Esoteric Drifter

I find it laudable that my schools email system requires me to input a series of basic arithmetic solutions in order to send an email after a certain time.
After sending an email, at this late hour, I am confronted with a pop up:

It’s that time of day. My School’s Mail aims to help you in many ways. Are you sure you want to send this? Answer some simple math problems to verify.

I must complete a total of six simple problems (9 x 10, 89 – 86) in under 60 seconds.
If I input an incorrect answer I get the following error message:

Water and bed for you. Or try again.

If I cannot complete the questions within the allotted time I get this me this error message:

Oops, looks like your reflexes are a little slow. Try again.

It seems that the system gives you an unlimited chances to input your answers, although the problems are different each time.

I’m completely sober and it took me three attempts to get one email out. I guess I can thank them for not charging me for this learning experience.

As I’ve delved deeper into the dark world of web development (and design) Ive gained a hunger for, well, fonts.

When mixing up that Header, or add, in photoshop (or GIMP, for my low/nonexistent budget) The words you use, i.e. the title of the webpage, or the company name, are already set. Someone has already decided what to call their company. They may have already created their logo. In order for a webdev or graphic artist to be able to duplicate the exact size and shape of the logo, or the wording, they are going to need a lot of fonts.

Or, lets say for instance, said company does not have a logo. Obviously a webdevelopment company must be able to produce something, if not absolutely unique, then at least parallel to how the company wants to portray themselves. Variety is key. In order to get just the right impression, you must have just the right font.

Graphic Designers, who make fonts, seem to be very understanding of the fact that you need to KNOW a particular font will work for you, and offer at least a working example of their fonts. Find the right one, and if you use it, Pay them.

So, where do you get a ton of fonts?

My first recommendation is dafont.com Where you can get a ton of free (for personal use) fonts. From conversations with artistically inclined friends, the fonts here are very well known.

You may also check out fonts.com

Apple announced the iPhone 4! (Apple) it looks good, and I cant wait to get my hands on one. It is the most exciting gadget to hit the market since, well, the iPhone. Despite it being revolutionary there is a major problem I can easily forsee:

Over Heating
The iP 4 has the same processor as the iPad, which has already been documented (CNET) this summer as having some serious overheating problems. Take that processor and put it in a smaller casing, and add the insulating properties of the glass. My iP 3GS gets noticeably hot, but am one of those `Super Users’ that killed the unlimited data plan (NYTimes) So it can easily be inferred that the new iP 4, with a bigger battery, will get pretty hot around that shiny stainless steel band.

It could become a much bigger problem than that, I have routinely had problems with my iPhone, and when they refuse to work reality hits: This isn’t just a music/video/game/camera/voicerecorder/notepad/mobile internet device, its my phone! Its the only phone I have. It has to work, ALWAYS! Those iPads are overheating to the point they cannot be used! I would be very disappointed to be disrupted from a (video) phone conversation because your phone is about to emulate Chernobyl! (W)

Q: Is it Safe to bank online?

A: NO(MSNBC)

Seriously, If you think its safe to bank online you are wrong. You know that tense feeling you have when you walk out of a bank, or away from an ATM, after making a withdrawal? Those arachnid warning sensors of yours should be tingling every time you type your online banks (OB) URL into a web browser. Criminals around the globe are trying to get into your bank account, and they have a lot of tricks up their sleeves; phishing emails and links, malware on your PC, and the old fashioned ‘looking over the shoulder’ method are some of the most common ways crooks get to your money.

Q: So just don’t use online banks, right?

A: NO(WSJ)

There is risk in online banking, but of course you could get robbed outside of any bank, and there are also a lot of benefits. Lets toast to my favorite: the environment, closely followed by better intrest rates (in some cases… do your research) The key is to use sound practice to minimize your risk, while maximizing your benifits.

Q: Can I safely bank online?

A: There is risk involved, those risks can be easily minimized.

The real question here is how at risk or how much will you loose? For the average person that risk can be minimized in a few easy steps.

1. DO NOT EVER (that means NEVER) use a public computer to access your OB.
2. DO NOT EVER (NEVER) access your OB via an unsecured WIFI spot.
3. Keep your Antivirus Up-to-date.
4. Change your Password, make it Random, Use a variety of characters.
5. Understand how Phishing Scams work, and dont get scammed.

If you think your at a higher risk level, consider a few more steps that I highly recomend:

1. Don’t access your OB through IE(any number) (thats internet explorer)
2. Access your OB through a different browser than the one you use regularly.
3. Count your online currency in privacy.

If you really want to be secure (I do this) get/burn a liveCD of your favorite linux flavor and use it to access your online bank.

None of this will work if you fail to use the most important tool of them all: your brain.

Q: Is it Safe to bank online?

A: NO(MSNBC)

Seriously, If you think its safe to bank online you are wrong. You know that tense feeling you have when you walk out of a bank, or away from an ATM, after making a withdrawal? Those arachnid warning sensors of yours should be tingling every time you type your online banks (OB) URL into a web browser. Criminals around the globe are trying to get into your bank account, and they have a lot of tricks up their sleeves; phishing emails and links, malware on your PC, and the old fashioned ‘looking over the shoulder’ method are some of the most common ways crooks get to your money.

Q: So just don’t use online banks, right?

A: NO(WSJ)

There is risk in online banking, but of course you could get robbed outside of any bank, and there are also a lot of benefits. Lets toast to my favorite: the environment, closely followed by better intrest rates (in some cases… do your research) The key is to use sound practice to minimize your risk, while maximizing your benifits.

Q: Can I safely bank online?

A: There is risk involved, those risks can be easily minimized.

The real question here is how at risk or how much will you loose? For the average person that risk can be minimized in a few easy steps.

1. DO NOT EVER (that means NEVER) use a public computer to access your OB.
2. DO NOT EVER (NEVER) access your OB via an unsecured WIFI spot.
3. Keep your Antivirus Up-to-date.
4. Change your Password, make it Random, Use a variety of characters.
5. Understand how Phishing Scams work, and dont get scammed.

If you think your at a higher risk level, consider a few more steps that I highly recomend:

1. Don’t access your OB through IE(any number) (thats internet explorer)
2. Access your OB through a different browser than the one you use regularly.
3. Count your online currency in privacy.

If you really want to be secure (I do this) get/burn a liveCD of your favorite linux flavor and use it to access your online bank.

None of this will work if you fail to use the most important tool of them all: your brain.