August 26, 2007
Oh no, someone read a world readable file in UNIX
Chris Josephes makes a great point in this post. Anything can read /etc/passwd, even for a better reason than, “OMG HAX.” If you’re going to worry about it, you should wonder why it might be world readable. And in UNIX, if you really have to worry about it, it should not be.
I guess this is isn’t always the default reaction you would have when you come from an OS that forces you to give over admin-level access to install software.
One aside to all this is that the Mac isn’t safe because of social engineering. If you have a Mac, do you really wonder why it’s asking for the admin password to install softare? There’s almost nothing that should ever need it. But most of us will shrug and type it anyway.
Great Moments in Awkward Conversation
August 23, 2007
Let me add my voice to the outrage
Yes, Sun Microsystems changing their stock ticket from SUNW to JAVA because Java is more recognized by consumers is dumb. It’s not BoxHill to DotHill dumb, but it’s certainly dumb. People know Sun. People buy Sun stock because of the numbers. The numbers depend on people giving Sun money because they make better products. Nobody cares that teenagers might know that the Java logo on a cellphone is Sun. Make better products. Sun does poorly when they make decisions that result in poorer products. OPOF in two years. I call it.
August 11, 2007
Goodbye Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson has died. He founded Factory Records. You can honor his legacy by living a life worthy of having Steve Coogan play you.
August 10, 2007
A solid ball of Carbon
I was pricing out Dell 2950 servers today when a picture of a small tree caught my eye. Dell has a tree planting carbon credit program. An excerpt:
Want to help the environment? Through Dell, you can plant a tree to help offset the carbon dioxide emissions generated to power your new system.
“The customer experience starts with receiving the best value and continues with the knowledge that we are working with our customers to protect the environment throughout the life of their system,” said Michael Dell, chairman of Dell. “Programs like ‘Plant a Tree for Me’ and our global recycling efforts empower our customers to participate with us in making a difference. It is our hope that other companies in our industry will join us to improve the environment that we all share.” (January, 2007)
Dell is committed to leading our industry on environmental stewardship
Today we’re living in the “Re-Generation,” which includes people of all ages throughout the world who want to make a difference in improving the earth we all share. As part of our Zero Carbon initiative, we are partnering with customers to become the greenest technology company on earth.
All well and good, but a 2950 is basically a bunch of toxins encased in steel and 750 W power supplies. It’s 50 pounds of sludge turning fossil fuels into heat. Carry it out to its logical conclusion and the earth is eventually a solid ball of 2950s, carbon and trees.
August 9, 2007
Times Select Dying?
There’s a rumour that Times Select is dying soon. Good news for Paul and Maureen whatever their names were. They might enjoy some influence again. What were their names?