How to have Twitter when you’re not allowed to have Twitter.

Due to a change in our network security policy, I lost access to Twitter. To be accurate, I lost access to a lot of websites and services, but what really cost me was Twitter. I don’t mind not being able to watch Youtube, I don’t mind losing access to services like Yousendit or Wetransfer (although I got to admit this can make my life a bit more difficult at times), but Twitter was too much. So, I decided to find a way to be able to use Twitter while at work.

Disclaimer: What I did could be considered a violation of company policy. Although it’s good for educational purposes, please consider talking to whoever is responsible for your network.

Before I go any further, let me describe the situation a little bit better. What we use is a type of DNS Blacklisting. I am fairly sure that except from blocking and redirecting DNS requests, there’s also IP blacklisting, since I was not able to access blocked sites even when I tried using the IP in a browser. Besides that, port #53 is also blocked, so the standard “ok use another dns server like 8.8.8.8 (Google’s main dns server)” tip, forum members and internet gurus tend to give you, does not work.

Fortunately, DynDNS domains were not blocked. My good old VIA EPIA would do the rest. This time, I decided to take an extra step to making it silent and decided not to use an HDD. Instead I used an 1GB Compact Flash where I mounted /boot and swap space and an 8GB usb flash drive for the rest of the installation. I chose to go with Xubuntu after trying Damn Small Linux and Nimblex, just because I feel more comfortable with Ubuntu. I have to warn you that what I did was probably not a very bright idea. Both CF and the usb are very slow, but for my purpose it is just fine.

After I finished installing, I set up SSH (check to see if it’s legal where you live), SAMBA and then, the most brilliant program ever written: TTYtter. A console Twitter client!

So, the only thing I have to do, is fire up puTTY, connect to the VIA and enjoy a nice Twitter session. It really took my some time to getting used to it, but I assure you despite the fact that it’s command line only, it is more than usable. Yeah I know, my award for the most ridiculous solution will soon be delivered, but in my defense, what I did is a lot faster than using remote desktop or vnc.

If you cannot live without a proper Twitter client (or another piece of software with a gui for that matter), consider running a remote X-Server. If you are on a Windows machine try messing around with cygwin, but expect no help from me. If you have access to a Linux box however, the only thing you need to do is run ssh with the -X  (ssh -X username@server)parameter. Sweet, huh? Combine that with a sweet little program called screen and you will be able to run as many programs as you want.

Have fun!

A lot of projects, A little time…

Lately, all over WordPress, there are these nice identical summaries of the most successful posts for 2010, which the helper monkeys were kind enough to send each blog owner. Don’t get me wrong, I like this idea and I implemented it on this blog too. It is a good chance to browse through your old posts, check the statistics and get a general idea about where you’re heading.

What I came to realize, is that I do not post often. Not as often as I would consider ideal at least. According to every pro writing tip out there, keeping a steady flow of new material, is one of the key points that will determine the success of your blog. Not the only one, not even the most important one, but a key point none the less. As you probably noticed, I don’t do that. Before you classify this as another “I wish I wrote more often whining“, let me say that the one and only reason I am not a more frequent writer, is because I am.

See, for the past few years, I’ve been a regular author at a Greek comic site, Comicdom, where (you guessed it) I write posts about comics. This blog on the other side, has seen a couple of reboots and the last time this happened, I decided I wanted to keep it a bit more “technical” and talk about my various encounters with technology and those weird machines called “computers”. I sometimes do write about other things, sure, but I would like to stay on the “information highway” for the most part.

Last time I saw WordPress’ editor, I was writing about a VIA Epia and my plans for it. I said, I wanted to set it up as a torrent client and an FTP server and I would post more on the subject. Well, I did set up an FTP Server and I did document the procedure, but I chose to do it on Instructables instead of here. I apologize for referring you to another site, but I have my reasons. You see I’ve been a member on Instructables, which I think is a wonderful site, all this time, I have borrowed ideas and techniques from other members and have not contributed even the slightest to the community. At least, I am proud for dealing with a subject not already covered, and for writing a detailed How-To and it has a good 400 views so far, so I guess I was a bit helpful to someone.

I wanted to post this here too, so there would be a conclusion to the previous post and keep things tidy in my head. I even got to setting up rtottent (a command line torrent client), but I really don’t think that this is something post-worthy.

Right now, there are a number of things waiting to happen, I don’t know how many (or if any) will be realized, therefore I will not make any announcements what so ever. Just like the title says: Little time..