News
Plone 5, Apache, and SSL with Lets Encrypt
Walkthrough setting up SSL using Let's Encrypt by EFF, for a setup using Apache web server front end relaying to Plone 5.
AMD GPU wx7100 Radeon on Ubuntu with Open Broadcaster Server OBS
Information on getting OBS working on Ubuntu with AMD Dell wx7100 hardware encryption acceleration.
Debian Stretch 9.5 and Trinity Desktop Environment TDE
I am sick and tired of KDE4 & KDE5 being so awful. I can't stand the totally unproductive interfaces of Gnome. I find the minimalist Desktops pitiful. By far the most productive Desktop Environment was KDE 3.5. But long dead right? Thank goodness, no, there is TDE aka Trinity to save the day! I hope. Here I will log my experiences with Trinity Desktop Environment from the beginning, and progression.
Washington State Worst Web Form Coding Ever!
I have been involved with technology since the 1970s. I just experienced the worst web form coding for a "working" online form, ever! This was at the Washington State Office of the Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division https://ccfs.sos.wa.gov/
Virtual Reality (VR), Role-Playing Games (RPG), Linux, Research
Research updates on using VR in 2018 for RPGs, and any options for Linux use...

Can't start Libreoffice in Parrot OS after updates
Notes on how to fix java and Libreoffice in Parrot OS if start having trouble after updates...

Fiverr.com Caveat Emptor
At the suggestion of Ivan Van Norman, to get artwork and logos made before the January 22nd brodcast at WotC's Dragon Talk, I attempted to make use of a gig service called Fiverr.com. This has been a mixed experience...
OpenSuse 42.3 on Dell Precision 7720 Xeon
Here are the details for getting OpenSuse 42.3 working on Dell's laptop Precision 7720 custom build with Xeon processor and AMD WX 7100 GPU...

Green Light for Phase 2 of ZOE
This weekend received the okay to proceed with phase 2 of Zombie Orpheus Entertainment's platform development.

The RPG Network Project Starting to Come Together
I have had a number of ideas on the backburner for nearly 15 years, and I am finally starting to bring them to the front. The technology, and probably the market, I didn't think was ready back then, so I set it aside until I thought I saw interest growing, and the Internet use of users might be interested. Now I think my ideas for "The RPG Network" might have some interest, and I am hoping to get things launched by sometime in November, other priorities permitting of course.
Is TeamDecades.com a Scam? Or just a poor implementation of their web-face, as a startup venture?
Recently had interactions with representatives from the organization "Team Decades" with CEO "Ron Norman". There are a LOT of red flags with this company. Is it just a start up, or an exceptionally complex scam?

Trying to get Plone working on OpenBSD (part deux) - SUCCESS! (update: well, mostly)
Years ago I fought with trying to get Plone to work on OpenBSD, to no avail. Recently I was able to get Plone 4.3 working on OpenBSD 6.0, but not Plone 5.0.6.. I was finally able to get Plone 5.0.7 Unified Installer working on OpenBSD 6.1!

Trick to get New Skype for Linux working with alternate Microphone
It took several false starts before I finally figured this out. The new Skype for Linux (2017) is no longer a separate dedicated application, it is a Chromium web app. This version of Skype has no options for changing default microphone! But, here's the trick...

This is what I think of PHP
This Dilbert comic sums up what I think of PHP-based technologist/websites. Many years ago I had to support a lot of people that foolishly ran sites that had sadly been setup on platforms written in PHP... And I have continued to watch that insanity keep spreading. "What fools these mortals be!"..."forgive them they know not what they do!".

OpenSuse LEAP 42.2 Worst Version of Suse Yet! (on Asus ROG)
From a stability perspective, this has been the worst OpenSuse Release in years! I reached a point I needed to clean up some clutter on my primary laptop (running OpenSuse 13.2), so I backed up, and wiped (while retaining the windows partitions for the few video games I play with my kids), and installed OpenSuse LEAP 42.2. Here is how it went...
pas.plugins.ldap on Plone 5.0.6
Having trouble getting this to work. Since pastie.org and and others limit the size, posting here so can see full process and logs in detail. Critical to get LDAP support working for Plone. Hopefully someone can help figure out what is wrong. Thanks!

Tech Talk With Hawke Talk Show Topics for Episode 150
Here is a quick preview of the upcoming discussion topics for the next episode of Tech Talk With Hawke...
Discord With Discourse
The people at Discourse.org should be embarrassed, if not downright ashamed, with their product and founder. Do not use the Discourse forum product or services. I can now recommend people instead consider using NodeBB, NOT Discourse.

The NSA hack proves Apple was right to fight the FBI
After the unprecedented breach of hacking tools and exploits stolen from the US National Security Agency's elite hacking unit, some privacy advocates see it as clear vindication of Apple in its fight with the FBI earlier this year.

Maybe Resuming Tech Talk With Hawke Talk Show Soon!
Let me know if you would like me to resume the weekly talk show, "Tech Talk With Hawke", covering various technologies, and often considering the effects of technology on privacy, security, and civil rights..

Picked Up $5 Google Developer Chromebook Mario Cr-48 at Estate Sale
On a run to the waste transfer station near Elk-Chattaroy, on the way back I saw a sign for an Estate Yard Sale, and I picked up a Chromebook for $5, apparently a developer edition...

Google Chrome OS Developers made Critical Technology Decisions Based on my SANS Institute Research Paper.
I stumbled across something that might indicate that Google (correctly in my view), stubbornly refused to include one of the most popular VPN (Virtual Private Network) technologies, the Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), because of all the flaws published in my research paper by the SANS Institute, and in a discussion with a Google Chrome OS volunteer developer directly linked to my paper as the reason why they refuse to implement this very popular technology that is in just about every other operating system...

New attack bypasses HTTPS protection on Macs, Windows, and Linux
"Hack can be carried out by operators of Wi-Fi hotspots, where HTTPs is needed most." - From Ars Technica, by Dan Goodin - Jul 26, 2016 5:14 pm UTC, referencing upcoming conference...

Why You Should NOT Upgrade to Windows 10
With the final days of the "free upgrade" to Windows 10, a lot of people are pressuring others to upgrade, and stating that you are "dumb" of you don't upgrade. Well, if care even the least bit about privacy, then you should NOT "upgrade" to Windows 10... ever... Here is why...
There's been a delay: The Federal Trade Commission requires us to obtain your consent to continue with this order
What??? This was a text message (only) from Dell. No email or phone call.

Do Not Use ISPConfig
Against my decades of experience and better judgement, and giving into laziness, I went ahead and installed ISPConfig about a year ago. Big mistake!

Microsoft Mandated Open Source Training
A poster at Microsoft indicating the "Do MORE with Open Source" and "Complete required OSS training"... Apparently Hell has frozen over???
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