In the spirit of Thanksgiving I’d like to take a few moments to recognize the technologies (information, that is) that we should be thankful for.  My criteria are simple.  To be considered, the technology must have had a meanful, positive impact on people’s lives and changed the world for the better.  And just so the turkeys don’t feel left out I’ll mention a couple of them.

Wireless communications.  No other technology has had as big an impact on individuals lives and changed the world as much as wireless technology.  In some ways wireless technology is the printing press of our era.  It has liberated individuals from their desks and given them the freedom to work where and when they want to.  But, more importantly, it has liberated people from tyranny by providing access to uncensored information.  Without radio broadcasts into closed societies and, more recently, mobile communication devices that allow people to communicate free of central control, much of the liberalization we’ve seen over the past 30+ years  would not have happened.  [My argument with those who would put the Internet first is that wireless technology was having an impact long before the Internet existed.  Exhibit #1: The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 the same year Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web and well before it was a factor in our lives.]  And wireless technology is still going strong with new advances in wireless communications promising better, more timely access to information as well as increased automation of manual tasks.

Personal computers and network technology.  Let me start by painting a portrait of a (frustrated) engineer as a young man.  I started my engineering studies wasting many hours keypunching cards to run programs on mini-computers and, even after we had ceremoniously destroyed the last of the keypunch machines, waiting in line to use one of the limited green screen terminals.  On starting my first job we had three PCs to share amongst  20 engineers…and they weren’t yet networked!  A couple of years later I was in information technology heaven with my own machine and a connection to the minicomputers (DEC PDP11s) where the data resided.  Around the same time I discovered Lotus 1-2-3.  I was off to the data crunching/data visualization races!  For those wondering, I lumped personal computers and network technology together because, by themselves, they are nothing compared to what they are together.

The Internet.  Ranking the Internet third will no doubt get me lots of flack, particularly from 20 and 30 somethings.  But hear me out.  The Internet is still young and its impact on our lives, while significant, is a ways from peaking.  And its impact would be negligible if personal computers were not as ubiquitous as they are.  It will no doubt move to the top of the list over time but in the meantime we’re dealing with its growing pains including search results that don’t return what we want, the rise of spammers and their ilk, and legitimate concerns about privacy.  Personally, though I’m grateful for the Internet, I sometimes see it as mixed blessing.

Flat Panel Displays.  There are two aspects of information technology that often get no respect – input and output technology.  And, rightly so, because there hasn’t been much change over the years.  But one breakthrough that deserves mention is the emergence of low cost, high resoution flat panel displays.  Without this breakthrough there would be no laptops, smartphones, and GPS systems, to name a few transformational products.  And there’s still plenty of innovation to be had in the world of flat panel displays including flexible displays, black on white displays, etc.  [Honorable mention in the input/output space goes to the mouse.] 

And now for a couple of turkeys:

Battery technology.  OK, I acknowledge it could be on the list above.  There would be no mobile devices without some advances in battery technology.  But progress has been so slow in coming that failure to advance battery technology fast enough has held back progress in other areas.  There are signs of breakthroughs (and certainly no shortage of investment in battery technology recently) but nothing to be truly thankful for yet.

Voice recognition technology.  Maybe this is simply the lament of a failed typist but it seems like we’ve been promised a breakthough in voice recognition technology for over 20 years!  Personally I gave up waiting five or so years ago.  I would have been better served by putting my energies into learning to type when I was younger.  In the meantime, I console myself with the knowledge that on a smart phone everyone has to use two thumbs to type.

So there you have it.  My short list of information technologies to be thankful for.  Regardless of which technologies are on your own list, be sure to put them away tomorrow.  After all, the best technologies are the ones that give you the time to do the things that you’ve always enjoyed such as eating, drinking, and being in the company of family and good friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

by Frank Fortner

In talking with many of our customers, I’m often amazed by the number of good folks in the “MAGIC Kingdom” who still don’t fully realize what a significant shift in technology the MEDITECH Advanced Technology now shipping in (parts of) Client/Server version 6.x represents.  Some have even been led to believe 6.x is just another run-of-the-mill ring release that you migrate to after C/S 5.6.  I’ve spoken with a few beta sites and early adopters who might beg to differ.  For the sake of this post however, let’s concentrate on the new MEDITECH Advanced Database (MAD).  I want to highlight a few of the differences between the MAD and its predecessor (NPR) and since there is much to say on this topic, I’m going to break this into parts I and II.  In part I, we’ll look at the structure and design of the new database.

For starters, whereas the MAGIC/NPR database was termed “hierarchical,” the new Advanced Database is best described as “chronological” or “append-only,” which (in English) means that nothing is ever overwritten or deleted from it.  Most databases think in terms of add, insert or delete.  With MAD, you really just add.  There’s a slogan in there somewhere.    In order to illustrate how the MAD stores data, consider the following screenshot:

The highlighted section in the top half of the structure represents an initial entry in the MIS Directions Dictionary, where the facility of LAB has been created along with three corresponding applications, .DFT, LAB and PCS.  The lower un-highlighted section represents records that were later added due to an edit of the .DFT application and its schedule.  The advantage to this type of data storage is that it produces the mother-of-all audit trails.  A record of every addition, edit and deletion is stored, complete with the initials of the user responsible for each entry. The downside would seem to be the size of the database and how much larger it could potentially grow as more edits and deletions are made.  By the way… if you’re a old MAGIC programmer, you’ve probably realized you can still feel your way around a structure like this.

Keep in mind, when a program reads data from a chronological database, it has to essentially parse through the entire structure, so as more edits are made over time and the structure grows, you could pay a performance penalty.  At the same time, MEDITECH has implemented several tricks and techniques to make the reading of this type of file more efficient than it would appear to be at first glance.  In fact, MEDITECH has a special service program called ANP that has been highly optimized for reading from and writing to the MAD and it’s the ONLY program that is allowed to do so.  As a final word on performance, it’s safe to say your mileage may vary by application because some apps are more edit-intensive than others.

I hope this has provided you with a basic introduction to the new database structure and how it stores data as compared with its predecessor, NPR.  In part II, we’ll look at some other differences between the two database technologies.  As always, your comments and questions are welcome.  In addition, if you would like to see some other aspects of the Advanced Technology covered in future posts, please let us know.

This rig has quite a few USB ports, eight I think — 2 in the front (up top), and 6 at the back. My keyboard and mouse are USB connected to two of the back ports.

Both front ports work since we (Mike & I) have used USB keys on this from day one.

So in away, I don’t need a hub. But, I had a spare hub. I got one, a Saitek, with color-changing LED, for free, from newegg.com with something that I bought. Maybe it was the power supply.

I had plugged it in a few days ago. Got a message to say that a ‘Generic Hub’ was recognized and successfully installed. I didn’t bother to plug anything in.

I plugged my USB key into the hub for the first time today. NOTHING.

Messed around. Tried all the ports. Tried my new Sony Walkman MP3 player. Nothing.

Being the consummate professional, I then tried the USB key on all the ports without the hub. Worked fine, each time.

Through Device Manager got Windows 7 to check for driver updates. Said I had the latest … but it was from 2006! Hhhmmm.

I then tried a Belkin F5U407 (which I ‘borrowed’ from my wife’s PC).

Nothing. Windows 7 won’t even recognize it as a HUB!

Yes, I visited Belkin. No drivers.

Yes, I Googled. It appears that others have had Windows 7 driver problems with USB devices. In a way I am lucky. All the USB ports seem to work.

Well, I am hoping Mike can solve this mystery. It looks like a driver issue.

I will keep YOU posted. Cheers.

Anura Guruge
www.guruge.com

As of today, I have been with my wife for 7 years. During that time I have got quite good at reading her nuances (a.k.a. moods).

I started using System Mechanic at least 2 years BEFORE I met my wife. Since 1992, when I quit corporate life, I typically spend at least 10 hours a day in front of my computer, typically more … and that is 7 days a week (with but some very small exceptions). Yes, though that know me will vouch that I work Thanksgiving, Christmas, Boxing Day, New Years (Sinhalese, Chinese & Jan. 1), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Bastile Day, Vesak etc. etc. So, over the years I have probably spent as much time with System Mechanic as I have with my wife … though she will categorically claim that the computer wins, 2::1. That being the joy of being a compulsive, born-again, workaholic.

So, if I tell you that I know System Mechanic fairly well … trust me. You can go check. I don’t make too many idle, empty boasts.

Well, System Mechanic 9.0.5 on Windows 7 is not quite right.

No, it hasn’t crashed since November 12.

I have been using it sparingly since then. Remember, I said I was a workaholic, not a masochist (though some would argue the toss on that given that I still use Adobe Acrobat on a daily basis).

I haven’t had a software update from iolo, other than the ‘performance tune-up definitions,’ in that time.

That seems like a long time, especially as we all know that SM 9.0.5 has had issues with Windows 7.

I just get a feeling that iolo has put 9.0.5 into a kind quiesce state FOR NOW … until it can fix all the issues.

Just my feeling. It is like System Mechanic is FAKING IT!

So, if you are using 9.0.5 with Windows 7, don’t be bashful … share with US … your experiences.

All the best. Thanks.

Anura Guruge
www.guruge.com

Don’t opt for Windows 7 Ultimate just because you like the sound of ‘Ultimate.’

Windows 7 Ultimate is intentionally misnamed by Microsoft to ultimately trap all of those that feel that they must have the BEST. There is nothing wrong with always wanting the BEST. But, in the case of Windows 7 Ultimate is unlikely to be the BEST option for YOU … unless you are bona fide road-warrior.

Check Microsoft’s Windows 7 COMPARISON CHART.

Do not rely on ANY OTHER chart. Whatever you do don’t listen to ‘YOUR PC GUY’ (and why do we have such a shortage of PC Gals?) who tells you that you should go with the ULTIMATE … since it only costs $20 more than ‘Professional.’

Check MSFT’s CHART. Note you only get two, and only two, features in ‘Ultimate’ above what you get with ‘Professional.’

Those two are:

1. BitLocker. That is on-the-fly data encryption. MSFT sells it as feature against hackers. Don’t buy that. That is disingenuous of MSFT, to say the least. We have Windows Defender that is supposed to protect us from Hackers? So, why do you also need BitLocker. Yes, BitLocker is invaluable if you have a laptop and are a road warrior. If the laptop is stolen or lost, you data will be safe. For that you need BitLocker. In my book, and I have written a few, that is the ONLY reason to have BitLocker. To protect data on ‘traveling’ laptops. Don’t ever think of BitLocker on a desktop. Just use Windows Defender and Avast.
   
2. 35 Language Support. That is very nice, but do YOU really need that on YOUR PC. Like how many languages do you use on you PC? Just good and bad English. That is two.
   

The irony is that I think BitLocker can actually have a performance impact on your PC. Don’t know that for a fact. Just a guess. I do know some about encryption, but I haven’t bothered to look up the details of BitLocker.

My goal is to just to give YOU a HEADS UP that Windows 7 Ultimate is not the Ultimate Windows 7 experience that you may have been hoping for. So don’t spend the extra without checking out what you are not getting to get.

Yes, I know that Windows 7 Ultimate is freely available, in pirated form. If you are going to use pirated software then this really will the ultimate kick for you. Go for it. The worst it can do is slow you PC down, but what the heck. You got THE ULTIMATE for nothing.

Cheers.

Anura Guruge
www.guruge.com

Proof positive that even MS dont bother checking their layouts in IE6 anymore. Ignore the couple of dark horizontal lines – that’s me patching together the screen images in a hurry. The rest of the mess is pure IE6.

This could be interesting…

“Pichai called this out as one of the most important things Google is doing with Chrome OS. “In Chrome OS, every application is a web application,” he said, answering questions about how the platform would work. “There are no conventional desktop applications. Users don’t have to install programs, manage updates, nothing … A computer should just work.”
The next bit will be controversial in some circles, though it shouldn’t be. “All data in Chrome OS is in the cloud,” Pichai continued. “We really want it to be easy for you, [the user,] to use the machine. We want all of personal computing to work [as do web applications, where you logon and get access to the services associated with your account]. If I lose my Chrome OS machine, I should be able to go buy a new machine, log in, and within a matter of seconds, get my favorite applications, and the necessary cached data back, including personalization, my background, everything should look similar. We want it to be possible for users to share machines and feel as if the machine belongs to them.” “

All applications and info cloud-based. Makes you wonder how fast that would allow the PC to be if it is little more than a terminal. More here.

However, what happens if the Cloud isn’t available? What happens if your connection is down? Kind of sucks that your PC is then virtually useless. But it’s going to be interesting to see how it works, nonetheless.

Back in the early 1980s, it wasn’t a given that a family needed a home computer–or even that they knew exactly what a home computer was. So ads for PCs and related products made sure to show happy families–sometimes eerily happy families–crowded around the computer, enjoying the heck out of their purchase.

To celebrate the more traditional gathering of families represented by the holiday season we’re entering, vintage tech guru Benj Edwards is back with a gallery of those ads. If you were around back then, you’ll be slightly embarrassed to be reminded of the era. If you weren’t–well, you may just not understand.

View 1980s Home Computer Family Celebration slideshow.

Computers: The Heart of the 1980s Home

Familiar holiday tales tell of a time in the late 19th century when loving families would gather around the hearth to give thanks for their many blessings, sing songs, read Dickens, and roast chestnuts. But by the early 1980s — if you believed computer ads of the day — the home computer had become the center of the traditional nuclear family. Chestnuts  were replaced by joysticks and computer manuals.

With the holidays just around the corner, let’s carefully peel back the fabric of time and examine ten vintage advertisements from a more civilized age when dazed, zombified android families found themselves irresistibly drawn to home PCs.

As you look through these ads, keep this in mind: When was the last time more than two people sat around your computer?

TRS-80 Color Computer 2 (1984)

Father: “I’m so glad we bought you this new computer, Gloria. With it, your knowledge and critical thinking skills will accelerate to levels far beyond those of your peers.”

Daughter: (zombie gargle)

Weekly Reader Family Software (1983)

From the expression of the boy in yellow on the left, you’d think that Weekly Reader Family Software had created the most gruesome crash simulator yet committed to any digital media.

And that’s plum OK with dad.

CBS Software (1983)

“See, dad? If I press this key, I can calculate the GDP of the entire Pacific Rim.”

“Sorry, son. I was thinking about cheeseburgers.”

TRS-80 Model 4 (1983)

“The Great Leader told us to burn our computing paraphernalia.”

Commodore 64 (1983)

Kid of 1983: “This is what Saturn looks like. It has a mass of 5.6846×1026 KG!”

Kid of 2009: “This is what a LOLcat looks like! It eats its own #@$%!”

CBS Software (1984)

“Gather ’round the computer, kids. It’s time to read the instruction manual.”

“Yaaaaay!”

Edupro (1983)

Product photographers in the 1980s would have you contort your body in unpleasant ways to use a computer (note the monitor pointed away from the family). Luckily, this ad comes with a coupon for a free chiropractor visit.

Spinnaker Software (1983)

“That’s how your mom and I made you guys.”

Quizagon (1983)

“Whoa…what’s in these brownies, Grandma?”

Home Cataloger (1984)

“When I pour this stuff into the computer, it just kinda pops.”

Ten minutes later, the Edenburger family realized they had been living inside a UFO for the last three years.

More tech nostalgia:

The Golden Age of Electronic Games

15 Classic PC Design Mistakes

The 13 Greatest Error Messages of All Time

Personal Computers of the Early 1980s

My First Crack At Some Basic Animation With MIT's Scratch

We had a teacher conference for our 9 year old daughter on Friday. The teacher said that they were going to be using MIT’s Scratch, on 3 Macs they were getting, starting in January 2010. She urged me to try it out prior to that given that she had heard that I played around with computers.

MIT’s Scratch is a programming language for kids geared towards creating interactive, multimedia projects.

I found it on the Web. Watched a YouTube video they had in their SUPPORT gallery. Looked easy enough.

Went to download it. It, v1.3, is available for Macs and PC … but said 2000, XP and Vista. No Windows 7. (Strange that. You would have thought that between May and now, MIT would have tried out Windows 7).

But downloaded it. Installed fine, in my ‘Program Files (x86)’ folder.

Worked first time. Since I had watched the video I was able to get some animation, replete with music, going right away. The kids were amused.

Went downstairs and downloaded it to my daughters, fairly old, XP system as well. Again no problems. Started up. It was QUICK even on the old system.

Nine year old got it going without any trouble. I showed her the very basic, basics. Then I left. Ten minutes later she had jumping pop corn!

Impressive.

So just want to let you know that Scratch works fine with Windows 7.

It looks like a great piece of software for 9 year old. Thank YOU.

<< One thing puzzles me. From MIT, for KIDS … but NO Linux? What gives. I have a 3 year old daughter with a Edubuntu System. She is going to want it soon. >>

Anura Guruge
www.guruge.com

Following my last two posts about pirated copies of Windows 7, I was going to let the topic drop for a few days. But, ….

Per my daily routine, I was checking out CraigsList this morning. I came across this Ad. in the ‘Computer Services’ section in the New Hampshire CL.

The title was: “Computer reformats, to windows 7 ultimate, 30$ (manchester, nh)”.

It had an image attached and when you opened the Ad. it was ‘The XBox Guy,’ with a nice picture of a pirate … BUT with a statement that he doesn’t support or condone piracy. Just fair use.

I flagged the Ad. to CL.

He was offering to sell STOLEN goods.

Actually not sure whether he is just using that subject line to get people to look at his XBox ad.

Doesn’t matter. I know that pirated copies of Windows 7 Ultimate is available, for free, on the Web.

I know CL. People are blatant in what they advertise and sometimes even ask.

Many are stupid. Yes, CL is being policed to an extent. But, they are unlikely to have spotted this … and I am not even sure that my FLAGGING of it would result in it being taken down.

Yes, there will be folks that take up his offer. Some will NOT realize that they are receiving stolen goods. I have no gripe against those. They probably, genuinely think, that upgrading to Windows 7 must just cost $30. Good for them.

It amuses me about those that KNOWINGLY will go to this guy and ask him to install Windows 7 Ultimate on their PC for $30.

But, there are a LOT of real dumb people out there, many of whom do a lot of transactions on CL.

You are going to an acknowledged THIEF and telling them to install software on your PC.

As I said before, this guy, like all those that deal in pirated Windows 7 have already established that they have no compunctions about thieving. It is just like that saying about whoring. “Yes, we have established that you are whore, all we are now doing is negotiating on a price.”

If he is willing to steal from MSFT, he will also steal from YOU.

Think about it.

This pirating is costing YOU money.

It is just like the health care debate. The uninsured that go to ERs … end up costing those that have insurance! That is how it works. Pirated Windows 7 just makes MSFT bump up their prices on those of us that BUY their software.

Cheers.

Anura Guruge
www.guruge.com

Following her vote, on the Communication Workers Union’s postal executive committee, for the acceptance of the interim agreement and the halting of the postal strikes, it became clearer than ever that the Socialist Workers Party had to do something about Jane Loftus’s repeated breaches of collective discipline in that organisation. It has been widely reported that the SWP asked her to choose between keeping her union position or making a self-criticism of her recent vote for the interim agreement. Given this choice she opted to resign from the SWP. It is good that the SWP leadership decided to take action over this. Unfortunately there has been no mention of this on the SWP’s own website so far – if it was left to them postal workers would be left uninformed of this development.

The following article was written by a Milton Keynes Communists member for the Weekly Worker before it was revealed that Jane Loftus had resigned.

Bring Loftus to account

Dave Isaacson condemns leading SWP members who continually undermine and sabotage attempts to forge rank and file organisation

There was one significant omission in Jim Moody’s article on the sell-out of the postal strike by the Communication Workers Union leadership, which allowed CWU president Jane Loftus to come out of it looking rather good, when actually she has been an utter disgrace (‘Militants condemn sell-out’, November 12).

Loftus, a long-standing member of the Socialist Workers Party and therefore supposedly a revolutionary, is also a member of the CWU’s postal executive committee (PEC), which voted unanimously on November 5 to accept the interim agreement and call off the strikes, just as the strength of the postal workers was starting to be realised. This goes completely against the position of Loftus’s organisation. Socialist Worker has rightly stated that “Leaders of the postal workers’ union were wrong to suspend strikes at Royal Mail last week … There was no reason for the union to sign up to the agreement. The proposed escalation of strike action – that would have seen two 24-hour strikes in close succession last week – had widespread support within the union” (November 14).

Another Socialist Worker article by Cambridge CWU rep Paul Turnbull calls on postal workers to “restart the strikes immediately”. Yet neither questions why Jane Loftus did not vote against this sell-out – indeed her name is not mentioned at all. Activists in the SWP and militants in the CWU need to ask what is going on here. The SWP’s newspaper, Socialist Worker, is arguing one thing, while their highest placed member in the CWU is doing the exact opposite. Like other socialists all over the country, SWP activists put massive amounts of time and energy into supporting the postal workers and their strike. No wonder Socialist Worker might not want them to know that their own comrade on the CWU leadership colluded in undermining that hard work.

Many would expect better from a member of the SWP, but this kind of behaviour is not an aberration. Back in 2007 Loftus failed to speak out against the rotten deal which ended that dispute. The only PEC members who openly campaigned against the 2007 sell-out were Dave Warren and Phil Brown. Loftus also colluded with the bureaucracy by keeping their secrets and withholding vital information from the membership during closed-door negotiations with management. The SWP failed to use this information to warn strikers of the impending sell-out and call on workers to organise independently of the bureaucracy. Again, back in 2003-04 Loftus voted for the Major Change agreement, a management package that involved job cuts.

Loftus is certainly not alone, however. Her actions are reminiscent of those of Martin John and Sue Bond in the Public and Commercial Services union. Similarly, these were the SWP’s leading comrades in a union with a left general secretary (Mark Serwotka) and leadership (dominated by the Socialist Party in England and Wales). The SWP has consistently downplayed (or kept silent about) any criticisms it may have of left union leaders such as these in order to try and draw them into supporting various SWP ‘united fronts’. In the process the SWPers closest to them in the trade unions clearly bought into the ‘awkward squad’ hype and are in thrall to these bureaucrats.

There are plenty of perks to the job and other social pressures which weigh upon those who enter the upper echelons of the union structures. A revolutionary party should be constantly on guard and fighting against the effects of these pressures on its militants, yet the actions of the SWP leadership often do just the opposite of that. Their desire to get close to and win the approval of ‘left’ union leaders creates a culture of diplomatic silence and conciliationism, while what is necessary for accountability within the unions is open debate and rank and file independence from the bureaucracy.

As members of the PCS national executive committee Martin John and Sue Bond had failed to support SWP policy within the union on a number of occasions, and then in 2005 they knowingly went against SWP directions and policy to vote with Serwotka and SPEW for a scandalous pension deal which sold away the rights of new entrants. Only after regular exposures of their actions (not least in the reports of CPGB member Lee Rock in the Weekly Worker), and growing complaints from other SWP members, was the leadership forced to take action against these renegades.

Initially Socialist Worker ignored the actions of its members on the PCS NEC, while condemning the deal as a betrayal of future generations of workers – sound familiar? Even after disciplinary action was begun Sue Bond got off very lightly with a letter of apology in which she stated: “I do regret the position our vote left comrades in, and the significant implications for the left in other public sector unions. I can certainly assure comrades that I have no intention of breaking party discipline in the future” (Weekly Worker November 17 2005). Martin John flounced out of the SWP the day before he was due to face a meeting of the SWP fraction within PCS. It was not until four weeks after the pensions deal was voted on that news of all this made it into Socialist Worker.

However, it is not just a few individual SWP members succumbing to the pressures of the bureaucracy. The SWP itself has consistently failed to use its positions of influence within unions to build genuine rank and file movements which are independent of the union bureaucracy. The SWP-sponsored occasional publication, Post Worker, does not openly take on the likes of general secretary Billy Hayes and his deputy Dave Ward when they act against the interests of their members. Rather, it regularly gives over significant space for them to promote themselves. It might as well be an official union publication.

SWP members may well wonder about the priorities of their leadership, when Alex Snowden – a Reesite Left Platform supporter – has been expelled for “factionalism” (during the pre-conference period when temporary factions are allowed), yet Jane Loftus seems to have got off scot-free for a blatant act of treachery. Comrades in the SWP need to ensure that Jane Loftus is held to account and faces disciplinary action. She must be called before a fraction meeting of SWP comrades in the CWU and made to explain her actions. She must either recant and campaign openly against the acceptance of the interim agreement in line with SWP policy, or it is she who should face expulsion. Beyond this, major questions have to be asked about whether she can continue to be the SWP’s leading representative within the CWU, given her track record. And all of this must be done openly with full reports in Socialist Worker.

I have been told that CWU executive members can only subsequently campaign against majority decisions if they immediately registered their dissent. If this is the case, then Loftus must be made to step down from the PEC in order to campaign within the CWU accordingly.

Prior to this latest sell-out, Socialist Worker quite correctly asked the question, “How do we fight when union leaders waver?” Matthew Cookson wrote: “The best way to take the struggle forward is to organise workers on a rank-and-file level. A strong organisation of this nature could support the officials as long as they were representing the union members, but could act independently the moment their leaders began to look for some way to settle their dispute unfavourably” (October 31).

Yes, but the actions of leading SWP members continually undermine and sabotage attempts at forging such rank and file organisation. Comrades in the SWP need to think much more deeply about the role their organisation plays within the unions. They must be free to use Socialist Worker as a tool to explore why it is their leading representatives in the unions end up acting against the interests of the working class.

That people today, bereft of ethics and morals, would go to great lengths to obtain pirated copies of Windows 7 was to be expected.

That Microsoft, for all of its swaggering bravado but its obviously flaccid Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) tool, cannot detect and thwart pirated copies is galling — but cynics would claim that it is but par for the course for MSFT.

What is, however, NOT ACCEPTABLE is that Microsoft has said that it would support any and all pirated copies of Windows 7 … not in anyway trying to BLOCK updates or System Packs.

Here is a good article about this unstinted support by Microsoft for PIRATED Windows 7 by ‘Tom’s Hardware.’ Please skim through it.

I have a right to bitch. I am not just an indignant, righteous spoil-sport. I have some valid skin in this game, way beyond the fact that I paid $149 for my OEM copy of Windows 7 Professional.

The Product Key-based Windows activation system used by Microsoft was THOUGHT UP BY ME … 31 years ago. Here, I created a post, with links to the US Patents database, to prove this. Check it out. So, I kind of know what I am talking about here.

That MSFT will condone Windows 7 piracy is akin to WalMart saying that henceforth it will not crackdown on shoplifting and instead will instruct its staff to provide bags and receipts for all STOLEN GOODS.

Well, here is the TWIST.

MSFT is breaking the law!

MSFT management has a fiduciary responsibility to its SHARE HOLDERS to maximize their return on investment. I contend that supporting PIRATED copies of Windows 7 violates that!

I am calling for a CLASS ACTION SUIT against MSFT for their support of pirated Windows 7.

I have already posted in Boston CraigsList trying to bring it to the attention of CA attorneys out there. On Monday, I will post in Seattle and New York. There is a GOOD CA case here.

********************

Now I suspect that the real problem here is that MSFT cannot, for all of its claims, detect pirated copies of Windows 7 — if a ‘valid’ key is typed in.

I might have to work on this! << smile >> My idea to begin with. Maybe, I need to take it to the next step. [This time, however, it will be MY patent. Not IBM's.]

But, there are other ways to really put a damper on pirated copies of Windows 7.

MSFT, better than anybody else, knows where the ISO images are being downloaded from. Of course, MSFT has folks monitoring all these ‘torrents.’

MSFT here is some FREE ADVICE from the originator of the Product Key-based activation scheme and in his youth, in the early 1970s, an original ‘hacker.’

SEED the download sites with MODIFIED Windows 7 images. Don’t do anything drastic. Just some good ‘ET Call Home’ code — really no different to what you already have in WAG, but this time around with a flag saying this copy is pirated … this is the IP. While you are at it get whatever information might be useful so that you can tell these THIEVES that you need payment of $200 for the copy of Windows 7. I don’t need to spell this out.

So that is where I sit. We need MSFT management to live up to their fiduciary responsibility.

Thank YOU.

Anura Guruge
www.guruge.com

A posting to establish my standing as the originator of the Product Key-based software validation as used my Windows 7, Office, Adobe et. al.

The blatant abuse taking place, as I write, with folks glibly installing pirated versions of Windows 7 and getting bona fide updates from Microsoft is beginning to bother me on multiple fronts.

In the end, I guess, what irks me is that it is thieving.

Right now I can honestly say that we don’t have ANY non-legit pieces of software on any of our 6 machines. Yes, I have TOYED with the notion of using a ‘pirated’ copy of Acrobat because I am so disgusted with Adobe upgrade policy which precludes me from getting a genuine upgrade. But, I haven’t done it. I guess, deep down I worry that Adobe will blow up my PC! After 40 years of dealing with computer, or maybe BECAUSE of that, I am paranoid what companies could do to ME with software!

But, before I start agitating about pirated versions of Windows 7, I need to establish my credentials, show that I have some skin in this game and demonstrate that I do know what I am talking about.

I have mentioned a couple of times that way back in 1978, while working for IBM (at their Hursley Lab. in the U.K.), I came up with the notion of ’serial number’ based software validation.

Here is the original link at www.guruge.com justifying this claim.

Here is a list of links to documents, some from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office related to granted patents, that mention ME, by NAME, with my 1978 IBM Technical Disclosure as a basis.

OK?

1. Patent for ‘Software protection methods and apparatus.’ Patent # 4,525,599.  My name appears under ‘Other References.’
2. Patent for ‘Security system for microcomputers.’ Patent # 4,757,533.  My name appears under ‘Other References.’
3. Patent for ‘Code protection using cryptography.’ Patent # 4,757,534.  My name appears under ‘Other References.’
4. Patent for ‘ Computer system for preventing copying of program from a storage medium by modifying the program using a unique key.’ Patent # 4,835,682.  My name appears under ‘Other References.’
5. Patent for ‘Method and apparatus for preventing copying of an optical disk.’ Patent # 4,975,898.  My name appears under ‘Other References.’
6. Another link to patent ‘1.’ above which has my name right on the front page.

OK?

To me thieving is thieving. Yes, it is difficult to think of MSN as a victim but nonetheless it is thieving.

I have a friend, who over the course of 20 years, has declared bankruptcy TWICE! He defaulted on $4M to J.P. Morgan. He thinks it is kind of funny. He, a very nice guy, cannot for the world of him understand or appreciate that that is also thieving.

Just because you steal from a corporation or a bank that doesn’t make it different.

IF you will glibly install a pirated copy of Windows 7, without any compunction, you will, if need arises, steal directly from me — even put a gun to my head and demand my ATM card.

As the saying goes we have already established that ‘you are a whore,’ all we are now doing is trying to determine YOUR price. So that is my issue.

More later. But, as you can tell, I am not amused. Pirating Windows 7, casually declaring bankruptcy and calmly letting your house go into foreclosure are all but various forms of thieving. You have taken money or assets from somebody against their will. It may look different to breaking and entering, but the crime is THE SAME.

Sorry. I am no angel. But, thieving bothers me. Sorry.

All the best.

Anura Guruge
www.guruge.com

I had vaguely remembered about the ‘new’ search indexing feature that was added to Vista.

Obviously it got carried over to Windows 7.

Today I was editing a chapter in my new book. When I am editing, I can stare at a single sentence on the screen for five to ten minutes at a time. I am not touching the keyboard or mouse. I am not listening to music. I stare, intently, at the screen. My new system, despite having seven (yes, 7) fans, one rather BIG on the top, is rather quiet. So today, I started hearing that unmistakable, interminable clickety-click sound coming from my PC. It wasn’t loud. But it was incessant. I immediately realized what it was doing. It was doing indexing.

I don’t really need my files indexed. I don’t use search that often. When I do, I rarely, if ever, search on file contents. I just search on file names. Though I have a LOT of files, I also still, despite my dotage, have a reasonably good memory. Plus, I am, by necessity rather organized, structured and disciplined. So my folders and files have logical and self describing names. So my searches are not that taxing. I don’t need Windows 7 to keep on trolling my disk indexing all my data.

At this point I did not know that I could actually fine tune Windows 7 indexing options. Well, you can. Right click on ‘COMPUTER,’ go select the ‘properties’ option at the bottom. You should get a screen with your System Rating etc. with a HUGE Windows 7 logo on the right. On the LEFT HAND bottom, you should see ‘Performance Information and Tools.’ BINGO. That is what you need. Select that and the second option you will get is ‘Adjust indexing options.’ I actually looked at mine. It was not indexing both my disks! Strange! All that clicking … I thought it was indexing both … non-stop. According to what it claims … indexing was complete and it indexed 25,802.

Well, this afternoon I didn’t know any of this.

I just Googled “Windows 7 Search Indexing.” Many articles talked about disabling it. I went back to the article I told you about yesterday. Yes, I had remembered that it had talked about turning off search indexing. As I did yesterday with cutting back on my boot Time Out, I followed their instructions. They were GOOD AGAIN. I disabled indexing. I just did a search. Search seems to work. Not sure whether on this system, with its capacity to spare, turning off indexing made any difference. That constant clicking noise bothered me.

Well, think about. My goal is to give you food for thought. Thanks.

Anura Guruge
www.guruge.com

We have seen some unusual options trading today.  As you would expect, some is around today’s 4:00 PM close  with today being options expiration date.  But some bets are way out into 2011 and we have some around merger rumors.  All have links with full details on the options trading analysis at VSInvestor:

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) are both seeing very active trading around expiration date today, and the closest strikes are acting as magnets.

Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) has seen a very bullish bet in options out to 2011.

There is some elevated Dec-2009 Call options activity in both Leap Wireless International Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP) and MetroPCS Communications Inc. (NYSE: PCS) on today’s re-rumor of a potential deal coming back up.

DryShips, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) is very active in the stock after an increased convertible note offering, yet the options activity seen today seems muted.

Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) has a big bet out in January 2011 options expiration.

You can join our open email distribution list to hear more news on key analyst calls, top day trader alerts, mergers and acquisitions, Buffett and other investment gurus, IPOs, secondary offerings, private equity, and more.

JON C. OGG
NOVEMBER 20, 2009

I did a Google on “Windows 7 Ultimate Performance” and serendipitously came across this article in computing unleashed. I read tip #1 about ‘Speeding Up The Boot Process.‘

It made sense to me.

I had thought that the Boot Up on this rig was a TAD too slow given its innate processing power. What it said in that tip made sense.

I had never looked at ‘msconfig.’ I decided to give it a try.

The steps listed worked.

I, however, don’t think that you can set the boot time out value to zero (0). I first tried with 10 seconds. Restarted the system. Might have been a TAD quicker. Can’t tell … though 20 seconds is not to be sneezed at … given that you can probably sneeze 8 times in 20 seconds … even if your sneezes are of operatic proportions (as most of mine are, most of the time).

I was just glad that it booted after I made the changes … paranoia of Windows not working being my constant handmaiden.

Then I tried to knock the time out all the way to zero. Wouldn’t let me. Said it had to be 3 seconds. So set it to 3. Also set the cores to 8, given that that is what I had.

Shut it down and started it up again. Maybe it was a TAD quicker. Can’t really tell. Maybe I will time it tomorrow.

But this article is definitely worth perusing.

Hope this helps.

Anura Guruge
www.guruge.com

Here is the guy who covers for me when I am off work. At present he is here doing extra work and so I am subjected to him and his odour all day for two days a week. He has no personality whatsoever and speaks with the most nasal whine you’ve ever heard. He never had a thought he didn’t say and say and say out loud. He is the guy who gives us IT folk a bad (nerdy) name. He has so many little OCD-type ticks (including “scratching” the inside of his nostril before licking his finger!!) that I think I’m going to shoot him he twists or pulls up his pants (with his wrists!!)one more time!

But I could probably handle all of that if he’d just bathe!!!