Technical Tidbits

What’s that you say? Google isn’t a Presidential Candidate? Yeah, I know that!

But here’s an interesting point about the debates last night. Forget about John McCain tutoring Barack Obama on the differences between strategy and tactics. Forget about Barack Obama’s constant corrections on the errors in McCain’s statements about his (Obama’s) record and policies.

I noticed something very interesting but subtle in the debates last night. Did you?

What am I driving at? Technology! And specifically Web 2.0 as it relates to Google!

That’s right! If you’re scratching your head it’s because you missed it!

The first mention of Web 2.0 in the debates was when Senator Barack Obama suggested that if he were president, he’d “Google-ize” the federal budget. He said! Go back and listen again!

I LOVE the idea! You can search for programming code, answers to your most probing questions, and even get definitions from Google. Why not get the Federal Budget!

(Note to Google: If the polls are correct as to the winner last night - Obama - you’d better get busy on building the framework for it!)

Would it not be the most awesome tool to have available? You can see just where the government waste is, find out which of our elected officials are shirking their responsibilities, and then e-mail them a “heads-up” right from your gmail account! How cool is that?

Now, if you didn’t catch the second Web 2.0 reference, it might be because you weren’t watching CNN.

Although not included in the segment being broadcast on CNN, Donna Brazile, a Democratic Strategist stated in the analysis (paraphrased) that except for the time when Barack Obama turned to face McCain and counted the three things he (McCain) was wrong on about Iraq, there were no other “YouTube moments.” (See the video clip below)

We have moved beyond “Hallmark moments” to “YouTube moments” and Google-izing!

That is why I have declared that Google (who owns YouTube) is decisively the winner of the first 2008 debate!

Let’s hear it for Web 2.0 and Google!

CNN Analysts Reaction

written by Admin \\ tags: barack obama, cnn, debate, debates, donna brazile, gmail, google, google-ize, googlize, iraq, john mccain, mccain, obama, politics, presidentail debates, presidential debate, senator, web 2 0, winner, youtube

Perhaps the title of this post should be: Vegetarianism Linked to Rampant Insanity but that wouldn’t relate to technology, which is what this blog is about.

So, I want to put you all on alert to watch for major improvements in industrial technology regarding human breast pumps. If there’s an investment opportunity available, buy into it! Breasts are going to be the next BIG thing (no pun intended when I use the term big and breast in the same sentence)!

Obviously I’m being sarcastic and before you think I’m smoking crack, I’ll explain today’s rant.

Aside from the fact that our entire US governing body has gone insane, I see a blurb across the bottom of the screen on a saved Lou Dobbs broadcast we were watching last evening. Something to the effect of: PETA asks Ben & Jerry’s to replace cows milk with human breast milk in their ice cream. (Now who’s smoking crack?)

I would like to know how many of the lovely PETA babes are going to donate! (And yes, I can call them babes because I’m female.)

Can you see it now? A large dairy barn with industrial breast pumps lined up in neat rows. In fact, I’m willing to bet that you won’t need to hire anyone to work the complex; people will volunteer to work in shifts!

Now, aside from the inherent problems in logistics here, am I the only person on this planet who doesn’t see how ridiculous this is?

Ok. There really isn’t going to be a tech boom in the manufacturing of industrial breast pumps. But you have got to love the power of the Internet and television! Any insane fool with a computer can get their message heard – including me.

Let’s hear it for the Internet!

written by Admin \\ tags: Ben & Jerrys, breast, breasts, human breasts, ice cream, industry, manufacturing, PETA, technology

I was answering a question in some homework I was doing for an intensive 7 day business course (I’m on day 6) regarding my visitors and I realized that I didn’t know what you want.

I can see by my hits statistics that my readers seem to like:

• My rants.
• My criticism of Microsoft, Google and other major players when they are out of touch with consumers or playing the old Corporate games.
• When I publish fixes or information about current malware, spam, or pc issues.

But I, and I’m sure many other websites, have never asked you what YOU want.

So, I’m going to correct that right now. I want to know what YOU want and I’m giving you the opportunity to tell me and the world! It’s YOUR turn to speak your mind and tell all of us website owners WHAT IT IS YOU WANT!

Are you ready to speak your mind? Get it all off your chest? There are 3 quick questions about you (nothing personally identifying) and then 3 LARGE text boxes for you to tell us what YOU want, what YOU are frustrated or fed up with, and what YOU expect from the web community.

If so, take our very brief, all about you survey here:

http://mice.org/survey/public/survey.php?name=Visitors

And feel free to pass on the link to others who want the opportunity to be heard!

written by Admin \\ tags: expectations, Internet, survey, web, website

Currently breaking news!

Never under-estimate the power of hackers!

Governor Palin’s Yahoo e-mail was hacked by an activist group called “anonymous,” best known for its joustswith the Church of Scientology according to a bulletin put out by Network World!

Get your copy of the evidence at WikiLeaks.org before they close the site down!

The group accuses Palin of using private email accounts to conduct government business and in the process avoid transparency laws.

Now, what was I saying about security and it will never happen to you???

written by Admin \\ tags: email hacked, Palin, sara palin, Security

I just received a notice from Cert about an advisory for an Apple Mac OS X vulnerabilty.  You know that software and computer that doesn’t need anti-virus because it’s so secure? Yeah! Those guys! (And yes, I’m in one of my smart a** moods today!)

The systems affected are:

• Apple Mac OS X versions prior to and including 10.4.11 (Tiger) and 10.5.4 (Leopard)
• Apple Mac OS X Server versions prior to and including 10.4.11 (Tiger) and 10.5.4 (Leopard)

Apple has released a security update for those computers that are so secure and never have any issues with security here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3137

But I’m sure the majority of Mac users won’t need this because after all, they are already secure.

The security update fixes several vulnerabilities that Mac users don’t really have.  The Cert Advisory claims that:

Attackers could exploit these vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code, gain access to sensitive information, or cause a denial of service.

Among the list of fixes listed at Apple, we see the following vulnerabilities being fixed:

• Viewing a document containing a maliciously crafted font may lead to arbitrary code execution.
• Multiple vulnerabilities exist in ClamAV 0.92.1, the most serious of which may lead to arbitrary code execution.
• A person with access to the login screen may be able to list user names
• A local user may obtain the server password if an OpenLDAP system administrator runs slapconfig.
• An attacker with access to the local network may cause a denial of service.
• Viewing a maliciously crafted TIFF, PICT, or JPEG image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. (Is unexpected application termination another name for a crash? No, it can’t be! Everyone knows Mac’s don’t crash!)
• Files may be accessed by a local user who does not have the proper permissions.
• A weakness in the DNS protocol may allow remote attackers to perform DNS cache poisoning attacks.
• A user may log in without providing a password.
• A person with access to the login screen may be able to change a user’s password.
• mDNSResponder is susceptible to DNS cache poisoning and may return forged information.
• Multiple vulnerabilities exist in OpenSSH versions provided with Mac OS X v10.4.11 and Mac OS X v10.5.4, the most serious of which allows a local user to control another user’s X11 session.
• A local user may obtain the PPP password.
• Users may be misled into believing their passwords are stronger than they are.
• Authenticated users may have unexpected remote access to files and directories.
• Backing up a system with Time Machine may lead to the disclosure of sensitive information.
• Videoconferencing with a malicious user may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
• A remote attacker may cause persistent JavaScript injection on a Wiki server.

Welcome to the REAL world Mac users! The real world PC users are familiar with where nothing is taken for granted in terms of security.

You know what? You folks are looking more and more like a PC in terms of security! I’m sure glad I didn’t spend big money on your really secure machine that doesn’t need Antivirus because it’s SO secure! DANG! That would’ve really ticked me off!

And for those of you who are wondering why I’m being such a smart a**, you have no idea how many times I’ve been told in our courses that Apple Mac users don’t need to know about security because their machine is so secure it doesn’t even need Antivirus. And if I had a dollar for every Mac user in my security courses that have told me that the sales staff at the Mac store have told them this is so, I wouldn’t be looking at employment options right now!

In fact, if all PC and Mac users would realize that security is THEIR responsibility, I’d sell out every one of our courses we’ve offered during our Anniversary special! Am I in a bad mood? Yes I am. And the reason? Because I’m sick and tired of people telling me that nothing is every going to happen to them until it does. And then they come crying to me to fix their computer after the hack or malware attack, or the identity breach!

In fact, just this week, I had two family members inform me their identity has been breached! Which p*sses me off even more! This is what I teach! But not even my own family thinks it will happen to them after they hear me talk about it! But that’s a conversation for tomorrows blog entry.

Go update your MAC!

written by Admin \\ tags: apple, leopard, Mac, mac os x, mac security, mac vulnerabilities, pc security, Security, tiger