DEBRIS.COMgood for a laugh, or possibly an aneurysm

It has recently been discovered that all varieties of the Windows operating system, as well as Outlook and Outlook Express, are a virus!!!! Telltale behavior includes shotgun forwarding of phony virus warnings to the entire address book!!!!

I received two copies of an absurd virus warning this weekend. It’s difficult to tell which is worse, the threat of a destructive virus, or the pileup of warning emails that precedes it. Actually, I know what is worse still: most varieties of the Windows operating system, which in their gross vulnerabilities encourage panic-stricken, distrustful users to spam the entire planet with virus warnings.

I don’t happen to use Windows so I’m immune to 99% of the viruses that these emails warn about. The next challenge: becoming immune to the email pileup.

What was curious about the latest “virus warning” attack is that it references McAfee’s website, presumably to gain the credibility of their anti-virus brand. However, a 30-second visit to mcafee.com indicates that this particular virus (“A Virtual Card For You”) is a hoax. Worse still, this hoax was listed in November of ‘00, meaning it’s been circulating the net for at least three months.

Windows users should bookmark this site: McAfee.com Virus Hoax Listings.

Gene Spafford, author of Practical UNIX & Internet Security, wrote a fascinating article describing why Windows is so vulnerable to viral infection, and suggests ways to reduce its huge vulnerabilities. Even single-machine homes can benefit from this. See also these steps to disable Windows Scripting Host, a primary vector of virus propagation.

This is a substantial groove, a meat sandwich sort of groove. It began as a bass-drum workout — playing 4 distinct strokes on the kick is a challenge with one foot — and evolved into a snare-dynamics workout — check the accents in the snare pattern.

Although it started as an exercise, it ended up as music. The samples below use a standard quarter-note pulse on the ride, but this pattern sounds phenomenal with an ostinato such as 1 +a or, even cooler, 1e a for an upbeat push.

And if this doesn’t sound challenging, try playing it at about 120 bpm.

Note the linearity (not sure that’s a word) of the snare and kick pattern in the second measure; the last two beats comprise a paradiddle across the two drums.

      1e+a2e+a3e+a4e+a1e+a2e+a3e+a4e+a
RC    o   o   o   o   o   o   o   o   
SD     Ooo    Ooo o  o oo o oO O oO oo
KD    o  oooo    o oo o  o o  o oo o

Patronize these links, man:

• Virtual Drummer loop
• MIDI
• MP3

The second generation of JAR saw its musicianship evolve, perhaps mature, and the instrumentation change slightly. We’ve unearthed a representative track, which was performed live on Bay TV Morning in San Francisco. You can find the MP3 on the JAR page.

In a previous life, I performed and recorded with a progressive rock band called JAR. The band’s debut CD is now available for free download in MP3 format.

CamWorld notes (on 02/16) that Network Solutions sells its domain database to marketing firms. This is loathsome but not particularly surprising; their whois tool has provided email and snail addresses for every domain owner in their database, for years.

Don’t get me wrong — this is worse. NSI is serving up custom views of its database, data in bulk to exactly the sort of people who know how to abuse it (junk mailers).

IMO this requires two immediate responses. The first is to contact your senators and representatives to request an investigation. As pointed out by the Electronic Privacy Information Center, this sale may not even be legal. Copy the text at that last link and send your own letter to Washington DC; find the addresses of your senators and representatives here.

The second is to transfer all domains away from NSI immediately. The added benefit is that you can save $20+ dollars per domain per year by doing this. I’ve had good results with these registrars: Joker, Dotster. Dotster makes the transfer process easy; they do not require domain holders to fax in documentation — some registrars do.

To be clear, NSI may well be selling domain registration information for domains registered through other approved registrars. If they are, then transferring your domain away from NSI won’t stop your privacy from being violated, but still I think you’ll feel better if you’re not paying NSI to violate your privacy. I know I will.