Author: Quinn

ssh: no matching cipher found 0

Hacking

ssh: no matching cipher found

After a recent Ubuntu upgrade on my home machine, ssh attempts to it from the VirtualBox instance at work stopped working.   Here’s what ssh spewed back at me: no matching cipher found: client blowfish-cbc,arcfour server aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-gcm@openssh.com,aes256-gcm@openssh.com,chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com   Impatient, I just logged in from another machine.  The VM runs CentOS 5.10 so that its environment is comparable with what [used to be] present on the majority of our production servers.   I’m an anti-RedHat bigot in the first place, and didn’t...

A Bit on Bits 0

Words

A Bit on Bits

My precious daughters and I were watching an old Betty Boop cartoon (transferred from the original nitrate to 1080p) which included a sign for an electric razor priced at “6 1/2 bits”. Knowing “two bits” represents a quarter dollar, making one bit ⅛ of a dollar, I wondered if a “bit” in computer-terminology was etymologically related. They are not. The ⅛ of a byte bit is shorthand for “binary digit”– a term which won out over such competing candidates as “bigit” or...

Bad Words 0

Words

Bad Words

It is very unfortunate to see how casually bad words are spouted publicly these days. This response to an answer on Quora made me viscerally angry.  Is this an “I know them when I see them” sort of filter, or does this man have a list of all the “bad” words?   In any case, how dare he levy such a judgment against any element of speech between sapient beings!  The sanctity of free communication must be inviolable. What could he...

And Now For Something Obliquely Different 0

Me

And Now For Something Obliquely Different

My evening begins with Tinder. Ron right? r you free to hook up for coffee sometime? u seem like my kinda guy. 2 many weirdos on here tho so im gonna delete.  Anyway u should text me at 123 456 7890 Spokeo is my friend. Pittsburgh burner, registered to a male.  Multiple priors.  At least you’re a fellow Pennsyltuckian.   Yeah, too many weirdos. Tried to get taxes done tonight.  Found out the 401k (early-withdrawal due to previous employer closing its...

A Moment of Clarity 0

Me

A Moment of Clarity

For an “alcoholic”, there is only one problem– alcohol. At that first AA meeting, when I raised my hand and said, “I’m Quinn and I’m an alcoholic”, I bargained with myself that it was some sort of truth.  Major regrettable events had transpired which, without alcohol, would have been mere forgettable incidents.  I have problems associated with alcohol, like a racist has problems associated with race.  So, I’m an alcoholic, right? No, I’m not– and I won’t call myself that again. I’ve...

72 Hours and Two In a Row 0

Me

72 Hours and Two In a Row

Second night at AA.  I didn’t talk much this time beyond the obligatory “I’m Quinn and I’m an alcoholic”, “Hi, Bill”, “Thank you, Bill.” I gave my number to a good looking guy, my age or (probably) younger.  I am regretting this.  It brings on the kind of anxiety I had when the ex-wife and I gave our number to a “friendly” waiter at Raj Mahal who turned out to be an Amway drone. That’s what AA reminds me of– a cult.  Not in...

48 Hours and the First Meeting 0

Me

48 Hours and the First Meeting

“My name is Quinn and I’m an … alcoholic.” Most of those present seemed to assume the pause before the term was because I was loathe to admit such a condition, but it was only that I wasn’t sure of the definition and did not want to misrepresent myself.  I was able to explain this later, in a lengthy rant where I used the terms “modern drunkard” and “high-functioning sociopath” and essentially said “This is not going to work– for me.” Kinda brought...

La Grange 1

Uncategorized

La Grange

Never knew what I wanted to do with my life. That’s why I’m here with, well, with her. When I first heard “La Grange”, I didn’t believe it was ZZ Top. I know them as “Legs” and “Sharp Dressed Man” and that kinda jerk-it video shit from the 80’s. But, it was. It was them. They’re good. Maybe they stole that riff from Muddy Waters or somesuch Blues master. I dunno– but it’s good, and I wanted to play it....