RandomNerd

Adding a 3com 4400 se to the stack

2011-05-05T22:45:00.000-04:00

I couldn't find the procedure to do this since 3com has been bought by HP, I just got thru doing it today successfully so here are my recommendations
my 4400's are at firmware v 6.11
there are 2 optical daughter cards in my stack configured as an aggregated link

reset the switch you want to add to the stack to factory defaults; you can find this in the web interface or the command line
this will NOT reset the IP config of the management interface
set the password and SNMP community strings to the same as the stack you are adding to; if you don't change these before hand the entire stack will not be IP manageable until you change pw+snmp via the serial interface; i saw much strangeness doing it after so do it ahead of time.

make sure you add the switch to the highest end of the stack; look at the LEDs on the front to determine which switch is unit 1; don't connect anything to the unit 1 end or it will want to become the stack master and push its empty config on all the other switches. connect to the high end of the stack.

don't move any optical uplink daughter cards arround during this process; leave them where they are

all of my stacking daughter cards have the same model number so i left them where they were
disconnect the backplane cable from the highest unit number and attach the plastic box with 2 db9 connectors to the stacking daughter card; the plastic box has color coded squares beside the connectors to tell which end of the short cable goes where.

connect the short cable to the plastic stacking box and the newly added switch, making sure to follow the colored squares to get it the right way around
power on the newly added switch unit after all the connections are made

when i added the new unit the rest of the stack did NOT power cycle; i don't think they lost connectivity but i didn't have a ping running to know for sure.

How to verify UDP port 500 (IPSec VPN) is open

2011-03-22T20:50:00.002-04:00

get the nice GUI version of nmap from http://nmap.org/dist/nmap-5.51-setup.exe
install it , choose all the defaults, it will want to install WinPCap, thats fine
start    nmap- Zenmap GUI it should be on your desktop now
past this into the COMMAND box
nmap -sU -p 500 -T2 -v -Pn vpn.mycompanyname.com (it will work a lot better if you replace this domain name with the name of the vpn server you are trying to connect to) (this command is case sensitive)
and click the SCAN button

if UDP 500 is open and waiting for VPN connections the output will include this
PORT    STATE SERVICE
500/udp open isakmp

if something is filtering UDP 500 the output will include this
PORT     STATE         SERVICE
500/udp open|filtered isakmp

Using ARP pollution to pinpoint misconfigured network devices

2010-12-31T10:19:00.000-05:00

This article will outline how to use ARP pollution to pinpoint misconfigured network devices. We will use only free software.
ARP is the protocol TCP/IP uses to find devices in the same VLAN or Broadcast zone. Ideally the only ARP traffic in a VLAN is that of the same IP addressing scheme otherwise it would not be able to reach the default gateway for the VLAN.

Preparations:
-Configure a switch port with only a single untagged VLAN on it as WinPcap will capture tagged data and this will be confusing.
-Install Wireshark on a windows workstation is easiest, it will install WinPcap as well.
-download agrep for windows, put it somewhere in the path, I renamed mine to just grep as that's what i'm used to

after we are done all that prep we are going to run a command that looks like this
C:\Program Files\Wireshark\tshark.exe -c 100 -f arp | agrep -v (you network prefix)

the network prefix on your ip addresses will look something like this
10.1.1. or 192.168.0. or 172.30.0.

this is going to start the command line version of wireshark, capture 100 packets that are of type ARP and display on the packets that don't match your network prefix ie

when i do this I find that there is a network sniffing device that mistakenly has TCP/IP and DHCP enabled on the sniffing interface and it has confiscated the first DHCP offer that it saw while sniffing. The sniffing port has multiple VLANs, if it grabs a DHCP address from the untagged VLAN I will have an IP address conflict, but the first offer it saw was from the tagged VLAN so I see it broadcasting on the wrong VLAN.

Google Wind powered vehicle 2.85x windspeed in a 13.5mph wind

2010-06-14T21:36:00.000-04:00

but it looks like hell

Orange Power Wellies: Charge your mobile using heat from your feet

2010-06-14T21:22:00.000-04:00

In case you're wondering what the science behind them is... Inside the power generating sole there are thermoelectric modules constructed of pairs of p-type and n-type semiconductor materials forming a thermocouple. These thermocouples are connected electrically forming an array of multiple thermocouples (thermopile). They are then sandwiched between two thin ceramic wafers. When the heat from the foot is applied on the top side of the ceramic wafer and cold is applied on the opposite side, from the cold of the ground, electricity is generated. Simples.

What better use could i possibly think of for this technology....how about making house walls out of it; warm inside/cold outside and vise versa for cooling.

How to Install and Use Windows Server 2008 240 Days for Free

2010-04-17T08:12:00.000-04:00

Windows Server 2008, like Windows Vista and Windows XP SP3, has free-look evaluation period, which more commonly known as “activation grace” period. However, Microsoft is more generous on Windows Server 2008 than Windows Vista, where it allows activation-free evaluation period of 30 days after installation. And, as with Windows Vista, user can ‘rearm’ to extend or reset the activation grace period for another fresh 60 days trial usage for up to 3 times.

So Windows Server 2008 system can run for up to 240 days without requires to activate online or offline via phone. 240 days is almost equal to 8 months of free usage without restriction and limitation, and any edition of Windows Server 2008 may be installed without activation for the maximum evaluation period of 240 days. Note that if you’re using Windows Server 2008 Evaluation DVD package, after installation it’s immediately a 120-day initial evaluation period, which the activation grace period can only be extended or rearmed once in this case.
To enjoy the free activation period in Windows Server 2008, users need to install Windows Server 2008 without activating it. To do so, run the Windows Server 2008 Setup program, but do no enter any product key when prompted to enter a product key for activation. Then, click “No” when asked to confirm your selection. The initial 60-day evaluation period which do not require activation be done starts after installation finished.
How to manually extend the activation grade period on expiring
When the 60-day activation grace period is about to expire and end, run the slmgr.vbs script to reset and extend the evaluation period for another new 60-day trial evaluation period, with everything including programs installed and data intact.

Open an elevated privilege command prompt.
Type the slmgr.vbs -rearm, and then press Enter to reset the activation grace period to 60 days.
Restart the computer.

To check the status or time that is left on current activation grace period or evaluation period, run slmgr.vbs -dli command to display the number of days that are left in the current 60-day evaluation period.
User can also use Task Scheduler to automatically rearm activation grace period on expiry.

Scientists Turn T-Shirts Into Body Armor

2010-04-12T21:05:00.002-04:00

from Slashdot by timothy

3 people liked this

separsons writes "Scientists at the University of South Carolina recently transformed ordinary tee-shirts into bullet-proof armor. By splicing cotton with boron, the third hardest material on the planet, scientists created a shirt that was super elastic but also strong enough to deflect bullets. Xiaodong Li, lead researcher on the project, says the same tech may eventually be used to create lightweight, fuel-efficient cars and aircrafts."

Hollywood's Growing Obsession With Philip K. Dick

2010-04-12T20:26:00.000-04:00

from Slashdot by CmdrTaco

2 people liked this - , and 1 more

bowman9991 writes "Even after Blade Runner, A Scanner Darkly, Total Recall, Minority Report, Paycheck, Impostor, and Next, it appears Hollywood's lust for movies based on Philip K. Dick material continues. The Adjustment Bureau, starring Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Terence Stamp, is the latest, and features some classic Dick themes, including the fragile nature of reality and a fight against a world controlled and manipulated by powerful unseen entities. When Congressman David Norris meets the love of his life after a political defeat, he must peel back the layers of reality to discover why a mysterious group is so desperate to make sure they never meet again. He is up against the agents of fate itself — the men of The Adjustment Bureau. The Adjustment Bureau adaptation follows news that Terry Gilliam will adapt Dick's novel The World Jones Made, that Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said and Ubik are being adapted, and that a remake of Total Recall is being developed by the ironically named Original Films Studio."

my rss feeds

2010-01-26T07:34:00.001-05:00

http://feeds.feedburner.com/DilbertDailyStrip
http://www.hackaday.com/rss.xml
http://www.lifehacker.com/index.xml
http://rss.slashdot.org/slashdot/eqWf

http://feeds.feedburner.com/Redflagdeals

http://feeds2.feedburner.com/WeHackWii http://www.psp-hacks.com/wp-rss2.php

2010-01-21T21:42:00.000-05:00

CrossLoop - Easiest free remote desktop program
Romaco Timeout - free logon time limiting program, .msi so Group Policy can remote install it

Predictions for 2010

2010-01-06T18:31:00.000-05:00

-Apple, Microsoft etc will release Tablets, lots of randoms will release ebook readers, the winning portable device of 2010 will be the Google Nexus One, although it will impact the cult of iPhone very little.
-Sandboxing and memory randomization will become common security practices
-We will see our first malware that affect cars
-VoIP will make phone solicitation viable
-many companies will move to hosted services, and in 2 years they will all move away from hosted services...
-

Bought a 50" Toshiba rear projection for $40

2009-12-02T21:19:00.004-05:00

Bought a 50" Toshiba rear projection for $40

Before:

After:

Any questions?
the screen was replaced with an E size piece of paper.

Diagnose anything Linux

2009-11-28T22:16:00.002-05:00

create the /etc/yum.repos.d/webmin.repo file containing :
[Webmin]
name=Webmin Distribution Neutral
baseurl=http://download.webmin.com/download/yum
enabled=1

You should also fetch and install my GPG key with which the packages are signed, with the command :
rpm --import http://www.webmin.com/jcameron-key.asc

You will now be able to install with the command :
yum install webmin

now from any browser goto
http://ServerYouJustInstalledWebminOn:10000

now you don't need to remember the syntax for a million silly Linux commands

Google Reader (1000+)

2009-11-25T21:31:00.000-05:00

Google Reader (1000+): "Scientists Say a Dirty Child Is a Healthy Child
from Slashdot by samzenpus
7 people liked this - you, and 6 more
Shared by you
Researchers from the School of Medicine at the University of California have shown that the more germs a child is exposed to, the better their immune system in later life. Their study found that keeping a child's skin too clean impaired the skin's ability to heal itself. From the article: ''These germs are actually good for us,' said Professor Richard Gallo, who led the research. Common bacterial species, known as staphylococci, which can cause inflammation when under the skin, are 'good bacteria' when on the surface, where they can reduce inflammation.'"

links

2009-11-16T19:54:00.001-05:00

This lets you choose boot options

VitaminD is a really good WebCam server

Farmville tips

2009-10-21T23:51:00.003-04:00

Gridclicker is a tool to make Farmville easier; it will automatically click on every square on your field. Squares can be excluded, I thought I would have more game sync problems but none yet; knock on wood.

If you are really interested in doing things faster I would recommend boxing in your farmer.

To do this visit your farm and don’t move. You’ll notice that when the game is loaded your farmer will always start in the exact same spot. All you have to do is place animals, trees or objects that take up 1 space each around your farmer as shown. Of course you’ll have to delete the center field of your farm to do this. Once this is done your farmer will no longer be able to move. This means that you will no longer waste time walking from plot to plot which will dramatically speed up the time you spend plowing, planting and harvesting. Keep in mind that when you expand your farm this spot will move so you’ll need to set it back up again afterwords. Also, the reason why I recommend using objects that take up a single space is that you’re able to walk though most objects that take up more then one space, making them ineffective for this.

Source http://steelowl.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/farmville-speed-working-and-machines/

Domain Security

2009-09-23T13:56:00.005-04:00

So after a domain Security audit failure, I started looking for efficient ways to increase our security level

LanMan password Hashes:
use the pwdump program to audit machines
the 3rd column separated by : is the LanMan hash, our objective is to get all of these to say NO PASSWORD. the 4th column is the Ntlm hash, our objective is that all of these have a very long complicated password. Easy to do on 1 pc, hard for every workstation on the network!.

Administrator:500:37D8A9D322EHBCC5DF128B2DD32BAD07:7973F8B1D4BA044FH353577D20D05B43:::
adminl:1012:NO PASSWORD*********************:A87F3A337D73085C45F9416BEH787D86:::
ASPNET:1006:NO PASSWORD*********************:765846AF2H3722A756C36BF4FAB8E706:::
ASPNET_history_0::ED4313FC8629054035HD0F969A87EB54:248991E4B30D6D3H44ECBAE41ACCF27D:::
Guest:501:NO PASSWORD*********************:NO PASSWORD*********************:::
HelpAssistant:1000:0BF0F22C79E13F88FAH2654ABEA76BAE:E6B3E02A7AB163BAEAH9650717C1C245:::
SUPPORT_388945a0:1002:NO PASSWORD*********************:3A912CDE5FDC01E01E2FCC8525H0FF64:::

:Put this in your logon script for a week, it will erase all the local account password history after the computer reboots(ASPNET_history_ in the above). Even if the LanMan is turned off and password is changed the history still includes LanMan hashes. They are useless to logon but they still provide good clues.
net accounts /uniquepw:0

:run the below script a number of times cycling the account through all the M$ created accounts
Guest, ASPNET, HelpAssistant, IUSR_%computername%, IWAM_%computername%

REM change the local Administrator password for ALL computers in an OU
Set objOU = GetObject("LDAP://OU=Test, DC=MyDomain, DC=com")
objOU.Filter = Array("Computer")
For Each objItem in objOU
strComputer = objItem.CN
Set objUser = GetObject("WinNT://" & strComputer & "/Administrator")
objUser.SetPassword("MakeThisExceptionallyLongCuzNobodyWillEverUse1t")
Next

ingenuous parent

2009-08-29T21:29:00.001-04:00

HowTo GeoBlock Proxy

2009-08-06T23:51:00.003-04:00

Install RedHat or Ubuntu
Install WebMin
surf to Https://ip:10000
Servers, Squid Proxy, Access Control
to the right of Create New ACL, choose Ethernet Address from the drop down, now click Create
copy Ip address ranges from here http://www.wizcrafts.net/iptables-blocklists.html
into your rule and give it a name
click the "Proxy restrictions" tab, click "Add proxy restriction"
leave the action as deny, in the left column select all the rules you just created
use the arrows on the far right to move it up above the allow localnet rule

Our Wii Games

2009-06-08T18:45:00.000-04:00

Agatha Christie; Then There Were None 2* boaring
Bass Fishing, Sega July08
Batalion Wars -scratched!
Battle of the Bands Sept08 1 sucks
Big Brain Academy 4*
Bigs MLB
Blastworks; Build,Trade,Destroy Aug08
Board Game Collection, Ultimate
BoomBlox 3* May08
Boogie
Brunswick Bowling
Bully; Scholarship Edition
Bust-A-Move 0*
Call of Duty 3
Cooking Mama
Cranium Kabookie June08
Crash of the Titans June08
Dancing with the stars 0* May08
DDR Hottest Party 5*
DeBlob Nov08 5*
Death Jr June08
Deca Sports June08
Destroy all Humans June08
Elebits 3* May08
Excite Truck
Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn 5* May08 turn based rpg
GC emulator May08
Geometry Wars
Ghost Squad
God Father; Blackhand edition
Guilty Gear -street fighterish June08
Guitar Hero 3
Hairy Potter OotP
HighSchool Musical SingIt 3* May08
Horsez, Petz
Hotwheels
IronMan 2* controls suck 28May08
KungFu Panda June08
Lego Batman Nov08
Lego Indiana Jones Aug08
Lego Star Wars
LineRider 2 Oct08
Links Crossbow Training
Madden NFL 07
Mario Kart 5* May08
Mario & Sonic Olympics
Mario Party 8
Mario Strikers Charged
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Mercury Meltdown
Metal of Honor; Heroes 2
Metal Slug
Metroid Prime Corruption
MLB Power Pros May08
Monopoly Nov08
Monster Trux Arena
Monster 4x4 World Circuit
Monkey King June08 2D side scroller
Mortal Combat Alliance June08
Mx vs ATV
Naruto; Clash of Ninja Revolution June08
NBA Live 08 June08
Need 4 Speed Carbon
Need 4 Speed ProStreet June08
NHL2k9 Sept08
Nights Dream Journey July08
Ninja Reflex
No More Heroes
Okami 5* May08
Opoona June08
Paper Mario
Pinball Hall of Fame
Pro evol soccer 08
Puzzle Quest Challenge of the Warlords June08
Rayman; Raving Rabbits
Resident Evil 4
RockBand June08 5*
Rockband AC/DC trackpack Nov08
Rockband trackpack Vol1
Rockband trackpack Vol2 Nov08
Sam & Max Season1 Dec08
Shrek 3
Simpsons, The
Sims; Castaway 4*
Soul Calibur, Legends June08
SSX Blur July08
StarWarsTheForceUnleashed Oct08
Super Mario Galaxy 5*
Table Tennis, Rockstar July08
Thrillville
Tiger Woods Golf 2008
TigerWoodsPgaTour09 Sept08
Track Pack 1 for Rock Band July08
Trauma Centre; New Blood
Trauma Centre; Second Opinion
WarioLand Shakeit Oct08
WiiMusic Oct08
Wii Play
Wii Ski June08
Worms; A Space Oddity Aug08
WWE Smackdown vs RAW June08
Zack n Wiki 4*
Zelda; TP 5*

New
Deadly Creatures Feb09
Guitar Hero World Tour Feb09
The House of the Dead: Overkill Feb09
Nascar Kart Racing Feb09
Pirates of the Carribean Feb09
Rockband 2 Feb09
Shawn White Snowboarding; Roadtrip Feb09
Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 Feb09
Disney Sing It! High School Musical 3: Senior Year *9.3 2 player Feb09
Boogie SuperStar *8.8 Feb09
WarioWare: Smooth Moves - mini games Feb09
LIT (WiiWare) Feb09
3ShapeArcade (WiiWare) *1 -fun for about 5 minutes Feb09
Final Fantasy Fables; Chocobos Dungeon Feb09
MadWorld Feb09
Pikmen Mar09
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Mar09
Groovin' Blocks WiiWare Mar09
Strong Bad's Cool Game... WiiWare Mar09
Art Style: ORBIENT WiiWare Mar09
Rune Factory Frontier - a little complicated 4* Apr09
Marble Saga Kororinpa - DANGER update to 3.4 included Apr09
Sonic Unleashed Apr09
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - July09
Animal Crossing: City Folk - July09
High School Musical: Sing It! (WII) - July09

Wanted:
Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars
MySims Kingdom
FIFA Soccer 09 All-Play
Call of Duty: World at War
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009
Karaoke Joysound Wii
American Idol Encore *6.8
American Idol Encore 2 *7.4
Disney Sing It (WII) *4.2
Hannah Montana SWT *6.9
High School Musical 3 Dance *6.5
Secret of Mana
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G for PSP

Study Ball n Chain .... cool but $120us!

2009-06-05T22:39:00.000-04:00

Magicjack Voip

2009-05-23T20:44:00.002-04:00

It looks like the Magicjack I runs on pure SIP, I love standards. Someone was also kind enough to create a program to pull all my sip information off the box.

http://revolution.hackthisbox.com/joo/component/content/article/1-latest-news/39337

http://magicjackhacks.blogspot.com/2007/11/magicjack-sip-info.html

Wii Hard Drive

2009-05-16T23:08:00.012-04:00

DVD drive in my Wii stopped working a few days ago, every disk gave read errors.
So I did what any self-respecting hacker would do
I hooked my Wii to a Usb Hard Drive full of disk images. (All of which i own of course)
Software is surprisingly well done, Disk images have all the empty space removed, I fit about 20 games on an old 40 Gb HDD
Update: games work with much faster load times except for games that have Usb controllers aka RockBand. Must be because the Usb is in use. So we've had to switch to Guitar Hero...
Update 2Jun
Supposedly USB controllers work now and you have to plug the HDD into USB port 1

Need:
Wii with serial lower than LU64
external USB Flash/HDD that is not a Segate FreeAgent

Step0:
Install BootMii and do a full backup of your NAND (flash memory inside Wii)
so you can restore if you brick yr Wii

Step1: Load the Homebrew channel
Find out what OS menu you have [video]
v4 uses BannerBomb hack [here]
v3.4 or older uses Twilight hack, need a copy of Zelda Twilight Princess to make this work (borrow/rent it or upgrade to v4)[here]

Base USB loader:
download the USB Loader GX and forwarder
put the .wad file on your SD card in \wad
put the \usbloader directory in \apps

Use WAD manager 1.4 to install USB forwarder

What is a forwarder?
When your Wii first boots it goes to the Opening Screen, there are some Icons there. The forwarder installs a shortcut icon that just points to SD:\apps\usbloader_gx\boot.dol so hopefully there is something at that location to load.

install cIOS38_rev13b or here

here is the bulk of the guide

Update USB Loader GX:
Start the Usb Loader
unlock button bottom right, you'll need a password try ab121b (or upper case)
after unlocking the update button will appear at the bottom mid right
update to the latest loader via Wifi

Optional: Use your PC to load games onto your wii HDD with WBFS Manager 3 [howto]

Make sure all yr ISO's are from the right region cuz now it matters. Both the WBFS Manager 3 and the USB Loader GX will tell you what Region Code your ISO's are from. Use
[RegionFrii by SYNDiCATE] if you need to change their region

I was told to format the HDD Fat32 before converting it to WBFS, except that windows refuses to format a drive larger than 30Gb with anything other than NTFS, download the FormatFat32 utility to accomplish this; yes the drive really formats in 10 seconds

using 1 partition < 500Gb works best

Windows will always report a WBFS drive as unformatted and ask you to format it SAY NO to cra...er format

Other useful Links:
http://wii.yafaze.com/downloads.html

Firmware downgrader v1.11(295.88 KB): Mediafire(By Waninkoko) | Wiinewz

from what i ready all cIOS (custom Input Output system) overwrites block 249
so cIOS36v9 and cIOS38v13b can't co-exist, the last one written is present.

Waninkoko has released an IOS patcher for Wii ISO images; the application patches the data that specifies which IOS version to use to execute a Wii game.
- drag a Wii game ISO onto the executable and input an IOS
version.
-For most games, IOS version 30 is recommended (IOS30, firmware 3.0 and higher).
- With this application we CAN'T patch the IOS37 nor avoid it when upgrading the Wii.
- With this application we CAN run SSBB without update the Wii (and probably we'll be able to run Mario Kart even if it wants to use the IOS37).

Windows WinSXS folder

2009-05-10T22:02:00.003-04:00

Optimizing WinSXS folder
used to repair software installations, not safe to simply delete, although theoretically windows should ask for the install DVD if it can't find files.

http://www.vlite.net/

use Windows Installer CleanUp utility to remove references to uninstalled or unused files

Replace duplicate files with hard links to reduce redundancy
http://www.digitalvolcano.co.uk/dupe.html

Damn you Symantec

2009-05-10T21:47:00.004-04:00

I hooked up a new wireless router at my sisters place today. Jessie's Vista laptop could not attach to the wireless even tho my XP laptop could connect without trouble. I asked Courtney to get her Vista laptop and she connected without problems. After a barrage of questions I asked if she had any Norton/Symantec products. Jessie said she uninstalled them a long ago. An internet search revealed that the uninstall of Symantec 360 doesn't work correctly but Symantec provides a tool to uninstall completely. After running the tool the laptop returned to normality... well as normal as Vista can get anyway.
The moral of this story; Symantec = Satan.

Testing Windows 7 + IE8

2009-05-06T21:31:00.005-04:00

Grc.com Leaktest = FAIL
http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/ = The test has found no vulnerabilities in your browser!
-but no flash, quicktime or java installed
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com
-Browser Security Tests: Failed JavaScript On-Unload Test
+Browser Security Tests: Passed Third Party Cookie Test (notably different than other versions of IE)
http://security.symantec.com
-lists as safe, but can't find a virus scanner

Headers provided by IE8:
Accept: image/jpeg, application/x-ms-application, image/gif, application/xaml+xml, image/pjpeg, application/x-ms-xbap, */*
Accept-Language: en-CA
Connection: Keep-Alive
Host: www.grc.com
Referer: http://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?rh1dkyd2
User-Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Windows NT 6.1; Trident/4.0; SLCC2; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; .NET CLR 3.0.30729; Media Center PC 6.0)
Cookie: Steve=38; tpag=dfjzubzbwqcp0; ppag=dfjzubzbwqcp0; tcss=pusevkjgq1izz; pcss=pusevkjgq1izz
Content-Length: 32
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
Cache-Control: no-cache
FirstParty: https://www.grc.com
ThirdParty: https://www.grctech.com
Secure: https://www.grc.com
Nonsecure: http://www.grc.com
Session: xgoas1fqyiklm

Drinking Wine Adds 5 Years to Your Life, Beer 2.5 Years

2009-05-01T19:43:00.000-04:00

Posted by John in Food & Drinks, Medicine on May 1, 2009 at 8:23 am

From Bloomberg News:

Half a glass of wine a day may add five years to your life, a new study suggests. Drink beer, and you’ll live only 2 1/2 years longer.

Dutch researchers followed 1,373 men for more than four decades, noting their eating and drinking habits. Men who had about 20 grams of alcohol daily — equivalent to a half a glass of wine — had 2 1/2 years added to their life expectancy at age 50, compared with men who didn’t drink at all, according to the research published today in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Men who consumed only wine had twice as much added longevity.

Link via Alphecca

Your assignment: in the comments, devise rules for a Neatorama-themed drinking game.

Image via flickr user rpeschetz

Beetle Borgs

2009-05-01T19:42:00.000-04:00

Posted by Miss Cellania in Science & Tech on April 30, 2009 at 10:42 pm

Engineers at the University of California at Berkeley have developed remote-control beetles that can be used as spies! They aren’t just robots, either. These are cyborgs, real beetles that have implanted electrodes that control their flight muscles.

With the mind of a machine and the nimble body of an insect, this bug-bot may be the perfect scout: inexpensive, expendable, and capable of surreptitious reconnaissance. The Berkeley researchers, led by Michael Maharbiz, note that beetles are strong enough to carry useful payloads, such as a miniature camera.

Link -via Digg

(image credit: Hirotaka Sato and Michel M. Maharbiz, U. C. Berkeley)

AirCrack-PSP Test 0.57

2009-04-12T01:05:00.000-04:00

back

Filename: AirCrack_PSP_0.573980.rar

Size: 5.73MB

Downloads: 2,964

Description:
PA Team's (Gaby_64 & Brandon) AirCrack-PSP. Scan, capture, dump, and attack WEP or WPA secured wireless connections.

Screenshot:

DOWNLOAD

Altered Organism Triples Solar Cell Efficiency

2009-04-12T01:04:00.000-04:00

from Slashdot by ScuttleMonkey

An anonymous reader writes "By harnessing the shells of living organisms in the sea, microscopic algae called diatoms, engineers have tripled the efficiency of experimental dye-sensitized solar cells. The diatoms were fed a diet of titanium dioxide, the main ingredient for thin film solar cells, instead of their usual meal which is silica (silicon dioxide). As a result, their shells became photovoltaic when coated with dyes. The result is a thin-film dye-sensitized solar cell that is three times more efficient than those without the diatoms."

Reverse Ratial - Andy Rooney I'm behind you.

2009-04-06T08:54:00.000-04:00

Good for him!!!
Surprised CBS let him get away with this even though he's right

Right on, Andy Rooney!

Andy Rooney said on '60 Minutes' a few weeks back:

I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens...Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door.

Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game.

I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, which is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! ARE YOU LISTENING MARTHA BURKE?

I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion.

I have the right 'NOT' to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off.

When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling; it is the Law of Probability.

I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American/Canadian/British citizen, you should have to speak English!

My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours.

I think the police should have every right to shoot or arrest you if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word 'freeze' or 'stop' in English, see the above lines.

I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special National Assistance, loan programs, government sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, corner store, or any other business.

We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document; and open to their interpretations.

I don't hate the rich I don't pity the poor

I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you from watching them.

I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better, and put your name on the building.

It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say 'NO!'

I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!

I am sick of 'Political Correctness.' I know a lot of black people, and not a single one of them was born in Africa ; so how can they be 'African-Americans/Canadian/British'? Besides, Africa is a continent.. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was fromEurope . I am proud to be fromAmerica and nowhere else

And if you don't like my point of view, tough...

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE Canadian FLAG, to the BRITISH FLAG & TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTYAND JUSTICE FOR ALL!

I was asked to send this on if I agree, or delete if I don't. It is said that on average 86% of Canadians/ Americans & British believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having 'In God We Trust' on American money and having 'God' in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the 15%+ to BE QUIET!!!

ARRRRRGGGGggg New Van in the shop...already

2009-04-03T22:14:00.003-04:00

Had to go rescue Tracy in Paris, today
Our 2002 60kkm Ford Windstar van lurches and stalls. Brought my OBDII code reader and found this code:
P0340 Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Malfunction
Phoned Woodstock Hyundai; where I bought it from 2 weeks ago, they said they wouldn't do anything about it. Checked the contract, no warranty. Checked for lemon law; only if it's 4 years or newer.
Phoned Wdstk Imports; Trev said it wouldn't hurt the van to drive it home.
Limped home...
I may have to replace the sensor myself tomorrow.

The sensor is the black plastic piece on the far left of the assembly in the pic.

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/q8ny-hi-ive-98-windstar-auto-3-8l

Hello. I would start with changing the cam synchronizer. When some syncros go bad(the bearing wears out and sometimes chirps like a belt noise), but sometimes the squealing of the bearing can create super high frequency pulses that screw up the PCM. I have seen this on several vehicles with PO340 codes that come back after replacing the sensor only. A bad alternator can do the same thing, but you need to start with the syncro.

Migrane Diet

2009-04-02T19:08:00.004-04:00

Try cutting these from your diet:

Cheese (except cottage, farmer's, ricotta and cream), Alcohol (red wine is the worst. Watch out for flavourings (ie vanilla) which may contain alcohol), Caffeine (especially suddenly raising or lowering your intake), Chocolate, Aged and non-fresh meats and liver (ie cold cuts), -(also watch out for products with meat and hydrolyzed protein, such as gravy and soup mixes), Soy beans, Italian green beans, broad bean pods, MSG, Nuts (especially peanuts), Yeast (especially in homemade bread and sourdough), Sauerkraut (and other aged foods)

A big problem for migraine sufferers is food with tyramine, so there is now a page dedicated to cutting down on foods with tyramine.

Another theory is that tannins are diet headache migraine link. Find out what tannins are and where you find them.

Salad Dressing, Rennet tablets, Dried fruits (including raisins), Imitation crab, Licorice, Mushrooms, Snails, Salty foods, Rhubarb, Citrus fruits, Ripe avocado, Ripe banana, Yogurt and buttermilk, Fresh raspberries, Red plums, Onions, Worcestershire or teriyaki sauce. Wheat is a trigger for some as well.

Try adding these to your diet:

Peppermint, Cayenne pepper, Ginger (more on ginger here), Fish and fish oil, Foods rich in calcium (such as spinach, broccoli and kale), Foods rich in magnesium, such as spinach (maybe Popeye was right! -read this article for more on the magnesium migraines connection), Oatmeal, Wheat, Garlic

Herb for headache #1: Feverfew

Feverfew is a very popular migraine herbal remedy, and because so many people are interested in it, we've given it a page of it's own! Check out our article on feverfew here.

Herb for headache #2: Peppermint (mentha piperita)

For hundreds of years peppermint has been used as a headache remedy. From tea to extract, there are lots of ways to enjoy peppermint. Be warned that peppermint is not the thing to take if you have heartburn or similar stomach acid problems.

Peppermint is just as useful for it's aroma and cooling properties as an essential oil. Read more about this herb for headache on our home remedies page.

Herb for headache #3: Passionflower (Passiflora alata)

Passionflower is a calming herb. Taken as a tea before bed, it can help you sleep. At least one clinic trial has found it to lower anxiety. It is also believed to have anti-inflammitory and pain killing properties. Great for migraine!

Herb for headache #4: Ginko (ginko biloba)

The leaf of the ginko tree is an extremely popular herb for headache, but the medical evidence is still hotly disputed. Ginko is said to improve the flow of blood and get more oxygen to the brain, hence not only relieving headache but improving memory and alertness as well. There are some nice teas sold with ginko and peppermint, so why not give it a try?

Note that Ginko is one of those herbs that can cause side effects when taken with headache medications, including aspirin and lithium.

Herb for headache #5: Cayenne (capsaicin)

Yes, that's right – the pepper. Many peppers have an ingredient called capsaicin, which among other things seems to raise the pain threshold. It's gained attention in the medical world in recent years especially for its treatment of cluster headaches, and it's often given in the form of a nasal spray.

Cayenne pepper is an excellent spice to have on hand (well, don't put too much ON your hand or you may burn it!), and may lessen your migraine.

Herb for headache #6: Willow (salix . . .)

White willow bark is an especially popular herb for headache because it works much like an aspirin, relieving your headache pain and causing the inflammation to go down. Like any painkiller, it should not be taken long term. Once again, be very careful about taking willow with other painkillers and medications - check with your doctor!

3Apr2009
took 150mg magnesium, 100mg Calcium woke with no headache.

self healing vehicle bodies?

2009-03-31T22:16:00.000-04:00

New self-repair technique enables aircraft to heal as we do

A technique pioneered at Bristol University in England and funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council will allow for aircraft built with fiber-reinforced polymer (or FRP), which most commercial planes use, to automatically repair minor wear and tear during flight. It'll also make that damage far more visible for ground crews. It doesn't do away with the need for maintenance, but rather it helps keep planes in the air and make repairs more thorough.

The technique involves injecting the hollow glass fibers in FRP structures with colored resin and hardener. When a break in the fibers occur, the resin bleeds out to fill the gap (pictured above), restoring 80-90% of the structure's original strength — just as cells in your blood work to heal cuts.

The damage being addressed is often too small to see with the naked eye, but small nicks can mean big problems for aircraft traveling hundreds of miles an hour. The colored resin will allow ground crews to be able to easily spot these flaws before they become serious threats.

Fiber-reinforced polymers are used in a variety of other applications where the self-repairing technique could be applied, including wind turbines, cars and even spacecraft.

EPSRC, via EurekAlert!

How UFO's fly

2009-03-29T23:17:00.000-04:00

Secrets of flying saucers discovered!

One of the things that makes flying saucers so fascinating is that they clearly use some crazy alien technology to zip around. No human-built planes can maneuver like that! If only! Well, now it looks like someone has figured out the secret to flying saucers: ionized air.

Engineering professor Subrata Roy of the University of Florida figured it out, and he plans to make a prototype showing off his discovery. How's it work?

The surface of the saucer-shaped craft will be covered with electrodes that, when powered by a battery or other power source, will ionize the surrounding air to create plasma. When charged with an electric current, the polarized plasma will repel the non-polarized air, creating lift and thrust. Such an aircraft would have very stable flight characteristics, with the pilot controlling it by diverting the electrical charge to different parts of the surface.

His initial prototype will be six inches in diameter, but he thinks its scalable to larger sizes. Just think, in 10 years we could all be scooting around in our own UFOs. Let's make this happen. Via io9

A Chicken in Every Pothole

2009-03-28T20:01:00.000-04:00

Is this a great way to save public funds or a step down the slippery slope? KFC wants to fix potholes in city roads, then paint the company’s name on top. They’ve already begun work in Louisville, and have offered the service to other cities.

But Brian Steele, a spokesman for the Chicago Department of Transportation, which is charged with repairing the city’s potholes, said “We don’t allow any type of printing or advertising placed on a city street or sidewalk.”

He said the city was looking to promote and seek support for its own pothole repair program, and said they’ve been “in discussion” with an advertising firm for more than months about the idea.

As for the KFC offer, Steele said the city first learned of it Wednesday. “Were looking into it [the KFC offer]…..Until we learn more we don’t know how it stacks up.”

How to crack a serial number

2009-03-25T22:34:00.000-04:00

Van Busted

2009-03-21T22:01:00.000-04:00

2000 Mazda MPV transmission failure
-tech said the cooler usually gets hit by a flying rock and the tranny fluid all leaks out
-cost to fix; almost $3000!
-Insurance Co. says covered under comprehensive, sending out adjuster...
-4Mar Found out my policy includes a replacement rental vehicle; they're so forthcoming with the information. I'd rather wait and see if it's really covered than pay the rental out of pocket.

Alternative;
Asked the Insurance Co. if they will buy out the old van...Yes they will

New Van:
2002 Ford Windstar Sport 60Kkms, Burgandy, adjustable pedals, Parking assist, traction control

My SuperHero

2009-03-15T16:57:00.004-04:00

Suit:
inside layer; shock foam, electrically insulating
outside layer; carbon nano-tube weave / Spider silk weave? black
aluminum plates in non-bendy spots
chain mail over knuckles
Trench coat; extra pockets, black
Cowboy hat black?
Motorcycle helmet?
- augmented hearing
- night vision
- thermal vision
- cell phone
- video recorder

Equipment:
Multi-tool
white wire ties/ tie gun - 1 handed
business cards with only a website address
Flash/bang

Weapons:
chain/whip electromagnet/clip at the end attaches to itself
Bola 3x weights with retractable cable like tape measure attached together
Flaregun laser sight
- sandbag rounds
- tazer rounds
suit can be electrified

Mazda 626

2009-03-02T17:53:00.002-05:00

29Dec bought a 2002 Mazda 626 114k miles!

02 Mazda 626
2.0-liter I4, 125-hp, automatic 22/29 mpg
5X114.3 bolt pattern
I guess the 626 was from the US. The Clues:
Insurance Co. couldn't find VIN# records
No front license plate holder
Speedometer has the MPH scale larger than the KPH scale
DOH! i guess that means the odometer is in Miles...sigh

Bought rims + tires 2 sets $400 for both

20Jan2009:
lucked out and found a matching aluminum rim at Cory's auto recyclers $35
bought 2x snow tires used for $40, weird guy had a garage full of used tires

23Jan09:
First ride to work; its louder than the van, smells faintly of smoke but uses very little gas :)

7Feb09:
114694 miles - added Lucas UCL & Inj Cleaner
114695 miles - tire pressure to 36 psi
114700 m - new NGK Gpower spark plugs, air filter=new, oil=clean+full, coolant=-40+brown?, ps=overfull, pb=full
ordered ODB2-Bluetooth $57, 20 strong magnets to attach to the Oil Filter + Tranny filter
rear speakers both blown; bought 6x9s, FCS $25/pr; installed; grills don't fit anymore
115000 reset OBD2 code p0421 Warm up Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1) attributed this to -27 temperatures. code hasn't returned

dealextreme.com got shipment in 3 weeks
quarkr.com 2 months still no shipment...

PcmScan - Free to TRY, script for MPG http://download.cnet.com/PCMScan/300...-10624970.html

Planned Maint/Mods:
fuel filter, tranny oil Dubois Mazda - 519-537-5536 ,1280 Dundas Street , Woodstock , ON N4S 7V9
Compression test 180+ is good; $15us Amazon.com
check timing belt change
front strut tower brace
fabric grill cover; metallic blue?
solar panels on dash to reduce alternator load CT $8
dent pulled
timer for block heater - winter
door & ceiling interior material glued down
front bumper or epoxy
touch up paint
kill switch in series with ignition start position - jy
195 degree thermostat
blinking alarm LED
need 1 more spline nut -spring
ECU and TrannyCU software update
transmission cooler; 12" x 10" in sandwich-plate /w thermostat, fan & inline filter - summer
throttle body coolant bypass - summer only here

Spring JunkYard Run: @COREY AUTO WRECKERS, no 626 in Woodstock
front license plate holder
door light lens
passenger seat cover
kill switch in series with ignition start position - jy
door interiors
front bumper
compass/trip computer
transmission cooler; 12" x 10" in sandwich-plate /w thermostat, fan & inline filter - summer
Leather seats
Power steering pump from a Toyota MR-2 (electric)
Kamm spoiler
cold air intake
underdrive pully
set of headlights to make LED lights

Nice 2 Have:
Fuel heater - winter
passenger seat cover
Leather seats
make undercarriage aerodynamic
Kamm spoiler
cold air intake
underdrive pully
check for existing sway-bar - Contour SVT sway-bar?
rear disc brakes off probe Gt or non LX Mazda 626
low resit cat
nightshade(s) spray on taillight smoke a few $
tire dams and boat tails
LED Fog lights, marker lights, Head lights
Power steering pump from a Toyota MR-2 (electric)

Recall Date:
OCT 05, 2005
Model Affected:
2001 MAZDA 626
Summary:
CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 45-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F350-S1, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 1993-1997 FORD PROBE,1993-2001 MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AND 1983-1994 LOYAL, 3-DOOR COUPE, HATCHBACK, SEDAN, WAGON, BRAT, DL, GL, GL-10, RX, XT, AND XT6 PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 90-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F300-S2, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 19983-1994 SUBARU VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE FILTER DUE TO NON-CONFORMING BRAZING WELDS WHERE THE INLET TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE FILTER CAN.
Consequence:
IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.
Remedy:
SPX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MR. CHRIS GREESON AT 704-869-3733 OR CONTACT THE WIX INFORMATION HOTLINE AT 800-949-6698.
Potential Units Affected:
42962

Mazda FS engine

The 2.0 L (1991 cm³) FS was one of the last F-family engines. With an 83 mm bore and 92 mm stroke, it produced up to 130 hp (97 kW) and 135 ft·lbf (183 N·m). In 1998 the engine evolved into the FS-DE by undergoing several changes, most notably a distributorless ignition as well as the move from hydraulic lifters to solid shim-on-bucket lifters. Japan also received a higher-performance version, known as the FS-ZE. A special version of the FS was produced in 2003 for the Mazdaspeed Protegé which was turbocharged, and generated 170 hp (127 kW) and 160 ft·lbf (217 N·m). This was known as the FS-DE-T. It's worth noting that the internals of the FS-DE-T were identical to those found in the standard FS-DE, which were not known for their strength. The pistons for the FS produce a compression ratio of 9.1:1 (USDM) but when FP pistons are used in the FS they yield 9.7:1 compression ratio.

The FS-DE engine did enjoy a few minor technical features, such as:

-Oil Squirters

-VICS (Variable Initial Charge System) - A system that can vary the volume of the intake manifold resulting in a broader power band. There were known issues with this system, the most noteworthy was that the small screws would come loose from the butterfly system that drove this and end up running through the motor.

-VTCS (Variable Tumble Control System) - A set of butterflies in the intake manifold that would close to promote low emissions combustion under cold start at low engine speeds. These had a reputation of being noisy at times.

(For more info on VICS and VTCS see here: http://www.mazda6tech.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=1)

-Windage Tray

Applications:

1993–2002 Mazda 626
1993–1997 Mazda MX-6
1999–2001 Mazda MPV (Japan)
1999–2003 Mazda Capella
2001–2003 Mazda Protegé (2.0L models only)
2001 Mazda Protegé MP3
2002–2003 Mazda Protegé 5
2003-2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protegé
1993–1997 Ford Probe

New Blackberry Flip 8220

2009-02-07T13:29:00.002-05:00

Essential Software
All of the Google mobile apps
BeeJiveIm - it works with WiFi

Battery life is terrible
can't find call history

Generic Canadian Legal Forms/Contracts

2009-02-01T23:30:00.000-05:00

Desmodromic Valve

2009-02-01T23:10:00.001-05:00

Desmodromic Valves; no vale springs= no valve float and no spring resistance to overcome.

Vehicle Fuel Saving Tips

2009-01-30T14:05:00.000-05:00

listed in best Bang-4-the-buck order:
100% ride a bike
50% Carpool
3-15% Tire pressure to 36psi; amount of fuel mileage savings is in dispute but air is free.
15-35% Add Acetone to your fuel; 29mL/40L (2 oz/10 gal) my tank is 70L, see here $6/400ml Canadian Tire
0-10% Tuneup; check/change plugs, air filter & fuel filter; NGK G-power plugs recommended by Andy, Owner of Woodstock Imports, Dundas & Vanstart
2%-5%? oil treatment for +economy&power. Anything with PTFE (Teflon) as it's main ingredient? Ecomodder.com forums recommends: Tufoil, Auto-Rx
3%-10%? Fuel treatment; cleaning the fuel injectors will allow better fuel mixing. $3.50 STP @ Canadian Tire; Ecomodder.com forums recommends: Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant & FEC., FP60 by LubeControl, SeaFoam
2%-5% Torco or Amsoil 0w-30 Synthetic Motor Oil. $8/L but generally increase mileage, protection and need to be changed less. Walmart Tech2000 0w30 is $5.66/L or $22.64/4.4L
0-15% Fuel warmer; an extra piece of fuel hose that runs along the rad hose. The warmer fuel vaporizes more completely. Works better in cold climates.
2-5%? Taller tires; simple math here, the taller the tire the greater it's circumference, the farther it pushes the vehicle forward with each rotation. This essentially changes the final gear ratio. Note it will decrease your power while increasing fuel economy and it may put your speedometer out by a few kph. see calculator
5% low rolling resistance tires; wait until the tires need changing
3% Get aerodynamic, smooth wheel covers can add 1mpg
2% efficient ECU updates

Driving Habits:
Windows up; windows being down increases your drag especially at highway speeds.
A/C; i have read that A/C affects your mileage very little but my experience shows otherwise. I leave it off for in-town driving where i am accelerating often.
Accelerate slowly and evenly;
Plan routes that don't take you through stop & go traffic.
Clean out your car; unnecessary weight will cause you to use more gas each time you accelerate.
Don't idle; nuf said
Buy gas in the morning; gas is measured by volume; in the morning when the gas is still cool you get more.

Make sure nothing's a-miss:
check your plug wires; should be less than 20 Ohms. Mazda stock wires 13.5 Ohms 38 inches
If your fuel mileage is far below the manufacturers spec get a mechanic to check your O2 sensor
after a long drive feel your rims, if they are hot you may have dragging brakes / wheel bearing
Trucks; get a bed cover, cap or flow thru tailgate

Myths/Unproven:
20% Hydrogen injection; this is a SCAM ... i still might try and build my own. see IFIE
too much hydrogen can cause Hydrogen embrittlement
EFIE; fuel injected vehicles have Oxygen sensors that mis-read O2 in the exhaust as too lean fuel mixture. An EFIE compensates. or here see also Lean Burn
Mothballs; Napthalene WILL increase the the octane in your fuel and reduce ping; a timing advance is required to increase gas mileage. The ECU can adjust timing but the range is likely too narrow to make a difference; range depends on the vehicle.
?% Wrap your O2 sensors with aluminum foil held in place with copper wire, The goal is to fool the car's computer into sensing too warm a sensor so it adjusts with a slightly leaner mixture and possibly a slight advance in timing. see here
Air warmer/cooler; for every 1degree you cool the air you can add 1hp. I get differing stories about how to increase mileage.
Performance Air intake; is larger and smoother, no proof it increases efficency/mileage.
High Flow filters; beware of high flow filters that allow larger particles into the engine.
Thinner tires; careful with this one, less surface contact with the road = less rolling resistance but it also means that your braking distance may increase. Your cornering may also suffer.
0% Magnets on the fuel line; Ftc has dis-proved this so don't bother.
0% Air intake vortex; a ring with fins pointing in that sits in your air intake and swirls the air, mixing the fuel better, unconfirmed results
HyCo; a fuel vaporization chamber. More fuel gets burned in the engine and less in catalytic. Popular Mechanics tested and disproved purchased devices.
Water injection; some say this is because of expanding steam; but i have to wonder if this is not just getting colder & more dense intake air; PM disproved, its possible but nothing on the market makes a measurable difference.

Unknown:
195 degree thermostat
dimpling like a golfball
smooth hubcaps
belly pan for more aerodynamic undercarriage
Key off, then Park - automatic transmission only; You will save a small of gas by slightly changing your shutdown procedure. When you park turn off the ignition before shifting into Park and setting the parking brake.

37. Avoid using heater until the engine has warmed up
Always avoid using the heater until the engine has warmed up to its optimal operating temperature. Running the heater fan before your engine is properly warmed up will slightly increase warm-up time and increase the amount of gas you use.

48. Look well ahead & anticipate
Driving safely and efficiently relies on you being able to anticipate changes wherever you are driving. The way to achieve this is by being vigilant and constantly looking ahead.
Driving in the city you really should know what's happening at least 10-15 seconds ahead, and on the freeway that should be at least double.

60. Listen to calm music
Slower paced music is more relaxing and tends to promote a more sensible driving style while reducing stress.

79. Avoid stopping completely
Try to avoid coming to a complete stop if possible and of course when it is safe and legal to do so. It takes much less energy to drive off in a vehicle when it is already moving, even if it is only moving a few miles per hour, than it does from a complete stop.

80. Where you can take shortcuts
Sometimes you can nip rather cheekily through corner parking lots, side streets, or alleyways to get around having to come to a stop at an intersection or behind another vehicle do this and you will get to where you are going sooner and save gas, just be alert to very opportunity.
And as usual we must stress don't break the law, that is usually more costly than bad gas consumption.

81. An open cooler box
Pop your cooler box into the freezer over night and then leave it on the floor of the car, it will help reduce the temperature in the car if there are a few bottles of water defrosting you get a nice cool bonus, and an alternative to running your A/C unit.

84. Cycle your A/C
If you have to use the A/C unit, set the airflow to re-circulate then manually turn the A/C on and off as needed.

91. Empty your trunk
The additional weight you carry in your vehicle doesn't ride for free. It takes energy to move it around. Removing unnecessary stuff from your vehicle saves gas.

92. Remove unused roof racks
If your vehicle come with a roof rack and you don't use it, remove it. The same holds true for bike and ski racks. Doing so will reduce aerodynamic drag, resulting in better gas economy.

[b]98. Neutral when stopped - automatic transmission only[b]
Shift automatic transmissions to neutral when stopped, assuming you're going to leave the engine running. If you leave the transmission in drive the engine will attempt to move the car forward (creep) while being held back by the brakes, this just wastes gas.

use your block heater

Drive with you lights "off" during the day
most newer cars have daytime driving lights, don't turn on your night-time lights for day driving.

178. Upshift coaxing - automatic transmission only
Some automatic transmissions can be coaxed to upshift sooner when accelerating by gently easing of the gas pedal and then gently reapplying pressure and continuing to accelerating.

187. Burn and coast
Use a technique know as Burn and coast or pulse and glide rather than maintaining a constant speed, where practical, by using the gas pedal briefly and letting momentum or gravity do the rest you will get better gas figures.

201. Use Eco tires
If you are replacing tires then consider some of the newer 'Eco' tires that are designed specifically to increase fuel efficiency.

cover grill for winter; more aerodynamic; don't need lots of air flow in cold weather.

Carb Medic from Gunk can raise mileage when 3 oz. are used with 2 oz. of acetone per 10 gallons of gasoline

insulate the bottom radiator resivoir; the Toyota Prius has a thermos it pumps the coolant into

Lots more info here

Throttlebody spacer here

window tint -A/C doesn't have to work so hard

high school

2009-01-30T01:29:00.000-05:00

Student venture RORMaxx explores wind powered EV sportscar

Students believe wind- and solar-power is enough to make a racecar go

by Zack Newmark
December 17, 2008 9:47 PM
Filed Under: American, Artist Renderings, Concept Car, Design, Supercars, Technology

Wind is not often thought of as a potential energy source for cars, but two ambitious high school students in California are researching the possibilities. RORMaxx founders Rory Handel and Max Bricklin are working out the kinks on an electric vehicle powered mainly by the wind and the sun.

Their Formula AE race car is in its infancy, exhisting only in an early-design phase. The alternative energy racer will be powered by a 285 hp alternating current induction motor, using the latest technologies available in sustainable energy. Lightweight, and ultrathin SolarPly paneling will recharge the cars lithium-phosphate batteries, while extending the car's range by anywhere from 15% to 30%. Once moving, the four air intakes guide airflow into four small turbines. Electric charge generated from these fans will be stored in ultracapacitors for immediate need, something key to quick acceleration.

No doubt Rory Handel's motor racing ambitions have played into the design. The car has been planned with the shape of a Formula 1 vehicle in mind. Built of aluminum, with steel in some places, the Formula AE will have front and rear crash boxes to keep the driver safe. Racing suspension and aluminum monobloc calipers will be included. Forged magnesium racing wheels wrapped in medium-compound tires is meant to counter the added weight of the batteries and electrics.

Once fully designed, RORMaxx is interested in manufacturing body panels from a hemp-based composite fibre, to keep the car as lightweight as carbon fibre, while still maintaining a green image.

The use of hemp may have you second-guessing these students' intentions, however, RORMaxx' founders are anything but hippie-wannabes. Unlike other alternative energy groups, this organization is not quick to criticize the oil industry. They are more complementary, recognizing the part big oil has played in research and development while pointing out that companies will always need to make a profit. They site John D. Rockefeller as their inspiration. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil as a means of ushering in a new era of industry in the United States. His plan was to make money from oil drilling and distribution, but to use that money for more research, according to the group.

Believing that an infinite source of usable energy is more valuable than a limited supply of fossil fuels, research into the Formula AE is meant to demonstrate how capable we are of living with less reliance on oil.

Source: RORMaxx

Great Wolf Lodge

2009-01-26T11:11:00.003-05:00

2 adults + 4 kids as low as $459.00 / weeknight (add $90 for weekend)
includes access to ALL water activites for day before + after overnight stay
thats 2days of fun for about $77 / head

My Valentines Cards

2009-01-21T22:13:00.002-05:00

I like you - you don't stink often
I like you - you keep expectations low
I like you - you are a good distraction
I like you - you know how to soak up abuse
I like you - you make me look good in comparison
I like you - you are a much bigger target than I
I like you - you are soft
I like you - you are a good scape-goat
I like you - you are good to hide behind
I like you - when I see you I am motivated to improve myself
I like you - your clothing brings back fond memories
I like you - you make a good amount of body heat

StudioTax Personal still free for 2008

2009-01-21T11:20:00.003-05:00

Download and enjoy...as much as you can enjoy taxes

Quicktax online is also free if you have a simple return

Turn a washing machine into a Wind Generator

2009-01-04T13:55:00.000-05:00

Spray-On Solar-Power Cells Are True Breakthrough

2009-01-04T10:23:00.000-05:00

Urine powered chemical batteries

2009-01-04T10:17:00.000-05:00

Scientists invent pee-powered battery

Are you taking a sample?

By Lucy Sherriff • Get more from this author

Posted in Science, 15th August 2005 11:41 GMT

Free Download - Comparing Data Center Batteries, Flywheels and Ultracapacitors

Researchers in Singapore have developed a paper battery that is powered by urine. Despite sounding gloriously silly, the breakthrough promises a cheap and disposable power source for home health tests for things like diabetes.

Research investment into developing smaller and cheaper chips to process information in disposable health tests has been significant, but they were still reliant on an external power source. The researchers at Singapore’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) think they have overcome this problem.

The battery is composed of paper, soaked in copper chloride, sandwiched between layers of magnesium and copper. The whole thing, once laminated in plastic, is just a millimetre thick, and 6cm by 3cm in size.

The researchers report that with just 0.2 millilitres of urine the battery will provide around 1.5 volts, with a maximum power output of 1.5 milli-Watts. The performance varies according to the geometry of the battery, and the materials used.

Dr. Ki Bang Lee, lead researcher, sees a big market for the battery. He argues that it could easily be integrated into biochip systems for "healthcare diagnostic applications", making it much easier for people to manage their own healthcare, only going to the doctor when absolutely necessary.

The research was published in the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering. ®

My Green Car Design

2009-01-01T22:32:00.000-05:00

Engine:
+Petrol Multimode; Atkinson/Miller cycle, both undersquare engines that leave the intake valve open for part of the compression cycle. Miller req's intake compression, electric.
+Desmodromic valves; no valve spring resistance to overcome, no valve float problems
+Fuel heated by running lines along coolant hoses
+direct injection, instant-on design (Mazda patent), not diesel compatible?
-BioDiesel 2 tank system, no plugs,
-cylinder shut-off variable displacement; power on demand
-Turbo; power on demand

Drivetrain:
Energy recovery; Mechanical; +cheap; -dangerous, -unreliable?
Pneumatic; +no fluids to monitor, -spongy inconsistent power
Hydraulic; -unreliable?
Electric; +works well with solar, +no starter req'd, capacitors instead of batteries
CVT auto w high overdrive ratio and speed limiter
Hybrid; a planetary gear on the input allows multiple power sources to be used

Suspension:
Rims have a propeller design so they pump air out from under the car=car is suctioned to road, disk brake rotor in the way?
semi active air suspension; closes air-escape valve front shocks when braking hard, outside shocks when cornering hard.
Built on 1 of 3 frames; economies of volume, stiff like a sports car
Non-vented disk brakes; max req'd with regenerative braking
Tires pushed to the very corners of vehicle for max stability

Exterior:
Flexible body panels; plastic & corn/hemp mixture, colored thru to hide scratches
modular hatchback/wagon design
split tread tires for wider w less side roll, less rolling resistance

Intelligence:
computer has a wifi connection to auto-update it's program, send reminders, get quotes on maintenance, report it's location if stolen, have the ignition killed by a police officer, auto brake if the car in front is braking hard, tattle top speeds & odometer readings to the insurance company?, add a USB camera to capture license plates, search for stolen vehicles/ report crazy drivers/ suggest a carpool/ driving assist/ use infrared to warn of animal on the road at night
Key is RFID; don't need to take it out of your wallet to start car
Top speed limited by separate RFID card issued by insurance Co. You can go fast, but you're gonna pay to do it.
Steering wheel senses if you let go; driving assist engages, cruise control disengages, hazard lights engage, pull off to side of road?

Concept; Modularization - the whole is made of smaller independent pieces with a standard interface; when 1 of the pieces wears out the whole doesn't have to be replaced. Replacement is cheaper.
Pivot steering; the engine and passenger compartments of the vehicle are separate pieces and a central pivot is used for steering.
Pro; no CV joints, alignments easy to change to an alternate fuel, replace a motor,
Con; crash safety?

steering option 2:
vary speed t0 each wheel to turn; like a tank

The Rules

2009-01-01T15:35:00.000-05:00

NO TATOOS EVER! in exchange I will never complain about hair color or body piercings (as long as they are safe)
1 pet at a time (fish count as 1/2 pet each)
TV time will be metered, as mess increases TV time will decrease
Turn off your lights OR I will take your light-bulbs
If you slam your bedroom door I will take your door
Don't take food in the living room OR you will have to clean up garbage AND dishes
Don't throw cloths on the floor OR you will pick up all the cloths and take them to the laundry OR do a load of laundry OR sort and fold
Don't leave garbage anywhere OR you will have to pick up ALL the garbage
Flush the toilet OR you will clean the toilet
Eat your supper OR you get to do the dishes
I will not buy toys for anyone that has toys on the floor

14 years boy/girl-friends allowed
16 years dating allowed

My Video Game

2008-12-18T21:48:00.000-05:00

based on Second Life engine

Char:
Attributes:
Phy: Str, End, Agl
Men: Int, Ingenuity, Creativity
Psy: Willpower, Chi/Luck, Honor

Tags: don't have a level or value
Mammal/Reptile/Insect/Contruct
Male/Female
race

Profession: Superskill you can only have 1
Skills: have a level/value

Craft: ?

Biologicals:
Complex carbon based life. Specialized cells connected together to make an efficient whole. Powered by plants and other Biologicals.
Pros: self healing, ingenious, agile
Cons: low strength and armor
Attributes: Str, Dex, Int, Speed, Heal, Health, Race
Resist: EMF, Water, Hack, Con
Weakness: Pierce, Slash, Flame, Acid, Poison

Bots:
Complex binary computing engine usually connected to a mechanical automation to aid in task completion.
Powered by electricity.
Pros: Strong, resilient, fixable, upgradable
Cons: No automatic healing, energy hogs must be recharged
Attributes: Whole; Int, Dex, Speed Each; Strength, Armor, Health
Resist: Blunt, Pierce, Slash, Poison, Psi
Weakness: EMF, Water, Flame, Acid, Hack, Con

Items have attributes
Weapons; Min attr, multiplier attr, Attribute modifiers, quality, speed, damage, range

The Cloth Body BMW

2008-12-14T20:01:00.000-05:00

BrickleyEngine

2008-12-14T18:09:00.000-05:00

How to fix a limp RockBand guitar wammy bar

2008-11-20T19:37:00.013-05:00

Disassemble Guitar; it would be a good idea to check if its still under warranty first

First my spring broke, after I used the short piece of spring the tab it attaches to broke off.

I used a piece of fabric elastic.

This is the wammy with its keeper removed

the easiest way to install

all installed

don't forget to put the strap peg back in before installing the screws

this is where the different length screws go.

The resulting fix feels a little different. The wammy gets stiffer the farther it is pushed down.

Perfmon is empty after installing IBM Director

2008-09-15T15:22:00.002-04:00

Noticed while trying to install SNMP Informant
It maps Perfmon counter to SNMP for easy monitoring

Solution:
check the following windows registry key, it's likely empty

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Perflib]
"Base Index"=dword:00000737
"ExtCounterTestLevel"=dword:00000004
"Last Counter"=dword:00000b2c
"Last Help"=dword:00000b2d
"Version"=dword:00010001

the above is from a Windows 2003 sp1 machine
find a PC with the same O/S and Service Pack as the permon-less PC
export the above key
edit the .reg file
delete everything except what's in the root key
import it on the permon-less PC

Supporting articles:
http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3231101&SiteID=17

Wheelchair Escalator

2008-07-11T13:13:00.002-04:00

standard escalator but at the bottom there is a 3 stair length of horizontal run
when a wheelchair pulls onto the bottom 3 steps form into a single step wide enough for a wheel chair

_
|_
|_
|_C_

_
|_
|_C_
|

Camping

2008-07-02T13:27:00.012-04:00

Buy:
Fishing Gear; hooks, bait, $10 Walmart
water rockets?
Dining tent
roof rack junkyard $?
car carrier $50 kijiji
Colman stove
DEET and lots of it,

Bring:
Solar Patio Lights
water cooler/heater/fridge
Guitar + printed TAB music, harmonica, bongos, tambourine, etc

RPG ideas

2008-06-30T13:20:00.002-04:00

Scenarios:
alien invasion

Characters:
cast off alien robot
alien delivery boy
intelligent algae colony
experiment; consciousness transference ; transferred to gorilla? Hatbox?
experiment; electric eel organs
experiment; gene therapy
equipment; alien food processor
equipment; dimensional portal

Inflatable Electric Cars: Surround Your Body in Bliss from Digg A start-up in California with their upcoming electric car, the Whisper™. has taken the

2008-06-02T20:35:00.001-04:00

Inflatable Electric Cars: Surround Your Body in Bliss

from Digg

A start-up in California with their upcoming electric car, the Whisper™. has taken the same sort of airbag technology developed to safely land recent NASA missions on Mars and used it to create an inflatable polymer car frame in which they pack all the essentials for it to actually be considered an automobile.

SEE I knew i should have pantented it when I thought of it.

WSUS3 automatically grouping computers via Group Policy

2008-05-30T11:46:00.003-04:00

Because M$ has such lame documentation in this area i'll hafta do it myself

Create your groups in the WSUS console under All Computers, make a Test group while you are at it; don't waste time moving any pc's yet
If you haven't updated to Group Policy Mgt Console (aka GPMC) do it now [link]
Open GPMC, (start, run type mmc will do it)
File Add/Remove Snapin, click Add
Active Directory Users and computers , Add, Close, Ok....whatever
If you haven't created any OU's (organizational Units) now would be a good time to do it. We group computers by department. Right Click anywhere under your domain name and say New, Orgainizational Unit
Right Click any OU and choose properties, Group Policy Tab, and click Open
If this is the first time you have opened the new GPMC it'll ask for a domain or whatever
Expand you domain and click on Group Policy Objects
All your existing GPO's will appear in the right pane
Right click on Group Policy Objects (left pane) and choose New
Give your GPO a name; I called mine WSUS + IS Group
Right click on your GPO in the right pane and choose Edit; the editor will open
since nothing we are going to change applies to Users; Right click on the Policy name at the very top and choose properties; check off Disable User Configuration Settings. This makes applying the policy faster; it's important when you get a few dozen of them.
Under Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Update
in the the right pane find a setting called "Enable client-side targeting" and double click it
change it's configuration to Enabled and under target Group type the group name you created in WSUS console (not the OU name or the Policy name they could be different) my group name is called "IS"; click OK and close down the GP editor (there is no save button, you're doing this all live; tks M$)
In Group Policy Management right click an OU and choose "Link an existing GPO..." and choose the GPO you just created.

I like to separate my WSUS config into 2 pieces for manageabilty the other piece looks like this:

WSUS - Ask Reboot
Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Update
Configure Automatic updates = 4, Every day, 00hours
Specify intranet M$ update service...= http://update.mydomain.com
(just call it update and make a dns pointer)
Reschedule Auto = 1
No auto restart = Enabled
Auto Update detect frequency = 4
(expect problems if you go below 3)
Re-promt = 15min
Enable Power management = Enabled

I created another called WSUS - Force Reboot for some PC's that are used like kiosks

so now you don't need to make a hundred custom GPO's
WSUS - Ask reboot holds my base settings and custom pieces are added on with a "WSUS +" policy

Other pieces of the puzzle:
WSUS' natural enemy is Hybernate; make a .bat file like this

PowerCfg.bat
rem this changes the Desktop config but leaves Laptop config as is
POWERCFG.exe /QUERY
POWERCFG.exe /HIBERNATE OFF
POWERCFG.exe /CHANGE 0 /NUMERICAL /monitor-timeout-ac 13
POWERCFG.exe /CHANGE 0 /NUMERICAL /disk-timeout-ac 23
POWERCFG.exe /CHANGE 0 /NUMERICAL /standby-timeout-ac 43
POWERCFG.exe /CHANGE 0 /NUMERICAL /processor-throttle-ac ADAPTIVE
POWERCFG.exe /GLOBALPOWERFLAG ON /OPTION RESUMEPASSWORD
POWERCFG.exe /QUERY

This will need to be run as administrator; check out lsrunase

You may want to change the BIOS settings of your workstations to allow Wake-On-LAN
alternately you may want them to power themselves on at 1am every Monday
Our HP 57xx series desktops can modify the BIOS from withing windows using HP CMI

WakeOnLanEnable.bat
set svr=dc1.mydomain.com
md c:\util
xcopy /d \\%svr%\netlogon\BiosQuery.wsf c:\util
cscript \\%svr%\netlogon\BiosQuery.wsf /setting:"S5 Wake on LAN"
:
xcopy /d \\%svr%\netlogon\ChangeSetting.wsf c:\util
cscript c:\util\ChangeSetting.wsf /setting:"S5 Wake on LAN" /value:Enable .
:
cscript \\%svr%\netlogon\BiosQuery.wsf

April Fool failure

2008-04-01T11:22:00.002-04:00

The Joke:
put a USB thumb drive in the back of the computer that boots dos & has a virus like message in the autoexec.bat we used "All your base are belong to us"
then send the eicar virus test string
http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm
to the hard drive via \\computername\c$
the AV will catch it and display a message
then call the user on the phone and ask if they received any suspicious email because the Corp AV server is reporting a virus on their computer.
they will associate with the eicar virus warning
tell them to reboot their computer to be safe
when the computer reboots it won't enter windows it will only boot to the dos prompt with the virus like message
Wait for the help desk call and say that everyone in the IS department is busy fighting a virus outbreak.

Result:
we got caught when the USB drive was inserted and autoplay was enabled. Make sure your victim is out of their office and their boot sequence includes USB

Predictions for 2008:

2008-01-03T08:53:00.000-05:00

Predictions for 2008:
-Big winners for 2008:
VmWare, Linux, GPU processing, Intelligent Software Agents, Carbon NanoTubes, Cheap Solar, WindBelts
-Big losers for 2008: DRM, RIAA, Record Lables, Vista,
-Soaring oil prices will inspire wonderful AltFuel autos such as Energine Corp's phev hybid or MDI's pure pneumatic, Ethanol Boosting Systems

Review Predictions for 2007:
-Vista will be lukewarm, carrying DRM baggage and pretty looks, M$ will eventually backport the security advances to XP.
Correct: Vista acceptance is slow; security wise it is a nightmare; no backport of memory randomization unfortunately.
-The music industry will start to notice that DRM annoys legal customers, but has NO effect on illegal consumers who get DRM free music.
Incorrect: the music industry continues to whip the DRM mule despite it's lack of pull.
-various startups will try to sell drm free music from gifted startup bands; and fail.
Incorrect: didn't see a big DRM free, label free music service
-HD market will be soft, with competing standards HDDVD & BlueRay, expensive equipment, and DRM hell; most ppl will stick with DVD.
Correct: ppl are holding their $ until they see a clear winner.
-Apple will make a huge impact on the cell phone market; not by iPhone dominance but by setting the standard to which all others must exceed or expire.
Correct: in fact some phones are mimicking apple's interface
-wind farms = free energy
Correct: countries are competing for the title of largest wind farm (US/Holland)
-Internet TV via Bittorrent will become reality; and broadcast networks will relize transmitting radio waves via a tower is less efficient than broadcasting on the internet.
Correct: see Miro
-the big 3 North American auto producers will loose more ground to non-unionized, nimble, efficient Japanese & Korean car companies. GM may even fall from #1 seller to #3 by eoy.
Correct: GM falls to #2 superceded by Toyota

My Green House Design

2008-01-01T09:25:00.000-05:00

-passive solar design
-siding/roof is temperature sensitive color change; gets dark in the cold and light in the heat.
-south slope of roof has solar water heater (cheap to build)
$-south slope of roof has flexible solar cells [link] 20 units x 20 W = 400W ($600ea)
-north part of roof is flat garden roof with bio-engineered air purifying shrubs [link] and/or hydroponic sweet potatoe farm using harvested rainwater
-convertable roof; flat part of roof has an A frame that can have a fabric pulled over it to keep out sun & insects & create an additional summer room.
-hybrid lighting; uses optical fibers to pipe light from outside to inside.
-laundry room is upstairs with a large opening window to a cloths line outside.
-solar cell windows [link]
-a wind turbine on each corner of property, perhaps 4 of these [link] @ 800W x4 = 3200W
-Net-meter; allows me to get credit for supplying electricity onto the grid
-power windows and fans to minimize the requirement for A/C
-geothermal heat pump and air conditioning system
-outside air drawn into furnace is pre-heated using this method
-wood pellet or corn furnace
-Southern Yellow pine link
-efficient design link

-one of these in the driveway [link] or [link]

My Mobile Device

2007-12-19T19:28:00.001-05:00

Hardware:
ePaper display, multi touch screen
802.11n, 2+mp camera via USB host?
small speaker, headphone jack
mic, fir
std uUSB port, std rechargeable AAA batteries
cell phone via internal card
GPS via CF, solar cell on battery cover (replaceable)
Bluetooth via uSD, FM transmitter via uSD
WiMax via CF, DMB tv via CF card

MicroSD x2, CF

OS:
linux

Software
cell phone, pda
mp3 player, VOIP phone
web browser, GPS

linux

2007-10-26T18:13:00.001-04:00

jess says: UNCLE STEVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jess says: i installed linux overtop of windows and now windows is gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my baby is destroyed!

Steves game

2007-10-20T19:49:00.001-04:00

World of Warcrap
3rd person
character builder
free; paid for by in world ads
each level/town/hex is hosted separately
-there are no dedicated servers; instead the servers are virtually hosted by a GRID computing community; only the servers with the highest uptime+bandwidth+lowest latency get to host
in return the hosting servers are paid via paypal
-level editors allow users to create levels; new levels are chosen weekly and the creators rewarded by some in game unique items
-a scripting language allows users to create automated merchants to buy/sell wares/buffs make automated responses for quests etc
-spells/tech are not finite; only common spells are sold by npc's uncommon & rare are dropped by mobs, batch spells can be created by mid level chars, high level chars can suggest spells and get unique item if their spell is chosen.
-could be a spell creator quest; gets player to a screen where they choose a level, element, spell name, damage is based on mana expenditure and level of creator.
-weapons/armor are upgradeable, strike/damage/defense but also add flaming, frost, vibro, nega, psi, vampiric etc
-most mobs are resistant/susceptable to some element (ala Pokethings)
-some items have rounds
-bows have quivers, 20 rounds each, refill with every kill

Why Parents should beat their kids

2007-10-19T14:20:00.000-04:00

Mouthy kids turn into mouthy adults:
Kid; I'll tell children's aid
Adult; I'll sue you
nobody likes this person.

This argument only works when the assailant is known, as soon as this is tried on an unknown person this kid is gonna get his a$ kicked or worse get killed. You're not doing your child any favors setting him up for this.

Not the first time:
You had an older brother; until he talked to me like that.

Self fulfilling Prophesy:
telling children's aid is not only going to get the Parent in some trouble but will also get the child sent to a foster home. Then the same attitude that got him there is gonna get his a$ kicked by someone who has no concern over his wellbeing.

Survival of the fittest:
If this kid goes to highschool with this attitude, since all kids are protected equally, he's gonna get his a$ kicked.

3rd party:
Son, you were really mouthy to me yesterday so I hired Billy here to take a round out of you. You won't be able to sue him because he's a minor, and our deal is all cash so there's no paper trail.

Lesser of 2 evils:
Son, you have expressed your displeasure with your mother and I so I have taken the liberty of finding you a new place to live. This is Drill Sargent Hardnose, he'll be looking after you for a while.

The source of this rant is of course the Russel Peters standup comedy

IE ActiveX whitelist resources

2007-10-05T11:24:00.000-04:00

Micro$oft ActiveX control Pad:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms968493.aspx

Regmon:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/regmon.mspx

Birthday Wishlist

2007-10-04T23:56:00.000-04:00

Black Suit
Watch
Mtg Lowryn boosters
pair of tires

Convert a SMC WSKP100 to use SIP - Flasher

2007-08-08T09:53:00.000-04:00

http://spritesmods.com/?art=wskpsip&page=3

Recently, SMC was in the news because of a GPL violation on one of their products, the WSKP100. As I read the news, I became interested in this device: according to the article it ran Linux, and a quick look revealed the device was only E80,-. That's not much for a neat little toy with a 200MHz ARM9-processor, LCD, WIFI and audio in/out, so I bought one.

As soon as I got home, I turned on the phone (I'd hate to have a DOA on my hands and only notice it after I'd already voided the warrantee) and as soon as I made sure it was in an OK condition, I screwed it open. It takes 4 torx-screws to do that, and 2 more to separate the main PCB from the rest. I already read there was some kind of serial port to be found on a connector on the main PCB, and after removing a sticker, I found it. Once I had connected it to my PC, I found out it really did run Linux, and even better: you get dropped in a rootshell after the phone has finished booting.

After playing around a bit, I decided to get a bit more serious. I do run a private Asterisk-server, so I decided it would be a good idea to convert the phone to speak the SIP-protocol.

...

wii key

2007-08-08T09:51:00.001-04:00

how-to-bring-down-internet-explorer-with-six-words

2007-08-08T09:07:00.000-04:00

http://commandline.org.uk/2007/how-to-bring-down-internet-explorer-with-six-words/

self-contained taser missile that's fired from a shotgun

2007-07-11T08:43:00.000-04:00

Robot shoots wireless taser missiles

By Mark Frauenfelder on Video

Mark Frauenfelder: Taser, Inc. has announced a self-contained taser missile that's fired from a shotgun. PopMech has a video, which shows the creepy little thing being fired by a robot.

Continuing to strike fear into the hearts of, well, everyone, Taser has released an electrified round that works with any 12-gauge shotgun. The Wireless eXtended Range Electronic Projectile, or XREP, is a fin-stabilized, self-contained round with no wires leading back to the gun and a maximum range of 100 ft.

Link

posted here as i predicted this about 2 years ago...

Works on other Philips SDVD844 too

2007-06-14T17:58:00.000-04:00

Bought a Gateway MX6442 Notebook
Philips DVD+/-RW drive, model SDVD8441 working like crap
mine listed as firmware PA48
ran this firmware update to PA49 even tho the update is for a different model of Gateway laptop
works good now.

Oh, that's how she got that job

2007-06-07T09:48:00.000-04:00

My IS director called me into her office because she was getting messages on her Blackberry but they were'nt appearing in her Outlook email
Gus heard so he comes running and starts directing Joe to check the mail server, blackberry server etc.
I see a network cord sitting on her desk and ask her where her new phone is
She says she gave it to her husband, the CEO
I inform her that her PC is hooked up THROUGH her phone and when she disconnected the phone she also disconnected her PC, that's why she isn't getting any messages in Outlook
Conclustion: my IS director doesn't know how to tell when her computer is unplugged
Nathaniel, my 6 year old son, knows how to tell....

Free Virus Scanners

2007-03-31T23:17:00.000-04:00

Wife's computer acting funny
looked at startup programs with autoruns, see some suspicious items with no descriptions, try to rename them and can't, good indication of virus/spyware
Scanned with AVG, found 1 trojan, updated sigs, found another (only partial scan here)
Scanned with Portable Apps ClamAv found 4 viruses, but it doesn't default to delete/quaranteen anything, weird (scan of c:\windows\system32)
Scanned with AntiVir found & deleted 37 viruses! (full scan)

OK switching to AntiVir.....

Microsoft allows bypass of Vista activation

2007-03-30T08:52:00.000-04:00

TOP STORY

Microsoft allows bypass of Vista activation

By Brian Livingston

Microsoft always says it opposes "software pirates" who sell thousands of unauthorized copies of Windows.

But the Redmond company has made things a lot easier for pirates by adding a line to the Registry that can be changed from 0 to 1 to postpone the need to "activate" Vista indefinitely.

Activation doesn't stop true software piracy

As most Windows users know, Microsoft has required "product activation" since the release of Windows XP in 2001. XP must be activated by communicating with servers in Redmond within 30 days of installation. By contrast, Microsoft Office XP, 2003, and 2007 require activatation before the package is used 5 to 50 times, depending on the version, according to a company FAQ. If a PC has no Internet connection, a user may activate a product by dialing a telephone number in various countries.

The activation process will complete successfully only if the software has not been previously activated, such as on a different machine. If activation isn't completed within the trial period, Microsoft products temporarily shut down some of their features. MS Office loses the ability to edit and save files. After Vista's activation deadline runs out, the user can do little other than use Internet Explorer to activate the operating system or buy a new license.

Microsoft describes its product activation scheme as a way to foil software pirates. However, as I previously described in an InfoWorld Magazine article on Oct. 22, 2001, activation does nothing to stop mass piracy. The Redmond company actually included in Windows XP a small file, Wpa.dbl, that makes it easy for pirates to create thousands of machines that validate perfectly.

Far from stopping software piracy, product activation has primarily been designed to prevent home users from installing one copy of Windows on a home machine and a personal-use copy on a laptop. As I explained in an article on Mar. 8, buying a copyrighted work and making another copy strictly for personal use is specifically permitted to consumers by the U.S. Copyright Act and the copyright laws of many other countries.

For example, courts have repeatedly ruled that consumers can make copies of copyrighted songs or television programs for personal use (not for distribution or resale). This principle is legally known as "fair use." The home edition of Microsoft Office 2007 reflects this principle, allowing consumers to activate three copies of a single purchased product. Microsoft Windows XP and Vista, however, allow only one activation.

Surprisingly, Microsoft has embedded into its new Vista operating system a feature that makes things easier than ever for true, mass software pirates. These tricksters will be able to produce thousands of Windows PCs machines that won't demand activation indefinitely — at least for a year or more.

Leaving the activation barn door open

I reported in a Feb. 1 article that the upgrade version of Windows Vista allows itself to be clean-installed to a new hard drive. The new Microsoft operating system completely omits any checking for a qualifying previous version of Windows. This allows the upgrade version of Vista to successfully upgrade over a nonactivated, trial version of itself.

After my article appeared, ZDnet blogger Ed Bott summarized the secret in a post on Feb. 15. He flatly states, "You satisfied every condition of the license agreement and aren't skating by on a technicality. The fact that you have to use a kludgey workaround to use the license you've purchased and are legally entitled to is Microsoft's fault."

In my own piece, I had speculated that clean-installing the upgrade version of Vista "probably violates the Vista EULA (End User License Agreement)." But more and more computer experts are saying that the procedure is fully compliant with the EULA and, in any event, is perfectly legal.

I wrote a follow-up story on Feb. 15. I reported that Microsoft includes in Vista a one-line command that even novices can use to postpone the product's activation deadline three times. This can extend the deadline from its original 30 days to as much as 120 days — almost four months.

PCWorld.com posted a report on my story on Feb. 17. The magazine quotes a Microsoft spokeswoman as saying that extending Vista's activation deadline as I described it "is not a violation of the Vista End User License Agreement." I'm glad that's clear.

The feature that I've revealing today shows that Microsoft has built into Vista a function that allows anyone to extend the operating system's activation deadline not just three times, but many times. The same one-line command that postpones Vista's activation deadline to 120 days can be used an indefinite number of times by first changing a Registry key from 0 to 1.

This isn't a hacker exploit. It doesn't require any tools or utilities whatsoever. Microsoft even documented the Registry key, although obtusely, on its Technet site.

But dishonest PC sellers could use the procedure to install thousands of copies of Vista and sell them to unsuspecting consumers or businesses as legitimately activated copies. This would certainly violate the Vista EULA, but consumers might not realize this until the PCs they bought started demanding activation — and failing — months or years later.

The following describes the Registry key that's involved.

Step 1. While running a copy of Windows Vista that hasn't yet been activated, click the Start button, type regedit into the Search box, then press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.

Step 2. Explore down to the following Registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ SL

Step 3. Right-click the Registry key named SkipRearm and click Edit. The default is a Dword (a double word or 4 bytes) with a hex value of 00000000. Change this value to any positive integer, such as 00000001, save the change, and close the Registry Editor.

Step 4. Start a command prompt with administrative rights. The fastest way to do this is to click the Start button, enter cmd in the Search box, then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter. If you're asked for a network username and password, provide the ones that log you into your domain. You may be asked to approve a User Account Control prompt and to provide an administrator password.

Step 5. Type one of the following two commands and press Enter:

slmgr -rearm
or
rundll32 slc.dll,SLReArmWindows

Either command uses Vista's built-in Software Licensing Manager (SLMGR) to push the activation deadline out to 30 days after the command is run. Changing SkipRearm from 0 to 1 allows SLMGR to do this an indefinite number of times. Running either command initializes the value of SkipRearm back to 0.

Step 6. Reboot the PC to make the postponement take effect. (After you log in, if you like, you can open a command prompt and run the command slmgr -xpr to see Vista's new expiration date and time. I explained the slmgr command and its parameters in my Feb. 15 article.)

Step 7. To extend the activation deadline of Vista indefinitely, repeat steps 1 through 6 as necessary.

Any crooked PC seller with even the slightest technical skill could easily install a command file that would carry out steps 1 through 6 automatically. The program could run slmgr -rearm three times, 30 days apart, to postpone Vista's activation deadline to 120 days. It could then run skip -rearm every 30 days, for a period of months if not years, by first resetting the SkipRearm key.

The program could be scheduled to check Vista's activation deadline during every reboot, and to remind the user to reboot once a month if a deadline was nearing. The buyer of such a PC would never even see an activation reminder, much less be required to go through the activation process.

If you happen to buy a Vista PC from a little-known seller, and the price was too good to be true, use Vista's search function to look for the string SkipRearm in files. You may discover that your "bargain" computer will mysteriously start demanding activation in a year or two — but your product key won't be valid.

I asked Microsoft why SkipRearm is included in Vista if it can be used to create machines that appear not to need activation for long periods. A Microsoft spokewoman replied, "I connected with my colleagues and learned, unfortunately, we do not have information to share at this time." (I can't identify the speaker because the policy of Waggener Edstrom, Microsoft's public-relations firm, prohibits the naming of p.r. spokespersons.)

In my testing of Microsoft's back-door loophole, I've found that the technique can be used to postpone the activation deadline one year or longer. It may or may not, however, work forever, as I describe below.

Why does SkipRearm even exist in Vista?

The Vista development teaam apparently inserted the SkipRearm loophole to help major corporations work around Microsoft's new Volume Licensing Agreement. This new program, which the Redmond company calls "Volume Licensing 2.0," requires buyers to set up a Key Management Service (KMS) host, as described by a Microsoft FAQ. Companies must choose from two types of digital keys and three different methods of activation to validate thousands of individual Vista machines within the corporate LAN.

Activation of Windows XP, by comparison, requires merely that volume purchasers use a single product key. Corporate buyers obtain a unique key when signing a Volume Licensing Agreement. Microsoft has said, however, that most Windows XP piracy involves stolen product keys that are used by others to activate unauthorized machines.

The new KMS requirement is intended to discourage such piracy, but it places a heavy burden on corporate IT administrators. For example, Microsoft provides a tool called System Preparation (sysprep.exe) to prepare Vista machines for use. If a system can't be completely prepped within 30 days after installation, an admin can run the command sysprep /generalize to postpone the activation deadline another 30 days. However, like the slmgr -rearm command, sysprep /generalize will only succeed three times.

To work around this, as a Technet document states, "Microsoft recommends that you use the SkipRearm setting if you plan on running Sysprep multiple times on a computer." This is echoed by Microsoft Knowledge Base article 929828.

Contributing editor Susan Bradley points out, "The good guys have to go through this stupid implementation of a KMS deployment because of bad guys abusing the system." She strongly feels that users should comply with Microsoft's EULA provisions. "The operating system license has always been a one-machine install. ... Many of us forget the multiple-install rule [for Microsoft Office] since we are so used to the one license, one install rule," she adds.

In its TechNet documents, Microsoft recommends the repeated use of SkipRearm. How many times is "multiple times"? My testing revealed that the answer is, well, indefinite.

• On a copy of Vista Ultimate that Microsoft released in New York City on Jan. 29, I found that changing SkipRearm from 0 to 1 allowed the command slmgr -rearm to postpone Vista's activation deadline eight separate times. After that, changing the 0 to 1 had no effect, preventing slmgr -rearm from moving the deadline. The use of slmgr -rearm 3 times, plus using SkipRearm 8 times would eliminate Vista's activation nag screens for about one year (12 periods of 30 days).

• On a copy of the upgrade version of Vista Home Premium that I bought in a retail store on Jan. 30, slmgr -rearm also worked 3 times and SkipRearm worked 8 times before losing their effect. This combination would, as with Vista Ultimate, permit a one-year use of Vista without nag screens appearing.

• On a copy of the full version of Vista Home Premium that I bought in a retail store on Mar. 14, SkipRearm had no effect on extending the use of slmgr -rearm at all. This suggests that Microsoft has slipstreamed a new version into stores, eliminating the SkipRearm feature in Vista Home. That could mean that changing the key from 0 to 1 will now work only in the business editions of Vista — Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate — so corporations can use the loophole.

Where is the usage count of slmgr -rearm stored? Where is the usage count of SkipRearm stored? These bytes won't be hard for expert users to find. The use restrictions may be easily lifted. If so, this would allow crooked PC sellers to truly create machines that would never need activation, ever.

The financial impact of SkipRearm on Microsoft

I'd like to repeat here that I'm not advocating that anyone use the above technique to violate Microsoft's EULA or avoid paying for Vista. Any company that used SkipRearm to install Vista on multiple machines for as long as possible would have little defense against a surprise inspection by the Business Software Alliance. This coalition of software makers, which includes Microsoft, investigates reports of unlicensed software and obtains warrants to conduct audits.

As a journalist, my job is to report the facts. SkipRearm was specifically built into Vista to be used. Microsoft executives made Vista's activation overly complex and cumbersome. So the development team apparently invented a Registry key to lift the burden of Vista's activation deadline, for at least a year and probably more.

The technique is so powerful and basic, however, that hackers around the world may soon use the feature to install millions of extra copies of Vista without buying them. This could have a major impact on Microsoft's revenues. The company's employees and shareholders might want to be aware of this.

Product activation does little or nothing to stop mass software piracy. It's become so convoluted, the way Microsoft has implemented it, that it's more of an irritation to legitimate users than a worthwhile antipiracy measure. In my opinion, Microsoft should concentrate on legal action against true pirates instead of inventing more ways to drive honorable users bonkers.

I invite my readers to send me information about SkipRearm using the Windows Secrets contact page. I'd like to thank my program director, Brent Scheffler, for tirelessly testing SkipRearm dozens of times, and reader Reine T. for being the first to point out the use of SkipRearm to me. He'll receive a gift certificate for a book, CD, or DVD of his choice for sending me a tip that I used.

Brian Livingston is editorial director of the Windows Secrets Newsletter and the co-author of Windows Vista Secrets and 10 other books.

Copy DVD's on the free

2007-03-29T20:27:00.000-04:00

Note: You may need as much as 15GB of free disk space for this operation

Step 1: decrypt the dvd
DVDFab Decryptor is free and decrypts CSS (very common) DVDFab Platinum trial does not

Step 2: Compress to 4.7 GB
DVD Shrink is the easyest thing to use

Step 3: Burn to DVD
I use Nero but it;s not free
CopyToDVD is free but i haven't tested it yet.

SysLog & SnmpTrap on the cheap & easy

2007-03-26T15:31:00.000-04:00

SysLog is an enterprise class service for tracking problems

download this syslog server for windoze Kiwi
install it as a service; this means that it is alway running even if nobody is logged into windows
-start it up and choose Manage, Install the syslogd Deamon
-Start, Run, net start "Kiwi Syslog Daemon" (Enter)

To View the log from anywhere using only a web browser:
If you don't have IIS installed, install it
From Kiwi; File, setup
-Click "Log to file" in left pane
-In the right hand pane under Path & file name; choose a name that's in your published directory eg. c:\inetpub\syslog.txt (don't end it in .htm or it'll format wrong)
Right click My Computer, Manage, Services and Applications, Internet In Se, Web Site, Default Web Site,
IF you made a directory to put your log files in; Right click on Default Web Site, choose New Virtual Directory; Under local path choose your directory
Choose the documents header; add, type the name of your log file and move it to the top of the list.

Test it:
in a browser type the name or ipaddress of your log server
- if you put your files in a directory you will have to add the directory name to the end

DRM causes 75 percent of tech support calls

2007-03-19T09:11:00.000-04:00

More proof of the RIAA shooting itself in the foot.
Who's gonna start the petition for DRM reform?

Yay, I'm published

2007-03-12T21:37:00.001-04:00

How2 fix: spam

2007-02-18T22:24:00.000-05:00

-ISP can filter tcp p25 outbound; means customers can't send email from Outlook Express/Thunderbird only from web based email like gmail, yahoo, msn etc. Only business accounts can use port25.
-ISP's and companies can stop accepting mail from servers with no spf record;
-netziens can start charging $.01 per email received. It only costs a penny to email your friend but spam companies that send out hundreds of millions of emails daily will incur a huge expense. There is a micropayment hurdle here.
-Make spam illegal and alloe bounties.

How2 fix: Phone Soliditors

2007-02-18T22:12:00.000-05:00

-get a Telezapper
-don't buy anything from a phone solicitor; 0 sales + solicitor wages = no tele sales company
-ask them for their home phone # so you can call them back at a convenient time
-try an sell them something / convert them to your religion / political party
-answer as a business & inform them that a charge will appear on their phone bill

Problems with personal routers + p2p / Torrents

2007-02-12T09:27:00.000-05:00

bit torrent opens too many connections for a cheap router to handle. The link explains how to limit the connections to keep the router stable. [Link]

Web 2.0 click here

2007-02-07T19:48:00.000-05:00

It feels redundant posting this to my blog... you'll understand after you watch the video.

Favorite Free Software:

2007-02-01T18:08:00.000-05:00

Portable Apps Suite std - portable apps don't need to be installed, they can run from a memory stick, the suite includes ClamWin Portable (antivirus),
Mozilla Firefox - Portable Edition (web browser),
Gaim Portable (instant messaging),
OpenOffice.org Portable (office suite),
Sudoku Portable (puzzle game),
Mozilla Sunbird - Portable Edition (calendar/task manager) and
Mozilla Thunderbird - Portable Edition (email client) and runs comfortably from a 512MB drive.
Internet Explorer 7 upgrade now but use Mozilla, some apps will open pages in IE
AVG anti-virus 7.5 -Free and since they mostly use the same .dat files...
AVG anti-spyware 7.5 -
MSN messenger 7 --more features than other messengers, not into MSN Live
M$Antispyware Beta - free but I'm liking AVG better
OpenOffice - Micro$oft Office replacement; WordProcessor, SpreadSheet etc.
Mozilla Firefox -- so far stopped 90% of pop-ups, spyware, Java Trojans....

for advanced users only:
Konfabulator - puts Widgets on your desktop, small downloadable apps
GIMP Portable - Photo and Image Editor
FileZilla Portable - the full-featured FTP client, supports resume failed downloads
VLC Media Player Portable - An easy to use media player that plays most audio and video formats
7-Zip Portable - File archiver and compressor
noip - find your home pc when you are away
OpenSSH - Secure shell & SFTP remote access
Tight VNC - remote control your home pc when you are away
ShortKeys lite - text replacement macros
Knoppix -Linix "live"=boots from a CD
Sharaza- use this to dl songs but NOT SOFTWARE! (virus carriers) & not movies (too big, just rent them)
Autoruns - see what gets run at startup
RootKitRevealer - some viruses install root kits
Sysinternals - Other good utils
grc.com - home of spin rite and shields-up
cmdtools - lots of cmd line utilities

How2 fix: Browser Hijack, Spyware, Malware

2007-02-01T08:48:00.000-05:00

Definitions:
Browser Hijack: when you can't change your browser start page or control where you surf
Spyware: software that logs where you surf
Malware: any software that does something malicious; like report email address to a spammer

Trash any Norton/Symantec Antivirus/Firewall products (really!)

The Tools:
Recomended O/S; Windows XP sp2 with firewall enabled
Turn off windows file protection (WinXp): SFC /CACHESIZE=0, SFC /PURGECACHE, reboot (WFP can re-install viruses you remove)
Turn off system restore (WinXp): Right click My Computer, properties, system restore tab, uncheck (*Optional*)
windowsupdate.microsoft.com follow the prompts, lather rinse repeat, make sure you update to Internet Explorer 7

AVG antivirus free edition - as good as any commercial product
FreeScan is an online scanning tool; no installation required
AVG Antispyware - a free spyware tool that stays in the system tray (also M$AntiSpyare, Adaware, Spybot)
Autoruns - find programs that start at boot (just uncheck everything you dont recognize it can be re-enabled later)

Stubborn Infections may require these:
RootkitRevealer - a root kit is a special type of malware that embeds itself in the o/s
Hijack This - is your last resort, it is a powerful removal tool HowTo here
Stuff recommended by others: SwatIt, CWShreader, Macecraft Reg Cleaner
system file check&restore; sfc /scannow (put the WinXp Cd in the drive)
reinstall winsock KB817571
resetting the TCP/IP stack KB299357

After things are working right:
SFC /CACHESIZE=50
Turn system restore back on if you want your pc to run extra slow

To prevent reoccurrance:
follow this standard build

Disclaimer: This is a recipie not only to clean a system but also to build a system that has proven to me to be cost effective and resistant to most malware without being intrusive. I take no respnsiblity for actions incured by this article.

Recipie for IT Success

2007-01-11T22:27:00.000-05:00

Visible Ops:
-Change management
-Standard Builds
-Metrics
-Reporting and improvement

Availability:
-the more important a system is, the more redundancy it must have

Recoverability:
-backups, test restores, DR simulations

Security:
NST
-Scheduled security scans
-monitor traffic at all egress points (IDS)
-monitor/alert which systems up/down
-virus scanners on all workstations and servers
-malware scanners on all workstations
-filter port 443 outgoing
-open no ports from internet to internal
-remote access citrix or VPN
-separate VLANS for workstations and servers
-encrypt all laptop hard drives, bios passwords
-datacentre physical security
-enforce complex passwords

Predictions

2007-01-01T22:05:00.000-05:00

Review Predictions for 2006:
-The music industry will continue to cut it's own throat by treating customers like the enemy. Artists will eventually circumvent them and embrace the internet individually.
Inconclusive; no mass exedos
-DRM will continue to piss us all off
affirmative
-2006 will be the year empires will begin to crumble; telephone, record labels, even internet wires companies will look to refocus their companies or for someone to sue for their loses
Correct; VOIP companies are steadily stealing customers from traditional analogue
-consumers will discover that VOIP is cheap & POTS is not
Yes and no; VOIP companies have kept startup prices artificially high, VOIP is only a deal if you do a lot of long distance calling.
-the tiny voice of the FCC will try and regulate the vastness of the internet. The internet will laugh and think the FCC is amusing.
I can't prove this
-potential internet content providers such as movies, television, music will be so afraid of 20% losses due to piracy that they will totally over look the +200% profits due to volume.
-Internet Access providers that don't play nicely will find out that WiMax will leech all their customers.
Incorrect; WiMax adoption is slow due to conflicting standards
-a major encryption algorithm will be rendered useless; possibly MD5
Correct; MD5 broken link
-global regulators will think that the great firewall of china is a good idea
-citywide wireless networks will become normal
Correct; more cities announcing plans to build wireless networks
-Sony PSP will become a versatile communication device... despite Sony's $ leeching efforts
inconclusive; camera released but no voip client

Predictions for 2007:
-Vista will be lukewarm, carrying DRM baggage and pretty looks, M$ will eventually backport the security advances to XP.
-The music industry will start to notice that DRM annoys legal customers, but has NO effect on illegal consumers who get DRM free music.
-various startups will try to sell drm free music from gifted startup bands; and fail.
-HD market will be soft, with competing standards HDDVD & BlueRay, expensive equipment, and DRM hell; most ppl will stick with DVD.
-Apple will make a huge impact on the cell phone market; not by iPhone dominance but by setting the standard to which all others must exceed or expire.
-wind farms = free energy
-Internet TV via Bittorrent will become reality; and broadcast networks will relize transmitting radio waves via a tower is less efficient than broadcasting on the internet.
-the big 3 North American auto producers will loose more ground to non-unionized, nimble, efficent Japanese & Korean car companies. GM may even fall from #1 seller to #3 by eoy.

why gmail?

2006-11-29T09:49:00.000-05:00

hotmail and yahoo webmail leak your sending ipaddress in the headers of the email. I confirmed this myself. I also confirmed that gmail does not leak your sending ipaddress.
what does this mean?
hotmail/yahoo email is not anonymous. If someone really wanted to find you, they could.
if you send a nasty-gram to someone unscrupulous they know where to find you to hack you.

Basic PC Security

2006-11-27T16:13:00.000-05:00

-hardware firewall; also called a router, a wireless one costs almost the same as one without wireless so buy a wireless one and if you arn't going to use the wireless, just unscrew the ariels and remove them. With a router you don't need a software firewall, unless the wireless is turned on.
-OS recommendation; Windows Xp sp2 (or Ubuntu linux - it's free and easy to use)
-AntiVirus recomendation: NOT Symantec/Norton (slow & intrusive), i recommend AVG free
-AntiSpyware; Windows Defender or AVG , both free
-Browser; Firefox or Firefox portable ; with some security add-ins; NoScript, AdBlock+, FlashBlock (all free - do you see a pattern here)
-AdBlocking; NoAdHosts (free as in beer)
-Windows Updates; set to automatic install

No Hardware firewall or Router with wireless:
-Make sure the Windows firewall is on
-Turn off File & Printer sharing if you're not using it. Start, settings, control panel, network connections, right click your network adaptor; usually called "Local Area Connection", properties, uncheck "File and Printer Sharing...", OK

Other Apps:
portableapps suite standard (not lite)
Foxit pdf reader

Behavior Modification (thanks to Leo LaPorte & the Twit network)
-Don't open email attachments
-Don't click links in email
-Don't download files from unknown places eg crack sites, wares sites, bittorrent
-Update regularly; put it on your calendar
-Firewall or a hardware router is best

How to find drivers for unknown hardware

2006-11-16T22:05:00.000-05:00

1. start up device manager: Right click on My Computer and click manage, click Device Manager OR run devmgmt.msc
2. Look for hardware with yellow exclamation points beside them, right click on hardware, click properties. Click the Details tab, pull down the property & select Hardware Ids. The top most string is called the PNP ID, right click and copy it to the clipboard. (ie PCI\VEN_104C&DEV_8033&SUBSYS_0300107B&REV_00)
3. Surf to http://www.pcidatabase.com/ in the device search box put the 4 digit hex code that appears after DEV_ in our example 8033, hit search and it will return a list of possibilities. Look in the Vendor Id column for the 4 digit hex code that appears after VEN_ in our example 104C appears at the very top as the vendor Texas Instruments and the description is an Integraded FlashMedia Controller
(my SD card slot)

Knoppix Webcam

2006-09-13T00:15:00.000-04:00

I was cleaning out the garage today and I found an old webcam. It was an old IBM model 1 cam (a piece of crap) and I wanted to put it to work. Using just the tools on knoppix, I was able to hook it up to the net and watch any thing remotely. You can set this up in under 10 minuts. Basicly what it does it takes a photo with the web cam every few seconds (you can adjust it how ever you like) and posts them on a webpage that is sent out using Apachie.

see the title link for the rest of how-to
thx Computer_Kid

Slowest Software

2006-09-11T17:31:00.000-04:00

Primus Canadian Voip choise

2006-08-15T23:20:00.000-04:00

So what's the best deal in Canada for VOIP? Probably Primus' TalkBroadBand plan at $29.95 a month given it's feature-rich and you can purchase other services from Primus such as high-speed Internet access. A step up in the mobile VOIP market is Vonage at $34.99 to $39.99 a month.

http://evans.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2005/7/5/997503.html

Piles (aka Hack's Ass) Magic rules

2006-08-14T11:17:00.000-04:00

Piles is played with a single spell library and graveyard a separate land library among all the players.
Players start the game being delt 7 card from the common library
Players look at their cards and choose 2 lands from the land library to start play with.
play procedes according to normal multiplayer magic rules. No range of effect rules.
Optional each player contributes 1 card to the common library at the beginning of each game.
Card rules:
no cards that search the library; this takes too long, cards that search the land pile are fine. Cards that deal with the top X cards of the library are fine.
no cards that say you win.
target players' graveyard = common graveyard

Projects:

2006-07-22T11:10:00.000-04:00

MsnTv2; kernal patch for framebuffer video, full install
MythTv; need tuner, large HDD
Hp m407 LCD broken, need to source an LCD 1.8", Toppoly part# tc018theb1 - no US source.
SecurityCam;
Kitchen Floor;
Deck;
Pave Drive;