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April 14, 2004
Knock Knock, Its SSH Calling
Wade Billings pointed out knockd to me. This little program lets you set up secret port knocks and then take action when you see them. So, for example, you could set up a server with all ports locked down and then open up SSH just when you needed it by knocking on selected ports in a specific order. The ports you knock on don't have to be open since the daemon listens to the ethernet interface. If you're really paranoid and only a few people need to access the server, then this might be for you.
08:21 PM | Recommend This | Print This
Blogger Wish List
Lisa Williams has summarized over 100 comments that people posted in response to this question from Dave Winer:
Premise: We've reached a plateau in blogging tools. There haven't been a lot of changes in the last two or three of years. The growth continues, lots more weblogs, and we've got better tools for reading (aggregators).
Question: What's next in writing tools for weblogs? If you could influence people who are making the tools, what feature or features would you want? Think as big as you like, or as detailed as you like. What bug is most in your way. Ramble, please. Is there one thing you'd kill for? Or perhaps you're satisfied with the tools as they are. I hope your comments are on the record so I can assemble a quote sheet as the beginning of a conversation that I hope will yield better tools for all of us.From BloggerCon:
Referenced Wed Apr 14 2004 10:42:09 GMT-0600
My personal wish is to be more easily create entries on my blog. I've cobbled together some bookmarklets and whatnot to help create content (like the quote just above) but I still spend far too much time cutting and pasting URLs, etc. and typing HTML.
10:46 AM | Recommend This | Print This
Web Services Are Happening All Over, Right Now
RSS, a simple XML document, aimed primarily at desktop consumption, and delivered along RESTful principals, is currently the best example of Web services in widespread use. Web services happened behind our backs while were all watching big companies trying come to grips with SOAP.
Those who read between the lines of these conversations can intuit that RSS is rapidly approaching a critical mass in the enterprise. Notification, subscription, presence, and awareness services are congealing into a real-time events-based information routing fabric that outpaces other existing legacy channels. Such channels include email, developer conferences, print publications, and broadcast media.From Steve Gillmor's Blogosphere - Tuesday, April 13, 2004 Entries
Referenced Wed Apr 14 2004 10:28:45 GMT-0600
Steve's right. RSS is reaching a tipping point. RSS is simple enough that there's not much hype. People just use it. That's not to say that other Web services won't come of age in time--I think they will. But RSS is first because its viral just like the Web was in 1994. Once you use it, you tell your friends about it and how "cool" it is. Not many people email me to say "you've got to try this new SOAP service I just found!!" Its too difficult to consume or its probably just a toy.
10:39 AM | Recommend This | Print This
The Flap Over Gmail
The magnitude of the controversy about Google's new Gmail service is astounding. Many people have decried the attempt of Google to link their new 1Gb email service with targeted ads, searching, and so on. This has led to an anti-Gmail bill in the CA State Senate and I'm sure that won't be the last. I just can't get over the number of people who want to protect me from myself.
Almost every online service requires some kind of identifying information from me in order to provide the service they're offering. Sometimes they need my personal information and money (think Amazon) and sometimes they're willing to just settle for the personal information (Gmail).
Gmail is offering a 1Gb email box in exchange for being able to target ads and so on. This is a transaction. I give information in consideration for the service Google provides. The privacy policy represents the terms of the transaction. Like any other term sheet, I can read it or ignore it, accept it or not. I believe that people enter into such transactions rationally. They know that Google isn't just giving email away and that there's a price to pay.
I encounter the same thing when I go to Albertson's. They want to associate my purchases with my name and address, so they give me a discount on my six-pack of coke if I'll tell them who I am when I check out. When I'm in a good mood I tell them and when I'm cranky I don't. Sometimes I'm willing to give away my personal data in exchange for a buck and sometimes I'm not.
One of the fundamental rights of privacy is the right to do as I please with my personal information. That includes giving it to Google if I want. I don't need the government or other watchdog groups to protect me and I don't think most other people do either. If you truly respect my privacy keep your nose out of my business with Google--its private.