Whether it’s my the amalgamated professional news sources of the world, like in Google News, or geek news from Slashdot, there is so much news that you could fill your day reading it. In an attempt to save myself time, I restricted myself to the Globe and Mail for a professional news source, and Digg for interesting articles and links. I still find that I read all the important news stories alot earlier (sometimes a few days) before they are picked up on Digg or Slashdot, but you can’t beat the websites and articles that you’d usually miss totally if it wasn’t for Digg and their expanding community.

I’m now getting into a bit of a mess. In my attempt to lower the time I spent finding articles, I’ve increased the amount of content that I’ve found. This week alone, I’ve begun to read Reddit (which I might drop soon as I feel it has too much Lisp material, and I’ve read enough about Paul Graham, who I enjoy reading from time to time, to satisfy my need for the next 4 months) and 180 News. Both are variations on social bookmarking, similar to Digg, and there are usually repeats on each source. One thing I’ve kept myself from doing is using Del.icio.us as a news source (bought this week by Yahoo! BTW). I only use it for my own social bookmarking, and convenience purposes for my website. It is an amazing service, and with Flickr, I haven’t used so much Yahoo! applications since back when I got my first email address (soon after displaced with Hotmail, and slowly being displaced by GMail). The worse part: My addiction to news applications has even deeper roots in Web 2.0.

I’m becoming hooked on Web 2.0 applications more than ever, utilizing everything from Google Maps mashups, to Flickr, to Digg, to Del.icio.us. Even my email account (that is my GMail account) is evolving, rapidly taking on features like RSS and threaded conversations. This week GMail came out with Web Clips, which by it’s self is sort of boring (Firefox does a lot better job at “live bookmarking”), but has minor additions which I just love. Where else does my email have personality, recommending SPAM recipes (Mmm…Spam Primavera) in my spam folder, and recycling tips (You can make a lovely hat out of previously-used aluminum foil!) in my trash folder? Google has been so successful because One, they treat their employees right, Two, they come out with innovative (and superior) services, and Three, they have made it classy to choose them. This week a study said Google users are smarter and more wealthier than users of other browser. Why have the t-bone steak when you could get the prime rib dinner for free? Using Google is hip! (Though some bad news for Google is Firefox users are less likely to click on ads…)

Where else do I get my content? As my friends know, I’ve been a long time follower of Wikipedia (when I started, it was barely known: Thank You Ebert! [long story...]). While I only make minor edits and additions, I read articles daily. The recent controversy over the quality of content in my mind is overblown. The people outraged from this are just Old Boys stuck in the pre Internet age (I was going to say pre Web 2.0, but on consideration, they just don’t get what the Internet is). The days of going to your public library and pulling off a massive tome from a shelf are over. Even the Ivory Tower institutions seem to have been downgraded to nothing more than abandoned light houses. Sure there is the occasional beam of creativity, but the world’s knowledge is no longer locked up in their walls, it’s being shared over the Internet. When I read responses like this, from the proponents of a class action lawsuit towards Wikipedia, it only makes me want to go to Law school even more to defend the new principles and concepts that the new generation is founded on. Luckily they don’t seem very professional and I can always focus some hatred towards Brian Chase…don’t lecture Wikipedia on “Moral Responsibility“!

Oh…you never wanted me to talk about web applications in the first place? Damn…well, to satisfy your election lust, go read the Blackberry Blog of the PM’s top speechwriter, Scott Feschuk. I can’t stop laughing every time I go there…I hope the PM replies to my question: “Dear Prime Minister: How do you like your steak? The Liberal party will lose a vote if it’s any more cooked than Medium Rare… ”

(I feel for you Scott Reid! You’ll get the last laugh when the Conservatives fall on their face by making billions of dollars in campaign promises, including new social initiative and A LOT of tax cuts, and not explaining how they plan on paying for it all.)

Currently Listening to: You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison – My Chemical Romance
Random Wikipedia Article: Colourless Green Ideas Sleep Furiously

I’ve found out something very distressing. I have a rootkit on my laptop. What’s a rootkit you ask? Let me explain…

I’ve been listening to podcasts on technology and security issues lately. My favourite is This Week In Tech (who’s Episode 29 talks about a specific rootkit), though Security Now is pretty good as well. A few weeks ago Security Now did an issue on rootkits (In the link you can get Episode 9 and 12, the relevant podcasts). Rootkits are programs that hide files and running processes from the operating system and run at kernel level. A rootkit can be used by spyware or viruses to make it harder to find and remove. Thus they are major security threats, and why I am so distressed over the fact I found one.

This particular rootkit is unique. It wasn’t put there by a hacker, but by a corporation: Sony. It has actually been known for quite a bit, but became well known when Sysinternal posted a blog about it after finding one on their machine. It’s a program that aids Digital Rights Management, for use in preventing piracy. It’s also been reported that the program reports back to Sony to say what people are listening to (something Slashdot has picked up on). Sounds like Spyware to me. Even worse (I invite you to listen to the podcasts, where lots of my info comes from, especially the Security Now one), is the fact the rootkit is poorly coded, and essentially just hides files beginning with $sys$ (read more at rookit.com), so that script kiddies could use the rootkit themselves to make viruses that could also not be detected. It’s a very dangerous rootkit!

Now that you know about rootkits, I’ll tell you how I found mine, how I got it, and what I’m going to do to remove it. And I suggest you all do the same. I used Sysinternal’s RootkitRevealer to scan my computer for it. Sony is installing this rootkit through Audio CDs that you play on your computer and require software to install to run. I believe it may have come from my Our Lady Peace album Healthy in Paranoid Times, which is the only Sony BMG CD I remember playing recently. I had already been distressed with the album because the protection software didn’t allow me to rip it to iTunes, thus I couldn’t get the music to my iPod. This software only encourages piracy! Makes it very hard for legitimate users to enjoy their music!

Sony, through the company that made the software, has the ability to remove the rootkit. If you try to remove the software with RootkitRevealer, you will lose your CD drive. There used to be a work around removing the rootkit, but Sony patched it! You have to now go to the site, allow an ActiveX control to run on your computer, which will ask if you want to update the software, say no, and it will give an option to delete it. Sony may change this soon as they are taking alot of heat in the media. Follow whatever instructions they have on their site. If rootkits are being used by one major company, there is no guarantee that others aren’t either. Terrifying.

***EDIT***

A virus is already out taking advantage of the rootkit. Also Sony’s fix is causing more damage and now Sony is recalling CDs.

I’m planning a new entry, but some more updates. Texas is sueing Sony, there is a way of cheating the DRM technology using tape, and Bruce Schneier (a famous cryptographer) weighs in on the events.

Random Wikipedia Article: Tonberry
Currently Listening to: The Scientist – Coldplay

I’ve recently had several people ask me where I stand on several political issues (and have had to correct several people on what they believed to be the stance of one political ideology when it was really another.) I believe that Politics and Current Events are under represented in our education system. Other than a half credit Civics course (in Ontario, since that’s where I’m from), there is little discussion of law, politics, world issues or controversial topics. This is in part of an attempt to not impose any one ideology on public students (such as anti capital punishment) though in practise our education system tend so lean towards left wing political ideology. For example, public teachers are all unionized, and do (not all intentionally) tend to emphasize the benefits of the union system (a left wing ideology for those not familiar with politics as much). These beliefs and ideologies are passed to the students.

The education system is integral in the development of the population’s future political beliefs. Recently it can be seen that a left wing bias has emerged (I’ll go out on an unsupported limb and state that young people are generally more left wing than older people) I’ve even been a victim to this left wing mind washing. I recently found a web page with a submission I made in elementary school. I seemed to be very supportive of environmental initiatives and social policies. Today I’ve moved away from the unpragmatic altruistic system that doesn’t work and have a more balanced political view in economics and social issues. Take environmental: it’s not that I am against the environment, it’s just that I don’t go out of my way to chain myself to trees to save it. I recycle, I take public transpo and carpool. I try not to waste energy at home and am conscious of my actions. That said, I don’t think these require too much effort on my part. During the recent One Tonne Challenge , I was about a quarter of the goal waste limit, so I did exceptionally well. I still don’t feel that environmental issues are my priority, and hence just don’t go out of my way for them.

Now the details, what lots of people want to really know when they talk to me. Which party am I? Currently, I’m a Grit (Liberal). I’ve previously been a full member of the NDP (New Democratic Party) party, but at heart I identify as Tory (the real type, PC [Progressive Conservative]). Unfortunately the PC party doesn’t exist at the Federal level anymore and the new Conservative party is crap. I used to be NDP because I was naive and after studying the platforms, decided I made a mistake. They just don’t have a feasible plan to run the country (and the Greens have even less of one). So I am a Liberal, but that doesn’t always mean I vote Liberal. Provincially, yes, because my MPP, Michael Gravelle is such a great politician. He is very well liked and represents out region very well. Federally, no. I despise my MP Joe Comuzzi, who recently threw away out region’s cabinet position because he doesn’t believe in fundamental rights. Similarly, I don’t like the region’s second MP, Ken Boshcoff, former Mayor (didn’t like him then either). So, federally I vote NDP because they are closer than the Conservatives and have better candidates than my own Liberal party does.

So if there are several politicians that I don’t like, who do I like? Three names come to mind, all former PC members. First, Joe Clark, always loved him. Such a great political character, and it is very sad that he retired recently. Second, Belinda Stronach, fresh from crossing the floor to her Liberal cabinet position. Her views are perfectly in line with mine and the old PC platform. Third, and probably my favourite, Scott Brison. He’s the youngest Liberal cabinet minister, of Public Works and Government Services Canada, a senior portfolio, a former PC MP who ran for PC leadership, and has a record which is very in line with my beliefs. I believe (and hope) that he will one day be Prime Minister and he will do an excellent job. A role model for young Canadians and a forward thinker.

I like to think of myself as sort of a closet monarchist. Our country has a very unique identity and the monarchy and our political traditions have helped to preserve that. I hear quite often about how people believe that the Governor General and Senate should be abolished because of being appointed. I oppose those suggestions, and believe that people who make those claims really don’t understand the positions that they want to abolish. Most recently we have had a change in the Governor General position from Adrienne Clarkson to Michaëlle Jean. I think Clarkson did an exceptional job at the position. She reinvigorated the position and made it known, even though she took fire over doing such. The position promotes Canadian culture, acts as political ambassador, and conducts lots of our political tradition. Clarkson well earned her pay. If only all of our past Governor Generals good have had such an impact.

I guess I’ll briefly outline my political beliefs (without much explanation for brevity). I support the Charter above all. It’s what makes Canada such a great place to live in. I am pro government subsidized education, pro two tier health care, support the military only for peacekeeping efforts, and not major expansion. I have recently harboured an anti-american sentiment due to trade disputes that the US’s lack of accountability to international law. I am pro euthanasia, abortion, same sex marriage, and capital punishment (yeah, pro). I don’t support censorship, and don’t really believe in publicly funded media. I support paying down the national debt and balancing budgets. I strongly believe in the separation of Church and State.

As you can see, my beliefs jump from left to right wing depending on the topic. Generally, when it comes to rights issues, I am more left wing (because I support rights!) and fiscal issues, I am more right wing (supporting industry over environment, and supporting private over unionized work). I love to discuss any aspects of politics and current events and encourage people to challenge me on any of the issues that I’ve mentioned above or that I haven’t stated a side to (there are just so many issues that I can’t mention them all). Hope to hear from at least a few people!

Currently Listening to: Fix You – Coldplay
Random Wikipedia Article: Divali

The fact is, the better your place on search engines results for keywords that relate to your site, the more traffic you will receive. That makes placing high in results one of a webmaster’s key goals (especially if it is a business! Traffic is profit!). Search engines run software. This software is founded on a set of rules and criteria how it relates the most relevant websites to keywords. That means they can be exploited to give you better results. The one catch is that most of these criteria are out of the reach of the webmaster to exploit. These include the number of links from other sites which you generally can’t control. (Actually Mike suggested I post on some influential blogs with my URL, thus creating more links) There are however several things that you can do to give you a head start.

Google was revolutionary because of the technology that it used to search the web with. It worked so well that it stole business from it’s rival Yahoo. Google uses a set of algorithms collectively called PageRank which grade a website’s relevance and popularity. By knowing the specific criteria that PageRank uses, a webmaster can improve the position of their site. While Google has a page where you can submit your URL to them, the reality is all it does is sent a bot to view the page and in the end rank it. The real way to get business is to take advantage of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) factors that Google uses. Several of them can be exploited by a webmaster through the code that they write.

These factors all contribute to the way Google views your web page. It actually gives you a rank…a PageRank. For example, (you can check yours out if you have a web page), mine is ranked 0 (which isn’t surprising because I just launched it) while Mike’s is 5. This results in Mike’s site coming up before mine when searching a related topic on both, like Mechatronics. The thing is, PageRank is mostly based on linking to other sites, and there is quite a few other factors that are considered. These additional SEO Factors play a large role and are weighted compared to each other. For Google (see link), some of the big additional factors are having the keyword in the title domain, and in meta tags. I recently added meta tags to my site just to give it a little extra boost. I can only hope they help me out (even a little).

An example of these other factors playing a big role is how the Tron Eng ‘10 class (Which ironically doesn’t even exist yet and is only the work of a very initiative filled future student) beats our class, Tron Eng ‘09 (The most active class website in UW Eng!) when “UW Mechatronics” is googled. How can this be? Tron Eng ’09’s PageRank is 3 compared to Tron Eng ’10’s PageRank of 0 is clearly more. If you look at the list, keywords in the title are very high up, so it gives Tron Eng ‘10 the advantage (by a few results pages!)…when clearly we are the better site to visit.

It seems I lucked out with my domain being able to jump to first so easily. Probably because of my last name, Aho, which isn’t that common. To finish off, just a quick comment: I got the Genius Bowl directorship, so I’m quite happy. Genius Bowl is a termly engineering quiz event to find the “smartest class in engineering” and I’ll be partly responsible for organizing it. Back to studying…:( (0/6 exams)

Currently Listening to: “Thief” – Our Lady Peace