Corfy's Corner My little corner of the web.

(Originally published by me on EastOfIndy.com)

Back in October, Microsoft released a security patch for Windows XP and Windows Vista that was out of the normal patch schedule to fix a huge security problem that had been recently discovered. There were web articles, newspaper articles, TV news stories, magazine articles, and several other methods to get the word out to get people to install the patch and protect their systems.

(Originally published by me on EastOfIndy.com)

Almost every program that is installed on a computer has a “EULA”, or “End User's Licensing Agreement”, that the user has to agree to.

While it is common to simply click on the “OK” button and go on, it is important that you realize what you are doing.

“By installing or otherwise using this software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this EULA. If you do not agree to the terms, do not install, copy or use the software.”

Over the last couple of days, Central Indiana got hit with a lot of snow.

Supposedly, we "only" got 10 inches of snow in our town. I say "only" because it seems like more. Indianapolis, which is just west of us, got a little over a foot.

The high snow fall didn't keep either my wife nor I from going to work this morning, although we both had some trouble getting out of our driveway because we didn't have time to shovel the drive before we left for work (and the snow was still coming down anyway). But we got the driveway mostly cleared after we got off work.

(Originally published by me on EastOfIndy.com)

Passwords are a pain of the computer world. Everything needs a password. From an email newsletter to your favorite store to your bank, everything needs a password.

OK, I know I have tried to do this several times in the past, but I am trying to pick back up blogging again.

This time, though, there is a change. I'm not just blogging on my site.

My previous post, Computers take security hits was originally posted on my office's blog site, EastOfIndy.com.

Since I am writing the post, I figured I could copy it on my site as well.

(Originally published by me at EastOfIndy.com)

In the last couple of months, major computer security holes (and exploits) have been uncovered.

Back in October, Microsoft broke it's usual pattern of only releasing security updates on the second Tuesday of the month by producing a patch two weeks early.

Everyone has their own way of celebrating Independence Day. Some have cookouts. Some set off fireworks. Some watch fireworks that others set off. Some go to parades.

I celebrated Independence Day (or at least, Independence weekend) by declaring my own independence.

My computer is now completely free (as in freedom).

I removed Windows XP from the harddrive on my home desktop computer. And no, I didn't replace it with Windows Vista. Actually, at the moment, I haven't replaced it yet. Since I was already running Linux on my computer, I don't need to replace it any time soon.

On Thursday, the latest version of Ubuntu, 8.04 codenamed "Hardy Heron", will be released.

I decided to beat the rush and I upgraded to the release candidate yesterday.

Even though I beat the rush, I could tell I wasn't the only one doing it. The servers were kinda slow, which meant I spent a better part of the afternoon downloading updates. The actual install process, however, went without any problems.

I said on Friday when I posted my quick blurb about the earthquake that I would write more "later."

Well, two days is "later", isn't it?

I got to work on Friday and was talking to a co-worker about a computer problem he was having when he said, "Maybe the earthquake caused the problem."

"What earthquake?" I asked.

"The earthquake this morning," he said. "It was supposed to have been a 5.4 or something. Didn't you feel it?"

I told him I hadn't. But as soon as I got away from him and back to my desk, I looked it up.

I don't have time to write about this subject fully, so I will make a quick post now and add a longer post later.

I thought a co-worker of mine was pulling my leg when he told me about the earthquake that hit Indiana this morning. A quick look at the news told me that he was serious.

I slept right through it.

I did, however, feel an aftershock just a few minutes ago. The building shook slightly for one or two seconds. It almost felt like a semi truck driving really close to the building... except that the road isn't close enough for them to effect us.