Chinese-Characters
Fun with Chinese Characters
TaoBao is a chinese ebay like website. They have on their front page a list of categories. I am using it to learn chinese characters.
I am recording what I do here on my 电脑 ( electric brain aka computer )
电 – electric
è„‘ – brain
Biology
Nutrients For Better Mental Performance by Steven Wm Fowkes
A very good presentation on nutrition and how it can affect not only mental performance but aging and weight loss. Everyone should watch this. Especially Eric Fast.
Computing
Floppy Disk Data recovery Software Tools
I needed to get some data and code off of a 5.25 inch floppy disk.
Out of a list of datarecovery software tools I tried
- FlopShow
- PCInspector File Recovery – PCInspector File Recovery recovered the data I needed
- Disk Investigator – good tool and I will see if I need to use it
- OmniFlop – OmniFlop Manual – A very interesting tool that allows you to import data in non PC formats via your PC floppy drive. Only runs on 2000 or beyond. I want to use it to recover some Commodore 64 files. Woot!
Fraud
Amp-Games.com is it a front for accepting fraudulent credit card purchases of 4.95 Dollar?
A friend recently found that his credit card was already used on a existing PayPal account. Thus he could not add this credit card to his existing account. Upon review of his credit card bill several purchases for approximately 5 dollars appear randomly over the past year from various websites. One of the sites is Amp-Games.com. If you look up Amp-Games.com on Alexa you will see that it has no traffic numbers. In order to have no traffic numbers it has to have almost nonexistant traffic. Thus here is what I theorize is happening.
- Joe Blow sets many many websites where he can sell some stupid game software like on Amp-Games.com. The idea is to deliver an electronic product that you can claim is not bogus.
- Joe then hacks or gets a big list of credit card numbers.
- Joe uses this credit card info to set up a PayPal accounts.
- Joe goes to a coffee shop off site and makes purchases from his websites using paypal accounts. Now he can just say he receives money for a legitimate purpose. It is not HIS fault someone used a fraudulant credit card transaction.
- Since it is only 5 bucks most people will not even notice the charge on their account
- If you read the user agreement Amp-Games.com you will see: Refund Policy – We guarantee a full refund of purchase made on our website if the customer is not satisfied with the quality of the product or has additional requirements. The refund is processed within 2 business days. …………..Thus if anybody sees the charge on their credit card bill and complains they just give the money back.
If I was a scoundrel this is how I would do it. Its low on the radar. The scam may go on for years or forever for that matter.
Addendum: This scam looks alot like something mentioned in this story: FTC Says Scammers Stole Millions, Using Virtual Companies
Coding
Visual Basic Connection to MySQL
I want to use MySQL with Visual Basic in an effort to bypass the difficulties encountered when trying to use the Microsoft database tools. Those problems include chronic difficulties getting my distribution packages to work on customer computers.
- How to connect VB to MySQL
- Windows MySQL connector download at MySQL site
- VB / MySQL connection strings depending on what OBDC driver and location of the database server the string will vary
Download zip archive of vb project that connects to MySQL database
El Conde Lucanor – Chapter 1
Una vez estaba hablando apartadamente el Conde Lucanor con Patronio, su consejero, y le dijo: One time was speaking apart Count Lucanor with Patronio his adviser, e they said:
-Patronio, un hombre ilustre, poderoso y rico, no hace mucho me dijo de modo confidencial que, como ha tenido algunos problemas en sus tierras, le gustaría abandonarlas para no regresar jamás, y, como me profesa gran cariño y confianza, me querría dejar todas sus posesiones, unas vendidas y otras a mi cuidado. Este deseo me parece honroso y útil para mí, pero antes quisiera saber qué me aconsejáis en este asunto.
"Patronio, an illustrious man, powerful and rich, not does much (not long ago) me told in mode of confidence that, how had some problems on his land, would like to abandon for no to return of more, e, how me profess great love and confidence, me want to leave leave total of his possessions, some sold and others in my care. This desire seems honorable and useful for me, but first wanted to know what you advise me in this matter.
-Señor Conde Lucanor -dijo Patronio-, bien sé que mi consejo no os hace mucha falta, pero, como confiáis en mí, debo deciros que ese que se llama vuestro amigo lo ha dicho todo para probaros y me parece que os ha sucedido con él como le ocurrió a un rey con un ministro.
Sir Count Lucanor -say Patronio, good I know that my councel not do much fault, but, how confide in me, I must say you that this you call your friend has said all for I prove and appears that I have succeeded with it how occurs a king with a minister.
El Conde Lucanor le pidió que le contara lo ocurrido.
Lucanor Count asked me to tell him what happened.
……….more