* Posts by Bruce Ordway

452 publicly visible posts • joined 22 Apr 2007

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After outrage over Chrome ad-block block plan, Google backs away from crippling web advert, content filters

Bruce Ordway

Re: Who are we kidded by?

>>>Chrome... limit... API...replace with a neutered version(s).

>>>will Google put enough pressure to Firefox so it neuters itself too

Which is why I'm already running FireFox ESR (for now)

I've already decided that I'm losing too much functionality with Quantum (at least NoScript has managed to mostly survive).

I've hoping some clear alternatives to Chrome/Quantum will emerge in the near future.

To date I haven't heard of any browsers that are compelling.

Only plebs use Office 2019 over Office 365, says Microsoft's weird new ad campaign

Bruce Ordway

Re: Microsoft office had everything I needed about 15 years ago

I'm still using Office 2003 which I prefer due to the way Access works. In my opinion MS has been trashing Access in each of their subsequent releases.

Occasionally I will run into "number of rows" limit in Excel.

Other than Excel I don't find anything appealing about the latest Office offerings from MS.

I'm a crime-fighter, says FamilyTreeDNA boss after being caught giving folks' DNA data to FBI

Bruce Ordway

I actually do not see any problem

>>enter the DNA from a crime scene....search the DB... matches or familial matches.... criminals

>>do not see any problem

The amount of variables involved and the opportunity for mistakes is what concerns me.

Even if law enforcement has good intentions with the use of DNA, there are plenty of examples for them reaching the wrong conclusions.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/02/dna-in-the-dock-how-flawed-techniques-send-innocent-people-to-prison

Bruce Ordway

DNA testing - necessary or vanity

Since I'm adopted I have looked at DNA analysis services.

As I considered privacy, there seemed to be too many loopholes for my comfort.

I seriously doubt that anything would ever come back & actually bite me but...

had this nagging feeling that DNA could somehow be abused in the future.

Other than idle curiosity, I really have no real need to discover anything about blood relations either.

Even if I had a level trust, there is guarantee any relative of mine has used any of the many DNA testing services.

Ooh, my machine is SO much faster than yours... Oh, wait, that might be a bit of a problem...

Bruce Ordway

Re: Well that was an invisible problem

>>started playing DOOM at lunchtime.

Which also led to my campaign to migrate from hubs to switches.

Even with switches I still must be careful about what time I perform some file copying.

Much like the example in this article, I support a site where most users rely on access to an ERP application server. I learned not to copy certain large files during business hours.

Crystal ball gazers declare that Windows 10 has finally overtaken Windows 7

Bruce Ordway

Re: It's my fault

>>all this flat UI stuff is bad

Not sure about impact on my vision but...

I find the modern interfaces to be less intuitive and slower for most users.

I believe that for the most part, "flat design" rarely follows function.

Doom: The FPS that wowed players, gummed up servers, and enraged admins

Bruce Ordway

users immediately took up valuable network resources

I remember the day Doom arrived at one site.

I was working for a small company, still using older 10BT hubs.

Word was going around that the network was slow.

First thing I noticed was activity LEDs on some ports were constantly lit up.

When I checked one of the cubicles, discovered my first Doom player.

Turned out the whole department was playing, including their manager.

Initial result was the release the first company policy by senior management related to computer use.

Eventually, also upgraded to a 100BT switch.

Ecuador says 'yes' to Assange 'freedom' deal, but Julian says 'nyet'

Bruce Ordway

Is there money involved, and where does it come from/go to?

6 years in an Embassy?

I don't have much of an opinion on Julian Assange.

However, I am curious about any financial deals related to his residency at the embassy of Ecuador.

I'd like to live in an embassy too - but without WikiLeaks to pick up the tab...

I'm considering a gofundme campaign.

Groundhog Day comes early as Intel Display Drivers give Windows 10 the silent treatment

Bruce Ordway

Re: Office 2010

>> Office 2003 was last decent version

I agree, I still use version 2003 on my personal workstation.

While I do use newer versions at various sites I work with.... so far I have not been not impressed by most of the new features. No compelling reason to upgrade here.

In fact I wonder if there is any room for Office products to change in any significant way?

Goodnight Kepler! NASA scientists lay the exoplanet expert to rest as it runs out of fuel

Bruce Ordway

Re: Fuel? Why no solar panels?

>>electricity to move... NOT (yet)

Now I wonder if you could use electricity to move a body in space?

If motion might result from spinning eccentric thing(s)?

And for fans of SciFi/fantasy, didn't the Stargate run on electricity?

Google Cloud chief joins Saudi shindig exodus over journalist's worrying disappearance

Bruce Ordway

Re: Follow the money

>>Follow the money

I can't stop imagining a future Doctor Who episode that will be entitled "Davros in the desert"

In Windows 10 Update land, nobody can hear you scream

Bruce Ordway

Re: Installing Windows 7 on Sky/Kaby Lake CPUs

>>Sure, they messed the interface up in windows 8 but

>>it had vastly improved again by 8.1 and got even better with 10.

Really?

Personally I have a few issues with Windows 10... none are related to my ability to learn new things.

1.) The interface is too inconsistent. It feels like so much of it was shoehorned in.

2.) Lack of user control over telemetry, phoning home.

3.) Forcing updates... I prefer the Win7 update options, where I can choose to ignore, or download and install at my convenience.

It's not like I'm unfamiliar with the new OS. I use Win10 at multiple sites - were someone else is responsible for managing it. I just don't see the appeal of Win10 at this point. Maybe someday....

As for Linux, I like it enough but I can't really use it for much. Most of the work I do relies on .Net.

On the third day of Windows Microsoft gave to me: A file-munching run of DELTREE

Bruce Ordway

3 things

3 reasons why I don't have to worry...

1) Continuing to use Windows 7 (and manually apply any updates)

2) Store all my files on an external drive

3) Backup all my files to a separate external drive.

I know I'll need to switch to Windows 10 at some point.

I only hope that the longer I wait, MS will use the time to clean Win10 up.

'World's favorite airline' favorite among hackers: British Airways site, app hacked for two weeks

Bruce Ordway

back to paying in cash for everything

>> back to paying in cash for everything

And if vendors can easily offer pricing without credit card fees baked into them?

My local gas station maintains a "cash only" pump which was cheaper but... the owner once explained to me it was complicated by credit card companies. According to him, prices are inflated due to credit card companies and there are restrictions to offering "discounts" for cash/alternate methods of pay... at least here in the US.

NSA sought data on 534 MILLION phone calls in 2017

Bruce Ordway

Seems like a lot

The thought of being a the target of NSA searches is kind of terrifying.

However, I'm not sure I should be too concerned about my calls inadvertently showing up as noise in search results due to the criteria being too broad.

Yes the numbers do seem big but... it would be nice if they could be put in some kind of perspective.

I really wonder how these correspond to the total number of calls and size of populations.

Maybe someone here knows where to find the information needed to put the report in better context?

I did find one study on calls that I found interesting but it didn't really help answer my questions.

http://www.dhl.com/content/dam/Campaigns/gci2014/downloads/dhl_gci_2014_study_high.pdf

Hookup classifieds ad sheet Backpage.com seized in Feds shutdown

Bruce Ordway

Re: Meat market

>>Mussolini's solution to the problem

Yes, when you know there will always be a demand, why not just manage it?

Wars on drugs, alcohol, prostitution, etc.. seem just as likely to empower criminals as they are to halt any of the practices.

More ad-versarial tech: Mozilla to pop limited ad blocker into Firefox

Bruce Ordway

They lost me with Quantum

I used to love all the control I had from add-ons but..... since the release of Quantum I've stayed away. Hopefully this means there is a brighter future ahead for Firefox users like me.

Fermi famously asked: 'Where is everybody?' Probably dead, says renewed Drake equation

Bruce Ordway

Re: Why hasn't Earth been visited yet?

>>I'll admit I don't know exactly how many alien intelligences are here on Earth

The documentary series "People of Earth" gives some good estimates.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4695530/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

DropEverything! DropBox DropsDocs to DropStocks

Bruce Ordway

Re: Drop?

>> (don't laugh) a USB stick.

I to own my hardware too.

In addition to many USB sticks, I have several external drives and a DNS-343.

And for the cloud, I think there are too many free alternatives to DropBox (for personal use).

I did find DropBox to be practical for an ERP consulting firm I once worked for.

The group was made up of remote users and had no physical offices.

DropBox was a convenient way to share a lot of information.

When clever code kills, who pays and who does the time? A Brit expert explains to El Reg

Bruce Ordway

Forbidden Planet

Before we tackle AI, this question... is Forbidden Planet just the best sci-fi movie of the 50's, or the best of of all-time?

>>Suspecting an error with the system's sensors, he waited

I wonder if AI has/will be developed with the capability to doubt itself?

Newsflash: Car cyber-security still sucks

Bruce Ordway

Re: Tech + Knowlegy

>>ABS

This reminds me of a presentation by someone at DARPA. I'm thinking late 90's? The person spoke about different levels of talent with technology and where it is deployed in the workforce. He expressed some concern about how the most talented people tended to gravitate away essential industries. He suggested mostly "average" programmers could be working on critical systems. One example he used was automotive manufacturing and ABS. The scenarios he described have always haunted me just a little. I wish I could remember the guys name or find that talk and revisit today.

UK lacks engineering and tech skills to make government's industrial strategy work – report

Bruce Ordway

Re: All the jobs were sent offshore to get it for cheap....

>> German Manufacturing StreamRoller is the FREE technical education

I believe up until the late 70's early 80's,the US offered a lot of free/cheap trade/tech education too. As far as I know... they've mostly been discontinued and today we have more education "businesses".

The Quantum of Firefox: Why is this one unlike any other Firefox?

Bruce Ordway

Re: 30 per cent faster -- but NoScript?

>>but sometimes you have to choose.

In my case had to choose FireFox 56 with NoScript

I'll be happy to upgrade after things mature a bit.

For now I've turned off auto-updates.

off-topic....auto-updates

Reminds me why I am still running Windows 7.

Maybe I'm paranoid but I think developers consider users like me as "outliers".

Features that are important to me seem more likely to be dropped/disregarded in version updates.

(And stuff I could care less about keeps being added).

How did someone hijack your Gmail? Phishing, keylogger or password reuse, we're guessing

Bruce Ordway

Re: VPN

I use a PC with a VPN, NoScript and auto-clear my browser cache.

Google constantly recognizes my device as "different" and presents a series of verification steps.

I slipped up on a recent trip and ended up being locked out of my account for several hours.

I have a few backup email accounts but... didn't have those credentials handy on this trip.

So I'm not currently a big fan of Googles system.

But don't know what better alternatives there are.

Why are we disappointed with the best streaming media box on the market?

Bruce Ordway

The exciting future of streaming TV is going to be in personalization

If I were just starting out I'd probably stream but...I still prefer downloading.

My wife also has just about every streaming device, streaming services and cable services so... I have been able to experience A LOT of media types. She gave me a Roku last Christmas. While I saw the potential I still felt like it was not "quite there" yet. Navigation felt clunky, limited personalization. Even with all that variety available to me (that is basically free)... I still prefer downloaded content.

Granted downloading requires more gear, waiting time and storage space, etc...

Telco forgot to renew its web domain, broke deaf folks' video calls – now gets a $3m paddlin'

Bruce Ordway

Re: Here in the UK... off topic

>>Police-only-investigate-burglaries-at-even-numbered-homes

>>no noticeable impact on victim satisfaction,

>> and nor did it affect the overall ratio of scenes visited and suspects identified

Interesting article - it tells me it is too difficult for police to solve most simple theft in modern cities.

In the US don't police really investigate the site of burglary either. They file a report and with luck, stolen goods may pop up later and assuming your property includes unique identifiers, might even be returned. Maybe it's time for some online crime reporting.

Equifax mega-breach: Security bod flags header config conflict

Bruce Ordway

Experian, FICO, Equifax, TransUnion, Innovis, PRBC

I'm wondering if any other review will take place as a result of this breach.

I'm sure there is a need for some of the services these companies provide but they way they have evolved has left me feeling uneasy.

I especially like this from Wikipedia....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_bureau#United_States

"So far an economic model to describe this industry has not been attempted, while the fundamentals are counter intuitive to any market known, since other industries (finance, banking, insurance) sponsor consumer reporting agencies to process information while consumers pay CRAs to receive that information. The utility of the consumer is hard to calculate since the consumer is given no recourse to correct mistakes processed about them, hence the dynamics of this triangle involving consumers, credit reporters, and sponsoring industries remain undefined."

US Navy suffers third ship collision this year

Bruce Ordway

Brings back memories

Luckily my ship was only damaged once while it was being piloted into port. Nobody was injured in that incident. In fact it was a nice break for most of us. Our stay was extended for repairs at one of the nicer foreign ports .

I do remember having frequent, vivid dreams about collisions. Especially when we were involved in exercises. I'm a bit of a pessimist anyway and at that time I really didn't have a lot of faith in my fellow crew-members.

I think it is very hard to train and maintain crews during peacetime in general. In my time, (I believe) the quality personnel went to the carriers and subs. Smaller ships like mine received whoever... when they were available. Ships are (usually) going to be sent out if needed, regardless of manpower issues. Imagine a bunch of bored kids after months at sea. Accidents always seemed like an inevitability to me.

Can the last person watching desktop video please turn out the light?

Bruce Ordway

Re: Not surprised. No. Not even slightly.

>>a big screen, makes for better TV viewing.

>>And the twenty-buck-stick makes any old TV relevant again

I prefer a PC/Laptop output to any flat screen TV with VGA input.

Bruce Ordway

I have blocked via noscript

noscript here too

- now some sites are blocking me (instead of me blocking them) - if that's the way they want to be, I don't need them.

With flash disabled too, only a few things been slipping thru.

But... I'm sure advertisers are working hard to overcome blocking techniques.

Bixby, why is Samsung's heir apparent facing 12 years in the slammer?

Bruce Ordway

Re: Off Topic

Now that you mention it

I watched a movie about - Korean with english subs.

One detail that really stuck with me was that Korea has a "Blue House" instead of a White House"

Largest ever losses fail to dent Tesla's bulging order book

Bruce Ordway

16 billion

Share price from $181 to $347 since December 2016?

Betting "there will be profit"?

>>why volume car makers are so cautious

Introducing a brand new, defect free model does seem like a lot to ask.

Good luck to them.

It took DEF CON hackers minutes to pwn these US voting machines

Bruce Ordway

Re: Which models?

>> When/where used

Per http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/30/hackers-voting-machines-las-vegas-241130

- used until just two years ago.

- a model still used in parts of seven states, as well as all of the state of Nevada.

And this was nice too....

>> Though the device was supposedly wiped before it was sold by the government at auction

>>the hackers were able to uncover the results the machine tallied in 2002.

Bruce Ordway

Which models?

>>Diebolds to Sequoia and Winvote equipment

>> were bought on eBay or from government auctions

I wonder how old these voting machines were, when/where they were in service?

I do remember Diebolds as being notoriously insecure... a long time ago.

I wouldn't know about today... would not be surprised if they've been improved, are still junk or both.

China censors drop the soap operas, sitcoms

Bruce Ordway

Prison populations

>>Country Prison population Population per 100,000

>>US 2,193,798 737

>>CHINA 1,548,498 118

>>RUSSIA 874,161 615

When I see a list like this I ask what is being left a lot out of the story.

Smaller numbers may not always be better if we had more to work with.

Source, types of crimes and sentences?

Judge uses 1st Amendment on Pokemon Go park ban. It's super effective!

Bruce Ordway

liablility

>>Large crowds of like-minded people suddenly appearing at the local park

>>are at the very least quite intimidating

No doubt. I'd blame warm sunny days.

Jodie Who-ttaker? The Doctor is in

Bruce Ordway

I'm probably more interested in knowing about the next batch of writers.

If the stories are good, who cares what gender or color?

I think part of the charm from the Tom Baker era is light fun, tongue in cheek.

The last few years it seemed to me like Dr Who would occasionally try a little too hard to make us feel or awaken our social conscious.

Not that I'm not opposed to stories that deliver a message. I just want to be entertained while they are at it.

Curb your enthusiasm, 'India's smartphones are changing the world' fans

Bruce Ordway

Re: Carphone warehouse

>> MP3 player, camera, FM Radio, eBook reader (epub or mobi)

>> SD card slot would be nice.

I'm hoping for a phone that will finally make my current gear desktop.

i.e. ability to connect to my wi-fi, output to multiple monitors, use an external keyboard and power up from a wall socket.

Until then I'm happy with the conventional equipment while I'm in my home office and a simple flip phone when when I'm "out and about".

When 'Saving The Internet' means 'Saving Crony Capitalism'

Bruce Ordway

Funding...

I still can't tell if he is saying net neutrality is good or bad.

Or just us telling us to give up because of the powerful groups who have a special interest in the outcome?

The author is definitely entertaining and accomplished at debating issues but... I get the feeling he really only cares about is being controversial.

Discredit a journo? Easy, that'll be $55k. Fix an election? Oh, I can do that for just $400k

Bruce Ordway

people can insulate themselves

"...cross-checking stories... beyond the headline"

I also watch out for those stories that are "so good" I don't even care if they're true.

And remembering I'm consuming news as entertainment can keep things in perspective.

Congressman drafts COVFEFE Act to preserve Trump's Twitter tantrums

Bruce Ordway

What is Lord BucketHeads stance on tweeting?

I've recently become aware of a British politician called Lord BucketHead.

I wonder when he might take comment on tweeting and any futuristic legislation relates to it?

Hotel guest goes broke after booking software gremlin makes her pay for strangers' rooms

Bruce Ordway

Re: never use a debit card for credit ?

I actually prefer my debit card over my credit card.

The only issue is my debit has a daily cap, so occasionally I have to use my credit card as a backup.

>>customer didn't qualify to get a credit card

I thought that is impossible in the U.S.?

Amazon granted patent to put parachutes inside shipping labels

Bruce Ordway

Depending where you wnat to land

I thought I saw Amazon is already using parachutes to drop packages in Africa?

Seemed like a good idea..... for remote areas.

'My PC needs to lose weight' says user with FAT filesystem

Bruce Ordway

IHTFP

IHTFP with alternate meanings at my old workplace.

To your co-workers:....................... I hate this f***ing place

But if your manager ever asked:..... I have truly found peace

Feeling Locky, punk? Ransomware grew eight-fold last year

Bruce Ordway

Numbers behind percenage?

>>more than eight-fold (752 per cent) increase as a mode of attack

Would be nice to see the numbers behind this.

I've noticed a lot of articles are using percentages these days.

I suspect it's easier to be dramatic without the details to put things in perspective.

Redmond puts wall around Windows 10 for Chinese government edition

Bruce Ordway

Legal, Pirated or Free?

>>a sustained campaign by Microsoft and the Chinese

>> most copies of the OS used are now legal

Does this statement seem a little bold?

Could only find an old article.. maybe no longer applies?

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/microsoft-gives-up-on-charging-for-windows-in-china/

After stiffing us with Trump, Weiner 'fesses to underage cock shot rot

Bruce Ordway

So sad

Weiner looked like such a promising politician until... he didn't.

I'm a little sick whenever I think of him now and all the people he damaged.

Fake news is fake news, says Google-backed research

Bruce Ordway

Optional

Is this article an attempt to defend one specific online source?

I am still a fan of Noam Chomsky and believe that inaccurate views are continually generated by multiple sources. I routinely hear people repeating this information as if it were an established fact.

As for the term "Fake News", my view is that it is just a nice buzzword.

Forensic accountants appointed to pore over Post Office IT scandal

Bruce Ordway

pore

...pore as in “to read or study attentively"

My spelling seems to be getting worse with each new year.

This morning I would have used "pour".

Leaked NSA point-and-pwn hack tools menace Win2k to Windows 8

Bruce Ordway

Re: So... do you believe that Clinton's Server wasn't hacked?

None of us can be sure if it was hacked but... wasn't it an Apple server?

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