Saturday, April 30, 2011

Using .htaccess to Redirect Renamed or Deleted Web Pages, Forums, and Directories

A web admin may have a good reason for renaming the stray page or directory on a web site, but doing so impacts search engine optimization. One wouldn't wish to greet visitors or search engines accessing old links with a clumsy 404 page. An elegant solution is to redirect access attempts to a new page. For a simple rename, this is easy enough:
redirect 301 /Atheism.html /atheism.html
Any hits on Atheism.html will be redirected to atheism.html. This is clear, economical code, the best choice for a simple scenario like that. But what about the case of deleted forums with variable links, such as /messages/techforum/posts/, followed by many links such as 2009/12/75433.html? A common desire is to redirect many links in a directory to a single directory or file. The 301 technique no longer serves in that scenario.

My solution is to use Apache's RewriteCond command, which requires the following line somewhere near the beginning of your .htaccess file:
RewriteEngine on
With that prerequisite in place, one can then use RewriteCond and RewriteRule to redirect requests for /messages/techforum/post/2009/12/75433.html, for instance, to notice.html:
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} /messages/
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /notice.html [R=301,L]
REQUEST_URI is an environmental variable with the specific page accessed on the web site, excluding the web site's base url. The RewriteRule drops all text after the base url and replaces it with notice.html, which then should appear on the user's browser.

IP Addresses of Spammers, Hackers, Leaches and Bothersome Bots

This is the list of banned IP addresses for the web site I admin. It is the product of countless hours pouring over my server logs and observing activity from the addresses below. Pay no mind to the date of this blog post. I update this post periodically with my latest blacklist in use on the web sites I admin.

Not all IP addresses listed below are malicious hackers or spammers. I'm an aggressive admin that takes a dim view of bots other than the big three (Google, Bing/MSN, Yahoo) and social media sites like StumbleUpon, Digg and Facebook.

My list bans bots that may be content scrapers or researchers. If they're not human and not related to a major search engine, I don't care what they are. Rule of thumb--if my site gains nothing from the transaction and if the transaction isn't a human being on a browser, ban it as a waste of system resource and a potential liability. At the very least their leaching could reduce the response time of my site for a legitimate human user.

Some humans were observed engaged in non-browser activity, in some cases attempts at modifying or exploiting our site. If a human user isn't using a browser, but an automated script seeking to exploit the site, then they do not need to visit the site at all.

My many and varied bot-traps nail several IP addresses on a weekly basis, but sometimes just for fun and recreation, I scan for bots with my own eyes. My hands-on methodology of banning IP addresses is to examine my server's log file and note the obvious non-human activity. I identify bots based upon their actions and other criteria which I will not reveal here, but anyone who has looked at a raw server log should understand what I am talking about. It is not difficult to determine who is human and who is a bot, because bots are typically very stupid and, well, robot-like in their behavior, which should not come as a surprise. The authors of these bots are not terribly bright either, judging by what I have seen. When I have identified a single IP address, then that is not the end of the story. I want to know if it belongs to an entire neighborhood which is full of bad bots, because this is often the case in my experience, and why ban one single IP when one can ban 255 or more? It is more efficient to shut down bad IP ranges than play the game of one IP address at a time, which could result in a truly massive .htaccess in the end. I research Project Honeypot (I have been a registered user of that site for years and even authored a dark .css style for the web site) and related sites to determine the true nature of an IP address and the neighborhood in which it resides.

I take a dim view of Russia and China. For one thing, these states do not value freedom of speech and do not enshrine democratic principles. Also, our site is English, and I don't envision attracting any Russian or Chinese fans in this lifetime. Unlike some admins, I don't ban the entire region. But if I notice a large number of spammers in an IP address neighborhood in Russia or China, I don't hesitate banning the entire neighborhood rather than bother with singling out individual IP addresses. I'm also skeptical of Poland and the Ukraine based on the many bad bots I've witnessed from those nations. Among all nations, I give China short shrift, because of its poor reputation and poor compliance with standards. When you look up an IP address with WHOIS, Chinese accounts sometimes don't specify a small network neighborhood, but offer a range that may encompass millions of IP addresses rather than just hundreds or thousands. Where China is concerned, if I detect numerous bad bots in a general neighborhood, and China refuses to specify a proper narrow range in WHOIS, then I will not hesitate to ban the millions. With other countries, I take a more refined approach, depending upon my evaluation of the level of corruption in their government. I am reluctant to ban entire neighborhoods in democratic nations, but if an IP range is reserved exclusively for web hosting or what is termed "Direct Allocation," then that is a red flag.

I recommend the .htaccess security measures found on Perishable Press. The .htaccess code found on Perishable Press requires testing and adjustment for specific sites, because it is more complex than a mere Deny-from. However, Jeff's code is valuable and well-worth the effort of refining, because it adds another layer of protection in case attackers slip past the Deny-from barrier. I have integrated some of the intel from his excellent "5G Blacklist 2012" into my own .htaccess, but I do not include those bits here, because the credit for that is his, not mine, and he updates it and has the best version. I recommend visiting his site and merging his intel with mine to make a synthesis. An admin that does so may notice a reduction in leach and spam traffic. My .htaccess is a synthesis of my own work with that of Perishable Press. As for Wizcraft, which I used to recommend, I do not use his intel any longer, because he does not respond to emails, and some of his deny-froms have proven problematic, causing technical issues with Wordpress, for instance. I only use Perishable Press intel and my own. My code is in use on a Wordpress site right now.

Bear in mind that intel is perishable with the changing nature of the Internet, and I'm not sure what the shelf life is. I'll try and keep it updated periodically, but there are no guarantees. Some admins grant a reprieve to addresses on an annual basis. They worry that spammers will relocate, and the IP addresses may then become legit. I don't feel like that is a worthwhile concern for my purposes. I would rather continue blocking address ranges that have a lengthy history of hosting spammers and hackers. Let's say a spammer abandons or gets booted from an IP. The hosting company will rent the IP to somebody else, and chances are that sooner or later they will rent it to another spammer, because they were lax enough to rent to one spammer and are likely to make the same mistake again in pursuit of the almighty dollar. The only good IP addresses are those in use by end-users of an Internet Service Provider and major search engines such as Google. Anything else is questionable at best and likely to be used by spammers sooner or later.

You can pop this baby right into your .htaccess file if you admin an Apache server. Beware of Blogger's word wrap, though, which sometimes creates syntax errors in copied and pasted code. Note that the last Order directive in an .htaccess file will be the one used. If you already have a Limit paragraph in your .htaccess, add the Deny's to it, but use only one Limit container.

If you would like to hire me to harden the security of your WordPress blog, my one-time flat fee is $250. I can do all of the things described here and a bit more that is not. I require a response to emailed questions, payment in advance, and for twenty-four hours, admin access as well as Secure Ftp (SFTP) access to your site. As of 2012, I no longer offer this service, because I do not have the spare time to deal with new customers.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Infections

I was hit by two nasty, sneaky, time-consuming infections this week. Computer virus and cold virus. One I've licked, the other I haven't kicked. Guess which. Achoo!

There may be hailstones. I have a sturdy umbrella. In adversity, I swim along like a fish upstream. And when I reach the shallows, there will be others. Nature is a superb engineer that has built redundancy into all her systems.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Old Have It Best

I had been suffering from a cold for a few days, but woke up this morning feeling better. The following reflection wasn't really a dream, but any thought just upon waking could be the conclusion or resolution of a dream, so I classify it as a dream. The quaint language gives me the impression it's paraphrased poetry that I read. Lately I have been reading a book about Shakespeare, "1599", that refers to playwrights flattering the elderly Queen Elizabeth. She was said to have been vain about her appearance even to the end.



Between old and young, the old have it best. The old have seized their days in the Sun. Not disease, poverty or injustice can take those days away from them. Their joys are writ upon the Book of Days forever and ever. The young cannot say which card Fate will turn over next. And if the world ends tomorrow, the old have had the most, while the young barely supped from the cup of life.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Sunday, April 24, 2011

White Room

A vague dream just before waking had me in a white room with two women who were talking with me about innocuous subjects, one close enough to put her arm around my shoulder, the other watching the two of us from a distance. I didn't know the watcher, but seemed to know the closer one who moved ever closer, becoming affectionate without any concern for the woman watching us. I did not decide how to respond until late, and then I moved away, because it was not the proper time or place and it was not a good idea either.

When I woke up, I concluded she was an attractive fellow student, my age, from school, who had made a point of speaking with me before and after class, piling on enough flattery to make me wonder what she was trying to sell me, until one day when I mentioned in passing but on purpose that I was going to visit a friend and identified the friend with a feminine pronoun, which eliminated her interest. (The friend was only a friend, a point left unmentioned.)

Most students in the nursing program were female, and that's one reason that I'd recommend the study of nursing to any single straight man. However, I'd be careful which school is chosen. Some are wastes of time and money, with too stringent a selection process. I invested a year of study, fees for stupid things like sports I don't play, and outrageous prices for textbooks, with nothing to show for it at the end, despite my straight A's, but dreams like this*.

* I also know about neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, & basophils, remembered by the immortal mnemonic, Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Syrian Virtus

I see something of the ancient Roman virtue in the Syrian protesters who are willing to die for freedom, even marching unarmed into a hail of bullets.

Assad has long since lost whatever credibility he may have once had. He should be recognized all over the world* as a peer of Khadaffy. Whoever the Alawite are, whatever their religion is (and that is by no means clear), their history is bloodstained. Where is the religion whose followers have not committed atrocities? Possibly the Amish.

* with the possible exception of followers of Iran's immoral regime.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Made in China

This is what Made in China is all about. One day, the U.S. may wish to challenge China, a fascist state made strong by our purchases of its exports. Our good-paying jobs and the jobs of our children were sacrificed in exchange for goods of short duration that are sometimes toxic. Long ago, western leaders succumbed to the siren song of free trade with slave nations in order to satisfy businessmen that saw a potential for short-term profits.

Greed is the main problem with suits. They don't fully appreciate objectives outside of their own personal enrichment. There needs to be a counter-balance coexisting along with the capitalists, a wise governor at the helm that looks ahead twenty years from now. Where was that wise man? He was missing. Instead there was another suit at the helm playing golf with the other suits and doing their bidding.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Nutrition Info

I use this web site for finding out the nutritional value of any food. I had been eating mangoes every day this week, but became concerned that I might not be getting enough vitamin C. Not all fruits have vitamin C, and I wasn't sure about mangoes. According to the above site, mangoes are rich in vitamin C.

However, I'm not yet satisfied that self.com gives accurate info. A discrepancy exists between the vitamin C content of bananas as reported by Wikipedia and the amount reported by self.com. Which is accurate? I hope for the more optimistic assessment. Also, a search on self.com for "peas" brings up meals with numerous constituent parts, such as "Baby Food, boiled, with peas, carrots, ham, oats," but the results are suspect, as the nutritional value of such meals depend upon the manufacturer, method of preparation, serving size, and the proportions of ingredients.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Insecticide

The use of certain household pesticides has been linked to lower working memory capacity in kids.

For an insecticide, I'm partial to boric acid, which has been in use for a very long time and seems safer on the whole than other chemicals. I think that long historical usage by humans is a good indicator as to a substance's safety. If something has only been in use for half a century, then it is unlikely all the effects are known. Boric acid is not difficult to come by. It is sold at many grocery stores and Home Depot in one form or another. It's cheaper than more toxic alternatives. A year's supply for an average family should cost about $8. It is effective against a wide variety of crawling insects.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Happy 4/20

Here's wishing a happy 4/20 to all those who appreciate cannabis. One day, the herb will be accepted again for all of its many uses, as it was for thousands of years.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Go to College, Work Hard, and Remain Under-employed

A timely opinion piece in the New York Times expresses my sentiments about today's job market, where a college education means nothing, wages and benefits are slashed, and employers seek interns for free and don't hire them at the end of their volunteer term. Meanwhile, Republicans want to spend more on war and less on the people. What's new?
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Time Travelling

If I could travel in time for a single day, I'd go back in time rather than forward in time. The future seems unreal to me. I like analyzing, interpreting and drawing conclusions, and that is easier with the past, when facts are known, than in the uncertain and ever-changing future, when I might not be. I'd like to go back thirty years to share what I know now with the individual that I was then. It would be a dicey affair, visiting myself. How would my past Self interpret such a visitation? I suppose there are ways that I could prove to my past Self that I was who I said I was, but such an intrusion would be unsettling.

I remember having had certain thoughts and feelings which seemed borrowed from a much later period of life, possibly premonitions. There was nothing specific that I could really sink my teeth into, only whisperings of the future and of certain paths that could be taken in the most ambiguous and general terms. I did not know the source, whether intuitive, spirit or telepath, and it seemed unwise to encourage such trespasses, so I shutdown the avenue of communication and listened no more. Perhaps it would have been better to listen more.

Of course, if I could go back in time, I'd carry as much gold with me as possible in order to liquidate and purchase stock in Microsoft, Wal-Mart, Toyota, and Honda. Even a $10,000 investment would have made me a rich man, I think, thirty years later. I don't know how I would have managed all the necessary business transactions in a single day. Another thing on the "must-do" list would be to attempt contact with the President of the United States via a written letter, easy enough to do. I would write down things that will occur in the next couple months or years in order to validate my authenticity, and then things that will occur later, to help the President craft public policy.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Special Delivery

The case of the pooping postman is funny because it is unexpected.

I'd be willing to look the other way for a price. A fee of $100 would be required. If he didn't have $100 on hand, he'd have to go to the ATM and come back at the end of his shift.

Same scenario transpired two years ago when the neighbor's tree-cutter felled a tree onto my property, devastating a bush. Inspired by mafia taxation on The Sopranos, I exacted a $50 fee, in cash, on the spot. Higher rates apply for public defecation. I'd offer a twenty-five percent discount if the postman were Asian Indian, because I understand public defecation is the norm in India.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Free Photos of Outer Space

A web site at Berkeley University offers free recent photos of outer space.

No geek has branded any text to the pictures this time, which means the pictures might serve as desktop wallpaper or as part of a screen saver rotation.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Unwelcome Mr. Reaper

The Grim Reaper is an entity never far from my thoughts. I often imagine what it will be like to die, what will happen afterward to this collection of cells, and what will happen to the ones that I care about, who are few in number, and the ones that I'm acquainted with, a much greater number, and the human race as a whole, which encompasses everyone now living and those yet to arrive.

The physical aspect of death is scary enough. I imagine the worst pain I've ever experienced and multiply it tenfold. The thought of such pain is terrifying. Fear is enough for most people to avoid potentially fatal situations such as playing "chicken" with speeding cars. Worse is knowing, right before the end, that there will be no second chances, that the change is irreversible. I am reminded of the sad look on my Grandmother's face when she was in the hospital. She knew she was going to die and said little. But I have no doubt she would have liked to get better, even if it meant giving up the use of an arm or leg, or even both arms and both legs, anything to live a bit longer. She would very much have liked to have relocated her consciousness to another body, not displacing anyone, but cohabiting. I would gladly have hosted her consciousness, although radical adjustments would have been necessary on both sides. Perhaps the technology for such an arrangement will become available in the future, too late for my readers and me.

As for physical remains, it is humbling to accept that this body that one has taken such pains to keep clean, whole and fortified will become food for microorganisms and insects or else burnt to ashes. There is an insane fear that one might regain consciousness at a late state of decomposition to discover that one's nose, mouth or eyeballs are being devoured by worms. It is distressing to imagine other people coming upon one's corpse and being grossed out, even nauseated by the sight or smell. How embarrassing! But then, where will the embarrassment originate?

As for my dear friends, which is to say, my family and partner, the "leave" is all-important. That is, the manner and state in which I departed would be the essential thing. I would want to feel like I did well, not leaving things undone that needed to be done, and not doing things that should not be done. One does not wish to be despised, with people pissing on one's grave, but mourned truly as a genuine loss and recognized, if not as a hero, then as a basically good fellow no worse than any other sort. That is why no one should envy such villains as Khadaffy, who though rich and well-known, will not be mourned by anyone in possession of a conscience.

As for my acquaintances, those that knew me at a distance, I like to imagine what might be said in confidence. I doubt much would be said at all, because I do not think I made a great impression on anyone really. People tend not to remember the things that I said or did, but to ignore me for the most part, as though I were already a ghost. I expect that after uttering a general platitude, most would dismiss every thought of me from their mind. Thus, I would be forgotten, just as most of the dead are. Only the best and the worst of people are remembered, and I'm neither, but somewhere in the middle ranks. Even the best and the worst, they too will be forgotten if there's truth in the precognition below.

For the human race as a whole, I'm pessimistic, because I believe that man's mastery of technology overwhelms his feeble moral compass, and I also believe that this disparity will result in the annihilation of intelligent life on earth. Surviving will be microorganisms, plants and small creatures. Perhaps there is time remaining in our solar system for another process of evolution on this planet. But it may be billions of years before another intelligent species arises. Traces of humankind will linger in outer space, perhaps, and in certain areas of the earth. Another intelligent species with an appreciation for archeology may unearth our bones one day.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Mutations are Good for You

I've said it before, and I'll say it again--mutations are good for you. Go ahead and drink that potion of mutation without a second's hesitation. If it turns ill for you, then double down by drinking another one, followed by a third and a fourth. In my experience, bad mutations tend not to be so very bad (-10% MP for a warrior? Pschaw!) whereas good mutations tend to be very good indeed, as shown below:


I always seek the altar of Jiyva, the God of Acid, who causes hallucinations has the power to cure bad mutations and grant beneficial mutations, which is highly desirable, as potions of cure mutation are scarce. But I haven't had much luck in locating an altar in the lower levels. Typically, my characters choose Okarawu instead, whose altars are easier to locate.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Okarawu's Secret

Unlike the Troglodyte God, the wise Okarawu takes into consideration his worshippers' aptitudes, or so it would seem.

Press 'm' to access the Abilities Menu and then turn off the Throwing ability in order to minimize skill acquisition in that area, which will also minimize the chance that Okarawu will gift your character a trivial pack of darts or needles. Preferred are Okarawu's armour and melee weapons.

Employing this strategy created favorable auspices for the following gift, which can serve as a primary melee weapon even in the deepest level of Hell:

by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Friday, April 8, 2011

Mitch Hedburg

I saw a video of a standup act with the comedian Mitch Hedburg tonight. He's unique among standups. He delivers without eye contact, staring at the floor or hiding his eyes behind his long (for a man) blonde hair. One can't decide whether he's witty or crazy; smart or moronic. His deadpan delivery in a rhythmic sing-song voice makes him funny. He expresses nonchalance, weariness with the world and irony. I think we've all known a Mitch Hedburg or else posed as one in high school or college.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Thursday, April 7, 2011

The Perfect Meal

The perfect meal consists of two sandwiches of whole-grain toast with chunks of avocado served with black or green tea.

It takes all of five minutes to make, but for my money there's nothing more delicious in the world. The only catch is that the avocado has to be a Haas and has to be perfectly ripe. It's time to snack when the skin is black.


Cost? Haas avocado, $1.49 or so; a loaf of whole-grain bread is only $1.25 at the thrift store, which is the place to go to buy cheap bread. Tea is so cheap that it is not worth itemizing--or should be so. We do live in good and prosperous times, all things considered, do we not?
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Saturday, April 2, 2011

News Gives a False Impression

The world's headlines today were suboptimal as usual. Twelve or more UN workers were killed by a mob in Afghanistan. A Catholic policeman was killed in Northern Ireland. The Libya conflict continues with no apparent end in sight. Japan is coping with radiation.

I have some ideas of my own about some of these stories. In regard to Afghanistan, I find it difficult to believe a mob became bloodthirsty just because of a small-time hick preacher in Florida burning a Koran. That is B.S., no way Jose do I believe for even one second that Afghani civilians would kill twelve U.N. workers over that. (What does the U.N. have to do with it?) I think, instead, the Taliban infiltrated a mob of offended people who might have wanted to demonstrate and let their feelings be known, but I don't think most of the people actually wanted to commit murder of random foreigners that have no connection to Pastor Putz, or at least I hope not. Maybe I'm mistaken. As for Northern Ireland, I'm willing to bet the cop was targeted because he was honest and wouldn't join the other cops that are collaborating with local hoods. I have a need to assign rational motives to irrational deeds. Again, I could be mistaken.

At any rate, there were millions of stories that went unreported in today's news. For instance, it was a beautiful day where I live, and people I saw out on the street looked nice and happy, like they were having a good time. Whenever I read the negative stories in the media, I remind myself that in ancient times such stories were commonplace, even trite. Mobs arose and slew governors, senators, and anyone they could get their hands on. Rebellions were sometimes successful, usually not though, and reprisals were severe and deadly, all over the world, through all times. Khadaffy has no monopoly on ruthlessness. He is just doing what wicked old kings have done since before Hammurabi. I accuse Khadaffy of failing to abide by the rudiments of the Western Enlightenment, and yes, I do think it is unforgivable, because knowledge and history are immediately accessible to someone of his means. I don't forgive any greedy selfish dictator who cares only about his personal power. They don't deserve being forgiven. If I were a dictator, I would at least attempt to improve the lot of my people. Why are there no benevolent dictators, like the Philosopher-King described by Plato? Why did Khadaffy have to be evil, lazy, stupid, ignorant, and delusional? I see the truth in Lord Acton's dictum, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I consoled myself with an anthology of Oscar Wilde's short stories, yarns he used to spin for dinner parties and the like. He never actually wrote them down, but others did, his enthralled listeners.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Too True

I have to agree with this column in the Holland Sentinel. It's all true. I've spoken with too many fellow workers that voted for right-wingers. They voted for people that were serving the interest of the very rich as if they, themselves, were the very rich. I guess they were living in some kind of Fantasy Land. Now the chickens are coming home to roost. Good jobs are becoming as scarce as unicorns. Funny thing is, I don't think the voting patterns have changed much. If anything, 2010 showed that the trend is firmly ingrained.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

An Idea for the Tea Party

An obvious way to cut government spending would be to end the drug war. That would save many billions of dollars. That no one of any note in the Tea Party seems to be suggesting such a thing indicates that the Tea Party is not serious about cutting spending. They are just rehashing the same old Republican notions--drop billions on warfare, including war against U.S. citizens, and play the Scrooge on the social programs. Same old same old G.O.P. Ho-hum.

Drugs were legal prior to the 1930s, yet somehow the U.S. managed to survive and even prosper. The Prohibitionists apparently believe that something changed in the U.S. around the 1930s, requiring the citizens to be policed, even in their own homes, regarding which substances they choose to use.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Monday, March 28, 2011

Alan Carr & Graham Norton

Alan Carr and Graham Norton occupy the same niche, that of an openly gay talk show host that interviews celebrities to discuss frivolous matters, often touching upon sexual or humorous topics. The celebrities seek to further their own career, while the host seeks to extract entertaining nuggets from the discussion. I know that these two shows are not educational, but they are liberating, lighthearted fare. I enjoy both shows immensely, but of the two, Alan Carr's seems better, because he is almost never mean, whereas Graham Norton has a condescending attitude toward "the little people," that is, his non-celebrity audience. Also, Alan Carr introduces novelty performances into his show. After the interview, a guest is likely to get up and dance with him or act out a skit. I have a smile on my face the whole time I watch Alan Carr--he's that good.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

McCain

I watched McCain get up in the Senate and rail against the integration of gay troops in the U.S. military and was disgusted by his performance. That's what it was, a performance, consisting of transparent lies that the bitter, conniving, power-hungry politician thinks will ingratiate himself with religious conservatives. I think between G. W. Bush and McCain, the right man won. Even in comparison with Bush, McCain is by far the weaker specimen. In the future, any media story featuring McCain will not interest me unless it concerns his defeat. McCain even makes Palin look more interesting.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Selective Enforcement of the Law

Often, the law only applies to the poor. The rich do as they please. This is true everywhere in the world. Justice is seldom blind.

Here's another example of how the poor receive severe punishment for committing minor crimes involving relatively trivial sums of money, whereas the rich receive little or no punishment for major crimes involving billions of dollars.

Of course, it is easier by far to prosecute a poor person without sufficient funds to hire a comprehensive team of defense lawyers. This bumps up the ol' quota and makes a law enforcement agent look good on paper. Let the big fish get away. Fry the small fry.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Hugo Chavez's Poor Choice of Allies

Wikipedia's page on Chavez, the president of Venezuela, is glowing and worshipful, but I don't know how much truth is on that page and how much fantasy. Wikipedia's praise of Chavez places a heavy reliance upon statistics. There are three types of lies in this world: lies, damned lies, and statistics. I have read Chavez's direct quotes lavishing unwarranted praise upon his allies, Khadaffy of Libya and the PM of Iran, excusing their many crimes. As far as I'm concerned, Chavez is not worth the time of day as long as he cozies up to such tyrants. Just because they are the enemy of his supposed enemy, the United States, is not a good enough excuse. The ignoramus Chavez described the airstrikes as an imperialist military intervention. He obviously does not know the definition of "imperialism," which means a stronger country rules, taxes and extracts resources from a weaker one, which is not on anyone's agenda. Perhaps Chavez should spend more time reading a dictionary and less time looking into matters that are beyond his intellectual capability to comprehend. Imperialism is a discarded relic of the earlier part of the previous century. Chavez certainly enjoys living in the past, but there is something to be said for seeing the present with 20/20 vision. I am unsurprised that the Wikipedia article is biased, after my own experience with a self-appointed Wikipedia censor by the nym of Fae, who deletes from the encyclopedia on the basis of his own narrow opinions.

A recent atrocity in Libya is just the tip of an iceberg, I know. I can only hope that I could have been brave as that woman, who spoke out against the torturing, raping, murdering regime of Khadaffy. In my opinion she has established her heroism by confronting the regime, even at the certain cost of her life. There is a high probability that the regime's thugs killed, tortured or raped her again after the confrontation with foreign journalists. If Hugo Chavez had even a hundredth part of her courage, he might be worth following.


Stories like this make Americans wonder what might happen to them if they were unlucky enough to be stuck in Libya for some reason among the savages of Khadaffy's barbaric regime, which has already been implicated in acts of terrorism against Americans and other Westerners. I am old enough to remember Khadaffy's support of terrorism against the United States. For past crimes against Americans, we owe him tons of bombs dropped upon his empty head to shut his lying mouth once and for all. How fortunate we are that the Libyan rebels are willing to mop up on the ground--all we have to do is drop some bombs, an easier task by far than long-term occupation. Perhaps the operation will cost a couple hundred million, but in the end a cancer will be excised, and the patient may recover from the disease known as Khadaffy.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Friday, March 25, 2011

Dear Trog

Dear Trog, God of Frenzy,

If I have achieved level 14 in Maces & Flails, do you really think I want you to bestow a battleaxe? It's a bit late for me to be starting over with a new weapon type, don't you think? Please use a bit more care in selecting your gifts. I know you're opposed to magic and not considered very smart by the other gods, but still. You don't want the other gods to think you're retarded, either.

Worshipfully,

Demonspawn Beserker
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Black Spells

From time to time, I have black spells, moments when I feel like Death the Tempter is clutching my shoulder with cold bony fingertips, whispering of how nice it is not to be, and singing about the silence, dignity, gravitas, solemnity, finality, completion, perfection and invulnerability of the grave, which no one may assail--for the dead cannot suffer--and indeed, death is all that, and more, although I suspect one doesn't know it, not being or thinking anymore. Death only seems fair before, but after, there is no seeming at all, no reflection, and no second chance. Obliteration of the individual consciousness occurs. I am neutral on the question of whether our mortality is good or bad. I think I will persist and see what will come, out of curiosity. I think it is wise to hope, especially in such wondrous times, when there is so much peace and prosperity, more than our ancestors ever dreamed, and more understanding, compassion and goodness in people than what can be read in the history books. Ancient times were harder by far. It is a mistake to give in to black spells or to do anything other than endure them and let them pass like tides of the ocean, wiping away castles of sand that can be rebuilt again.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Advice to Fellow Geeks 1: Opposites Attract

If you're a geek like me, admit it. Won't do you any good to deny it, and besides, being a geek has advantages which should be obvious, at least to other geeks. Today's class is on romance and dating. First of all, don't date other geeks. Branch out. Date a social, or "soc", someone that does not know the first thing about computers or mechanics or whatever it is your geekomania centers upon, but someone that does know people--and lots of them. You need to network, and a "soc" will help you get by in this socialized world of ours. What you bring to the table are all the strengths that only geeks have--tech savvy, analytical abilities, academic prowess, book knowledge, and other skills according to your geeky DNA. Our heavily technical, systematic and rule-bound world absolutely requires geeks, as every geek already knows.

That's right, opposites attract; it takes two to form a complete human organism. By ourselves, whether we are "socs" or "geeks", we are incomplete. Joined with our opposite, completion results, and the organism can survive and thrive in modern society.

A caveat--humility is required for such a team of opposites to function with any effectiveness. Know your weaknesses as well as your strengths. Compromise, especially in areas where you are weak, only insisting upon your will in areas where you are strong. So many fools refuse to compromise and tear apart their relationships out of sheer stubbornness and pride. It is not "being a man" to be alone and proud. I think it is marvelous to say "yes" all the time, whenever possible, and reserve "no's" for quite extraordinary circumstances. One should be desirous of pleasing one's partner, however possible and to the extent of one's abilities.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Wasted Time?

Like many Americans, judging from what I read on the Web, I'm overeducated but underemployed. It seems like there is no advantage to knowledge or brains unless one has attained specific experience in precise technical fields. The obstacles to entering a new profession or even remaining in a profession appear steep.

A case in point is registered nursing, a growth field that interested me because of its humanitarian and scientific aspect. I fulfilled all the prerequisites with flying colors, scoring in the highest percentiles in classes and on the nurses' exam. A five-minute interview apparently nixed my application, although I am permitted to reapply in six months' time--how nice, but time is running out for me, as I'm not getting any younger.

The thought of having spent a year on training, only to be told "No" after a strangely abbreviated interview, is dispiriting to say the least. One wonders whether the five-minute chat could have been given prior to the year's worth of classes in order to save time and expense, both for me and the State that financed my tuition. But then, a "Yes" would not necessarily be good either, as it would have set the stage for an additional two years' training at 50+ hours per week and a $10K tuition cost out-of-pocket, quite a significant barrier. I am not sure whether I should mourn rejection or embrace it as a sign that nursing was just not meant to be my path in life. At the beginning of my journey, I thought that my capabilities might be put to use to help those in real need or lessen someone's pain. There was an incipient Crusader impulse to help others, to do good, but that impulse has been nipped in the bud, as my services are apparently not needed in the medical field.

Another dream has died an agonizing death, but good riddance to it. I am not sure what hidden factors might have been at play during that interview, but a part of me finds it curious that I scored at the highest level in all the classes that I took and yet was rejected. There is a temptation to analyze and speculate about the causes for rejection, but I'm reluctant to do so in the absence of any evidence. I've learned from experience that one can seldom know for certain the motivations of others. There may be a hidden hand at play or there may not, but even if I were smart enough to deduce the facts, the outcome would remain unchanged.

The past year, it seems, I've been spinning my wheels on an education treadmill, accomplishing nothing at the end of my journey beyond assisting the college in its siphoning of funds from the State treasury and my own bank account.

I did enjoy my classes, and I think there were students and even professors that were pleased to see me and grateful for my presence on occasion. Perhaps that is enough. Life is about the journey, not necessarily the destination. The ultimate destination is death, anyway, for all journeyers. At least if I die tomorrow, I will not have any regrets, but feel like I performed to the best of my capabilities and conducted myself in an ethical manner. That is more than some can say. Some people become crazy rich in a short amount of time without working hard. No doubt they vote Republican, if they vote at all.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Avoid Harrassing Calls

Pamela Paul of the New York Times wrote a perceptive article on the decline of the use of the telephone.

One problem with the telephone, which Pamela only touches upon, is that the wrong people call--rude pests, for the most part, neither friends nor acquaintances, but cold-calling telemarketers, organizations looking for handouts, or collection agencies with inaccurate data in their database. Collection agencies, in particular, are both persistent and pernicious. They use computerized dialers, rather than human beings, and will call using a variety of telephone numbers, every day, multiple times a day, never ceasing, and in some cases not even leaving a message, but disconnecting as soon as the phone is answered. They call in order to harass, to apply pressure. In essence, they are using the telephone as a weapon against the telephone user.

There exists, as might be expected, a technological solution to technological aggression. Call Clerk is a robotic butler that intercepts and routes calls depending upon their Caller ID. It requires a PC equipped with a modem to be left on twenty-four hours a day, which may seem wasteful of electricity but, in truth, nowadays it is nice to have a PC on all the time in order to check email and browse the Internet. I would suggest using a laptop for the purpose if energy consumption is an issue, although Intel has created admirable energy misers for the desktop in the form of the Atom line of processors. I am no longer a fan of AMD's solutions, because AMD uses ATI for video in its line of gpus, and ATI offers woefully inadequate support for Linux.

Call Clerk routes identified pests to an announcement that tells them they have been cast into the outer darkness. Then it disconnects their call after only two rings, limiting the annoyance factor. In conjunction with Call Clerk, all telephone ringers should be disabled, with the PC speakers remaining the only audible signal of phone calls. Friends and unknown callers receive a friendly message and are permitted to leave a message. They are announced via the PC speakers.

Call Clerk transforms the telephone from what it is today, a potential liability and a threat, a weapon of harassment against the user, and returns it to what Alexander Graham Bell envisioned it to be, a convenient form of communication.

Configuring the answering message in Call Clerk is difficult at best, particularly if any type of changes are desired. There is no option to change or reduce the volume of the answering message in Call Clerk. The answering machine options are counter-intuitive, capable of defeating even the most determined and technically savvy user from making any modifications whatsoever to the outgoing message.

Perhaps in the future, a program will become available that can use .mp3 files as an answering machine message and play them without distortion. Until that time, Call Clerk remains an interim solution, satisfactory in some, if not all respects. It does not have a Linux version, but requires Windows, which adds an extra $75 - $100 to the actual cost of the product, along with the many other hidden costs associated with Windows systems. However, it does work with Windows XP and does the job I purchased it for, which is to weed out harassing calls.

In an ideal world, telephone pests that call on a daily basis for months without end would be identified, arrested by the police in their locality, and prosecuted for harassment. But the agencies that pester people by telephone on a daily basis have managed to dodge government action for the most part, including the so-called "Do-Not-Call" Registry, which is an unfunny joke that lulls the naive into a false sense of security.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Firefox 4.0 Works Great with Windows XP

I am pleased overall with Firefox 4.0. It may be faster and safer, as touted, but these are qualities that I can't discern with my limited usage and safe browsing habits. I also installed Avast's WebRep add-on for Firefox, which allows community participation to flag malware sites. That seems to me a sensible effort to limit the prevalence of bad actors on the web, and I'm pleased to make my own contributions.

With the latest versions of an Internet browser, ZoneAlarm Firewall, and Avast anti-virus, I wonder what is the big deal about Windows 7? Maybe it is a big deal for game players who like the latest graphical effects or consumers of Very High Definition video who have the latest and greatest motherboards, processors and video cards. For my money, Windows XP does everything that I need. Why upgrade, when upgrading requires tossing perfectly good hardware into the garbage bin?

A long-distance friend mailed me his laptop not long ago with the instructions to reinstall an operating system, because it was locked down tight. The OS was Windows Vista, and the former user (it had been purchased second-hand) had used some sort of option to lock the system down to where none of the system options could be changed. Only a narrow range of preexisting applications could be used. No new software could be installed. As you might guess, this was not an acceptable situation.

I have never seen an OS locked down so tight. The OS worked hand-in-hand with the BIOS, which had password protection preventing any alterations. I had to call the manufacturer, DELL, in order to get a generic password to bypass the BIOS protection. Then I was able to reformat and install--you guessed it--Windows XP, which I considered an upgrade over Windows Vista. I don't password-protect anything on the OS and don't bother with User Accounts, myself. I rely instead upon controlling physical access to the computer and not letting any curious and ignorant hands to use the computer unsupervised. Not every one takes that precaution, as I soon learned.

The story should have ended on a better note, but my friend apparently neglected to activate Avast anti-virus and the ZoneAlarm Firewall, steps which are essential security components of a modern Windows XP system. Registering and activating a free copy of Avast requires following a simple set of specific instructions involving email. Instead, he purchased the paid version of Avast, which failed to install properly for some reason that was never elaborated upon. I am not sure what the confusion was, whether it had to do with email registration or a copy of Avast already being installed.

He compounded the problem by letting another friend play with the unprotected and vulnerable Windows XP laptop, and that ignorant individual promptly engaged in unsafe browsing habits, getting the machine infected by a virus and corrupting the OS.

The moral of my story is that a Windows XP system without an Anti-Virus and a decent Firewall should be considered unsafe for ignorant hands to use. Tell them whatever story you like, that your machine is infected, for instance, because it certainly will be if they go off using it without any security applications. I have yet to see one machine get infected with Avast on patrol, however, and that is a tribute to Avast, which has given excellent service over the years.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Monday, March 21, 2011

Interviewing After College

One of my first interviews after graduating was in the big city. It seemed promising, because I was qualified according to the advertisement. I secured two other interviews in the same city and signed up for a job fair, which almost justified driving a couple hundred miles and checking into a hotel.

I interviewed for a job with a state agency. Despite my having a degree in IT, they made me take a test, which was unusual, regarding my knowledge of computer skills, as though my degree had no meaning. I thought I did pretty well on their little test. It took about an hour to complete, and then I proceeded with the interview.

The interviewer had a smirk on his face and took a decidedly negative tone. He had a co-worker as his partner during the interview, a woman who said little but laughed at his stale jokes which were directed at me--I was the butt of his jokes for some reason. He looked at my resume for the first time and criticized me for having graduated summa cum laude. He didn't like the fact I did well at university, because he said he didn't. His eyebrows were pointed down toward his nose, and it seemed to me like he had made up his mind to dislike anyone interviewing for the position. Or maybe the problem was that I was male, and he had not known I was male prior to the interview, and he wanted a female that he could have fun with, maybe a fresh young thing straight out of college. At any rate I lost all interest in the job after spending twenty minutes with what would have been my future boss.

It is rare to find a good job advertised anywhere. I'm not sure it is at all possible to secure a good job through classified ads. Most jobs that are available are available because people already at the company don't want them and would not touch them with a ten-foot pole. I suspect the reason the state agency was hiring was that his previous co-worker had left, not wishing to spend another day with creep-o.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

More Reflections on Renault

David Sweetman's biography of Mary Renault was charming, humorous and enlightening. He was a kind and sensitive biographer for a woman that he did not always agree with. She was about as quirky and nerdy as I am, which helped me relate, but had gobs more talent. I'm one of the countless invisible people whose biography won't get written or, if I were to trouble myself with publishing one, it would either remain unread or be rejected due to its irrelevance. At one time that displeased, but I'm not sure it matters to me now. There has been a reduction of ambition and sober reevaluation of possibilities. In life, one finds doors that are opened, and many that are closed.

Mary Renault wanted to be an actor, I think (not an actress), but lacked talent for public speaking. She was no Catherine Tate, but was a serious, sober intellectual scholar. Her life prior to the publication of her bestsellers was impoverished and difficult. She had her partner, Julie, a wonderful and loyal companion, but couldn't count on anyone else.

Her elevated status in later life had everything to do with the indisputable merit of her books. To a large extent, she relied upon her celebrity to attract and maintain friends and acquaintances, and as she got older became pickier about who she chose to spend time with. People would be cut off for one reason or another. On her deathbed, the list of those admitted for an audience with Renault reduced to a handful of intimates. Even those people she still liked were refused an audience, if she didn't like them quite enough. I think Julie admitted this to the biographer as a kind of confession in the hope of salving the wounded feelings of old friends that were still alive.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Understanding the American Psychology

I think people around the world, outside of the U.S., fail to realize just how important WW2 was in American history. It was our single most important event. As a matter of fact, I don't think any other subject commands as much attention in regards to world history. Americans are fascinated, I would almost say obsessed, over every aspect of WW2, for obvious reasons. Just look at our books, movies and television. I don't think it is possible for an educated American male to reach maturity without knowing the essential facts about WW2. It is indeed a fascinating subject. I have long suspected that the popularity of "The Lord of the Rings" has a great deal to do with WW2.

Perhaps this is the reason America has a habit of intervening against dictators. Yes, we probably are a bit mad. Is intervention always a good idea? No. Is it always rational? No. Are there negative consequences? Yes, to varying extents, depending upon the length and scope of the intervention. Viet Nam was a blunder. Iraq and Afghanistan, headaches with uncertain results, although Iraq may prove to be okay. Libya's result is unknown. But there is something satisfying about knowing that a tyrant's been placed six feet under the ground.

You have to appreciate your Uncle Sam. Maybe he gets a little crazy once in a while, but if you're on the ground facing a murderous tyrant, there ain't no one else gonna help you in this world 'cept your Crazy Old Uncle Sam. So, don't write your crazy Uncle off and keep on loving him.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Libyan Rebel Poetry

Gotta love this...

"Gaddafi is like a chicken and the coalition is plucking his feathers so he can't fly. The revolutionaries will slit his neck," said Fathi Bin Saud, a 52-year-old rebel carrying a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, surveying the wreckage.

Maybe that's an old saying in the Arab world, but it's the first time I've heard the analogy. Brought a smile to my face.

However, chickens don't fly, as far as I know, though I'm no expert on the species, being a city boy. I would suspect Fathi Bin Saud is no chicken farmer, either. From what I understand, having spoken with farmers, chickens are plucked for ease of packaging and sale. Chickens lost the ability to fly during the long period of their domestication by humans. They can achieve temporary lift-off, but cannot maintain themselves in the air.

I do hope that someone in the rebel movement has a notion concerning democracy. I don't know whether those people have a Thomas Jefferson or George Washington among them or not. Iraq & Afghanistan certainly did not.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Opposition to the Intervention

I have been unswayed by opposition to the intervention expressed by Russia, China, Hugo Chavez, sundry intellectuals, and Amr Moussa, head of the Arab League. I believe that they prejudge Western nations and form an opinion based upon deep prejudices originating out of their own peculiar moral deficiencies. Cynics complain because they don't like any demonstration of Western power, whether for good or bad. It makes them feel insecure.

I'm for intervention, even if there are certain self-serving motives intermingled into the justification*, if it can be limited in scope and not remain a long-term drain on resources. The problem with Iraq and Afghanistan is that we got into this business of nation-building, a massive, corrupt welfare program. The cost was astronomical. I celebrated when Hussein was overthrown, but did not appreciate the long-term commitment to Iraq that resulted. Afghanistan seems to just get worse. We are stuck in a situation where we bribe corrupt and evil leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Therefore, I am pleased that Obama is not planning to send ground troops to Libya. I think he performed in just the right manner, with finesse. Of course, Republicans are too stupid to realize that, discounting the importance of diplomacy.

Settling a score with an old dictator sounds to me positively peachy. Who cares about motives? Yes, Libya has oil. Yes, that's a big factor along with the proximity to Europe and the Middle East. Get over it. The rebels are not complaining. I like the idea of bombing Khadaffy's forces to Hell. In fact, I regret that I am not involved in the military. I'd drop a bomb on Khadaffy myself.

[*] I am not sure what planet certain individuals live upon, but is there a case in all of history where anyone or any government acts out of purely altruistic motives? First, it would be necessary to examine the person who answers in the affirmative without equivocation. I doubt many could withstand a thorough examination of their own motives. I never question a good deed. The motives are not as important as the outcome! It is perfectly alright for someone to do a good deed out of purely selfish motives.

To hear Russia and China talk about restraint and ethics is just a bad joke.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Khadaffy's Lies

Anyone with an intelligence greater than a pigeon can detect the logical inconsistencies in Khadaffy's rhetoric, which would exclude Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

Khadaffy duck says the Libyan rebels are Al Qaeda. Then he says the Western Powers are Crusaders. According to him, the Crusaders have allied with Al Qaeda to take him down. That makes about as much sense as the rebel army being high on hallucinogenic pills sent to them by Bin Laden.

Khadaffy is such a windbag. Every time I read about Libya, some journalist has decided to quote Khadaffy duck, who does nothing but lie, lie, and lie all the time, about everything to twist reality to serve his own ends. If he would shut up for a moment and listen to what the outside world says, he might understand why his life expectancy has declined from twenty years to twenty weeks. I just hope that the rebels, upon achieving final victory, which they certainly will with allied air support, prosecute each and every member of his family and his henchmen and exterminate the evil that is in that blighted region.

There was a time when Khadaffy could have made a graceful exit to another country. I don't know which country, to be honest, as he has burned bridges with most. Perhaps a tiny island-nation in the Pacific would be willing to take him in, in exchange for massive amounts of money. On the other hand, such island-nations may value ethics over money and refuse to harbor a villain. It is doubtful that Khadaffy could abide by the laws of any country, being a sociopath. He would cause trouble anywhere he went.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Aisha Khadaffy

At first, I thought it was a man in drag. Then I read the caption. This is Aisha, daughter of Khadaffy, who has the misfortune of having inherited his looks.


Somebody hit a few trees running through the Ugly Forest. I'm glad I wasn't eating my supper when I saw that picture. I have gained a new appreciation for the burqa.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

I am Glad for France

My opinions of France and of Sarkozy have improved. That the French are leading the way in supporting regime change in Libya is a deed that will reflect well upon their people and should silence conservative Americans who fault France for not supporting the war in Iraq. It must be remembered that the French, and no one else, supported the American rebels in the Revolutionary War. Without French support, America would not exist as it is today; our history would be much different. Perhaps a United States might eventually have evolved, but not in the 1790's, not without French support. The French were not repaid for their assistance until the World Wars, and the monarch who supported the intervention was rendered bankrupt by it. Even so, he did right, even if it led to his own execution in the French Revolution. A single deed of goodness can sometimes counterbalance a lifetime of wickedness.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Friday, March 18, 2011

Hate

There was a time when hateful words could sway my emotions. Those days are past. I have heard and experienced hate ten thousand times. It is like bitter cold; of little interest, an inconvenience merely. The source of hate is recognized as an unstable mind. By spouting hate, a speaker discredits himself in total. Nothing more that is said by the speaker need be contemplated. Hate speech is like a beacon, notifying all observers that the speaker is to be avoided because he is consumed by the virus of violence. He has succumbed to the animal nature. Hate was in the world before and will be in the world after I am gone. It is a known illness, a disease, widespread in the human race.

I prefer minds that are free of that particular illness, such as Mary Renault, who I like to read about.

Without any doubt, the Republican Party in the United States is the party of hate, pure and simple. Any statements that issue from a Republican politician are more often than not motivated by base hatreds and ignorance. They are not absolute evil, but only because of their incompetence. To be absolute evil does require a certain amount of willpower, lacking in Republicans. They are merely mildly evil, imps in the service of Hell, not very effective, but annoying to the good and the just. A worse party would be the Nationalists of South Africa in the 1950's. Republicans have a long way to fall before becoming as evil as they were.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Mary Renault, Heroine

My personal heroine is Mary Renault, an acclaimed historical novelist, now deceased. Her biography by David Sweetman has been an inspiration to me. I don't know of any living writers or celebrities that I admire to quite the same extent. Part of the attraction of Renault is that she came from humble origins, but managed through hard work and talent to achieve success as a writer. All of her success was due to merit, something that is extremely rare. She was also a lesbian, although she didn't like to use the word. She had her share of hard knocks, including a near-fatal car crash, but managed to survive and even prosper.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Internet Explorer 9

I have no plans to ever try Internet Explorer 9. The last Internet Explorer kludge I tried was IE sick--er, six. I'm content with Firefox. No reason to change. Over the years, I have learned that Microsoft acts in coordination with hardware vendors and corporate partners to design products that benefit Microsoft & its allies to the detriment of the end user. Each new Microsoft release is designed with a lone imperative, present and future profit-making for Microsoft, guiding all else.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Windows 7 versus Windows XP

Still using Windows XP? You retrograde, you. Here are the reasons you must upgrade to Windows 7.

  • Microsoft needs your money. They have to pay for all those buildings and employees over in India, where they shipped a ton of middle-class jobs, leaving American programmers unemployed. By helping Microsoft, you help India a little bit. Don't you want to support our friends, the Indians?
  • Windows 7 requires a whole new suite of hardware. It won't settle for your old XP rig. Don't worry about it. You clearly don't need $1000, since you're considering upgrading. You'd probably waste $1000 anyway on something else. So upgrade already. Brag about how Windows 7 boots twenty seconds faster and looks spiffy on your HD monitor and how you can play all the latest whiz-bang video games. This impresses the ladies a great deal. Sure. Take it from me.
  • You need the exercise. Americans are overweight according to everybody. Hauling all that old computer equipment to the dump should burn off a couple hundred calories.
  • Landfills need your business. If you don't throw good, working equipment away before its time, then they lose money. Don't you care about the landfill operators? They have families to feed, too.
  • What else would you do with your time, anyway? Nothing interesting. Might as well upgrade, then, just for the sake of upgrading. You get bragging rights then.

I confess, I am one of the throwbacks that remained with ancient old Windows XP. Pity me. Think of all the things I have to do without.

Well, I can't think of anything at the moment.

I use the very latest version of Firefox to browse the Internet. I use the 2007 version of Microsoft Word to compose documents. I use Notepad++ to edit html files. For gaming, there's dungeon crawl, of course. I do without absolutely nothing. And as for the $1000 I would otherwise spend on a Win 7 system? That's in the bank, saved for a rainy day.
by igor 04:20 4 replies by igor 09:32 0 comments
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