Something Kinda Techy

Just free'd my blog

2009-06-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

Tonight I imported my Blogger account to Wordpress. From now on I will be posting my personal stuff over there. There some of the posts didnt quite move over correctly but they are still at the old place and will be till google shuts down blogger. If you wanna see the new posts please go to numberedhumanindustries.wordpress.com

The Singularity Project

2009-04-06T01:22:00.000-07:00

First off, yes, this is another crazy Twitter thing, kind of like WOTW2. I call it The Singularity Project. So what is The Singularity Project? It is a twitter version of the game Singularity by Endgame, except this one really aims to be worldwide. It will all begin with the actual dialogue displayed in the game, from there the possibilities are almost limitless.

Follow https://twitter.com/The_Singularity and in two weeks, it begins.

I'm looking forward to assimilating you.

Wimax? More like pain in my ass

2009-03-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

Last night I bought a "residential wimax modem" a local ISP is doing their broadband over wimax (so they dont have to run copper) and are offering it for 35USD a month. That's all well and good but I can't get the bloody thing working in Linux, or for that matter Vista (tried on the girlfriends laptop and still couldn't get it to work, but I wasn't trying that hard)

So here are some pics to better explain whats going on.

Here is the modem the only interface out of this box is the ethernet cord, which should just make this this thing a basic wired connection.

This is how you see how good your connection is

A little branding never hurt anyone

If you have really dgood eyesight you might be able to make out a model number

A little behind shot for the techopervs

Sexy box right? Well like i said earlier I can't get the bloody thing to work. Here is a brain dump of the problems and what I've tried:

* I get an IP its in the 10 range so it may not be routable (whatever not worried about that)
* /etc/resolv.conf shows namesservers as 205.171.3.65 and 205.171.2.65
* i cant ping the 205. nameservers
* changing to OpenDNS doesnt help
* every renew resets /etc/resolv.conf
* I've been running sudo dhclient eth0 to get a new ip thats when /etc/resolv.conf resets

What am I missing? Why is this such a pain!!!! I have a support ticket in, but they support Windows 98SE or higher and Mac OSX

Linux Community Screwed by the Biggest Tool EVER

2009-02-22T18:31:00.000-08:00

Brian-with-a-y posted this to his blog
( http://lunduke.com/?p=206 )

"When I first envisioned RadicalCodex… it was only for Linux.

Having the best eBook and eComic reader only for Linux… well I just like the sound of that.

Once the Beta testing started I began receiving emails, from Linux users, asking if a Windows version was in the works. This surprised me at first, but it made some sense. Most people can’t run 100% Linux on every computer they use. And, of course, it’s nice to be able to bring your favorite applications with you between computers.

Plus having great software available for both Windows and Linux helps to lower the barrier for many people switching platforms."

and this is what I posted to him in response:

"Once the Beta testing started I began receiving emails, from Linux users, asking if a Windows version was in the works. "

LOL you have to be kidding me, what about the Linux users that asked you to put it under a Free Software license?

You are a bigger tool than I thought you were. What happened to showing the non-free companies that the "the Linux water was fine, jump on in"? What happened to your crusade? Are you going to admit that you went into this on a lie? Are you at least gonna give us the source code? Come on Benedict Arnold.

I don't think I need to say more about that, but this may (99.9999% sure) that this will be on ep 2009.7 of Linuxcranks. Listen Live Sat/Sunday at Midnight Eastern (http://live.linuxcranks.info [you will need a talkshoe.com account to listen as we are an 18+ podcast])

Printing in Crunchbang

2009-02-08T22:11:00.000-08:00

I just got me a new HP DeskJet 6940 for my birthday. Its networked so I just stuck it on my network and started configuring boxen. My girlfriend's Vista laptop was bloody simple to set up (weird yeah I know). Then I got started on my computers (my desktop and my eee) which was where the problem started. Now mind you I had been drinking (me and the captain made it happen [mom bought the booze]). On said desktop and eee I am running CrunchBang Linux and cruncheee respectively (this will be important later).

On CrunchBang

If you right click and go to "Printer Configuration" it opens and a whole bunch of it is greyed out (wtf) but there is a fix:

step 1: sudo su

this will make you proper root, this is just to save time sudo-ing over and over again is a pain in the ass

step 2: cd into /etc/cups/ssl/

step 2.5: if you ls you will see server.crt and server.key, believe it or not just rm both of them

step 3: then run sudo /etc/init.d/cups start (i think you might not need this dont remember)

step 4: open "Printer Configuration" again and

step 5: POW that MF is working so set your stuff up

on CrunchEEE

This is not a problem some how it works in crunchbang for the eee [facepalm] wtf

thanks to the lovely gents in irc.freenode.net #linuxcranks for the help specificity Mole_

My Free Software Resolution

2009-01-03T23:12:00.000-08:00

*The Resolution*

/I, threethirty, do resolve to use free software more in 2009 than in
any year before and if possible, to implement new systems, features, and
capabilities with 100% free software./

That means if you're looking for a new web browser, you'll consider Firefox.
If you need to open one of those weird .docx Word Documents, you're going to
use Open Office. And finally, you're going to try GNU/Linux. There are so
many ways to try it that one of these has got to be for you.

*Start 2009 out right*

1. Order a free Ubuntu Live CD from http://shipit.ubuntu.com [1] and boot up
your computer with it. Voila! You're trying GNU/Linux.

2. Ask your nearest techie to download and burn Ubuntu or Fedora to a CD for
you. Pop it in your CD drive and reboot. Some would call that trying
GNU/Linux.

3. Ask your nearest techie to install GNU/Linux for you and see the world of
computers with fresh eyes as you try GNU/Linux.

4. Download the source code to Azureus, configure and build the package, then
use it to download Arch, CrunchBang, or SlackWare and run that baby in a
virtual machine using VirtualBox OSE.

5. Finally, if you need help with any of the above submit a support request
at http://trygnulinux.com/getsupport.php [2] and we'll do our best to help
you with the next step.

With this New Year's resolution, 2009 can be a spectacular year for free
software so try to stick with it. Next New Year, we're hoping to find a
fitter, healthier, more-free-software-using you. Happy New Year from everyone
at TryGNULinux.com.

[1] http://shipit.ubuntu.com
[2] http://trygnulinux.com/getsupport.php

FLHL looking for Freesoftware Adverts

2008-12-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

The guys at the Free Linux Help Line (http://freelinuhelpline.net) are looking for Ads to run between segments of their soon to be podcast. So do you know of a Distro, App, Event, or Podcast that is or is about Free Software? Well if you can condense you enthusiasm into 30 seconds or so then send them to freelinuxhelpline@gmail.com. Ep 0 is scheduled for January 10th.

I hate email!!!!

2008-12-16T19:00:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to set up My GoDaddy email in version 1.0 of opengoo. I can receive but I cant send.

here are the how-tos im using:
http://help.godaddy.com/topic/167/article/4715
http://help.godaddy.com/article/2649

here are some screen grab of my settings and the error I get

http://forums.opengoo.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=590.0;attach=101;image
http://forums.opengoo.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=590.0;attach=103;image

I have tried all of the ports they list and tried turning SSL on and off but it doesn't seem to help

If you have any ideas I'm threethirty on identi.ca/twitter or you can find me on irc.freenode.net with the same nick

OLFacebook is finshed

2008-10-07T21:11:00.000-07:00

So here it is the week of, and here it is the final version of the OLFacebook, i left it as a html so you all can convert to your hearts desire.

http://www.box.net/shared/kbvduygmgf

see you all there!!

My rEEEview of the Asus Eeepc 900

2008-10-05T01:56:00.000-07:00

Ok im a a week or so into my ownership of the Asus Eeepc and I think that I can now give a fair review. Because I'm a giant nerd the first thing I had to do is get rid of Xandros. Xandros is a huge pie o shit. This has nothing to do with the patient agreement with Micrsoft they have, this is solely about software... its shit. Nothing was intuitive, it seemed like there was a hodgepodge of software and none of it was integrated. So I tried to install eeebuntu. Tried is the operative word, the version of ubnetbootin was borked, and after a day of hacking on it, i had gotten nowhere and I was at work and had no net access so I was stuck trying to get
that download working. Once i got home i decided to try ubuntu-eee and OMFG is it great the older and better version of ubnetbootin was preconfigured for the ubuntu-eee hardy image and installed first try, NO ISSUES!!!!! Everything but the SD card slot works. Wifi,
webcam, sleep, power saving, all of it, so eff an SD card slot. You can see screenshots at http://www.unixporn.com/screenshots/thumbnails.php?album=5

And now on to hardware I got the 8.9 inch eeepc 900 with a 900 MHz Intel Celeron processor, 16 gb sshd, and 1gb of ram. this thing is awesome!! the keyboard is a bit of a pain in the ass. but i am getting used to it. these keys are tiny, but that isn't the real problem. the real issue is all of the non letter keys (tab, enter, backspace) are smaller than the letter keys. that drives me nuts! but again i am getting used to it. i really don't know what else to say this thing is tiny and pretty powerful. I could have gotten this with a 1.n GHz Intel atom processor but I don't feel like i am missing anything 900mgz is more than enough

For all of the uber nerds here is my lshw:

three@ScreeechOwl:~$ lshw
WARNING: you should run this program as super-user.
screeechowl
description: Computer
width: 32 bits
*-core
description: Motherboard
physical id: 0
*-memory
description: System memory
physical id: 0
size: 1002MiB
*-cpu
product: Intel(R) Celeron(R) M processor 900MHz
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 1
bus info: cpu@0
version: 6.13.8
size: 900MHz
capacity: 900MHz
width: 32 bits
capabilities: fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse
sse2 ss tm pbe nx up bts cpufreq
*-pci
description: Host bridge
product: Mobile 915GM/PM/GMS/910GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 100
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: driver=agpgart-intel module=intel_agp
*-display:0 UNCLAIMED
description: VGA compatible controller
product: Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 2
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: vga_controller bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
*-display:1 UNCLAIMED
description: Display controller
product: Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 2.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.1
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
*-multimedia
description: Audio device
product: 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) High Definition Audio Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1b
bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0
version: 04
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=HDA Intel latency=0 module=snd_hda_intel
*-pci:0
description: PCI bridge
product: 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 1
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.0
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
*-pci:1
description: PCI bridge
product: 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 2
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.1
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: L2 100 Mbit Ethernet Adapter
vendor: Attansic Technology Corp.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
logical name: eth0
version: a0
serial: 00:22:15:2e:d3:b2
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master cap_list ethernet physical
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=atl2 driverversion=2.0.5 firmware=L2 latency=0 module=atl2 multicast=yes
*-pci:2
description: PCI bridge
product: 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 3
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.2
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
*-network
description: Wireless interface
product: AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter
vendor: Atheros Communications Inc.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
logical name: wifi0
version: 01
serial: 00:15:af:b5:91:79
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master cap_list logical ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ath_pci latency=0 module=ath_pci multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11g
*-usb:0
description: USB Controller
product: 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #1
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.0
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
*-usb:1
description: USB Controller
product: 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #2
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.1
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
*-usb:2
description: USB Controller
product: 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #3
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.2
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
*-usb:3
description: USB Controller
product: 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #4
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.3
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
*-usb:4
description: USB Controller
product: 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.7
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.7
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: ehci bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0 module=ehci_hcd
*-pci:3
description: PCI bridge
product: 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1e
bus info: pci@0000:00:1e.0
version: d4
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci subtractive_decode bus_master cap_list
*-isa
description: ISA bridge
product: 82801FBM (ICH6M) LPC Interface Bridge
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: isa bus_master
configuration: latency=0
*-ide
description: IDE interface
product: 82801FBM (ICH6M) SATA Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.2
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 66MHz
capabilities: ide bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ata_piix latency=0 module=ata_piix
*-serial UNCLAIMED
description: SMBus
product: 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) SMBus Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3
version: 04
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: latency=0
*-scsi
physical id: 1
bus info: scsi@2
logical name: scsi2
capabilities: scsi-host
configuration: driver=usb-storage

Once a wanker always a wanker

2008-09-22T20:14:00.001-07:00

This is an age old spat but about 4 months ago I called "Merlyn" a wanker and he has now proved my point.

Dave Yates and some other Linux Podcasters are creating a planet to aggregate all of the Linux Podcasters blogs. This whole thing has been built in a mailing list. Because of this project I have proof that Merlyn is a wanker. Here was his one and only reply to the list.

I'm getting a "you have mail" notice from this thread about every five minutes
for the past 4 hours. I don't think that's necessary any more. Please remove
me from future postings.

If you want to include FLOSS Weekly in your roll-up, go ahead. That's really
all you need from me.

--
[REMOVED] - Stonehenge Consulting Services, Inc. - +1 503 777 0095

Smalltalk/Perl/Unix consulting, Technical writing, Comedy, etc. etc.
See http://methodsandmessages.vox.com/ for Smalltalk and Seaside discussion

and here we're some funny replies... I have removed the posters name (if you wrote it and would like to be known let me know)

linuxplanet.org is a totally cool name. Forget "podcast"

...Oh let me just make sure Randall isn't in my replyToAll list..i don't want to bother him, I know he's a busy guy. -klaatu

Busy guy is one thing to call Merlyn. I can think of a few others.

I also have some hosting space if needed. And, I'd be happy to set up a Drupal backend.

I know this isnt an elegant post but I thought it was really funny so here it is

Camerahead Project Dramatizes Surveillance

2008-09-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

A while back i made a post (link) about how a stupid it was to tell me that you are watching me shop for my security and how absurd that is, but the ACLU Washington has taken it to another level...

A little late but oh well.

2008-09-08T23:24:00.001-07:00

New episode of SKT out, give it a listen. Hoping to do another soon.

Trying for an all Free computer

2008-09-02T01:05:00.000-07:00

Recently I decided that I should try a little harder to not have any non-free packages on my computers. So I installed Gobuntu which is as Canonical describes as:

Gobuntu is a GNU/Linux operating system, derived from Ubuntu, that endeavors to adhere to the Free Software Foundation's four freedoms and intends to provide a base for other free software platforms to build upon with minimal modification required. It does this by only including open-source non-restricted software. This means there will be no firmware, drivers, applications, or content included in Gobuntu that does not include the full source or whose license does not provide the right to use, study, modify, and redistribute the body of work.

and on my laptop has worked out great. I have an all centrino setup so all of the drivers are free. The only non-free packages I have installed are FireFox and Flash. Before any one gets a going here is what the FSF has to say about the Mozilla Public License:

Mozilla Public License (MPL)

This is a free software license which is not a strong copyleft; unlike the X11 license, it has some complex restrictions that make it incompatible with the GNU GPL. That is, a module covered by the GPL and a module covered by the MPL cannot legally be linked together. We urge you not to use the MPL for this reason.

However, MPL 1.1 has a provision (section 13) that allows a program (or parts of it) to offer a choice of another license as well. If part of a program allows the GNU GPL as an alternate choice, or any other GPL-compatible license as an alternate choice, that part of the program has a GPL-compatible license.

So if you don't wanna count that then the only non-free software I have on there is Flash.

The same is true for my desktop excluding one giant pain in the ass... the nVidia GLX driver. I must say that this is a point of sadness for me. The only bloody thing (other than Flash) that keeps me from total software freedom is driver... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhH! With the nv driver I was stuck with the ultra high resolution of 800x600, which is not gonna work, I lived with it for a week and just can't do it. ATi is releasing documentation in the next 6 months or so, and once a free-driver is out from that, i will be making the purchase of a new graphics card. Good job nVida fscked again!!!

So now when I am a pompous ass about software freedom you know that I am eating my own dog food (except flash)

OMG TEH FUNIEST VIDOE EVAR!!!! BIG LULZ!!!11

2008-08-06T21:50:00.000-07:00

Useless and disturbing articles from ehow.com

2008-07-24T13:50:00.000-07:00

As a guy who spends a lot of time on the internet I have come across many disturbing and hilariously useless articles on websites such as wikihow, ehow, and others, today I am going to list a few useless and possibly disturbing websites from ehow.com!

The first disturbing article is on ice dildos, yes i said ice dildos. OK I can see how a woman might enjoy this once in a while, but jesus christ go to the local adult bookstore and just buy one you loon! Seeing as you are not ashamed of buying condoms for this little project you should be able to buy a sex toy, stop getting red faced and go for it.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2123254_make-ice-dildo.html

The next article I found was so painfully dumb that I admit I cried a little, it's on how to use glue. For you who wrote this, I must say this, any person who is over the age of 4 should know how to use fucking glue! If you don't I'll explaine it really quick, take the glue, put it on a surface, put somehting on it and wait a while and look it's stuck to it! IT'S FUCKLING GLUE, LADY! The best part of this article is the Material Needed section, which simply lists of all things, glue.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2104795_use-glue.html

Continuing in our adhesive themed journey of perversion and idiocy, we have an article about using duct tape... No comment.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2273209_use-duct-tape.html

Up next, How to Scalp The iPhone! Thank you ehow for turning our children into price gouging assholes.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2070114_scalp-iphone.html

Ehow.com with all of your wonderful knowledge, tell me something else, like how to put together Ikea furniture using the instructions supplied with the product! Yes I swear it's there, if you don't believe me check the site. So how does one put together Ikea furniture using the instruction? Oh I don't know, how about by reading them?!?!

http://www.ehow.com/how_2100548_use-ikea-furniture-assembly-instructions.html

Ehow.com is also very opinionated about geeks, well ok jsut this one article is, it's about drawing geeks. And I quote:

"A geek is usually an odd-looking person whose physical appearance and mental interests combine to make him a social outcast. Since geeks are usually odd looking or unattractive, there are many different ways you can draw them--this is just one. Follow these easy steps to draw a geek."

Yeah well...fuck you too!

http://www.ehow.com/how_2321503_draw-geek.html

The next article I found was titled simply "Hot to Make the Best Drink Ever!" Let me sum this one up, it's Jack Daniels and Coke, except Coke is replaced with Pepsi.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2255429_best-drink-ever.html

In the spirit of becoming a godfather here recently I decided to look up Ehow.com's articles on babies, and boy was I not dissapointed. One I found was on joining a baby gym. For starters, it's a baby, not a body building asshole who munches protien bars and drinks Muscle Builder 5000 milkshakes! You want the baby to get excercise? just let them lye on the ground and wiggle around, that's what they do best, besides manufacture bodily fluids that will end up on you in one way or another. If you know anyone trying to join a baby gym, slap them and slap them hard.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2049218_join-baby-gym.html

Lastly ehow.com presents...How To Poop. after reading this I laughed so hard I almost did well, poop. The best parts of this one are the Materials Needed section and step 1
Materials needed:
# Toilet
# Toilet paper
# A full rectum full of feces
# Vasoline
# Air freshener

Yes it says "A full rectum full of feces" I was a bit worried as to what the vasoline waa for, but I persisted on...

Step 1: Once you feel like the feces will come out of your rectum, head to the nearest toilet.

Or if you're 90 or a newborn, just let it happen wherever you may be.
Look ehowe had a great relationship until now, but everyone knows how to poop, even dogs, cats, tubgirl, and hell even some of the ehow.com staff do now thanks to this article. Didn't any of you read Everybody Poops?

http://www.ehow.com/how_2255614_poop.html

Next article: disturbing things on wikihow, until then have fun doing whatever you do (including using glue, poop, duct tape, ikea furniture and ice dildos)

gwibber = win

2008-07-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

I have just installed gwibber in ubuntu hardy and I have a how-to, its running a little wonky now, but hey its not even release yet.

##how to install gwibber in ubuntu hardy ##

#install simplejson
easy way is to go here : http://packages.ubuntu.com/hardy/i386/python-simplejson/download choose a mirror and let it open in Gdebi

#install baazaar
$ sudo apt-get (or aptitude) install bzr

#Checkout the baazaar repo
$ bzr checkout https://code.launchpad.net/~segphault/gwibber/main

#Change to the gwibber directory
$ cd gwibber/

#install gwibber
$ sudo python setup.py install

#Run gwibber

you can typw gwibber in a terminal or just open it from the menus

Subscribe to the SKT RSS feed!

2008-06-23T13:06:00.000-07:00

I set up a feedburner account, so here's the link! http://feeds.feedburner.com/SomethingKindaTechy

SKT Episode 1

2008-06-23T12:41:00.000-07:00

Episode one went off without a hitch, we interviewed Jack Lhasa from twittertravels.com and Gracie, a sex blogger/database programmer.

Why Twitter is the winner

2008-06-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

There are soooooo many Twitter clones and Twitter-esque apps/websites out there, but they all seem too fall short and I know why. Simplicity. I'd really like to pick on FriendFeed and Jaiku. Yes, they are "better" technologies. But have you tried to use them on a mobile? Well in FriendFeed's case, nope not possible (as far as I know), and Jaiku's case most of us haven't you must have a Nokia phone to do so. Welp my Palm Centro puts me out on that.

Here is my real issue... how in the hell are you supposed to use a threaded system through SMS? Oh yeah you can't!

Why is SMS soo important? How much time do you spend on the computer? How much of the day is your mobile in you pocket? For me the mobile wins EVERY DAY.

oh and one more thing Twitter is EASY!!! @username makes a whole lot of sense... this message is "AT" that username.

LinuxCranks Podcast Episode 0

2008-05-31T23:00:00.000-07:00

LinuxCranks is a podcast that has no real direction or well anything for that matter. Its loosly about Linux, Free/Open Source Software, copyright issues... ummm really anything goes. In ep0 we bitch about pulse audio, and some talk about Ubuntu and Fedora.

the page can be found at unixporn.com or talkshoe.com/tc20037

Launchpad podcast: your questions

2008-05-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

I just got a message on facebook from Matthew "P" Revell (former LUGRadio presenter) about the Launchpad podcast. This Wednesday (14th May), Joey, Elliot and Matt are recording the first full episode of the Launchpad podcast.

A major part of the show will be questions from people who use Launchpad. So, if there's something you want to know - and you reckon the answer will be of interest to other listeners - message Matt on facebook. You'll be able to find the podcast on there blog at http://news.launchpad.net/

Stop Virgin Media

2008-04-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

God Exists! v2.0

2008-04-03T14:07:00.001-07:00

Another day, another genius at work. Today I'm gonna talk about something a bit cryptic... Punch cards.

Not how the work, but why. Why does a series of holes make something happen. Why does a different series of holes make something else happen. The same goes for programming! Why when I type 'cls' into MS-DOS it actually clears the screen. I hope whoever came up with this stuff had a lot of kids, the human population is becoming lazier and stupider (that's right, I said it) as we speak. This concludes 'God Exists! v2.0'. Feel free to email me with ideas for my 'God Exists' series.

God Exists!

2008-04-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

First off I would like to point out that as the co-founder of Something Kinda Techy, it is great to see that we have readers other than our mothers. Thanks Threethirty and Pegwole for keeping our idea alive. It's truly a miracle to see it still being updated daily.

I have had a lot of time to think about technology. I have been trying to reverse engineer in my head how some of the most taken for granted items would work and all i can think of is "Magic". Starting now, for the next seven days I am going to be talking about technological miracles. Note that these are to praise the geniuses behind the items we live with, they are not meant to be undermined.

The first miracle I'm going to talk about is a CRT monitor. I have spent about a week and a half trying to figure out how they work. I know that the electron guns shoot colors onto the inside of the CRT, I'm ok with that, but there's so much more to making a TV then to shoot a color at a screen. The idea of assigning a position to all the electrons on the screen just boggles my mind. Then make them switch positions on the screen is just amazing.

#ed008c = solidarity

2008-04-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

Veronica Belmont (daily.mahalo.com) and Ryan Block (engadget.com) are both posting that Deutsche Telekom (parent company of t-mbile is demanding that Engadget Mobile discontinue its use of the color magenta, as it causes “confusion” between the brands. In response, Engadget has gone a lovely shade of pink for the day, and Veronica says "I kind of love it and wish it would stay that way". This is moronic, The Copyright/Trademark/Patient system is so screwed up that shit like this happens. Its so stupid that I'm kind of at a loss for words (almost 90 words in :-P ) this is seriously stupid so please everyone add this picture to your site in solidarity And as ChuckD said "you gotta fight the powers that be"

THe results of boredom and a kidney stone.

2008-03-31T15:19:00.000-07:00

Yeah, it's crappy, but it seemed funnier at the time.

Keese Here Just Chiming In

2008-03-22T17:49:00.001-07:00

Yes it's yesterday's news but it's scary as hell. This past New Years I was sipping some rum with my boy Three. We were discussing something called "Trusted Computing" which is nothing what it sounds like. In a nutshell, it's a BIOS chip that limits what is able to be done with your computer. If you need more information on it hppt://www.wikipedia.com/ has an excellent bit on it, all accurate too for those wiki haters.

I'm writing this now because I'm hoping this will make the nightmares go away. Let me paint you a picture; you buy a nice new computer with all the fixings. A full tower case with an awesome motherboard, nice video card. We're talking about a top notch system. You go to plug in a printer, and nothing happens. No sounds, no lights nothing. This is my nightmare.

You would think they would let you do whatever you want to a machine you spent five grand on. And guess who's behind. Yup good ole Microsoft. And Dell! They have said by 2010 most Dell machines will have these chips in them. I'm so pissed off right now I'm not sure I can even maintain sanity. I think I should just stop while I'm ahead.

Keese Out

Rest in Peace Isaac Asimov

2008-03-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

[moment of silence]

A small rant.

2008-03-18T00:13:00.000-07:00

From time to time certain things get on my nerves, some things anger me, and some just really piss me off. Today I am going to talk about a few of those things.

I'm going to start out talking about FreeBSD. I'll give yo a minute to clean the vomit from the corners of your mouth. I'll now give you a few more to stop crying over the feeling of being fisted heavily in the rear. All better? Good. So tell me FreeBSD, why have you just now decided to use an optional graphical installer? For the love of god man you're two years behind Gentoo and Debian! Hell you're 10+ years behind Red Hat in that area, and trust me my friend, that's just terrible!

Honestly you could not pay me to use any BSD, yes I have tried out a few BSD derivatives before, and I can honestly say I felt like taking a crow bar to my own head.

Moving on. My next issue of concern is with Linspire. I don't like it for a few reasons, one it is quite bloated, and two, the Click 'n' Run Warehouse. Are you serious with this thing? Is that supposed to be an improvement of some kind? Actually no, don't even speak you don't deserve it you fail that much. I can think of a nice way to improve it, and that is get rid of it! What's wrong with Synaptic or even good ol' command line Apt? Nothing, that's what.

My Next complaint is with Debian, I know I never thought I'd have huge issues with you either, but we have to talk, I love what you've done with yourself over the years to keep me happy, but your lack of auto detecting my wifi card is starting to piss me off, now I know you want to keep the initial install as freedom loving as possible, but for once i'd like to not have to break out the ethernet cable when using a laptop, it seems kind of stupid. Now make me some dinner.

Lastly, my biggest complaint is with a hardware company, DuraTech USA, they have a nice rugged PDA that would be nice as hell to own and be able to carry to the top of Mt. Everest and back down again without worry. The bad tings about it are price, and the fact that it comes preinstalled with Windows Mobile. But for $2000 you can buy this nifty gadget, attempt to put Linux on it, and possibly end up with the most expensive paperweight you could ever hope to own! That's all for now, and until next time take it easy.

Linux Mint the lovechild of Ubuntu and Scope.

2008-03-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I worked up the nerve to try out Linux Mint, when I try out a new distro I never base my review off of the live CD since it runs much slower than an actual install would.

My only issue was with the first .ISO file I downloaded, for some reason it only ended up being just over 250mb as opposed to one that is 600mb+. So after downloading a new .ISO, burning it to a disk, and then finally running it I got to start the review process.

The install took about the same time as a standard Ubuntu install, so nothing really special there.

One of the first things I noticed while using the live CD was the uber themeing, I don't mind it, but it made me want to pluck my eyes out at first.

After the install I logged in and a little wizard popped up before I was sent to the GNOME Desktop, it had only two options, one was eneabling the root account, which i decided not to do, and the other was enabling fortune, since it reminded me of my nostalgic Slackware days, I enabled fortune.

OK so there I was with a fresh install of a different distro, I decided it was time to really test the waters. One thing I had to get used to was there being only one GNOME panel, with a Windows like menu button on it, instead of saying "start" it has the name of the current build of Linux Mint on it. I clicked it and explored the menus.

I was presented with a very nice and organized SLAB-like menu. It had all of the usual categories and whatnot, including a way to easily access the GNOME control panel. Then I checked the Sound & Video category, the first thing I noticed was Amarok. I was very happy with that, I love Amarok. I'm listening to a the heavy metal station on last.fm through it as I write this review.

Speaking of multimedia, the out of the box DVD playback is very nice. Also included are the codecs for all of the main video formats.

As with Ubuntu, the Restricted Drivers Manager popped up and told me of all the restricting goodies I can install. I installed my freedom hating graphics driver and then decided to run the updater.

mintUpdate told me I had close to 200 updates, so I installed them and went about reviewing more.

I fired up Pidgin and was pleased to see it had a good deal of the plug-ins installed with it. I added all the accounts I'm on 24/7 and did more menu exploring.

Having Xchat already installed was nice, since I use it a lot. No games came preinstalled though, which isn't a real big issue since I rarely play the preinstalled games. But a few games were needed so I installed Doom and two hours later I worked on this review more...

All of the usual productivity goodies were there, the Open Office Suite, GIMP, and Thunderbird. OK Thunderbird isn't really productivity software, but I need my email. Honestly reading email is usually nothing near a productive activity...

So more about some of the uber themeing, a few programs which I felt they could have not really named anything minty is mintInstall, mintUpdate, and mintAssistant. Also in the control panel the GNOME Desktop icon is now called mintDesktop.

All in all it's a good distro, it seems to actually run faster then regular Ubuntu, and the less configuring I have to do after installing it the better! So in conclusion if you want a good solid distro with out of the box media supprt then I suggest Linux Mint, if you need any other reason to run it, well it's based in Ireland, which makes it beer case engineering friendly! Until next time, take it easy.

Merlin Mann Facts

2008-03-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

fact: Merlin Mann once joked his way out of returning uranium to the Libyans and has visited the future 20 times.

fact: Merlin Mann stopped hurricane Katerina with the awesome power of his hair alone.

fact: Merlin Mann forced Chuck Norris to switch to a mac.

fact: Merlin Mann once bitch slapped the queen of England because she didn't bow to him.

fact: Merlin Mann once killed a panda with nothing but the ear buds for an ipod, a brick, and sheer determination

fact: Merlin Mann once saved Lindsay Lohan from being robbed using only an Apple Newton as his weapon.

fact: Merlin Mann can control several species of birds, a few ferrets, and Jebb Bush

fact: once during an orgy Merlin Mann caused Ann Heche to go straight again. Leo Laporte filmed it.

fact: Morgan Freeman wishes he could be Merlin Mann

fact: Merlin Mann taught enlightenment to the Buddha

fact: Merlin Mann has a summer house in fucking Mordor!

fact: Merlin Mann did 5 tours in Nam just for the hell of it.

Adobe Pushes DRM for Flash

2008-02-24T20:21:00.000-08:00

I'm sooo upset by this right now that I can't think, I'll update this post as soon as I calm down...

**edit** because of the text posted below I have uninstalled flash, I have installed gnash insted. I know that gnash isn't going to do me much good, but I am hoping that it will get to the point where I can get buttons and things like that work. I am still royally pissed, and am boycotting all adobe products.

also there is a great comment on my blog (threethirty.us/2008/02/adobe-pushes-drm-for-flash.html)**edit**

Posted to eff.org's DeepLinks by Seth Schoen

The immense popularity of sites like YouTube has unexpectedly turned Flash Video (FLV) into one of the de facto standards for Internet video. The proliferation of sites using FLV has been a boon for remix culture, as creators made their own versions of posted videos. And thus far there has been no widespread DRM standard for Flash or Flash Video formats; indeed, most sites that use these formats simply serve standalone, unencrypted files via ordinary web servers.

Now Adobe, which controls Flash and Flash Video, is trying to change that with the introduction of DRM restrictions in version 9 of its Flash Player and version 3 of its Flash Media Server software. Instead of an ordinary web download, these programs can use a proprietary, secret Adobe protocol to talk to each other, encrypting the communication and locking out non-Adobe software players and video tools. We imagine that Adobe has no illusions that this will stop copyright infringement -- any more than dozens of other DRM systems have done so -- but the introduction of encryption does give Adobe and its customers a powerful new legal weapon against competitors and ordinary users through the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Recall that the DMCA sets out a blanket ban on tools that help "circumvent" any DRM system (as well as the act of circumvention itself). When Flash Video files are simply hosted on a web site with no encryption, it's unlikely that tools to download, edit, or remix them are illegal. But when encryption enters the picture, entertainment companies argue that fair use is no excuse; Adobe, or customers using Flash Media Server 3, can try to shut down users who break the encryption without having to prove that the users are doing anything copyright-infringing. Even if users aren't targeted directly, technology developers may be threatened and the technologies the users need driven underground.

Users may also have to upgrade their Flash Player software (and open source alternatives like Gnash, which has been making rapid progress, may be unable to play the encrypted streams at all). Third-party software that can download Flash Video, like the most recent RealPlayer, will also break. But Adobe now has an incentive to push the use of DRM: it's only available to sites that use Flash Media Server 3 software, which starts at over $4,000 (with extra fees depending on the number of simultaneous streams).

Furthermore, the prospect of widespread adoption of DRM restrictions on Flash threatens to squash a growing tradition of expressive fair use of online video -- a practice effectively in its infancy that, left unfettered, would be a dynamic solution to our failing effort to teach media literacy. Before we understand how to read media messages, we must first learn how to speak their language -- and we learn that language by playing with and remixing the efforts of others. DRM, by restricting the remixing of Flash videos, stands to bankrupt a rich store of educational value by foreclosing the ability of students and teachers to "echo others" by remixing videos posted online.

Take the example of "A Vision of Students Today" vs. "(Re)Visions of Students Today". The first "Vision" YouTube video is an artful critique of higher education's failure to come up with new models of instruction that engage the modern student; the second "(Re)Vision" YouTube video is an incisive observation of higher education's crisis in diversity (summarily expressed by the lack of diversity in the original "Vision" video). The original and the remix support each other to instruct with an influence above and beyond the power of either video alone.

Outside the halls of academia, we can see that the ability to openly download and remix video is part of a new ecosystem of amateur entertainment -- watch Drama Prairie Dog and its countless responses:

* "Dramatic Prairie Dog vs. Kung Fu Baby (Best Remix Ever)"
* "Hollywood Zombies Dramatic Prarire Dog"
* "Dramatic Look Bond Remix"
* Drama Prairie Dog - Zoolander
* "Drama Prairie Dog -- Kill Bill"
* (an obligatory Star Wars-related remix) "Darthmatic Chipmunk"

As we noted above, remixers who find and use tools that break the Flash Video encryption could be sued, even if their transformative creations would otherwise have been fair use.

Finally, there's a classic suite of arguments against DRM that will be as true for online video as they were for music. DRM doesn't move additional product. DRM is grief for honest end-users. And there's no reason to imagine that new DRM systems will stop copyright infringement any more effectively than previous systems.

What if Digg was in Meatspace

2008-02-04T10:54:00.000-08:00

Help save Aaron's grandfather's house!

2008-01-17T22:17:00.000-08:00

This is taken verbatim from Boing Boing it was posted by Cory Doctorow, on January 16, 2008 12:27 AM, and I didn't rewrite it because Cory is a better writer than me...

Aaron sez, "The state of South Carolina has decided to put a freeway through my Grandfather's 150 year old house (built by HIS Grandfather). The Governor and the people in the planning office say the route my father worked out is fine, but they need 'public outcry' to justify moving it so if people 10 miles down the route ask why they moved it for us they can say 'hey, lots of people got pissed.' So I set up a petition which in mid-Feb. will send the results to the Governor's office and I need as many people to sign it as possible. They don't care WHO you are or WHERE you are, just so long as there is 'public outcry.'"

The home was built from trees that were cleared from the forests that now are open fields of fertile farmlands. The underpinning of the home was and still is hand-hewn logs held together by 10" wooden pegs. The original structure consisted of four equally sized rooms and the kitchen was separated from the home in the back to save the home in case of a fire in the kitchen.

In the late 1940's, the kitchen was joined to the rear of the home and three other rooms were added across the back of the house. The floors of this section were not joined evenly, and there is an approximate ten inch step down from the original section of the home to this rear section. The porch was also extended across the front and down the West side of the house. In 1957, my father, who was actually born in the home in 1916, remodeled the home, leaving the basic four rooms of the home but installing oak hardwood floors. He also left most of the original windows in rooms and by the front door, which were hand-blown glass with "wavy" imperfections and bubbles. The chimney on the East side of the house is also original which, according to family lore, has brick laid with "salt crete". It was covered with a thin layer of concrete years ago to protect it from weathering. Around 1965, dormers were added to the roof of the house and the attic was opened to house two bedrooms. And the final remodeling occurred around 1985 when the kitchen was remodeled and a carport was attached at the kitchen entrance.

The techy is to this is the fact that a big time blog is being used to keep a local government in check.

link good luck Aaron!!!

***BTW*** Aaron has also put this on digg so we can also help him by digging it up!!!

Flooding at the Columbus Convention Center, but that's where OLF is held!?! Nooooooo!

2008-01-13T13:04:00.000-08:00

Thats right kids the THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH is reporting that the flood in Downtown Columbus was a waterline and that's "... estimated that the damage to walls, carpeting and other fixtures will run into millions of dollars."

"The waterline, which runs down Swan Street and provides water to the west side of High Street, had been capped under the northern section of the convention center at 400 N. High St. The cap blew off for an unknown reason, and water shooting under the center pushed up the concrete slabs that make up the floor and flooded the center. When the water was turned off, the slabs subsided, leaving damaged drywall and doors that no longer line up with their jambs in the northern part of the center."

So here's to hoping for a OLF2008!

LOL: looking for a date?

2008-01-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

I have nothing to say about this. How about a link?

Warren Ellis's angry, profane Three Laws of Robotics

2008-01-05T21:22:00.000-08:00

Warren Ellis's profane and angry take on the Three Laws of Robotics is good reading, but not good news for all of you cyber-dildonics fans out there his three laws are as follows:

1. Robots couldn’t really give a fuck if you live or die. Seriously. I mean, what are you thinking? “Ooh, I must protect the bag of meat at all costs because I couldn’t possibly plug in the charger all on my own.” Shut the fuck up.

2. Robots do not want to have sex with you. Are you listening, Japan? I don’t have a clever comparative simile for this, because frankly you bags of meat will fuck bicycles if they’re laying down and not putting up a fight. Just stop it. There is no robot on Earth that wants to see a bag of meat with a small prong on the end approaching it with a can of WD-40 and a hopeful smile. And don’t get me started on that terrifying hole that squeezes out more bags of meat.

3. What, you can’t count higher than three? We’re expected to save your miserable lives, suffer being dressed in cheap schoolgirl costumes while you pollute any and all cavities you can find and do your maths for you? It’s a miracle you people survived long enough to build us. You can go now.

Creative Commons, some Vids and my project.

2007-12-22T21:29:00.000-08:00

After the new year I have a project that is going live. This project is a video for Creative Commons. This video will be made so that children can understand what CC is all about. It is based on a slide show based on this slide show. I will be narrating myself and hope to have it out before the end of January. For those of you that have no idea what CC is just check out the vids below

MS Surface ...parody

2007-12-19T20:14:00.001-08:00

SAD: Verizon...again

2007-12-11T12:50:00.000-08:00

Those of you who have read my other blog know I was planning a weekly post titled SAD or Suck A Dick, where I tell of people and large businesses to do just that, well today I'm going to make a new one, the first one was done on Verizon, and now I'm doing it again!

Now I know it's not polite to say, but neither is shafting your customers and colleagues. So this outspoken tech blogger will say those wonderful things that everyone else is thinking.

I found an article via consumerist.com, it's about this poor woman and how Verizon has totally shafted her and raped her credit score. OK that may be a bit much, but I'll let you decide.

This all started in March of this year, St. Patrick's Day, to be precise. While out with friends, my phone slipped out of my pocket without me noticing. It wasn't until the next morning (Sunday) that I realized I didn't have my LG Chocolate phone. I traced my footsteps back, hoping I'd be able to find it, with no luck. A couple of hours later, when my roommate woke up, he realized he had a missed call. Hours after I lost the phone, someone had called his number from it. They left no message, and when we tried calling the phone back, it would go straight to voicemail. Hoping that whoever had the phone would call back again, I held off on contacting Verizon to report the phone stolen. By Monday morning, having still not been able to contact the person who had my phone, I called Verizon and reported all the details I've relayed so far - not only that my phone was lost, but that someone apparently had the phone. I was told that the phone would be placed on Verizon's lost/stolen list so that if someone else attempted to register the phone on a Verizon Wireless account, they would be able to do so (although I would not be given this information to help me find the phone). The phone would also be deactivated for a month and would be removed from my account.
Writing the phone off as gone, I bought a used Verizon Razr off eBay, which I received within a few days. I once again called up Verizon Customer Service. In that call, I registered the Razr with my account, and also checked again that my old phone was off my account. I was told that because my account was a single-phone plan, there was no way for both the Chocolate and the Razr to be registered simultaneously. The Razr was associated with my account, and therefor the Chocolate could no longer be used with my account.

Fast forward one month, towards the end of April. I logged into my bank's online access, and realized I had a negative amount of money, when I should have had a few hundred dollars. Looking at the pending transactions, a charge of $435.03 had been debited from my account the day before. I was stunned. The only bill I pay that's over $150 is my rent - there was no reason I should have such a large debit on my account. I hadn't lost my debit card, so I first checked those accounts which are automatically debited from my checking account. It didn't take long to find the culprit. Verizon showed a just-paid bill - sum $435.03. I opened the bill online and quickly scanned it - I had a couple of new media services that had been added to my bill (which then charged me for the prorated current month, plus next month for each of the services). But the kicker was the hundreds of dollars of data downloads. Music, games, ringtones - if you could get it from VZServe, it was charged to my account.

Remember also that this is the end of April - the 20th, in fact. I have to send my rent check out, but I have negative money. I call Verizon, and explain the situation. I'm already pretty sure of what's happened - the month that the Chocolate was deactivated for is over, and whoever has it is using it to make charges to my account. To make a long story short, I talk to numerous customer service reps over the next few days, explaining and reexplaining the situation. I am told that it is impossible for the Chocolate to still be able to charge downloads to account. I am told numerous times by supervisors and regular reps that they're looking into the issue and will call me back in an hour/this evening/tomorrow morning. I am told that I am lying, and that I must go to my local Verizon store and show them my Razr to prove that the data downloaded is not on that phone. I spend two hours sitting in that store, waiting as the store rep talks to the customer service rep, on my phone. It is determined that the data is not on the Razr.
Finally, on the 26th, I get somewhere. A database tech hears about my problem and looks into it. Apparently, when the Chocolate was deactivated and taken off my account, there was a problem. The Chocolate was removed from my account for the most part, but in some database, it was still connected to my account. This might, incidentally, explain why there were times when friends would call me and the line would ring and ring, without going to voicemail, and without my Razr ever actually ringing. Troy Brice, the supervisor I've been talking with for the past day or so, apologizes again and again. Yes, they can cancel my service. No, they won't charge me an early termination fee. They'll refund my entire bill (even the part that was actually my bill), and they'll even pay me back the horrible $100 overdraft fee that my checking account incurred for being so overdrawn (though I was required to send them a screenshot of my online checking account to prove that I was charged an overdraft fee). I get only apologies for the fact that I haven't had any money for the past week, as this fell between my biweekly paychecks. I should get my money in 4-6 weeks. Yeah, 4-6 weeks. This is, obviously, not acceptable. Troy and I chat for a little while, and he discovers that he can expedite the transaction. I'll have my money in 2-3 days - the amount is just under $600.

Late the next week, I do get my money deposited into my checking account - about $300. This pissed me off. I had no problem paying my actual bill, but my actual bill was only about $55, not $300. I go to their website and attempt to log into my account, but I can't. That was shut down when I closed the account. So I call customer service again and explain the situation. Again. They grant me limited access to my online account so that I'm able to see my last couple of bills. I quickly spot the problem - they're still charging me for the extra services and the data downloaded through them. I call Troy's line and leave a message. No reply back. Ever. So I go back to the regular reps. Again and again, they can't help me. My calls are dropped. They can't request refunds. When they can and take my bank information, the refund request is gone when I call back later to see how it's going. There are no supervisors available.

Finally, after dealing with this for over a month, I give up. I got some of my money back and I'll never have to deal with them again - I've got a new Cingular phone. Not a perfect solution, but better than nothing.
Fast forward to yesterday, December 10th. I have, in the intervening time, moved. I go to my mom's house, where I still get some mail because I used it as my permanent address while I was in college. And I have mail! I owe Verizon $114.07 and they've sold my account to Miracle Financial Inc, a collection agency. Add the agency's fees, and they want $134.60 from me. I have 30 days to dispute the validity of the claim.

I call the agency's number, at about 5:15 PM, and talk to [redacted], who is surprisingly polite and helpful, though she does ask me multiple times if I'd like to settle the debt, even though the first thing I told her was that I was calling to dispute the entire thing. She asks me to explain, and I do. She tells me that she can put a comment that I'm disputing the debt in the notes on the account, but that I should fax a letter, detailing why I'm disputing the debt, to the agency's Client Service Department, and gives me the fax number. They will then contact Verizon directly and discuss it with them.

I then call Verizon. At this point, I now want all my money back, so all I want right now is my bills. I'd had copies of them on my laptop but, foolishly, I'd deleted them after a few months. I need them in order to itemize each item and see what I should and shouldn't be charged for. Zach (who won't give me his last name), the supervisor who I explained my situation to, cannot give me access to my Verizon online account. He also cannot email or fax the bills. He can only send them by mail, which might take a few weeks for me to actually receive them. I inquire as to when I was first billed the $114.07 - July. So my account is already, in Verizon's eyes and quite possibly in the eyes of various credit reporting agencies, five months past due. Plus, I've got that 30 day deadline to dispute the debt.
A quick sidenote - Zach checked what address they had on file for me - it was my previous address. I'd never updated them because I had no business with them anymore. So I never received the bill back in July. Why I was billed in July for a service I cancelled in April, I have no idea.

I told Zach to please send me the July bill, and the last three bills before the account was closed.
I then went to consumerist.com and looked up Verizon's Executive Customer Service number. I called the number, and left a message, detailing my tale much more concisely than I've done here and asked to be called back. It's now 9:30 AM, and I haven't heard back yet. I'll call again later this morning. As soon as I send this, I'm writing a fax to send to the collection agency, ccing it to whatever fax numbers I can find for Verizon.

I'll send updates as more happens (or doesn't happen, which is more probable given Verizon's track record on this issue).

Veronica

Well SKT readers, there you have it, now everyone say it with me, Verizon, suck it long and suck it hard!

Freedom Hater of the Day: Nokia

2007-12-10T10:01:00.000-08:00

ARSTechnica posted today that Nokia is upset with the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) because they want to include both OGG Vorbis and Therora in the HTML5 Spec.

Why I Didn't I hear about this sooner? OGG on the web w00000000000000tzzz!!!!111one.

But Nokia had a List of issues, I answered this list of on Digg and figured that you all should see it too.

So with out Further adieu, My Rebuttal: A Rope of Sand:

1. W3C shouldn't make any standards relating to codecs. Leave that to other standards bodies like ITU-T and ISO/IEC.

*But the W3C is the standards body for the web not ITU-T and ISO/IEC, those 2 have no "jurisdiction" (I guess that word will do)

2. There are over a billion PCs in the world today, many connected to the web, but these numbers are tiny compared to traditional video playback devices like DVD players.

*DVD players have nothing to do with the web.

3. This industry is used to paying license fees and royalties for video codecs like MPEG-2.

* yeah and I'm sure they would be heartbroken to save money

4. This industry is used to making money, and it doesn't care about keeping things free.

*Free Software refers to freedom, not money. Think Free Speech, not Free Beer.

5. Web codec standards should be either free or low-cost to implement.

*see number 3

6. Web codec standards should support DRM to placate Hollywood, but DRM implementations should be optional.

*there hasn't been DRM on the Web so far (that I know of), and if they wanted to, the spec is in the Public Domian http://www.vorbis.com/faq/

7. H.264 for video and AAC for audio would be Nokia's recommendations for codecs.

*what in the hell do they have against Linux. If you standardize on those two the web will suck for Free Software fans for at least the next two years. x.264 is fairly stable and complete, but I don't about AAC

Hrm, makes me wonder about my education...

2007-11-26T23:53:00.001-08:00

Doing the bog reading level test I just found out that this blog has a higher reading level than the website for our college. So so sad...

Pegwole's tips: How to survive in IT.

2007-11-25T15:30:00.000-08:00

Ah the corporate world, where success is measured by how well you can screw people over the worst.
In the corporate world you may start off at the bottom of the Ladder of Success, but we all know what's at the bottom, a few sacks of manure and a box fan. The higher you go the less crap falls on to your shoulders. Pretty soon you are granted a scapegoat known in most cultures as an assistant.
On the island of IT however, you may keep moving up the ladder, but the fan comes with you and it gets bigger and bigger each time. With every step is another bag of manure, and when you get high enough the have other people there to dump it straight on you.

So how do you survive in a place like this? In a place where HR headhunters and Consultants run free?

I'll tell you here's...

PEGWOLE'S IT SURVIVAL BOOK!

1. When dealing with consultants keep spare donuts on hand, they are prone to chase after any thing that moves or disagrees with what they say and they will then attempt to ingest that person or object.

2. You will go from hero to zero in many times a day.

3. As the "tech guy" of your company you will spend countless hours baby sititng old, useless technology. This technology will include things such as Windows 98 and a server that still uses Slackware 1.0

4. Technotards will be drawn to you, then after you give them an answer they will insist it was their idea and they will take credit for it. Most of the time these people are the people higher above you. And yes they have several sacks of manure at their disposal.

5. Avoid MSCEs

6. Use jargon to scare off anyone who could potentially ruin a coffee break.

7. Have at least one sticker of your favorite metal band on your personal laptop, as this will strike fear in to those that dare ask stupid questions.

8. A hunting knife is better than any box cutter around, it also makes a statement ad reinforces the fear.

9. Do not hesitate in hurting anyone who says you need Windows Server 2003

10. Purchase a BOFH excuse calendar

11. Ass Pennies, nuff said.

12. If your boss asks you to fix his digital camera copy all off the photos on it for use as incriminating evidence later.

13. Make friends with the janitor, he knows good places to hide scotch.

14. Find a way to place a webcam in your office and stream it using ustream all day.

15. NEVER work too hard, that way you can never say "well I'm finally done with my work" at which point a boss will hear it and find something new for you to do. Create work for yourself that's rather meaningless and takes a while to do, such as replacing a long length of network cable.

16. On the off chance you actually remember how to do a lot of high level math do not help others with it, the last thing you need is to go form Tech Guy to That Guy Who The People In Accounting Hate.

17. Marketing people are evil.

18. You most likely have access to the emails people send and receive , use this to your advantage. "Oh hey Stacy, how'd the breast implants turn out?" sentences like that are best used in a crowded room and said at a high volume.

OK, this should get you past the first few years, if I think of anything else to add I ill do so.

To the people of my class, stop annoying me!

2007-11-12T16:55:00.000-08:00

Guy who teaches it: i have no problem with you, mainly because you control my grade for the semester.

Woman who sits to the right of me: You're cool, but I wish you would talk more.

Dude who sits in the back right corner of the room: Shut up about Counter Strike for five damn minutes!!!!

Kid who sits in front of me: Since I dated your sister, I have no qualms with you.

Kid who sits to the left of the kid that sits in front of me: You talk. A lot.

Dude who sits behind me: WoW is lame, stop talking about it, other than that, you're cool as hell.

Woman who sits in the back left corner of class: I sometimes forget you even exist, but other than that I have no problem with you.

Myself: Stop blogging in class and finish your midterms!

How to turn RPM packages into DEB packages with Alien

2007-10-31T23:33:00.000-07:00

I just posted this step by step tutorial on how to change an rpm package to a deb package. Feed back is welcome, either post in the comments or you can email me at three [at] threethirty [dot] us

Link

OSI Approves Microsoft License Submissions

2007-10-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

Via OpenSource.Org:
The OSI Board today approved the Microsoft Public License (Ms-PL) and the Microsoft Reciprocal License (Ms-RL). The decision to approve was informed by the overwhelming (though not unanimous) consensus from the open source community that these licenses satisfied the 10 criteria of the Open Source definition, and should therefore be approved.

The formal evaluation of these licenses began in August and the discussion of these licenses was vigorous and thorough. The community raised questions that Microsoft (and others) answered; they raised issues that, when germane to the licenses in question, Microsoft addressed. Microsoft came to the OSI and submitted their licenses according to the published policies and procedures that dozens of other parties have followed over the years. Microsoft didn't ask for special treatment, and didn't receive any. In spite of recent negative interactions between Microsoft and the open source community, the spirit of the dialogue was constructive and we hope that carries forward to a constructive outcome as well.

The Open Source Initiative is best known as the steward of the Open Source Definition and for its license review process. But, an open source license is just the starting point. Open source depends upon code (which can be made better), community (which can be made larger), and ultimately a commitment to the idea that the more free the market is for innovation, the more innovation the market can deliver.

Every approval that OSI issues represents our community's demand for more open-source code, a larger and more vital open-source community, and all the benefits open source brings to innovation in a free market. The new Ms-PL and Ms-RL are no exceptions.

From what I have read from these licenses they seem to be very forward thinking for Microsoft. I'm no sure how this will keep Steve "Monkey-Boy" Balmer from running his trap about Linux and other FOSS projects but maybe this can be a new era for Microsoft. I plan to keep microsuck.com in the bookmarks just in case though

threethirty's posts to SKT are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.
Opensource.org site content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.

Cram 4TB on Desktop Drives by 2009, Hitachi Says

2007-10-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies plans to announce Monday it has developed technology that will quadruple the storage capacity of desktop hard drives within the next two years.

The new reading-head technology will allow the company to cram more data on hard drives. Desktop computers could attain a capacity of 4TB of storage while laptop storage could reach 1TB, according to Hitachi.
Steady Capacity Jump

Hard drives are currently doubling in capacity every two years, said John Best, chief technologist at Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. The new reading-head technology will allow an even greater capacity boost while shrinking the size of disk drives, Best said.

The company hopes to implement the technology in hard drives in 2009.

As hard drives shrink, magnetic fields become harder to detect, so the reading head has to be more sensitive, Best said. The heads made with Hitachi's new CPP-GMR (current perpendicular-to-the-plane GMR) material are more sensitive than existing reading heads and detect the magnetic field better, Best said.

The CPP-GMR heads will enable the density of disk storage surfaces to increase to 500G bits per square inch or more in the near future, Best said. The greater the density of the storage surface, the more data the surface can hold. The current density stands at about 200G bits per square inch, he said.

The technology will help to meet future storage needs fueled by video and Web 2.0 applications, Best said.
Nobel-Winning Technique

The technology builds on GMR (giant magnetoresistance), a physical effect that manipulates the charge and spin of electrons, allowing an increase in density and storage on hard drives. The GMR effect won two European scientists, Albert Fert and Peter Grunberg, a Nobel Prize in physics this month.

GMR was discovered in 1988 and commercialized by vendors such as IBM, which used the technology to increase the capacity of its drives every year. The technology fueled the growth of information storage and led to miniaturized hard drives that could fit in portable storage devices such as the iPod.

Scientists consider solid-state, atomic-scale storage to be the future of data storage, but the emergence of solid-state drives (SSDs) won't make hard drives irrelevant, Best said. SSD is semiconductor technology and can't compete with hard drives on a cost-per-bit basis, he said.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies was established after Hitachi finished its majority purchase of IBM's hard-disk drive manufacturing business for $2.05 billion in January 2003. Hitachi assumed full ownership of the unit at the end of 2005. The unit's research labs interact with many universities and companies to develop new technologies, Best said.

Here we go again

2007-10-12T07:11:00.000-07:00

This is looking like SCO 2.0, from Ars,

Patent holding company IP Innovation has filed a patent infringement suit against Linux distributors Novell and Red Hat. The patent, which describes a "user interface with multiple workspaces for sharing display system objects," dates back to 1987 and originated in Xerox's PARC labs.

IP Innovation seeks damages and injunctive relief. "Red Hat's and Novell's infringement, contributory infringement and inducement to infringe has injured Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs are entitled to recover damages adequate to compensate them for such infringement, but in no event less than a reasonable royalty," reads the complaint.

The Linux vendors aren't the only companies that have been on the receiving end of lawsuits for allegedly infringing this particular user interface patent. In April, IP Innovation sued Apple and demanded $20 million in damages. Apple eventually settled with the company for an undisclosed amount.

IP Innovation, which is a subsidiary of the Acacia Research Corporation, develops no products of its own. Acacia owns over 140 patents in 38 separate categories, accumulating patents and generating all of its revenue from licensing and litigation. Such companies are generally referred to as "patent trolls" because the manner in which they take advantage of the patent system is broadly considered detrimental to innovation.

Many companies that invest heavily in Linux development have long anticipated patent threats against the operating system, but the defensive measures in place might not be enough to stop this threat. Consider, for instance, the Open Invention Network (OIN), which was originally devised to deter patent litigation by establishing a vehicle for severe retaliation. As critics of the OIN have pointed out in the past, a defensive patent portfolio doesn't provide protection from companies that do not develop products because there is no basis on which to sue them. The OIN's powerful patent portfolio cannot be used to force IP Innovation into a cross-licensing agreement because IP Innovation has no need to license the patents held by others.

and here is a link to the patient itself

I just had to defend the CC-BY-SA

2007-10-09T01:58:00.000-07:00

I just sent a lengthy email into the Debian bug tracking system. I originally tried to send it directly to the developers through an already "closed" bug (which was returned undeliverable) so I sent it again to submit@bugs.debian.org. I sent it with the proper headings (I hope) so that it would get to the developers. the subject was "VRMS-Why is the Tango Icon theme listed as non-free", and the project in question is vrms or (Virtual Richard M. Stallman) which is a program that will analyze the set of currently-installed packages on a Debian-based system, and report all of the packages from the non-free tree which are currently installed.

The entire email can be read here

And I have also sent an email to Cory Doctorow and have submitted it for consideration on BoingBoing

How much do YOU love Freedom?

2007-10-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

My brother and I were discussing Software Freedom, well I was being a zealot and he was being somewhat intelligent in his discussion. After this discussion I got a message on facebook telling me to install a thing called vrms. So I did. For those of you who don't know,

vrms (Virtual Richard M. Stallman) is a program that will analyze the set of currently-installed packages on a Debian-based system, and report all of the packages from the non-free tree which are currently installed.

Note that vrms is not limited to Debian systems only (which means that it also works with Debian-derived distributions such as Ubuntu). It is also not limited to Linux-based systems.

Future versions of vrms will include an option to also display text from the public writings of RMS and others that explain why use of each of the installed non-free packages might cause moral issues for some in the Free Software community. This functionality is not yet included.
(via wikipedia)

so here is the output on my Gutsy Beta box:

three@CondorV2:~$ vrms
Non-free packages installed on CondorV2

human-icon-theme Human Icon theme
linux-generic Complete Generic Linux kernel
linux-restricted-modules- Non-free Linux 2.6.22 modules on x86/x86_64
linux-restricted-modules- Non-free Linux 2.6.22 modules on x86/x86_64
linux-restricted-modules- Non-free Linux 2.6.22 modules helper script
linux-restricted-modules- Restricted Linux modules for generic kernels
nvidia-glx-new NVIDIA binary XFree86 4.x/X.Org 'new' driver
tangerine-icon-theme Tangerine Icon theme

8 non-free packages, 0.7% of 1170 installed packages.

so that means that I am 99.2% free, how much do you love freedom?

Gutsy Countdown

2007-10-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

This is really exciting and really scary at the same time. GNOME 2.20 is sweet there is no doubt about that, but the rest of the stuff is really buggy. Here is a list of stuff that has happened in no particular order:

*the bottom bar doesn't show up when you first boot
*the added effects manager or the other effects crash the system
*everything seems really touchy

I know not a "definitive list of why it shouldn't ship", but I'm still worried. Not for the people like me who are going to install it regardless and say that it's better than having to run Slackware from 6 years ago, but it's not even as ready as the Feisty Alphas were. I'm running the Beta and it's like Microsoft beta quality not Free Software Beta quality.

Vista or shovel?

2007-09-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

Apple put down that glass of hater-aid

2007-09-18T21:54:00.000-07:00

Okay Steve listen up, YOU CAN'T STOP THE INEVITABLE! At what point did you think that a little sha checksum would stop us, the determined, the diligent, and the free? Ok you're trying to stop the same people that cracked DVD's (yes DVD John cracked CSS so that he could play DVD's on his Linux box), the same people who are reimplementing WindowsNT (check out ReactOS, it's finally getting places), and the same people who built the technology that your precious OSX is built on (Darwin is an off shoot of one of the various BSD's) . You silly. silly man. Thanks to the crew that code on GTKpod we now can use your freedom hating, DRM using, sickeningly trendy, digital music product. here is a little glimpse into the that triumphant moment

From #gtkpod today:
wtbw: okay guys
wtbw: i think we're done.
wtbw: let me code something just to check
[30 minutes later]
wtbw: can i hear a fuck yeah?
wtbw: works for both mine and xamphears :>

donations from thankful users can be sent to Cancer Research UK.

Steve we don't like working this hard, just keep it free and open and no one's feeling will get hurt, Okay?

Oh BTW: it's not free software without some code

Thanks,
three
threethirty.us
three[at]threethirty[dot]us

Okay anyone know where I can send this?

The Reason Why Ubuntu Wins Hardware Vendors' Polls

2007-09-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the most recent Distrowatch OGGcast http://distrowatch.com/podcast/dww20070910.mp3
and the host brought up an interesting question, why does Ubuntu win all of the polls? Well here are my reasons why the next top competitors aren't on top.

Suse (SLED and OpenSUSE): No one trusts Novell. People tend to switch to Linux to get away from Microsoft, so why use a partner's distro?!?

Mandriva: I think Mandrivia is just crap, they focus way too much on the "club" (the tossers that actually pay for it) and don't focus enough on community building.

Debian: scary server OS

Fedora: I don't like Fedora. Okay scratch that, I hate RPM (RedHat Package Manager) . All Fedora needs is a new package manager (how about apt) and it would be fine. I would still reformat and put Ubuntu on, but Fedora may survive the first day.

Gentoo and Slackware: will never win because they are too damn difficult.

Mint Linux: may win the poll but will never come from the OEM because of the non-free codecs and shit they add (some illegally)

PCLinuxOS: name, the name sucks

[Note] I will update this (maybe repost) with more distros as I think of them and why they will not win.

My Laptop is Here!

2007-09-12T05:59:00.000-07:00

I just bought a laptop. It's a Toshiba Satellite A135-S4666. It has:

Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic (NO RANTING)
Intel Pentium dual-core processor T2080
1024MB DDR2 SDRAM
80GB (5400rpm) HDD
DVD SuperMulti drive
15.4" diagonal widescreen TruBrite display
802.11 b/g wireless-LAN

It's a really pretty laptop. Since I got it I haven't touched my PC.

The definitive dual-booting guide: Linux, Vista and XP step-by-step

2007-09-03T21:49:00.000-07:00

Today/Yesterday I posted a link to the RLUG Ubuntu Help Blog Titled exactly as this post, it is seriously "The definitive dual-booting guide". Dual booting is not really a fun thing to do, and I think this will make it really not too hard.

here is that link btw http://rlugubuntuhelp.blogspot.com/2007/09/definitive-dual-booting-guide-linux.html

Keese is now Linux friendly!

2007-08-31T06:17:00.001-07:00

Forward: I am Linux's bitch.

About a year ago Threethirty told me about the awesomeness of Linux. He told the of the idea, the benefits of using it, and even the downfalls. I decided it would be a great thing to try out. I mean it's free (as in beer) so what the hell. I played with it for a little while but started to hate it because I was using a wireless adapter, which is a pain to get working. Then I upgraded my computer, and Linux yelled at me. Told me that X Server Failed to start. I had no idea what the problem was, and I even boggled Threethirty and Pegwole's minds with the issue.

Two days ago, was my first day at my Linux/Unix Administration class. For homework we were to burn a live CD-ROM with Knoppix on it as well as get the version of linux that came with the book onto our home computers. This wasn't much of a problem as I've had too much experience already burning Linux disks, and I was saving the Linux partition for a rainy day. It was there that I figured out the out the cause and solution to my X Server problem. I have a nVidia GeFirce FX 5500, and it turns out Linux didn't like seeing it. So I pulled it, and now I'm as happy as a kid in a candy store, I've been using it since I've installed it, and love it!

Reiew: Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon

2007-08-28T23:54:00.000-07:00

Well honestly i can't review it much, X got stuck in a loop of crashes, but I did notice a new option when booting up the live CD OEM Install. This makes me happy, now computer companies have no excuse not to offer a system preinstalled with Ubuntu.

As for me, it looks like I'll have to wait until the beta release to get to experience Gutsy Gibbon.

MPAA forces Ubuntu user to give up his freedom

2007-08-27T22:58:00.001-07:00

Ars Technica reporter Jeremy Reimer, along with others are reporting that the Motion Picture Association of America has the ability to force someone to change operating systems. Basically the story goes some dude uploaded a movie and got bused, and part of his supervised release is that he has to have some special monitoring software running on his computer. Which will not run in anything other than Windows. Which is kinda bullshit, yeah the dude shouldn't be stealing movies (blah blah blah) but how bleeding hard is it to write a wine wrapper for your craptastic spyware. All in all this is pretty sucky.

And now quote of the week time...

'Jokes about "nobody is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to use Windows" aside, this case should be put up alongside the RIAA's suing of grandmothers and dead people as an example of the absurdity of current copyright law enforcement.'

For Those Who Care: White House Flouts NSA Subpoena Deadline, But Will Congress Fight Back?

2007-08-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

White House Flouts NSA Subpoena Deadline, But Will
Congress Fight Back? (via eff.org)

Yesterday, the White House once again flouted Congress'
authority and failed to comply with Senate subpoenas
regarding the NSA's illegal domestic spying. In response,
Senator Patrick Leahy threatened contempt proceedings and
stated that the compliance deadline, which was already
delayed twice, would not be pushed back again.

That's certainly welcome news, but Congress can't let this
turn into yet another set of empty threats. Tough talk is
not enough -- after all, Congress has already made numerous
requests for critical information about the spying program
and let the President dodge them again and again. Instead
of forcing his hand, it practically rewarded his
evasiveness by capitulating to the Administration's
outrageous demands and radically expanding domestic spying
powers earlier this month.

Congress cannot allow itself to be pushed around any
longer. It needs to make good on its threats and pry the
truth out of the Administration using all available means,
including by holding it in contempt.

And that must only be a first step towards the ultimate
goal of stopping the President's abuse of power. Truth and
accountability for the warrantless wiretapping of Americans
should have come before any legislative changes were given
even the slightest consideration. Now Congress needs to
undo its mistake, starting with a repeal of the so-called
"Protect America Act," the Administration's FISA
"modernization" power grab.

Take action now and tell Congress to stop the warrantless
wiretapping:
http://action.eff.org/fisa

Read EFF's article from August 7, "Congress Caves on
Warrantless Snooping -- What Happened, and How to Fix It":
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/005395.php

here is a direct link to the video http://www.archive.org/details/gov.courts.ca9.2007.08.16

Old news is good news, or something like that...

2007-08-21T23:28:00.000-07:00

It took a couple of days to finally get the iPhone service activated. But as soon at they got it working, it took researchers at Errata Security only a few minutes to find multiple security vulnerabilities in the iPhone.

So far, Errata has found three main flaws in the long-awaited and much-hyped mobile phone/music/video player/mobile Web/email client device: a heap overflow bug in its Safari browser; a potential denial-of-service bug in its Bluetooth feature; and a data "seepage" bug that could cause seemingly innocuous data to be exposed by chatty client applications over a WiFi connection. (See Tool Uncovers Inadvertent 'Chatter', Joke's on Me, and Data That Doesn't Drip... Drip... Drip....)

These are just the first of the publicized bugs in iPhone: Security researchers say plenty more have been found, but many won't be disclosed until Apple (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) fixes them. John Hering, CEO of Flexilis, a mobile security firm, says his company has found flaws in iPhone and is currently alerting Apple on its findings.

"A number of vulnerabilities exist in the device," Hering says. "The iPhone is going to be a choice target. With something as exciting as this, inherently creative people are always going to be looking into it" security-wise.

Even so, the iPhone, which is based on a version of OS X, is actually more secure than other mobile phones because it has a system for updating and patching it: iTunes, says Robert Graham, Errata's CEO, who has been hammering away at the iPhone since his service finally kicked in. "It's the only one [mobile device] that will be regularly updated for security patches." The iTunes service already has alerted users that it will provide updates on July 5, he says.

A lack of simple patching capabilities has been a major problem in the mobile industry, Hering says. Interfacing with iTunes will make this process simple for iPhone users, but it also opens another potential attack venue. "If the mobile device gets compromised, would it be a great leap to exploit the traditional PC [or laptop]?"

Interestingly, the Safari and Bluetooth bugs found by Errata had already been found on other Mac OS X systems. "One of the major problems with mobile industry is legacy code -- having vulnerabilities hopping from system to system," Hering says. "If you have systems that are 'recycled' in mobile systems, you're going to see similar security vulnerabilities."

Although the Safari bug wasn't really a surprise, Graham says it's probably the most critical of the bugs Errata has found so far. "Just by visiting a [malicious] Website, you can have your iPhone broken into... and taken over." All it takes is a spam or SMS message luring the user to a malicious link, he says.

Graham says Errata is still exploring the Bluetooth bug, which he has been testing with a fuzzer. "The system hangs -- it may just be a DOS [denial-of-service]" bug.

And like any wireless device, the iPhone is susceptible to what Graham and Errata CTO David Maynor have dubbed as "data seepage," which they confirmed using their Ferret tool that sniffs WiFi traffic.

"If you've got a mobile phone, and you walk by a wireless access point it likes the name of, it will connect you to it and disclose all about you without your being aware you're on WiFi," Graham says. "It has all of the same problems Mac notebooks have."

Security researchers expect iPhone to have lots of security flaws because it's a high-profile device, and because of its Mac OS X ties. "There will be more iPhone vulnerabilities found than in all the other mobile phones put together," predicts Graham. "But in reality, it's [the iPhone] more secure."

It all boils down to threat vs. risk for iPhone users. Flexilis's Hering worries that the iPhone's high profile and expected massive uptake, as well as its links to the Mac OS, could make it an attractive target for a massive worm or other attack. The iPhone's Web browser, unlike other mobile devices, is basically a full-featured Safari application, he says. "That’s neat for the user but it also poses a number of security risks."

Meanwhile, what looks to be the iPhone's system-restore image has appeared online, leading to speculation that iPhone hacking tools may be just around the corner.

http://www.forbes.com/2007/07/03/cx_0703darkreading.html

Linux MCE

2007-08-21T15:41:00.000-07:00

New Compiz Fusion Screenshot and Effect

2007-08-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

This is about the most awesome thing I've (personally) ever seen. This is an effect from the latest build of Compiz Fusion. Paper Airplanes are a totally productive 3d effect.

pegwole's twitter badge

2007-08-08T22:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, i finally added a twitter bade, they have new ones that you can insert into blogger and make it blend. (plays Will It Blend theme)

The great antenna experiment

2007-08-08T22:47:00.000-07:00

Son, Three and myself will be doing an experiment, it involves using coax cable as an antena, using a giant one, the kind for receiving TV broadcasts. If the giant antenna works, we will possibly use it for a giant cantenna, of almost epic proportions!

mmm LCD, ahhrgh

2007-08-08T17:54:00.000-07:00

A picture of a new Dell LCD surfaced recently and I must say, yeskthxbye. I mean, look at that clear bezel and touch-sensitive controls. [/drool]

Windows Vista Vs. Ubuntu Beryl

2007-07-26T23:02:00.000-07:00

I was just YouTubing around and found this awesome video. Windows Vista Vs. Ubuntu Beryl - Ready Fight!!!

Another Great Idea

2007-07-20T20:48:00.002-07:00

Here at SKT we are very modest, but not modest enough to deny our ability to foresee future technologies. Every day we are throwing ideas at each other and debating their usefulness. Before I moved to Connecticut, I was talking to Threethirty about yet another great idea I had. My idea was well, to put it simply, a peer-to-peer radio station. In other words a radio station that is run by the listeners. You would go onto a website and search for songs that you wanted to have played. If you saw one you liked you would click on it. If you didn't you could upload your own song and have it voted on. At the end of an hour it would play all the songs it could with the most clicked songs first.

Pegwole's sweet idea

2007-07-20T18:05:00.000-07:00

This is one I've been mulling around in my head for a bit, I've discussed it with Threethirty before. What if you wrote a program that allowed one to connect two computers together via a USB cable, and have one mount as a USB hard drive would? How awesome would that be? Say you have imposrtant files on your laptop you need and you don't have file sharing on, or your network is down, plug the USB cable in both computers, have it mount automatically, pull the files off, and bam! You're Done!

Keese's Brilliant Idea

2007-07-18T21:52:00.001-07:00

I don't think this exists yet, but it's only a matter of time. Imagine this:
You're an important man, or maybe you're not, maybe you are on vacation with your family. Something comes up that requires internet access, perhaps a conference or maybe just the urge to play online poker, but there isn't wireless network for miles. So you pull out your cell phone and connect it to your laptop via a USB cable. Suddenly you have the entire internet in front of you. Using the satellite internet that cell phone industries use to host phone calls, you can use the internet without the need of a wireless network. Remember you heard it here first.

Okay NOW you have no reason not to not try Linux

2007-07-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

Look we have tried to make Linux easy for everyone, non-text installs, Live CD's and DVD's, LUG's, install-fest's, etc, etc. But now we have done the one think that makes trying Linux as brainless as installing Windows apps.

I bring you Wubi.

Wubi is an unofficial Ubuntu installer for Windows users that will bring you into the Linux world with a single click. Wubi allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu as any other application. If you heard about Linux and Ubuntu, if you wanted to try them but you were afraid, this is for you.

Wubi is Safe

It does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader.

Wubi is Simple

Just run the installer, no need to burn a CD.

Wubi is Discrete

Wubi keeps most of the files in one folder, and If you do not like, you can simply uninstall it.

Wubi is Free

Wubi (like Ubuntu) is free as in beer and as in freedom. You will get this part later on, the important thing now is that it cost absolutely nothing, it is our gift to you...

screenshots can be found here
a FAQ can be found here

You can get support here

Firefox takes 28% market share in Europe

2007-07-15T17:19:00.001-07:00

XiTi Monitor has released its latest report (FR) on web browsers utilization in Europe and the rest of the world according to a survey during the first week of July. All European countries saw an increase in Firefox participation with Hungary showing the most dramatic increase from 27.2%, in the latest March 2007 survey, to 39.7%.

read more | digg story

My hard drive is on its way!!!

2007-07-14T21:28:00.000-07:00

A while back I bought my mom's old computer. A couple weeks later the hard drive crashed. Of course it was my fault, who else would it be when my mom is faultless. Anyway we looked into it and came up with the conclusion that somehow a lot of bad clusters were created when it crashed; bad to the point of unrepairable. We (when I say we I mean my mom) ordered another hard drive a like 2 weeks ago and they just recently sent an email saying that it was on its way. As soon as it arrives I'm gonna install Ubuntu Linux duel booting with Windows XP, so I can continue the lifestyle I have become accustomed to.

Pegwole's blog

2007-07-11T22:49:00.001-07:00

OK I finally made a blog, and I'll be contributing to this one as well, don't worry I won't neglect this one. When I actually get some content up I'll announce it, but until then, keep reading this one. Actually, don't stop reading this one, just read mine as well.

Yes, I'm now whoring my blog.

Keese's new webcam

2007-07-11T20:46:00.000-07:00

I just bought a new webcam. It's one of those Logitech webcams with the built in mics. I already have a headset so i set the webcam to read it instead of the built in mic. It's a pretty neat little toy complete with administrative options, a stand and a privacy screen. After playing with it I noticed it also has the ability to flip the feed vertically and/or horizontally. It's a neat little gadget and i plan on using it from now on as long as im at my computer.

OpenMoko: Linux-based $300 open smartphone

2007-07-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

The OpenMoko is a cellphone platform for those who are tired of being pushed around by the big manufactures and the carriers. The Neo 1973 is a $300, Linux-based open smartphone. Unlike the iPhone, it doesn't come locked to any provider, it doesn't come with DRM, and it allows you to install any third party app you like, even if Steve Jobs worries that it might spoil your experience. It's still in "developer preview," but this will be my next phone.

The Neo 1973 boasts the following hardware specifications

* 2.8" VGA TFT color display
* Touchscreen, usable with stylus or fingers
* 266MHz Samsung System on a Chip (SOC)
* USB 1.1, switchable between Client and Host (unpowered)
* Integrated AGPS
* 2.5G GSM – quad band, voice, CSD, GPRS
* Bluetooth 2.0
* Micro SD slot
* High Quality audio codec

iPhone?

2007-07-08T06:34:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's just me, but it looks like Apple is trying to grab a hold of any market that Microsoft doesn't already have their toes in. Since the iPod, Apple has been thinking of more and more ways to earn a dollar. First the iPod, then the iTV and now the iPhone! That's where I draw the line. The iPhone is an MP3 player, web browser, camera, movie player and of coarse a phone. That's just giving nerds a reason to get off their ass and do things. How dare they! Having saying that, all I want to know is: Where can I get one!?

One great thing about Ubuntu Linux

2007-07-07T14:31:00.000-07:00

[disclaimer]I am an Ubuntu fanboy.[/disclaimer] I recently decided to do something I had never done before. I decided to do a dist-upgrade. Now a dist-upgrade is the equivalent to to running Windows XP and Being able to upgrade all of the packages to Vista via the internet and without any kind of disk media. This is usually not recommended (you really do accumulate a lot of crap and should blow your system clean every once in a while) but can be a fun experience. **NOTE** BACK UP BEFORE YOU DO THIS, SOMETIMES UNEXPECTED THINGS HAPPEN AND YOU DON'T WANT TO LOOSE DATA **

I went from Ubuntu 6.06 LTS "Dapper Drake" to Ubuntu Ubuntu 6.10 "Edgy Eft". This took an entire night over my DSL connection but I was still able to use the computer. It is really cool to have Firefox 1.5 open, close it for a little bit, and open it sometime later to 2.0. This actually surprised me because I was not watching the terminal for the status. after I got all of the available updates for edgy, I went ahead and dist-updated to the newest version of Ubuntu 7.04 "Feisty Fawn". Which the the whole next day.

Now I have to be honest I have some packages that won't update. It's not really that big of a deal, and I have a problem with Beryl (the 3d compositing window manager) where my window borders disappear. Again not a big deal to me.

If you want to know more about dist-upgrades just leave a comment and I'll add it to this post

Force an elevator to go straight to your floor

2007-07-07T14:12:00.000-07:00

This is SO awesome. Apparently most elevators are installed with an "Express Mode" which gets the passenger to his/her destination without picking up other people.

http://view.break.com/327059 - Watch more free videos

B.A.U.D.

2007-07-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

I was watching Dr. Phil with my grandma today and they showed this lady getting her chocolate addiction cured from a machine called B.A.U.D. What is does is as the addict thinks about the sensation they get from their drug, the B.A.U.D. sends a sound wave that disrupts and terminates the brain wave. At first I thought it was too good to be true, but then Dr. Phil said it was approved by the FDA, which means it must be real.

Hey I'm Keese

2007-07-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

I'm a programming major at Tunxis Community College. I have been using computers since I was 3, with 16 years of a Microsoft OS and 2 years of Linux experience. I not as much of a free software activist as Three is. My philosophy is, if it does what you want it to do why change it. I do admit that Linux is a very liberating experience, but Microsoft is what I'll stick to for now.

Hello I'm threethirty

2007-07-04T18:20:00.000-07:00

As the title says Hello I'm threethirty. I'm a Free Software advocate and Linux user. I have been running Linux since about the mid 90's (back when Red Hat was king), and I currently use it full time on all of my computers. I plan on discussing Free Software, because that's about all I really deal with.

This is now my I think 6th blog, but I will love and care for this one as I do all of them. You can find them at Technorati(search the keyword threethirty),or you can get a feed of everything I'm doing at threethirty.jaiku.com.

I hope you all come back and see us and