Get Plonked: How to get Banned from the Linux Kernel
TL;DR→ All of the patches submitted to the Linux Kernel by researchers from the University of Minnesota have been reverted and all future contributions from @umn.edu email addresses will be flatly ignored. What follows is a cautionary tale of how not to conduct research using human subjects.
In short, the Linux kernel developers noticed that researchers from the University of Minnesota were submitting patches to the kernel that were introducing vulnerabilities.
The Master's Tools
TL;DR→ In order to build an evil empire, one must be able to build. To build things that are robust and long lasting requires the carefully honed skill of the master. Mastery is required if one is to become an effective supervillain. It is important to develop a deep knowledge and mastery over the tools required for one’s schemes.
Devlog: Pneuma
TL;DR→ Producing propaganda takes priority for prospective pernicious persons. As a supervillian, it is important to be able to reach your audience and propagate your ideas. This blog is my version of that and for the last while I have been using the static site generator Hugo after migrating from Wordpress (see this post).
Deathrolling for Gold
TL;DR→ Money is the root of all evil. Our evil endeavors can only succeed if we are well funded. More so, our funds should come from either an untraceable or laundered source. While cryptocurrency is a viable payment method that seems reasonably untraceable, let us not stake our funds on a somewhat volatile market.
Be Static to Go Faster
TL;DR→ One of the important factors in being a supervillain is that you need to be able to get your word out there. This can be for multiple reasons such as recruiting henchmen, drawing the ire of heroes, networking with other supervillains, and the list goes on. For an incipient supervillain such as myself, this comes in the form of my blog.
Devlog #4: Tempo
TL;DR→ First of all, let me apologise in advance. This is going to be a somewhat lengthy one. I had gotten caught up in the development and rounding out of the features, and neglected to report on the progress. However, as it currently stands, the app is in a functional state. So much so that I have been using it consistently in my daily life already, despite some missing features that make it a bit frustrating to use.
Devlog #3: Tempo
TL;DR→ At the end of the previous devlog I used AsyncTasks to implement the very basic “Add Task” functionality. Next I set to work getting the other most important feature working: the “flow mode”. The flow mode is where the Pomodorro technique I discussed in the very first devlog is applied. All it shows is a timer and the task you are supposed to be focusing on.
Devlog #2: Tempo
TL;DR→ At this stage the first major functionality of the app has been implemented.
With this devlog I cover how I added data persistence of the tasks as well as the “Add Task” functionality. I used the Room library that comes as part of Android Jetpack for expediency, but nonetheless I had some stumbling blocks and learning points along the way.
Devlog #1: Tempo
TL;DR→ In my last devlog for my productivity app Tempo, I discussed how I had created a CustomView for my Task object, how I would add them directly to my main ConstraintLayout, and how I fixed the layout by using LayoutParams.
In this post, I set out thinking how I was going to discuss implementing the “Add Task” functionality and managing the list of tasks in the MainActivity.
Devlog: Tempo
TL;DR→ As a supervillain, I would like to ensure that my minions and peons are working at maximum efficiency. The following post (and probably series) describes my journey in creating a tool that will help them stay productive.
This leads me to a question: What tomatoes, egg timers, and university have in common?
Arming Henchmen: Hacking Guns
TL;DR→ I recently watched a video on Wired about a person who found multiple ways to exploit a ‘smart gun’. You can watch that video here.
TL;DR the gun is accompanied by a watch that, when it is close enough to the gun, allows it to shoot. The hacker is able to not only make the gun fire without having the watch nearby, but is also able to jam the signals between the watch and gun and prevent it from firing.
Hello World!
TL;DR→ You might have found yourself here and asked yourself the following questions, “How did I get here? Why am I reading a blog about a malignant enterprise? What is the point of the universe if it’ll end in a massive heat death anyway?”, to which I have the answers (except for the first and last one).