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GRAFFITI -- November 13, 2006 thru November 19, 2006 >> Link to the Current Week << Last Week << Mon   Tues   Wed   Thu   Fri   Sat   Sun >> Next Week Search this site : Welcome to Orb Graffiti, a place for me to write daily about life and computers. Contrary to popular belief, the two are not interchangeable.     About eMail - I publish email sometimes. If you send me an email and you want privacy or anonymity, please say so clearly at the beginning of your message.

MONDAY    Tues    Wed    Thu    Fri    Sat    Sun   
November 13, 2006

0919 - Good morning. I did not, in fact, solve the problem of integrating keychain and KDE, nor did I find other indications that people ran into this problem, and found a solution to it. Either ssh-agent and keychain aren't much used (most likely), or it just works for most people, but not for me. The problem with the latter premise is that after doing a clean Edgy Eft (Kubuntu 6.10) install the other day, I started off with a clean home, and moved stuff in, a little at a time. So no .kde/* configuration file would have affected me. Still, no great trouble: I merely removed the /etc/init.d/rc2.d/*kdm file, and login at the command line. That fires off keychain, lets me cache the ssh credentials, then I can start X running manually. Since I don't need to reboot very often, it's really no extra burden at all.

Do you get email that starts like this:

Subject: Please update your security settings as soon as possible

Threat Nuker Security Message Center: You may need to update your
security settings as soon as possible: 
 
Press here to update your security settings or read below for more
information: 
http://{LINK EXCISED} 
 
There is a high possibility that your PC's security settings may
become exploited by malicious websites without your knowledge. This
could easily lead to the following attacks on your PC's hard drive: 
 
- Unwanted Virus Downloads 
- Uncontrollable Trojan horse attacks 
- The running of unwanted script programs 
- The installation of malicious spyware 
 
If your PC is not protected correctly then these attacks could allow
hackers to track your movements across the Internet. It also means
that your information, ranging from passwords to credit card numbers,
can be stored by sites that you visit. A successful hacker could
examine this information and extract it, setting the stage for
identity theft, credit card fraud, or worse. 

 . . .

Yeah, me, too. You *do* know that's "social engineering" at work, right? They want you to click on the links offered, and "fix" your computer by installing all the nasty shit they're warning you about. Never, EVER, EVER, update your computer or add software by clicking on links that you get unexpectedly by email. Now, there's an exception (of course there is) ... If you purchase software (say, Adobe Elements, for example), you'll likely receive an email with the download link in it. That you expect after making an online purchase, and it's likely okay to follow those instructions. In any other case, it's a really bad idea. So don't fall for stuff like this, and show your kids and your parents, too, so that they understand that if they do install stuff like that .... Bad things, man.

Okay. To work with me. Have a great day, and compute safe out there, alright?

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Mon    TUESDAY    Wed    Thu    Fri    Sat    Sun   
November 14, 2006

0901 - Good morning. I've been here since 0700, preparing some documentation for a pretty important meeting. I've got as many ducks in the row as I'm going to, so I just cranked up Tom Cochran's "Life is a Highway", one of my favorite up-amp tunes. I'd best read back through what I just wrote, to see if I left out anything important. Have a great day!

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Mon    Tues    WEDNESDAY    Thu    Fri    Sat    Sun   
November 15, 2006

0857 - Good morning. Yesterday went well, I think. I've got some new projects on the horizon that will keep me busy (busier?), but they're still in the planning stages. So that's all you get to know about that.

Fun stuff, we got the last discs (finally!!!) from the Prisoner series. Netflix hung that stuff up for a long time behind a "long delay" disc. But we got through all three discs last night, 8, 9 and 10. What a great show.

Final fun stuff... I saw a bumper sticker this morning that said, "Auntie Em, Hate you. Hate Kansas. Taking the dog. Dorothy" That had me chuckling all the rest of the way into the office, which is a good thing, because the commute was a bit long and horrendous today.

Edgy Eft tidbit: When I did the initial install, and started doing all the configuration, Vim just worked. That's great! Usually distributions only install Vi by default, and I end up having to install Vim manually. So, finally, several days later, I fired up my password editing script, which uses Vim and some special .vimrc magic to handle working with Gnupg encrypted files directly ... Errors started spitting at me, and I couldn't open the file. Long story short, the Vim I was using wasn't Vim, but Vim-tiny, a compact (or possibly sub-compact) version of my favorite command line editor. It sure didn't do the Gnupg integration bits. So, one quick round of apt-get install vim later, all was right with the world. Word to the wise.

Now, go have a good day. I'll do my best to do the same.

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Mon    Tues    Wed    THURSDAY    Fri    Sat    Sun   
November 16, 2006

0809 - Good morning. Both Marcia and I have been suffering from a one-day offset in perception this week. So we both woke up convinced this was Friday, with a foreshortened work week ahead of us next week. Urk. Only Thursday. Oh, well, we'll play the hand we're dealt. And today that includes heavy rain and other severe weather, including possible tornados. Yay!

This Tuesday past was Patch Tuesday. That means that yesterday was 0-Day Wednesday. The pioneers have taken the arrows for you. Now, if you run Windows and you don't have Automatic Updates turned on, it's now time. Get those updates applied and reboot. There's no point in waiting and the window of vulnerability is open.

Of course, I would also like to offer you a glimpse of a better way. No, not OS X, although that's very nice, and much more secure than Windows, too. But it's a bit pricey. If you can afford it, Mac is a good way to go. But what I'm running ain't your grandmother's Linux. Give Kubuntu a try, or Ubuntu. I mention Kubuntu first because the KDE desktop is (IMHO) slightly more intuitive for Windows refugees in transition. Both of them offer LiveCD installation, that is, you boot from the CD you download and burn - that runs Linux right from the CD without installing or disturbing your hard drive in any way. You can experiment (at a much slower pace, since everything's running from the much slower CD than from the fast hard drives) to your heart's content before starting the install.

Make backups of your Windows system and data before ALL major work, from hardware upgrades to Windows updates, to Linux installs. Make backups and test them. Back up your system and data. What I tell you three times is true, and you will regret not doing so, sooner or later.

Yes, K/Ubuntu can be installed into available empty space, and let you boot into either Linux or Windows (though you can and should spend as much time doing what you can on the Linux side ... it's hard to get used to something new and slightly different without living in it. In that, it's like learning a new language. Anyone can do it, it just takes some effort. I'm here to tell you the effort's worthwhile. Oh, back to my recommendation: Get another hard drive and install on that media. If you're not sure how to proceed, look for assistance. How, you ask? Find a local LUG (Linux User Group) and write to them, ask how to best get help with getting your first installation of Linux installed on your hard drive. Generally putting in your city, state, and "LUG" into Google will do the trick. For example, I typed "Ann Arbor LUG", the third link down was the Washtenaw Linux Users Group - I tell you, Linux is everywhere!

They probably won't come out to your house and install it for you for free - that's consultant work, and you should pay for that. But many LUGs have Installfests or something similar where you can bring ALL of your hardware in, and they'll help get Linux installed with your active participation.

Will your windows games work in Linux? Some will, with the help of Transgaming. But you can hang onto your installation of the Gaming OS for that, if you want. Most anything else you can do on Windows you can do in Linux. You may have to learn a thing or two along the way, pick up a new program and some new skills. That's not a bad thing either. Will you hate it sometimes? Yes, probably. Stick with it, though. Linux is friendly almost immediately, and deeply powerful as you learn more.

Enough from this pulpit for the day. Have a happy Thursday.

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Mon    Tues    Wed    Thu    FRIDAY    Sat    Sun   
November 17, 2006

0832 - Good morning. We went to sleep to the sound of helicopters passing and hovering. We woke up to the same sound. Turns out that a freight train had three empty coal cars derail perhaps 3/4 of a mile from our house yesterday evening. It's horking up train service all around. (local news link).

I got the updates applied to the Exchange server uneventfully, and the reboot was smooth. Since that's never a guaranteed thing, I'm cautiously grateful. Now to take care of a couple of VMware images that need updating before I forget again. Best get back to work, see y'all later!

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Mon    Tues    Wed    Thu    Fri    SATURDAY    Sun   
November 18, 2006

1147 - Good morning. We went shopping this morning, and I swung by the Post Office to see what I need to do to get my passport in order. It's possible that I'll end up having to do some travel next year in support of our products. If that's the case, better to be prepared, instead of in a rush. Because of the holiday this upcoming week, I've set my appointment to get the paperwork checked and the application in on the 29th of this month. But all the other ducks are in a row, including getting the passport photos taken this morning.

I haven't had a passport since we traveled as a family back in 1973 and 1975. If I recall correctly, all three of us kids were on a single passport. Those were more trusting days ... but some good trips, mostly England both times, leavened with trips to and around the Continent.

Now I have some laptop configuration to do, and this Google video on Fusion power. Fun!

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Mon    Tues    Wed    Thu    Fri    Sat    SUNDAY  
November 19, 2006

0609 - Morning. At the intersection of things that are piles, and things that are steaming, there's a dog with diarrhea. Molly must have tried at least a little bit, to wake us, but at 0430 on Sunday morning ... not happening. Afterwards, she sat right by me, panting. Eventually that woke me up, and as we made our way to the outside, we passed the steaming pile. Now I knew why she waa up early. So that's cleaned up. Then I open email to find that Jerry's got system problems and the column is delayed. So I got something about that posted on CMR at Jerry's request. Such is life.

And the battles go on in Iraq and Afghanistan...

• Sgt. 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido, 31, of Ontario, Calif., died on Nov. 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, after an improvised explosive device detonated near his convoy vehicle.
• Staff Sgt. Richwell A. Doria, 25, of San Diego, Calif., died on Nov. 7 in Kirkuk, Iraq, after being struck by small arms fire during an air assault mission.
• Sgt. Courtland A. Kennard, 22, of Starkville, Miss., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Nov. 9 after an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
• Staff Sgt. Gregory W. G. McCoy, 26, of Webberville, Mich., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Nov. 9 after an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
• Sgt. Bryan K. Burgess, 35, of Garden City, Mich., died Nov. 9 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
• Staff Sgt. William S. Jackson II, 29, of Saginaw, Mich., died Nov. 11 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.
• Staff Sgt. Misael Martinez, 24, of Chapel Hill, N.C., died Nov. 11 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.
• Sgt. Angel De Jesus Lucio Ramirez, 22, of Pacoima, Calif., died Nov. 11 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.
• 1st Lt. Michael A. Cerrone, 24, of Clarksville, Tenn., died Nov. 12 in Samarra, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.
• Pfc. Harry A. Winkler III, 32, of Clarksville, Tenn., died Nov. 12 in Samarra, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.
• Lance Cpl. Kristopher C. Warren, 19, of Resaca, Ga., died Nov. 9 from a non-hostile incident in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
• Lance Cpl. Timothy W. Brown, 21, of Sacramento, Calif., died Nov. 14 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
• Lance Cpl. Michael D. Scholl, 21, of Lincoln, Neb., died Nov. 14 from wounds sustained while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
• Lance Cpl. Mario D. Gonzalez, 21, of La Puente, Calif., died Nov. 14 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
• Pfc. Daniel J. Allman II, 20, of Canon, Ga., died Nov. 13 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.
• Pfc. Jang H. Kim, 20, of Placentia, Calif., died Nov. 13 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.
• Sgt. 1st Class Tung M. Nguyen, 38, of Tracy, Calif., died Nov. 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations.
• Col. Thomas H. Felts Sr., 45, of Sandston, Va., died Nov. 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.
• Spc. Justin R. Garcia, 26, of Elmhurst, N.Y., died Nov. 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.
• Spc. Eric G. Palacios Rivera, 21, of Atlantic City, N.J., died Nov. 14 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations.
• Sgt. 1st Class Schuyler B. Haynes, 40, of New York, died Nov. 15 in Baquba, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.
• Spc. Mitchel T. Mutz, 23, of Falls City, Texas, died Nov. 15 in Baquba, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.
• Capt. Rhett W. Schiller, 26, of Wisconsin, died Nov. 16 in Balad Ruz, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations.
• Cpt. John R. Dennison, 24, of Ijamsville, MD, died on Nov. 15 in Balad, Iraq, as a result of small arms fire.

My thoughts are with the families of the fallen, and with their units in the field, continuing to execute the mission and handling business.

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Visit the rest of the DAYNOTES GANG, a collection of bright minds and sharp wits. Really, I don't know why they tolerate me <grin>. My personal inspiration for these pages is Dr. Jerry Pournelle. I am also indebted to Bob Thompson and Tom Syroid for their patience, guidance and feedback. Of course, I am sustained by and beholden to my lovely wife, Marcia. You can find her online too, at http://www.dutchgirl.net/. Thanks for dropping by.

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