Watch that input - and the flu

January 20, 2013
Editor: Dave Uphoff

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Some of our viewers may have noticed an error page displayed when they attempt to enter data into an input form such as an email or news item on MinonkTalk. The reason for the error page is that edit criteria has been added to this website in an attempt to prevent malicious input. Web sites all over the world are constantly fighting off attempts by hackers to enter unwanted data into their web pages. MinonkTalk is no exception.

In the past month attempts by hackers from Germany, Russia, and Romania to enter unwanted data into the MinonkTalk web pages have been thwarted. To keep the website secure, certain keywords have been put on the deny list. This means if a certain word or character is entered, the input will be rejected and an error page will be displayed. I don't want to reveal all the keywords that are being rejected for fear of tipping my hand to potential hackers. However, one key character which is being rejected is a double dash which I can't enter here because it will reject this editorial. This character is often used by hackers in an attempt to enter malicious data into a website. So if you have input rejected and an error page is displayed, review your input to make sure a double dash is not entered.

Regarding the current state of affairs, Minonk has not eluded the flu epidemic that is sweeping the country. Judy has been down with the flu for 10 days and is still not back to full strength. This year's flu seems especially virulent. According to the experts, the best thing to do when you have the flu is to get plenty of rest and drink plenty of liquids. I remember as a child that my grandparents would drink hot tea with a little bit of whiskey and honey to alleviate the effects of a cold or flu. Currently the CDC is recommending the prescription drug Tamiflu which sells for a whopping $106 for 10 pills, which would buy 5 bottles of Jack Daniels and a jar of honey.

The winter so far has been rather mild with no appreciable snow although we did receive an inch of rain a few weeks ago. Farmers are worried about the dryness of the subsoil and say that a lot of rain is needed before the planting season. Maybe we can get members of Congress to do a rain dance? And while we're at it, why not have the Republicans be cowboys and the Democrats be Indians and they can play Cowboys-and-Indians like we did as kids? Such an exercise would be no less effective than what they are currently doing in Washington and would reflect the current state of affairs between the two parties. Psychiatrists would call it "acting out". But then that term is usually reserved for adults.