A podcast series on ransomware from MIT Technology Review and ProPublica. The end of Part 1 automatically leads to Part 4, so I’ll post them in the correct order.
Author: DOuG pRATt
Spaced Out
Lots going on out in space. Progress on the Webb Space Telescope (not renamed, despite protests) continues, so far without technical problems. A suspected black hole turns out to not be one. And a rocket is about to crash into the Moon.
Contrary to earlier reports, it is not a piece of SpaceX debris, but Chinese junk.
P.S. Oops! I missed one. A new weather satellite has been launched and will reach geo-synchronous orbit.
That’s What They Call Living
One of the musical acts I became interested in, from listening to Boston’s WBCN in high school, was Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks. This selection sounds something like Sérgio Mendes and Brazil ’66.
A Cautionary Tech Notice
Everything with this WordPress installation is updated and working as well as is presently possible. Updates are delivered directly from WordPress, and Bluehost’s plugin is integrated with the WordPress Dashboard. I am running the version of the PHP program interpreter that WordPress says it supports. Which is saying something, considering the technical struggles I had, and how very close I was to packing it in and walking away. So I am concerned by this message from Bluehost.
Hi DOUGLAS,
In an ongoing effort to bring you the very best products and services, Bluehost is excited to announce that we will be upgrading our servers to newer versions of PHP. In addition to improved data processing, which can boost site speed and performance, you also gain increased security. Newer versions of PHP have more frequent security updates to help protect your site against unwanted hacks or malware.
When will it happen?
At some point during the upgrade window, March 2 to March 4, 2022, your account will be updated, and older versions of PHP will no longer be supported. You may experience a brief disruption in service, but we will work to upgrade your site quickly with the most updated version of PHP software your website will support.
Do I need to take any action?
To avoid a negative impact to your site, we recommend that you upgrade all of your web installations to the newest PHP software available before we move your account.
If you look at the link above, WordPress says it supports PHP 7. Bluehost intends to update to PHP 8, as stated here. This is what WordPress developers say about PHP 8.
WordPress is not fully compatible with PHP 8.0 or 8.1.
After the update, will Prattling Before the Pratfall go offline? Will the .htaccess file for the Apache HTTP service continue to work? Will the SQL database play nice with the updated PHP? Honestly, based on past experience I expect all heck to break loose. So for posterity here is my screen as it appears at this moment, with everything working and Bluehost about to bill me this month to renew for another year.
Follow-up: I pre-emptively updated to PHP 8.0 manually, and the site has lived to tell the tale.
British Exports
Easybeats!
Troggs!
This is the originality and creativity that was unleashed by the influence of The Beatles.
Isn’t That Special, and That Other Special Too
On February 16 I received a message from the non-controversial Joe Pera, promoting his upcoming tour.
Besides being Black History Month, is February also Comedian Month? Because yesterday this message popped up from the controversial Louis C.K. Hmm… “popped up” may not be the right expression to associate with Louis.
Hello. You are in the Boston area. Yes you are. Don’t lie. Anyway I’m writing you all of a sudden because I made an infomercial. It’s really fucking stupid and silly but I think it’s fun to watch and I believe it will make you laugh. It’s going to air in Boston TONIGHT in one hour! (Haha sorry) at 2:05 AM on WFXT which is an independent station and then again at 2:35. It’s channel 25 and 34 digital, whatever that means, I’m sure you can find it on cable somewhere.
Anyway it’ll be on a few times during the week in different spots but this is the first airing so I thought you might like to tune in if you are awake at that hour or set your DVR for 2:05-2:35 AM.
That’s all. Have a good weekend!
Louis CK
Also I am not in Ukraine. My flight was canceled because no one can fly there now.
Was Louis really supposed to be in the Ukraine right now? Yeah, he was.
Louis called WFXT an independent station, but it isn’t, it’s a Fox affiliate. A late night infomercial on broadcast TV? Seems an unlikely place to find a new audience, so I was curious and recorded it. The commercial is also airing in L.A., Philadelphia, and Dallas. As expected it’s a parody of infomercials while also serving as a sales pitch. Here’s the first minute of the thing.
At the end of the video is one of the milder surreal cuts. Some of the others are more typical of Sarah Silverman’s dark sense of humor.
So I’m not surprised that Louis’ old friend in comedy, Sarah Silverman, would make an appearance. Wait. That’s not Silverman, it’s Sarah PALIN!
But wait, for only $5 more you also get last year’s comedy special!
Louis C.K. and Al Franken paid a heavy price for their offenses when #MeToo hit with fevered momentum. Some of the more radical elements within the movement seemed to conflate the abuses of Louis and Al with the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. While Evangelical Christians, in a rare showing of forgiveness, didn’t condemn Trump for his obvious offenses.