Marketplace.org warns us about a growing form of identity theft. Read or listen here.
Category: science and tech
Bitcoin Mining
Perhaps you are familiar with the anonymous cryptocurrency known as bitcoin and its industry. Maybe you have seen the Netflix documentary, “Banking on Bitcoin“. Here, Quartz explores bitcoin mining in Mongolia. And here are some more and more visual images from Quartz to expand on what you see below.
Prepping for Totality
We’ve all been inundated lately with eclipse information and safety warnings. But there probably can’t be enough said about the risks and the safety steps needed. I guess I have waited too long — can’t find eclipse glasses anywhere in this community. All sold out. And I’m not about to shell out for genuine welders’ glasses (the ONLY other alternative to ISO-certified eclipse lenses for any direct viewing). But I was thinking of just building and doing a pinhole viewer (and optionally, perhaps, photograph or video the projected image) without looking toward the sun at all. Here is what looks like a pretty good set of tips from the San Francisco Exploratorium, as well as this video describing one possible approach:
Note that the Exploratorium will be livestreaming the eclipse starting at 10:15am PDT here. But here are some times that will help you decide when you should start watching, depending on your location. Along with the jillions of other sites that will undoubtedly be streaming live, this would have to be the safest and most comfortable way to view!
And here’s a large batch of related articles, including some attesting to the emotional impact of the whole thing, including the admonition that you join a crowd for viewing, rather than risk the terror of being alone when it happens!
Remembering BonziBuddy
Octopus Consciousness
Is IOS More Secure Than Android?
I first encountered David Strom many, many years ago when I worked at UCLA, early in personal computing history. Since then, he has gone on to make a name for himself in the computer security world. Today, he discusses a topic that is often tossed around by my friends and old colleagues and is frequently asked of me directly. So I defer to David’s take on the matter here.
Passwords and Regrets
Bill Burr, fourteen years later, admits that his advice and approach were oversimplified. You need to read this if you aren’t going far enough with your password strategies.
Architecture and Your Brain
Brother Dennis makes me aware of this intriguing interview with architecture critic Sarah Williams Goldhagen on her new book, “Welcome to Your World: How the Built Environment Shapes Our Lives“.
The Perils of Oversleep
The New Scientist has research that comes with a warning.
Tesla Hacks
If you are an auto enthusiast who watches Tesla with great fascination, you might want to be aware of one of the sites that my old ISP (internet service provider) colleagues and I follow. Predictably, the ever-increasing level of automation and electronic wizardry in modern cars is a target for all manner of hackery. Tesla is a particular target, given its extraordinary sophistication in this domain and as a leader in taking us toward an autonomous future. Read this piece published yesterday by HelpNet Security. The site is also a source of many other fascinating reports and analyses that may frighten you, reassure you, or both.