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Dude. Does Twitter go through years of your browsing history or something? I signed up less than 24 hours ago and have just gotten a recommendation to follow afew.

by lychee on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 12:57:34 PM EST

Or at least someone who looks like afew and who is linked to Migeru.

by lychee on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 12:58:07 PM EST
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they're talking you. run away

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:20:01 PM EST
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by lychee on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:26:39 PM EST
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Stalking, Stalking. Damn this crappy keyboard

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:04:59 PM EST
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That took on an entirely new meaning when the warning was to run away because they were talking. :-D

by lychee on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:06:51 PM EST
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I follow Migeru (and reciprocally), is all I know.

Did you allow them to use your e-mail contacts to seek out people you know?

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:26:07 PM EST
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Not to my knowledge. Plus, the email I used doesn't list any ET people as contacts.

by lychee on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:29:23 PM EST
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Then did you choose to follow anyone who might end up connected to Mig and then me?

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:31:13 PM EST
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You showed up right after I followed (am I the only one who gets creeped out by that term?) Victoria Coren....

by lychee on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:34:09 PM EST
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The name means nothing to me. But there may be indirect contacts.

Yeah, follow is a bit creepy. Stalk wouldn't be better, though.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:33:39 PM EST
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I'd wondered if there's a six-degrees-of-separation-type thing there.

(Victoria Coren writes a column for the Guardian, by the way.)

by lychee on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:40:46 PM EST
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Victoria Corem: duh...

I'm going through a prolonged alienated-from-the-Guardian phase.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jul 9th, 2012 at 02:43:23 AM EST
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Coren.

See?

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jul 9th, 2012 at 02:44:32 AM EST
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Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

Afew roads lead to Migeru.

If you are not convinced, try it on someone who has not been entirely debauched by economics. — Piero Sraffa

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 05:17:49 PM EST
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BTW, if you follow me, you'll be able to sleep soundly. I have never uttered a tweet.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:30:02 PM EST
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Duly followed. (My Twitter name looks nothing like Lychee, FYI.)

And I have no idea what to tweet about, so no worries for you, either.

by lychee on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:32:38 PM EST
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Doesn't matter. You can be "data-mined" by your URL number.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:41:19 PM EST
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Do you mean ISP address? Or is there something in the Twitter URL for my page that contains more data than it should? (Serious -- I don't mean to sound snarky.)

by lychee on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:46:23 PM EST
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Twitter agrees to adopt Do-Not-Track privacy option | Reuters

Might be a clue:

Twitter recommends "tailored suggestions" based on a user's Web surfing history, but does not use the data for any other purpose, the company said on Thursday.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

by A swedish kind of death on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 03:37:06 PM EST
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It's a bit complicated so: ReadMe.

And if you were trusting enough to give FaceBook, Google, etc. your cell phone number they can track you through space, pin-point your physical location, and cross correlate to Google and/or other maps.

Remember: a Computer remembers forever and you have no control over who accesses the data files.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 04:37:41 PM EST
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And if you were trusting enough to give FaceBook, Google, etc. your cell phone number they can track you through space, pin-point your physical location, and cross correlate to Google and/or other maps.

How?

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 04:45:36 PM EST
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Triangulation using cell phone towers, doing a "ping" if the person has GPS - inherent or downloaded, & etc.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 04:54:17 PM EST
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How are Facebook and Google getting access to the cell providers infrastructure to ping cell phone towers?

What does "pinging" GPS mean?

What does "inherent or downloaded" even mean here? Downloaded GPS? What?

(Now, in fact, if you use their mobile apps and allow them access to your location data, then they do know where you are. Obviously.)

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 04:57:31 PM EST
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Some phones have GPS as part of the deal (inherent,) some phones have a GPS app (downloaded.)

Also (from here):

The sandboxing and permissions system weakens the impact of vulnerabilities and bugs in applications, but developer confusion and limited documentation has resulted in applications routinely requesting unnecessary permissions, reducing its effectiveness. The complexity of inter-application communication implies Android has a large attack surface.

And:

Android smartphones have the ability to report the location of Wi-Fi access points, encountered as phone users move around, to build databases containing the physical locations of hundreds of millions of such access points. These databases form electronic maps to locate smartphones, allowing them to run apps like Foursquare, Latitude, Places, and to deliver location-based ads.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 05:19:17 PM EST
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It's not GPS unless the phone has GPS capabilities.

What you're describing is you sending information to companies, not people magically getting it by knowing your phone number.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Mon Jul 9th, 2012 at 02:51:06 AM EST
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Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 6)

FaceBorg etc don't need to access the cellco infrastructure. Position estimation is built into GSM etc technology.

Apple already uses rough cell-tower estimates for its location services on devices without GPS. It also maintains a database of WiFi hotspots - which is why my iPad knows my GPS coordinates when I'm at home, even though it's the cheap version without the GPS.

We also know that Google slurps WiFi data when it does a StreetView drive-by. Everyone is concerned about password slurping, but the real issue is that collating that data gives Google a huge database of WiFi access points and their (not so) approximate locations.

So estimating location without access to GPS data is trivial. And if GPS is enabled, Apple and Google know exactly where you are all the time.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 05:25:38 PM EST
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Sure, because you're sending them data from your phone, not because they have your phone number.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Mon Jul 9th, 2012 at 02:48:49 AM EST
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Nope.

Anyone can use any of the many online GSM tracking services to find the location of any phone.

These services have been available commercially for years now. If I have your mobile number I can find your approximate location for 25p.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Mon Jul 9th, 2012 at 03:08:36 AM EST
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There is a type of SMS that will cause a GSM phone to reply with the location area (a group of radio cells) it is located in. Your normal text based message is just one of theoretically 256 SMS types.

by oliver on Mon Jul 9th, 2012 at 04:53:54 AM EST
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I never gave them my phone number.

by lychee on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 04:50:16 PM EST
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There's so many ways they could have made the connection it's impossible for me to make an "in the ballpark" guess.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 05:07:08 PM EST
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Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

You must understand that EVERYTHING you do on line is trackable. There is no such concept as anonymity. You might think you have covered your tracks by setting up a special e-mail address, or special secret blog loving name or whatever, but then you will be cruising along and will be greeted by a "Hello <your real name>, would you like to buy X?"

It is a bit jarring the first few times it happens.

EVERYTHING you do on the Internet is public. Period. EVERYTHING. Understand that.

by asdf on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 10:32:02 PM EST
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Dug up the garlic I planted as next door neighbours had rust and so I thought preventative cropping might help.

I planted 3 varieties. One simply disappeared, one mostly didn't grow, but just sat in the ground and one grew magnificently.

But all over the garden the main crop this year is slugs. We've got thousands of 'em. The courgettes and cabbages were just eaten, the beans shredded. The onions are just about holding on but we may have to do protective cropping on them too.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:19:38 PM EST

Seems as if I've heard that putting out a dish of beer helps with slug problems. They love the stuff, but end up drowning in the dish.

by ElaineinNM on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:27:12 PM EST
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well that would all depend on the Slugs beating Helen to the beer :)

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:07:32 PM EST
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there are plenty of beers the slugs are welcome to.

Sadly, it's been raining so much that I'd need a vat of beer for the number of slugs, and it'd be too watered down to be of use

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:09:30 PM EST
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Cover the dish with something to keep the rain off, like a roofing tile propped up at one end.

Slug snug.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:36:46 PM EST
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Also keeps the container dark, (none / 0)

which they are alleged to prefer.

paul spencer

by paul spencer (spencerinthegorge AT yahoo DOT com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 07:26:07 PM EST
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Ours had rust but it didn't die of it. It's all indoors and we're starting in on it now.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:28:09 PM EST
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If you can think up a new and productive use for slugs, you'll be in a great position. I can't think of a thing so far, though. That beer thing is supposed to work, though.

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:00:33 PM EST
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Hens like 'em.

and er ....that's it

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:08:03 PM EST
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Three or four laying hens would then reliably turn slugs into eggs, which would probably be better eggs than you can buy in the market. I am hoping to put in a small coop this year so I can buy three hens and a rooster from one of the exhibitors at the county fair. The chickens also eat tics and other crawling insects. It would be nice to let them in the garden at selected times, especially if I can find a reliable easy means to keep them from damaging my crops. I don't know if they would eat tomatoes, cucumbers, onions or potatoes, or confine themselves to the insects, but I will likely find out.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:40:09 PM EST
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Hens also keep down the mouse population and kill snakes (though you may not want them to do that).

In the garden they'll eat ripe tomatoes if they're hanging right in front of them. Otherwise the worst thing they do is scratch. Keep them out of anything newly-sown or planted out.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:46:22 PM EST
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Whilst I'd like chickens, and pigs and sheep and goats (and we have the space), my parents say no. It's hard enough to win space for a small veggie garden under the trees so it doesn't have enough light to grown anything

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 04:04:00 PM EST
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I vote against the rooster. (none / 0)

Unless you like a 04:00 wake-up call every morning. I used to think that you needed a rooster to keep the hens laying, but I'm told by my egg supplier that you do not.

paul spencer

by paul spencer (spencerinthegorge AT yahoo DOT com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 07:29:21 PM EST
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Re: I vote against the rooster. (none / 0)

Only if you want fertile eggs. But I rather doubt that my wife would take well to having the rooster for dinner, especially if we have him for any time. I'll have to think about that one. From the time I was 10 I was used to killing a young rooster for Sunday dinner.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 10:37:58 PM EST
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Re: I vote against the rooster. (none / 0)

...the rooster crows at the break of dawn...

Unless there is some artificial lighting around. In that case, be ready for a wake-up call at 3 or 4 in the morning.

Similarly, it takes artificial lighting to make nightingales sing all night through. Where we live, there is no street lighting or other articial light. The nightingales get some sleep in the deadest hours of night, and the roosters start up as the sky begins to grey.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jul 9th, 2012 at 02:15:46 AM EST
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Federer's Wimbledon win boosts charity coffers - Tennis - Sport - The Independent

Used in organic gardening: ferric phosphate. Trade name Ferramol.

These little pellets are not dangerous for mammals, unlike the standard metaldehyde slug pellets.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jul 9th, 2012 at 03:19:34 AM EST
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Yey, sweet! (4.00 / 7)

Federer wins for the 7th time in Wimbeldon and this time with a sweet side effect:

Roger Federer's win over Andy Murray has won more than £100,000 for charity.
A gambler who died three years ago wagered the Swiss maestro would win seven or more Wimbledon titles, and the star has now achieved that feat.
Nick Newlife, from Oxford, placed £1,520 on odds of 66/1 with Bookmakers William Hill.
He died in 2009, aged 59, leaving his entire estate - including the bet - to Oxfam, who can now collect £101,840.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 01:55:16 PM EST

Re: Yey, sweet! (4.00 / 7)

Meanwhile Andy Murray, who was British when he was winning, is now Scottish again

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:11:37 PM EST
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Re: Yey, sweet! (none / 0)

Perhaps that ability is part of what is great about Great Britain?

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 02:42:34 PM EST
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I keep seeing warnings about some DNS bug that'll kick in tonight.

It lists a website to visit to check if you've got it. Does anyone know if it's safe cos I generally avoid such things ?

I've run spybot and got rid of a couple of things I piked up in the last week and am now doing a full avast search. Would that do it ?

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 04:16:03 PM EST

There is an official site that will scan your computer, but I don't remember the URL. Are you looking at news stories on reputable/known websites when you see that DNS-checking website URL?

by lychee on Sun Jul 8th, 2012 at 04:52:19 PM EST
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(IF the whole thing isn't a spoof): If there's a website with the goods, then avast! will also be aware. If avast! is updating regularly to your computer, then you should be OK.

(avast! seems to be keeping me out of trouble as of this morning...)

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jul 9th, 2012 at 02:32:37 AM EST
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It's not a bug, it's the FBI.

by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Mon Jul 9th, 2012 at 02:58:23 AM EST
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Ah, <relief> well if that's the case I'll run along to the FBI and...

Wait a minute...

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jul 9th, 2012 at 03:13:06 AM EST
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