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Category: Computers & Technology

Not me! Creepily useful? Or just creepy?

Jim smacked me with this Google screen-grab*: Anybody who’s ever met me or anybody who knows my famous camera-shyness knows that ain’t me. There’s another woman out there who shares my name and does some public speaking in her professional specialty (nursing, I think). She’s probably long rued her accidental Google connections with me. My first thought was, What? Is Google now just grabbing photos of any old Claire Wolfe and pairing them with me? I figured that was probably a photo of poor Nurse Wolfe, who would no doubt now have even more reason to hope I get cooties…

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Weekend links and pix

With even “safe” states contemplating monstrous anti-gun crap like this, it’s heartening to see firearms and equipment makers (who in the past, with rare exceptions like Barrett, have tended to be compromising weenies), responding like this. (H/T JB) More creepiness. (H/T JG) We need some better news. Dalmatian adopts a spotted lamb that was rejected by its mother. And more good news. A senior pit bull saves her family — human and four-footed from a fire. And here’s a wonderful short-short story from the wonderful Maggie McNeill to brighten your weekend. (Good find, S!) To be published in March, but…

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Thursday links

Bad grammar. It makes better passwords. (H/T J for several of today’s items.) Even in Wyoming the politicians are wimpy on guns. And in Idaho: without freaking clue. Yeah, force freedom on people; that’s the way to do it. The most important thing on the Internet. (Tip o’ hat to C^2) I think I’d trust this cool and easy-sounding new encryption more if the company that created it weren’t based in Washington, DC. (H/T MJR) ‘Nother example of how the D’s just build on tyrannical crap the R’s started. And vice versa, of course. (Via yet another one of those…

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Encrypted instant messaging

Do you IM? Do you use Windows? Okay, then, this is for you. Thanks to those brilliant boys at Freedom Feens, you’ve now got an EZ tutorial for encrypting your instant messages with OTR (Off-the-Record) Pidgin. The tutorial is long. But that’s because its steps are so comprehensive. They’ve been vetted and foolproofed. I dislike instant messaging. Life (and the ‘Net) have enough other disruptions without that. I know I’m in the minority, though. And Michael W. Dean, who wrote the tutorial, points out its privacy advantages over email when done right. Then he shows Windows users exactly how to…

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Thursday links

Don’t know how long this will last, but the Kindle edition of Jackie Clay-Atkinson’s Ask Jackie: Canning Basics book is free right now on Amazon. Can be downloaded to any Kindle device, including free Kindle readers for the PC. (Thanks to B for the tip!) (Ooops. Sorry. Apparently the free offer ended just hours after I set up these links.) Speaking of books, anybody read Two Cheers for Anarchism? If so, what did you think of it? Here’s a review. And an Amazon link. It’s by the James C. Scott, same guy who wrote The Art of Not Being Governed…

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More on security cameras

Couple of weeks ago, I blogged about security cameras. Rather, I blogged to ask about them because I know nothing. I got some very good info, including the chance to look through the “eyes” of several security cameras. (Thank you, S and D — and D, I just love the doormat that says “Leave.”) MJR, who knows a thing or three about security systems, posted a link to a company called 2MCCTV. Somebody at 2MCCTV was watching their Web traffic. That quick, I heard from a friendly 2MCCTV rep named Clint Henderson, offering guest blogging. Who am I to turn…

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Monday links

“A Most Extraordinary Life.” (H/T F) You heard about the woman who got charged $83,000 for two doses of anti-scorpion venom worth $100 per dose. Here’s some background on why — and how Obamacare is only going to make it worse. What do you do when your beagle eats your cash? (Hint: It’s easier, though no less unpleasant, than getting your cash back from asset-forfeiting govthugs.) Survival preps: A week in a bucket. BusyPoorDad posted this is this morning’s comments. A very good idea, though I’d aim for a less grain-heavy mix of foods. Sometimes you see a claim that’s…

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Monday links

Man steals rare antique gun. He’s so proud he goes on TV with it Speaking of guns, here’s more on 3-D printables. This is gonna change the world. A little drug-war surprise from Paul Ryan. Some dogs are better than their people (sad story). Cage ’em without charges until they die. It’s the new American Way. When he tweeted about the new Congressional Research Service report on the Posse Comitatus Act, Radley Balko noted that these reports are done only at the request of congressthings. So who suddenly needs an update on Posse Comitatus — and why? Ya gotta wonder.…

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Hey, computer-music geeks

A good friend of mine (and of this blog and of dogs) is also a fan of Animusic. Several years ago he sent me their first two DVDs. Even though I’m as sadly non-musical as it gets, I found them awesome. Now Animusic is crowdsourcing funding for DVD number three and they are alllllllmost over the top. Check ’em out and if you can give their fundraising a little kick via Kickstarter, great. If you can’t or don’t want to contribute, how about spreading the word to any music fans or computer animation geeks you know? One more week to…

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