Geek Stuff category archive
Geeking Out 0
Listening to an episode of Richard Diamond, Private Detective from OTR.net in the VLC media player on Mageia v. 7 under the Fluxbox window manager. The background is from my collection.
E-Skipping Class 0
From El Reg:
The unnamed 16-year-old was arrested and charged with “computer use in an attempt to defraud,” a third-degree felony, and “interference with an educational institution,” a second-degree misdemeanor.
Details at the link.
Traffic Jam on the Disinformation Super Highway 0
David interviews Nicholas Carr on how the internet and, in particular, “social” media, with its continual algorithmic torrent of distractions, is affecting our ability to deal with information. Here’s a quote from Carr:
What we know about people is that, if you give them an unlimited amount of information, they’ll go out and cherry-pick the information that reinforces their existing biases, whether those biases are based on fact or fiction or fantasy or whatever . . . .
Trumpling the Disinformation Super Highway 0
Afterthought:
There is a very real difference between spin, which may offer different interpretations of the facts twist the facts, and lies, which ignore the facts.
Geeking Out 0
Listening to Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar at OTRnet in a VirtualBox VM of Windows 8 on Ubuntu MATE using the Fluxbox window manager.
Every time I use Windows, I am reminded of what a kludge Windows is.
Think First, Click Later 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Alison Escalante explores why persons fall for fake news and misinformation on “social” media. She focuses on (mis)information about COVID-19, but I believe her conclusions can be generalized to larger topics.
The study she discusses suggests that much of the bilge is broadcast because the persons “sharing” it just don’t think before they click. Here’s a bit:
Facebook Frolics 0
Farron discusse the corporations who have “paused” their advertising on “social” media.
And, in yet more frolics . . . .
Geeking Out 0
I find this to be a Bryce background.
Full disclosure:
I’ve been to Bryce Canyon. It is well worth the trip.
The computer is running Ubuntu MATE with the Fluxbox window manager using the BlueNight theme.
Great Moments In Zoom 0
You can’t make this stuff up. (And you wouldn’t want to.)
Full Disclosure:
I’ve attended two Zoom meetings.
Both were private, by invitation only, and neither was Zoombombed. And, I must say, Zoom seemed to work quite nicely on my Android devices.
I think part of the security problems Zoom had was because, four months ago, hardly anyone had heard of Zoom. Then all of a sudden everyone was trying to use it. And, per security maven Bruce Schneier, Zoom is making progress on the security front.
Geeking out 0
Ubuntu MATE with the Fluxbox window manager on a Zareason Mediabox. The wallpaper is from my collection.
“Smart Home” Indeed 0
El Reg reports on the con (more at the link).
The fridge in question required a GE RPWFE refrigerator water filter. It has an RFID chip, which the fridge uses to verify the authenticity of the part. The RPWFE filter costs much more than unapproved filters: about $50 compared to $13.
Aside:
The “smart home” trade off is a simple one.
You no longer have to walk across the room to turn on the lights. In return, big data strips you nekkid.
