Penn and Teller fan?

YouTube has a few videos for your viewing pleasure http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=unpleasant+penn+teller

(thanks Cynical..)

Vista Firewall .. leaky defaults – and a better front-end

Vista has a much improved built-in firewall.  I say much improved, but keep in mind Windows XP was practically a joke.  At least now you can choose to block all outgoing traffic and set rules to allow only programs YOU want to have access to the Internet.  This is important as some things you buy off the shelf contain code that “calls home” with information about your pc.  Sony has done it, TomTom and iPod have done it, albeit it might not have been intentional.  So what can you do?  Get a better firewall, or dive into the dirt of the admin console for Vista and waste a ton of time OR…..

If only there was a 3rd party utility to control Vista’s firewall.. Ah, wait…Check this freeware out!  Download the free non-beta version for Vista.  Basically it will pop-up when an application tries to connect outbound and you can then set a rule to allow or deny that program.  Very Zone-Alarm-ish.   Perfect.   

Things I Wish Vista Did Differently

• The Group Policy Management Console in Vista should allow one to search for text. Frequently I need to find if a particular GP is available, a search would make this easier. There is an excel spreadsheet from Microsoft that is available to search, but putting it in the tool makes more sense to me.
• Indexing service – it will index your local pc only, although you can download an add-in to allow indexing of UNC paths. It should allow you to add mapper drives etc and work with Server 200x to use it’s index for those shares. This would prevent 1000s of users from indexing the same data constantly

More to come…

60 SPF better than 30SPF?

Sun Protection Factor.. is it worth buying anything above 30SPF?   Are you better off applying larger amounts or more frequently?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/health/07real.html?ex=1344139200&en=f9cea1d8c4082ed0&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

Remodeling?

I have a love/hate relationship with remodeling my home.  We spend years tweaking our first home: new kitchen, bathrooms, updates galore including touches sink, back massage shower, 2-stage heating etc.  It was almost perfect, and then it’s time to move.  Alas, now we get to start over with even MORE rooms to remodel.  sweet!

The next time we remodel, I’ll be using this on-line remodeling tool that requires a free account.  It’s a flash drag-n-drop interface that is easy to use.

http://www.floorplanner.com/

New record in solar cell efficiency

http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9752692-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

Germany is leading the world now with ‘ going green.’   They are guaranteeing a level of payback for investments in solar energy.  The autobahn in Germany is being outfitted with solar cells to help generate electricity.   www.wwcreativesolutions.com/solar_markers.pdf (PDF WARNING!)

A Penny Saved is a ..bigger penny tower

http://www.fincher.org/Misc/Pennies/