An interesting commentary about the value of rest and the nature of creativity and innovation.
Mr. Bush, are we really safer?
George W. Bush weighs in today about the airline bombing plot that was uncovered in Britain. He says that America is safer now than it was on September 11th, and indicates that it is a "stark reminder that his [Britain] nation is at war with Islamic fascists.".
It also seems that this is a stark reminder that almost 5 years since September 11th that we really aren’t any safer. We are simply dodging bullets and getting lucky enough not to let any of these plots come to fruition.
It is a stark reminder of the failed policies of the Bush administration in that there hasn’t been any progress made in the "war on terror".
With each plot that is revealed and held up to the media as a triumph, I suggest that it is further evidence of failure. Being successful in curbing terrorism isn’t a matter of catching these plots before they come to fruition, but on understanding and addressing the reasons why there are people who want to wage these sorts of attacks.
A "stark reminder"? Yes, that we are losing this so called war.
LAWS OF THE NATURAL UNIVERSE
Sent to me by my friend Karen. Quite funny . . . 🙂
LAWS OF THE NATURAL UNIVERSE
Law of the Workshop:
Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
Law of Probability:
The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity
of your act.
Law of Mechanical Repair:
After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch
or you’ll have to pee.
Law of the Telephone:
If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.
Law of the Alibi:
If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire,
the very next morning you will have a flat tire.
Variation Law:
If you
change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will start to
move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
Law of the Bath :
When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
Law of Close Encounters:
The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with
someone you don’t want to be seen with
Law of the Result:
When you try to prove to someone that a machine won’t work, it will.
Law of Biomechanics:
The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
Law of the Theatre:
At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last..
Law of Coffee:
As soon as
you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do
something which will last until the coffee is cold.
Murphy’s Law of Lockers:
If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
Law of Rugs/Carpets:
The chances
of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering
are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.
Law of Logical Argument:
Anything is possible if you don’t know what you are talking about.
Brown’s Law:
If the shoe fits, it’s ugly.
Oliver’s Law:
A closed mouth gathers no feet.
Wilson ‘s Law:
As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it..
Current American Idol winner gets more votes than any president in the history of our country has received
Doesn’t this have the flavor of something that you read in the history books that happened during the decline and fall of Rome?
Using UltraVNC for Remote Desktop Connection and Support
The first thing that you’l need to do is download and install the UltraVNC application for the computer that you want people to be connecting to. It is available on the UltraVNC site. Look for a link "stable version" or similar. The file that I downloaded was UltraVNC-100-RC18-Setup.zip.
Unpack and install on the computer on which you’ll do the remote administering.
When you are installing it, you’ll be presented with a screen that asks if you want to "Register Ultr@VNC as a System Service" and if you want "Start or Restart Ultr@VNC Service". Just leave all of those boxes blank. Really all you need is the Viewer installed and running to accept connections.
After the installation finished. Right click on the Ultr@VNC icon in the tray and select properties. If the icon isn’t there than go to your Start Menu -> Programs -> UltraVNC -> Ultr@VNC Server -> Run Service Helper.
When the properties window comes up you want to do the following:
- Check the Accept Socket Connections and put a password in the textbox (VERY IMPORTANT!!)
- Select the "AUTO" radio button so that the server will pick the 5900 port.
- Check the "Allow Loopback Connections" checkbox.
- Check the "Remove Desktop Wallpaper" checkbox.
Press Apply and then OK. Try to connect to the server. If actually on the server when trying to connect, the screen will go into a loop and and keep displaying the same thing over and over again like two mirros looking at each other. If everything works this step is complete.
Then go to the How To Create page and download the custom.zip file.
You can add a custom background, icons, and a logo if you’d like. The most important is the configuration in the helpdesk.txt. Make sure to add the IP address of your VNC server
To set up encryption:
First, make sure that you have MSRC4Plugin_NoReg.dsm plugin and that you have placed it in the UltraVNC Program Files Directory. Then run the viewer (click on the "Run Ultr@VNC Viewer" in the Program files dropdown for UltraVNC). You should see the aforementioned .dsm listed in the "Use DSMPlugin" pulldown.
Select the plugin and click "Config"
It will most likely drop the .dsm file in the same directory as your UtraVNC executables, but if not, do a search for new_r4.key
To use encryption, make sure that you run the VNC server from a command prompt as follows:
vncviewer.exe -listen -dsmplugin MSRC4Plugin_NoReg.dsm
To have it listen on a specific port enter the following command:
vncviewer.exe -listen 80
I originally wrote this article back in 2006. The following is the article updated to work with Windows 7 and 8. I installed the Viewer on a Windows 7 Professional VM.
Yermo sent me a link to the UltraVNC site. A very cool way to connect remotely to a Windows Desktop for customer support. This will allow you to provide a customer with an one-click, outbound connection to your system that will then allow you to administer their computer remotely.
I’ve just set this up for us to use with customer support, creating a custom version.
Here’s how I did it . . .
The first thing that you’l need to do is download and install the UltraVNC application for the computer that you want people to be connecting to. It is available on the UltraVNC site. Look for a link “stable version” or similar. The files that I downloaded were:
- setup x64 1190 1.1.9.0
- addons x64 1190 1.1.9.0
Unpack and install on the computer on which you’ll do the remote administering.
I installed the UltraVNC Server and UltraVNC Viewer from the pick list on the “Select Components” screen.
When you are installing it, you’ll be presented with a screen that asks if you want to “Register Ultr@VNC as a System Service” and if you want “Start or Restart Ultr@VNC Service”. Just leave all of those boxes blank. Really all you need is the Viewer installed and running to accept connections.
I also installed the addons and selected all of the items in the “Select Components” dialog:
- Install mirror driver
- Add encryption plugins
- Add schook
- W8hook
- W8keys
After the installation finishes go to the Start menu and click on ‘All Programs -> Ultra VNC -> Ultra VNC Server. It should start the server and put an Ultra VNC icon in the menu tray at the bottom right of your screen.
Right click on the Ultr@VNC icon in the tray and select Admin Properties.
When the properties window comes up you want to do the following:
- Check the Accept Socket Connections and enter two different passwords, one in the VNC and another in the View-Only input box (VERY IMPORTANT!!)
- Select the “AUTO” radio button so that the server will pick the 5900 port.
- Check the “Allow Loopback Connections” checkbox.
- Check the “Remove Desktop Wallpaper” checkbox.
Press Apply and then OK. Try to connect to the server, by opening up the UltraVNC Viewer and connect to localhost. If you are still on on the server when trying to connect, the screen will go into a loop and and keep displaying the same thing over and over again like two mirros looking at each other. If everything works this step is complete.
To set up encryption:
- Go back to the UltraVNC Server Admin Property Dialog (see above)
- Check “DSM Plugin, Use”, and then click on the dropdown and select “SecureVNCPlugin64.dsm”
- Click on Config:
- Add a passphrase
- Click on Generate Client Auth Key and save
The next step is to generate the Viewer to distribute to those who want to make a connection to your server.
Then go to the How To Create page and download the custom.zip file.
You can add a custom background, icons, and a logo if you’d like. The most important is the configuration in the helpdesk.txt. Make sure to add the IP address of your VNC server
To set up encryption:
First, make sure that you have MSRC4Plugin_NoReg.dsm plugin and that you have placed it in the UltraVNC Program Files Directory. Then run the viewer (click on the “Run Ultr@VNC Viewer” in the Program files dropdown for UltraVNC). You should see the aforementioned .dsm listed in the “Use DSMPlugin” pulldown.
Select the plugin and click “Config”
It will most likely drop the .dsm file in the same directory as your UtraVNC executables, but if not, do a search for new_r4.key
To use encryption, make sure that you run the VNC server from a command prompt as follows:
vncviewer.exe -listen -dsmplugin MSRC4Plugin_NoReg.dsm
To have it listen on a specific port enter the following command:
vncviewer.exe -listen 80
New element found – Bushcronium
Sent to me by Duncan:
A major research institution has just announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named "Bushcronium."
Bushcronium has one neutron, 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and 224 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an Atomic mass of 311. These 311 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.
Since Bushcronium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected, as it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Bushcronium causes one reaction to take over 4 days to complete when it would normally take less than a second. Bushcronium has a normal half-life of multiples of 4 years; it does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.
In fact, Bushcronium’s mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron-promotion leads some scientists to believe that Bushcronium is formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity in concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as "Critical Morass."
When catalyzed with money, Bushcronium activates Foxnewsium, an element which radiates orders of magnitude, more energy, albeit as incoherent noise, since it has 1/2 as many peons but twice as many morons.
A young ventriloquist is touring the clubs and one night . . .
A young ventriloquist is touring the clubs and one night he’s doing a show in a small town in Arkansas. With his dummy on his knee, he starts going through his usual dumb blonde jokes when a blonde woman in the 4th row stands on her chair and starts shouting: . . . . "I’ve heard enough of your stupid blonde jokes. What makes you think you can stereotype women that way? What does the color of a person’s hair have to do with her worth as a human being? It’s guys like you who keep women like me from being respected at work and in the community and from reaching our full potential as a person. Because you and your kind continue to perpetuate discrimination against not only blondes, but women in general and all in the name of humor!" The embarrassed ventriloquist begins to apologize, and the blonde yells, "You stay out of this, mister! I’m talking to that little shit on your knee."
Chili Cook Off
This is one of the funniest forwarded around e-mails that I’ve ever seen.
Enjoy! 🙂
Visitor from up North
“Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off.
The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge’s
table asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two
judges (Native Texans) that the chili wouldn’t be all that spicy and, besides, they told me I could have
free beer during the tasting, so I accepted”.
Here are the scorecard notes from the event:
CHILI # 1 – MIKE’S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI…
Judge # 1 — A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.
Judge # 2 — Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
Judge # 3 (Frank) — Holy shit, what the hell is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your
driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that’s the worst one. These Texans are crazy.
CHILI # 2 – AUSTIN’S AFTERBURNER CHILI…
Judge # 1 — Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.
Judge # 2 — Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.
Judge # 3 — Keep this out of the reach of children. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.
CHILI # 3 – FRED’S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI…
Judge # 1 — Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick.
Judge # 2 — A bit salty, good use of peppers.
Judge # 3 — Call the EPA. I’ve located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I’m getting shit-faced from all of the beer.
CHILI # 4 – BUBBA’S BLACK MAGIC…
Judge # 1 — Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.
Judge # 2 — Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.
Judge # 3 — I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to
burn out taste buds? Sally, the beermaid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. That 300-LB woman is starting to look HOT…just like this nuclear waste I’m eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?
CHILI # 5 LISA’S LEGAL LIP REMOVER…
Judge # 1 — Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive.
Judge # 2 — Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.
Judge # 3 — My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I’m burning my lips off. It really pisses me off that the other judges
asked me to stop screaming. Screw those rednecks.
CHILI # 6 – VERA’S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY…
Judge # 1 — Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.
Judge # 2 — The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, and garlic. Superb.
Judge # 3 — My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulfuric flames. I shit on myself
when I farted and I’m worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can’t feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my ass with a snow cone.
CHILI # 7 – SUSAN’S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI…
Judge # 1 — A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.
Judge # 2 — Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about Judge #3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably.
Judge # 3 — You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn’t feel a thing. I’ve lost sight
in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which
slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy,
they’ll know what killed me. I’ve decided to stop breathing it’s too painful. Screw it; I’m not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I’ll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.
CHILI # 8 – BIG TOM’S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI…
Judge # 1 — The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence.
Judge # 2 — This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he’s going to make it. Poor feller, wonder how he’d have reacted to really hot chili?
Judge # 3 – No Report
Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination – devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues – which a man must develop himself; if he has them forced down him, he will vomit them out.
An interesting quote from "Starship Troopers", Robert A. Heinlein 1959. The movie that came out in 1997 seems to have very little in common with the book; an excellent discussion of the true meaning of citizenship and the scarcity of honor and self-sacrifice among the human race.
Click the "READ MORE" link for more information and links about this book.
Here’s a very interesting paper discussing the The Nature of "Federal Service" in Rober A. Heinlein’s "Starship Troopers": Gifford, James. 1996.
Gifford’s Heinlein Home Page
The Internet Book List Heinlein Page with a list of all of his works
Stop throwing the Constitution in my face. It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!
George W. Bush, 2005
Wow, evidently three white house aids corroberated Bush’s comment on
our Constitution. Check out a couple of related articles: