TA Lucas

Learn to speak hillbilly –If you’ve lived in a grouping of people know as a “town” or “village” then you’re one step ahead of the rest of the world.  One place you don’t want to live during a large-scale disaster is a population center.  When the pending catastrophes of the coming year are poured out upon our planet there will be mass confusion.  Transportation and communication lines will be broken.  Food supplies will dwindle, grocery and drug stores will be looted, and there will be no clean water.  When this happens, you don’t want to be singing kumbaya with several hundred thousand others.  So break out your bibs, flannel shirts, and get ya a hillbilly dickshunairy.  Time to be headin fer the hills.  Come on, you know yuntu.

Get the lead out  –No seriously!  Now is the time to be stocking up on ammo.  Two things you’ll need early in the pending chaos is a weapon and enough shells to last you several years.  Now I’ve done my fair share of shooting–the 10 gauge, 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and the 67 gauge, otherwise known as the .410, shore up my list of shotguns.  I’ve also pounded the firing-pin of several high powered rifles like the 22-250, 270, 223, 243, 7mm, and the 30-06.  However, in an attempt to be all you can be when the calendar runs out, I think a better choice would be the .22 long rifle.  It’s small, lightweight, and the ammo is cheap.  But remember, this weapon is only meant to maintain you till you’ve learned to hunt with other more primitive weapons like the spear, machete, or the bow and arrow.

Honey I think we need another pair of hip waders will be the understatement of the year.  When Planet X, also known as Nibiru, passes by the Earth later this year it will cause tidal-waves, earth quakes, and great tectonic plate shifts.  This coupled with the melting of the polar caps will rearrange all coast lines….and if you believe that, I’ve got some ocean front property in Arizona….or soon will have.  This new arrangement of 47 states looks a bit different.  Hawaii has disappeared into the ocean after a series of volcanic explosions blew most of the island away.  The filling of the grand canyon and death valley with sea water reduced the size of California and Nevada by 70% each.   They combined and the new state is known as Calivada.  The Gulf of Mexico has been renamed to the Gulf of Minnesota with the Island of Arkansas in the center, and Alabama has disappeared all-together.

The recent attack on US security think tank Stratfor is a bit scary. A company like this that with clients like the US Air Force, Apple Inc., and the Miami Police Department should be secure right? And if they can get hacked, then anybody can get hacked right? So the thought for this post is: Just how secure are we?

Well, if the truth be told, there is no perfectly secure system. Any computer system can be hacked. With enough people and enough time a hacker can get in. With that said, the possibility of being hacked is way different than the probability of being hacked. Think about the possibility and probability of being struck by lightning. It’s definately possible to be struck by lightning…but it’s not very probable. Odds are 300,000 to 1 that a bolt of lightning will strike you, and if you take proper precautions (like not golfing during a lightning storm) you can make it less likely to happen.

Stratfor is a huge company…which makes it a huge target. The weakest link of any computer system is the human element. It’s possible that someone on the inside let hackers in. Maybe intentionally…maybe accidentally. You as an individual are not as an attractive target. you’re a nameless face in the sea of billions, and unless a hacker specifically knows you, they would not know to look for you….or where to look for you.

Below are a few tips to keep you more secure on the internet:

1. Don’t open attachments. It’s easy to fake an email that appears to come from someone you know. The address line might say…”Check out this cool video” “Hey friend, can you review this document for me.” etc. This is a major way viruses and trojans are spread.

2. Don’t trust files you download from the internet. Scan everything. If your antivirus program doesn’t automatically scan it, then right click on the file before running, and scan it.

3. Make sure you keep your antivirus up to date. New viruses are created daily, so new virus protection is needed daily. Update your antivirus at least monthly.

4. Make sure you keep your operating system up to date. Most do this automatically, but this is an important step. Also try to stay current on the version of operating system. For example Windows 95, 98, and 2000 are no longer supported. Support for XP will end in 2014. You don’t need the latest greatest, but do make sure you are running a version that is supported.

5. Only shop at well known online stores. Places like walmart.com, amazon.com, and dell.com are very well known, and are trustworthy places to shop. If you’ve never heard of a website or company on the web…just go somewhere else. I can create a website that looks legitimate, and take your credit card numbers.

6. Make sure the website address is correct before trying to log in. There are lookalike websites out there. The page may look identical to walmart, but if the address doesn’t say “http://www.walmart.com/” then it’s not walmart. The best way to navigate to a site is to save it in your favorites. That way you know you’re going to the same website. It’s dangerous to follow links to websites in emails. The link may look correct when you click on it, but the page you go to might have a different web address.

7. When you are using credit cards, make sure the site has a padlock in the browser address bar or it the address starts with https:// The s means the info you send is encrypted from your computer all the way to the host computer. If the address just has http:// then the info you send is just plain text, and any person watching network traffic can grab those numbers.

8. Make sure you use good passwords. Like I said before the weakest link in any system is the human element…specifically poorly formed passwords. Most people use passwords that they will remember well…something like a pet’s name, or their grandson’s name, or thier favorite sports team. These are easy passwords to figure out. It’s more secure to use a password that is 8 characters long or longer. Make some of the characters digits, and make some of them in upper and lower case. Here’s an example of a weak password: fluffy98 This is their pet’s name followed by the year they graduated. Here is an example of a more secure password: Purple7Cow If possible use a pass phrase rather than a password.

9. Change your passwords on occation. The longer you keep a password, the more likely someone will find it and use it. I know it’s a hassle, but it will make things more secure. Many companies force you to change your password every three months.

10. Don’t give your personal info out over the phone. Hackers sometimes use a technique called Phishing where they call people pretending to be someone else just to gather information. For example Discover card calls and says, “Hey just wanted to let you know there was an attempt by hackers to access your account, can you give me your log in and password so that I can secure your account.” A company will NEVER ask you for account login information.

Like most Americans, I didn’t receive a personal holiday card from the president this year (card to the left), but that’s OK; in spirit his card goes out to all the 307 million people that make these great states their home.  The Obamas’ card read “From our family to yours, may your holidays shine with the light of the season.”

People in leadership are often criticized for the decisions they make, and at the level of president, every single action comes under extreme scrutiny.  Even something as simple as sending a card is discussed and picked apart by numerous individuals on TV and radio networks.  Over the past few years there has been much discussion on the proper method of greeting during the holidays of the winter season.

Let me lay down one simple instruction for the holidays.  Whenever anyone wishes you well for any thing on any day of the year, be thankful for the cheer they’ve passed from their heart to yours.  It’s just that simple.  I’m not African American, but if someone wishes me Happy Kwanzaa I say thank you so much.  Neither am I Jewish, but if someone wishes me Happy Hanukkah I simply smile and return thanks.

If someone were to wish me Happy Atheist day, Happy Darwin day, or Happy D-Day for that matter, my response would be the same. –”Thank You for the well wishes!”  I do believe there is a Creator, I don’t believe in evolution as taught, and D-Day was marked by the death of thousands, but why would I be offended if anyone wished me well on those days?  Just because someone says, Happy “Whatever” Day doesn’t mean they want you to believe as they do; it just means they wish you well.

So as this post is titled I say    …Thank you President Obama for your wishes, and I wish you and the rest of the world a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Well, got me a little gluteus medius action in my workout today.  If you’ve followed my blog for long, you probably already know that I love to run.  This past year I’ve stepped away from my long runs, partly because of a lack of time to train, and partly because of knee pain when I run.  The issue is the iliotibial band that runs from my hip to my knee gets irritated and prevents me from going further.  Usually it doesn’t bother me until I reach about 4-5 miles, then gets gradually worse.  Some running pain is expected, and I can usually just push through, but with the iliotibial band pain, I cannot.  Puts me totally out of commission.

I’ve recently started a new training plan.  I believe I can fix the IT band issue by strengthening other muscles in my hips and legs, and by better stretching….only time will tell.  The gluteus medius and maximus are muscles that stabilize the pelvis area while running.  When these muscles are weak others have to overcompensate to make up the difference.

I have big plans for 2012.  I hope to run a half marathon in the spring, and would like to do a full marathon in the fall.

So Thursday is the new Friday, right?  Well, at least for some.  Retailers like Toys“R”Us, Old Navy, and Walmart are opening at 10:00 pm on Thanksgiving evening this year.  I remember a time when the bold and brave were up with the roosters.  A 5:00 AM wake-up call would rouse only the serious shoppers.

Over the past several years many stores have moved that time back, inching it ever closer to the midnight hour.  Last year we finally reached that limit.  We had moved the store-open-time back as far as possible, still calling it Black Friday.  So what now?  Do we call it Black Thursday?

So what’s the draw?  I’ve posted about this topic before, and I just have no desire to fight and scramble about for the three items on sale hidden in the back of the store.  Perhaps its our primal instincts rising to the surface.  Could it be our inner caveperson that craves ripping the item of clothing from the claws of another.   Ehhh….not sure.

At any rate, I wish you happy hunting–I mean happy shopping this coming weekend.  While you’re rushing about elbow to elbow and isle to isle, think about me resting my head gently on my pillow.

I came across a cover for one of the scary movies of my teen years. Growing up, we loved to scare each other.  I still remember renting A Nightmare on Elm Street one Friday night.  Mom would go off to the kitchen to refill her drink, and my sister and I would hide in the doorways just off the main hall and wait for her to return.  I’ll never forget my mother’s expression as we would jump out…..too much fun.

As I watch the unfolding events of the Occupy Wall Street movement it scares me a little…not much fun at all. When I look at the situation, I just don’t get it.  How does it benefit anyone to target those who are prosperous? That would be like me being mad at Bill Gates for making his billions.  So what!  He’s worked hard and made some good money.  His success has not affected my situation at all, other than giving me an excellent operating system.  Even if he has been less than honest in his pursuit, and I don’t believe that to be the case, he must live with his own choices.  It’s no business of mine.

I do believe there are hurting people in this movement.  They are scared and just don’t know what to do.  I can say, that I’ve been blessed.  I’m so thankful that I have a nice job, and work for an awesome company.  And as I look back, I’ve never been without a job.

I think the thing that scares me the most is the mindset of our country.  We’ve become a nation of takers, when we should be givers.  There are times in life when we all need help, and it’s O.K. to ask for it, but the tragedy is we expect others to take care of us.  We think this world owes us.  We need to develop the mindset of taking care of our own, and our family, and our friends.  I may need help at some point, but I believe there will be those who will gladly assist me, not because I expect it, but because I’ve given freely to others.

Over the past few months many have been watching the approach of Comet Elenin. Comets are nothing new to our solar system.  Some comets come and go regularly like Halley and Shoemaker-Levy.  Some have unknown orbits and may only pass our sun once and then be thrown out of the system.  And yet others have orbital periods greater than a couple hundred years and we have no idea when they were here last or when they’ll pass by again.

Regardless of their frequency they hold the interest of many.

My interest is purely scientific.  I like to discover answers to questions like: what are comets made of, how big do stars get, and how does gravity work.

Others want to attach much deeper significance to celestial objects.  Some have suggested that Elenin carries with it some mystical powers or has ties to end time prophecies.  Below is a list of some of the things I’ve heard.

1. Planet X is in the tail of the comet.
2. Elenin is responsible for a number of earth quakes, and these occur when the comet aligns with earth and other celestial objects.
3. There is a massive UFO fleet hiding in the comet tail.
4. It will hit the earth.  The government is hiding its real trajectory.
5. There is a Supermassive Black Carbon Star in the comets tail.

Have you ever wondered if there were others out there in the universe?  If so, you’re not alone.  As a science fiction writer, I can imagine all kinds of strange, fabulous, and exotic creatures that live within our galaxy.  When creating a fictional setting, it is helpful to classify the beings that you interact with.  What level of technology do they have, how spread out are they, and what types of transportation do they use…are all important questions to ask.

In the Prime World Building Project, we’ve done just that.  How would you classify them?

TV Examples in our model:

• Star Trek Humans — 7dM
• Star Wars Empire — 9dM
• District 9 Humans — 1cN

• 0 – pre-space flight
• 1 – space flight, no expansion
• 2 – expansion within the solar system (colony planet or moon, space station)
• 3 – expansion beyond system (to a nearby star)
• 4 – local expansion (10-50 colonized systems within a 10 Light Year span)
• 5 – local power (50 – 100 colonized systems within a 50 Light Year span)
• 6 – quadrant expansion (100-500 colonized systems, within 500 Light Year span)
• 7 – quadrant power (500-1000 colonized systems, within 1000 Light Year span)
• 8 – galactic expansion (1000-5000 colonized systems, control of a galactic arm)
• 9 – galactic power (5000+ colonized systems, controls several arms of the galaxy)

with the modifiers: (lower case for alien contact, upper case for travel technologies)

• a – no alien contact
• b – alien contact
• c – alien involvement
• d – alien integration

• N – conventional only
• S – slip-gate use
• F – FTL Drive of some type
• M – multiple methods of hyper transportation

I’m planning on doing a marathon relay this spring at the University of Illinois.  A marathon is 26.2 miles, but as a relay, you only run about 6.5 miles.  Wanted to list a possible training schedule for those who may join in.  This schedule is flexible…feel free to adjust it.  I have shifted it to run on Mondays and Wednesdays, and then doing my long run on Saturdays.  Also…it is important to let your body rest, so don’t skip those

• Distances in miles
• CT = some type of cross training (like biking)

10k Training

A few years ago, I had my first Black Friday shopping experience.  I usually spent the day after Thanksgiving working, hunting, or just sitting home watching TV.  Many friends and family members told me how much fun it was to go shopping on that day, how great the deals were, and that I should just go.   So I thought sure….lets give it a try.

Wow!  What a mess.  I’m not sure what I disliked more, the elbow-to-elbow push and shove of waiting in line, getting up early only to find that 500 others had already beat me there, or the 45 minutes it took me to get out of the mall parking lot.  Oh did I mention the elderly lady who almost beat me down in Old Navy for a shirt?  Well, as I approach this time of year again, I’m faced with the decision to venture out, or stay in the comfort of my own home.  

Oh by the way, here are some Black Friday pics I found on the net:

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