What no virus protection for my Smart Phone by Tony Green

Image of Smart Phone

I received an email from Comcast Xfinity, my high speed internet provider, the other day informing me their software had detected a “bot” on one of the computers which access my high speed connection. I checked my laptop for viruses using Microsoft Essentials {which I would recommend using for free before paying either Norton or McAfee} which came out free on any malware.

At this point I realized since the last year my wife was using her IPhone and our children were using their IPod Touch’s to surf the Internet.

Surely, I could find some free or cheap software designed for smart phones to protect against Internet intrusions. Interestingly enough, solutions existed for the Android operating system but not Windows or Safari browsers. Does this sound crazy at the rate people are buying these devices? More ever folks are using these mobile devices for more often for important functions such as banking and on line purchases.

If I were a hacker I would design a virus design for the IPhone and try to infect peoples home networks created with wireless routers with inadequate firewall protection.

Enough of my rambling, back to the problem, how can I ensure my families smart phones stay virus free? From the times I picked up viruses on my laptop and my desktop computers I did not have desire to address lost data and applications with my smart phones.

All this is another confirmation of the fact if you own any smart device with Internet capability then every bot, virus, or Adware created has possible access to all of your Internet ready devices. How you address this fact is up to you.

Slam dunk for the NBA and all people with a dream by Tony Green

Jeremy Lin on the cover of Time Magazine

I was viewing the NBA game of the week while I having some maintenance completed on my Minivan. The Knicks were playing the Mavericks on the national televised game. Once I took a quick glance around the waiting room it amazed me how all of the Asians showed a vested curiosity in the game. I later realized this was not because they happened to be fans of the NBA but to see Jeremy Lin in action.

The interest of Asians in the NBA is not a new thing in my view. I remember during my time in the Semiconductor industry I went to Taiwan on business trip and I took note of the popularity the NBA enjoyed in Taiwan and China from the life size posters of several NBA stars and their uniforms many teenagers wore with pride.  In fact, the only sports you will find on their equivalent of ESPN are football (not NFL but English Premier League) and basketball.

However, this was in Taiwan, a half of a world away and not in the United States.   The interest level in the game is testimonial to the marketing ability of the NBA which has done a fantastic job of exposing its sport to audiences outside of its normal viewership. The end result will create a global following on the league and its players. How can that be bad for business?

I cannot give the NBA credit for creating this Jeremy Lin story as a marketing ploy to expand interest in basketball, particularly to Asians. Jeremy Lin has, in part, done this to himself through his hard work and perseverance. Undoubtedly with a Harvard degree the NBA, in all probability, is not his solitary opportunity to make a good living. Clearly becoming a professional basketball player is something he wanted to do and went for it by putting the effort and believing in his abilities. I feel this is a take-away we could all take note of while watching a basketball telecast on a Sunday afternoon.

Image courtesy of

http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/jeremy_lin_nabs_time_magazine_cover/9974944

Just watched Super bowl XLVI by Tony Green

Just another football game?

I watched the Super Bowl last Sunday more for the commercials than the outcome of the game. The Super Bowl historically is where several new commercials were shown for the first time, and in many cases, record audiences. As the downturn deepened scores of companies slashed their marketing budgets which resulted in less extravagant commercials.  

I noted the commercials were better than in the previous few of years. There were numerous segments from the automobile manufacturer’s which had been hit as hard as anyone during the recession. From the looks of the advertisements the tide seems to have turned enough to support the cash outlay needed to place a spot in the Super Bowl which is a stark contrast from the not to recent past where government money kept these companies in business.

Returning to the commercial theme the beer manufacturers returned to yesteryear with ads promoting everyone’s favorite chilled beverage especially Budweiser showing off its famous Clydesdale horses.

The halftime show featuring Madonna and Nicki Manaj entertained all, without any wardrobe malfunctions (never mind M.I.A flipping the world the bird) but mixed in Madonna’s hit records over the last 20 years music with some of the latest dance tunes. What can you say? , after all of these years, she still gives a good show.

Yes, indeed America is on the way back. Just like we all believed our nation would. I wish the turnaround had not taken so much time to get things righted….

The pulse of the city by Tony Green

Downtown San Francisco

I was at Jack London Square in Oakland, California on business. We stopped off before our meeting at the Starbucks and picked up some Lattes for our customers. As I walked on a cool fall day I could not help but to perceive the pulse of the city.

In the time we were waiting I noticed a grey haired man with deadlocks, a cute barista who seemed of mixed heritage and grungy looking fellow whose clueless countenance indicated he had no reason for waking up. 

I grew up in Philadelphia and have visited many of the major cities on the East Coast but now reside in the suburbs. Therefore, I have not had the opportunity to experience the city as much I had in the past.

In the suburbs all of the roads and buildings look the same. Likewise, many people who live there are all identical with no sense of style to distinguish one person from the next.

One of the positive of living in an urban area is the vibe from the colorful folks from all different places in various stages of life and purpose.  The beat is impossible to hear audibly like a heartbeat your doctor might listen to during a routine checkup to yet undeniable. 

However, with the vibe of the city comes some of the negative. I recalled one instance during my time in the Navy when my submarine pulled into alameda for a port visit. One of my shipmates got mugged while we were at the same Jack London Square in downtown Oakland.

Once I stopped to listen to the pulse of the city I remembered where I was and part of the reason why I would not want to live in the city. The inner city is an awesome place to visit on occasion but still excellent to able to go someplace else at the end of the day. The time had come for me to get home as the sun was rapidly heading toward the horizon.