The HOULDEN REPORT Sunday May 17,2015 :Back to linux i go....

With all the changes to the microsoft ecosystem,and the inability to go Mac,Linux was the only viable alternative.It seems that since the other two (apple and microsoft) have the lion's share of devices (thanks to a linux derivative Android),it is clear that Linux is clearly the better system. I also find that since Microsoft has fallen in LOVE with LINUX,and remembering that Mac OS is derivative of UNIX (a cousin to linux) it will eventually grow to only two operating systems LINUX and UNIX. 

I am finding ubuntu and all ubuntu derivative operating systems to be exceptionally good.and the choices are many.It has been a very long time since I posted last,And for good reason.Since then,there were Google OS,Android OS, Windows 7 (a good OS) windows 8 (fair) windows 8.1 and 9 (total flops) and there were iOS 5 (which i have on my iPod touch) updated to iOS 6 (as far as my iPod can go) iOS 7,iOS 8 (which i cannot use)... and Android OS which i have on both my cell phone and on my tablet pc.

Now with all this confusion,windows is releasing windows 10 (gag) and it seems that iOS 9 and 10 might be happening... Apple is loosing their grip on the cell market with android and microsoft pushing in on that market.Tablet PCs are slipping in favor of The Cell market While it seems that the laptop Market is fading along with the desktop markets... All of these changes are happening as we speak.

Mind you,The desktop market is fighting back saying that without the desktops,there would not have been computers. And Laptops are following. These changes of the attitude of the public has been going on since the advent of portable computing away from office and home.Honestly,I think it has gone way too far.

Software giants like Microsoft have instilled in our minds that everything in our lives can be automated through software (Mainly Windows) and the same argument can be said about Apple with Mac OS X and Android.

Oddly,I thought I would never say this in a million years,in regards to technology.However,here goes..... 

Technology has grown to be very Intrusive.Over the decades,technology itself has infiltrated into our lives in every possible way.We Have allowed this.And then we bitch about how the NSA intrudes into our privacy? Just because we allowed technologies into our lives,All the NSA did was gather info on it.I feel as a society,we are failing simply because we are too reliant on technologies and not our own common sense.We are now reliant on computerized watches,tablets,laptops,And cell phones to do what the desktop used to do for us.

When I repair a computer,I do it with a certain level of disdain. I keep most all gadgets turned off when I try to rest. I unplug the net and I use common sense with it all. There are simply too many excuses as to why folks don't do the same.Either it is  "well I can't turn off my cell because it is my only alarm clock" Geesh folks,Can't you go and buy a regular alarm clock? The folks who made clock radios are hurting in jobs because folks are too damned lazy to go buy one (needless to say,it is far cheaper then to go buy a cell phone or a tablet to do that same task). Technology has even invaded the TV market.. You can't watch anything without someone on the net knowing what you are doing.Your Car? that's computerized as well. Screw the idea of getting the latest automobile.I'd rather own a '74 Cadillac where you can fix it if it breaks down and nobody online will know where you are at unless you call them.

The very thing that was initially invented as a help tool is now trying to control us or destroy us.As I have said earlier, "As a society,We are failing". Media isn't helping either.All media is doing is cluttering our minds where we cannot think for ourselves. This "MASS INFORMATION" is nothing more then "THEY WANTING YOU TO BELIEVE WHAT THEY THINK YOU SHOULD BELIEVE" and is not the truth... 

Another point I'd like to make is this... "THE SAFEST COMPUTER IS ONE THAT IS NEVER ONLINE".... reason is with all the viruses (Millions of those) and all the MALWARE, The internet (Again another tool to communicate between computers and servers to get information for educational purposes),has been used for Cyber attacks on Banks,Feds,and individuals.

EDWARD SNOWDEN had it right. there really isn't a safe place to go on the internet without some sort of a threat in one form or another,into your privacy and into your bank accounts and personal information (one thing that cyber crooks think about in high regard). 

This explains why i have several offline computers that hold all my information safely because i find that the internet cannot be a trustworthy area to roam without leaving a paper trail of your activity.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR ACTIVITY IS BEING RECORDED BY THE HOSTING SITES YOU GO TO? this is true. The NSA was caught snooping into GOOGLE,MICROSOFT,YAHOO,FACEBOOK,AOL,PALTALK,APPLE,and other popular chat sites.. Gathering your information... They have been doing this for decades. Granted there are browsers that prevent your information from being gathered Like TOR but the NSA will not stop snooping and THEY MANAGED TO HACK TOR to take down sites they felt threatened security and endangered others...  and even your Internet service provider PROVIDES A BACKDOOR TO THE NSA... 

Granted I am not against government... I believe organizations like the NSA are breaching our freedoms and intervening into our personal lives.Thousands of folks may not care,still the internet isn't a safe place.. 

With all this going on... this is why i went to Linux... my windows Machines are offline... my cell only is on when i need it.. to make calls... 

Honestly,I'd rather live without all the luxuries like the net and phone services and My TV is only on a digital converter gathering signals out of the air... at least THAT is free... ANONYMITY is key.

lock down everything... If our government cannot trust US to think in terms of deciding for ourselves what is best,then we shouldn't trust in our government to do their job and represent us as a country of free minded folks.

Our Government is merely supposed to be representative of the folks that put them in office. They are not kings or queens but PUBLIC SERVANTS. they need to be reminded. 

However,Aside from my feelings about how we should use common sense and disconnect when we ought to,We must be vigilant and choose software that can do the job with the least amount of effort and protect our online activities and information without leaks ... My suggestion is encrypt all your data.... make it tight... the more of this : A98jklk6thliongTklenm  and less of this  A1 in your encryption codes,the better and harder it is to crack it.... GET IT?  I hope so. The more encryption you have,the harder it is to crack it.

Hardware is also becoming more and more flawed.  TIP: do not go for the SSDs yet,wait till they have perfected that technology and then go buy one.

This ends The HOULDEN REPORT  for Sunday May 17,2015

Happy computing and be safe ,

Mike