The Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013 is coming soon to a Senate near you, and there are several things in it worth paying attention to.
There are several things to like about the Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 17, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/05/there-are-several-things-to-like-about-the-television-consumer-freedom-act-of-2013/
Blame IT.
Earlier this month, Cringely blamed Best Buy’s IT for the company’s woes. His observations make sense. I can only add two things.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 16, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/05/blame-it/
“It’s your happy place.”
Someone told me today that she didn’t quite get the appeal of model railroading, that it must be a male thing. And that’s fair: Model railroads were first invented by a dollhouse maker so they would have something to market to boys. That company still markets trains, but no longer markets dollhouses, so I guess you could say it was successful.
Here’s how I summed up the appeal.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 15, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/05/its-your-happy-place/
Antivirus progress
When Microsoft Security Essentials first came out, it was an improvement in antivirus performance. Now, it’s middle of the pack, according to PC Magazine. That’s great. Vendors are finally taking performance seriously.
What that means is that by replacing MSE with F-Secure Anti-Virus 2013, Kaspersky Anti-Virus (2013), Sophos Anti-Virus 10.2, ESET NOD32 Antivirus 6, Norton Antivirus (2013), Avast Free Antivirus 8, or Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2013, you can speed up your computer. Considering Norton Antivirus was once bottom-of-the-barrel in the performance arena, I see this as a good thing.
Of the bunch, Avast is the only freebie. Though if your ISP offers one of the others as part of your subscription, or you don’t mind paying for antivirus, the others are an option. But maybe, just maybe, if I replace Microsoft Security Essentials with Avast, Peggy will quit calling me at dinnertime and telling me my computer is slow. But I doubt it. Read the full post »
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 14, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/05/antivirus-progress/
The explanation about Windows vs. Linux kernel performance makes sense
An anonymous Microsoft developer spilled some juicy opinions about why Windows kernel performance isn’t all it could be. Although he has recanted much of what he said, some of his insights make a ton of sense.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 13, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/05/the-explanation-about-windows-vs-linux-kernel-performance-makes-sense/
Notes on the Compaq Presario SR2011WM
I’ve been working on a Presario SR2011WM. It’s a basic, low-end, single-core Celeron D system from 2006 or so. It can take up to 2 GB of RAM, runs Windows XP adequately, and has SATA ports, so you can put an SSD in it if you want. But don’t be fooled by the name–the Celeron in this machine is single core, and has a Prescott-era Pentium 4 core in it at that, not a low-TDP, Pentium D-style core.
In case you’re wondering, the easiest way to get it to boot from USB is to plug in a USB drive, hit ESC as the system runs POST, then select your USB drive from the menu.
Now let’s talk about options for upgrades. Read the full post »
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 12, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/05/notes-on-the-compaq-presario-sr2011wm/
Two simple ways to increase your credit score
I have a friend who makes more money than me, has no debt except for a small mortgage, and his credit score is 150 points lower than mine.
The key difference between us is that he puts a couple thousand into a checking account at the first of every month and pays for everything with a debit card. I do the same thing, but use a credit card, and pay the credit card off at the end of the month.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 11, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/05/two-simple-ways-to-increase-your-credit-score/
The NSA’s guide to finding things on the Internet is available now
A wonderful NSA document called Untangling the Web, thanks to a FOIA request, is now available and free for all to download and use. Although dated, the book will prove highly useful. If you company or client is exposing data that it shouldn’t to the public Internet, this book will help you find it, so you can correct it.
The copy isn’t perfect. It’s a bit dated, and it’s a straight scan to PDF, so it isn’t searchable, and it’s not the clearest, cleanest copy. I’m cleaning up a copy for my own use right now. I expect to use it, and often. It isn’t a document I’ve been privileged to see before, so I’m excited to have a chance now to study it and learn its techniques. Read the full post »
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 10, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/05/the-nsas-guide-to-finding-things-on-the-internet-is-available-now/
“Computer Maintenance Department” called me again from India
So, “Peggy” from “Computer Maintenance Department” called me again last night. This time I decided to mess with him a bit more. This is the second time.
(No, “Peggy” wasn’t his real name, nor did he identify himself as “Peggy,” but that’s the name I’ll use, thanks to that old Discover commercial.)
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 9, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/05/computer-maintenance-department-called-me-again-from-india/
It’s time to strike down the red-light cameras
I saw some abuses of the red-light cameras on the news at noon. In one case, the car next to the one that ran the light got the ticket. In another, the owner wasn’t driving the car. The reporter asked the mayor of Florissant, Thomas Schneider, if that was fair.
“It’s safe,” he said. And he said the same thing to every other question the reporter asked.
That’s debatable. But guess what? Josef Stalin’s regime was very safe. Do what Stalin said, and you were safe. That doesn’t make Stalin fair, right, or ethical. It doesn’t make Schneider fair, right, or ethical either.
It’s not safe, either.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 8, 2013
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2013/05/its-time-to-strike-down-the-red-light-cameras/