You might wonder how fast your internet connection is. A typical way to do this is to download a large data file from someplace on the Internet, and to see how long it takes. You might wonder whether somewhere along the way, the data file is getting compressed. The way to eliminate that possibility is to pick a data file that is incompressible. To do this, you simply need to make sure the content of the data file is truly random. With this in mind, I offer a couple of PNG image files that are truly random in content. You can use them to test how fast your internet connection is.
Can’t or won’t use Let’s Encrypt? Cheap SSL cert
Summary: The savvy webmaster in 2018 should probably be using the free-of-charge and very convenient Let’s Encrypt system for “https://” certificates on web sites. But this post mentions that for the webmaster who can’t or won’t learn how to use Let’s Encrypt, and who instead stubbornly carries out annual (and fiddly manual) certificate renewals using SSL certificates that cost money, there is a certificate authority that provides SSL certificates for a mere $8.88 per year instead of the $60 or $149 per year that the webmaster is paying now.
If you have a web site, you should probably forward this blog article to your webmaster. Hopefully he or she will be able to tell you that either (a) you are already using Let’s Encrypt or (b) you are only paying $8.88 per year for your SSL certificate!
Continue reading “Can’t or won’t use Let’s Encrypt? Cheap SSL cert”
Design Day 2018
Design Day 2018 will be Wednesday, April 25, 2018. As usual it will take place in the auditorium in the Madison Building in Alexandria, Virginia.
Design Day always sells out. As soon as I learn of the signup opportunity I will post it in this blog. If you are planning to attend, please be sure to sign up right away before it sells out.
Korean search fee to increase April 1
The search fee paid by US filers for the Korean International Searching Authority (for the first invention) will increase on April 1, 2018 from $1134 to $1218, an increase of about seven percent.
The nice inexpensive fee at ISA/KR for the second through n-th inventions will, however, remain unchanged at a mere ₩225000 (about $208 at today’s exchange rate). Continue reading “Korean search fee to increase April 1”
Monthly disk health reports
Our office, like most offices these days, is paperless. (Well, not exactly paperless. We go through many reams of paper per week. But I digress.) Being paperless, our important files are all maintained on file servers. Imagine how one’s office would be brought to its knees, or worse, if a such electronic files were to be lost! Which brings me to the concept of monthly disk health reports.
Learn about PCT in Austin
PCT Learning Center will sponsor a two-day program about PCT in Austin. This will be April 11-12. Note that I will not be a presenter at this program.
To learn more or to register, click here.
Learn about PCT in Dallas
PCT Learning Center will sponsor a two-day program about PCT in Dallas. This will be April 9-10. Note that I will not be a presenter at this program.
To learn more or to register, click here.
Learn about PCT in New Orleans
There’s a nice opportunity to learn about PCT coming up soon in New Orleans. I will be teaching two and a half days about PCT, on April 18th through 20th. This program is sponsored by Patent Resources Group.
To find out more, or to register, click here.
Learn about PCT in Glendale
There’s a great opportunity to learn about PCT, coming soon in Glendale, California.
I will be teaching a day and a half about PCT. This is part of a four-day program for IP Support Professionals. This is March 5-8, 2018. It is sponsored by Patent Resources Group.
For more information, or to register, click here.
Learn about PCT in Minneapolis
There’s a great opportunity coming up to learn about PCT. It is a one-day program sponsored by the Schwegman firm and by WIPO. Wednesday, April 11. Yours truly will be the presenter.
It is astonishing (in a good way) that the Schwegman firm will be making this program available free of charge. If you know someone who is with the Schwegman firm, tell them “thanks”. I really mean this. Call them up or drop them an email, or thank them in person. This is really a nice thing that the Schwegman firm does for the patent community.
To find out more, or to register, click here.