Monthly Archives: May 2014

Net Neutrality: What Does It Mean?

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the words "Net Neutrality: ALL BITS ARE CREATED EQUAL. It's not just a good idea. It ought to be the LAW."

With the FCC’s recent ruling on Internet neutrality the issue of nondiscriminatory internet service has moved from the backburner to the forefront of the minds of every day internet users. Be it for Netflix, YouTube, Streaming music or downloading questionably legal files, net neutrality means equal internet speeds for all.

People who use Verizon in particular have noticed that their internet speed slows considerably when they use services like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video. Under the concept of net neutrality, this would be illegal. Certain services like HBO GO for example, are blocked in their entirety by certain providers. This too would be illegal.

Earlier today the FCC put forth a plan with the intention that the new laws would prevent internet providers from throttling the internet speeds of their customers, however, the ruling may have paved the way to a deeply segregated internet. People would be changed from internet equals, to users on a “pay-for-priority” system.

Originally the U.S appeals court rejected the FCC’s recommendation on net neutrality rules on the basis that it would not allow users to pay more money for better internet under any circumstances. Only after allowing a small number of pay-for-priority deals did the appeals court approve the new laws. There is some question over whether or not the FCC has the authority to regulate the Internet at all, but the wheels have been set in motion. The Internet – the “network of networks” that connects the world won’t be quite so open anymore.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality

http://www.savetheinternet.com/net-neutrality-101

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/16/technology/fcc-road-map-to-net-neutrality.html?hpw&rref=business&_r=0

http://www.fcc.gov/document/protecting-and-promoting-open-internet-nprm

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/15/us-usa-internet-neutrality-idUSBREA4C0SF20140515

Images:

http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/12217_large_neutral-bits.png

A Tasty Treat

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Hello everyone, I was recently introduced to a delicious snack I thought I’d share with the rest of you. Have you ever heard of Fried Double Stuffed Oreos?

For those who haven’t, I’ve decided to share the delicious recipe for you all.

Ingredients

2 cups of flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons of sugar

5 ice cubes

2 cups seltzer

1 egg yolk

1 pack of Double Stuffed Oreo cookies

Vegetable oil for frying

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl. Put the 5 ice cubes in a glass measuring cup and add enough seltzer to make 2 cups. Add to the flour mixture along with the egg yolk. Mix until there are no large lumps and the ice cubes have melted. Set aside.

2. Fill a tall saucepan or deep-fryer with up to 2 inches of vegetable oil and turn on the stove. Dip the Oreo’s in the batter and fry a few at a time until crispy. Each Oreo should take around 45 to 60 seconds. Once completed, carefully remove with a spoon, and drain on paper towels. Continue until all the Oreo’s have been dipped in batter and fried.

Once completed, you should be left with a tasty treat that should look something like this…

pastries

 

 

Are we saying goodbye to remedial classes?

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Numerous states and colleges have created programs in recent years to promote graduation and minimize the need for remedial courses.

BCCC has combined non credit developmental classes while adding personal tutorials and online assessments that allow students to work at a pace more comfortable for them. Massachusetts has begun using a student’s high school grade point average instead of standardized tests to determine suitability for remedial classes. Texas State University is allowing students to take remedial and credit courses in the same subject simultaneously to speed up the learning process, and recently CUNY schools have been offering an intense program to rapidly move students out of remedial classes.

The replacement of remedial courses is meant to advance students more quickly, in intensive and interactive courses, instead of being stuck in a remedial class for multiple semesters.

Internet Explorer – Safe Again – Even XP

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the Internet Explorer logo

Earlier this week, Homeland Security issued a statement warning Americans against using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. The reason for the ban? An exploit that allowed hackers to adopt the rights and permissions of a user to potentially take over a PC. This caused a ripple of panic across the internet at the implications of such a large vulnerability.

To start with, most non-computer savvy users use only one account and give it administrative rights to install programs. On an infected machine, a hacker would gain administrative privileges and be free to do as they wished with the PC.

According to Microsoft:

“…An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.”

That cause even bigger problems for businesses that dealt in confidential data. Someone could go into their systems and delete entire databases of information or expose highly confidential information.

Thankfully, Microsoft acted quickly (once the exploit was made public anyway) to fix the issue, releasing multiple updates for all Windows platforms from XP onwards. People are encouraged to update their machines as soon as possible. However users are getting tired of the constant security scares. First Target and Heartbleed, now Internet Explorer. What will we do when there’s nothing secure left?

 

Sources:
http://mashable.com/2014/04/28/internet-explorer-bug-how-to-protect/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/28/us-cybersecurity-microsoft-browser-idUSBREA3Q0PB20140428
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2148921/dhs-warns-against-using-internet-explorer-until-bug-is-patched.html
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2148368/new-internet-explorer-zero-day-puts-web-at-risk-and-xp-isnt-getting-a-fix.html
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/security/2963983
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/04/internet_explorer_bug_no_fix_xp_hacker_control_pc.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2618102/Microsoft-FINALLY-fixes-Internet-Explorer-bug-days-Government-warned-computer-users-to-abandon-browser.html
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/05/01/microsoft-issues-internet-explorer-security-fix/8562737/
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2150248/microsoft-backs-down-will-fix-internet-explorer-vulnerability-even-on-windows-xp.html