Comments for My Maxwell Minute

Comment on Trello – Great free alternative to Pivotal Tracker, JIRA by Dan

Dan — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:58:33 +0000

If you’d like a tool for managing your time and projects, you can use this web-application inspired by David Allen’s GTD:

Gtdagenda.com

You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, and a calendar.
Syncs with Evernote and Google Calendar, and also comes with mobile version, and Android and iPhone apps.

Comment on To Iowans: Still having Mediacom Internet Problems? by joe

joe — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:41:20 +0000

i have been trying this for a week now, and i still cannot connect to any website! Are there any other suggestions on how to fix this?

Comment on To Iowans: Still having Mediacom Internet Problems? by Mike

Mike — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:53:42 +0000

Thank you! Thank you! I have been struggling with intermittent internet connections that has been driving me nuts. Mediacomm rebooted that modem, I checked the router, and could not find a solution. I searched the internet and did see a number of hits suggest it is a DNS problem. Finding your post was the most helpful of all as it gave a specific solution. I configured my dlink router to use the 2 DNS servers you mentioned and now the problem is completely resolved!

Comment on Best SSIDs on my Roadtrip – Part 2 by David

David — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 06:50:06 +0000

Mine is “$10.95/minute wifi” and my dad has mentioned several times, why are you connecting to this?!!? it’s $10.95!!

Comment on To Iowans: Still having Mediacom Internet Problems? by Chris

Chris — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:39:53 +0000

I’ve also been having major latency and timeout issues with Mediacom’s DNS servers, which started several months ago in the Des Moines area. I’ve done some nslookup testing every few days, and nothing seems to be improving. With DNS being such a common ISP service, it’s baffling to me that this hasn’t been resolved yet.

Your post is a great recommendation that provides an instant fix – I would further add that if you have access and feel comfortable enough, the new DNS servers you want to use should be configured in your Router, so that all computers connecting to your network for Internet access can have these new DNS Server addresses issued to them automatically via DHCP. That way you only make the change in one location, instead of manually on every computer.

There are many, many Public DNS Servers out there to use in place of the problematic Mediacom one’s (see below for list).

Personally, I like using Level3 because both their Primary and Secondary DNS Servers will automatically route your DNS request to the nearest local/regional DNS server operated by Level3 Communications (largest Internet backbone in the US). Level3 DNS provides exceptional performance.

Google has also developed a tool that you run locally on your PC/Mac called “Benchmark”. Basically, using algorithms, browsing data and your ISP’s performance, it hunts down the fastest DNS servers available for your computer to use. http://code.google.com/p/namebench/

Here’s a list of the most common Public DNS Servers used in the US (Updated April 2012):

Level3 [1]
209.244.0.3
209.244.0.4

Google [2]
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4

Comodo Secure DNS
8.26.56.26
8.20.247.20

OpenDNS
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

DNS Advantage
156.154.70.1
156.154.71.1

Norton DNS
198.153.192.1
198.153.194.1

ScrubIT [3]
67.138.54.120
207.225.209.77

OpenNIC [3]
69.164.208.50
216.87.84.211

Public-Root5
199.5.157.131
208.71.35.137

[1] The DNS servers listed above as Level3 will automatically route to the nearest DNS server operated by Level3 Communications, the company that provides most of the ISPs in the US their access to the Internet backbone.

[2] Google also offers IPv6 public DNS servers: 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844.

[3] ScrubIT also offers “filtered” DNS servers that restrict access to pornographic and malicious web sites. Those DNS servers are 67.138.54.100 and 207.225.209.66 and you can read more about it here.

[4] The DNS servers listed here for OpenNIC are just two of many in the US and across the globe. Instead of using the OpenNIC DNS servers listed above, see their complete list of public DNS servers here and use two that are close to you. OpenNIC also offers some IPv6 public DNS servers.

[5] These Public-Root DNS servers are the only two currently operating in the United States but if you’re located ouside the US, see their complete list here and choose the best servers based on your location.

Comment on The Wireless AP in the Wall by Max

Max — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:59:37 +0000

Funny fact about this:
Last year my family put in addition on our house, right behind this wall. As a result this wall was removed to open the rooms up more. So the wireless AP in the wall is no more .

Oh well, it was awesome while it lasted! Good proof of concept still.

Comment on Ames School Board Suspends Superintendent Dr. Beyea, Will Vote to Terminate by Penny

Penny — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 01:46:36 +0000

Can anyone tell me how this situation was resolved. I’m in shock that any school district would fire Linda Beyea. I worked with her for years and was always impressed with her professionalism. If anyone can shed light on this matter, I’d really be greatful.

Comment on Senior Trip: Road Trip Through Colorado – Day 6 by Kimberly Bell

Kimberly Bell — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:05:16 +0000

diarrhea can sometimes be cause by spoiled foods or salmonella*:-

Comment on Ethernet Cable Spaghetti by Charles Lawson

Charles Lawson — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:54:08 +0000

Thanks so much for posting this!!! The color coding is a simple, yet efficient way of taking care of a similar situation that I am having!

Comment on Senior Trip: Road Trip Through Colorado – Day 6 by Evelyn Ahmed

Evelyn Ahmed — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:34:17 +0000

one time i got diarrhea attack while riding on a long bus trip, it really sucks”.:

Comment on Senior Trip: Road Trip Through Colorado – Day 7 by Grace

Grace — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:25:21 +0000

i think you left something out…..

Comment on Senior Trip: Road Trip Through Colorado – Day 5 by Monica

Monica — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 07:15:17 +0000

I love Mesa Verde! Please tell me you had some fry bread. Hope you guys are having fun and not dying.

Comment on Senior Trip: Hiking in Colorado – Day 3 by ginger

ginger — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:17:59 +0000

max that is soo cool !! luv the picture- have fun !!!ginger

Comment on New DJ Site Lauched by David

David — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:29:28 +0000

I vote you also include a post with pictures of you fixing your laptop…

Comment on Ames School Board Suspends Superintendent Dr. Beyea, Will Vote to Terminate by Max

Max — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 06:35:33 +0000

I totally agree. But I guess that’s in the past now. We can only hope Dr. Tim Taylor does a good job!