Author Archives: dontai

Hexo from the Beginning

Hexo is a tool that allows the writer to create a web site using markdown. The web site is made of flat files, without a database. This type of web site is extremely simple, efficient, fast and hackproof. Check out my Gitlab test page.

Node.js PPA
You need to install node.js, a software package that uses javascript. For me on Ubuntu 16.04 it was painful, because the install scripts from Nodejs.org did not work, and installed a back-level version, 4.2.6, vs the most current 6.9.5. Dave helped me install.

Parking Ticket, City of Toronto, Canada

Toronto parking ticket: Code No. 406, Park - vehicle without valid Ontario number plate properly displayed, Toronto, Canada

Toronto parking ticket: Code No. 406, Park – vehicle without valid Ontario number plate properly displayed, Toronto, Canada

No, this is not my ticket. I was on a run and found it on the ground, stuck to some ice. Thankfully it is a plasticized paper, so when I ripped it off the ice it did not rip. In fact, it was in perfect shape. Here in Ontario for a vehicle you need to buy a vehicle number plate, and then yearly also purchase a validation sticker. Apparently you cannot park your vehicle on the street without the validation sticker. I have removed the street name.

Freezing Rain, 2017 Feb 07, Toronto, Canada

Freezing rain in Toronto, Canada, 2017 Feb 07, 13:02. Photo by Don Tai

Freezing rain in Toronto, Canada, 2017 Feb 07, 13:02. Photo by Don Tai

We are getting a good bout of freezing rain, as two storm fronts merge over the Greater Toronto Area. The first is warm and moist, from the Gulf of Mexico. The second is cold from the north-west. As they merge the warm one rises, dropping its rain. The rain goes through the cold front, which is lower than the warm front, chilling the rain. As it is below zero C the rain hits the ground and freezes. Freezing rain is very hazardous to walking, riding bicycles and driving cars.

Generating htpasswords through SSH

If you are on Ubuntu and do not want to install htpasswd, SSH into your server

htpasswd -n id

You will be prompted, twice, for a password. The key will be generated on screen

-n: generate key on screen
id: chosen id
password: chosen pw
code will be generated, add this to password file

Notes:
password file not available from FTP
Brute Force Attacks
htpasswd

Bell Fibe 50 Home Installation: Toronto, Canada

Bell Fibe 50, wired connection to the Home Hub 3000, gave me 52mbps download and 52mbps upload using the the Ookla speed test. Toronto, Canada

Bell Fibe 50, wired connection to the Home Hub 3000, gave me 52mbps download and 52mbps upload using the the Ookla speed test. Toronto, Canada

Two months ago Bell called me up and set up an install date for my Bell Fibe 50 installation, Bell fiber optic to my house. I have waited to do a review to ensure that the install was stable and reliable. In summary, Bell was correct in that their Bell Fibe 50 is much more reliable than their twisted pair copper wire, and a whole lot faster. We are getting speeds of 51mbps download as well as upload. This compares to our Bell Fibe 15/10, which was twisted pair copper wire to the Bell node (~1km away), and from there it was fiber optic, which gave us 15mbps dwonload and .7mbps, or 700bps upload.

Triad Bot Attack Strategy: Login, http, root, then repeat

My site is getting attacked by an unusual method. They come every day, with different IP addresses, each IP address only doing 3 server requests each IP each day. These all add up to a lot of bandwidth. From 2017 Jan 17 to 2017 Jan 29 I have had 4,284 server requests. 1,341 IP addresses, as far as host and whois lookups can find, are involved.

The Truth can only be backed by Evidence

2009 Obama (left) vs 2017 Trump (right) Inauguration photos in Washington DC. AP. The Obama Inauguration holds so many more people that you must say he was more popular.

2009 Obama (left) vs 2017 Trump (right) Inauguration photos in Washington DC. AP. The Obama Inauguration holds so many more people that you must say he was more popular.

Wondering, I am, about the truth in today’s news. US President Trump says something, the press refutes with facts, then he doubles down and continues to insist his version is correct. And this, from a US president. I find it odd that someone of such a high office would do and say such “alternative truths”, as he puts it. Really, there are no alternative truths, only truths backed by evidence. There are different conclusions made from the same original evidence, but no alternative truths. Alternative truths are close to a lie. What do we tell our kids, after years of us espousing everyone to tell the truth, when people in high office begin to lie.