Interesting Site: Free Computing Quick Reference Guides

As someone who has worked as a programmer in many different languages (C, C++, Ada, Perl, Visual Basic, Java, etc etc etc), I have always found it hard to go from one language to another quickly at times. I program for months in Ada and then get called to update a Perl script, all while teaching Basic, so my languages all kind of mingled together. I found it quite useful to have quick reference guides handy. Apparently, so did this person, who has created a site devoted to some of the languages out there:

http://www.digilife.be/quickreferences/indexe.html


From his site: Throughout the years I have collected a huge pile of documents that deal with almost every aspect of software development. The purpose of this site is to centralize this information and to make it available to everyone who may need it or shares my passion on this subject. There are still a lot of documents in my "archive" that I like to share with you all.
At the moment this site represents only a fraction of what I want to provide, so a lot of work still needs to be done. As a result, you should consider this site as a work in progress. I'll try to keep you updated on the most challenging, powerful and continuously evolving software technologies of the moment. I hope that especially Java and C++ fanatics (like myself) will find some valuable information over here.

Interesting Article: 10 Dumb Technology Ideas from 2006

Knockoff Razr Phones? Playing polo on Segway scooters? People always find interesting ways to misuse technology. Read on...

Tech News: Microsoft to take on iPod

Microsoft has decided to battle Apple yet again...this time, for the dominance of portable media. Microsoft announced information about their long-rumored iPod type device, called a "Zune".

Microsoft confirms 'iPod Killer'

Microsoft said on Friday it plans to release a new music and entertainment player and accompanying software under the "Zune" brand this year, in a belated attempt to challenge the dominance of Apple's iPod player.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/21/technology/microsoft.reut/index.htm?section=cnn_topstories

Interesting Article: Watch What You Type!

Another case of people's blogging costing them their job!!!

A woman working for a CIA contractor lost her job when she posted negative things about the US's torture policy in a blog on the CIA intranet.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/20/AR2006072001816.html

The day of the last post, Axsmith said, after reading a newspaper report that the CIA would join the rest of the U.S. government in according Geneva Conventions rights to prisoners, she posted her views on the subject. It started, she said, something like this: "Waterboarding is Torture and Torture is Wrong."

It's amazing that this sort of thing keeps happening.

Interesting Article: Using Google to Find Malware Source Code

It is interesting how many applications find for Google. For example, someone created a search engine that allows you to find the source code for virii (viruses) and other types of malware.

Article at E-week

H.D. Moore, creator of the Metasploit hacking tool and the security researcher behind the MoBB (Month of Browser Bugs) project, has released a search engine that finds live malware samples through Google queries.

Microsoft Office Macintosh Version: ~$79 after rebate

I am giving a few workshops at Montclair on PowerPoint, and I was discussing pricing on the Microsoft Office suite (Microsoft makes a student/teacher edition available at a lower cost). It turns out that Amazon is having a sale on it, for around $79 after rebate:

Microsoft Office for the Macintosh

The PC Version of it is ~$129 on Amazon:
Microsoft Office (PC Version)

Interesting Article: Microsoft Fined More Money than I will make in my lifetime

The European Union is much tougher on Microsoft than the United States is. They just fined Microsoft $357 million dollars for not complying with a 2004 ruling, and plan on fining them more if the things they want are not taken care of soon.

It's a tough line between being a monopoly and good business, isn't it?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060712/bs_nm/microsoft_eu_dc_23

State of NJ shutdown

It's interesting that the state has shut down. Some things I find interesting:

1) They posted a list of who has to report to work on the state Web site. Interestingly enough, many of the Information Technology workers are considered "essential" now!

2) For those of you with expiring licenses, the state extended their expiration dates.

3) No, it does not affect me.

Happy Fourth!

Link: Soprano Sue

Some of you who have taken classes at PCCC in the evenings may remember "Soprano Sue". She has a great web site for all things Sopranos at:

http://www.sopranosuesightings.com

If you've seen the autographed pictures on my wall, this is the source. Her site is a must see for Sopranos fans, and notice she correctly capitalizes the word "Internet" in her blog.

Interesting Article: Veterans Eligible for Testing Fee Reimbursement

Speaking of Veterans...Veterans are eligible for reimbursement of testing fees through the Department of Veteran's Affairs. If you are an IT major, this is an excellent way to get some certifications, for little to no cost!

It's clear from the article that they feel computer training is important:

In jobs from mechanics and installers to medical technicians to therapists to computer network engineers to web site developers, it’s clear that certifications play a key role. You can receive reimbursement of up to $2,000 per test but not more than the actual cost of the test. You can receive benefits to retake a test if you fail. The number of tests you can take is unlimited, except that you can’t receive benefits to retake a test you passed.

http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/gi-bill-license-and-certification-program

Interesting Article: VA Recovers Stolen Laptop

The theft of a laptop containing the Social Security Numbers of 26.5 million U.S. veterans (original post here) has been recovered. The part that is most interesting is that even though the Veteran's Affairs group initially reported that the laptop wasn't supposed to be brought home, apparently someone gave permission for them to. It bothers me that government agencies will give out false information like that, and then later on, after everyone forgets about the story, correct themselves when fewer people are watching.

The article also states that newly discovered documents show the VA analyst blamed for losing the laptop had received permission to work from home on data that included millions of Social Security numbers.

http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=22588

Interesting Article: Cyberbullying

The United States CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) has an article up about cyberbullying. If you've been in a chat room, you've no doubt seen someone engaging in this type of behavior.

Cyberbullying refers to the new, and growing, practice of using technology to harass, or bully, someone else. Bullies used to be restricted to methods such as physical intimidation, postal mail, or the telephone. Now, developments in electronic media offer forums such as email, instant messaging, web pages, and digital photos to add to the arsenal. Computers, cell phones, and PDAs are new tools that can be applied to an old practice.

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST06-005.html

Interesting Link: NJ Fair Web Site

Tomorrow is the first day of the NJ Fair at the Meadowlands. It's interesting how even state fairs have web sites now.

Interesting Article: Top 10 Strangest Gadgets of the Future

Just came across this article. Intelligent spoons, self cooling beer cans, transparent toasters...all sorts of stuff that you see in movies and say "cool".

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/top-10-strangest-gadgets-of-the-future

Interesting Article: Internet Statistics

89% of adult Internet users in the United States share content with others using email. A full 63% share content weekly or more often.

Women; especially those women in their late 30’s and easily 40’s tend to be the biggest viral forwarders of content.

Note that "viral" in this context doesn't mean "virus" - it means they tend to replicate emails through forwarding.

http://www.sharpepartners.com/article/study_finds_consumers_fans_of.php?format=full