Wednesday, June 29, 2011
It's so early. I worked out yesterday afternoon doing "sprints" about 800 feet of them. I can run like lightening, but when I stop I become the weezer. Got home and did shadow boxing and bagwork with 16oz gloves on. I'm really sore. All over sore. I think though I am going to just do some stretching today. My weight is staying pretty consistant, but I am hopeful to break my mark by weeksend. For now ... I woke up around 4am feeling dynamo awake.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Great weekend, and glad my girlfriend's power finally came back on. It had been off since last Tuesdays crazy storm. Didn't end up going to the Pridefest in Knoxville Saturday due to just not having enough time, but we did have a good evening at Temple Alternative Dance Night. Saw X-Men First Class Saturday after work ... I recommend.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Stormbringer: I'm Engaged
As of last Saturday evening me and Ann are now engaged. No plans yet, but we're engaged. After dinner Saturday night I proposed to her. I knew I was going too in about the last couple of months I just wanted the best time to do it, and all the planets and stars aligned for me within to ask. It however doesn't change all the things I need to do before we really can live together. I need to lose a lot of weight, and fix what needs to be fixed to the best that I can, and I am definitely working on it. Sunday evening, we went to a party at my sister's place. Really nice get together with about 30 people, and home-made brick fired pizza made by both my sisters. That night as we were about to leave for home the mother of all thunderstorms came, hail caught us a 1/2 mile out from my sister's place, lightening everywhere like I have never seen before. I will take that as a positive note. Thor blesses us both. The lightening was like tendrils of thousands of fingers branching out through the clouds, and occationally to the ground. It was quite a show.
Big Green Flop 2.0 not such a flop.
Well ... ok, I went to see Green Lantern yesterday, and I can say it wasn't bad at all. Now, my thoughts about the CGI do hold. The movie Avatar is the new standard for CGI, and GL just didn't live up to it. Close, but no cigar. On the flip side it was an entertaining 3D film. Not perfect, but entertaining. Did it stick to the Green Lantern comic book? Not completely, but they do these kind of things. The comic book scene were Jordan is taken by the ring in the flight simulator is gone ... which is the typical mythos of this GL's origin. I give his movie 3.5 stars out of 5, which isn't bad, but is a matinee film at most.
Friday, June 17, 2011
A Big Green Flop!
I just got through looking at the Friday reviews of the new Green Lantern movie. One of the problems with movies that rely on CGI so heavily is that they can quickly lose a sense of "real personality", and all that glitter soon fizzles out. The movie Avatar for instance the CGI acting was fantastic as a counter example. The characters had as much 3 Dimensionality as the screen did.
Batman still appears to be DC Comics movie bread winner. Green Lantern, I will wait until it comes out on DVD. Good thing in a way, because there are so many movies I would like to see this summer that it is going to get expensive.
Batman still appears to be DC Comics movie bread winner. Green Lantern, I will wait until it comes out on DVD. Good thing in a way, because there are so many movies I would like to see this summer that it is going to get expensive.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Is It Safe to Bank Online?
[In Pictures: 10 Smart Ways to Improve Your Budget.]
The answer, according to top security experts, is a qualified "yes." Using the Internet to bank, buy music, or shop is still as safe or safer than visiting brick-and-mortar locations, as long as consumers take precautions and know what to do if they notice any suspicious activity. In fact, the overall trend is a reassuring one: 2010 actually saw fewer records breached than the previous year due to new infrastructure in place, says Julie Conroy McNelley, senior fraud and risk analyst at research firm Aite Group. Today, she adds, "banks have some of the most sophisticated mechanisms in place."
As long as consumers take a few basic steps (explained below) to help protect their information, security experts agree that online banking remains safe. That's a good thing, since it's almost impossible for consumers to avoid sharing personal data online if they want to participate in 21st-century life, from Facebook to online sales to paying bills. Plus, as McNelley adds, many breaches involve databases of card numbers that exist regardless of how cardholders use their accounts.
Much of online security is out of consumers' hands altogether. "It's actually extremely difficult to know how secure any bank's information-handling is," says Geoff Webb, executive at data protection firm Credant Technologies. Banks often don't share much about their security techniques, since they don't want to tip off criminals on how best to attack them. Whether they talk about it or not, financial firms should be encrypting data, segregating credit card information from other types of data, and making web applications as secure as possible. Regular training of employees is also key, he adds.
In addition to doing what they can to protect themselves on their own, consumers can talk to their representatives in Congress to push for bigger changes, Webb says. The government is becoming increasingly involved in driving the security of banks and other organizations, Webb says. In fact, the Commerce Department recently urged online companies to improve their own security, and President Obama proposed new cybersecurity legislation in May.
[See How to Stay Safe While Shopping Online.]
Here are 10 steps consumers to take to make sure their information is safe:
1. Don't talk to cyber-strangers, and don't click on hyperlinks within emails from strangers. "That's the easiest way to download malware to your computer," says McNelley. Even if an email looks like it's from a company you know, such as your bank, go directly to the bank's website and log in there instead of clicking on the embedded link, and never open attachments from strangers (or even suspicious-looking ones from friends, who may have been hacked themselves). Sometimes hackers will set up fake sites that look like real sites to capture victims' information, a method referred to as phishing.
"A financial institution will never contact you via email asking you to verify your funds, request your username or password, or any other sensitive information," says Stephen Sims, senior instructor at the SANS Institute, which educates security professionals.
2. Treat your smartphone like the computer it is. Downloaded apps can contain malicious codes, warns McNelley. "You have no idea who created that app, and very little code-checking goes on," she says. If you're going to download apps, she suggests avoiding or minimizing the financial transactions you make with the smartphone. "Mobile phones are really tiny computers, but most consumers don't treat them as such or get anti-virus software for their smartphone," she adds.
Meanwhile, be sure antivirus software on laptops and desktops is up to date. "Many compromises are a result of keystroke-logging software that is illicitly installed on a user's system, capturing usernames and passwords," says Sims.
3. Treat social networks like dark street corners. You never know who's lurking among your friends and acquaintances. Hackers have targeted Gmail, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and users of those sites should be especially wary of clicking on embedded links, even those "recommended" by friends. Hackers also send emails that appear to be from social networking sites but are, in fact, fake emails designed to capture personal information. Again, users should avoid clicking on links embedded in emails.
4. Use the Net to your own advantage. If you bank online, you don't have to wait until the end of the month to check your statement. You can log in anytime and make sure nothing is amiss. An errant charge is often one of the first signs of identity theft, so check statements carefully and alert your bank immediately of any problems.
5. Get free help. Many credit card issuers offer free and automatic identify-theft protection to customers. (That's one advantage credit cards have over debit cards.) If you see erroneous charges on your statement, call your credit card company, which should investigate on your behalf. The law requires credit card companies to dispute erroneous charges. For most people, paying a monthly fee for extra monitoring services is unnecessary. (Once a year, consumers can get their credit report free of charge through annualcreditreport.com.)
6. Think of a new word. Consumers are tasked with remembering dozens of passwords for various retailers, banks, and accounts, making it almost impossible to remember them all, especially since they often include mixes of numbers and letters. Keep careful track of your passwords in a secure document, rely on mnemonic devices to boost your memory, or come up with some other clever strategy--but don't stick with simple passwords that are easy for strangers to guess. Also, change your passwords on a regular basis.
7. Never, ever give your Social Security number to anyone online. If a site asks for it during the checkout process, it's probably a scam site.
8. Shred or safely store financial mail. Bank statements, investment documents, and other financial paperwork can give thieves clues about account numbers, Social Security numbers, and other personal information. Destroying documents with a cross-cut shredder works, but you can make it easier on yourself (and the environment) by limiting your paper trail wherever possible. Shifting to online banking and document storage can reduce your chances of falling victim to a dumpster diver.
9. Fight back quickly. If you are hacked, step one is calling your bank, says McNelley. That's because banks have sophisticated systems in place that can immediately begin closely monitoring your account for signs of identity theft. They can also and shut down and replace any accounts if necessary. In fact, banks are often the first to notice something amiss, even before the victim.
As long as consumers report fraud in a timely manner, the law limits their liability to between $50 and $500, says Sims.
10. Trust your gut. "You often hear, after consumers used an ATM with a skimming device, they had a bad feeling about it. If you do have that feeling, listen to it," says McNelley, and remove yourself from the situation.
Taking these simple steps is like remembering to lock your door at night, or turn on your alarm system. Says McNelley, "Bad guys go for the house that's unprotected. If you take the basic measures, then generally you have less risk about getting compromised."
, On Monday June 13, 2011, 2:29 pm EDT
Last week's security breach at Citibank was just the latest in a string of incidents that have rattled consumers: Sony, Lockheed Martin, and iTunes are also among recent high-profile targets. With such big names falling victim to hackers, is it still safe to bank online?[In Pictures: 10 Smart Ways to Improve Your Budget.]
The answer, according to top security experts, is a qualified "yes." Using the Internet to bank, buy music, or shop is still as safe or safer than visiting brick-and-mortar locations, as long as consumers take precautions and know what to do if they notice any suspicious activity. In fact, the overall trend is a reassuring one: 2010 actually saw fewer records breached than the previous year due to new infrastructure in place, says Julie Conroy McNelley, senior fraud and risk analyst at research firm Aite Group. Today, she adds, "banks have some of the most sophisticated mechanisms in place."
As long as consumers take a few basic steps (explained below) to help protect their information, security experts agree that online banking remains safe. That's a good thing, since it's almost impossible for consumers to avoid sharing personal data online if they want to participate in 21st-century life, from Facebook to online sales to paying bills. Plus, as McNelley adds, many breaches involve databases of card numbers that exist regardless of how cardholders use their accounts.
Much of online security is out of consumers' hands altogether. "It's actually extremely difficult to know how secure any bank's information-handling is," says Geoff Webb, executive at data protection firm Credant Technologies. Banks often don't share much about their security techniques, since they don't want to tip off criminals on how best to attack them. Whether they talk about it or not, financial firms should be encrypting data, segregating credit card information from other types of data, and making web applications as secure as possible. Regular training of employees is also key, he adds.
In addition to doing what they can to protect themselves on their own, consumers can talk to their representatives in Congress to push for bigger changes, Webb says. The government is becoming increasingly involved in driving the security of banks and other organizations, Webb says. In fact, the Commerce Department recently urged online companies to improve their own security, and President Obama proposed new cybersecurity legislation in May.
[See How to Stay Safe While Shopping Online.]
Here are 10 steps consumers to take to make sure their information is safe:
1. Don't talk to cyber-strangers, and don't click on hyperlinks within emails from strangers. "That's the easiest way to download malware to your computer," says McNelley. Even if an email looks like it's from a company you know, such as your bank, go directly to the bank's website and log in there instead of clicking on the embedded link, and never open attachments from strangers (or even suspicious-looking ones from friends, who may have been hacked themselves). Sometimes hackers will set up fake sites that look like real sites to capture victims' information, a method referred to as phishing.
"A financial institution will never contact you via email asking you to verify your funds, request your username or password, or any other sensitive information," says Stephen Sims, senior instructor at the SANS Institute, which educates security professionals.
2. Treat your smartphone like the computer it is. Downloaded apps can contain malicious codes, warns McNelley. "You have no idea who created that app, and very little code-checking goes on," she says. If you're going to download apps, she suggests avoiding or minimizing the financial transactions you make with the smartphone. "Mobile phones are really tiny computers, but most consumers don't treat them as such or get anti-virus software for their smartphone," she adds.
Meanwhile, be sure antivirus software on laptops and desktops is up to date. "Many compromises are a result of keystroke-logging software that is illicitly installed on a user's system, capturing usernames and passwords," says Sims.
3. Treat social networks like dark street corners. You never know who's lurking among your friends and acquaintances. Hackers have targeted Gmail, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and users of those sites should be especially wary of clicking on embedded links, even those "recommended" by friends. Hackers also send emails that appear to be from social networking sites but are, in fact, fake emails designed to capture personal information. Again, users should avoid clicking on links embedded in emails.
4. Use the Net to your own advantage. If you bank online, you don't have to wait until the end of the month to check your statement. You can log in anytime and make sure nothing is amiss. An errant charge is often one of the first signs of identity theft, so check statements carefully and alert your bank immediately of any problems.
5. Get free help. Many credit card issuers offer free and automatic identify-theft protection to customers. (That's one advantage credit cards have over debit cards.) If you see erroneous charges on your statement, call your credit card company, which should investigate on your behalf. The law requires credit card companies to dispute erroneous charges. For most people, paying a monthly fee for extra monitoring services is unnecessary. (Once a year, consumers can get their credit report free of charge through annualcreditreport.com.)
6. Think of a new word. Consumers are tasked with remembering dozens of passwords for various retailers, banks, and accounts, making it almost impossible to remember them all, especially since they often include mixes of numbers and letters. Keep careful track of your passwords in a secure document, rely on mnemonic devices to boost your memory, or come up with some other clever strategy--but don't stick with simple passwords that are easy for strangers to guess. Also, change your passwords on a regular basis.
7. Never, ever give your Social Security number to anyone online. If a site asks for it during the checkout process, it's probably a scam site.
8. Shred or safely store financial mail. Bank statements, investment documents, and other financial paperwork can give thieves clues about account numbers, Social Security numbers, and other personal information. Destroying documents with a cross-cut shredder works, but you can make it easier on yourself (and the environment) by limiting your paper trail wherever possible. Shifting to online banking and document storage can reduce your chances of falling victim to a dumpster diver.
9. Fight back quickly. If you are hacked, step one is calling your bank, says McNelley. That's because banks have sophisticated systems in place that can immediately begin closely monitoring your account for signs of identity theft. They can also and shut down and replace any accounts if necessary. In fact, banks are often the first to notice something amiss, even before the victim.
As long as consumers report fraud in a timely manner, the law limits their liability to between $50 and $500, says Sims.
10. Trust your gut. "You often hear, after consumers used an ATM with a skimming device, they had a bad feeling about it. If you do have that feeling, listen to it," says McNelley, and remove yourself from the situation.
Taking these simple steps is like remembering to lock your door at night, or turn on your alarm system. Says McNelley, "Bad guys go for the house that's unprotected. If you take the basic measures, then generally you have less risk about getting compromised."
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saw Super 8 yesterday. It wasn't bad at all. J J Abrams definitely hit the Steven Spielberg equation. Again my only gripe is that Abrams isn't original in the "monster" department. They all kind of look similar.
Ann, dj'ed last night at Temple Night, and did a great job. Hanging out on Sunday, going to dinner later.
Ann, dj'ed last night at Temple Night, and did a great job. Hanging out on Sunday, going to dinner later.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wow, I need to be getting my ass to bed around 10 tonight. I feel like I have had the crap kicked out of me lately. I think I am outputing energy towards working out daily, and not getting enough sleep to counter it. I am glad I am off half a day Friday. On a different note, I have finally started putting together
the canvas for a painting that has been collecting dust for the longest. Also pulled the Holga camera, and put some b&w film in it. Don't know what I will be doing with that.
the canvas for a painting that has been collecting dust for the longest. Also pulled the Holga camera, and put some b&w film in it. Don't know what I will be doing with that.
The Beat of Propaganda
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Beginning DJ'ing: Beat Matching
Beatmatching is a disc jockey technique of pitch shifting or timestretching a track to match its tempo to that of the currently playing track e.g. the kicks and snares in two house records hit at the same time when both records are played simultaneously. Beatmatching is a component of mixing which employs beatmatching combined with equalization, attention to phrasing and track selection in an attempt to make a single mix that flows together and has a good structure.
The technique was developed to keep the people from leaving the dancefloor at the end of the song. These days it is considered basic among DJs in electronic dance music genres, and it is standard practice in clubs to keep the constant beat through the night, even if DJs change in the middle.
Beatmatching is no longer considered a novelty, and new digital mixers have made the technique much easier to master.
The technique was developed to keep the people from leaving the dancefloor at the end of the song. These days it is considered basic among DJs in electronic dance music genres, and it is standard practice in clubs to keep the constant beat through the night, even if DJs change in the middle.
Beatmatching is no longer considered a novelty, and new digital mixers have made the technique much easier to master.
Technique
The beatmatching technique consists of the following steps:- While a record is playing, beatmatch a new record to it, using headphones for monitoring. Use gain (or trim) control on the mixer to match the levels of the two records.
- Restart and slip-cue the new record at the right time, begin the new record on beat with the record currently playing. Pay attention to track structures; careful phrasing can make the mix seamless.
- If the beat on the new record hits before the beat on the current record then the new record is too fast, reduce the pitch and manually slow the speed of the new record to bring the beats back in sync.
- If the beat on the new record hits after the beat on the current record then the new record is too slow, increase the pitch and manually increase the speed of the new record to bring the beats back in sync.
- Continue this process until the two records are in sync with each other, it can be difficult to sync the two records perfectly, so manual adjustment of the records is necessary to maintain the beat synchronization.
- Before fading in the new track, check that the beats of two tracks match by listening to both channels together in the headphones, as the sound from the speakers can reach you with a delay.
- Gradually, fade in parts of the new track while fading out the old track. While in the mix, ensure that the tracks are still synchronized, adjusting the records if needed.
- The fade can be repeated several times, for example, from the first track, fade to the second track, then back to first, then to second again.
Pitch and tempo
The pitch and tempo of a track are normally linked together: spin a disc 5% faster and both pitch and tempo will be 5% higher. However, some modern DJ software can change pitch and tempo independently using time-stretching and pitch-shifting, allowing harmonic mixing. This technique is referred to as beatmatching.
RandomsBeen a long last couple of days. I had to do a server upgrade last evening, and be back into work this morning. Started reading a book called Fatal System Error by Joseph Menn very interesting look into the world of cyber-crime. It appears most of the brainy super villain types are all in Eastern Europe.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Some of my art and photography from 1988-1991 and 2005-2010
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| Tree of Knowledge 1989 mix media 3' x 3' |
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| Xenakis 2009 acrylic on canvas |
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| Fenreya in Atlanta at the Dragoncon 2008 |
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| Fenreya 2008 Nudes series PS modified 2010 |
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| Lady Syren 2006 Temple Night "What is Fetish" Event |
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| The Wires, Oak Ridge TN with Dana Camera 2010 PS modification |
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| Phobus 1991 oil pastel on paper |
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| Lady Syren 2006 photoshoot 2011 modification both by Mark Byars |
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| Festival of Heavens 2010 acrylic on canvas 5' x 6' |
DJ'ing
In a week or so my girlfriend will be doing her first DJ'ing gig at Temple Night. I am sure she will do great, and after her I will learn myself, and crank out some tunes as DJ Zeroz.
Friends
Have talked to a number of classic friends lately. It feels good to be somewhat back in the fold, because I have felt kind of alienated for years now. Even some people I thought didn't give a crap ... actually did.
I can be so touch sensitive that I can get a case of the stupids. Hoping to bake my cake and eat it too.
I can be so touch sensitive that I can get a case of the stupids. Hoping to bake my cake and eat it too.
Important decisions to be made
In roughly two months I will be hopefully moving in with my girlfriend. Between now and then I have a ton to do. Sorting through what I need to keep, what needs to be trashed, what needs to be sold, and what needs to go into storage somewhere. As long as I can keep the storable amount small it shouldn't be an issue with money. Also, I am supposed to lose 20 lbs in 2 months that I have left. Unfortunately, my body isn't playing nice. I have been going to the gym, but my metabolism has slowed with age it appears. I may not be able to pull it off, and 10 lbs is more likely, and being much more fit. Lastly, the big decision that I am prepared to make ... I hope she knows I love her, because I do. So much too do.
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