To see the current firewall configuration of your machine, you can type

iptables -L -nv –line-numbers | less

but if you’re like me, you probably don’t want to have to type a long mess
like this. What I’ve done is to create a set of aliases and save them in the
file /etc/bash.bashrc.local so that I can run the previous command with far
fewer keystrokes. The bash.bashrc.local file doesn’t exist by default, so
you’ll need to create it. Put the following lines in it and then save it:

alias less=’less -S’
alias iptables=’/usr/sbin/iptables’
alias fws=’iptables -L -nv –line-numbers | less’

The next time you open a bash shell, this file will be read and the aliases
will be ready to use. The first line configures the pager command “less” so
that it doesn’t wrap lines that are longer than the screen width. This makes
it a lot easier to read the output, and you can use the left and right arrow
keys to see the long lines. The second line isn’t really necessary, as the
iptables command should already be in the path of the root user. The third
line is the one that shows you the firewall rules. I used the alias “fws” to
stand for “firewall show”, but you can call it whatever you want.
file provided by SuSE). It’s reasonably commented, but let me know if you
have any questions.

I find myself pondering what it is that I lost so long ago. I know that there is something I lost. But for the life of me I cannot either remember or find what it is that I lost. I know I lost it and when I did I lost a great deal more than just that thing that I lost. I know I lost my sense of worth and my sense of self I know I misplaced some of my mind and feelings that I had felt. there was something that meant a great deal to me. Something more powerful than the kuiper belt. Although it feels at times like that may be where my lost item is at. Far away, unobtainable, distant. I feel as though I am a jig saw puzzle that is missing that one last piece to give it completion. That lack of wholeness is nothing less than mind wracking. I feel as though I aimlessly search but I do not know for what I search.

As I sit here pondering the troll. I wonder what it is thinking sitting on its knoll. Or up upon its rock watching the Minos in the creek pass by. She sits adoring her queendom, a pleasant tranquil beast. With inner beauty that runs so deep so that us mere aliens could spend a lifetime to seek. The troll is an elusive creature, so complex, so divine. That I wonder if I will ever know how to penetrate its mind. I want to explore its world, see things from her eyes but that is something I do not know if I could ever surmise. So I will continue to hunt the troll until the end of time or at least until the day that I can call it mine.

Technology is ever changing and with each change security is an important consideration for users. As more of daily life becomes technically enhanced, on-line activity and social interactions over the Internet security risks for data increase. Each mobile device contains data that individuals depend upon to perform routine activities. Users are constantly seeking more technology and faster speeds, increased capabilities, storage, and mobility from the devices. Cloud computing is one of the latest answers to user demands for resources.

Cloud computing is a large collection of super computing resources including servers and data that are accessible through the Internet. These resources are accessed by a variety of personal and professional devices including smart phones, and laptops. Individuals connect to software and computing resources instead of loading software applications on their devices. The concept of harnessing the processor speed and computing ability of multiple machines is not new but the cloud implementation of this function replaces earlier computing models such as grid computing, clustering, and utility computing. Russel Kay, writer for Computerworld, explains, “Cloud computing describes a system where users can connect to a vast network of computing resources, data and servers that reside somewhere “out there”, usually on the Internet, rather than on a local machine or a LAN or in a data center. Cloud computing can give on-demand access to super-computer level power, even from a thin client or mobile device such as a smart phone or laptop.””

Several large companies offer service / resources known as the cloud. Amazon.com offers access to their powerful infrastructure EC2, elastic compute cloud and S3, simple storage services. IBM and Google Inc. teamed up to provide large scale distributed computing system for college students called academic cluster computing initiative. These infrastructures are maintained by the large powerful entities and the resources available to those companies. Support 24/7 to maintain the infrastructure and the security of the resources is the responsibility of the provider. Virus protection, secure access, and encryption are just several of the important security concerns that are managed by the units within the cloud.

One area of security not to be overlooked is the sanctuary of the user or administrator able to benefit from the resources of one the cloud without investing, installing, and maintaining the infrastructure. Administrators in business and academics rely on the stability and the virtually uninterrupted service provided by the cloud. These protections are not limited to the skills of administrators and are also utilized by individuals for personal and professional computing and storage.

There are emerging concepts of managing software distribution from a cloud aspect that includes “spraying” a method of distribution. In addition there are new protocols evolving by which to handle traffic and access through FLIP, flexible interconnection protocol, which may most easily be described as ultra charged IP, Internet protocol being researched for growing needs within the cloud.

Security related to the cloud is multifaceted. Safe keeping, protection, defense, and reliability are all parts of the computing cloud security. Many routine activities are trusted to on-line transactions and arenas and utilization of the cloud is just an extension of those areas. Decisions on virus protection some individuals are comfortable making selections but more complex decisions involving encryption software are far more intimidating to individuals not extremely technical. The clouds offers these resources to the user at a consumer level and all of the security that goes along with having the world of supercomputing in the palm of your hand. The computing cloud today although vast and powerful is still growing and changing just as technology has done through the years.

If you would like to visit another blogger’s site on the cloud, Nati Shalom has a wonderful and informative site http://natishalom.typepad.com/

Rally® Burger This hot-off-the-grill burger is a juicy, all-beef patty served on a toasted bun with all the toppings you want: mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles, onions, lettuce, tomatoes and mustard.

Rally Double Decker Burger Think you can handle this? It’s two all-beef patties served on a freshly toasted bun and topped with mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles, onions, crisp lettuce, tomatoes and mustard.

Rally Double Decker Burger with Cheese It’s the Rally Double Decker Burger you love plus two slices of American cheese on each patty.

Big Buford This signature burger is two juicy, all-beef patties and two slices of American cheese on a toasted bun. It’s loaded with mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles, onions, crisp lettuce, tomatoes and mustard.

Triple Cheeseburger This big, flavorful burger is three hand-seasoned, all-beef patties topped with with three slices of American cheese and served on a freshly toasted sesame seed bun. It’s comes complete with ketchup, pickles, chopped onions and mustard.

Bacon Double Cheeseburger This mouth-watering burger has two juicy, all-beef patties and two slices of American cheese served on a toasted bun. It features two strips of bacon, ketchup, pickles, chopped onions and mustard.

Kids Burger This smaller treat has an all-beef patty on a fresh toasted bun topped off with ketchup, pickles and mustard.

* Menu items available at Checkers/Rally’s locations may vary. Visit your local double drive-thru restaurant for exact menu.

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