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Comment Re:Hello 911? (Score 5, Informative) 449


This is not how it works. I've called 911 on a cell recently, and on a land line around 10 years ago.
When I called on the land line, the operator asked, "Are you MY NAME?", which means she had my information INSTANTLY.
When I called on a "smart" phone, I had to tell the operator where I was, so she could forward me to the right jurisdiction, and there was a little hold time.
To me, this is a big difference, because the time I called 911 on the land line, there were two men trying to break my door down, and being put on hold would not have improved my confidence.

Comment Re:You know *nothing* about security (Score 1) 220

A correction:

6) Private keys can (and should be) protected with passwords, making them in effect a form of two-factor authentication (you HAVE the key, you KNOW its password). Passwords are a single factor.

The authentication tokens in "two-factor" authentication should be independent, and both should be required for access. Encrypting a key does not increase the number of tokens required for authentication.

Comment More Mathematics (Score 1) 197

Why not get a masters degree in mathematics (non-Ed)? While taking classes in higher mathematics you will encounter problems where you can apply your programming skills. And since you're a math teacher, taking more mathematics classes will make you a better mathematics teacher (yes, I know this is generally considered false). Also, it will improve your career opportunities in mathematics. Even if your current job is great, people in the real world get jealous of smart people and try hard to derail their success, ESPECIALLY in the education world.

Comment Re:Why single out Whole Foods? (Score 1) 794

There is one well-done study I read, which has yet to be corroborated (I haven't checked recently), which suggests an association between nitrites and Alzheimer's. ("Diabetes of the brain" is the term they used--do a Google search.) I'll never give up bacon, but since Trader Joe's sells nitrite-free bacon, which is cut better, tastes better, AND is cheaper than the $6/lb in grocery stores (Los Angeles), why in the world would I buy cured bacon when researchers are beginning to suspect nitrites?

Comment Vim (Score 1) 445

I use vim -x passwordfile.txt. It uses Blowfish encryption. You only need the -x flag when you create the file. I keep it on one computer at home, only, with a hardcopy (lots of index cards) in a desk drawer. If I need it on the road I temporarily copy required passwords on a USB thumb, encrypted. It's not an enterprise solution, but I'm just one person, so it works OK. Actually, I refer to the index cards way more often than the password file.

Comment Re:Pffft (Score 1) 723

Cities like Birmingham and Atlanta are different. The ground surface temperature is warmer, so any amount of snow generally melts and converts to ice quickly. The people up north don't know/understand this, so they make ignorant comments to feel superior.

Comment Re:It'll work if you want to suceed (Score 1) 397

May I ask a favor? Could you please bring this racial curiosity to the attention of the school administration so you or they might recruit one or two non-Asians to participate in your program? You could teach this class for years with no black/white/Hispanic students participating, but why not set a personal goal of getting just one or two non-Asians to participate every year? You don't have to move mountains, just don't let the students decide their fate so early. Helping one interested student is enough (as a start :)

I used to teach a summer school in math in Koreatown (Los Angeles). All the students were Korean, and they all refused to participate on their school's math team because "they're all Chinese nerds with coke-bottle glasses." I'm black, so I was a little shocked because I never saw this in real-life before (Asians being intimidated by other Asians). Alas, I ignorantly grouped Asians together. Anyway, black, white, and Hispanic students experience the same intimidation. They need a little push to get over it.

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