Posts
An overseas student just contacted me asking for use of components in electronic circuits. He is particularly interested in troubleshooting electronics (transistor level or integrated circuits). It is hard to answer such a general request because the knowledge of this is learned by being in situations where a particular goal or fault is involved. The student then has to reason out what is happening and correct the problem.
CMOS circuit level design
One of the requirements for this is tool knowledge (how to use an oscilloscope, multimeter, bred board for example).
By learning this, the student can reason on what is happening. That way the situation can be diagnosed until the whole thing works.
Other topics required would be "safety with live circuits, how components behave, how to take measurements of voltage, current, frequency and other parameters.
Last but not least is safety when dealing with electrical systems. No technician can qualify if his teacher thinks he is a risk to himself or others.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
The blog made it through
It's been an interesting start for the blog. It involved a bit of everything this year (getting started, updating stories and issues, renewing domain(s) and working for success for both blog and website (http://modecideas.com)
Now that both are started, all you watchers might want to make suggestions about the direction and new topics you would like to know/talk about.
In the meantime I wish you all well and hope you are raring to go in the coming year.
Now that both are started, all you watchers might want to make suggestions about the direction and new topics you would like to know/talk about.
In the meantime I wish you all well and hope you are raring to go in the coming year.
Monday, December 28, 2009
How are air travellers screened?
Based on recent incidents on regular passenger flights and concerns over militant attacks, measures are being taken to screen and identify dangerous passengers.
An alleged attempt by a passenger to blow up a transatlantic flight has thrown a fresh spotlight on air security. What measures are being taken to screen air travelers?
PASSPORT AND VISA CHECKS
The UK is reintroducing passport and visa checks for all non-EU citizens entering and leaving the UK, as part of a wider crackdown on illegal immigration and terrorism.
More here:How are air travelers screened for security?
An alleged attempt by a passenger to blow up a transatlantic flight has thrown a fresh spotlight on air security. What measures are being taken to screen air travelers?
PASSPORT AND VISA CHECKS
The UK is reintroducing passport and visa checks for all non-EU citizens entering and leaving the UK, as part of a wider crackdown on illegal immigration and terrorism.
More here:How are air travelers screened for security?
Thursday, December 24, 2009
HP camera 'can't see' black faces
A YouTube video suggesting that face recognition cameras installed in HP laptops cannot detect black faces has had over one million views.
More here:HP camera 'can't see' black faces
What Happened to the Traditional Christmas?
“Christmas was an enjoyable time for us children,” says Rita, looking back to the 1930’s. “Everybody went to church, where we sang our favorite hymns. When we came home, Mother cooked a turkey, and we had Christmas pudding and cream. We sincerely believed it was Jesus’ birthday, his day. But things have changed. The only thing many children seem to think about now is Father Christmas coming to bring presents.”
By Awake! correspondent in Britain
OVER the years, the celebration of Christmas has changed in many ways—and not just in recent times. Even in 1836, English author Charles Dickens said: “There are people who will tell you that Christmas is not to them what it used to be.”
Perhaps surprising to some, Christmas has not always been a popular event. In the 19th century, when Dickens wrote, Christmas had diminished in popularity. Most British newspapers ignored it during the early part of that century.
Dickens and his older American counterpart, Washington Irving, made an effort to idealize Christmas. Why? Not solely to restore old traditions but also, at least as far as Dickens was concerned, to alert readers to the harsh realities of life for the underprivileged and thus to better their condition.
19th-Century Realities
While the industrial revolution brought prosperity to some, it also resulted in slums, squalor, and sweated labor. “Every great town has one or more slums,” wrote Friedrich Engels in 1844, “where the working class is crowded together . . . , removed from the sight of the happier classes.”
Britain’s Factory Act of 1825, which only concerned cotton mills, stated that no person should work in a cotton mill for more than 12 hours a weekday or 9 hours on a Saturday. In 1846, historian Thomas Macaulay blamed such intense labor for “stunting the growth of the mind, leaving no time for healthful exercise, no time for intellectual culture.”
A revival of Christmas festivities took place in the midst of such 19th-century social and moral problems.
Dickens and Christmas
Charles Dickens led in arousing social conscience to the problems of the poor. In his classic novel A Christmas Carol, published in 1843, Dickens skillfully employed his knowledge of Christmas traditions to achieve his end.
A Christmas Carol was an immediate success, and thousands of copies were sold. The following year, nine London theaters staged dramatized versions of the tale. On Christmas Eve 1867, Dickens presented a reading of it in the United States at Boston, Massachusetts. In attendance was a Mr. Fairbanks, a factory owner from Vermont, who said to his wife: “I feel that after listening to Mr. Dickens’s reading of A Christmas Carol tonight I should break the custom we have hitherto observed of opening the works on Christmas Day.” He was true to his word. The following year he added the tradition of giving a turkey to his employees at Christmastime.
Christmas Commercialized
Charitable handouts became commonplace during the Christmas season, ranging from charitable trusts dispensing coal to poor widows to village squires making gifts of money and food. Christmas soon became, in theory, the opportunity for all classes to meet in social harmony. Allowing the divisions between the rich and the poor to become deliberately blurred at this time of year salved many consciences.
A number of festive traditions were either revived or created. For example, the first Christmas cards appeared in 1843, and as printing became cheaper, the market prospered. Christmas trees, a much older tradition, also greatly increased in popularity after Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, introduced the German manner of decoration, employing tinsel, ornaments, and candles.
The commercial promotion of Christmas was gaining momentum. Today, a little over a century later, Christmas has become so commercialized that there is public outcry over it. This raises the question: What was Christmas like originally?
Origins of Christmas
Providing historical background, The Chicago Tribune just last December noted in a front-page story: “Ironically, the holiday that Christians now complain is being co-opted by commercialism traces its roots to a pagan festival that was taken over by Christianity.
“The first reported observance of Christmas as the birth of Jesus Christ was more than 300 years after the event. In the 4th Century, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and, scholars believe, Christians set Jesus’ birthdate at Dec. 25 to coincide with existent celebrating by non-Christians.
“‘Rather than battle against the pagan holidays, they decided to join them and try to replace them,’ said University of Utah professor Russell Belk . . . ‘The pagan holidays replaced by Christianity were the Roman celebrations of Saturnalia—which were carnivalesque celebrations with gift-giving—and later the Yule celebrations in England and Germany that celebrated the winter solstice,’ Belk said.
“Christmas has gained and slipped in popularity over the centuries. It was banned for a time in England and America by Puritans who objected to the frivolity associated with it. But toward the mid-1800s, Belk said, ‘Christmas was in trouble, waning in popularity.’ He said religious leaders welcomed an injection of commerce, via gift-giving and Santa Claus, to revive the holiday.
“That revival, Belk said, was credited largely to English author Charles Dickens, whose 1843 ‘A Christmas Carol’ showed a reformed Scrooge who became a generous giver.”
What About Christmas Customs?
Dickens is said to have “enjoyed all the attendant paraphernalia of Christmas.” But from where did the paraphernalia come?
Providing interesting insights into this matter, New York Newsday of December 22, 1992, quoted John Mosley, who wrote the book The Christmas Star: “‘The early church leaders didn’t celebrate Christmas in December specifically to celebrate the birth of Christ,’ [Mosley] said. ‘It was their way of dealing with the winter solstice,’ the turning point of winter, when the sun stops its drift to the south and heads north again, bringing new light.
“Evidence for this is seen in the symbols of Christmas, Mosley said. Most obvious is the use of green plants, which symbolize life in a time of darkness and cold. ‘The most obvious green plant is the Christmas tree,’ he said. ‘And the northern Europeans celebrated the solstice in the forest; they worshiped trees. So the Christmas tree is really a throwback to tree worship in prehistoric times.’
“Also, Mosley said, ‘What do you put on the trees? Lights. Light recalls the Sun and symbolizes the Sun. It’s for the rebirth of the Sun and the return of light after the solstice. The main things involved in solstice celebrations everywhere are light and green plants.
“Dec. 25, he added, ‘was also the original date of the winter solstice, and many of the things we do now, and which we think are relatively modern Christmas customs, really trace their origins to the solstice celebrations.”
Music also characterizes Christmas celebrations. Thus, it is not surprising that the Roman festival of Saturnalia was renowned for its feasting and merrymaking, including dancing and singing. That the modern Christmas owes much to the ancient Saturnalia, scholars no longer dispute.
Deep Misgivings
England’s Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. George Carey, complained about the “Victorian, Charles Dickens Christmas.” The reason? “I am concerned in case our children are affected by the commercialism,” he said.
According to the newspaper The Scotsman, Anglican bishop David Jenkins believes that Christmas commercialism is driving people to the point of nervous breakdown. “We worship greed and Christmas becomes the feast of greed and folly,” he said, adding: “Ordinary persons are made miserable by their credit card debts. . . . There is increasing evidence that after Christmas people get into despair and have family rows. It is increasingly causing more trouble than it is worth.”
The Church Times of England aptly summed up the problem of Christmas: “We need to be liberated from the great bacchanalian orgy we have allowed it to become!”
What to Do About It
You can recognize Christmas for what it is, a pagan celebration that falsely parades as the birthday of Jesus, and have nothing to do with it. That is what Rita did, the woman mentioned at the outset. She became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and she is now united with more than 4,500,000 fellow Witnesses, who shun Christmas completely.
Yet, it is not always easy to take a course that differs from that of the majority. (Compare Matthew 7:13, 14.) The Church Times acknowledged: “It takes a brave man, woman or family to opt out of a festival that is thrust upon us so aggressively by our peers.”
Many who have made the decision to “opt out” agree. But they also know that a deep love of truth has given them both the incentive and the strength to take and maintain that stand. The same can be true of you—if that is your desire.
[Box on page 17]
Did you know these facts?
* Jesus was not born on December 25.
* Shepherds in Israel had their sheep under cover in the depths of winter and not in the fields at night.
* The ‘wise men’ were in fact Magi, astrologers, and visited Jesus when he was a young child, not a baby.
* Nowhere does the Bible say that Christians are to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But there is an express command to commemorate his death.
Why Witnesses Don’t Celebrate
The Witness, the official newspaper of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, U.S.A., presented the following question in its feature “Question Corner.”
“My wife has asked my 10 children to help celebrate my 80th birthday.
“However, two of the children are Jehovah’s Witnesses and said they do not celebrate birthdays because they live their lives closely following the example that Jesus left us and according to the Bible.
“They say that neither Jesus nor any early Christians celebrated birthdays. It was a pagan tradition and one that Christians would have nothing to do with. It was viewed as a pagan tradition at the time of Christ and is to be viewed the same way today.”
Priest John Dietzen answered the question: “I know this is hurtful for you, but the information you give is correct. Among numerous differences in belief and practices between Jehovah’s Witnesses and other Christian denominations is this one.
“Consistent with this belief, their members do not even celebrate Christmas, partly because it celebrates the birthday of Jesus and also because the date of Christmas was established, apparently in the fourth century on the day of the winter solstice (according to the old Julian calendar), which was before then a great pagan feast.”
Santa Claus: Thomas Nast/Dover Publications, Inc. 1978
Tree and stockings: Old-Fashioned Christmas Illustrations/Dover Publications, Inc
Source: Awake 1993 December 22 16-19
By Awake! correspondent in Britain
OVER the years, the celebration of Christmas has changed in many ways—and not just in recent times. Even in 1836, English author Charles Dickens said: “There are people who will tell you that Christmas is not to them what it used to be.”
Perhaps surprising to some, Christmas has not always been a popular event. In the 19th century, when Dickens wrote, Christmas had diminished in popularity. Most British newspapers ignored it during the early part of that century.
Dickens and his older American counterpart, Washington Irving, made an effort to idealize Christmas. Why? Not solely to restore old traditions but also, at least as far as Dickens was concerned, to alert readers to the harsh realities of life for the underprivileged and thus to better their condition.
19th-Century Realities
While the industrial revolution brought prosperity to some, it also resulted in slums, squalor, and sweated labor. “Every great town has one or more slums,” wrote Friedrich Engels in 1844, “where the working class is crowded together . . . , removed from the sight of the happier classes.”
Britain’s Factory Act of 1825, which only concerned cotton mills, stated that no person should work in a cotton mill for more than 12 hours a weekday or 9 hours on a Saturday. In 1846, historian Thomas Macaulay blamed such intense labor for “stunting the growth of the mind, leaving no time for healthful exercise, no time for intellectual culture.”
A revival of Christmas festivities took place in the midst of such 19th-century social and moral problems.
Dickens and Christmas
Charles Dickens led in arousing social conscience to the problems of the poor. In his classic novel A Christmas Carol, published in 1843, Dickens skillfully employed his knowledge of Christmas traditions to achieve his end.
A Christmas Carol was an immediate success, and thousands of copies were sold. The following year, nine London theaters staged dramatized versions of the tale. On Christmas Eve 1867, Dickens presented a reading of it in the United States at Boston, Massachusetts. In attendance was a Mr. Fairbanks, a factory owner from Vermont, who said to his wife: “I feel that after listening to Mr. Dickens’s reading of A Christmas Carol tonight I should break the custom we have hitherto observed of opening the works on Christmas Day.” He was true to his word. The following year he added the tradition of giving a turkey to his employees at Christmastime.
Christmas Commercialized
Charitable handouts became commonplace during the Christmas season, ranging from charitable trusts dispensing coal to poor widows to village squires making gifts of money and food. Christmas soon became, in theory, the opportunity for all classes to meet in social harmony. Allowing the divisions between the rich and the poor to become deliberately blurred at this time of year salved many consciences.
A number of festive traditions were either revived or created. For example, the first Christmas cards appeared in 1843, and as printing became cheaper, the market prospered. Christmas trees, a much older tradition, also greatly increased in popularity after Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, introduced the German manner of decoration, employing tinsel, ornaments, and candles.
The commercial promotion of Christmas was gaining momentum. Today, a little over a century later, Christmas has become so commercialized that there is public outcry over it. This raises the question: What was Christmas like originally?
Origins of Christmas
Providing historical background, The Chicago Tribune just last December noted in a front-page story: “Ironically, the holiday that Christians now complain is being co-opted by commercialism traces its roots to a pagan festival that was taken over by Christianity.
“The first reported observance of Christmas as the birth of Jesus Christ was more than 300 years after the event. In the 4th Century, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and, scholars believe, Christians set Jesus’ birthdate at Dec. 25 to coincide with existent celebrating by non-Christians.
“‘Rather than battle against the pagan holidays, they decided to join them and try to replace them,’ said University of Utah professor Russell Belk . . . ‘The pagan holidays replaced by Christianity were the Roman celebrations of Saturnalia—which were carnivalesque celebrations with gift-giving—and later the Yule celebrations in England and Germany that celebrated the winter solstice,’ Belk said.
“Christmas has gained and slipped in popularity over the centuries. It was banned for a time in England and America by Puritans who objected to the frivolity associated with it. But toward the mid-1800s, Belk said, ‘Christmas was in trouble, waning in popularity.’ He said religious leaders welcomed an injection of commerce, via gift-giving and Santa Claus, to revive the holiday.
“That revival, Belk said, was credited largely to English author Charles Dickens, whose 1843 ‘A Christmas Carol’ showed a reformed Scrooge who became a generous giver.”
What About Christmas Customs?
Dickens is said to have “enjoyed all the attendant paraphernalia of Christmas.” But from where did the paraphernalia come?
Providing interesting insights into this matter, New York Newsday of December 22, 1992, quoted John Mosley, who wrote the book The Christmas Star: “‘The early church leaders didn’t celebrate Christmas in December specifically to celebrate the birth of Christ,’ [Mosley] said. ‘It was their way of dealing with the winter solstice,’ the turning point of winter, when the sun stops its drift to the south and heads north again, bringing new light.
“Evidence for this is seen in the symbols of Christmas, Mosley said. Most obvious is the use of green plants, which symbolize life in a time of darkness and cold. ‘The most obvious green plant is the Christmas tree,’ he said. ‘And the northern Europeans celebrated the solstice in the forest; they worshiped trees. So the Christmas tree is really a throwback to tree worship in prehistoric times.’
“Also, Mosley said, ‘What do you put on the trees? Lights. Light recalls the Sun and symbolizes the Sun. It’s for the rebirth of the Sun and the return of light after the solstice. The main things involved in solstice celebrations everywhere are light and green plants.
“Dec. 25, he added, ‘was also the original date of the winter solstice, and many of the things we do now, and which we think are relatively modern Christmas customs, really trace their origins to the solstice celebrations.”
Music also characterizes Christmas celebrations. Thus, it is not surprising that the Roman festival of Saturnalia was renowned for its feasting and merrymaking, including dancing and singing. That the modern Christmas owes much to the ancient Saturnalia, scholars no longer dispute.
Deep Misgivings
England’s Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. George Carey, complained about the “Victorian, Charles Dickens Christmas.” The reason? “I am concerned in case our children are affected by the commercialism,” he said.
According to the newspaper The Scotsman, Anglican bishop David Jenkins believes that Christmas commercialism is driving people to the point of nervous breakdown. “We worship greed and Christmas becomes the feast of greed and folly,” he said, adding: “Ordinary persons are made miserable by their credit card debts. . . . There is increasing evidence that after Christmas people get into despair and have family rows. It is increasingly causing more trouble than it is worth.”
The Church Times of England aptly summed up the problem of Christmas: “We need to be liberated from the great bacchanalian orgy we have allowed it to become!”
What to Do About It
You can recognize Christmas for what it is, a pagan celebration that falsely parades as the birthday of Jesus, and have nothing to do with it. That is what Rita did, the woman mentioned at the outset. She became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and she is now united with more than 4,500,000 fellow Witnesses, who shun Christmas completely.
Yet, it is not always easy to take a course that differs from that of the majority. (Compare Matthew 7:13, 14.) The Church Times acknowledged: “It takes a brave man, woman or family to opt out of a festival that is thrust upon us so aggressively by our peers.”
Many who have made the decision to “opt out” agree. But they also know that a deep love of truth has given them both the incentive and the strength to take and maintain that stand. The same can be true of you—if that is your desire.
[Box on page 17]
Did you know these facts?
* Jesus was not born on December 25.
* Shepherds in Israel had their sheep under cover in the depths of winter and not in the fields at night.
* The ‘wise men’ were in fact Magi, astrologers, and visited Jesus when he was a young child, not a baby.
* Nowhere does the Bible say that Christians are to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But there is an express command to commemorate his death.
Why Witnesses Don’t Celebrate
The Witness, the official newspaper of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, U.S.A., presented the following question in its feature “Question Corner.”
“My wife has asked my 10 children to help celebrate my 80th birthday.
“However, two of the children are Jehovah’s Witnesses and said they do not celebrate birthdays because they live their lives closely following the example that Jesus left us and according to the Bible.
“They say that neither Jesus nor any early Christians celebrated birthdays. It was a pagan tradition and one that Christians would have nothing to do with. It was viewed as a pagan tradition at the time of Christ and is to be viewed the same way today.”
Priest John Dietzen answered the question: “I know this is hurtful for you, but the information you give is correct. Among numerous differences in belief and practices between Jehovah’s Witnesses and other Christian denominations is this one.
“Consistent with this belief, their members do not even celebrate Christmas, partly because it celebrates the birthday of Jesus and also because the date of Christmas was established, apparently in the fourth century on the day of the winter solstice (according to the old Julian calendar), which was before then a great pagan feast.”
Santa Claus: Thomas Nast/Dover Publications, Inc. 1978
Tree and stockings: Old-Fashioned Christmas Illustrations/Dover Publications, Inc
Source: Awake 1993 December 22 16-19
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Ban on sales of Microsoft Word upheld
Microsoft has failed in its attempt to dismiss a court case that would stop it selling Word.
The software giant appealed against a ruling which found it infringed a patent owned by Canadian company i4i.
With the failure of the appeal Microsoft must now pay i4i damages of $290m (£182m) and comply with an injunction ending the sales of some versions of Word.
The injunction is scheduled to go into effect on 11 January.
More here:Ban on sales of Microsoft Word upheld
The software giant appealed against a ruling which found it infringed a patent owned by Canadian company i4i.
With the failure of the appeal Microsoft must now pay i4i damages of $290m (£182m) and comply with an injunction ending the sales of some versions of Word.
The injunction is scheduled to go into effect on 11 January.
More here:Ban on sales of Microsoft Word upheld
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
News:Firefox for mobile 'days away' from launch
By Jonathan Fildes
Technology reporter, BBC News
The first mobile phone version of the popular web browser Firefox is "days away" from launch, the head of the project has told the BBC.
The browser, codenamed Fennec, will initially be available for Nokia's N900 phone, followed by other handsets.
It is currently going through final testing and could be released before the end of the year, said Jay Sullivan at Mozilla, the group behind Firefox.
The open-source browser will be able to synchronise with the desktop version.
More here: New Firefox
Technology reporter, BBC News
The first mobile phone version of the popular web browser Firefox is "days away" from launch, the head of the project has told the BBC.
The browser, codenamed Fennec, will initially be available for Nokia's N900 phone, followed by other handsets.
It is currently going through final testing and could be released before the end of the year, said Jay Sullivan at Mozilla, the group behind Firefox.
The open-source browser will be able to synchronise with the desktop version.
More here: New Firefox
Monday, December 21, 2009
News:India survey says Facebook affects productivity
Indian firms are losing productivity because office staff spend too long on social networking sites, a survey says.
The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) says workers use Orkut, Facebook, Myspace and Linkedin for "romancing" and other purposes.
More here:Facebook affects productivity
The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) says workers use Orkut, Facebook, Myspace and Linkedin for "romancing" and other purposes.
More here:Facebook affects productivity
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Taking miscreants to court
Every once in a while someone comes along who thinks he is above the law. When one of them turned up earlier this month and took his computer away without permission or payment it was the last straw for me.
Arrangements are under way to call him to account for his bad attitude.
He will be summoned to court when a date has been set. It may be interesting to find out just how immune he thinks he is.
Until then the rest of us can go forward as normal.
Have you ever had problems like these?
Arrangements are under way to call him to account for his bad attitude.
He will be summoned to court when a date has been set. It may be interesting to find out just how immune he thinks he is.
Until then the rest of us can go forward as normal.
Have you ever had problems like these?
Friday, December 18, 2009
News:Fine for Google over French books
A Paris court has found Google guilty of copyright infringement in a ruling which could have ramifications for its plans to digitise the world's books.
The search giant must pay 300,000 euros (£266,000) in damages and interest to French publisher La Martiniere.
It was one of many to take Google to court for digitizing its books without explicit permission.
Google was also ordered to pay 10,000 euros a day until it removes extracts of the books from its database. more here
Footnote:My own novel was one of the books captured by google. The link to the real site is here:Return (by John Durham)
Part of it was made available on www.weread.com
The search giant must pay 300,000 euros (£266,000) in damages and interest to French publisher La Martiniere.
It was one of many to take Google to court for digitizing its books without explicit permission.
Google was also ordered to pay 10,000 euros a day until it removes extracts of the books from its database. more here
Footnote:My own novel was one of the books captured by google. The link to the real site is here:Return (by John Durham)
Part of it was made available on www.weread.com
No decrease in illegal downloading
This morning I read an article titled as above. It made me wonder what it will take to get through to those who just won't do what is right by law or conscience or for any other reason.
No decrease in illegal downloading, says BPI.
For the uninitiated, music files are available online in a number of places. Search engines quickly find specific artists or titles of interest where individuals can obtain copies (many of which are copyright protected).
As a technician, I have been asked to remove such files from home computers when their drives became so full there was no more space for the operating system to run properly!
How would you feel when asked to clean up the mess of a disobedient youngster while knowing that once the work is done, he will resume the same practice over again (if not restrained)?
No decrease in illegal downloading, says BPI.
For the uninitiated, music files are available online in a number of places. Search engines quickly find specific artists or titles of interest where individuals can obtain copies (many of which are copyright protected).
As a technician, I have been asked to remove such files from home computers when their drives became so full there was no more space for the operating system to run properly!
How would you feel when asked to clean up the mess of a disobedient youngster while knowing that once the work is done, he will resume the same practice over again (if not restrained)?
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Did you protect your site yet?
After reading yesterday's article, you were likely concerned about who might attack your web pages. There is reason to be. If a dishonest person can hijack all or part of your site for spamming operations, you become part of the problem.
You may not even be aware of what happened because you don't receive copies of the stuff it sends out.
Do you want to be part of the problem or part of the solution? Look up project honeypot today, and put a spam trap on your web site!
You may not even be aware of what happened because you don't receive copies of the stuff it sends out.
Do you want to be part of the problem or part of the solution? Look up project honeypot today, and put a spam trap on your web site!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Catch those spammers with your web site!
Some years ago I put a link on my site which helped track and identify spammers and their activities. It is called "Project Honeypot". By adding this link, attempts to abuse my site were detected and logged by the system. Today they announced Our 1 Billionth Spam Message".
Their main page is here:
Honeypot.org
If you have a website and are concerned about this problem, please consider placing a link on your site to catch these nasties so they can be identified and stopped!
Their main page is here:
Honeypot.org
If you have a website and are concerned about this problem, please consider placing a link on your site to catch these nasties so they can be identified and stopped!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Look after your Windows CD
Earlier today I was asked to go to a neighbor's house to help fix his operating system problems. He has Windows XP home installed. After doing the physical maintainance on his files I asked for his CD to run a system file check.
In brief, this procedure is started by going to Start, Run then entering "SFC /SCANNOW". Windows then uses the CD to check windows system files on the hard drive. If it finds a damaged or missing one, it extracts a copy from the CD and replaces it.
It is an effective way to prevent your windows system from breaking down through lack of care and normal ongoing file read/write operations.
In this case, the owner couldn't find it and wasn't aware of its importance to his PC. While he searches it out, I'm taking time to remind everyone of the risk to your PC if this work is not done or you lose/damage your CD. It must be in good condition for files to be repaired properly. Scratches and scuff marks often render the files unreadable. If the CD is like this, you may have to have it polished (or replaced at considerable cost).
If your Windows system is not performing well, and you are sure it is not infected, then breakdown of the files is the most likely cause. SEE TO IT AT ONCE!
In like manner, the condition of file records (the system that stores and supplies your files each time they are needed), is prone to such wear and tear. This often involves decay of the 'foundation' on which your system works. So like a building, if the foundation crumbles, it falls!
Hopefully it is not that bad in your system.
You can usually fix it by going to "My Computer", right clicking the drive that needs attention, then going down to "properties" (on the drop down menu). There you can click the "tools" tab and click the "Check now" button.
After that, just leave it for as long as it needs to go over your file records and repair them.
If that still isn't enough, you may need a program like "Spinrite" to do detailed repairs of the file system. Note: You have to buy Spinrite separately from Windows. It is a low level physical file record scan and repair system that will do a methodical (possibly lengthy) check and repair of the file records and disk surface on your PC.
Once this is done, you should find it easier to do the other things needed.
Note: If the problem got this far in the first place, then not enough is being done to keep the PC in good condition up to now. These are valuable tips, so make wise use of them!
In brief, this procedure is started by going to Start, Run then entering "SFC /SCANNOW". Windows then uses the CD to check windows system files on the hard drive. If it finds a damaged or missing one, it extracts a copy from the CD and replaces it.
It is an effective way to prevent your windows system from breaking down through lack of care and normal ongoing file read/write operations.
In this case, the owner couldn't find it and wasn't aware of its importance to his PC. While he searches it out, I'm taking time to remind everyone of the risk to your PC if this work is not done or you lose/damage your CD. It must be in good condition for files to be repaired properly. Scratches and scuff marks often render the files unreadable. If the CD is like this, you may have to have it polished (or replaced at considerable cost).
If your Windows system is not performing well, and you are sure it is not infected, then breakdown of the files is the most likely cause. SEE TO IT AT ONCE!
In like manner, the condition of file records (the system that stores and supplies your files each time they are needed), is prone to such wear and tear. This often involves decay of the 'foundation' on which your system works. So like a building, if the foundation crumbles, it falls!
Hopefully it is not that bad in your system.
You can usually fix it by going to "My Computer", right clicking the drive that needs attention, then going down to "properties" (on the drop down menu). There you can click the "tools" tab and click the "Check now" button.
After that, just leave it for as long as it needs to go over your file records and repair them.
If that still isn't enough, you may need a program like "Spinrite" to do detailed repairs of the file system. Note: You have to buy Spinrite separately from Windows. It is a low level physical file record scan and repair system that will do a methodical (possibly lengthy) check and repair of the file records and disk surface on your PC.
Once this is done, you should find it easier to do the other things needed.
Note: If the problem got this far in the first place, then not enough is being done to keep the PC in good condition up to now. These are valuable tips, so make wise use of them!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Updating web pages on http://modecideas.com
After the recent seminar on website development and the way it promotes your business, I decided to do updates on my site. The aim was to improve the impact of the pages to increase hit traffic and improve business inquiries. This morning I updated http://modecideas.com/index.html since it is the default page for the whole site. It seems to be on line now, so I'm looking forward to more inquiries from it and a bit more promotion from the improved format. Please chime in with comments and suggestions at any time!
Finally after looking over the layout I changed Tonia's comments to a cursive script font (as she would have written it). That should be enough changes for now!
Finally after looking over the layout I changed Tonia's comments to a cursive script font (as she would have written it). That should be enough changes for now!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Web traffic seminar
Our local community regularly provides helpful seminars on all sorts of topics for small business people at the Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club. Tonight is one on getting web traffic to your site. I'm taking along copies of my 2 best traffic producing pages so others might get the idea and have more success. Wishing all you web site owners improved results!
Monday, December 7, 2009
ISP blocking
This morning I received a private message from a long time friend. He was having trouble getting his posting processed to the pchelpers list. There is nothing to suggest this person did anything wrong or even committed a minor infraction.
Instead it looks more like a general block imposed by his internet service provider to prevent list mail from being delivered!
This may yet be another example of what happens when an internet service provider endeavors to protect the security of its customers by banning mail from certain sources. What can email users do about it? In some cases they may use a different email address which won't be affected by this problem. In others the block covers an entire domain due to the unethical practices of a minority.
In such situations innocent victims may have to use an alternate email from a source that is still accepted by the system. This is one situation where it is necessary to adapt by having an alternative email source (one which has not been black listed because of the behavior of others).
Many of us are able to recall instances where our favourite ISP did something that forced us to make changes- to adapt to the changing conditions to keep the record clean!
I and various others have been affected at times simply as a side effect of the badly behaved people who enjoy making trouble for others.
Instead it looks more like a general block imposed by his internet service provider to prevent list mail from being delivered!
This may yet be another example of what happens when an internet service provider endeavors to protect the security of its customers by banning mail from certain sources. What can email users do about it? In some cases they may use a different email address which won't be affected by this problem. In others the block covers an entire domain due to the unethical practices of a minority.
In such situations innocent victims may have to use an alternate email from a source that is still accepted by the system. This is one situation where it is necessary to adapt by having an alternative email source (one which has not been black listed because of the behavior of others).
Many of us are able to recall instances where our favourite ISP did something that forced us to make changes- to adapt to the changing conditions to keep the record clean!
I and various others have been affected at times simply as a side effect of the badly behaved people who enjoy making trouble for others.
Friday, December 4, 2009
News:Grid computing tunes tiny transistors for future chips
A vast network of computers is being harnessed to design components for the next generation of silicon chips.
Simulations of transistors smaller than 30 nanometres (billionths of a metre) are being run on the UK e-science grid, which links thousands of computers.
The results will help designers cope with the physical constraints that occur when working at such tiny scales.
About 20 years worth of processing time has been used by simulating hundreds of thousands of tiny transistors.
More here:Future chips
Thursday, December 3, 2009
News:Intel unveils 48-core cloud computing silicon chip
Intel has unveiled a prototype chip that packs 48 separate processing
cores on to a chunk of silicon the size of a postage stamp.
The Single-chip Cloud Computer (SCC), as it is known, contains 1.3
billion transistors, the tiny on-off switches that underpin chip technology.
Each processing core could, in theory, run a separate operating system.
More :here
cores on to a chunk of silicon the size of a postage stamp.
The Single-chip Cloud Computer (SCC), as it is known, contains 1.3
billion transistors, the tiny on-off switches that underpin chip technology.
Each processing core could, in theory, run a separate operating system.
More :here
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
News:Windows 7 'screen of death
Microsoft has confirmed that it is investigating a problem described as
the "black screen of death", which affects its latest operating system.
The error means that users of Windows 7 see a totally black screen after logging on to the system.
The firm said it was looking into reports that suggest its latest
security update, issued on 10 November, was the cause the problem.
more here:
more
the "black screen of death", which affects its latest operating system.
The error means that users of Windows 7 see a totally black screen after logging on to the system.
The firm said it was looking into reports that suggest its latest
security update, issued on 10 November, was the cause the problem.
more here:
more
Monday, November 30, 2009
Solar panels to become cheaper
Years ago I had a solar panel installed on our roof for the princely sum of NZ$6000. During those years it has helped us cope with the cost of energy by heating our water. This of course depends on how much sun the panel gets according to the season and cloud cover each day. Over all it has proven itself effective after considerable service to the household. Even earlier than that, a friend, Steven Tetlow built such a generator and used it to charge car batteries which then ran an alternating supply to his home. It worked so well that he disconnected his house from the national grid!
Today I read an article on this front that may be good news for you:Solar panel costs 'set to fall'
It seems several of these schemes are becoming money makers as well as their creators sell the energy produced by them without any harm to the environment (unless you object to wind farms or that your neighbor has one when you don't).
Today I read an article on this front that may be good news for you:Solar panel costs 'set to fall'
It seems several of these schemes are becoming money makers as well as their creators sell the energy produced by them without any harm to the environment (unless you object to wind farms or that your neighbor has one when you don't).
Sunday, November 29, 2009
While the building is under way
I have been asked to take care of the local hall while others are up country on the build project this weekend. It should be a temporary situation, as the project will only require a few days to complete. Meantime normal upkeep continues until the others come back with stories of what happened there.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Building project coming up
Within the next 2 months I will be traveling to the small Wairarapa town of Martinborough to assist in the construction of a new Kingdom Hall there. During this period I will be out of communication with the users of this blog. Before that, however, there is another build coming up on Marton (north of Palmerston North) in the North Island of New Zealand.
Those of you who have been on similar projects know what a wonderful experience it can be to help with such a work. Over the years I've lost count of the number of such projects. There have been at least six others including Upper Hutt (my first), Lower Hutt, West Wellington, Hastings, Shannon, Featherston, Foxton, Porirua, Masterton, East Napier, Wainuiomata, Pahiatua,(the list goes on). In Pahiatua nobody seemed to believe it could be done. Cars drove by for days while the locals took in the progress. Some just could not believe what they saw. All of these projects were successful in spite of the usual problems. Anyone who has been there knows the fine record of these events. Some are just renovations, while others are a complete rebuild on an existing site. Pahiatua was a memorable one. It was stripped down to the ground and then rebuilt from scratch in a matter of days! The towns' people could not believe it. The impact was only increased because it was completed long before a local church group who employed a professional builder to finish their place of worship. Have you had experiences like this?
Those of you who have been on similar projects know what a wonderful experience it can be to help with such a work. Over the years I've lost count of the number of such projects. There have been at least six others including Upper Hutt (my first), Lower Hutt, West Wellington, Hastings, Shannon, Featherston, Foxton, Porirua, Masterton, East Napier, Wainuiomata, Pahiatua,(the list goes on). In Pahiatua nobody seemed to believe it could be done. Cars drove by for days while the locals took in the progress. Some just could not believe what they saw. All of these projects were successful in spite of the usual problems. Anyone who has been there knows the fine record of these events. Some are just renovations, while others are a complete rebuild on an existing site. Pahiatua was a memorable one. It was stripped down to the ground and then rebuilt from scratch in a matter of days! The towns' people could not believe it. The impact was only increased because it was completed long before a local church group who employed a professional builder to finish their place of worship. Have you had experiences like this?
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Is it a perfect world?
One of the possible definitions of a perfect world would be "we have no problems". Nothing is troubling us.
It sounds idyllic, doesn't it? Yet it is a reminder of why this blog was set up- to deal with users problems. In this sense it should last as long as problems exist. When we run out of issues to deal with, the service is no longer needed.
There have been no questions posted for some while now. So I put the question to our members: Should this service be continued? (from John Durham).
It sounds idyllic, doesn't it? Yet it is a reminder of why this blog was set up- to deal with users problems. In this sense it should last as long as problems exist. When we run out of issues to deal with, the service is no longer needed.
There have been no questions posted for some while now. So I put the question to our members: Should this service be continued? (from John Durham).
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Recycling technology
At times I am called on to assess and recycle old computers or other electronics. This can vary from PC to TV that has become redundant. A lot of raw materials go into these systems. The electronics (especially chips) contain rare earth elements and highly processed metals. Old CRT screens contain significant lead. They also have an implosion risk because of the vacuum inside.
Places like the local dump also attempt to recycle things dumped on public sites. Local establishments like Earth link do similar work.
This has gradually grown in importance in recent years due to the growing range of electronic devices and the drain on existing minerals required to make these systems. Some systems (microchips) can be processed by crushing old circuit boards to provide access to rare earth materials inside. These processes require toxic chemicals to dissolve selected materials so they can be recovered for reuse. They are then concentrated and purified to produce suitable materials.
Local businesses send off old circuit boards to large reprocessing plants in the USA, where the materials are extracted chemically, purified and tested for use.
This needs to be done on a large scale because a circuit board may contain only tiny amounts of these rare minerals. Crushing increases surface area and allows chemical treatment to dissolve out the needed elements.
Once dissolved to sufficient concentration, the 'soup' can then be selectively treated to precipitate needed materials one by one for purifying.
After that other methods may be needed to filter out these rare substances in usable form.
These processes are often overseen by trained chemists, scientists and technicians who know how different materials can be separated and purified for use.
Based on the quality of the extracted substances, they can then be used in re-manufacturing with the recovered purified raw materials. Note: Some of this may be clear as mud to some, but to trained staff it is a job skill often in demand at such plants and their associated industries.
Places like the local dump also attempt to recycle things dumped on public sites. Local establishments like Earth link do similar work.
This has gradually grown in importance in recent years due to the growing range of electronic devices and the drain on existing minerals required to make these systems. Some systems (microchips) can be processed by crushing old circuit boards to provide access to rare earth materials inside. These processes require toxic chemicals to dissolve selected materials so they can be recovered for reuse. They are then concentrated and purified to produce suitable materials.
Local businesses send off old circuit boards to large reprocessing plants in the USA, where the materials are extracted chemically, purified and tested for use.
This needs to be done on a large scale because a circuit board may contain only tiny amounts of these rare minerals. Crushing increases surface area and allows chemical treatment to dissolve out the needed elements.
Once dissolved to sufficient concentration, the 'soup' can then be selectively treated to precipitate needed materials one by one for purifying.
After that other methods may be needed to filter out these rare substances in usable form.
These processes are often overseen by trained chemists, scientists and technicians who know how different materials can be separated and purified for use.
Based on the quality of the extracted substances, they can then be used in re-manufacturing with the recovered purified raw materials. Note: Some of this may be clear as mud to some, but to trained staff it is a job skill often in demand at such plants and their associated industries.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Feedback problems solved
In the last month I upgraded the feedback systems at modecideas.com with forms from http://emailmeform.com
It's a very secure arrangement with a captcha system that requires human visual read and code entry that varies randomly each time.
When it was complete a problem arose with people deliberately sitting down to send junk by hand. It is about the only way anyone could get around this type of security. Never mind- when suspicious activity occurs, the system reports the IP addresses to the site owner. The owner then forwards the feedback to the support staff and the kiddies are blocked off. Meanwhile feedback remains available to all genuine site visitors. Neat, isn't it?
It's a very secure arrangement with a captcha system that requires human visual read and code entry that varies randomly each time.
When it was complete a problem arose with people deliberately sitting down to send junk by hand. It is about the only way anyone could get around this type of security. Never mind- when suspicious activity occurs, the system reports the IP addresses to the site owner. The owner then forwards the feedback to the support staff and the kiddies are blocked off. Meanwhile feedback remains available to all genuine site visitors. Neat, isn't it?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
ISP problems
This morning I sat down to work and found the internet was gone. No browser or email functions. It turned out to be a nationwide problem with Telstraclear communications. Imagine having over a million users off line at the same time! Maybe I should send them something for the headache!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Psychotic virus
We all hate them, don't we? The only thing we hate more is the person or persons who created them. Yesterday a customer brought me an infected PC. The virus lodged in the windows/system folder (write protected). Having established itself, it simply ignored all attempts at removal. Not only does windows protect the infection, it risks spreading it as well.
The only solution was to back up as much stuff as possible before formatting the drive. Pity about the files lost that weren't backed up. Are you reading a moral to the story here? Always keep a current backup of your important files!
The only solution was to back up as much stuff as possible before formatting the drive. Pity about the files lost that weren't backed up. Are you reading a moral to the story here? Always keep a current backup of your important files!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Where to find me in New Zealand
This morning I received a suggestion from google maps to mark my location for those trying to find me. As google does not completely cover the globe, I used a local service to help you find my home and workshop. Home and web site both here By using the features on the map you can see the whole area and even follow roads to see where they go. The orange blob points to my house.
Alternatively, you can type the address of any place in New Zealand and see that as well.
Alternatively, you can type the address of any place in New Zealand and see that as well.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Microsoft unleashes new windows
Personal computers are about to get a makeover with the launch of the latest Windows operating system.
Microsoft is hoping the successor to Vista will be more of a hit with users when it launches on 22 October.
Many of the features take into account multimedia applications and the fact that users are beginning to store their data on the internet.
In the UK some computer stores are due to open at midnight so keen PC users can get their hands on the software.
Microsoft is encouraging people to hold Windows 7 launch parties and has gone as far as to prepare party packs for those willing to get their friends together to mark the release.
Full story at: Microsoft unleashes new windows
Microsoft is hoping the successor to Vista will be more of a hit with users when it launches on 22 October.
Many of the features take into account multimedia applications and the fact that users are beginning to store their data on the internet.
In the UK some computer stores are due to open at midnight so keen PC users can get their hands on the software.
Microsoft is encouraging people to hold Windows 7 launch parties and has gone as far as to prepare party packs for those willing to get their friends together to mark the release.
Full story at: Microsoft unleashes new windows
Monday, October 19, 2009
US scientist charged with spying
An American scientist who worked for the US defence department and the space agency Nasa has been charged with attempted espionage, officials say.
Stewart David Nozette tried to give classified information to a person who he believed was an Israeli intelligence officer, the justice department said.
The 52-year-old, who once had top security clearance, was arrested on Monday by FBI agents, it added.
News:US scientist charged with spying
Stewart David Nozette tried to give classified information to a person who he believed was an Israeli intelligence officer, the justice department said.
The 52-year-old, who once had top security clearance, was arrested on Monday by FBI agents, it added.
News:US scientist charged with spying
French micro plane fast forwards to hover
It may look like something your kids brought home from shop class, but this rugged, French-designed micro air vehicle (MAV) could be a missing link between smooth, steady hover and fast, forward flight.
The inventor, Dr. Jean-Marc Moschetta, professor of aerodynamics at the Institut Superieur de l'Aeronautique et de l'espace in Toulouse, France, created what he calls the MAVion with both commercial and military markets in mind.
A mere 30 centimeters long, the MAVion combines fixed wings with two counter rotating propellers, allowing it to operate with high aerodynamic efficiency--even in adverse conditions, according to the professor.
More here:
French micro plane
The inventor, Dr. Jean-Marc Moschetta, professor of aerodynamics at the Institut Superieur de l'Aeronautique et de l'espace in Toulouse, France, created what he calls the MAVion with both commercial and military markets in mind.
A mere 30 centimeters long, the MAVion combines fixed wings with two counter rotating propellers, allowing it to operate with high aerodynamic efficiency--even in adverse conditions, according to the professor.
More here:
French micro plane
Millions tricked by 'scareware'
Online criminals are making millions of pounds by convincing computer users to download fake anti-virus software, internet security experts claim.
Symantec says more than 40 million people have fallen victim to the "scareware" scam in the past 12 months.
The download is usually harmful and criminals can sometimes use it to get the victim's credit card details.
The firm has identified 250 versions of scareware, and criminals are thought to earn more than £750,000 each a year.
More here:Millions tricked by 'scareware'
Friday, October 16, 2009
Bistromathematics
This was a term invented by (or attributed to) Douglas Adams, the writer of the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy. Bistromath is defined here:Bistromathematics
While I did not have the privilege of meeting him, it is true that the house where he worked on his creation is about 10 minutes walk from my address. Should friends visit who have an interest, it may be possible to wander over there (just for fun).
While I did not have the privilege of meeting him, it is true that the house where he worked on his creation is about 10 minutes walk from my address. Should friends visit who have an interest, it may be possible to wander over there (just for fun).
Are you annoyed by "Nigeria scams"?
Most of us get email offering access to a bequest or a lottery winning or similar "welcome news". The pattern is becoming well known by this time. They offer a carrot, claim affiliation with some trust or a major bank and wish to process a large transaction in your favour. Once the process begins, there are some legal or administrative requirements to be met which require fees paid before delivery of the money. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANYTHING! They are trying to scam money from you by playing on your desire for wealth (if you have one). Yesterday one arrived giving the name "Felicia Paul" so I decided to check up on her. Upon locating the company she claimed to be employed by, then contacting them to find out about her. They informed me no such person worked there. Note: This scam named the company and branch she "worked for". It was a simple matter to find it with a search engine and use the contact features on their web site to discover if the person worked there. She didn't. Checking up like this saved me a lot of time and expense by exposing the original deception. So be smart. Don't get taken in. Check up and expose the fraudsters before they can harm you!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Freelists got a facelift
John Madden, the creator of freelists has just updated his system (nicely). The original system was created using perl script years ago to allow large numbers of email lists to be created, subscribed and archived. The system has performed well over that time. I have lost count of how many lists it runs, but there are lots. The pchelpers list (mine) was one of the early ones.
So if you have the desire to create or run your own list with private/public membership, why not try going to Freelists to set it up?
So if you have the desire to create or run your own list with private/public membership, why not try going to Freelists to set it up?
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Transferring modecideas.com
Within days of registering my domain, it was hijacked to a fake site. To prevent this from happening again, arrangements are being made to transfer the domain to another provider. Those of you who have had difficulty finding the right page at modecideas.com can put it down to the malicious actions of others. For what gain?
Registration of the domain has now been completed. It is set up for at least 3 years from now. Thanks to all those showing patience while this process was completed. If anything has been learned from the experience it is "don't let your domain expire before renewing!". The problems in getting it back can be much bigger than just renewing it. Things like other people trying to acquire it, for example can cause sleepless nights. Allow a day or two to get back to full speed, thanks.
Registration of the domain has now been completed. It is set up for at least 3 years from now. Thanks to all those showing patience while this process was completed. If anything has been learned from the experience it is "don't let your domain expire before renewing!". The problems in getting it back can be much bigger than just renewing it. Things like other people trying to acquire it, for example can cause sleepless nights. Allow a day or two to get back to full speed, thanks.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Diamond web award winner
International Association of Web Masters and Designers
Years ago, modecideas.com received an award for web design of a high standard.Since that time the site has been updated with information designed to help web masters develop new sites, find electronic information (markings on resistors, capacitors etc) and to answer some of the difficult questions website owners must face as sites develop and grow. During that time the effort has been aided by many members from the pchelpers online email support group. With over 80 members world wide we help needy people deal with their website and PC issues without charge. We bounce ideas off each other and work things out together on a daily basis. If you would like to be a part of it, please go to the sign-up form at http://modecideas.com/index.html and add your email address to the list. You can contribute to the conversation and choose to leave at any time. We welcome your questions and your input.
Years ago, modecideas.com received an award for web design of a high standard.Since that time the site has been updated with information designed to help web masters develop new sites, find electronic information (markings on resistors, capacitors etc) and to answer some of the difficult questions website owners must face as sites develop and grow. During that time the effort has been aided by many members from the pchelpers online email support group. With over 80 members world wide we help needy people deal with their website and PC issues without charge. We bounce ideas off each other and work things out together on a daily basis. If you would like to be a part of it, please go to the sign-up form at http://modecideas.com/index.html and add your email address to the list. You can contribute to the conversation and choose to leave at any time. We welcome your questions and your input.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Why I would prefer a web hosting service over running my own server
Most people who have a web site find it convenient to use a web server outside their own home/office. I have one in house, set up for direct access updating. My approach is to use a USB stick to store the updates and just walk across the room, plug it in and upload the files directly.
This is fine for some, but the majority either don't have the interest or the ability to maintain or set up such a system.
What's the alternative? Simple- look for a web hosting service on line (preferably one that offers FTP access). FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. There a number of handy programs you can download for this, such as "Cuteftp". In this case an FTP account is set up by your hosting provider with a personal password for you. When you have created new pages or updated existing ones,you simply bring up your FTP program, connect with the server and send the files to it (being careful to put them in the right directory and do any other tasks your host requires). It's a convenient and efficient system, and the web server could be anywhere in the world.
One other thing. Having your site set up this way may also have its dangers. If the server has many clients, it is possible one or more may misbehave and affect the reputation of the service. For example, while you maintain your web files with integrity, another client could be sending spam and thereby affecting the reputation of the server, and possibly your reputation as well.
That's the good and the bad side of FTP server hosting. It's your decision. Let it be a wise one!
This is fine for some, but the majority either don't have the interest or the ability to maintain or set up such a system.
What's the alternative? Simple- look for a web hosting service on line (preferably one that offers FTP access). FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. There a number of handy programs you can download for this, such as "Cuteftp". In this case an FTP account is set up by your hosting provider with a personal password for you. When you have created new pages or updated existing ones,you simply bring up your FTP program, connect with the server and send the files to it (being careful to put them in the right directory and do any other tasks your host requires). It's a convenient and efficient system, and the web server could be anywhere in the world.
One other thing. Having your site set up this way may also have its dangers. If the server has many clients, it is possible one or more may misbehave and affect the reputation of the service. For example, while you maintain your web files with integrity, another client could be sending spam and thereby affecting the reputation of the server, and possibly your reputation as well.
That's the good and the bad side of FTP server hosting. It's your decision. Let it be a wise one!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Domain update is done
Enom are querying some of the details to get them right. I sent them off a few minutes ago. My mistake for thinking the problems were over! So I still keep working to straighten them out. Hoping this is the last problem before everything is back to normal again.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Domain update
The expected transfer did not take place (unfortunately) due to problems with the alternative hosting service. So modecideas.com was renewed on ehost.com instead. By this time the changes should have begun to percolate over the net. It may be a couple of days before everyone can see the site again. Please take the opportunity to ping the domain during this time and post your results. The IP information you get from this could assist me to identify both spread and any problems with the update.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Domain transfer for modecideas.com
With thanks to all the staff at enom, I have arranged to transfer my website (modecideas.com) to a new domain name provider. Both parties have been advised of the move. There could be some problems accessing the domain while this goes on, so please be patient over the next few days. Note: Doing this may also prove a deterrent for those who tried to hijack the domain recently. After they got into one server it will be harder for them to locate and deal with a new one.
In the meantime I would like to thank all those loyal friends and the users of my website, the members of pchelpers for their understanding and support. This blog will not be affected by the changes described above. Everyone is still welcome to visit and post as usual. PS:I have just posted a temporary access to the modecideas.com site until the domain comes on stream again. http://121.73.82.180 NB: I will endeavor to leave this on the blog until the problem is cleared up, but after that it will be removed.
PS:It didn't all turn out as expected. The transfer didn't happen, so I renewed the domain on enom. Lots of work later it was done and the results were submitted to the net. Over the next couple of days the site should become visible again. Hopefully the fake one will be history.
In the meantime I would like to thank all those loyal friends and the users of my website, the members of pchelpers for their understanding and support. This blog will not be affected by the changes described above. Everyone is still welcome to visit and post as usual. PS:I have just posted a temporary access to the modecideas.com site until the domain comes on stream again. http://121.73.82.180 NB: I will endeavor to leave this on the blog until the problem is cleared up, but after that it will be removed.
PS:It didn't all turn out as expected. The transfer didn't happen, so I renewed the domain on enom. Lots of work later it was done and the results were submitted to the net. Over the next couple of days the site should become visible again. Hopefully the fake one will be history.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
My domain (modecideas.com) is under attack!
Only an hour or two ago I started getting reports that people accessing my website were getting different pages from usual. My domain is http://modecideas.com (hoping it stays mine). The result demonstrates that someone has altered my domain registration records. It looks like a deliberate and well planned attack to hijack my site visitors to their pages. There was even a mock-up of a different design using my domain name. This goes well beyond annoying! It's as if someone stole my car!
Monday, September 28, 2009
New kind of graffiti
This morning I visited the site where my novel (Return by John Durham) is displayed for sale Return by John Durham, to see the site visit/sales tracking information. I had to log in. To my dismay in the comments area I found the kind of thing you usually get in unsolicited emails. How did it get there?
Only one way- A professional spammer with membership access must have visited the area to leave a whole lot of meaningless characters behind. The author quietly tears hair out while the helpful people at lulu.com investigate.
Postscript:This morning I checked the site. It appears that lulu.com have repaired a problem with the site. Things look normal once more (good job, lulu!)
Only one way- A professional spammer with membership access must have visited the area to leave a whole lot of meaningless characters behind. The author quietly tears hair out while the helpful people at lulu.com investigate.
Postscript:This morning I checked the site. It appears that lulu.com have repaired a problem with the site. Things look normal once more (good job, lulu!)
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Light relief:Famous quotes by Winston Churchill
I hope you find these as entertaining and enlightening as I did...
Famous Quotes of Sir Winston Churchill
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in any opportunity; the optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty"
"Eating words has never given me indigestion"
Sir Winston Churchill
When I am abroad, I always make it a rule never to criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home.
Sir Winston Churchill
Bessie Braddock to Churchill "Winston, you're drunk!"
Churchill: "Bessie, you're ugly, and tomorrow morning I shall be sober"
History will be kind to me for I intend to write it
Sir Winston Churchill
We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill
I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colours. I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns.
Sir Winston Churchill
Lady Astor to Churchill "Winston, if you were my husband I would flavour your coffee with poison"
Churchill: "Madam, if I were your husband, I should drink it"
Famous Quotes of Sir Winston Churchill
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in any opportunity; the optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty"
"Eating words has never given me indigestion"
Sir Winston Churchill
When I am abroad, I always make it a rule never to criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home.
Sir Winston Churchill
Bessie Braddock to Churchill "Winston, you're drunk!"
Churchill: "Bessie, you're ugly, and tomorrow morning I shall be sober"
History will be kind to me for I intend to write it
Sir Winston Churchill
We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill
I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colours. I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns.
Sir Winston Churchill
Lady Astor to Churchill "Winston, if you were my husband I would flavour your coffee with poison"
Churchill: "Madam, if I were your husband, I should drink it"
Monday, September 21, 2009
Spam dunk (for email and SMS)
Software is beginning to appear that will seriously restrict the amount of junk mail you receive by email. It is a move against the type of messages that promote pharmaceutical and health care products that may be unregistered and untested. More information here:SpamDunk
Banned ads do the business
Banned ads do the business
Fickle customers
When a customer phones for help what do you expect? One such person called me yesterday saying "come over and help me".
I went to help her. By the time I got there she had left for some unspecified reason. How would you react to that?
Note: The primary source of the problem was ignorance of the operating system on her part. By leaving she prevented the matter from being resolved. Got any suggestions?
I went to help her. By the time I got there she had left for some unspecified reason. How would you react to that?
Note: The primary source of the problem was ignorance of the operating system on her part. By leaving she prevented the matter from being resolved. Got any suggestions?
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Renewing my domain
It's that time of year again. I'm going to be tied up trying to re-register my domain name today. It's a bit last minute, so excuse the rush please!
Sorry it is becoming a real problem. Registration at enom failed due to login problems, so I have chosen to register with http://www.domainz.net.nz to reduce the hassle. They don't work on weekends. This is anything but fun! Anyone else run into problems like these?
PS:Finally got that resolved (enom responded with a support email). Still can't log in there but the domain is renewed at least.
Sorry it is becoming a real problem. Registration at enom failed due to login problems, so I have chosen to register with http://www.domainz.net.nz to reduce the hassle. They don't work on weekends. This is anything but fun! Anyone else run into problems like these?
PS:Finally got that resolved (enom responded with a support email). Still can't log in there but the domain is renewed at least.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Is your hard drive running out of space?
It is literally the final frontier for your hard drive. The drive has a fixed finite size at manufacturing time. Once it is filled to that point, the data may literally have nowhere to go. The usual symptoms are when the operating system slows down or refuses to carry out any more work. The possible solutions to this are to install a larger one and transfer the data to it or delete/move files to other media such as a spare drive, USB device, writable CD/DVD Zip drive or floppy. You may need to re-install the operating system and set up your internet connection again. A skilled technician with the right equipment may be able to copy your partition to a bigger drive and then increase its size. Whether that happens or not, there is no more your original drive can do until space is freed up. Despite the speed and efficiency of modern hard drives, their finite size is their Achilles heel. For this reason, it is wise to see the 'end coming' when the drive slows down or refuses to do the jobs you need because of data congestion. One other alternative would be to add a second hard drive and transfer as much portable data (pictures, documents etc) to the newer, emptier drive. The more free space the drive has, the better it will work. It doesn't have to be the end of the line for your hard drive, but you do need to take action to deal with the data congestion before the system refuses to function any more.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Virus on D: drive
Yesterday I discovered an intractable infection on drive D: of my system. It resists all attempts at removal, so remedial treatment is under way. All vital files on the drive are being saved on other media. After that the drive will need to be formatted and everything recovered from backups. Please excuse any delays in making contact.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Novel (Return by John Durham) now readable on weread.com
Earlier today I was invited to join weread.com so that online readers could read my book there. Several chapters were uploaded (not all). Now members can get a feel for the story before ordering the book. Note:Lots of the good stuff is still found only in the book, so viewers need to get a genuine copy to find out the ending.
Return by John Durham
Return by John Durham
Thursday, September 10, 2009
How often do you update your email records?
Anyone with a PC (especially windows based) usually has some kind of email facility. If not, you are not doing much on the internet. For those who have been using it for a long time (over a year), you have probably made a number of friends and contacts round about.
One of the most common things to affect your system (apart from infectious nasties) is that over time many of your friends change their email addresses (but sometimes they don't tell you). This only shows up after a period when you try to contact them, only to find them gone. Their mail is returned to you with some sort of "gone" message.
There are several ways to find out who has (since many change their phone numbers less often than their email addresses). What about phoning them (if possible)? If that doesn't work, what about posting a note to their street address? Ask around on line to see if anyone you know has a current address.
If these efforts work, fine. If not, you may just have to remove them from your list until they contact you again. So keep up to date, and let others know when you are changing your address!
One of the most common things to affect your system (apart from infectious nasties) is that over time many of your friends change their email addresses (but sometimes they don't tell you). This only shows up after a period when you try to contact them, only to find them gone. Their mail is returned to you with some sort of "gone" message.
There are several ways to find out who has (since many change their phone numbers less often than their email addresses). What about phoning them (if possible)? If that doesn't work, what about posting a note to their street address? Ask around on line to see if anyone you know has a current address.
If these efforts work, fine. If not, you may just have to remove them from your list until they contact you again. So keep up to date, and let others know when you are changing your address!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Card drops
A few days ago a business card was left in my letterbox. It was clearly a local person trying to make contacts, so I logged his details and contacted him. He seemed a nice guy, just trying to make a go of life (much like me). In a way he encouraged me to keep trying.
It's really a matter of finding those who would benefit from your talents. This area is full of talented people who have limited outlet for their work (maybe the population is too small).
Nevertheless, I am going to have a try today.
One day there might be enough work to keep going with.
Do you know the feeling?
It's really a matter of finding those who would benefit from your talents. This area is full of talented people who have limited outlet for their work (maybe the population is too small).
Nevertheless, I am going to have a try today.
One day there might be enough work to keep going with.
Do you know the feeling?
Monday, September 7, 2009
Site update complete!
Seemed like it would never come, but it has. All the html pages have been checked and corrected for broken links and poor code. They have been given new feedback forms with Captcha security devices. Unless someone resorts to junk mail by hand or the support systems fail, the pages are now more secure. Forms are on the majority of pages, but if you spot one that needs it, please let me know. PS:If you want to do this kind of thing to your site, please chime in. I will help in whatever way I can.
PC helpers support list
PC helpers support list
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Fax machine died today
When you rely on a machine to answer calls, receive fax messages and generally look after things it's a setback when it dies. That is what happened today. So I bought a replacement, a Brother MFC-290C multifunction centre. If it works out it should do all the things the other machines did and more. It's one more step towards the automatic office. Sorry if I missed you while all this was going on! Looking forward to your call...
Friday, August 28, 2009
Feedback system for my site
Working on feedback system.
As of yesterday, I began to re-create a feedback system for http://modecideas.com that would send results to the web master by email. So far results are promising, but work is still needed. The test form is at http://modecideas.com/discuss.htm
Here is what the new forms look like.
Note: I found these forms are affected by the blog coding (distorts the form abnormally), so please visit the linked page to see it in operation, thanks!
...
As of yesterday, I began to re-create a feedback system for http://modecideas.com that would send results to the web master by email. So far results are promising, but work is still needed. The test form is at http://modecideas.com/discuss.htm
Here is what the new forms look like.
Note: I found these forms are affected by the blog coding (distorts the form abnormally), so please visit the linked page to see it in operation, thanks!
...
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Forced website update
For years I relied on the goodwill of a friend on line (Benji Spencer) who was kind enough to allow me to set up some of my pages on his server. Some time ago he made a decision to give up web hosting because other users were abusing the privilege by sending unsolicited mail from his server.
If you have had similar experiences, know that you are not alone. After Benji retired his server I had to cut back on automatic secure services because of the role his system played in delivering them.
If you have had troubling experiences with unsolicited mail and abuse of your trust or your goodwill, know you are not alone. Those of us valuing such qualities will continue on, helping others as long as we are able.
PS:Over the last 2 days about 100 pages of PC Helpers and frequently asked questions pages have been updated to correct errors and replace the out of date feedback system. Things were so busy I missed one or two appointments because of it (sorry folks!). The improvements should beef up security and reduce junk mail by non human submitters.
If you have had similar experiences, know that you are not alone. After Benji retired his server I had to cut back on automatic secure services because of the role his system played in delivering them.
If you have had troubling experiences with unsolicited mail and abuse of your trust or your goodwill, know you are not alone. Those of us valuing such qualities will continue on, helping others as long as we are able.
PS:Over the last 2 days about 100 pages of PC Helpers and frequently asked questions pages have been updated to correct errors and replace the out of date feedback system. Things were so busy I missed one or two appointments because of it (sorry folks!). The improvements should beef up security and reduce junk mail by non human submitters.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Updates to modecideas.com
The pages on http://modecideas.com are gradually being inspected, updated and corrected as required since information has a habit of going out of date. The following is a list of those pages beginning with the most recent.
Manage your PC-Helpers subscription here
Remember what computers used to be
How to contact us
computer services
(Main index page)
Manage your subscription to PC-Helpers list
Access to the main features and PC Helpers subscriptions.
Access site map, useful pages and URL submission services.
Description of the safe account system.
Opening a Safe Account
PC Helpers List etiquette
The original multipurpose perl script.
Ways to make money on line.
Proxy servers
the essential things users need to do to maintain a windows based PC
What does copyright mean?
How do I install a new hard drive?
Link pages directory
List of links pages
Index of links pages
Redirects to link page information
Acer PC
Order
Get more hits book
What can I use to check/monitor my site
for broken links?
Sources of scripts
Manage your PC-Helpers subscription here
Remember what computers used to be
How to contact us
computer services
(Main index page)
Manage your subscription to PC-Helpers list
Access to the main features and PC Helpers subscriptions.
Access site map, useful pages and URL submission services.
Description of the safe account system.
Opening a Safe Account
PC Helpers List etiquette
The original multipurpose perl script.
Ways to make money on line.
Proxy servers
the essential things users need to do to maintain a windows based PC
What does copyright mean?
How do I install a new hard drive?
Link pages directory
List of links pages
Index of links pages
Redirects to link page information
Acer PC
Order
Get more hits book
What can I use to check/monitor my site
for broken links?
Sources of scripts
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Now the spammers are getting irritating!
Moments ago an email arrived containing spam. This one had a new twist. It was to me, but apparently also from me. I definitely did not send it! How would you react if one like that was delivered to you? Do I mark my own email address as a spam source?
Friday, August 14, 2009
Judge orders Microsoft to stop selling Word
Can you believe this? Here is a link to the story:
Judge orders Microsoft to stop selling Word
From what I have read it has something to do with patent violations. Would like to know your comments after reading it.
Judge orders Microsoft to stop selling Word
From what I have read it has something to do with patent violations. Would like to know your comments after reading it.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Checking your web site for broken links
As the condition of the world wide web develops, continual changes occur. New web sites are created. Old ones drop off the list or become out of date. One of the most common symptoms of this change is that some of the links on your web site no longer point to a valid page.
Thankfully, a clever windows tool is available to help check the condition of your links. It is called Xenu. Get a copy of it here: Xenu link checker.
After running a check on your pages it produces a detailed report showing which links are broken, where they pointed to and which pages they are on. It provides a printed report so you can track every problem and keep your pages up to date (my last one contained hundreds of pages of useful data).
Please note: You will also need a way to edit your pages to correct the contents as needed. One editor I would suggest using is called DZsoft WebPad. You can get a copy here: Xenu link checker (a purpose built HTML editor/creator).WebPad
If you have a web site that hasn't been checked for a while, isn't it possible the pages may need a checkup by now?
Thankfully, a clever windows tool is available to help check the condition of your links. It is called Xenu. Get a copy of it here: Xenu link checker.
After running a check on your pages it produces a detailed report showing which links are broken, where they pointed to and which pages they are on. It provides a printed report so you can track every problem and keep your pages up to date (my last one contained hundreds of pages of useful data).
Please note: You will also need a way to edit your pages to correct the contents as needed. One editor I would suggest using is called DZsoft WebPad. You can get a copy here: Xenu link checker (a purpose built HTML editor/creator).WebPad
If you have a web site that hasn't been checked for a while, isn't it possible the pages may need a checkup by now?
Fake CNN emails
I received 2 messages claiming to be from CNN this morning.
They were fairly convincing with headline news links etc.
When I tested them, the pages linked to either did not exist
or displayed something other than the headline story linked to it.
Based on this it may be wise to watch out for such reports and keep
clear of them.
They were fairly convincing with headline news links etc.
When I tested them, the pages linked to either did not exist
or displayed something other than the headline story linked to it.
Based on this it may be wise to watch out for such reports and keep
clear of them.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Is your website getting out of date?
Anyone who has a website, especially one you have responsibility for, needs maintainance.
Why?
Even if your site has not changed, others have. Many sites have links that point to other useful and relevant ones. Over time, some will change while others will move or disappear completely. The reputation of your site often depends on whether visitors can find what they need there. If they can't they will try somewhere else.
Of course it is easier if you have another service host it for you. Each day you can look at it and upload changes or updates as required. On the other hand, if it is hosted in house, updating can be more difficult, often due to the fact that the only one who can't see what's going on is you. That may seem ironic, but a Linux server may not present you with a view of the real condition of your site. This is especially true if your server contains a text based server program like Debian (Linux). It's great software, known for its stability, but a demanding environment to work in. What can you do?
Being text based, and extremely stable, the server requires you to deal with it on a text level (no windows icons even if your website has them).
In this situation you may get help from a local Linux user group, often called a LUG. Many such groups exist, some providing voluntary free service. In the end though you yourself will need to learn the ropes to handle the system. Many user groups exist, so chances are you can contact one in your area.
My local one is found here: Wellington Linux User Group
Why?
Even if your site has not changed, others have. Many sites have links that point to other useful and relevant ones. Over time, some will change while others will move or disappear completely. The reputation of your site often depends on whether visitors can find what they need there. If they can't they will try somewhere else.
Of course it is easier if you have another service host it for you. Each day you can look at it and upload changes or updates as required. On the other hand, if it is hosted in house, updating can be more difficult, often due to the fact that the only one who can't see what's going on is you. That may seem ironic, but a Linux server may not present you with a view of the real condition of your site. This is especially true if your server contains a text based server program like Debian (Linux). It's great software, known for its stability, but a demanding environment to work in. What can you do?
Being text based, and extremely stable, the server requires you to deal with it on a text level (no windows icons even if your website has them).
In this situation you may get help from a local Linux user group, often called a LUG. Many such groups exist, some providing voluntary free service. In the end though you yourself will need to learn the ropes to handle the system. Many user groups exist, so chances are you can contact one in your area.
My local one is found here: Wellington Linux User Group
Friday, August 7, 2009
How would you deal with these people?
I have a customer (Mr B. S.). This fellow is very keen to receive professional tech service for his computer. It is generally difficult, since he does not do any maintainance or follow any advice given to him. Consequently his system is plagued by infections and in poor condition. As if that is not enough, when he gets the bill, he gets the money from his partner or refuses to pay because he doesn't like spending money or paying bills. Meanwhile, his situation and reputation suffer. His system is due for service shortly.
Before I proceed, may I ask for your recommendations, as I am too close to this to be sure of acting objectively.
Before I proceed, may I ask for your recommendations, as I am too close to this to be sure of acting objectively.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Blogs are for answering questions
In the past few months I have posted new topics and answered a number of member's questions. That is what they are for- a forum devoted to discussion with the aim of helping others. If you have a question, ask and someone answers. If you have news, share it with them. If you have insights, reveal them. If you want to correct something, don't let the matter go unnoticed! If you want to change something, start a discussion about it. Otherwise the blog fails in its purpose- to help people of all sorts. As my parents would have put it "What have you got to say for yourself?"
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
How trustworthy is your web site?
We know that there are good sites and bad ones on the web. They seem to come in ever more variety. How can you tell the good from the bad? One useful way is to use the web of trust (found at http://www.mywot.com/. This site is one place thousands of users have come to vote on their impression of the places they have visited. Over time, a steady stream of users have notched up strong impressions of many sites by voting on trustworthiness, usefulness, quality etc. I have used it frequently to assess what I can expect from various destinations on the web. Why not make it a regular stop, especially where the safety and security of your household are concerned? If you become a member, you too can influence the way the web is used!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Importing your blog to plaxo
It all started with this: Yesterday I was offered the option of importing my blog to facebook. That seemed a good way to increase link ranking, so I agreed. Today, when I click the original link, I get a blank screen!
http://pc-tech-upper-hutt.blogspot.com/
What do you folks get?
Has the blog been moved?
If so, I want it back!
Thankfully after the blog disappeared, facebook provided a solution to this problem.
http://pc-tech-upper-hutt.blogspot.com/
What do you folks get?
Has the blog been moved?
If so, I want it back!
Thankfully after the blog disappeared, facebook provided a solution to this problem.
Thank you for contacting Plaxo Customer Care.
Follow the steps to find the feed link of your blog which you added to Plaxo:
- Signin to your account at https://www.plaxo.com/sinin
- Click on "My Profile"
- Click on "About Me"
- Click on "Websites"
- You will find the link of your blog http://pc-tech-upper-hutt.blogspot.com/
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Even though the information was not perfect, it did provide a way to get the blog back. They deserve credit for that (name of respondent deleted).Monday, August 3, 2009
Agressive email filtering?
Over the years I have made many friends on line. Some write to tell me their stories or to catch up with where others are. In that time contacts have been made with people world wide. Some, however have misused the email service by sending large numbers of useless messages to as many people as possible. Let's refer to them as the world of S-P-A-M. We have all had some annoyance from this practice and the misuse of legitimate services. In one case my own link page scripts were misused by people who submitted links and entered other people's email addresses with them I got blamed when their activity caused unwelcome mail from my services.
Now I have found there is a legacy that is causing a new problem for genuine users. A certain ISP (legitimate) in its attempt to prevent such problems has labeled several internet service providers in my country as sources of such mail. So instead of blocking the email addresses involved, they have blocked all mail that comes from those services.
I have just been informed that although my messages resulted in rejection errors, the intended recipients got their mail. This would surely require a weird set of circumstances involving malfunctions in the ISP systems.
As a result of this, thousands of innocent people believe they are being cut off from emailing friends who use those services just because somebody else did something bad, or because of a system error and these innocents may be punished for the wrong doing of others.
What would you think if your ISP behaved like this?
Now I have found there is a legacy that is causing a new problem for genuine users. A certain ISP (legitimate) in its attempt to prevent such problems has labeled several internet service providers in my country as sources of such mail. So instead of blocking the email addresses involved, they have blocked all mail that comes from those services.
I have just been informed that although my messages resulted in rejection errors, the intended recipients got their mail. This would surely require a weird set of circumstances involving malfunctions in the ISP systems.
As a result of this, thousands of innocent people believe they are being cut off from emailing friends who use those services just because somebody else did something bad, or because of a system error and these innocents may be punished for the wrong doing of others.
What would you think if your ISP behaved like this?
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Do you have too many links in your email signiture?
A friend recently reminded me that I have too many links at the end of my emails. For those of us who have many different online interests this is a common thing. If there are too many, it can become a problem for them. For that reason I am adding them to my blog separately so everyone can benefit from a better way.
Contact me
Order my novel entitled [Return] here.
Terms of trade
PC-HELPERS list subscribe/unsub
Contact me
Order my novel entitled [Return] here.
Terms of trade
PC-HELPERS list subscribe/unsub
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Powering Lamps with Soil (thanks, Ray)
Normally when it comes to energy, we talk about biofuels and hydrogen sources like methanol. But one designer decided to go for a more natural, easily accessible power source. One of Marieke Strap's rather interesting projects is a lamp powered by nothing else other than your run-of-the-mill garden soil. Aptly called the "Soil Lamp," it exploits the naturally-occurring electrolytes in healthy garden soil to provide energy enough to power a simple LED light bulb. More here: Powering lamps with soil
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Star Trek Technologies (real or fiction)
One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do. (Henry Ford)
Shades of Star Trek!
Is it here already?
Star Trek Technology: Real or Fiction?
Multi-spectral communication
That first article reminded me of an old series that introduced new ideas to many of us. In those days they seemed futuristic and very ambitious. The interesting part is that now some of them are becoming realities. The series of pages beginning above explains how to vastly increase the amount of information moving along a single optical fiber. It is explained in fairly basic terms, but the reality is that the means already exists to take a fibreoptic cable and multiply the amount of information passing along it, efficiently separating each signal at the destination point. The idea has been on my site for some years, but is only now being employed by those who require this kind of powerful information system.
Shades of Star Trek!
Is it here already?
Star Trek Technology: Real or Fiction?
Multi-spectral communication
That first article reminded me of an old series that introduced new ideas to many of us. In those days they seemed futuristic and very ambitious. The interesting part is that now some of them are becoming realities. The series of pages beginning above explains how to vastly increase the amount of information moving along a single optical fiber. It is explained in fairly basic terms, but the reality is that the means already exists to take a fibreoptic cable and multiply the amount of information passing along it, efficiently separating each signal at the destination point. The idea has been on my site for some years, but is only now being employed by those who require this kind of powerful information system.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Do you want to ask the author?
As it appears at least 2 of us are published authors, it seemed fitting to put such experience to good use. Therefore interested ones are invited to post questions about writing your own book. This can include standards of writing, editing, subject matter, publication issues, format, accuracy, printing and distribution. Since each work must be unique (to avoid plagiarism), the qualities needed include good language skills, imagination, ability to use a word processor, access to publishing services such as lulu.com or author.com
Here is a taster for you.
In the words of Anar: "In a seldom visited part of the passages of Corin-Bast is an unremarkable alcove. Nearby is the spot where we found the coffin of a six fingered man. His story led me to discover things we were forbidden to know. Someone hid the secret of our past here over a thousand years before I was born. Along with it was an object that had survived the centuries intact. Had I known its importance then, I would have run away and hid. Instead I became obsessed with knowing the truth of it. Why did I do it? Never could resist a challenge. All I wanted was to know its secret, but along the way it just got bigger and more dangerous. It is the story of how we got here and ultimately of our return to the 'place without wall or ceiling where man would no longer be alone'. The natives there call us 'Homo Subterens' (underground man). If we had suspected it earlier would we have set out to discover it, or shrunk back in fear? Now I hardly know how to tell it. I am no longer the boy who began this journey. I don't even look like a man any more. How long had the truth been hidden from us? Where do I begin to chart the rise of man? Sitting here among the mossy outcroppings it seems like a dream. I remember everything from the start, but who would believe me? Worst of all, when they look at my face they see the one who killed me, and who later delivered us all. Was Tascanar originally just a project, the creation of a brilliant mind, or was it ‘the resting place of the prophets’ as my people taught me? On reflection it probably started as one and became the other over time. Do not think of me as a hideous enemy. He was born as a son of the Kefa, one of the slaves of an evil twisted man. I speak now in his place. His kind and his world were the product of a wicked mind. He fears now because my mind shares with his in the same body, and condemns the things he did. It is ironic that this combination was what brought about our return. Now all depends on whether the court believes the truth of it, or whether they will condemn me as my own murderer. Anar
Get a copy here:Return (by John Durham)
Updates to the novel: Since a friend recently commented that my story was "too detailed", I had a choice.
1)Rewrite the book (ouch!) or 2)Provide cause for a detailed account.
Thankfully, the second option seemed far more practical. Therefore, a small addition has been made to the introduction. It gives cause for the detailed style (sorry- you have to read it to find out why).
Here is a taster for you.
In the words of Anar:
Get a copy here:Return (by John Durham)
Updates to the novel: Since a friend recently commented that my story was "too detailed", I had a choice.
1)Rewrite the book (ouch!) or 2)Provide cause for a detailed account.
Thankfully, the second option seemed far more practical. Therefore, a small addition has been made to the introduction. It gives cause for the detailed style (sorry- you have to read it to find out why).
Friday, July 24, 2009
Bacterial computers
Biologists have created a living computer from E. coli bacteria that can solve complex mathematical problems.
Computers are evolving – literally. While the tech world argues netbooks vs notebooks, synthetic biologists are leaving traditional computers behind altogether. A team of US scientists have engineered bacteria that can solve complex mathematical problems faster than anything made from silicon.
The research, published today in the Journal of Biological Engineering, proves that bacteria can be used to solve a puzzle known as the Hamiltonian Path Problem. Imagine you want to tour the 10 biggest cities in the UK, starting in London (number 1) and finishing in Bristol (number 10). The solution to the Hamiltonian Path Problem is the the shortest possible route you can take.
More here: Bacterial computersThursday, July 23, 2009
The Future of Technology
I've been watching a few technology shows, and is becoming apparent to me that great things are in the offing. The most important of which is that someday money and jobs will disappear because machines will be doing ALL OF THE JOBS FOR US.
There will be no reason to work, because everything will be done by the machines, including thinking up new innovations in technology, medicine, and other fields. All physical, and yes mental labor of any sort whatsoever will be performed by machines of one kind or another.
Solar power, hydrogen power, wind power, and wave power are the four main inexhaustible power sources that need to be developed and utilized to make this dream become possible. Never mind renewable resources, these resources will never become exhausted at all, so no renewal is necessary between now and when the sun goes supernova.
More here:The Future of Technology.
Monday, July 13, 2009
re:Keep Books Alive!
I agree with your sentiments, although I get less chance to read fiction these days. Instead I wrote a novel and published it on line. You can find it here:
RETURN by John Durham
RETURN by John Durham
Chinese Hackers are Attacking my PC
Two things happened recently that, taken together, point out just how
dangerous the Internet is.
Cyber security was all over the news as Defense Secretary
Robert Gates approved the creation of a new department
in the U.S. government, called U.S. Cyber Command,
to handle the security of computer networks run by
the Department of Defense.
More here: Chinese hackers are attacking my PC!
dangerous the Internet is.
Cyber security was all over the news as Defense Secretary
Robert Gates approved the creation of a new department
in the U.S. government, called U.S. Cyber Command,
to handle the security of computer networks run by
the Department of Defense.
More here: Chinese hackers are attacking my PC!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Secret questions 'make emails vulnerable to hacking'
Where did you go to school? What is your Brother's first name?
A new study in the US has revealed just how easy the answers of
such security questions are for other people to guess --
in fact these facts make life simple for hackers, the 'New Scientist' reported.
Researchers at Microsoft have based their findings on an analysis of an experiment involving 32 email users. An article on it has been published here:
Secret questions vulnerable
A new study in the US has revealed just how easy the answers of
such security questions are for other people to guess --
in fact these facts make life simple for hackers, the 'New Scientist' reported.
Researchers at Microsoft have based their findings on an analysis of an experiment involving 32 email users. An article on it has been published here:
Secret questions vulnerable
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Hacker halted training
Want to do something about the activities of hackers who could threaten your PC or your web site? I just found this site that provides training. Find out about secure coding and ethical hacker countermeasures. Learn computer forensics along with many other advanced techniques. http://www.hackerhalted.com/
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Disposable temporary email address
This website provides you with disposable e-mail addresses which expire after 15 Minutes.
guerrillamail.com
It is provided as an anti spam system to prevent others from hijacking your address to send junk to.
guerrillamail.com
It is provided as an anti spam system to prevent others from hijacking your address to send junk to.
Quimo for kids
Qimo is a desktop operating system designed for kids. Based on the open source Ubuntu Linux desktop, Qimo comes pre-installed with educational games for children aged 3 and up. Quimo
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
What if a virus infection is stubbornly resisting removal?
This is a tricky area for some because virus infections can try a number of tricks to prevent removal. Normally scanning will find the infections you have (provided they are in the anti virus database). One of the tricks worth noting is active write protection. In this case, when the virus is active it could be working to make its directory write protected. In this state it is very difficult to remove because when you turn off write protection, it promptly puts it back. The trick makes it very well protected and hard to treat.
The solution is to shut down the PC and slave its hard drive to a CLEAN system with both antivirus and a utility like R-Wipe&Clean. Power up and find the affected directory. Remove its write protection (remember the virus is now asleep because the system isn't running it any more). Now you must make a decision about what to treat and how. What you decide will depend on what you are seeing. The last time I did this, the virus was heavily write protected. The only thing to do was shred the directory it was in along with any files it contained and then repair damage to the system later. Techniques like this are often brutal, but they are better than formatting the drive to get rid of it.
After confirming that the infection is gone, you may then need to repair/reinstall all or part of the operating system to put back any essential files the removal process affected.
If you have any questions after that, please let me know (but try not to write in from an infected system), thanks.
The solution is to shut down the PC and slave its hard drive to a CLEAN system with both antivirus and a utility like R-Wipe&Clean. Power up and find the affected directory. Remove its write protection (remember the virus is now asleep because the system isn't running it any more). Now you must make a decision about what to treat and how. What you decide will depend on what you are seeing. The last time I did this, the virus was heavily write protected. The only thing to do was shred the directory it was in along with any files it contained and then repair damage to the system later. Techniques like this are often brutal, but they are better than formatting the drive to get rid of it.
After confirming that the infection is gone, you may then need to repair/reinstall all or part of the operating system to put back any essential files the removal process affected.
If you have any questions after that, please let me know (but try not to write in from an infected system), thanks.
Friday, June 26, 2009
If your PC is running slow...because of an infection
This is completely different from the effects of fragmentation. The cause of slowing down is not physical. It is due to the activity of a possibly malicious program trying to get CPU time to do nasty stuff. It could be either spyware or virus causing this. There are several ways you can work this out.
1) Download Spyware Blaster from http://majorgeeks.com/SpywareBlaster_d2859.html"
2) Install it and update its database regularly. It will maintain a list of 10000 plus nasties and turn off all registry keys in windows that belong to them. Even if you have the bugs, they won't do any harm!
3) Download bitdefender version 10 (free) from www.bitdefender.com and install it. After updating its list of infections, this will clean out many infectious things from your copy of Windows. If you still have problems after that, it may be wise to have it professionally serviced.
1) Download Spyware Blaster from http://majorgeeks.com/SpywareBlaster_d2859.html"
2) Install it and update its database regularly. It will maintain a list of 10000 plus nasties and turn off all registry keys in windows that belong to them. Even if you have the bugs, they won't do any harm!
3) Download bitdefender version 10 (free) from www.bitdefender.com and install it. After updating its list of infections, this will clean out many infectious things from your copy of Windows. If you still have problems after that, it may be wise to have it professionally serviced.
If your PC is running slow...
There are several reasons why these systems slow down Let's start with a simple list:
1) Disk fragmentation
2) Degradation of Windows system files over time
3) Virus or spyware infection
4) Additionally, the registry may be in a poor condition.
FRAGMENTATION: This arises after you have used Windows for a while, opening and closing files and saving new ones. To correct it DEFRAGMENTATION is needed. In Windows, go to 'My Computer'. Right click on the drive that seems to be slow. Go down to 'Properties'. You will see a box headed 'Properties'. Click the 'Tools' tab. There should be a button labeled 'Defragment Now'. Click that one and let the machine sort your files out and put them together again. NOTE: If your files are also in poor condition you may need to run 'Check Now' from the same menu to repair physical drive errors before defragmenting it.
1) Disk fragmentation
2) Degradation of Windows system files over time
3) Virus or spyware infection
4) Additionally, the registry may be in a poor condition.
FRAGMENTATION: This arises after you have used Windows for a while, opening and closing files and saving new ones. To correct it DEFRAGMENTATION is needed. In Windows, go to 'My Computer'. Right click on the drive that seems to be slow. Go down to 'Properties'. You will see a box headed 'Properties'. Click the 'Tools' tab. There should be a button labeled 'Defragment Now'. Click that one and let the machine sort your files out and put them together again. NOTE: If your files are also in poor condition you may need to run 'Check Now' from the same menu to repair physical drive errors before defragmenting it.
Do you recieve emailed surveys?
Two of them arrived in my mailbox this morning. One from Winzip and another on Lifestyle. After starting it I found some of the questions were designed to find out how much I was willing to buy from them now or in future. Do you make your purchasing decisions based on that? Much of the time I don't decide to get anything until there is a clear need for it. In that case I search for the most suitable thing to meet that need, whether it is software or other stuff. How do you react if companies ask questions about how much you plan to buy from them?
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Q. How do I identify diode ratings from their markings?
Anyone familiar with electronics knows diodes are good at turning AC into DC power or processing signals from various sources. All sorts of diodes
Want to know about capacitors?
Look here to find out how to read them, identify what type they are and all their other properties!
How do I identify capacitors from their markings?
How do I identify capacitors from their markings?
Techniques behind modern broadband
How do you get more signal data down the broadband pipe? As providers near the limits of what broadband can do, they need a way to improve the system. There is only so much that multiplexing and other end to end techniques can accomplish. You may be surprised at how simple the solution could be..Pay a visit to .http://modecideas.com/StarTrekTechnology.htm" to read up on the potential for 'multi spectral broadband'!
Your PC needs maintainance (here's why)
Some time ago I was called to a home where a PC was malfunctioning (running slow etc). I was asked to see what I could do. After hour of work I informed the owners that their daughter's PC had not been maintained in a long time. The user had done nothing to care for the Windows operating system or the file records. The procedures were simple enough. Just highlight the drive, go down to 'Properties', click the 'Tools' tab and click 'Check now'. Then set whatever items needed doing from 'Automatically fix file system errors' to 'Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors'.
That, plus checking the windows system files using the Windows CD and the command 'SFC /SCANNOW' were all that was needed to get it going. Seems simple enough, don't you think? The parents duly informed her of the problem and made it a condition of using the system. Exactly the right thing to do, don't you think?
The daughter apparently didn't think so! She steadfastly refused to have anything to do with maintainance of the system until inevitably, it died. This is how it was explained to me by her parents on a recent return visit. The parents finally decided to get rid of it because there was no other way to settle the matter. Do you know of others like this?
That, plus checking the windows system files using the Windows CD and the command 'SFC /SCANNOW' were all that was needed to get it going. Seems simple enough, don't you think? The parents duly informed her of the problem and made it a condition of using the system. Exactly the right thing to do, don't you think?
The daughter apparently didn't think so! She steadfastly refused to have anything to do with maintainance of the system until inevitably, it died. This is how it was explained to me by her parents on a recent return visit. The parents finally decided to get rid of it because there was no other way to settle the matter. Do you know of others like this?
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Mac PC setup
Just spent yesterday setting up a new Mac PC with MACOS(similar to PC, but essentially just a big screen with all the software and interfaces built in). Took time to understand it, but after a few hours all three of us there (myself and the owners) agreed it was a really good system. The design looks like one with a bright future. It appears both stable and very intuitive.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Announcement
I just received word that amazon.com is going to list my novel! The link to the book currently can be found here:
Return (by John Durham)
Return (by John Durham)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Welcome to pc-tech-upper-hutt
Today begins our local and international PC help service, set up by a local technician, John Durham. Beyond simply being local I look forward to questions and helpful input from many others. For many years I have run a computer business from home in my underground workshop. It would be fair to mention over that time some remarkable things have happened. Still, more about them some other time.
This is where you can ask questions and get answers (even if they require a bit of research). For any situations that go beyond my experience, there is a powerful search engine on my desk top to weed them out with.
In return, I expect all to read and offer assistance as needed so that others will be motivated to help you when required. Please help make this a friendly and useful place with no foul language. We respect the opinions of others and just try to help each one.
This is where you can ask questions and get answers (even if they require a bit of research). For any situations that go beyond my experience, there is a powerful search engine on my desk top to weed them out with.
In return, I expect all to read and offer assistance as needed so that others will be motivated to help you when required. Please help make this a friendly and useful place with no foul language. We respect the opinions of others and just try to help each one.
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