Category: Information Technology

Information technology has long been an interest and a passion. Over the years, I have done the following to pursue this part of me.

I earned an Associate in Technical Arts in Web Application Development degree, as well as certificates in:

  • Business Systems Analysis
  • Requirements Analysis
  • Database Theory and Design

I also studied the following topics:

  • Cisco Networking
  • Desktop Support
  • Cloud Computing Systems, mainly AWS

The following posts are based on that interested.

Flock

Carl Setzer

Ok, folks, here’s a new (to me, at least) toy for the socially networked: Flock. This is a browser built on the Gecko engine (same as the framework for Firefox). It integrates such sites as Facebook, Blogger, Flickr, and the like. I’ve only had a bit of time to mess with this tonight, but it’s pretty handy so far. This post was written with a built in blog editor. If you spend much time in the social network space, and it’s hard not too any more, this looks like it’ll be a great tool.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Vista

Carl Setzer

Ballmer: Vista a ‘work in progress’
Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer called Windows Vista “a work in progress” on Thursday, but he stopped short of committing to extend the life of its predecessor, Windows XP.

 

This might sum-up Microsoft’s problem’s here. Customers were expecting the “work in progress” to have progressed further.

 

Big Brother’s Roving Red Eye

Carl Setzer2 Comments

Watch out, you’re being watched

 

As I develop more interest in security and its underlying systems, this story is both fascinating and disturbing. It boggles my mind that Homeland Security is monitoring random spots on the main freeway (north-south) through Washington (I5), and that they’re sensitive enough to detect radiation from a cat undergoing cancer treatment. I worry about the tighter net we cast, and, even more so, the underlying fear. Will we sell the soul of our society in a vain attempt to mollify our terror of terrorists? The thought that we’d, rather willingly, thrust ourselves into a Stalinist state rooted in distrust deeply saddens me.

Article and thoughts

Carl Setzer

A little story about the iPhone, particularly about its upcoming release, but also exploring its Seattle connections. My favorite part, though, is the writer calling Bill Gates the “Simon Cowell of the software world”.

 

Though the iPhone brings forth some serious geek lust in me, I just can’t see springing for this anytime soon. The price point is a biggie, but I also have a great deal invested in the Palm/Treo line. Also, I hardly use my iPod, so I can safely say that I don’t need that feature.

 

If I was richer, I would be more willing to take a risk on a new platform (it wouldn’t be as much a risk, since I could just run out a buy another gadget at will, though). As I sit, though, I need to consider price and currently offered features. It’ll be interesting to see how this device plays out, though. I think this will have a great impact, and make the smart-phone more mainstream.

 

Computer Science

Carl Setzer

I have explored computers deeply, I guess. I have studied Unix, FORTRAN, COBOL, and C. Just as importantly, I know what all this stuff is, which makes me a bit geeky. However, it was never my passion. All the way back in junior high, when I made a great deal of noise about wanting to work for NASA and build robots, I would read Plato, Campbell, ''The Beother's Karamatsov'', ''The Scarlett Letter'', ''The Red Badge Of Courage'', and such. Geeky, perhaps, but not of the same venue. Only rarely, and with effort, did I read sciencey text.

My main passions, as defined by what I love to read in my free-time. Would be poetry and History. My interest in Computer Science, et al, is much more linked to power and, more recently, money. A desire to prove people wrong about me, to prove my intelligence also drove this, and it's lingered way too long as a psychological subtext.

Geeked Out Lawnmower

Carl Setzer

For the geek who doesn’t have quite everything.

 

 

Compare Prices: Lawnbott Evolution Automatic Robotic Lawn Mower

Lawnbott Evolution Automatic Robotic Lawn Mower photo

DESC: The Lawnbott Evolution is the most advanced robotic lawn mower on the market today. Capable of handling 33,000 fq. ft. (more than a acre lot) and slopes of up to 27 degrees. The Evolution is so sophisticated that as it mows it determines how fast the grass is growing and when it goes back to the charger (by itself) it will calculate the next time it needs to come out to keep your grass at the optimal height all season long without your help!The light-weight, high tech lithium ion battery allows very fast recharging. The Evolution can mow for about 3-4 hours, recharge itself for 4 hours and go back out again, all on it’s own.If lawn care services are getting expensive, this automatic lawnmower is just what you are looking for. It only costs about $7.00 a year in electricity to keep your yard beautiful all season long.The Evolution comes with a full two year warranty

 

More Vista Thoughts

Carl Setzer

One thing that I would love to have seen, and that would have made me run out and by Vista, or any OS, is a focus on speed and efficiency. I’m quite sure that Vista is in the same boat as all the rest of the MS OS offerings. More features, more bloat, more RAM, less efficiency and S-L-O-W. At some point, I want all the OS options to focus on using less resources. Use what I have better! Of course, then I wouldn’t NEED to run out and buy something new every few years (months?). Sigh, I’m back to cynicism again…

Vista and other joys

Carl Setzer

Well, I’ve seen much of the hoopla around the release of windows newest edition and have been feeling quite underwhelmed. Nothing huge, mind you, just that I haven’t seen anything as yet to induce to buy any of the versions. Comically, I’m still trying to discern the differences between the different versions. What do I get for the $100 version, vs. the $400? I know some of the pieces, but am still not feeling a great, well, anything. With XP, I could tell you what I would get with Home vs. Profession, and why someone should get one or the other. Vista’s a bit too messy for me, I’m afraid. I’m more excited about installing Ubuntu Linux right now. I just need to budget some time to do a full backup first, then I will partition my Compaq’s hard drive and set it up for dual boot. Hopefully, doing the full install will enable me to troubleshoot my issue with my wi-fi card (running Linux from the cd, I was unable to use my wi-fi card. Oddly, it was detected and on the list of supported devices.) I’ve been looking forward to experimenting with Linux for years. This should be fun, in that odd, geeky way of fun that I have. Yeah, I’m the guy who set up a wireless network for fun. Sigh…

Acquistion Timeline

Carl Setzer

Here’s a little gem put together by the folks at shmula.com. It shows all the acquisitions by Google, Microsoft and Yahoo over the past few years. It’s a very well done and thought provoking thing. Thanks to Marketing Pilgrim for featuring this.

New Phisher Scam

Carl Setzer

A scary new phisher exploit (pointed out by Deb at WXPnews.com). Eeek!

Phishers get deadly serious

Phishers have traditionally used trickery and deception to gain access to your personal information and, subsequently, your money. But now they’re resorting to threats of violence; a recent phishing scam purports to be from a professional hit man who’s been hired to kill you, but will drop the contract if you give him enough cash. Read more about it here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/DRML9K/070116-Phishers