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Why do planes have windows?
That isn't to say that I think you should be stuck in a long with undecorated walls, because that might be a little creepy, and perhaps claustrophobic. I've been in an inside cabin in a cruise ship, and I get the concept of the window. It's very comforting…
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It's not the Information Age, it's the Garbage Age
Every time we turn around, someone wants to label the times in which we live. Many would call these the golden years, though they invariably are only golden compared to those that come after us and remember how much better things were previous to now. Looking at a…
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Just How Secure is Your Password, Anyway?
It seems like every few days, there is an announcement about a problem with a "security database" at some web service or another. The problem with having so much information in the cloud is that it means your very identity is in the hands of someone else. It…
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How Survivor Teaches Us About Politics
While that might not be a precise title, it's not far off. In the annals of history – which is to say, about 13 years ago at this writing – the CBS television show premiered, and is generally credited with creating the reality television genre. What really happened,…
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How Far Do We Go to Protect Our Own Assets?
In this case, let's look at the upcoming (in progress?) merger between American and USAirways as an example. Each airline operates a reasonable number of flights at a number of airports across the country. But with nine hubs in this merge, someone is bound to lose. The problem…
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Paying the Occupy Protesters? Really?
First came the news that New York City would be paying the Occupy Wall Street protesters more than $100,000 for property damaged when their "camp" was cleared out. Then it was bumped to $230,4000. Seriously? I'm the first to admit that I don't get it. I'mold. On the…
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Coming to Grips with Insecurity
Slightly more than eleven years ago – and a bit less than six months after the attacks of September 11, 2001 – I wrote a short piece to no one in particular. I actually addressed it to "Mr. President", at the time meaning it would have been delivered…
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Continuity Matters in Applications, Too
A few days ago, I discussed the importance of continuity – generally as it related to movies and television. But continuity is important in applications, too – perhaps even more so. Let's take a look at LinkedIn as one example. For a long time, LinkedIn has offered recommendations,…
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Disable License Logging Service in SBS 2003
There is a (somewhat outdated) SBS 2003 server on our network, and as we have discovered, the License Logging Service keeps wanting to restart. It is generally not possible to stop it for any length of time. Even disabling it doesn't work – it keeps coming back on….
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Why is Everything so Complicated?
Enough talk about government. Instead, let's look at software. Specifically, why does it have to be so dang complicated? Take updates. It has become fairly commonplace to get them. If you use Windows, there is even a utility helpfully called Windows Update. On a regular basis, it provides…
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Get the Government Out of, Well, Everything
Maybe that is extreme. But maybe, just maybe, the government has their fingers – or their entire hands – in a few too many places and they needs to pull them out. It is already apparent that the only time the government is interested in doing so is…
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Not Every Program Can be Saved
For that matter, not every program should be saved. Of course you realize I am not talking about your program, I am talking about theirs (pointing vaguely in the air at someone else). If you live somewhere in the Charlotte area, you may have heard that the Concord…