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eclectic git

eclectic enquiry
July 14

We Are Officially a Police State

We are officially a police state. Go read your history of the Nazi and Soviet regimes, how they protected their states, and you can see the parallels with present practices of the American state. Yes, the American state, not just the Bush administration. We are all culpable either by our political actions or inaction. We deserve a police state. For those who oppose the actions of this administration on our behalf, you did not oppose it strenuously enough. For those who approved, you are fools, fascists, or practitioners of the most profound self deception. We all deserve what happened and what happens next. The vote to approve retroactive telecom immunity and to make legit warrantless intrusion into our lives limns our national character as something alien and ugly.


I recommend that all members of the house and senate who voted for this bill should be defeated in their next election. That includes Senator Obama. Senator McCain should also be defeated because he wimped out and did not vote. I am a Republican libertarian who originally supported Representative Ron Paul, but after the Republican hierarchy ignored and marginalized Representative Paul I was planning to support and vote for Senator Obama as the least objectionable candidate. I have changed my mind! I may support and vote for former congressman Bob Barr or some other third party candidate. Senator Obama cares more about winning than for the U.S.Constitution and the liberties of Americans. I have lost all enthusiasm for his candidacy and had none for Senator McCain.


I have to ask the the questions: Are we now fascist because of the remote chance we may be victims of a terrorist plot? Have we always been closet fascists?

June 25

OBAMA'S VP RUNNING MATE

No previous job prepares a person to be president.   

I believe that all would be good choices for vice president and good presidents.

Senator Obama choose one of these people:

Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico

Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska

Governor Chris Gregoire of Washington

Governor  Joe Manchin of West Virginia

Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona

Representative Ron Paul of Texas

Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri

Representative Artur Davis of Alabama

Susan Eisenhower, president of the Eisenhower Group, Inc.

Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon

Representative Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin of Wisconsin

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont

June 20

FREEWARE & some paidware programs I've Used and Use

This is an easy way to tell my friends the programs that I use, I consider good programs, and which may make computing simpler and safer.  Non-friends can benefit from my amateur expertise.  I recommend some sites for information about configuring, maintaining, and securing Windows XP systems (some include info on that dog Vista).  You will note that I have bought* only about a dozen programs and the rest are freeware.

The essential programs  ERUNT, MozyHome, Online Armor, NOD32, Maxtor OneTouch, Sandboxie, Trojan Remover, SpywareBlaster, Password Safe, PGP Desktop, and Mozilla Firefox are important because in some way each add a layer of protection to my system. The router is the second layer; the first layer is whatever filtering the ISP does for malware and hack attacks. Get a router with NAT and SPI firewall. You see below what I have, but D-LInk and NetGear also make some good routers.

paidware*

freeware

Much of this post  a repeat of the previous post. I wanted to place the diagnostic, information, and testing site links closer to  the top. Although I am a bit geeky on this, I am still very much an average end user.  And I am poor, so most of the programs here are freeware. Some of the programs come in paid and free versions.   Peace.

 

If you suspect that a file may be malware even though your present security programs did not detect them as such, you can upload the file to these scanning sites. They use multiple scanning engines.

Virus Total http://www.virustotal.com/
Jotti's Malware Scan http://virusscan.jotti.org/

Test your firewall and browsers on these sites:
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/default.asp

http://www.pcflank.com/

http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/index.php

Check the evaluation of antivirus programs here:
http://www.av-comparatives.org/

Check firewall evaluations here:
http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php

Check these pages for information on configuring XP Professional, some settings also apply to Home too, and other sites for security information, and security programs.

Optimize XP - good site for the novice
http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/OptimizeXP.html

Black Viper - good advice about how to configure XP and Vista for security
http://www.blackviper.com/

Gizmo's TechSupportAlert (He produces a free internet publication and paid. Subscribe to one.) He lists the best free programs in all categories. You can populate your computer with all freeware if you wish.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/dr/

The Elder Geek on Windows XP
http://theeldergeek.com/index.htm

Spyware Warrior
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/

Eric Howes'  Privacy & Security Page on Spyware Warrior
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/main-nf.htm
Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

 

 

Linksys WRT54G2 v1 Wireless Router * - You can find this at your local computer store, Circuit City, Best Buy (avoid their Geek Squad), or the like.

Other programs that I use:

BACKUP::
CDBurnerXP  http://cdburnerxp.se/download?latest
ERUNT      http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/
Maxtor OneTouch*   http://www.seagate.com/maxtor/
MozBackup   http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com
MozyHome* http://mozy.com/home
WinRAR*  http://www.rarsoft.com/
WinZip*    http://www.winzip.com/index.htm

BROWSERS & MAIL:
BrowserTraySwitch - easy switch of multiple browsers  http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/browsertray/index.html
Flock   http://flock.com/
K-Meleon   http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/
Mozilla Firefox           http://www.mozilla.org/
Mozilla Thunderbird  
http://www.mozilla.org/
Windows Live Mail   http://get.live.com/wl/all
Windows Live Messenger 
http://get.live.com/wl/all
Internet Explorer 7   http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/default.mspx
Opera   http://www.opera.com/

Mozilla Firefox is my default, but I can change defaults with a couple of clicks using BrowserTraySwitch. I use Flock, a social network browser for Facebook,Flickr, YouTube, and other social and photo sites. The other browser have different uses and with homepages that reflect their use. I have nine email addresses that I download into Mozilla Thunderbird and three more are downloaded to Windows Live Mail, but I leave one other as webmail. I use the Lightning addon for Mozilla Thunderbird which adds calendar function to it.

DEFENCE:
Brain:
IMPORTANT,  READ THIS FIRST ONE.
http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci531120,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_brain
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/interactives/organs/brainmap/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain/
http://www.transhumanist.com/volume1/moravec.htm
http://www.learner.org/discoveringpsychology/brain/

Eset NOD32 Antivirus*   http://www.eset.com/
Gmer        http://antirootkit.com/software/index.htm
IceSword  
http://antirootkit.com/software/index.htm
Online Armor*  http://www.tallemu.com/
Sandboxie*   http://www.sandboxie.com/
Spybot Search & Destroy  http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html
SpywareBlaster    http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Trojan Remover*  http://www.simplysup.com/
ewido antispyware microscanner   http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/
Rootkit Unhooker  
http://antirootkit.com/software/index.htm
RootkitRevealer   http://antirootkit.com/software/index.htm
Sophos Anti-Rootkit   http://antirootkit.com/software/index.htm

DIAGNOSTIC:
Belarc Advisor   http://www.belarc.com/free_download.htmlDrive Spacio
ProcessExplorer   http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx
Secunia PSI   https://psi.secunia.com/
System Info for Windows  http://www.gtopala.com/

ENCRYPTION:
KeyScrambler - for Mozilla Firefox - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3383
Password Safe   http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/
PGP Desktop*   http://www.pgp.com/

INTELLIGENCE:   
Port Explorer* - I do not place link here, the vendor is dodgy, so download and buy are your own peril. I got it before the dodginess. But there two freeware alternatives that I would use if I hadn't bought PE.

TCPView for Windows v2.53

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897437.aspx

CurrPorts v1.36 - View Opened TCP/IP ports / connections

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/cports.html


Weather Watcher    http://www.singerscreations.com/Free-Software.asp
WinPcap - Needed with SmartSniff - http://www.winpcap.org/
FastResolver   http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/fastresolver.html
ID Serve   http://www.grc.com/id/idserve.htm
IPNetInfo   http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/ipnetinfo.html
NetScan   http://www.download3k.com/SoftPerfect-Network-Scanner/Download-Free-netscan.exe.html
SmartSniff   http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/smsniff.html

OFFICE:
Calendar Magic   http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,944-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html
Copernic Desktop Search   http://www.copernic.com/
DS Clock   http://www.dualitysoft.com/dsclock/
Foxit Reader -Download and install instead of Adobe Acrobat Reader, it uses fewer resources - http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php
Kompozer   http://www.kompozer.net/
MoffSoft FreeCalc   http://www.moffsoft.com/freecalc.htm
PDF reDirect*   http://www.exp-systems.com/
Rough Draft - dont work in an office use this one, especially writers and works with Mobysaurus and WordWeb- http://www.salsbury.f2s.com/
Windows Live Photo Gallery  
http://get.live.com/wl/all
Windows Live Writer   http://get.live.com/wl/all
Convert   http://joshmadison.com/article/convert-for-windows
Mobysaurus Thesaurus   http://www.mobysaurus.com/
WordWeb Pro*   http://wordweb.info/

TOOLS:
CCleaner   http://www.ccleaner.com/
Diskeeper Lite ver.9  http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-disk-de-fragmenter.htm
JV 16 Power Tools 2008*   http://www.macecraft.com/jv16powertools2008/
Logitech ITouch*  http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/&cl=us,en
Logitech MouseWare* http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/&cl=us,en
PC Pitstop Optimize* http://www.pcpitstop.com/
WinRoll   http://www.palma.com.au/winroll/
autoruns   http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
Dial-a-fix   http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Dial-a-fix
PageDefrag   http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx
ProcX   http://www.ghostsecurity.com/procx/
xpdite   http://www.grc.com/xpdite/xpdite.htm
XPlite*  http://www.litepc.com/


paidware*

freeware

May 19

CBP, NKVD, or Gestapo?

CBP, NKVD, or Gestapo?

Logged in as:  ________@_____.com   (If you are not ________@_____.com click here.)
Question Reference #080517-000016
Subject: Why are you searching laptops and other data storage devices
and media at the...
Type of Problem: Abuse/Excessive Use of Authority
  Unwarranted Search/Chase
Ports of Entry, Pre-Clearance or Border
Patrol Sectors:
HQ
Language: English
Country Code Number:
Phone Number:
Suffix:
Country:
Postal Code:
DOB:
Passport #:
Issuing Country: United States
Alien #:
I-94 #:
Trusted Traveler ID#:
Flight Number:
Dist Field Office:
Border Patrol Sector:
Incident Date:
Submitted:  05/17/2008 10:44 AM
Last Updated:  05/19/2008 11:31 AM
Status: Solved

Update My Question https://cbpcomplaints.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/cbpcomplaints.cfg/php/enduser/...
2 of 2 5/19/2008 4:23 PM

Problem solved was the response of the Customs and Border Protection Agency. Here was my complaint, or harangue:

Why are you searching laptops and other data storage devices and media at the borders? It has no efficacy, balanced against violating the rights of citizens, for discovering miscreants, either terrorists or other criminals. It is a behavior, I believe, more suited and practiced by the like of Nazi Germany, the old Soviet state, and other police states. Your behavior and the courts decision, the reversal of a lower court's decision, have finally convinced me to buy strong encryption to
protect my information. I have also joined a group, quickly growing in number, to voluntarily grow a fund to retain lawyers to fight in
court, all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary, any confuscation(sic; the danger of writing in a web form on the flipflop and fly ) of any of our information carrying devices. Your behavior has increased the bottom line of the PGP Corporation, and more people are considering using encryption.
I do not like the expense of encryption to protect my family photos, personal information, and sensitive data, like Social Security Number, banking information, emails, and other personal documents which are none of your dang business. So if my devices are confiscated and accessed at any border all you can expect is encrypted data that would take even the N.S.A., using all the computing
in the world, until the sun goes nova to decrypt. PGP Corporation should thank you for your action. No one else, no American who regards the Constitution and liberty should. I ask myself: Why is my government behaving like fascists? Why is it behaving like fascists that America fought in World War Two and Korea to defeat? I will fight in the courts and politically to restrain such fascist impulses and behaviours. It is the American's duty to resist tyranny, to defeat enemies foreign and DOMESTIC. I want the officials in the U.S.Customs and Border Protection Agency who conceived this policy fired. We may have to fire some politicians first.

This was the response of the Customs and Border Protection Agency:

Discussion Thread
Response (Frederick) 05/19/2008 11:31 AM
Thank you for contacting CBP. We appreciate your comments on the issue of laptops.
CBP is charged with facilitating legitimate trade and travel while at the same time enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws. All persons, baggage and merchandise arriving in the United States are required to participate in CBP processing. As part of the process, CBP strives to facilitate the routine processing of all travelers while determining admissibility.  It is not the intent of CBP to subject travelers to unwarranted scrutiny. However, unless exempt, all travelers entering the United
States, including U.S. citizens, are required to participate in CBP processing. As part of the process, CBP Officers are verifying admissibility and looking for possible terrorists, terrorist weapons or narcotics. Laptop computers may be subject to detention(sic) for violation of criminal law such as if the laptop contains information with possible ties to terrorism, narcotics smuggling, child pornography or other criminal activity. CBP Officers adhere to all requirements to protect privileged, personal and business confidential information.
Customer 05/17/2008 10:44 AM

Auto-Response 05/17/2008 10:44 AM
Title: How do officers decide which passengers to examine or search?
Link: http://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_faqid=27&p_created=1043364935
Title: Why did a CBP officer search me?
Link: http://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_faqid=26&p_created=1043364935
Title: Authority, right to search
Link: http://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_faqid=176&p_created=1043364937
Title: Transgender Personal Search Procedures
Link: http://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_faqid=290&p_created=1043364937
Title: FACT SHEET - Air and Marine
Link: http://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_faqid=1020&p_created=120612097

And this is my response to it.

I could understand, somewhat, doing the searches of media devices and media storage of non-citizens, perhaps of people suspected, probable cause, of smuggling narcotics or possessing child pornography, but you do random searches or searches of all without probable cause.

What is your reaction if I have the data on my computer encrypted and refuse to decrypted it for you? I will do this unless the congress and/or the courts do not stop this practice. I will, if this occurs to me, fight this in the courts and congress for the remainder of my life if necessary. I am a Republican, patriotic, but a libertarian in political ideology, so you know where I am coming from. Stop giving me the programmed spiel

"There are many reasons for deciding to examine someone. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a program of random checks that helps us calibrate our information regarding smuggling trends. In addition, CBP officers will occasionally observe something that fits a smuggling characteristic. They will then want to conduct a search to see if anything else in the passenger's goods or answers would provide information that would indicate whether or not there is additional need for concern. Many people think that Officers only target people who look disreputable or suspicious, and are therefore offended when they themselves are singled out. Please be aware, some of CBP's biggest seizures have come from inspections of "respectable looking" people, such as grandmothers, corporate executives, college professors, etc. Everyone is subject to a CBP inspection when they arrive in the U.S."

You are infringing on the privacy and abrogating the rights of the many to catch a few. To extend your logic, the police departments should search every apartment and house in the cities; I am sure that they would catch some criminals by doing this. But this is the United States of America and we have a Constitution that constrains the use of government power. These constraints keep us free. If this practice of yours continues you may lose the respect, trust, and cooperation of the American people.  When that happens your job will be impossible. Random searches is the problem. Do you have any people in your department who understand the internet? All a terrorist needs to do is upload plans outside the country to online storage encrypted and simply download when in the country. Or they can simply use a lowtech approach and send someone with a photograpic memory with the plans memorized, or someone with the plans written in code in an innocent looking notepad whereas it appears to be a diary, travelogue, or other notes. You plan to confiscate all these? I fear for this country when the people who are supposed to protect us are bumblers, who don't know the Constitutional protections or even care, and cannot or will not do the real, hard work of valid, none intrusive intelligence to protect us.

Americans have to protect themselves from enemies foreign and domestic. You are increasingly becoming the domestic enemy. Take a civics course!

April 27

Simple honest speech

 

Simple honest speech

a rarity in public discourse

a rarity in private.

Say the facts, some say

you opine. Some opinions

you hear spoken as if fact.

 

In politics, the occupation

of governance, simple honest speech

the necessary requirement

to produce a free, peaceful

society; language without guile,

pretension, or calumny

in which you try

to clarify public policy, not obscure.

Language that you do

not need to parse to understand.

 

President Bush, vice president Chaney,

secretary Rice, secretary Rumsfeld please

simple honest speech profane

liars ever choose.

 

for,and under the influence of, Ronnog Seaberg (1932 – 2007).

Photo by Mark Wolfe

 

April 14

WhosOnSecond

Yeah, it's a play on a play on baseball play by that classic comic duo;

the first was used so it had to take seconds, but it ain't second-rate. Naw,

it ain't second to any other. If you are interested in baseball cards, basketball

cards, et cetera cards play your cards right and check on by this site.

I am tired of my own tired word games, so some plain old lingo:

Whos On Second Sports Website For Card Sharks

is run by a fanatical Yankee fan and card collector. It is a work of love

by a nice guy, Steve Salinas. You damn right I'm biased, he has been a

friend for over a decade.  Check out the site even if you are not a card

collector or sports fan because he has a resident curmudgeon who is a

Brooklyn Dodgers, Greenbay Packers, and Chicago Bulls fan.  He does not

collect cards; he just contributes to Salinas' site Side Arm Pitch, a column

of what moves from his brain to the keyboard. Guess who's on second

with his friend Steve. Go by, leave a comment, say I sent you along.

 

Who's On Second            babe ruth

                                    rare july

                                                                      © 2006 Thomas Elias Weatherly

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