ProfessorFalken.com http://professorfalken.com A Little Bit Of Everything, And A Whole Lot Of Nothing Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:56:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 en Safely erase a hard drive http://professorfalken.com/2008/07/01/safely-erase-a-hard-drive/ http://professorfalken.com/2008/07/01/safely-erase-a-hard-drive/#comments Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:49:33 +0000 Richard http://professorfalken.com/2008/07/01/safely-erase-a-hard-drive/ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Safely erase a hard drive", url: "http://professorfalken.com/2008/07/01/safely-erase-a-hard-drive/" });]]> It happens two or three times a year. I get this question: I am about to get rid of my old computer, how can I safely erase the hard drive to protect my information? Today that question came from my Sister in Law Christine. Here was my answer:

This is an age old question. Short of taking the hard drive apart and shredding the magnetic disks inside, there is nothing you can do to prevent someone with the right tools and knowledge from recovering your files.

That said, there are a few things you can do to at least slow them down. #1 format the disk using a windows CD. This is enough to prevent the average person from recovering any info off the hard drive. #2 If you want more protection you can use an “eraser” program. Here is a free one. This should be enough to keep everyone out with the exception of maybe the CIA.

Besides safely erasing a whole hard drive, eraser can also safely erase selected files. Like those 150 porn images you “accidentally” downloaded. >wink wink<

Christine also reminded me, Knoxville has a computer recycling program. Certainly worth the little extra effort.

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]]> http://professorfalken.com/2008/07/01/safely-erase-a-hard-drive/feed/ For the Vol fan who has it all http://professorfalken.com/2008/07/01/for-the-vols-fan-who-has-it-all/ http://professorfalken.com/2008/07/01/for-the-vols-fan-who-has-it-all/#comments Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:13:11 +0000 Richard http://professorfalken.com/2008/07/01/for-the-vols-fan-who-has-it-all/ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "For the Vol fan who has it all", url: "http://professorfalken.com/2008/07/01/for-the-vols-fan-who-has-it-all/" });]]> Vol HummerA custom H3 Hummer  No price and no average MPG listed, go figure…

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]]> http://professorfalken.com/2008/07/01/for-the-vols-fan-who-has-it-all/feed/ Does the big black bear… http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/30/does-the-big-black-bear/ http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/30/does-the-big-black-bear/#comments Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:45:19 +0000 Richard http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/30/does-the-big-black-bear/ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Does the big black bear…", url: "http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/30/does-the-big-black-bear/" });]]> Scratch in the woods? Obviously, they do!

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]]> http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/30/does-the-big-black-bear/feed/ Google Streetviews in Knoxville http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/12/google-streetviews-in-knoxville/ http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/12/google-streetviews-in-knoxville/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:51:30 +0000 Richard http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/12/google-streetviews-in-knoxville/ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Google Streetviews in Knoxville", url: "http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/12/google-streetviews-in-knoxville/" });]]> Via Knoxville Talks: Google maps now offer “street views”. Basically type any Knoxville address into Google, click on “maps” then on “street views”. You will see an actual picture of your house (or at least your neighbors as the street numbers seem to be off). You can use directional arrows to move up and down streets, or side to side.

Josh Flory at Property Scope has more.


View Larger Map

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]]> http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/12/google-streetviews-in-knoxville/feed/ NTSA Seizures http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/05/ntsa-seizures/ http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/05/ntsa-seizures/#comments Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:18:21 +0000 Richard http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/05/ntsa-seizures/ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "NTSA Seizures", url: "http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/05/ntsa-seizures/" });]]> Ever wonder what happens to all the dangerous scissors, Leatherman’s, and Swiss Army knives that get confiscated at airport security check points? Apparently, they end up on ebay.

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]]> http://professorfalken.com/2008/06/05/ntsa-seizures/feed/ It pays to be able to spell when selling on eBay http://professorfalken.com/2008/05/30/it-pays-to-be-able-to-spell-when-selling-on-ebay/ http://professorfalken.com/2008/05/30/it-pays-to-be-able-to-spell-when-selling-on-ebay/#comments Fri, 30 May 2008 18:11:18 +0000 Richard http://professorfalken.com/2008/05/30/it-pays-to-be-able-to-spell-when-selling-on-ebay/ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "It pays to be able to spell when selling on eBay", url: "http://professorfalken.com/2008/05/30/it-pays-to-be-able-to-spell-when-selling-on-ebay/" });]]> Just found an interesting auction on eBay for a Pat Summit basketball camp t-shirt. Sure enough on the shirt it says “Summit Basketball Mini Camp”. Problem is, Pat’s name is spelled Summitt. I highly doubt this shirt has anything to do with our beloved coach Pat.

Now the story behind this find. I once happened across a Pat Summitt bobblehead (this was the 2002 model, not the newer 2008 one) doll on eBay. Only, you guessed it: the person had spelled the name as Summit. To make a long story short, I was able to buy that bobblehead for $15 (plus $10 shipping). I immediately resold it (on eBay no less) for $150 (+shipping) simply by spelling the name right. Needless to say, I am constantly on the lookout for this common misspelling and actually did find it one other time. Unfortunately, only made about $60 on that find.

Now there is auctionbloopers.com, a site that searches specifically for misspelled listings on eBay. Definitely a new addition to my favorites list.

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]]> http://professorfalken.com/2008/05/30/it-pays-to-be-able-to-spell-when-selling-on-ebay/feed/ Supercharge your cell phone http://professorfalken.com/2008/05/28/supercharge-your-cell-phone/ http://professorfalken.com/2008/05/28/supercharge-your-cell-phone/#comments Thu, 29 May 2008 01:19:55 +0000 Richard http://professorfalken.com/2008/05/28/supercharge-your-cell-phone/ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Supercharge your cell phone", url: "http://professorfalken.com/2008/05/28/supercharge-your-cell-phone/" });]]> Lifehacker lists: Top 10 Additions to Your Phone’s Contact List. They all look interesting, I particularly want to try out #1.

1. Google SMS (466453)

googlesms.gifIt’s probably no surprise that Google’s SMS service, which provides a seriously large share of its search functionality via text message, rounds out a list of the most powerful tools you can keep on your phone. Driving directions, metric and currency conversions, local business category results, flight information, and much, much more is offered for free and, at the moment, without ads. You can even set a default location to save yourself a few thumb presses per text. Definitely worth the space in your contact list. (Original post)

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]]> http://professorfalken.com/2008/05/28/supercharge-your-cell-phone/feed/ Facebook? Not for me, thanks! http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/30/facebook-not-for-me-thanks/ http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/30/facebook-not-for-me-thanks/#comments Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:20:04 +0000 Richard http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/30/facebook-not-for-me-thanks/ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Facebook? Not for me, thanks!", url: "http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/30/facebook-not-for-me-thanks/" });]]> I don’t use Facebook and this video explains why, far better than I could.

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]]> http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/30/facebook-not-for-me-thanks/feed/ New toy.. http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/13/new-toy/ http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/13/new-toy/#comments Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:49:28 +0000 Richard http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/13/new-toy/ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "New toy..", url: "http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/13/new-toy/" });]]> Stopped by the Verizon toy store yesterday and purchased the new Blackberry 8830. Really like the phone. Once set up, works like a champ. Setup had some minor glitches and the sync software isn’t exactly user friendly, but overall a very nice phone. Considered the iphone (have an AT&T account as well) however, the Blackberry gives me everything I want for a fraction of the price (Verizon had a special $199.00 with $100.00 rebate, $99.00 net cost).

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]]> http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/13/new-toy/feed/ Number 8! http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/09/number-8/ http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/09/number-8/#comments Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:20:10 +0000 Richard http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/09/number-8/ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Number 8!", url: "http://professorfalken.com/2008/04/09/number-8/" });]]> How about dem Lady Vols? National Champions for the 8th time, all under the leadership of Pat Summitt. Found this insightful Pat Summitt story in todays St. Petersburg Times. The best line:

Think of it like this. If Summitt was on the Memphis sideline on Monday night, don’t you think the Tigers might have had a better chance to hang on against Kansas? Yeah, me too.

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