First, for those concerned/confused about Conficker - simple test has been devised to show a potential infection with one or the other types of this virus. Put the following address in your browser(s) and read the chart to get some clues as to possible infection:
http://www.confickerworkinggroup.org/infec...cfeyechart.html

If you're blocked from getting to your choice of security software site, I may think about posting some links to various software on one of my sites just to fool Conficker so you can get some help.


Patch Tuesday (typically experienced Wednesday)

Microsoft is releasing 8 security patches this week - 5 CRITICAL, 2 Important and 1 Moderate. Patch up folks!!


Guess I need to get into this stuff and share a little more - a LOT is happening...

Oh yeah - I have a MacBook Pro to play with and have been working with Parallels and Fusion for running PC OS and apps... what fun!
]]>
I don't want Microsoft taking over more of the world -- this is the least that I can do...

PS: I love Yahoo's 'Search Assist'! Try it -- it's free!]]>
I own my copy of Windows XP by way of a VirtualPC license for my Mac, but the install DVD for that only works if you're installing it onto a G5 Mac. I've since upgraded to an Intel based Mac machine and want to get Windows installed on a separate partition. Unfortunately, my XP install DVD is now a $200 coaster.]]>
It turns out that you now need to have your identities verified in your Yahoo Mail web mail account before you can send using that identity in your mail program. If you've suddenly started having problems sending email as some identities, but not others through Yahoo DSL, go check your validated mail accounts.

If you need help getting there. Here's what you need to do:

• gotohttp://mail.yahoo.com
• click on 'Options' in the upper right corner
• Click on 'Mail Addresses' in the center column
• Click the 'Add' button
• Follow the directions to add a new address to your account profile. Once you've verified, you can again send using that identity from your mail program.

]]>
I don't know how long Yahoo has had this -- but since I noticed it I have been testing it and have been amazed!

Most any search -- assuming the first word in the search query is rather unique -- will usually bring up an accurate suggestion after just three or four letters are entered!

Just now I wanted to confirm when Daylight Savings Time starts (March 9th) and after typing in D-A-Y-L it offered up 'Daylight Savings Time'

Pic attached.

Try it.

]]>
If one wanted to sell a 'book' or anything kind of digital wares one would use this site.

Here is a blurb about it copied from mercurynews.com:

Zipidee The San Francisco company that lets you sell digital information through an online marketplace launched its public beta service Monday.

The service is targeting musicians, videographers, researchers or anyone else with digital information that people are willing to pay for. Sellers create accounts with Zipidee, and upload and display their digital goods on the Zipidee home site, or in a Zipidee widget on their own site. Buyers make direct online purchases through the Zipidee system. The company offers its own DRM service, which it sees as being most useful for providers of educational materials, and other niche information.]]> cell phone state of mind here. I saw a poll on C-Net that I just had to repost here. They're asking their visitors if they think Bluetooth Headsets are cool or not so cool.

Personally speaking, there is something really distressing about them to me. Yeah, I know they're super convenient and sometimes I wish I had one when I have to fumble around for my wired earpiece for my cell phone, but on a purely fashion level, I don't think I could do it! That says a lot because I'm pretty laid back about the fashion thing when there's a functional reason for it.]]>
I'm trying to get some answers from Google, but their non-existent support makes all the other support deptartments I've dealt with this year look like gold medal winners. You can't contact them. They contact you and they only seem to contact you when you're in gross violation of their policies. A couple of years ago, I did something I wasn't supposed to do and they came after me within a few days. This time around, I noticed that something didn't seem quite right with our index listings a couple of months ago. I first tried to contact them about a month ago and have since tried different routes to get in touch with someone and haven't heard a peep.

So, I'm hoping someone who has experience with an issue like this comes across this thread. If you've had experience dealing with a seemingly compliant site going from having 20,000 indexed pages in Google to <200 in the span of a week, I'd love to pick your brain.]]> me pause for a minute before I start getting suspicious.

Something finally hit me. I don't know how solid of an approach this is, but it seems to make sense. Maybe someone who knows a lot about phishing can add a few cents. You can outsmart most phishing attacks, perhaps nearly all of them just by waiting a few days. I'm surprised I haven't heard this mentioned much.

It's simple. Just wait a few days before you respond. Phishers rarely use their own servers and the servers they use to steal information tend to get shut down within a few days if not sooner. They typically have a short window of opportunity to fool you, which is probably the reason why phishing scams often tell you that you must update your info ASAP. If something is really that urgent, you better be picking up the phone.

I see some possible holes to this low tech technique though. If phishers develop a more stealthy way of launching phishing attacks, it may take longer than a few days to shut down a server that's being used to steal identities.]]>
It was a very strange feeling day, but also a much less stressful feeling day. To tell you the truth, it was kinda nice even though I had a hard time getting anything done.]]>
Anyone else having issues with their SBC DSL lately?]]>

A 2-Saturday Codeless Technician Amateur Radio Course is being offered at the San Jose Police Communications Building on
24 and 31 March 2007 From 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The exam will be proctored by ARRL on 31 March at 5:00 pm. The class is open to anyone at $35.00 per person (which includes all course materials and text), and the exam fee is $14.00 per person.

San Jose Police Communications Bldg
855 North San Pedro Street
San Jose, CA

Amateur Radio Technician Class Course Content
The Amateur Radio class will review the question pool to be used in selecting questions for the proctored exam that will be administered at the end of the second day of class. The exam will consist of 35 questions as follows:

T1 FCC Rules 5
T2 Methods of Communication 2
T3 Radio Phenomena 2
T4 Station Licensee Duties 3
T5 Control Operator Duties 3
T6 Good Operating Practices 3
T7 Basic Communications Electronics 3
T8 Good Engineering Practice 6
T9 Special Operations 2
T0 Electrical, Antenna Structure,
And RF Safety Practices 6

The class will review each question and receive instruction as needed on related topics to clarify the answer to the question. Sample practice exams will be taken. Class handouts, included in the cost, will be the textbook, Ham Radio Licence Manual, (ARRL, 1st Edition, list price: $24.95), at least 6 sample exams and answer sheets, a course syllabus which reviews each pool question, answer sheets for self-practice of total question pool, and extra material if needed.

The exam will be proctored by Volunteer Examiners (VEs) from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) at the end of the second class day.

The exam fee is $14.00 per examinee. Passing is no more than 9 wrong answers. Anyone failing to pass the exam with an error score of 10-11 may pay the fee again to retake the exam if desired.

Instructor: Chris Swartout, N6WCP
(408) 272-6835 Option 2
cas30@pacbell.net

Biographical Sketch
Chris Swartout has been teaching amateur radio classes for over 10 years, and has helped over 220 people obtain their licenses. His down to earth approach to teaching the question pool, from which proctored exams are composed, has enabled administrators, students, domestic engineers (some call them housewives), financiers, teachers, and others to understand the material well enough to pass those exams. His success rate is better than 98%. Shortly after moving to San Jose, he obtained his Technician Amateur Radio License, and started volunteering in his church’s emergency communications system. During the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989, he spent the first five hours as a radio operator and as net control of an emergency net. Seeing the need for radio communications in emergencies, He joined San Jose RACES in 1989, and upgraded to a General Class license in 2001. He has been teaching amateur radio classes whenever he encounters a group that wants to learn.]]>
What is the best broadband service to use in this area?

thanks

eric]]>
Link: AT&T ending Cingular name on wireless (CNN/Money)

I don't recall how this whole soap opera unfolded. Maybe someone can help fill in the blanks or correct me.

• Cingular Buys AT&T Wireless and to my dismay, I turn on my AT&T phone one day and it says "Cingular" on it and it promptly stops working right
• The AT&T Mothership eventually buys Bell South, which owns Cingular
• Now AT&T decides that it costs too much to promote Cingular, so they're phasing out the Cingular name

To make matters even more entertaining, they're making the switch gradual and for some months, they'll brand stuff with both the Cingular and AT&T logos.

Uh, all I can say is "WHATEVER".]]>
Download the beta from Adobe:http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/photoshopcs3/

BTW, any Photoshop wizards here?]]>
Consumer Reports: Why you don't need an extended warranty (Nov 06)]]>
Apparently, the same trick is being pulled on animal sales. I ran into this website called the "Cowboy Way Classifieds" that specializes in Cowboy stuff, especially horses. They have a page dedicated to exposing common scams that scammers use to defraud the rodeo boys out of horses and money.

CowboyWay Scam Alerts for Sellers and Buyers:
link:http://www.cowboyway.com/ads/index.php?a=28&b=142]]>

QUOTE (stone @ Nov 13 2006, 01:33 PM)

Most email is not really mission critical -- often someone will ask me -- or I will ask them -- if they received the email that was sent/received, and if it was not received then the troubleshooting process begins. Usually the email address is wrong, though sometimes it may end up in the spam filter I suppose, but in any case, the email it just resent. Which brings me to my next RANT! Maybe I am too old -- but I don't get it with some of the ways people use email. I think email is great for notices and information -- e.g. 50% off today at XYZ Store, or the weekly flyer that Social Wave puts out -- but I think email is cumbersome for topics that require back and forth communication. A cell phone conversation can cover in minutes what in email could easily take six (or more) emails to cover the same ground. AND -- what with the time lag -- this email exchange could span several days! I just don't get it... -- Dana

Actually, I can understand why people would do that. For a lot of people, email has taken over as the primary mode of communication and it might just be more comfortable to message that way. I'm usually this way because I find email less distracting than the telephone.

Email is something that I can do while I'm working on a website or programming if I hit a roadblock and want to switch away for a few minutes. Picking up the phone would just take me out of my frame of mind and I'll lose more time. Also, I get a lot of email. It's eaiser for me to answer or write 10 emails in a row rather than write 5 emails, make 2 calls, and write about three emails.

However, it bugs me when people use their email as an instant messenger. Given the volume of email I handle, it gums up my inbox and messes up my organization when I have to go back and read six or seven emails to put fragments of a conversation into one thread of thought.]]>
Image spam has been the most problematic because they sneak past the typical mechanisms used by spam filters to identify an email as "spam" or "ham."

The root cause for the latest spike in spam is not totally known, but it's believed that a few new worms and viruses are rapidly infecting PCs into "Zombie" machines that relay spam on command. Also, spam is becoming a more popular activity for organized crime and they're using more and more sophisticated techniques to elude filters.

Sunbelt Blog:In case you were wondering, there really has been a big increase in spam
John Levine Blog: Huge Increase in Spam in October
PC World Blog: Spam Is Up Up Up

]]>
This web site fits the bill:
http://jacksonpollock.org/]]>