Chris Koester's Blog http://blog.chriskoester.net Practical Computing, Privacy, Home Improvement, and a lot of what-have-yous... Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:51:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Indianapolis Recycling Google Map http://blog.chriskoester.net/2008/02/04/indianapolis-recycling-google-map/ http://blog.chriskoester.net/2008/02/04/indianapolis-recycling-google-map/#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:08:03 +0000 Chris Koester http://blog.chriskoester.net/2008/02/04/indianapolis-recycling-google-map/ I’ve created a Google Maps application that shows recycling locations in Indianapolis for various categories of recyclable material.  The map currently contains locations for city drop-off bins, cardboard, and computer and lab equipment.  I plan to add more categories in the future.  Click the image to go to the map.

Indianapolis Recycling Map 

Indianapolis Recycling Map 

]]> http://blog.chriskoester.net/2008/02/04/indianapolis-recycling-google-map/feed/ Donate Your Old Cell Phone and Help the Troops Call Home http://blog.chriskoester.net/2008/01/12/donate-your-old-cell-phone-and-help-the-troops-call-home/ http://blog.chriskoester.net/2008/01/12/donate-your-old-cell-phone-and-help-the-troops-call-home/#comments Sat, 12 Jan 2008 20:08:47 +0000 Chris Koester http://blog.chriskoester.net/2008/01/12/donate-your-old-cell-phone-and-help-the-troops-call-home/ Cell Phones for Soldiers sells donated cell phones and uses the money to buy calling cards for troops overseas.  This is what you need to do to recycle your old cell phone:

]]> http://blog.chriskoester.net/2008/01/12/donate-your-old-cell-phone-and-help-the-troops-call-home/feed/ Tips for Prevention of Domain Hijacking http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/12/25/tips-for-prevention-of-domain-hijacking/ http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/12/25/tips-for-prevention-of-domain-hijacking/#comments Wed, 26 Dec 2007 00:18:20 +0000 Chris Koester http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/12/25/tips-for-prevention-of-domain-hijacking/ Domain Hijacking is defined by Wikipedia as "the process by which Internet domain names are stolen from the rightful registrant."  This sort of crime is not limited to large organizations.  An unfortunate example of domain hijacking is described by the victim himself, David Airey.  David describes the crime in detail on his post "WARNING: Google’s GMail security failure leaves my business sabotaged"

In David’s case (And I would assume most cases…), the domain was stolen by first hijacking the email address associated with the domain name registrar.  Once the email address is hijacked and the domain name transfered, the hijacker will use the domain name for their own purposes or attempt to extort money from the victim for return of the domain name.  If you read David Airey’s post, you may have noticed that the hijacker has posted requests for an extortion payment in the comments. 

Domain hijackers are the epitome of sleaze indeed…  

Better-Whois.com has a good list of tips for preventing domain name hijacking.  Below are a couple of the most important tips:

  • Use an email address that you own for domain name registration.  Don’t use GMail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.  These addresses are more easily compromised than an address that you own, and may expire without any notice.  When I refer to an email address you own, I’m referring to an address that you have purchased from your ISP or hosting provider.
  • Make sure that your contact information is up to date with domain name registrars, so that you are notified of any changes or upcoming expirations of your domains.
  • Consolidate your domain name registrations so that all of your domains are registered by the same registrar.  This makes it easier to manage your domains.  Most registrars will provide you with a management console for your domains, so that you can see their status easily.

The entire article can be read here -  Better-Whois.com - SPECIAL REPORT: How to protect your domain name from hijackers, porn pirates, and your registrar

David Airey :: Graphic and Logo Designer - I’ve provided a link to David’s new site to aid in rebuilding his lost links and search rankings.

 

]]> http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/12/25/tips-for-prevention-of-domain-hijacking/feed/ Aldous Huxley on Patriotism http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/11/18/aldous-huxley-on-patriotism/ http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/11/18/aldous-huxley-on-patriotism/#comments Mon, 19 Nov 2007 04:42:06 +0000 Chris Koester http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/11/18/aldous-huxley-on-patriotism/ Aldous Huxley is the author of the classic novel "Brave New World", and was an absolutely brilliant thinker. Huxley’s insight into patriotism cannot be overstated in a world full of flag-waving, unquestioning, magnetic-ribbon-purchasing "patriots".

One of the great attractions of patriotism - it fulfills our worst wishes. In the person of our nation we are able, vicariously, to bully and cheat. Bully and cheat, what’s more, with a feeling that we are profoundly virtuous.

Aldous Huxley - Amazon.com
Aldous Huxley - Wikipedia

]]> http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/11/18/aldous-huxley-on-patriotism/feed/ Maneaters - The Lions of Tsavo http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/09/19/maneaters-the-lions-of-tsavo/ http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/09/19/maneaters-the-lions-of-tsavo/#comments Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:07:55 +0000 Chris Koester http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/09/19/maneaters-the-lions-of-tsavo/ The story of the Lions of Tsavo is nothing less than remarkable. Here’s an excerpt from Chicago’s Field Museum exhibit:

"In March 1898 the British started building a railway bridge over the Tsavo (SAH-vo) River in East Africa. Over the next nine months, two large male lions killed and ate nearly 140 railway workers. Crews tried to scare off the lions and built campfires and thorn fences for protection, but to no avail. Hundreds of workers fled Tsavo, halting construction on the bridge."

Read the rest of the story here: Chicago Field Museum - The Tsavo Lions

In The History Channel’s show "Maneaters", the Tsavo Lions are discussed at great length. Here are a couple of the more horrifying stories from the show:

  • One night while chief engineer Lt. Col. John Henry Patterson was hunting the lions, he came upon a recent human attack at night. He was close enough to hear the bones of the victim crunching, but could not do anything because it was pitch black.
  • The Tsavo lions were seemingly fearless. One story details how one of the lions killed a worker in his tent, and proceeded to devour him only 30 yards from the campsite. The attacks were so frequent and horrific, that many of the workers believed that the lions were demons.

Chicago Field Museum - The Tsavo Lions
The History Channel - Maneaters

]]> http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/09/19/maneaters-the-lions-of-tsavo/feed/ James Madison on Declaring War http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/09/15/james-madison-on-declaring-war/ http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/09/15/james-madison-on-declaring-war/#comments Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:11:40 +0000 Chris Koester http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/09/15/james-madison-on-declaring-war/ “The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.”  James Madison

James Madison was the 4th president of the United States.  He was one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States and is commonly referred to as the “Father of the Constitution“.

Constitition.org - Selected Quotes of James Madison

Via Reddit

]]> http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/09/15/james-madison-on-declaring-war/feed/ Charming Video of a Cat with Cerebellar Hypoplasia http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/08/01/charming-video-of-a-cat-with-cerebellar-hypoplasia/ http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/08/01/charming-video-of-a-cat-with-cerebellar-hypoplasia/#comments Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:42:47 +0000 Chris Koester http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/08/01/charming-video-of-a-cat-with-cerebellar-hypoplasia/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJQG6V1MOVY

]]> http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/08/01/charming-video-of-a-cat-with-cerebellar-hypoplasia/feed/ Music Recommendation: Niyaz http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/07/22/music-recommendation-niyaz/ http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/07/22/music-recommendation-niyaz/#comments Mon, 23 Jul 2007 03:51:30 +0000 Chris Koester http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/07/22/music-recommendation-niyaz/ If you have any interest in Middle Eastern music, give Niyaz a listen.  They are excellent!

From the Six Degrees Records website:

Niyaz is an acoustic electronic project that brings together members of Vas and Axiom of choice to form an exciting new fusion of Persian and Indian influenced music with modern electronics.

Thumbnail image of Niyaz album cover

Niyaz at Six Degrees Records  (You can purchase an mp3 album download)

Niyaz on Amazon.com

Kudos to RadioParadise.com for the introduction.

]]> http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/07/22/music-recommendation-niyaz/feed/ Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/06/19/walk-a-hound-lose-a-pound/ http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/06/19/walk-a-hound-lose-a-pound/#comments Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:18:31 +0000 Chris Koester http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/06/19/walk-a-hound-lose-a-pound/ What a great idea!

Adoptable dogs will be brought from the shelter to NIFS for the “Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound” program and they will be “loaned” to the public for a walking session throughout the White River State Park grounds.

The “Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound” program will take place:

WHEN: Every Saturday, September 27th through October 25th
9am-12pm

WHERE: The National Institute for Fitness and Sport
250 University Blvd.
IUPUI Campus

The program mentioned above is in Indianapolis, but it seems that other cities have similar programs by the same name.

Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound

]]> http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/06/19/walk-a-hound-lose-a-pound/feed/ KeePassX: Open URL Function in Ubuntu Linux http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/06/09/keepassx-open-url-function-in-ubuntu-linux/ http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/06/09/keepassx-open-url-function-in-ubuntu-linux/#comments Sat, 09 Jun 2007 15:42:33 +0000 Chris Koester http://blog.chriskoester.net/2007/06/09/keepassx-open-url-function-in-ubuntu-linux/ The “Open URL” function does not work with the default settings for KeePassX in Ubuntu Linux. To make it work, go to Extras/Settings/Other tab and change the “Browser command” to firefox %1

Now when you highlight an entry and press CTRL + U, it will open a new Firefox window or tab.

Via KeePassX forum post “Open URL in Firefox“

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