[Thu Jun 28 11:54:21 CDT 2012]

We read in Boing Boing that Tim Bray, the creator of XML, has submitted a proposal to create a new HTTP error code 451 to handle censored contents:

451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons

This status code indicates that the server is subject to legal restrictions which prevent it servicing the request.

Since such restrictions typically apply to all operators in a legal jurisdiction, the server in question may or may not be an origin server. The restrictions typically most directlt affect the operations of ISPs and search engines.

Responses using this status code SHOULD include an explanation, in the response body, of the details of the legal restriction; which legal authority is imposing it, and what class of resources it applies to.

Needless to say, the code number is a tribute to recently decased writer Ray Bradbury, of Farenheit 451 fame. {link to this story}

[Sat Jun 23 10:47:05 CDT 2012]

Over time, I have tried a few different configurations to get msmtp to work with the Google Mail SMTP server. Some of them were actually way too complex. In the end, I found what I needed. Just add this to your ~/.msmtprc file:

defaults
tls on
tls_starttls on
tls_trust_file /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt
 
account default
host smtp.gmail.com
port 587
auth on
user username@gmail.com
password yourpassword
from username@gmail.com

That will do. {link to this story}

[Mon Jun 11 14:16:38 CDT 2012]

A friend just shared with me a link to a new tool from Microsoft called on{X} that truly sounds quite interesting:

Now, to be honest, I find it quite interesting that Microsoft might even bother to develop something for Android phones. It's not their style, especially since they'd also have to make the initial investment in research and development. Either way, it does look like a tool with a lot of potential. It all depends on whether it truly takes off and people write (and share) good recipes on their website. {link to this story}

[Fri Jun 1 20:38:11 EDT 2012]

Who would have said back in the early 1990s that some day servers would become appliances, huh? I just learned of the concept of a microservers. I suppose it's now just a matter of time until system administrators lose their jobs. {link to this story}