Please Re-Wire Your Mouth Kanye West

I make a point not to post about politics, religion or race issues on my blog. My reasoning for avoiding such hot button topics is because no matter what your views are on any of those issues, chances are you have some strong opinions and so does everyone else. People will disagree with one another and debate, all of which is normal and perfectly fine. I am just not interested in having my blog host that type of battle. Now with that said, I am not going to get political or racist or anything on this post, but this just irritates me so much that I felt I needed to say a few things. Perhaps some of you may agree with me and perhaps some of you may disagree. The topic on hand - Kanye West's remarks during the Red Cross fund raiser. He claims and I quote..."George Bush doesn't care about black people".

As you probably already know, rapper Kanye West criticized George Bush on live TV during "A Concert For Hurricane Relief". West was presenting a 90-second segment with Mike Myers when during the show the rapper went off script. To the surprise of Myers and the rest of the world, Kanye West took it upon himself to use what was suppose to be a charity fund to raise money for the Hurricane Katrina victims, but instead was used as West's political soapbox. For whatever reason Kanye West decided that he was now the official spokesperson for the black community. He exclaimed: "I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food." West also claimed that "they have given them permission to go down and shoot us", although he added that "the Red Cross is doing everything they can" only after telling the audience that America is set up "to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible". It was no surprise why West was cut off after his final statement saying "George Bush doesn't care about black people".

An NBC spokeswoman explained the crew was instructed to listen for a curse word and didn't realize West had gone off-script. A later statement added: "Kanye West departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him and his opinions in no way represent the views of the networks. It would be most unfortunate if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person's opinion." Although that is exactly what happen. The rapper's comments went out live on the east coast, but fortunately they were cut from the west coast version which was broadcasted three hours later.

What I really have a problem with is not the fact that I disagree with Kanye West's statements, but I can't stand the way in which all celebrities take it upon themselves to either self promote or spew political messages to the public during award shows and now even telethons. Why is it not obvious to the celebrity, when it is obvious to the public, that the reason they are being given that TV time to being with is for a completely different purpose? Take just about any awards show for example. I can't count the times that some singer or actor has grabbed the mic to spew "make love, not war" or "Michael Jackson is innocent" or take just about any hot button topic you can think of. Just leave it to a celeb to go off on a tangent about it. You are up there to accept an award. Accept it, say thanks and get off the stage! I suppose that is asking too much considering that celebrities hardly even live in the REAL world afterall. The ones you see who actually do roll up their sleeves and pitch in to help the world, usually do it for their own benefit - "if I feed a homeless kid, I will look good in the next issue of People magazine" type of attitude.

Kanye West, you have a right to free speech even if some people don't agree with your views, but there is a time and place in which to express them. Not only were your remarks RACIST, unintelligent and uncalled for, but it's unbelievable that you would take that venue as an opportunity to preach your political views. You were asked to help a cause or perhaps you even offered to help the cause. The cause was to raise money for the hurricane victims, but your cause was not the same. Your true intentions were not to aid those suffering from the flooded waters. Your actions did not help them. You were there to get into the limelight so you could publicly bash the President and go off on alot of so called "facts" that you knew little about or could backup. I doubt halfway thru the show you decided in the spur of the moment that you would go off script and preach your political views. I'm sure you knew well before you were on air that you were going to take advantage and misuse your "spokesperson" position on national TV. Yes, you were a spokesperson, but you spoke on the wrong issue. Instead you decided to stand up and act like you were the leader for an entire race - many of which do not even agree with your views. Do us all a favor Kanye, take that backpack of yours, fill it with some books and take yourself back to school. I am beginning to see why your first hit album "The College Dropout" was such a fitting title. As far as that catchy tune "Through The Wire", well you may want to consider re-wiring your mouth shut once again to avoid further embarrassment.

Now, I know everyone is sick of hearing about Hurricane Katrina and you are probably also tired of seeing everyone blog about Kanye West's remarks. I promise this will be the last of both of those things on my blog. Ahh, that felt better. End of my rant.

Controversial Anti-Rape Device Invented

Did you know that 1 out of 3 women will be sexually assaulted sometime during their life? 1 out of 3! That is a staggering high percentage that is both shocking and sickening to me. Come to think of it, I shouldn't say it shocks me considering the fact that off the top of my head I can think of at least 5 women I know who have either been a victim of rape or it was attempted. Now I don't want this post to be about rape. I also don't want to hear bullshit like "well look what she was wearing or she was leading him on". Those excuses infuriate me. Rape is not about sex. It's about power and control. Now that's all I will say on that. Frankly, I hate the topic and it makes me very uneasy. Although I do want to get your thoughts on a controversial new anti-rape device that was introduced the other week called "Rapex".

Rapex, dubbed "the rape trap", is a condom-like device. It's appearance and function are almost medieval in terms of technology with internal hooks designed to snare rapists while in the process of committing the rape. The device, which is worn like a tampon, hooks onto a rapist during penetration and must be surgically removed from the assailant. Painful for the rapist? You better believe it! Although I think a rapist deserves it...and more if you ask me. I have no compassion or sympathy for anyone who rapes or attempts to rape a woman. Nothing will fire me up more than running into one of those scums. So here is the controversy and my question to you...

What is to prevent a woman from misusing this? Let's say you have an ex-girlfriend. For whatever reason the girl is scorned from the relationship breaking up and we all know "hell knows no furry like a woman scorned". So with that in mind, say she has taken her anger for her ex to a new level, to a dark side and beyond. Let's say she lures her ex-boyfriend back in and acts like she wants to sleep with him. It’s consensual and then in the back of her head she is thinking “pay back time asshole” and that thing snaps down on his d*ck! What is to stop people like that from using Rapex (which was meant for a different purpose) to punish and possibly permanently injuring someone who isn't a sex offender, but perhaps just guilty of getting involved with a crazy revengeful chick? Let's be realistic, even though Rapex may be a somewhat simple, clever and very effective idea in theory...do you really think women would get into the habit of wearing this on a regular basis? I doubt it. It's not like you know "when" you would need to wear it. You would need to have it in everyday to really prevent a sexual assault so I don't see this device lowering the 1 out of 3 statistics. So then my next concern is that a woman uses it to get back at an ex. Your thoughts Lorana Bobet?

Remembering 9-11 and Living Without Fear

Today marks the 4th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. For many, myself included, the images of a commercial airplane flying directly into the side of the Word Trade Center still seem very vivid. As you know the twin towers were already on fire and about to colapse when the second attack occurred just minutes later. Everyone who bared witnessed was still confused as to what exactly was going on. Was this some freak accident? How could this even be happening? It just didn't seem to be real. The reality of it all didn't set in until sometime after the second explosion. Adding to everyone's disbelief, news broke that a 3rd plane was also hijacked and then crashed into the Pentagon as well as a 4th in Pennsylvania. It seemed so surreal and to this day it's still hard to grasp what a tremendous affect it has had on our country - the lives it changed and the lives it took.

This wasn't the first tragedy the world has known and it's also not the first terrorist attack on a country. I'm also sorry to say this will be not be last. Just look back a few months to the London bombings. If anyone thought for a moment that it wasn't terrorist related, you need a reality check. It's not just terrorist attacks either, tragedy comes in the form of Mother Nature as well. The recent Hurricane Katrina disaster is still very much real and impacting lives as we speak. So today on the 4 year anniversary of the 9-11 attacks, take a moment to remember all of those that lost their lives - those in all 4 planes, the WTC, the Pentagon and all of the rescue workers on the scene at ground zero. New York is a great city and Manhattan in particular is one of my favorite places to be. You can't live your life being afraid. I love NY and I would still move there regardless of how much of a "target" it may be in terms of terrorist attacks. You simply can not let the threat of terrorism control your life.

Should I be afraid to fly? Should I be afraid to go to DC or work in the Pentagon when asked? Should I fear moving to The Big Apple? No. As the saying goes...the only thing to fear is fear itself. When you are a kid and you fall of your bike, you pick yourself up and get back on. The same thing should apply to tragedy. Whether it be 9-11 or Hurricane Katrina, you have to push forward and not be afraid to carry on. Let any tragedy or hurdle in your life teach you something. They say without pain in life, there is no growth. Tragedies like these are extremely painful, but from these experiences there is growth and you can't grow if you allow fear to take hold of you.

I Bleed Black & Gold

You know fall is just around the corner when the old pigskin starts getting thrown around. It's that time of year again - football season! For the guys it's one of the best times of the year and for you women, well you will probably be spending alot of Sundays in the mall with your girlfriends. While we are having a tailgate party at the game or even if we opt to stay home and soak in the action from the sofa, you can be getting your leather high from new shoes rather than a Wilson football. Now I shouldn't be sexiest and say that because these days there are alot of women who love football just as much, if sometimes not more, than men do. I think that's great! I have no problem if a woman wants to take in a game with me, just as long as she is routing for my black & gold Steelers or course!

For those that don't know, Pittsburgh is a diehard sports town. People bleed the black and gold colors around here. When the NFL season is in session and you watch the local news, our football team is one of the headline news stories! Yeah, I know that is silly but it's true. I suppose it says alot about how lame the city is otherwise in terms of action. People just love their football around here. Some people are so "crazy" about it that a year ago a Cleveland Browns fan was literally beaten to death in a Pittsburgh bar after he talked trash on the Steelers to some local fans. Now the Browns are our rival enemy, but come on, that is taking your team loyalty a bit far to commit murder! The Browns fan may of not bleed black and gold that night, but you can rest assure knowing that those few crazy Steeler fans no longer wear the black and gold colors...it's more like they wear black and white stripes at the county jail these days.

You don't have to live in the city of Pittsburgh to love the Steelers. In fact Steeler fans are a very loyal group that expand in nearly every US city and state! Go to California and you will find a bar called Sharky's that is a "Steelers bar". It's not just CA either, head over to Cleveland, NY, Washington DC, Chicago, Seattle, Texas, Florida...the list goes on and on. In all of those places and many others, you will find Steeler fans and local bars dedicated to watching the Steeler games. Even in places around the world like Mexico where the #1 sport is usually soccer (or what they refer to as football/soccer), American football and the Steelers are fan favorites.

Since training camp and pre-season are over, it's time to kick off the first real game of the year! This Sunday we host the Tennessee Titans at Heinz Field. My Steelers had the best record in the NFL last year going 15-1 led by rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger, but just missed the Super Bowl. This year's pre-season record they went 3-1 and during the regular season I have high expectations of them repeating last years great performance...with of course the added appearance at the Super Bowl. During the off season we got rid of that lazy ass better known as Plaxico Burress, so for that I am grateful.

However, the sad news is that this year I won't have season tickets (sigh). I did a few years back and they were the best! I didn't get them this season because I've been traveling around alot for work and at times I really don't know what my schedule will be from week to week. Therefore, I don't want to drop all that cash on season tickets and then have to give away the seats because I can't make it to games. That would suck! Going to a Steelers game is nothing like going to any other football game. Even if you aren't a football fan, you can't help but feel the energy in the stadium. That is something I am going to really miss. I am sure I will take in a game or two at the field, but most of the season I'm afraid I will be watching it either from my living room or from another TV somewhere in the world. I'm sure no matter where I travel, there is a place in nearly every city where I can proudly wear my team colors. I can feel at home watching the game surrounded by "out of state" Steeler fans because I know we are all routing for 1 common team and bleed 2 common colors - black and gold!

Now, I just have one question for you...ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!

My Interview - Uncut, Uncensored, Real and Raw

How about that for a post title? Ha-ha. Maybe it will catch your attention and make you want to read what I had to say when a fellow blogger by the name of Gina Burgess asked if she could interview me. Of course I was flattered at the offer and said sure. Gina had found my blog one day while surfing the net and says she became intrigued in what I posted here, spending an hour just reading what I had to say! Yeah, now there is some love. I'm not sure if I would spend an hour even listening to myself talk. I kid of course, but seriously like many of you that visit my blog on a regular basis, chances are you have an interest in computers stuff too just like Gina does. Although she not only wanted to learn more about what I do, but she also wanted to look a little deeper into "the mystery" of DIAMONDKT". Who am I really? Well you can find out by reading the interview.

My brain was picked on a variety of issues from how I help protect the government from hackers to how the average Joe home computer user can protect themselves...to even some personal things like what was the best advice I was ever given or gave in life to what I look for in a woman - including in the bedroom! Ahh, so now you are intrigued to read right? Perverts all of you. Now Gina's blog sticks with a "Christian theme" so she asked me if it was ok if she omitted some parts of the interview that got a little "dirty". You have to respect that and it's her interview after all, so I am fine with it. Of course, some of you may want to see the full length interview with all that dirt still in there right? Yeah, I thought you would nod your head yes to that. So your wish is my command. Just don't blame me when you burn in hell for your sick twisted ways and the sheer fact you want to read this filth. Ok, it's hardly dirty but still I thought you might enjoy.

It's a lengthy 3 part interview that I broke up into 3 posts.

• My Interview - Geek Speak (Part 1 of 3)
• My Interview - It's A Blog Thing (Part 2 of 3)
• My Interview - DIAMONDKT Exposed (Part 3 of 3)

So if you don't read it all I would understand. Will I be hurt and cry? Yes, I will. Will you go straight to hell for not reading every word I had to say? That is for certain! So you know what the right thing is to do now, so go and do it - read away and give me your thoughts in the comment sections as always. Also please visit Gina's blog and leave her a comment too about my interview which can be found on her site at these 2 links...

• Gina's Blog - The Computer Security Consultant, Diamondkt
• Gina's Blog - The Man, Diamondkt

My Interview - Geek Speak (Part 1 of 3)

Some topics covered include my career as a Network Security Consultant and tips to keep computers, businesses and home users safe online. I felt this section was very education for those of you that want to learn more about computer security and technology in general. I did my best to answer in the most simple and clear terms I could so that everyone could understand no matter what level of computer knowledge they hold. Let the Q and A session begin!


What one thing about computer security would you have computer users understand?

That technology is constantly changing and with that comes the constant need to protect yourself from the numerous amount of security issues facing computers today. It's important to stay informed about things such as viruses, software patches and spyware...but don't be too paranoid. Yes, the Internet can be a dangerous place, although for the average computer user, the chances that a hacker solely targets you is unlikely. A hacker is much more likely to go after a large corporation where the "pot of gold" on the other end is higher than the average Joe's home PC.

---------------------------------------------------------------

What is the most dangerous, or foolhardy, thing a person can do with their computer regarding security?

Use Windows straight out of the box. Ha-ha, tech joke that many probably won't get. Seriously though, connecting to the net without first turning on a firewall! Even the built-in Windows firewall is better than nothing. If you fail to turn on your firewall and connect to the net for the first time, literally within minutes you will be infected with MSBlast or another virus. That is just a fact and a scary one at that.

---------------------------------------------------------------

What is the first thing a person should get in the habit of doing to protect their computer?

There are a few things people should get into the habit of doing, but #1 would be to turn on your firewall. Then go to the Windows Update site and download/install the service packs and patches. Next I would install some anti-virus software (I like Norton AntiVirus) and allow it to run in the background to protect you. You may also want to install some anti-spyware software too (I like the free Ad-Aware SE). Lastly use good passwords for your router, Windows login, e-mail and any account you own. A good password should be at least 8 characters long and contain both upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. It also should not contain any words that could be found in a dictionary or could be easily tied to you - such as your spouse's name. The more random, the better.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Is it a good thing to have Windows automatically download updates?

Yes, definitely. By allowing Windows to automatically download updates, it saves you the hassle of going to their site and searching for new patches and fixes. Let your computer do the work for you. Then you can sit back and relax knowing your system is protected.

---------------------------------------------------------------

There are all kinds of tracking devices out there. Are there any dangers with these? What security level do you recommend with cookies?

Cookies get a bad rap. There are some "bad cookies", but most cookies aren't as harmful as the media plays them out to be. Basically a cookie just saves some preferences for you to speed up your surfing habits. For example, a cookie can hold your username and password for you on a message board. As long as you are the only person who uses that computer, then it's not a security concern. Most people don't realize that no matter where you go online, nearly every site tracks you to some extent. For the average user, I would suggest "medium" security level when it comes to cookies. You will find the option in IE by going to Internet Options and clicking on the Privacy tab.

---------------------------------------------------------------

What is a day in the life of a computer security consultant like?

It varies from day to day and depends on the client. Some clients require very basic security needs and routine work, while other clients request tighter security and are more demanding. No matter how big or small the client is, the initial consultation service is the same. I'll meet with them, listen to what their problems and needs are, then I'll give my advice on how I can help them. If they like what I have to say, then I will begin putting together a plan of what needs to be done, how often and of course the cost. After we reach an agreement, I get a contract signed and the job begins. What I do is quite different and much more involved than what a typical IT guy does. It is somewhat difficult to sum up or explain, but the best way I know how to say it is that I do reverse engineering. What that means is that I usually work from the outside in. A company may feel their network is secure, but they want to make certain, so they call on me. I will find their weaknesses and security holes for them before a hacker does. I find what needs to be secured or fixed and protect the company from a possible attack in the future. In some cases a company has already fallen victim to an attack, so I am called on to do the clean-up work and prevent a similar situation happening to the company again. Some days can be very stressful, especially when I work for the government. The best part is that everyday there is something new. I love to learn and "outsmart the bad guy". Technology always changes and for me, keeping up with it and ahead of hackers is a fun challenge. It's rewarding to know at the end of the day you may of helped protect a company from losing millions of dollars in damage. Better yet, that you help secure places like the Pentagon. Not too many people can say that at the end of a workday.

---------------------------------------------------------------

What do you consider the most interesting thing about what you do?

I guess if you are into technology at all, then alot of what I do may be interesting to people. For the average computer user, what I do is probably over their head and I don't mean to say that to sound rude, but it can be confusing and hard to explain to someone who isn't up on all the terms and things of that nature. I'm not sure if this is really "interesting" as much as it is "shocking", but the public would be surprised at what information government keeps on you. It's also surprising to work for some well respected businesses and colleges and find out that they are central servers for kiddie porn rings! It's very disturbing and not something you can just pull someone aside and let them know they are caught and give a reprimanding too. Other interesting/shocking things include the unwavering amount of trust even security companies have in terms of believing that they are "un-hackable". Let me make it clear that there is no such thing as 100% secure. I lost count at the number of businesses that "secure" the most sensitive data with default logins such as admin/password.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Since the "average hacker" goes after the pot of gold at the big corporations, should we be wary of doing financial business over the internet with our credit card companies and our banks? What precautions should we take with that?

Well I know many people do their banking and other financial business online. However, I don't. I guess when it comes to my banking, mutual funds, stocks, ect I like to do it the old fashion way. It's very sensitive data and being in the line of work that I am in, I have seen so many banks and stock broker agencies get compromised. It doesn't happen that often and usually when it does it only affects a rather small percentage of accounts. Still, one is too many for me to take the risk on. Yes, virtually all of that data is stored on computers somewhere, I just don't want to be punching in my assets from another computer increasing the risk of someone intercepting the information during a transaction. Now that's just me and perhaps I am a little paranoid and overly cautious so it's a personal decision everyone has to make on their own. The risks are slim, but there is always a risk so don't be fooled thinking 100% secure.

Now I do use PayPal for money transactions online such as purchasing something on eBay. I've bought products from numerous sites, both small and large companies and I have never had a problem with my credit card information being misused. I do pay close attention to my credit card and bank statements that I get in the mail and I suggest everyone keep in eye on those to detect any fraudulent use that may occur. It's a good habit to get into whether you pay bills online or offline because cyber criminals may be the new breed of "bad guy", but the good old fashion offline crook still exists too.

To keep safe, only shop with reputable businesses online. Even an online business should be listed with the BBB so if you have any doubt, check with them. Only enter personal information via a website that uses security certificates and encrypts their data. Never give your credit card or other personal information via an e-mail or IM. If you are asked to do that, be aware that you are probably being scammed. Get yourself a PayPal account. They are free , easy to use and widely accepted form of payment on just about every site.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Without getting too technical, what is the worst thing a virus can do? Since anti-virus software is not 100% effective, is there anything we should beware of contracting viruses?

A virus can do minor to major damage depending on what virus you have. Viruses can be as harmless as just changing your homepage in IE to a porn site or they can be as damaging in terms of erasing your entire hard drive or configuring your computer in a way that allows the hacker total control over your computer. A keylogger is another problem that many viruses carry. A keylogger collects every login (username/password) and every word you type. Some viruses can do so much damage that they can even cause problems with the hardware in your computer - changing the BIOS settings on your motherboard and literally frying your system.

To stay away from viruses, it's a good idea to not download any file online that you know little about. Adult websites and file sharing sites are notorious for being infected with viruses. Stick with reputable websites and only download software from sources you trust.

My Interview - It's A Blog Thing (Part 2 of 3)

In this second part of the interview I discuss my outlook on blogging. What makes for a successful blog and how you can increase your blog's popularity by using some of my own "tricks". This only contains 2 questions so it's the shortest part of the interview, but yet for my fellow bloggers, this may be the most informative in terms of helping them with their own blog.

I have noticed quite a bit of spam advertising in comments on different blogs. Is there anything we can do to prevent this? Is there anything a person can do to Outlook to make sure the real spam goes to the junk email bin and the good emails go to the inbox?

Yes and yes. For some, blog spam has become a real problem. Fortunately for me I have seen little of it on my own blog, but I have seen a ton of it on other blogs. I'm not sure why one person gets hammered with it and another does not, but I'm thinking it has more to do with the post topics. For instance, when I posted about anything medical, I saw my blog getting spam comments about diet pills or sexual enhancement drugs. Now that may just be a coincidence, but spammers in general use bots to send out their messages. Therefore, keywords are selected on a blog to make the spam more "topic specific" and first appear to be a relevant comment when in fact it's nothing more than an annoying form of an advertisement gimmick. Blogger has taken recent measures to help eliminate spam and give bloggers some control of who and how comments can be posted to their blogs. It's called "Word Verification for Comments" and more information can be found at here.

For e-mail spam in Outlook, you can adjust some settings to help filler out the junk. The best spam filter system is done on the network's server which would mean your ISP would need to help you out, but for the sake of your question, we are going to focus on filtering out spam on the users end using just the Outlook program. It can automatically move spam from your Inbox to your Deleted Items folder or to any other folder you specify. Outlook creates a folder called Junk Mail, where you can move junk e-mail and then review it before deleting. Or you can have junk e-mail delivered to your Inbox, but color coded so you can easily identify it. The list of terms that Outlook uses to filter suspected junk e-mail messages can be found in a file named Filters.txt. You can also filter messages based on the e-mail addresses of junk and adult content senders, allowing you to move or delete all future messages from a particular sender. You can review the Junk Senders list and add and remove e-mail addresses from it. For more information on this and the step-by-step instructions, just open Outlook and type in the keyword "spam filter" in the help section of Outlook.

---------------------------------------------------------------

You have an extremely successful blog. Any advice for us new Bloggers or even for those who have been blogging for a while?

Thanks, but I'm not sure it's as successful as some other blogs. I think the best advice I can give to a new or veteran blogger is...blog because you HAVE something to say, not because you WANT something to say. I see too many blogs with nonsense posts about nothing other than what the person ate for lunch. It doesn't make for good reading material. Personally I am more inclined to read and return to a blog that has some sort of theme or purpose. There are so many blogs out there which are just personal diaries and sometimes that can be entertaining to see, but unless I actually know the person, I tend to not care about their personal trials and tribulations of everyday life. I think you should blog about what you are passionate about. For me that is technology and of course I have other interests that I blog about too, but it really does show when a writer is passionate about what they are talking about. Their enthusiasm and energy comes thru to the reader in their words. That to me makes for a good blog. Plus creative post topics, a little humor and a hidden talent for writing also helps.

One of my own secret trips that I can give people is to link back to other bloggers. Be kind to them and open to their different points of views. You will see they will return that same respect and curtsey to you. I devote a section on my site for every person who stops by my blog and leaves a comment. As a thank you and a way to expand my "blog community", I add a link to their blog. It's also a good way for me to easily find their blog and visit there too. Lastly, keep in mind that it's "quality and not quantity" that makes a successful blog. If you can update your blog daily, that's great but if you feel obligated to post something/anything, then perhaps you are posting too frequently. For me, I never like to make blogging feel like a chore. I do it because I like it and I feel I have something to share. When blogging feels more like work and less like fun to me, then that is the day I quit.