Running Debian Etch on my server seems at times like a gigantic step backward from the ubuntu server I used to run. But alas, it has been quite a learning experience. I just set up my server to run the No-IP dynamic update client (which is available as a package for ubuntu hardy), but it didn’t work with the included init script. Searching online I found very little help.
I had heard about this service called Open DNS a while back on mailing lists, but never really looked into it until yesterday. This looks like the best, easiest, free service to block your children from objectionable material online! Not only does this free, unobtrusive service block content that you don’t want your family seeing, but it speeds up your internet access as well. It even works on REALLY old machines.
Here’s how it works. When you type in www.vortex-tech.com, it asks a Domain Name Server (DNS) what ‘address’ vortex-tech.com points to. Your computer then asks that address for it’s website. OpenDNS replaces the DNS server that your ISP provides and lets you control how names are resolved. Let’s say that you don’t want your kids on social networking sites and have set it that way in your OpenDNS control panel. Now, whenever your kid tries to go to facebook.com, OpenDNS will send back a different IP address than facebook.com normally points to. It will politely tell your kid that they are not allowed to go to that site.
There is tons more that you can do with OpenDNS, such as create shortcuts to your favorite pages, go check it out.
For all you windows users out there. Just one more reason to make the switch. This article not only gives a great explanation for what defragging actually does, but it explains how files actually get stored on your computer.
The digg effect took it down, here is the google cache version for now
Yes, I stole it from digg, you’re welcome, now you don’t have to wade through three pages of trash like I did to get the one good article.
Since I am officially laid off with pay until the end of June, I am teaching the computer class at Prairie Baptist School on Wednesdays. Mr. Boomershine, the Principal asked me to show them some gadgets in phun (since I got him interested in it last week). Since they are really cool, I figured I would just post them here. (more…)
You will notice on the comments page of this blog that this thing called an ‘openid’ is accepted in lieu of registering with the site or waiting for your comment to get through moderation. This is one of the cool new things I have been experimenting with and so far it looks promising.
If you are anything like me, you have more usernames and passwords than you know what to do with. (more…)