complete, but will be able to get Linux up and running to test what I have put together so far.

Sounds promising. I’m asked fairly regularly to help fix the PC of a friend or family. Sometimes it’s pretty hard to talk them through a fix without actually being there and seeing what they are seeing. I’ve set up TightVNC in a few instances. Talking someone through the TightVNC and router setup can be a chore as well at times. The upside for this extension is cross-platform capability!

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20117619-264/chrome-extension-enables-remote-computer-control/

We just announced a set of new features in Google+ today.

Step by step, we’re building something great. We still have much more work to do, and we’re committed to continuous improvement.

My favorite new features?

Hangouts on your phone, search, and open signups!

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/google-92-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-100.html

Double Whammy for Netflix…

On the same day their price increase took effect news broke that Starz will pull their content from the Netflix lineup in February 2012.

I cant’ figure out why Netflix would balk about a price increase from one of their main content providers. They expected their own customers shell out more and take it stride, asking us to compare the price increase to a fancy cup of overpriced coffee…I think they called it latte,needless to say I don’t see the comparison.

Reed Hastings even promised “We will take the increased revenue and mostly spend it on more streaming content… we want to be able to have stronger and stronger streaming”

Note to Reed: Unless you have a major content provider waiting in the wings, loosing Starz is less content, not more. Also increasing the pricing structure for DVD rentals will turn customers away, loosing that revenue stream. I believe that many of your streaming customers will be looking elsewhere as well, especially after Starz is no longer available.

I’m predicting tough times ahead for Netflix. I think Wall Street agrees, Netflix stocks fell over 8.5% in after hours trading.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2392326,00.asp