January 31, 2014

Are we a civilized nation, or are we an imperialist country?

It seems, if we are to face facts, a war mongering, imperialist country.

We have a fleet of planes the military doesn't want at $150 to almost $200 million, a copy. How many bridges could the money repair/rebuild? How many full time, Living Wage Jobs could that money create, if applied to Main Street? How many public schools could that money fully fund? How many miles of high speed rail, across this country, could that money fund?
The list goes on and on and on. We have plenty of money to blow stuff up and kill innocents in other countries, but we don't have enough to take care of our own in need.

We as a nation have lost our way, that is obvious. But we have too many cheer leaders on both sides of the fence, that refuse to face the facts that our government is not very responsive to the populaces. Our leaders may talk a good game, but the actions needed to correct the wrongs always seem to miss the mark. Even when we seem to win one, now and again, somehow it always has damaging barbs and exceptions in it. But never mind, both sides continue cheer leading for their favorite leader, based mainly on the (D) or the (R) by the name and that is what is important, correct? Thinking not required.
After all, for many politics is only a sports game, where we root for our favorite team, oblivious of the crimes the leaders on both sides are committing against those of us that pay them to lead us. Yea Team!

January 22, 2014

The crux of the problem

We have too many people, even right here on DU, trying to make others conform to their view of the world.
People with their own confuse definition of tolerance, trying to impose their will on others in the name of tolerance. That is not tolerance. That, more than likely, is just plain bullying on the part of an intolerant person, who thinks they are being tolerant by trying to change others.

January 21, 2014

Setting up your wireless router to keep the neighbors out.

This post is in response to a request in GD.
So FCC can shut down the open internet. My Question:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024363261

These are the routers I have. Newer ones should be similar.
If not someone will be around to clarify.
If I confused you, let me know. But keep in mind, I am retired and some of my knowledge is getting dated.

For XP and Windows 7 --
To find MAC address:
Start > Run > CMD
In the black window, enter ipconfig /all and Enter.
Look for the numbers after "Physical Address" under the "Wireless Lan Adapter" listing. That is the Wireless LAN Adapter MAC address the machine is using. The number is hexadecimal and looks something like this:
00-16-BC-4A-6F-F3
This is the number you need to add to your White List in the modem.
You will need to do this for each machine you are setting up to use wireless.
The MAC address is different between wired (Ethernet) and wireless (WiFi) on the same machine. Be sure you use the Wireless number.
The router will only allow the machines on the White List through the router. All other machines will be blocked.

To Log on to AT&T U-verse router.
IP address 192.168.1.254 (Put in Address bar in web browser.) (You are using Firefox, correct?)

When asked for a password, use the wireless network key found on the sticker on the bottom of your U-Verse router.

To set up:
Click on Wireless button, near the top of the screen.

The Network Name (SSID) is just a label to identify your system. Be creative if you wish.
I set the transmit power on this router to 25% to keep the working range down. If 'they' can't see it, because the signal is too weak, they can't use it.


This is where you input you MAC address in the White List. Don't forget to Save when you are done.

[hr]

For a Cisco/Linksys router: The address is 192.168.1.1
No user name
Default password: Found on bottom of router. Wouldn't hurt to change it, but is not normally necessary.


Selecting a channel on either end would be better. Channel 6 is the default, but may be intermittent, due to over use and interference.
These channels do overlap. Keep your cordless phone away from your wireless computers and routers. They may work on the same frequencies.


WPA Shared Key. The more complex the better. No words.
Use Upper case, lower case, numbers and Special characters.
You will need to know this, but you will not be using it, once the system is all set up.
You can always log on to the router to see it.





[hr]
Sometimes the computer insists on using information in the DNS cache, when changes are made to the network, instead of using the new information.
You'll know, 'cause the internet ain't working, even though you know it should be. To fix that, you'll need to flush the DNS cache.

Clearing DNS cache:
http://docs.cpanel.net/twiki/bin/view/AllDocumentation/ClearingBrowserCache
[hr]
If you totally mess things up, you can start from scratch by resetting the router back to the factory defaults by pressing the Reset button. You may need a paper clip or something to press the switch. This resets everything, including password. The default password is on the bottom of the router. Then start all over.
[hr]
The MAC address White List is the secret to keeping the neighbors out.
You can set up a Black list for the unwanted intruders, but I am retired now and that is too much work.

I'll try to answer any questions and there are others around here that can answer your questions too. Just ask.

January 17, 2014

How the Media Makes Men Look Stupid

Don't expect me to referee this thread, but I will be checking in now and again, it it goes anywhere.

January 14, 2014

So, being spied on in all your private matters is alright with you?

Apparently you do not have a sufficient comprehension of the wording and sprite of the 4th Amendment.

How is mass collection and storage of this information, for possible future use, fit with the 4th Amendment?
The NSA is in direct violation of all aspects of the 4th Amendment. Just the mass collecting of that information is a violation. It does not matter whether the NSA itself does it, or the NSA directs the communication companies to collect and store this information. Both are violations of our Constitutional Rights. The courts set up to make these quasi-legal collections, are in themselves nothing more than kangaroo courts, for the purpose of allowing the NSA to appear to be acting within the law.