Beens' Blog: 200612

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Flash Cookies

I'm sure you know about cookies stored on your computer, and you've heard lots of stories about how evil they are.

Well, do you know about the new "flash cookies"? They are much more dangerous because they can be used to store *a lot* of data. The default storage capacity for flash cookies is 100 kB per site (that's a lot of privacy data!), and that it is "on" be default?

Here's how you can fix this:

Go to Google, then search for "flash settings". It should be the top entry.

On the left, click on "Global Privacy Settings Panel". Click on "always deny", then confirm.

Click on "Global Storage Settings Panel". Move the slider down to zero, click on "Never Ask Again", and de-select "Allow third-party Flash content to store data on your computer".

Click on "Website Privacy Settings Panel". Delete all websites.

Do this now...

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

What's Hot -- Remember the Milk

One of the things I haven't liked about Google Calendar is its lack of to-do list functionaly. Well, that's all fixed now thanks to Google's open concept and a company called Remember the Milk (really!).

Remember the Milk is a "web 2" application specifically designed to handle your to-do list. I looked at it a little while back and thought "That's all I need -- another to-do list." I already have a PDA, a Google Desktop to-do gadget, various pieces of paper, and Google Calendar. But now that Remember the Milk integrates with Google Calendar, well it's time to give it another shot and scrap all the other to-do lists.

Ask me in a month if I still like it...

http://www.rememberthemilk.com/

(I wonder if Google will buy these guys and integrate it directly into the ever-expanding Google Desktop?)

Leo Laporte Hates the Zune!

Friday, December 15, 2006

Twas the night before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas
He lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house,
Made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney,
With presents to give,
And to see just who,
In this home did live.

I looked all about,
A strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents,
Not even a tree.

No stocking by the mantle,
Just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures,
Of a far distant lands

With medals and badges,
Awards of all kinds,
A sober thought,
Came through my mind

For this house was different,
It was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier,
Once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping,
Silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor,
In this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
The room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured,
A Canadian soldier.

Was this the hero,
Of whom I'd just read?,
Curled up on a poncho,
The floor for a bed?

I realized the families,
That I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers,
Who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world,
The children would play,
And grownups would celebrate,
A bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom,
Each month of the year,
Because of the soldiers,
Like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder,
How many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas eve,
In a land far from home.

The very thought brought,
A tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees,
And started to cry.

The soldier awakened,
And I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry,
This life is my choice.

I fight for freedom,
I don't ask for more,
My life is my god,
My country, my corps."

The soldier rolled over,
And drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it,
I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours,
So silent and still,
And we both shivered,
From the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave,
On that cold, dark night,
This guardian of honour,
So willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over,
With a voice, soft and pure,
Whispered, "carry on Santa,
It's Christmas day, all is secure."

One look at my watch,
And I knew he was right,
"Merry Christmas my friend,
And to all a good night."

This poem was written by a peace keeping soldier stationed overseas. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our Canadian service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Light Emitting Capacitors

We all know about Light Emitting Diodes, but now we have Light Emitting Capacitors!

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_emitting_capacitor:

Light emitting capacitor, or LEC, is a term used by CeeLite, a manufacturer of flat panel lighting products. LECs are derived from and similar to electroluminescent panels. The company has put considerable effort into improving electroluminescent (EL) technology, and has come up with this new term to differentiate the improved technology from prior, presumably inferior, EL products. It is not clear if the term is trademarked or otherwise considered private intellectual property.

LECs work in largely the same way as conventional capacitors, except that the dielectric between the outside contacts is a chemical that gives off photons when the capacitor is charged. While this is not very useful for containing large amounts of power, other uses are possible. By making the contacts of the element transparent and leaving the capacitor with a very large surface area, (as opposed to compacting it through rolling) a reliable light source can be created.