Remote Desktop Musings

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I am a fan of remote computer access. Huge fan, in fact. I use the crap out of it at work on our Windows XP boxes to access the Load and Performance boxes. I too fire up remote access software at home on my Linux machines…primarily to help D-Rock troubleshoot his Ubuntu set-up. Both scenarios have proven to be quite important, and almost a necessity any more.

dude

+1 Full House

Whereas my scenarios are quite secure and specific, there exists a need for more secure, wide ranging remote access solutions. How about some 256-bit encryption? Like industry leading PROXY Pro 7.

With a secure system like that, you can troubleshoot other people’s computers remotely, with confidence for both the client and operator. Same is true for work collaboration. The flow of ideas is far easier to channel via a remote connection, be it a single user driving the discussion, or even with multiple users rolling simultaneously. Another use is a little less conventional. You can utilize the remote desktop set-up to act as a file share system. Multiple users, remotely rolling files in and out of a ‘server’ machine remotely via the interwebs. Not too bad of an idea at all, if you ask me.

Hit one of those links to read more. I’m going to attempt to remotely access Katie’s notebook, through a remote connection from my netbook, from a remote connection to my notebook.

+1 bonus degree of separation

Found: My Dream Robotics Project

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+1 Android
+1 Arduino
+1 Voice Recognition

I found this guy over at engadget…called truckbot, it packs the aforementioned awesome things I love.

cellbot

I want to build this so badly

Truckbot is autonomous…the little sucker won’t drive off the edge of a table, even if user prompts it to. This may be a violation of one of Assimov’s robot rules…go look it up.

No time to blog…must continue drooling over this.

Insurance Overload

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Here’s to the weekend. It is too nasty to sit outside, my lawn is mowed, the rivers are all blown-out (fish aren’t biting) still, the Cubs aren’t on for another two hours, and the Croc-Pot is full already. It looks like it is time to do some more insurance research. Nice little Sunday, actually.

At work we have an opt-out for our health insurance plan. It was not worth opting out, per se, when I started there. Out of curiosity, I decided to troll around to see if health plans have gone up, down, stalemated, etc. Since I still have the old S-Corp (inactive, as far as the State of MT is concerned) I started looking into business insurance quotes to boot. Interesting stuff, I swear.

Let’s start with the health. When I was actively making loot as CEO/owner of Alpha Solutions Inc., I kept a Blue Cross / Blue Shield policy for my health insurance. Not much coverage, but not much cost per month. Win/Win AND Lose/Lose. Nice. If I were to do it again, I would most certainly combine my heath with my Montana business insurance (add your own state here…California business insurance, etc) for both savings and ease. I would probably increase my coverage from ‘detrimental’ to ‘actually get a sprained ankle looked at’ levels, as well.

humanoid

humanoid

Might help.

I did think this was pretty epic.

small man

small man / woman / humanoid

I’d say that if you are zero feet tall, then maybe you should not be looking for insurance. Or, you should be looking for a great deal of insurance. Might be time to look into a talk show career, and then into the California Department of Insurance upon arriving to Hollywood.

I wonder if a sub-one-foot-tall person could type with his/her tiny little fingers. Might be comical.

Ringtone Mania

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There is no hiding the fact that I’m a tech guy. With tech guy comes cell phone guy, and with cell phone guy comes cell phone accessories guy. Apps, schmapps…let’s kick it dirty with some ringtones!

Let it be known that I am still an incredible hip-hop-head. The last thing I want is a girlie-haired guitar balladeer high singing to me that someone is trying to contact me. That sounds more miserable than dodging a call on vibrate. So bad.

In order to better illustrate the point I’m trying to make, let me introduce jay – z as a robot:

jigga

they call me Rob...r to the o b

Awesome.

Here is the run-down. Or, in hip-hop speak, the ‘haps.’ Every possible situation I could imagine encountering could be made better with a Jay-Z ringtone. Peep these haps.

Call from work — It’s a Hard Knock Life. Instead of treated, we get tricked…instead of kisses, we get kicked.
Call from Kate — 99 Problems. I do in fact have 99 problems, but a b ain’t one.
Call from parents — New York State of Mind. I bet they would like some Alicia Keys. She sings nicely.
Call from Zig — Money Ain’t a Thing. He is always broke as a joke.

See? Awesome. Young Hov would approve.

Insurance Info Revisited

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Maybe it is because I turned 30. Maybe it is because I am predisposed to worry. Gout and worrying? Thanks, folks. Good looking out on the genes.

I am sort of an insurance nut. Moreover, I am always trolling for deals…which puts me in a perpetual quest for both better and cheaper insurance. It is a never-ending cycle. I have (ducks jeers) had very very good luck with Geico. Not well enough to steer clear of the Insurance Information Institute website, but good luck anyhow. With two vehicles, a third on the way, health, and renter’s insurance in the fray, I need to cover my bases. Fortunately enough, Alpha Solutions Inc. is currently at an idle state per the fine State of Montana, or I would have business insurance health on my mind as well. Oh, my days with a shovel! How I miss you so! Let me count the ways…one. Getting a tan.

Got a little long winded there. Anyhow, I was checking for insurance rates for my gangster whip, the 96 Yukon. Remember this guy from back in the day?

yukon

ridin' dirty

Well, I still ride dirty in the Yukon. I’d like to ride cheap and dirty, so there I find myself doing things like this.

I stumbled upon NetQuote, and ran through the info gauntlet. Stumbling upon this guy…

high

boo

Some high school? You better have some damned high school education before you get all keyboard happy and start firing your personal data into a form. Or alternatively, you should be provided with a pop-up ‘go back to damned school, idiot, then look for some damned insurance’ box. But again, I digress.

Well, long story shorter, I didn’t bite. I am paying too much for the Yukon’s insurance, but I am saving a ton with my currant renter’s/Katie’s ring insurance policy. You win some you lose some. At least I am still not horsing around with small business insurance. Always keep it positive.

Always.

32×32 Arduino Awesome-ness

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I wish I had done this…unfortunately, I have my hands full with a handfull of LEDs. 1024 LEDs…give me a break.

Osgeld (a man amongst boys) over at the arduino forums showed off his 32×32 dot matrix panel proof of concept.

awesome

front

Take a peak at his wiring:

back

rear

How he managed to get that sucker up and running without smoking the shit out of his components is beyond me. Prost, sir. Well played.

Debt Settlement Info

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Greetings and good afternoon. I thought I would go ahead and give my reader base a little info regarding Debt Settlement.

brokos

brokos for the loss

Long story short, the bump provides you the info. Be debt free in 12-36 months. Get help with credit card debt via Debt Settlement. Avoid Bankruptcy, Call Now for Debt Relief 1-888-703-4948 BBB+ Member.

+1 Robot MS Paint effort

Weaponized Robot = Aggressive

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I’m not one to be down-and-out-self-deprecating-bummed-out about things in general, but iRobot has just made my tri-colored LED progress look like peanuts. Tri-colored peanuts, but peanuts nonetheless.

Hats off to you all, iRobot dudes. This is awesome.

robo laser

maxximum pew

From spectrum.ieee.org:

iRobot released today new video of its Warrior robot, a beefed up version of the more well-known PackBot, demonstrating use of the APOBS (Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System), an explosive line charge deployed by a rocket, with a small parachute holding back the end of the line. The APOBS, iRobot says, is designed for “deliberate breaching of anti-personnel minefields and multi-strand wire obstacles.” Although it may concern those who don’t like the arming of robots, it makes great eye candy for those who like robots, rockets, and explosions.

For those who like robots, rockets, and explosions?

Throw in Katie and Old Milwaukee Light, and that is me to a T.