Catherine Conner
cat
American digital medievalist expat living in Germany
Homepage: http://www.floppysheep.com
Posts by cat
Don’t Use These Passwords — Make a Better One!
Jun 14th
Lots of people have asked me recently about how to choose secure passwords. Not only does this article show you some of the most common passwords in use (don’t EVER use any of those! 
) but includes a short video with some easy tips on how to create a secure, yet memorable, password.
In Memoriam
May 30th
To all members of the American military past, present, and future: thank you. Thank you for your sacrifices, your bravery, and for protecting my right to think and speak as I believe. Because of you I have the right to disagree in safety with the powers that send you to war, if I disagree with their reasons to send you. Then, especially then, I value your service even more.
The Newspaper
Apr 28th
Even in a crowded room it is possible to be lonely.
In a room reeking of conversations and coffee, I am here alone, a casualty of the endless progress of newer and faster. Those around me converse with small shiny objects, beeping and flashing. Or with machines showing them brilliant moving paintings, music, endless scrolling text, all the raw words in the universe — prepackaged yet unfiltered.
Sometimes I understand: how can I compete with that? My information is dated, my interaction rigid. Compared to the conversations flowing around me, my presentation is stilted, inflexible. I can be eloquent, but only when allowed the time to speak.
I don’t know the latest jokes, the trendiest phrases; I can’t respond dynamically to your witticisms, or feed you the compliments that you beg for. I cannot participate in the social code swirling around me; I am aware of it, but it is always just beyond my capability. I can communicate only on my own terms. But I will also let you be you; I don’t expect you to change for me, I don’t decide whether you conform to my idea of what you should be before we can talk.
Please. It may take some effort on your part to understand me, to get to know me, to interact with me on my own terms. But I have thoughts and wisdom of my own to offer, if you will only take the time to let me. Pick me up. Please.
Rare Star Trek Pictures
Jan 3rd
Some great historical photos behind the scenes of one of my favorite series of all time.
http://slightlywarped.com/crapfactory/curiosities/2010/rare_star_trek_photos.htm
Alphabet Soup: What Do All Those Graphic File Formats Mean?
Oct 6th
A few weeks ago I gave a computer class where I was asked about the differences in common image file formats. Lo and behold, Lifehacker came out with a simple article that covers the basics, and gives some rules of thumb for which to use and when.
What’s the Difference Between JPG, PNG, and GIF? (Lifehacker.com)
Using Public WiFi Safely
Jul 9th
My friends are constantly surprised when I tell them how unsafe public WiFis can be. I’ve explained this multiple times to multiple people in the last several weeks. Then I came across this great Lifehacker article that spells out the dangers and the solutions, so I’m posting it for people to use as reference. Happy (and safe) surfing!
World Cup Fever in Germany Reaches New Lows
Jul 8th
Okay, so I saw this World Cup themed toilet paper in the stores two days ago, before Germany’s 1-0 loss to Spain last night. But since then my curiosity about this product has started to get the better of me, and after our team’s performance last night, bottom-wiping seemed an appropriate World Cup theme. So by popular demand, I here document my experience with my freshly purchased World Cup Toilet Paper (“Soccer-field Scented!”).
"World Cup Edition 3-Layer Toiletpaper with Colorful Soccer Motifs. With Soccer-Field Scent!"
The Thirteen Virtues of Benjamin Franklin
Jun 17th
Centuries before the self-help movements began, people already understood the basic need to better themselves. Benjamin Franklin created what we would call a “to-do” list of 13 areas of his life he wanted to improve; he even charted his progress weekly. I think everyone will find at least a few of these familiar. It’s heartening to learn that even the best of us are human — we all struggle against some of the same tendencies as those of our ancestors.
Ben Franklin’s Thirteen Virtues (quoted from Franklin’s autobiography)
Germans and Colors
May 26th
This post via BoingBoing has everything I could want in one article — a discussion of linguistic and cultural differences between German and English, a sprinkling of medieval history, and beer:
