Sobig-F blamed for massive increase in spam

This would explain the inordinate amounts of SPAM I am receiving these days. Read more at The Register.

Inherent insecurity

I read this article Inherent insecurity | CNET News.com thinking that Mr. Brittan was going to bash developers and coders for not carefully inspecting their lines of programming code. As I read on, I sensed he was going to blame PC users for not being proactive in protecting their computers against viruses. Finally, he came to the point -- he was plugging utility computing.

While I agree with his point that Microsoft is not only to blame in this war with viruses, I think users need to be more responsible and developers more diligent with scanning their code for problems. Utility computing is certainly a nice solution for large enterprises, but as a consumer, I don't want to have to pay to use a program.

The upside to utility computing is that I can access programs at will. If the business model allows for it, I can purchase a day's use of one program and keep others available for a monthly basis. Maybe someday we'll not have to worry about viruses attacking our individual computers when everyone has equal access to the Internet.

IBM to Announce Micro-Chip Breakthrough

The revolution that is nanotechnology is beginning to make some progress. Read more at IBM to Announce Micro-Chip Breakthrough.

BT, Intel and Microsoft get into bed at your home

While you won't see something like this happening in the US anytime soon, I think this is a great idea to bring PC's into every home. An initiative like this will not only help educate workers, thus making them more valuable to their employers, but will make employees happier, which leads to more productivity in the long run. Read more at silicon.com.

Gateway Media PC Designed For Stereo Rack

This is my idea of a Home Theater PC: Gateway Media PC Designed For Stereo Rack. I'll be keeping an eye on these for a future home theater system.

MPx200 for $29.95 AR

Exactly what I was referring to in the previous post. Why do I need to ask for all these rebates? If the phone is going to cost me $30, don't make me jump through hoops to get it at that price! I'm not a circus animal for your entertainment here. I'm your purchasing consumer! You're supposed to make me happy so I'll spend my money on your equipment. I think the corporate world is just blind and stupid these days.

See Pocket PC Thoughts - News, Views, Rants & Raves for more information.

Cell phone lockdown

This article -- Cell phone lockdown | CNET News.com -- makes the frustration of many cellular phone users evident. Why do I need to buy a new cellular phone from a new carrier if I have one that works just fine, and is the same type of phone (i.e. TDMA, CDMA or GSM)? On the top of my wish list is the Motorola MPx200, which is currently only available at AT&T Wireless. My cellular provider is Cingular, and I would like to use this phone on their GSM network. Rumor has it that Cingular will make the phone available some time early next year. Why can't I just buy the phone unlocked and use it with whatever provider I want?

It's a very simple argument: If the provider spends all that money on developing the infrastructure and then you can buy the phone from any vendor, how does the provier make enough to cover infrastructure development? I still think it's a lousy argument! The consumer should be the one benefitting here, not the provider.

Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 review by PC Magazine

I currently administer Small Business Server 2000, which was a big step up from Small Business Server 4.5. I'm looking forward to this version, although I'll probably skip it in lieu of Longhorn. Read more at PC Magazine.

NetDisk Mini Network Storage Device

Thanks to the guys at Gizmodo, I'm considering one of these as a network/backup drive. It seems easy to use, and it's ability to connect to both USB 2.0 and Ethernet make it very convenient. Read more here: MobileMag : NetDisk Mini Network Storage Device - Notebooks - Mobilemag.com

Nearly extinct whistling language revived

I wonder if the wolf call originated in this language :-) CNN.com - Nearly extinct whistling language revived - Nov. 18, 2003

ATI To Tivo-Ize Networked Homes

Essentially, you need two computers with ATI video cards (one All-in-Wonder and one Radeon), and you'll be able to distribute your video among your computers. Very cool... Read more at PCWorld.com - ATI To Tivo-Ize Networked Homes.

Virtual Bubble Wrap

OK, this is the week of silly, yet enjoyable, posts. Today's entry, brought to you by someone at my office, involves virtual bubble wrap. I need this after the hectic last two weeks.

Church Sign Generator

While I was catching up on news at Bloglines today, I found a link to the Church Sign Generator via Scoble's site, which refers to Code In Zen. This is too funny.

Intel Smashes Transistor Limitations

CPU speed had been stagnant lately, so this is big news. Read about it at PCWorld.com - Intel Smashes Transistor Limitations

Outlook 2003 Add-in: Video Email

This sounds cool! I'm going to test this out with my Minolta diMage xT and my Tablet PC. Download details: Outlook 2003 Add-in: Video Email

New Worm Steals User Data

Another dangerous worm to be on the lookout for. Although in this day and age, it's almost irresponsible to have a computer without some form of antivirus software running unit. Visit PCWorld.com for more information.

Microsoft Office System Launch Event

I attended the Launch Event in Davie, FL yesterday. What a great event! Not only did I manage to learn a thing or two about the new technology available in Office System 2003, but I also received a copy of Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 and Microsoft Office OneNote 2003 for free! That's a full copy for free! Visit Microsoft Office System Launch Event to see if you have a Launch Event coming to your area.

Microsoft has made real progress in the rights management arena. Using Outlook 2003, Microsoft's Blain Barton showed us how to keep someone from forwarding, copying, or printing an email they received. Technology can be used to prevent inside "leaks" from making it out of your business.

Blain also demonstrated Microsoft's Virtual PC. Virtual PC is used to create virtual machines on your computer running a different operating system. Virtual PC can be used to run operating systems from DOS to Windows XP Pro. You can download a 45-day free trial from Microsoft.

Gadget may wreak traffic havoc

Who was the entrepreneur that thought this up? There was a time where flashing your high beams would trigger lights to change, but that was too easy. Now, a gadget which has no business being in the public sector is available for all of us to travel like an emergency vehicle. Flashing lights aren't allowed on regular vehicles because it makes them look like emergency vehicles. Shouldn't something like this fall under that same category? Visit Gadget may wreak traffic havoc - 10/26/03, for more information. Of course, if your town or city doesn't have the receivers for these things, no harm done.

Women join New York nude photo shoot

I'm an art lover, but this is news. CNN.com - Women join New York nude photo shoot - Oct. 26, 2003 I remember when Cristos surrounded islands in Miami with pink cloth.

Let water power your mobile phone: scientists discover new source of electricity

Pretty interesting concept. Let's hope no special interest groups quash this new form of energy. Read more about letting water power your mobile phone.

Wi-Fi and storage in one device

Another cool device... No, the concept is not new, but I imagine manufacturers had to wait for the WiFi chips to be small enough and manufacturers had to presume there would be consumer demand for this device. I think it's excellent. I think it's going to be extremely useful to have a device like this. USB keys are pretty ho-hum without something extra and WiFi is a great companion. Read more about Wi-Fi and storage in one device.

The stuff of dreams

I've been reading about nanotubes for almost a year now. They can be used in everything from memory keys to a space elevator. There is no doubt that they are the stuff of dreams.

How Outlook 2003 takes care of spam on its own

I've been using the beta version of Office 2003 and I love the new features in Outlook 2003, especially the SPAM filter. Between the "Mail Guard" service that BellSouth.net (my ISP) employs and the Junk Mail filter in Outlook 2003, I get maybe 3 - 5 SPAM messages a week. Not bad considering that BellSouth's filter is trapping around 200 messages a week and Outlook 2003 captures another 20 - 25 per week. Read more over at ZDNet AnchorDesk.

Symantec tackles patchwork approach to patching

These features are a great addition to an excellent product. I've used Ghost in the past and it was an excellent way to "refresh" a computer that's giving you trouble. Read more about it at CNET News.com.

Microsoft clears its own XP SP2 confusion

It's a good thing when Microsoft clears its own XP SP2 confusion, but I wonder if we, as consumers, should even be concerning ourselves with this problem. After all, when I bought Windows XP Home, I bought it for what it offered me at the time -- a more stable OS than Windows 98 SE. Personally, I want the extras included in XP Service Pack 2, but I'm not going to cry over when I get them.

Odd mishaps cause computer grief

File this under I/O error (idiot operator): BBC NEWS | Technology | Odd mishaps cause computer grief.

‘Tugboat’ could push away asteroids

I posted about this before. If asteriods have been colliding with the Earth for eons, who are we to interfere with the grand scheme of things in the Universe (or God, for that matter)? You do have to admit though, a ‘Tugboat’ that could push away asteroids is an interesting concept.

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi in one Pocket PC

Cool new toys that I, alas, won't be getting... Bluetooth, Wi-Fi in one Pocket PC ,but wait there's more! Sounds like an old Ginsu knives commercial. HP is really making a great move with their connected products. Their goal is to make all our gadgets easier to use by making them all communicate. Communication is the key to all relationships...

T-Mobile to Offer 802.1X

This is great news! If T-Mobile is taking security seriously, then maybe other hot spot owners will too. It's nice to see that we're finally making progress in the right direction.

New HP Tablet PC availability

The TC1100 is now officially announced via the HP web site. Visit Tablet PC for Business- Product Information and Comparison Chart to see the new specs and options. Looks like I may be in the market for a new one.

Ford unveils a $150,000 car

What a beauty! I'm impressed that this design came from a domestic car manufacturer. Considering Ford owns a number of European manufacturers now, maybe they'll have a chance at making nice cars. CNN.com - Ford unveils a $150,000 car - Oct. 11, 2003

Minolta DiMAGE G500

There is a new Minolta camera on the market... I happen to own a Minolta DiMage F100 and really like the DiMage xT. Read Steves Digicams - Minolta DiMAGE G500 - User Review for more information.

ATI updates graphics software

I've been using ATI video cards since I built my first PC, so I had to post this: ATI updates graphics software | CNET News.com. I hope my All-In-Wonder Radeon 7500 benefits from these drivers as much as it did from the last batch.

DVD-copying extravaganza

Someone at work asked me about a DVD copying program today. I had to admit that I had never used any of the programs available, but, by virtue of media saturation, I knew that DVD X Copy was pretty popular. I poked around and found this article: DVD-copying extravaganza at CNET reviews.

JBcamera.com

This is too cool to ignore. 007 would be proud. Take pictures with your Zippo lighter. Spy stuff at it's finest. See the JBcamera to believe it.

Bang! We're all dead.

That's how quickly life will end on the Earth. They don't usually see these asteroids until they're right on top of the planet. Think of it as a cosmic car accident with little, if any, survivors. Read more at New Scientist.

Wireless cheaper than ever now

This article points out that most home users that only want to share their high speed Internet connection do not need the new 802.11g equipment, and can purchase the older 802.11b equipment at a lower price. The math is simple: 1.5 Mbps DSL connection running on either an 11 Mbps connection (802.11b), or a 54 Mbps connection (802.11g). Unless you're looking to run network applications and/or perform heavy file sharing, "g" networks aren't necessary. Read more here: Wireless cheaper than ever now.

New iPAQ 6000 series?

This could possibly a strong contender against the Motorola MPX200 Smart Phone depending on the size and format. I wish they would have posted a picture... Check it out over at Pocket PC Thoughts - News, Views, Rants & Raves.

UK using their brains

This is a great idea! Forging a signature is easy, but guessing a four digit PIN code is considerably more difficult. If this works in the UK, I hope the US has enough sense to follow suit and implement this in the US. All credit card transactions, not just debit card transactions should require a PIN code to be completed. Read more at The Register.

Microsoft moves beyond patches

Although privacy advocates would probably scream, I would like to see Microsoft start installing patches without my needing to click an "Install" button. Maybe just a small notification telling me that patches have installed and I need to restart at my earliest convenience. Read more about it here: Microsoft moves beyond patches | CNET News.com.

Honey, who is this call from?

I found this rather amusing: Cell phones expose cheating spouses. Technology facilitates everything.

Measuring the speed of light with chocolate and a microwave

I have not tried this, but it certainly makes sense. Turn your kitchen it a scientific laboratory. Read more here: Measuring the speed of light with chocolate and a microwave

Doctor Who coming back

I enjoyed this show as a child on public television. Read more about it at The Register.

CNET video - Motorola MPx200 Smartphone

All I can say is, "WOW!" This phone does even more than I expected and the form factor is very slick -- similar to the flip phones we've come to know and love. Thanks to Pocket PC Thoughts for posting the link on their site.

Check out the CNET video interview of Microsoft's Jason Gordon showing the abilities of the Motorola MPx200.

NaNoWriMo.org : Home - Breaking News

OK. This is something that I am going to do. A permanent link will be placed on the Writings page. I may even post the full novel (assuming I finish it) on my Writings page as well. Check out National Novel Writing Month at NaNoWriMo.org : Home - Breaking News

Symantec acquiring PowerQuest

See this article over at The Register. Now, there will be even fewer players.

I've used both Ghost and PartitionMagic, but lately, I've been using Acronis True Image. It works within Windows, and allows me to boot to an image on my external USB 2.0 drive.

Microsoft to Test 'Voice Command' for PDAs, Phones

Motorola is all over the place with their new smart phone. I hope this works well. Find more information here: BetaNews | Microsoft to Test 'Voice Command' for PDAs, Phones

Microsoft Office 2003 Standard for Students and Teachers

For those students, or families with students, you can install the new Office 2003 Standard for Students and Teachers on up to 3 computers. Microsoft did this with Office for Mac for Students and Teachers, so I guess they are following suit for Windows. Preorder at Amazon.com: Software: Microsoft Office 2003 Standard for Students and Teachers

Jury convicts DirecTV pirate on DMCA charges

The service isn't free; it's not like over-the-air broadcast. Stealing is stealing no matter how you look at it.
Jury convicts DirecTV pirate on DMCA charges

RSS News Readers Browse for You

News aggregators are my latest interest. I was using NewsIsFree (free for 30 days), until I realized they wanted me to pay for receiving the majority of my feeds. A little more research, and I found Bloglines, another free, web-based news aggregator.

Using Bloglines, I read Scoble's Blog, which pointed me to this article: RSS News Readers Browse for You. I've used Feedreader, which I liked a lot. However, having a proxy server at work, I prefer the web-based readers.

Use your brain

I've seen this email several times over the last few days in both Spanish and English, and it's amazingly true! I guess we're not really using our brain to its full potential.

Subject: Interesting perspective on typos

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch stduy at an Enligsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit mcuh porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

Subject: que curioso

Sgeun un etsduio de una uivenrsdiad ignlsea, no ipmotra el odren en el que las ltears etsan ersciats, la uicna csoa ipormtnate es que la pmrirea y la utlima ltera esten ecsritas en la psiocion cocrrtea. El rsteo peuden estar ttaolmntee mal y aun pordas lerelo sin pobrleams. Etso es pquore no lemeos cada ltera por si msima preo la paalbra es un tdoo.

Pesornamelnte me preace icrneilbe...

In PC design, harbingers of shrink

Neat new technology making things even smaller is coming our way. In PC design, harbingers of shrink | CNET News.com

My next cellular phone

Talk about a merging of two great companies: Motorola & Microsoft. Check out this beautiful new creation that will actually make it to the shores of the U.S. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they come up with a version for my current cellular provider of choice, Cingular.

WPA wireless security offers multiple advantages over WEP - TechRepublic

This is an excellent article about WPA: WPA wireless security offers multiple advantages over WEP - TechRepublic I have written several posts in the forums over at Tablet PC Buzz.com about WPA. It's an important new method of securing wireless connections, but you need to have hardware and software that support WPA on both ends, or it won't work properly.

IT Professional's Guide to IT Policies and Procedures, Second Edition - TechRepublic

If you're an IT Professional, this seems like an interesting collection of information: Member Review: IT Professional's Guide to IT Policies and Procedures, Second Edition - TechRepublic

TechRepublic is a great group to be a part of. They offer lots of information.

BLOGGER: Important Blogger Pro Announcement

Read about how many of Blogger Pro's features are now free here:BLOGGER: Important Blogger Pro Announcement

Cranky

Isn't it amazing how our psyche can take a little insignificant thing and make us seethe and writhe over it? I mean the most ridiculous little things get on our nerves sometimes. I was watching The Restaurant with my wife the other day and I noticed alot of the same themes on that show that I see at my office every day. Employees flaunting in front of co-workers; employees making themselves out to be more important than they are; the oblivious boss. I guess we're all just human...

No news is not always good news...

Many HP/Compaq Tablet PC aficionados are anxiously awaiting the future chipset verdict for the oft-rumored second generation HP Tablet PC. Today, HP announced 158 new devices, but no mention of the forthcoming Tablet was made. I guess we will all need to wait a little longer.

My TC1000 is performing wonderfully. I use it every day and am even considering giving up my Pocket PC. Eventually, I plan on combining my Pocket PC and cell phone into one unit, but I don't know if I can live without the Pocket PC just yet. The Tablet does do a lot more, but the PDA has the Tablet beat on size, battery life and portability. Decisions, decisions, decision...

Among other topics, I read this today: Bone marrow cells can repair heart. I am amazed by the leaps and bounds that medicine is advancing today. Thanks to computers, a lot of the advances are theoretically tested first using computer models, and then, brought into the arena of animal and human trials.

Site revamp

My writings page is now a true blog, which will facilitate my adding posts to it. Also, check out Meet up (see links). There is a Tablet PC group link on this page & a Poetry group link on the writings page.

Sad News

Having grown up never knowing my parents' homeland, music was a great way to appreciate the heritage. Celia Cruz personified all that was Cuban music for me. I remember seeing her live many times at the Calle Ocho Carnival before becoming a teenager. AZUCAR won't be the same without her.
‘Queen of Salsa’ Celia Cruz dies

Google Toolbar

OK, so it's been a while, but I've been busy. Anyway, I finally decided the Compaq TC1000 is the Tablet PC for me. It should arrive in 2 weeks. Second, today I was reading a CNet Digital Dispatch newsletter and found out about the new Google Toolbar. I downloaded it just for the blog posting capability. More later.

Miserable day

Weather sucked. Rained most of the day. Weekends gone, and I have nothing to show for it.

It just occurred to me. I don't need an about page. I'm going to have a writings page! I never have time to write squat. If I can keep a blog, I can write poetry and other things. Ha! Maybe the weekend wasn't a total waste after all. Then again...

Updates

I took the plunge and registered a domain name: cruzical.com. It only redirects to this web site, but it's better than having to spell out my long URL. I've also spruced up my main page by adding a few links for the blog and future growth plans, and delaying the redirection for a few more seconds. What a wasted day for me. I spent my day looking at crap, albeit interesting to me crap, on the web instead of actually doing something productive.

I need ideas for my about page.

Speaking of dancing

I was poking around this morning and found a great way to stream audio from your PC wirelessly to a stereo system using a laptop or, in my case, a Pocket PC. Visit the Weekly Tip Archives at Pocket PC Magazine, and use your browsers find feature to search for "stream." The instructions are great and have pictures of the dialog boxes you'll see during the setup process. Of course, you'll need a wireless network too.

I don't have a PC in my living room near the stereo and I get tired of "DJing" when I have a party. Lately, I've been setting up a playlist in Windows Media Player and turning the speakers on my PC up loud enough to hear outside during barbeques. Now, I'll still setup the playlist in Windows Media Player on my PC, but I'll plug my Pocket PC into my stereo and wirelessly stream the music where ever I want inside or outside.

That wasn't so bad, now was it

The nostalgia many people my age have for the '80s is brought into perspective by an '80s party like the one my wife and I went to last night. We were kids in the '80s. We didn't dress like Madonna, or wear Miami Vice outfits. In the early '80s we weren't even 10, and by the end of the '80s we were just blossoming teens careening towards adolescence. Sure, although some of us would never admit it, we wore Jimmy-Z and Z-Cavaricci pants and Capezio shoes, rock band t-shirts, "preppy" clothes and mini-skirts -- well, some things should never go out of style. Today, we look at old pictures and ask ourselves, "What was I thinking wearing that?" or "Can you believe my hair was that big?"

Why, then, the nostalgia for that time? Because we were kids, and our memories of childhood is something we hang on to forever. It's what keeps us young. Laura, my wife, always says, "Getting old is all in the mind." Last night, when she put on her outfit, she looked like she could have been 15. This was a party for people turning 30, but no one was in that mindset. We were teenagers again, until the clock struck twelve and the horse carriage turned back into a pumpkin...

My anxiety prior to the party calmed itself very quickly when we arrived. Maybe the anxiety was about regressing to my childhood and once we got there, I remembered how the time was fun; maybe it was seeing old friends that calmed me down, or maybe it was the open bar -- I don't know. In any case, Laura and I had a blast! We danced almost the entire night. There was even some break dancing. Nostalgia is great and what we have most of the time, but every once in a while, going back in time is fun.

Painfully slow

Yes, the day is almost over -- TGIF! My wife and I are going to an '80's party tonight. There will be people I haven't seen in 15 years at this party. My anxiety level is slightly elevated, of course. More on that later tonight or tomorrow...

I just realized I had closed my Outlook! Thanks to Pat for sending over a most wonderful web site called Urban Dictionary. I thought the third definition of "chicken scratch" was the funniest thing I've read in a while. Yes, you can call me crass.

Slowly, but surely

I'm learning... The Internet is certainly a great place to learn with the vast amounts of information available at ones fingertips. After viewing several other blogs out there, I've changed the path to my blog, and will generate a different "main" homepage with a link to my blog. I'm also considering registering a domain for my web site...

I am really starting to get a feel for the different directions that this blog can take me. Funny, it's my writing, yet the blog will guide the course of how I write what I write. The design of this web space will certainly be influenced by the fact that the blog is it's starting point, but I don't know if it will help me create a space that myself or others will enjoy.

If life were like a VCR, I'd be watching in fast forward all the time. I want to get to the end without having to go through the middle. What sucks is I'm disappointed when I get there because things don't turn out the way I'd hoped. "Patience is a big, fat virtue."

Time to make the doughnuts

I know, I'm dating myself by saying certain things. It's all in the mind, baby! I think I'm going to like this -- at least as a creative outlet. My life is all about should have, would have, could have, didn't. Maybe this'll start a new chapter. Well, it's off to get ready for work for me...

Hex colors are your friends

I found two excellent resources: Two4U's Color Compose Engine and RGB to Color Name Mapping (Triplet and Hex). With the help of these two sites I successfully changed my blog's colors to something I like.

Can everybody see me? Can everybody hear me?

A particularly funny line from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I found it appropriate to start my blog with a line like this.

Currently, I'm researching the state of Tablet PC's. I am hoping to replace my current HP Omnibook 6000 laptop with a Toshiba Protege 3500 Tablet PC soon.

Send me an email if you have any suggestions for other Tablet PC's.