Rural Geek

Rural Geek

January 17, 2022

OMG I’ve Been HACKED!! (Or Not)

I had to laugh when I got this email posted to the “postmaster@” address of this domain. For those unfamiliar, the “postmaster@<domain>” address is required by an Internet standards for SMTP mail domains. Every domain that supports the SMTP protocol for electronic mail is required by RFC 5321 and, as early as 1982, by RFC 822, to have the postmaster address. So the “postmaster@<domain>” is the email for the administrator of the domain. Note that the Postmaster (computing) Wikipedia entry also adds, “Since most domains have a postmaster address, it is commonly targeted by spamming operations.” As this is the...

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January 1, 2022

Looking for a New Shared Web Host and the SSL Trap

I use shared web hosting services for several of my personal websites. None of them get much traffic and they’re not critical (except maybe to me) so I can’t justify the cost of expensive web hosts for them. So I’m a budget hosting buyer. That said I’m always on the lookout for a good web hosting deal. Last year my domain hosting service, Namecheap, had a special on shared web hosting so I thought I’d give them a try as I’ve always been satisfied with the domain hosting services they provide. Last year their “Stellar Plus” plan was offered for...

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June 12, 2012

A Search for a Faucet Ceramic Cartridge

We recently discovered that our kitchen sink faucet was leaking. When I disassembled the faucet, I found that the outside housing of the ceramic cartridge that controls and mixes the water flow in the faucet was broken in several places, causing the leak. Removing the cartridge was quick and easy.  It involved first removing the little hot/cold indicator button on the handle (prying it out with a small knife blade), revealing the hole to the handle set screw.  After loosening the set screw the handle can be removed. Next, the rounded top collar can be unscrewed (in my case I...

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August 14, 2008

Tag Heuer Link Bracelet Adjustment

My wife got me a Tag Heuer Link watch for our wedding anniversary. Of course the metal bracelet/band needed adjustment for my chicken wrist.  I thought of taking it to a jeweler but decided I could probably save myself the time and do it myself.  I like being independent and not counting on others for jobs/tasks I can do myself.  Additionally it gave me the opportunity to examine how the bracelet was put together. I’ve previously adjusted watch bracelets on my Seiko and Movado ESQ watches.  I’ve also replaced the batteries in many different watches so I’m not a novice...

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