:: Venting Insanity ::

:: Friday, August 13, 2004 ::

whew
That was three days worth of blogging there... I've had most of those news reports saved in my Favorites for like days. ^^;; However, I really wanted to talk about them and point them out... especially the technology ones.

Either way, I had the time. I stayed home from work today. I've just been feeling so crappy lately. I know it's not PMS, so let's not go there, okay? But things just basically suck.

Jeff hasn't been back since he fell again at work. The database troubles have spread from my site to LJ's ID photo database. She can't upload the new pictures. I took a look at it, but I couldn't find the problem. Ray tried to get Jeff on the Nextel, but that didn't happen. So, I went back to the office, scanned a few more documents, uploaded some pictures for future postings, and that was that. After talking with Cecil about things, I finally went home when we discovered there was really nothing we could do at this point.

I did tell Cecil to consider talking to LJ to see if maybe he could find the source of the problem where I couldn't.

As for work... it's been a combination of things. The conflicts on which work study works for who have started. Then again, they started a while ago... even right in the beginning when I first walked in as a work study. However, they were quickly squashed and were easy to keep squashed because we were in different areas.

We're not in different areas anymore. Unfortunately, this makes hiding me a lot more difficult. It also makes it a lot more difficult for Barbara to keep her work studies doing what she needs them to do. Work studies are the gophers of the school. We're like paid interns without the college credit. We get the mail, we stuff envelopes, we run scantrons, we make copies, we file reports. Most of us are underemployed. Barbara knows my experience with computers and knows what I can make them do. I can get reports to print out in ways she doesn't quite yet understand, and she likes that. She likes that I can show her things and fix things for her.

However... it seems that I'm being roped into doing things for Marilyn more and more. I don't mind all that much, but she's piling her work onto Barbara and Katherine, and taking away the work studies that usually would be helping them. It hasn't been very easy. You can't exactly tell the Dean of Student Services you won't do something... especially when you're just a work study in said department.

Le sigh...

snapple "real fact" #329
The world's first escalator was built in Coney Island, NY, in 1896.

born in east l.a.
U.S. to Give Border Patrol Agents the Power to Deport Illegal Aliens

It could be a good thing... yet a bad thing... as they say in the article.

snapple "real fact" #378
It costs the U.S. government 2.5 cents to produce a quarter.

I've gotten this recently, haven't I?

patent issues?
Google, Yahoo Make Nice over Patent and Stock Disputes

In the patent dispute, Overture had accused Google of infringing on its patent for bidding on keywords in paid-search results. Both companies sell sponsored search listings where advertisers place pay-per-click bids on search terms. Google, in its court filings, had denied that its AdWords program infringed on the patent.

snapple "real fact" #248
Snoopy is the most common dog name beginning with the letter S.

You mean... it's not Spot?

aim woes
AIM Security Hole Opens Users to Remote Attack

iDEFENSE Inc. reports in its advisory that oversized values passed to the "goaway" function of AIM's "aim:" URI handler may be used to overwrite the pointer to the Structured Exception Handler, which could then be used to execute code written by the attacker.

Advisory is here.

America Online Inc.'s AIM 5.5 has been tested and shown to be vulnerable, but iDEFENSE suspects that previous versions are also vulnerable. The iDEFENSE advisory says that AOL "recommends that Windows users of AIM upgrade to the latest beta version to be released on Aug. 9.

"This new version of AIM addresses the vulnerability described herein and can be obtained via the AOL Instant Messenger portal."

Visit the AIM portal here.

snapple "real fact" #325
75% of people wash from top to bottom in the shower.

internship anyone?
Crucial Unpaid Internships Increasingly Separate the Haves From the Have-Nots

I'm doing an unpaid internship, too... and working. It's just the way it is. I had hoped to get a paid internship in D.C. I would have had housing and food allowance, would have brought my car down with me, and have been on my own for a few months. It would have been pretty nice. That, unfortunately, didn't happen because of timing.

So, now I'm in an unpaid internship that I have to divide timewise with my job. It's hard, but it's something that has to be done.

It's called 'learning to deal with it'.

snapple "real fact" #275
It took the first man to walk around the world 4 years, 3 months, and 6 days to complete his journey.

iran becomes part of the campaign
Bush Sees Joint World Effort to Press Iran on Nuclear Issue

Here's a nice report about how Bush feels on Iran's Nuclear program... and the New York Times turns it into a political campaign statement.

Naturally.

snapple "real fact" #318
Top-performing companies are called "blue chips" after the costliest chips in casinos.

since when am i a citibank customer?
Only a few days ago, I mentioned a phishing scheme about the political campaigns. I just got one on my Yahoo! e-mail account from HarriettMajeed.service-center@citibankonline.com. The following message was typed into a graphic and then placed in an HTML e-mail:

Dear Citibank Member,

This e-mail was sent by the Citibank server to verify your e-mail address. You must complete this process by clicking on the link below and entering in the small window your Citibank ATM/Debit Card number and PIN that you use on ATM. This is done for your protection -- because some of our members no longer have access to their email addresses and we must verify it.

To verify your e-mail address and access your bank account, click on the link below:

www.citibank.com/?lvf1NXJfVVpEdhZBW3NL2b58k8q6o7kj2f0ymVXra6NNpbrKRUly7c3U5y98d1

The link itself was not in the image, but rather a hypertext link below the image linked to different address. It didn't come up, so I suspect the site was already taken down.

If you get one of these, forward it to Citibank's fraud center at emailspoof@citigroup.com. You can also send it to the FTC at uce@ftc.gov.

snapple "real fact" #287
Wisconsin has points located farther east than parts of Florida.

open source wins again
Hacker Cracks Apple's Wireless Streaming Technology

You know... I'm a bit sick of Apple's proprietary crap, too.

snapple "real fact" #361
The pineapple is a very big berry.

Yup, got this one before, too.

xp sp2
How Will Apps Fare with XP SP2?

Still, though, Martell cited a couple of areas that might emerge as lingering concerns, including Symantec Corp.'s Norton anti-virus software.

"For quite some time now, Norton's had trouble working with just about every OS you can think of, anyway," Martell said.

Indeed, Symantec has posted a notice on its own Web site stating that it's working on an upgrade for SP2, to be released Aug. 10. Symantec also has asked customers to postpone SP2 installation until the Norton patch is complete.

Noooo!! Not Norton!

For its part, Microsoft has been sketchy about which applications from other vendors might suffer from XP incompatibilities. Meanwhile, in Usenet newsgroups, beta testers have blamed SP2 for problems with a wide range of software apps, including RealPlayer, print servers, and Doom and other games, to list a few.

Some of which I use... {{sigh}}

In a posting to the "beta" section of the same newsgroup on July 19, a developer from Tech-Pro Utilities claimed that when build 2149 was installed, the company's freeware utilities stopped working.

The developer added that he's discovered a workaround, but that it involves renaming the company's VDSPOPUP.DLL to something that doesn't use the word "popup," and then recompiling the whole app.

Is Microsoft jumping on the pop-up blocker bandwagon?

"The Internet Connection Firewall in SP2 is much more like a real firewall. Now, it acts more like ZoneAlarm. If one of your applications is trying to go out and access the Internet, it will tell you. This should be a big help in dealing with viruses, especially Trojan horses," Hoffman said.

This could be good...

Microsoft Offers XP SP2 Download for IT Managers

Microsoft warned developers and customers that XP2 might be incompatible with a number of third-party applications. More recently, Microsoft added admonitions about its own Microsoft Business Solutions CRM versions 1.0 and 1.2 and offered a patch for the applications.

Here's the patch.

Users Give XP SP2 Mixed Marks

Users have reported everything from unproblematic installs to complete system failures. In between, difficulties varied from confusing user interface changes to broken applications to performance slowdowns. Many said SP2's features improved their confidence in the platform's security; others said they continue to be surprised by minor issues.

Sounds about normal for Microsoft...

Windows Firewall has a more serious shortcoming, according to critics such as Zone Labs, maker of the ZoneAlarm firewall: It can be turned off by a third party. ZoneAlarm, McAfee's Personal Firewall Plus and Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall are all being updated to disable Windows Firewall when they are installed, and switch it back on when they are uninstalled.

And if another firewall or an administrator can switch Windows Firewall off, so could an attacker, argued Zone Labs.

Interesting thing to note...

Broken applications were among the most common issues users reported with SP2—something Microsoft has been warning users about for several months—often an effect of changes in Windows XP's security settings. Symantec this week released patches for its Norton anti-virus products enabling them to work with Windows' new Security Center. Microsoft has said that some of its own products, such as its customer relationship management software, will need patching to work with SP2.

Norton's Patch...

DivX 5.2 and Dr. DivX 1.0.5, which support DivX-encoded video, don't install properly on SP2 systems; a new feature called Data Execution Protection, designed to eliminate buffer overflows, must be temporarily turned off before running the DivX installer.

Here's how and why... according to DivX.

A Detailed Look at Windows XP SP2

Read before you download... that's what I always say.

snapple "real fact" #330
The top of the Empire State Building was originally built as a place to anchor blimps.

I keep getting this one... @.@

napster 3.0?
Sonic Solutions Acquires Roxio Division; Roxio Renamed Napster

Another revamping of the file-sharing program, Napster. With Sonic pulling Roxio and all of Roxio's products under their wings, Roxio will transform into Napster. My question is... why?

And will they still support the existing software that's already been purchased?

snapple "real fact" #339
There are more doughnut shops per capita in Canada than in any other country.

Those mounted police must be happy... ~_^;

google goes public
Google Ready to Take Bids but New Questions Arise

Apparently, interviews before stock offerings are a bad thing... Of course, since reading Playboy "for the articles" is something of a joke as a married man's excuse, will anyone really notice it?

Sorry, but, taking an intellectual article seriously in a porn mag just doesn't seem possible...

snapple "real fact" #232
The blue whale's heart is the size of a small car.

al qaeda investigations
Officials Investigate a Qaeda Suspect's Shadowy Life

His identity is yet to be confirmed by British officials, but many suspect they are investigating Hindi as a Qaeda operative because of his published writings and biographical information in the "About the Author" jacket notes.

snapple "real fact" #345
The popsicle was invented in 1905 by an 11-year-old boy.

That's pretty cool... no pun intended.

united nations misses the boat again
Under Eye of U.N., Billians for Hussein in Oil-for-Food Plan

Mr. Volcker announced in a news conference on Monday that his panel would need at least $30 million and probably a year to determine whether the charges are justified. Despite an elaborate system in the United Nations for overseeing oil-for-food contracts, corruption never seemed to be the chief concern of anyone involved. The United States and Britain were focused on keeping material related to illicit weapons out of Iraq. Other nations that had greater financial stakes in Iraq, including France and Russia, favored lifting the sanctions. And for the United Nations bureaucracy, diplomats said, the priority was keeping goods flowing to the Iraqi people.

No wonder France and Russia didn't want us to go in there...

Mr. van Walsum, the retired Dutch diplomat, said he sometimes suspected that his fellow diplomats were disinclined to hear about potential fraud because they were concerned about protecting the interests of friendly companies and foreign allies eager to trade with Iraq.

snapple "real fact" #245
The first typewriter was called the "literary piano".

That's kinda cute...

and speaking of that issue
New Jersey Governor Resigns, Disclosing a Gay Affair
NJ Gov. McGreevey Resigns Over Homosexual Affair
The Governor's Secret

I'm not going to comment... just pointing it out. I just hope either side keeps this out of the politcal battle because no one deserves that.

snapple "real fact" #359
A teaspoon contains 120 drops of water.

california supreme court shocker
California Supreme Court Rules Gay Unions Have No Standing

Honestly, this surprises me because of where it's from. California seems to be one of the most mixed up states in the country. And I'm sure my uncle down in Long Beach would agree. In fact, I know he does. He thought the state was mixed up with the whole recall vote and bringing in Arnold as their governor.

However, I'm glad someone decided that the law actually means something. I don't care if these people get married, but the law currently states that they can't use the term 'marriage'. Civil union, life partner, whatever... but they can't get a marriage license and go through all that. The mayor of San Francisco basically broke the law by issuing those licenses and allowing those marriages... and THAT's what I have the problem with.

I'm tired of people thinking they're above the law. If you don't like it, lobby to have it changed... but don't break it.

snapple "real fact" #346
The medical term for writer's cramp is graphospasm.

I wonder what the term would be for typer's cramp...

:: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 ::

venting what?
GYYYYAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!

Okay, I feel a little bit better. I am just so damn tired. I get up in the morning, and I don't want to do anything. I need to clean. I have to get things set up right and soon in my room so I can actually tape and watch my shows without my parents complaining about it.

My mom hates anime.

Figures, right?

And I hate Emeril...

Guess we all have our poison.

Anyway, staying up until 2 am every night to watch certain shows isn't working anymore, but I don't have a VCR in my room. I don't have cable either, but that's besides the point. I could easily tape them at night downstairs and then bring the tape upstairs to watch it if only I had VCR to watch it on.

I have a DVD... but that doesn't really help, since DVD players don't play video tapes.

Obviously.

Gyah!

I don't even know why I'm venting about this... probably because I'm totally and completely bored at the moment. Go figure.

Talk about under-employed.

snapple "real fact" #287
Wisconsin has points located farther east than parts of Florida.

:: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 ::

to vote or not to vote
Immigrants Raise Call for Right to Be Voters

NO! They want to vote, then they should become citizens. That's it. I don't see Americans voting in foreign countries that have voting, so non-citizens shouldn't be voting here.

"Is it really too much to ask that American citizenship be a prerequisite for voting in American elections?" Representative Tom Tancredo, Republican of Colorado, asked in a letter to members of Congress last month.

"One of the things that differentiates American citizenship from simple residency is the right to vote," said Mr. Tancredo, who rallied opposition to the bill. "The passage of this measure would not only blur that distinction, it would erase it - allowing as many as 40,000 aliens in the District of Columbia to vote."

snapple "real fact" #364
Borborygmi is the noise that your stomach makes when you are hungry.

I don't even think I can pronounce that.

:: Monday, August 09, 2004 ::

elway inducted into hall of fame
Elway Leads Class of '04 in Canton

Congratulations to all the inductees.

snapple "real fact" #371
Grapes are the most popular fruit in the world.

celebrity cases 101
The Shield That Failed

Celebrity cases are considered layer one on the criminal justice 'wedding cake' analogy. It's something we discussed in class. Any of these 'big news' trials are in a pickle when it comes to attempting to keep things fair. It's just not possible because of who's involved or because of the crime itself. In the end, everyone turns out to be a victim thanks to the press.

snapple "real fact" #316
It took Leonardo da Vinci 12 years to paint the lips of the Mona Lisa.

let's go yankees
In Yanks' Shutout, Hernández Makes His Case

Shut out baby!!! 6-0!

snapple "real fact" #376
The "high five" was introduced by a professional baseball player in 1977.

O.O; I swear, I didn't pick it on purpose. And... the high five is the same age as me?? Cool.

like our voting system isn't bad enough
U.S. Says Man Had Ties to Plot to Disrupt Vote

One word...

Sigh.

snapple "real fact" #343
The term 007 was derived from 20007, the home zip code of many Washington, D.C. agents.