Diary of a Network Geek

Okay, now it really is war!

According to this article on Boston.com, the spammers have started attacking spam-blocking lists with DOS attacks. In at least one case, that attack shut down the blocking list permanently! So, now, they’re going to force us to get their spam. I hope this can be traced and the scum doing this get shut down for good. Maybe even a little jail time. Yeah, that’d be nice…..

Well, here’s a nice change!

According to this article on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tampa has discontinued their use of face-recognition technology to try and nab crooks and invade everyone else’s privacy. I wish the move was motivated by a sudden rush of human-rights centered thinking, but it was really motivated by a lack of success. Since it was installed, not a single criminal has been caught!
The face-recognition technology was mediocre, at best, but then, that’s what anyone who’s really familiar with it has been saying all along. Unfortunately, it took two years and an undisclosed amount of money for the Tampa Police Department to figure that one out.
I hope other departments have been paying attention and have learned their lesson.

I love this story.

I actually heard about this guy months ago on NPR, but I was never able to hunt down who he was. According to this story on MSN, his name is Tom Mabe and he mocks telemarketers for a living. (Well, okay, he does more than that, but mocking telemarketers is what counts!) He has two CDs out of calls he’s made to telemarketers, who just don’t seem to like getting called for any kind of solicitation. Hunh, imagine that…. So, buy the CDs, listen and learn. Then, go ahead, play games with the damn telemarketers!

I hope not.

Now, I am a patriot. In fact, I describe myself as a nationalist, but I’m not in favor of continuing the Patriot Act, under any name. However, according to this article on Wired News, that’s just what some Senators are trying to do. In fact, it’s our old buddy Orrin Hatch who’s leading the charge.
Now, folks, I’m all for stopping terrorists and drug-dealers, but I’m not in favor of the erosions of privacy that they’re trying to get through. For instance, why stop a legal US resident from sending money home to a foreign country? Okay, okay, sure, got to stop people from supporting the terrorists over-seas, but should that stop someone sending money home to a sick mother? Should that take options away from judges who might have seen a glimmer of hope when talking to a first-time drug offender? Personally, I know several people that were “scared straight” by their first encounter with the criminal justice system.
But, wait, there’s more! This little doozey would also: Allow the FBI to get a wiretap order on a wireless device, such as a cell phone, from any district court in the country, Force defendants who are trying to exclude illegal wiretap evidence to prove police intentionally broke the rules, Increase the ability of the FBI to self-issue subpoenas for terrorism investigations without having to consult a judge, and Ease restrictions on government access to sensitive financial records. In other words, it would move us toward an elected fascist state. How do you feel about that, Comrade?
So, contact your Congressman and protest. Don’t let them take away any more of your personal freedoms!

I feel compelled to say something.

Yesterday, I put up an entry about Warren Zevon’s passing. I commented on how he admonished we who he leaves behind to “Enjoy every sandwich”. Then, I signed into a YahooGroup that I have, from time to time, participated in, called ConCulture. There had been a debate raging back and forth, the subject of which doesn’t really matter, between two groups of fairly unreasonable people. I was one of them. Before I learned of Mr. Zevon’s death, I had been going to make a rather scathing commentary about the debate. But, when I returned to it, I saw how silly it was. In short, it didn’t make my sandwich taste any better.

So, instead, I commented on the fact that Mr. Zevon had died, and what he’d said. I was met with confusion, which is understandable, and derogatory remarks about Mr. Zevon’s work. Specifically, the comment was made that his “werewolf song sucks”. I responded privately to the two people. Both responses, I think, were civil and explanatory. Though, I have no doubt that the message I was trying to impart was totally lost on at least one of the participants. He had no idea where Mr. Zevon fit into music history, much less the message he left us. I doubt, though, that this person understands why we should enjoy our sandwiches.

I’m sure the small-minded, culturally-illiterate poster didn’t mean to sound either ignorant nor insensitive. Still, it’s a shame that he’ll miss out on the message. Our time on this planet is short. We have only a little time to experience whatever it is we’re here to see, do and feel. And, we will have only so many sandwiches to eat and enjoy. It’s a common enough thing, eating a sandwich. Why should we enjoy it? We’ll most likely eat thousands of sandwiches in our lifetime. So, why should every one be special?
Because, gentle reader, everything about life is special. It’s only on the way out that most of us notice, and then, it’s too late. So, while we’re alive and filled with vigor, let’s enjoy the common things in life. Enjoy the smiles of our loved ones. Enjoy the flight of birds. Enjoy the sounds of Mr. Zevon’s music, and other’s music, too. Enjoy the smell of the roses.
And, most of all, enjoy every sandwich.

I’m almost at a loss for words.

MSN has a story detailing his life, in brief, but the only thing that matters today is that Warren Zevon has died.
I was listening to his music when I read the news story. I’m moved at a level I find frankly confusing, since I didn’t know the man personally. If you’ve never heard his music, you owe it to yourself to hear him. Nothing else like Mr. Zevon in the entire world. And, now, even he’s gone. At least we still have the music and what he told David Letterman. “I know how much you’re supposed to enjoy every sandwich.” So, today, as you eat your sandwich at lunch, remember what Warren said. Enjoy them all.

Thanks, Warren.

MicroSoft’s aggressive licensing policies may have backfired.

At least, in China. According to this article on Australia IT, thousands of schools in China are uninstalling MicroSoft products and installing local replacements. Not only will that cost MS billions now, but the long-term effects are even more costly. All those generations of Chinese users learning some other software. Man, that has got to hurt!
I wonder what effect it will have on us here in the States? Probably just more layoffs. Can’t win, can we?

I love this site!

Okay, it’s a store and it’s a parody of some of the best computer books available, but it’s just so darn funny. O’Really.com makes fun of O’Reilly Publishing, but in a good-natured way.
Why not check them both out?

Whoops!

Looks like the US military has “accidentally” sold restricted parts to foreign governments. At least, according to this article on Australia IT, they have. Haven’t heard about it in the US media, that I’m aware of. I wonder why that is? Hmmm….
Anyway, it looks like the Government is still catching up to the ebusiness issues that most of us dealt with a long, long time ago. Ah, the glory of bureaucracies! Interesting reading, no matter what country you hail from.

At least, if they give away your domain.

No, really, according to this article on Wired News, the guy who lost sex.com to a felonious spoofer has been granted the right to sue Network Solutions, who lost him the site. All these years, NetSol has been saying that they’re not responsible, but they really seem to be! Ha!
Now, maybe we can hear about something else from Wired News, besides Sex.com!!