Gregg Berkholtz's personal blog - Technology

Phishing for SEX! WOOT!

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:32:47 +0000

For the past few months, I've been seeking a new place in inner-SE Portland. My reasons have been simple; despite the novelty of having a workshop in my condo, I miss having a real garage. I look forward to soon having the ability to use my lathe and CNC, without spending equal time cleaning up afterwards, and to complete fiberglass layups without ~1.5hr drives across town.

Though, what does this all have to do with sex?
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Quality of Clear WiMAX Services

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:06:03 +0000

I live in downtown Portland Oregon, on the corner of 19th & W Burnside, overlooking the city.

Since moving to The Civic condos in October, I've been working with a clearly-overextended condo management organization; PREM Group. Despite initiating the process just days after moving in, nearly six months have passed, and the installation of a simple DSL connection still has not been processed...this is all despite dozens of phone calls, voicemails, in-person discussions, and at least two dozen emails...to managers, bosses, and the bosses bosses... There have been plenty of promises to act, but...with no delivery of services, by the time December rolled around, I was getting desperate.

As a computer systems administrator, by way of a career spanning well-more than a decade, I need reliable and fast internet services...and when Clear WiMAX hit the Portland market in December of 2008, I was their second "general" customer to receive the WiMAX modem.
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Home is where the tools are...

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:04:08 +0000

I have a small metal shop, but many have asked how one balances living in a condo, and maintaining a small metal workshop.
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The Recchetta - my eBike project

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:54:54 +0000

I think I finally figured out a decent use for my blog, at least for another six-months or-so.

Lately, I've received a steadily-increasing volume of questions regarding my "simple" electric bike setup. While the wiki details the "final" product...or, more accurately, the project's /current/ state. The design continues to evolve...and improve. There's just not much room for commentary, or quite-simply, folks to ask the questions I value so much (as they help me better-explain details, and force me to think about possible design revisions...and have great ideas themselves!).

So, here it goes...
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Yet another new blog app

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 08:48:13 +0000

Yep, I've finally put my blog back up; got tired of pivot's shortcomings, so after a bit of research...wheeee!!!!

My new task is collecting all public/blog postings from years-past and sticking them here.

MetroFi's website is now dead...

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:24:00 +0000

See www.metrofi.com, it's now a parked site with GoDaddy.com's ads plastered all over it.

So much for city-wide wireless internet services...maybe next time the city will select the local group/business to do this - instead of yet another corporate nobody that'll just disappear in a few years...

Yet another BIND vulnerabiity

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:31:00 +0000

Yet another BIND vulnerability crawls out of the muck... Why does anyone still use this junk software anymore?

Yawn...this is old news... I, as well as my customers and end-users, have nothing to worry about. We use DJBDNS, which was hardened against this age-old attack nearly a decade ago; the DJBDNS DNS engine continues to be invulnerable to the inherent flaws of BIND's design (and its derivatives). Are you using it yet?

Bye bye Blogger...

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:38:00 +0000

Its been fun, but I'm a SysAdmin, which means I run my own systems/services whenever I start taking that system or service seriously...

My new blog.

Xpel 3M material = invisibleSHIELD material

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 06:54:00 +0000

I just grabbed some of the 3M "paint protection" material sold by Xpel, and it looks, functions, installs, and feels EXACTLY like the invisibleSHIELD/ZAGG material. All the invisibleSHIELD/ZAGG folks appear to offer over just the raw material, is a very nicely cut out template. The template is a bit nice, as the 3M material is difficult to cut properly without SHARP knives/scissors, but I'm not convinced it's worth 10 times what I'd pay for the raw/uncut material.

iPhone, hearing aids, and HSA accounts

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:55:00 +0000

Alright, I feel left out; I need an iPhone blog entry.

First, I'm selling my 8GB iPod Nano; it's about 4 months old, and still looks and works great, but it's now redundant. I'll part with it for $175 (OBO), if you're interested, email me: berkholtzNO-UCEgmail.com replace the NO-UCE with an @

While checking out the iPhone, I discovered two things, which of-course finally pushed me to grab one:
1) The iPhone is, by far, the best mobile phone for hearing aid and cochlear implant users.
2) Using a DAI cable is tricky, but doable, and well worth it.

While reading this, keep in mind that most hearing aid and cochlear implant users simply cannot use the headsets, earbuds, and/or hands-free kits available (or even included) with today's portable electronic devices. Largely because the included headsets/earbuds/hands-free kits are simply not compatible, extremely uncomfortable, or are simply ineffective (ie: not loud enough without hearing aids amplifying sound as well). Instead we're forced to purchase expensive Direct Audio Input (DAI) equipment just for "basic" functionality that regular-hearing folks take for granted.

Speaking of costs though, there is a possible way to offset it; see my HSA comment at the bottom of this posting.

To elaborate on the iPhone... When a call comes in, and you have a "headset" connected, the audio is routed into the headset instead of the phone's built-in speakers. For DAI users, that means a DAI audio feed from your cell! The iPhone still uses its built-in mic, but everyone I've talked to can hear me fine even with the phone at chest-level or resting on a table. For DAI users, that means we finally get a hands-free "kit" that works great with our hearing aids and cochlear implants; I don't know of any other phone on the market that does this (I had to hack a cable together for my last phone).

As for using an DAI cable. The Connevans attenuated stereo DAI cable doesn't work too well, though Hearing Loss Help Co's unattenuated stereo DAI cable works great with a slight modification. The modification is not actually necessary, see below for the modification details. See my May 6th entry for more details on these cables, including sources and a review.

As for the headset jack modification. It's now a well-known fact that the iPhone headset jack is recessed, largely to reduce the strain on the headset plug. Though the jack is so recessed, it has the side-effect of:
1) Requiring an adapter (which I hate hauling around/losing)
2) Forcing you to use an "iPod" headset (which simply doesn't work for me - given my profound hearing loss, it simply cannot get loud enough).
3) Encouraging me to modify the headset plug on my DAI cable.

I obviously choose option three, as the other two are simply not options for me. I use a "Hearing Loss Help Co's unattenuated stereo DAI cable", but at first it would not fit into the iPhone. The solution is simple; cut off the excess material, and it fits great. I had to cut off roughly between 1.5mm to 1.75mm. These cables are so well-engineered, that there was no negative effect to cutting the excess material off; its still as sturdy as before, and works just as well.

Sorry for the poor picture, I'll post a better one tonight.

As for HSA account holders:
The standard disclaimer applies; this is not legal advice, do your own research, and consult with your own legal sources before proceeding. Though as for me; my HR rep, and my reading of the IRS publication 502 rules both tell me that some hearing aid accessories can be legally charged to your HSA account. Accessories such as the ELI Bluetooth adapter, and DAI cables that one uses for connecting to a TV, or phone, are possible examples. See page 13 under the sections "Telephone" and "Television" of the IRS 502 rules for details. This effectively means we can purchase our hearing aid accessories with pre-tax dollars (well, those of us in the USA). Personally, I paid ~$132 for my DAI setup (two audio boots - one for each hearing aid, and one "Y" DAI cable). The HSA account usage is a nice way to offset that high cost of "basic" functionality that regular-hearing folks take for granted.

Stereo DIA Hearing Aid Cables

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Sun, 06 May 2007 00:30:00 +0000

Ever since I purchased my iPod back in February, I've been struggling to find a way to actually use it. Since I wear hearing aids, I cant use the included fancy white earplugs; the sound generated is not even audible to me, even with the volume turned up all the way.

First I started with the inductive neckloops and earloops that I've always used. Though they required I turn the iPod up all the way, I got the typical buzzing background noise, and even with the volume cranked up - I could barely hear anything. So I decided to start seeking out Direct Input Audio (DIA) cable options. DIA enables someone to plug their hearing aids directly into the audio equipment, instead of depending on RF inductance to transmit the signal to their hearing aids.

Finding a monoural DIA cable was easy, but I wanted that stereo sound. Both because music sounds so much better, and because I cant understand speech without it. So I needed a stereo DIA cable, after quite a bit of research, including tapping the folks/resources in the Hearing Aid Hacking group, the only cables I could find were:
1) Connevans attenuated stereo DIA cables
2) Hearing Loss Help Co's unattenuated stereo DIA cables

Both cables are pictured here, the Connevans is on the right (click on the image to enlarge).

Both cables have been tested with two models of hearing aids:
Starkey DaVinci PxP, with the boot's attenuation disabled.
Phonak Supero 413AZ, with AS4 and AS4-MLx audio boots.

I started with the Connevans cable, as Hearing Loss Help Co's product wasn't even for sale yet (though it's available now).

The Connevans cable is well-manufactured, though a bit cumbersome and bulky. The fact that there is an entirely separate cable run to each ear significantly contributes to the cumbersome aspect of the cable. The material used is a bit rubbery, and tends to stick to the skin; making it difficult to wear under a shirt or even let sit between a shirt and coat. The difficulty largely stems with the fact that the cable tends to rub between materials and then cause a great deal of tugging on the ears. The attenuation is also a major issue, as sounds are barely audible, though keep in mind that I use the market's most powerful hearing aids, which are also maxed out in terms of amplification levels - yes, my hearing is that bad.

Hearing Loss Help Co's cable is like a slice from heaven. The cable material is thin and slick, like the iPod cables, though black in color. Despite its thinner size, the cable still feels very strong. In addition, there is a "single" cable running between the plug up to almost the ear. Near the ear, the cable connects to a unobtrusive "Y" splitter, and a separate run goes to each ear. The "Y" split was placed well enough that even the "largest" of folks should be able to use the cable without issue. The fact that the cable was not attenuated made things even better; I can set my iPod volume at about half-way, and everything sounds great. The 3.5mm plug, which connects to the audio player's headset jack (click for an image), is also smaller and less obtrusive than the Connevans cable. The euro-plug (click for an image) is also smaller and less obtrusive on the Hearing Loss Help cable.

Since Connevans has no US presence (as confirmed with Connevans), your option for obtaining Connevans cables is shipping directly from the UK. Connevans charges a minimum rate of roughly $50 (actually it's exactly £25), and blames it on international shipping charges - though the postage on the delivered package was clearly only a fraction of £25... In-fact, I've shipped things from the UK many times, and was never faced with such outrageous shipping charges for something so small and lightweight. Delivery time was about one week.

Shipping with Hearing Loss Help Co was a breeze; the package was delivered in just a few days, and shipped at a reasonable rate (yes, it fairly matched what was on the delivered package).

While both cables give that true stereo sound, I strongly recommend the Hearing Loss Help Co's cable for its more thought out, and ultimately minimalist, design. These folks are also very pleasant to work with, and I've done business with them a number of times; I recommend them without hesitation (something I rarely do).

Finally, if you must use attenuated cables, then I believe Connevans is your only choice at this time. Though I am personally looking to sell the three Connevans cables that I have, email me at gmail.com (berkholtz@...) - address obfuscated to trick spambots. So please contact me if you'd like to save on an outrageous shipping charge for attenuated cables. If you can wait a while for attenuated cables from Hearing Loss Help Co, they are very responsive folks, and I believe with enough encouragement they will manufacture and sell attenuated cables someday too; so send them an email.

Coping with a profound hearing loss

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:35:00 +0000

I cant even begin to tell you how frustrating it is living in the "hearing world" with a profound hearing loss. Up until recently, my loss was only rated as "moderate", and that's essentially what I grew up with - I think I coped pretty darn well, for someone who can speak without noticeable speech impediments, and is happily 11 years into their chosen career!

Effective around 6-9 months ago, my loss shifted near the profound category, and then shifted clear into "profound" around January of this year. While I thought I "understood" a hearing loss then, boy...let me tell you...that's nothing compared to where I stand today. Now I fully understand why some folks would prefer to be blind than deaf, and while I'd still rather hike in silence than impale myself with a blind-cane as I stumble off a steep trail, living in the "deaf" category is no cake walk.

As with most folks, their livelihood depends on regular verbal communications. Before, this required some extra communication effort on my part that was tiring but manageable, but the now-greater effort exhausts me roughly half-way through the day; I just want to go home and shutdown in silence for a while, thank god for mass transit; at least I can turn it all off on my trip home.

Most verbal communications now require the person speaking to me to repeat themselves at least once; very rarely do I catch what was said the first time around anymore. This has got to be frustrating for some folks, though imagine being on my end! Argh! Take for example, the company party yesterday, it was only about 15 of us, and we're not that noisy, though I could barely understand what anyone said; usually just nodding my head and pretending. You can just see the frustration and irritation on most folks faces, and how often can you interrupt a group discussion before you get shut out...experience has taught me that most folks will give up and avoid talking to you; something I'm seeing more and more of lately.

Sigh... I think I've got a lot to write about. Hearing loss in particular, and how my recent onset of "recruitment" coupled with the "profound" shift is really doing a number on communications. While I'm quite frustrated with my communication issues, I'm still happy about many things - so at least I've got a few other things going for me

Lunch is over, so maybe tomorrow...

Credit card swiped

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Tue, 09 Nov 2004 08:12:00 +0000

Think about the lengths I go to in regards to protecting my personal and credit information; shredding/burning discarded documents, the various unique passwords and such that I place on all my personal records, etc. Though I'm sometimes referred to as, maybe jokingly, paranoid, consider what occurred this morning, and then think about how you handle your personal information.

I received a phone call this morning informing me of over $1,300 worth of fraudulent charges approved on a credit card under my name, along with another approx $2,000 worth of pending charges. All occurring as-of yesterday afternoon. Though the creditcard company has reversed all charges, they noted there are two processes I can use to further protect my credit:
The least invasive is a "fraud or security alert." This is a statement added to your credit report asking issuers to check with you prior to issuing credit. Unfortunately, there is no law that requires issuers to honor this request, so it only works about 50-70% of the time. The placement of a fraud alert is free.

The process of filing an alert also serves to remove you the reporting agency mailing lists. No more junk credit offers! Yay!

This fraud alert is open for anyone to use, and unlike previous methods where you had to mail a letter, can be completed via telephone.
Contact information:
Experian: 888-397-3742
Equifax: 800-525-6285
TransUnion: 800-680-7289

Their second recommendation was to place a "Credit Freeze" with the three major credit reporting bureaus. For non-IDTheft victims there is an $8 charge with each agency, and I'm still trying to figure out how to actually proceed. To overview a credit freeze:
"...
Potential creditors, insurance companies, landlords and some employers doing financial background checks will be told that your report is unavailable for viewing. This does not stop you from getting credit but will slow down the process by several days. This is a trade-off and may be an inconvenience for some consumers. Security freezes are not for those who apply for credit or change jobs frequently.

If you want credit- you can ask the business which agency they use and just thaw that one agency's report. If they don't know, you will need to thaw all 3 reports. Reports can be thawed for a period of time or for a specific company to see. Neither of these processes will affect your credit score but both will prevent you from getting "instant" credit. That is the trade-off for higher levels of information security.

Each time you wish to qualify for a loan, credit card, tenancy or a job, you will need to "thaw" the report. This takes about 3 days. It may interfere with a rapid need for your report. This is an important consideration to keep in mind. However, it will also stop thieves from opening accounts.

In ITRC's opinion a freeze is the best form of identity theft protection currently available, but by no means is it a 100% guarantee of safety. Companies can, and will, issue credit without looking at a report. However, you have a very strong argument as to the fraudulent nature of that account. For many of us the freeze not only brings peace of mind but finally gives us some measure of control to our financial security.
..."

Further information.

I hope this information helps someone...

Data powers of ten

nospam@example.com (Gregg Berkholtz) — Tue, 23 Sep 2003 05:22:00 +0000

“Data Powers of Ten” in this version was written by Roy Williams of the California Institute of Technology in the mid-1990s. It is no longer available on his own site...

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