A Technical I.T./DevOps Blog
Problem scenario
You find a showerhead with black build-up or gunk. You want the spouts to be clean. It may look like this:
You want to remove the black flecks from inside. What should you do to clean the inside of the showerhead?
Solution
1. Get a dishwashing brush, a bottle brush, or a toothbrush with long bristles.
2. Get some bleach.
3. Pour the bleach on the bristles of the brush.
4. Brush inside to get the black stuff out of the showerhead.
Problem scenario
You know how to find the individual postings. You know how to find the main pages in WordPress. But how do you find your advertisers and sidebars on your site (to edit them)?
Solution
In WordPress, go to Appearance -> Themes. Choose the theme that applies to your site. On the main part of the screen, click/browse to the area of your site that has the blocks, columns, sidebars and/or advertisements. On the left click on "Widgets."
Question
Variables in Java store data (e.g., a string or number). How is instantiation of a variable different from initialization, or are they the same?
Answer
Instantiation is different from initialization. Instantiation is the creation of the variable (e.g., through the Java syntax or invocation of a method that creates the variable). A class can be instantiated or a primitive variable can be instantiated. Instantiation involves memory allication for the object (either for a class or a primitive value). See Oracle documentation and TechTarget's definition.
Initializing a variable is the act of giving a variable a specific value. When a variable is assign an initial value, this is initialization.
"Variables are containers for storing data values." (Taken from https://www.w3schools.com/java/java_variables.asp)
Instantiation and initialization are terms used outside of Java.
Question
The Declaration of Independence says "A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."
Who was the prince?
Answer
It was the King of Great Britain and Ireland, George III.
As far as the Continental Congress was concerned, George was no longer its king. Instead, the Declaration of Independence outlined 27 grievances against George and labeled him “a Tyrant […] unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/king-george-iii-american-revolution
He would be the last king of America.
Problem scenario
You must record an audible greeting for a voicemail. You do not want to use your voice. What should you do?
Solution
1. Go to this website: https://wideo.co/text-to-speech/.
2. Enter this text (but substitute 212-123-4567 with your phone number:
Hello, you have reached 2,1,2,1,2,3,4,5,6,7. No one is available to take your call, please leave your message after the tone.
3. Choose the voice in the drop down as desired. Listen to the preview. Have your phone listen to the greeting when you record your own greeting.
Problem scenario
You have been reading The Declaration of Independence: The Evolution of the Text by Julian P. Boyd. The color photographs of the drafts of the Declaration of Independence show a brown ink. Why did Thomas Jefferson choose a brown ink?
Solution
He did not use brown ink; he used black ink. Over time with air, the color of the writing turns to a brownish appearance on the original pages (according to the introduction of American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence by Pauline Maier).
Problem scenario
You received an email that you should not have. The footer requests you let the sender know and delete the copy you received. What should you do?
Solution
We think you should not examine the contents closely, delete the email and let the sender know. There may be a disclaimer boilerplate in the email that may or may not have legal weight. Even if there is no such disclaimer on this accidental email, you will be proud that you respected the confidentiality and privacy of another party. Treating other people as you would like to be treated can give you moral high ground. Being polite and sensitive can help you in the long run. Forwarding it on or disclosing the contents of the email may be bad manners.
It is advisable to have in your long-term memory a disposition to honoring commitments to the privacy of others. Mistakes happen.
For more information, and some mixed treatment, about such email footer disclosures, see this.
Problem scenario
You affixed some 3M tape to a wall. You want to remove it without damaging the surface it is attached to. What do you do?
Solution
With 3M tape (double sided tape to hold or affix a sensor), remember to pull it straight down parallel to the wall (rather than pulling it away from the wall). If this tape stretches enough, you will be able to remove the sensor. You do not want the tape to pull off the paint or wallpaper (by pulling it away from the wall or using some chemical cleaner like Goo Gone). The landlord could charge you for the paint removal and/or drywall removal. Here is a video that illustrates the two types of removal:
If you do not have access to a piece/edge of the 3M tape to pull parallel to the wall to stretch it and remove it the way it was intended, (e.g., the object adhering to the tape is blocking you from an edge) use dental floss or a hair dryer.
The hook or object may pull suddenly. But it is better to have a small amount of pain from the sudden plastic object hitting your hand than pulling up paint from the wall.
Problem scenario
You want to know if a security should be registered with the SEC based on the Securities Act. When is an asset considered to be a security?
Solution
It depends on if it is an investment contract. The 1946 lawsuit of SEC v. W.J. Howey Co., 328 US 293 provides guidance or a test. https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/328/293/
The four criteria for a scheme or asset for the "Howey Test" are as follows:
(The four points were taken from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/howey-test.asp; this Investopedia page mentions how an initial coin offering could be a security.)
The test is whether the scheme involves an investment of money in a common enterprise with profits to come solely from the efforts of others. If that test be satisfied, it is immaterial whether the enterprise is speculative or nonspeculative, or whether there is a sale of property with or without intrinsic value.
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/328/293/
With Dai, USDC, or Tether (USDT), there is no expectation of profit; these are used to buy other cryptocurrencies on exchanges that do not receive dollars from traditional bank accounts. It seems to us that Dai, USDC, and Tether (USDT), would have intrinsic value, no expectation or profit, and not be derived from the effort of others. For non-stable coins, they would not derive value solely from the effort of others. It seems like many cryptocurrencies would not be a common enterprise. It is irrelevant if the coin was speculative or had intrinsic value as long as its value was not solely from the effort of others.
To read more about the Howey test and digital assets (e.g., cryptocurrency), see these two pages:
https://gordonlaw.com/howey-test-is-your-token-security/
https://cryptoticker.io/en/sec-crypto-securities-list-consequences/
Problem scenario
You are logged into an account. You click "sign out" and nothing happens or you cannot find the link/option for signing out or logging off. What should you do?
Possible Solution
Replace "acme.com" with the domain name of the site you are suing, then try one of these:
https://acme.com?signout
https://acme.com?logout
https://acme.com?logoff