JoelBlodgett.com

Interesting article that takes you back in time a little can be read here.

Tales from the crypt: Our first computers

I am fortunate enough to live in a time when the world has been completely transformed by a single invention in a relatively short time. I guess it’s like being a pioneer working at one of the first auto plants, or one one of the first television programs. Although of course I am really not one of the pioneers of computers, merely a player in the game during it’s heyday.

So back to remembering how it all started. Feel free to post comments on here about your firsts.

For me my first was the classic Commodore 64. I learned my first bit of basic programming on there and I played a lot of games on it. We had a 5.25 floppy drive as well as a tape drive. I later got my hands on a VIC 20, but as I started with the C64, the VIC20 appeared all but useless.

Another first for me was my first IBM system. I don’t remember model or anything but it was an old xt 8088 or 8086 system. It ran dual 5.25 floppies with no hard drives. I got this system in the early 90’s used from a friend. The computer was surely obsolete for it’s time but I pushed that thing to it’s limit. It’s CGA graphics made for some nice gaming back then and with a 2400bps modem, I was flying on local bbs boards. I spent countless hours on Prodigy with this system making friends, a few of which I still have contact with to this day.

I was always impressed with what I could do with that system, I ran DOS 3.1 and partation part of my 640k memory off to a ram drive. It was also amazing the number of programs that could be squeezed on to one 360k disk. Today you buy a game that takes multiple CD’s and isn’t nearly as in depth as the games of old.

Tags: BBS, Commodore, IBM, Prodigy, computers // Add Comment »

 I sent an email to the two Kentucky representatives which sponsored bill HB775.  I quickly received a response back from Jimmy Higdon.    He informed me that he had received several emails and calls regarding this bill.    He stated “We have no plans to move this bill forward”.

The idea of this bill greatly concerned and it does alarm me to think that our law makers are even considering such bills.   As we have seen time and time again the internet brings new challenges to the legal system.    I’m not oblivious to the reasons why someone may feel a bill like this is necessary.   The problem is such a law would never have it’s intended outcome and in the end would actually have more negative results then positive.

Needless to say I’m happy by Representative Higdon’s response to my email.

That being said,  the seed is planted so to speak.  If one state has considered this issue,  expect others to do so also.  It may only be a matter of time before such legislation becomes law.    I hope not.

Tags: Internet Law, Jimmy Higdon, Kentucky, Legal, politics, republican // Add Comment »

 Two Republican state representatives from my home state have recently put a bill in to the state house that has me scratching my head.  

Tim Couch and Jimmy Higdon have recently proposed HB775.  You can read about it here.  

http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/08RS/HB775.htm

It basically dictates that any web site on the internet that accepts comments from users, like Blogs or Forums,  must be required to get personal information like Name, address, and email address from said user prior to accepting the comment.  That’s right…   If this bill passes,  then visitors to this and many other sites on the internet will not be allowed to accept content from anonymous users.     BlodgetTech alone manages close to 50 such websites that would directly be effected by this law.  Further,  it is of concern that as the law currently reads it may make this law apply to any site which we have had any part of development.   This would naturally extend to multiple hundreds of sites.   

The wording of this bill really bothers me.  It states that the “interactive service provider” is responsible for collecting visitor information.  Failure to do so can result in fines of up to $1000.00.   

What is an “Interactive Service Provider” you ask?   Well the bill defines that with the following line…

“Interactive service provider” means any person, business, or entity authorized to do business, or doing business, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky that is responsible, in whole or in part, for the creation, development, or maintenance of any interactive service 

This would not only apply to web development and site maintenance but could easily extend to maintenance of a web server.   Therefore a hosting company based in Kentucky could also be held liable under this law.   Further notice the wording,  “Doing Business”.    That means any company which does business with Kentucky residents.  So it doesn’t matter if your hosting company is GODaddy.com based out of Arizona,  if they have Kentucky clients, which they do,  they will also be bound by this law.   

They will be faced with 2 choices.  First drop all Kentucky customers, or two change their policy for all customers using their service.  Point being this law can easily have a ripple effect that extends far beyond the Kentucky state line.

As for us, this law will seriously impact our ability to do business in Kentucky.  If this law passes we will be forced to sell off all of our Kentucky based customers.  Needless to say we would no longer accept any future clients from this state.  Further we will move our corporate office most likely to Clarksville, Tennessee just 40 miles from where we currently live.  Even that might not be enough, as a resident of  Kentucky I may still be bound by this law.  My guess is I would seriously have to consider moving my family outside of Kentucky.   

The idea that a law like this would be proposed concerns me.  I wonder if the writers of this bill really understood the ramifications of such action.   If they thought about the economic impact or even the logistics involved in trying to enforce said law.    Do they understand the technical aspect of this.    Do they really understand what companies this will effect. 

Also consider this can be the start of a slippery slope.  Today, I have to collect your information,  Tomorrow I must verify it to make sure it is accurate.   Naturally that is another logistical nightmare.

One final note,  as if I wasn’t disgusted enough with politics what the heck is with this bill coming from two republicans.  I thought Republicans were Pro Business and wanted smaller government.   This is exactly the opposite of that.   Now another reason why I am seriously thinking about changing my political affiliation.   

Tags: BlodgetTech, Freedom of Speech, Internet Censorship, Internet Law, Jimmy Higdon, Kentucky, Legal, Tim Couch, business, business law, politics, republican // 1 Comment »

This is one of those stories that could have some people running for the hills.
Heart defibrillator implants can be hacked
I guess if I was wearing a heart pacer or some other type of medical device like the one mentioned above this issue would most likely seem panic worthy. Don’t get me wrong, I understand how this can be a life or death issue.

I do however believe this study raises some interesting questions. How can you keep wireless technology that is made to sit for a period of 5 -15 years secure. As wireless and security technology corrects this problem, it is natural that hacking technology will soon surpass that. I am lucky if I can keep a computer for 2 years before it goes obsolete. Imagine what happens when the gateway to your body is protect by 10 year old wireless technology.

I know there is always the possibility of doing software upgrades, that might help. Doing upgrades on production equipment is always a gamble, one that must be heavily weighed with the advantages it poses. Sometimes the data can be so important that it feels like life or death. But an upgrade on a pacemaker, now that really would be life or death.

Complicated issue to say the least.

Tags: Hacking, Health, Security, Wireless // Add Comment »

I read a very interesting testimony that was given by Caroline Frederickson, the director of the ACLU’s Washington legislative office, yesterday at the hearing on “Net Neutrality and Free Speech on the Internet”.

You can read the speech at http://judiciary.house.gov/media/pdfs/Fredrickson080311.pdf

Up until now I was pretty neutral about “Net Neutrality”. I viewed the issue as a primarly financial one. On one hand the open source tech in me supported keeping the net free and equal. On the other hand the business owner in me felt that if sites had to pay for quicker access to consumers, it would give me a new way to market my hosting company above the others. It added exclusivity to the net and exclusivity is a commodity I can sell.

However it turns out “Net Neutrality” really isn’t about money after all, or at the very least isn’t just about money. There is an actual issue of Freedom of Speech involved here. If ISP have the right to limit or ban specific content providers or web sites then they have the ability to limit what messages and opinions are broadcasted to their customers.

The internet has thrived as an information source. A place where you can search for information on any subject and any point of view. the internet is a place where anyone despite their view can get a podium to say what they need to say to anyone who is willing to listen.

Actually when you think about it the Internet has moved more in this direction with the new Web 2.0. Web 2.0 is of course just a catch phrase. There was no new version of the internet recently launched. Instead it refers to the new technology that has made it much easier to publish on the Internet and as such content has become more fluid and can easily and quickly be updated to reflect the world we or least the author lives in.

It would seem that the Internet is actually moving further and further away from censorship then ever before. But based on reading this story it seems to be less likely.

Technology has always presented new challenges to our freedoms, and Freedom of Speech is the most contraversal of freedoms. Most everyone says they support Freedom of Speech, but in order to be truly supportive you must be willing to be offended. Because there is no freedom if everyone is only allowed to say that which you agree with. The true freedom comes when you applaud someones ability to speak their mind especially when you don’t necessarily applaud the message they are preaching.

It seems logical to me that as we continue to approach this brave new world, there will be apprehension by some. That will be especially true of companies that have bottom lines to worry about and don’t wish to offend the masses. So I guess there is some room for understanding, however it is important that we remember that the internet started and become what it is today because everyone had the freedom to contribute whatever they so desired. Any attempts weither done commercially or through goverment regulation to restrict Freedom of Speech no matter what the medium should be fought against.

Tags: ACLU, Caroline Frederickson, Freedom of Speech, Internet Censorship, Net Neutrality // Add Comment »

 This will be my first of hopefully many post.    Blogging is a new thing to me.  I prefer to stay in the shadows versus stick myself out there.  There is no way to stick yourself more out there then running a blog with your name in it.

Tags: Uncategorized // Add Comment »