I’ve been getting spammed repetitively from one Yahoo email subscriber who uses multiple Yahoo email accounts. This spamming has been going on for quite some time.

I’ve been blocking this idiot, but that is not very satisfying. I don’t want this idiot using up my bandwidth or the CPU cycles necessary to block his moronic babbling.

I have contacted abuse@yahoo.com repetitively and they have done nothing to block any accounts used by this moron.

Yahoo is completely failing in their moral, and perhaps legal, obligation to prevent spam which is originating from their network.

Customers of Cox Communications have been unable to browse The Tech FAQ for the last several weeks due to a technical misunderstanding inside Cox’s Internet abuse department.

Cox claimed that an attack on their webmail servers originated from our .109 IP address. This is quite an amusing claim, as no traffic is allowed to originate from our .109 IP address. That IP address is reserved only for inbound traffic.

Cox never contact us and when we were finally able to reach an engineer at Cox we were told that they had already deleted all logs of the supposed incident.

But, after finally getting past armies of first level “support” personnel, the engineer I finally spoke with was very nice. He removed the block on our network and Cox customers are once again able to browse our extensive library of technical information.

Welcome back Cox Communications!

SolarWinds Real-time NetFlow Analyzer is a traffic analysis tool that is designed to analyze the data that passes through your network connection in a 60 minute frame. It shows any request from each and every layer of the OSI model. This is very useful in order to analyze how your bandwidth resources are utilized.

The NetFlow Analyzer consists of two components. The configurator where you specify your device’s hostname and SNMP credentials, and the actual analyzer tool that captures network traffic.

Once you complete the configuration, the rest is as simple as it gets. Select an interface you want to analyze and start the Flow Capture. The collected data is archived to a database for future analysis. This database is compatible with Microsoft Access.

The SolarWinds Real-time NetFlow Analyzer also provides a series of useful tools that you can use right inside the analyzer to simplify your work. Applications like Traceroute, Port Scanner, Telnet or Ping make this an all-in-one compact application.

What I like most about this application is that I am able to analyze the data based upon five different criteria: applications, conversations, domains, endpoints and protocols.

• Applications: Seeing what network traffic every running application makes. The analyzer simply maps the application to the port it uses to send its data, thus making it easy to separate the flow into different groups.
• Conversations: Sorting the traffic referring to the source/destination IP addresses, source and destination port and/or protocol. By matching all these five, you get a single conversation with all its specifications.
• Domains: Using reverse DNS to identify the domain’s IP address and binding all of the conversations with that IP address under the same tree.
• Endpoints: Allowing you to see the traffic directed to/coming from a specific IP address on all ports, without any further separation.
• Protocols: Sorting the network traffic after specific protocols, TCP or UDP. Further separation will be made by individual applications.

All of these features these combined make SolarWinds Real-time NetFlow Analyzer a great tool for monitoring and analyzing network traffic.

SolarWinds makes the Real-time NetFlow Analyzer available at no cost via their web site.

Download the SolarWinds Real-time NetFlow Analyzer

Cap lights are among the most essential tools for outdoor activities. It is the perfect tool for lighting up an area when both hands are busy with tools, hunting gear, and fishing poles among other outdoor equipment. Cap lights are also ideal for hiking, camping, and night fishing.

The Six LED Rechargeable Cap Light is a useful gadget for outdoor activities. This top quality cap light comes with features helpful for lighting up outdoor areas.

Six LED Rechargeable Cap Light Features

• Built-in batteries – this makes this gadget more economical than regular caplights with non-rechargeable batteries. The batteries of this gadget take about 3.5 hours to completely recharge. It can be used for 25 to 70 hours, depending on the lighting mode.

• Three different charging units - the Six LED Cap Light comes with 3 complete charging units, which include:
  • DC charger;
  • AC charger; and
  • USB port.

The DC charger can be used to charge this gadget in the car. The AC charger is used to connect the Six LED Rechargeable Cap Light to electrical wall sockets. The USB port provides the option of charging the Six LED Rechargeable Cap Light via a computer.

• 6 ultra-bright LED lights - this model has 6 ultra bright LEDs (light emitting diodes) composed of 4 white LEDs in the center and 2 red LEDs on its sides. These are connected to a power switch found at the bottom of this gadget, and a 5-mode button allows you to turn the lights on and off at any given time.
• 5-mode lighting system - the 5- mode button allows you to turn off all LEDs of this gadget aside from turning on:
  • 2 white LEDs;
  • 4 white LEDs;
  • 4 white LEDs and 2 flashing red LEDs; or
  • 2 flashing red LEDs and 2 continuously lighted LEDs.

The latter mode is ideal for hunting or fishing since it illuminates an area without scaring wildlife or fish.

• Built-in ultrasonic repellant – this allows you to protect your family from insects when night fishing or camping out in the wilderness. The built-in ultrasonic insect repellant emits audio frequencies irritating to all annoying bugs and mosquitoes.
• Baseball cap clip - this device can be attached to the brim of any standard baseball cap.
• High durability - the Six LED Rechargeable Cap Light is water and dust resistant. This extended durability is best for fishing or any outdoor activity.
• Lightweight - the entire device weighs approximately 0.5 pounds. This provides better handling comfort for users.

Visit Gadget HQ to buy this Six LED Rechargeable Cap Light.

Every family should have an NOAA emergency weather radio as part of their home emergency kit. An NOAA weather radio (NWR) is designed to receive regular NWR weather broadcasts, warnings, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day from a nearby National Weather Service office (NWS).

American Red Cross Microlink FR150

The American Red Cross Microlink FR150 is equipped with features vital for NOAA weather radios.

American Red Cross Microlink FR150 Features

• 7 NOAA weather emergency bands - the NWR broadcast band uses 7 frequencies. Various areas of the country receive broadcasts in different frequencies. These frequencies are:

• 162.400 MHz;
• 162.425 MHz;
• 162.450 MHz;
• 162.475 MHz;
• 162.500 MHz;
• 162.525 MHz; and
• 162.550 MHz.

This model is also capable of receiving all 7 frequencies. This assures vital warnings delivered right on time.

• Standard AM and FM broadcast bands - an AM and FM band ensures that you can receive local news and instructions on time.

• Solar and self-powered - the unit features built-in rechargeable Ni-MH batteries that can be charged by setting the radio under the sun or through its hand-crank dynamo charger. Cranking for two minutes can provide 20+ minutes of radio power. This power source is most practical for emergency situations where electricity might be cut off.

American Red Cross Microlink FR150 Additional Features

• Telescoping antenna for the FM and weather emergency bands
• Built-in speaker
• 3.5mm earphone jack
• Built-in 3 LED flashlight
• Wrist strap
• Dimensions: 5 in X 2 in X 1.75 in
• Weight: 8 ounces

American Red Cross Solarlink FR500 NOAA Emergency Weather Radio

An NOAA emergency weather radio (NWR) receives regular NWR broadcasts of weather forecasts and serious weather threat alerts. These are broadcasted from nearby National Weather Service (NWS) offices and transmitted by a network of radio stations comprising the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Every family should have this vital equipment in their homes since NWR’s ensure that you receive the most critical weather forecast and warnings on time.

The American Red Cross Solarlink FR500 is a one of a kind NOAA weather radio because it combines the functionality of a weather radio with the features of an alarm clock, a desktop radio, and a shortwave radio. It is fitted with the most critical features for an NOAA weather radio.

American Red Cross Solarlink FR500 NOAA Emergency Weather Radio Features

• 7 NOAA weather emergency bands – 7 frequencies are used as part of the NWR broadcast band to transmit all weather forecasts and warnings throughout the country. These frequencies are:

• 162.400 MHz;
• 162.425 MHz;
• 162.450 MHz;
• 162.475 MHz;
• 162.500 MHz;
• 162.525 MHz; and
• 162.550 MHz.

Different frequencies are used in each area, and more than one frequency can be received over some areas. It is important for your NWR to receive all 7 frequencies since this will ensure that your family does not miss any crucial weather forecast.

• Weather alert function - the unit can be programmed to set off alerts before dangerous weather strikes. These notifications come directly from NOAA broadcasts.

• Standard AM and FM broadcast bands - the AM and FM bands supplements the 7 NOAA weather emergency bands in providing critical local news and instructions not provided by NWR broadcasts.

• Rechargeable batteries - the unit comes with Rechargeable Ni-MH batteries that can be charged using the amorphous solar array, its hand-crank dynamo generator, or a standard 5-volt DC adaptor bundled with the unit. Alternatively, three AA batteries can also provide power to this device.

American Red Cross Solarlink FR500 NOAA Emergency Weather Radio Additional Features

• Shortwave broadcast bands
• Built-in white 4 LED flashlight
• Standard digital alarm clock
• Dimension: 7. 5 in (W) X 2.5 in (D)
• Weight: 2.4 lbs.

For more information, read How To Select an NOAA Emergency Weather Radio.

I just deleted several hundred proxies from our proxy database. We currently have over three thousand working proxies in our proxy list.

The definition of what is a “working proxy” is one that comes up frequently. A person may try twenty proxies — and discover that none of them work for him. Are those proxies then not “working proxies”?

Not exactly. Those proxies still work fine - they have just been blocked by the content filter (such as WebSense) at their location.

Sometimes one of these users will say “Why don’t you delete this proxy from the list, because it is now blocked?” It’s not that simple, for two reasons:

• There are dozens of content filtering software packages, each with its own databases
• Each organization can define their own filter rule sets and individual site filters

The proxy might be blocked by SmartFilter, but allowed by WebSense. Or, it might be blocked only by one particular school.

There is simply no way for us to tell what proxies are blocked from what networks.

The best strategy for proxy users to follow is to use new proxies, as they are less likely to be blocked by content filters.

The folks at Dial-a-Phone have just released a sneak-peak of the new Nokia E71 — and it looks like a serious iPhone killer.

The E71 has everything the iPhone offers — and a full QWERTY keyboard to boot! The E71 is a quad-band handset with support for 3G, HSDPA, GPRS, GPS, EDGE and Wi-Fi connectivity. It also includes a 3.2 megapixel camera.

The built-in web browser is so good that it supports YouTube out of the box. The phone supports both Java and Macromedia Flash, so you may have trouble finding a web site which it doesn’t work with.

The GPS works with the included NokiaMaps software, or you can use your own preferred after-market GPS software.

Battery life is an excellent 10 hours of talk time or seventeen days of standby operation.

Frankly, when the E71 becomes available later this month, there is really no reason to purchase an Apple iPhone.

CriminalSearches.com is currently offering completely free criminal record checks online.

The search covers all fifty states. They have a truly excellent Advanced Search feature which lets you limit your search results by address, city, date of birth, or age range.

On the negative side, the database is far from complete. I looked up eight people I know with criminal records and only three of them were found. This is probably not the fault of CriminalSearches.com. City, county, state and federal criminal records are all kept horribly. They are just as likely to be wrong as they are to be right.

This service may not last forever. No completely free criminal background check service so far has. Enjoy it while it lasts!

Props to the nice folks at Be a Private Investigator for this tip!

The JVC DLA-RS2 home theater projector works by utilizing a technology called Direct drive Image Light Amplifier (D-ILA). It is a reflective type of Liquid Crystal Display that provides advanced amount of light.

With this technology, light travels through the layer of the LCD to a mirror. Afterwards, it is reflected back to the viewer. This allows the spectator to take pleasure in the full range of benefits from any high quality source.

This LCD consists of a group of pixels that constitutes a single image dot. In contrast to a conventional LCD panel, the substrate of the Integrated Circuit is situated at the back of the liquid crystal layer. This results to a 93% fill factor. For this reason, the fixed-pattern noise found in many digital projectors is almost entirely removed. This also sends off a nearly flawless picture.

The fixed-pattern noise, popularly known as screen-door effect, is a visual effect of projection technology by some home theater projectors. This is where the thin lines that divide the pixels become noticeable in the displayed image. It usually emerges as a rectangular grid. This is very obvious in other fixed matrix display technologies.

The quality of its image output is supported by analog gradation, high contrast, high brightness, and high resolution. Because of the S-shape response of this technology, analog gradation gives way for the projector to display dark areas with high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

High contrast is attained using upright arrangement of liquid crystals in black function. This has high-speed response.

High brightness and high resolution are attained with a reflective mechanism through pixels with high-density. This gives real resolution with indistinguishable pixels. This also allows slick and noiseless motion images with clear and precise high definition and superiority comparable to a film to be displayed.

The JVC DLA-RS2 1080P Home Theater Projector is not the one with the brightest output, but it creates very film-like pictures with precise color rendering, convincingly deep blacks, and unfailing gamma curves. This projector also uses mechanisms that make it possible to reduce reflection and refraction of stray light, lowering black level, and enhancing contrast.

NTT DoCoMo released its new FOMA SH706i handset with the Symbian OS. This new handset will begin shipping in Japan today and it looks like it works just in Japan.