I’ve been looking for a Back to the Future related t-shirt that doesn’t suck for a while now. I finally found one. This got delivered this week:

From Snorg Tees.

I’ve got nothing else for you at the moment.

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I guess I really suck at this whole “posting more often” thing. I haven’t had much to say lately. Well, until this week. But I don’t feel like talking about any of that here, anyway. So, all you get is this lame post letting you know that I’m still here.

Oh, I did throw a 279 on Monday. So there’s that. Enjoy.

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I’ve been trying to post more often lately. Really. I’m not going to commit to anything crazy, like a post every day (like both of my brothers are trying to do), but I just want to get something up here more regularly than I have been.

Tuesday night, I finally had a good night of bowling again. I’ve been struggling a bit lately, and my average has dropped a few pins in all my leagues. One of them ended last week, and the other two have a couple of weeks left. Then the summer leagues start. Anyway, Tuesday I shot 194-215-258 for a 667 series. Not bad. In the 258, I put together eight strikes in a row from the second frame through the 9th frame.

Yesterday, I got a color calibrator for my monitor(s) at home. I chose this one despite mixed reviews at Amazon (and elsewhere), because the positive reviewers were all very happy with it. I ran through the setup, and it seems to have worked nicely. The color on my monitor looks much nicer, and at the very least it at least did something. The real test will be when I try to print at Costco, soft-proofing with their custom printer profile. The whole idea behind it is to be able to see on the screen exactly what the print will look like.

After calibrating, I was going back through some old images, and some of them looked quite a bit better. Here’s one I found from a year ago that I apparently didn’t think much of the first time through, but I like it now:

Tomorrow night, I fly out to Phoenix to visit my brother and his wife. I’m going to get to two Mets@Dbacks games while I’m there. Hopefully, they’ll play better than they did in their 13-1 loss to the Pirates last night.

The hardest part of posting more often is coming up with good post titles. It tends to get very repetitive.

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I went to the Santa Barbara Fair & Expo tonight to do some photography. It was fun, and I got a few good shots.

You can see a few more in the flickr set: http://flickr.com/photos/penner42/sets/72157604773705543/.

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A few years ago, I took a photography trip to Europe (you can see pictures from that trip in the flickr set). One of the images from the trip that I really liked was this one, from Venice:

Today, I was in Aaron Brothers looking for a frame for some of my photos from my recent trip, when I saw a picture of Venice that looked awfully familiar. I pulled out my iTouch, to look at the above picture on it and compare. Sure enough, they were the same canal. When I got home, I looked through my other pictures from there, and found one that’s a little closer to the same perspective, though still different. I also overexposed it in Lightroom so the building in the background can be seen better. Here’s the picture in the frame (taken by my BlackBerry Pearl) side by side with the other shot I got in Venice:

You can click though the image and view bigger sizes at flickr.

Obviously, mine was taken at night, while the picture in the frame wasn’t. The part I find really amazing about this is where the picture was taken. It wasn’t in a very high traffic, famous part of the city. I found it wandering around different streets and canals, just looking for places to get good pictures. It’s probably not in one of the most remote parts of the city, but it’s not one of the ridiculously popular ones, either. It really is just a random canal in Venice, that I took some photographs in. And that also ended up being in a stock photo in a framing store. I wish I had my GPS and geotagging setup back then, because I probably couldn’t find this place again if I go back.

Here’s a link to the same canal from the other side. It was taken on the the bridge in the pictures above, facing back to where those pictures were taken from.

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I took a much needed vacation last week. My father drove in from New York, and we spent a week on the road doing photography. We went to Death Valley, Valley of Fire, Antelope Canyons (near Page, AZ), and Monument Valley. Then we spent the weekend in Tucson with family for Passover. The whole trip was nice and relaxing, and I got a few good pictures out of it.

The whole set from the trip can be found here. I’ll post a few of the highlights below.

Artist’s Palette, Death Valley

Hikers at Zabriskie Point (they’re in the bottom left corner)

Valley of Fire

Upper Antelope Canyon

Lower Antelope Canyon

Monument Valley

You can check out all the pictures in the Flickr set.

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The Mets got themselves back up to .500 (4-4) last night, though there’s some question as to whether or not Reyes actually scored. Either way, the run counts.

Here’s an interesting post on why there are more 20-game winners than there are 19-game winners. Surprising, and probably mostly just random luck. Still interesting.

Well, interesting unless you’re Joe Armstrong, I suppose. No need to click through that link. Just read the annotated version over at Fire Joe Morgan. Ken Tremendous is a genius.

There’s another interesting post up at Baseball Toaster about the Tigers’ awful start to the season. They’re certainly a better team than the start of the season shows, but they have some work ahead of them to catch up and make the playoffs. Still, if the Mets can blow a 7 game lead in September, the Tigers can come back from a 7 game deficit in April. Anyway, the post is here, about teams that have made the playoffs in seasons they’ve had 7-game losing streaks. None of them were to start the season, but when it happens really doesn’t matter too much.

Sports Authority has a 25% off any single item coupon. It’s not good on a lot of name brands, but it does work for authentic MLB jerseys. My Santana jersey is finally on the way.

Another great post at FJM, by Junior. I guess I shouldn’t link every single post there. If you’re a baseball fan VORPie, you should just subscribe to the feed yourself.

Why aren’t there afternoon games every day, dammit? I need at least one game to follow while I’m sitting here at work…

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In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency, enthusiasts are constantly seeking ways to combine their passions with practical applications. One such intersection is the realm of crypto gambling. For those of us who love to tinker with technology and dabble in the latest digital trends, setting up a secure home server for our crypto gambling activities can be both a rewarding project and a prudent step towards enhancing our online security.

Why a Home Server?

You might be asking, why go through the trouble of setting up a home server when you can simply use your regular PC or a third-party service? Well, think of your home server as a dedicated fortress for your digital treasures. By having a dedicated server, you can ensure that your sensitive data, including your cryptocurrency wallets and gambling accounts, are protected by an extra layer of security. Plus, the satisfaction of building and managing your own server? Priceless.

Getting Started: What You Need

Before diving into the nitty-gritty, let’s gather the essentials. Here’s a quick checklist:

• Hardware: An old but reliable PC or a purpose-built server.
• Operating System: Linux distributions like Ubuntu Server or CentOS are excellent choices.
• Storage: A solid-state drive (SSD) for speed and reliability.
• Network: A stable internet connection and a good router.
• Security Software: Firewall and antivirus software. Consult with cybersecurity specialists to learn about the best security practices.

Step 1: Choosing the Right Hardware

First things first, you need to decide on the hardware. If you have an old PC lying around, that could be a great start. Ensure it has enough processing power and RAM to handle the tasks you plan to throw at it. For crypto gambling, you don’t need a supercomputer, but a decent processor and 8GB of RAM should suffice. Brite casinot is the perfect gambling site for first-timers.

Step 2: Installing the Operating System

Now that you’ve got your hardware, it’s time to install the operating system. Linux is a popular choice due to its stability and security. Ubuntu Server is user-friendly and well-documented, making it an excellent option for beginners.

1. Download the ISO: Get the latest Ubuntu Server ISO from the official website.
2. Create a Bootable USB: Use software like Rufus to create a bootable USB drive.
3. Install Ubuntu Server: Boot from the USB and follow the installation instructions.

Step 3: Securing Your Server

Security is paramount, especially when dealing with cryptocurrencies. Here are some essential steps to secure your server:

1. Update Your System: Keep your server software up to date to patch any vulnerabilities.
2. Configure the Firewall: Use UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) to control incoming and outgoing traffic.
3. Install Fail2Ban: This helps protect against brute-force attacks by banning suspicious IP addresses.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
sudo ufw enable
sudo apt install fail2ban

Step 4: Setting Up Your Crypto Wallet

With your server secured, it’s time to set up your crypto wallet. Using a server-based wallet can add an extra layer of security. Electrum is a popular choice for Bitcoin, while Exodus supports multiple cryptocurrencies.

1. Download the Wallet: Get the wallet software from the official website.
2. Install and Configure: Follow the setup instructions and store your seed phrase securely.

Step 5: Installing Gambling Software

For the adventurous, running your own gambling node can be an exciting project. However, most will opt for secure access to established crypto gambling platforms. Here’s how to securely access your favorite crypto gambling sites from your server:

1. Use a VPN: Install a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic.
2. Secure Browsing: Use a privacy-focused browser like Brave.

Step 6: Regular Maintenance and Monitoring

Setting up your server is just the beginning. Regular maintenance is crucial to ensure ongoing security and performance.

1. Monitor System Logs: Keep an eye on your server logs for any suspicious activity.
2. Backups: Regularly back up your wallets and server data.

Bonus Tips: Enhancing Your Setup

• Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
• Consider a Dedicated IP: This can add another layer of security by restricting access to your server.
• Automate Updates: Use scripts to automate software updates.

Conclusion

Setting up a secure home server for crypto gambling might sound like a daunting task, but with the right guidance and a bit of patience, it can be a highly rewarding project. Not only does it provide an extra layer of security for your digital assets, but it also offers a hands-on learning experience that deepens your understanding of both technology and cryptocurrency.

So, roll up your sleeves, dust off that old PC, and dive into the world of home servers. Whether you’re a seasoned tech enthusiast or a curious beginner, this project has something for everyone. And who knows? Your newfound expertise might just become the envy of your fellow crypto gamblers.

Happy building, and may your crypto adventures be both secure and prosperous!

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