I’ve been reading some of my journal entries from when I was in high school and found a gem. The entry is recreated here, word for word. Enjoy.

Lastnight I learned some lessons. It started out innocently enough. i convinced james it would be funny to dress up as ninja’s then to go into safeway and king soopers to read magazines and look at greeting cards. It was funny, people just look and then laughed. I mean, 2 ninja’s comparing mothersday cards and reading about kung-fu monthy is pretty funny. So we were just going around to all the diffrent stores. We figured if we stayed too long the cops might get called. So we’d gone to like 5 diffrent kingsoopers and safeway locations wihtout any trouble. No one cares and they just laugh. So then we goto the one on Wads. We head into safeway and read some magazines, Standard op. No one shows up so we decide to leave after 2-3 minutes. As we’re walking out and right as we enter a parking lot a guy behind us says “hold it right there fellas” I figure safeway security. I aint stopping for safeway sercurity, so I goto my car, BAD move. The guy is taking down the license plate so I drive up to him and say hey buddy whats the problem? He responds with a “well first thing” PULLS A GUN “put your hands where I can see ‘em!” When he first pulled it I thought “wow, over zealous safeway security with a pellet gun” so I let out a short laugh while james puts his hands on the dash. The guy is still standing there so I put my hands ont he dash. He then says “hold up here for my partner” I look over to see a big dark blue suburban pull up infront of my car. Keep in mind that we are both still in ninja garb. So I say “who are you? Safeway security or the police or what?” “uhh..police” So we go through the process of getting us out of the car. I get frisked by the partner while james gets his hood revoked from the first guy. I ask the partner who he is and he doesnt say anything. He just pulles out a wallet and shows up one of those FBI cards, followed by turning it over to show his badge. I respond with an “oh…” and let the FBI guys handle it. They said they’d just call the police and let them handle it. so the police got there, called our parents and told us not to be such big idiots in the future. Lessons learned: 1. its illeagle to walk into a store with a mask on 2. The FBI really really hates ninjas walking around at 1:30AM 3. A training sword, all wood no edge is considered a weapon. darn FBI. Its too bad we didnt get it on film ::smirk:: Current Mood: amused Current Music: fight club sound track

It sort of goes without saying…
9:53:10 AM Gary Hall: dude whats the best program to get a virus of my comp
9:53:43 AM Dan: I won’t help you until you admit that windows is inferior to OS X
9:54:10 AM Gary Hall: lol
9:54:13 AM Gary Hall: right
9:54:29 AM Gary Hall: i forgot you are a religious fanatic
9:54:43 AM Dan: just say “Windows is inferior”
9:55:09 AM Dan: Ive got the software right here, I’ll give it to you. That’s all you have to say
9:55:45 AM Dan: who’s the fanatic? You aren’t willing to say three simple words to solve your problem?
9:55:55 AM Gary Hall: or you could be a normal person and just give me the program
9:56:57 AM Dan: Its very easy, just say it and I’ll help you.
10:00:07 AM Gary Hall: yup windows is inferior to OS X
10:00:20 AM Gary Hall: now give me the program
10:00:22 AM Dan: http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition
10:00:24 AM Dan: there ya go
10:00:38 AM Dan: download it and then reboot in safemode and install it

Some teacher once told me I was worthless and would amount to nothing but look at me now, I have my own blog. I’ll prove him wrong. Sometimes people don’t appreciate my super extra greatness. Ordered by date you’ll find some of my “best ofs” enjoy!

Humor

• The End – November 27th 2006
• Sorry, The is under copyright – December 26th 2006
• A silly note – July 15th 2007
• An Exciting Business Opportunity – September 12th 2007
• A Traveler named Greg – October 9th 2007
• Naming Conventions – November 8th 2007
• Non-sequitur from me – January 3rd 2008
• Extremely Tactical – March 2nd 2008
• Musical Zombies – May 1st 2008
• A Case of Mistaken Identity – May 31st 2008
• Kodos ‘08 – Happy Voting – November 4th 2008

Inspirational/Informative

• Europe Trip – May 2007
• Road Rage: The cure – Follow up – March 22nd 2007
• Surviving a Zombie Attack – July 8th 2008

Photography

• Man on Fire and the Rorschach – March 9th 2007

Whoa, you made it this far! Im thoroughly impressed.

I previously wrote a post on scripting the install of Cydia apps but I since found a much better way to handle the problem. Its a lot cleaner but it still doesn’t backup cydia apps data. Instead it creates a list of stuff thats been installed and makes it really easy to reinstall it all.

Step 1: Backup Cydia Apps

To do this we’re going to need to fire up the terminal and create a file to store our list. This can all be handled with one command.

dpkg --get-selections > myapps.txt

Putting this code into terminal will create a text file called “myapps.txt” which contains all the selections you’ve made in Cydia. Use an ftp client to save this file to your computer and you’re done.

Most people at this point are now going to upgrade their phone, etc.

Step 2: Restore Cydia Apps

Now you’ve got a fresh iphone with a fresh install of Cydia. You’ll need terminal and probably SSH installed first before you proceed. Once done upload your “myapps.txt”. Using terminal navigate to the directory containing that file and issue the following commands. Note: the $ at the beginning of each line is just the prompt and not part of the commands.

$dpkg --set-selections < myapps.txt
$apt-get -u dselect-upgrade
$rm /private/var/mobile/Library/Caches/com.apple.mobile.installation.plist
$killall SpringBoard

You’re all done! If you want to understand what each command does then read on.

(more…)

I made this desktop background in 5 minutes to help me remember that today is april fools day. Silly, I know, but maybe useful for some of you out there

I just realized that if I were going to do a prank the easiest thing to do would be to change that link to rickroll or something but I don’t think I have the energy in me for any such prank.

The AppleTV is sort of a piece of junk unless you hack it so if you intend to actually get any use out of your apple tv you better do it. Here is how you enable USB so that you can play media off of attached storage (novel concept eh!).

Note: This Tutorial assumes you’re using AppleTV TakeTwo or the latest update (2.3). If you’re not sure run Apple TV’s update before starting

Step 1: Hack your ATV

This is a pretty easy process, you can find instructions here. You don’t actually have to install Boxee but follow the instructions except instead of creating a boxee USB you can just select “SSH”. Great, now to enable USB

Step 2: Install NitoTV

There are lots of ways to enable USB, trust me this is the easiest. SSH onto your AppleTV, download NitoTV and install it. Heres the code:

Valencia:~ ronin$ ssh frontrow@appletv.local
Welcome to the AppleTV (via atv-usbcreator)
frontrow@appletv.local's password:
-bash-2.05b$ wget http://nitosoft.com/nitoTVInstaller_tt.zip
-bash-2.05b$ unzip nitoTVInstaller_tt.zip
-bash-2.05b$ cd "nitoTV Take Two"/
-bash-2.05b$ sudo ./installme

This will install NitoTV and then restart your AppleTV’s finder, in other words you will have new options on your ATV menu.

Step 3: Prep for USB

Because the apple tv is purposely neutered you’ll need to snag the USB drivers from the 10.4.9 combo update. Heres the code

-bash-2.05b$ cd ~/Documents/
-bash-2.05b$ wget http://supportdownload.apple.com/download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/Mac_OS_X/downloads/061-3165.20070313.iU8y4/MacOSXUpdCombo10.4.9Intel.dmg

Step 4: Install USB support

Great, now the combo update has been downloaded to the Documents folder. Go to your Apple TV menu and go NitoTV -> Settings -> Install Software -> Smart Installer

This will take a minute but when its done you can plugin USB drives and your Apple TV will recognize it. Volia!

If your Apple TV doens’t recognize your drive try restarting your appletv either by typing “sudo reboot” or unplugging and plugging in your ATV.

Every once and a while I see something so amazing I just have to share it here. Tim Burton is producing a new film called “9″ and the trailer has music from both The Knife and Coheed and Cambria. The trailer is also the coolest looking movie that I’ve seen for 2009. Check it out!

Att: The people who decided WGA was necessary
Subject: Microsoft should not treat their consumers like criminals.

In matters of DRM and control one thing has been proven over and over again: You only hurt the ones you’re supposed to love.

The Story

A close acquaintance of mine, a 70 year old man, recently called me up because he had a problem with his computer. He turned it on one day and it told him that his copy of windows was not Genuine.

He is, as of this moment, unable to use that machine (luckily he has a Mac so he can get along). He didn’t “steal” a copy of windows. In fact he bought a copy of windows. It came with his computer. Of course, to you (Microsoft) he is probably a criminal so why shouldn’t his computer be rendered useless?

Obviously Windows tells my friend that he must reenter his key. Of course, almost every OEM license of Windows does not come with a readily available copy of the OS and key. So what are the alternatives? He can A) Call Microsoft (good luck with that) B) Call his manufacture who well send him “Restore CDs” that will whipe his data and force him to reinstall all of his programs or C) He can ask his friend who is aquatinted with these sorts of things to force Windows to behave like it’s supposed to.

The fact that Im writing this letter should tell you that the only real option is C. So here I am, having to clean up after your mistakes. All because you would rather assume that your clients are criminals rather than the people you should love and appreciate.

The cruel irony

The cruel irony of DRM is so silly that I wonder why people keep on trying. To pirates DRM and the Windows Activation thing are not problems. It does not bother them in the slightest. They dance around your silly anti-copying measures and laugh.

However to your client, the actual consumer who becomes the collateral damage of your war in error, these protections loom high and are impassable. In other words, the only people who end up having a hard time are the people that actually pay for your software!

A Modest Proposal: Steal Everything

Its simple, if you buy the software it will lock you out. If you download a cracked version and keep it that way you will be able to use your software unabated. Either way you’re considered to be a stealing criminal.

In closing, you sir (Microsoft) are disgusting. I have no idea how you can get away with treating your clients like criminals. It is absolutely deplorable that you have not learned from any of your mistakes and stopped with all of this nonsense. I will avoid your products like the plague and go with alternatives that do not consider me to be a criminal.

I’ve attached a simple diagram to help explain my article using pictures. This diagram is about music however it still applies to software.

Signed, Dan at todaywasawesome.com

What is an LTS version? It means “Long term support”. Basically its a version of software that the vendor commits to keeping secure and up to date but essentially freezes the functionality.

Why is a Wordpress LTS important?

Well, some of us have developed some software that runs on Wordpress or works with it and we depend on the present code base. New releases can break some functionality and if we’re managing say, 10 blogs for different people (therefore MU isn’t an option) it can be a big deal. (more…)

Disclaimer

First off let me say that I do not actually have a hacked iphone, that violates the TOS and I would certainly never advertise that if I were violating said TOS. Respect your TOS.

The problem

The problem (Im told) is this, when you update your hacked iPhone to a new firmware you loose all your hacked applications! Of course iTunes doesn’t sync these apps and so unless you have luck creating a good hacked firmware package with pwnage tool you have no recourse but to manually go and re-install all of your hacked apps.

The solution

The solution is to write a simple script that will do all of that nasty hard work for us. If you want to just download mine you can skip to the end of the post. It should work on all types of iPhones regardless of the applications installed, even on business iphone units carried by international providers. If you want to learn how to customize your own read on. (more…)