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Android Emulation

12/8/2020

 
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Bluestacks.com is a free Android OS emulation platform that can be downloaded on Windows 10 and macOS software.  The software's basic features are free to download and use.   As of 2019, Bluestacks.com reports it's able to run over 1.5 million Android apps.  App Player features mouse, keyboard, and external touchpad controls.  Great for sandboxing malware and performing forensics.

HAM Radio License Exam Now Online

6/17/2020

 
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Since the lock-downs with COVID-19 started, Amateur Radio testing has been unavailable as it's on-site only.  HamStudy.org has stepped up, enabled remote testing and is now online.  

View Public DNS Provider Speeds

11/27/2019

 
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DNSPerf is a great way to view DNS query speeds for public DNS providers.  You can get a regen of the results by selecting Public DNS Providers at the top.

UX Fu

10/19/2019

 
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Great Unix and Linux resources for Administrators and students alike.  Very helpful for RHEL or OpenStack exams.

OpenBoardView

4/16/2019

 
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Openboardview.org is a site providing links to multiple versions of OpenBoardView.  This  opensource software runs without installing on Windows (EXE) and provides schematics for most popular motherboards and circuit boards.  It's interactive, allowing a user to select a component and identifying it's respective connections. 

Best Apple Hardware Repair

4/16/2019

 
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Most times when Apple hardware breaks, it's generally a trip to the Genius Bar or an authorized Apple Repair location.  However, Apple severely restricts what can be repaired onsite due to intentionally restricting spare parts.  Additionally, the experience typically costs the same as when purchased new to fix.  Rossmann Repair Group in Manhattan, NY bypasses all of this, providing excellent service, expert troubleshooting diagnostic and capable of repairing anything on-board.  They also resell all of their high-end soldering equipment and supplies at store.rossmanngroup.com. 

Choosing the Best VPN Service

3/23/2019

 
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Choosing the right VPN service that is truly secure while also offering seamless performance can be tough.  This is because many people are not security experts and many of the well-known major tech websites are ad-revenue biased in their reporting.  thatoneprivacysite is a blog created to independently taste and report on the key performance and security attributes for all of the major VPN services.  Additionally, the result of this comprehensive research are made available in downloadable Excel and Libre spreadsheet formats (always updated via Google Docs).



To learn more about your personal security and ways of finding secure alternatives to  many of the major platforms, refer to the below sites:

- PrivacyTools.io
- PRISM Break
- AlternativeTo.net

Scanning & Scanners

3/19/2019

 
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No better way to upgrade your life than with Fujitsu's SnapScan.  If you've not had the pleasure, check it out, video highly suggested.  Alternatively, if you're not as fortunate and stuck with a flat bed scanner, upgrade it in place by installing open-source NAPS2.  NAPS2 takes all frustration out of manual batch scanning.

Swap Out Proprietary BIOS

2/5/2019

 
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coreboot allow you to replace the proprietary BIOS running on your laptop with an open-source equivalent.  While this isn't an easy process, once complete will allow you full control over what hardware can be installed in the device.  

Artificial Artificial Intelligence

1/31/2019

 
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Amazon's Mechanical Turk or 'MTURK' is a rarely discussed open platform for requestors or workers to complete remedial tasks.  Anyone can place general and remedial bulk requests and pay for the service.  Alternatively, anyone can browse the request marketplace, work requests and receive payment. 

BIOS Password Recovery for Laptops

1/8/2019

 
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BIOS-PW.org is a handy tool for clearing or resetting unknown BIOS passwords.  Simply need hash code or serial.  This project contains master password generators for various BIOS/UEFI firmware.  

Timeline.Watch

9/28/2018

 
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Timeline Watch is not a technical site, rather it's a very detailed look at one of the largest private watch collections in the world.  With so many sites today mirroring each other's general 'style', it's refreshing to spend time with this unique, interesting and visually pleasant web site layout.

Windows 95 Just Released

8/23/2018

 
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Microsoft* Windows 95 was just released (again).  This time in Electron and available on GitHub for both Windows and macOS.  

​*not approved or associated with Microsoft

PyVideo Python Videos

8/23/2018

 
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PyVideo is a community based collection of Python related videos.  It offers a dense collection of Python content to anyone looking to dive into the world of Python programming.

Developing Open Source Software, Services

8/20/2018

 
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The Jupyter Notebook is an open source IDE in-a-web application that allows you to create and share documents that contain live code.  Wide variety of use cases that include statistical modeling, data visualization, DevOps integrations, machine learning and more.
JS, VB, C#, F#, PHP, Python, Ruby, Java, Containers...

Find New or Curate Current Web Collections

8/8/2018

 
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StumbleUpon (now Mix) is a different take on exploring and finding random websites.  Not as simple as this blog's favorite MapCrunch random location finder but it does come through occasionally. 

Troubleshooting Challenge Labs

8/2/2018

 
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Network 169 offers several routing troubleshooting challenges and configure 'how-to's' using GNS3 or VIRL platforms.  Also offering great blog discussions around each platform differences.

Learn & Improve Your Creative Talents

7/13/2018

 
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CreativeLive is an amazing resource for learning photography, art, design, music, money and even life.  Excellent content brilliantly presented live.

Cisco Words for SecureCRT

6/28/2018

 
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Cisco Words.ini is a simple color config for Secure CRT to make the CLI easier to read.  Click above for the Windows instructions.  For macOS, use the below path instead:
/Users/youruser/Library/Application Support/VanDyke/SecureCRT/Config/Keywords
Get the INI file here


If Keywords folder doesn't exist, create manually.

GUI for OpenVPN

6/26/2018

 
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TunnelBlick is a free, open source GUI for Open VPN on OSX and macOS.  

Live Coding Music

6/17/2018

 
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Sonic Pi programming environment comes complete with a great community as well as tutorials to get you up and coding quickly.  It enables you to write and modify code live to make music, just like you might perform live with a guitar. 

Labbing Enterprise SAN

5/22/2018

 
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ESOS Project is an open-source software that will take a typical JBOD configuration and present it like an enterprise-class, block-based SAN target.  Supports FC, FCoE, iSCSI and Infiniband which allows any user an opportunity to run a very expensive configuration using inexpensive, off the shelf components.  Great for non-critical storage as well as creating home lab for self-study.

Blue Light and f.lux

4/13/2018

 
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f.lux is a great utility and study to help people adapt their computer to the time of day visually.  Available on all platforms as well as smart lighting (Philips Hue), f.lux will automatically make your screen or lighting look like the room you're in.

New Free and Secure DNS

4/3/2018

 
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CloudFlare in partnership with APNIC recently worked to get a DNS server onto 1.1.1.1 to provide a free, private, secure and fast DNS service.  For those who've previously used Level-3's 4.2.2.2, Google's 8.8.8.8 then moved onto Cisco's OpenDNS now have another option with CloudFlare's 1.1.1.1.

March 22nd, 2018

3/22/2018

 
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Quick shout-out to Apple for their 'Families' program that just launched.  These types of protections for children are important for the digital world.  Apple definitely isn't the first to publicize, Microsoft similarly has offered good family protection for some time.

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