- CREDO Action
- Reset the Net
- Fight for the Future
- Results include:
- Article in Wired - 140506
- MIT Center for Civic Media - 140605
- See "What to do list" at end.
- See Also:
= = =
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Movements to Improve Internet and Phone Privacy
Some phrases to search are:
= = =
= = =
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Arduino - Open-Source Electronics Prototyping Platform - OSEPP
OSEPP 101 - Arduino... an Electronics Prototyping Platform.
"OSEPP is a brand of boards and senors that are manufactured from the same schematic and layout as Arduino. OSEPP also develops its own line of unique kits..."
"Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments."
Community
Arduino Wiki (Playground) ... a collection of Arduino knowledge, tutorials, and instructions provided directly by Arduino users.
Arduino Multi-Language Forum (it's "Official"!) and stay connected with the Arduino community (through various Social Media, like Google+ and YouTube).
Arduino Team Blog
This looks like really fun stuff!
:-)
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Banking Safe With Puppy Linux
OK
We all worry about how safe it is to do Banking and Credit Card operations on-line. The horror stories are endless, cyber crime and identity theft have been everyday topics for decades now, and the bad guys just get more and more tricky.
What is the solution?
The most obvious one is simply to not use a computer and the Internet to do financial stuff online.
If you want to give it a go though... and are not sure which path to take... try this article:
Banking on a Live CD
That was the first hit I got using this search:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Banking+Safe+With+Puppy+Linux
... try other articles and searches yourself.
The above "Krebs on Security" article does a pretty amazing job of compacting the Linux Live CD process into one relatively short article. Still, if you need some more background and detail on the whole Linux Boot Disk process, try my: a58tech Linux Section.
Though untested by me at this time, I like the link to the "Free ISO Burner" software for MS Windows. it looks very compact, and user friendly. The reviews are mixed at C-Net's Download.com, but it is likely as good an alternative as CDBurnerXP. I reckon there is something similar for Mac OS - ISO Burning..
The bottom line is that...
For all the security articles I've read so far, the reoccurring theme is that nothing is entirely bulletproof, and it is mostly a matter of numbers.
Since Microsoft products still run on the overwhelming market share of computers world wide, they are the biggest target. As Linux catches up, will they become a bigger target? Possibly. But for now Windows is still the target of choice.
As a quick aside...
You can also Run Linux on a Mac Computer. Look for a future article on that soon.
:-)
We all worry about how safe it is to do Banking and Credit Card operations on-line. The horror stories are endless, cyber crime and identity theft have been everyday topics for decades now, and the bad guys just get more and more tricky.
What is the solution?
The most obvious one is simply to not use a computer and the Internet to do financial stuff online.
If you want to give it a go though... and are not sure which path to take... try this article:
Banking on a Live CD
That was the first hit I got using this search:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Banking+Safe+With+Puppy+Linux
... try other articles and searches yourself.
The above "Krebs on Security" article does a pretty amazing job of compacting the Linux Live CD process into one relatively short article. Still, if you need some more background and detail on the whole Linux Boot Disk process, try my: a58tech Linux Section.
Though untested by me at this time, I like the link to the "Free ISO Burner" software for MS Windows. it looks very compact, and user friendly. The reviews are mixed at C-Net's Download.com, but it is likely as good an alternative as CDBurnerXP. I reckon there is something similar for Mac OS - ISO Burning..
The bottom line is that...
For all the security articles I've read so far, the reoccurring theme is that nothing is entirely bulletproof, and it is mostly a matter of numbers.
Since Microsoft products still run on the overwhelming market share of computers world wide, they are the biggest target. As Linux catches up, will they become a bigger target? Possibly. But for now Windows is still the target of choice.
As a quick aside...
You can also Run Linux on a Mac Computer. Look for a future article on that soon.
:-)
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
The Hour of Code
Stumbled on this through a Google.com landing page link... almost missed it.
This is FUN... and a very coolbeans idea!
The Home Page Video is a really good one to see too. Check it out and see who is talking about it.
When you are done with the introduction experience, try some of the links to the many other similar tutorials. These are fun, and educational.
Promote Computer Science
Enjoy!
:-)
This is FUN... and a very coolbeans idea!
The Home Page Video is a really good one to see too. Check it out and see who is talking about it.
When you are done with the introduction experience, try some of the links to the many other similar tutorials. These are fun, and educational.
Promote Computer Science
Enjoy!
:-)
Know Your UOM - (Unit of Measure)
While reading the Wikipedia bit about the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, I was reminded of an event I frequently think of and cite as an example of why it is important to know (and display) your unit of measure.
Google: Mars Climate Orbiter Mission Fails Due To Unit of Measure Error
Distance is a good example. Say you are telling someone how to get somewhere and you say: "Go 3 and turn Left." Ummm, OK... 3 what? Blocks? Miles? Light-years? There is a difference. Liquid is a good example too. "It takes 10 to get that done." 10 ounces? 10 gallons? 10 Acre Feet? ... Again, big differences.
Just a quick thought.
Have Fun!
:-)
Google: Mars Climate Orbiter Mission Fails Due To Unit of Measure Error
Distance is a good example. Say you are telling someone how to get somewhere and you say: "Go 3 and turn Left." Ummm, OK... 3 what? Blocks? Miles? Light-years? There is a difference. Liquid is a good example too. "It takes 10 to get that done." 10 ounces? 10 gallons? 10 Acre Feet? ... Again, big differences.
Just a quick thought.
Have Fun!
:-)
Apollo 11 Computer vs IBM XT PC
Be sure to check out the following article...
... Published on the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
I've often wondered about how the computers of today, especially "Smart Phones" and "Tablet PC's", would compare to the equipment used by the early US Astronauts of the Gemini and Apollo programs. According to the above article, there is no comparison really... to get a useful comparison you need to go back to the IBM XT PC, which was released in March of 1983, which by today's tech standards is a whopping 14 years after Neil Armstrong's July-1969 Moonwalk.
So even a simple cell phone that a lot of folks (like me) still use today has a LOT more computing power than the early astronauts used for their missions. Think about that a bit... especially the next time your cell / smart phone acts up, or fails completely. Would you want to fly to the moon and back dependent on a computer as advanced as your phone?
:-)
How powerful was the Apollo 11 computer?
by Grant Robertson on July 20, 2009... Published on the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
I've often wondered about how the computers of today, especially "Smart Phones" and "Tablet PC's", would compare to the equipment used by the early US Astronauts of the Gemini and Apollo programs. According to the above article, there is no comparison really... to get a useful comparison you need to go back to the IBM XT PC, which was released in March of 1983, which by today's tech standards is a whopping 14 years after Neil Armstrong's July-1969 Moonwalk.
So even a simple cell phone that a lot of folks (like me) still use today has a LOT more computing power than the early astronauts used for their missions. Think about that a bit... especially the next time your cell / smart phone acts up, or fails completely. Would you want to fly to the moon and back dependent on a computer as advanced as your phone?
:-)
Monday, November 11, 2013
Amaya (web editor) ... by W3C
Amaya (web editor)
W3C's Web Editor
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/
Getting the Binary Distribution
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/User/BinDist.html
Read the "Amaya User Manual"
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/Distribution/manual.pdf
This is a locally installed program (similar to your Browser).
The opening blurb (on the 1st run after installing) reads as follows:
"Amaya is a Web client that acts both as a browser and as an authoring tool. It has been designed by W3C and INRIA with the primary purpose of demonstrating new Web technologies and helping users to generate valid Web pages. Thanks to the European (FP6) Palette project, Amaya 11 is much easier to use, through its new user interface and its innovative templating system.
With Amaya, you can manipulate rich Web pages containing forms, tables, and the most advanced features from XHTML. You can create and edit complex mathematical expressions and graphics within Web pages. You can style your documents using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). "
Some User Info... "About" pages... etc.
Notes on the Amaya HTML Editor
http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/~matloff/amaya.html
<this page is exceptionally basic... but that makes it a fairly decent introduction>
Try searching the web for more information. There are a number of references like vids on YouTube that may be useful.
:-)
Another program to consider, if you have not tried it already, is KompoZer ... which is produced by Mozilla (the makers of Firefox and Thunderbird), and is another Open Source project.
:-)
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/
Getting the Binary Distribution
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/User/BinDist.html
Read the "Amaya User Manual"
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/Distribution/manual.pdf
This is a locally installed program (similar to your Browser).
The opening blurb (on the 1st run after installing) reads as follows:
"Amaya is a Web client that acts both as a browser and as an authoring tool. It has been designed by W3C and INRIA with the primary purpose of demonstrating new Web technologies and helping users to generate valid Web pages. Thanks to the European (FP6) Palette project, Amaya 11 is much easier to use, through its new user interface and its innovative templating system.
With Amaya, you can manipulate rich Web pages containing forms, tables, and the most advanced features from XHTML. You can create and edit complex mathematical expressions and graphics within Web pages. You can style your documents using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). "
Some User Info... "About" pages... etc.
Notes on the Amaya HTML Editor
http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/~matloff/amaya.html
<this page is exceptionally basic... but that makes it a fairly decent introduction>
Try searching the web for more information. There are a number of references like vids on YouTube that may be useful.
:-)
Another program to consider, if you have not tried it already, is KompoZer ... which is produced by Mozilla (the makers of Firefox and Thunderbird), and is another Open Source project.
:-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)