DeanO

Staggering Graphic of U.S. Debt

2012-02-15T05:44:00.002-05:00

One Hundred Dollars

$100 -

Most counterfeited money denomination in the world. Keeps the world moving.

Ten Thousand Dollars

$10,000

- Enough for a great vacation or to buy a used car. Approximately one year of work for the average human on earth.

One Million Dollars

$1,000,000

- Not as big of a pile as you thought, huh? Still this is 92 years of work
for the average human on earth.

One Hundred Million Dollars

$100,000,000

- Plenty to go around for everyone. Fits nicely on an ISO / Military
standard sized pallet.

One Billion Dollars

$1,000,000,000

- You will need some help when robbing the bank. Now we are getting serious!

One Trillion Dollars

$1,000,000,000,000

When the U.S government speaks about a 1.7 trillion deficit - this is the
volumes of cash the U.S.

Government borrowed in 2010 to run itself. Keep in mind it is double
stacked pallets of $100

million dollars each, full of $100 dollar bills. You are going to need a lot
of trucks to freight this around.

If you spent $1 million a day since Jesus was born, you would have not
spent $1 trillion by now...but

~$700 billion - same amount the banks got during bailout.

One Trillion Dollars

Comparison of $1,000,000,000,000 dollars to a standard-sized American
Football field and European Football field.

Say hello to the Boeing 747-400 transcontinental airliner that's hiding on the right.
This was until recently the biggest passenger plane in the world.

15 Trillion Dollars

$15,000,000,000,000

- US national debt (credit bill) has just topped the 15 trillion 2 months before
Christmas 2011.Statue of Liberty seems rather worried as United States national
debt passes 20% of the entire world's combined GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
In 2011 the National Debt will exceed 100% of GDP, and venture into the 100%+
debt-to-GDP ratio that the European PIGS have (bankrupting nations).

114.5 Trillion Dollars

$114,500,000,000,000. - US unfunded liabilities

To the right you can see the pillar of cold hard $100 bills that dwarfs the WTC
& Empire State Building - both at one point world's tallest buildings. If you look
carefully you can see the Statue of Liberty. The 114.5 Trillion dollar super-skyscraper
is the amount of money the U.S. Government knows it does not have to fully
fund the Medicare, Medicare Prescription Drug Program, Social Security, Military
and civil servant pensions. It is the money USA knows it will not have to pay all its bills.

If you live in USA this is also your personal credit card bill; you are responsible
along with everyone else to pay this back. The citizens of USA created the U.S.
Government to serve them, this is what the U.S. Government has done while serving
The People. The unfunded liability is calculated on current tax and funding inputs,
and future demographic
shifts in US Population.

Note: On the above 114.5T image the size of the base of the money pile is half a
trillion, not 1T as on 15T image. The height is double. This was done to reflect
the base of Empire State and WTC more closely.

Source:

Federal Reserve & www.USdebtclock.org - visit it to see the debt in real
time and get a

Judge Judy - Here's Who You Support With Taxes

2012-02-14T00:25:00.001-05:00

Make sure you catch the ending of this short video as it's quite enjoyable

"Kitten-Little" Kicked my Caboose

2012-02-05T13:43:00.000-05:00


Image from Internet

I was beginning to feel better. The worst of my severe head cold seemed to be behind me. I had just finished another grueling 12 hour shift at the factory and was happy to return to the comfort of my home. Who ever thought running million dollar pieces of equipment could be so difficult and tiring! I knew my energetic wife (who had just pulled her back out) would have a wonderful breakfast prepared and I so appreciate her effort. I remember six years ago when I hurt my back; for a week I crawled on my hands and knees from my bed to the bathroom; "I Know"! My buddy Jeff dropped me off, we said our good-byes for the day and I headed through the opened garage door and into the kitchen. The sweet smell of bacon and eggs filled the air but my wife looked dejected.

Karen explained to me that she had let both cats out earlier in the evening. It's not unusual for the cats to make their nightly rounds and return home around mid-night. My wife recalled to me that at 2:00 am in the morning she heard a huge cat fight out back and immediately went downstairs to investigate. She whistled for the cats and our large cat Sandy came running inside...but no sign of Kitten-Little (Simon). The night had been cold and rainy. I put my tool bag and lunch bag down and immediately went outside to search for our little runt, Kitten-Little. I walked around the backyard whistling for the cat and stopping to listen for a response...nothing. After circling the backyard I came to the front of the house and went down the driveway looking for our precious little rescue cat. I wondered to myself if this little runt had the necessary skills to survive on his own if he was indeed lost or hurt. I stepped back into the house just in time to hear my wife call to me that she heard him. I walked out back and tried to hear what she heard but no luck. I looked under the house in the crawl-space and under the screened sun-porch....no Kitten-Little. My wife went back to the house to tend to her breakfast meal and I stayed out back. Then the epiphany...what if the cat had climbed a tree? Cats do climb trees right? I glanced around at our many trees but quickly drew my focus to the tree which connects with my deer-stand. Sure enough, almost 12 feet in the air and at the very end of a thick branch was Kitten-Little; a cold soggy, scared image of a kitten.

I called to the stranded cat as if he could understand me, "Kitten-Little, I see you and I'll get you down", "wait just a minute and I'll get a ladder" I called to my wife to alert her to my discovery and went to the garage to grab a 10' ladder. I stood the ladder up to the tree and climbed to the branch where I began to coo sweet words to the scared kitten. It took a few minutes but the Kitten finally got the nerve to stand up and carefully walk back to the voice it new. I petted the feline and assured him that I would get him safely down...This is when everything went from happy to terribly bad.

I was certain that Kitten-Little would gladly and "gently" cling to me as I rescued him and brought him down the ladder to safety....right? WRONG!!! I picked up the cat and then everything went crazy. Immediately I became the enemy. I guess I hadn't thought things through. If the cat wasn't afraid to come down he would have come down hours ago but he hadn't and had been clinging to a tree branch, nearly 12 feet in the air for the last six hours. The cat began clawing and hissing at me and his body went from soft, scared and cuddly to a hard bundle of fierce and tense muscle. The next thing I knew the cat was literally hanging almost twelve feet in the air with only the use of one claw. This one claw had pierced though my lower lip. Immediately, "MY" survival instincts kicked in.

I reached with both hands for his one leg and paw and fought to remove his claw from my lip. As soon as I was able to free the claw from my lip I felt the most excruciating pain I have ever felt. Our sweet Kitten-Little had completely bit down on my thumb and his fangs were painfully locked closed. I reached down and with all my strength, pain shooting through my body, I fought to release this lion like grip Kitten-Little had on my thumb. As soon as I released the cats locked jaw from my thumb he desperately began to claw and cling to my arm. As quickly as I could I reached down as far as I could and shook him loose to the ground...probably about eight feet. The cat released from my arm and dropped to the ground then bolted back towards the house for his dear life. I climbed down the ladder and stumbled to the house (honestly).

I quickly went to the kitchen and spit a mouth full of blood into the sink and I could feel my lip swelling up like a grapefruit. For the next ten minutes I was doubled over in a pain I had never felt, grasping my left hand. I wanted to cry or scream because the pain was both nauseating and overwhelming. After ten minutes I ran a little cold water and placed my left hand underneath the water only to quickly pull it back because it magnified the pain. My wife asked if she could help but there was nothing she could do. I went into her office and slumped down into the recliner chair and for the next hour tried to will the pain away. I was unable to sleep that night and contemplated calling out for work, but I went in anyhow and somehow.

It was a long painful day at work. This injury happened Thursday morning and I'm still in a great deal of pain. I'm taking antibiotics and every few hours I soak my hand in hot water with Epsom salt. The swelling has gone from my lip and my thumb looks nothing worse for the injury it sustained. Also, I'm extremely tired because since Thursday I've gotten very little quality rest. My good friend Jeff says that the kitten would eventually have come down out of the tree, on his own. I don't know if this is true but Kitten-Little is grounded for the rest of MY natural life. There is no way that I know off on paper to describe the pain caused by this severe cat-bite. Yes - Kitten-Little has all his shots and I'm taking prescription medications. Tell me good friends....have you ever been beat up by a pet? I've done some research on the Internet and was surprised at how often owners get bit by their own pets. Any words of wisdom cat lovers? And no, I still can't use my left thumb as any pressure to the wound sends me into a mystery world of unbelievable pain and misery. Mercy-me!


The ladder is still outside, I'll get to it one of these days!

This little guy kicked my Caboose?

Image from Internet

Update - Do Not Track Plus

2012-01-31T22:44:00.001-05:00

Just a quick update on a free piece of software I have truly been enjoying. Do Not Track Plus found at www.abine.com I just love it when I find a freebie that works. As you can see from the photograph this software has now blocked over 5 thousand attempts from websites to track me. I preach privacy on the Internet and keeping your personal information as private as is possible.

I'm understanding from an Kim Komando article that Facebook users need to be very cautious of this new Timeline as it will expose a lot of personal information and pictures to the world...Here's the article titled "Don't let Facebook Embarrass you"

Why should we care that websites and browsers track us? Here's an article from WiseGeek and pay attention to this statement

"Website policies generally refer to IP addresses as “anonymous” data. However, with the help of computer cookies there are many ways for websites to link identities to IP addresses, even when the address is dynamic, or changes with each Web session. Many websites also contain “Web bugs” or a few pixels linked to an advertising firm that can track and record IP addresses across the Web, from one site to another, surreptitiously compiling detailed surfing profiles of individuals over a period of months or years."

So, as always my good friends - Be safe on the Internet and keep your personal information private! Remember - one great tool the Internet has is to "Track" your every move!

"Heaven" What A Wonderful Place - By: Steve Kirkpatrick

2012-01-31T01:42:00.000-05:00

"HEAVEN, WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE"

For many years the old lady had been battling a most painful disease. Inrecent months it had gotten much worse. Most days she could not even getout of bed and the pain, almost unbearable, never seemed to completely goaway. Even though her body was weak, her spirit was strong and since sheknew Jesus Christ as her Saviour, she would simply continue to trust in Himduring this difficult time.

This day had been a most wonderful one. All her children had been thereand how proud she was of each one. And those grandchildren, well, eachone was as special as could be. All day long she had the joy to watch andlisten and enjoy. The hugs, my the hugs, were the best ever. There wereshort hugs and long hugs and group hugs. All these hugs had worn hercompletely out. She must have heard "I love you mom" and I love yougrammy" a hundred times. Each time she heard it, it was as thrilling as if itwas the first time.

The business and pleasures of the day had left her completely worn out.With family gone and the house quiet, she though she would settle down forthe night a little early. Instantly her mind began to think of the things thathappened decades ago. She smiled to herself as she thought back to whenshe was a little girl. There were many triumphs and a few childhood"tragedies" too. She remembered losing her first tooth, learning to ride abike and the excitement of Christmas morning. There was also anassortment of cuts, bruises and even a broken arm along that journey. Also,mom and dad, what wonderful memories. Mom was always busy but neverso much that she could not be loving and caring. Her dad was her hero andshe never felt unsafe when he was around. How she loved it when he tookher up in his big strong arms and told her he loved her. A slight`tinge ofsadness swept over her when she remembered they had been gone for a longtime. The sadness went away when she remembered she would see themagain in heaven some day.

Just as sleep over took her, a severe pain racked her body and caused her togasp out loud. Then she began to dream. The angels were simply amazingas they lead her upward to a distant location. She thought it strange that shewas not frightened at her first sight of angels but their presence was bothenjoyable and calming. In the distance she could see a glowing light and asthey got closer and closer the light was bigger, brighter and more beautiful.Suddenly she realized this was Heaven!!

Her first sight in Heaven was that of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Hisbeauty, majesty and glory was overwhelming and beyond description ofwords. Her heart raced as He spoke and said "well done thou good andfaithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord". For a long time she stoodand gazed upon the Lord and was eternally thankful for His sacrifice for herso that she could come to this wonderful place.

As she walked forward she realized that her pain and sickness was gone andher body felt young and strong. She now noticed the gates of pearl, thestreets or gold and the other glories of heaven. She was almost overjoyed tosee her mom and dad, brothers and sisters and other family and friends whohad died long ago. She wept with joy as she embraced her husband who haddied twenty years ago.

The light and brightness of Heaven was most unusual. It brought peace ofmind and tranquility of soul because it came forth from Jesus Christ who isthe light.

As she began to think how wonderful it was going to be some day to be inthis wonderful place, she was startled to hear a strong but kind voice speakher name. It was the Lord Jesus Christ and He spoke these words. This isnot a dream, this place, Heaven, will be your eternal home!'.

"Heaven" What a Wonderful Place by Steve Kirkpatrick

"Heaven" What a wonderful place - was preached by Brother Steve Kirkpatrick two Sunday nights ago; and it was a true blessing. I know as time quickly passes we all loose cherished souls. The very sad truth is that many are lost to hell but those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour will be in Heaven. I have a lot of family in Heaven and I look forward to the day when there will be that great reunion. Grandma Zola, Grandpa John, Bro. Joe Garrett and my daughter, Andrea Marie...I do look forward to that blessed day. I suppose that many of us think of all our lost loved ones who we will see and perhaps we forget that the most glorious sight will be the sight of Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Great "I AM", the one who spoke this world and universe into existence! Can you even imagine the Glory?

I've been so busy lately that my blog has suffered and I suppose we all go through stretches of time where we just have little if any extra energy. I'm suffering from a severe head-cold and this is my first time up and out of bed in almost 36 hours. I meant to put this post up a week ago but time flies by. I'll need to spend some time catching up on your blogs but I thought you might enjoy this wonderful story and message from my good friend, my hunting buddy, Steve Kirkpatrick! I'll add a couple mp3 songs for you to enjoy.

"Heaven" Can You Imagine? By the Gilley Family

"Going Home" By the Inman Family

Is it possible to have just one favorite TV show?

2012-01-17T11:13:00.000-05:00

OK guys and dolls - is it possible to have one favorite TV show? I think not to answer my own question but Pawn Stars is very near the top of my favorite Television shows. What is it that keeps bringing me back to Pawn Stars ever Monday night at 10/9c?The suspense! Is the gun really from the Old West? (Yes) Was this pearl handled Colt 45, S/N 3 truly given to Theodore Roosevelt? (Yes) Is this truly a 1949 Les Paul Broadcaster guitar, worth $350 K? (No) but I would have taken the $1,200 dollars offered for the cheap and generic Les Paul guitar. I suppose I get hooked on the different stories presented in each episode but that goes for any TV show we watch.

There are so many different aspects I enjoy about this program. First, you have the character who brings in the "Priceless" heirloom worth (in their mind) a boatload of cash. Second, you have the quirky and comical characters of the Pawn Shop itself who have a good sense of value and speak with forked tounge. Third, you have the guest appraisers who truly are experts in their given field. Last, and combined, you have the appraisal, the shock from the client and the bartering over selling and asking price. I simply love the way this show flows. The Pawn Star characters are real people, earning a living and characters who are fun to watch. The bad language is kept to a minimum which is a hard find on any major network show. I for one am glad for the "bleep" machine! O - and hurt feelings and disgruntled sellers. A lot of these folks can't wait to get on camera and tell the viewing audience that the Pawn Star people are a bunch of #!XX#$%!!~ and don't know what their talking about, their experts are in on the deal and so on. I simply ask the question, "did you really think they were going to buy your vintage dragster for $50K?"

OK - blogging friends....what's your favorite TV show and why?

Image from Internet

Blogger Issue?

2012-01-13T05:43:00.001-05:00

Anyone having problems with their blogger "followers" or "members" widget NOT displaying? Mine hasn't displayed for well over a week now. Let me know and is there a Google issue I don't know about. Possible, but....

Update - I notice that my "followers" or "Members" widget shows up on IE9 but not here in Firefox 9.0.1. Also - having issues with Facebook. So many browsers, so many changes and all the issues to boot. MERCY.

IE9

CES 2012

2012-01-11T08:13:00.002-05:00

CES 2012 - Christmas in January for you techno-buffs, like ME! Browsing the video's and reading the articles are intense. What's new, what's hot and the gotta-have products are here. Do you think you spent enough this Christmas on gadgets and gear? Well, that stuff is outdated because the new gadgets and gear is now on display, in Las Vegas. I can't begin to tell you about the show, but if you're interested, I'm giving you my favorite link to the show. Techno Buffalo. Check these guys out and I'm certain you will find information on whatever product fancies your interest. Me? Bigger, badder and more powerful computers and camcorders are my techno candies must-see items. Have Fun techies! Here's an example of all the information available - The new and awesome Canon PowerShot G1 X.....

The new WiiU console is seen during a demonstration at the 2012 International CES tradeshow, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Here's a link to the electronic football game I was taking to High School in the 70's. This game sells for over $100.00 on eBay; guess I should have held on to mine. What was your cool gadget of the 70's or 80's? O-and lest I forget - here's a little "free" Internet safety plug-in for your PC. You can find this product "Do Not Track Plus", free for download at Abine.com. Hm, don't think you're being tacked, your every move being logged into some data warehouse for marketing purposes....and more? I've been using this program for several days and Abine's program, "Do Not Track Plus" has blocked over 1000 tracking attempts. Give it a shot - you'll like it.

Screen Shot Jan 11, 2012

Image from Internet

"Do Over"

2012-01-06T11:18:00.001-05:00

This thought has been on my mind a great deal lately. Today, I asked my buddy what he thought about the simple phrase "Do Over" as it relates to life. And what was his answer you ask? Jeff replied with an emphatic tone, "I'd change nothing!" Really? You know the old cliche and it's almost always used at a most inopportune time, "well you know hind site is 20/20". Really? Gee-whiz; Thanks and boo, hiss, sneer to you too! Yes, I know this and we all would have purchased stock in IBM, Apple and Ebay but we didn't. Well, maybe you did but I didn't. However, I'm not thinking "Do Over" in the monetary sense but the life we lived up until today. Looking into life's mirror would you like a "Do Over?" and if so what would you change?

My good friend, Jeff - young but full of great counsel and wisdom for his years.

Image from Internet

DeanO, you seem to have everything, why would you want a "Do Over?" I have a big house, yes. I live on 10 acres, yes. We have nice cars, good jobs, yes. I have a beautiful, loving, smart executive wife, yes. My Church is nothing less then fantastic, yes. I love to hunt, fish and camp, yes. I have two awesome cats and two dogs, yes. You could say that I'm living the American Dream, yes. And you still want a "Do over?" Yes. I don't know, is it because I hit 50 and youth is well behind me? Have I become melancholy or am I lost in a daydream, imagining what "could have been but never will be?" Am I afraid of getting old? I don't feel old, I don't sound old and I don't crack the mirror when I comb my hair or brush my teeth. So, what would I change in my "Do Over?"

I would have given my parents a great deal more of respect and consideration. I've come to the conclusion and point in life where most children realize and if honest, admit to this fact; Mom and Dad were right about 99% of the time. My parents gave me great advice, loved, nurtured me and pointed me in the right direction more times then I can count. However, I didn't give them the respect and consideration they should have received. "Do Over"

Mom and Pop - I'm blessed

I would have competed my Senior year on the High School swim team. I worked so hard to earn my Varsity Letter which I received my Junior year but then I quit the swim team. I quit the swim team so I could earn $3.25 an hour working in a warehouse. Duh - stupid. My Senior year in High School our West High Eagles swim team took the State Championship; I was working in a warehouse cleaning bathrooms after School. "Do Over"

Varsity Letter - West Anchorage High School. This letter would be so much cooler if it had another varsity bar and a State Championship Star

I would have spent more time studying in High School and in College. I was the classic goof-off. In college when the other kids were studying I was playing Foosball, watching TV or shooting pool. When the smart kids were studying for tests I was out doing something frivolous and not doing what I should have been doing. Maybe, if I had spent my College years studying and not playing it would be Dr. DeanO writing this blog. Not, but you see my point here. "Do Over"

The big boy on my left was an awesome, straight A kid and my best buddy, Greg Heck on the right is a professional photographer from Chicago. Greg took college seriously and continued on and finished his college at the University of Illinois. Take college and higher education seriously my friends. I did not!

Relationships. Ouch, that's one I don't want to spend much time discussing nor give you many details, but I can say this. Live right and do right. The Bible says to abstain...., you can fill in the blank. The Bible is right! My "X" in-laws wanted me to finish college, get a job before marriage. Boy Howdy - they were right. Anyone reading this knows how difficult young relationships are. I certainly don't have the answer to relationships. Karen and I will have been married 22 years this May and I'm no closer to understanding this marriage thing then when I was 22. I can say this, love and cherish your spouse, don't go to bed angry, honor, respect, laugh and enjoy your spouse. Even then - marriage can often be difficult. Karen and I went on date Christmas day. We drove to Dalton to catch a movie - it was a good time. But, Relationships, how I behaved and my actions? "Do Over"

Relationships, it's not about you!

I'm an artist ... most people don't know that and I'm certain my blog readers don't but I quit my art when I "almost" finished college. That right, you heard me correctly, "almost". "Do Over" because I never went back to College and finished what amounted to one semester of classes. What a fool am I. (My "X" in-laws did their best to discourage getting married my Senior year and to finish my education...but) But, I don't know why I put the paints down, the ink pen and the charcoal pencils. I don't have an answer but I would like a "Do Over"

There's that rugged good looking Art student. "sigh"

Today in the break room I heard an older fellow say this; "If I had known I would live to be this old I would have taken better care of myself." I just had to smile to myself while reading the Atlanta Constitution because he said exactly what I had been thinking for over a year. Oh, I'm in good shape now, I'm slim and strong but I've battled the bulge. I've eaten way to much of the wrong foods, way to many "tons" of fast food, french fries and hamburgers. I know what a good diet is but I've failed miserably. "Do Over"

Oh ya - I thought I looked like Bruce Lee

Just glad to have my hair

This post could go on and on but I just wanted to share a quick thought with you fine people. Last, but most important, my faith. I've professed to be a Christian for most of my life but the truth is this...I was not a Christian. I've lived wicked and vile for most of my life until I met Jesus. Jesus has made a profound change in my life. The things I used to do...I don't do any more. I used to swear like a sailor and used the Lord's name as a swear word. Not any more. I used to hate the idea of going to church and now I'm distraught because I miss church. When talking about Jesus, I simply tell people this..."if you had known me back then" I know the Lord has been whispering into my ear and knocking on my hearts door for many, many years, but I did not want to listen. "Do Over"

Image from Internet - but the truth is simple - we will all stand before God one day. Those who rejected God and his simple plan of salvation, will stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgement and Christians will stand before God at the Judgment seat of God. Revelation 20:11-15 @ II Corinthians 5:10

Yes, I know, we can't turn the life clock backward. Also, I understand we can all look back and regret this or that. [I know, we can't change nor can we live in the past] This is just a post about a thought that has been running through my mind. Hey, it's the way I roll. But, I wonder dear friends, would you want a "Do Over?"

Image from Inernet

Blogging equals "communication"

2012-01-02T22:59:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year fellow bloggers. Wow - can you believe 2012 is here? I can't. I still recall an Elementary School project where we were asked to either write an essay or draw a picture of what we thought the world would be like in the year 2000. Mercy, it was 1970, I was ten years old, I couldn't imagine myself 40 years old, and I could only imagine a Buck Rogers kind of world. I drew a picture of a large, self contained spaceship; it was many stories tall, housed an entire community, and contained all the amenities we found in our homes and community - but on a space ship. (I wish I still had this picture) Well, I was wrong about living in a space city but technology has made leaps and bounds since 1970.

Image from Interent

I've been fascinated with the world of blogging for some time. So many blogs, wealth of topics and you can literally find blogs from the whole of this earth. I started this blog four years ago. I blogged for about one month, quickly became discouraged with the blog and quit. Two years later I decided to give blogging another go and the second attempt at blogging has been rewarding. What made my second blogging attempt a more successful endeavor then my first attempt? The answer I believe has been, "communication".

Cartoon from the Internet

This post is mostly in response to my Pastor's desire to build a successful blog; What is a successful blog? That question has many answers and no one right answer. Lots of readers? maybe! Lots of comments? maybe! Wonderful written prose? maybe! Hundreds of followers? maybe! Thousands of page views? maybe! Well written topics? maybe! Eye catching photography? maybe! Self fulfillment? maybe! Reader education? maybe! There just isn't one answer for such a broad question. We all follow blogs and write our blogs for our own personal reasons and agendas. I personally have no direction or theme for my blog. I've tried to be political and I've attempted to share my faith - both monumental failures. I've tried to find contributor's to write for my blog and add variety but this didn't work. What changed blogging for me is when I took a serious interest in other blogs! This is what I call the "communication" factor.

I became active in reading and posting comments on the many blogs I follow. I see many of you do the same as I also read your comments. I believe most bloggers are interested in personal communication on some level with their readers. What do you think about this post? Do you agree or disagree? What would you change? How can I make this better? What have you experienced? Isn't this a great picture? Can you believe this news article? Please share your thoughts! "communication" My wonderful Grandmother had this favorite phrase, it's not hers but it's true; "to have a friend you must be a friend first". So, I set out to be a friend to the many blogs I follow which meant I read the "entire" post, watched the "entire" video and left a comment. The comment doesn't have to be any more then "great post", "I enjoyed this", "great pictures", "well done", "thanks for taking the time to share" - I just like the author to know that DeanO stopped by, I read your post and appreciate your effort. Hey, blogging takes work and many spend hours developing just one post. Give a word of encouragement while you have the opportunity - You never know.

I would encourage new bloggers like Pastor Tim to "communicate". I believe communication is the number one building block in blogging.

I clean the blog house every year about this time. I go through my blog list, my blog feed and weed out the blogs that I added on a whim or there was no communication. No matter how hard you try, some bloggers are never going to visit your blog and leave you a comment. That's OK. If they have a subject or topic you enjoy reading keep following the blog and continue to leave comments. If not - stop following the blog. Hey, don't get offended. You are going to have to develop a thick skin, especially if you blog controversial subjects. I've found that people love to leave nasty comments just to leave nasty comments. If you're Political, religious, love America or controversial --- you're going to get nasty comments.

Change your theme. I do this about twice a year and it's a lot of work to do. I'm not sure what my new theme will be but I'm tired of the theme I have now. Your regular readers will know when you've changed your background picture, colors and wallpaper. Change is good - takes a little work but it's good. I'm just throwing out some random ideas. I'm a novice blogger but I'm working at getting better. I do have some "personal" pet blogging peeves!

I'm not a good writer. I don't have a good control of the English language, sentence structure and I'm a terrible speller. I failed English class...sorry Mom. But, I try and find my spelling errors and do my best to write proper sentences. Don't you just love spell check? I'm amazed and even a bit envious of some of the poetry blogs I follow - - what control of language.

I don't like the recent visitors widget. Why have this? Sign up for Google Analytics - this will give you all the information you ever wanted to know about who, what and where your readers are coming from. You will find out how many page views, how many new visitors and even how long they stayed on your blog. ("ouch") I don't like the complicated comments widget but I still try and leave a comment. Some blogs don't end, you scroll and scroll but the blog just keeps going. Advertising annoys me but I suppose some blogs are so popular that one can make money by advertising on their blog. My biggest pet peeve? Background music. If you're going to play "your" favorite background music please remember - it's probably not the favorite music choice from those who visit your blog! If your player is at the bottom of your blog then the reader has to scroll all the way to the bottom, turn of the player so they can read your post in peace. (that's if they decide to stay and read your post) I understand that some blogs use their background music as "theme" music. I think that's great. I love soft classical music but I am not a fan of contemporary Christian music teetering on Christian Rock.

See, we all have our own personal tastes which is why background music "might" very well chase readers away. Last but certainly not least, be careful on the "size" of pictures you post. I've visited blogs that have wonderful pictures but they are so large in pixels that it takes forever for the blog to load...click, most readers are gone.If you get new followers then follow them back. [if appropriate] I try and send a thank you note to my new followers but I've failed to do this for many of my new followers so I'll say "thank you" here.

Well, just some thoughts to help my Pastor get his blog up and running. Oh, has Pastor Tim ever left me a comment on any of my almost 1000 posts? NO - but I still love him. Am I bitter and distraught? NO - thick skin remember! My family does not read my blog and I'm not sure if any of my close friends read my blog...I bet you can relate to that! Have a great year my friends, both blogging and otherwise. I'd love to hear your suggestions on what has helped your blog and what ideas you have for new bloggers and established bloggers alike. "Communication" (PS, I can not tell a lie, Pastor Tim left me one comment and it was - "I'm here") 2012, WOW!

[A little late to add this but I should have made mention of my commenting process in this post. The majority of the blogs I comment on are blogs found in my blog feed - these are blogs which I have developed a friendship with, blogs which have requested to be added to my feed, and/or in most cases "I simply enjoy the blog". I do follow over 2000 blogs and it is simply not possible nor is there the time to comment on 2000 blogs. If you'd like to be on my blog feed - just let me know]

Cartoon from the Internet

Verizon Wireless: Yep, that'll be $2 to pay your bill online

2011-12-29T19:56:00.001-05:00

Marguerite Reardon CNET Writer

Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies

Story here

Credit Verizon

Verizon Wireless plans to charge subscribers a new $2 fee every time they pay their wireless bills online or directly over the phone.

A leaked memo from the company first reported by Engadget, showed some of the details of the new plan. And the blog Phone Scoop got confirmation from a Verizon representative on Thursday of the change.

The new fee will go into effect starting January 15 and doesn't apply to customers paying their bills with an electronic check or who enroll in autopay using a credit, debit, or AT&T cards, according to the memo posted on Endgadget. Customers using Verizon Wireless gift cards or Verizon Wireless device rebate cards and customers using standard paper check and money orders made payable directly to Verizon Wireless will also not be charged a fee, Phone Scoop reported.

Verizon said that customers making single payments online will be notified of the fee before they complete their transactions.

The fee associated with paying your bill online is part of a larger trend by companies to extract more money from customers to access certain forms of payment. Bank of America was criticized earlier this year for its plans to charge customers a $5 fee to use debit cards.

Verizon's plan seems to make little sense, given that the company offers several ways to avoid the fee. Verizon didn't elaborate on why it's charging this fee. My guess is that the company that clears these payments is charging Verizon a fee that Verizon is passing on to customers. Still, it seems ridiculous that paying a bill online or by phone could cost Verizon more than processing a hand-written check or money order that is sent to the company through the regular mail.

Verizon has not yet responded to CNET's request for more information on this topic. So stay tuned for updates.

[Dean,

Molly again, with huge news:

Verizon just announced that it's not going to charge customers a fee to pay our bills online.

Two nights ago, I started a petition on Change.org telling Verizon that it can't nickel and dime customers like me with new fees. Within hours, more than 130,000 of us signed the petition. (Thanks, by the way -- you're amazing!)

It took months of hard work to get Bank of America to drop its $5 debit card fee, but Verizon backed down in less than 24 hours. Turns out people like you and me are getting more powerful by the day.

Congrats, and happy New Year!

- Molly]

Well - Merry Christmas Verizon subscribers. Most people these days pay most their bills on line and this charge makes no sense. I suppose it's much like using your ATM card at a bank that isn't your bank. $2.00 - $5.00 is the charges I've seen. I've hi-lighted the text where B-of-A was wanting to charge their consumer's $5.00 to use their ATM card. Mercy - any wonder why we closed our B-of-A accounts 6 years ago; O - not to mention they held us liable for ATM charges which were placed in Mexico while we were in Georgia. Bank of America will never again receive our business or a good recommendation.

Image (s) from Internet

I've read several articles that encourage the consumer to look carefully over their bills before they send in their payment. Remember when the big phone companies got caught "Bill Cramming"? You know - they added services to your account which you never ordered! I've had negative experiences with both Verizon and AT&T. Anyhow - back to this article.

Until consumer's get fed up with these type of charges nothing will change. A fellow co-worker told me just this past Tuesday that he pays $250.00 a month for his "discounted" family plan! What? When did it become necessary that every family member have an Android phone with a data plan? As long as consumers are willing to pay $250.00 a month for a "discounted" family plan then I doubt that consumers will flinch at paying a $2.00 Internet service fee. Oil companies know we'll pay $3.75 a gallon for gasoline and phone companies know we'll spend $250.00 for the "luxury" not necessity of having a cell phone.

So, what do I think about Pure Talk cell phone service now that I've had the service for 6 months? I'm glad you asked. It's OK. Not good but OK for what it is. The phones they offer are expensive and most are outdated but I suppose that's the norm for discounted cell phone services. I believe their top of the line cell phone is the Samsung A877 Impression, for $139.00. They have a data plan which is "only" 100mb which is nothing in the world of Internet web surfing. That's three 30mb mp3 downloads to put this data plan into perspective. The average data plan for Verizon and AT&T is 2gb. The average Internet user would use the 100mb data plan up in an hour. So, outdated phones, horrible data plan and OK service. Pure Talk canceled our plan without contacting us because of a credit card error so I suppose I have to add "poor" service or communication. Would I recommend Pure Talk? NO - I'm thinking about moving over to Walmart and give their Straight Talk Service a run around the park. What phone service do you use or recommend? Might I ask...how much do you pay a month? PS, I have the Motorola V3 Razr which was first released to the public in 2006. That's an old phone by today's technology standards but it sold 50 million units.

Update: Change.org has a petition circulating to drop the new Verizon fee - the same type of position they circulated when B-of-A announced the $5.00 ATM and backed off the stupidity!

Courtesy Wikipedia

Chase Jarvis, Lego Camera - DigitalRev TV

2011-12-25T23:46:00.002-05:00

First, you can purchase the Lego 3mp camera on Amazon for $30.00; it truly does exist. I don't expect you to watch this entire video but I encourage you photographers to do so. Chase Jarvis is a world famous photographer, a director and videographer; with three books to his name. "The Best Camera is the One That's With You" Did I mention monster skills.! Check out his website and be inspired. Why did I watch the whole video? First, I was interested in watching a professional shoot with a $30.00 kids Lego camera. That in itself was fascinating to watch. Second, I was curious how a professional interacts with their subjects. As an example of Photography artists, Ansel Adams was a master nature photographer, using simple camera equipment available in his day, with a keen eye for the subject; the master's eye was simply astounding. I've looked at 1000's of photographs from folks who couldn't take a good photograph to save themselves. I've also looked at photographs that were mind blowing awesome from the every day Joe. Why? Is it practice, luck, knowledge, skill, equipment or other tangents? Is it a combination of all or is it the left side of the brain behind the scenes? Watching Chase work with his subjects, figure out quick solutions to taking photographs and framing his subjects was a viewing experience in it's own.

My friend Greg Heck, of Greg Heck Photography is a fantastic photographer hailing from the windy city, Chicago. Greg is a master at taking the time to study his subject, light his subject and uses camera placement. Greg has always had fantastic control, knowledge of and enjoyed manipulating the many camera variables to achieve the final shot. I remember way back at Hesston College Greg using these skills and he honed these skills to the University of Illinois , graduating with a Photography Arts degree. Check out Greg's website here.

A favorite picture of mine I took of Greg in college on one of our photo outings. This picture was taken with a cheap box camera. I don't know if you can see the lines in the photograph but they are the lines from the camera view finder. Interesting and don't know why that is. Greg is shooting with a Nikon F series camera.

I know I talk a great deal about photography with my blog but it's a medium and art which fascinates me; it always has. I view 100's of video's and read 100's of reviews on Camera's and equipment but I'm truly fascinated in the heart and mind of the photographer. Photographer's, check this video out - I bet we can all learn something from a professional photographer shooting with a $30.00 Lego camera. If nothing else, it's truly an interesting concept. How many of you photographers had to make a pin hole camera in photo class, shoot and mount a photograph for a grade? I did and I suppose that's as simple as it ever gets and also quite difficult to pull off. Here's an article on how to make a pin hole camera from a 126 film cartridge. Cool eh? It'd be kind of a fun Blogging party if a bunch of us made pin hole camera's and shared our photographs.

Pin Hole camera picture from the Internet

Beware of the Doghouse

2011-12-22T22:26:00.003-05:00

My wife asked for a "Toaster" for Christmas. I'm kinda of thinking "a toaster?...really?" I was thinking she wanted an i-Pod or some craftsman tools but a "Toaster" My brother Robert on Facebook pointed me to this video and I've never seen it but it's hillarious. So - my friends, for a humors video for Christmas...here you go. And - as a Public Service announcement...here's a list of the 10 worst Christmas gifts.

I think it went well. My wife announced she's going to Wisconsin for New Years without me...It went really well!

Jingle Bell Postcard - Andrea Wittgens

2011-12-20T20:35:00.002-05:00

Hello blogger friends - it's almost Christmas...right? The DeanO and his wife just returned from a wonderful Christmas party and I'm in a festive mood. My old High School buddy posted this video on his Facebook of a dear NY musician friend of his. This is a wonderful and fun Christmas video. Hm, my old High School Buddy must be near the 1/2 century mark himself. "sigh" Anyway - this wonderfully talented and beautiful music artist name is Andrea Wittgens. Here is a link to her website and you can find her video's on YouTube. Also, you can like her Facebook page. Don't you just love it when you find something new, fresh and wonderful? I certainly did and I'm wishing you a very Merry Christmas indeed! No advertising here my friends...just passing on a good thing!

My Brother Tim Today with his wonderful family, Mother and Father

Obendorf Christmas, 1978 or 79

@ One with their new puppy and Becky's Parents

Chris Farley - The Tragic Side of Comedy

2011-12-19T19:05:00.000-05:00

Maybe some of you readers remember the comedy of Chris Farley. Chris Farley was so funny that my sides would hurt from laughing at some of his skits. Chris died of a drug and alcohol overdose on December 18, 1997 with a prostitute at his side. I'm saddened to have lost Chris Farley but Chris went the way of so many famous people; musicians and actors alike. Perhaps we forget about all the little people that will never make the front page news but they too went the way of Chris Farley; alone, no friends and held up by the crutch of alcohol and drugs. I know Chris must have been searching for happiness; a happiness which can only be found in God. I've been observing at work to see if there is any true Christmas spirit and none to be found. My e-mail box is full of advertisements, last minute Christmas sales and order today to receive by Christmas solicitations. We have downstairs in the garage, a box where we put all the catalogs we receive in the mail, and the box is full of catalogs which will never be read. In a little more then a week we will begin receiving all the post Christmas solicitations, e-mails and catalogs. You know my friends it is all a bit overwhelming.

I suppose as I write this post that I'm sad...not sad for me but sad for all the people who are unhappy at this joyous and festive time of the year. Perhaps many people hate Christmas and just wish December would quickly pass by. I know it's December 19th and I truly don't know where the month has gone. Time moves so quickly these days. But, this isn't a sad post it's truly a happy post because I'm reminded that one came into this world to seek and to save that which is lost. Jesus - the gift from God to save mankind. If we can look past all that glitters and all that shines and see to the true meaning of Christmas...that will warm your heart and maybe fill you with compassion for a world that is sad and hurting. I see this world everyday at work in the factory and it breaks my heart.

I opened the Bible the other day to read the Gospel of Luke and the Christmas Story. Luke 1:30-33 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

While driving home from work the other day I saw the most glorious sunset and I was reminded of our Great and loving God - who gave this beautiful sunset to remind me of God's glory. O - the world around me does worry me. The state of America, the crime and all our sin...this greatly bothers my heart, but, I have a Savior who loves me despite of me. I hope you took a moment of "quiet" time to reflect on the blessings from God. I did and I'm overwhelmed with how richly God has sustained me. Perhaps, the biggest blessing of all was I heard from my long lost sister today in an e-mail. It blessed my soul and I haven't stopped smiling since. I found a family member on Facebook who has been praying for Roberta all these many years. I just want to say dear friends; I'm blessed, I'm happy and I appreciate all of you.
God bless,
DeanO

5 Reasons Why You Need a 50mm lens

2011-12-15T10:14:00.000-05:00

I'm not sharing information that you avid photographer's don't already know. However, this is great information for the young photographer or individual new to photography. Several years ago I asked my brother-in-law what the number one mistake new videographers and photographers make and his answer was simply this; "Zoom" My brother-in-law is a professional Video maker, owns and operates Angel Park, Inc, Film @ Video in Chicago and knows his business. What captured my interest was simply the title of the video subject; "50mm lens". Like you, albeit my lens are in storage, I have every lens imaginable for the Pentax K mount but there is much to be said about the 50mm lens. I apologize for some of the off color remarks made in the video but the host does a great job explaining his 5 reasons for using the 50mm lens. Perhaps there may be some useful information in this video for the individual new to the wonderful craft of photography and full of questions about camera lens. So, before you go for the 200mm zoom lens - consider the faithful and useful 50mm lens.

Quiet

2011-12-14T13:17:00.000-05:00

The Bible tells us in Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God: ..." My prayer for you my friends is that you would take some "quiet" time and remember how good God has been. I know, through it all - hardship and heartache, mountaintop and valley's, God has been there for me. I know many of you good friends are going through great difficulty and trials - God will be there for you. We have the promise of God's word! Hebrews 13:5 "... I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." God loves his Children. I truly wish all of you a joyous Christmas season.

Iconic

2011-12-10T02:04:00.001-05:00

I follow many wonderful photography blogs (using fancy DSLR camera's) but I thought I'd share with you the memory of my very first camera. When we returned from Africa and at the age of nine, I purchased from the local drug store, a Kodak Instamatic. The camera used a 126 film cartridge. Back in those days when you had your film developed you received two photographs of the same picture. The catch? The photographs were joined and had a perforated line you had to bend and tear to remove the smaller copy. I found out years later that my parents had kept the second but smaller copies. Flash cubes? Oh, they were cool. They made a pop, you could smell the hot plastic burning and they were to hot to handle after they went off. I've taken a lot of wonderful memories with that little $5.00 Kodak Instamatic. I've seen these camera's available in about every garage sale and thrift store I've ever been too. I guess they were owned by just about every household in America. From the Kodak Instamatic I moved up to a Minolta 110 film cartridge camera and then my first of several 35 mm Range Finder. What was my favorite camera I've owned? My Pentax ME Super. What was your first camera?

"Girl Named Tennessee" by - Needtobreathe

How could I forget? Marissa over at "Life on our side of the Mountain" blog reminded me about the Polaroid camera. Great blog, check it out. My father had the fancy SX-70 and my Uncle Nubbs had the old style Polaroid where you had to wait 2-3 minutes before you peeled the film apart; but I purchased the cheap version. I owned the model which used the snap in flash unit - One step (which I still have - oddly enough) I purchased this camera with money I was supposed to be saving for Summer Camp. Solid Rock Bible Camp - still an active ministry today. I believe I paid almost $100.00 in the mid 70's. When my Mother told me I needed to produce the money to pay for camp I had to come clean with my "secret" purchase. Oh baby - not a good day! But, I have today a bunch of great photographs taken with the Polaroid. I believe I used this camera up until the mid 80's until the film was just to expensive.

70 years of Minolta
History of Polaroid Camera
History of Kodak
History of the Brownie Camera
Pentax Me Super

Image from the Internet

1970 - Anchorage, Alaska - Kodak Instamatic camera -
"sorry Mom about showing you in sweats"


Minolta 110 camera - Image from Internet - this was a cool little camera

No digital camera equipment - boxes sitting in my closet with camera's I'll never use again!

Aged Photography from Josh Pickle on Vimeo

Compassion

2011-12-06T00:26:00.001-05:00

Jude 22: "And of some have compassion, making a difference:"
- Jesus

Sunset - Lake Shasta, California in November

I shared this personal story via e-mail with Sandie over at the Chatty Crone blog. I'm Alaskan Native and this is a wonderful gift. But, I didn't think so growing up. Alaska Natives are prime targets for bullying. I don't know why but kids love to pick on Alaska Native kids. I know we talked different, looked different but many Native kids spoke their Native tongue and English! You have to know that when I was in School a lot of the Native Kids were pulled from their villages to attend School in the big city, "Anchorage". I was adopted by a wonderful family and moved from King Cove, Alaska to Anchorage Alaska.

In Junior High we had a dress up day, you know, boys wore suits and girls wore nice dresses. I was very excited to participate and asked my Father to help me dress for the occasion. Dad outfitted me in one of his sport coats, ties, slacks and I had nice shoes I wore for Church. I was so proud and I thought I looked awesome. Then it happened, again; I was in a Social Studies class when one of the popular kids singled me out and made this comment, "I've never seen a Klutch in a suit". A Klutch is a derogatory term for Native Alaskans. It would be the same as the "N" word for African Americans. I was humiliated in class, why? What did I do? Nothing but participated in a School event. I don't know people why kids can be so cruel. I've been told a hundred times to "get over it" but you never do. What I didn't tell Sandie is after class I was so hurt and asmamed I removed the sport coat and tie.

That's just one of many stories I could share. My sister hated being Native and she is such a wonderful and beautiful girl. But, I know she suffered the same ridicule and derogatory comments as did I. There is so much cruelty today and bullying is out of control or maybe were just recognizing the problem. The words we speak to others will last a life time my friends. I know! Be kind my friends and choose your words carefully.

Roberta - my wonderful big Sister

1962

1977

1986

The Inman Family - "How Deep The Father's Love"

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

2011-12-02T00:56:00.001-05:00

Podcast Powered By Podbean

A decorating post from DeanO? Truth is I'm not a decorator but my wife is fantastic with style and decorations. My wife's theme for the past several years has been this: "simplicity". Karen takes some of our favorite Christmas decorations and carefully places them about the home. I've truly enjoyed looking into your homes and seeing your great decorations and fancy feasts over these past two years. So, from Karen and DeanO, a taste of Christmas in our home. I hope you enjoy!

I've included one of my ALL time favorite Christmas albums for your listening pleasure. Engelbert Humperdinck. Just click on the down/up arrows to expand the player. I'm curious how that name was arrived at? What an awesome voice. What might your favorite Christmas album be? Have a Merry Christmas season my friends.

I Can't Do This!

2011-11-26T19:26:00.001-05:00

Something interesting happened at today's hunt. I had to get honest with myself. I realized I could no longer participate in the John's Mountain hunt. Wow, did I really just say that? I did this hunt last year and I swore the hunt off last year but; sometimes we get stubborn and we want to take another run at defeat! Here's the story of last years hunt and Brother Daniel shooting his first Deer.

You can see the steep grade behind Bro. Daniel

Picture from the Internet - John's Mountain, GA

Bro. Kevin

Getting up early at 3:00 AM is no big deal. I had all my gear ready, I was dressed warm and ready for any weather conditions. My buddy from work, Jeff, picked me up at 4:00 AM sharp. The first day of the two day hunt, we met Brother Kevin and Brother Daniel at 4:30 AM, in the parking lot of McDonalds. Today, Brother Daniel could not hunt so Brother Jason was riding shotgun with Kevin. "Brothers" in Christ my friends.

Picture from the Internet

We drove to John's Mountain and were at the top no later then 5:15 AM. We all sat around in the dark and told exaggerated Deer hunting stories. You didn't expect the truth from a bunch of redneck Southern boys, a couple Yankee's to stir the soup, IFBC Baptist Deer hunters; really? By 6:15 it was time to strap on the gear and make the mile and 1/2 walk back to our hunting grounds. Kevin goes back three miles. The hike starts by a 500 yard climb up a steep path. This is when I knew, I had to admit the truth to myself, "I can't do this". I had to stop three to four times just to catch my breath. I know, you're thinking the DeanO is grossly out of shape. Not at all. I'm the most fit and trim I've been in many years. I have more energy now then I have had in ten years but; I only have one lung that works correctly.

Picture from the Internet

My dear Grandfather had emphysema and this disease crippled him in his later years. I can't tell you the times as a teenager and on different fishing trips Grandpa had to stop and catch his breath. I'm not talking about climbing a steep hill but walking on a flat grade. Grandpa had black lung, a condition caused by all the years he worked in the coal mines. Today and yesterday I knew exactly what Grandfather was experiencing. Friends, it was very painful and just a little embarrassing.

Grandfather - doing what he loved to do....Fish
Tim standing @ the Beave fishing

35 years later - The little fisherman on the right
My brother the "Beave" a chef in Chicago

Here I am with these young bucks and the old man is bent over attempting to regain his composure and to catch his breath. What's going on you ask? My 180 pounds of muscle, blood, bone and tissue are fighting for oxygen. With only one lung working and my body thrust into intense and difficult activity, my body quickly shut down. I don't know any medical terms here, I'm not physically unhealthy, I don't smoke, I don't drink, I can work fast paced 12 hour shifts but this hunt liked to kill me!

DeanO - 1982

After we hiked in the mile and 1/2 I was at my hunting spot. I went down the steep face of the mountain side, almost 100 yards, to an area that levels off. There are two shooting lanes where the deer enter after they cross through a narrow passage below. The locals call it a hollow. It was today when I had to make the difficult decision "I can't do this". While sitting down next to a tree and watching and waiting for the sun to rise, my mind was racing as it considered the difficulties I had experienced just to get to this hunting site. As the sun rose and I had clear view of all the nature around me I studied carefully the steep 100 yards to the top of the mountain side and I knew then, that even if I saw a deer, I wasn't going to take the shot. Why? Simple, it would have taken two plus hours to pull the deer just to the top of the hill and back to the path and another hour plus to bike the deer back to camp; also, this would have required the help of the young hunters. I would have welcomed their help and even my good friend Jeff said, "that's why you have me". I appreciate such a kind offer but this is something I desire to accomplish and finish on my own, if I did shoot a deer. A good friend is hard to find and Jeff is indeed a good friend.

My buddy Jeff

Good Friends

Sitting down and looking up the hill I decided then and there that I was done. We had been in our hunting spots for thee plus hours and I had heard very few shots so I surmised that the morning hunt was over. I texted my friend Jeff and told him that I believed the hunt was done. Jeff agreed and left the decision of picking up and heading home to me. I decided it was time to go.

Crossing the bridge...making a difficult decision

Friends, it's an odd feeling and realization coming to a point in your life when you realize you can no longer do something. Oh, I'm not talking about hunting in general but I know without hesitation, I can no longer participate in this hunt. It's sad knowing this. This hunt is special for my good buddy, Kevin. Honestly, I believe this is the first time in my life I've realized and admitted to myself, that I can no longer continue participating in an activity. Jeff and I talked on the way home and we decided that we would carefully plan our hunts for next year and for the remainder of this year.

1970's - 2011

I wonder good friends - have you ever come to the decision "I can't do this"? I'd love to hear your comments!

I am truly enjoying reading your comments, as I'm sure everyone else is also. Thank you, kind friends

Support your local "Pastor"

2011-11-24T18:55:00.001-05:00

Y'all remember the movie "Support your local Sheriff"? It is one of my favorite movies. However, this post is a "SHOUT-OUT" to my Pastor who has stepped out into the vast arena of blogging. It would mean much to me personally if my blogger friends would be so kind as to drop by the Pastor Tim blog and welcome a "baby" blogger into our world. I know Pastor Tim would love your support and encouragement as he looks to share his incredible wealth of Bible knowlledge, Christian stories, the glorious Gospel and who knows what other goodies Pastor Tim may have up his sleeve. Pastor Tim also has a website and you can visit his googlesite here. (a free googlesite) If asked to describe Pastor Tim in one word: "humble". Pastor Tim in the six years he has been my pastor has been the most humble servant of God I know. Pastor Tim is a dear, cherished man of God.

Pastor Timothy McCulley - Romans 5:8

I know when I ventured into blogging it was a daunting task. It's taken two years to reach almost 1000 posts and I'm not a prolific blogger by any stretch. I believe "comments" are the greatest form of compliments a blog receives.

So - my kind friends - stop by the Pastor Tim blog and leave him a comment of encouragement. We are indeed a community. Pastor Tim has been faithful to submit sermon outlines to my blog and other thought provoking posts. I'm happy to see Pastor Tim develop and write his own blog but sad to loose a faitful contributor to the DeanO blog.

PS, I had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with friends from the Church. As soon as I finish this post I have my hunting gear to ready and I leave early for my local hunt. I trust all you good friends had an awesome day with friends and family. WE have so much to be thankful for.

DeanO

PS, thanks everyone for taking the time to visit Pastor Tim's new blog. I know this will be an encouragement to a cherished friend of mine who I'm positive will put together an awesome blog. I need to find the clip but several times Pastor Tim has mentioned in church that he is "blogging"

Jetsons, meet the Jetsons

2011-11-24T12:18:00.001-05:00

Microsoft Home of the Future, visual tour here

Where is the doggie door?

In Every Thing Give Thanks,

2011-11-24T11:30:00.001-05:00


"Grace"

I wonder how many people have this picture hanging in their house. You can find the history and story behind this wonderful painting, taken from a photograph here. I remember this picture from my Grandparents home. I'm quite sure my Mother has this painting.

I have so much to be thankful for and I desired to wish all of you a "Happy Thanksgiving"

Here is one of my favorite and cherished verses from God's precious Word:

I Thessalonians 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

I know with the many trials and woes of this world that this verse is easier read then practiced, but, can I say this dear friends - God has never done me wrong, never left me and has never forsaken me...despite myself

You Want To Learn to Sew?

2011-11-22T16:49:00.001-05:00

"You want to learn to sew?" That was Karen's reply when I walked downstairs to announce I had made the decision, "I would like to learn to sew". About 7 years ago I bought her a Janome Memory Craft 3000, sewing machine, which she hates. (she wants the her old Singer back which she bought in High School; ~~4 decades ago~~ [i got in trouble]) She loves the old Singer which is probably the machine I want to learn on. Why learn sewing? Rhetorical question - and I answer, why not? I have DoubleTakeCreations Video business, our Candy Bouquet Franchise, full time factory job and I'm working hard to develop and market my Sharp as a Tack knife sharpening business; and I also want to learn the art of leather crafting.

I've shared on my blog that my hunting theme has been simple: "hunting on a budget" I need a cushion for hunting and I don't want to pay $70.00 for a Fatboy. PS, I'm not fat but that's just the odd name for this hunting cushion. I've designed, with the help of my wonderful wife my own Fatboy copy of a hunting cushion. One problem - there needs to be some simple sewing done. I have already sewed the handle on which was easy because I did this by hand; but I want to sew a heavy but silent faux leather cover around the foam inside, to add strength, some waterproof characteristics and longevity. Problem; I can't work the machine. Sew...my blogger friends - since my wife probably doesn't have the patience to teach the DeanO any basic sewing skills, I have decided to look to the blogger community and the Internet for help. "Help" I work 12 hour shifts so a beginning sewing class is out of the question. Does anybody know of a DVD program which works? Maybe a good book or even an old VHS tape. I don't know but I'm now determined to learn to sew. A seamstress like my wife? Never. A over the top seamstress like my dear Mother? Not in this life time; but, sewing a straight line and making simple projects...sure, why not! I'm the little engine that can. And before you tell me just to sit down and push the pedal...I did that and it took a 1/2 hour to take the Janome apart and clean the knotted ball of thread I so quickly created.

And the video? My mother's favorite, right up there with Sound of Music. This is the scene where the poor Russian Jewish girl marries the town seamstress. Remember his new sewing machine? That was a great scene. We have a restored sewing machine and cabinet like the one in this movie, downstairs. It's a pretty cool story on it's own!

The old Singer I want to learn on - I believe it needs a simple fix

The Janome machine my wife despises

My wives sewing area

Today's Political Cartoon

2011-11-22T12:58:00.001-05:00

How much oil estimated to be in Alaska? Discovered and Unknown?

Malware targeted toward Android devices continues to surge

2011-11-21T12:49:00.001-05:00

by Lance Whitney


Credit: McAfee

Malware targeted towardAndroid devices continues to surge, says a new report from McAfee, pushing 2011 to become the busiest year in history for both mobile and general malware.

The amount of malware infecting Android devices during the third quarter grew almost 37 percent from the second quarter, according to McAfee's Third-Quarter Threats Report (PDF). Android's growing demand among consumers has made it an increasingly ripe and inviting target for cybercriminals.

How inviting? Almost all new mobile malware over the third quarter was aimed squarely at Android. Legacy software being what it is, though, among all mobile platforms, Nokia's Symbian OS still saw the greatest amount of malware.

One common scheme against Android is led by Trojans that collect personal information and steal money from the user by sending SMS messages. Another type of malware records phone conversations and sends them to the attacker.
As a result of the onslaught against Android and the growth in overall malware, McAfee now believes the industry will see 75 million unique pieces of malware by the end of the year, up from its previous forecast of 70 million. That number promises to make 2011 a record year for malware.

"This has been a very steady quarter in terms of threats, as both general and mobile malware are more prevalent than ever," said Vincent Weafer, senior vice president of McAfee Labs, in a statement. "So far this year, we've seen many interesting yet challenging trends that are affecting the threat landscape, including heightened levels of sophistication and high-profile hacktivist attacks."

Phony antivirus products, AutoRun malware, and password-stealing Trojans were among the most common types of malware in the quarter, staging a rebound from previous quarters. Malware aimed at theMac also continues to grow as Apple computers experience greater demand among both consumers and businesses.
The number of botnet infections inched down over the third quarter but staged some dramatic gains in countries such as Argentina, Indonesia, Russia, and Venezuela. Cutwail, Festi, and Lethic proved to be the most dangerous and damaging botnets last quarter.

And though spam has dropped in numbers since 2007, it's grown in sophistication, according to McAfee. Spearphishing, or targeted spam, is increasingly being adopted by more attackers and is proving to be a highly effective form of malware.

"The noise tells us spam levels have dropped, yet the signal we need to hear is that the bad guys have changed their tactics," the report noted. "They are protecting their business models and are doing so with a sophistication that creates a more dangerous threat than before."

About Lance Whitney
Lance Whitney wears a few different technology hats--journalist, Web developer, and software trainer. He's a contributing editor for Microsoft TechNet Magazine and writes for other computer publications and Web sites. Lance is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and he is not an employee of CNET.

I do not own an Android phone....but wait, i sort of do; My computer. I can do everything an android phone does "including making phone calls and equipped with a 3.1 megapixel video camera", but obviously, my PC does not have the portability of an Android phone! Not to much of a stretch to make this comparison.

A week ago, over at the wonderful Chatty Crone blog, Sandie gave some great Public Service Information about identity theft, how thieves use our GPS units against us and Cell phone fraud. Check it out.

I spent 12 hours working on a friends computer this past Week and I removed 117 Trojans, Virus and Spam issues. 117 folks and they didn't even know these problems were present. I wonder how many Android phone users have no idea that their Android phone is under attack?

What I personally take away from this article is one simple word "SOPHISTICATION" Well said Mr. Whitney. We consumers are so quick to download the latest app, the latest game, the latest ring tone...etc., that we often fail to be cautious. One of the "sophistication" concepts is and has been for some time is to copy a legitimate website or to create a phony website. Here is an example. Say in your blog feed you read that DeanO has an exciting and informative new post. You quickly drop whatever you're doing because you don't want to delay the joy of reading a DeanO post. What you don't know is that the DeanO blog has been hacked and the hacker's are now using my blog to hack unaware readers. You click on the blog feed to read my newest story: "DeanO's backyard kill" A story about my 280 pound, 18 point, non-typical; plus the blow by blow account. First, this isn't my blog post, second, in my wildest dreams I'd harvest a Buck of this caliber - it's a hi-jacked copy of my blog, second by clicking on this story you've already downloaded Malware and rest assured that all the links are Malware and Trojan horses! It could be a key-logger Trojan, some type of personal identity stealing Virus...who knows. The point is simple; "sophistication" This is how clever the Malware thieves have become. Do you remember the hijacked facebook scam? Facebook accounts were hacked and the hackers then were successful to get your facebook friends to send money....because they were on a trip somewhere in Europe and had been robbed. Another version of this same scenario. PS, please, don't stop reading, commenting and visiting my blog. As one blogger says, and I love this; "comments are like tips". This was just an example!

Somehow we are programed to believe that if an offer has a website attached this must be a legitimate offer. NO - a thousand times NO my friends. The thieves, the crooks, the slime, the hacker are smart, thrifty, vile, competent, engineers, educated and "sophisticated" Please, don't think for a minute that your cell phones, your computers, your banking information, your personal information and identities are safe from these really bad dudes!

You might be wondering why DeanO is so adamant and revisits the topic of computer safety so often - I hate to see people and friends hacked. It's that simple. We can take simple steps to protect ourselves and our personal information. Are these simple steps foolproof? No Way! As I mentioned in another post, a Facebook Trojan took down my laptop...I mean 100% down and out. "Why I Hate Facebook" I had to start over from scratch. My wife, while trying to save money, infected her desktop twice, with a virus from a coupon website. It took me hours to clean her PC, both times.

Here are just three of many wonderful, helpful and free programs available for your PC. By the way - if you ever view a screen pop-up which claims your computer is infected....guess what...you are already infected! Do these programs weekly - my best advice to you today.

download and run malwarebytes.org
download and run Zonealarm Free
download and run CC Cleaner

Since I don't own an Android phone I can give no advice for security programs available and how good they work. However, just google "mobile security" and you should find some useful information. Here is an article titled "World's First True Firewall for Android Just Launched" Check it out and go from there. As I always say "Keep your personal information personal" Good luck and safe wi-fi my friends.

One quick note. I miss many of your posts. My job, my long hours and my physical @ mental attention is limited these days. I apologize for missing so many fine posts and failing to comment. Honestly, I do my best to visit your blogs, read your posts and leave comments. Well, off to Church to get our Olan Mills Church Directory photograph. Did you know that Olan Mills was just purchased by Lifetouch? Kinda scary, you drive into work and find out you have a new owner...do I still have a job might be your first thought!

Confused by Google Android updates? Join the club

Image from the Internet - don't you just love the Windows dig?

Early morning video - my Buck

2011-11-13T17:46:00.000-05:00

So, I've been dilligent with the pursuit of capturing on video film the shooter Buck I saw last week. I know some of you readers are rooting for the Buck and I think that's great. I heard maybe a dozen rifle shots this morning so I'm confident if this Buck can make another month he'll be simply awesome next year. Anyhow, since I'm switching from night shift to day shift I thought I'd shoot somve video. You will see in this short video the shooter Buck making a very "brief" appearance; at least he did show up. I decided to dress in hunting clothes, arm myself with a video camera and go video-hunting for Deer. Watch here on Vimeo; most you folks know that embeded video's on Google seem to drag!

Imagine my surprise when my first guest was my wonderful cat, Sandy. Sandy came up the ladder, poked his head around, got some loving, balanced himself on the door then headed off to hunt mice.

The shooter Buck was the first Deer I saw. I had hoped he would stay out longer but this is the exact route he took two days past when I saw him from the dining room window. I saw two smaller Bucks, two adult Does and two yearlings. Interesting, but the Doe was chasing her yearlings away as she is now ready to mate and bring in the Spring's new fawns. Nature is awesome to behold my friends.

My camera died on the HD Sony Camcorder just as I was filming the young Buck chasing the Doe; so I had to sneak back into the house and grab the 8 year old Canon. I tried to describe the video shoot but whispering into the Canon didn't work so I just masked my noise with Booker T and the MG's. People, where do these ugly bags under the eyes come from? Is it because we spend so much time behind a computer; both at home and work? I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did filming the Deer. It was so much fun and it made me wish I had some of the fancy camera's and telephoto lens' you photo bloggers use to take such awesome pictures with. (run on sentence? Sorry Mom) Truly, with the right equipment I could have taken some awesome and crystal clear photographs. Wait..I do have the lens', just not the DSLR body. "sigh" I need to win the lotto! I did enjoy, as always, watching the Sun rise.

One of my goals this year was to hunt on a budget. I can't afford the expensive binoculars so I purchased Tasco Sierra binoculars. Sure, a little cheap and a little heavy but they held up just fine for a week of hard hunting. The eye-relief cap came off and I had to screw it back on but no damage done. Swarovski binoculars, 10x42, $2,400.00 - are you kidding me?

My rifle: Winchester model 70 - .270 caliber $400.00 used
My scope: Redfield Reveolution 3x9x50mm $200.00 new
My scope mount: Evolution Gun Works Picatinny rail $70.00
My bino's: Tasco Sierra 10x42 $40.00 on sale new
My hunting clothes: Walmart, old clothes and hand-me-downs $100.00
My hunting boots: Old Home Depot leather Work boots $100.00
My hunting grounds: back yard, local farms, WMA hunts, @ invites from friends
My Knives: Grandpa's knives, knives from my High-School days and a couple inexpensive new knives, like my Outdoor Edge Swingblade $70.00

True, you can hunt on a budget! I'd love to belong to a hunting club but $750.00 a year? Truly, that's a very fair price when you consider how much money goes towards the upkeep and game management for the club...but. I'd love the top of the line rain gear, hunting clothes, boots, knives, guns, optics....but

I'd love for you fellow hunters to share any advice you might have on "hunting on a budget" that'd be a fun topic!

30 Year old Buck 110 with new Buck Packlite Guthook

The old Canon and my Grandpa's bino's sitting on the dining room table
@ ready for any Deer action!

The trusty Winchester...at the ready

This morning!

2011-11-12T11:03:00.001-05:00

"click any of the photo's to enlarge"

Today's Political Cartoon

2011-11-12T00:09:00.001-05:00

Mom always told me...usually with a scowl on her face "DeanO, loose lips sink ships"

Where did the years go?

2011-11-08T22:42:00.003-05:00

I wonder...can anyone please tell me where the years went?a little "Aw Aw Baby" to help wash down these aging blues... and Slim Harpo (I know - I pasted in the bow tie)
PS, not my birthday...just lamenting the years :)

Box Blind Shooting

2011-11-07T23:18:00.001-05:00

I use shooting sticks, purchased from Cabaela's

Image from Cabela's website

and this shooting technique has "never" crossed my mind. Don't you folks just love all the wealth of information which can be found on the Internet! Plenty of hunting left to do and I'll be back in the blind this Friday shooting at a local farm. When my buddy from work dropped me off at home this ~~evening~~, morning (we work night shifts for two weeks) - I spotted a deer in our back 40 standing near the tree line. I convinced my buddy to get out and walk to the fence line to take a closer look. (Just so you know - my buddy Jeff is a far better and experienced hunter then am I) No sooner did we step out of the truck then a large buck with a super tall rack showed up. The Buck was in rut and chasing the doe. It was awesome. Was I tempted to run upstairs, grab the rifle, hunting license and shoot the Buck or the Doe? NO - I was way to tired but what an awesome Deer to see in ones back yard.

Pictures taken with the old Canon Camcorder - I know they are of poor quality

I know, I keep adding stuff to my posts. I suppose it's a bad habit, but hey - here's a YouTube channel you might want to subscribe to: New Mexico Game @ Fish. I've been checking them out this AM and they have a bunch of awesome video's covering a wide variety of topics.

Murmuration: Chance Encounter Captures Stunning Phenomenon Of Starlings

2011-11-04T06:27:00.000-04:00

Full article here: The Huffington Post- Dean Praetorius

This is one of the most spectacular animal phenomena known to man.A murmuration, which this is, consists of thousands of tiny starlings (birds) collectively flying and swirling about. The mesmerizing act is typically seen at the beginning of winter, right before dusk, as the birds look for a place to roost for the night.During the action, birds reach speeds of up to 20 mph.In the video below, Vimeo user Sophie Windsor Clive captured an incredible example of the event on the River Shannon in Ireland. Clive and her companion, Liberty Smith, just seem to happen on the event as they were canoeing across. It was an amazing treat neither of them ever expected to see.According to the Telegraph, what makes it so beautiful is actually a survival function:

“Numbers build up slowly near the roost over the afternoon as small groups of birds return from foraging in the area,” explains Paul Stancliffe of the British Trust for Ornithology. “By late afternoon there is a huge swirling cloud. It’s all about safety in numbers – none wants to be on the outside, none wants to be first to land.”

Essentially it's an epic battle to determine who in the flock survives, and who's a target for predators. According to the Telegraph, each bird tries to copy the bird next to it exactly, which results in a stunning rippling effect.Be sure to check out the video below to see the spectacular sight for yourself, and scroll down to take a look at photos of the stunning event:

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.
A chance encounter and shared moment with one of natures greatest and most fleeting phenomena.

God's amazing creation...I will never cease to be amazed!
Genesis 1:20-23 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.And God created great sea creatures, and every living thing that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after its kind: and God saw that it was good.And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

Outsmarted: Captcha security not much of a gotcha

2011-10-31T13:35:00.000-04:00

by Declan McCullagh October 31, 2011 4:35 AM PDT

Elie Bursztein says he was able to decode 66 percent of the anti-bot tests used by Visa's Authorize.net payment site.

(Credit:Declan McCullagh/CNET)

PALO ALTO--A team of Stanford University researchers has bad news to report about Captchas, those often unreadable, always annoying distorted letters that you're required to type in at many a Web site to prove that you're really a human.

Many Captchas don't work well at all. More precisely, the researchers invented a standard way to decode those irksome letters and numbers found in Captchas on many major Web sites, including Visa's Authorize.net, Blizzard, eBay, and Wikipedia.

This chart shows how successful Decaptcha was in decoding each Web site's anti-bot mechanism. The column labeled "precision" shows the success rate.

(Credit:Stanford University)

Their decoding technique borrows concepts from the field of machine vision, which has developed techniques to control robots by removing noise from images and detecting shapes. The Stanford tool, called Decaptcha, uses these algorithms to clean up the image so it can be split into more readily recognized letters and numbers.

"Most Captchas are designed without proper testing and no usability testing," Elie Bursztein, 31, a postdoctoral researcher at the Stanford Security Laboratory, told CNET yesterday. "We hope our work will push people to be more rigorous in their approach in Captcha design." Captcha stands for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart.

Decaptcha was able to decode 66 percent of the Captchas used by Visa's Authorize.net payment site, 70 percent of Blizzard Entertainment's Captchas -- the company's games include World of Warcraft and Diablo -- and 25 percent of Wikipedia's. About one-fifth of Digg.com's Captchas and almost that many of CNN.com's were decodable. Any decoding rate over 1 percent, the Stanford team says, means that particular Captcha is too broken to continue to use.
A representative for Blizzard said that they use more than just Captchas to secure their systems. "It's common knowledge that Captchas are fundamentally unable to fully guarantee application security, but they do protect against certain threats," Shon Damron told CNET yesterday. "While we use Captchas as an initial layer of security, primarily to minimize spam with regard to new account creation, they represent one of many different security technologies that we employ to protect our infrastructure and customers." (Representatives eBay and Visa did not comment.)

The security of Captchas is important because they're used to defend against malicious 'bots, including operators of botnets who try to automatically create accounts on Web e-mail services to send spam. Captchas are also used to curb bot-generated comments and automated ballot-stuffing in online polls.

Examples of popular Captchas. Click for larger image.

(Credit:Stanford University)

The only tested Captchas that withstood the researchers' attacks were Google's. The researchers ran into a remarkable zero percent success rate when trying to decode Google's slanted-red-letters Captcha, used in Gmail, and the fuzzy-lettered ReCaptcha, which was created at Carnegie Mellon University and acquired by Google in 2009.

ReCaptcha, which is free, is used by what Google estimates to be over 100,000 Web sites including Twitter, Facebook, Craigslist, Ticketmaster, and Microsoft. The research team did not test Yahoo, Amazon, and LinkedIn's Captchas because it was too difficult to get them to appear consistently.

Bursztein hopes to encourage Web developers to think about Captchas more systematically -- as a computer science challenge, not just a simple security problem that can be solved without adequate testing. He likens it to the state of encryption research in the 1980s, when developers tried to invent their own algorithms. Over time, researchers realized that peer review and a security analysis by someone trying to break the code was necessary.

"It is important to not roll your own Captchas unless you know what you are doing," Bursztein says.
A paper earlier this year written by three Newcastle University researchers, Ahmad Salah-El-Ahmad, Jeff Yan, and Mohamad Tayara, reported more success against attacking Google's Captchas. They said their research "implies" a success rate of 33 percent against ReCaptcha, but it's not clear that they tested the current version.
The Stanford paper, co-authored by Matthieu Martin and John Mitchell, was presented at a computer security conference this month in Chicago.

The researchers say they have no plans to release Decaptcha.
"We don't want bad guys to use it against companies," Bursztein says. "Decaptcha is not meant to be released to the general public. We do provide it to companies that wish to test their Captchas. Our goal is to make the Web a better place, not to harm users."

ABOUT Declan McCullagh

Declan McCullagh is the chief political correspondent for CNET. Declan previously was a reporter for Time and the Washington bureau chief for Wired and wrote the Taking Liberties section and Other People's Money column for CBS News' Web site.

My Comments: The hackers get smarter and the consumer gets shafted. We all know the captcha has been around for some time; most of us use the captcha feature on comments submitted to our blogs. I've wondered for quite some time how secure the captcha feature truly is. I suppose the captcha feature is just like the locks on our homes - they keep the honest folks out but the thief's just laugh while they put a rock through our windows! Oh well - just be aware my friends when you are shopping on line, looking at e-mail offers, using your ATM cards and answering the phone from supposed "Credit" card companies and listening to offers "to good to be true" (they are). There are a lot of frauds going around. Just recently an Atlanta 87 year old elderly lady was victim of the old Pigeon Drop scam. I know this isn't in direct relation to the captcha but the thievs are active and looking for new and old ways to take our hard earned money. Be careful my friends and just because you type in a captcha doesn't mean your information is safe. As I always say "keep your personal information .... personal"

Consumer Frauds and Scams USA.gov

Hunting trip one...in the books

2011-10-29T21:13:00.000-04:00

This, as always, was an awesome hunting trip. I hunted in Morgan County located in the GA. Piedmont area - probably the finest Deer hunting in Georgia. I never saw another shooter Doe in three more hunts. I could have easily filled my Buck tag but I did not.

Steve shot this awesome 8 Pt. Buck in the early morning hours, this morning. I heard the shot and I knew a Buck was down. Steve only shoots large Bucks! The shot was at 176 yards with his custom 300 Win Mag and Swarovski scope. The deer ran for approximately 50 yards into the thicket and fell. We had a large storm the night before so the forest was wet and silent. We weighed the deer back at camp and it tipped the scales at 155 pounds dressed. This would make the deer approximately 200 pounds on the hoof. Folks, that's a lot of deer - anywhere! I finish this short post with pictures. I can't wait to hunt a local Farm, a local hunting club and some WMA hunts. Hunting season has just begun and I'm going to hit it hard for the next month and 1/2. There is lots of room in the freezer for deer meat.

PS, Steve also shot a coyote earlier this week which makes three for the season. Anyone who has shot or handled a coyote know just how much they STINK!

Update on my Buck 110 folder and new Buck model 499 guthook. Both tools worked awesome. I split the breast bone on my Buck and also skinned the deer back at camp. When I came home on Thursday for a nap and shower I gave the knife a quick sharpness test...it passed without fail. There were no nicks in the blade and it cut paper like butter. The polished mirror edge held the edge! I gave the knife a quick stropping and took it back to the field. (I didn't use the knife again but I'm certain I will later this season) The Buck 110 is a heavy knife and does add some weight to the belt or back pack, however, since I don't hike over a mile to the hunting stands the added weight is not at all noticeable. I pack a Letherman Supertool which weighs just as much as the Buck knife. You gotta have a pair of pliers and a couple screw drivers in the field if needed! The PakLite Guthook worked awesome. The tool split the belly open quick and effortless. So - my hat off to Buck knives for quality tools....both old and new!

I'm going to add this video to my post because the comment was made that one would like to see more hunting pictures. Up till now I've only used the poor camera found on my camera phones; both my LG ENV3 and Motorola Razr V3: they are horrible - I believe the pictures can attest to this fact. What do you folks think about this Pentax Optio WG-1 product? It takes great video, photographs and you are able to log your photographs via a gps feature. This is a great feature for mapping when and where you saw your game for future reference. Anyhow, I'm pretty excited about this product and the possibilities of taking good hunting photographs. I have an old 5.0 mp Konica/Minolta which my wife now uses for her Candy Bouquet photographs. I still plan, down the road - to purchase a full featured Pentax dslr but this small Optio seems the perfect companion for hunting, camping, hiking and outdoor activities. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hunting Update

2011-10-27T21:32:00.000-04:00

Just a little of the Ohio Players "Fire" and Wild Cherry for those of you who secretly enjoy disco. I'm upfront and honest..DeanO likes disco! Anyhow; My hunt isn't over. I came back into town because my hunting friend, Steve Kirkpatrick, had an important business meeting and he is also teaching a Doctrine's class at the Christian College. We leave at 11:00 tonight to go back to hunting camp. We'll get there at 1:30 and get up at 5:00 for the morning hunt. We'll sneak in a nap between the morning and evening hunt then put in our final morning hunt on Saturday. I've been in the stand six times - made two shots, killed one nice 4pt. buck, missed at 206 yards (don't ask me how) and I've seen from the stands I hunted 10 deer @ one awesome 8 Pt. shooter but I had already dropped the lg. 4pt. I did take the safety of the .270 and consider dropping the awesome 8 pt. but I decided not to be greedy and fill my buck tag on one morning hunt. I shot the 4 Pt. on Wednesday morning from a stand that hadn't been hunted this season so the deer were consistent in their patterns. A Doe and her two yearlings came through. I was amused at how the yearlings frolicked and played and I would have orphaned them if their Mother had given me the shot...but, she was wise to me and quickly moved through the shooting lane. The 4 Pt. made the mistake of standing in the shooting lane. The shot was between 75-85 yards, easy but even with a well placed shot he didn't drop. I did hear him crash and about two hours I went down and looked for him but didn't find him. My friend Steve and his wonderful wife Tricia showed up in their Rhino about 11:00 A.M. and they were originally disappointed I hadn't shot a deer but their eyes lit up when I told brother Steve that he would have to put his guide hat on and track my deer. We went down to the tree I had shot the Buck and didn't find any blood. What...a bloodless deer? Steve asked the direction the Buck headed and the direction of the crash and in less then five minutes Steve had found the deer. Here is the cool part of this story. Steve back tracked the deer. He followed the deer as far back as he could by following the blood trail. It was an amazing lesson on tracking. Steve even showed me in which direction the Buck spun around and crashed into the woods. Well, just a quick update my friends. My hunting clothes are washed, I cut my own hair (big mistake) and now I need to load the SUV and hit the road. I did hunt a stand that is only for those "NOT" afraid of heights "The Nosebleed" is the nick name but the Swamp Stand is it's real name. Happy hunting my friends.

Last year - a local farm hunt - I'll try and take some pictures in the next three hunts

Firearm Negligence - YouTube

2011-10-23T22:05:00.001-04:00

What not to do with your firearm and why people get seriously hurt and/or killed.In my defense...at least I didn't break my nose with my scope and the cut has nicely healed. I'm off on a five day hunt and I leave bright and early tomorrow morning. Can you believe some of the stupidity in this video compilation. Simply scary - I could tell you a story about an idiot at our local range, who brought his monster pistol to the range...loaded and in his backpack. What an idiot. Safe hunting and safe shooting my friends. See you in a week.

Evolution of Dance - By Judson Laipply

2011-10-23T21:33:00.002-04:00

Whenever I need a lift I can always pull these two video's out of my YouTube favorites box with a little Osmond Family Music and I'm back in a cheery mood. I just want to thank all those kind folks who read and comment on my blog. I enjoy your friendship! I mean that. Oh come on - admit it....you liked the Osmonds - they were clean fun

"OUCH" - still sore

2011-10-19T18:35:00.001-04:00

The story as follows:

It is indeed Deer hunting season - has been since September for bow hunters and a week for Primitive weapons hunters; But, October 22nd "Rifle" season begins. I'm stoked. Most rifle hunters will take their rifles to the range and make sure their rifle is zeroed in on target. You hunters know - a lot can happen to your rifle during the off-season months. So, it was off to the range with a good friend of mine and I had a chance to check out my new/used Tasco Spotting Scope from the early 70's...let the fun (or hurt) begin.

My latest Ebay treasure - this awesome "like new" Tasco spotting scope (optics from Japan)

I have a Winchester model 70 in .270 caliber "Lightweight" model. (1985, I believe was the original manufacture date for this Winchester) This rifle kicks like a mule.

image from internet

The picture shows the bruise. The first day (a week ago) at the range I was shooting .150 grain Remington Core-Lokt and I did a peachy job bruising my shoulder. (20 rounds) So - I went home, purchased a limbsaver Recoil Pad from Cabela's and changed from 150 grain to 130 grain Core-lokt ammo. I went back to the range this Saturday past and what a mistake. First - it's deer season and it seemed to me that all Georgia hunters were at the range doing exactly what I was doing and then there was a group of about 20 folks shooting rifles, pistols, AR-15's, AK-47's and shotguns. When I finally did receive my turn at a 50 yard range slot - no problem; The rifle was dead on in the bulls-eye, the 130 grain ammo and limbsaver both performed superbly and made shooting the .270 much more manageable - so I switched to the Browning Medallion .308.

What a mistake! Maybe some of you fine hunters have experienced this problem..your eyesight changes so much in a year that the eye-relief on your scope is way out of whack. The eye-relief on this particular Redfield 7x35 scope had changed so much I was seeing distorted circles. (I know - the scope is older then dirt...but, so am I) I should have just put the Browning back in the case but stubborn as I am, I snugged up on the Scope, pulled the trigger and when the rifle discharged - I was met with 20 foot-pounds of recoil which my forehead helped to dissipate. I put the Browning back in it's case, wiped the blood from my forehead, grabbed my gear and stepped down to the gallery to wait my turn for a 100 yard range slot. Did I mention "tail between my legs"?

Image from Internet

I waited for at least two hours before my turn at a 100 yard slot. I spent 20 minutes at the 100 yard slot and I'm pleased with my groupings (first picture) but my friends....I was sore, gun shy and I didn't have a lick of confidence shooting. Also, I can't believe I put another 20 rounds of ammo through the rifle. Ammo is expensive - 6 months ago this ammo was $15.00, now it's up to $19.00 per box of 20 shells.

So - for range work I'm going to use (my next purchase) a Caldwell Lead Sled. End of story!

Friends - there are a lot of idiots who own firearms. This YouTube video shows such idiots. This video was taken at the rifle range I use at John's Mountain.

Grandpa Coon - He traded this motor in for a larger model

My Grandfather taught me how to shoot when I was nine. The picture below shows the rifle he purchased for me. Like a bufoon I sold this rifle for $35.00. This rifle is an Ithica, single-shot .22. You talk about the kid in a Christmas Story that wanted the Red Ryder, Range Model BB-gun with the compass in the stock - this Ithica .22 was 100 times more cool! Well - at least to me. Anyhow, that's the story; rifle dialed in "I think", arm, forehead and shoulder still very sore and tender but I learned something, had fun and came home in one piece. I did get to observe a Daddy teaching his 8 year old to shoot a single-shot, break action .243 at 100 yards. This was awesome to watch and the kid was dead on. They were using a rifle support system which did help the youngster and I'm sure it gave him confidence. Good times my friends...even with the bruise and cut on my forehead!

DeanO @ Ithica .22 purchased in 1970 - Picture from 1976 - 1977

What's wrong with this picture?

2011-10-16T15:43:00.000-04:00

OK, I'm watching one of my favorite YouTube Channels "nutnfancy's Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/nutnfancy), I'm watching a knife review and I'm blindsided with an image advertisement of a scantily clothed lady. What? Watching football on Saturday and Sunday afternoons has become dangerous to ones eyes; why? - what commercials these days don't use sex as the premise for selling? I'm not going to rant and rave here, I'm not even going to get on a soap box as I'm simply venting some frustration; I'm writing this post more to myself as a reminder to guard my eyes then for any other purpose. I don't think many would agree with me anyhow, the truth be told - sex sells! I left FB because of all the sex adverting (obviously paid advertising) I found myself viewing, seemingly every time I opened FB. I am back on FB - I've connected with family and close friends and I plan to stay on FB; what I have to do is guard my eyes. What decision did DeanO have to make when viewing this video? I have to turn it off, change the channel, hit the escape key, all despite the fact I'm very interested in this knife review. Sad isn't it my friends? Television, magazines, Internet, Billboards, Newspapers, grocery store checkout lines, restaurants, Hollywood and so much of Americana - ALL - continue to use sex as the center-point for advertising. I'm not a prude - I just believe that one has to "turn it off", guard ones eyes... Honestly...some times I don't, so I write this post to myself, to remind me to be a better Christian. More Christ like!

Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Update: I figured out one easy solution: Go "Full Screen" and you simply have just the video. Sometimes the Deanster is a little slow with simple solutions!

Hard core sharpening for Kyley's competition

2011-10-15T02:03:00.001-04:00

This is one of my favorite YouTube Channels - If you want an inside look at knife reviews and a knife sharpener with Master skills using water stones- give this Video a look. I don't use water stones - the truth be told I can't afford the purchase right now but water stones are quick and the finishing stone puts a polished razor edge on your knife.

Ain't this so true...

2011-10-11T13:09:00.004-04:00

Make a knife from an old file

2011-09-28T21:27:00.000-04:00

I'm quite serious about my knife sharpening business "Sharp as a Tack" and making my own knife sheaths. I already have my Christmas gift picked out...getting this gift would simply be awesome. I'm going to ask Mrs. Santa for the Tandy Leather Factory "Pro Leather work Tool Set" - This will give me a great start to creating my own knife sheaths, wallets and other items. (This will help to pass the long nights I'm wide awake when I'm working night shifts) I've made a serious investment in Diamond Stones, Arkansas Stones, and other Knife sharpening tools, including an awesome book by famed Knife sharpening Expert, John Juranitch. Here is his website, the Razor Edge System. I've purchased several of his items, namely his honing guides. When my knife sharpening business is up and running I'll also purchase the Pro-Package from Wicked Edge.

I mentioned in a previous blog that I've spent more hours then I can log practicing the art of "hand" sharpening knives on wet stones and diamond stones. Why hand sharpening and not one of the many fancy tools available - like the Wicked Edge, Gatco, Lansky or Pro-Sharpener? One of the first things you learn when attending a wood working school is to plane a piece of rough-cut lumber square, using only hand tools. When you've learned to square rough lumber on four sides using only hand tools, then you're ready for the next step of furniture making. This has been my approach to knife sharpening - I desire to perfect, as best as possible - the skills needed to sharpen knives by hand before purchasing tools. My grandfather sharpened his knives using Norton stones and boy-howdy, were his knives sharp.

My next step in knife sharpening will be to use the honing guides I've purchased from Razor Edge Systems; which are simply used on two stones with only two settings; Coarse and Ultra Fine honing stones. From learning the craft of hand sharpening I'll move into using dedicated equipment -Wicked Edge

I've viewed 100's of video's on YouTube regarding Knife sharpening, Leather Crafting and hunting. I'm not sure how I came across this website for Greenpete's Knife making but this awesome guy makes a bushcraft knife deep in the woods with simple tools - Absolutely awesome. Check it out; I've attached the first of the four video series to wet your appetite. I find it amazing what talent is out there which you seem to awkwardly stumble onto.

Picture from Internet

Just one more thought - Hand-me-Downs. Remember those? It could have been clothes, (usually is) toys or school supplies but they all got handed down. Today and in this society I'm afraid to many people turn their nose up at hand me downs; that's to bad. My friend Jeff gave me a down jacket and an old pair of hunting cover-all's. The hunting cover-all's needed several hours of needle and thread repair work to fix the holes and the Jacket had a few rips but...after the sewing I had two awesome pieces of hunting clothing..free - I just had to do a little repair with needle and thread. I hope and it would be my heart-felt prayer that I would never get so proud that I'd think otherwise about accepting hand-me-downs. I believe the person giving out those hand-me-downs is giving you something that was near and dear to their heart. Garage sale junk...that's in a different category and usually ends up buried in the depths of my garage...never to be found again.Check this video series out - how amazing, a bushcraft knife made with simple tools in the backwoods. Very cool

Learn how to make a single bevel knife for free!
Video part 2
Video part 3
Video part 4

Heartwarming Nick Vujicic Music Video - 'Something More'

2011-09-26T11:04:00.000-04:00

Something special for your day my friends. God is good and God makes no mistakes. Redeem the time! I meet so many people today going though so many different difficulties. This one thing I know - God cares

Outdoor humor

2011-09-22T16:24:00.000-04:00

WE NEED TO BAN FOX HUNTING

While I always agree that hunting is an ethical God given right, I think that I would have to agree with the author on this one... Fox hunting in Colorado should be banned!

Please help ban fox hunting in Colorado ~

THIS MADNESS MUST STOP!!

Full Tilt Poker A Ponzi Scheme According To U.S. Attorney

2011-09-21T10:15:00.001-04:00

By DAVID B. CARUSO
read article here

NEW YORK -- An Internet poker company that was blocked from operating in the U.S. in the spring as part of an online gambling crackdown was "not a legitimate poker company, but a global Ponzi scheme," federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

The popular Full Tilt Poker website illegally raided player accounts to fund operations and make lavish payments to its owners, Justice Department lawyers said in a revised civil lawsuit filed in New York.

Over four years, the company used $444 million in player money to pay board members, including well-known professional poker players Christopher Ferguson and Howard Lederer, investigators said.

The poker site had promised players that their accounts were protected and wouldn't be touched. But authorities say that, as of March, the company had only $60 million left in its bank accounts to cover the $390 million it owed to players. [somebody has their hands in the cookie jar] It routinely mingled player money with its own finances, and took cash from some customers to pay out winnings due to others, prosecutors said.

"Full Tilt was not a legitimate poker company, but a global Ponzi scheme," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement. "Not only did the firm orchestrate a massive fraud against the U.S. banking system, as previously alleged, Full Tilt also cheated and abused its own players to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars."

A lawyer for the site, Barry Boss, was traveling Tuesday and not immediately available for comment. The Associated Press could not immediately locate Ferguson, Lederer or their representatives for comment.
Federal authorities initially sued Full Tilt Poker in April as part of a broad crackdown on the most popular online poker sites in the U.S. They also filed criminal charges against the company's two top executives, Nelson Burtnick and Raymond Bitar.

Those charges are pending, and the men are still being sought by authorities. Previously, they have issued statements through a publicist condemning the charges as unfounded.

Executives at two other sites, PokerStars and Absolute Poker, also face charges and civil suits seeking millions of dollars in gambling proceeds.

U.S. lawmakers made it a crime to accept money in connection with unlawful gambling in 2006, but some big card-playing sites continued to operate anyway, saying their off-shore status or methods of processing payments put them outside the law's reach.

Many of the companies did business by having gamblers deposit money in special online accounts. Those accounts were then used to pay losses and receive winnings.

In its revised lawsuit against Full Tilt, Justice Department lawyers said that even though the company had assured players that those accounts "are segregated and held separately from our operating accounts," they were actually drained regularly for other purposes, including paying the company's owners and board members.

Bitar got $41 million and Lederer got $42 million, the lawsuit said. Ferguson was supposed to get $87.5 million, although he may have only received $25 million of that amount so far, federal prosecutors claimed.

My Comments: OK - I've been gone all summer and I took an unannounced break from blogging. Life has been "busy" to say the least. My employment is hard - factory work is difficult my friends. 12 hour shifts and every two weeks we move from days to nights and then back again. My body doesn't know how to respond to this change; good or bad I've dropped nearly 40 pounds in 6 months - there's a diet plan for you good folks. God is faithful - this lesson I've learned. I found a Christian friend at work who lives not 5 minutes from our house and we commute to work; this saves a bundle on gasoline costs.

We had our friends from Wisconsin visit twice this summer and we spent some wonderful time on Carter's lake and the swimming pool.

Shasta and her Elvis impression - awesome; you should see her do Erkel - unbelievably funny

I've spent a great deal of time on Facebook getting to know family, lost family and family I never knew I had. I had. Here's a picture of my two "blood" brothers. Scott standing up and Robert sitting down. I know my brothers well! (better said this way "I remember my brothers well") Great men. Lest I forget, I found two sisters I never knew I had. Simply off-the-charts cool-beans my friends. You can find me on Facebook - just look me up "Dean Obendorf"

Sibling video I posted on Facebook


My sister, Violet

My sister, Denise

Deer season (hunting season) is here, my rifles are ready, my knives are sharp, my hunting pack loaded and I'm only waiting for rifle season to open. I've spent the past several months teaching myself the skills necessary to start my own Knife sharpening business. (I understand this is a process and learning curve which will always be on-going) I have spent many days and nights, more hours then I can log, diligently working with different oil and diamond stones, @ techniques, - honing my skills to bring a dull knife to a razor sharp edge. "I have no hair left on my arms and legs!!" True fact! Karen already has a name for my Knife sharpening business, "Sharp as a Tack" what do you think? Also, my wife is going to market my sharpening business...cool

Some of my knives
Buck Omni Hunter, Western USA Black Beauty Hunter, Schrade-Walden USA Hunter, Outdoor Edge Swingblade, Gerber Skinner - Custom knife sheaths for the Western and Schrade purchased on Ebay from Scottsheaths - Scottsheaths makes quality sheaths at an affordable price - look for "Sharp as a Tack" to be on Ebay soon
-a Favorite Knife YouTube Channel of mine

Knife restoration project

Knives I carry and use daily

My Buck 110 with my new Buck PakLite gut hook - awesome set of tools

.22 you ask - squirrel season - right around the corner

Also, I've decided I want to get into leather crafting to fill the long nights of shift work and begin making my own knife sheaths. I have viewed all and recommend to anyone who wishes to learn the art of leather craft to view and follow this superb craftsman on YouTube, Satansbarber (I know...odd name for a video channel but an excellent and informative video channel) I've spent quite a bit of time at Tandy Leatherworks looking at items, ordering their catalog, studying their videos and cataloging tools necessary for for leather crafts. WOW - I need some of that stimulus "New Small Business" money. Whatever - you can't borrow you way out of debt!!!

My wife has been extremely busy growing our Candybouquet business. My wife continue to amaze me with her creativity, innovative ideas, new products, endless energy and marketing skills. Karen has added several new product lines and is quite the visionary and I believe, a "home business expert".

Karen is active in our church participating in a wide range of activities. Karen once a month plans and helps prepare meals for Golden Circle retirement community, teaches Sunday School, teaches Wee-Church, weekly cleans the church Parsonage, works in the Church kitchen, is an active member of our local Chamber of Commerce, labors diligently with Relay for Life and I could go on and on. What a gal! You can find us at www.candy-bouquet4u.com and www.sweetassumptions.com and Ebay

My video business continues to do well. If you need old video tape transferred to DVD or a custom DVD created, look me up at www.doubletakecreations.com

I had another birthday...I don't count them any more and that in a nutshell is the past several months. To those close blogging friends that sent me e-mails asking where I've been, "Thank you" I appreciate you checking in on DeanO, how very kind and thoughtful of you!

DeanO @ 51 years young

Here's today's readings (blog articles I read not included)

Teen's disappearance baffles town
Two eyed in savage attack on teen
Celeb looks way older then her 25 years "who cares"
Five states were unemployment is rampant
Mom had sex with son's teammates
President Obama's Deficit Plan 'worse than nothing' says form U.S. comptroller
Teacher fired after passing out with alcohol in SF school
Sex survey now a standardized test for youngsters
Higher taxes = fewer jobs
Obama rips up the Constitutions "editorial"
Pro - 'gay' curriculum coming soon to LA School
Worry about a new wave of layoffs "this is happening all over the U.S."
Gunmen drop 35 bodies on busy avenue in Mexico
Kindergartner brings crack pipe, meth for show-n-tell
Of Course Solyndra Execs Will Take The Fifth "535 million-dollar Federal loan followed by bankruptcy...how does that work?"

So - just a few articles that I've read today. I choose "Poker - a Ponzi scheme" to jump back into blogging. Call me crazy but I new somebody had to be getting rich with on-line gambling and it sure 'ain't' the players.

When poker stars are promised $42 million and $87.5 million for endorsing a website...folks, there is a problem. There isn't a poker star alive whose name is worth this type of endorsement - perhaps in a Vegas casino direct...but not on the Internet. My opinion true but common sense, indeed. Only $60 million dollars left in the till to pay out $390 million to players; after court costs and miscellaneous expenses, I'm guessing "zero" dollars left for the players.

Folks, I play 7-card stud on PokerStars.com "free games" and I wouldn't gamble one dollar on the internet. I knew something was up with PokerStars when several months ago they ended all money play from the U.S. and only offered "free" poker. Statement here. I've spent and lost hundreds of dollars on home games but that was years ago; now I only play free games. I suppose the thousands of players who have money vested into these on-line Pokers sites have cause for great concern.

The truth be told - I love Vegas, it's a great town, with a lot of activities, great food and entertainment. I suppose if I was to gamble money (and I don't) I'd loose it in Vegas - OK, poor choice of an article to get back into blogging with but as my supervisor says at work "It is what it is"

A little Emore James for my fellow Blues friends - good day my friends

Silicon Valley billionaire funding creation of artificial libertarian islands

2011-08-16T15:11:00.001-04:00

by Liz Goodwin - The Lookout

Pay Pal founder and early Facebook investor Peter Thiel has given $1.25 million to an initiative to create floating libertarian countries in international waters, according to a profile of the billionaire in Details magazine.

Thiel has been a big backer of the Seasteading Institute, which seeks to build sovereign nations on oil rig-like platforms to occupy waters beyond the reach of law-of-the-sea treaties. The idea is for these countries to start from scratch--free from the laws, regulations, and moral codes of any existing place. Details says the experiment would be "a kind of floating petri dish for implementing policies that libertarians, stymied by indifference at the voting booths, have been unable to advance: no welfare, looser building codes, no minimum wage, and few restrictions on weapons."

"There are quite a lot of people who think it's not possible," Thiel said at a Seasteading Institute Conference in 2009, according to Details. (His first donation was in 2008, for $500,000.) "That's a good thing. We don't need to really worry about those people very much, because since they don't think it's possible they won't take us very seriously. And they will not actually try to stop us until it's too late."

The Seasteading Institute's Patri Friedman says the group plans to launch an office park off the San Francisco coast next year, with the first full-time settlements following seven years later.

Thiel made news earlier this year for putting a portion of his $1.5 billion fortune into an initiative to encourage entrepreneurs to skip college.

Another Silicon Valley titan, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, announced in June that he would be funding the "Clock of the Long Now." The clock is designed to keep ticking for 10,000 years, and will be built in a mountain in west Texas.

My Comments: "free from the laws, regulations, and moral codes of any existing place." Utopia? I wish Seasteading Institute the best of luck!

Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister, Calls U.S. Parasite On The Global Economy

2011-08-02T11:26:00.004-04:00

Thomson Reuters article here:

LAKE SELIGER, Russia, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the United States on Monday of living beyond its means "like a parasite" on the global economy and said dollar dominance was a threat to the financial markets.

"They are living beyond their means and shifting a part of the weight of their problems to the world economy," Putin told a Kremlin youth group while touring its summer camp north of Moscow.

"They are living like parasites off the global economy and their monopoly of the dollar."

US President Barack Obama announced a last-ditch deal to cut about $2.4 trillion from the U.S. deficit over a decade, avoid a crushing debt default and stave off the risk that the nation's AAA credit rating would be downgraded.

The deal initially soothed anxieties and led Russian stocks to jump to three-month highs, but jitters remained over the possibility of a credit downgrade.

"Thank god," Putin said, "that they had enough common sense and responsibility to make a balanced decision."

But Putin, who has often criticized the United States' foreign exchange policy, noted that Russia holds a large amount of U.S. bonds and treasuries.

"If over there (in America) there is a systemic malfunction, this will affect everyone," Putin told the young Russians.

"Countries like Russia and China hold a significant part of their reserves in American securities ... There should be other reserve currencies."

U.S.-Russian relations soured during Vladimir Putin's 2000-2008 presidency but have warmed significantly under President Barack Obama, who took office in 2009 promising a "reset" in bilateral ties.

(Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova; Writing by Alissa de Carbonnel; editing by Tim Pearce)
Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

My Comments: I needed a good laugh today and this article was just the answer. I will say this - Most American's are so over their head in debt they will never see daylight again! My Junior year of college American Express sent me a free credit card...what, were they crazy giving a starry eyed college kid a credit card? Next, I went and signed up for a Sears credit card and a Shell gasoline credit card...you see what's happening to this 20 year old kid right? By the time I was out of college, had college loans to repay, Medical bills from my first wife, Sears Credit card, (American Express paid off monthly) staggering Shell Gasoline bill; DeanO was in debt to his ears and only 23.

America is certainly not a "parasite" as Putin claims but we certainly do, have and continue to encourage financial irresponsibility. How many times have you heard the car commercial, "no money down, no job, no credit or bad credit...no one get's turned down"? This my friend is a classic example of financial irresponsibility. I wonder, how many naive kids and adults with no financial savvy, no money to their name, get into debt because they "wanted", not "needed" a new car, had no job and no credit history...but purchased that brand new or used vehicle? What America hasn't learned is the bill must be paid. Time and time again, my fellow bloggers and myself make a statement much like this, "Don't spend more then you make" Sounds simple, right? America, that's one of our many problems, if we don't have it we charge it, we lay it away, we convince ourselves that our situation is going to change and we'll pay for "whatever", "whenever" and and we never pay the bill. We default on our responsibilities because we convinced ourselves, we deserved "whatever" and "whenever" we wanted it. DEBT

"Parasites" NO, but foolish with our money, our budgets, our luxuries, wants and uncontrolled desires & spending practices....YES!

Dad always said "save for a rainy day", Dad was simply saying "don't spend all your money"

This website advertises to the college student "Drive your Dreams"

Moving ON!

Scammers attacking Android phones

2011-07-28T16:22:00.002-04:00

From TV Kim - Attention all Android phone owners. Scammers are after you, your personal data and money. Watch this special Kim's Report now so you don't become a victim!

Return of Mass Layoffs a Grim Sign for U.S. Workers

2011-07-23T00:21:00.005-04:00

By Aaron Task | Daily Ticker – Thu, Jul 21, 2011 3:02 PM EDT

Putting pressure on an already lousy job market, the mass layoff is making a comeback. In the past week, Cisco, Lockheed Martin and Borders announced a combined 23,000 in job cuts. (See: Another Retailer Bites the Dust: Borders Doomed by Amazon Deal, Davidowitz Says)

Those announcements follow 41,432 in planned cuts in June, up 11.6% from May and 5.3% vs. a year earlier, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Meanwhile, state and local governments have cut 142,000 jobs this year, The WSJ reports, and Wall Street is braced for another round of cutbacks. This week, Goldman Sachs announced plans to let go 1000 fixed-income traders.

If these trends continue, we may soon be talking about losses in the monthly employment data -- not just disappointing growth, says Howard Davidowitz, CEO of Davidowitz & Associates

"Everything in business is confidence," Davidowitz says. "You lose confidence and businesses can't deal with that [and] who could have confidence with what's going on in Washington?"

Davidowitz is bipartisan in his criticism, calling the U.S. political system "dysfunctional and deranged." (See: "A Bunch of Morons in Washington": Howard Davidowitz Handicaps the Debt Ceiling Debate)

Still, the restructuring expert is a longtime and vocal critic of President Obama: "There has never been in a situation in my lifetime where a guy increases the debt by 40%, GDP growth is on the way down, Food Stamps are up, millions more are unemployed -- and to accomplish this we spent $4 trillion."

But it's an open question whether any president or policy mix could do much to revive the economy after the bursting of the credit bubble.

In This Time is Different, co-authors Ken Rogoff and Carmen Reinhart demonstrate that financial crises are typically followed by severe recessions, slow recoveries, subpar growth and greater frequency of recessions in the decade following the crisis. (See: Bernanke In Denial About Economy's Fate, Vincent Reinhart Says)
"No one believes the economy, Obama or not, is going to improve," my Breakout colleague Jeff Macke says in the accompanying clip. "Time [is] the only thing that heals."

My Comments: I continue to read articles, watch news programs and listen to various media sources which say the job crisis is over and that economic indicators clearly show that America is on the rebound. Really? Just this week a friend from Church and long-time factory worker was let go. I say that if you have a job count yourself amongst the very fortunate.

A comment was made to me at work that a great benefit of my employment and where I work is that I work in an air-conditioned building. Oh no - the benefit is that I have a job and a job with excellent benefits. The single biggest dilemma I find with my job is I regularly miss Church and Church functions. This bother's me greatly and has hampered and greatly challenged my faith; but - I am gainfully employed.

I read an article from the Atlanta Newspaper while on break and it gave some sobering facts regarding the New Homes Industry. This article cited an example of a contractor who several years ago ran anywhere between 20-30 full-time installation crews and now runs 1-2 part-time crews.

Wow, this is quite a contrast to all the media hyping and fabrication regarding the "supposed' financial resurgence in the American economy. I'm sorry - but I don't see it anywhere. I suppose it's much like the child hood favorite tale "The Emperor's New Clothes", America - you are being hoodwinked by the mass media. The media is not printing or speaking the truth. Imagine that! (PS - I was glad to see this article - from the liberal media even) "and" be careful which button you click on in settings - I had clicked on "these readers" in settings which made my blog non-accessible to everyone" Thanks Angel for pointing this out.

Image from Internet

The Condition Of Our Nation

2011-07-14T04:56:00.005-04:00

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

I've watched some horrific news stories this week and the degree of wickedness (just in America) simply amazes me. I'm not going to repeat the stories -- you've read them for yourselves. I challenge you to watch this message from Dr. Jack Trieber, North Valley Baptist Church. It is certain that President Obama, Sarah Palin, The White House, Republicans or Democrats, Liberals or Tea Party and man's "vast" wisdom...is simply not the answer. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is hung in banner form at our Church and I wonder; do God's people truly believe the word of God. This verse is speaking to God's people - not the unsaved but directed solely at God's elect.

Here's the link if the video player does not play in your browser

All Archive Video messages from from North Valley Baptist Church here

Free Website? Who Knew

2011-07-11T03:42:00.012-04:00

My Pastor called me the other night to talk about a website, or a blog or something he could use to build a personal family website - the catch? For free. I had actually never given this a thought since I charge to build websites, but, I started digging around on the Internet to see what I could find. First, I'm amazed with all the services now available for building flash and almost "free" websites. WOW. I suppose in some ways I'm on the slow boat or the short bus because Google sites has a free website & wiki option, and has had this service for some time.

My pastor signed up for this free service, shot me his logon information and I began playing with the Google site format. Google, just like it's affiliate Google blogger, allows the owner to add contributors or authors...that's cool. I find that Google Sites is either a pumped up or watered down blog format; you be the judge. There's no page limitation so you can add as many pages as you like. It pays to be a little crafty and just a little knowledgeable about web design and html because you need a few or have to search and find some tips and tricks for sizing video and working with html. The menu layout is funky and boring but it gets the job done. All this being said, I had a blast playing around for a few hours with Google Sites and helping my pastor create his family website. Check it out and tell me what you think of Google Sites, best of all, "FREE" "FREE" "FREE"

Do you remember when having a website was a daunting task? Back in the day only professionals could build websites. Now, building a website is just a quick sign up, a few clicks and a couple hours of labor. The web has so many gadgets, widgets, wikis and generator's available that you can create or build just about any type of flash object, photo-albums, video players, music players, forms, text, templates, user forums and other web services/products to spice up your web page and design. Don't get me started - I love it!

Please let me know which free web services you use - I'd love to check them out and Bookmark your pages.

Biggest drawback you ask? The URL - how would you like to tell your friends over the phone just type in "https://sites.google.com/site/pastortimmcculley" as opposed to "www.pastortimmcculley.com; "Free" does have it's drawbacks.

*update* I forgot to mention that Google gives you 100mb for storage. Truly - that's plenty; why? First, store all your pictures in Google Picasa, Photobucket, Image Shack, Flikr or Snapfish; just to name a few and link to your photo's. Important, since you're all shooting with 6-12 megapixel cameras, don't forget to re-size your pictures for the web. Have you ever noticed that Blogger pictures are re-sized to around 30-100 kb's in size? (vs 12mb) 12 mb pictures and you've run out of space... Second, store all you audio and video on line, Vimeo, YouTube, MySpace or maybe you have a friend that has a server and you can store your files there? Possible - Just use FileZilla to upload your files and it's as easy as 1, 2, 3 to link to those files. The simple truth is this; web hosting is cheap these days. GoDaddy charges $4.99 for 10 GB of space, FatCow charges $4.64 for unlimited space, HostGator charges $3.96 for unlimited space; Cheap Web Hosting Sites for 2011 article. So, for $3.96 a month, you have unlimited space plus 100's if not more free templates to choose from. Is this cheaper then a McDonalds kids meal? Ah yes - anyone can have their own personal website for pennies...

Image from Internet

Pastor Tim McCulley, Google Site

Ashley uses: Free Webs or, Click here to view the website Ashley built

Kevin Mitnick shows how easy it is to hack a phone

2011-07-08T13:58:00.008-04:00

by Elinor Mills

British tabloid News of the World said today it is closing down over a phone hacking scandal in which workers for the Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper allegedly snooped on voice mail messages left on the mobile phones of murder victims, as well as celebrities, politicians, and the British royal family.

If unethical journalists can do it chances are anyone can, right?
To test my theory I called up Kevin Mitnick, who wrote about the hacking and social engineering that landed him in jail in a fascinating book coming out this summer, "Ghost in the Wires," and who serves as a security consultant, helping clients prevent against privacy breaches such as this.

Phone hacking, also known as "phreaking," is easy to do, Mitnick said, adding that he could demonstrate it on my phone if I wanted proof. So I gave him permission to access my voice mail and told him my mobile phone number.

He called me right back on a conference call so I could hear what was going on. First he dialed a number to a system he uses for such demonstration purposes and entered a PIN. Then he was prompted to enter the area code and phone number that he wanted to call (mine) and the number he wanted to be identified as calling from (again mine). Next thing I know I'm listening to a voice message a friend of mine left me last night that I hadn't erased.

"See how easy it is?!" Mitnick says as my jaw drops.

He was able to get into my voice mail by tricking my mobile operator's equipment into registering the call as coming from the handset--basically pretending to be me. To do this, he wrote a script using open-source telecom software and used a voice-over-IP provider that allows him to set caller ID, but there also are online services that provide similar capability that non-hackers could subscribe to. It might be easier or harder to accomplish depending on the mobile operator, he said. (I'm keeping some of the details sketchy to avoid providing a how-to for phreaking.)

"Any 15-year-old that knows how to write a simple script can find a VoIP provider that spoofs caller ID and set this up in about 30 minutes," Mitnick said. "If you're not adept at programming, you could use a spoofing service and pay for it."

This technique, called Caller ID Spoofing, has been used and abused for years. In 2006, a caller ID spoofing account in the name of Paris Hilton was suspended for voicemail hacking, with other celebrities, including Lindsay Lohan, allegedly being victims, according to IDG News Service.

The method is more sophisticated than that allegedly used by the British journalists who are accused of using default PINs to access victims' voicemail accounts, assuming correctly that many people wouldn't bother to change the PINs. Since the phone hacking scandal first erupted about five years ago, mobile operators in the U.K. have changed their practices and most now require people to set their own PINs for remotely checking voice mail.

If I want to avoid having anyone use Caller ID Spoofing to access my voice mail again, I need to change my phone settings to require a PIN even when checking voice mail from my mobile device. But that doesn't address the fact that mobile operators don't authenticate caller ID. "The magic is that my VoIP provider allows me to set any caller ID and the other operators trust it," Mitnick said. "Caller ID is automatically trusted."
Mobile phone industry specialist David Rogers suggests on his blog that operators should consider preventing people from accessing mobile voicemails remotely at all.

Meanwhile, the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2010, which was signed into law late last year, prohibits anyone intending to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value from knowingly causing any caller ID service to transmit or display misleading or inaccurate caller ID information. This could send the caller spoofing services off shore but likely won't put an end to the practice.

Elinor Mills covers Internet security and privacy. She joined CNET News in 2005 after working as a foreign correspondent for Reuters in Portugal and writing for The Industry Standard, the IDG News Service, and the Associated Press.

My comments: First, I don't have anything personal on my voice-mail! Second, to repeat a comment left so often regarding these articles I post, "technology is a great thing but trouble in the hands of an abuser" (paraphrased)

I suppose it's just like the locks on cars and houses; they keep the honest people out but it's only a matter of minutes or seconds for a thief to break in. You know the most common way thief's break into homes? They simply break a window; forget the fancy key-picks you see on CSI and other Television shows, thief's simply break windows. Back to the article.

UK's News of the World bids farewell to readers - Yahoo News

What merit was there to hack a murdered girls cell phone? Was it done to help solve the crime? Why, except for sensationalism would you hack this phone?What were these people thinking? I know the answer...they weren't! I posted this article because the very idea of hacking another person's cell phone voicemails never crossed my mind. That's my point; honest folk don't think about doing wrong to their fellow man. I'm glad this incident has shut down this British tabloid; but, they will be back...they always come back under a new name and store front. Be safe my friends. There is a whole world out there "community"is the PC correct term of hackers, how to hack, forums and software. Amazing!

picture from Internet

PS, I love the comment about "any 15 year old knows", That's right folks, kids today know way more and can do way more then we can even dream or imagine doing with computers and technology...it's what they use every day of their life! (most of us technology challenged bloggers..that is) What's with this new blogger editing and posting lay-out; did anyone get the memo?

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Dangerous Prank Aimed At Mother Of Three By Her Ex's Wife

2011-07-05T20:30:00.001-04:00

HUFFPOST AolNews

This morning the TODAY show featured Tracy Wilder, a divorced mother of three, who "began getting phone calls, text messages and visits to her home from men she didn't know seeking sex," last February, TODAY reports.

It turned out that her husband's current wife, Natasha Larson, had placed ads on craigslist in Wilder's name, soliciting sex.

"Under the heading 'adventurous couple', [the craigslist ad] read in part 'I need to be thrown around a little bit and to be dominated, that is exciting for me. [...] Please feel comfortable calling anytime. [...] You're also welcome to stop by at our home,'" TODAY reports.

"I feel our safety was compromised as a family. It's been terrifying," Wilder said of the ordeal. "It's still affecting to this day our sense of security at our own home. [...] It's been a long couple of years with her harassing us in one way or another. [...] I'm gonna do what I can to protect [my children]".

Police arrested Larson, who runs a daycare center at her home and later confessed to having placed the ad. "It was just funny to her," said one of the detectives involved in the arrest.

When asked why Larson would have done such a thing, Wilder responded: "Sometimes people do bad things."

WATCH:

My Comments: I suppose this article is seemingly boring compared to the shocking news America received when the verdict for Casey Anthony was read: "Casey Anthony found NOT GUILTY of Murder" But, I found this article very disturbing. What kind of deranged individual would perpetrate this type of vile action? I know, Ex wife's and ex husbands are often found to feud, fight and act much like children - but this act was sinister. The Craigslist add was written and directed at perverted individuals who like "bondage and S&M" Individuals who receive their pleasure from hurting other individuals and being hurt! Maybe it's just me but I see a dark and evil veil covering America and since this is where I live why mention the rest of the world!

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

My comfort comes from the Bible. I understand from the Bible how wicked and vile man is and how vile and powerful is the sin nature. When an article like this crosses my table or PC screen it grabs my attention; and I think to myself, "what next?" Is this note worthy news? NO, Is this tabloid worthy news? Yes and NO. This one phrase captured my attention:

"it was just funny to her,"

Funny? NO, sick and perverted with malicious and devious intent? YES! What do you think? Lord help us...please

How to browse securely on public wifi

2011-07-05T13:35:00.002-04:00

[Click Cnet Video menu and open "How to browse securely" video clip] A simple help - not fail proof but this does greatly increase your security.

New High-Speed Wireless Technology Delivers Data at 7 Gb/s

by Daniel Bruns | June 29th, 2011

The world today is all about speed. Faster cars, faster processors, are the norm in today’s society. That’s why it comes at no surprise that the WiGig Alliance, a group of wireless companies and professionals, just announced their intentions to use the 60 GHz spectrum to achieve data transfer rates of up to 7 gigabits per second. This is a logical choice for wireless manufacturers as cables such as Thunderbolt have been reaching unprecedented speeds of up to 10 Gbps.

The catch here is that this technology will only be available over short distances like a laptop to a display. This means that the technology will by no means replace current WiFi systems found in routers and computers that can provide data across several rooms. Instead, the WiGig Alliance expects that most homes and businesses will keep their current WiFi set up and simply include pockets of high speed wireless connections for the most used areas of the building or home. Nonetheless, WiFi technology is also looking to improve its range and speed next year by releasing 802.11ac which should be able to reach data transfer rates of 1 Gbps. That means that your home WiFi network might be in line for an upgrade too.

The beauty of this new technology is the fact that it is in a band that is unlicensed. This means there won’t be any large federal hurdles to jump over to make the technology become reality. Also, the wireless technology also has the support of big wigs such as Microsoft, NVIDIA, Intel, Cisco, Pnasonic, Dell, Toshiba, and more. All of this is an indication that this technology is very likely to stick around. Also, the speeds of this technology allow it to easily transfer large files such as HD video to computers, televisions, and other devices. It’s not much of a stretch to think that in a few years time, most camcorders could download HD footage to a hard drive by merely setting the camcorder near the computer.

The WiGig Alliance expects this technology to saturate the market by 2013 and will start releasing some products as soon as next year. Manufacturers such as Panasonic, Qualcomm, and Wilocity have already announced chipsets and antennas that work using the 60 Ghz technology proving that this technology has a good chance to be the wave of the future.

My Comments: Is dial-up dead? I suppose there are some unfortunate folks who are still forced to use a dial-up modem. WOW - 7gb of speed via a wireless connection. I'm amazed, pleased and can't wait. I know - just a select few in certain city area's will get this first but...this does mean the technology is here and soon to be available for all. I remember the early days of Internet and downloading photographs and files to a floppy.

Just some interesting information on new technology...soon to hit the streets. Let me know if you use dial-up; I'll throw in a prayer for you ツ

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OK - be honest here: If you were alive and technology minded when this movie came out this technology "thrilled" you; it did me! I saw this movie in college and yes...we did have a computer lab which --- "who knew"

Should You Fly Or Drive? Calculator Helps You Decide

2011-07-04T11:27:00.003-04:00

BeFrugal.com's calculator adds up fuel costs, time spent flying or driving, and the environmental impact

As someone who routinely has to take long car rides from Michigan to New Jersey to visit family, I often find myself somewhere on Route 80 in the middle of Pennsylvania wishing I'd flown.

We live right at the border of where driving home seems reasonable. If we lived in Chicago – or even two hours away in Grand Rapids -- I doubt we'd ever drive back to New Jersey.

But we do. With three antsy kids in the back, a husband resistant to bathroom breaks (because each stop adds a half hour on to our already 10-hour drive), and spotty cellphone coverage along the route, it's easy to think flying would be easier. If it weren't for that pesky TSA, the checked baggage fee, and having to pay for five airplane tickets, flying would be a no-brainer.

Thankfully, there is now a tool for people who often debate whether or not it makes sense to fly or drive. BeFrugal.com's Fly Or Drive Calculator compares the time and cost of flying versus driving. It asks you where you're going, when you're going, what you would drive if you were driving, and how much you'd pay for a hotel if you had to stay overnight. It also adds in the cost of parking at the airport if you're flying, plus car rental costs.

And for folks interested in their environmental impact, it calculates the carbon dioxide impact for each mode of travel. It also tells you how many hours you'll spend in the car or in the airport.

These days, it's hard to balance the cost of gas versus the hassle of flying. BeFrugal's calculator helped me plan an upcoming trip to New Jersey – I think I'll drive. But I've got another trip coming up, this time to Cape Cod. According to the calculator, that trip would take way too long to drive, and wouldn't save me much money if I figure in that I'll have to stop and sleep somewhere after 12 hours of driving.

My Comments: I thought this might be a nice help to folks who travel or are thinking of traveling. I punched in the information for Calhoun, GA too Appleton, WI and let the calculator figure the cost. The results showed driving as the cost saving option but it used to be a lot more savings before gas prices went through the roof. I knew driving the 1000 miles would be cheaper but flying (door step to door step) takes half the time; so - I suppose you have to decide if 6-8 hours savings of precious time is worth the price difference. Check this site out...pretty cool stuff!

PS, I'm not concerned about the environmental impact of driving or flying, carbon foot-prints, Global warming and pictures of Polar Bears floating on ice...just so you know where DeanO stands. I pick up my trash, I recycle and I conserve energy to suit MY needs and to help keep the environment cleaner for the next generation - not to promote an Al Gore falsehood or too funnel money into Government Generated Green Energy Policies, mandates and bold face lies. (this little rant is free - and I love Polar Bears but not in Zoo's and I believe in taking care of this God created earth)

TDL-4: The 'indestructible' botnet?

2011-06-30T13:38:00.006-04:00

by Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, posting at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.

Security researchers at Kaspersky Lab have detailed a new botnet--a collection of infected computers controlled by cybercriminals--called TDL-4, that might just be "indestructible."

TDL-4 gets its name by being the fourth generation of the botnet. In 2008, the original TDL appeared. It has been altered over the last several years. With TDL-4, Kaspersky has found, the malware creators have drastically improved the botnet over its predecessors.

"The malware writers extended the program functionality, changed the algorithm used to encrypt the communication protocol between bots and the botnet command and control servers, and attempted to ensure they had access to infected computers even in cases where the botnet control centers are shut down," Kaspersky wrote on its SecureList blog earlier this week. "The owners of TDL are essentially trying to create an 'indestructible' botnet that is protected against attacks, competitors, and antivirus companies."

Central to TDL-4's updates is an improved algorithm that encrypts communications between infected computers and the botnet's command. According to Kaspersky, TDL-4 creates an identifier known as "bsh parameter" that "acts as one of the encryption keys for subsequent connections to the command and control server." Once a request between command and the computer is activated, it's transmitted over an HTTPS connection. According to Kaspersky, that system helps the botnet "run smoothly" and, at the same time, stops anyone else from trying to take control over it.

Global distribution of TDL-4 infections. According to the country codes to the right, the U.S., India, Indonesia, and Great Britain are tops in infections, according to Kaspersky.

(Credit: Kaspersky Lab)

To help safeguard itself from removal, TDL-4 infects a computer's master boot record, thus allowing it to run before the operating system starts up, and keep it away from the prying eyes of anti-malware programs. What's more, the botnet deletes other malicious files that might get caught by security tools and tip users to TDL-4 running on their computers. In their place, TDL-4 has downloaded about 30 malicious programs on infected computers, including "fake anti-virus programs, adware, and the Pushdo spambot," Kaspersky says.
According to Kaspersky, the botnet also uses peer-to-peer network Kad to issue several commands, including searching for new files, publishing files to Kad, and more.

The big upshot of that for TDL-4 creators, Kaspersky says, is that even if "its command and control centers are shut down, the botnet owners will not lose control over infected machines," since they'll still be able to access Kad.

Although Kaspersky believes TDL-4 is practically impenetrable, not everyone is so quick to agree. Writing for InfoWorld today, Roger Grimes, a self-described "24-year veteran of the malware wars," says that there has yet to be a single threat that has been able to hold its ground indefinitely.
"I can safely tell you that no threat has appeared that the antimalware industry and OS vendors did not successfully respond to," Grimes writes. "It may take months or years to kill off something, but eventually the good guys get it right."

He makes a solid point. Last year, Conficker was taken down after wreaking havoc on computers worldwide since 2008. Earlier this month, the FBI announced that it had taken down the Coreflood botnet. But TDL-4's functionality might just be in a league of its own. As Kaspersky notes, the botnet can "manipulate adware and search engines, provide anonymous Internet access, and act as a launch pad for other malware."

According to Kaspersky, 28 percent of all infected TDL-4 computers are in the U.S. Computers in the U.K., Italy, France, and many other countries are also infected with TDL-4. All told, more than 4.5 million computers were infected with TDL-4 in the first three months of 2011 alone.

My Comments: This [for me] was a fascinating eye-opener behind the vision of the malware creators. "Indestructible botnet", I've always wondered when this botnet would be produced, implemented and become pc security newsworthy; possibly TDL-4 might be just the culprit. Any advice DeanO? I suppose I'm somewhat of a geek since I love to read "ALL" these articles but I'm also looking to protect my computers. Obviously, since a simple Facebook botnet took my laptop down (How to avoid, remove Facebook Malware) I'm not very good at protecting my own network and computers. However, I can offer this advice: Stay away from Peer-to-Peer websites, stay away from PORN sites, never click on something that you are not positive is safe (example: "flashing" Your computer is infected pop-up),

Image from Internet

stay away from social networking Apps, install and run weekly anti-virus and malware software. What is scary is this program attaches itself to your master boot record. Best of luck to safe and infection free computers, my friends. The following programs are free but download at your own risk. I don't use AVG Free anymore but it is a good program.

What happens when a botnet gains control of your PC? Well, besides the fact that all your personal information is compromised and possibly stolen your PC can become a host for sending out Spam and porn!!!

Spybot
ZoneAlarm Free
Malwarebytes.org
AVG Free
AdAware Free - conflicts with Spybot

Kaspersky, not free but a great program

Image from Internet

Kia Says It Had No Role In Producing Sexy Cartoons

2011-06-25T13:09:00.001-04:00

Kia says it had nothing to do with two raunchy ads that some people think promote pedophilia (Moma).

Article by: Sharon Silke Carty - Senior Editor AOL Autos

Two Kia ads that recently won awards in Cannes have had many people scratching their heads and asking, "What were they thinking?"

The ads are split down the middle – one side is an innocent cartoony scene with a man or boy and a little girl. On the other side is the same scene, except in its R-rated version.

Kia on Friday called the ads "offensive," and said they had no relationship with Moma, the Sao Paulo advertising agency that created the spots.

The ads were purportedly for Kia's dual-zone air conditioning, and read "A different temperature on each side."

They won a 2011 Cannes Lions awards.

"The ad is undoubtedly inappropriate, and on behalf of Kia Motors we apologize to those who have been offended by it," Kia said in a statement on its Facebook page.

"We can guarantee this advertisement has never and will never be used in any form in the United States," they said.

The wording carefully distances Kia's American arm from the advertising and the firm, but its unclear whether Kia's headquarters in Seoul contracts with Moma.

Moma has done one-off advertising pieces in the past, spoofing Facebook, Twitter and Skype in retro ads that make it seem like the sites were advertising in the 1950s. But we doubt any of those companies got upset by the rated G pieces Moma produced.

Check out the ads below.

Where do you start or what comment(s) would be appropriate? Pornography is socially acceptable and considered vogue in many cities here in America and throughout the world. These "cartoons" promote "blank" - fill it in my friends. Whose the target audience? This content belongs in Playboy or Hustler (both vile publications) but here it somehow promotes automobile air-conditioning? Really? I understand advertisement through the years has relied on pretty women in little clothing to promote one's products and now pedophilia by KIA motors! These advertisements are so wrong and on so many different social and moral levels.

Jeremiah 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

I say this often in my blog posts, "nothing surprises me". KIA motor's stepping into pornography for advertisement did catch me off-guard. Obviously, and since this is an AOL article, these advertisements have hit the U.S. shores. I wonder sometimes just how quickly can this world slip into deep, dark sinful degradation and then I realize...were already there. These commercials won awards; individuals voted these commercials the best of the lot. I'm sad, sorry and I wonder if anyone feels this type of advertisement is vile, improper and pornographic? I certainly do and this does offend me. I feel so deeply for parents today who have to guard their children's eyes and ears from a world that looks to enslave their young and tender minds. The mind is Satan's great battlefield - I'd be interested in your comments my friends.

DeanO

Image from the Internet

Now Your Embarrassing/Job-Threatening Facebook Photos Could Haunt You For Seven Years

2011-06-22T02:59:00.001-04:00

Article by:
Kashmir Hill - The Not so Private Parts


These privacy sunglasses are seeming like more of a necessity

Last week, the Federal Trade Commission gave a stamp of approval to a background check company that screens job applicants based on their Internet photos and postings. The FTC determined that Social Intelligence Corp. was in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This means a search of what you’ve said or posted to Facebook/Twitter/Flickr/blogs and the Internet in general may become a standard part of background checks when you apply for a job.

No big deal, right? You already knew that employers were Googling you. I argued this was actually better, because Social Intelligence has to make sure its clients inform job applicants if they took adverse action based on something found on the Internet. That way you can delete and change privacy settings accordingly.
But there’s a wrinkle. If something job-threatening pops up on Facebook or Flickr or Craigslist in a search of you, Social Intelligence puts it into your file — and it stays there for seven years.

Update (6:47 p.m) — Social Intelligence has an important clarification: COO Geoffrey Andrews sent me a statement via email this evening explaining that negative findings are kept on file but are not reused when a new employer runs a check on you:

While we store information for up to seven years we do not “reuse” that information for new reports. Per our policies and obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, we run new reports on applicants on each new search to ensure the most accurate and up-to-date information is utilized, and we store the information to maintain a verifiable chain-of-custody in-case the information is ever needed for legal reasons. We are not however building a “database” on individuals that will be evaluated each time they apply for a job and potentially could be used adversely even if they have cleaned up their profiles.

Social Intelligence had sent me some of the reports they’ve provided to employers so far, including a job applicant who had a photo on a social networking site that featured multiple guns and a sword, and another who was designated racist for joining the Facebook group, “I shouldn’t have to press 1 for English. We are in the United States. Learn the language.” Social Intelligence’s “negative” findings will stay in the files of Workplace-Shooting-Waiting-To-Happen and No-Hablo-Espanol for seven years per the requirements of FCRA, though new employers who run searches through Social Intelligence won’t have access to the materials if they are completely removed from the Internet. (That last sentence has been rewritten since the original post per an update from the company. The service actually seems less useful now, though more respectful of the rights of job applicants.)

“We store records for up to 7 years as long as those records haven’t been disputed,” says Social Intelligence COO Geoffrey Andrews by email. “If a record is disputed and changed then we delete the disputed record and store the new record when appropriate.”

see photosForbes Images

Click for full photo gallery: How To Use Social Media Sites To Land An Internship

The company limits its searches to what’s publicly available, mining data from, in Andrews’s words, “social networking websites (i.e., Facebook and others), professional networking websites (i.e., Linked In and others), blogs, wikis, video and picture sharing websites, etc.).” And a job applicant must acknowledge and approve the use of a social media background screen, just as they would a criminal and credit background check.

You should always be wary of posting job-threatening content on the Internet. It’s hard to erase something once it gets out there. But now that there’s a company that specializes in capturing this and putting it into a file, it may be even harder to undo the damage wrought by an unwise tweet or Craigslist posting. Handle your share/tweet/post buttons with care, and perhaps think about tools to protect you from sharing potentially humiliating and unemployment-guaranteeing material.

My Comments: My, my - but we all knew this...right? Anything and everything you do on the Internet is public domain. I'm not saying it's legal for you to steal copyrighted material and photograph's but certainly what you put on the Internet is stored and available to whomever chooses to view the information. Pictures, Facebook, Blogs, Websites, Photo-albums, e-mails...it's all there in cyber-space. I've read articles about employers busting employees who "claimed" to be sick but posted on Facebook their awesome day at the beach...with pictures. STUPID. I just thought this article was a good reminder to all my friends to continue to be diligent, intelligent and cognizant about the material and content you post on the Internet and your Social Networks. They say big-brother is watching; I think "everyone" is watching! Sad commentary my friends that in a day and age when so many people are cheating at work, on spouses, on families, taxes and employers, that Social Networks and TMZ are now publishing the aftermath almost as quickly as the indiscretion or act happens! Hm, seven years is it?

"all pictures from the Internet"

35 years of digital cameras

2011-06-17T00:56:00.004-04:00

WOW - $20 Grand for a 1.1 mega pixel camera; The first home PC cost $10 Grand and took up an entire room. Remember your first USB Thumb drive? That's right baby...a whopping 64 mb of endless storage; I saw one the other day on Tiger Direct, 32 GB for $32.00. The camera I have now? Knonica/Minolta 5mp digital. Not a great camera today but over $500.00 when I purchased it at Costco; and that was a great deal and great digital in it's day. 5mp digital was the big leap from 3.0 mp digital camera's. How about six core and eight core 4.0 ghz Computers processors, with 8-12 gb of ram, (I'm pretty sure I have a 16 mb stick of ram tucked away in a box, deep in a closet) 2 Terabyte hard drives, 2 gb HD video cards and a front side bus that will singe your eyebrows. Mercy, gone are 8-Tracks, cassettes, slides, 35mm film, VHS tapes, floppy discs and laser discs. Now we have 160 GB MP3 players and phones that take HD video and 12-16 megapixel digital cameras as the standard. What an exciting technology world we live in my friends

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When I was a kid these were the three coolest things a kid could possibly own:

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And the ultimate kid prize (picture from Internet)

DeanO

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by Daniel Bruns | June 29th, 2011

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