Re: [GTALUG] CIRA officially launches free DNS firewall for consumers | IT World Canada News

[ac via talk]

On Mon, 27 Apr 2020 12:31:50 -0400
Gordon Chillcott via talk  wrote:
> On Mon., Apr. 27, 2020, 09:08 James Knott via talk, 
> wrote:
> > I came across this today:
> > https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/cira-officially-launches-free-dns-firewall-for-consumers/429887
> > https://www.cira.ca/cybersecurity-services/canadian-shield/configure

so... no opinions... no comments... no discussion... just posting
links, multiple times, or doing marketing now, we are?

my not so humble opinion is that dns over https is very evil, even if
done under the guise of "privacy" or "protection/nanny" or "to protect
us" or under any other logic or reasoning.

my further opinions are that any "nanny" type "free" service where
someone else decides what and where i may or may not go or what i may
or may not see, needs to be either well regulated/controlled/open/published/etc 
or simply not be accepted...

anyway, i am probably a minority as i also do not like/use/support very
popular and world dominating services such as 'whatsapp' and i do not
tweet or post photos of my food on insta and i have zero tiktok vids

so i guess ymmv, 

Andre


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Re: [GTALUG] Data backup recommendations?

[Howard Gibson via talk]

On Mon, 27 Apr 2020 22:50:57 -0400
lsore...@csclub.uwaterloo.ca (Lennart Sorensen) wrote:

> On Wed, Apr 22, 2020 at 10:05:31PM -0400, Howard Gibson via talk wrote:
> >Why not buy a second hard drive?  My nightly backup is a 4TB drive. 
> > "Personal" means the data does not leave my house.  I export my backups 
> > periodically to a 50GB Blu-Ray disc.  My backup is a Bourne shell script 
> > that eventually calls up tar.  
> 
> If it's only in one location, you have no backup. :)
> 
> If it has to be manually connected and manual steps taken, most people
> will not remember to do it.

Lennart,

   Run a cron job.  My backups to Blu-Ray are manual.

-- 
Howard Gibson 
hgib...@eol.ca
jhowardgib...@gmail.com
http://home.eol.ca/~hgibson
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Re: [GTALUG] Data backup recommendations?

[Lennart Sorensen via talk]

On Sat, Apr 25, 2020 at 02:02:21PM -0400, Howard Gibson via talk wrote:
>If my house and all around it is utterly destroyed, I lose all my data.  
> Short of that, I should be okay.  I could stores my backup Blu-Rays in a bank 
> vault.  It is too bad the local bank brances are not open.
> 
>How about switching between a pair of 4TB USB drives?   They live at the 
> alternate location.  One comes home to do the backup.  The other stays in the 
> outside place.

My experience with rotating 3 disks (one offsite, another being used,
one waiting onsite to be used, so only one is ever in transit and at
least one is on site and one off site) was that hard disks don't like
to be transported much unless they are solid state or laptop drives
(and even they have limits).  3.5" drives rately lasted a year with
being rotated once per week.

-- 
Len Sorensen
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Re: [GTALUG] Data backup recommendations?

[Lennart Sorensen via talk]

On Wed, Apr 22, 2020 at 10:05:31PM -0400, Howard Gibson via talk wrote:
>Why not buy a second hard drive?  My nightly backup is a 4TB drive. 
> "Personal" means the data does not leave my house.  I export my backups 
> periodically to a 50GB Blu-Ray disc.  My backup is a Bourne shell script that 
> eventually calls up tar.  

If it's only in one location, you have no backup. :)

If it has to be manually connected and manual steps taken, most people
will not remember to do it.

-- 
Len Sorensen
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Re: [GTALUG] Data backup recommendations?

[Lennart Sorensen via talk]

On Sat, Apr 25, 2020 at 11:05:21AM -0400, Marc Lijour via talk wrote:
> rsnapshot is pretty nice and saves space -no GUI though

Yeah I use that to mutually backup between me and my parents to each
other.  Very convinient.

-- 
Len Sorensen
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Re: [GTALUG] Laptop recommendations?

[Lennart Sorensen via talk]

On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 11:45:47AM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson via talk wrote:
> I have used the builtin keyboard and touchpad (e.g. when I am at a
> library), and they work fine. Normally I do use an external keyboard
> (http://cfaj.ca/keyboard.jpg), mouse, screen (49"!) and speakers
> (Harmon Kardon Soundsticks III).

I have never had an external keyboard connected to my W530.  I have
occationally connected a mouse to play some games, but most of the time
I don't.  The trackpoint is perfectly usable for most tasks.

-- 
Len Sorensen
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Re: [GTALUG] Laptop recommendations?

[Lennart Sorensen via talk]

On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 12:13:20AM -0300, Mauro Souza via talk wrote:
> If she wants a new HP, I bet she will later need another HP...
> 
> As Hugh said, I only have Thinkpad on a different category. I had more than
> a couple company issued laptops from a variety of brands (HP, Dell, Acer,
> Itautec) and every single one was replaced because of hardware issues, some
> under warranty, some not. Until I got a ThinkPad and I refused to get a
> newer, faster, shinier non thinkpad... One of my current laptops (I have 2)
> is a T430 from '12, but I don't trade it for a new HP or Dell...

My wife has two HP laptops from work.  Both are about 4 months old.
One has audio problems, the other seems to have misplaced the nvidia
chip so only the intel graphics works, which means no external monitors
can be connected.  One of them was just reimaged because it managed to
mess up windows bad enough skype couldn't launch.  Those are Zbook 15
G5 workstation laptops.  Not looking good quality wise for HP so far.
The issues with the video on one is why she has the other but the second
hasn't fully worked yet and hence she still has both of them.

-- 
Len Sorensen
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Re: [GTALUG] GnuPG key signing party over Zoom?

[Scott Frederick via talk]

Another factor to consider when signing a key is, "does this person
understand GnuPG, and can I trust keys that THEY have signed?". That is
what the web of trust is, a chain of trust. We assign trust to a key
based on our confidence in the diligence of the key owner, and
implicitly trust, to some degree, keys that they have signed.

Having said that, there should be a way to have a key signing via
conferencing app.

Scott

On 2020-04-26 11:04 p.m., Bob Jonkman via talk wrote:
> I stopped reading the phildev.com article when it insisted on third-party 
> photo ID. The point of keysigning is not to verify a person's right to drive 
> or access to health care, it's to associate a key with the identity you use 
> to communicate. Often, that identity is a persistent pseudonym, intended to 
> avoid the very third-parties that issue photo ID.
>
> I've run a few formal and informal keysigning parties. I've written up some 
> instructions at https://sobac.com/wiki/Formal_Keysigning 
>
> I'd be interested in seeing if it can be adapted it for use in a video or 
> audio conference.
>
> --Bob 
>
>
>
> --
> Bob Jonkman   Phone: +1-519-635-9413
> SOBAC Microcomputer Services http://sobac.com/sobac/
> Software   ---   Office & Business Automation   ---   Consulting
> GnuPG Fngrprnt:04F7 742B 8F54 C40A E115 26C2 B912 89B0 D2CC E5EA
>
>
>
>
>
> On April 26, 2020 10:07:35 PM EDT, Rouben via talk  wrote:
>> Hi GTA LUG folks,
>>
>> Do you think it’s doable? Based on instructions here I think these can
>> be
>> adapted for Zoom or similar...
>> https://www.phildev.net/pgp/gpgsigning.html
>>
>> Also I’m curious to see if/what key signing policies folks here adhere
>> to.
>> Here’s a fairly comprehensive example:
>> http://www.arasca.com/olaf/pgp/policy.html
>>
>> I brought this up before, but unfortunately found the interest was not
>> quite there, coupled with lack of time to do this face to face in the
>> past,
>> the proposed event never took place. I’m therefore wondering if the
>> current
>> predicament of staying at home and holding meetings over Zoom (or
>> similar
>> platforms) can help rekindle this and make it actually happen.
>>
>> What do you think?
>>
>> Rouben
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Re: [GTALUG] CIRA officially launches free DNS firewall for consumers | IT World Canada News

[Gordon Chillcott via talk]

On Mon., Apr. 27, 2020, 09:08 James Knott via talk,  wrote:

> I came across this today:
>
> https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/cira-officially-launches-free-dns-firewall-for-consumers/429887
>
> https://www.cira.ca/cybersecurity-services/canadian-shield/configure
>
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Re: [GTALUG] Laptop recommendations?

[Chris F.A. Johnson via talk]

On Mon, 27 Apr 2020, Lennart Sorensen wrote:


On Wed, Apr 22, 2020 at 07:07:29PM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson via talk wrote:

I bought a used Dell Inspiron 3720 about 7 years ago.

It has been my main (and only) computer for the last 6 years.

I have had no issues other than the internal DVD drive failing.


Do you ever use the touchpad and keyboard on it?  My experience with
Dell's of that era were they were essentially unusable without an external
mouse and keyboard.  I remember so many people carrying mice and keyboards
with them to meetings.


I have used the builtin keyboard and touchpad (e.g. when I am at a
library), and they work fine. Normally I do use an external keyboard
(http://cfaj.ca/keyboard.jpg), mouse, screen (49"!) and speakers
(Harmon Kardon Soundsticks III).

--
   Chris F.A. Johnson 
   === Author: ===
   Shell Scripting Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach (2005, Apress)
   Pro Bash Programming: Scripting the GNU/Linux shell (2009, Apress)
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Re: [GTALUG] Laptop recommendations?

[James Knott via talk]

On 2020-04-27 10:22 AM, Howard Gibson via talk wrote:

I think my current laptop has an RJ45 port.  I bought a docking station for 
it, so I use that.  Historically, I use the RJ45s because I transfer data to 
and from the laptop, and I want it to happen quickly.


I use Wifi or Ethernet.  For normal use, WiFi is fine.  But if I'm doing 
something major, such as installing an OS, then I'll use Ethernet.

I visited Canada Computers in Etobicoke, and I think I got the last desktop 
with slots for DVD/Blu-Ray discs (and 5-1/4 floppy drives), and controls on the 
front.  My cat can no longer turn my computer off.  You people are on your own!


At least I have an external USB floppy drive! ;-)

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Re: [GTALUG] Laptop recommendations?

[Howard Gibson via talk]

On Mon, 27 Apr 2020 09:45:01 -0400
Lennart Sorensen via talk  wrote:

> On Wed, Apr 22, 2020 at 05:18:29PM -0400, James Knott via talk wrote:
> > And use USB Ethernet adapters.
> 
> The Thinkpad T and P series still have RJ45 ports.  But I can believe
> it will disappear since most other laptops have done so.  Most people
> don't use them ever.

Lennart,

   I think my current laptop has an RJ45 port.  I bought a docking station for 
it, so I use that.  Historically, I use the RJ45s because I transfer data to 
and from the laptop, and I want it to happen quickly.  

   I visited Canada Computers in Etobicoke, and I think I got the last desktop 
with slots for DVD/Blu-Ray discs (and 5-1/4 floppy drives), and controls on the 
front.  My cat can no longer turn my computer off.  You people are on your own!

-- 
Howard Gibson 
hgib...@eol.ca
jhowardgib...@gmail.com
http://home.eol.ca/~hgibson
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[GTALUG] European ACM Lisp Conference today

[Christopher Browne via talk]

This isn't necessarily everyone's cup of tea (I'm too busy today to follow
it!) but there's a broader thing...

Today and tomorrow is the European Lisp Symposium, which was to be held in
Zurich.  Obviously, in person conferences aren't especially happening just
now ;-)

https://www.european-lisp-symposium.org/2020/index.html

They're publishing video streams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/elsconf

There are probably some talks that would be of some interest to some of us
(note that Debian includes packages for innumerable Lisp dialects,
doubtless dozens and dozens, including  major Common Lisps like SBCL,
CMUCL, CLISP, ECL, GCL, and dozens of Scheme variants), but I'll bet it's
pretty much an edge case for us.

The bigger point is that there are a lot of conferences out there that have
decided to "self-isolate" and operate via video and/or videoconferencing.
There are doubtless plenty that have some material of interest.

It looks like a lot of it is leading to public publishing of material,
which curiously means that we may have *BETTER* access than we would ever
have under normal circumstances.

At the sorta wild end, and properly outside GTALUG's ambit, WORLDCON, the
World Science Fiction Convention, was to be in Middle Earth, I mean, New
Zealand.  Vanishingly few people would be likely to fly all the way there.
It will be "virtual," with the result that I imagine there will be
participants that would never have considered going to NZ in person.

Closer to home, and of way more relevance, I'm on the program committee for
PGCon, the PostgreSQL conference, normally in Ottawa, May 26-29.  Dan is
presumably very busy right now trying to collect videos and determine video
publishing and videoconferencing strategy.   https://www.pgcon.org/2020/

Also potentially of interest is BSDCan, operated by similar folk (I'm not
on any committees) which is June 5 and 6; see https://www.bsdcan.org/2020/
It will presumably use very much the same methodologies as PGCon.
-- 
When confronted by a difficult problem, solve it by reducing it to the
question, "How would the Lone Ranger handle this?"
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Re: [GTALUG] Laptop recommendations?

[Lennart Sorensen via talk]

On Wed, Apr 22, 2020 at 07:07:29PM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson via talk wrote:
> I bought a used Dell Inspiron 3720 about 7 years ago.
> 
> It has been my main (and only) computer for the last 6 years.
> 
> I have had no issues other than the internal DVD drive failing.

Do you ever use the touchpad and keyboard on it?  My experience with
Dell's of that era were they were essentially unusable without an external
mouse and keyboard.  I remember so many people carrying mice and keyboards
with them to meetings.

-- 
Len Sorensen
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Re: [GTALUG] Laptop recommendations?

[Lennart Sorensen via talk]

On Wed, Apr 22, 2020 at 05:17:38PM -0400, James Knott via talk wrote:
> One very important feature of my E520 is the "Windows" key has a recessed
> area that nicely fits a Tux sticker that I bought a while ago! ;-)

I think the x30 models was went they went to chiclet keys, so I guess
that option disappeared after yours then.

-- 
Len Sorensen
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[GTALUG] CIRA officially launches free DNS firewall for consumers | IT World Canada News

[James Knott via talk]

I came across this today:
https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/cira-officially-launches-free-dns-firewall-for-consumers/429887

https://www.cira.ca/cybersecurity-services/canadian-shield/configure

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Re: [GTALUG] Laptop recommendations?

[James Knott via talk]

On 2020-04-27 07:38 AM, Gron Arthur via talk wrote:

The previous HP lasted about 10 years. I'm using a ThinkPad and
dreading having to buy a newer machine after the this experience.
The thinner laptops remove many things. I like to have an sd card
reader, but those are not to be found on many of the newer laptops.
Also, most laptop sellers group the laptops into 'gaming' or 'business
machines', these are really unhelpful marketing categories.


Some of the newer models also don't even have an Ethernet port.  You 
have to use a USB C adapter.  Also, not many have a floppy drive these 
days! ;-)


However, i preference would be for business class, no matter who makes 
it.  Even with Lenovo, there's a big difference between the ThinkPad and 
Lenovo models.


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Re: [GTALUG] Laptop recommendations?

[Gron Arthur via talk]

The previous HP lasted about 10 years. I'm using a ThinkPad and
dreading having to buy a newer machine after the this experience.
The thinner laptops remove many things. I like to have an sd card
reader, but those are not to be found on many of the newer laptops.
Also, most laptop sellers group the laptops into 'gaming' or 'business
machines', these are really unhelpful marketing categories.

On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 6:51 AM James Knott via talk  wrote:
>
> On 2020-04-26 11:13 PM, Mauro Souza via talk wrote:
> > If she wants a new HP, I bet she will later need another HP...
> >
> > As Hugh said, I only have Thinkpad on a different category. I had more
> > than a couple company issued laptops from a variety of brands (HP,
> > Dell, Acer, Itautec) and every single one was replaced because of
> > hardware issues, some under warranty, some not. Until I got a ThinkPad
> > and I refused to get a newer, faster, shinier non thinkpad... One of
> > my current laptops (I have 2) is a T430 from '12, but I don't trade it
> > for a new HP or Dell...
>
> I agree.  I have had 2 ThinkPads of my own, currently an E520 and they
> both worked fine.  The only reason I gave away my old one was I bought
> my current one, with a 16 x 9 screen and better WiFi.  Other than the
> battery going, I've never had any issue with them.  I also used to work
> at IBM, doing 3rd level software support and most of my work there was
> on ThinkPads and I never saw  one fail.  On the other hand, i had a Dell
> at one place I worked at it would lock up with a kaleidoscope of colours
> on the screen.  I have seen other failures with other makes too.  In my
> experience, the ThinkPads have been rock solid.
>
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Re: [GTALUG] Laptop recommendations?

[James Knott via talk]

On 2020-04-26 11:13 PM, Mauro Souza via talk wrote:

If she wants a new HP, I bet she will later need another HP...

As Hugh said, I only have Thinkpad on a different category. I had more 
than a couple company issued laptops from a variety of brands (HP, 
Dell, Acer, Itautec) and every single one was replaced because of 
hardware issues, some under warranty, some not. Until I got a ThinkPad 
and I refused to get a newer, faster, shinier non thinkpad... One of 
my current laptops (I have 2) is a T430 from '12, but I don't trade it 
for a new HP or Dell...


I agree.  I have had 2 ThinkPads of my own, currently an E520 and they 
both worked fine.  The only reason I gave away my old one was I bought 
my current one, with a 16 x 9 screen and better WiFi.  Other than the 
battery going, I've never had any issue with them.  I also used to work 
at IBM, doing 3rd level software support and most of my work there was 
on ThinkPads and I never saw  one fail.  On the other hand, i had a Dell 
at one place I worked at it would lock up with a kaleidoscope of colours 
on the screen.  I have seen other failures with other makes too.  In my 
experience, the ThinkPads have been rock solid.


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