Tech

Prey Project

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Prey is an Open Source software project for locating your lost or stolen machine. You install a faceless background service on your computer that runs every X minutes. When it runs, it connects to a server and asks “Is the computer reported as missing?”.

If it is, it takes a webcam photo, a screenshot, gets the geographical location of the computer (think GPS but without GPS hardware which your laptop probably lacks, using WiFi triangulation instead, similar to this) plus some other info. It then uploads the results to the server.

All configuration is done from the website. This way the program on your computer is harder to find and thus to uninstall. Most thieves will not know where to look and there’s a good chance they aren’t sophisticated enough to even format your computer.

So, don’t be a schmuck and wait for your laptop to be stolen: install this thing. It’s free, it’s invisible until you need it, and it may recover your computer one day.

Edit: Removed a redundant mention of “background service”that was repeated and also unnecessary. Pointed out by Daniel Jaramillo.

Life of Marcos

Thank you for th birthday wishes

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Thanks co much to everyone who:

  • Called
  • Texted
  • Facebook wall posted
  • Facebook messaged
  • Wrote an email
  • Sent an automatic email (my bank, some internet forums)
  • Messaged through What’s App
  • Sent me a greeting card
  • Bought me shot of tequila or
  • Called

…because of my birthday yesterday. So far no tweets and no blog comments, but it’s never too late. Thank you!

Falafel and more, Film Critic, Keep Austin Weird

Austin Jewish Film Festival

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Two movies I saw at the recent Austin Jewish Film Festival, both of them I recommend.

First, “Cohen On The Bridge”. Director Andrew Weinrib had unprecedented access to surviving hostages and commandos from Operation Entebbe. He assembled a fast paced 20 minute animated short with interviews in the background about the operation. The visuals are stunning and the story riveting. You can’t even blink. It was followed by a Q&A with the director that was equally interesting.

Director of Cohen on the Bridge Andrew Weinrib at a Q&A during the Austin Jewish Film Festival.

You can see the trailer here, but you may need Facebook access. This movie you must see. And a full length film is in the works.

Second, I saw “This is Sodom”, a movie by  the guys from Eretz Nehederet. This dumb comedy was a surprise record breaker in Israel and is actually really funny. Trailer below:

No ugly people were harmed making this blog.