May 2008 Archives
While I've always found the official Google blogs to be good sources of information they lacked interaction as comments were disabled.
They've now changed their policy and are accepting relevant comments
From what I've been able to work out they haven't enabled comments on all their blogs as yet and Google staff don't seem to be engaging with the public. So it seems like it's a bit of a one way street. (If someone can find me evidence to the contrary I would appreciate it)
Of course not all blogs accept comments and for some people there is a very good reason why they don't. Seth Godin, for example, provides a clear explanation on his policy and it makes sense. But if you do allow comments, shouldn't you at least reply to them?
They've now changed their policy and are accepting relevant comments
From what I've been able to work out they haven't enabled comments on all their blogs as yet and Google staff don't seem to be engaging with the public. So it seems like it's a bit of a one way street. (If someone can find me evidence to the contrary I would appreciate it)
Of course not all blogs accept comments and for some people there is a very good reason why they don't. Seth Godin, for example, provides a clear explanation on his policy and it makes sense. But if you do allow comments, shouldn't you at least reply to them?
Top Gun is not a "chef d'oeuvre', but it's great fun.
It has dated a bit since its initial release over 20 years ago, but it's still enjoyable (Yes I do have the special edition DVD and the HD DVD release.)
So how about Top Gun tshirts?
It has dated a bit since its initial release over 20 years ago, but it's still enjoyable (Yes I do have the special edition DVD and the HD DVD release.)
So how about Top Gun tshirts?
Either there's an upsurge in Amazon phishing emails or the phishers only got my email address recently.
I've had about half a dozen phishing emails today purporting to be from Amazon regarding my "seller" account.
To start with I don't have a seller account.
The other giveaway sign is that although the links are similar to Amazon domains, they aren't Amazon domains.
They all seem to be subdomains of by.ru, which appears to be some sort of free hosting solution based in Russia (I don't speak Russian, so I'm only making an educated guess)
Unfortunately, while Amazon do have a facility for reporting phishing emails it is clearly not aimed at the "casual" end user or anyone who is short of time. It consists of a rather convoluted series of web forms instead of a simple email address.
While the likes of Paypal, Ebay and most of the major financial institutions make it relatively easy for even a novice to report phishing emails Amazon dare to be different.
While they may be getting the reports in from honeypots etc., surely it would make more sense to facilitate end user reports?
Am I missing something?
I've had about half a dozen phishing emails today purporting to be from Amazon regarding my "seller" account.
To start with I don't have a seller account.
The other giveaway sign is that although the links are similar to Amazon domains, they aren't Amazon domains.
They all seem to be subdomains of by.ru, which appears to be some sort of free hosting solution based in Russia (I don't speak Russian, so I'm only making an educated guess)
Unfortunately, while Amazon do have a facility for reporting phishing emails it is clearly not aimed at the "casual" end user or anyone who is short of time. It consists of a rather convoluted series of web forms instead of a simple email address.
While the likes of Paypal, Ebay and most of the major financial institutions make it relatively easy for even a novice to report phishing emails Amazon dare to be different.
While they may be getting the reports in from honeypots etc., surely it would make more sense to facilitate end user reports?
Am I missing something?
The Irish media must have been really bored this morning or just looking for a big headline. I guess its all an anticlimax now that Bertie Ahern is gone and thew new cabinet are in place.
According to RTE there was a "security breach", while Morning Ireland used the term "hacker".
What were they talking about?
Was a major ecommerce site hacked?
Did private and confidential information leak into the public domain?
No. All that happened is that Damien Mulley worked out where a file was on the Data Privacy Commissioner's site before they announced it to the public.
Hardly newsworthy and hardly a "security breach".
The report itself is a totally different matter, however.
According to RTE there was a "security breach", while Morning Ireland used the term "hacker".
What were they talking about?
Was a major ecommerce site hacked?
Did private and confidential information leak into the public domain?
No. All that happened is that Damien Mulley worked out where a file was on the Data Privacy Commissioner's site before they announced it to the public.
Hardly newsworthy and hardly a "security breach".
The report itself is a totally different matter, however.
DVDs.ie has been taken offline, as the server simply did not have enough RAM.
I've ordered extra RAM and will put the site back online once I have the RAM installed.
For the past 48 hours the site has been slow, while the server itself has been nearly always inaccessible via ssh, due to MySQL eating cpu and ram. It seems like the GoogleBot started crawling and "upset" the backend, which is more than a bit silly.
Ah well.. I needed to get more RAM for that server anyway
I've ordered extra RAM and will put the site back online once I have the RAM installed.
For the past 48 hours the site has been slow, while the server itself has been nearly always inaccessible via ssh, due to MySQL eating cpu and ram. It seems like the GoogleBot started crawling and "upset" the backend, which is more than a bit silly.
Ah well.. I needed to get more RAM for that server anyway
While I was away over the last few days in London that does not mean that I was either out of "the loop" or that emails didn't stop arriving!
This weekend's Computers in Business supplement with the Sunday Business Post contains three mentions of us:
This weekend's Computers in Business supplement with the Sunday Business Post contains three mentions of us:
- My monthly column
- The annual hosting report
- The wiki infamy thing was picked up by them and is on the inside back page, even if they got the cartoon character wrong
While I have my reservations about the film I Robot the latest special edition boxset is truly impressive.
Of course you'd have problems fitting it in with your "normal" DVDs.....
Play are currently offering it for about 77 euro including shipping. I presume they'll ship it to Ireland, as it would be classed as a DVD, but if anyone knows otherwise please let me know
Of course you'd have problems fitting it in with your "normal" DVDs.....
Play are currently offering it for about 77 euro including shipping. I presume they'll ship it to Ireland, as it would be classed as a DVD, but if anyone knows otherwise please let me know
As I mentioned some time ago, this year mark's the centenary of Ian Fleming's birth.
While the Royal Mail have issued a gorgeous set of stamps to commemorate the man and his most famous creation - James Bond, the Imperial War Museum in London is marking the occasion with an exhibition.
The exhibition, For Your Eyes Only, is being held in the Imperial War Museum and is well worth the entrance fee. Not only does it chronicle the life and work of Fleming, but it also explores the literary and cinematic world of James Bond.
The exhibits include a very impressive selection of international editions of the books along with some of the props and costumes from the films, including an atomic bomb!
When I was a teenager my cousin took me around most of the museums in London, such as the Imperial War Museum. I may not have been as deeply affected by some of the themes as I am now, I was always impressed by their usage of multimedia. Over 20 years later the technology has advanced considerably and so have the displays.
The James Bond exhibition is a rich multimedia experience and allows you to explore many of the themes "a la carte". Unlike so many exhibitions that are simply flat and static, the use of multimedia enriches the overall experience and allows you to explore in your own way.
If you get a chance to drop in before next year (when it closes) I'd highly recommend it.
While the Royal Mail have issued a gorgeous set of stamps to commemorate the man and his most famous creation - James Bond, the Imperial War Museum in London is marking the occasion with an exhibition.
The exhibition, For Your Eyes Only, is being held in the Imperial War Museum and is well worth the entrance fee. Not only does it chronicle the life and work of Fleming, but it also explores the literary and cinematic world of James Bond.
The exhibits include a very impressive selection of international editions of the books along with some of the props and costumes from the films, including an atomic bomb!
When I was a teenager my cousin took me around most of the museums in London, such as the Imperial War Museum. I may not have been as deeply affected by some of the themes as I am now, I was always impressed by their usage of multimedia. Over 20 years later the technology has advanced considerably and so have the displays.
The James Bond exhibition is a rich multimedia experience and allows you to explore many of the themes "a la carte". Unlike so many exhibitions that are simply flat and static, the use of multimedia enriches the overall experience and allows you to explore in your own way.
If you get a chance to drop in before next year (when it closes) I'd highly recommend it.
