Happy Curmudgeon’s Day!

As the Computer Curmudgeon, I sometimes grump over the fact that I am not always appreciated, but this morning, intrepid PHP Guru, Henry Ratliff, sent me an email wishing me a Happy Curmudgeon’s Day! Cool, a day for me!

“An annual celebration of the crusty, yet insightful, wags who consistently apply the needle of truth to the balloons of hypocrisy and social norms. Always celebrated on Jan 29, the birthday of W.C. Fields, one of America’s most beloved curmudgeons.”

So, in the spirit of great curmudgeons like John C. Dvorak, sometime today, make it a point to say, “Humph!”

Dr. Bill.TV #275 – Video – “The Hardware War Game Edition”

Ninite – the easy way to update your software, flaws in Java security, a new version of Audacity Audio Editor is out, GSotW: FreeNAS, an Open Source Network Area Storage system! You should see Hardware Wars! Plus, Geek Wisdom from War Games!

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 Days!

Links that pertain to this Netcast:

TechPodcasts Network

Blubrry Network

FreeNAS – an Open Source Network Attached Storage Solution


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Dr. Bill.TV #275 – Audio – “The Hardware War Game Edition”

Ninite – the easy way to update your software, flaws in Java security, a new version of Audacity Audio Editor is out, GSotW: FreeNAS, an Open Source Network Area Storage system! You should see Hardware Wars! Plus, Geek Wisdom from War Games!

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 Days!

Links that pertain to this Netcast:

TechPodcasts Network

Blubrry Network

FreeNAS – an Open Source Network Attached Storage Solution


Start the Video Netcast in the Blubrry Video Player above by
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Available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/rrl8EVOpthU

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Geek Software of the Week: FreeNAS!

I have mentioned FreeNAS before, but it has never “made it” to GSotW before this! Check out the cool features below.

FreeNAS – an Open Source Network Attached Storage Solution

Thin Provisioning
Thin Provisioning is another excellent addition to the FreeNAS® features list. Thin Provisioning allows the administrator to allocate users more space than physically exists in the system. When paired with ZFS, it becomes easy to manage your total data pool size, and quickly and effectively grow to meet your users needs as they use more of their allotted space.

Backup and Restore
Remote Replication allows you to copy a snapshot to an offsite server, for maximum data security.

Command Line Interface
FreeNAS® 8 is based on FreeBSD 8.x, and will update and keep current with the FreeBSD project. So if you’re a savvy user, and prefer to use the command line, no problem! ssh in, and control your FreeNAS™ device from the FreeNAS™ custom CLI.

Driver Support
FreeNAS® is based on FreeBSD 8.3 and features much of the same driver support. This gives anyone building their own FreeNAS device or re-purposing old hardware a wide selection of hardware choices.

Snapshots
If your data is somehow lost, FreeNAS® makes it easy to restore from a previously generated snapshot. With the periodic snapshots feature, you can worry less about data loss, and use your system stress free.

File Sharing
FreeNAS® supports many popular networking protocols, and is easy to set up in most home and enterprise environments. You’ll be up and running in no time, and your users can connect with the protocol of your choice, no matter what operating system they run.

Plugins
In order to support third-party software such as bittorrent clients or media streaming servers, FreeNAS® provides an optional Plugin Jail. Plugins may be installed using a version of the PBI system from PC-BSD® that supports integration with the FreeNAS® Web UI.

A New Version of Audacity is Out!

Dowmnload it now! This is my very FAVORITE Audio Editor! I literally use it daily! So, I was excited to get this email notice:

“Audacity Team (https://audacity.sourceforge.net/) is pleased to announce the release of Audacity 2.0.3. It replaces all previous versions.

Audacity 2.0.3 now uses the libsoxr resampling library by default, instead of libresample, for higher quality and speed. Time Tracks have been improved and bug fixed, and new effects include an accessible Adjustable Fade. See the 2.0.3 Release Notes for details.”

The Java Security Situation is Bad!

There has been a lot of talk among security geeks about how insecure Java is, and the problems that they have been having. It looks bad for Oracle. Pundits are recommending that you don’t even USE Java! So, Oracle released a security patch! But, sadly, IT, too, has a security issue!

Java Hacker Uncovers Two Flaws In Latest Update

“The Java vulnerability news isn’t getting better.

Less than one week after Oracle released Java 7 update 11 to patch or mitigate two zero-day vulnerabilities in Java that were being actively exploited by attackers, veteran Java bug hunter Adam Gowdiak of Security Explorations in Poland discovered two new vulnerabilities in Java standard edition.

‘We have successfully confirmed that a complete Java security sandbox bypass can be still gained under the recent version of Java 7 Update 11 (JRE version 1.7.0_11-b21),’ wrote Gowdiak in a post to the Full Disclosure mailing list. As a result, any attacker who used the vulnerabilities would be able to craft malware that tapped the Java runtime environment, thus fully compromising a vulnerable system.

Interestingly, the two newly discovered bugs have nothing to do with Oracle’s partial patch of the ‘MBeanInstantiator’ flaw. This was mitigated by Oracle via changing the default Java security setting from medium to high, which requires that an unsigned Java Web apps be authorized by a user before being allowed to run. ‘MBeanInstantiator bug (or rather a lack of a fix for it) turned out to be quite inspirational for us,’ said Gowdiak. ‘However, instead of relying on this particular bug, we have decided to dig our own issues. As a result, two new security vulnerabilities (51 and 52) were spotted in a recent version of Java SE 7 code and they were reported to Oracle today (along with a working Proof of Concept code).’

Gowdiak has numbered the security vulnerabilities 51 and 52, because that’s the number of Java 7 bugs Security Explorations has reported to Oracle since April 2, 2012. In terms of the latest two vulnerabilities reported to Oracle, Gowdiak said, ‘The company informs us that it will investigate based on the data provided and get back to us soon.’

How bad are the vulnerabilities? ‘[Gowdiak] implies that although it locked the office door in update 7u11, Oracle left the entrance to the building open, which he considered as good as an invitation to find another way in,’ wrote Paul Ducklin, head of technology for Sophos in the Asia Pacific region, in a blog post. But per its disclosure policy, Security Explorations has yet to release full details of the new vulnerabilities, pending a fix from Oracle.

News of two new vulnerabilities being discovered comes on the heels of news that another Java vulnerability, unpatched by Oracle, was being offered for sale on an exclusive cybercrime forum.

The recently discovered Java vulnerabilities have led to widespread confusion over exactly which types of Java are at risk, worries about whether Java itself is safe, and questions over how Java-dependent enterprises should best deal with the vulnerability challenge. (Hint: Start by removing the Java plug-in from browsers, whenever possible.)

Oracle has also come under fire for failing to provide enterprises with a reliable method for updating the Java runtime environment across a large number of managed machines. As noted by one reader, ‘there are loosely published methods to do it via Group Policy or Configuration Manager, but these often fail, and are NOT supported by Oracle.'”

Ninite – A Neat Service to Keep You Safe!

When you install software these days you have to be very, very careful, because even free software vendors allow all kinds of JUNK to be included in their software installs. Browser bars, fake “virus scans” and the like will “muck up” your system something fierce! Now,l there is a service that eliminates the crapware! It is called “Ninite.”

The Easiest, Fastest Way to Update or Install Software. Just pick your apps and click Get Installer. Ninite does the rest — fully automatic.

Ninite Web Site

No Clicking Next, Next, Next
Ninite fully automates installers offscreen.

No Toolbars
Ninite automatically says “No” to toolbars and other junk.

Always Up-to-date
A Ninite installer always gets an app’s latest version no matter when you made it.

It Updates Too
Just run your Ninite installer again and it will update the apps to their latest versions.

No Signup
Ninite just works. No account, signup, or client needed.

32 and 64-bit
Ninite installs the best version of an app for your PC.

International
Ninite installs apps in your PC’s language.

Faster for Business
Ninite Pro is 3x faster and allows business use.

Works with RMMs
Kaseya, Labtech, Level Platforms, KACE, GFI, Naverisk, and more. Ninite Pro integrates with everything.

Offline Mode
With offline support, a /silent switch, and desktop icon control Ninite Pro is even more flexible.

Security Made Easy
The /updateonly switch for Ninite Pro makes keeping software up to date simple.

Dr. Bill.TV #274 – Video – “The Raspberry Pi at Subway Edition!”

Raspberry Pi a success, over a million units sold! Lenovo shows its own Chromebook, Kim DotCom promises 50GB for free from Mega, Microsoft’s Surface Pro is coming. GSotW: LibreCAD – free CAD software. Subway footlong subs are only 11 inches long! Horror!

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 Days!

Links that pertain to this Netcast:

TechPodcasts Network

Blubrry Network

LibreCAD – Open Source CAD Program


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Available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/NFZhLoBWWR4

Available on Vimeo at: https://vimeo.com/57822443


Dr. Bill.TV #274 – Audio – “The Raspberry Pi at Subway Edition!”

Raspberry Pi a success, over a million units sold! Lenovo shows its own Chromebook, Kim DotCom promises 50GB for free from Mega, Microsoft’s Surface Pro is coming. GSotW: LibreCAD – free CAD software. Subway footlong subs are only 11 inches long! Horror!

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 Days!

Links that pertain to this Netcast:

TechPodcasts Network

Blubrry Network

LibreCAD – Open Source CAD Program


Start the Video Netcast in the Blubrry Video Player above by
clicking on the “Play” Button in the center of the screen.

(Click on the buttons below to Stream the Netcast in your “format of choice”)
Streaming M4V Audio





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Available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/NFZhLoBWWR4

Available on Vimeo at: https://vimeo.com/57822443


Geek Culture News Flash! Subway Foot Long Sandwiches Are Only Eleven inches!

I knew it didn’t look right!

Customers say Subway footlong sub only 11 inches

“Eleven inches appears to be the size of Subway’s footlong sandwich, according to a stream of photos posted online by angry customers around the world.

The controversy began earlier this week when an Australian man posted a photo on the company’s Facebook page of his footlong sub alongside a measuring tape that read 11 inches, with the caption ‘subway pls respond.’ Later, the photo appeared to have been deleted. Since then, customers have posted photos and comments of their short subs.

Lori Olsen Arnholy, from Wooster, Ohio, said on Facebook her family regularly eats at Subway and decided to measure their sandwiches to see for themselves.

She said she bought six footlong subs Monday and four of them were just 11 inches long.

‘I always thought I was always getting 12′ subs … I do smell a lawsuit,’ she said.

Some customers vowed to never eat at the restaurant again.

‘I will NEVER buy anything from Subway now. Ever,’ posted Marius Andre Stensaker.

Danielle Neal said, ‘I feel like you’ve straight-out lied to costumers. I don’t care if it’s just an inch, it’s the moral of the matter that concerns me.’

Subway said in a statement Thursday the size of the bread can vary when it’s not baked to the company’s exact specifications.

‘We are reinforcing our policies and procedures in an effort to ensure our offerings are always consistent no matter which Subway restaurant you visit,’ the statement said.

Subway, the largest fast-food chain the world, has more than 38,000 restaurants in 100 countries.”

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