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User: IDtheTarget

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  1. Re:Jupiter Tape? on Former FBI Agent: All Digital Communications Stored By US Gov't · · Score: 1

    If memory serves, the STASI eventually had about 1/3 of the population involved in informing on someone or something and never came close to be able to analyze all the data they got.

    They've already started that as well:

    http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/bradshaw-gets-1-million-for-violence-prevention-un/nXbs4/

  2. Re:Confused. on Oracle Responds To Java Security Critics With Massive 50 Flaw Patch Update · · Score: 0

    3. Confused. How many more are there?

    I'm sure there are enough that I feel fairly confident in my advice to just not install Java unless you really, really need it. Which, unless you're a developer or a Minecraft addict, you really don't.

    So I have the JDK installed, but the plugin disabled. (Well, I have the 64-bit JDK installed and use 32-bit Firefox, which works well enough on that front.)

    I don't have a choice. I'm in the United States Army, and many of our sites require Java. Until this fiasco, I actually *advocated* Java. But since Oracle has shown that they don't really care about the language, I may have to start looking elsewhere. But I *HATE* C++...

  3. Re:Somebody's got to say it on 27 Reported Killed In Connecticut Elementary School Shooting · · Score: 1

    Many more people protect themselves with guns than die in tragedies like this. Women especially are vulnerable to physical attack, and benefit from having a firearm available to protect themselves. My wife and I both concealed carry, and we had to go through classes and background checks in order to get our licenses. While I was deployed to Afghanistan, I was able to focus on my mission knowing that my wife was able to protect herself from predators.

    I really find it sad that people forget one glaring point: All of these rampages happen in places where the bad guy knows that he will have easy targets who cannot protect themselves. Virginia Tech, this one, even the Fort Hood shootings, since soldiers aren't allowed to be armed on post.

    If those teachers had been allowed to go through the process (again, training and background checks) to be armed on campus, many fewer people would have died.

    I wish that the gun-banning nuts would allow us to protect our children.

  4. Re:I'm already doing this... on Ask Slashdot: Syncing Files With Remote Server While On the Road? · · Score: 1

    Sorry, the <user> and <server> replacements got messed up because I forgot that they'd be interpreted as tags. Let's try that again:

    @echo off
    cd c:\Program Files (x86)\cwRsync\bin
    rsync -av --chmod u+rwx -e "ssh -i c:\Users\<user>\Documents\certificates\cwrsync" "/cygdrive/c/Users/<user>/Documents/rsync/" <user>@<server>:/home/user/rsync/

  5. I'm already doing this... on Ask Slashdot: Syncing Files With Remote Server While On the Road? · · Score: 1

    Except that my wife's camera doesn't have the Eye-Fi cards, so we're manually downloading the pictures from the camera to the laptop.

    I have an Ubuntu server running rsync. I've installed cwrsync and am using a very simple script (below) to sync my laptop to the rsync server. I'm using a windows at command to schedule the script to run hourly when the laptop is on. That last part is pure laziness, I haven't bothered figuring out how to test for network connectivity and then to run when connected.

    One very nice advantage to running my own rsync server is that I can sync my photos from my Android phones as well. Micha Kowalczuk has written a terrific rsync backup program for Android that's easy to use and can easily be set up to use ssh public/private keypairs for authentication using the instructions on his website. That, in addition to Crafty Apps' Tasker, enables me to backup all of the pictures (and whatever else I want) from my phone every time I have an established WiFi link. (Note that that is my own restriction. I don't want to pay the extra data fees for uploading my pictures over the cell data link.)

    Hope that helps.

    Note that and are replacing the actual values to protect my server. ;-) Also, I have created ~/rsync folders for each user for the backups. Finally, the switches in use will NOT delete pictures from the server if they're deleted from the laptop.

    @echo off
    cd c:\Program Files (x86)\cwRsync\bin
    rsync -av --chmod u+rwx -e "ssh -i c:\Users\\Documents\certificates\cwrsync" "/cygdrive/c/Users//Documents/rsync/" @:/home/user/rsync/

  6. Re:not sure on Windows 8: More EULA, Fewer Rights. · · Score: 4, Informative

    Not sure that that's even legal -- would be surprised if it held up in court.

    Actually, the Supreme court has already ruled that this is, in fact, legal.

  7. Re:Mass Hysteria on Another Afghan School Poisoned — 160 Girls Hospitalized · · Score: 1

    Because the average rural Afghan doesn't even have a radio. You tell the village elders what you're doing, you don't bother putting it on TV. The stuff on the Internet and TV are for us, not the people that the Taliban want to rule.

  8. Just got back from Afghanistan... on DreamHammer Wants To Corner the Drone OS Market · · Score: 1

    And while our control links to our UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are encrypted, the video feeds are NOT. And we *know* that the bad guys are tapping into the video feeds when we have UAVs overhead. Which just goes to show that contractors can do some silly things.

    Not sure I like the idea of having ALL of our UAVs and various robots using a single OS. Because unless it's VERY secure, I can forsee a time when the bad guys hack the OS and our drones/UAVs/robots/etc are used by them against us...

  9. This is why I left Verizon for StraightTalk on Verizon To Kill All Unlimited Data Plans · · Score: 2

    I've been a Verizon customer for a couple of years, but got fed up with the prices they charged while I was deployed and not even using the service, merely to keep my phone number for when I got home.

    I'm tired of it, and tired of being locked into contracts and paying for data. I want freedom! So here's what I did:

    1. - I purchased two unlocked Galaxy Nexus penta-band GSM phones for $400 each
    2. - I purchased StraightTalk unlimited prepaid plans for each phone for $45.

    Yes, I paid an early-termination fee. But by my calculation, even with paying the full cost of the phone, I come out even in six months. And I no longer have to worry about the tyranny of a contract. I'm free to go to any MVNO.

  10. Re:Correction.... on U.S. In Danger of Losing Earth-Observing Satellite Capability · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Public and Scientific earth viewing satellites are dwindling. The military has plenty of money to launch all they need.

    Actually, that's incorrect. We (I'm a Signal Officer in the Army National Guard that just returned from a deployment to Afghanistan) have several communications systems that use civilian satellites.

    So your statement would more correctly read: The military has plenty of money to rent time on civilian satellites.

    To head off the inevitable "it's not secure!", we use NSA-provided end-to-end encryption for all of our tactical communications, especially those going over civilian networks. Including satellites.

  11. I just got back from a deployment to Afghanistan.. on WW2 Vet Sent 300,000 Pirated DVDs To Troops In Iraq, Afghanistan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I just got back from a deployment to Afghanistan, and I can tell you that sometimes the only way to get to sleep is by watching something that will get your mind off of what's really going on. My favorite was light comedies and sitcoms.

    I didn't know about this guy. We got most of our movies over there from local vendors who would sell pirated copies (that's legal in Afghanistan). The MPAA is getting the Customs Service and DoD to crack down, though. We used to be able to buy whatever we wanted from the locals and bring them home. Then when I came home from Iraq in 2008, we were allowed to bring one copy of each movie/TV show, and that was fine as well. This time when we were coming home we were told that we could only bring one item, period. Which was fine, again, because now we're ripping the movies to our hard-drives, anyway. I wonder how long it'll be until the MPAA gets the Customs Service to look at all of the content of our laptop hard drives on re-deploying back to the U.S....

    If you were lucky enough to be stationed at Bagram Air Field, then you had a PX where you could by legit movies for full price, but for most of us stuck out at various FOBs scattered across the country, the local guy was all we had. Hopefully the Pentagon Pukes don't listen to the MPAA and take that away from us, or we'll be in a world of hurt over there. This deployment sucked pretty bad. Not sure what'll happen if the next one is even worse due to those greedy MoFo's in the MPAA...

  12. Re:Its easier to believe in Santa Claus... on White House Petition To Investigate Dodd For Bribery · · Score: 1

    If you tell the executive branch, "Hey a whole bunch of D-bags in Congress are being bought and paid for," I'd bet they'd be willing to at least take a look.

    Yeah, President Obama will say "Hey! I'm running for re-election, how do I get some of that dough?"

  13. Re:Cue the lawsuits on Y Combinator Wants To Kill Hollywood · · Score: 2

    Um...isn't California broke?

  14. Re:Robots on US Navy Developing App-Summoned Robotic Helicopter · · Score: 2

    Something that you're overlooking: The insurgents are actively attempting to get us to accidentally kill civilians. We *know* that this is a Tactic/Technique/Procedure (TTP) that they're using. They hide behind civilians, or wear civilian clothing and shoot at us, then hide the weapons when we return fire. They are actively attempting to make it look like we're killing civilians for their Information Operations (IO) campaign. Of course, the liberals don't deal with reality, they prefer the "American soldiers are killing babies!" headlines. Sorry, it's just frustrating for those of us over here when the Main Stream Media actively ignores the reality of what is going on over here, in favor of "higher truth".

  15. Re:hmm on Carbon Emissions 'Will Defer Ice Age' · · Score: 1

    I'd have much more confidence in "climate scientists" if everybody claiming the title made their data transparently available. Not just to those who agree with their stance, but everybody. Hiding your data means that you don't have a scientific agenda, but a political one.

  16. I am a Signal Officer currently in Afghanistan on Ask Slashdot: Working As an IT Contractor In a War Zone? · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm a Major in the National Guard, a Signal Officer currently deployed to Afghanistan. That whole thing about getting kidnapped is B.S. All of the contractors here fly on the same helicopters that we do, or drive in the same convoys that we do. They get the same security and eat in the same DFACs. The only real difference is that they don't go around armed, unless they're the Law Enforcement Professionals (LEPs) or security contractors.

    For the most part they stay on the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) just like those of us not actually out on a mission. They work six months and go home on leave (I can't remember if it's 2 weeks or a month). It's all in their contract.

    When I finished my Iraq tour, I was offered $250k per year to take over managing the I.T. section at a major Iraqi FOB. I was bone-weary from the deployment and just wanted to go home, so I didn't take them up on it. One of my soldiers here was offered $125k to come back and work in the I.T. department at BAF after the tour. She's still thinking about it.

    Ignore most of the B.S. that's being posted here, they have zero idea what they're talking about. The pay is high, as is the security. The downside is the hours that you work. 12-18 hour days, with no days off is the norm. It gets to you after awhile.

    Believe it or not, one of the things that really gets to you over here is the lack of GREEN. At least the FOBs I've been to, I am SICK and TIRED of sand and gravel, tan and grey. My wife emails me pictures of our lawn so i have something green to look at...

  17. Re:In reality, not a whole lot... on Google Launches Nexus S Phone In UK and US · · Score: 1

    No, the one majorly awesome thing here is the native Google experience. Which means that when Google releases an update, I don't have to wait for months for Samsung or T-Mobile or whoever to release the updated OS.

    I've got a T-Mobile Vibrant, and the only thing making it worthwhile is the fact that Team Whiskey is releasing custom ROM's. Froyo was released how long ago? And we STILL don't have an official Froyo release for the best-selling Android phone in the U.S?????

  18. Re:What's the deal with the rush of TSA stories re on TSA Pats Down 3-Year-Old · · Score: 1

    I'm military. When I'm given an order to go somewhere, I haven't a choice. I have no intrinsic right to *not* get on the plane. So I'm in the army to protect the rights of citizens, but the government is taking them away...

  19. Re:Fear & Ignorance on 2010 Election Results Are In · · Score: 1

    Hm, from the hateful words you used, I'm guessing you're a democrat?

    I'm not an economist. However, I think I see a couple of errors in your logic:

    1. You assume that my wife bought fur coats and big screen TV's. What if it was items necessary to the home and family, such as home repair or food? It doesn't matter what was purchased, you are still incurring debt and still must pay the interest
    2. You assume that the stimulus is an investment. I have not seen a comprehensive report on how the stimulus money was spent, but I have seen a few high-profile boondoggles on the news that make me doubt how worthwhile the projects were.
    3. You assume that the projects on which the "stimulus" money was spent are investments in the economy, that will improve our economy. Again, I'm not an economist, but it seems to me that investing in our economy means investing in things that improves manufacturing or trade. When Eisenhower built the Interstate system, it was a substantial investment in our economy because it made interstate commerce so much easier and faster. If I were seeing any kind of spending in manufacturing capacity, or in any other realm that would allow America to expand our wealth as a nation, I might agree with you. But I haven't seen it, and if it was there, why haven't the Democrats pointed it out?

    It's not enough to sneer at the guy holding out an example of common sense. If I don't understand, then explain to me where I'm wrong. But the Democrats haven't been able to do so for the past two years, with the possible exception of throwing out catch phrases and calling them solutions. I am the kind of guy who wants to see a logical chain of argument, not "but it's a stimulus! You are obviously stupid if you don't want a stimulus! It's for the kids!"...

  20. Re:Fear & Ignorance on 2010 Election Results Are In · · Score: 1

    Fair enough, I won't claim I'm *not* an economic illiterate. It seems simple enough to me, however.

    1. We borrow money to pay for government programs, and run up a debt.
    2. We have to pay interest on our debt, to whoever owns the treasury bills.
    3. The more debt we have, the more interest we owe, and the larger part of our Gross Domestic Product we have to pay as interest
    4. As with my wife's credit card, eventually the interest payments will get so large that the government doesn't have any more money to pay for anything BUT interest.
    5. The government then prints more money, which then inflates our currency, which means that the money I've managed to save for retirement will be worth less.

    Again, I'm not an economist, but this doesn't seem to be as difficult as the differential calculus I studied in college...

    I'm curious if you can intelligently respond, showing me where my logic is faulty, rather than simply insult the political party I'm in. But then, you're probably a Democrat. ;)

  21. Re:Fear & Ignorance on 2010 Election Results Are In · · Score: 1

    Sorry, but I disagree.

    Let's say that you come back from a long trip to find that your spouse (the Bush administration) has run up a credit card to a ruinous degree. You are now having trouble paying your bills because of how much your spouse has spent.

    Is your response deciding to run up three more credit cards to their max as well? That's what President Obama and the Democratic congress has done. They've taken a bad situation and made it four times worse with adding so much debt that we may never recover.

    I'm a Republican. I was so angry over the spending that Republicans had been doing that I admit to having voted for some Democrats in 2008. Boy, was THAT a mistake. Instead of being fiscally responsible and trying to get us back on an even keel, they decided to spend so much that I actually long for the Bush years. :(

  22. Re:At least they tell you.. on Apple Wants To Share Your Location With Others · · Score: 1

    And my friends think I'm crazy for giving up my iPhone for an Android device...

  23. Re:Not Much Interest In This Article? on Swype Beta For Android Is Open, Temporarily · · Score: 1

    :: crickets :: Either there aren't too many 'Swypers' reading /. today or they're all having trouble 'swyping' on their non-phone keyboards. Either way this wins this week's "Sleepy Sunday Afternoon Story Award".

    Um...It's Father's Day in the USA? :)

  24. They said that Android isn't an alternative... on Apple Blindsides More AppStore Developers · · Score: 1

    but I can tell you that I am so tired of the "father knows best" attitude that Apple has been shoving down our throats that I'm going to sell my iPhone and buy an Android phone as soon as my AT&T contract is up in November. I'll probably switch to T-Mobile at the same time, due to them charging $60/month less for the same plan I'm "enjoying" with AT&T and the iPhone.

  25. Re:Flamebait on Google Reportedly Ditching Windows · · Score: 1

    I just spent several months trying to get Samba4 to work in our enterprise environment. I even went to the developers explaining the features we need. Their response was that Samba4 wouldn't do what I needed it to do yet, and that if I needed a solution now, to get AD.

    Samba4 is probably good enough for one-server shops now. It is not yet capable of enterprise directory synchronization. And it still lacks computer browsing (yes, I know, but we still need it.)