state of the LJ

[davemerrill]

http://www.securelist.com/en/blog/442/LiveJournal_under_attack

What's interesting is that doing a little googlin' has turned up a few instances of LJ ads being used to load malware onto the computers of stupid people such as myself. So if you're reading this then go make sure your virus protection is up to date. There is some scary stuff in that link.

It took down Shain's PC but we got it cleaned up, and it took down my PC and I'm at the point where bringing it back to life is more trouble than it's worth. I'm on Shain's Mac right now. Probably gonna go shopping for a new compooper this weekend, and Mr Kitty updates might be a bit late. It's time I got a new computer anyways.

Been watching & liking MILDRED PIERCE, Todd Haynes & HBO doing their take on the James Cain novel that Joan Crawford made famous. It makes 1931 look awesome!

Also; read Fred Saberhagen's THE BLACK MOUNTAINS, the second book in a series I hadn't read the first one of. It's a fantasy-SF mix and generally that spells trouble but I really enjoyed it, it's not as predictable or as precious as most of the genre. I picked it up at the River Trading Company, a new bookstore that opened on Queen Street in trendy Parkdale. Great prices and a eclectic selection of used books, and jeez, a new used bookstore in my neighborhood, can't complain about that!

http://www.blogto.com/bookstores/river-trading-company-toronto

Comments

[tochiro998.livejournal.com]

One thing that helps in combating the malware ads is a nice ad blocker. Firefox has a very helpful one, which is why I love my Mac.

[animejump.livejournal.com]

Ah, that Saberhagen book is part of the EMPIRE OF THE EAST deal. I got the whole thing collected as one book when I was a kid - that's good cheese!

[warpig1979.livejournal.com]

How'd you rate it compared to his other stuff? I read a big whack of those Swords stories when I was a teenager or so, I think I remember liking them.

[davemerrill.livejournal.com]

I've read most of his BERSERKER stuff, and BLACK MOUNTAINS compares favorably, I think. He's a fairly nuts-and-bolts kind of writer and that helps mediate the fluffy airy fairy fantasy wantasy to a considerable degree.

Ad Blocking Host file

[davenelson-com.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend installing an ad blocking host file like the one found at http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

I copy the text file from that site and use the script below on the mac to install it. "/HostToggler/HostFiles/default.tgl" being the ad blocking host file.

----
#!/bin/bash

sudo cp /HostToggler/HostFiles/default.tgl /etc/hosts

dscacheutil -flushcache