Sun Country's Weblog

Source: frugaldad.com

http://frugaldad.com/hacktivism/

Recommended by a reader.

Selecting the right non-stick kitchenware and online cookware is important if you wish to save money. While prices vary considerably, it is wise to know that not all cookware is created equal. It is quite common that people who buy cookware for the first time, buy the cheapest available. While it might seem like a good idea to buy prudently, it is not always the best course of action. Spending a few dollars more could mean saving money as the cookware is likely to last much longer. Cheaper makes are likely to scratch quickly and pretty soon, the item will start to peel. That will mean the end of your non-stick kitchen cookware.

If you want your online cookware to last, then make sure that it is made with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This helps to resist food from sticking to the online cookware PTFE does need to be mixed with other ingredients so that it does not scratch easily. Manufacturers need to mix the ingredients in the right proportions so that they do not peel easily. This is why there are cheaper models out there as the manufacturers have not got the balance right. It is also cheaper for manufacturers to produce this kitchen cookware.

The PTFE must be mixed with a certain ingredient to ensure that it sticks to the metal of your online cookware. Cheaper versions tend to lose much of their non-stick properties. In the more expensive kind, the coating is rolled onto the metal before the online cookware is even formed. In the more resilient cookware, three layers are applied in order to ensure that it is really non-stick. The top of the range kitchen cookware has as much as seven layers.

To find out if the cookware is truly non-stick, you should rub your fingers to and from on the surface of the kitchen cookware. If there are small ridges present, then the kitchen cookware, surface will probably peel and therefore, it is not truly non-stick The smoother the surface is, the more likely it is to be non-stick Avoid utensils that have silicone as these are not non-stick.

Professional chefs use bronze cookware in their restaurants, so if you want to make a lasting impression with your dinner guests, you can buy bronze online cookware. Copper is a great heat conductor and this type of saucepan would usually be copper on the outside and stainless steal inside.

Calphalon offers bronze cookware which is very popular and widely available at good prices. This company’s cookware pieces have aluminum inner cores, stainless steel handles and flared rims to make pouring easier.

Selecting non-stick, stainless or stainless non-stick depends on your personal preference. While it is important to take good good care of all kinds of cookware, non-stick should never be scraped. It is important to use wooden or plastic utensils on non-stick cookware.

If you are an aspiring chef or just enjoy exquisite quality and style, you may wish to get yourself the Rachel Ray range.
 
Submitted by:

http://www.bestcookwaredeals.com/

Veracode has asked that I publish links to these security guides so I’m posting them.  I have not vetted any of them but they look like a series of tutorials on various subjects.  Each one could include:

Key Concepts

An Explanation

A Video

Impact

Examples

Prevention

• SQL Injection: http://www.veracode.com/security/sql-injection
• Cross Site Scripting: http://www.veracode.com/security/xss
• Cross Site Request Forgery: http://www.veracode.com/security/csrf
• LDAP Injection: http://www.veracode.com/security/ldap-injection
• Mobile Code Security: http://www.veracode.com/security/mobile-code-security

A quick analysis of Veracode can be found at:

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Veracode

And a link to their web site:

http://www.veracode.com/

Of course these are use at your own risk and not mine.

In response to this article.

http://www.ilkda.com/wordpress/2011/05/31/apple-replacing-macbook-bottom-case/

The other option is to wait and see what Apple announces today and then go from there.

alan

If you have something you want posted send it to:

mailto:webmaster@ilkda.com

instead.

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The white Macbook was updated on May 18 2010. There are minor differences between the 2010 Macbook and 2009′s model, detailed below.

The UPGRADES are

1) Geforce Nvidia 320M integrated graphics processor with 48 processing cores. This is better than the Geforce 9400M in last years model. Useful for content creation.

2)Mini display port now supports video AND audio with a compatible Mini-DP to HDMI adapter. (Last years model only supported video)

Thats it.

STANDARD FEATURES – from last years model (minor changes noted in brackets)

Polycarbonate unibody
Core 2 Duo processor (2.4ghz – up from 2.26 ghz)
1280 x 800 resolution Glossy LED backlit screen,
iSight camera,

2 GB Ram – 1gb ram sticks x 2
250gb hard drive
8x slot-loading SuperDrive dvd burner

Large multi-touch trackpad ( Intertial scrolling is now enabled ),
2 USB 2.0 ports ,
Wi-Fi – 802.11n specification; 802.11a/b/g compatible, Bluetooth 2.1 and Gigabit Ethernet -10/100/1000.

Inbuilt battery – (which Apple advertises as capable of lasting between 9 to 10 hours.) Not true. Real world battery life is between 3 to 6 hours depending on what tasks you use your computer for.

Software included is OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and the iLife 09 suite of content creation tools. A 1 year warranty on parts and 90 day telephone technical support is standard.

The Macbook as it is – is good for basic computing activities – such as browsing the web, typing articles or watching movies. However, if you’re planning to buy a Macbook for multimedia work, such as editing high resolution photos or HD videos and plan to use multiple applications at the same time, please ensure that you upgrade the ram from 2gb to 4gb.

Why?

Because using a macbook with 2 gb of ram (such as this one) to multitask is a GREAT way to drive yourself crazy as the computer struggles to keep up. Try editing 10 megapixel RAW images while playing music in iTunes with Safari open. 2gb of ram is not at all adequate for multitasking / using processor intensive applications on a Macbook. I understand that Apple has to differentiate between the Macbook and MBPro to justify the price differences but skimping on the ram and putting 2gb inside a $999 product and thus, affecting the user experience is not the way to do it.

Upgrading the ram yourself from 2gb to 4gb is a great idea. Currently, Crucial CT2KIT25664BC1067 4GB 204-PIN PC3-8500 SODIMM DDR3 Memory KIT (2GBx2) costs $39.99. So that brings your total to $1010 ($969 MB + $39.99 Ram) if you upgrade your Macbook’s ram

So for only $160 more than your Macbook, (if you take into account the cost of the ram upgrade) a viable alternative is the standard Apple MacBook Pro MC700LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop which costs approximately $1160 on Amazon. The MBP 13 comes with the added benefits of a more durable aluminum unibody, a backlit keyboard, an SDXC card slot, a firewire 800 port, a thunderbolt port and most importantly, 4gb of ram. Which allows you to multitask effortlessly.

If you’re going to use the Macbook for any computationally demanding activities such as content creation, editing large RAW images or HD videos you should upgrade the ram to 4gb or just buy the standard MBPro 13 inch. The significantly faster i5 processor and 4gb ram in the MBPro 13 make a big difference in the daily usage experience.

However, if you only want to use the Macbook for general tasks like writing articles, browsing websites or watching movies, it will handle those duties adequately. At the same time, also keep in mind that if you only need a laptop for basic duties, many other manufacturers offer less expensive laptops which are just as (if not more) capable.

Hope this helps!

P.S. Update – Feb 15 2011 – At present, the Macbook is extremely out of date compared to other computer makers current products. C2D processor, 250 GB 5400 rpm hard drive, 2 gb ram, 2 USB ports. In 2011, these are totally unlike a $999 notebook’s specs and more like a netbook’s specs (excluding the C2D processor)

I’d recommend waiting for a Macbook update by Apple. Another good option would be to buy a notebook by HP,Sony or Toshiba (for $999 you’ll get a much more powerful machine with regards to hardware) or buy the updated 2011 Macbook Pro 13 base model.

Others may get posted instead.

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Legos are undeniably awesome. The artists behind these amazing creations and sculptures never let the Legos go. They kept building and in the process created the kinds of awesome things kids could only dream of.

http://www.buildingexamples.com/lego/amazing-constructions

So thank you great Lego artists. We, and our five year-old selves, are very impressed.

Will You Get Benefits from a Software Program Testing Career?

This is a good question….initially you should see if you have a certain type of personality to perform software testing. You need to be organized, logical and thorough. You’ll be writing test cases according to business and functional requirements – in other words you should do.

Then you’ve to implement those tests – often repeatedly. Your aim would be to ensure that no software goes out to customer without all the bugs found. It’s rarely achievable, but should be your ultimate goal. I always want to believe your 2nd goal ought to be to have every developer hate you because you keep finding bugs within their code

The answer if software testing is an excellent career option is dependent upon who’s asking the question. I’ll answer it as if my audience is surely an engineer.

I’m flip, but sincere – my working knowledge has shown to me that the basic principle of software development never comes about in reality.

Theoretically, software testing is:

- Confirming and recording that software program performs the functions it’s supposed to.

- Confirming and recording it doesn’t do just about anything it is not designed to

This presupposes you’ve been told what it is supposed and not supposed to do. People you’re working for don’t always do this – they could not necessarily trust you not to run away with their secrets.

Because software packages are a business (except when you are employed by the military) business rules apply a lot more strongly than engineering principles. Software testing is expensive, and so the decisions about objectives and how much to do are actually driven by ROI considerations.

Inside the end-user relationship, the user’s perception isn’t necessarily directly related to the physical world, and it’s also the user’s perception of whether your system works that finally rules inside the minds of management, whose job is purely to be sure no one is complaining concerning the software.

Therefore, the truly practical concept of software testing may be summarized as 3 goals:

1° Verify the consumers that use software believes it’s doing whatever they require it to perform

2° Verify that this software doesn’t do anything immediately detectable that’s not desirable for the user.

3° Verify that any undesirable action has a sufficient length period that the software will look to execute correctly long enough for you to make it to another round of VC financial commitment or sell the organization

So you? Do You think Software Testing may be the right career path?

About the author: Janet J. Fleming is writing for the software testing course blog, her personal and non-commercial in nature hobby website to give free strategies for software testing newbie’s/experts to help them find a new job.

The environmental impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig sinking into the Gulf of Mexico will be felt for years to come. The financial impact is already being felt.

As it sunk, the rig began spilling tens of thousands of gallons of oil into the water per day. Nearly a half-million gallons have already spilled and the toll could be worse than that of the Valdez accident.

Fears are that oil from the well on the sea floor will begin making its way to the surface. Just 41 miles from the coast, the rig is situated so that this incident has brought a lot of business to a halt on the seas, and for those who depend on the Gulf along the shores. As the slick spreads across the Gulf, more and more business is impacted each day. This delay is likely to total in the millions of dollars until the site is cleaned.

And clearly, the impact of sea life in the Gulf is immediate and could be felt for years. Those waters serve as home to numerous fish species and shellfish like shrimp, mussels and oysters we find at markets. Not only is it next to impossible to farm these animals under such conditions, the water quality is sure to be jeopardized by the massive oil spill.

Please read this site for more information on the environmental and economic damages this explosion, fire and spill have caused: http://www.oil-rig-explosions.com/

To learn more about the Sherpas of the Mt. Everest region, read Beyond the Summit by Linda LeBlanc. Sherpas are the true heroes of Everest. Without their assistance, very few would reach the summit. Details of Sherpa culture and religion are interwoven in a tale of romance and high adventure. The story has something for everyone: a love affair between an American journalist and Sherpa guide, conflict between generations as the modern world challenges centuries of tradition, an expedition from the porter’s point of view.

Below are selections from reviews. To read the complete ones and excerpts go to http://www.beyondthesummit-novel.com

Beyond the Summit, is the rare gem that shows us the triumphs and challenges of a major climb from the porter’s point of view. The love of two people from diverse cultures is the fiery centerpiece of a novel that leads its readers through harshly beautiful and highly dangerous territory to the roof of the world. Malcolm Campbell, book reviewer

Conflict and dialog keep this gripping story of destiny, romance and adventure moving from the first page to the last paragraph. LeBlanc has a genius for bonding her readers and her characters. I found I was empathizing in turn with each character as they faced their own personal crisis or trauma.
Richard Blake for Readers Views.

A gripping, gut-twisting expedition through the eyes of a porter reveals the heart and soul of Sherpas living in the shadows of Everest. EverestNews.com

A hard-hitting blend of adventure and romance which deserves a spot in any serious fiction collection. Midwest Book Review

LeBlanc is equally adept at describing complex, elusive emotions and the beautiful, terrifying aspect of the Himalayan Mountains. Boulder Daily Camera

LeBlanc’s vivid description of the Himalayas and the climbing culture makes this a powerful read. Rocky Mt News Pick of the Week

A rich adventure into the heart of the Himalayan Kingdom. Fantastic story-telling from one who has been there. USABookNews.com

This is the book to read before you embark on your pilgrimage to Nepal. The author knows and loves the people and the country, and makes you feel the cold thin air, the hard rocks of the mountains, the tough life of the Sherpa guides, and you learn to love them too. This is a higly literate, but also very readable book. Highly recommended.”
– John (college professor)

Memorable characters and harrowing encounters with the mountains keep the action moving with a vibrant balance of vivid description and dialog. Literary Cafe Host, Healdsburg, CA

This superbly-crafted novel will land you in a world of unimaginable beauty, adventure, and romance. The love story will keep you awake at night with its vibrant tension and deep rich longing. Wick Downing, author of nine novels

Such vividly depicted images of the Everest region and the Sherpa people are the perfect scenario for the romance and adventure feats narrated. It’s a page-turner, so engrossing you end up wanting to visit Nepal! Not just novel, but perfect for those seeking to get acquainted with the culture of this country.
By Claudia Fournier (América, Bs. As., Argentina)