digitalBush

I just encountered one of these awkward beasts last week. In case you haven't stumbled upon this stupidity, here's a brief explanation. A self decrypting archive is a windows executable that requires a pass phrase. Once said pass phrase is entered, out pops a decrypted file. This is wrong on so many levels. Let me count the ways:

1. The sender is asking the recipient to run an executable.  The recipient has no way of knowing if the executable is clean and does not contain a virus or trojan.
2. We live in a multi-platform world. Asking the recipient to run a Windows executable makes the assumption that they are actually running Windows.  I'm typing this from a Mac right now.  It's possible that I might work in a unix environment.  Assuming that I'm running Windows is ignorant.
3. The password model defeats the whole purpose of PGP encryption.  With PGP encryption, I provide my public key to someone and only my private key can decrypt the file.  This self decrypting archive thing only requires the sender supplied passphrase.  The recipient has no way of knowing if this message has been viewed by others or possibly even changed in transmission.

It's just bad all around.  The only problem it solves is encrypting a file without the recipient needing to install some software to decrypt the file.  The real problem here is that the security is an illusion.  The recipient is taking on huge risk  all because of laziness.  As the recipient of an encypted file, would you rather run an executable from a reputable company or Joe Schmoe?

If you want safe encryption, look no further than GnuPG.

I debated for a while as to what programming reference I would use to announce that Ashley and I are having a baby.  It's lame, I know.  Deal with it.

We just found out today that "it" is actually a boy.  I can't begin to express how truly excited I am.  Everything is changing around me, and I can't wait to meet this little booger.

I fully intend on corrupting his little mind and filling his brain with all sorts of insanity.  It's so intriguing (and frightening) that I will have the ability to raise a child and mold him to be what will hopefully become a productive and contributing human being. Wish me luck!

countesy of respres

Our great country is in shambles.  For years people have been living beyond their means.  For years people have been turning a blind eye to scandal and corruption.  For years people have become more accepting of dishonesty and infidelity.  The general state of mind is that everything can be had for nothing achieved.

I'm mad.  This has been building in me for quite some time.  I'm tired of watching my great country fall into a slump because of a serious lack of ethics and principles.  I've worked my ass off.  I've done what I felt was right.  I've lived within my means and saved my money.  And now, because of the actions of some (many?), I'm going to have to suffer to save their mistakes.  My children and grandchildren will be paying for the mess that people are causing today.

I'm living in a little house.  My wife and I have considered moving into a larger house several times.  Each time, we decided that it wasn't the right thing to do because it would stretch our finances too much.  We had the opportunity to live in a lot nicer home and get financed for it.  We also knew that we couldn't afford to pay for the loans that the banks qualified for us.  We did the right thing by staying where we're at.  We're saving our money and one day we'll be able to upgrade, just not right at this moment. 

So now you're telling me that those people who took the other path and borrowed the money they can't pay back are going to get it anyway?  There's something seriously wrong here.  My question to you is, why are we doing this?  To save the economy?  That's the wrong mentality.  We shouldn't be saving these people.  They are the ones who did something wrong.  They should have to face the repercussions for their actions.  There is a principle involved here.  When you do something wrong, you get punished.  You have to do good things to have a chance at reward.

The people who are and have been in office for some time don't give a damn about me and my little house. They care about the people who have been giving them money to represent their special interests.  Guess what politicians?  Those fools don't have any money now because they've been giving out bum loans to people they knew couldn't afford them.  They've been getting rich off of money that doesn't exist.  I don't want to contribute my savings to help bring their false fortunes back.  I'm who you should be representing.  I'm one of "the people".  I'm ready to take back my government and make it go back to protecting my family and not giving out free rides.

Obviously I can't just roll up into Washington and make a difference.  I'm just one man.  So, how can I make a difference? I plan on spreading the word.  People need to understand that the current system isn't working and we need to go back a more simple system.  You know, one based on principles and values instead of lies and deceit.  I also plan on continuing to live my honest life and by doing the right thing for me and my family.  That's how we all can improve the state the country.  All you have to do is be a better person.  Live life honestly and work hard.

I also want to draw your attention to The 9-12 Project.  If you agree with me, then you need to head over there and read more.  You and I are not alone.  There are other men and women out there who are tired of being punished for doing what's right while others skate by without contributing.

• Fixed bug which blocked apple meta key.  This was keeping copy and paste via keyboard shortcut from working on Mac.
• Fixed bug that caused mask literals to be pushed into the mask placeholder positions when verifying the data.
• Fixed bug that prevented user input from completing when mask ended in mask literal.

Changes

• Changed behavior on focus to select all text if focusing on a completed mask.
• No more masking on readonly inputs.
• Changed escape behavior to put the input back to the original value instead of just blanking the text.
• Increased range of accepted characters for input.