Sure hangin’ out at Starbucks is cool, and with my FIOS access to WiFi, it doesn’t cost me anything to connect to the tubes so I can get a few things done. But, hangin’ out at a Starbucks can be distracting.

There is music that I don’t like. Loud talking Mom’s enjoying the freedom they are again getting during the day. Even the occassional screaming child or hyper 3 year old. If the distractions are minimal, I can usually tune them out. But it’s hard when there is a small child bouncing off the chairs and repeating themselves while the parental unit tries to carry on a conversation about the latest gossip.

I keep hoping, watching, waiting for someone, anyone, in the Temecula to start a co-working facility. It’s like an office rental, but not really. More like a Starbucks, but without the distractions and a copy machine. I keep looking, but the best I can find is office sub-letting, and that’s exactly what i don’t want and can’t afford.

If someone where to open a place, offer WiFi and a coffee pot, and charge me $20 per day to use a chair, I would gladly pay.

Or maybe I’ll start one myself. Now, where would I find funding?

It’s the time of the year to start thinking about all of the things you wanted to do this year, but didn’t.

Perhaps one of those things is to have some kind of backup for your computer. Or maybe to enhance your existing backup regimen. Or, even, replace that aging external drive you are using.

Now is a good time.

I know it’s the holiday season. You have a million people to buy stuff for and all that. But how crappy would it be if you were to lose all of those photos, music and movie you’ve been collecting over the years. If you remember the fun and excitement I had when it almost happened to me, you know it’s really not fun and exciting.

I say now is a good time because while cruising through CostCo today, they had the Western Digital triple interface (eSATA, USB and Firewire) external 1 TB drive for $179.99 with an in store $40 rebate. That means $139.99 for 1TB of storage. Down at the store we call that a smokin’ deal, so I bought one. Sure I’m unemployed. Sure it’s almost Christmas and money is super tight. But $140 is a pretty good insurance to save my music, movies and photos.

Now, not only am I able to backup my entire hard drive, but I can also back-up my media drive and still have over 600GB of available space for whatever. SWEET!

Now it’s your turn. Time to get a back-up system going. Or maybe you know someone that doesn’t have one. It’s time. Follow the link for a good deal on a USB 1TB drive from Amazon, or get you to CostCo.

You can thank me later.

It’s stuff that I’ve been doing (or trying to do) for a while now, but Merlin has a way of boiling things down to the simplest parts so that it makes sense.

The short version is right there and it all makes sense if you think about it. If you want more details however, you will need to follow the link.

I would be interested in reading in comments you might have about this. You know what to do.

I know how to communicate.

I can do it in person too. One on one or in front of a group. Especially if I have something to say. It’s one of the things that fall into the category of ‘what I do’.

So, I was supposed to be on my way to Arizona today to do more of ‘what I do’, this time some property management software work, a backup configuration and some network maintenance. 2 solid days worth of work, 2 solid days worth of travel.

I talked to the site almost 2 weeks ago about this. Gave them the information they needed for the software I’m supposed to install, asked them to make a list of other computer-type stuff they would like to have me do while I was there and to give me a call back once the software was ordered to let me know when it was supposed to be there.

No call back.

So I waited. Waited a week. No call.

Called Monday to find out if the software was going there or not. Nobody was there that had a clue about what I was talking about. So, I left a message.

Still no call back.

Fast forward to this very morning. I called early so my voicemail would be (hopefully) at the end of the queue and get full attention. 9:00 came and went and I still didn’t get a call. So, I called again as 9AM was the time I was hoping to be walking out the door to the car rental place to start the drive there*. I got one of the people that could, actually, help me out telling me that the software wasn’t there and that a large contingent of people from the corporate office were there, including the President of the company.

I’m going to guess that I’m still not going to get a call back.

I would have left, but you see the MINI is a pretty rough shape. And it’s not cheap to rent a car for a week. And, without the software upgrade, it’s hardly worth my driving over 1200 miles for what would end of being less than 1 days work.

I could have being doing many other things that I am now going to start doing since I know that I will have the entire week. But, I could have started last week.

It’s all about communication.

I listened to news radio.

What was I thinking? First, there was the ridiculousness that was the Olympic Torch in San Francisco. I’d type it all out again, but Michael already did.

Then, more on the housing problems. Coupled with news/reminder about how much the war is costing on a daily basis.

Finally, lets finish with a rousing round of increased oil prices! To which I say, no shit Mr. News Guy. I paid $3.91 for a gallon of the good stuff today and fully expect it to be over $4.00 by the end of the week, even if oil doesn’t go to $120 a barrel.

Much like going to the gym, I must remember to keep the ipod with me at all times. I mean, it’s nice to know what’s going on in the world and all that, but this much at once was just too much.

Uncle I say.

Maybe, Mr. and Ms./Mrs. News Person, next time you are going to pile it on all at once you can remember to dig out those human interest stories that you keep hidden for slow news days. Or maybe play a song, or a short comedy bit, maybe something from last night’s Letterman (He’s CBS, you’re CBS. Talk to your people).

Thank You.

It’s time to stop complaining. If you were one that did, in fact, have your phone bricked because you unlocked it, you kinda had it coming. It’s not like Apple didn’t warn you (from what I understand, all the way up to the point where the 1.1.1 update installs), and it’s not like you didn’t know this phone was created to be used on ATT only in the US. You signed the contract, remember? You also knew going in that 3rd party app support didn’t exist. That point was VERY clear in the beginning, remember?

So why all the fuss?

Would you use a screwdriver to drive a nail? Of course you wouldn’t. Why? Because it’s the wrong tool for the job. So why would you buy a device that did not support your needs? Honestly, if you needed to be able to swap the SIM to something else because you travel overseas or are on a different network, then you should have bought a different phone. if you have to install third party apps to keep you productive while you are mobile, then you should have bought a different phone.

This is what you get for being a fanboy. To blindly follow a company like you have and buy anything new that get released without thinking it through first is dangerous, and now, you have a phone that doesn’t work unless you need to call 911. It’s gotta suck to pull that Razr out of the drawer again right?

So, you all can get upset and complain all you want, but you really had it coming.

Now, if you have hacked your iPhone and it is working quite nice for you and you don’t need WiFi iTunes, then don’t update. All you have to do is pay a little bit of attention, read a little bit here and there and mind the warnings.

Just stop complaining. I might have to go back to referring to the iPhone as an irritating rash.

I’ve been looking around and can’t really find a definitive answer, so here is how I will use them for the time being. I will use categories for broad organization, then narrow it down with tags. I think.

Sure tags help with Technorati searches and whatnot, but I still don’t understand it. If anyone else does, please ‘splain for me.

By the way, you are reading this and I’m at PodCamp SoCal. Full report to follow later in the day or tomorrow. Check back!

Or, in 1989 when I was programming restaurant databases on old CP/M machines or running chain (Remanco users unite!) did I ever think I would have to be a security expert.

What about in late 1994 when I got my very first ‘real’ computer? First website in ’95, rockin’ the AOL account on a screamin’ fast 14.4 modem. Did I think I would have to be a security expert then? Nope.

Working help desk from 1997 – 1998?
Restaurant Point of Sales installation and training from 1999 to now? Playing psuedo network/sys admin from ’00 – 02?

Nope, nope and nope.

But here we are. 2007. The internets aren’t safe any more. I’m stuck in a Windows world with Windows devs that make me use IE on office computers manned by women who could honestly give a crap about what kind of nastiness gets on their machines. Oh, but there is so much more!

My newest headache? PCI DSS.

The PCI Security Standards Council is an open global forum for the ongoing development, enhancement, storage, dissemination and implementation of security standards for account data protection. The PCI Security Standards Council’s mission is to enhance payment account data security by fostering broad adoption of the PCI Security Standards. The organization was founded by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB, MasterCard Worldwide, and Visa International.

So, not just any security, but credit card security. I would have never guessed.

As it turns out, people like to pay for car washes with those little plastic cards. About 30K a month company wide. That’s a lots of swipes! And I’ve been tasked with keeping those numbers safe. Piece of cake. Lucky for me there is a 74 page doc of the requirements, a 14 page self questionairre and 25 page doc on the certification process (that luckily, I don’t have to deal with).

So my days for the last 2 months have been clogged with implementing advanced security procedures with users that are far less than advanced. The idea of a unique name and complex password (changed every 90 days please) to my users makes them give me the Lassie look, followed by smoke from their ears.

Expensive? Not as bad as you would think. New Sonicwall internet devices are on my desk waiting to be configured and installed. It’s also getting me an upgrade on my Corporate copy of Norton Antivirus with kick ass pricing from AT&T (I know!). Oh, and a VPN in another week or so. All good.

But, this week as I was continuing on through the 75 page document to the sections I haven’t completed, I come across the dreaded section 9. Physical security. It says, in not so many words, that any device where credit cards are stored must be secure. By secure I mean

• Access limited. Besides a locked door, some type of badge access system in place
• Monitored with a video camera
• All access logged. Logs kept online for 3 months, retained for a year

“Hey, that’s awesome db! Nice to see someone doing something to protect my data!”

Yea, hey, no problem. But, here’s the thing. I don’t have 1 location where card holder data is stored.

I have 8.

For all it’s badness, the internet does some pretty neat things. One of those neat things is make is possible for retailers to swipe your credit card and get an approval back with voucher printed in less than 10 seconds. Actually, it’s closer to 7 (yes, I have timed it). It’s about a 4K packet being sent from the retailer to the processor and then returned with a yay or nay vote. The old way, with modem, used to take as long as 20 seconds. The bulk of that time was the hand shaking that had to happen between the retailer and the processor, because even at 33.6 speeds, 4K up and back is still a pretty speedy trip ya know?

Anyway, it’s because we process credit cards over the internet this way (instead of using a modem) that I have to do all of the extra work.

Section 9 could seriously mess all that up tho. I’m all about keeping stuff as secure as possible, but honestly, it’s not cost effective to do it the way I’m required. Also, for the low volume that I have to manage, I really think it’s overkill. Besides overkill, it’s cost prohibitive for our small company. Having to do any of the items in section 9 would actually ’cause me to have to revert back to dial-up for credit card processing. No body likes that. Customers don’t because transactions take longer. Processors don’t like it because they have to keep the modems revved up, plus the 800 number to dial into. It’s bad bad all the way around.

So, I have calls out to everyone I know that is doing this right now to see how much I’m really going to have to do. I’m hoping they come back with the information I want to hear.

So, reading ensues.

From The Queen, and since I haven’t made a list post in a while, how about 7 things you don’t know about me. Sure, why not. Hell, it might help me to sleep.

Let’s begin shall we?

1. Secretly, I want to be on Dancing with the Stars.
2. I shot JR. I really didn’t want to, but he totally kicked my ass in Tetris. I really didn’t have a choice.
3. I was a young boy, I always wanted to be a floor sweeper at a movie theatre when I grew up so I could use one of those cool looking dustpans. I’ve since used one and found out, it’s not really that cool.
4. I once shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.
5. In 1972, I was voted Time’s man of the year. Mom had to step in and tell them no way, since I was only 4.
6. I really don’t have any super powers. I know this may come as a shock to some of you. Get over it.
7. It really annoys me when people call it “Star Track” or put the letter “B” in supposedly. Stop it.

Ok, the house is cooler now. Maybe I’ll be able to sleep.

Hope everyone had a great long holiday, if you get those where you are. If you don’t, have an extra cold one tonight during happy hour. It’s on me.

In other news…

I went to a wedding reception Saturday night that was for a wedding in November. Beautiful morning here at the house. Still pretty ok when I got to the gym and it looked a little overcast when I was getting my car washed. Even went so far as to pull the MINI into the garage, give her* a coat of wax, clean up the inside and dress the tires**.

After all that, I went to get a haircut and a gift card. Came home to discover the pants I bought, that I thought were a 38 waist (yes, I am a fatty, get over it) were actually about a 32, maybe a 34. Regardless, they didn’t fit, but that is a topic for another time. Found another pair of pants I could wear plus a shirt (bonus!) and headed out.

Get about 1/2 way into my 100 mile drive and it started. Just a light misting, not even rain, really. Then the mist got heavier as I drove further north. Before too long, what was falling from the sky could really be called rain. Not a downpour or anything, but real, honest-to-goodness rain.

Rained all during dinner too. And pictures. And cake. And the uncomfortable-ed-ness*** of trying to talk to people I didn’t know (I give myself a B-. I just signed up for charm school). Heck, even rained on the way home until I was about 1/2 way into my 100 my return drive.

So much for getting the car washed. Now I’m going to have to do it again tomorrow.

*Yes, my car, the MINI, is a she. For those of you that are new to w(t)f, you already know this. Don’t say her name or you will have to take a drink.

**I didn’t actually put clothing on the tires of my MINI. Just because I gave her a name doesn’t make me a total wacko nutjob. Dressing the tires is the process in where you apply a very slippery substance to a tire to make shine all nice and pretty.

***Watch out! I’m makin’ up words again. Nobody is safe!