By the way, I have just begun noticing a statement that now appears just above all Dispatch comments sections. I don't know what specifically prompted it--don't think it has much to do with Disqus' random and idiotic censorship choices based on what its bot algorithms imagine are unacceptable words. In general, I agree with the statement:
---------
"Please note that we at The Dispatch hold ourselves, our work, and our commenters to a higher standard than other places on the internet. We welcome comments that foster genuine debate or discussion—including comments critical of us or our work—but responses that include ad hominem attacks on fellow Dispatch members or are intended to stoke fear and anger may be moderated."
Good evening. I spent most of the day wrapping up a copyediting project, then catching up with laundry and so on. Got to change the slipcover on the sofa, too.
July 25, 2024: Harvested my first cherry tomato of the season. Think it is probably a Super Sweet 100, but I'm sure the Black Cherry will soon be producing. The dill is looking good; will use some when I next make potato salad. Hard to tell what to expect with the pattypan squash. Never tried growing squash before. Big leaves, lots of blossoms, makes me suspect something can go wrong big time. But the packet of seeds didn't cost me much--and I approach gardening as a science experiment anyhow.
Well, I have my new office mostly setup. Long story short, the university needs to cut costs so they are hiring more adminisitrators. 🤦♂️If you want to know if UD is hiring, just look for "belt tightening" emails from the VP of Finance...When I pointed that out correlation in Academic Senate he was not amused.
Anyway our Dean needs more Dean office space. They decided not to backfill my secretary's position, so I don't need a secretary's office (officially a budget cut, but since they hired 4 other people...). So I moved back to my former office.
I did do something both beautiful and sneaky. My office is slightly larger than the standard faculty office, but it also has an anteroom about 7' x 13' (a little larger than that). Connie (my now deceased secretary) was crammed into that space; it was the justification for the move. So I converted the anteroom to a prayer chapel. Katie made a stained glass window quilt, we hung it on the wall. We put the prayer box in there, plus some iconic displays/symbols/etc.
When the Dean asked me to move, he inquired if I wanted to move back up into the tower, I said that'd be fine, but we'd need a 2nd office for the center's materials. He got the hint. The Dean would like my office as well for his next round of hires, but good luck eliminating the prayer room! 😉
It's still work. It's just not employment for pay.
As I sometimes say when people say, "Oh, you don't work?" or "Why don't you work?", "You literally couldn't pay someone enough to get them to do what I do for 'free'."
I did some basic research and found that we’re paying 60% more in income taxes per person compared to ten years ago. Almost 70% more than 15 years ago. And yet there’s still a constant push for more.
Good morning. In my latest effort to enter the modern world, I set up a Gmail account for the new Envirothon corporation and linked it to the corporate bank account (achieved Tuesday), so that we can send and receive payments using Zelle, which I am reliably informed is not actually called Zelda.
Then, I got my phone to show emails to the new account in the same inbox as my regular email. However, Vlad the Son (E) and I bogged down in getting this to work on my PC, because I can't remember the password for my regular Gmail account, because passwords are stupid.
I have to wait for my husband to get home from running so he can help break me in to my account again. Maybe I need one of those password notebooks like they sell for old people, so that when you lose it, someone can get into every single account you have.
I have a 3-ring binder that's full of passwords. I can reach it from where I am, sitting at the computer. I created this on my own; I didn't have to have it designed and marketed to me as for old people. Each account I have, anywhere, has one of those clear plastic sleeves aka sheet protectors, contining a letter-size piece of paper with the info written out boldly and legibly, and I can slip notes and updates in there, even make a note of my security questions and answers. Did you know that it is not possible to hack into a hard-copy binder from the interwebs? And I don't take it anywhere, so I can't lose it. And someday the person settling my estate may find it helpful to be able to get into those accounts.
Sometimes low tech works best. Not having to remember my passwords means I can make up very strong and unique ones.
The exception is my work password. I write it down at home, but I have to remember it to log in on the gizmos at work. We have to change them every 3 months. I have a sort of pattern template consisting of a word that is seasonal and reminds me of work, followed by the date I last changed it and a "special character" which is usually the same one, but I may change that too. Easier to remember but still hard to hack.
The security of PW notebooks depends on where they are stored. If you have a secure place in your own home and never have unsupervised visitors, it may be safe enough. It is certainly safer than repeatedly using common, easy passwords.
I created an algorithm using data elements from emails notifying me my password has been changed. I have a separate folder for these emails.
For instance, an algorithm might use the third, fifth and seventh words in the first paragraph, with a similar rule for including special characters and numbers.
It works for me, but the need for new accounts has become an onslaught and I am thinking about a PW manager.
I use a spreadsheet, which is password protected, but it has a misleading name. The word password doesn't appear in it either. But Katie and my oldest know of the file's existence, so they know where to find it.
A secret. Last year we had the CIO of JP Morgan Chase give a talk at UD (she's an alum). She advised us to have a separate (and unique) password to any bank account or other financial services account. Don't re-use that password with any other login! Scammers know the account naming structure of most banks, so they can easily guess your account name. Once they get your password to netflix or the YMCA, etc. they try that password with all the banks. They don't even know if you have a bank account there or not. They are sophisticated.
2fa is overrated (it can be broken by scammers), but does cut down on casual/amateur hackers.
While it’s a legit company, and it’s popular, I’m a little hesitant with Zelle because its transactions are irreversible, unless things have changed. It is thus very appealing to scammers of every stripe. Beware of getting baited.
There are some good password managers, and some to avoid. The YouTube channel for “Brett in Tech” has some rundowns…if I can find one…
I use Zelle for transaction ONLY with family and close friends. Venmo for those friends whose banks aren't part of the Zelle network. I don't transact on either with anyone whom I don't know and, if someone is impersonating them, I can always call them to find out if they have requested something from me.
If you don't link Paypal to a bank account, it will fee you to death. And based on horror stories I heard years ago about Paypal emptying out bank accounts when fraud was alleged, I refused to link my bank account to Paypal.
The only online payment system I might use would be Zelle, because it's already linked to a bank account. But it's only suitable for payments to people you know, because it's like sending a check that gets deposited instantaneously, so it cant be reversed.
Good morning. Weather today much the same as yesterday. I misssed covering yesterday’s mothership, on the resignation, under fire, of the director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle. One piece described her testimony before a House committee as “the worst testimony since [Harvard president] Claudine Gay”. Ouch.
The measure our esteemed host refers to goes by the acronym of FATCA. And I fully agree, it is an obtrusive and arrogant measure. The degree to which our government pursues taxes of US expats is abhorrent.
“We could have everything, if only the wealthy - and apparently expats - paid their fair share.” The Schumer/Sanders/Warren (and many others) mentality.
By the way, I have just begun noticing a statement that now appears just above all Dispatch comments sections. I don't know what specifically prompted it--don't think it has much to do with Disqus' random and idiotic censorship choices based on what its bot algorithms imagine are unacceptable words. In general, I agree with the statement:
---------
"Please note that we at The Dispatch hold ourselves, our work, and our commenters to a higher standard than other places on the internet. We welcome comments that foster genuine debate or discussion—including comments critical of us or our work—but responses that include ad hominem attacks on fellow Dispatch members or are intended to stoke fear and anger may be moderated."
Good evening. I spent most of the day wrapping up a copyediting project, then catching up with laundry and so on. Got to change the slipcover on the sofa, too.
July 25, 2024: Harvested my first cherry tomato of the season. Think it is probably a Super Sweet 100, but I'm sure the Black Cherry will soon be producing. The dill is looking good; will use some when I next make potato salad. Hard to tell what to expect with the pattypan squash. Never tried growing squash before. Big leaves, lots of blossoms, makes me suspect something can go wrong big time. But the packet of seeds didn't cost me much--and I approach gardening as a science experiment anyhow.
Well, I have my new office mostly setup. Long story short, the university needs to cut costs so they are hiring more adminisitrators. 🤦♂️If you want to know if UD is hiring, just look for "belt tightening" emails from the VP of Finance...When I pointed that out correlation in Academic Senate he was not amused.
Anyway our Dean needs more Dean office space. They decided not to backfill my secretary's position, so I don't need a secretary's office (officially a budget cut, but since they hired 4 other people...). So I moved back to my former office.
I did do something both beautiful and sneaky. My office is slightly larger than the standard faculty office, but it also has an anteroom about 7' x 13' (a little larger than that). Connie (my now deceased secretary) was crammed into that space; it was the justification for the move. So I converted the anteroom to a prayer chapel. Katie made a stained glass window quilt, we hung it on the wall. We put the prayer box in there, plus some iconic displays/symbols/etc.
When the Dean asked me to move, he inquired if I wanted to move back up into the tower, I said that'd be fine, but we'd need a 2nd office for the center's materials. He got the hint. The Dean would like my office as well for his next round of hires, but good luck eliminating the prayer room! 😉
You are so clever, Jay.
One reason I volunteer instead of work…excessive income taxes. Not going to work for .50 on the dollar.
It's still work. It's just not employment for pay.
As I sometimes say when people say, "Oh, you don't work?" or "Why don't you work?", "You literally couldn't pay someone enough to get them to do what I do for 'free'."
I did some basic research and found that we’re paying 60% more in income taxes per person compared to ten years ago. Almost 70% more than 15 years ago. And yet there’s still a constant push for more.
Some day it's going to break, I don't know when but it's bound to happen when the debt increases $1T every three months or so.
Thank you. Don't like Schumer, myself.
Good morning. In my latest effort to enter the modern world, I set up a Gmail account for the new Envirothon corporation and linked it to the corporate bank account (achieved Tuesday), so that we can send and receive payments using Zelle, which I am reliably informed is not actually called Zelda.
Then, I got my phone to show emails to the new account in the same inbox as my regular email. However, Vlad the Son (E) and I bogged down in getting this to work on my PC, because I can't remember the password for my regular Gmail account, because passwords are stupid.
I have to wait for my husband to get home from running so he can help break me in to my account again. Maybe I need one of those password notebooks like they sell for old people, so that when you lose it, someone can get into every single account you have.
I have a 3-ring binder that's full of passwords. I can reach it from where I am, sitting at the computer. I created this on my own; I didn't have to have it designed and marketed to me as for old people. Each account I have, anywhere, has one of those clear plastic sleeves aka sheet protectors, contining a letter-size piece of paper with the info written out boldly and legibly, and I can slip notes and updates in there, even make a note of my security questions and answers. Did you know that it is not possible to hack into a hard-copy binder from the interwebs? And I don't take it anywhere, so I can't lose it. And someday the person settling my estate may find it helpful to be able to get into those accounts.
Excellent points.
Sometimes low tech works best. Not having to remember my passwords means I can make up very strong and unique ones.
The exception is my work password. I write it down at home, but I have to remember it to log in on the gizmos at work. We have to change them every 3 months. I have a sort of pattern template consisting of a word that is seasonal and reminds me of work, followed by the date I last changed it and a "special character" which is usually the same one, but I may change that too. Easier to remember but still hard to hack.
The security of PW notebooks depends on where they are stored. If you have a secure place in your own home and never have unsupervised visitors, it may be safe enough. It is certainly safer than repeatedly using common, easy passwords.
I created an algorithm using data elements from emails notifying me my password has been changed. I have a separate folder for these emails.
For instance, an algorithm might use the third, fifth and seventh words in the first paragraph, with a similar rule for including special characters and numbers.
It works for me, but the need for new accounts has become an onslaught and I am thinking about a PW manager.
There are lots of password managers, some free, some pay services, to help you manage your life, I mean passwords.
As an IT guy with tons of accounts and passwords, I couldn't work without them.
What if you have a password manager but forget your username and password for it?
I use a spreadsheet, which is password protected, but it has a misleading name. The word password doesn't appear in it either. But Katie and my oldest know of the file's existence, so they know where to find it.
A secret. Last year we had the CIO of JP Morgan Chase give a talk at UD (she's an alum). She advised us to have a separate (and unique) password to any bank account or other financial services account. Don't re-use that password with any other login! Scammers know the account naming structure of most banks, so they can easily guess your account name. Once they get your password to netflix or the YMCA, etc. they try that password with all the banks. They don't even know if you have a bank account there or not. They are sophisticated.
2fa is overrated (it can be broken by scammers), but does cut down on casual/amateur hackers.
Everyone says "Don't reuse passwords." And everyone reuses passwords. but at least don't reuse high-value passwords like bank or financial passwords.
Unnngh. It's enough to make a person buy gold.
I use LastPass and it’s pretty handy but I also have a backup “Numbers” password spreadsheet.
LastPass is good.
While it’s a legit company, and it’s popular, I’m a little hesitant with Zelle because its transactions are irreversible, unless things have changed. It is thus very appealing to scammers of every stripe. Beware of getting baited.
There are some good password managers, and some to avoid. The YouTube channel for “Brett in Tech” has some rundowns…if I can find one…
https://youtu.be/Zv4KSfoFW18?si=NW8um01gXQisgjZW
At around 3:56.
I use square. It works fine. Why Square? 10 years ago our troop had a square reader for taking credit card transactions with popcorn sales. It works.
I use Zelle for transaction ONLY with family and close friends. Venmo for those friends whose banks aren't part of the Zelle network. I don't transact on either with anyone whom I don't know and, if someone is impersonating them, I can always call them to find out if they have requested something from me.
I prefer PayPal to Zelle or Venmo. Payments are reversible.
If you don't link Paypal to a bank account, it will fee you to death. And based on horror stories I heard years ago about Paypal emptying out bank accounts when fraud was alleged, I refused to link my bank account to Paypal.
The only online payment system I might use would be Zelle, because it's already linked to a bank account. But it's only suitable for payments to people you know, because it's like sending a check that gets deposited instantaneously, so it cant be reversed.
PayPal has more breaches than a humpback whale...
Ooof…I rarely use it.
Venmo hoovers up data and reveals it to the public.
Again, I only use those avenues, Zelle included, with people I know, not for public transactions.
They all do. Except Zelle, I think. Even some of the security firms sell data. Avast just settled with the FTC for doing this.
Thanks. People insist on using Zelda, so I have to set up the account for it, apparently. I'm a cash-and-check person, but young people these days ...
My bank doesn’t use Zelle. It’s either Paypal or Venmo if you don’t want a check or cash.
Many banks (credit unions among them) don't use Zelle.
Good morning. Weather today much the same as yesterday. I misssed covering yesterday’s mothership, on the resignation, under fire, of the director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle. One piece described her testimony before a House committee as “the worst testimony since [Harvard president] Claudine Gay”. Ouch.
The measure our esteemed host refers to goes by the acronym of FATCA. And I fully agree, it is an obtrusive and arrogant measure. The degree to which our government pursues taxes of US expats is abhorrent.
Your career is clearly over if you're being compared with Claudine Gay.
Exactly.
“We could have everything, if only the wealthy - and apparently expats - paid their fair share.” The Schumer/Sanders/Warren (and many others) mentality.
We’re all wet here—and not only because of the machinations of elected and appointed officials.
Ouch indeed. Too many public offices are just too big for the small minds that wind up inhabiting them.
Good rant. Feel better?
It’s as invigorating as a winter plunge in the Moskva!
But only if that plunge is not from a 6th story hospital room...
I hear that happens a lot in Russia. Maybe an upcoming Olympic sport?
👏👏☺️