Marriage and the Internet

Is the internet actually doing you physical, mental, or emotional harm? Can it ruin your marriage?

I would have said "no", but then, I have a friend who has started using facebook, he and his wife, and she is now "dating" another man... and the divorce is in the works...
She decided to get together with an "old flame", and this is the result...

It almost happened to me...

My wife and I are working on fixing our issues... but that is what marriage is all about, yes? Hard work, constant tending and nurturing?

Is Facebook bad for marriage? - Reported by: Angie Larsen - Last Update: 7:11 am

And then another article shows a link between the internet use and depression... who would have guessed...
I would have thought that depressed people would "hide" in front of the computer more, but not that internet use would cause depression...

Heavy Internet Use Linked To Depression

It is a strange and wild world out there, people... best be careful!

Climate Change...

The whole "ClimateGate" thing has put a really bad taste in people's mouths...

India Ditches UN Climate Change Group

It just goes to prove, you cannot trust people with an agenda...

Then, in Utah, you cannot even figure out what is going on!

House committee seeks to keep global warming laws out of Utah - February 4th, 2010 @ 3:53pm - By Richard Piatt

Climate Change Resolution Passes Through Committee - Reported by: Brian Mullahy - Thursday, Feb 4, 2010 @10:51pm CST

So, are they trying to keep it out, or pass it? Ok, sorry, that is just the media talking...

These articles are about the SAME THING... they have just worded it differently...

;)

There are also groups out there that are calling for the release of more information, this might help in validating the "real story" behind ClimateGate!

Call For Scientific Research Code To Be Released

Change...

Everyone knows that I am a Critic of how Obama is doing... I think his tag line of "change" was kind of appropriate... and I always ask the question, "Is it the Change that we Want or Need?"

Obama budget: Record spending, record deficit - February 1st, 2010 @ 10:30pm - By ANDREW TAYLOR

What's new in Tech

I know the job market has been tough, but would you really want to apply for this job?
Antarctica Needs a Network Engineer

Now, talk about ironical...
Ubuntu Moves To Yahoo For Default Firefox Search
So, Microsoft pays Linux to search the web... WOW!

Some lawyers think "common law" is a bad thing, but in some cases, it is best to use the simple things, and stop messing with the system...
Champerty and Other Common Law We Could Use Today

Craig Mundie Wants "Internet Driver's Licenses"
Ask me some time about a conversation I had with a client while working at the AOL call center in Ogden... I said something like this, but it was a "Computer User's License".

From the Round File

Why the First Cowboy To Draw Always Gets Shot
Very interesting... I had never really noticed this before... but I guess it is a survival mechanism...

USPTO Won't Accept Upside Down Faxes
Our government at work... isn't surprising, is it? And this might also explain how some patents are filed before others, but the last ones get the patent...

ESA Conducts Mars Terraforming Experiments On ISS
Are we planning this already? We cannot even get back to the moon!

The Lancet Recants Study Linking Autism To Vaccine
Is this one of the cellphone radiation type stories? It does, it doesn't, it does, it doesn't..."
It would be interesting to see what other research shows...

St. George parents concerned over football team photos - February 2nd, 2010 @ 10:03pm
Guns, Kids, Football, Race cars, Motorcycles... they all go together like peanut butter and jelly on toast!
So long as they are learning "responsibility" with guns, I don't see an issue here.

FCC Probes Google and T-Mobile For Double-Whammy Fees
So typical...
But the nice part is, you can get one of the Nexus phones for $49 if you stick with the 2 year thing...

Study: Nearly half of soda fountains contaminated with fecal matter - January 11th, 2010 @ 3:49pm - By Dr. Kim Mulvihill

I think the mythbusters did a story on this kind of thing...

Speaking of Mythbusters...
Maybe they should try this one on for size...
Turns Out You Actually Can Be Bored To Death

Innovation!

Finally, something NEW (and FUN) happening in the world of Technology...

Spray-On Liquid Glass
Now THAT is cool!
Can you imagine! It kind of reminds me of the movie, Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs, and the "spray on shoes"...

Comcast Plans IPv6 Trials In 2010
My home network has been IPv6 for a year now... what is taking Comcast and others so long?
It just means I will need to upgrade my router again...if Cisco has put up an update fixing their IPv6 external routing problems...
But my server, my router to the world, has been IPv6 for a year... I use it all the time!

Harder-Than-Diamond Natural Carbon Crystals Found
Also very cool! Now maybe the price of Diamonds will drop?

Membrane That Turns Any Surface Into a Touchscreen
Can you imagine the implications of this? Tables, counters, doors, refrigerators, microwaves, etc...
Everything can now have a touch-screen interface! Merge this with e-paper technology and you have something REALLY useful!

Innovation is great! Unless you work at Microsoft...
How Infighting Hampers Innovation At Microsoft

Words (fun)

I like words. I like to make my own words... we were told that only IT Professionals could make up their own words...but it seems that it isn't true...

That's alright...

Neologisms
and
Addictionary

You will spend HOURS on this... have fun!

Government and Social Services

With the Government making cuts to social services, it is nice to see private businesses step up to the plate...
It seems in times when money is tight, the first thing the Government does is start to cut services... Police (making us less safe), Fire (making us more vulnerable), Education (making us more stupid), Medicare and Social Security (hurting our elderly and handicaped), and other services for children with disabilities...
(What will they do when they have us all on their medical plan and they need to cut services...???)

Google workshop to help parents and teachers of children with autism - February 4th, 2010 @ 7:01am - By Mary Richards

Sovereignty

FINALLY, Utah doing something SMART...

States have "rights", well, they aren't "rights", per-se, they are "delegated responsibilities and authorities from the people" but because they are closer to the people than the Federal Government, they have more power... Yet, the Feds exert all kinds of power over the states, most of that power in the form of extortion... "do what we want or we take federal funding away"...
So I am glad that Utah has finally grown some proverbial balls and is now setting the stage to tell the Feds to "stick it where the sun don't shine"...

Utah Senate OKs bill to rebuff federal gun laws - February 3rd, 2010 @ 6:41pm

Utah lawmakers take on federal government with several bills - February 2nd, 2010 @ 6:24pm - By Richard Piatt

Utah seeks to exempt its guns from federal rules - February 2nd, 2010 @ 6:46pm - By Brock Vergakis, Associated Press writer

Microsoft and Tech News

Microsoft just cannot seem to pull their act together...

IE Flaw Gives Hackers Access To User Files

I can just see the conversation in the hallway...
"Hay, lets build in a flaw that blows the security of our operating system, and gives hackers easy access to personal data!"
"Great Idea!!!"

Microsoft Finally To Patch 17-Year-Old Bug
Finally? And it only took them 17 years to do it too!

And in other Microsoft Related News...

Police Want Fast Track To Get At Your Private Data

Great, so much for privacy. I wonder if this has anything to do with the Cyber Security Act that will soon pass into (bad) Law...

House Overwhelmingly Passes Cybersecurity Bill

Then Bill Gates wants to get to know you better... like he really cares? Microsoft hasn't listened to us in YEARS, so why does he care NOW?

Bill Gates Knows What You Did Last Summer

Maybe Bill is the one who helped pass the Cyber Security bill

Following Tech's Money Trail In Washington

And in other Security Related News...

South Australia Outlaws Anonymous Political Speech

UK Police Plan To Use Military-Style Spy Drones


Great, now the disease of "anti-freedom" and "anti-privacy" is spreading...

Secrets (funny)

I read the following headline the other day... just about laughed myself silly...

"Super Secret Data Center Planned For Utah"

AHHHH! Someone let the secret out!

;)

So much for national security!

Saninsanity...

I couldn't believe that our legislature, here in Utah, wanted to force the insurance companies to provide insurance, especially if the insurance companies see them as "high risk"... but they are going to at least consider forcing this very thing in Utah.
What ever happened to common sense? If these companies give insurance, and the risk is high, then they take a hit. On the other hand, while these individuals are in the system, we all take a hit as this kind of thing is paid for by our taxes... so we either pay in higher premiums or in higher taxes...
Utah House committee OKs inmate insurance bill - January 27th, 2010 @ 6:47pm

And just one day later, it seems that the sanity has returned with a measure to prevent or limit the number of appeals that an inmate can have.
Utah House panel approves limiting inmate appeals - January 28th, 2010 @ 7:22am

What is it with law makers that cause them to be so insane and sane all at the same time?

Wake Up America

Prolly one of the best things about the Internet is that you can find information about anything. Some of it won't be useful, while other information can be extremely useful.

For instance, if you are called to Jury Duty, and you want to do your best, you should be acquainted with the facts of what it is you are supposed to do, so you should go to http://fija.org/ , or the Fully Informed Jury Association.

Or if you want to know what is wrong with America, and don't know if you can trust Liberals or Conservatives, you could go to http://www.wakeupamerica.com/ .

Or if you aren't sure if that email you just received is a scam or real, you can head over to http://www.snopes.com/ and search on the title or subject.

Don't let the internet get you down. Don't let the information it does offer go to waste.

It is already LEGAL to "Open Carry"...

There is no law in Utah that prohibits a person from Open Carry. There is no need to have a license, no need for special training, nothing more than 2 simple rules...
1- You cannot have a round in the chamber (i.e. for a revolver, it cannot have one "in-line")
2- It must take 2 actions to fire the gun (i.e. cock it, or cycle it and then pull the rigger)
The requirements for Concealed carry, on the other hand, are a bit more strict.
1- Take a class
2- Pay your fee
3- Pass Background
4- Locked and Loaded
5- Open Carry on College Campuses (State Owned, not private) require CWP

Why Utah has such strange laws, I don't know...however, maybe there is hope as they look to clarify the law and (I hope) make some changes...

Lawmaker Wants Changes To Concealed Weapon Law

Proposal aims to clarify brandishing of guns

Other information can be found at these sites:

http://www.opencarry.org/ut.html
http://www.goutahorg.org/

From the Round-File

Another listing of interesting items in the news...

Science project prompts SD school evacuation
WOW, talk about over-reactions. After they interviewed the student, it should have been over. This school is, after all, "The school ... emphasizes technology skills"...
Then we read, "Both the student and his parents were 'very cooperative'", and "the device was determined to be harmless", and "the project was intended to be a type of motion-detector device"... so why do they "recommend... that he and his parents get counseling"? If this was a science project, in a school that emphasizes technology skills, and the student had "no criminal intent", but had "violated school policies", what good would counseling do for this student?
What a bunch or morons! If you ask me, the Vice Principal should be fired for wasting city resources.

This next bit is not about the content of the story, but about a comment by the SlashDot "editor" who includes the comment, "It's funny that the APS wants to charge non-subscribers $25 to download what is available for free on the arXiv."
Note the difference in the links provided by SlashDot...
The Weird Science of Tossing Stones Into a Lake

FBI Violated Electronic Communications Privacy Act
It figures... you give them an inch, they will take the whole mile.
FBI Obtains Phone Records With a Post-it Note
Now that is truly a classic...

The Fourth Amendment and the Cloud
The easier way to deal with this question is to look at it in the "bigger sense"...
I live in the United States (the Cloud), yet, I occupy my own little space which I like to call my house and yard, (my data in the cloud)... within my house and yard, I am protected by the 4th amendment, the same should apply to the cloud and my data. The 4th also applies to my and my car, while I am traveling (uploading or downloading data)...
So why is there such a big question about if we are protected by the 4th amendment, when it appears so very obvious?

Reid: 'I am at war with your country'
If you ask me, this Reid guy is insane. He tried to kill himself, and a bunch of other people, to make a point... wouldn't it be more effective to LIVE and make a point? One that you can make over and over and over, getting more people's attention and building a "movement"?
According to my psychologist, only crazy people want to kill themselves.

Changes Causing Backup At The DMV
I remember blogging about how Utah, among other states, decided to not participate in the whole Real ID act?
So why are we making trouble in our state, especially at the DMV (which is already PITIFULLY SLOW)? I guess politicians have to tick us off at every turn this year...

Demand for charter schools surges
And we wonder why?
My son attended a Charter School, called Davinci Academy, in Ogden, Ut. They focus on Art and Science, which exercise both sides of the brain.
They have classes of only 20-25 students and ALL classes are "practical application" type classes... they learn by DOING (gee, what a novel concept).
I have blogged before about indoctrination vs. education, and I guess people are tired of having their "Eagles" come off the assembly line as Pigeons.

ANd here I though that my exercise was going to help save my life... Dang I hate it when we are told things that just aren't true...
Sitting Down Too Long Is Bad Even If You Exercise

The US now becoming the World's Bully...

When the whole thing started about this "Healthcare Reform" thing, I advised against it... not just a little, but in a very aggressive way. Why? Because it isn't "American" for the government to force something upon its peoples at "gun point".
If you fail to get health insurance, the IRS can send you to jail for up to a year, and you can get a $1200 dollar fine.

Well, in the same feeling of bullying its people, the USA has decided to start bullying other countries as well...

US Blocking Costa Rican Sugar Trade To Force IP Laws

Now, if you or I tried to do something like this, it would be called extortion, and we would be put in jail.

Microsoft at it again...

First off, we have a wonderful story about how Microsoft is actually becoming the "bad guy" and doing things they either "don't mean to" or maybe it is an "accident", or maybe they should spend more time testing their product and less time scamming us all out of our money...

Microsoft Bots Effectively DDoSing Perl CPAN Testers

Next up, I have been writing for months about the Vulnerabilities of Microsoft, and how you should switch to Linux or other products that give you REAL security, not the "Warm and Fuzzy feelings" they give you while they talk about security...

Microsoft Says Upgrade To IE8, Even Though It's Vulnerable

At least we do have some good news. It appears that some world governments see the light and are advising their peoples to protect themselves...

France Tells Its Citizens To Abandon IE, Others Disagree

And we hear from "people in the know" that microsoft is just "dangerous"...
Jeremy Allison Calls Microsoft Dangerous Elephant

Now, if you are worried about how your computer might work with something else (besides Microsoft) you could "upgrade" to one of these,
100% Free Software Compatible PC Launches
You shouldn't worry, as Linux usually "just works"...
Which is more than we can say about Microsoft.

Here is one last proof that Microsoft does not care about you... some bugs have been in the system since the "early days" and they just don't see the need to fix them...leaving you and your data vulnerable...
Newly-Found Windows Bug Affects All Versions Since NT

Microsoft doesn't care, 'cause, "That's how they roll..." ;)

I want a new phone and a new plan...

I have been looking for a new "smart phone" the past little while. I have found many that I thing would be good and give me what I want in a phone.
I like the idea of having a single device for everything:
For Phone Service, either via the regular Cell Channels, or via VoIP and Vonage or one of the other providers that have mobile platforms.
For a camera, so something with 5 or more Mega Pixles.
For a GPS Device.
For a Day Planer.
For something to do quick checks on important emails, etc...
And something that will give me the ability to play around a little...
I found several phones that might be up to the task...

First, we have the Saygus V-Phone. Not only do I know one of the designers, this phone is just plain AWESOME. Two-Way Video Calling? Hackable by design... YES!

Then we have the Google Nexus 1. I like the look and feel, kind of like the IPhone, but there are issues with customer service...

Next is the Samsung Omnia. This is one awesome phone. A definite IPhone killer, if they would get true multi-touch working on the screen...

Then we have the Motorola Driod. I don't like the look of the phone so much, but it does have a Keyboard, like the VPhone, but it isn't as defined.

Last, we have the Apple IPhone. I don't like to buy into the whole "corporate" thing, as I hate hype... but I know lots of people with one of these, and they seem to like them.

They all have about the same offerings, some with multi-touch, others may have it later, or don't support it as well. But with cameras and gps, it seems they would all do what I want.
The problem comes in the selection of the carrier. AT&T, Verizon? It seems that they all require you to have a data plan, and I don't want a Data Plan... or maybe I do, and not a regular calling plan... I can use VoIP if needed.
They also charge a lot for their service, which I don't really understand. Most of the tech they use is 20 years old and paid for. the big thing is what they have done to the phones. AT&T for instance, is fond of disabling WiFi, but I want WiFi...
I also have to decide if I want to buy the phone and put it on my existing service, or if I want to go on contract...

Anyway... I guess I will wait a little longer and decide at some future point... I still have some time to research it.

Taxes go up, income goes down; where does it stop?

I wrote about this in a RoundFile posting, but it came up again...

It seems that the SL County Unified Police thing is underfunded by current Sales Tax, so the County is now going to charge people directly. They are calling it a fee, but in reality, you MUST pay it or get a lien on your property.

Isn't a direct tax like this illegal?

County To Charge Fees For Policing - Reported by: Cristina Flores - Thursday, Jan 7, 2010 @12:05am CST

My favorite line, when the County said it isn't a tax...

"If it looks like a turd and smells like a turd…it is a turd"

Anyone having Flashbacks to WWII and the Cold War??

Back in Nazi Germany the Government (German Government) was using all kinds of methods to gather information on people...
During the same basic time, we had rampant McCarthyism rolling around in America.

None of that has changed, I guess, as our Government moves to become more Fascist (or Socialist, or Totalitarian)

I am not sure if this guy is for real, or what, but he hits several things dead on, especially in light of this news article that I found over on SlashDot.org...

The FBI Wants To Know About Your IT Skills

People, it is time to WAKE UP!

Not only are the New Scanners (at Airports) bad for you, they also break the law...

New scanners break child porn laws - Alan Travis, home affairs editor - guardian.co.uk, Monday 4 January 2010 22.14 GMT

Well, isn't that interesting? So we can get mutations in our DNA and we can violate people's privacy, their morality, and their sense of safety and security (not just their freedom) in one place... the Airport.

Earlier I wrote about how these machines can cause DNA Mutations...

Why do we continue to support a government who cannot protect its citizens?

You might also be interested in how these technologies really don't even work for the purposes they were created.

Can Imaging Technologies Save Us From Terrorists?

Then you should ask yourself, do you really want one of your images to end up out on the internet?
Airport Scanners Can Store and Transmit Images

Robots Battle...or compete...either way, I WANT IN!

I love the old show "Battle Droids" and the other ones like it... it was a lot of fun to watch these guys and their remote controlled killing machines go at each other...

Now I hear these ideas are being resurrected as a teaching tool for High Schoolers... I want in!
Take me back to High School, so I can build one of these and I will die happy...

Robots will battle in Utah competition, January 7th, 2010 @ 7:25am, By Paul Nelson

"... the University of Utah will host the Regional FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, where high school kids will build robots to battle it out."

"... 16 teams of 20 to 25 people will get $35,000 worth of hardware to build robots the size of refrigerators."

;)

I might have what it takes, but in reality, I don't have the time... but I will keep this blog posted...

Students gear up for robot competition - January 9th, 2010 @ 10:06pm

Microsoft at it again...

Today we read "Microsoft Sued Over Bing Trademark".
While this is nothing new, after all, Microsoft is in the news a lot for some kind of Copyright infringement, but what is new it the following statement by Kevin Kutz, "[Microsoft] always respect[s] trademarks and other people's intellectual property, and look[s] forward to the next steps in the judicial process."... Really?

Lets Review:
Microsoft settles Paltalk copyright infringement suit

Microsoft's copyright infringement

Microsoft Found Guilty Of Character Input Copyright Infringement In China

Microsoft Ordered To Pay $290M, Stop Selling Word

And these are just some of the most recent cases...

Microsoft doesn't even respect it's customers and the users of it's operating systems, WHY would it respect someone's copyright or trademark?