Hi, I'm new to this Webmaster Stuff

[randy48]

MY name is Randy and I've gone by the handle of Randy48 for a number of years.

I'm obsessed with Distributed Computing and that's why I decided to put up a web site.

Extreme DC (http://www.extremedc.com)

If you're not fimilar with the term, it essentially is the linking of many computers over the Internet to solve a problem...more or less building the largest "Super Computer" in the world!

Seti is one of these type projects, the Search for Extra-Terrestial Intelligence. Others include RC5 and ECCp-109 - these involve trying to decipher an encrypted message. Also United Dynamics (UD) Think (Cancer research), Genome@Home and Folding@Home (messing with genes to find a cure for disease).

It's alot of fun! If you're interested, visit my site and join one of my teams:)

Did I mention that several of these contests have $1000 US prizes;)

My current site is just temporary. As soon as I figure out how to install Ikonboard, it will be a true forum!

Thanks for taking the time to read this mess!

And Admins, a great idea to have a forum site for users to get and give help. I'm glad I signed on with PowWeb:D

[TakeIT2]

Hey Randy,

great idea for a site!

As it happens the other morning as I was going over the forums here, I got an email. It was the IBM developers nework newsletter and in it was an article I thought you might like on dc, just thought I'ld pass it along.

http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/TSpaces/papers/ComputerNetworks.pdf

It is not totally in the same flaver of your site but I thought i'ld run it past you.

you did a prety nice job on your site for a newbie:)

let us know how it goes...

Paul

[earlj@moniz.org]

Randy48...

[[If that's the year you were born, so was I... 10/10/48]]
Your site looks wonderful... I'd never guess you were new at this sort of thing...

Anyhow, letting people come in and tinker with the innards of my computer while I'm not watching sounds a little extreme in itself...

How does anyone prevent "invaders" from coming around and doing some dastardly things to the computers they visit?

Later... Earl J.

[randy48]

Earl, noone "goes in and tinkers"! The programs run in the background on your computer and only utilize the "unused cycles of your processor". No one can use the client software to access your computer!

These projects are mainly run by major universities, students work the projects as part of their thiesus/graduate work. It's all for science and medical research and accomplishes several things:

1. It helps the students
2. It helps mankind
3. It helps you get more involved with your computer
4. Helps you meet new people
5. Keeps your computer happy by giving it something to do when you're not around :)

[earlj@moniz.org]

Randy,
thanks for the reply...

I knew if it worked so well, it must NOT be the sort of thing that lets people run amok inside someone else's computer... :)

Later... Earl J.