My youngest son wanted to cook the vegetables, without my assistance. But, he didn't quite know how to go about it. I gave some advice: - get the vegetable steamer, add a couple of inches of water. Put it on the stove with 'medium' heat, and put the broccoli in the steamer. Set the timer for about ten minutes and check to see whether they're done.
Ten minutes later...
Son: Dad, they're not cooked.
Dad: Ok, add another five minutes. Reset the timer.
Dad thinking: Maybe he added too much water, or had the heat too low
Five minutes later:
Son: Dad, they're STILL not cooked.
Dad: Hmm. I can smell them, maybe they are cooked?
Son: I don't think so.
Dad: Ok, tell you what get a fork. Stick it in 'em and if it doesn't stick then they *are* cooked.
Son: Well, ok.
1 minute later:
Son: Dad, they're NOT cooked.
Dad: Hmm. This is strange, I can smell them, and usually when you can smell them, they're done. Let's see.
Dad gets off his dairy air and saunters into the kitchen.
Dad: Well, there's your problem! You're supposed to put the lid on the vegetable steamer :-)
Son: Oh..
Live an learn. An example of assumptions. I *assumed* my son, having seen me prepare vegetables countless times would know to put the lid on....
Friday, January 27, 2006
Sunday, January 15, 2006
TOS and UUE.
Having started to get a bit more serious about this Blog, I thought I'd review the Terms of Service.
For the most part it looks like the usual. Do no harm, you can quit, we can quit, and come on you're getting this for free so what do you expect?
This passage caught my funny bone:
Hmm. That terminology would limit one absurd use of blogs storing uuencoded data.... If you've been reading my blog you may have noticed I'm concerned about long-term archiving. - My VCR recordings from 10 years ago are fading, so I'm less than impressed with tape backup.
It occurs to me that a number of readers might not know what uuencodeing is.
Per google 'define:uuencode':
hello world
Simple file right?
1. uuencode the file 'hi.txt'
From a command prompt run the uuencode program:
2. Transmit file. Already done! It's here!
3. uudecode the file.
From a command prompt run the uudecode program:
Like I said, it's an absurd example. But before the internet was ubiquitous, and mail programs were in their infancy, people used uuencoding for file attachments. People still do so, though improvements in email clients have made the process transparent to the end-user. Attachments are still encoded, though mime format has supplanted uue.
Free uuencode and uudecode programs can be found at Simtel
A test for the reader if they care - UUDECODE the following:
begin 600 oldjoke.txt
M43H@2&]W(&UA;GD@<')O9W)A;6UE<G,@9&]E<R!I="!T86ME('1O('-C<F5W
M(&EN(&$@;&EG:'1B=6QB/PT*03H@3F]N92X@(%1H870G<R!A(&AA<F1W87)E
+('!R;V)L96TN#0H@
`
end
For the most part it looks like the usual. Do no harm, you can quit, we can quit, and come on you're getting this for free so what do you expect?
This passage caught my funny bone:
"..11. STORAGE AND OTHER LIMITATIONS Pyra assumes no responsibility for the deletion or failure to store information entered into Blogger. Pyra has set no fixed upper limit on the number or posts Member may send or receive through the Service or the amount of storage spaced used; however, Pyra retains the right, at Pyra's sole discretion, to determine whether or not Member's conduct is consistent with the letter and spirit of the BTS and may terminate Service if a Member's conduct is found to be inconsistent with the BTS. .."
Hmm. That terminology would limit one absurd use of blogs storing uuencoded data.... If you've been reading my blog you may have noticed I'm concerned about long-term archiving. - My VCR recordings from 10 years ago are fading, so I'm less than impressed with tape backup.
It occurs to me that a number of readers might not know what uuencodeing is.
Per google 'define:uuencode':
- Many file formats are 8-bit (also called binary) which means that the basic unit of information - a byte - comprises 8 on/off signals. Email, however, is a 7-bit (or text) medium, preventing the transfer of 8-bit data. UUencoding compensates for this restriction by converting 8-bit data to 7-bit data. UUencode accomplishes this by joining all of the file's bits together into a single stream, and then dividing the stream into 7-bit chunks. ...
www.ontrack.com/glossary/- (Unix to Unix Encoding) -- A method for converting files from Binary to ASCII (text) so that they can be sent across the Internet via e-mail. See Also: Binhex , MIME
www.thescratchpost.com/resources/web/web_dict_u.shtml- Many file formats are 8-bit (also called binary) which means that the basic unit of information - a byte - comprises 8 on/off signals. Email, however, is a 7-bit (or text) medium, preventing the transfer of 8-bit data. UUencoding compensates for this restriction by converting 8-bit data to 7-bit data. UUencode accomplishes this by joining all of the file's bits together into a single stream, and then dividing the stream into 7-bit chunks. ...
Perhaps an example would be illustrative. NOTE: This is an absurd example only to illustrate the concept. In practice this process will work with LARGE binary files as well.
Overview Steps:
1. uunecode a file
2. transmit via email or to blog
3. uudecode and get original file back.
Suppose I have a large file I want to transmit, and for some reason file attachments don't work (or didn't exist). The text can be embedded.
Sample file: named 'hi.txt' contents below line:
hello world
Simple file right?
1. uuencode the file 'hi.txt'
From a command prompt run the uuencode program:
> uuencode hi.txt hi_txt.uue
> hitxt.uue created
> type hi_txt.uue
begin 600 hi.txt
-2&5L;&\@5V]R;&0-"@V`
`
end2. Transmit file. Already done! It's here!
3. uudecode the file.
From a command prompt run the uudecode program:
> uudecode hitxt.uueLike I said, it's an absurd example. But before the internet was ubiquitous, and mail programs were in their infancy, people used uuencoding for file attachments. People still do so, though improvements in email clients have made the process transparent to the end-user. Attachments are still encoded, though mime format has supplanted uue.
Free uuencode and uudecode programs can be found at Simtel
A test for the reader if they care - UUDECODE the following:
begin 600 oldjoke.txt
M43H@2&]W(&UA;GD@<')O9W)A;6UE<G,@9&]E<R!I="!T86ME('1O('-C<F5W
M(&EN(&$@;&EG:'1B=6QB/PT*03H@3F]N92X@(%1H870G<R!A(&AA<F1W87)E
+('!R;V)L96TN#0H@
`
end
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Westhaven
Near the end of winter break, I took my boys to the Ranch (Westhaven) and up to play in the snow. After High School I worked at the Ranch, putting in fences, helping in the Walnut orchard (pruning, irrigating, harvesting), helping with the cows, while going to college. While I don't consider myself a cowboy, I guess I've got more credential than many 'city' cowboys I've seen. I remain good friends with the folks at the ranch, and enjoy visiting.
Things change tho'. Jackson now has a 4-plex movie theater, A bowling alley is between Martell and Sutter Creek, and there are stop-lights at a number of intersections. A&W, formerly the sole fast-food joint is no more, while the usual generic fast-food vendors, and Walmart have moved in. It's been interesting to watch Amador County grow. We had breakfast at the 'new' Mels diner on Highway 49 in Jackson. Flatscreen TV's abound.
On the way back from playing in the snow up at Peddler Hill, I stopped at the Sierra House in Pine Grove. I had been wondering whether there was going to be a Amador County High reunion this year. James, the owner wasn't sure, as he'd not heard of any plans.
Back at the Ranch, Saturday Fraser and I saddled the horses and we all went out riding the fences, checking the watergaps on Mule Creek and Dry Creek. This time of year, Dry Creek isn't dry. In fact it looks like it's contemplating jumping its bed and taking out some of the far pasture...
iCamera?
Apple has a long history of making quality, user friendly, and for the most part durable (by todays standards) goods. I had been amazed that people have been paying premium prices for the iPods, when there are plenty of good inexpensive MP3 players. My opinion changed when my son, Ben received an iPod for Christmas. He already had a Creative Labs MP3 player, but the iPod does have a superior interface, and feels more solid. I suspect it will outlast the more inexpensive MP3 Player.
When I was growing up, an annual event for a number of years was buying a new sprinkler in spring. Each spring my mother would buy a cheap, inexpensive, plastic sprinkler. With great regularity the sprinkler of the year would fail by the end of the summer. Finally when I was in high school, my mother listened to me when I suggested we pay a few dollars more and get a more durable sprinkler. We did, and that sprinkler, which cost two-thirds more, lasted more than ten years.
Apple IMO is providing better quality product. I wish they'd make cameras. My point and shoot Sony Cybershot camera which I purchased about 4 years is literally falling appart, with screws missing from its case. The lens cover shutter now consistently fails to open and requires an assist. I'd like to buy a good quality point and shoot digital camera. Virtually all the ones I've seen appear to be so flimsy that they won't last more than a couple of years. I believe there is a market out there for a good quality rugged, low form factor point and shoot camera.
You listening Apple?
When I was growing up, an annual event for a number of years was buying a new sprinkler in spring. Each spring my mother would buy a cheap, inexpensive, plastic sprinkler. With great regularity the sprinkler of the year would fail by the end of the summer. Finally when I was in high school, my mother listened to me when I suggested we pay a few dollars more and get a more durable sprinkler. We did, and that sprinkler, which cost two-thirds more, lasted more than ten years.
Apple IMO is providing better quality product. I wish they'd make cameras. My point and shoot Sony Cybershot camera which I purchased about 4 years is literally falling appart, with screws missing from its case. The lens cover shutter now consistently fails to open and requires an assist. I'd like to buy a good quality point and shoot digital camera. Virtually all the ones I've seen appear to be so flimsy that they won't last more than a couple of years. I believe there is a market out there for a good quality rugged, low form factor point and shoot camera.
You listening Apple?
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Security Alert
Anybody heard of 'filequota' or http://www.filequota.com/?
I received an unexpected comment, on my very stale blog from someone that claimed to think that my blog entries were 'inquisitive'. Not an adjective I'd use for my previous blog entries logged here. Anyhow, the commenter on his blog had a link to filequota.com. Which purports to be:
And it supports:
Apparently you can download the client and *ENTER YOUR PASSWORDS FOR YOUR ACCOUNTS* and use 'motivation' for remote storage. And if you need more space: " If you need more space just sign up for another e-mail account, it really is that simple." (Note all Quotes are from the 'filequota' site as of this writing.)
Hello! McFly! What is the supposed value of this for the end-user? You download a separate program and use it to access your mail? At *BEST* worthless. At worst, you've just given outsiders access to your mail.....
In doing a little quick google in 'filequota' and 'motivation' I didn't find much information. If I were more security conscious, I'd probably do a lookup on the hosting sites. Perhaps I'm being overly suspicious, it's possible these sites help provide a service to make storing information online more seamless than using gmail. OTOH it seems to me that these services could be phishing for identities. I generally only enter my passwords on the MAIN site itself. I would not feel comfortable entering my google account login and password on *any* site except google....
Hmm. Maybe I'm over-reacting. On later checking it looks like this is a custom client software.
Another enterprising developer has a different approach:a Windows explorer extension which make gmail appear as a virtual drive. Similar I guess to a plugged in USB drive (Flash/thumb drive/memory stick). Not too bad of an idea, though again if the developer were unscrupulous, presumably he could bury in his application a keystroke logger that silently sent him information. Apparently this instance is not malicious, but has had some problems reported. Apparently there are other user developed utilities of similar capability. The idea is intriguing. Trust tho' is an issue IMO.
I can understand the desire to back up information online. Indeed after a troubling Yahoo News article (Published: Tue Jan 10, 8:00 AM ET byline: John Blau, IDG News Service)
Excerpt:
After reading the Yahoo article, I'm eager to find a viable reliable long term backup solution. And unlike the 'authorities' cited in the article, I don't think tapes are a viable alternative. Tapes have their own problems... So an online backup solution does sound appealing. Perhaps I need a Maid?
I received an unexpected comment, on my very stale blog from someone that claimed to think that my blog entries were 'inquisitive'. Not an adjective I'd use for my previous blog entries logged here. Anyhow, the commenter on his blog had a link to filequota.com. Which purports to be:
"Motivation is a free program that allows you to store and access any type of file, in any format using your current e-mail account. It uses your POP3 email address or IMAP email address to allow you to store files remotely for yourself, or share them with a friend!"
And it supports:
"some supported services include:
Google's Gmail
AIM Mail
Any
IMAP Email Account
Any POP3 Email Account
The first two services provide the most stable and largest amount of storage for free anywhere on the internet. These E-mail services have been proven to be the most stable and reliable Web mail services on the internet today."
Sacrificing security for convenience?
Apparently you can download the client and *ENTER YOUR PASSWORDS FOR YOUR ACCOUNTS* and use 'motivation' for remote storage. And if you need more space: " If you need more space just sign up for another e-mail account, it really is that simple." (Note all Quotes are from the 'filequota' site as of this writing.)
Hello! McFly! What is the supposed value of this for the end-user? You download a separate program and use it to access your mail? At *BEST* worthless. At worst, you've just given outsiders access to your mail.....
In doing a little quick google in 'filequota' and 'motivation' I didn't find much information. If I were more security conscious, I'd probably do a lookup on the hosting sites. Perhaps I'm being overly suspicious, it's possible these sites help provide a service to make storing information online more seamless than using gmail. OTOH it seems to me that these services could be phishing for identities. I generally only enter my passwords on the MAIN site itself. I would not feel comfortable entering my google account login and password on *any* site except google....
Hmm. Maybe I'm over-reacting. On later checking it looks like this is a custom client software.
Another enterprising developer has a different approach:a Windows explorer extension which make gmail appear as a virtual drive. Similar I guess to a plugged in USB drive (Flash/thumb drive/memory stick). Not too bad of an idea, though again if the developer were unscrupulous, presumably he could bury in his application a keystroke logger that silently sent him information. Apparently this instance is not malicious, but has had some problems reported. Apparently there are other user developed utilities of similar capability. The idea is intriguing. Trust tho' is an issue IMO.
I can understand the desire to back up information online. Indeed after a troubling Yahoo News article (Published: Tue Jan 10, 8:00 AM ET byline: John Blau, IDG News Service)
Excerpt:
"Opinions vary on how to preserve data on digital storage media, such as optical CDs and DVDs. Kurt Gerecke, a physicist and storage expert at IBM Deutschland, has his own view: If you want to avoid having to burn new CDs every few years, use magnetic tapes to store all your pictures, videos and songs for a lifetime.
"Unlike pressed original CDs, burned CDs have a relatively short life span of between two to five years, depending on the quality of the CD," Gerecke says. "There are a few things you can do to extend the life of a burned CD, like keeping the disc in a cool, dark space, but not a whole lot more."
The problem is material degradation. Optical discs "...
After reading the Yahoo article, I'm eager to find a viable reliable long term backup solution. And unlike the 'authorities' cited in the article, I don't think tapes are a viable alternative. Tapes have their own problems... So an online backup solution does sound appealing. Perhaps I need a Maid?
Sustenance
Adding another entry. Had a comment left on my blog, triggering an email notification. Which Reminded me I had started this one, with intentions of adding information. Probably would be a good idea. In particular if I intend to promote my pontifications.
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