Follow-Up

There are 521 posts filed in Follow-Up (this is page 40 of 53).

Could the Internet be shut down in US?

Wally Bowen of the Mountain Area Internet Network ponders whether the U.S. could be cut off from the Internet the way Egypt was.

After seeing what some anti-spam servers can do, I can say wholeheartedly that it can.

On National Public Radio last Saturday, host Scott Simon opined that a “central shutdown” of the Internet as occurred in Egypt was “unthinkable if not impossible” in the United States given the “thousands of Internet routes and providers” here.

Simon noted that Egypt’s four primary Internet service providers could be shut down “with just a few phone calls.” But the U.S. has only four companies — Comcast, Time-Warner, AT&T and Verizon — controlling most of our broadband access. More than 90 percent of U.S. broadband users have only one or two providers, a cable or telephone company, to choose from.

via Could the Internet be shut down in US? | citizen-times.com | Asheville Citizen-Times.

Smoking Ban Approved for New York Parks

On the heels of Raleigh restricting smoking in its parks, New York City has banned smoking in its parks and beaches. Times Square is even included.

New York now joins Raleigh, Los Angeles, and Chicago in restricting smoking in its parks.

After a bitter debate over individual liberties and the role of government, the City Council on Wednesday handily approved a bill to ban smoking in 1,700 city parks and along 14 miles of city beaches.By a 36-to-12 vote, the Council passed the most significant expansion of antismoking laws since Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg pushed to prohibit smoking in restaurants and bars in 2002.

By a 36-to-12 vote, the Council passed the most significant expansion of antismoking laws since Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg pushed to prohibit smoking in restaurants and bars in 2002.

The Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, said the ban was an affirmation of the rights of nonsmokers. “Their health and their lives should not be negatively impacted because other people have decided to smoke,” Ms. Quinn said at a news conference.

via Smoking Ban Approved for New York Parks and Beaches – NYTimes.com.

The value of editing, exhibit A.

N.C. State Wolpfack!


My friend Scott sent in this prime example of the need for editing. N.C. State’s 2010 baseball media guide had an egregious typo right on the front cover.

These media guides are printed in full-color on the highest-quality paper. They cost a fortune to print. And, they’re distributed to journalists: people who have an eye for typographical errors.

“Wolpfack!” Ouch!

Report warns of Iran nuke disaster from Stuxnet

A follow-up about Stuxnet. The AP, citing an intelligence report from an unknown country, says Stuxnet threatens the plant’s (and the public’s) safety.

VIENNA – The control systems of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant have been penetrated by a computer worm unleashed last year, according to a foreign intelligence report that warns of a possible Chernobyl-like disaster once the site becomes fully operational.

Russia’s envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, also has raised the specter of the 1986 reactor explosion in Ukraine, but suggested last week that the danger had passed.

The report, drawn up by a nation closely monitoring Iran’s nuclear program and obtained by The Associated Press, said such conclusions were premature and based on the “casual assessment” of Russian and Iranian scientists at Bushehr.

With control systems disabled by the virus, the reactor would have the force of a “small nuclear bomb” it said.

via AP Exclusive: Report warns of Iran nuke disaster – Yahoo! News.

Shift colors

The new server is answering web requests now. Seems like most everything is in place but the mailserver stuff. That should be changed over shortly, too. If you try to email me but it gets bounced for any reason, please try again shortly. These DNS changes take some time to propagate through the Internet.

(The title of this post comes from the announcement made on a commissioned Navy vessel when it gets underway. The colors are flown from the fantail when the ship is docked and moved to the mast when the ship gets underway.)

Tisdale family gets legal representation

News comes today that the family of Delvonte Tisdale, the teen who stowed away in an airplane wheel well, has retained legal representation in an apparent effort to sue the airport.

As I said before, it’s tragic that Delvonte Tisdale died. However, this young man chose to climb an airport fence and then attempted to steal free travel to Massachusetts. I think it’s pretty clear who is at fault here.

These kinds of lawsuits drive me crazy.

Yates Mill and smoking

Smoking is prohibited in this park

We did get around to visiting Yates Mill today and had a great time. About the time we were wrapping up our visit, I asked a staff person inside about the park’s smoking policy.

He told me that the park generally does not have an issue with smokers ignoring the rule. Most are understanding when he’s had to explain it to them but occasionally some get angry. He said he doesn’t want to appear to be the bad guy and usually explains that rules are rules.

He said that the park staff usually don’t bother people who smoke in their cars. He admitted that the rule against is hard to enforce but most people seem to understand. He thought people bringing dogs was a bigger problem, as dogs are also not allowed in the park.

It was my impression that most people do seem to understand, as the park was positively spotless! I didn’t see any trash anywhere during our multiple-hour visit. Even on the mile-long Creekside Trail there was no trash (cigarette butts or otherwise) anywhere to be seen.
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Chinese moms vs. Western moms: Is there a mother superior?

A rebuttal to the Chinese Mom story I posted recently:

Go to any school today with a “progressive” philosophy and administrators proudly espouse the virtues of addressing the “whole child” and creating an independent, creative, empathetic individual. These are the buzz words that resonate with Western parents. It’s true, we want happy, well adjusted, well rounded children who will contribute to society. We also buy into the theory that creativity, critical thinking and social skills are essential for future success.

Yes, our kids need to excel at algebra, but we want them to not only learn, but to also enjoy learning in a stimulating environment where they can thrive in their own uniqueness. Rote learning is out; individual exploration is in.

via Chinese moms vs. Western moms: Is there a mother superior? – CNN.com.