Living Securely in a Digital World

I've finished work on the second on what is turning in to a three part paper on computer security, called "Living Securely in a Digital World".  The first part discussed how to keep your computer secure and private from an offline perspective - so that someone sitting in front of your computer will likely not be able to see what you've been doing, or what you have on your computer.  This second one, which was going to be huge, I split into two separate articles.  It's about how to use your computer online, in an age where tracking your personal data and making a mockery of privacy is standard.  Part three will take a little more work, but the two articles together provide tons of information, that most people don't even know.  Check out the article, in the totse2 text files "technology" section of totse2.com

Crazy customers are best customers. Also, world domination.

So, I had a lady come in to my computer store recently, and she kept going off about how someone she was doing work for was getting in to her computer and stealing her files. She claimed she knew this because she discovered the administrator account on her computer, through the control panel, and the account had a little yellow car as the icon, - THE SAME ICON THE GUY THAT WAS BREAKING IN WAS USING! /facepalm. I LITERALLY had to spend FOUR FUCKING HOURS with this lady before I could get her to leave. She's probably related to the one that came in to our store a few years ago, saying Al Quida was in her computer, and when I asked her how she knew, I shit you not, she literally said "I CAN SEE THEM IN THERE, COMING IN OVER THE LINES".

I've got to get out of this city.

SPEAKING of this city, which thanks to ADD leads me to... DOCTOR STEELE. He calls himself "Musician, Mad Scientist, and Future World Emperor". He and I share similar goals - and the future he wishes for mankind, a "Utopian playland", is but a stepping stone on the path that I see and will work for. If you're interested in his site, check it out at www.worlddominationtoys.com.

Huff Raidios are GO.

For those of you who don't know, I am a member of a website that promotes free speech, and the sharing of information.  A long-running joke from the site, is where an obviously idiotic new user joined, and asked about how to get high off of household chemicals.  So another user gave him an equally retarded answer - to huff raid.  Since then, the joke of huffing raid has been a staple on our site.  So when the idea of running an internet radio station came up, it didn't take long for us to decide a name - Huff Raidio.

There have been a lot of setbacks, but as of tonight, we're back up in running.  We are currently streaming member-made music, and over the next few days will add content such as lectures, debates, news, how-to articles, and more!  If you're interested in checking it out, go to http://anonym.to/?http://www.totse2.com:8004

B-B-B-B-BUMPDATE!

July, 2011.


I've long since finished my Anti-complacency article, though it remains unpublished!  I've been putting a lot of time in my first one on Transhumanism.  Essentially, I'm building the case that it is our purpose and destiny to surpass our biological evolution and put the future of mankind into our own hands - even if it means the risk of losing everything we've worked for.  In my Anti-Complacency article, I made the point that we should NEVER let the fear of failure get in the way of our dreams, and the dream of mankind is to change, and improve.  We've been creating new ways to enrich our lives since the first time man created a tool - and improving our own bodies is the epitome of that idea, and it embodies the will of man perfectly.

I've had nothing but problems with launching Huff Raidio - however, I may have a solution!  I'm currently logged in to the totse2 VPS, and testing the shoutcast server software running on that machine - since my home connection doesn't want to host any form of server (because FUCK YOU comcast).  I'm looking forward to having this finally launch!

Another thing I'm working on, is spurring NASA into doing something cool again.  I am working on content for a website to get people involved in letting NASA know that we're not happy with how it's being run.  Why do I care about this?  Because 50 years ago, NASA gave us a "giant leap" for mankind.  Since then, we've put robots on Mars, and then cancelled our manned flight programs!  You missed the point of space travel, NASA!  What the hell are you thinking?!?

So that's an update on what's happening right now!  There is much more, but I'll leave that for next week :)

Also, guaranteed updates every Friday.  Because hell yes.

Things I am working on: May 2011 edition!

I'm still waiting to get the rest of the parts for my gloves, so what am I working on in the meantime?

Text articles!  I'm writing two articles for the good folks at the second Temple Of The Screaming Electron - on similar subjects.  One, being on Anticomplacency - why being content with life is a bad position to be in - and the other being on transhumanism - discussing humanities will to advance, the dangers of doing so, and why it's important that we shouldn't let that stop us.

Non-texts I'm working on!  Huff Raidio, an internet radio show for the Temple (mentioned above!) is kicking back into gear, hopefully by this weekend!  I've started getting help from some other users there on adding content, and it's spurring me into action!  Having help is really the biggest motivator for me for this project.  I'm pretty dang excited about it again.

Additionally, I've decided that I am determined to learn EVERYTHING I CAN about modern telecommunications.  It's something worth knowing, methinks.

So there you have it, folks.  Things I'm working on learning and things I plan on helping others learn with.

More updates to follow!  Will be back before the weekend is up.

Too much to write about.

I could write a ton of stuff for one huge update, or I could write one thing in detail, and have something to post about in a few days, so what do you think imma do?

Robotics has always been a fascination of mine.  I've never tinkered much with electronics or mechanics up until this year.  I own an arduino microcontroller, and soon will own a Teensyusb board.  The teensyusb is cheaper, has more ram, flash ram, and i/o's than the arduino, and has a USB connection, verses the serial, or usb port that acts as serial on the arduino.  In addition, it's MUCH smaller.  I'll be using the Teensyusb controller for some projects of mine, including...

ELECTRIC GLOVES!

One of the things I've built recently are gloves that deliver an electric shock to any conductive object that is struck with them.  It was a simple circuit for the prototype - I hacked some PCI slot covers from a desktop computer into metal contacts, mounted them on rubber stands, and glued the stands to a glove, on the index and middle finger.  I then wired a lead from one of them to the end of some capacitors, and the other lead to a DPDT switch, which then connected to the caps again.  Another mode on the switch connected the capacitors to a diode bridge, which in turn was wired to a standard two prong power cable, to charge straight from any 120v wall outlet.

I'm going to be doing a LOT more with the next version of the gloves, including higher amperage storage, multiple capacitor banks for multiple shocks, and a gauge  to show power across the cap banks.  Additionally, the prototype looked really ghetto, so I'll be working on making them look less like a mishap and more like a coherently well designed death contraption.

More updates to follow!

An update? On MY blogger?!?

It's more likely than you think.

So, I haven't updated in like, two months.  This is certainly not due to a lack of things to write about.  Quite the contrary!  I've been busy like crazy, and am looking forward to writing a huge update tonight.  Awwyeah.