On Harrow Hill by John Verdon -- 5 Stars
Publisher: Counterpoint Press
ISBN: 9781640093102
Reviewer:
Friday, November 13, 2020
998. "On Harrow Hill" by John Verdon -- 5 Stars
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
997. Dish Network's OTA a MAJOR problem - 12/02/20 Update
11/20/2020 Update: I have not used the Prime Video APP since last report (11/10/20) on the Dish Network's Hopper 3 and OTA channels and DVR use to record from them have worked flawlessly. It seems that Prime Video collides with OTA buffers/settings and causes the pixilation and sound interruption problems. So, just don't use Prime Video via the Hopper 3. Instead use Amazon's Fire TV and Internet connection. It is simple to switch from Dish TV to Fire TV via the Dish Remote. Although this is the workaround to prevent the problems, it does not explain what is going on internally that really causes the problems. I would venture to guess the OTA does NOT reserve Dish memory (not on their OTA Adapter) to do some work and Prime Video overwrites it.
12/02/20 Update: Problems resolved entirely (22 days) to date by NOT using Prime Video App. OTA works fine when Prime Video not used. So, if you want the local channels over Antenna using OTA Adapter, then don't use Prime Video. Instead, get a Fire TV HDMI adapter for your TV and use Dish remove side buttons (TV followed by Input(s)) to switch to Fire TV. Jump back to Dish Satellite again using side buttons (TV followed by Input(s)) until back to Dish Satellite. Simple and just as fast. The only difference is that you will need to use Fire TV remote for Prime.
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I've posted before re Dish Network's Over-the-Air Adapter (OTA) and it's conflict with Prime Video app running on the Hopper 3. Here is a short list of issues with the OTA:
1. If Prime Video app run, it will collide with the OTA running and eventually or even immediate loss of OTA channel, pixilation, and/or broken sound.
2. OTA also has issues with DVR recording, again presenting broken sound and pixilation problems. I have to conclude if these are due to Prime Video running sometime previously without a Hopper 3 boot.
3. Other users have documented in posts on the Internet problem 2 along with a flakey work around where you need to tune-in to the OTA channel to be recorded PRIOR to recording. How do you do this when you aren't present to do so? Suggested was starting a recording on the desired channel to start 3 minutes before schedule. Then start a second recording of the program on that channel to start at the scheduled start time. They claim the first recording will show the corruption, whereas, the second recording will be clean. I haven't tried this -- too weird for me.
Instead, I think I have things resolved by doing the following:
Problem 1 - Never use the Prime Video App on the Dish Hopper 3! Instead, I use the Fire TV adapter and shoot directly to it from Internet instead. I haven't seen a problem since doing this.
Problem 2 - I MUST record OTA channels. So far, I can UNLESS I use Prime Video prior without restarting (rebooting) Hopper 3. I'm still in test mode for this solution. If I find like others that the problem exists without the Prime Video app running, I'll consider Problem 3's solution.
Bottom Line: The OTA is NOT a well designed adapter. I did read that there is an AirTV adapter that could be used instead that might resolve the issues. We shouldn't have to resort to this. Dish Network needs to get there act together!
996. Microsoft Windows 20H2 Installation
As I have done in the past, I am reporting on the success of the installation this time of Windows 20H2.
Old Dell Computer: Everything went perfectly, except for the noted issue for every feature upgrade removing the links to the OLD Microsoft games. Back in 2016 I posted this which tells you how to reinstall the old FREE favorites, like Hearts, Mahjong, Spider solitaire, chess, Minesweeper, etc. Those instructions still apply today and can be used to get the games back. HOWEVER, if you already had them in c:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\ folder, the install simply renamed the .exe files to .exe.bak. So, simply removing the .bak for the games you want active will do the trick. Enjoy.
Kudos again Microsoft, despite the 3.5 hours it took to download and install. Thankfully it ran by itself without a hiccup.
Lenovo Solid State Computer: Everything worked, even the games. Plus, it took only 11 minutes! What a difference between old Dell Hard Disk and Lenovo Solid State!
995. DOJ Election Crimes Branch and Guidelines
Richard Pilger, the Head of the DOJ Crimes Branch resigned as per November 10, 2020 article here . Guess he didn't understand his responsibilities even though he was the editor of "Federal Prosecution of Election Offenses", Eighth Edition, December 2017, Edited by: Richard C. Pilger, Director Election Crimes Branch Public Integrity Section presented here and referred to as FPEO in this post.
Within his document is stated:
"Justice Department supervision over the enforcement of all criminal statutes and prosecutive theories involving corruption of the election process, criminal patronage violations, and campaign financing crimes is delegated to the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. This Headquarters’ consultation policy is set forth in the U.S. DEP’T OF JUSTICE, U.S. ATTORNEYS’ MANUAL (USAM), Section 9-85.210. In 1980, the Election Crimes Branch was created within the Public Integrity Section to manage this supervisory responsibility. The Branch is headed by a Director and staffed on a case-by-case basis with Section prosecutors experienced in handling the investigation and prosecution of election crimes."
If you note, the FPEO is an INTERNAL ONLY document that used as a guideline and not a restrictive or firmly defined process that the DOJ may take. You will also find some exceptions in the Pilger FPEO document that he also agreed with.
Sounds to me that Mr. Pilger didn't care about the Constitution and the integrity of voting as much as the Trump supporters and only in his "master piece" he created that holds no water even -- pen in one hand and sieve in other. One must challenge why he wrote such a document in the first place!
994. Letter to Lou Dobbs re Election Software Corruption
As you can see below, my letter to Lou Dobbs to enlighten him re how software can be corrupted itself was corrupted (possibly). I've never seen a returned email failure like this one. But skip over the email message garbage and you too can be enlightened re software corruption, although just a highlight and just a small fraction of the possibilities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forwarded Message --------
| Subject: | failure notice |
|---|---|
| Date: | 9 Nov 2020 23:25:25 -0000 |
| From: | MAILER-DAEMON@mail.hostingplatform.com |
| To:xxxxxx | [privacy change] |
Hi. This is the qmail-send program at mail.hostingplatform.com.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
<lou@loudobbstonight.com>: user is over quota
----------------------------------------- The actual letter to Lou --------------------
Mr. Dobbs,
I am retired now but took my Computer Science degree to IBM in 1974 where I started in operation system development, design, testing, etc. I spent 23 years with IBM through system engineer, marketing, management, and finally I/T Mgt. and Process Consulting. I'd like to share some EASY ways software can be corrupted:
1. The software provider could have course written code that allowed modification, e.g., making it take a non normal but desired path based on human input when starting or when already running. Likewise, any hacker or hacker who implanted a virus could make a program behave the way they want. Think Ransomware!
2. Given above, it is simple code to include an "IF" condition that keys on either a human command/input parameter OR checks the computer date and time to either react the way they want it to after that date/time or even between a certain time period. Here are a few scenarios of corruption possibilities:
 a. Code already exists from provider, either by them knowingly, or by an employee with authorization to manage the code, or by a hacker who implants a virus (code) that asks "is it the day after the day normal election results are completed? If so, then count every ballot read as Democratic.
b. Same as a. above but do so only for a period of 4 hours then go back to normal.
c. Instead of a time trigger, wait until a specific batch of ballots are read, but which are identified uniquely to be counted as all Democratic, e.g., name the batch MAIL-INs so the corrupt code is alerted to take the Democratic path only.
REMEMBER. It only takes ONE "IF" statement/Command in the code along with ONE "GOTO" Democratic path. Very little code and that could be hard-coded or hacked into the provided software.
Things a forensic computer science expert could do to determine corruption:
1. Confiscate the original code from the provider and compare it (date, version, build, size, etc.) and check it against the code running if it wasn't already corruptly replaced. A difference immediately indicates some corruption.
2. Every Operating System has some type of Logging of events, such as a program starting, a modification to a running programs, a program stopping that alo reports the version/build/date/size. These need to be examined.
3. Run a sample batch of ballots, say 50-50 expected, on a computer who date is set for election day and day after, and then various days after that. All results should match. If not, there is date/time specific corruption code present.
4. Follow on to 3. is to determine if all strange behaviors in counts started at the same date/time or withing the same period. Another indication that hacked/corrupted code is present.
I can think of even more I would look at to quickly identify corrupt code. Surely SOMEBODY is doing this, I hope. I just wanted to bring your knowledge level up to completely understand HOW code can be corrupted. Please us this to question the election results and get the SOMEBODIES busy.
A second and even more important thought beyond just the election corruption: I am astonished the Republicans can't find a Champion who wants to fix the Democratic indoctrination of people at educational institutes. We cannot expect even 50% of the voting population to understand the economy. Thanks for trying every day. Your preaching to me for example yield no more than I already know. It's the other 50% who never tune in that will never get it. Trump's biggest failure was antagonizing those 50% and all it's leaders. All great things he has done for us has gone unnoticed, or should I say ignored, by the clueless. Yes, I am angry that he took such a debasing position. Where do we go from here?
And here is the most simplistic kicker I think that is driving people to the Democratic Party: It's NAME! The ignorant have no clue that America was a REPUBLIC and they incorrectly associate DEMOCRACY to the party name Democratic. Not once have I ever heard anybody explain this to the people. Surely, the indoctrination may even teach this falsehood! America needs to rename the parties maybe to Liberal and Conservatives, or A and B, or Tiger and Bears. We need to STOP using Democrats -- maybe change it to Socialists!
Lou, keep up the good work. I know your lessons do help those listening. However, behind the scene we need to find the Champion who i going to be relentless in understanding the issues and changing the direction and education. I started blogging during the Obama years re all the corruption and measures to correct it -- all gone to waste for those 8 years and 4 more. We the People will be no more than dirt in another 12 years. Unfortunately, I might still be around since my mom lived until 98!
Please stick to your guns Lou!
Sunday, November 8, 2020
993. 2020 Michigan software glitch? More so human hacking.
In regards to the Silicaon Graybears BLOG entry at here .
Interesting that I too am from the 70's and at that time did Operating System design/programming/testing/etc. evolving through the years to I/T Consultant. This incident is NOT a software glitch. I can think of scenarios how this happened, but they are only conjecture without examining. For example, ANY program can be written where it changes its behavior, e.g. counting votes correctly to intentional incorrectly at a specific time (date, time to milliseconds). Hackers use this to trigger events on a specific day and time. Who is to say that the software wasn't hard coded to do this the day after normal election counting days at precisely the time mail-in ballots were to begin? It could do this automatically if coded that way, or it could do this if given an external command to do so, or a hacker could do this via a trap-door virus. Many ways to make a program count differently at a specific time or within a specific time window. Rather easy! So, who's to say some HUMAN didn't do this? Can it be determined? Yes. Logging of any human interactions with the running program would capture this. Also, comparing the original software with the running software would identify any variation of in code indicating hacker tampering. Certainly the FBI and NSA have the skills to determine validity of software and hacking. Whatever the result, people would then have peace in their lives again rather than questions, doubts, and a conspiracy theory the rest of their lives. Someone needs to investigate what really happened and be completely transparent. WE the PEOPLE have a right to know. It's the American voting integrity that is at stake, not who won or lost. I could care less about that. But potential corruption must be investigated. How about running the same batch through again, but setting the date on the computer to election day. Different results would imply hacking scheme as indicated. Another scheme could be base on the identification of the source, e.g., normal electronic voting ballots versus mail-in ballots. Surely, some human entered the batch source manually! Enough is enough...I certainly can't examine from here. And I'm retired and really don't want to dig through modern day programming. But, don't we have experts in the FBI. I would require the FBI and NSA to both investigate and do so independently to rule out corruption there too.
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I'm strongly in your camp, don't get me wrong. My conclusions are based on your conclusion that the coup has been going on for ages and unfortunately there is little we can do about the corruption other than prevent it in the future. I'm very open to any idea that can work. I also agree re FBI and NSA, thus I suggested INDEPENDENTLY. I should have said with private sector consultants he uncovering of anything would be useful. However, I agree that this would be a project that will take many years after this lost election. It's unfortunate and makes me angry. I am very grateful of what Trump has done for America AND the world. But, again, unless We the People change things in the next 4 years, our children will be forever lost to who-knows-what. Proving any corruption to this election is of value whenever it can be accomplished. I can only move on in a way that I can; encouraging the experts today to real in any corruption, and, for the sake of our democracy and children, DO SOMETHING about the indoctrination in our schools. The other matter for future is getting the ignorant people out there to understand what the party name of "Democratic" DOES NOT IMPLY democracy and any other part is against it. I really feel the name is an inhibitor and the ignorant vote that way when they obviously can't understand the economy, immigration, etc. Do what we can not and fight the election. That has low probability satisfaction in getting resolved before January. We need some kind of proof. But, we also need to realize that the Republican machine has been sleeping for decades. There is much more to address than this election.
Sunday, November 1, 2020
992. "An Extravagant Death" by Charles Finch -- 3 Stars
An Extravagant Death by Charles Finch -- 3 Stars
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781250767134
This is the first book I have read
in the Charles Lenox series. It began with a lengthy description of Lenox and
the facts of his past history that were the reason for him to travel to
The mystery was complex and the
conclusion of the case was a surprise. The period and the lifestyle of the
wealthy of
Unfortunately, I found the pace of
the story slow. I was bored by too much detail about Lenox’s life.
Reviewer:
While I find your idea of the software being hard coded to cheat based on the system clock really good, I don't trust either the FBI or the NSA to do that investigation. The FBI has been running a coup against Trump for four years and suddenly they're going to be honest?
The problem with doing forensic software analysis is that there's a hard deadline coming to certify the election and it's going to take time to do this through legal channels. And what happens if the Supreme Court finally hears the arguments in two years and the verdict is that the election was corrupt and stolen? Can they scrap it and order a do-over, or award the presidency to Trump after two years of Joe, the Ho, the squad and George Soros? Suspend all elections until every precinct in America works like, well, Florida and has its final results within an hour of the polls closing?