The fact that you’re reading this probably means that you’re on the Internet right now.

And that your intelligence is probably at least above-average.

But I have no idea whether you’re a good and admirable person or not.

For all I know, you may be a cybercriminal. [more...]

Those who know me, know that I’m not rich.

And I have no interest in being rich.

That’s one reason why I’m very happily spending my life doing things that help other people, instead of doing things that would earn me a lot of money.

If you’re like me, and could use a little extra cash, [more...]

“Lawmakers working to craft a new comprehensive immigration bill have settled on a way to prevent employers from hiring illegal immigrants: a national biometric identification card all American workers would eventually be required to obtain.

Under the potentially controversial plan still taking shape in the Senate, all legal U.S. workers, including [more...]

Regular readers of this Journal know that I don’t trust online services with any of my private or confidential data.

And although I post messages in online computer support forums nearly every day, I have no need to participate in any “social networking” sites.

Judging by the emails that I receive, most users of online services and social networking sites [more...]

Chutzpah: n. (Slang) — 1892, from Yiddish khutspe “impudence, gall” from Heb. hutspah. The classic definition is that given by Leo Rosten: “that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.”

You would be hard-pressed to find a corporation that [more...]

Okay, let’s say that you’re rich.

Rich enough to be able to buy a penthouse apartment in Manhattan.

And you’ve found what looks like a perfect one to buy.

But you’re also geeky. [more...]

Regular readers of this Journal know that, in the past several months, I found several great deals on my local Craigslist, and they were all cash deals, done face-to-face, with sellers who live near me.

Years ago, I occassionally bought items on the eBay auction site, where I would bid on an item and then wait for the seller to ship it to me. I didn’t have any bad experiences with eBay, but I stopped using it after [more...]

He was on the run from the law.

The police showed up at his door.

His acquaintance told the police that he wasn’t there.

But then his best friend [more...]

Regular readers of this Journal know that I’m a staunch supporter of computer users’ privacy rights.

And it drives me crazy that an increasing number of those users are willing to trade the security and confidentiality of their private data for a little added convenience.

Many of you have written to tell me that you [more...]

It wasn’t the first time that he had done it.

Or the first time that he was caught.

In fact, this is the second time that he will be punished — with what is possibly the longest prison sentence ever handed down for such an offense: [more...]