New domain: SuperMarioDiplomacy.com

Please update your bookmarks, I’ve moved to SuperMarioDiplomacy.com. All the previous posts and comments and everything else now exists there, I just needed more flexibility so hosting it on my end was the way to go.

I don’t like you, WP.com

Most of my CMS installations in the past have either been Drupal or WordPress, but they’ve always been self-hosted. This is the first time I’ve ever used an installation hosted elsewhere, out of my control.

So when I realized that WP.com runs advertisements on users’ blogs, let’s just say I wasn’t too pleased.

There’s going to be a few changes – mainly, I’ll be getting a domain name and self-hosting this blog in the next couple of days.

How to watch Hulu overseas without a proxy server

For the last couple of years, I’ve mostly ditched TV and have used Hulu or live Internet streams, instead (I’m a tech geek). Hulu is amazing – you can watch many of your favorite cable shows online in high quality, usually the day right after the show airs on TV.

Since Hulu is a joint venture of ABC, NBC, and Fox, they’ve blocked overseas IP addresses from accessing Hulu. Of course, to expats, that’s simply unacceptable. People who have been able to get around this issue have used proxy servers, which can get complicated sometimes, so a Reddit submitter (thanks to 200iso and MarshallX) found a way to watch Hulu overseas without using a proxy server. My (somewhat) abbreviated directions are below:

(For Windows or Mac OS X)

1. Download Firefox (if you don’t already have it) – http://www.firefox.com

2. Download “Modify Headers” add-on – http://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/967

3. Install and restart Firefox

4. Go to “Tools” and then “Modify Headers”

5. From the drop down box on the left, click “Add”

6. Enter: “X-Forwarded-For” in the first input box without the quotation marks

7. In the second box, type in the IP adddress of any US web site - (Try this to find them)

8. Leave the last box empty and save

9. Click “Configuration” on the right and check “Always On”

10. You need to block a few ports, sounds more difficult than it actually is.

Mac Users:

Launch Terminal and type

sudo ipfw add 0 deny tcp from any to any 1935
sudo ipfw add 0 deny udp from any to any 1935

Windows Users:

Section A – Add an “IP Security Policies on Local Computer” snap-in to MMC

1. In Windows 7/Vista you can just click Start and type “mmc” minus quotes and hit Enter, but in XP you click Start > Run > type “mmc” minus quotes and hit enter.
2. Click File and then Add/Remove snap-in
3. Select “IP Security Policy Management” and click the Add button in the middle.
4. A wizard will pop up, leave it on “Local Computer” and click Finish.
5. Back in the Add/Remove snap-in window, click OK.

Section B – Create an IP Security Policy for Hulu

1. Back in the main MMC window, click to select “IP Security Policies on Local Computer”
2. Click Action at the top and then “Create IP Security Policy”
3. In the wizard, click Next.
4. Create a name for the policy, I chose “Hulu IP Security Policy”. Click Next.
5. Requests for secure communication? Whatevs, click Next.
6. Uncheck the edit box and click Finish.

Section C – Create an IP Filter List of tcp/udp ports you wish to block.

1. Back in the main MMC window, click to select “IP Security Policies on Local Computer” again.
2. Click Action at the top and then “Manage IP Filter Lists and Filter Actions”
3. Under the “Manage IP Filter Lists” tab, click Add.
4. Give the filter a name. I chose “Hulu TCP/UDP Block”.
5. Click Add. When the “Welcome to IP Filter Wizard” comes up, click Next.
6. I didn’t bother with a description…click Next.
7. For the source IP address, choose “Any IP Address” and click Next.
8. For the destination IP address, choose “Any IP Address” and click Next.
9. For protocol type, choose “TCP” and click Next.
10. Choose “To this port” and enter 1935 in the box and click Next.
11. Click Finish.
12. Back in the “IP Filter List” box you should have 1 IP filter for TCP port 1935.
13. Follow steps 5 to 11 once more, substituting UDP instead of TCP.
14. Back in the “IP Filter List” box you should have 2 IP filters for TCP and UDP on port 1935.
14. Click OK.

Section D – Add an IP Filter Action so MMC knows to block the above tcp/udp ports.

1. You should now be back in the “Manage IP Filter Lists and Filter Actions” window.
2. Click the “Manage Filter Actions” tab at the top and then click the Add button.
3. Welcome to the IP Security Filter Action Wizard, click Next.
4. Give the action a name, such as “Hulu Block” and click Next.
5. On the “Filter Action General Options” screen, select “Block” and click Next and then Finish.
6. Back in the “Manage IP Filter Lists and Filter Actions” click Apply and then OK.

Section E – Create an IP Security Rule combining the IP Filter List and IP Filter Action from above.

1. Back in the main MMC window, right click the new IP Security Policy and click Properties. (e.g. Hulu IP Security Policy from Section B.)
2. On the Rules tab, click Add.
3. Welcome to the Create IP Security Rule Wizard, click Next.
4. Leave the Tunnel Endpoint on “This rule does not specify a tunnel” and click Next.
5. For Network Type, select “All Network Connections” and click Next.
6. IP Filter List? Select “Hulu TCP/UDP Block” and click Next.
7. Filter Action? Select “Hulu Block” just like above and click Next.
8. Click Finish.

Section F – Assign the Hulu IP Security Policy.

1. Back in the main MMC window, right click the “Hulu IP Security Policy” and click “Assign”
2. After closing Firefox and opening it again, you should be able to use Hulu.

If you’re still reading and managed to get this working, awesome. Keep in mind that by making it seem that your IP address is based in the United States, you won’t be able to properly access sites that you want to know where you actually are, so you can always just disable the add-on when not using Hulu.

source: Reddit

State Dept Issues 5 FAM 790: Social Media Guidelines

[H/T to Diplopundit, for bringing those not in the know the update with the new FAM regulations.]

In an earlier post, I discussed the need for the State Department to hand over the steering wheel to personnel and let employees and families engage with the public.

At this time, I will be taking full credit for the new regulations (you’re welcome). Generally speaking, the State Department encourages families and employees to use social media, according to this addition to FAM. There is nothing that surprising in here (just use common sense, folks) but one item did catch my attention.

5 FAM 792.3 (a) states that, “Department personnel may access and contribute content on social media sites in their official capacity.”

This is a very smart move. State Dept. is not only saying, “Hey, you can have a personal blog, just follow the rules”, but they’re also allowing people to blog underneath their umbrella, which still allows State Dept. to retain control. The medium is the message, after all.

But does that section mean that you might have a Foreign Service Officer reply on a social media website to a thread, as a Foreign Service Officer? I don’t want to be on Facebook or Twitter and start seeing links shared to me or content that is Dugg all by FSOs.  I know that the line is drawn at “significant content” but it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.

Read the entire document here.

iPhone 4 vs DSLR

The highly anticipated iPhone 4 will be in stores this Thursday. As everyone knows, it comes with video calling and shoots video in 720p. Since the phone I’m using is my old iPhone 2G (unlocked & jailbroken with T-Mobile, take that AT&T), I’m in the market for a new phone, but I’m also in the market for a top notch camera.

If you’re going to be traveling, it’s practically a must for you to take something that will let you capture those once in a lifetime moments. I used my Flip Mino in Rome and it worked wonderfully (minus the fact that it doesn’t take pictures). But what if I can combine everything into one gadget?

DSLRs start at approximately $800 and lenses cost a significant amount of money. But they offer extremely high quality, ranging from 720p to 1080 and 60 frames per second and the necessary vibration reduction features. They’re also quite bulky and scream “STEAL ME” in certain countries. The iPhone 4 starts at $600 (no contract) and takes video in 720p but 30 frames per second but has nowhere near the features that a DSLR provides.

If you could combine all the tools that you need into one gadget, even if it means a reduction in quality, why would you choose not to?

Short video shot with an iPhone 4

Cello vs Dog.

Please excuse my horrible writing. It’s 2am. Thanks

I’ve been playing the violin (or at least, attempting to) for a number of years now. Maybe 7, 8 – I’ve lost count. In January, I began to learn how to play the cello and under the guidance of an incredibly patient teacher, I quickly picked up on how to play this beautiful instrument.

The reason I decided to turn to the cello is not only because I think it sounds better than the violin (watch the video below), but also because I have lots of energy and I get distracted pretty easily yet I’m also a bit of an introvert. Whenever I’ve been overseas, this has been my biggest obstacle. By studying the cello and lugging it around with me, I can devote my time and passion into something that I’ll value and appreciate.

I’ve also considered adopting a dog but I doubt it’s a good idea. I’ve never owned a pet before (unless you count Dr. Skinny, my goldfish that committed suicide) and leaving a pet by itself from 8am to 6pm simply isn’t fair to that pet. Until I talk to FSOs about their pet experiences overseas, I’m going to hold off on the dog and instead try to refocus my attention on the giant cello that I put in the attic. But, I must admit, Email from the Embassy and Travel Orders provide me with more than enough FSO-doggie entertainment for now. I’d love to hear anyone else’s experiences with dogs in the comments below.

The world’s greatest short story, Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1

Summer

I decided to be marked as “Do Not Call” on the register until the September 13th class. Going right into work straight after graduation wasn’t my idea of fun. So this summer I’ll be unwinding and hanging out with old friends back home.

Biggest highlight? Doing absolutely nothing.

Sort of similar to the last 4 years of college, but with a little more New York flavor. This is the first summer in years that I’m not working and it’s a strange feeling with weird effects. For example, my sleep cycle is all messed up. I wake up at 3pm and I go to bed at 11am. I think this is frowned up in the real world. Let’s see what happens in September, I guess.

In the meantime..WORLD CUP!!