Thanks to those who pointed out that all of my older posts are missing images. I am aware that they are missing. When my WordPress was compromised a few weeks ago, I had to quarantine all my files and install a fresh copy of WordPress, therefore all the links to all my media are no longer valid. The effort to go through each post and try to reset all the images is more than I’m willing to spend. I might restore a few, but I doubt I will get around to doing it to all of them.
Category: General Cogitation Page 23 of 40
Sadly the Purdue tailgate season has ended (ended sooner for me as I cannot attend the last home game). Granted Purdue’s football team was terrible this year; and when I say terrible I mean awful! I don’t think I have the vocabulary to express in text just how awful they were this year. Be that as it may, I really enjoyed tailgating with my old tailgating crew and college friends!
A friend and I started the tailgate for our group of friends nine years ago when we encroached in among several other veteran tailgaters and alum. We quickly made friends with all those around us and were soon welcomed into the group and there we stayed for these nine years (and counting). While my friend and I had to stop running the tailgate a couple years after we started it, Mike and Tammy picked up the reins and have done an amazing job to keep in running year after year.
We returned to the tailgate this year and we quickly found out how much we missed West Lafayette and how great it was to hang out with all our friends again. It’s amazing how much has changed on campus. There seemed to be new buildings springing up everywhere, but it still felt like home.
The future is impossible to predict so returning for every home game next year may, or may not, be in the budget. However, returning to a couple of the tailgates and/or a game, or two, may still be manageable. I wish my friends safe and successful tailgating for the remainder of the season and I hope to see them all again next Fall!
Boiler Up!!
I doubt anyone really noticed but my website went offline Saturday morning. My uber-fuzzy site admin contacted me to tell me that my wordpress site had been compromised and I was unknowingly sending spam. Apparently about 12,000 a minute. My entire site had to be taken down and destroyed; thankfully the database was unharmed. I downloaded a fresh install of wordpress and using a few magical tricks, completely restored my site (granted there are a few minor casualties).
Spam bots and programs are vicious, maniacal devices.that somehow installed a couple of trojan php files hidden in wp-content folders. This past weekend Daylight Savings Time ended. There is a general rule of thumb that one should change the batteries in your smoke detectors the same time that the times change. I would like to add to that by suggesting that you also change all passwords for all accounts with sensitive material. Granted my blog site doesn’t contain any sensitive material so it hardly qualifies but I had to change my password as part of the process and also decided to retire that password altogether. By doing so it got me thinking that I hadn’t changed that password in such a long time which led me to my conclusion that I should be changing my passwords more regularly.
By the way, when I suggest that you change a password, I would suggest that its something completely different. I wouldn’t advise that you simply just increment a number. I would also suggest that you try to include some special characters into your password and make sure its a minimum of 8 – 12 characters, if not longer. Also, run anti-virus and anti-spyware programs on your computer, I would say as often as once a week depending on your browsing habits. Check out ClamWin for a free and pretty solid anti-virus program. I highly recommend you grab a copy of SpyBot Search & Destroy for your free anti-spyware program. If you have questions using either of these programs, please feel free to ask.
I cannot believe we are still having a spat over the name of the Washington Redskins! The team has been known as the Redskins since 1933! Since you’re probably too obtuse to do the math, that’s 80 years folks!! Are we really still hoping to change the name of a team that has been around for 8 decades? The thing that really grinds my last nerve about this, its not even the Native Americans that are relentlessly bitching about this!
People are too damn sensitive these days! I feel like we’re all walking on eggshells because the slightest innuendo or phrase can be misconstrued to offend someone. Maybe we need to regress back to how cavemen spoke so our reduced vocabulary and guttural noises will keep everyone happy. Obviously we’re not all intelligent enough to know the difference between intentionally offending someone and the fact that its just a damn team name!
People are too thin-skinned! Maybe we should legalize marijuana because 50 years ago the people that would protest such minutia were the potheads but they were too stoned to be taken seriously. Today, through the power of Internet and the antagonist media, they are more obnoxious then ever! If you don’t like the team name, fine! Don’t be a Washington Redskins fan. Hell, I don’t care if you hate the NFL, then go watch a Curling match, I just don’t want to hear you spew your disgusting ignorance!
On a final note, shame on you Bob Costas! You ignorant turncoat!
/end soapbox
It’s not a secret that I predominately prefer Apple mobile devices. I’ve been using an iPhone since the 4 and prior to that I’ve been using an iPod since the first version. I’m not an Apple fanboy, though many have teased me that I am. I do not think the iPhone is a superior product over any comparable Android device. If I had to absolutely stop using the iPhone I would have no qualms about picking up an Android.
Windows Phone … well, that’s a different story. I would probably prefer two cans on a string next to a Windows Phone.
My contract is up; actually its been up since May. I knew a new Apple phone would be released this year so I’ve been holding off on renewing my contract until Apple decided to launch it. Obviously that wait is over. This Friday I will make a brazen attempt to get the iPhone 5S as part of my contract renewal. I’m getting the new iPhone because the iPhone is what I’m most comfortable with; that and I don’t want to spend the time reformatting all my music. I don’t bash any Android device because I’ve played around with one and they are really slick devices (unlike a Windows Phone where I was done using it within 30 seconds).
Generally I’ve been trying to only update my phone every-other-version of the iPhone. It saves on money and it feels like a more noticeable upgrade. My advice, if you are deciding which phone to get, don’t ask anyone that strongly prefers one or the other, just go to your carrier’s store and try out each phone. Choose the one that feels most comfortable and less likely to cause you any confusion when trying to complete all of your normal tasks.There are plenty of guru’s out there for Android and Apple phones to help you with any support issues you might encounter. Granted Apple has a bigger advantage with brick-and-mortar locations for quick, hands-on service and support but my understanding is most service techs at carrier stores are fairly knowledgeable of Android devices.
/cheers
I read an article on CNET recently where the author claims that Apple is in bigger trouble than Microsoft. Granted he was speaking from a mobile perspective and perhaps from that point of view there might be some credence, but overall, I think Microsoft is in a deeper hole. Be that as it may, I do think he has a point (among many other people who have said similar things) that the iPhone is declining in popularity.
The iPhone used to be the hip gadget that everyone wanted, but now that everyone does have one, its not the cool thing to have anymore. This is the reason the author of the article thinks that Apple is in bigger trouble. I’m still really excited to pick up the new iPhone 5S this month and its primarily because I have the 4S and I’m due for a new phone on my contract. Honestly, though, I’m really only getting an iPhone because of the cost savings and comfort level. I’m just more comfortable with the iOS interface and I really don’t want to convert all my music.
Beyond that I don’t really have any brand loyalty. I think the Android phones are great phones as well (I’m not even going to comment on Windows Phone – not worth the text). In fact when people ask me “iPhone or Android”, I tell them that either one are great and they should go to a store that sells both and try it out. You need to pick the phone that you’re more comfortable using (and if that, unfortunately, happens to be a Windows Phone, then so be it).
If the giants are toppling (i.e. Apple and Microsoft) I’m more concerned about how that affects the industry then I am about how it will affect what cell phone I own. It will be a harsh reality for IT folks if Apple and Microsoft fall. Whether you love them or hate them, Apple and Microsoft are industry staples and are necessary to keep our world moving forward, Google can’t do it alone.