JunkScience.com
If you're skeptical about different current popular scientific theories, check out Steven Milloy's 'Junk science' web site. Junk science is faulty scientific data and analysis used to further a special agenda.
Wednesday, December 31, 2003
I have not come across a great deal of stuff worth posting, but then I found this:
'I Robot' Film Trailer
The makers of the 'I Robot' domestic assistant just released a trailer on its web site, it is the film version of the Isaac Asimov book 'I, Robot' due out in theaters next year. I hope it will be better then A.I.
'I Robot' Film Trailer
The makers of the 'I Robot' domestic assistant just released a trailer on its web site, it is the film version of the Isaac Asimov book 'I, Robot' due out in theaters next year. I hope it will be better then A.I.
Saturday, December 27, 2003
Happy Holidays
Happy holidays and a happy new year to everyone... I personally had a great Christmas with my family, and I expect to have a great new year.
I have a few articles that I want to post about different subjects, but I am busy with a million different side projects that I am working on as well. So I decided to post some new links that I found:
- Dead Troll: Internet Help Desk
Check out the 'Internet Help Desk' video (Warning: mature content)
- The Opte Project
Working on visually mapping the Internet.
Happy holidays and a happy new year to everyone... I personally had a great Christmas with my family, and I expect to have a great new year.
I have a few articles that I want to post about different subjects, but I am busy with a million different side projects that I am working on as well. So I decided to post some new links that I found:
- Dead Troll: Internet Help Desk
Check out the 'Internet Help Desk' video (Warning: mature content)
- The Opte Project
Working on visually mapping the Internet.
Monday, December 15, 2003
Monday, December 08, 2003
Check out! This product...
MediaReady 4000
Below is a brief list of some of the MediaReady 4000 features:
MediaReady 4000
Below is a brief list of some of the MediaReady 4000 features:
- DVD/CD Player (Progressive Scan - 5.1 Dolby)
- Personal Computer (Upgradeable & Media Friendly)
- Internet Friendly
- Full-Screen DVD quality Video on Demand over the Internet (scaling up to 720p)
- Media Jukebox - burn & manage your music and home videos on the MediaReady internal hard drive or any PC - connected on your home network.
- MPEG-1, 2 & 4 decoder chip built-in.
- and more.
Cool Links
Test Your Digital IQ
There are 62 questions in this quiz, it will gauge how savvy you are with today's technology and gadgetry in comparison with other people who have already taken the test.
Michio Kaku
Dr. Michio Kaku is the co-founder of String Field Theory, and is the author of international best-selling books such as Hyperspace, Visions, and Beyond Einstein.
CPSC Launches Web Site For Recalled Items
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has launched a web site for listing a variety of recalled consumer product categories.
Unsolicited Commando
Unsolicited Commando is a FREE distributed software system that fights Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE), commonly known as 'spam'. Unsolicited Commando is not a defensive system like an email filter. It is unique in that it is purely offensive. It works by filling out the forms on websites that have been advertised by UCE with bogus data, data that is 'real' enough to pass a cursory inspection, but not 'real' enough to have any value to anyone.
Star Wars Fan Film Site
There are some great Star Wars spoof films here. Check it out...
Test Your Digital IQ
There are 62 questions in this quiz, it will gauge how savvy you are with today's technology and gadgetry in comparison with other people who have already taken the test.
Michio Kaku
Dr. Michio Kaku is the co-founder of String Field Theory, and is the author of international best-selling books such as Hyperspace, Visions, and Beyond Einstein.
CPSC Launches Web Site For Recalled Items
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has launched a web site for listing a variety of recalled consumer product categories.
Unsolicited Commando
Unsolicited Commando is a FREE distributed software system that fights Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE), commonly known as 'spam'. Unsolicited Commando is not a defensive system like an email filter. It is unique in that it is purely offensive. It works by filling out the forms on websites that have been advertised by UCE with bogus data, data that is 'real' enough to pass a cursory inspection, but not 'real' enough to have any value to anyone.
Star Wars Fan Film Site
There are some great Star Wars spoof films here. Check it out...
Monday, November 24, 2003
Digital Entertainment Hubs/Products:
- Digital Entertainment Hubs - Great article about Digital Entertainment Hubs. A new consumer device category to confess us more.
- Telly MC1000 Home Entertainment Server - Possible new Tivo rival.
- Zenith HDR230 - World's first combination HDTV receiver and HDTV digital video recorder set top box. You can record standard-definition 480i to high-definition 1080i wide-screen content (requires HD-capable TV, and rabbit ears). TiVo and other PVR manufactures are expect to release their products like this later in 2003. It will retail for about $999 dollar (US).
Microsoft vs. Virus Writers
Anytime you install software on your computer form any company or organization you run the risk of opening it up to new vulnerabilities. I am not stating anything new when I mention that Microsoft software is known for having its own share of bugs and vulnerabilities. Although, many people seem argue that Microsoft software is more buggy or more insecure then any other company's software out there, but this might not totally be true.
Consider this, Microsoft creates millions and millions of lines of new code every year. It is impossible to create all that code without having problems or making mistakes. Also, no company has the market-share that Microsoft has, and because it is the market-leader it will also become a popular target for cybercriminals.
If Apple had the market-share that Microsoft has I can almost guarantee that there would be a great deal more viruses and exploits for that Mac OS. Although, Apple has one thing over Microsoft and that is it is built a top of BSD Unix, which is a solid and secure OS.
Virus writers, hackers and crackers will always be drawn to the biggest target, it is like a moth to the largest flames. Why spend hundreds of hours to write a virus or develop an exploit, if it only going to effect a few people. If someone is going to spend the time to write a virus, they want it to effect as many people as possible.
Take for example the Sobig virus and Blaster worm, I am pretty sure that whoever wrote this malware that they're pretty happy with themselves. Think about it from their prospective, they created software to preform a task, and it work so well it is known around the world.
There's No Honor Among Thieves
To combat this ongoing threat Microsoft has put $250,000 bounties for the arrest and conviction of the cybercriminals that created the Blaster worm and Sobig virus. They have also setup a funded with $5 million dollars to finance (dubbed the Anti-Virus Reward Program) future bounties, and are trying working closely with the legal authorities.
Microsoft hopes that the bounties will encourage the friends or associates of the virus writers will turn them in for the money. Thus, forcing virus writers to become more paranoid, and prevent them from sharing their code with others for fear of being turned in.
Now, here is the real question will this new tactic work? Well, you now what they say, 'money talks'.
I think Microsoft's strategy of might lead to a few early arrests, but in the long run it might only slow virus writers down a little bit. Virus writers will also, start only sharing their exploits with close associates that they trust not to turn them in.
The Right Thing To Do
Microsoft's only real defense against these attacks is too improve their code, lock down the default configuration of their server and desktop OSs, and train the system administrators and general public how to protect themselves.
In Microsoft's defense they have already started initiatives to do all three of changes needed. But I have to be a little skeptical about how much it will help or how well they will implement it. Only time will tell.
The general public and system administrators also have to do their part protect their computers from attack and viral infection. There are four simple security rules that can help anyone protect themselves.
1. Install a virus scanner, and keep the signatures updated.
2. Install a firewall, and activate it.
3. Update your OS and applications
4. Don't open up file attachments
No One is Immune
The open-source community is not immune to the dangers of cyberintruders. An unknown person recently attempted to insert a Trojan horse program into the next version of the Linux kernel, which is stored in a publicly accessible database. Security features of the database detected the illegal change, and the database was shut down. The changes, which could have become a security flaw to the kernel, never became a part of the code.
Resources:
- Protect Your PC (for Home Users)
- 3 Ways to Help Ensure Your System Is Protected (for IT Professionals)
- Trustworthy Computing Initiative
Anytime you install software on your computer form any company or organization you run the risk of opening it up to new vulnerabilities. I am not stating anything new when I mention that Microsoft software is known for having its own share of bugs and vulnerabilities. Although, many people seem argue that Microsoft software is more buggy or more insecure then any other company's software out there, but this might not totally be true.
Consider this, Microsoft creates millions and millions of lines of new code every year. It is impossible to create all that code without having problems or making mistakes. Also, no company has the market-share that Microsoft has, and because it is the market-leader it will also become a popular target for cybercriminals.
If Apple had the market-share that Microsoft has I can almost guarantee that there would be a great deal more viruses and exploits for that Mac OS. Although, Apple has one thing over Microsoft and that is it is built a top of BSD Unix, which is a solid and secure OS.
Virus writers, hackers and crackers will always be drawn to the biggest target, it is like a moth to the largest flames. Why spend hundreds of hours to write a virus or develop an exploit, if it only going to effect a few people. If someone is going to spend the time to write a virus, they want it to effect as many people as possible.
Take for example the Sobig virus and Blaster worm, I am pretty sure that whoever wrote this malware that they're pretty happy with themselves. Think about it from their prospective, they created software to preform a task, and it work so well it is known around the world.
There's No Honor Among Thieves
To combat this ongoing threat Microsoft has put $250,000 bounties for the arrest and conviction of the cybercriminals that created the Blaster worm and Sobig virus. They have also setup a funded with $5 million dollars to finance (dubbed the Anti-Virus Reward Program) future bounties, and are trying working closely with the legal authorities.
Microsoft hopes that the bounties will encourage the friends or associates of the virus writers will turn them in for the money. Thus, forcing virus writers to become more paranoid, and prevent them from sharing their code with others for fear of being turned in.
Now, here is the real question will this new tactic work? Well, you now what they say, 'money talks'.
I think Microsoft's strategy of might lead to a few early arrests, but in the long run it might only slow virus writers down a little bit. Virus writers will also, start only sharing their exploits with close associates that they trust not to turn them in.
The Right Thing To Do
Microsoft's only real defense against these attacks is too improve their code, lock down the default configuration of their server and desktop OSs, and train the system administrators and general public how to protect themselves.
In Microsoft's defense they have already started initiatives to do all three of changes needed. But I have to be a little skeptical about how much it will help or how well they will implement it. Only time will tell.
The general public and system administrators also have to do their part protect their computers from attack and viral infection. There are four simple security rules that can help anyone protect themselves.
1. Install a virus scanner, and keep the signatures updated.
2. Install a firewall, and activate it.
3. Update your OS and applications
4. Don't open up file attachments
No One is Immune
The open-source community is not immune to the dangers of cyberintruders. An unknown person recently attempted to insert a Trojan horse program into the next version of the Linux kernel, which is stored in a publicly accessible database. Security features of the database detected the illegal change, and the database was shut down. The changes, which could have become a security flaw to the kernel, never became a part of the code.
Resources:
- Protect Your PC (for Home Users)
- 3 Ways to Help Ensure Your System Is Protected (for IT Professionals)
- Trustworthy Computing Initiative
Links of Interests
- Check out the Apple switch ads from Red vs. Blue.
Vehicles of the Week:
- Bombardier's Embrio, it like a Segway but different.
- For alternative boats, check out the OutRider.
Free Antivirus and Firewall Software
Computer Associates for a limited time is offering their Windows antivirus and firewall software for free, with a for one year. For more information, see: Note: The free software offer expires 6/30/04.
- Check out the Apple switch ads from Red vs. Blue.
Vehicles of the Week:
- Bombardier's Embrio, it like a Segway but different.
- For alternative boats, check out the OutRider.
Free Antivirus and Firewall Software
Computer Associates for a limited time is offering their Windows antivirus and firewall software for free, with a for one year. For more information, see: Note: The free software offer expires 6/30/04.
Friday, November 14, 2003
Links of Interests
PRISMIQ Networked Entertainment Gateway
The PRISMIQ is a networked entertainment gateway that allows you to play a broad array of digital media through your TV, and stereo anywhere in your home. The device will even let you surf the Internet from your couch.
The Meatrix
The Meatrix is a spoof of the Matrix, it points out the dangers, problems, issues with 'factory farming.' I am not a big fan of these liberal sites, but I like idea and the flash animation.
Building a Your Own Segway
Self-balancing scooters can be easy to build using off-the-shelf parts. Also, make sure to check out the Megway site and video.
PRISMIQ Networked Entertainment Gateway
The PRISMIQ is a networked entertainment gateway that allows you to play a broad array of digital media through your TV, and stereo anywhere in your home. The device will even let you surf the Internet from your couch.
The Meatrix
The Meatrix is a spoof of the Matrix, it points out the dangers, problems, issues with 'factory farming.' I am not a big fan of these liberal sites, but I like idea and the flash animation.
Building a Your Own Segway
Self-balancing scooters can be easy to build using off-the-shelf parts. Also, make sure to check out the Megway site and video.
Monday, November 10, 2003
A Weakness Reported in the WPA Security Protocol
Robert Moskowitz, a senior technical director at ICSA Labs has published paper reporting that some implementations of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), can be compromised through a dictionary or brute force attack.
For those of you who don't know what WPA, its a new standard for data encryption on Wi-Fi networks. The WPA specification uses passwords to act as the keys that encrypt the network's communications. The specification allows for two types of key management: pre-shared keys, where everyone uses the same pass phrase; and managed keys, which use a server to assign a different keys to each user.
The new attack only effects the pre-shared key management, and only if the person who implement the key uses an easy to guess password. The cryptography doesn't have known issues like WEP encryption, but like any system that uses passwords it is suitable to dictionary attacks. The way you can prevent this problem is just by choosing a long (20 characters or more) password that is not easy to guess, and doesn't contain words that are in the dictionary. For example: 'H3ll0W0rlD;Th1s1sAT3sT:Buy4Now'
What Moskowitz found is not ground breaking, but it does make a point that we have to be careful about the passwords we choose for anything, because they can be guessed with enough computing power and time.
Robert Moskowitz, a senior technical director at ICSA Labs has published paper reporting that some implementations of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), can be compromised through a dictionary or brute force attack.
For those of you who don't know what WPA, its a new standard for data encryption on Wi-Fi networks. The WPA specification uses passwords to act as the keys that encrypt the network's communications. The specification allows for two types of key management: pre-shared keys, where everyone uses the same pass phrase; and managed keys, which use a server to assign a different keys to each user.
The new attack only effects the pre-shared key management, and only if the person who implement the key uses an easy to guess password. The cryptography doesn't have known issues like WEP encryption, but like any system that uses passwords it is suitable to dictionary attacks. The way you can prevent this problem is just by choosing a long (20 characters or more) password that is not easy to guess, and doesn't contain words that are in the dictionary. For example: 'H3ll0W0rlD;Th1s1sAT3sT:Buy4Now'
What Moskowitz found is not ground breaking, but it does make a point that we have to be careful about the passwords we choose for anything, because they can be guessed with enough computing power and time.
Links of Interests
Smart Networked Dust
"Smart dust" devices are tiny wireless MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Sensors) that can detect everything from temperatures, humidity, light, vibrations, etc.
Howard Rheingold (Smart Mobs)
Howard Rheingold is online pioneer, who authored the best-selling books Virtual Reality, The Virtual Community, and Smart Mobs.
X Prize
A worldwide US$10,000,000 competition to build a reusable space craft.
Salary Survey 2003 Registration
Know how your salary compares with others across the country.
Smart Networked Dust
"Smart dust" devices are tiny wireless MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Sensors) that can detect everything from temperatures, humidity, light, vibrations, etc.
Howard Rheingold (Smart Mobs)
Howard Rheingold is online pioneer, who authored the best-selling books Virtual Reality, The Virtual Community, and Smart Mobs.
X Prize
A worldwide US$10,000,000 competition to build a reusable space craft.
Salary Survey 2003 Registration
Know how your salary compares with others across the country.
Friday, October 31, 2003
Dynamism Inc.
Many Japanese consumer electronics are available in Japan 6-12 months (or longer) before we ever see them in the US. Well Dynamism is trying to change that, by making these products available sooner then later. Although, there are two draw backs to using this web sites; first you will pay more for these electronics; second sometimes the documentation and/or hardware and application are not available in English.
What Does It Really Cost to Print?
If own an ink jet printer, then you have seen how expensive it is to buy ink for these printers. Depending on the printer, it can be cheaper to buy a new printer then it is to buy new ink jet cartridges when you run out of ink. This is first article that I have seen, that exposes the real cost of these printers.
ADSL v2.0++
The current standard ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) is getting old, and has several limits. New standard called ADSL2 promises faster speed, a greater reach from the phone company's central office.
Antispam methods aim to merge
The Anti-Spam Research Group (ASRG) of the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) early this month formed a subcommittee to select one of a few competing protocols that verify the e-mail sender is who they say they are.
Dyke to open up BBC archive
Greg Dyke, director general of the BBC, has announced plans to give the public full access to all the corporation's program archives. This article was published August 24, 2003, now where are the archives?
The Hidden Costs of IT Outsourcing
I will not hide the fact that I am not a big fan of outsourcing, because the lost of American I.T. jobs. Although, this is a great article about its true costs of outsourcing, this is also not first article that I have read to make this point.
Knee Defender
When flying in coach, are you tired of the people in front of you crushing you when they recline their seat. Well, Ira Goldman got tired of this and decided to do something about it, so he invented the Knee Defender. It is a small block of plastic that prevents the seat in front of you from reclining.
The device sell for $10 on the web site, and the FAA says that it doesn't violates any regulations. Although some airlines are already prohibiting them to avoid conflict or people forcing their seats back and breaking the tray table.
Many Japanese consumer electronics are available in Japan 6-12 months (or longer) before we ever see them in the US. Well Dynamism is trying to change that, by making these products available sooner then later. Although, there are two draw backs to using this web sites; first you will pay more for these electronics; second sometimes the documentation and/or hardware and application are not available in English.
What Does It Really Cost to Print?
If own an ink jet printer, then you have seen how expensive it is to buy ink for these printers. Depending on the printer, it can be cheaper to buy a new printer then it is to buy new ink jet cartridges when you run out of ink. This is first article that I have seen, that exposes the real cost of these printers.
ADSL v2.0++
The current standard ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) is getting old, and has several limits. New standard called ADSL2 promises faster speed, a greater reach from the phone company's central office.
Antispam methods aim to merge
The Anti-Spam Research Group (ASRG) of the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) early this month formed a subcommittee to select one of a few competing protocols that verify the e-mail sender is who they say they are.
Dyke to open up BBC archive
Greg Dyke, director general of the BBC, has announced plans to give the public full access to all the corporation's program archives. This article was published August 24, 2003, now where are the archives?
The Hidden Costs of IT Outsourcing
I will not hide the fact that I am not a big fan of outsourcing, because the lost of American I.T. jobs. Although, this is a great article about its true costs of outsourcing, this is also not first article that I have read to make this point.
Knee Defender
When flying in coach, are you tired of the people in front of you crushing you when they recline their seat. Well, Ira Goldman got tired of this and decided to do something about it, so he invented the Knee Defender. It is a small block of plastic that prevents the seat in front of you from reclining.
The device sell for $10 on the web site, and the FAA says that it doesn't violates any regulations. Although some airlines are already prohibiting them to avoid conflict or people forcing their seats back and breaking the tray table.
Monday, October 27, 2003
Kids Play
What happens when you let today's kids play old video games (such as: Donkey Kong). If you read the following articles you can read some funny comments and views that they made.
What happens when you let today's kids play old video games (such as: Donkey Kong). If you read the following articles you can read some funny comments and views that they made.
New Ways to Recycle Old Computers:
- My Other VAX is a VAXbar
- The Silicon Graphics Refrigerator Project
(or: How To Turn a $175.000 High-End SGI Challenge DM Server into a Fridge)
- My Other VAX is a VAXbar
- The Silicon Graphics Refrigerator Project
(or: How To Turn a $175.000 High-End SGI Challenge DM Server into a Fridge)
Thursday, October 23, 2003
X10 files for Chapter 11
Have you ever seen any of the famous X10 pop-under ads. This company known for having popularizing this technology. Well they have just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
My question to everyone is, will anyone miss them?
Have you ever seen any of the famous X10 pop-under ads. This company known for having popularizing this technology. Well they have just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
My question to everyone is, will anyone miss them?
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Sites of the Day
Site for the geek who has everything:
- Libermann Inc.: This site has very highend computer equipment and perpherials.
- ThinkGeek: This site just has lots of cool stuff...
Test Your Typing Skills for Free
- http://www.typingtest.com/
Fun Site:
Check out NaDa, it does absolutely nothing for free.
- http://www.bernardbelanger.com/computing/NaDa/
Site for the geek who has everything:
- Libermann Inc.: This site has very highend computer equipment and perpherials.
- ThinkGeek: This site just has lots of cool stuff...
Test Your Typing Skills for Free
- http://www.typingtest.com/
Fun Site:
Check out NaDa, it does absolutely nothing for free.
- http://www.bernardbelanger.com/computing/NaDa/
Monday, October 20, 2003
Fun Streaming Video Sites:
- I want my Flash TV (Requires a Flash media player) Worth checking out...
- Stupid Videos Very funny site.
- I want my Flash TV (Requires a Flash media player) Worth checking out...
- Stupid Videos Very funny site.
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
I have been waiting for the BBC to post their TV/radio archives on the web for several months, but I recently found this web site.
British Pathe Publishes Newsreel Archives
A collection of more than 12 million historic photographs from the British Pathe newsreel, was published on the Internet Monday. The British Pathe a cinema news service that pre-dated television.
The images, which date as far back to the turn of the 20th century, have been created by scanning the archive's 3,500 hours of 35mm film.
British Pathe Publishes Newsreel Archives
A collection of more than 12 million historic photographs from the British Pathe newsreel, was published on the Internet Monday. The British Pathe a cinema news service that pre-dated television.
The images, which date as far back to the turn of the 20th century, have been created by scanning the archive's 3,500 hours of 35mm film.
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