Big Media's Continuing War Against Free Expression

In response to an article I read today about yet another encroachment on our rights, I decided to revisit my complaints about unreasonable changes to copyright laws over the last 25 years, and the even more unreasonable encroachments on our rights in the name of enforcement.

Big Media is a threat to free speech and free expression. In 1980 they successfully lobbied to double the time before copyrights expire, then in 2000, they doubled the time again. Slowly the encroachment on the public's rights continues to grow in the name of protecting authors who will never live as long as their copyrights. It's time to stop the encroachment on our rights, limit copyrights to their traditional lifespans, and protect consumer rights and fair use.

Big Media does not need Government protection. We don't need an entertainment monopoly. We need freedom so that individuals have the ability to compete. Please DO NOT support bills that encroach on the public's rights to make fair use of various media on the internet, and please REPEAL the recent unreasonable extensions of copyrights that have been made in the last 25 years.

Windows 7 Private Vs.Public Network Security Problem

For some time now I have been struggling with an annoying problem with my Laptop computer. I am confident my home network has adequate security for wireless use, and I want to be able to share resources on my computer with other computers on my home network. However, when I take the computer to a coffee shop, I don't want those services to be available. The simple answer was to set up very strict security rules for "public" networks, and to leave them relaxed for my home network.

Last May or so, Windows 7 security decided that my home network is a public network, apparently because I connect to it wirelessly. It did not provide me with any means to change that setting. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling my wireless drivers several times. Eventually, I started relaxing my public security settings so I could use my computer at home.

Finally I decided to research the problem. Apparently Microsoft decided that since the most common private network address range is used almost universally in coffee shops, that the default address range commonly used by home wireless routers is public by definition. (viper1ab, 2010)

Fortunately, I found instructions to override this setting. These instructions are my adaptation of Bill Grant's solution to a similar problem reported on Microsoft's TechNet support forum: (The first four items were copied directly from Bill Grant's post. I removed some details that did not apply to my situation, and I added the fifth instruction.)

1. Start --> run --> MMC --> press enter
2. In MMC console , from menu file select Add/Remove Snap-in
3. Select Group Policy Object editor --> Press Add --> select Local computer --> press OK -->press OK
4. Open Computer configration -->Windows Settings -->Security Settings -->select Network list manger policies on the right side you will see options for your home network.
5. Double-click your home network, and change the status of the network to private in the properties form.

(Grant, B., 2010)

Now I can re-assert my strict security rules for public networks, and enjoy relaxed rules on my home wireless network!


Resource:

viper1ab. (2010, February 1). Home Network changes to Public when enabling ICS for Wireless Broadband connection [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itpronetworking/thread/826902d9-8fee-47fe-8e5d-99be6f7e60c0

Grant, B. (2010, February 2). Home Network changes to Public when enabling ICS for Wireless Broadband connection [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itpronetworking/thread/826902d9-8fee-47fe-8e5d-99be6f7e60c0

How I disabled in-text advertising from Infolinks

I frequently do internet research. A frequent annoyance that costs me time and has even caused me to loose important articles has been the in-text "pop-up" advertising scripts from Infolinks.com. Today the problem happened again, and I decided to do something about it. First, I right-clicked on the web page (using Chrome) and I selected "view source." Then I looked for the name of advertiser "infolinks" in the code. I found the hard-coded address in a javascript link.

I tried adding the address to my hosts file, linking it to the loopback address of my own computer, <127.0.0.1>. In previous versions of Windows, that addition would have been sufficient to block an address. (Don't edit the hosts file without researching the topic first. You can disable web access entirely if you do it wrong.) I have used the hosts file in Windows 7 to enable my computer to find addresses on my own home network, but I had never used it to block an address. In Windows 7, it appears this method does not seem to work as a way to bock addresses.

I had to add the address to my firewall. In this case, I added the address only to my local computer's firewall, but I may choose to block it from my router as well.

To add the address to my firewall, I needed the actual IP address. To get the IP address, I "pinged" the URL . I typed "cmd" in the search/run text box from the start button form, using this command to open a console window (DOS emulator). In the console window, I typed "ping resources.infolinks.com" I wrote down the address. Then I typed "ping www.infolinks.com," and I wrote down that address also.

I opened my firewall program, selected "advanced," added a new outbound rule, and accepted all the default values. Then, under the "Scope" tab on the firewall "properties" window. I added the two numeric addresses I had pinged.

Previously an article I could not read because it was littered with advertising "land mines," is now readable!

I support internet advertising. I especially like Google's unobtrusive ads like the ones on this page that don't get in the way of reading, and help pay to provide a free internet experience for all of us, but ads must never impede access to information.

Popup ads should be illegal. They never serve consumers. They impede or sometimes even prevent access to information. Sometimes they masquerade as the information they prevent users from accessing. By causing users to legitimately attempt to block their unwanted intrusions, popup ads cause legitimate popup response forms to be blocked as well.

I want to encourage my fellow internet users to avoid accessing sites or purchasing products that make use of popup advertising. Please pass this information along to others. Together, we can make the internet the productive and useful tool for education, communication (and business) that it was designed to be.

Sometimes things happen

I noticed a post to my "Big Bad Ideas" blog that I did not post. The blog entry was actually a link to a similar kind of blog. I did not mind the link, but it bothered me that someone could actually add an entry in my name. At first I just commented on the link, but when I saw that my comment was not displayed by default, I felt more drastic action was needed, so I deleted the post. The link I deleted was to this blog: Cup O' Joe with Bill: Loving God... laughing at myself...

Dave's Diet Plan

I haven't actually started a "diet." I just decided I'm "fed up" with my current size, and I've made a few commitments which I'm going to track in my blog. The commitments are:

1. Birthday cake and ice cream are free foods unrelated to my diet plan, provided it is restricted to one average serving during an actual celebration where "the song" is sung, and presents are opened.
2. All cravings are allowed in small doses, and do not count against the "plan," because rebellion will kill any plan.
3. Coffee and everything that goes in it is a free food, not related to my diet plan, however caffeine will be restricted to 200 mg per day.
4. No refined grains or products made with refined grains, because refined grain products frequently cause me to loose will-power when consumed.
5. No fried foods unless the oil was sprayed onto a non-stick pan, and no additional oil was added. (Spray oil is a free food not counted in my diet plan.)
6. No butter, and no more than two teaspoons of country crock soft margarine per meal, however three teaspoons (and no more) of fat or oil are required per meal, which includes what is used in cooking. (Because a little oil is necessary, and a little oil strengthens will-power.)
7. Oily meats, cheeses, and nuts count as a serving of oil AND a serving of meat.
8. No sugar other than what naturally occurs in fruit, however two servings of fruit per meal are required, because it is necessary for good health, and because it strengthens will-power).
9. Serving sizes are bigger than a thumb, and smaller than a fist, unless otherwise specified.
10. No more than six meals or snacks a day, and no fewer than four meals or snacks a day are required.
11. Every meal including snacks must include meat, cheese, nuts, or legumes, with fruit and a vegetable. (Peppers and tomatoes count as fruits AND vegetables. )
12. One meal a day must include whole grain oats.
13. Single egg yolks (including those in cooking) are allowed only three times a week, and should be avoided completely when possible, however a sprinkling of cheese in egg whites still counts as one serving of egg (within reason).
14. Always partake of every snack or meal with a thankful attitude that is clearly expressed. Grumbling is not allowed!

Day 1

4 oz orange juice
1/2 cup cracked oats
1 egg
1 slice ww bread
2 tsp margarine
8 oz sugar-free yogurt

2 oz turkey lunchmeat
spinach
2 ww english muffins
2 tsp butter
1 cup berries
water

3 oz steak
1/2 cup mashed potatoes
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup mushrooms
1 tbs butter
1 nectarine
water

1 oz turkey lunchmeat
1 slc bread
1 tsp mayonnaise
8 oz milk

Wikispaces Blog » Blog Archive » New Private Label video tutorials

Wikispaces Blog » Blog Archive » New Private Label video tutorials

I'm annoyed with my new 3G phone

My new cell phone won't act as a blue-tooth modem for my Laptop like my old cell phone did. I don't want to have to take the time to troubleshoot why my new phone only provides bluetooth audio services to my Laptop (a service which is completely pointless for my purposes)

Why would I want to use a cord to access the internet? That's what blue-tooth is for! However, I would still put up with a cord if that's what it takes to use my phone as a modem, but that option doesn't appear to be available either.

I fear I may have to downgrade my phone.

Technology will not be "fully grown" until this kind of annoyance is eliminated.