Recent Posts

2926

Living Room / Re: Google: Gmail users shouldn't expect email privacy

« Last post by 40hz on August 16, 2013, 03:37 PM »

it's not a felony for every postal worker between the mailbox you dropped it into and the recipient to read it.

-app103 (August 16, 2013, 01:55 PM)

Actually, I'm pretty sure it is. They've arrested postal workers in the past for reading and rummaging through other people's mail without a warrant to do so.

If you handed the envelope to your next door neighbor who then handed it to his, and so on, till it got to the other side of town, if anyone snooped into it on the way, it would not be a felony, just as it isn't a felony for you to snoop the traffic that flows through your own server.

That's also debatable and a gray area in law last I heard. Rules seem to vary from state to state on that. With online communications, at the very least you'd need to let the users know that it could happen - hence Google's dwelling on the phrase "reasonable expectation" which came from earlier court cases.

The interesting point here is that Americans have always assumed - and the laws previously defaulted - to a presumption of privacy in lieu of notice or explicit laws stating otherwise. That's one of the things that was supposed to be so different about this country.

Our current government is now working overtime to stand that concept on its head and disabuse us of the notion we, as US citizens, are morally and legally entitled to personal privacy.

2927

Living Room / Re: *Email privacy and security survey*

« Last post by 40hz on August 16, 2013, 12:04 PM »

Like Edvard, I'm up on it, have GPG installed, but only rarely use it for much the same reasons he gave.
 

2928

Living Room / Re: Search for Devices - Then Pown them...

« Last post by 40hz on August 16, 2013, 11:58 AM »

I'd like to flatter myself that I fit into category A.

That said, it's still a major concern for IT pros. You can harden a network till the cows come home. All it takes is one careless user, or a small configuration mistake, or a software bug and it's all for naught.

And yeah, info from shodanhq has been on our radar screens since it went public back around 2010.

But that's not the scary part. The scary part is that it's sure as certainty there are other unpublicized darkhat sites that are also doing this -  plus a whole lot more - as even a quick visit to the deepweb will show.

2929

Living Room / Re: Please help superboyac build a server (2013 edition).

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2013, 11:01 PM »

Seems like Supermicro motherboards, even if it says ATX, may not truly be standard:

-superboyac (August 15, 2013, 05:13 PM)

hehe No ... But they are really nice. My server has been running on one for years. Their cases are quite nice also ... Very well made.

-Stoic Joker (August 15, 2013, 06:51 PM)

Damn.  I have to contact them and get the dimensions.  I want it to fit in that cooler master case!

-superboyac (August 15, 2013, 07:43 PM)

The mobo measures 12" x 9.6", (30.48cm x 24.4 cm) according to Supermicro's spec page here.

Official standard dimension for an ATX mobo is 305mm x  244mm - so this Supermicro board falls almost perfectly within the ATX spec.

CoolerMaster says the case can support microATX, ATX and XL-ATX.

Since the XL-ATX form factor is 343 mm x 254 mm, it would appear that this case can accommodate a maximum of 305mm x 254mm using the largest dimensions of the eligible form factors. So I'm very confident the board you've spec'ed would fit the case you want to use.

------

re: OS choice:

In your case I'd do a feasibility test with Windows Server 2012 using the trial. If that works, you have a fallback. Only catch is you'll need one license per server - so it can get expensive down the road as you add servers.

If that checks out ok, next try a FOSS solution and see if you're comfortable and confident enough to want to use that instead.

FWIW, Microsoft's tech support is very good for all their server products. Very professional and quite different than the support offered for their desktop OS. There's several videos up on YouTube about stroage spaces under Windows Server that probably are worth a look.

For FOSS inspiration, check this vid out. Solid advice:

 

2930

Living Room / Re: Google: Gmail users shouldn't expect email privacy

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2013, 10:33 PM »

Two words: Third party.
More words: Only people can make that happen and they can.

-rgdot (August 15, 2013, 03:25 PM)

Another word: Coordination
More words: Without it nothing happens and the third party gets laughed at.
I keep saying we need a Political Social Network like VoteBook.

-TaoPhoenix (August 15, 2013, 07:40 PM)

The powers that be are well aware of all that.

That's why things like the NSA and PRISM were put in place. To stay on top of any attempt to coordinate or network in opposition to the current state of affairs or those in power.

You have a militarized police force; widespread and blanket surveillance; blatant disregard of due process and constitutional safeguards; a complete breakdown of the doctrine of separation of powers; secret tribunals and laws...the list goes on.

Does anyone still have doubts the growing concern on the part of the general public - and the possible actions that would logically result because of it - weren't carefully anticipated and planned for? This is a process that began back at the dawn of the Cold War era and has continued at a varying pace through all the administrations which followed.

All the pieces are now in place to make some elements believe it's finally come time for the US government to be taken completely out of the hands of the American people. And furthermore, it's now doable.

Heed the warning signs.

To my mind, the only question remaining is: How soon before it's tried - and by whom.

2931

Living Room / Re: Manning Verdict in: guilty on all counts but one

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2013, 10:08 PM »

Nothing is more vindictive than a hypocrite and liar being caught out by his/her own hypocrisy and lies.

Our current regime has been caught out.

Expect neither justice nor mercy for Mr. Manning.

2932

General Software Discussion / Re: PirateBrowser released by The Pirate Bay

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2013, 12:56 PM »

^All too true. But I was referring more to the grand spectacle with pyrotechnics that went down in New Zealand.

Probably this time around they'll follow the time honored tactic of waiting until said "person of interest" visits or passes through a country with a US extradition treaty - or which has a history of cooperating with such requests in lieu of a treaty. Then the US will file a (usually bogus and nasty) criminal complaint in a US court and request extradition of said person to the US to stand trial. (Rape is the current favorite charge since it generates so much emotion in so many quarters that rational discussion often goes by the wayside. Which is a plus as far as some people are concerned.)
 

2933

Living Room / Re: Why I Idolize Larry Ellison...

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2013, 12:48 PM »

After that he spent most of his time and effort promoting Eugenics.

-Vurbal (August 15, 2013, 12:24 PM)

Unfortunately he was too late since he had already been born.

2934

Living Room / Ridiculous complaint argues free software is a form of predatory pricing

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2013, 12:45 PM »

From the "You Just Can't Make This Up" Department comes this story posted over at OSNews:

Microsoft and Nokia protest "price predation" and play at being prey.

Does no-cost software harm consumers? The FairSearch coalition thinks so, at least when it comes to Google: They say Google engages in predatory pricing when it distributes Android – a Linux-based mobile operating system – without charge. Recently, FSFE (Free Software Foundation Europe) responded in a letter to the European Commission, labeling as "wrong" and "dangerous" FairSearch’s claims, and saying further:

    The predatory pricing theory proposed by FairSearch is plainly unsuitable to describe a market where there is no price, and a product that, being Free Software, can literally be taken by anybody and "forked" ... . There is no "below cost" distribution in Free Software, because the price which market participants set ... in these circumstances is precisely zero.

Groklaw has a good write-up on FSFE’s efforts.

What is the FairSearch coalition? Its complaint against Google describes FairSearch as "an international coalition of 17 specialized search and technology companies." Those companies include Microsoft, Nokia, and Oracle, which say they have joined forces to protect competition, transparency and innovation to benefit consumers.

Google has a different take:

    FairSearch claims to represent consumers’ best interests, but it consists of companies who either compete directly with Google or don’t like where their websites appear in Google’s search results. No consumers or consumer groups are members of FairSearch.

The Verge states a similar view:

    Beneath the sheen of do-gooder ideology, FairSearch can be most charitably described as a Google watchdog. It seeks to fan the flames of disapproval where they’ve started organically, originate them where they haven’t, and generally disseminate negativity toward the Google brand. Think of it as a PR firm working to destroy rather than create goodwill.

These anti-FOSS price predation claims might bring to mind another case: Remember Daniel Wallace? He sued Red Hat, IBM, and Novell, claiming the companies conspired via the GPL to hold Linux’s price at zero. Mr. Wallace’s suit was summarily dismissed...

<more>

Shades of recent history where certain telcos filed lawsuits to prohibit municipalities from providing their own low-cost broadband services to citizens because it would represent "unfair competition" on the part of the government - even though these same telcos declined to provide service to these communities, citing "prohibitive costs" as the reason for their refusal.

Ah Doublethink...close cousin of legalese - it's a wonderful thing!

2935

General Software Discussion / Re: PirateBrowser released by The Pirate Bay

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2013, 12:15 PM »

It's only a matter of time before a 'KimDotcom' repeat gets played on TPB.

I'm waiting...

2936

Living Room / Re: Why I Idolize Larry Ellison...

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2013, 12:09 PM »

Ellison's first IT job was to develop a database name Oracle for the CIA while working as a contractor with Ampex IIRC.

"Once in The Company - forever in The Company," as the saying goes.

Need more be said?

(Ok...maybe one more thing: He's a moron. Bright? Perhaps. But still a complete moron.)

2937

Living Room / Re: Google: Gmail users shouldn't expect email privacy

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2013, 08:01 AM »

In the wake of the Snowden Revelations it's all moot.

Now it's time to stop useless finger pointing and trying to fix the blame. Especially since it should be fairly obvious by now that everybody was in on it - including the American public itself for their continuing refusal to face yet another "inconvenient truth."

Who really cares what's been done? Or by whom at this point. The big question - the real question - is what we're going to do about this nightmare we've allowed to become real.

2938

General Software Discussion / Re: A new Dropbox Competitor

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2013, 07:49 AM »

Having another 20 GB of cloud storage for unimportant stuff is always nice .

-Jibz (August 15, 2013, 02:46 AM)

+1 with heavy emphasis on the word 'unimportant.'

That said, between Dropbox, SpiderOak, and the soon to be renamed SkyDrive I'm already covered for offsite "junk" storage and backup.

2939

General Software Discussion / Re: Replacing the Control Panel

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2013, 07:42 AM »

Hope to god you never delve into Group Policy Objects with the intent of rationalizing that stream of consciousness bit of free verse. You'll never be heard from again.

(Microsoft says: That's not a fault - it's a feature.)

2940

Living Room / Re: Why I Idolize Larry Ellison...

« Last post by 40hz on August 15, 2013, 07:29 AM »

Typical Larry Ellison doing one of his "screw you" interviews. One more example of a pompous ass showing you just how much he cares about your knowing just how little he cares about anything you think.

Larry Ellison - into the notion of having massive intrusive government spying programs and databases on everybody



Adam Sutler (in V for Vendetta) - depends on having massive intrusive government spying programs and databases on everybody



Awesome - they even look alike!

2941

Living Room / Re: Please help superboyac build a server (2013 edition).

« Last post by 40hz on August 14, 2013, 03:13 PM »

Sorry for the confusion. In my case I'm used to seeing RAID included with port multipliers so I forgot a RAID card isn't the only way to do pooling.

RAID technology is not required to just do JBOD although many RAID cards also provide a JBOD option (i.e "drive spanning or pooling" which is not to be confused with RAID-0 "drive striping" although they are somewhat similar in concept).

Just to add to the confusion, have you considered using Gluster? It may be closer to what you want to do since this is a pure scale-out as opposed to scale-up approach. This approach will allow for virtually infinite expansion and flexibility.

Take a look at this:

General intro into the background and design of Gluster:

Intro to techt concepts (kinda long but very interesting IMHO):

Installing a Glsuter server (short):

Creating storage volumes on a Gluster server farm (short):

 

2942

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows "Blue"

« Last post by 40hz on August 14, 2013, 01:15 PM »

That kind of thinking worked great for railroads and telcos because they controlled scarce resources. Like a lot of other megacorporations Microsoft has convinced themselves they can artificially impose the limitations of the physical world on the virtual one so they can pretend nothing has changed. It won't work any better for them than it has for newspapers, record labels, or TV networks.

-Vurbal (August 14, 2013, 08:48 AM)

Probably not.

But they still have the capacity to make life a bigger hell than most people are willing to deal with when the easy option to just go along with Microsoft is available. And many will.

As far as innovation goes, Microsoft's current position is depressingly predictable.

Innovation is only of value to a business when it is still actively competing. Once the business and its product become established, innovation is then viewed as a threat. And the strategy such businesses resort to is: first, to get innovations outlawed as "disruptive"; and second, if failing that, to argue for regulation in the name of establishing 'standards' which have the tendency to dampen innovation by favoring existing products and providers. Today, they will also throw in the fight against terrorism, drugs, media piracy, and kiddie porn when the old argument for 'standards' breaks down.

There's no innovative strategy here. Just Microsoft doing what every other company has tried to do once they thought they cornered a market: feature-freeze the technology and lock out the competition

2943

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by 40hz on August 14, 2013, 08:14 AM »

i've merged several recent bitcoin threads as i think they were starting to clutter up the living room.
i think we would be better off keeping all bitcoin discussion on one or two threads.

-mouser (August 13, 2013, 08:41 PM)

+1. One thread.

It will be a non-issue in about a year anyway. Either it will become another regulated financial instrument - or it will be out of business.

Cyber-anarcho rhetoric aside, most of the people behind Bitcoin have already conceded it's now time they started working out an accommodation with the financial mainstream instead of holding out as some sort of rebellion against it.

So are they "selling out" or merely "buying in" in order to render unto Ceasar?

I guess that all depends on what your original expectations for Bitcoin were.

2944

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows "Blue"

« Last post by 40hz on August 14, 2013, 07:37 AM »

Microsoft effectively put the "personal" in personal computing. At least for most people - and businesses.

Now they're trying to take it away.

Lovely...

And to think that people got so mad at Google for shutting down Reader.

So how come these same people aren't screaming bloody murder about something like this?

I really need to stop caring about this stuff. Seriously. I really do,  

2945

Living Room / Re: Please help superboyac build a server (2013 edition).

« Last post by 40hz on August 14, 2013, 07:22 AM »

+1 w/Stoic on the battery on the card point. Do not use a RAID card that doesn't have a battery. If it was a toss up between a cheap SATA RAID card, or software RAID under Linux or Windows, I'd definitely go with software RAID and forget the card. At least for basic mirroring. Never tried RAID5 under software although I'm told by others that it's been reliable. There is a performance hit. But on a single user server (hmm...now that's an odd phrase) it shouldn't be a significant factor. However, I would still be concerned about the number of drives you try to incorporate under soft RAID. I'd worry with anything over three - and definitely not go past five drives in that scenario.

Note: Microsoft will give you a free 180-day trial copy of Windows Server 2012. Info and downloads here. I'd definitely give that a try, if for nothing other than to have something to compare should you decide to try a FOSS solution too.
 

2946

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by 40hz on August 13, 2013, 09:04 PM »

@Ren - I think you're reading way too much into it.

-40hz (August 13, 2013, 08:32 PM)

Sure, that's very possible. I'm overly cynical sometimes.

-Renegade (August 13, 2013, 08:54 PM)

Yeah, but you wouldn't be Renegade if you weren't! 

Don't change.

2947

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

« Last post by 40hz on August 13, 2013, 09:01 PM »

Just re-watched Cowboy Bebop The Movie: Knockin' on Heaven's Door



If you're at all into anime (or just thinking about getting into it) this feature length film is a must watch. (Great soundtrack too!)

The year is 2071, a few days before Halloween. An unknown pathogen is being released in the capital city of Mars, and the government has issued a 300 million woolong reward, the largest bounty in history, for the capture of whoever is behind it. The bounty hunter crew of the spaceship Bebop; Spike, Faye, Jet, Ed and Ein, take the case with hopes of cashing in the great bounty. But the mystery surrounding the man responsible, Vincent Volaju, goes deeper than they ever imagined, and they are not the only ones hunting him. The original creators of the pathogen have dispatched an agent named Elektra to deal with Vincent, as well as take out anyone who might uncover the truth behind his murderous crusade against the Martian government. As the hunt for the man with no past and no future continues to escalate, the fate of Mars rests with the Bebop crew, a responsibility they aren't so sure they can handle.

Watch a few of these and you start to wonder why you can have such a solid story in an animated feature when Hollywood can spend hundreds of millions on a film and not even come close.

Highly recommended.

2948

Living Room / Re: Icelandic Company Selling Bitcoin ATM

« Last post by 40hz on August 13, 2013, 08:37 PM »

Yep, once you get that big red x on your back, they want to make sure that you continue to fail until an act of self preservation puts you back in prison.

-Tinman57 (August 13, 2013, 07:20 PM)

Bingo! This.

2949

Living Room / Re: Massive Subpoenas For Bitcoin People

« Last post by 40hz on August 13, 2013, 08:32 PM »

Now, you *could* pull something else out from there, but when the generally accepted code is BTC, nah... it's a slight.

-Renegade (August 13, 2013, 07:14 PM)

@Ren - I think you're reading way too much into it.

XE.com has been using XBT for Bitcoin for some time now:

In case anybody doesn't know who XE is:

XE was founded in Canada in 1993, providing computer consulting and Internet services for corporate clients. Through our consulting services we quickly identified the need for interactive financial services on the web, so we set out to demonstrate how interactive financial services could be. As a result, in 1995, on our XE.COM™ website, we launched a service called the XE Currency Converter ® - creating one of the web's very first dynamic sites.

XE became increasingly popular, and by 1997, it was clear that we were running the Internet's dominant currency tool. We switched our business focus to currency services and began enhancing our proprietary rate system and website. We further developed our advanced rate infrastructure to factor in multiple sources and automatically detect errors. This lets us generate a highly reliable data feed that is much more accurate than any individual feed. By the new millennium we had become a bona fide currency portal. Today, more than one thousand clients, many of them major corporations, license our Data Feed Service currency rates for commercial purposes.

Bitcoin Currency Code
Bitcoin is not recognized by the ISO and therefore does not have an official ISO 4217 code. A currency code is generally built from the two-digit ISO 3316 country code and a third letter for the currency. Although "BTC" is often used in the Bitcoin community, BT is the country code of Bhutan. An X-code reflects currencies that are used internationally and so, XE has chosen to use XBT to represent Bitcoin.

Bloomberg just used what XE has been using. Wise move since XE is where many corporate currency rate watchers go for info.

2950

Living Room / Re: Icelandic Company Selling Bitcoin ATM

« Last post by 40hz on August 13, 2013, 05:01 PM »

There were regulations in place for US ATMs long before the Patriot Act.

The Patriot Act just added additional rules to the mix.  

And the restriction against ownership and operation by someone with a prior felony conviction also isn't too unusual. There's lots of things (some quite arbitrary IMO) that people with 'priors' aren't allowed to be involved with. Lottery ticket sales or being issued a liquor permit in my state for example.

So it's not all the Patriot Act. This has been going on for years.