Recent Posts

1776

Living Room / Re: TrueCrypt is Now Abandonware?!

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 05:23 PM »

Looks like whatever happened, TrueCrypt really is gone - as in 'game over.'

From the folks at LinuxBSDos.com comes this. (Emphasis added.)

Is TrueCrypt dead?
in news & announcements / on May 29, 2014 at 5:29 am /

Based on the wording of its license, there was always a question mark surrounding the open source-ness of Truecrypt. But that’s not the topic of this brief article. What prompted me to write this is an article that appeared in the Washington Post suggesting that TrueCrypt may have seen its last days as an (“open source”) software project.

TrueCrypt was a cross-platform (Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows) disk encryption software. The last article I wrote about it on this website was Should Truecrypt be audited?.

A quick trip to the project’s website, or what used to be the project’s website, confirmed the gist of the Washington Post article. If you try to visit http://truecrypt, you’ll actually be redirected to http://truecrypt.sourceforge.net. And the only conclusion that I can draw by looking at the contents of the website is that TrueCrypt is dead. Microsoft Windows users are encouraged to migrate to BitLocker, that operating system’s disk encryption utility, while Linux users are encouraged to “use any integrated support for encryption.” The latest download links are only for users “migrating data encrypted by TrueCrypt.” That really seals it. You cannot encrypt a disk using the latest version of TrueCrypt, only decrypt.

"Curiouser and curiouser," said Alice.

1777

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone using CherryTree for Windows, or Linux for that matter?

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 03:44 PM »

I use it. Primarily because it does what I need it to do and it's multi-platform. It's nothing that remarkable IMHO. At least as far as the simple way I use it goes. But I'm one of those people that always followed that bit of advice that went: "it's ok to go out on a date. But when it comes tools, don't ever marry. Don't even fall in love."  

About the only 'tools' I can honestly say I'd be very upset about losing are the '72 Gibson L9S Ripper and '68 Ampeg B-15N I own.

(Nobody's totally immune! )

1778

Living Room / Re: Knight to queen's bishop 3 - Snowden charged with espionage.

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 03:07 PM »

Kerry must be borrowing a page from Sinclair Lewis's novel It Can't Happen Here and modelling himself on the character Berzelius "Buzz" Windrip, populist-fascist dictator of the United States.

"He was an actor of genius. There was no more overwhelming actor on the stage, in the motion pictures, nor even in the pulpit. He would whirl arms, bang tables, glare from mad eyes, vomit Biblical wrath from a gaping mouth; but he would also coo like a nursing mother, beseech like an aching lover, and in between tricks would coldly and almost contemptuously jab his crowds with figures and facts — figures and facts that were inescapable even when, as often happened, they were entirely incorrect."

 

1779

Living Room / Re: TrueCrypt is Now Abandonware?!

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 02:59 PM »

^Now that is a true WTF???? if I ever saw one.

Did Microsoft just buy these guys out or what? 

1780

Living Room / Re: Movies or films you've seen lately

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 01:12 PM »

I tried to get through it on three separate occasions. My GF and I both fell asleep each time.

-40hz (May 29, 2014, 11:00 AM)

You're lucky... I think I read about a few suicides of people trying to watch it more than once...

-Renegade (May 29, 2014, 01:08 PM)

Thank goodness it wasn't an updated version of Polydeus.

1781

Living Room / Re: TrueCrypt is Now Abandonware?!

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 12:45 PM »

^I think it's less it's being seen as terrifying and more as a nasty and serious problem that needs to be solved. And pronto. At least on the part of the people with sufficient mathematical and technical chops to pull it off.

Unfortunately, finding that new encryption algorithm may prove trickier than originally thought. Look here.

1782

Non-Windows Software / Re: Linux Glass

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 12:33 PM »

I can't look at it for more than 20 minutes without starting to feel some eye strain.

-40hz (May 29, 2014, 10:37 AM)

That's because cool new things aren't designed for old blind people.

-Stoic Joker (May 29, 2014, 11:36 AM)

Ah! That explains it. I'm guilty on that score.

I keep getting talked into these %#$! "Progressive" lenses that just drive me nutz.

-Stoic Joker (May 29, 2014, 11:36 AM)

Actually, mine were called progressive "bifocal" lenses. (Sorry for the confusion if I used the wrong term.) Supposedly that means they progress between two distinct strengths as opposed to some that have a specific third strength (trifocal?) somewhere in them. Or so it was "explained" to me when I got mine.

It took me a few days to teach just my eyes to move instead of my entire head in order to find the sweet spot. Guess I'm just lucky. My GF can use them too. But her Mom, my Mom, my two sisters, and three of our friends absolutely can't stand progressive lenses. They've all got the ones with "the line" and a top and bottom.

But I also had an incentive. My pair cost a lot. I don't have optical coverage, so I really couldn't afford to go back and get a different pair if I didn't like what I ordered. And since I need glasses for just about everything, I really had no choice but to figure out how to use them and adapt.

So it goes.

1783

Living Room / Re: Knight to queen's bishop 3 - Snowden charged with espionage.

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 12:23 PM »

"Whom the gods destroy, they first make mad."  - Euripides

1784

Living Room / Re: Movies or films you've seen lately

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 11:00 AM »

And that is as kind as I can possibly be about this abomination.

-Renegade (May 29, 2014, 08:55 AM)

I tried to get through it on three separate occasions. My GF and I both fell asleep each time.

1785

Living Room / Re: TrueCrypt is Now Abandonware?!

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 10:40 AM »

^ So bizarre I keep thinking it's a prank.  

-40hz (May 29, 2014, 06:07 AM)

Either that, or the real reason Vista took so long to release was due to protracted negotiations on how big of a back door to put where.

-Stoic Joker (May 29, 2014, 07:13 AM)

I was thinking that they couldn't agree if the door needed to be made out of mahogany or oak...  

-Shades (May 29, 2014, 10:27 AM)

I think the NSA was arguing for something more along the lines of a glass or flimsy screen door.

1786

Non-Windows Software / Re: Linux Glass

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 10:37 AM »

Wow! The Tempered Glass Mint theme for Cinnamon. Does anybody actually use it as their regular desktop theme? With bifocals my eyes can't seem to decide if they want to focus on the background image below the glass, or the text/icons in the foreground. I can't look at it for more than 20 minutes without starting to feel some eye strain.    

Sure is pretty though.

(But I do like those flat monochrome icons. Very much indeed. )

1787

Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 10:04 AM »

See how he arches his wrist over the edge of the body?

-Vurbal (May 29, 2014, 06:20 AM)

That's actually (supposedly) the more "correct" way to to do it. You see a lot of jazzers play that way. Largely (i suspect) because that "perched and peeking" over the bout was Jaco

 

and Stanley Clark's thing back in the day. Lots of bassists who wanted to play like those two felt that hand position was the key to their unique sound. It wasn't. However, some flat out genius (in Jaco's case) - or in Stanley's case, a hell of a lot of study and practice combined with one of those gorgeous Alembic Series-I basses with active electronics -  might have had something to do with it.

Here's Stanley back in his Weather Report days with the scariest tarantula-like hand position imaginable (makes me think of the scene where Shelob was about to pounce on Frodo):



definitely creepy...although in later years he toned it down a lot. But he still kept that bend:



FWIW, that's a hand position I always found uncomfortable. I generally try to keep my wrist in a fairly straight line with my forearm. Far less worries about cramping or carpal tunnel when you do it that way.

On a string bass you need to arch your hand (and Stanley started on upright) because the strings are arced. On an electric with a fretboard radius between 7.25" and 9.5" you really shouldn't need to bend your wrist much if at all.

Either way, the "best practice" being taught by most bass instructors these last few years is to wear your electric bass up high and drape your hand over the bout. Can't say (having seriously tried it) that it brings much (if anything) to the party. But that's me. And don't even get me started on those effin' "bass ramps" that are all the rage.

And...I better stop here. I could (already did?) go on and on about this stuff. Apologies to all for rambling.

1788

Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 08:14 AM »

*Agree. It's an unusual playing technique he has. All the classic and correct positioning - but with those reversed strings...

But he is a brilliant player. He demonstrates about 5 different "right-hand" (i.e. plucking hand) techniques during that solo, Great command of harmonics too - although they are easier to get to chime clearly on a piccolo bass. At least they were the few times I got to play one.

However, when it comes to the absolute master of harmonics, that title has to go to jazz guitarist Jody Fisher. That gent can do 16th note chromatic harmonic runs. Anybody that ever played (or tried to play) "false" or "artificial" harmonics knows how hit and miss it can sometimes be. Jody doesn't seem to have any problems on that score. He just does those glissando-y sweeps like he's playing a harp. And he does it so naturally that half the time people don't realize it's harmonics they're hearing rather than fretted notes.

Jody is also a phenomenal instructor. He was a mainstay at the now sadly defunct National Guitar Workshop. I was fortunate to get the chance to sit in on some of his clinics and classes when he was in CT at the workshop.

Here's some examples of what you could expect when Jody was showing you how something worked:

BTW, Jody's guitar is a (Steve) Klein in case anybody's wondering "What in the name of all that's holy is he playing???" (Most guitarists do btw.  )



Awesome!

1789

Living Room / Re: TrueCrypt is Now Abandonware?!

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 07:44 AM »

^ So bizarre I keep thinking it's a prank. 

-40hz (May 29, 2014, 06:07 AM)

Either that, or the real reason Vista took so long to release was due to protracted negotiations on how big of a back door to put where.

-Stoic Joker (May 29, 2014, 07:13 AM)

 

1790

Living Room / Re: TrueCrypt is Now Abandonware?!

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 06:07 AM »

^ So bizarre I keep thinking it's a prank. 

1791

Living Room / Re: TrueCrypt is Now Abandonware?!

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 05:50 AM »

Whatever the case, I guess a lot of folks will now be scrambling for a new encryption program.

-J-Mac (May 29, 2014, 05:35 AM)

Change "will now be" to "are" and you're spot on the sugar.

But seriously...who knows?

If TrueCrypt works - but people start distrusting and ultimately abandon it - the spooks win.

If the spooks already own it, they'll just slip something else in (because there's always a Plan-B with those guys) so they win again.

The big problem is we're using technology that wasn't intended or designed to be secure. And everything we do to try to make it secure is bolted and duct taped on.

If we're serious, the entire global network - and probably at least 85% of the rest of our computer technology - needs to be re-engineered from the ground up.

Problem is, with a project that massive, gremlins and backdoors are bound to sneak in. And the disruption and expense such a project would entail - and the degree of cooperation and gooodwill needed to keep it from becoming a joke - makes it unlikely to the point of "that is so not gonna happen."

Besides - signal privacy and security aren't technical problems - they're "people problems." And as long as invasions of privacy are tolerated (when not condoned) somebody somewhere will try snooping.

1792

Living Room / Re: TrueCrypt is Now Abandonware?!

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 05:48 AM »

Of course, it could also be a prank if somebody got their key...just sayin'

1793

Non-Windows Software / Re: Debian Tails OS question

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 04:45 AM »

So by then, if I ran a permanent Linux installation on a hard drive to replace an aging Win 7, would it make less demand on my hard drive and AMD 4400+ dual-core's resources than Windows?

-bit (May 28, 2014, 10:35 PM)

How could anybody possibly know that?  Nobody can predict the future. And Microsoft holds its cards pretty close to their vest.

So the answer is: "Yes...no...uh...I don't know!" 

Would Linux still need antivirus protection?

-bit (May 28, 2014, 10:35 PM)

Count on it. If it becomes increasingly popular it will become increasingly targeted by malware.

1794

Living Room / Re: TrueCrypt is Now Abandonware?!

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 04:37 AM »

My best guesses:

Whoever was developing TrueCypt

• is scared to death of being 'outed' for several (probably valid) reasons
• has been threatened by some intelligence agency
• has started working for some intelligence agency
• was already working for some intelligence agency - and TrueCrypt was one of its products all along
• completed their mission and will soon board the flying saucer that will return to their homeworld

I think these are all equally likely considering how cagey and reluctant the developers of True Crypt were about anybody ever knowing who they were...

 

1795

Non-Windows Software / Linux Foundataion's $2400 Intro to Linux course to be offered online for free

« Last post by 40hz on May 29, 2014, 04:20 AM »

The Linux Foundation has paired up with edX, an online course provider, to offer their normally $2400 4-day Intro to Linux course for free starting in August 2014.

Introduction to Linux
Develop a good working knowledge of Linux using both the graphical interface and command line, covering the major Linux distribution families.

About this Course

Linux powers 94% of the world’s supercomputers, most of the servers powering the Internet, the majority of financial trades worldwide and a billion Android devices. In short, Linux is everywhere. It appears in many different architectures, from mainframes to server to desktop to mobile and on a staggeringly wide variety of hardware.

This course explores the various tools and techniques commonly used by Linux programmers, system administrators and end users to achieve their day-to-day work in a Linux environment. It is designed for experienced computer users who have limited or no previous exposure to Linux, whether they are working in an individual or Enterprise environment.

Upon completion of this training you should have a good working knowledge of Linux, from both a graphical and command line perspective, allowing you to easily navigate through any of the major Linux distributions. You will be able to continue your progress as either a user, system administrator or developer using the acquired skill set.

This is a serious intro for people with no Linux experience. Or for self-taught Linux users who worry they may not be aware of everything they should know about their chosen OS.

If you've ever taken a Linux Foundation (or edX or Coursera or Udacity) course, you know that these are "real deal" college-level offerings. What's amazing (to me) is how good they are - and how most are offered for free. (Many of these courses also offer an option to obtain a school certificate for a very small fee if you have successfully completed the course and passed the requisite exams.)

I've taken a few of these MOOC courses and found them to be challenging - but in the good way. I'm firmly convinced that with the out-of-control costs of higher education, the MOOC model may soon become the way most people take courses in the future. Especially now that these courses have progressed beyond simply offering recorded lectures. Many have interactive labs, quizzes and exams, the ability to chat with with or post questions to instructors, course forums where you can discuss things with your instructors and fellow students...

In many respects it's just like being in a "real" school. Or with the amount of online interaction most universities require these days, maybe it's exactly like a real school. Except without the parties.

This particular offering estimates it will take the average student 40-60 hours to work completely through the course material. And a certificate is available for those who wish to officially document their achievement.

Here's what the chief penguin Linus Torvalds himself has to say:

Course may be taken absolutely free of charge, but registration is required. More info and links can be found here.

 

1796

Living Room / Re: Silk Road Seized - Dread Pirate Roberts Arrested

« Last post by 40hz on May 28, 2014, 09:46 PM »

It will be hard for the prosecutors to get through that

-Renegade (May 28, 2014, 07:19 PM)

Assuming they don't get a sympathetic judge...

1797

Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!

« Last post by 40hz on May 28, 2014, 09:35 PM »

He had my immediate attention when I saw that his bass was strung upside-down, even though he has a left-handed bass.

-Edvard (May 28, 2014, 06:58 PM)

Huh! It is weird that his Pedulla bass is a lefty - but the P-Bass style split pickup on it is installed like it would be on a right-handed model with the top half (for the low strings) towards the neck. So that makes me think this isn't a standard lefty bass (see below) he strung backwards - it's actually a custom build. Most interesting...

   


I wonder if he started out using TAB notation and just got used to having the strings run that way.

1798

Living Room / Re: Knight to queen's bishop 3 - Snowden charged with espionage.

« Last post by 40hz on May 28, 2014, 09:25 PM »

NBC News is supposed to air their interview with Snowden tonight.  In the meantime, the network has posted an excerpt in which he states that he was not a low level technician, but was in fact trained as a spy and did undercover work for the CIA and NSA.

-xtabber (May 28, 2014, 04:56 PM)

And the usual bogus counterpoint commentary has started.


Love those self-styled pundits...

As long as those implicated can have their CNN lapdogs keep the public's attention focused on Snowden the man - and not what he revealed - abuse of executive power will continue to be 'business as usual.'

1799

Living Room / Re: Cheap fountain pen shootout

« Last post by 40hz on May 28, 2014, 05:46 PM »

I don't know about that. I don't know what a "beau-coup cool and super-artsy notebook" looks like.

-app103 (May 28, 2014, 04:56 PM)

Y'know...notebooks that look like this:









 

1800

Non-Windows Software / Re: LINUX: Linux Lite - viable 1st Linux alternative for XP and Vista users

« Last post by 40hz on May 28, 2014, 01:29 PM »

I have yet to find  a distro that can handle my Broadcom wi-fi card successfully. I have an old Acer laptop and it has the Broadcom IN2220. Going back to Ubuntu 6.4 and all the following releases, none will support that card. As I mentioned, other distros I have tried also fail.

-bobc4012 (May 28, 2014, 02:56 AM)

Had similar problems in the past - and also had the best luck with Netgear CardBus cards. In my case the laptop I was using had a weird problem where the card wouldn't be recognized if it was plugged in when I booted up. If I waited until I had a desktop and then plugged it in, it would work just fine - except it would sometimes unexpectedly quit on large downloads. If I logged out and back in, it (usually) started up again. If it didn't (maybe one time out of ten or so) I'd need to shutdown, remove the card and do the "restart and wait for the desktop before inserting" bit again. ifup/ifdown (even with the --force option) wouldn't work at all once the card quit. And modprobe was no help either to fix or identify what the real problem was. But...if the card was running, the ifup/ifdown commands did work as often as you'd care to toggle it. Definitely some oddball combination of hardware, timing, and (probably) driver issues.

Never did get to the bottom of that one.