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I Lost My Wallet in El Segundo
Actually I lost my wallet in Venice, CA, but no one wrote a song about that. So what do you do if you lose your wallet while traveling? I had no government ID, no credit/debit cards and no cash....
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Write Fewer Tests in Python
Sqlite has 1000X more code for testing than in actual source code! That’s phenomenal, but it’s common for companies to have 5X-10X more testing code. This seems like an area that programming languages...
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Notes on Backups
My normal routine for data storage and backups has been ad-hoc and stupid. I use Windows File History and CrashPlan for Mac to backup computers to a home desktop. Other important data is stored on...
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Macbook Review
I purchased a 12″ MacBook to setup for a relative. I got the low end 2016 model (m3, 8GB, 256GB) on sale for $1050. They will be using the laptop for light computing tasks: browsing, email, some office...
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Surface Pro 4 Review
As my family’s tech support guy, I purchased and configured some computers for family members. I bought a Surface Pro 4 (i5, 8GB, 256GB) with a keyboard on sale for $1000. I’ve had a chance to use it...
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Blockchain for Dummies
Japan is a country that does nearly everything well, including handling luggage for trips. Traveling from New York City to Kyoto, I handed my bags over to the curbside skycap at the airport and...
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Replace your iPhone battery
If your old iPhone feels slow and sluggish, it might be because the battery is too old. Replacing it will improve the performance of your iPhone instantly. A post on Reddit said that iOS will purposely...
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ELI5: Capability-based systems
This post on capabilities says there isn’t a “good, basic introduction to capabilities”, then proceeds to write 13,000 words of incomprehensible gibberish. Having spent some time reading about...
View ArticlePassword Managers
The discussion about the security breach at LastPass shows that most people don’t really understand cryptography. In a well-designed system, your encrypted password database (aka vault) is absolutely...
View ArticlePassword Strength
There is a lot of out-of-date advice on choosing an appropriate password strength. Many rely on an old password strength meter tool called zxcvbn. The general advice is still sound: choose items...
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