My Mac's Still Secure

Despite what CNN might have you believe, with its "Viruses catch up to the Mac" article, my Macintosh is still very secure, thank you very much. While I feel for the victim in the article, I instruct all my clients never to click on unconfirmed links (especially those that promise any type of "unreleased" updates, financial account confirmation and access to lost Nigerian funds, among other things).

Macs are much more secure than Windows. Users, unfortunately, are the weakest link, and that's the point of this post: I wish CNN would do more to educate users instead of casting unfounded suspicions on Mac systems or OS X.

Certainly countless viruses target both (Windows and Mac) platforms. But the fact remains that Mac infection typically requires the user to make bad decisions (such as clicking on executable attachments sent by strangers, installing programs of unknown origin, etc.). Due to vulnerabilities in the underlying code that powers the Windows subsystem, however, even sophisticated Windows users can easily become victims without having made bad decisions. That's why update Tuesdays are so important to Windows administrators, after all.

Neither platform is perfect. With regular administration and support, Windows is a powerful OS. But so is Mac OS X, and it doesn't require quite the same upkeep. I just wish CNN would report on that.

Geek Love

Here's the greatest T-shirt I've seen in months. Only techies will be able to appreciate it, though:

Roses are #FF0000
Violets are #0000FF
All my base
Are belong to you.

How perfect is that?

Get yours here.

No More Rebates. Ever.

I've fallen for the last one. No more rebates. I will purchase no more technology products or merchandise from vendors offering a rebate.

After spending the better part of a day (I bought new software and pieced together a new computer) cutting UPC tags off cardboard boxes, peeling proofs-of-purchase off box lids, copying original receipts and printing special PDF forms, I'm now receiving postcards and e-mail messages stating my rebate request is being denied. The reasons differ, and they're all bogus.

My favorite rebate snafu as of late? Compaq. The company requires that the original packing slip be included with the rebate submission. I looked all over the box. I tore through my (skimpy) documentation. It was nowhere to be found. I checked all my order confirmation e-mails. Nothing. So I called Compaq. I navigated the IVR. I waited, then I talked to a fellow who informed me that packing slips are no longer included in the box. You have to go to a special Web site, complete a form, then print your own packing slip.

No more. Ever. If you want my business (and as a technology consultant I buy lots of hardware and software every day), don't lure me with rebates. Run a sale instead. Otherwise, I'm walking.

Dayton Codebreakers

Saw a great documentary last night. I don't know why it took so long to learn about Joseph Desch's contributions to freedom, but the fact that most all of his team's work remained classified (above top secret) for more than 40 years likely explains it.

Titled Dayton Codebreakers, the documentary recounts how the U.S. Navy, Desch and his team at NCR (Building 26) in Dayton engineered and designed the machines that broke the four-wheel encryption utilized by German Enigma machines in World War II. The work Desch and his team completed may well surpass any other contribution made in reducing war casualties.

Any fan of Stephenson's Cryptonomicon should check the documentary out. It's a pretty compelling tale, one I found particularly intriguing as I've had the pleasure of touring the U-505, which is now on display in the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago. The U-505, of course, is important to history as it's the U-boat from which the Allies retrieved an Enigma machine without the Axis' knowledge.

Hung The Hummingbird Feeder Today

I hung the hummingbird feeder today. Other than that I didn't get much done. I had high hopes, but I've been so busy, and the weather was so nice today, that I essentially took the day off.

That's the nice thing about working for yourself; often you can do that. Of course, I'll also work this weekend, but that's OK. It's a great tradeoff for being able to fire up the grill and barbecue lunch on a Thursday (which I did yesterday).

I did order a cool custom green and orange Timbuk2 bag. It matches Computer Troubleshooters' branding very well and will help ensure I carry needed materials to client sites. I also met with an accountant (tax returns, charts of accounts, etc.) for almost two hours, returned numerous e-mails, touched base with my RC, changed out a furnace air filter and replaced the button that opens the garage door, so the day wasn't a total loss. This all came on the heels of staying up until 1am working on an authoring project, so I can't really complain.

Published The Business Web Site Tonight

It took a little tweaking, but I published my (second) business Web site tonight. View Computer Troubleshooters of East Louisville's new Web presence.

Meanwhile, you can visit my other company's Web site at Eckel Media Corp.

All comments are welcome!

Fry's Pilgrammage

I had the opportunity to visit a Fry's Electronics store today, and I knew Rex would be disappointed if I passed up the opportunity. So, true to my professional technology troubleshooting nature, I stopped in.

Wow. What can I say? We need one in Louisville. From motherboards to memory, from flash drives to firewalls, the store is a techie treasure trove. Diodes, power supply testers, bare bones boxes. You name it. They're almost certain to have it.

Way cool. Only one complaint. They didn't stock Imation's new USB Clip Flash Drive. I need to track one of those down.

Opening Day 2006

So, today marked my first day being in business for myself. How do I spend it? Attending Major League Baseball's Opening Day celebration in Cincinnati, of course. Why, not every day do you get the chance to spend an afternoon catching a few innings with the President of the United States.

Security was incredible, as anyone would expect. Opening Day always boasts a significant police presence, but SWAT and Secret Service agents, among others, joined today's festivities.

Too bad the Reds couldn't have made it a better game. Not only was George W. Bush in attendance, but today marked my buddy's 20th Opening Day in a row. Now that's a feat in a day and age when family and professional responsibilities so often intrude on leisure pursuits.