Solo Shrink

Doc Discovers A New Way To Injure Himself And The Events Leading Up To It

2009-10-31T17:27:00.001-05:00

Some time ago I wrote about various accidental, "impossible" ways to injure myself. Until the times at which they came to pass, none would have even occurred to me. I had not given them any forethought, and if I had, I still would have believed them to be extremely low in their probability of occurrence. I do not believe that I am accident prone. That would imply that I had some character flaw or an unconscious need to punish myself for my past misdeeds. I have no such need, as I usually get caught. No, this is a stranger phenomenon. Accidents actively pursue me, stealthily awaiting their chance for a sneak attack. Although I am almost always on my guard, my finely attuned senses working overtime to ward off the inherent danger they pose, they sometimes slip past my carefully guarded perimeter and get me.

Such was the case as I gathered my bags of recyclables, garbage, and cat poop. There seemed to be little danger in this act and it would be a good thing to have accomplished and done for the day. The fact that I am a ~~cheapskate~~ thrifty, eco-conscious individual enters at this point. I have almost never purchased garbage bags. Why would one buy something with only the intent of throwing it away? I re-use grocery bags as garbage bags. Granted, they are somewhat smaller and not the most attractive waste containers available, but for the most part, they serve the purpose well. I also fill Pepsi cartons with any paper to be recycled. The point of all this explanation is that I end up carrying multiple small bags to the garbage receptacles rather than one or two, and that this is slightly more difficult to do. I managed to get the majority of the bags, boxes, and contents to the proper receptacles, only losing a can or two along the way. That was easy enough to correct.

OK. We now have Doc at the scene of the great dumpster incident of the week. There is one further element that needs to be known before this tale will make sense (this statement presumes that I ever make much sense, a possibly unjustified assumption on my part.) I am very nearsighted and the eyeglasses I got about two years ago have gone through a slow but steady process of falling apart. First the nose pads disintegrated and were replaced free by the unnamed eyeglass emporium. Last year I was called by them to come in for my annual eye exam, which I did and to which I took the taped together pieces of their deluxe frames. They repaired the right earpiece, which had simply fallen apart at the hinge, with a vaguely matching piece from the scrap bin. It worked, but I was informed that I was not eligible for insurance benefits for frames or lenses until this summer. OK, the sides didn't match, but they worked. Since that time, the left side earpiece broke in exactly the same place and manner in which the right one had previously done. My thought was that I could wait a month or so, while looking a bit foolish and nerdy, with the left earpiece simply taped together. This worked to a less desirable degree than had the previous repair. They are looser and have to be bent back into shape multiple times per day. I let this go as I was awaiting an appointment with my ophthalmologic surgeon and felt it would be foolish to replace glasses which I would only have to re-replace in a month or so.

For some reason, unknown to me, I feel compelled to look into the dumpster to be certain that the recycling bags had landed in the general area toward which I had tossed them. Large error in judgment there (or lack thereof.) As I did this, the aforementioned loose, taped together, spectacles followed the bags into the dumpster. As I contemplated this development I realized that the dumpster was too tall to simply step or reach into; that I couldn't see the very object that I needed to see to retrieve; and that there was absolutely no way to accomplish this without appearing to be as odd as I actually am to the neighbors. The lowest point close to the search area was about 4.5 feet tall and I ended up (pun intended) bent over the side, feeling around for any item that might be eyeglasses. The good news was that I found them in fairly short order. The bad news was that the cracking noise I heard near my left shirt pocket, as I exited the green monster, was not the plastic pen that I had briefly hoped it might be. It was some portion of my anatomy, presumably a rib, making the sound. This guess was quickly confirmed as I engaged in one more foolish action. I breathed.

Anyway, the rib thing seems to be healing as long as I don't do anything to anger the offended skeletal member – like sneezing, coughing, or hiccupping. The green beast needs to be taught a lesson, however, and I am contemplating something appropriately vengeful. Three bags of cat poop just doesn't seem like enough.

Peace, Doc

“Sometimes accidents happen in life from which we have need of a little madness to extricate ourselves successfully” - François de la Rochefoucauld

Technorati Tags: dumpster,eyeglasses,injury,psychologist,psychologist injures self retrieving eyeglasses from dumpster

Anniversaries

2009-10-08T15:43:00.002-05:00

Anniversaries

Celebrate the past

Recall a better season

Gone without reason

Peace, Doc

Thank you, Dr. Lindsay Bates. Your works are good.

Technorati Tags: poetry,haiku,anniversary,twenty-two years ago today

Global Sound Healing Event Is Today

2009-09-21T02:53:00.001-05:00

Talking about: Today's Global Sound Healing Event

as originally posted by Annie B. Bond on the Care2 community website.

"This Is A Four Directions Call

Date: Sept. 21. The International Day of Peace ; and the Fall Equinox.

Where: Online at the Temple of Sacred Sound, designed by world sound healer Jonathan Goldman, or wherever you are.

When: Noon New York City time (12 PM EDT).

Who: Any and all.

How: One minute of silence at noon to honor the International Day of Peace’s moment of silence. At 12:01 p.m. we will start the toning, until 12:05 or longer if you want.

What: We’ll sound the “AH”–the universal sound of love and appreciation–or “MA,” the sound of Mother Earth–in order to assist the creation of peace and healing to the planet.

Our intentions–our feelings, visualizations and beliefs–are encoded upon the sounds we make. Sound has the power to focus and amplify our thoughts, prayers and meditations. When we project the energy of love and appreciation while sounding the “AH” on Sept. 21, we will be able to shift and raise consciousness and awareness on a global scale. –Jonathan Goldman

Sound Your Support: Sign in, sign on, join with your support, and share links!

Highlights
*Track the raising of the consciousness of the people on the planet via Princeton’s Consciousness Project.

*Honor the direction of the West before toning, with Betsy Stang’s blog.

*Sign up for Deepak Chopra’s discussion of sound and mantra the week prior in Soular Energy Daily newsletter.

*Share and discuss, find ways to help, in Care2’s Peace and Healing group.

*Read the blogs about sound healing by Deepak, Jonathan Goldman, and more, in Care2’s Global Healing/Spirituality channel.

* There will be a special Internet radio broadcast;taking place at 11 AM NY Time (11 AM EDT) one hour before the Global Sound Healing Event with Jonathan Goldman and guests.

A Four Directions Call

This is a call to all people of spirit who wish to join in a global linkage for Peace as noon rolls across the planet on the vernal Equinox. We request that you add to your observances a minute of chanting the sound of “MA” in appreciation for the Earth, her gifts and all her children.

In all traditions, “MA” is the root sound for mother, “AH” is the sound of appreciation.

The goal is to help create a wave of healing resonance that will sweep across the planet. It is a time of great peril and trauma on this fragile world. Can we, for a moment, come together with one heart, one mind, one voice and one intention in a tone of healing?

Please in whatever tradition you are gathering for this event, will you commit to a moment of global unity for all our relations.
–Betsy Stang"

I don't generally use large portions of other authors' works, and then not without attribution. I feel relatively safe from having any of my own words used in the order in which I wrote them. Who would want them? In this case, I didn't feel that I could express the ideas contained in this article any better than was already done. Beyond that, if you follow the initial title link to the Care2 site, you will find many areas of interest which you might want to read or even become actively involved with. I have been a member for about three years now, and have had the satisfaction of expressing my opinions to politicians, heads of corporations and agencies, signing petitions, and generally making my opinion noticed. I don't agree with all of their causes and I'm sure they would not agree with all of mine. That doesn't matter. Choose what you believe and support it. Remember to Pay it Forward.

Peace, Doc

“We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we have borrowed it from our children.” - Chief Seattle

Technorati Tags: Global Healing Event,noon,Care2,Annie B. Bond,Chief Seattle,earth,west,Pay it Forward,be nice to your mother

Assassin Synapse

2009-09-12T00:44:00.001-05:00

Deep sulcus cover

Covert ops within the brain

Trigger memories

Peace, Doc

"The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time". ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Technorati Tags: haiku,cognitive covert ops,assassin,synapse,thoughts of past

Doc's Big Day Out

2009-09-07T12:25:00.001-05:00

The big day finally arrived last Thursday. I got out of the apartment for more than half a day at a time. This day had been awaited with much anticipation and no small amount of trepidation for over three months. It had been carefully prepared for by getting my grocery shopping done earlier in the week and a careful cost estimation such that I should not exceed my budget too badly.

The day was so special that I even luxuriated in a full bath, rather than the shower which I almost always take. This unnerved Bittle and Stinky. They are used to hearing water spraying for a few moments and then staying out of my way while I try to dry myself, remain upright, and see without my glasses all at the same time. On this occasion, however, I simply submerged and temporarily disappeared. When I again surfaced, there were four concerned eyes looking over the edge of the tub, presumably relieved that I had reappeared and the cat food supply would would not be interrupted. They did continue to circle the general area, however, until I resumed what they considered normal behavior; cursing while shaving the area of my neck under my beard.

I donned my best pair of Levi's, a tattersall shirt, my Frye high top boots and then began the pre-flight checklist. Wallet? Check. Belt? Check. Pants zipped? Check. Teeth? (Yes, I have forgotten them.) Check. Cell phone? Check. Car keys? Check. Reassure The Boys that I'll be back? Check. Ready for launch. Out the door and off I go to arrive at my destination at the prearranged time. What on earth would prompt such actions and preparation by Doc, you may ask. I had to get my front brakes fixed. The wear indicators had been making an increasing, intermittent scraping noise which intensified with wheel speed and of which I did not approve.

Not so interesting, huh? Well, it interested me! I had never owned a front wheel drive vehicle before this Cavalier and had little idea how costly a noise this might prove to be. At the repair check-in desk I described the symptoms, complete with hand waving, pointing, and sound effects. The repair manager seemed unimpressed. I further explained the nature of the noise and how I thought I probably had a bent brake rotor or broken caliper assembly. He said, "Uh huh. Do you want anything else checked"? The check engine light is on. "OK. We'll take care of it. Are you going to wait for it?" Yeah, unless it's going to be here over the weekend. An altogether too blasé attitude as far as I was concerned.

I went to set up a semi-permanent encampment in the waiting area. I had brought a large Pepsi and a software manual to fill the tedious hours. I may be a slow reader, but I was quite surprised when the proposed repairs and estimated costs were brought for my approval by page 18. I maintained my usual level of suspiciousness, but after reading the materials, readily agreed to the proposal. I signed, he left, and I went back to reading. By the time I got to page 37, he was back with the final bill. The problems had been repaired and the car had been test driven. What can I say? There were several screenshots I had to study in detail and I was distracted rather badly by the back two feet of a beautiful new yellow Corvette which I could see from my seat. I had staunchly resisted the temptation to wander into the showroom and drool on it.

An amazing experience then occurred. Replacement of the rotors (which were delaminating), pads, a repair of the throttle body, and the replacement of an inline fuel filter and gas cap had been been accomplished for a little over 1/3 the amount I had prepared myself for in advance. Even though my questions about senior discounts or any from various auto club and other organizations were to no avail, I remained a happy ex-camper as I escaped the waiting room. As I accessed the roadway and immediately exceeded the speed suggestions repeatedly as I tested the brakes, I remained very pleased. No screeching noises were heard, no check engine light seen, and from what I could tell, throttle performance was improved. I was so overcome with delight that I went on a spontaneous shopping spree at a local surplus store where I bought eight unique paper clips, 20 button batteries, and a cheap one-meter measuring tape. There was no stopping me.

When I returned to the apartment complex, checked my mail, and entered my dwelling, I was greeted enthusiastically by Bittle and Stinky. They looked at each other in a "He's back" sort of way.

Peace, Doc

"Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz," ~ Janis Joplin.

Technorati Tags: brakes,throttle body,screech,gas cap,software manual,rear end of a yellow Corvette,paper clips

A Brief Neurophychological Exam

2009-08-06T17:42:00.001-05:00

Look into his eyes

Is he in there? I can't tell.

Anybody home?

Peace, Doc

"Consciousness is that annoying time between naps." - Unattributed

Technorati Tags: poetry,haiku,neuropsychology,brief exam

RFID in Credit Cards

2009-08-01T12:30:00.005-05:00

I believe that we are hearing and seeing enough about hacking and information theft from so many sources that I cannot succeed in conveying anything useful unless I limit my posts to small bits of the whole that are most likely to have an effect on the average person. Today that topic will be the addition of the "convenience" of having a RFID microchip embedded in their credit card.

When one of my credit card companies sent me a shiny new card out of sequence (that is, my old one was two years away from expiring) I did what I usually do in such situations. I became suspicious. Why did they do this? I doubted that it was for my benefit or totally in my best interest. OK, what was different? There was a new word printed on the back and the note that I could now just wave my card near a store's card reader rather than sliding it through the reader itself. How does this help me, I asked myself? As far as I could tell, it didn't help at all. Who did it help, then? Must be "them". Credit card companies use many safeguards including predictive analytics, identity theft countermeasures, data mining, encryption, and others to protect themselves (as well as the consumer) from theft or loss of data. I looked at the card extremely closely and discovered a very slightly thicker square located above and between the word blink and the radio wave icon. The photo is of the upper right quadrant of the card, below the magnetic strip. If you can't see it in the picture below, try looking at your monitor screen at an angle so that the shadows make it clearer.

This is not a great macro photo of the chip, but if you see it, it serves its purpose.

So why is he at it again about this privacy craziness? Because the the magnetic strip on a presently "normal" credit card is coded and cannot be read at a distance. The information can be stolen in a number of other ways, but not read at a distance.

Now I want to scare you. RFID hacking is not new (See this 2003 article from Wired) and is rather simple as this procedure, the Mifare Hack, as demonstrated by Engadget, left many cities' public transportation systems and other RFID users in peril. Here is a Creative Commons interview via Boing Boing showing the basics of remote RFID hacking (be sure to read the comments.) An excellent but easily read article RFID Credit Cards and Theft: Tech Clinic was published in 2007 by Popular Mechanics. Presently, RFID experimentation kits are being sold as toys at Think Geek for just under $100 (USD) while companies such as DIFRwear offer radio shielded wallets and passport cases for sale. If you read only one of these links, I would suggest this one as being the most general and inclusive of the good and bad uses of RFID.

If you will excuse me now, I think I'm done for a while. I must go line my wallet with copper screening to function as a Faraday Cage and make little tinfoil hats for my credit cards.

Peace, Doc

"The world of RFID is like the Internet in its early stages. Nobody thought about building security features into the Internet in advance, and now we're paying for it in viruses and other attacks. We're likely to see the same thing with RFIDs." - Ari Juels, research manager at the high tech security firm RSA Labs.

Technorati Tags: RFID,credit cards,fraud,hacking,encryption,phylactology,Danger Will Robinson

Bell Curve

2009-07-12T02:42:00.009-05:00

IQ seven two

Just enough to understand

Fitting in’s not yours

IQ one three nine

Not quite ready for prime time

Asks what might have been

Peace, Doc

Inconsiderately Alive

2009-06-12T04:04:00.001-05:00

I have been thinking about this notion of getting older. Is it "growing older," wherein the key word is growing? Or is the operative word simply older? Am I an asset to society or am I just setting on my … umm … rear end? I'm afraid that by simply asking myself the question, I am also telling myself the answer. I shall therefore immediately contribute to society by publishing a haiku about not contributing to society.

Inconsiderately Alive

Societal drain

My existence costs you cash

The dues have been paid

Peace, Doc

"I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top." - Will Rogers

Technorati Tags: Technorati Tags: age,haiku,contributing to society,avoiding the use of the word ass

Most Annoying Dreams

2009-05-26T21:12:00.001-05:00

Those who easily become bored with a shrink’s self-analysis or might possibly be disturbed by a bit of the same may be excused now and leave without loss of honor.

“To sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there’s the rub.” In the past few weeks I have come to understand this famous line differently than I believe that The Bard initially intended it to be interpreted. I earlier saw these words as “only” a contemplation of suicidal death, the possibility of an afterlife in which one is conscious, and the ramifications thereof.

Recently, however, I have been considering another, somewhat more concrete and less final interpretation of that question. I cannot be certain that Shakespeare did not have this meaning in mind as well when he penned his famous lines. The depth and breadth of his knowledge and his ability to communicate it in multifaceted ways continue to fascinate me. I doubt that he was addressing my current distress, although he may have also been exploring the subject of disturbed sleep in addition to suicide in his speculation. He certainly did so elsewhere with Lady Macbeth.

Dreams have intrigued me since I was a teen. My understanding matured somewhat as I studied them from various psychological and neuropsychological viewpoints, and I have come to recognize many idiosyncratic elements, symbols, and themes in my own dreams. I virtually always recall my dreams as I wake from them, and if I jot down a note about them, am able to recall them later. When I start to analyze them, I am usually able to find what aspect of myself they relate to, what problem or joy initiated them, what wish they fulfill, or even what I am panicking about in my sleep.

My dreams do not literally guide my life. They most certainly do, however, often reveal to me connections between or among thoughts, acts, plans, concerns, and events of my past, present, and future. (There were eight commas in that sentence. That’s probably too many.) I have almost always been able to relate some part of the dream to waking life and understand at least a small bit more about myself in the process. I certainly do not like some of the things that I discover about myself, but they are most often real bits of information which I need to understand. At times the RNA-DNA transfer process awakens a previously safely buried repression and some unpleasantness results. Sometimes my deepest fears get a poke in the ribs and a panic dream results. Despite my self-taught ability to subdue the feelings released by such dreams immediately upon waking, there are moments of terror which may seem much longer in the dream than they are in real time. Still, upon waking I can turn off the switch.

Recently, my dreams have been worse than usual. How do they get worse than a dream within a dream in which one believes that they are dying and “wakes up” into another dream to find that it is true and tastes the blood in one’s throat? (That one was 45 years ago and I still remember it.) They get worse when seemingly every incident in the dream which is intended to go right does not, the dreamer knows that it will somehow go awry but proceeds anyway, and the dream then morphs into a situation where one is dealing with people in the opposite manner one would choose in waking life. I recognize that this is cryptic to anyone reading this rather than having dreamed or lived it themselves. Examples are my Nolan family driving to the boonies to rescue me, my scraping the side of their new car on a metal highway railing, and then going into a rage when they suggested that I should calm down (I cannot recall ever raising my voice in that manner to them.) Another dream was about flying another person’s expensive RC Cross Country sailplane and crashing it after not wishing to fly it in the first place (I always refused to fly others’ models) and watching them mutely walk away without accepting any apology, payment, or offer to replace it – only emanating disgust with me. A final example was this morning’s episode of the continuing series of the bizarre. I’ll pick up at a point where I was lost and dreaming of standing at the crossing of two dirt paths in a forested wilderness, not knowing what was down three of them but knowing that my Ex was on the known one which I had traveled to reach that point. Despite my distaste for that path, I took it and events spiraled hell-ward more than expected. She and a particularly irritating fundamentalist preacher she had “befriended” not only refused the help I needed, but essentially mocked me for needing it and left without getting medication I believed I needed to prevent a seizure. I surmise that I did not actually scream as I thought I did, because Bittle remained asleep less than two feet from my head when this dream awoke me.

I would be somewhat less than insightful, bordering upon stupid, if I didn’t recognize several obvious and disturbing issues in what little I have written. The dreams are much more detailed and include vivid related imagery and feelings as they occur. Additionally, they do not seem to employ my usual symbol sets or themes. Finally, everyone in the dreams is dead, fictional, or “dead to me.” Several other dreams similar to these have occurred recently and I even believed I might be having a heart attack a few moments after awakening from one. (A tingling feeling in my arms led to that belief as it was originally closely associated to my first panic attack, which at the time I believed to be a heart attack.) Quite likely I was hyperventilating during the dream.

Why are these dreams so frightening to me? They are different than my average nightmare, especially regarding imagery and subject matter. They occur after sufficient sleep and as I am due to wake. They do not “feel” related to occurrences of the day or my major waking concerns. I thought I knew myself fairly well (whether I liked me or not) but these dreams have me questioning that. They almost seem to be imposed from outside rather than being initiated internally. I clearly recognize myself as me in every one and feel that it is me “behaving” in the dreams (as far as I can recall, I have always dreamed in the first person, not as someone watching me or as if I were someone else.) The singularly different aspect is that I have little or no idea why these subjects, these people, or these situations occur now. I shall have to dig a bit deeper, I suppose. Perhaps I am trying to get my own attention by scaring the bejesus out of myself. It certainly would be nice to have a satisfying, wish-fulfillment dream again but they're gone.

Peace, Doc

"Eternity is a very long time, especially towards the end." – Stephen Hawking

Technorati Tags: dreams,change,analysis,fear and trembling

May Is Older Americans Month

2009-05-24T03:28:00.000-05:00

Harrumph! I guess that all one has to do to qualify for this particular honor is get old. I can do that. I have done that. You've heard the expression, "Wise beyond his years" I assume? That would be a compliment paid to a younger person who displays knowledge, judgment, or common sense usually not attained by a person of such tender years. When I was younger, I took this to be a reasonable and desirable manner of viewing the phenomenon. As I have personally become "beyond my years," I'm not at all certain that I approve of it. At times this concept seems to be holding me to a standard that does not coincide well with the actual aging process.

I shall offer a few examples that would seem to refute this expectation of "Older Americans." You knew I would. Don't pretend otherwise.

For fairly obvious reasons there is no equivalent visual statement; "his visual acuity is beyond his years?" I think not! That would imply a group of young, nearsighted, bi- or tri-focal wearing persons who trip over their cats or worse. This is not complimentary. At best it might mean that the young person's cataracts are developing more slowly than anticipated.
Nor is there a similar compliment for the sense of smell. Olfactory sensitivity is the quickest adapting of the senses. I have seen it written that "old people smell bad," (not badly.) I do not believe this refers to my ability to perceive scents so much as my ability to produce them. I would not be referred to as an old fart were this the case. This may be a blessing in disguise, however, as I may become flatulent at will and can not notice the odor produced by two large male cats, which has been reported to me to be strong enough to overwhelm an unsuspecting visitor.
He can hear beyond his years? No. No compliment there. Cumulative hearing damage and tinnitus from early exposure to eardrum shattering rock music, race engine exhaust collector dumps, and gunfire pretty well negated that. There is an inadvertent exception to this observation, however. I can now listen to Pink Floyd, Eagles, or Beach Boys music as loudly as I wish in the Audio-Technica headphones without much concern about inflicting further damage to myself.

Can he taste beyond his years? That would largely depend upon whether or not he has his dentures in, would it not? That would imply a choice between enjoying the taste of food at a social occasion but appearing oblivious to the social graces or submitting to what is expected and eating cardboard "in good taste."
Is he able to feel better than he could in his youth? "Aye, there's the rub." I believe that my sense of touch remains approximately the same as it was but there appears to have been a dramatic reduction in the number of willing recipients of that touch as there once were. If we refer to "feel" in terms of emotion rather than sensory ability, the answer is a qualified yes. Rather than the "Sturm und Drang" emotional storms of youth, the feeling of the unpartnered aged male is much more likely to be stable but negative and alone.

Having complained this much one might think I was finished. One would be wrong. I just learned that May is Older American Month. I missed out on a full two-thirds of my allotted complaining time! The alternative, that I knew earlier but forgot, is unacceptable. Adding further indignity to the newsletter were articles such as Fun Facts About the Senior Population and 10 Ways Communities Can Prepare for the Aging Population Boom. At the risk of repeating myself, Harrumph!

Peace, Doc

"When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so I cannot remember any but the things that never happened. It is sad to go to pieces like this but we all have to do it." - Mark Twain

Technorati Tags: aging,senses,memory,humor,Older American Month,harrumph

When Keyboards Attack

2009-05-16T13:05:00.000-05:00

I am not certain why keyboards do not like me. I am not even sure why my keyboards do not like each other. One thing which I am quite positive about, however, is that I have far more problems with them than can be accounted for by chance. As I write this post, it is being done on a Dell Vostro 2510 which I bought, in part, because it is a business model laptop and this led me to believe that it might be built in a sturdier fashion than the models advertised for the general consumer market. This does not appear to be the case. Apparently, if I can touch it, I am likelier than most to break it.

This upsets me dreadfully. I have long considered myself to be a person who takes good care of tools, electronics, vehicles, and even furniture. I clean and lubricate tools as necessary when I am finished using them. I dust and surface clean, as well as surge and UPS protect my electronic devices. I use furniture oil to treat the surfaces of the wood furniture I own. I have my vehicle regularly serviced and seldom exceed the speed suggestions by more than 40 mph any longer. I just finished modifying a cheap surplus transformer to work with the older, but still quite satisfactory, Koss amplified speakers for use with my PC. They work perfectly. Keyboards, on the other hand, appear to harbor a deep seated hatred for me. This relationship is approaching one of reciprocity. Perhaps there is a Secret Order of Boardhood (SOB) which I have offended and become a sworn enemy without warning and for no discernable reason.

Over the past twelve months I have been victimized by keyboards on no less than five occasions. Before this period, the "forward" key cap in the lower right corner of a HP laptop caught on a shirt sleeve and was lost. Oh well, no big deal. The curse seems to have begun when the "t" key cap fell off the same laptop. Not oh well. I definitely had more use for t's than forwards. After far too long a search, I found a replacement keyboard for the exact make and model, bought it, replaced it, and all was well for several days until the entire computer quit. I learned something. Almost all of two entire series of that line of computer use the same keyboard, regardless of their part number. I do have a very lightly used keyboard and an unused double-life battery for HP Pavilion 5000 series laptops lying around, however, should anyone find themselves in need of such parts.

I began to become more suspicious of a possible keyboard conspiracy when the quad core, 64-bit refurb arrived with what appeared to be a totally unused PC, a wireless mouse which was worn but worked, and a wireless keyboard which refused to respond to anything I tried, including a thorough trouncing. Possibly I should have been more understanding when I saw that the alkaline batteries included in it were guaranteed good through 2001. What the hell, three keyboards down. I bought a Microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse on sale and they work fine on the PC. A little short on range, but OK. I did not yet know about Keyboard Jealousy Syndrome.

Very shortly after putting the Vostro "hot-rod-candy-apple-red-color" laptop into service, the "Microsoft" key cap fell off. I don't believe I did anything to encourage that. I can't even recall ever intentionally pressing it. Perhaps that was the problem. You may recall from past posts that I did not know where that key cap had gone and that theft by cat was my primary working hypothesis. I learned another something. Key caps may be interchangeable between manufacturers. This one was compatible with the deceased donor board's Microsoft cap. I snapped the used cap into position and it again worked as intended. It bothered my aesthetic sensibilities, however, because it was printed in a different style than all the other keys and thus drew my attention, in a negative way, whenever I used the laptop. When I found that the original cap had not been captured by a cat, but rather had simply been lost in the abundant clutter surrounding The Chair, I swapped them and all was well once again.

This state of affairs lasted nearly three weeks. Then an event occurred which taught me two things. The first was that inanimate electro-mechanical devices appear able to harbor a dislike or jealousy to the extent that a physical assault results. At this point I wish to make a non-legally binding, nor even necessarily truthful statement to the effect that I did not drop the wireless board onto the laptop's board. Believe what you will, but the laptop was suddenly left with non-functional "y" "h" and "j" keys. I examined, twisted, palpated, snapped, and used bad words, all to no avail. I then did what had to be done in a first responder, triage sort of situation like this. I used duct tape. Clearly, or rather very unclearly, this was not a good solution for me. I couldn't see the letters on the keys.

It is well known in the psychology and learning theory community that new learning is most likely to occur in a "crisis" or in a situation in which previously learned behavior no longer works. Otherwise stated, this may be known as "Necessity is the mother of invention." My great (really, for me at least) discovery was that the tiny, itty-bitty, fragile, scissor action, plastic parts that snap onto and support the key caps while allowing the rubberized contact to make or break the circuit are interchangeable ! What wonders a jeweler's screwdriver and a bit of close-up squinting can reveal! After replacing three of these little doo-dads with their equivalents from the cadaver board, I am once again pacified even though the j key is turned almost one whole degree clockwise.

Peace, Doc

"They say one of a baby's first non-verbal forms communication is pointing. Clicking must be somewhere just after that." – Author Unknown

Technorati Tags: computers,keyboards,little bitty pieces that break a lot

Seeking Spiritual Enlightenment

2009-05-14T20:22:00.002-05:00

The Way

Path dark and narrow

Bordered closely by cow crap

Direction one way

Peace, Doc

"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

Technorati Tags: poetry,haiku,spirituality,cow crap

Another Electronic Medical Record (EMR/EHR) Data Hack

2009-05-07T00:37:00.003-05:00

I have harped on the topics of the potentially disastrous consequences of data loss or theft from medical health database repositories for some time now. I have personally been the victim of such a data loss by the Veteran's Health Administration, which lost all my provider information, financial account and license numbers, social security and business banking numbers, addresses, and all the other personal information to make identity theft a breeze.

Nothing awful happened as a result of this loss. I was given a year's free three bureau credit monitoring subscription by the VHA. It is my personal belief that one of their less experienced employees or interns had simply carried the information for a service provider demographic study offsite on a thumb drive to work on it at home and lost it. Since that time I was again given a free year of credit monitoring when a bank lost a wee bit of data about its customers (around 3 million, as I recall.) I've reported concerns about the National Health Database activity here and elsewhere on other occasions, stating the obvious qualification I would have to make to clients, were I still in active practice and following the privacy and confidentiality rules set forth by the HIPAA act. "I promise that I will keep your health information private and confidential, but there are about 173 other people and agencies out there that may have access to it that I can't vouch for."

A nascent occurrence of that dark vision of the future was announced very recently by many Internet and Traditional Media sources. The web site Office of Inadequate Security (databreaches.net) along with many other sources (I heard just enough of a sentence on CNN to immediately send me into search mode) reported a major health data theft from the Virginia Department of Health Professions. An article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on 1 May 2009 reported that "Hackers may have gotten to Virginia health professions computers."

It was a little more serious than "may have" if the hacker's ransom demand, reproduced below, is to be believed:

"Thomas Claburn of InformationWeek reports:

An extortion demand posted on WikiLeaks seeks $10 million to return over 8 million patient records and 35 million prescriptions allegedly stolen from Virginia Department of Health Professions.
The note reads: ATTENTION VIRGINIA I have your sh**! In *my* possession, right now, are 8,257,378 patient records and a total of 35,548,087 prescriptions. Also, I made an encrypted backup and deleted the original. Unfortunately for Virginia, their backups seem to have gone missing, too. Uhoh :(

I Was Lost But Now Am I Found?

2009-05-06T02:29:00.003-05:00

Lost

An elder now sits

Thinking of past choices made

Questioning many

Opportunities

Unrecoverable now

Haunt his existence

Joys and depths recalled

Youth and vitality gone

Contemplates future

Peace, Doc

Technorati Tags: haiku,chronosynclastic infundibulary disconnect

Apartment Inspection - Part II.V

2009-05-02T21:00:00.001-05:00

Inspection day at the apartment complex came around again last Friday. It is really more of a regular maintenance routine, but there is usually a suspicious looking assistant manager who accompanies the crew to make certain that I am not running an unapproved meth lab or have not burned down the kitchen without notifying the office in advance. I was fine with the first inspection here because I knew the manager loved cats and I handed her one while the others replaced filters, changed batteries, checked the fire extinguisher, and did the other necessary things.

I got a notice six months ago that I was due for an inspection, but none ever happened. I was therefore not terribly surprised when I got the current notice to see that a single word had been added for this (yearly) inspection. I had cleaned and decluttered a significant amount for the one that didn't happen, so I thought that a good vacuuming, some further decluttering, and closing the door to one room would probably be sufficient. I was not entirely correct. More clutter than I realized had somehow sneaked its way back into the living room and the the kitty cats had blown far more coat than I had kept up with cleaning. I comb it out of their coats as much as they will allow, but cat fur on the carpet is one of those things that I tend not to notice, day to day, as it accumulates in small increments. It is similar in nature to not realizing how much rust grew on the pickup truck over an 18 year period before deciding to trade it in (I donated it to charity instead, and assume that it was flattened and recycled.)

It came as something of a disappointment to find that the vacuum cleaner had closed down some of its services without notice, presumably in an attempt to remain green and be certain that I was getting enough exercise. When I finally got down to what I could use, I found that I had a choice between the crevice tool and an attachment that looks like it might be made to suck change out of a sofa. This left me cleaning every visible carpet and rug in the apartment with an automotive whisk broom made of straw and a dustpan! It really is amazing how much fur can be brushed from even the shortest napped carpet with a stiff brush. I am not permanently damaged (I don't think) but there are six discs in my cervical and lumbo-sacral areas that are less than pleased with me.

I have to say that it does look much better here, especially after taking two huge (small table sized) boxes of clutter to the garbage dumpster or to be recycled. I know that the vacuum sucks powerfully, but I'm going to have to take it apart, clean every piece of it, oil the parts that are supposed to be slithery, and clean or replace the HEPA filter. I am considering a modification of the rotating brush. Possibly cutting off bristles close to anything that is supposed to twist or turn might work. I just didn't have the time (starting as late as I did) to order the parts I needed. The memory of pain fades fairly quickly, so what I also should have done is get a few pictures of myself rolling around on the floor, howling, and holding my back. If I taped one of those to the vacuum, it would serve as a frequent reminder that I really don't want to do this again.

When the team arrived, the apartment looked passable, but I made a concerted effort to keep their attention directed toward what I thought was wrong rather than allow them to come up with anything on their own. "That CO detector needs to be repaired or replaced. It eats a battery in about two days and a green light blinks saying it needs attention." "The refrigerator still isn't working correctly. The freezer only cools to about 30 to 32 degrees." "That drain clogs occasionally when I have done nothing to clog it. It must have a restriction somewhere farther down line." I guess it worked. I'm still here and have not been served with an eviction notice. I doubt that is very likely at this point, anyway. When I moved in, there were no more units available. Now, the parking lot has fewer cars in it and there is a $50 bounty for any resident that recruits a new renter. Then again I may just be trying to convince myself that there is a good side to the economy tanking.

Peace, Doc

Technorati Tags: inspection,house cleaning,whisk broom,frustration,fur

Vote for ME!!

2009-04-24T19:25:00.001-05:00

For what? I don't know. Anything you can think of, I suppose. I'm not running for anything. I haven't been nominated for anything. I don't think that anyone is about run an election or contest that would include me, or even anything for which I would be an appropriate candidate. The only office I can recall ever winning was as a double write-in (both the title of the office and myself as an unknowing candidate) was sophomore class dog catcher at the undergraduate school which I finally escaped. This would seem to be as accurate an example of sophomoric behavior as any.

To digress for a moment; this act was perpetrated by the the same "friends" who left a cat in a drawer of my desk when I went home for a weekend and who paid my demand for 30 pieces of silver to accept the strangest student in the class as a roommate so no one else would have to. It is also closely tied to my dislike of the school itself, which during the graduation ceremony gave me a diploma cover which contained, rather than a diploma, a note stating that I owed the business office $32.00. For 41 years now, I have diligently kept that college up to date with my current address in the hope that I will eventually cost them more in printing fees and postage than I spent on my alleged-ucation there.

Back to voting for me, though. I have "won" a number of offices, titles, contests, and the like, but I don't recall ever having done so by a process that required campaigning or voting. If I have forgotten one, I maintain that I did not run for it intentionally. I was pushed.

I have now come to a point in my life that I want to win something. I want the warm, fuzzy feeling of knowing that my constituency really wants me to have this. So I now ask, nay beg, for your vote. The only part I am unclear on is what I wish to be running for. I shall, therefore, leave it to an enlightened electorate to decide exactly what it is for which I might best be suited (or do the least damage,) vote for me for that position, and then tell me in a comment what I was running for and if I won. I thank you in advance for your kind consideration and greatly appreciate your confidence in me.

Peace, Doc

Copyright © 2009, Thomas A. Blood, Ph.D.

"Anything important is never left to the vote of the people. We only get to vote on some man; we never get to vote on what he is to do." – Will Rogers

Technorati Tags: vote,what for,winning,warm fuzzy feeling

Small Irritations And Stupid Stuff

2009-03-17T04:02:00.001-05:00

Quite certainly we all have little things that bother us for no good reason. These would be the sorts of things that would result in a strange look from others if we were to give voice to the irritation in public. Especially if we sound like we really mean it and are not just being silly. I’ll set the stage for such a list of irritations by revealing a few of my own. I invite anyone who wishes to add to the list to do so.

It irrationally bothers me to receive a memo “from the desk of” someone. Desks don’t write letters. People do. I suppose there might be a blurring of lines where virtual keyboards are projected onto the surface of a desk, or a computer uses an auto responder to reply to emails, but a person was ultimately responsible for the content. Totally unimportant, but it will result in my pitching the missive into the paper recycling without reading it.
Computer operating or repair manuals which are published by the manufacturer online. Your computer just stopped responding, but you have to use a computer to find the repair manual. Hmm.
I dislike really obvious warnings on products which, if you were to do them, you probably can’t read or should be removed from the gene pool anyway. I know these are a response to product liability suits, but really… My irritation about this type of warning began many years ago when a company which made tiny wooden propellers for model airplane engines went out of business after being sued because it did not provide a warning that their product might whack one on the finger as one flipped it to start the engine. I think we’re all fairly aware that we shouldn’t carry babies around in their packaging bags, that we shouldn’t be too surprised by paper cuts, that we shouldn’t eat packing peanuts, or even use our computers in the bathtub. I don’t know about that last one, if one uses a wireless remote keyboard and mouse.
There are some absolutely necessary ones, I suppose. One should never put AAA batteries in backwards and should take their child to a doctor should one become lodged in their ear or nose. I have been warned not to use noise cancelling headphones while riding a bicycle, especially at railroad crossings or ever to turn the sound too loud.
None should ever pull a plug from a wall socket by the wire, poke their computer monitor with a sharp or abrasive object, and if there are any unusual smells or sounds coming from that monitor, we should unplug it. My thought would be that pulling the plug from the socket would be permissible in this situation.
It appears that USB flash drives pose little danger to us (perhaps they forgot about the family pet or child eating it or getting it stuck in their nose or ear,) but we are never to use an optical instrument to look into the laser beam produced by our cordless mouse. And let’s not forget the most obvious warning for laptops; “Do not drop.”
On any electronic item, I dislike seeing the “Do not open. No user serviceable parts inside.” We’ll see about that, I say! Unfortunately sometimes they’re right.
This list was heavily weighted toward computers because those were the instruction pamphlets I had closest, but there many more categories. For years when I was a child, I believed that there might really be bed police who would get me if I tore off a “Do not remove under penalty of law” tag. Mail that looks much more important than it is has led me to nearly tear up two checks without ever opening the envelope, and the opposite is also true.

I feel better now. I’ll stop being cranky for a while.

Peace, Doc

Copyright © 2009, Thomas A. Blood, Ph.D.

“How to store your baby walker: First, remove baby.” - Anonymous Manufacturer

Technorati Tags: instructions,silly,dumb,funny,idiosyncratic irritations

Coming To You Live (Writer) From Beautiful St. Charles

2009-01-18T15:25:00.000-06:00

I seem to be back after an unintentional absence. Thank you to those who sent a private message or email for your concern. Despite the tone of some of my recent “poetry,” it was my laptop that was self-destructive, not me. At this point comes the decision between the long version or the short version. I’ll choose the short story for now, but don’t be surprised if there are further elaborations in future posts.

Nearly three weeks ago the laptop decided, for no apparent reason, not to boot up past a few of the drivers. I poked, tricked, and swore at everything I could think of, but none of my vast store of computer knowledge, foul language, or behavioral psychology produced a desirable result. A few days later the “Rent-a-Geek” I called did the same, but more thoroughly and knowledgeably. He said he had never seen one do that before, and I believed him because he was also talking about his quintuple boot computer (98SE, XP Pro, Vista, OS7, and Linux) as he ran the diagnostics. Alas, poor Leonard had to go back to “the shop.” I sent Max, his backup pal and sidekick, along to keep him company.

The older (30-something) and wiser owner of the business took over Leonard’s resuscitation and care. He promised to take Leonard out for walks over the weekend so he wouldn’t feel neglected (really – he said that.) After numerous phone calls and about two years later, he called back to tell me the operation had been a success. It really did seem like two years. From that and my withdrawal symptoms, I have concluded that internet addiction is quite real and that I don’t like it. When I received the good news, there was a brief moment of elation and wild celebration and then I did something stupid. This is a normal behavioral pattern for me. I asked if he would install a simple wired network when he returned the laptop. Of course he agreed, and of course I had not anticipated that that it would take another year for the router and cables to be delivered to him. The good news is that I now have a working network. When the network was in, and Leonard was once again in touch with his server and computer buds, I wrote a check for a considerable sum of money and forgot to use my $25 coupon. I was happy anyway. It was only when I found that I could not turn Leonard off that I again became concerned. We’ll leave that topic relatively unexplained other than to state that I have found a distinctly unusual way of shutting the laptop off, involving tricking the Roxio burner suite into believing that I want to use it and then shutting down.

During the haze of the withdrawal period, I became so desperate for an internet fix that I did the unthinkable. I installed Vista on the project computer before it was ready to have the XP Pro installed on another partition or drive. For a refurbished PC, it looked totally unused internally and externally. I installed another 4GB of heat sink finned RAM into the appropriate slots and turned the beast on. It lit up, whirred, and the DVD tray would operate. That’s all. Just the electromechanical stuff. The OS refused to even consider installing itself. After due consideration, I decided to undo my improvements, and re-installed the original RAM. This resulted in a success experience, if one considers the installation of Vista on a perfectly good PC a success. I now have the two computers networked and operating, even though Leonard remains a bit eccentric.

I continue to hate Vista, but will list only three reasons that irked me the most during my initial skirmishes with it. 1.) It questions everything I want it to do to the point that I forget what it was that I wanted it to do. 2.) It works funny. 3.) It cheats at solitaire and doesn’t even reward you with the traditional bouncing cards when you win, but asks which of three actions you would like to take while humiliating you with the statistics of your past wins and losses.

Peace, Doc

Copyright © 2009, Thomas A. Blood, Ph.D.

"It's practically impossible to look at a penguin and feel angry." - Joe Moore

Technorati tags: computer, repair, frustration, eccentric, Internet addiction

*

EHR, National Health Database, Confidentiality, and More

2008-12-16T16:00:00.000-06:00

It has been quite some time since I have made an entry to this blog. My only excuse is that I have been writing and ranting elsewhere and neglecting my self-imposed responsibilities here. I have several concerns with such things as the EHR and its apparent imposition upon us by "bigger" business, the creation of a national health database, the security of anything posted to or transmitted on the web, conflicts between "national security" and net neutrality, and more. I have collected information on these topics, but never quite gotten around to compiling it into coherent posts. In all liklihood these subjects, though interrelated, will be dealt with separately or will intertwine without full explanation as a series of posts.

Until I am able to begin this series, I will leave you with a poem written by a humanistic psychologist. I ran across it in the Psychotherapy.net News newsletter. While you're there, sign up for their free monthly e-newsletter:

EMPIRICALLY VALIDATED PSYCHOTHERAPY
(A POEM)

What works in psychotherapy?
That's far beyond the likes of me.
I've only practiced fifty years,
and still am plagued by doubts and fears.
I muddle on and try my best
to aid my clients in their quest
for ways of being more alive,
somehow in spite of all to thrive.
I wish I knew the right technique
to give them more of what they seek.
The mystery of change persists

unsolved by dogged scientists.
I hope that they will soon impart
quick ways to heal a broken heart.
My efforts stagger, balk, and lurch
unguided by precise research
to tell me how to ease life's pains,
and thus flawed intuition reigns.
Pray science soon will guarantee
sure cures for human misery,
but meanwhile I'll do what I can
without a validated plan.

- Tom Greening

http://www.psychotherapy.net/announcements/Dec08.html

Peace, Doc

Go Directly From XP To Microsoft 7. Continue Past Vista. Do Not Pay $200.

2008-11-24T22:51:00.000-06:00

This seems to be the opinion of many tech authors recently. I will base this post on a single article which summarizes better in five paragraphs, than I could in several posts, that which we may expect:

“Microsoft: We’re Sorry, but We’ll Make it Up to You.”

This is the title of an article from an October 28, 2008 article in The Pit Blog section of PC Pitstop’s Tech Talk. This short article is a very relevant summary from what Microsoft Senior Vice President Steve Sinofsky had to say to attendees of the recent Microsoft Professional Developer Conference. Ms. Julie Larson-Green then presented the first public demonstration of the Microsoft 7 user interface.

When Mr. Sinofsky took the stage on Tuesday, he was “willing to confess some past sins with Vista.” The demonstration showed how Microsoft intends to change Windows 7 to fix the problems that exist in Vista, and indeed in earlier versions of Windows. “Even Microsoft can’t hide or ignore the cold reception that Vista has received.” I refer the reader to the original article, both for specifics and for the 322 responses to it.

From this article and several other sources, it appears that Microsoft 7 will have its public release late in 2009 or early 2010. A pre-beta version will be/has been given to the conference attendees mentioned above and a feature-complete public beta version is to be available early next year (2009.) The final product reportedly will be shipped “approximately three years after the general availability of Vista.” Meanwhile, full support of Windows XP continues. This article is only one of many I have seen recently. When you read it, be sure to note how little processor speed and RAM Microsoft 7 requires to run on a tiny netbook.

Shortly before I wrote this post, DaNiece, the notorious “al,” sent me the following MS error messages. Possibly she has some advance knowledge of Microsoft 7 and knows it will be bringing back the “blue screen of death.”

Error Messages You Don't Want to See

An error has occurred - Could be anything, really.
Three things are certain: Death, taxes, and lost data. Guess which has occurred?
Error: An unspecified error has occurred. Please correct the error to continue.
Having been erased, the document you were working on must now be retyped.
Erroneous error - Nothing is wrong.
The website you are looking for cannot be located, but doubtless others exist.
Access denied - Nah nah na na nah nah!
Out of memory - It happens to us all eventually.
Illegal error detected - You are not allowed to make this error.
Your computer has performed an illegal operation. The police have been informed.
Printer not ready. Could be a fatal error. Have you a pen handy?
Windows has detected that there is no keyboard present. Hit F1 to continue.
Yesterday it worked. Today it is not working. Windows is like that.
Windows loaded - System in danger.
Unable to exit Windows. Try the door.
Fatal system error: Press F13 to continue...
Windows has just crashed. You are looking at the Blue Screen of Death. No one hears your screams.

Peace, Doc

Taken somewhat out of context: “But a flashy new interface is a red flag that this is a new bit of software to learn, and that triggers what the big boss here calls the “primal fear of software.” It’s one thing to get it installed and working; it’s another to actually grind through the process of learning to use it.” - Chris Bucholtz, Microsoft Dynamics, March 20, 2008

Technorati tags: XP, Vista, Windows 7, error messages

Is Blu-ray Already Dead?

2008-10-29T19:46:00.000-05:00

Several tech writers seem to believe that Sony’s Blu-ray disc technology and high definition movie recordings are on their way out before they got much of a foothold in the market. Although Sony had predicted a 50% market share by this year, their sales presently account for only about 5% of video discs sold. With up-converting DVD players selling at a much lower price and only a minimal difference in high definition quality, there is little incentive for the consumer to pay big bucks for a Blu-ray player or over $25.00 for a Blu-ray movie disc. The conclusion appears to be that “if Hollywood expects to be selling DVDs in five years, they need to make Blu-ray an affordable standard.” There is even some speculation that movies will no longer be recorded on discs, but on flash drives.

Rather than chance making nonsensical blunders or embarrassing myself with misinterpreted statistics, I will refer the reader to some very recent original articles and the discussions that go with them:

Blu-ray ix-nay?

Blu-ray is dead – heckuva job, Sony!

Pioneer ups Blu-ray discs to 16 layers, 400GB capacity.

SlySoft cracks Blu-ray BD+ encryption.

Techreport.com forum discussion.

Many people like Blu-ray and it is certainly their prerogative to purchase and use whatever equipment pleases them. I freely admit to a strong bias against Sony since two undisclosed rootkit implants on their DVDs seriously damaged the computers of people who even attempted to make an archival copy or record the DVD to their hard drive. This potential development only serves to reinforce my decision never to buy another Sony product (regardless of how good they are and how much I might want them.)

Peace, Doc

“There’s a sucker born every minute.” – Usually erroneously attributed to P. T. Barnum but much likelier stated by Mr. George Hull, a hoaxer and Barnum’s competitor.

Technorati tags: Blu-ray, business failure, Sony, bias

Voting Early

2008-10-22T06:07:00.000-05:00

Do you plan to vote early? I do. It has been said several times on the TV news that it indicates that you have already made a firm decision about your candidates and nothing much beyond this point is likely to change it. OK. I’ll buy that, as it definitely applies to me. As of yesterday morning, over 213,000 citizens of Kane County, IL, had cast early votes. Illinois voters may determine times, locations, and requirements for their counties here.

In 31 states, one does not have to be out of the country or have any reason other than wanting to vote early or absentee to do so. Google provides an interactive map that will lead you to the laws in your state by clicking on it. A measure of certainty is also added when voting early. What if you’re sick or injured on November 4th and can’t get to the polls? What if you live in an area where your transportation is not assured? What if you die? (Not that it would necessarily disqualify your vote in Chicago politics.) What if you just want to quit listening to “erratic,” “socialist,” “unqualified,” “moose murderer,” age and health issues, and all the other accusations and counter-accusations being thrown around for the next two weeks? Truly, I am absolutely sick of it, while smaller issues like, oh say the Iraq/Afghanistan wars, international relations, a chaotic financial crisis, environmental concerns, have seemingly been put on hold.

Following my early vote, I will again concentrate on tasks I urgently need to accomplish. I have discerned at least one of those tasks from the very recent experience of Bittle becoming frightened by “something,” (almost anything can do that) climbing my chest, and leaping over my right shoulder. His rear claws absolutely need trimming, and as a result of this experience I know that I will never, ever consider having a nipple ring installed. I will, possibly, try to return to a more socially acceptable diurnal cycle. It is also possible that I might throw away a few more objects from “the room that must be entered with great caution.” I may or may not go into survivalist mode, or maybe just more than I am already.

I have tried to avoid being particular partisan in advocating for early voting, but I will ask residents of Illinois to strongly consider a NO vote on the proposed call for a State of Illinois Constitutional Convention. Illinois residents have already received a mailing outlining the pros and cons of the vote (and a .pdf version is available) so I won’t go into detail, but it is my opinion that it is unnecessary at this time and has a strong potential of being quite destabilizing to the state in several sectors.

Peace, Doc

“I have said there that when Europe gets a ruler lodged in her gullet, there is no help for it but a bloody revolution; here we go and get a great big, emetical ballot, and heave it up.
- Mark Twain - Interview Dec. 1889

Technorati tags: vote early

Recycle, Research, Refurbish, Rejoice!

2008-10-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

Most of my readers know the extent to which I will go to recycle, when possible. Getting a carload of aluminum cans to a recycler was part of a previous post. I still recycle everything that will be accepted since moving into the apartment. I believe I have just been rewarded for being an environmentally conscientious old coot.

I have intermittently mentioned wanting a new PC, but finding that everything that I configured or found on special sale were well above my budget. I continued to search until I made my way into the land of the used and refurbished. I tend to do that sort of research for several months before making my impulse purchases. I saw many PC’s that “looked good” online, but I did not know the seller, in what condition the computer really was, and that gut feeling that whenever something that looks too good to be true, it generally is. I began to search more deeply into the offerings of companies I do trust and found some good offers on factory refurbished PC’s. I didn’t see anything quite close enough to what I wanted to be willing to part with actual money. I finally found that Tiger Direct advertised good refurbished deals, but concentrated on the ones that they believed would be the best sellers. That’s reasonable for any business advertising, and admittedly I wanted something a bit out of the mainstream. Then I discovered that I should be looking at the related deals in the sidebars. Different versions of the same basic model were there. Then I saw it.

In case the link to the ad is discontinued, it is a factory refurbished HP m8467c with an AMD 2.2 GHz, quad core Phenom processor with 5 GB of RAM, 640 GB hard drive (2 x 320 GB drives,) NVIDIA GeForce 8400HD, DVD+/-RW/RAM Dual Layer burner with Lightscribe, Wi-Fi LAN, a 15 in 1 media reader, a wireless keyboard and mouse, and 64 bit Vista Home Premium OS. I was pleased. Even the hard drive(s) would seem to lend themselves to dual booting the PC with my beloved XP Pro OS. I ordered it at about 3:15 a.m. Wednesday. My first credit card was refused (the company was protecting me) but a second one worked fine. It was processed at 6:55 p.m. Wednesday and arrived today, Thursday, at 1:57 p.m.

I have not yet “fired it up” as I want to make certain that I do all possible to make the dual-boot setup as easy as possible. I can see absolutely nothing that I have inspected to have anything whatever wrong with it. Not even a surface scratch. The only bit of data on the spec sheet that concerns me is that it has only a 300 watt power supply. It would only cost $40 or $50 to replace it with one double that wattage. Oh, did I mention this PC lists for $1,999.99 and I bought it for $649.99. I thought it would be a good idea to buy it while the dollar is still spendable.

Peace, Doc

“Woot! Woot!” – Doc

Technorati tags: computer, refurbished, online order

Windows Live Tags: computer, refurbished, online order

JFK

Agitated Grumpiness

2008-10-06T18:57:00.000-05:00

For about the past week I have been in a series of states, somewhere between moderate crankiness and full-out, “I’m madder than hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” (Except for the fact that I don’t have much of a choice other than to take it.) I began to rearrange my financial affairs about three months ago such that they were so conservative as to be laughable – at that time. At least I was correct in doing that, although I had hoped I was just being silly. For all concerned, I hate the reasons I felt it necessary to act in that manner, but the simple perceived need for self-preservation took over. The Senate and the House lived down to my expectations when a three-page refusal to financially patch the economy, on a temporary basis, turned into a 451 page bill, laden with “pork” which, of course, passed today. The tactics were the same. Scare the hell out of us so that we were afraid not to act. This time, however, it seems that they scared themselves more than the citizenry. Deficit spending became so blatantly evident that hardly anyone could miss it. I’ve heard that roughly 90% of average citizens polled were against the bailout. That sounds a little high to me. I believe that we have more than 10% stupid citizens. It also becomes clear that our elected representatives do not follow the expressed mandates of their electorate, but do what they say is “necessary” and “in our best interest.”

I spent a good deal of time writing to assorted State and Federal Legislators and Agency Heads. All, from my State senator and representatives, Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, Federal Reserve Board, Speaker of the House, and so on up to President Bush, received the same two-word message.

I started to research the Federal Reserve Board to write a post about it, but it appears that one can only get so far “in” before a wall of fog is encountered and names are not there. I’m sorry that I cannot be more factual, but as Carlin said in my last post, we are owned, and it becomes very difficult to determine by whom.

Rum tax relief? NASCAR subsidies? Wooden arrow shaft tax breaks? At least the shaft part sounds accurate when connected to the $110B of pork that was added by the Senate to the $700B to bring it up to even more monumental proportions. I can’t comprehend the enormity of that amount of money, but we are warned that this is likely to be just a beginning and that we can expect further spending and hardships.

I do have one tiny suggestion for Governor Palin that might generate some revenue for Alaska. The road to the bridge to nowhere has already been built but is not being used. Turn it into a Dragstrip.

Peace, Doc

“Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.” - Mark Twain

Technorati tags: government, bailout, pork, stupidity

Windows Live Tags: government, bailout, pork, stupidity

Who Owns Us?

2008-09-29T16:05:00.000-05:00

How do you feel about what happened in the stock market today? It’s down over 777 points following the rejection of the bailout bill by the House of Representatives. On the TV and Internet news, everyone seems to have a different explanation and “somebody else” to blame for the chaotic situation. They all seem to have two commonalities. They are afraid and they are angry. So am I. Like most, I am not certain at whom, or about exactly what portion of this fiasco my feelings are aimed.

I believe that, though somewhat incomplete, my recently deceased hero / philosopher / strategist / observer / comedian had a very accurate take on what was coming and is now here.

Warning: Before clicking on this link to a George Carlin video, please understand that it uses very explicit language. Some might consider it obscene. I consider it realistic.

Who Owns You Americans?

May this situation work out for the good of all citizens of the USA.

Peace, Doc

Windows Live Tags: money, panic, politics, Wall Street, Carlin

Technorati tags: money, panic, politics, Wall Street, Carlin

“I” - Take 2

2008-09-19T21:14:00.000-05:00

"Oh, hell." - said with the same intonation as Peter Sellers in his role as Group Captain Mandrake in Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. I seem to have started an unintended debate with my "filler thought of the moment," entered to pad out the free screen cleaner and Internet certificate jokes. That doesn't mean I don't believe my view to be true, or at least possible, but it does mean that I didn't explain my thoughts in enough detail to answer all possible questions. Just the fact that the APA has whole Divisions devoted to Cognitive and Self psychological approaches would indicate I might possibly not have gotten it all stated in two paragraphs and a haiku.

Try this little experiment. Simply sit quietly, close your eyes, and think about something that is personally related to your self. (e.g. “I am feeling well;” or “I think I wrote that last haiku badly;” or even “I am lonely.” The thought should not be solving a quadratic equation or concentrating on making up your grocery shopping list.) When you think about “I",” where does the thought seem to originate, be, reside, come from, etc.? Under such circumstances, for me, it feels as though “I” am located inside my skull, centered somewhere in the frontal or prefrontal cortex of my brain. Under other circumstances, I might not even be aware of being an “I.”

As I wrote in the last post, “I” varies. I become much less aware of being an “I” if I am concentrating my attention elsewhere. In a previous post I wrote of slipping and falling while carrying old magazines to be recycled. While I now write of this, I remain partially aware of being an “I.” When the incident was occurring, however, I was much more aware of my abrupt change in physical orientation and my attention was concentrated on the pain from my back and buttocks. “I” can fade into the background when more urgent circumstances require. Skilled tasks require concentration. So do emergencies, non-habitual tasks, reading a book, watching a movie, and so on. “I” still exist, but I am not concentrating my attention upon myself. I may be much more aware of “I” if I am doing specific types of meditation, or I may temporarily lose “I” entirely if I develop orthostatic hypotension (very low blood pressure) from standing up quickly after sitting or lying in the same position for an extended period. An insufficient blood supply reaches the brain and “I” go away to somewhere in la-la land because I just fainted. That also implies the answer to another question that was raised. All the other necessary brain and body systems and functions must be working properly for “I” to exist. Note that I said “necessary” back there. An amputated left great toe is unlikely to prevent an “I” from existing and functioning quite nicely, but a condition such as a dementia, severe organic brain damage, or a diabetic coma surely could. Self, consciousness, and sentience are really miracles as they all depend upon so many other extremely complex, but smaller and lower level systems to be working properly. For that matter, if one studies the anatomy, physiology, innervation, and functional processes involved, it is nothing short of amazing that we can pee when we need to.

Can there be more than one “I” in a single person? The literature on, and my experience with, Multiple Personality Disorder and other related syndromes certainly seem to bear that out. I’ve seen no studies specifically on this question, but I would have to ask where the ascendant personality perceives itself to be? My guess would be that it would view itself in the same manner as any individual, though it “shares the same brain” with the person’s other personalities. Another example might be that of dreaming. I often experience the REM phenomenon as if “I” am truly engaged and participating in the perceived activities, while retaining the ability to differentiate between the two states of consciousness when I wake. Along that same line of thought, can the “I” be in, or move to, different places? That’s a much tougher question for me to answer. Out-of-body or near death experiences may give us a clue, as may astral projection or the equivalent. To answer any of them affirmatively presupposes that an “I” can exist without the support system of an accompanying physical body. That, in turn, raises questions in higher levels of explanation such as philosophy, metaphysics, theology, spirituality, and others. (Is the soul or spirit separate from the physical body?) I don’t know. I have hopes, but not knowledge. The only example that comes to mind of his sort of projection from a personal experience is from a time when I was very good (really) at flying RC sailplanes. I could occasionally “be” (or be at one with) the flying model, unaware of self and somehow perceiving my self as if I were feeling and reacting to air currents, changes in altitude, turbulence, and the like. My own explanation of this phenomenon runs more toward shutting out all competing stimuli and a near total concentration on the model, to the point that I was unaware of even the Radio Control transmitter in my hands. So “I” stayed in me, but I was unaware of “self” and able to reach a Zen-like (Jedi? Matrix?) state of concentration on the model.

The awareness of self waxes and wanes. This would likely be a relatively linear function of the degree of necessity to concentrate or focus upon a task requiring active thought or an event so compelling that it demands our complete attention. Think of examples such as defending one’s Ph.D. dissertation to the examining committee, or suffering a panic attack (not that the two are at all incompatible.)

Some animals, I believe, must possess an sense of “I.” The level on the spectrum of evolution at which the animal is classified quite likely corresponds with the amount of “I” that is present. The more evolved the animal, the more wrinkles (OK, sulci) in the neocortex and the larger the frontal and prefrontal areas of their brain. They most certainly have differing abilities, brain mechanisms, physical development, and behavioral possibilities, but I believe many of the higher level, sentient beings are self-aware. I doubt that Bittle or Stinky are aware of the state of the economy or of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, but from outward appearances, they possess a sense of self equal to, or greater than, my own.

Sigh. Now “I” am thinkin’ my brain hurts. I hope that this somewhat addressed the questions and ideas posed.

Peace, Doc

“Madness is rare in individuals - but in groups, political parties, nations, and eras it's the rule.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

Technorati tags: I, brain, self, location, headache

Moo

Windows XP Automatic Downloads May Be Harmful

2008-09-06T04:12:00.000-05:00

I have to wonder if the following excerpt from the ZDNet’s All About Microsoft column by Mary-Jo Foley is saying more than is actually written in her column. This column usually contains quite reliable information from specific applications to the latest rumors and speculations to hard business and software news. There are more technical sources of information about Microsoft, but for a “slightly technical” reader such as myself Ms. Foley provides excellent coverage and links to more specific sources when appropriate.

“Microsoft is stepping up its war on software pirates by rolling out new Windows Genuine notification software for what it is calling its most pirated version of Windows: Windows XP Professional.

In an August 26 posting to the Windows Genuine Advantage blog, Director of Genuine Windows Alex Kochis said XP users should expect Microsoft to begin rolling out a new version of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) notifications starting this week. Microsoft is expecting the rollout to take several months. … “

Most specifically, the article seems to be saying more about Windows XP-Professional than might appear at first glance. If XP-Pro is the most pirated OS, it follows that it is likely that it is the most popular. Microsoft, while pushing hard with a greatly increased advertising campaign for Vista, seems also to be threatening XP holdouts with Genuine “Nagware” notifications. It has been denied that a “reduced functionality mode,” aka “kill switch” will be installed in XP.

“Microsoft officials noted that WGA for XP never did default to “reduced functionality mode,” a k a, the kill switch, which was part of Windows Vista when it first shipped.”

Ms. Foley’s blog, All About Microsoft publishes frequently. Perhaps you should bookmark it.

Draw your own conclusions, but I would suggest that you read the full article before you do so. It has left me with questions and doubts as to whether even my Genuine Microsoft copy of XP-Pro will pass the test when I install it as a second OS on a new PC.

Peace, Doc

“It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.” – Mark Twain

Technorati tags: Windows Genuine Advantage, XP Pro, M. Foley

Odd Haiku

2008-08-28T23:28:00.000-05:00

This Stinks

Fie! Here is death’s stink.

Nay. ‘Tis the odor of piss.

Change its damn diaper.

Peace, Doc

Technorati tags: haiku, baby, elderly

IP Haiku

2008-08-16T10:13:00.000-05:00

Every computer on the Internet is assigned its own, unique identification number. These numbers are referred to as your Internet Protocol (IP) address. They are important because they allow computers to locate and recognize each other. IP addresses are made up of four number sets, between zero and 255, and are separated by periods.

Six dot one dot one

One dot zero zero five,

Hi, y’all FBI!

The inspiration for this haiku was a similar poem written for a contest sponsored by Think Geek.

Peace, Doc

“The Linux philosophy is 'Laugh in the face of danger'. Oops. Wrong One. 'Do it yourself'. Yes, that's it.” – Linus Torvalds

Technorati tags: haiku, computer, IP, FBI

Stolen Years

2008-08-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

I don’t believe that I’ve had an original thought in the past several days. Therefore I have decided to ~~expand on ideas~~ ~~borrow some thoughts~~ steal content from elsewhere. I have no idea from where I copied the 25 Things You Should Have Learned by Middle Age, so if I have used anyone’s original material, please let me know and I will credit you as the source. The Aging ABCs came from the EONS newsletter and were submitted there by “Steve.”

25 Things You Should Have Learned by Middle Age

1. If you're too open-minded, your brains will fall out.

2. Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often.

3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

4. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.

5. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

6. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.

7. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.

8. It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.

9. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.

10. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

11. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of pay checks.

12. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.

13. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.

14. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.

15. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.

16. A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

17. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.

18. Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.

19. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.

20. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.

21. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

22. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.

23. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.

24. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.

25. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.

The Aging ABC’s

A is for Apple, and B is for Boat,

That used to be right, but now it won't float!

Age before Beauty is what we once said,

But let's be a bit more realistic instead.

Now - -

A is for arthritis;

B is the bad back,

C is the chest pains, perhaps car-d-iac?

D is for dental decay and decline,

E is for eyesight, can't read that top line!

F is for fissures and fluid retention,

G is for gas which I'd rather not mention.

H is high blood pressure -- I'd rather it low;

I for incisions with scars you can show,

J is for joints, out of socket, won't mend,

K is for knees that crack when they bend.

L for libido, what happened to sex?

M is for memory, I forget what comes next!

N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low;

O is for osteo, the bones that don't grow!

P for prescriptions, I have quite a few, just give me a pill and

I'll be good as new!

Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?

R is for reflux, one meal turns to two.

S is for sleepless nights, counting my fears,

T is for Tinnitus; there's bells in my ears!

U is for urinary; big troubles with flow;

V is for vertigo, that's "dizzy," you know.

W is for worry, NOW what's going 'round?

X is for X-ray, and what might be found.

Y is another year I'm left here behind,

Z is for zest I still have -- in my mind.

I've survived all the symptoms, my body's deployed,

And I'm keeping six doctors fully employed

Respect thy elders, even when they drool on you.

From Steve in the EONS Squeaking By Retirement Group

Peace, Doc

“Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth …” – Ecclesiastes 11:9

Technorati tags: aging, humor

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

2008-08-01T22:01:00.000-05:00

Health Data: Not For Sale

Right now, as Congress considers health IT legislation that would convert our health records from paper to electronic data, patient information is at risk of becoming a commodity that businesses can sell or trade.

While having a nationally connected electronic network for storing and sharing Americans medical information promises to reduce medical error and improve patient care both in emergencies and chronic situations, medical privacy should not become a casualty of the race to set up databases of electronic health records.

We need real patient control of data and damages for misuse or theft. Patients must be able to review files, correct bad data, and block access without consent to personal information. The legislation before the subcommittee does not have these protections.

If Congress fails to require strong privacy and security standards now, during the early stages of development of these online patient records systems, Americans’ medical secrets will be extremely vulnerable to snooping - or being lost or stolen.

Tell Congress: Patients deserve control of their personal health records!

The brief article above is directly from the ACLU’s website. While individuals’ opinions of the organization itself differ widely, it is quite aptly named. It does indeed work toward the preservation and adherence to laws as written, and if there is an inequity in the law, they work toward the fair application of that law to all persons subject to it.

I couldn’t begin to do justice to this topic in a short blog post, but I can tell you that it should scare the bejesus out of you. Think for a moment in terms of the transponders or chips that have been used first to set off alarms if one tried to leave a store without paying for the merchandise, next came barcodes and chips that held information about that product that enabled tracking, dates and places of sale, could correlate that with the credit card that purchased it and know that it was you who bought it. Does your pet have an implanted chip to identify it in case it is stolen or lost? Well, don’t worry, you may have one soon also, only it will have a programmable memory and you will carry your Personal Health Record, implanted under your skin, with you at all times. That could be useful if you ended up in the ER after a car crash and the staff needed information rapidly. Then your treatment, medications, procedures, diagnoses, and any other information would be added to your own little database. This request for information, especially the proposed subject population and agency requesting to carrying it out, should be of concern to all who read between the lines. Physicians’ groups are having qualms about the security of electronic records. This single article is only representative of general concerns.

The issues about the security of the EHR have not come about since last Thursday. It has been a topic of concern for a number of years within the health provider community. It has become a topic of more urgent concern recently since two information giants, Google and Microsoft, have entered the arena, proposing to become the nation’s health information repositories. Have a look at a few other searches here, and here, and especially here.

I will be the first to admit being very suspicious of the EHR. Possibly I border on being paranoid about it, but I don’t think so. Whenever I become confused or uncertain about what is happening in an undertaking of this size and importance, I have to remember to, “Follow the money.” Who stands to profit? Not really the patient or even the doctor who are just as well off with paper records. Who, then? Hospitals, HMO’s, insurance companies (health or disability,) the information transmitters (telecoms which have given the government information illegally and were granted retroactive immunity for their crimes,) the companies of whatever size that are paid to store or backup this health information? Did you notice that little or no profit goes to the individuals involved most directly, and the most to corporations who care little about what happens to a single patient or doc? Who might want this information illegally? Prospective employers not wanting to hire someone with a family history of a particular disease? Life insurance companies that might want a little edge over their actuarial tables? Government or police agencies that might just need a couple hundred thousand DNA codes?

It’s obvious where my feelings lie at this juncture. Given the burgeoning of identity theft over the last few years, is it so unreasonable to believe that the same might well happen with health records? Given the government’s nearly unfettered access to citizen’s private information without their knowledge or consent, can we say that won’t happen in our future? I’m afraid not.

Peace, Doc

“He who allows oppression shares the crime.” - Desiderius Erasmus quotes (Dutch Priest, Humanist and Editor of the New Testament, 1469-1536)

Free Worldwide Tech Support For Vista Service Pack 1

2008-07-18T23:47:00.000-05:00

Microsoft is now offering free tech support for Vista SP 1 via email, chat, or toll-free telephone. This offer is valid worldwide until March 18, 2009. The article I found that let this information be widely known is on Digital Inspirations by Amit Agarwal. When you have a look at that article, consider signing up for Mr. Agarwal's free e-mail newsletter. Personally, I find his efforts to gather truly useful information and articles to be superb. His newsletter is one of the first bits of e-mail that I read after family mail. Be careful. It is good enough to be addicting.

This information is also listed on Lifehacker and by Microsoft in its Help and Support pages for Vista.

Peace, Doc

Reason Number 7342 To Stick With XP Pro

2008-07-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

It was recently discovered that the spell checker in all versions of Vista and Server 2008 was “correcting” writers of words which were actually being spelled correctly. On Friday, July 11, 2008, The Register published an article about this important bug. Full details may be found at the Microsoft Help and Support page for the remedy to this urgent problem and a possible workaround. The words?

Friendster
Klum
Nazr
Obama
Racicot

That’s it. Five words. They must have given as much concern to these five words as was given to “the seven words you can’t say on TV” a number of years ago. Why do I write of the apparent immediate need to correct these five words? The correction is a 56.4 MB download. Still another reason for sticking with XP Pro.

Peace, Doc

“Never trust a computer you can't throw out a window.” - Steve Wozniak

US Government Protects Us From Terrorists In Dresses!

2008-06-19T06:27:00.000-05:00

You people know I just can’t pass up a chance like this to sing the praises of our government agencies’ efforts to protect us from terrorism. Furthermore, simply tie this article and the privacy and security of Electronic Health Records together and think about it. The following is the text and links directly from the June 18 article in Boing Boing:

“US seizes Danish dress-shop's payment to Pakistan in the name of "terrorism"

Posted: 18 Jun 2008 05:23 AM CDT

Carsten sez, "The owner of a small dress shop in Maribo, Denmark, orders six dresses in Pakistan for a value of $205 and pays by bank transfer - only to find that the transfer is intercepted by the US authorities and the money seized because the seller (fashio.biz) might conceivably support 'terrorism'."

"Christa Møllgaard-Hansen, owner of Christabella's in the town of Maribo on Lolland, routinely buys women's clothing and shoes from around the world to resell in Denmark. But a recent purchase of six dresses from Pakistan for $205 was considered by the American authorities to be money going to support terrorists.
The US froze the funds four months ago and contacted Møllgaard-Hansen's bank, saying they wanted more information on the payment's recipient. Møllgaard-Hansen had put all the necessary information into the original netbank payment, but complied with her bank's request for the additional information."

Link (Thanks, Carsten!)”

No doubt the FBI, NSA, CIA, or “Somebody Else” decided to snoop around a little bit longer while the Patriot Act is still mostly in effect and the FISA Act has yet to be officially modified. You know, I don’t even feel a need to contact my state’s senator, Obama (D IL) because he will quite likely already be on the case. If not, one of the above agencies will intercept this transmission of information, or buy it from one of the large telecoms or search databases. One way or another, I’m sure they’ll know my sentiments on the matter.

Peace, Doc

“On account of being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does.” - Will Rogers

Mozilla Firefox 3, Final Release: Download Day.

2008-06-14T18:05:00.001-05:00

The new Firefox 3 web browser is to be released on the official Mozilla Download Day, Tuesday, June 17, 2008. An informative article about this release and Microsoft’s rapid effort to catch-up using IE-8 was recently published by PC World. I strongly suggest that you download Firefox 3 directly from a Mozilla site. As I write, this site is still devoted to the download of Firefox 2.0.0.14, however.

The good people on the Firefox 3 project are trying to set a Guinness World Record for downloading software in a single day. My best guess is that they will achieve this, because there is currently no such record in existence.

More importantly, I recently tried to download Release Candidate 3 of Firefox from other sites, and while beginning to install, they displayed instructions in a language which I did not recognize. These were reputable sites, but something was clearly going awry.

While you are downloading this excellent browser, I would also suggest looking over more of Mozilla’s software and other offerings.

A Field Guide to Foxfire 3 by Debra Lyn Richardson is available at her WordPress site and should definitely be referred to for many technical details, feature descriptions, and links.

Peace, Doc

Copyright © 2008, Thomas A. Blood, Ph.D.

Air Force Aims For Full Control Of Any And All Computers

2008-05-21T03:48:00.000-05:00

Initially, this post was written for a different audience, but I believe it is something that should be of interest to mental health professionals. Although I have a love for computers, I also have a great distrust that anything transmitted from them is secure or private. We need to think of HIPAA requirements, electronic billing, chats with clients online or on the telephone, the elecronic medical record, and so on. Everything on the internet is forever, stored in memory somewhere, and accessible from more and more sources, legal or not A post on this topic geared specifically to the purpose of this blog will be done soon.

Does that read too much like a scare headline from the Far Left? It isn't. Wired News online reports that the US Air Force itself has made it. In an April 13, 2008 article by Noah Schachtman, it is stated that:

The Air Force wants a suite of hacker tools, to give it "access" to -- and "full control" of -- any kind of computer there is. And once the info warriors are in, the Air Force wants them to keep tabs on their "adversaries' information infrastructure completely undetected."

The US Air Force Cyber Command is already being developed. Its website has many articles, pictures, FAQ's, and a countdown timer to "phase one stand up" on October 1, 2008.

I have included links to both the Wired article and to the Air Force website to allow readers to judge for themselves where we are headed. Most of my regular readers know that I border on the paranoid in my responses to be watched by recording cameras at stoplights, at toll road transponder lanes, and on our streets and intersections. I strongly object to being listened to, phone tapped, having my mail read, or just generally being observed in any manner unless someone has reason to believe I am committing a crime or am planning one.

On the other side of this topic, I want my government to protect me - from criminals, from street muggers to multi-national corporate muggers, from enemies foreign and domestic, to preserve our constitution, and defend our land. I appreciate the brave people in the military services and in the public sectors who serve us and take care of us so well and who we too often take for granted.

At a deeply frightened level, I know that a current "World War III" would be fought like no other. China has demonstrated to us their ability to blind and disorient our spy and navigation satellites by shooting down one of their own. In turn, our "accidental" transport of six W80-1 variable yield live nuclear warheads From Minot AFB in ND to Barksdale AFB in LA was given much more publicity than I would expect any military organization to allow the media. I do not see these incidents as unique, or even highly significant in the bigger picture, of which the public sees only tiny fragments through a glass, darkly. If an enemy had unfettered access to any of the Internets or grids that control our distribution of electricity, natural gas, vehicle fuel, traffic and transportation flow, food and water distribution, public and military communications, financial tractions (commercial, investment, and banking,) ... well, you get the picture. Our nation would be brought to its knees in a grinding, chaotic halt. In a much more localized manner, the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) of a conventional atomic weapon or an "E-Bomb" destroys MOSFETs, FETs, transistors, and the like if not Faraday shielded, thus disabling electronic devices in the area of the explosion. The government and Military knows this in infinitely greater detail than do I.

On a personal, much less significant level, I have been affected wrongly by the same type of capabilities as are needed to defend our nation. I sold a car to a friend who ran through four "I-Pass" toll stops without paying. I received a ticket for four infractions, complete with a very clear picture of the back of the car with my plates still on it, and a statement that not being the driver was no excuse for not paying the tickets. In another incident, Medicare gave the Veterans Health Administration all of my personal and business information (including SSN, EIN, bank routing numbers, addresses, etc.) without any notification to me. I found this out when the VHA notified me that a portable hard drive with this information on it was missing. At least they had the decency to notify me and provide for one year of credit fraud alerts. I have no doubt that, despite the precautions I take personally, this type of information has been lost, discarded, or stolen far more times than I am aware. As a simple example of the laxity of transactions in the area of credit, I have written "Require Photo ID" on all my cards, along with my signature. It has been checked only once in approximately 10 years.

So what do we do and where do we go with this sort of information? I honestly do not know. The same technology that protects us can destroy us. The same types of devices that allow surveillance of criminals, terrorists, and enemy actions are easily able to be turned on a country's own law abiding citizens. It is, after all, so very much easier to listen in on our own cell phone conversations and take pictures of our own license plates than it is to definitely identify what is happening in an enemy's hardened military site or know if a satellite is armed and has military capabilities.

*sigh*

Peace, Doc

"We realize our dilemma goes deeper than shortage of time; it is basically a problem of priorities. We confess, We have left undone those things that ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done." - Charles E. Hummel

Vista vs XP, Continued

2008-05-05T13:53:00.000-05:00

Since my recent post about the impending demise of Microsoft Windows XP, I have seen some articles which suggest that MS may continue to offer WinXP for sale, at least the Home version, for some time past the June 30, 2008 cutoff. Nothing certain, just hints and rumors.

A Computerworld article TechNet subscribers rip Microsoft over XP SP3 ‘farce', stated that Microsoft did not release the Service Pack I for Vista to developers as promised, and went on to say that they would not release the Service Pack III for XP until after Vista SP I was released. Much confusion is produced for developers as well as end users, here, as a Microsoft developer posted that Vista SP I would be available on May 2, 2008, only to have that page removed from his blog. The alleged logic in this is that Microsoft is putting its main effort into repairing Vista prior to updating XP. It also makes sense if a company is trying very hard to push consumers into using a new OS and abandoning an older (and better, in my opinion) OS, so further profit can be extracted.

Microsoft has pointed out the huge number of Vista OS sales that have occurred since its release as evidence of its popularity. Well, Duh. If Vista is the only Windows OS that one can obtain when one buys a new computer, of course its sales figures will look impressive. Only a very few, very small, "white box" computer makers continue to offer XP Pro SPII on their machines. Why do they do that? They make extremely fast gaming computers and XP works better.

As the dust settles somewhat, a few matters appear to have become clearer.

If you have to buy Vista, get the Home Premium version. Common wisdom has come to a consensus that it works the best of any of the Vista versions.
Don't try to "upgrade" a Vista machine to XP. It isn't worth the trouble, crashes, driver changes, and incompatibilities with some of your current software. Buying a new machine with Vista pre-installed eliminates many of these frustrations.
Vista does not seem to run nearly as well on laptops as on desktop machines, probably due to its greater demand on computer resources.
If everything you are now running is working well for your needs on XP, I would hold out for Microsoft's "OS 7," the next OS in the pipeline, which is rumored to have had its release date moved up from 2010 to sometime in 2009.
Finally, I would note that the Vista debacle is not Microsoft's intentional plan to irritate its users. With all the legal actions, interoperability problems, changes to changes, and patches to holes which were discovered by hackers even before Vista was officially released, etc., they have had a difficult time with it. It is simply my belief that they should not remove a well tested and working OS from availability before they have something better and more stable to offer. As the wise old barnstorming wing-walker would say it, "Don't leave holt of what ya got till ya got holt of somethin' else."

In the interim, my plan is to stay with XP Pro, buy a copy of XP Pro before it goes off the market, eventually buy a new CPU and install XP on it, but leave a bay open for another hard drive on which Vista can be installed (as a dual boot system) in case I'm wrong. That has happened to me once or twice before in 62 years.

Peace, Doc

Save Windows XP

2008-04-19T12:35:00.000-05:00

The sale of Windows XP to the public is due to be totally discontinued by Microsoft on June 30, 2008. Support for it will continue via automatic or manual update, but it will be unavailable for purchase. The vast majority of computer manufacturers have switched to "forcing" Vista on the buyer of new computers because that is the only Operating System MS will provide to them (except for relenting to some business customers who loudly and forcefully complained that Vista didn't work.) A very few, small, specialized "white box" computer manufacturers (generally of ultra-fast, high-end gaming computers) have been allowed to continue new installs of XP. One can also still buy the shrink wrapped, boxed software to install Win XP on your own if you are building your computer. Some are going to dual-boot computers, using XP and another OS on separate hard drives.

Even this set of dates has been atypical for Microsoft, which has left XP in production and available to manufacturers over a year longer than previous Operating Systems. There are also industry rumors that Microsoft is pushing very hard to have an early release date for OS 7, the system that is to replace Vista, in the second half of 2009. Enough problems, including lawsuits over proprietary rights, have reduced Vista from what was originally "promised" to a substantially less desirable OS. About the only positive things I have found written about Vista is that it has a prettier desktop and is "safer" online. Clearly, they are concerned about Vista sales, already have issued a Service Pack for it, and are trying to produce a better system as quickly as possible.

Many individuals and business users have resisted the adoption of Vista due to a variety of compatibility problems, system investment, and the generally much heavier draw that the Vista OS places on the computer's resources. More and faster memory and system resources are usually necessary. I have seen minimum specifications that state one Gigabyte of RAM is a minimum requirement. Reviews that I have read, however, strongly suggest that three to four Gigabytes is the "real" minimum for Vista to work correctly. Faster hard drives and more powerful CPU chips are also required for acceptable performance. Problems with finding appropriate "driver" software to interface your older peripheral hardware have frequently occurred.

So, what is it that I would ask you to do about this? Go to InfoWorld's Save Windows XP site and sign the petition requesting Microsoft to continue production of XP. It takes nothing away from anyone that wants, prefers, or needs Vista, but allows XP devotees to continue to be able to purchase current equipment that suits their wants and needs. What will I do? I've already signed the petition and read a fair amount about the subject. I have a Maxtor backup drive that saves everything on a computer, including the OS, as a complete clone if you tell it to (so I could transfer this whole system onto a new, bigger, better hard drive.) I'm considering buying the boxed XP software on June 25th or thereabouts. In an ideal world, I would have the funds to buy a quad-core monster of a PC from one of the white box builders. But if everything else fails, I still have a Win 98SE box that works.

Peace, Doc

Life Gets in the Way

2008-04-19T12:14:00.000-05:00

I apologize to the readers who may have come here for infotmation and found nothing new posted for so long. My only excuse is that sometimes life gets in the way. More frequent and regular posts begin today.

Peace, Doc

New Blogging Danger Discovered!

2008-04-12T19:37:00.001-05:00

A new warning may soon be issued by all laptop computer manufacturers and the moguls of the recliner chair industry. We are already warned of the perils of using plastic bags as toys, not using the computer in the bathtub or near water, and the possibilities of the chair tipping over if one stands on it, or relaxes too hard or too quickly. I have discovered yet another legitimate cause for concern and shall report it to anyone who will attend to my natterings.

The basic danger stems from the design of the recliner chair itself. In order for the footrest action of the chair to work properly, a mechanical system of thin, moveable steel bars and pivot points is required. When the back of the chair is pushed toward a reclining position, the footrest rises into position to support the user's legs. The reverse action occurs when the occupant desires to sit upright or to arise from the chair. One might reasonably ask, "What's wrong with that? That's what it's supposed to do."

I will, of course, tell you. You don't believe I'd get this far into a perfectly good rant without complaining about something specific, do you? The danger arises when the laptop computer and the collapsing action of the chair required for the user to arise happen concurrently. I dislike resorting to the use of hyperbole or fear-mongering, but I must state that the scissor-like action of the mechanism attached to the footrest presents a real and present danger to those of us who use a laptop, with power supply and Cat-5 Ethernet cables attached, while seated and blogging in blissful ignorance.

Very recently, while arising quickly from the chair, I discovered the more personal and real-world meaning of the phrase "scissor-like action," when used in this context. The wires pass close to the footrest mechanism, and in this case, became entangled in it. ... The power cord was repaired easily enough with a soldering pencil and some heat-shrink tubing. It was quite a cleanly sheared cut, actually. The Cat-5 Ethernet cable, however, required replacement. Uh-huh. I did that.

Peace, Doc

Copyright © 2008, Thomas A. Blood, Ph.D.

"Stupid is as stupid does." - Forrest Gump

A Nightmare in 51 Syllables

2008-04-05T15:47:00.000-05:00

Just breathe in, breathe out.

She tried until she could not,

Then peacefully stopped.

Fifteen compressions

For each time our lips were pressed,

Cried the kiss of life.

So cold, my Annie.

Tried to warm you with my breath

Changed to kiss of death.

Peace, Doc

Firefox Is Back And I'm Gonna Have A Party!

2008-03-26T03:12:00.000-05:00

Some things make me quite cranky and obsessive, indeed. One of those things happened on Monday. Somehow, I lost Firefox. The browser would load and display itself but would not connect to the Internet. Sometimes, like its owner, this computer becomes a little unstable and ... just does unexpected things. I would say I had no idea what caused this malfunction, but I really had about 20.

The first idea on my list was that Comcast might have done something "funny." Its toolbar will only install on IE7, so that's where I started. I switched to IE7 and was again in contact with the world, albeit at what seemed like a snail's pace. OK. I knew the computer could access the web sometimes. My next thought was that I had installed and removed several minor programs, any of which could conceivably have caused a problem. I also had done both a disk defrag and a registry defrag with software which came from a very reputable company, but I had no idea where the little 1's and 0's might have been placed. I did a sys restore to no effect other than moving a few icons on the desktop. I deleted several apps to DOD standards (seven overwrites of the data), but the problem remained. I ran every security program I have (at least 10) from rootkit searches to anti-virus scans to ad removers and spyware scans. I found nothing that I didn't already know was present. Even the low risk items were then quarantined or deleted, however. Still no Firefox.

At that point I decided to be tricky and try something different. I disconnected the cable service and plugged into dial-up. Everything else worked, but still no Firefox. Drat! There went my theories about the cable provider changing something. Somewhere during all this poking of keys and rebooting, I fell asleep. That was just as well, because I probably would have just continued to poke at things until I killed the computer. When I awoke, somewhat refreshed but crabby from a dream I had (which will be my next post,) I went back to work on the problem. I was at the point of downloading Opera or Safari to see if they would work, but I didn't want to do anything traumatic to the HP.

Trying to find Firefox help while using IE7 didn't work so well, and using what help Firefox could provide without being connected to the net was relative useless. It explained clearly what the acronym "URL" stood for and explained what the proxy - client relationship is. That is when I began semi-randomly poking keys and header tools. It is also when I solved the problem. I truly hate to admit how simple the solution was, once I stumbled upon it. It seemed reasonable to use the Firefox "tools" that were available. When I got down the list of options to "options," a screen opened with many, well ... options. I made my way through them until I hit upon "advanced options, network, connection." I proceeded to take the ultimate risk and poked "advanced network connection settings." Nothing blew up and I was given four choices. Although I felt that I was tempting fate to switch from the current setting to "Auto-detect proxy settings for this network," I did it. Firefox came online immediately.

I still have no idea what caused the problem to begin with, but I was absolutely thrilled to have solved the problem all by myself. This elation lasted just long enough for me to figure out that anyone who actually knew what they were doing would likely have tried this as a first or second choice in resolving the situation. I believe it was then that I uncovered another of those inconvenient, but basic truths of life. It is extremely difficult to feel elated and incompetent at the same time.

Peace, Doc

Firefox 3, beta 4 is available for free download, but I'm not quite recovered enough from this trauma to install it yet. Another portable version of Firefox 3, beta 4 is available as a free download with the feature of being able to install it on your USB thumb drive and test it without affecting the operation of your current version of Firefox 2, whatever version. That isn't my usual quote, but is likely to prove much more valuable to those who are interested. I might actually attempt that, as it has been downloaded and the installation icon is just sitting there on the desktop mocking me.

Today in a speech to a hopeful nation ...

2008-01-16T00:55:00.000-06:00

Scientific integrity cannot flourish in an environment of suppression and politically skewed reporting.

George "The Walker" Bush

Issued a proctomation;

"Everything is fine!"

Peace, Doc

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." - George W. Bush

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” - Joseph Goebbels

Da Shredder Do Good

2008-01-09T01:03:00.000-06:00

Sorry. That's a joke that only a few of my older readers will catch. Many years ago when "easy-open" beer bottles were not at all easy to open, one bottling company produced an advertisement making fun of that fact. It starred a "professional" wrestler opening a beer. When, after a great deal of grunting and sounds of great efforts being made, it was opened, he stated, "The Crusher do good!"

That does have a connection to today's topic, deleting and/or erasing files from one's computer drive. There are various degrees of deletion and erasure. The least secure is simply deleting a file by sending it to the Windows Recycle Bin and clicking on "Empty Recycle Bin." This action only erases the address (a few bits) of the file on the drive such that the computer no longer recognizes it as being present. The body of it remains. It can easily be found by someone with a little knowledge of computers and a program to view what is on the entire drive.

At the extreme opposite end of the security spectrum would be having a bit of thermite or a huge degausser installed in the computer set to destroy the entire hard drive if certain conditions are met. This method would be for serious hackers, intelligence agencies, those with child porn on their machines, or any of you who really don't want your high school nickname known, and are willing to have a lump of smoldering plastic and metal on your desk to prevent it.

In many cases, simply deleting a file is enough. If you don't care that there are retrievable remains of all your blog posts, emails to Aunt Edna, or grocery lists, fine. More sensitive information deserves more care, at least encryption and more complete deletion when you are done with it. At one time in the past, simple deletion was enough because people who wanted your data were not so common and ways to get it were not so sophisticated. Unfortunately, that has not been true for several years, so it is largely up to you to protect it.

A recent article by Linda Martin-Peoples on MakeUseOf.com reviews or mentions in the comments section, various free file, folder, and disk deletion programs. FileShredder seems to be a very useful free program. Another program mentioned in the article is a trial of a commercial program, not true freeware, and is not listed here. Data Shredder is available free from CBL Data Recovery Technology, LLC, a Canadian data recovery company. I highly recommend that you read the article on this link to their site which explains, in understandable terms, what the different levels and types of data destruction involve. There are many free file shredders available at various sites around the web. I use Eraser, parts of Crap Cleaner (which is again available at the linked site without the other software recently bundled with it,) and "other methods." There are some programs I have not listed because they are completely destructive of all data on a disk, and I don't believe any of my readers would need such an ability. If you are going to donate a computer to charity or dispose of one, contact me and I will send you the names and URLs.

Other caveats apply to this type of application. Be certain that you trust the source of any freeware you download. Open source sites with GNU licenses (like sourceforge.com, etc.,) large companies giving away a freebie to get you to buy other of their commercial software, and corporations giving away updates, add-ons, templates, etc., to their own commercial software are most often safe. The other "It seems too good to be true" sites frequently prove that old maxim to be true. The second caveat, specifically about file deletion software, is to know what you are doing! If you do, go ahead. If you have any doubt, don't do it. Ask someone first. When the files are gone, they really are gone unless you are willing to take the chance that a data retrieval company, charging $600 to $1000, might be able to get it back.

This article is presented for general educational purposes only, and does not constitute a recommendation or bad review of any particular company or bit of software. It is not all inclusive, and there are many other good and bad programs out there.

Peace, Doc

"The word 'free' can have multiple meanings." - Wikipedia

Eureka! A Server Mystery Has Been Solved!

2008-01-05T16:08:00.000-06:00

Have you ever had a small mystery that nagged at you over time. The event only occurs in one circumstance, but you couldn't quite put the pieces together to get that "Aha!" finality? It is the kind of recurring puzzle that is of no real consequence to anyone, but it bugs the bejesus out of you that you can't find the answer. I am relatively certain that I am the only person on earth who would choose to be bothered by this particular mystery, but I did. In all likelihood it was not "solved" sooner because only a few other people in the world would have cared and they already knew the "answer." They made the puzzle. To an obsessive and inquisitive shrink, however, this became a "thing!"

I host a website with what used to be known as Microsoft's bCentral. At one point last March I had nothing better to blog about so I simply listed the names of the mail servers then in use for the email accounts on the site. I assumed that they had to be given some designation so that the rest of the network would recognize them, but the names were seemingly random and were probably assigned by whatever IT person installed and maintained them. I noted what they were, but gave no real thought to a pattern being there, as the names appeared whimsical and individual. They were:

freddie
io
monty
nudel
onyx
sparky
squeaky
sylvia

Since Microsoft outsourced its web hosting services to Concentric however, the names changed and became much more numerous. The more I saw, the harder I tried to find a pattern to their names. Some sounded like defenders of the realm, some seemed almost loving, some had an attitude, some seemed threatening, and I couldn't even pronounce one. Different subsets and arrangements were tried until one server name that I had not encountered before appeared. Click!! The names are listed below, along with a link to a list of which they are a subset:

adamant
albion
ardent
audacious
brilliant
dauntless
defiance
desperate
diligence
excellent
exertion
fervent
formidable
fortitude
hood
impregnable
indefatigable
indignant
inflexible
insolent
intrepid
invincible
iphigenia
irresistible
isis
nimble
resolution
retribution
safeguard
sentinel
strenuous
superb
tremendous
triumph
unicorn
vigilant
zealous

If you found the "giveaway" name, the derivation of the names won't come as too much of a surprise. If you didn't, it may. Give it a moment's thought before you click this link. I have to pull you into my obsession for at least a few seconds. There were four discrepancies from the list at that link, all of which I finally verified despite a slight difference in the spelling of one name, the fact that two were simply missing on that link, and that "safeguard" was included as something of a technicality.

*sigh*

I can find some of the most irrelevant things in the world to become enthralled with when I'm avoiding moving a huge bookcase. 'Twas a turrible fight, but the dreaded bookcase has now been moved.

Peace, Doc

"Procrastination" - Kurtis Karr

Storage and Backup of Clinical Records

2007-12-22T12:52:00.000-06:00

Clinicians should all be aware of the necessity of keeping secure and private clinical records. A major problem is where to store them. I have been engaged in a seemingly endless quest to find places to put my "stuff" following the sale of a large house in a rural-suburban area and the subsequent move into a much smaller apartment. This compacting process has included such trivial efforts as discarding standard sized Jewel Cases and using either the slim-line type or paper or vinyl sleeves to store CDs and DVDs. I have purchased a very large capacity but small sized Maxtor outboard hard drive. Along with efforts in the computer area, I have given away, donated, discarded, or sold items such as a breadmaker, fine, unused cooking equipment, antique furniture, and half my "wardrobe." The latter was comprised primarily of jeans with holes in the knees and flannel shirts with gaping rents at the elbow, so not much loss there. I have shredded many records and plan to store client records in .PDF file form soon. I had tried the free CutePDF Writer and free Converter and found them to be the best for my needs among the various types of .PDF programs. I liked them so much, really, that I purchased the CutePDF Pro version which included the CutePDF Form Filler for $49.95. Among the many other features provided in the Pro version are the ability to scan to PDF (scan your session notes directly into a PDF document,) the ability to FTP upload the document (for file sharing or for online storage,) and most important to compliance with HIPAA requirements, the ability to encrypt the document at a 40-bit or 128-bit level. With the Form Fill portion, one could easily produce a standard intake or interview form, save to PDF, encrypt it, and be compliant in storing it online, burned to disk, or saved on a hard drive. I'm sure by this point I must seem like I am doing a paid advertisement. I am not. Certainly there are other similar programs available, but I have used this one and am thoroughly satisfied with it.

Another aspect to consider when using any computer to produce important documents is the absolute certainty that it will crash or die, taking all your records with it, at the most inconvenient possible time. The answer to this is backup, backup, backup! I have had enough computers quit without giving the required two weeks notice that I have learned this lesson several times over. Again, I have tried and accepted a method to insure against this disaster. I use a Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus 750 GB external drive which can be used with either a USB.2 or a FireWire 400 connection to the computer. A review of this drive by PC Magazine staff rated it very good and states that the bottom line is; "The Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus exists as extra storage, but it's really there to save your butt. The next time your system crashes, this drive will get you on your feet again." The drive comes in 250, 500, and 750 GB models, with a very recent release of a 1000 GB (1TB) model, made by pairing two 500 GB drives in one case. One can store the usual documents, pictures, music, and the like on any of them. This series of drives also backs up everything on your computer, including the Operating System, to restore to a new drive in case of a catastrophe. Again, I know that there are similar drives and programs that allow the same types of backup, but after obsessively studying the specifications and abilities of everything I could find with these capabilities, this was my choice and it has worked well.

Backing up only files of whatever type can be accomplished by burning them, in encrypted form, to CD or DVD. There are many programs that will do this efficiently and effectively. I use Roxio's Easy Media Creator 8 (it has advanced to Easy Media Creator Suite 10 recently) and find it more than adequate to do what I want it to do.

Finally, there is online storage for files. I trust it enough for blogs, songs, pictures, and relatively unimportant documents. However, having had my EIN and SS numbers with all other personal and business information "lost" by a government agency, I am less than enthusiastic about the security of information stored anywhere not directly under my control. If you have a Google account and use the Firefox browser, there is an add-on available called G-Drive that allows one to store up to about 5 GB of information online free. A number of other companies offer free and paid storage with varying sizes, charges, and layers of security. I will simply mention MediaMax which offers 25 GB of free storage and increasingly larger amounts for increasing fees.

Until I write next, I'll be trying to force myself to part with my dissertation data (collected over 30 years ago) and deciding what to do with the toy airplanes with 16 foot wingspans. Even the cats seem a bit anxious.

Peace, Doc

Here-A-Ku, There-A-Ku, Everywhere A Haiku

2007-12-14T13:48:00.000-06:00

Having awakened several times during the night, I finally ceased resisting and arose early for the morning, remembering some dream fragments. There were several that might have inspired a haiku (or a limerick.) These are variations on the themes of past, present, and future which were interlaced into one dream. Whether you like them or not, the reader may at least be thankful that nothing was written about a portion of another dream concerning the frustration of trying to clean projectile cat poop from carpeting.

Tightly grasp your Now

Far too fast becomes your Past

Future's not yet lived

___

Learn Now's lessons well

Too soon fading into Past

There will be a quiz

___

Old man once told him

Get a good education

They can't take from you

___

Older now himself

He's come to realize that

Aging surely can

___

Unwilling to stay

In the Now, he meanders

The paths of his Past

Peace, Doc

"Some memories are realities, and are better than anything that can ever happen to one again." - Willa Cather

Neuropsych Haiku

2007-12-06T22:08:00.000-06:00

I love to dream. Not daydreams. The all out, longer, stranger ones that occur late in the sleep cycle. Traveling in time, changing the past, reliving parts of it, when even being changed by the dreamstuff itself seems possible. I don't really mind if I wake in a panic from a dream if it was interesting. One type that I like the most combines concepts, people, words, images, or events in ways that would be highly unlikely in a waking state. I had one of that sort recently that somehow intertwined my confusion about my future with the mnemonic device for remembering the names of the 12 cranial nerves. Further, in the dream, I realized that the words of the "standard" version of this memory aid had seventeen syllables. Ooh, haiku! Of course upon waking I could not leave the version I had learned alone. I had to modify and add meanings to it. "Meanings" is deliberately plural to allow for good or bad outcomes.

The most frequently used mnemonic is, "On Old Olympus' Towering Top, A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops." There are other versions, one quite lewd, but all help the student to remember the names of the cranial nerves by using the first letter of the nerve as the first letter of the associated word in the mnemonic; Olfactory, Optic, Oculomotor, Trochlear, Trigeminal, Abducens, Facial, Acoustic, Glossopharyngeal, Vagal, Spinal-accessory, & Hypoglossal.

One Omen Only
To Tear Apart Fantasies
And Give Vent Sour Hate

-or-

One Omen Only
To Tease Apart Fantasies
And Grant View Soul's Hope

Quite likely a bit of each is present or I wouldn't have felt conflicted enough to have written two versions. I'm working on the latter, though.

Peace, Doc

"BP = f(E & RV)" - Julian Rotter, Ph.D.

Have You Noticed ... ?

2007-10-07T18:57:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed a recent confusion within Microsoft about the design and marketing of its software? I think I am seeing one but I am not an expert.

Vista sales and installations have not been going as well as Microsoft had hoped when this operating system was introduced approximately one year ago. Some businesses have been reluctant to adopt it due to incompatibilities with other companies' software and due to some of its own internal instabilities. See this Google search which returns 51,200,000 responses to the search phrase - Vista problems. A Service Pack for Vista is already due out soon, according to many sources listed in the second link. Vista seems to be somewhat "heavy" for home computers and is not as willingly accepted as was XP, especially because the really neat features are only available in the premier business versions, and at a greatly increased cost. Of course the Vista OS was primarily developed for business use from the start. Several months back, there was a somewhat disparaging joke that Vista was little more than Windows XP SP3, at least as far as the home user was concerned. Now, however, it is evidently not a joke. Microsoft has already set a release date for XP Service Pack 3. Further, Microsoft has twice delayed the date that all new Windows computers must be supplied with a version of Vista. I believe the latest deadline is at the end of 2007. Some computer manufacturers are taking advantage of this delay to continue to supply Windows XP machines.

Microsoft has begun to compete more actively and directly with Google and Sun, its primary rivals for online services. Other free office suites are available, such as the free, downloadable OpenOffice.org suite, the free IBM Lotus Symphony, the free web based Zoho Office Suite and others. Since Google has affiliated with Sun Microsystems the two corporations have gone into direct competition with Microsoft. They are offering OpenOffice, the open source office suite which Sun helped develop in 2000, and the basis upon which Sun's commercial Star Office was built. This affiliation will provide much more than the free Docs, Spreadsheets, Gmail, Talk, Earth, etc., applications presently available from Google. Microsoft is apparently offering a free, advertising supported version of Microsoft Works 8. It is making Microsoft Office 2003 more functional and secure with a free download of Service Pack 3 (SP3.) I very recently read, but cannot recall where, that the full Microsoft Office Suite will become available as an online service, but only if you already have Office installed on your computer. Spaces Live versus Blogspot, LiveWriter versus Google's online editor, Microsoft Groups versus Google Groups. I don't believe Google has an equivalent for X-Box and Halo-3, however.

I'm not certain that I am doing anything other than mentioning to you that there is a cyber-"competition" going on among industry giants and that it is bound to have an effect on us. By "us" I refer to individuals, families, and tiny businesses. Microsoft appears to be more actively pursuing small business to enterprise size business. While Google may have aspirations in that direction planned for the future, it currently concentrates on the "small" end of the merchandising spectrum. If Google ever officially incorporates an Operating System of its own, "Katie, bar the door." Many of the hot links above are to searches or to summary articles. I strongly suggest to anyone planning on buying a new computer or "upgrading" (to some, that recently has meant switching back to XP from Vista) that you follow the breadcrumb trail to the real experts and draw your own conclusions. Given my current understanding of the situation, my personal choice is to stick with my XP-Pro OS and Office-Pro 2003 productivity suite for the foreseeable future. Of course I will continue to use many Google applications, as they fit my needs more closely, but my overall preference stays with Microsoft.

Peace, Doc

Copyright © 2007, Thomas A. Blood, Ph.D.

"4:00 PM 10/04/07 : GOOG $594.05 +15.02 +2.59% High $596.00 Low $587.01 Vol 05,073,044
: MSFT $029.84 +00.13 +0.44% High $029.99 Low $029.73 Vol 45,016,519"

Keyloggers and Viri and Rootkits, Oh My!

2007-09-24T09:56:00.000-05:00

In the last post, I ranted about rootkits being planted in consumers’ computers without their knowledge by unscrupulous corporations or by hackers with even less honorable motives. I vented my displeasure with a corporation but did not give any information about what one can do about a rootkit. To remedy that oversight I embarked on a quest for some free software that will detect their presence. I shall try to rectify the omission in this episode.

It has been written that rootkits and keyloggers hide quite well in the deep recesses of your computer’s innards, often to the degree that excellent commercial software cannot find them. I found two anti-rootkit applications and one keylogger sniffer.

AVG, an excellent commercial security software company, offers three security software applications that are free for the downloading. The best known is their free anti-virus program, but they also offer an anti-spyware application and a rootkit detector. All three are available here.

Sophos Software also offers free anti-rootkit software, a threat detection test, and an application discovery tool in addition to their commercial line of security software.

One of the stranger freeware security tools I found, the SnoopFree Privacy Shield, is a paranoid and compulsive little program that detects any application that could be a keylogger or take over your browser, displays what it is, what it is doing, and asks if you wish to allow it. I found it to be something of a revelation that it classified Google Desktop as a serious threat and desperately tried to convince me not to allow it to function. This program for Win XP is worth installing, if only to see which applications are paying attention to what is being typed on your keyboard.

An updated version of Check Point’s free ZoneAlarm Security Firewall has just been released and is certainly worth using.

Belarc freely gives its Advisor application that lists all the software installed on your computer, for non-commercial purposes only. This app lists every piece of software installed on your computer, along with patches, identification numbers, version numbers, and much other valuable information. This program has been installed on every computer I have owned since 1995.

Finally, EmiSoft’s a-squared free anti malware program (Anti-Trojan, Anti-Worm, and Anti-Spyware) is available, as is an Anti-Dialer program.

When you try these programs, as I have, please give consideration to purchasing the full featured versions or making a donation to the software’s author if you like them.

Peace, Doc

Copyright © 2007, Thomas A. Blood, Ph.D.

Sony Does It Again

2007-09-07T22:22:00.000-05:00

I am including this post from another of my blogs as it may have compromised a clinician's computer or do so in the second round of rootkits. Especially troublesome is the information that one of the products that installs a rootkit is not a CD, but a USB fingerprint security device

Once upon a time in the not too far distant past I really liked Sony products. I still do. I have Sony tape deck, receiver, CD/DVD player, pocket recorder, and was drooling over several of their high-end cameras, but I have resolved never to buy another of their offerings because of their corporate behavior.

In 2005 there was a Sony BMG scandal in which rootkits were hidden in over 100 of the CD products manufactured and sold by them. When the customer played the "copy protected" "XCP" CD, a rootkit, otherwise known as spyware or malware, was installed in their computer without their knowledge. It interfered with the way in which Windows systems play CDs and opened several security holes for viruses to enter the unsuspecting owner's computer. Rather than go on at length here, I refer the reader to the wiki link above, for a thoroughly researched and well written explanation of the problem and the various electronic, ethical, and legal ramifications of their ploy. The first time, I was relatively quiet about it, but made my resolution and have abided by it.

Now they have done it again! "... F-Secure's Deep-Guard software has detected rootkits in more software distributed with Sony products." In my opinion, this goes beyond the point that I can simply shut up and not mention it to others whose computers may be affected. They not only did it, but they did it poorly in an attempt at security through obscurity. The TechRepublic Forum post I read most recently on this subject found many others with the same feelings about Sony as I have developed.

*Sigh* At least I'm not the only one who became really cranky over this.

Peace, Doc

Copyright © 2007, Thomas A. Blood, Ph.D.

"Experience is the best teacher, but the tuition is high." - Norwegian Proverb

NanoScan and TotalScan

2007-09-04T05:42:00.000-05:00

There are a few good, free, web based applications out there amidst all the crapware. I used Panda Software's computer-based anti-virus program for a year some while back and found it to be satisfactory. Not perfect, but good. That was at a time when many of the viruses, trojans, and worms were coming from the area of the world in which Panda Software is located. My assumption at the time was that they would therefore be the first AV company to encounter many of the new threats "in the wild" and the first to develop new countermeasures. It seemed to be a good assumption. The only drawbacks I encountered at that time were a somewhat unappealing user interface and a very aggressive advertising program. Panda was one of the "other good commercial AV programs" to which I referred in a previous post on free AV protection.

When I evaluate a program for my own use I quickly head in the opposite direction from AV and other security programs that immediately do a scan, find 1,284 possible infections on my computer, and warn me of the grave consequences of not purchasing their software or services immediately. When I found and tried Panda's nanoscan online scan it quickly had a look at my computer after I allowed it to install an ActiveX application. It reported that it found no viruses and that my other security programs were up to date. Hmm. Could it be true?

After one has scanned their computer with nanoscan, a pitch is made for totalscan. It is stated that this version can be used in either “brief” (about five minutes) or “full” (about an hour) modes. One has to sign up with an email address and a password for the free totalscan. I did so and allowed another ActiveX to run. This action started the download of a short program that literally took almost three hours to complete on a dial-up Internet connection. When this process was completed, totalscan found 10 cookies that I knew were present and showed a large red button labeled "disinfect." I hopefully pressed it. The next screen informed me that I must be a member of totalscanPRO for anything to actually happen. Technically, Panda delivered exactly what was promised, a scan. I am so freaking gullible that I must be a relative of Wily Coyote.

The purchase page even insisted that I was from the UK and wanted payment in pounds. I'm afraid I cannot recommend nanoscam, totalscam, or totalscamPRO. Some might want to take a look at Panda's relatively non-technical descriptions of crimeware, hoaxes, rootkits, and the like. Otherwise, it did nothing that the previously listed freeware did not do except leave me with junk to clean out of the computer and two or three hours of subvocal swearing which I must attend to. Despite my current displeasure, I would still state that Panda's programs and services are probably in the class of "other satisfactory commercial security software." I'm glad I used a throwaway e-mail address, though.

Peace, Doc

Copyright © 2007, Thomas A. Blood, Ph.D.

"Dammit!" - Doc

Moving Forward, Looking Back

2007-08-22T18:18:00.000-05:00

Salutations, faithful readers (both of you.) I have not written to my blogs for several weeks because I have signed a contract to sell my house and I elected to do all the realtor/broker work on my own with the help of my attorney to tell me when I have just done something stupid. This, along with the facts that I have nobody to help sort what to keep, sell, donate, store, or aim towards a landfill, to lift heavy objects alone, and that I have no idea where I am going to live after September 14 has left me with somewhat less blogging time than usual. For this reason, I will share with you (inflict upon you?) the haiku that are reflective of my feelings about moving. It went over well, even in my primary blog, where my regular readers are known to have thrown rotten cyber-tomatoes when I post a haiku. One of my severest critics even wrote that she liked it. I think she just feels sorry for me.

Organization
Possessions and memories
Safely locked away

Pictures of Annie
Boomer’s ashes in a can
Packed, ready to move

Box of Gone fuller
Never too much to carry
Full becomes empty

I shall soon return to blogging for the private practice mental health community for whom I generally write. This will occur when my daughter and my two cats feel I am settled down enough to do so. The cats won't care, anyway, as I often find one standing on my chest at 3:30 a.m. Thankfully, Firstborn does not live with me nor is she given to standing on chests.

Peace, Doc

Security Software

2007-07-31T12:11:00.000-05:00

Most mental health professionals would agree that we have a duty to keep confidential our clients’ PHI. This seems especially true if we keep that information on computers that can be lost, hacked, or subject to viruses of all kinds.

I recently had, and am continuing to have, an experience of possible identity theft. I did nothing to cause it or to leave myself open to that attack. Stupid things happen. A portable drive with a database of providers was lost or stolen. The VHA wrote to notify me and to offer a year of free credit monitoring and fraud alerts. As most of my personal information including SSN, EIN, name, address, and all the rest was on it, I accepted their offer quickly. My suspicion is that a less experienced employee or an intern copied it to a thumb drive to work on at home. The information was obtained from the Social Security Administration’s database of mental health providers without my knowledge or permission, to be used in a provider demographics study. As a client would feel in a similar situation, I am concerned, anxious, and feel that someone is responsible for potential harm to me. To the VHA’s credit, they immediately admitted their loss and offered some protective measures. Of all the times that I believe my personal information may have been lost, stolen, or compromised this was the only time I was notified.

We owe our clients the best security we can provide. Probably the best security software available to the public is produced by Norton/Symantec and McAfee. They are good and their respective prices reflect that. Many other commercial security software brands are available and usually, as good as the two named, but possibly not as comprehensive.

I have found free versions of some lesser-known software brands available that have proven as effective, in combination, as one of the major manufacturers’ software suites. AVG offers free versions of their Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, and Anti-Rootkit software. As far as I am currently aware, their Anti-Rootkit program is the only free rootkit software available. I use all three. CheckPoint Software’s ZoneAlarm Firewall is a well-known and effective free security application that I also use and rely on. Spybot-Search & Destroy is a very effective free “donation-ware” anti-spyware application. I also use it with confidence. LavaSoft’s Ad-Aware-2007 is a free adware search and removal application. It has very recently been updated and apparently did not install well on my computer. Its past versions have been quite useful and worked perfectly in combination with all the other free programs listed. Microsoft also offers free anti-virus and internet filters, as well as updates to your operating system. I use Microsoft Update, Windows Live OneCare safety scanner, Windows Defender, and the Malicious Software Removal Tool. All of the Microsoft tools may be found on the single Microsoft link appearing above.

These are some of the best free security programs available. I recommend them with some caveats, however. I am making recommendations based on my personal use of Microsoft’s XP Pro and XP Home operating systems and cannot generalize to other OSs. If you do not use these links to obtain the software, be certain that the providers and spellings of the program names are exactly the same. There are imitators using names very similar to the good software that may contain malware or be malware themselves. Finally, if you like the software, please consider purchasing their commercial versions. Be careful out there.

Peace, Doc

EverNote 2.1 Update

2007-07-23T17:53:00.000-05:00

EverNote®2 is offering a free, updated version of their remarkably versatile and useful note and web information collection program. It is version 2.1.0.327 which employs a new database. If you update from a previous version, your content will be saved and updated to conform to the current database engine, but it will no longer be useable with prior versions. The commercial versions of this software offer extensive additions to the basic free version. Web clips, graphics, e-mail, notes, handwriting, snapshots, sketches, and much more may all be recorded, many on either free or commercial versions. It is simply remarkable that so much versatility is offered in their free version. It is definitely worth a trip to the download section of the EverNote Website to compare versions and download one of them.

I find that I am not alone in my high regard for this application. Those with much more knowledge and ability concur:

EverNote is a genius piece of software that collects and stores all of your digital data, indexing them and making them searchable. - Michael Calore, Wired News

EverNote 2.1 - Free Version
Software Version: 2.1.0.327(14.9 MB)

EverNote 2.1 lets you easily store and quickly access typed and handwritten memos, webpage excerpts, emails, phone messages, addresses, passwords, brainstorms, sketches, documents and more! This is a FREE version with no expiration. Learn More

Peace, Doc

MediLexicon Toolbar Update

2007-07-17T11:01:00.000-05:00

As I age, I wander the Internet more and tend to take paths wherever they lead me. In this case, I found an updated version of the MediLexicon Toolbar that I have written about previously. This is version 2.0 and has added features and customizable aspects. It is available for either Internet Explorer or FireFox, and retains its built-in uninstall button. It includes medical news, including mental health topics, and has added to the reference databases it can search for answers to your questions

I am an inveterate toolbar collector and could probably fill my entire monitor screen with them, leaving only an inch or so at the bottom for actual website content. There is an easy way to display only the toolbars you want during any session when using IE, however. Simply right click on any empty space in the toolbar section at the top of the screen, and a menu of your installed toolbars will appear with check marks at the left of the active ones. Just check or uncheck the bars you wish to appear, and you can once again view most of your screen. I hate to admit that I accidentally discovered this feature less than a year ago.

Several other free programs have been discovered or updated and will be reported upon in future posts.

Peace, Doc

Lifehacking

2007-07-05T08:56:00.000-05:00

When I first discovered Lifehacker I immediately liked their web site and their stated reason for producing it: "Computers make us more productive. Yeah, right. Lifehacker recommends the software downloads and web sites that actually save time. Don't live to geek; geek to live." Some of their more recent posts have included a free Smart Bookmarks Bar for Firefox, Alpha Geek: Make Microsoft Word less annoying, Calculate your caffeine intake (with nearly 200 popular beverages listed,) Create a living will online, How to find the best web freebies, Build a ten day survival pack for $25 or less, Tips for faster bar service, How to be a gentleman (first rule is "do not spit," and 75 comments followed it,) Prevent your dryer from catching fire, Financial mistakes redux - how to avoid them, Alpha Geek: 10 cool cell phone tricks, Mobile sign language lookup, and a free bandwidth NetMeter for windows. These were under half the entries between March 16, 2007 and March 20, 2007.
Google offers a specialized Lifehacks custom search page which includes a search tool which seeks information from five sources: www.lifehacker.com, www.lifehack.org, www.43folders.com, www.ehow.com, and www.howstuffworks.com. I have found this to be a very useful tool that produces mostly relevant responses to common, real-life questions and some quite useful software. My first query using the Lifehacks custom search engine was "cyber stalking" which produced this relevant response as its' first citation from www.lifehack.org.

I hope you find these resources useful.

Peace, Doc

Copyright © 2007, Thomas A. Blood, Ph.D.

"I don't profess to be profound; but I do lay claim to common sense." - Charles Dickens

New Google Application Announced

2007-04-29T15:07:00.000-05:00

Google has announced the anticipated Presentation application for its current suite of free online office components. The Official Google Blog "birth announcement" states that, following Google's acquisition of Tonic Systems, we can expect the addition this summer. This puts their online suite into a very favorable position to be the most powerful and useful available. When combined with Gmail and all of its secondary features, Docs & Spreadsheets, Google Earth, SketchUp,the unofficial Gspace online storage application (possibly soon to have a future official version?), Google Toolbar, Picasa, Picasa Web Albums, Blogger, a personalizable Home Page, AdSense, Google Pack of additional free software ..... Oh, you get the idea. I'm not certain what the best thing was before sliced bread, but Google must surely be a prime candidate for anything since. While we are in a Googly mood, pay a visit to Google Labs technology playground to see what's new, and to Nancy Blachman's Google Guide to find out things you didn't even suspect about Google's search abilities. I have come nowhere near listing all that Google offers, but my brain hurts.

Peace, Doc

2007-01-13T20:34:00.000-06:00

People may or may not know by this time that Microsoft is offering, free of charge and no strings attached, a download or CD of Microsoft Office Accounting Express either here or here. Ordering the free CD is probably better as this is a 208MB download and arrives almost as quickly by mail as it would take on dial-up. What you may not know is that Microsoft Office Live is offering a free basic website with free registered domain name, multiple email accounts, and a site builder with some very professional templates to advertise your practice or sell items. Of course, they want you to be successful so that you buy a more complex site and other services. Overall, this is an excellent product and a good manner in which to market it.

Peace, Doc

Copyright © 2007, Thomas A. Blood, Ph.D.

Accounting Freeware

2006-04-13T21:44:00.000-05:00

I have tried, with limited success, to use Peachtree Accounting, Microsoft Money, and Quicken Home and Business. They are all good. Too good for me. They have more features than I could ever need and they make assumptions about me that are not true. That I know what I am doing, for one. They do things like double entering a check from an account if you enter it once when you wrote it and later get it back with a check number on it. I have had to create categories like “I don’t know where this came from” in order to reconcile the program with the real world. The program still wants to know at what bank this category applies and whether it is a withdrawal or a deposit. How I wish I had taken a business and accounting course somewhere along the way. If you find yourself identifying with any of that, you might want to try these two freeware accounting programs.

“AceMoney Lite - Free Personal Finance Manager,” is a freeware version of a more powerful accounting package by MechCad. It is available in English, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese.

http://www.mechcad.net/products/acemoney/index_lite.shtml

Bizacct.com's freeware EZAcct

"No need to know accounting! EZAcct helps you do quotation, sales order, invoicing, issuing purchase order, receiving merchandises, inventory control, collecting payments, paying bill, managing customer/vendor records, even prepare profit/loss statements. EZAcct’s snapshot provides management dashboard view of your business on your fingertip. You want to focus on your business operation, not to spend time learning how to use your software. Now EZAcct makes you using software like working with paper and pencil. Supports USA, Australia, Taiwan, China, Mexico and more...”

http://www.bizacct.com/

Peace, Doc

Free File Recovery Program

2006-03-15T03:24:00.000-06:00

In this week's issue of the WinPlanet newsletter I mentioned earlier, http://www.winplanet.com I found a free, downloadable data recovery program that might be of use in recovering client data that is lost on your computer through accidental deletion or code error. I have not tried this program, but it certainly seems like a better alternative than taking your machine to a data recovery service to have the files retrieved for $600 or so. The newsletter describes the program as follows:

"Do an online search for data recovery software these days, and you'll find lots of options. Most come with strings attached, however -- limiting the number and/or size of files you can recover (64KB is a common limitation) unless and until you pay the registration fee, which is typically anywhere from $50 to $100, and often more. Depending on how valuable your lost data is to you, coughing up this money may not seem like a big deal, but for some it can be a lot to pay, especially without any assurance of success. After all, data recovery applications seldom offer a money-back guarantee.

Enter PC Inspector File Recovery, published by Germany-based CONVAR Deutschland. The program is offered as freeware, though the company happily accepts donations via PayPal at its Website. CONVAR stresses that PCI File Recovery is designed only for recovering files lost to user or software error -- the software doesn't purport itself to work on drives with physical problems, like the ones that sound as though a Gatling gun is going off inside your PC, or on drives that fail to be recognized by the BIOS. For these sorts of issues the user is referred to an organization that provides data recovery...

Joseph Moran
WinPlanet
(Read the complete review at http://www.winplanet.com/article/3172-.htm”)

The download site and a more detailed description may be found at:

http://www.winplanet.com/file/28237.htm

Peace, Doc

Security Application Reviews

2006-03-13T22:08:00.000-06:00

While reading the Kim Kommando newsletter, it directed me to this site that reviews security software. It appears to pull no punches and the author(s?) know their subject. You can also read that as "agree with me." Every program they list as good and that I have tried, I am in complete agreement with them. I list this, not because it is directly related to psychology, but because everyone involved in the mental health field needs to be very aware of the security of the PHI data on their computer. You may find "Spyware Warrior: Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products and Web Sites at:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#products

Peace, Doc

Web Resources

2006-03-03T08:19:00.000-06:00

These are not specific to psychology or mental health, but are some website URLs that you may find useful.

WinGuide Computer terms and phrases:
http://www.winguides.com/dictionary.php?guide=security

Secure Password Generator:
http://www.winguides.com/security/password.php

How to Remember Your Password:
http://wiki.ehow.com/Remember-Your-Password

Microsoft Windows Defender Beta2. This works well with Grisoft Free AVG antivirus but not with Norton/Symantec.
http://www.download.com/Microsoft-Windows-Defender/3000-8022_4-10353597.html?tag=nl.e415

A source of new and daily updates to popular software can be found at
http://www.filehippo.com/

WinPlanet is a good source of business software applications. Subscribe to their free weekly newsletter "Windows Watch," as it sends notifications of important updates, betas, security patches, and the like. It has helped me to stay current with updates to my software.
http://www.winplanet.com/updates/

Portable Apps Suite: A Powerful and Free Alternative to Software Bloat. This whole office suite can be carried with you on a 256MB USB Flash Drive to be used on another computer.
http://www.winplanet.com/article/3136-.htm

Peace, Doc

Google Pages

2006-02-26T19:26:00.000-06:00

Google Labs has just launched its free 100 MB pages creator. It appears to be more versatile and has a more user-friendly interface than other applications of this kind.

http://pages.google.com/
Create your own web pages, quickly and easily.

Peace, Doc

Various Freeware and Shareware

2006-02-21T20:12:00.000-06:00

As I was wandering the web I happened across several bits of freeware and shareware that are not directly related to psychology but are useful in the areas of general computing, security, and program downloads and updates. I also saw the IE7 Beta2, downloaded it and tried it. It is not yet ready for prime time. Somehow it corrupted the ActiveX tool that uploads and displays pictures in MSN Spaces. It will quite likely integrate with all the other modifications that Microsoft is making in preparation for Vista and the new Office version, but has problems with current software.

WinGuide Computer terms and phrases:
http://www.winguides.com/dictionary.php?guide=security

Secure Password Generator:
http://www.winguides.com/security/password.php

How to Remember Your Password:
http://wiki.ehow.com/Remember-Your-Password

Microsoft Windows Defender Beta2
http://www.download.com/Microsoft-Windows-Defender/3000-8022_4-10353597.html?tag=nl.e415

A source of new and daily updates to popular software can be found at
http://www.filehippo.com/

WinPlanet is a good source of business software applications. Subscribe to their free weekly newsletter "Windows Watch," as it sends notifications of important updates, betas, security patches, and the like.
http://www.winplanet.com/updates/

Portable Apps Suite: A Powerful (and Free) Alternative to Software Bloat. This whole suite can be carried with you on a 256MB USB Flash Drive.
http://www.winplanet.com/article/3136-.htm

Microsoft Spaces Blog Content

2006-02-01T07:50:00.000-06:00

With all the recent news about Google restricting its’ search capabilities depending upon country, it was with some interest that I ran across this article in IT VIBE this morning.

“Microsoft outlines policy for dealing with government restrictions on blog content.”

http://itvibe.com/news/3895/

Peace, Doc

Library Management Software

2006-01-17T17:48:00.000-06:00

A request was recently received on another site for sources of software to manage a small library for a facility with limited funding. I do not have the background to know which solution would be most appropriate, so I did several searches for free or inexpensive software that might fit this need. These searches were productive and the URLs are reproduced below.

http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0.html?tag=srch&qt=library+catalog+free&tg=dl-20&search.x=16&search.y=12

http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3120-20-0.html?qt=free+library+catalog&tg=dl-20&search=GO

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=free+library+catalog+and+management+software&btnG=Google+Search

http://www.librarysupportstaff.com/4automate.html

http://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&lr=&newwindow=1&safe=off&q=sourceforge+library+catalog+downloads

http://thedata.org/papers/Altman_Iassist2002.pdf

http://www.primasoft.com/pro_software/library_software_pro.htm

http://www.winlibrary.com/WinLibPro.asp

http://ga.librarysoftwares.net/

I hope this helps someone.

Peace, Doc

Practice Management Software

2006-01-15T23:44:00.000-06:00

Brickell Research Inc. offers a very complete practice management suite, primarily for the medical profession rather than for psychologists, social workers, and other therapists. It appears to work very well and the only thing I can find "wrong" with it is that it is very good and you pay for what you get. Although it does not fit into my cheap software category, it would be a nearly ideal solution for a small to medium medical office setting. More information, including a request for a free demonstration CD, add-on modules for specialties, pricing, and the like may be found at http://www.brickellresearch.com/index.shtml

Software and Web Resources

2006-01-09T11:46:00.000-06:00

There is another Solo Shrink. It is intended for small private practice mental health providers to exchange ideas and information. It is a closed group and is classified as an adult site due to the nature and possible sensitivity of the posted materials. If licensed mental health providers are interested in joining, it is located at http://groups.google.com/Solo-Shrink

The following is a listing of software and web resources that might be of use to such a practitioner that I have previously posted in that group:

I ran across the following area on the Microsoft site:
http://www.microsoft.com/industry/healthcare/provider.mspx
It is worth looking at though I have not explored it thoroughly yet. MS usually provides solutions for larger organizations, but from the titles, some of the topics might be of use in a small practice.

I have listed some sources for mental health, diagnostic, clinical record, and practice management software that I have come across in my searches. Some allow trial downloads or free CD trial versions. I am not recommending any specific program, just listing several that some of us might find useful. They are arranged in no particular order.
Psychology Resources for the Palm Pilot: http://www.eicd.com/Default.htm
Emotions Manager 2000: http://www.download.com/Emotions-Manager/3000-2129_4-10160533.html
Health and Nutrition - Reviews and free downloads at Download.com: http://www.download.com/Health-Nutrition/3150-2129_4-0.html?tag=nav_dir
Billing and Practice Management software list of manufacturers and reviews with live URLs to all: http://www.webenet.com/practicesoftware.htm
HIPAA Notices of Policies and Practices to Protect Privacy of PHI: http://www.webenet.com/hipaa.htm
Psychological Assessment and Testing Resources: http://www.assessmentpsychology.com/resources.htm
IQ Resources: http://www.assessmentpsychology.com/iq.htm
Personality Resources: http://www.assessmentpsychology.com/personality.htm
Online Psychological and Medical Tests: http://www.assessmentpsychology.com/onlinetests.htm
Emergency Medicine at NCEMI-Algorithms, Calculators, Medical Searches, Pill IDs, Practice Guidelines, Medical Terms, and Abbreviations, e-Texts, Image Finder, Etc.: http://www.ncemi.org/
Saner Software Client Billing and Insurance Claims: http://www.shrinkrapt.com/
Helper (Including Therapist Helper, Quick Doc, TheraScribe, and more.) http://www.helper.com/therapist/quickdoc.htm
More resources will be added, as I am able.

Another source of general online hosting and small business application recommendations is from Yahoo.com:
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/article.php?mcid=7&scid=33&a...

While rummaging around Yahoo, I found that their recommendations regarding the software required for very small businesses/practices matches my idea of putting together bits and pieces of software you may already have to the requirements of the practice you have. If I can sort out the appropriate combination of MS Office Pro 2003 to include all the necessary components, I will try to list all the details. The Yahoo page is:
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/article.php?mcid=7&scid=33&a...
I also have an older Medical Arts Press program, "Just Claims," which fills out HCFA 1500 forms, remembers insurance numbers and client names, and the details of your practice. This combination may well be all that is required for the smaller than small business needs I have.

I ran across a few more resources and/or programs while systematically and scientifically searching the web (screwing around) that might be of some use to you.
Nullsoft (SafeSex) Sorta Secure Note Taker Application (no save or print features:) http://www.nullsoft.com/free/safesex/ Despite the name and limitations, this is a very small sized, useful application that allows you to make passworded notes which will not reveal themselves to others without reentry of your password. Tried and safe for any Microsoft OS through XP.
Many Resources for Counseling: http://counsellingresource.com/index.shtml
Consumer Medication Information Library from MedLibrary.org: http://medlibrary.org/

FireFox browser 1.5 has come out of final beta and is a great lightweight free browser. http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
Opera browser has updated to version 8.1 and is also an excellent lightweight free browser. ftp://ftp.the.net/pub/mirror/opera/win/851/en/ow32enen851.exe
EverNote 1.1 is a note program somewhat like Microsoft OneNote. A Free edition and Commercial editions are available. Commercial edition supports "Ink notes." Notes, media, pieces of web pages, etc., can all be used on it. I do not believe that it encrypts, but it can, I think, be password locked. http://www.evernote.com/en/

A free update to EverNote has very recently become available repairing some bugs and making it more functional. You may get this update by clicking the "help" tab on the installed program and then clicking "look for updates." You may also get the full, updated version at http://www.evernote.com/en/

The mother lode of all open source project Open Directory mental health information has been tripped over. I didn't hurt myself this time, though. When I started following links, I tripped out! The Open Directory page for Health: Mental Health: Professional Resources is http://dmoz.org/Health/Mental_Health/Professional_Resources/ to make your searched more general, start with http://dmoz.org/Health/ then go where your interests lead you.

In my web wanderings, I found an interesting medical toolbar sponsored by AstraZeneca. It doesn't appear to contain any spyware and is free at http://www.medilexicon.com/toolbar/ Search capabilities include medical abbreviations, pharmaceutical companies, medical associations, medical articles, ICD-9 Diseases and Injuries, ICD-9 Procedures, ICD-9 Drugs and Chemicals, Drug information, Merck Manual, Med/RX UK Spellchecker, Med/RX US Spellchecker, English dictionary, thesaurus, and Google web search. It has an uninstall feature right on the face of the toolbar or can be hidden when not in use.

Google has just released their free "Google Pack." This is a download of several of their own applications and some indispensable, free applications from other sources. One may download all, or may delete those parts that one already has or does not want. An automatic update feature for all is included. The software that impressed me the most was six months of free Norton AntiVirus 2005 SE. You may read about this pack at IT Vibe http://itvibe.com/news/3846/ , or you may go directly to the download source at Google http://pack.google.com/ . This is good software and, from what I have read very recently, Norton/Symantec AV is one of the few AVs that protects your computer from attacks on the latest critical flaw (yet another buffer overrun) in all editions of MS Operating Systems. This is an important one as MS released an emergency critical patch, out of sequence, and may have more tomorrow for "Patch Tuesday."

Even if you do not want the Google Pack, make sure to run your Windows Update to patch the overrun problem.

Peace, Doc

Google Pack and MS Critical Patch

2006-01-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

Google has just released their free “Google Pack.” This is a download of several of their own applications and some indispensable, free applications from other sources. One may download all, or may delete those parts that one already has or does not want. An automatic update feature for all is included. The software that impressed me the most was six months of free Norton AntiVirus 2005 SE. You may read about this pack at IT Vibe http://itvibe.com/news/3846/ , or you may go directly to the download source at Google http://pack.google.com/ . This is good software and, from what I have read very recently, Norton/Symantec AV is one of the few AVs that protects your computer from attacks on the latest critical flaw (yet another buffer overrun) in all editions of MS Operating Systems. This is an important one as MS released an emergency critical patch, out of sequence, and may have more tomorrow for “Patch Tuesday.”

Even if you do not want the Google Pack, make sure to run your Windows Update to patch the overrun problem.

Peace, Doc

Copyright © T. A. Blood, Ph.D. 2006

Solo Shrink

2005-04-27T19:51:00.000-05:00

Solo Shrink

2005-04-23T00:34:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time in an age long ago Doc started a blog to facilitate the sharing of information, forms, programs, practices, referrals, etc., among the lone practitioners or very small practices out there who cannot afford the cost of a part time practice, can't find software for a company with less than 10,000 clients, can't make sense out of simple accounting programs because we don't need about 95 percent of their capabilities, don't know when we will be jailed for the slightest lapse in HIPAA security of PHI - Oh, you get the idea. I don't know where it went. I suspect that it is lurking somewhere here on Google Blogs but has been acquired by them since I began it elsewhere.

I reserve the right to modify or remove any post deemed objectionable or illegal. If you have found useful ways of combining Microsoft© Office modules, developed or know of free or inexpensive psychological evaluation algorithms or other procedures for quantifying and databasing the results, developed effective billing practices, made electronic medical records work for you - Again, you get the idea. The mission of this blog should be to more adequately serve our clients while making a living wage for ourselves as entrepreneurs and professionals.

As starter questions; Do you see clients in an office of your own, at your home, in a time share office or session sublet office, or do you make house calls? Which works best for you? What is the simplest and cheapest record keeping and billing software available? How do you determine what your "real" fees are for any given client, rich or not.

Go with it. Let's talk!

Doc