Centauri's Thoughts

Its been brought to my attention that even unix users can launch attachments from e-mail if they are using a graphical environment (which, I suspect, is most, these days). This is because if something is on the desktop in KDE or Gnome, clicking it can invoke a program called a “launcher”.

Of course, all the standard rules SHOULD apply: you dont execute programs when you dont know what they are. Even if you receive something from a friend, what if they were somehow infected, and it was sent from their system, without their knowledge? you shouldnt run programs you get without expecting to receive THAT program, end of story.

Its also been brought up that while you cannot easily obtain root on a unix system, enough damage can be caused by the primary user of a system, that this doesnt matter too much. The average unix user has the ability to e-mail and do other functions, and this is not something you want a rogue program doing from your name.

reference

While working within the FluxWorld power grid, and enhancing the system, I have come to understand some interesting things while simulating a live power grid with loads.

Even though my system knows all of the loads and all of the sources (which a real-time power grid may not), there is always room for management. I can see why the implementation of a “smart-grid” is so important.

I spend my time managing turning sources on and off as needed, for maximum efficiency.

Even though my loads dont change from day to night, they very well could, and because of solar and wind power, my sources change as well.

The effective management of energy resources on the grid by not putting more power than is needed on the wires, and yet, not having insufficient power (causing brown-outs or black-outs) is indeed an interesting ad tricky balance. Of course, the “brute-force” method of ensuring there is never a black out is to over-power the grid all the time. Unused power sits on the wires as “potential”, but it was still generated and used resources to put it there.

None of this, of course, speaks of storage. TheGrid is TheGrid, and has never utilized storage (like a battery). There are a few methods I have heard of, like pumping water up into a reservoir at night, to generate power during the day, but thats about it. There is just no good (efficient) way to save off terawatts or petawatts of energy at this time.

As we use more and more energy, all of this will become more critical, if we are to survive.

This just boils my blood!

NY governor proposes Internet tax on downloads

New York Governor David Paterson has proposed a tax on Internet downloads, a spokesman said Monday, in a move that has raised eyebrows because it could apply to everything from software to pornography.

The four percent tax would apply to downloads of music, software, books, videos and other Internet content, a spokesman for Paterson said.
"It is a general proposal, not focused on the content, so it would apply to any download, regardless of the content," said Errol Cockfield.
The governor has floated the idea as a way of closing the state's 15 billion dollar budget deficit, but critics say the proposal would likely apply to the hugely lucrative Internet pornography industry and could even drive business away from the state.

Reference

Twitter, short blogging (140 characters or less), random thoughts.. hmmm.

Twitter has been around for a while now, and I hear more and more of it as of late. A few of the cases I knew of it a few years back were one of the Egyptian Blogger Alaa (AKA the Big Pharaoh) being held. Many people use it, according to what I see, some famous, some not, and some that became famous, for one reason or another, if only for a short time.

It definitely has it uses in small social circles or even for temporary groups of associated people in coordinating events.

It does take on a larger life though, it seems, in others.

I suppose following the tweets of another, purely as a social experiment, has its values. We shall see.

See all of twitter at twitter.com and see my own wandering thoughts (though not too many yet at twitter.com/Centauri7)

I came across this a few days ago, but its worth mentioning:

Researchers at The Pennsylvania State University have determined a way to use arrays of nanotubes in a solar-based process to convert carbon dioxide and water into methane and other hydrocarbon fuels. Their method may provide a new way to reduce carbon-dioxide levels in the atmosphere—rising due to our planet's heavy use of fossil fuels—as well as produce alternative fuels.

The entire article is here at physorg.com

I have been reading Dilbert for a number of years (even have the stress ball personifications of the crew), but reading the comics, and reading the blog of Scott Adams adds a whole new dimension into the person behind the comics.

Even though I have been reading dilbert comics since the 1990s, I only discovered the blog around 2002 (more or less). He comments on all sorts of things, and his perspectives on various topics are thought provoking. Its been an interesting journey, to say the least

Since I am a programmer, I can totally relate to the cubie lifestyle, and what goes with it in corporate life. Although I dont have any co-workers exactly like Wally, Alice or the others, bits of many types of personalities are indeed captured in his characters.

Given last weeks satellite collision, the issue of space junk will be getting more attention.

This is a subject I've pondered for well over ten years. Given the relative velocities of the objects involved, we cannot just fly up to things and “grab” them, but perhaps we dont need to.

My idea is this: a large blob of aerogel (perhaps 100 meters or so), positioned where the debris can impact into it, plus an attachment of a motor to position it a little in its orbital altitude.

Once it has captured enough debris, the question becomes what to do with it next.

Since aerogel is a very good insulator, it wont burn up on re-entry, but given its density, perhaps it doesnt need to. It might lose all its forward velocity and fall harmlessly to earth at perhaps 35 – 65 MPH (15.6 – 29.1 m/s). That depends on how much its overall density has increased because of trapped debris.

The other option is to push it up and out to the “parking orbit” where many dead satellites get sent, but from low earth orbit, this would require much more fuel than a de-orbit.

Remember too, that this idea can be used for more than one capturing blob, and in more than one orbit/altitude to speed up the cleanup process.

When i first read about 50 De-Stimulating Facts, all I could say was OMG.

PLEASE read the whole thing. I hope the Senate nixes a huge chunk of this.

This totally does and end-run around the normal political process designed to STOP this sort of thing!

After taking some time away, this weekend was filled with walking, flying, exploring, note-taking and killing some Sneeds, Trils, and Mepons as a fun diversion. Along the way, there was some fixes and fine-tuning to many things (as always).

Many areas and objects were looked at, from pets to area expansions. More fruit bearing trees and bushes added so that somewhere, there is now pickable fruit of some type available all year round.

There is always room for more area expansion, new objects, and refinements.

Hmmmm, we now learn that Saudi Arabia has a re-education program for extremists, to teach them not to kill and murder.

Since the 2003 bombings in Riyadh that killed dozens there have been no major attacks in the kingdom, they point out.

Libya is using a similar philosophy of religious re-education, moving away from brutal treatment of militants in jails, and Pakistan is also looking at it.

The program focuses on religious re-education for young men, all in their late teens to early 30s, captured while engaged in terrorist activities.

Of the 218 people who have taken part, only nine have since been rearrested after trying to rejoin al Qaeda, Saudi officials told CNN.

My question is: why are we only hearing about this now, especially in light of learning that some previously released Gtmo detainess are back fighting against us again.

Reference on CNN.COM