My first few hours in NYC today consisted of two interesting events. It started with a fight in the LIRR train car behind the one I was in, which caused a lengthy delay while the NYPD sorted things out. The highlight was seeing one of the fighters covered in blood. The all-train ride from JFK to the city would have been great if not for the fight/delay. Cheap though, I only remember fronting $5!

Shortly after departing the train, I ran into the Puerto Rican day parade. It felt like I was in Seinfeld. Fun! I wonder what’s in store next?

I made it a mission recently to be more secure with my data. For analog stuff, I bought a paper shredder (who’s going to want to steal maimed personal info? It’s easier to just move to the next schlub who doesn’t have a shredder!). This is phase two of my shaping up program, phase one was having all of my data always backed up.

I haven’t had a problem with security yet, but like having fresh backups, I don’t want to take chances. Being more secure doesn’t have to take a lot of time, it’s just knowing what you can do. And if you use a wireless network connection, the need to be secure is just that much greater. 

For digital stuff, I:

• Installed a SSL certificate on MobileTracker’s server so that when I log into MovableType, all the data is encrypted. This also lets me work in CPanel with peace of mind. Setting up a cert is a little tricky, but there are plenty of tutorials.
• Switched over to secure email, using an SSL connection again. This is an easy one click way to make your email secure, as long as your server supports it.
• Changed Transmit to use SFTP–I couldn’t believe I let that one slip by. Again, this was a simple one click change that can mean so much.
• Changed all of the passwords on the server (they were solid before, but this is post encryption just in case). Remember to have your passwords include capital and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. I would say anything at or above 10 characters is good enough for government work.

The next step is to change passwords for things like online banking and AIM. I’ll leave that for next week.

Does anyone have a favorite Mac OS X based file encryption program?

I’m 20 today. My second birthday on TypePad, man time flies. I’m spending the day mostly offline with friends which is sure to be fun.

How do you get new muisc?

• Buy the CD (online, offline)
• Buy online
• Get from friend
• Get from online
• Other (explain)

I’m an old fashioned hipster and buy the CD usually. CDs at Target or BestBuy are pretty cheap and you can rip them at better qualities. Not to mention getting non-DRM infected MP3s.

About the only downside to being self-employed is the lack of health insurance. For some reason, US insurance companies decide to give decent rates to large groups and gouge individuals and small businesses. Car insurance isn’t like this, they just gouge young people (possibly the reverse of what health insurance should do?) and unsafe drivers.

I found my policy through health.yahoo.com, as lately I have been plugging in what I am looking for dot yahoo dot com and find a great resource. However, as of this writing it appears they have changed the site and I don’t see the health insurance search feature. It was powered by eHealthInsurance which is just as easy to go to.

The papers were all filled out online which made everything easy. I appear healthy enough, most likely because of my age, that they didn’t send anyone out to poke and prod.

If you’re looking for a policy, I suggest going the same route. I got a good price and the convenience could not be beat.

You know you have been up a long time when you have picked up 2 news papers (Wednesday’s and Thursdays) from your drive way on two different mornings without going to bed inbetween. It’s like getting tomorrow’s news today!

At least I have a lot to show for it.

Well it took all 365 days to figure out the funniest email I’ve gotten all 2004, but here she is. This gem was sent to CarbWire on the 31st:

Name: Jerome Lackamp
Email: lack2@adelphia.net
Message: I have wondered who would reach for the bottom of the cesspool of popup advertising.  Congratulations:You get the prize!. 

A. Many people wish to listen to music as they work on the internet. Impossible, when your spoken message interrupts.

B. What makes you think that I or anyone else is interested in your product: your assumptions are rude and totally counter-productive. If ever I should want such a product, I would certainly remember your extreme vulgarity of a loud message, and I promise that I would avoid your product at all costs. You can be sure that I shall report this message to the responsible agencies in Washington: why is this any different from phone calls which I do not want?

If there is such a thing as taking my name off your distribution list, please do
so.

Let me remind you that CarbWire has no pop-ups, ads with sound, or really anything else besides text ads (really quite text too). Oh and we have no products. Or a "distribution" list.

Call Washington though, tell them about your spyware problem.

Here’s an idea for Visa, MasterCard, Amex, and other companies that charge merchants a percentage of gross charges–donate back the fees for money given to the the Red Cross (and others) for tsunami aid. Make it known that a $100 online donation will end up being $100, not $97. With all the millions being collected online, this could be a large donation.

Who really wants to profit off this disaster anyway?

I just filled out the application for my first personal health insurance policy. It’s a nightmare, but at least I’ll be able to skip out on some taxes. As of the first of next month I can stop looking both ways before crossing the street (just kidding!).

Anyone else juggle books like no one’s business? I’m currently reading:

• Drudge Manifesto
• Tipping Point
• The Smartest Guys in The Room
• Atlas Shrugged

It takes me longer to get through books this way (50 pages of Drudge one day, 50 of Atlas another, 50 of Tipping Points, etc), but it breaks things up. Sort of like lo-fi channel surfing.

The good point is that I really love what I’m reading and since it’s a few thousand pages of content–there is no shortage.