.jpg) A springtime picture of the Vancouver skyline. Click on the photo to enlarge (and save to your hard drive, if you wish) |
Computer Security: ZoneAlarm and McAfee Updates
The folks at ZoneLabs announced a new release / upgrade of their ZoneAlarm Pro software programme, earlier today. For those who run this piece of software on their computer, and would you wish to avoid all of the re-registration rigamarole entailed in installing the upgrade (if an already existing ZoneAlarm Pro user), follow this set of instructions (employing your Internet Explorer browser), and all will be well. The University of Alberta provides a more graphical set of update instructions here.
While you’re updating your ZoneAlarm, you might as well update your McAfee Stinger (as you may recall, running McAfee Stinger is just one of the pre-conditions necessary to surf safely on the ‘Net). To install the latest version of McAfee Stinger, follow these instructions.
Computer Security: FREE Windows Update CD Arrives
Microsoft was good on it’s word, and mid-week, last week, the FREE Security CD that had been ordered — replete with all of the Windows Critical Updates through February 2004, including the Service Pack 1 (very handy!) — arrived in VanRamblings’ mailbox.
Note should be made that Microsoft’s Security CD does not contain any of the Recommended Updates. Further mention should be made that those using this disk as a pre-installation tool (‘pre’ going onto the ’Net, that is) should go to the Windows Update site a.s.a.p. to download the most recent Critical Updates, at which time the Recommended Updates could be installed. You’ll probably want to cherry-pick the Recommended Updates.
The Windows Security CD comes packaged with FREE Anti-Virus and firewall utilities, on a separate disk. The firewall, which Microsoft calls “EZ Firewall”, is simply a re-branded version of ZoneAlarm. You don’t have to install these programmes if you don’t want them. If you do, though, make sure you enter the license(s) after registering, or you’ll get a nag screen each time you reboot. Microsoft says the license is good for a one year period.
From The ‘We’re All Human’ Department
Sam Walls: Cross-Dressing Texas Republican Gone Wild
 Republican Sam Walls in happier times |
An obscure Texas House race became slightly more interesting this past week when voters learned that one of the candidates, conservative businessman and former Republican Party chairman Sam Walls, had a little, itty bitty secret which, much to his chagrin, became very public, indeed. Walls is competing in a Republican primary runoff tomorrow, April 13th, in House District 58, south of Fort Worth.
When cross-dressing photos of Walls were published in the Dallas Star-Telegram, party leaders urged the candidate to withdraw. Mr. Walls, 64, rejected the calls, saying he would not give in to “blackmail” from opponents trying to use “very old, personal information” to force him out of the race. “Now my opponent is using the private information in an attempt to intimate that I am a homosexual, which I am not,” Walls said. Mr. Walls did not indicate why he’s a cross-dresser and a homophobe.
When asked to comment, Texas County GOP Treasurer Roy Giddens, Jr. said of the candidate, “I don’t have a problem with cross-dressing. There are lots of them. People think J. Edgar Hoover was one of the greatest Americans that ever lived. He was a cross-dresser.”
Update: Sam Walls lost the race for a Texas house seat on Tuesday night.