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Tags: Geek.
It is my professional opinion that Gator is spyware.
I’ve been hacking on computers since the late 1980’s, I have been schooled as a computer programmer, and for the last 8 years have earned my living from technology work. I have worked as an on-site network integrator, a retail computer service technician, a full-time network administrator, and an independant networking contractor for small businesses. I have built over 300 computers, and repaired hundreds more. I have written thousands of lines of code for scripts, web sites, and programs.
I say this not to extoll my own skills, but to establish my qualifications as a computer professional. And as a computer professional, I have never considered Gator to be anything other than spyware. To call Gator adware is an insult to legitmate, advertisting supported programs.
This is my professional opinion, which I am entitled to by God. I’m entitled to my right to speak that opinion by the first amendment to the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States of America.
If The Gator Corporation doesn’t like that, I don’t really give a shit.
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Tags: Geek.
My son just got a cable to link his Gameboy Advance with his Gamecube. The purpose of this is to unlock goodies in certain games when their GBA counterparts are “linked” up. Normally, I would put this off as total corporate greed, since you have to buy twice as many games and their supporting hardware to access these goodies that are already included in the Gamecube game. However, all of that reasoning was completely washed away when I discovered Metroid.
You see, Nick has both the GBA and Gamecube versions of Metroid (Fusion and Prime, respectively). Well, if you’ve beaten Fusion (which he has, several times), and you link the GBA to the Gamecube, you can play the classic NES version of Metroid on the Gamecube. Not just some limited version, but the full Metroid in all it’s 8-bit glory. The sound and graphics are a perfect reproduction of the original. To top it off, you can save your status on the Gamecube’s memory card, instead of writing down 32-digit codes (was that a zero or an “O”?). I’m now getting a major NES jones, and am quickly running out of reasons to NOT run down to Gamestop and pick up a used NES console with about a dozen old games. The only thing stopping me at this point is my wife, who will be quite upset with me should I actually do this. I have no doubt that I will soon not worry about that, and just come home with one. Besides, once I get her hooked back onto Super Mario Bros, it’s all good.
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Tags: Geek.
This just in: iTunes for Windows is out, and it’s rockin’. Download and enjoy.
That is all.
Published in Uncategorized
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Tags: Geek.
I just spent the last 3 hours without power at work, which, given my profession, is extremely frustrating. I was unable to get anything accomplished, nor was I able to goof off with any great success. No gaming, no mindless surfing, no music, and I’m not reading anything yet, having finished my most recent book.
After the power came back up (and I finished powering up the network), I was greeted by seven, count them, seven security bulletins from Microsoft. This is getting silly. I was reading an article yesterday about Microsoft’s new patch strategy, in which Steve Ballmer was quoted as saying “We will now go to monthly patches — no more than monthly.” There seems to be two reasons for this, the first one being the reasonable idea of releasing patches on a regular schedule. The second reason is slightly more silly. They want to decrease the amount of time and patches administrators have to deal with. A worthwhile effort, indeed, but a poor solution. I would instead think they should concentrate on making their products more inherently secure, and the reduce the number of patches through increased security and reliability. This plan of monthly patches is just hiding the core problem: Microsoft does not design their products with security in mind.
So, what does all this mean? I’m not entirely sure. I do know that I and many other Windows administrators are fed up with the amount of time we spend managing patches on our network. I know that we would like to see a real solution from Microsoft on this issue. And I know that decreasing the patch release schedule is just a red herring.
I heard about the LOTR Trilogy Tuesday last week, but didn’t pay it any mind until today, when I realized I really wanted to see all three movies on the big screen down at the Senator Theatre. So, I try their website to get some information on when tickets will go on sale. Uh oh, the site isn’t responding. So, I actually pick up the phone and (*gasp*) call them. The polite woman on the recording informs me they’ve sold out. Grrr. However, she also thanks everyone for waiting in line to get the tickets. Sounds like something I wasn’t prepared to do, so in a way I’m relieved that I’ve already missed out on it. Still, it would have been very, very cool. Oh well.
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Tags: Geek.
I’m trying to figure out what I want to learn next, and I’m having a really hard time trying to decide. I got it in my head a few weeks ago to learn Java, so I headed over to Borders to find a good book on the subject. While I was there, I saw a lot of material on learning C# and .NET. C# looked more intriguing, almost sexy. Java, on the other hand, looked old and rigid. I left confused, unsure of what to do. I’m still trying to decide. I’m really leaning towards C#, but the cross-platform nature of Java keeps pulling me back. All the while, I keep telling myself I’m NOT a programmer, so what the hell am I really going to do with EITHER language? If I don’t use a skill, I quickly lose it. But if I’m not working on something new and interesting, I quickly become bored, and then slowly depressed. So then I’m forced to pick up something new. It’s a vicious cycle.
Maybe I should get back to studying up for my Exchange 2000 migration. Something I actually NEED to do, albeit for work.
I’ve spent all weekend looking for a good bag to tote all of my gear around, as I was getting really tired of the Batman utility belt syndrom. I wanted something small and light, not made out of leather, and easy to carry. I started my search looking at messenger bags, but quickly came to the conclusion that they were far to large and bulky for my taste. Other forms of satchels and knapsacks were also too big, not to mention expensive. I was really beginning to worry I’d end up with some kind of man purse, when I found it. An Eddie Bauer Cross Body bag. It’s small, light, flat against my back, and “manly”, all at the same time. I can keep my wallet, keys, PDA, and iPod, with room to spare. If I get tired of having my cell phone on my belt, I can drop it in there. It could even hold my digital camera, should I decide to carry it. It wasn’t exactly cheap ($30), but in my opinion, it’s worth the money. I almost want to go somewhere just so I can use it. Hehe…
I saw Kill Bill, Vol. I yesterday. An excellent film, both disturbingly violent and immensely enjoyable at the same time. You can definitely see the influence of the Shaw Brothers directors and Kurosawa showing through; in fact the movie is almost a throwback to earlier film production methods, mixed with Tarantino’s trademark violence. While I really enjoyed the movie, I was tense and uncomfortable for the entire viewing. He most certainly succeeds in the suspense department, using anticipation and surprise very, very well. I highly recommend seeing the film to anyone not put off by harsh violence.
I’ve finally finished the major work with my site overhaul. I’m now running everything on MovableType, and I love it. I also took the opportunity to completely redesign the site with XHTML and CSS, and I think it looks quite nice. I’ve also created a second blog for family stuff, so my family members don’t have to wade through the drivel I post to the main blog every day. With Lily on the way, I’m sure that blog will be well visited.
I still have some cleanup work to do with the comments, and I need to fill it out with content I’ve been meaning to write for some time. I’m going to start churning stuff out this weekend.