For those of you that use linux/unix in your daily lives, or in past lives, the good folks over at hackaday.com have created a version of vi that is written in javascript and can run inside any browser that supports javascript.

Check it out here: http://www.hackaday.com/2008/07/04/javascript-vi/

I can’t say that I agree with the above blog posting that vi somehow disappeared and is no longer being used until now.  It’s always been a mainstay on my Machines, and I use it almost every day.  Not a big fan of eMacs…and never bothered to learn joe or pico.  However, that doesn’t diminish the fact that this little hack is pretty neat.

Maybe I can get Bill and Dana to add this into this site somehow. Give our loyal readers the option of posting replies in the standard reply box, or choosing to enter their comments in an embedded vi session right in the browser.

Bill…Dana…any chance you want to implement this in your oh-so-plentiful free time?

a

Being a parent of the digital age, and a HiTech Dad, I have more than a few keyboard lying around.  A perfect cost efficient toy for my daughter came in the form of an old Microsoft Natural Keyboard with the cord cut off for safety.

It goes something like this:

• Sit kid upright either between your legs or in the favorite chair
• Put child-proof keyboard in front of kid
• Kid will spend up to 30 minutes whacking the crud out of the keyboard in utter delight

The next invention, taking an old pee cee, hooking up a keyboard to that with some music response.

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Attackers like to go after the most people, it make their life easier. One attack can hack the most users, it is that simple. It helps to stay out of the mainstream as much as possible. FireFox is not only more secure it is faster and more stable. I have not run into a web site that does not work in FireFox. Get on board and surf safer!


2. Pick hard passwords and write them down

I choose passwords based on the type of sites I am using. I use the same password for social networking sites, forums etc. I then use totally unique passwords for any place that keeps my credit card data or my online banking data. I make these passwords long and basically impossible to guess, like J!3!dSDsfogur32%. I then write them down or since I use a Mac I put them in my Keychain. Really write them down, it is OK.

3. Apply patches right away

This is a no brainer really but I feel like I have to keep reminding people. Attackers don’t wait for you to patch your system. In fact they are generally ahead of the patch. If you use Windows set it up so that it updates automatically for you. Here is how to set it up. Do it right now!

4. Keep AntiVirus up-to-date

Goes hand in hand with the above. I recommend Norton AntiVirus or Kaspersky AntiVirus. Get it install it and keep it up-to-date!

5. Use one credit card for all online purchases.

Pick a card and use it for all your online transactions. Why? It makes it a lot easier to track fraudulent charges. When thieves get your credit card they don’t always go on wild spending sprees. More often then not they charge 1$-$5 on your card hoping no one will notice. They do this across millions of cards and can easily get over a million dollars in a month. If you have to pick this out of a 10 page credit card bill you are not likely to succeed, picking it out of a smaller bill is much easier.

Bonus tip - Get a Mac! I have converted all my neighbors over to Macs and they thank me every time they see me. Last I checked there where like 7 known viruses for the Mac. This will eventually change as the hackers change there tactics and targets but this is one time you can stay a step ahead of them. Really they are great, secure and a lot of fun. If you are in the market for a new PC you owe it to yourself to give a Mac a try.

a

Fly off peak. If at all possible, it will make you life a lot easier. We flew out on Thanksgiving morning and are coming home Tuesday. It will cost us some vacation days on the back end but it is worth it. Plus flying on the holiday means you don’t have to help fix the meal

Arrive Early. Yeah this one is pretty basic but I am amazed by all the people I still see scrambling to get the there flight, dragging there kids behind them.

Carry on the basics, ONLY. Check everything with the skycap if possible. (Side note American now charges $2 per bag for curb side check-in. Boo!!) The last thing you want to do is haul a bunch of heavy bags around and try to keep track of your child.

What are the basics? Those basics vary somewhat based on the length of the trip and the age of the child but what works for my daughter who is almost 2 is a few books, milk, water, food, DVDs, my laptop for the DVDs, a change of clothes (you never know) a couple of diapers and something to deal with the pressure change. My daughter is still hooked on the pacifier crack so we give it to her on take-off and landing to help her deal with the pressure changes. Your kid screams on the way up and down because they don’t know how to equalize the pressure in there ears.

Don’t buy a middle seat. If you are traveling with 2 parents and a child under 2 that does not require a seat, just purchase the window and the aisle. Middle seats generally get filled up last. If someone shows up for that middle seat just move over. If you are on Southwest put the baby in the middle seat and parents sit on either side. Unless the plane is totally full you will get the row to yourself.

Ask the gate agent to block the middle seat. Bring the cute baby, ask nicely and the agent when generally block people from getting assigned to the middle seat unless the plane is totally full.

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