Items I happen to view each day. Science, Technology, Management, Culture, and Writing

    This is my day book for this week. It is a log of things I see on the Internet.

This week: 5-11 August, 2019

Summary of this week:

• Huawei testing its own OS to replace Android
• Microsoft opens Azure Security Lab
• And everyone wants someone to detect murderers before they murder
• $12.99/month brings Disney-ESPN-Hulu
• Uber is losing $41Million a day
• AMD has a new processor for data centers
• HarmonyOS: Huawei's new OS

Monday 5 August 2019

Researchers find that companies are not configuring their Jira servers securely. Of course this begs the question, "Why doesn't Jira have default settings that block these problems?"

Franky Zapata crosses the English Channel on his hoverboard. He did make one refueling stop, but still quite impressive.

Mass shootings must have someone to blame. 8chan is a recent recipient. Someone actually understands reality: damaged human beings are doing these awful acts.

Peter Thiel blasts Google and all of Silicon Valley.

Tuesday 6 August 2019

If you support a group of politicians long enough, the politicians will one day tell you how to run your life. See, e.g., Google and its contractors and its politicians.

At the Black Hat Conference, Microsoft announces the Azure Security Lab: an isolated Azure area where researchers can probe for security issues, and Microsoft will pay $$$ if we find any.

IBM releases research showing increase in hacking against the industrial sector and hacking meant to damage hardware.

Some states are still using computer voting machines that are easily hacked. Virginia, my residence, went back to mostly paper voting.

Everyone wants everyone else to detect mass murderers before they murder. Actual adults are saying these things. This is a measure of the angst that accompanies recent events.

Hyundai now has a car on the road with solar panels on the roof. Let's hope someone thought this through.

Microsoft has a small update to its new Windows Terminal.

Amazon, law enforcement, Ring video cameras, surveillance, due process, and such all collide.

Jeff Bezos sells a couple billion$$$ worth of Amazon shares.

HongMeng: Huawei's answer to Android. Watch this carefully.

More rumblings at Google with female employees alleging harassment and discrimination during pregnancy. I will attempt to hold my fingers on the keyboard on this one. I have little respect for males of the species who have little respect for pregnant women.

There are possible connections among obesity, immunity to illness, and the use of antibiotics.

And video games receive blame for mass murderers. This always begs the question, "What video game was Cain playing the day before he killed Abel?"

Wednesday 7 August 2019

The fussing among politicians and celebrity CEOs continues. If your company is strongly leaning towards one politician, you may win half the time, but are you prepared for the other half?

Microsoft's MSDN Magazine will have its last issue in November after a few decades. Now go to docs.microsoft.com. Some of us made some nice money on the side in years past writing technical content for similar magazines.

The Apple (credit) Card will appear in a few places today.

Disney announces a $12.99-a-month package for Disney-ESPN-Hulu. The world cheers.

Amazon's little rolling ice chests (robotic autonomous delivery) begin work in Irvine, California.

Good news for many...mountains of books are in teh public domain and we all know which ones.

Our Federal Reserve is now enabling real-time money payments. This is a big help to those who depend on quick deposit and access to paychecks.

It appears that high-security electronic locks—things that keep money safe in ATM machines and other places—aren't so secure.

Thursday 8 August 2019

Friday 9 August 2019

Saturday 10 August 2019

This is what we should be doing with technology: a simple, inexpensive, wearable device to warn expecting mothers of possible stillbirth.

Real news that isn't news: in the entertainment industry, money makers have a different set of rules.

The highest-ranking government officials as tech companies to help spot potential mass murderers. Simple reason: the government cannot obtain search warrants on everyone. Hence, ask Facebook to watch everyone for you without going through a judge.

We learn that "red flag" laws to suspend civil rights aren't needed as they already exist.

oooops, Def Con speaker shows that many businesses and individuals have left their data open to just about anyone on Amazon Web Services. Why isn't the default setting from Amazon et al at secure?

The cost and effort required to "hide" from all the big tech companies who provide "free" services to us all.

Uber continues to lose over $41Million every day. It is a convenient service, but how can investors continue to fund this?

HarmonyOS: Huawei provides a name for its Android-competing operating system.

Our current President goes the way of his predecessor and wants to use executive order to temporarily alter the public landscape. Such will be reversed when we have a different occupant in that job.

AMD shows a new processor for data centers. Everyone applauds wildly. Let's see how this all works.

Sunday 11 August 2019

At Stanford—draw your own conclusions—computer science majors are deciding where their cohorts should and can work after graduation.

The folly of the personality "tests." The trouble is, some "adults" are taking these things seriously.

The plutocrats and the call for universal basic income for the rest of us.

The price of "smart home" gadgets is now 10% of what it was five years ago. Security camera? $20 instead of $200. Shop around.

Video games wreaking havoc among kids? Think and think again. Games are simulations that allow experiment without real loss. As such, they bring great good. While their is risk, time has proven it is minuscule.

Some analysis of fast food places to eat (I won't call them restaurants).

Two writers' experience in co-writing or pair-writing a book.

An experience. Try to have the reader experience something—anything.

I like this one: treasure the trash.

A nice infographic for breaking grammar rules. I disagree with much of the content.

People keep telling me that the independent local bookstore is back. I haven't seen it, but...

Do you want to do the work yourself or hire others to do your method and pay you a percentage? One may gain riches. One may gain satisfaction.

Writing more in less time. This post has good, practical ideas. It doesn't hurt to simply be quicker.

Rose Tremain’s 10 Rules for Writers. This list is deeper than just about everything else I've seen.