From CNN:
Google: 'Government surveillance is on the rise'
In 90% of all requests by the government to access a personal email account Google agreed.
This is why it's a good idea to encrypt your emails. I can't do it universally, due to not everyone whom I email having encryption software (or in some cases not knowing how to use the encryption software that others installed for them), but I can do it for those with whom I most want to keep a secure email link.
The government can almost certainly "brute-force" its way past an encryption with ease, but it does prevent them, or anyone else, be they criminals, or even even the email provider, from casually reading your emails, absent an unknown security exploit.
My personal suggestion is GPG (link is for the windows version).
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
OS Comparison: Part 5, Gaming
The game I used are Minecraft.
The game is cross-platform (as in, it runs in both Windows and Linux).
Minecraft's F3 button reporting of FPS will be used
The games will be the only additional software running on the system when I make the measurements. The measurements will occur after the game has rendered the game-space.
Minecraft
Gentoo: 30-40
Fedora 18: 30-40
Ubuntu 12.10: 30-40
Windows 7: 15-25
Windows 8: Not yet tested
The game is cross-platform (as in, it runs in both Windows and Linux).
Minecraft's F3 button reporting of FPS will be used
The games will be the only additional software running on the system when I make the measurements. The measurements will occur after the game has rendered the game-space.
Minecraft
Gentoo: 30-40
Fedora 18: 30-40
Ubuntu 12.10: 30-40
Windows 7: 15-25
Windows 8: Not yet tested
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
US Elections
Prediction: By the end of this week, people will be calling shenanigans in the polls.
They will use one of several (interesting) points, one of which is how each swing state voted.
They will use one of several (interesting) points, one of which is how each swing state voted.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
OS Comparison: Part 4, Updates
This is a highly variable test: Results may vary.
Steps to Reproduce: Install the operating system, then run its update manager (if it has one).
Gentoo: As this system compiles all software from source, it loses handily (it takes 2-3 hours to update Firefox/Thunderbird, most of it compiling the software). It can take longer than three hours, but that is rare.
Fedora 18: ~15 minutes
Ubuntu 12.10: ~15 minutes
Windows 7: 3 hours (the reboot process added considerably to this process)
Windows 8: N/A (but not expected to be all that long -- yet).
Fedora and Ubuntu take this one away, since they both do not compile all of their binaries from source on the machine they are to be installed on, which Gentoo does. They are both internet-speed related times, hence the ~. Times will vary, based off of internet connections.
Windows 8 cannot be judged yet, as it is not yet available to me.
Windows 7 comes in third, in part due to the length of time it spent configuring updates.
It is important to note that this is somewhat of an apples-to-oranges comparison: Windows only updates the core system files whereas Gentoo/Fedora/Ubuntu update all of the software on a computer.
In update ease of use, Fedora and Ubuntu come in a dead heat (one command, "sudo yum update -y" or "sudo apt-get upgrade -y" although Ubuntu does need an additional command to update the repository information.
Gentoo is slightly more difficult, in that some software cannot be installed at the same time due to conflicts (and the update process will find those, even if they were successfully installed), and it can take awhile to start the update as well.
Windows 7 and Windows 8 will not update non-OS software (although Windows 8 will update software through the Microsoft Store, which most applications are not in).
Therefore if ease of update or update times are important to you, do not use Gentoo, Windows 7, or Windows 8. Again, Windows shouldn't be used in this case becuase every piece of software has to be updated individually whereas Gentoo/Fedora/Ubuntu update all installed software automatically. Gentoo should not be used becuase it takes a long time to compile the binaries for the updates.
Steps to Reproduce: Install the operating system, then run its update manager (if it has one).
Gentoo: As this system compiles all software from source, it loses handily (it takes 2-3 hours to update Firefox/Thunderbird, most of it compiling the software). It can take longer than three hours, but that is rare.
Fedora 18: ~15 minutes
Ubuntu 12.10: ~15 minutes
Windows 7: 3 hours (the reboot process added considerably to this process)
Windows 8: N/A (but not expected to be all that long -- yet).
Fedora and Ubuntu take this one away, since they both do not compile all of their binaries from source on the machine they are to be installed on, which Gentoo does. They are both internet-speed related times, hence the ~. Times will vary, based off of internet connections.
Windows 8 cannot be judged yet, as it is not yet available to me.
Windows 7 comes in third, in part due to the length of time it spent configuring updates.
It is important to note that this is somewhat of an apples-to-oranges comparison: Windows only updates the core system files whereas Gentoo/Fedora/Ubuntu update all of the software on a computer.
In update ease of use, Fedora and Ubuntu come in a dead heat (one command, "sudo yum update -y" or "sudo apt-get upgrade -y" although Ubuntu does need an additional command to update the repository information.
Gentoo is slightly more difficult, in that some software cannot be installed at the same time due to conflicts (and the update process will find those, even if they were successfully installed), and it can take awhile to start the update as well.
Windows 7 and Windows 8 will not update non-OS software (although Windows 8 will update software through the Microsoft Store, which most applications are not in).
Therefore if ease of update or update times are important to you, do not use Gentoo, Windows 7, or Windows 8. Again, Windows shouldn't be used in this case becuase every piece of software has to be updated individually whereas Gentoo/Fedora/Ubuntu update all installed software automatically. Gentoo should not be used becuase it takes a long time to compile the binaries for the updates.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Hyphenated Americans
There is no such thing as an African-American, Antartican-American, Asian-American, Australian-American, or European-American.
There are only Americans and non-Americans.
What does African-American mean? Does it mean that he/she has citizenship in an African country and an American country? Or does it mean that they are descended from both Africans and Americans?
How about Asian-Americans, or English-Americans?
There are only Americans and non-Americans.
What does African-American mean? Does it mean that he/she has citizenship in an African country and an American country? Or does it mean that they are descended from both Africans and Americans?
How about Asian-Americans, or English-Americans?
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
On Political and Religious Discussion...
Or any sort of controversial subject. There are two types of people whom it is a waste of time to have these sorts of conversations with. Those whom you agree completely with - you spend half a day saying "yeah, that's right" to one another and get nothing done. The other is those whom you completely disagree with on everything related to the subject of the conversation, as you will spend hours explaining that the sky is blue, and they will hear "The sky is purple", and they'll do the same thing to you.
The best type of person to have these conversations with is someone whom you disagree with on some issues, but agree with on others. Even if neither of you changes your mind, you'll have both given the other some food for though.
The best type of person to have these conversations with is someone whom you disagree with on some issues, but agree with on others. Even if neither of you changes your mind, you'll have both given the other some food for though.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
OS Comparison: Part 3, Power off times
Measurements:
Upon hitting the Shutdown button (Windows) or typing in "sudo poweroff"
(Gentoo/Fedora/Ubunt), I hit start on the stop watch.
When the system is totally powered off, I hit the stop button on the stop watch.
Margin of error: 1 second, either way (but more likely higher than lower).
Gentoo: 8 seconds
Fedora 18: 11 seconds
Ubuntu 12.10: 12 seconds
Windows 7: 22 seconds
Windows 8: N/A (Not available for me, yet)
Gentoo wins the shutdown race. This is probably due to the fact that it only runs what I need it to run, whereas Fedora and Ubuntu come with various error reporting tools (that may not be what adds 3-4 seconds).
Fedora and Ubuntu are tied, as 1 second is my error margin.
Windows 7 comes in last, at 22 seconds. This may be due to the "drivers" and "software" that were installed by the Fujitsu DeskUpdate tool, but that does get me close(r) to the OEM state.
Windows 8 is unknown, as I do not have access to the RTM version yet (maybe my school will upload it to their network software servers soonish?).
Just an FYI, my university is breaking any agreements (that I know of) when they upload Windows installation media to their servers, as they make every student purchase an Undergraduate bundle which includes access to the "latest" Microsoft software (specifically Office and Windows).
When the system is totally powered off, I hit the stop button on the stop watch.
Margin of error: 1 second, either way (but more likely higher than lower).
Gentoo: 8 seconds
Fedora 18: 11 seconds
Ubuntu 12.10: 12 seconds
Windows 7: 22 seconds
Windows 8: N/A (Not available for me, yet)
Gentoo wins the shutdown race. This is probably due to the fact that it only runs what I need it to run, whereas Fedora and Ubuntu come with various error reporting tools (that may not be what adds 3-4 seconds).
Fedora and Ubuntu are tied, as 1 second is my error margin.
Windows 7 comes in last, at 22 seconds. This may be due to the "drivers" and "software" that were installed by the Fujitsu DeskUpdate tool, but that does get me close(r) to the OEM state.
Windows 8 is unknown, as I do not have access to the RTM version yet (maybe my school will upload it to their network software servers soonish?).
Just an FYI, my university is breaking any agreements (that I know of) when they upload Windows installation media to their servers, as they make every student purchase an Undergraduate bundle which includes access to the "latest" Microsoft software (specifically Office and Windows).
Friday, October 26, 2012
Why I hate the UN
The UN is a hotbed of despotism, anti-semitism, cronyism, and deception.
The UN Human Rights council includes Cuba, China, many other countries where human rights are a low priority, and until recently, Libya. This Council has recommended a boycott on American companies that do business in Israel and the areas of "Palestine" that Israel occupies.
Their officials decry our free speech, speak out against one of our candidates, and send election observers here - some of whom come from countries where Stalin's famous quote "Its not those who vote who count, but those who count the votes" is the reality.
The UN is not our friend or ally. They are not an institution which believes in human freedom. At the beginning the UN included the Soviet Union as a permanent member of the security council, with full veto power. While the US is also a permanent member of the security council, and thus enjoys that same veto power, it must be realized that whatever the UN did before the fall of the USSR had to meet the approval of the Soviet Politburo, or they would veto it. Communist China, the People's Republic of China, is also a permanent member of the UN security council. The USSR is gone, but the PRC remains. We must not allow the UN to push us around. Let us stop funding the UN and begin to use our own veto power too prevent it from doing anything harmful to our republic, just as the Soviets once did, and the Communist Chinese still do.
Why don't we take the money that we send to the UN, which fails more than it succeeds at keeping the peace (As the Tutsi can attest) and give it to our military, which actually does something useful - protecting us from those who would take our freedom. Let us stop caring what the "International Community" thinks about our candidates for higher office. Romney and Obama aren't running for President of the World. They're running for President of the US, and the freedom, safety, and prosperity (in that order) of their constituency should be all they care about.
Sources:
The UN Human Rights council includes Cuba, China, many other countries where human rights are a low priority, and until recently, Libya. This Council has recommended a boycott on American companies that do business in Israel and the areas of "Palestine" that Israel occupies.
Their officials decry our free speech, speak out against one of our candidates, and send election observers here - some of whom come from countries where Stalin's famous quote "Its not those who vote who count, but those who count the votes" is the reality.
The UN is not our friend or ally. They are not an institution which believes in human freedom. At the beginning the UN included the Soviet Union as a permanent member of the security council, with full veto power. While the US is also a permanent member of the security council, and thus enjoys that same veto power, it must be realized that whatever the UN did before the fall of the USSR had to meet the approval of the Soviet Politburo, or they would veto it. Communist China, the People's Republic of China, is also a permanent member of the UN security council. The USSR is gone, but the PRC remains. We must not allow the UN to push us around. Let us stop funding the UN and begin to use our own veto power too prevent it from doing anything harmful to our republic, just as the Soviets once did, and the Communist Chinese still do.
Why don't we take the money that we send to the UN, which fails more than it succeeds at keeping the peace (As the Tutsi can attest) and give it to our military, which actually does something useful - protecting us from those who would take our freedom. Let us stop caring what the "International Community" thinks about our candidates for higher office. Romney and Obama aren't running for President of the World. They're running for President of the US, and the freedom, safety, and prosperity (in that order) of their constituency should be all they care about.
Sources:
Monday, October 22, 2012
OS Comparison: Part 2, Startup Times
I have three separate Linux operating systems and Windows 7 installed on my computer.
But I have always wanted to know, which is the fastest to start up?
Is it Gentoo? Windows? Fedora? Or Ubuntu?
I took a stopwatch to find out (and used built-in methods where possible).
But I have always wanted to know, which is the fastest to start up?
Is it Gentoo? Windows? Fedora? Or Ubuntu?
I took a stopwatch to find out (and used built-in methods where possible).
Sunday, October 21, 2012
OS Comparison: Part 1
I use Linux.
I use Linux every day -- I try to avoid Microsoft Windows, believe it or not.
But, there is always that one application that prevents me from leaving Windows forever. On the other hand, I managed to do quite well without Windows for 8 months.
Today, I installed Windows. And let me tell you, it was an adventure.
I use Linux every day -- I try to avoid Microsoft Windows, believe it or not.
But, there is always that one application that prevents me from leaving Windows forever. On the other hand, I managed to do quite well without Windows for 8 months.
Today, I installed Windows. And let me tell you, it was an adventure.
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