How well does the Stock data type work in MS Excel?

 Microsoft introduced the Stock datatype previously. It does work with a few minor points of irritation. Still, I recommend this program for retail, individual investors with the usual warning that you do so at your own risk.

The problems I have noticed are the following:

1. New IPOs take considerable time to appear, sometimes weeks

2. Suddenly you start seeing the message that some of the items could not be updated, etc.

3. Recently, the Excel program is getting sluggish (not all the time but enough to cause discomfort) and the controls for FILE, Data, View, etc. get slowed down to the extent, you rapidly lose heart and interest.

4. Sometimes the stock data type does not get updated even after using the 'Refresh' control. Only one submenu item gets enabled in the 'Refresh, button.

5. Interestingly if you create a new instance of the stock in a different cell, it gets updated.

The program should work without these hitches if it has to be taken seriously.

This is the version of Office365/Excel I am using on Windows 10 (x64) with the most current update:




Here are some pictures of misbehaving Excel sheets:

Obviously, the feedback has been sent a couple of times.


Here are some links if you are not familiar with the STOCK data type in Excel.

How do you use the stock data type in MS Excel?

https://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-do-you-use-stock-data-type-in-ms.html


Does Stock Analysis with Microsoft Excel Work?

https://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2016/03/does-stock-analysis-with-microsoft.html


How do you extract financial data from the web using MS Excel?

https://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2020/06/how-do-you-extract-financial-data-from.html


How do you create a moving average using MS Excel?

https://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2017/10/how-do-you-create-moving-average-using.html




Good luck!

How many COVID-19 Virus variants have been identified?

 A number of COVID-19 variants have appeared, first time in many parts of the world but seems to be spreading to other countries. Increased travel and relaxing will only promote spreading virus variants and controlling the virus spread will be difficult. 

Here is an image of collated information from various sources (obviously incomplete) across the Internet.

 

Here is a list of variants identified by MAKO laboratories.

Here are some links that you may be interested in (the titles are in bold):

 

Covid-19: The E484K mutation and the risks it poses

https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n359

Covid-19: Novavax vaccine efficacy is 86% against UK variant and 60% against South African variant

https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n296

Scientists In US' Oregon Find B.1.1.7 Variant With 'E484K', Mutation Also Found In India

https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/scientists-in-us-oregon-find-b-dot-11-dot-7-variant-with-e484k-mutation-also-found-in-india.html

Another New Coronavirus Variant Now Detected In 13 Countries (B.1.125)

https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/global-event-news/another-new-coronavirus-variant-now-detected-in-13-countries.html

How do I install CURL in Windows 10?

 CURL is a very important application. It facilitates transferring files over networsks or the Internet.

It can work with HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and SMB protocols

You can use it in different scenarios such as with emails, FTP sites, download/upload files etc.

You do not need to install CURL. Being such a useful application it is no ownder it is bundled with Windows 10.

Here is the help file and you can find what you want to do here:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>curl --help

Usage: curl [options...] <url>

     --abstract-unix-socket <path> Connect via abstract Unix domain socket

     --anyauth       Pick any authentication method

 -a, --append        Append to target file when uploading

     --basic         Use HTTP Basic Authentication

     --cacert <CA certificate> CA certificate to verify peer against

     --capath <dir>  CA directory to verify peer against

 -E, --cert <certificate[:password]> Client certificate file and password

     --cert-status   Verify the status of the server certificate

     --cert-type <type> Certificate file type (DER/PEM/ENG)

     --ciphers <list of ciphers> SSL ciphers to use

     --compressed    Request compressed response

 -K, --config <file> Read config from a file

     --connect-timeout <seconds> Maximum time allowed for connection

     --connect-to <HOST1:PORT1:HOST2:PORT2> Connect to host

 -C, --continue-at <offset> Resumed transfer offset

 -b, --cookie <data> Send cookies from string/file

 -c, --cookie-jar <filename> Write cookies to <filename> after operation

     --create-dirs   Create necessary local directory hierarchy

     --crlf          Convert LF to CRLF in upload

     --crlfile <file> Get a CRL list in PEM format from the given file

 -d, --data <data>   HTTP POST data

     --data-ascii <data> HTTP POST ASCII data

     --data-binary <data> HTTP POST binary data

     --data-raw <data> HTTP POST data, '@' allowed

     --data-urlencode <data> HTTP POST data url encoded

     --delegation <LEVEL> GSS-API delegation permission

     --digest        Use HTTP Digest Authentication

 -q, --disable       Disable .curlrc

     --disable-eprt  Inhibit using EPRT or LPRT

     --disable-epsv  Inhibit using EPSV

     --dns-interface <interface> Interface to use for DNS requests

     --dns-ipv4-addr <address> IPv4 address to use for DNS requests

     --dns-ipv6-addr <address> IPv6 address to use for DNS requests

     --dns-servers <addresses> DNS server addrs to use

 -D, --dump-header <filename> Write the received headers to <filename>

     --egd-file <file> EGD socket path for random data

     --engine <name> Crypto engine to use

     --expect100-timeout <seconds> How long to wait for 100-continue

 -f, --fail          Fail silently (no output at all) on HTTP errors

     --fail-early    Fail on first transfer error, do not continue

     --false-start   Enable TLS False Start

 -F, --form <name=content> Specify HTTP multipart POST data

     --form-string <name=string> Specify HTTP multipart POST data

     --ftp-account <data> Account data string

     --ftp-alternative-to-user <command> String to replace USER [name]

     --ftp-create-dirs Create the remote dirs if not present

     --ftp-method <method> Control CWD usage

     --ftp-pasv      Use PASV/EPSV instead of PORT

 -P, --ftp-port <address> Use PORT instead of PASV

     --ftp-pret      Send PRET before PASV

     --ftp-skip-pasv-ip Skip the IP address for PASV

     --ftp-ssl-ccc   Send CCC after authenticating

     --ftp-ssl-ccc-mode <active/passive> Set CCC mode

     --ftp-ssl-control Require SSL/TLS for FTP login, clear for transfer

 -G, --get           Put the post data in the URL and use GET

 -g, --globoff       Disable URL sequences and ranges using {} and []

 -I, --head          Show document info only

 -H, --header <header/@file> Pass custom header(s) to server

 -h, --help          This help text

     --hostpubmd5 <md5> Acceptable MD5 hash of the host public key

 -0, --http1.0       Use HTTP 1.0

     --http1.1       Use HTTP 1.1

     --http2         Use HTTP 2

     --http2-prior-knowledge Use HTTP 2 without HTTP/1.1 Upgrade

     --ignore-content-length Ignore the size of the remote resource

 -i, --include       Include protocol response headers in the output

 -k, --insecure      Allow insecure server connections when using SSL

     --interface <name> Use network INTERFACE (or address)

 -4, --ipv4          Resolve names to IPv4 addresses

 -6, --ipv6          Resolve names to IPv6 addresses

 -j, --junk-session-cookies Ignore session cookies read from file

     --keepalive-time <seconds> Interval time for keepalive probes

     --key <key>     Private key file name

     --key-type <type> Private key file type (DER/PEM/ENG)

     --krb <level>   Enable Kerberos with security <level>

     --libcurl <file> Dump libcurl equivalent code of this command line

     --limit-rate <speed> Limit transfer speed to RATE

 -l, --list-only     List only mode

     --local-port <num/range> Force use of RANGE for local port numbers

 -L, --location      Follow redirects

     --location-trusted Like --location, and send auth to other hosts

     --login-options <options> Server login options

     --mail-auth <address> Originator address of the original email

     --mail-from <address> Mail from this address

     --mail-rcpt <address> Mail from this address

 -M, --manual        Display the full manual

     --max-filesize <bytes> Maximum file size to download

     --max-redirs <num> Maximum number of redirects allowed

 -m, --max-time <time> Maximum time allowed for the transfer

     --metalink      Process given URLs as metalink XML file

     --negotiate     Use HTTP Negotiate (SPNEGO) authentication

 -n, --netrc         Must read .netrc for user name and password

     --netrc-file <filename> Specify FILE for netrc

     --netrc-optional Use either .netrc or URL

 -:, --next          Make next URL use its separate set of options

     --no-alpn       Disable the ALPN TLS extension

 -N, --no-buffer     Disable buffering of the output stream

     --no-keepalive  Disable TCP keepalive on the connection

     --no-npn        Disable the NPN TLS extension

     --no-sessionid  Disable SSL session-ID reusing

     --noproxy <no-proxy-list> List of hosts which do not use proxy

     --ntlm          Use HTTP NTLM authentication

     --ntlm-wb       Use HTTP NTLM authentication with winbind

     --oauth2-bearer <token> OAuth 2 Bearer Token

 -o, --output <file> Write to file instead of stdout

     --pass <phrase> Pass phrase for the private key

     --path-as-is    Do not squash .. sequences in URL path

     --pinnedpubkey <hashes> FILE/HASHES Public key to verify peer against

     --post301       Do not switch to GET after following a 301

     --post302       Do not switch to GET after following a 302

     --post303       Do not switch to GET after following a 303

     --preproxy [protocol://]host[:port] Use this proxy first

 -#, --progress-bar  Display transfer progress as a bar

     --proto <protocols> Enable/disable PROTOCOLS

     --proto-default <protocol> Use PROTOCOL for any URL missing a scheme

     --proto-redir <protocols> Enable/disable PROTOCOLS on redirect

 -x, --proxy [protocol://]host[:port] Use this proxy

     --proxy-anyauth Pick any proxy authentication method

     --proxy-basic   Use Basic authentication on the proxy

     --proxy-cacert <file> CA certificate to verify peer against for proxy

     --proxy-capath <dir> CA directory to verify peer against for proxy

     --proxy-cert <cert[:passwd]> Set client certificate for proxy

     --proxy-cert-type <type> Client certificate type for HTTS proxy

     --proxy-ciphers <list> SSL ciphers to use for proxy

     --proxy-crlfile <file> Set a CRL list for proxy

     --proxy-digest  Use Digest authentication on the proxy

     --proxy-header <header/@file> Pass custom header(s) to proxy

     --proxy-insecure Do HTTPS proxy connections without verifying the proxy

     --proxy-key <key> Private key for HTTPS proxy

     --proxy-key-type <type> Private key file type for proxy

     --proxy-negotiate Use HTTP Negotiate (SPNEGO) authentication on the proxy

     --proxy-ntlm    Use NTLM authentication on the proxy

     --proxy-pass <phrase> Pass phrase for the private key for HTTPS proxy

     --proxy-service-name <name> SPNEGO proxy service name

     --proxy-ssl-allow-beast Allow security flaw for interop for HTTPS proxy

     --proxy-tlsauthtype <type> TLS authentication type for HTTPS proxy

     --proxy-tlspassword <string> TLS password for HTTPS proxy

     --proxy-tlsuser <name> TLS username for HTTPS proxy

     --proxy-tlsv1   Use TLSv1 for HTTPS proxy

 -U, --proxy-user <user:password> Proxy user and password

     --proxy1.0 <host[:port]> Use HTTP/1.0 proxy on given port

 -p, --proxytunnel   Operate through a HTTP proxy tunnel (using CONNECT)

     --pubkey <key>  SSH Public key file name

 -Q, --quote         Send command(s) to server before transfer

     --random-file <file> File for reading random data from

 -r, --range <range> Retrieve only the bytes within RANGE

     --raw           Do HTTP "raw"; no transfer decoding

 -e, --referer <URL> Referrer URL

 -J, --remote-header-name Use the header-provided filename

 -O, --remote-name   Write output to a file named as the remote file

     --remote-name-all Use the remote file name for all URLs

 -R, --remote-time   Set the remote file's time on the local output

 -X, --request <command> Specify request command to use

     --request-target Specify the target for this request

     --resolve <host:port:address> Resolve the host+port to this address

     --retry <num>   Retry request if transient problems occur

     --retry-connrefused Retry on connection refused (use with --retry)

     --retry-delay <seconds> Wait time between retries

     --retry-max-time <seconds> Retry only within this period

     --sasl-ir       Enable initial response in SASL authentication

     --service-name <name> SPNEGO service name

 -S, --show-error    Show error even when -s is used

 -s, --silent        Silent mode

     --socks4 <host[:port]> SOCKS4 proxy on given host + port

     --socks4a <host[:port]> SOCKS4a proxy on given host + port

     --socks5 <host[:port]> SOCKS5 proxy on given host + port

     --socks5-basic  Enable username/password auth for SOCKS5 proxies

     --socks5-gssapi Enable GSS-API auth for SOCKS5 proxies

     --socks5-gssapi-nec Compatibility with NEC SOCKS5 server

     --socks5-gssapi-service <name> SOCKS5 proxy service name for GSS-API

     --socks5-hostname <host[:port]> SOCKS5 proxy, pass host name to proxy

 -Y, --speed-limit <speed> Stop transfers slower than this

 -y, --speed-time <seconds> Trigger 'speed-limit' abort after this time

     --ssl           Try SSL/TLS

     --ssl-allow-beast Allow security flaw to improve interop

     --ssl-no-revoke Disable cert revocation checks (WinSSL)

     --ssl-reqd      Require SSL/TLS

 -2, --sslv2         Use SSLv2

 -3, --sslv3         Use SSLv3

     --stderr        Where to redirect stderr

     --suppress-connect-headers Suppress proxy CONNECT response headers

     --tcp-fastopen  Use TCP Fast Open

     --tcp-nodelay   Use the TCP_NODELAY option

 -t, --telnet-option <opt=val> Set telnet option

     --tftp-blksize <value> Set TFTP BLKSIZE option

     --tftp-no-options Do not send any TFTP options

 -z, --time-cond <time> Transfer based on a time condition

     --tls-max <VERSION> Use TLSv1.0 or greater

     --tlsauthtype <type> TLS authentication type

     --tlspassword   TLS password

     --tlsuser <name> TLS user name

 -1, --tlsv1         Use TLSv1.0 or greater

     --tlsv1.0       Use TLSv1.0

     --tlsv1.1       Use TLSv1.1

     --tlsv1.2       Use TLSv1.2

     --tlsv1.3       Use TLSv1.3

     --tr-encoding   Request compressed transfer encoding

     --trace <file>  Write a debug trace to FILE

     --trace-ascii <file> Like --trace, but without hex output

     --trace-time    Add time stamps to trace/verbose output

     --unix-socket <path> Connect through this Unix domain socket

 -T, --upload-file <file> Transfer local FILE to destination

     --url <url>     URL to work with

 -B, --use-ascii     Use ASCII/text transfer

 -u, --user <user:password> Server user and password

 -A, --user-agent <name> Send User-Agent <name> to server

 -v, --verbose       Make the operation more talkative

 -V, --version       Show version number and quit

 -w, --write-out <format> Use output FORMAT after completion

     --xattr         Store metadata in extended file attributes

C:\WINDOWS\system32>

You may also be interested in other CURL posts:

HodentekHelp: Search results for curl

Is nasal delivery of COVID-19 vaccine available?

 Yes, it is going into Phase I and Phase II testing.

The COVAXIN vaccine developed by Bharath Biotech is now getting ready to try the nasal variant, which according to Dr. Gillurkar from a site chosen to monitor COVAXI vaccine efficacy. As COVAXIN is whole-virion inactivated, it targets all parts of the virus and makes it more effective.

Source: Gillurkar's Hospital- Facebook

The Nasal variant in a Phase I and Phase II study will start at Dr.Gillurkar's Hospital in Nagpur, India. The injectable variant Phase I and Phase II studies were completed at this hospital. According to Dr. Gillurkar, "We are all set to host the trials for nasal Covaxine in next two weeks. Enough scientific evidences are available that vaccines given through nasal route are more effective than injected ones". 

The other advantages of nasal route are no brainer. It will drive the cost so far down that it may emerge as the most preferred.

Read more at:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/80127595.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst "


Also read:

https://www.msn.com/en-in/health/medical/covaxin-controversy-doctors-in-trial-sites-chosen-by-icmr-say-human-trials-cant-be-fast-forwarded-anticipate-6-month-observation-period/ar-BB16oNfo

Is an electric battery without lithium or zinc feasible?

Looks like it is. The Aluminum | Air battery appears to be feasible. Actually, it is a fuel cell rather than a traditional battery. Well, it is not rechargeable but do not worry. Just pull out the Aluminum electrode and replace it with a fresh electrode. This is just the kind of device needed for a country like India which does not have significant lithium resources. The nice thing is, these batteries can be produced 100% indigenously.

The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is in collaboration with Israel for the development of these batteries and IOC (https://iocl.com/aboutus/profile.aspx) is a serious company.

Read more here:

https://www.electrive.com/2019/08/31/indian-oil-aims-to-produce-battery-cells/

Mahindra is also interested. Maybe the auto-rickshaws will run on these. I pray this happens, the low-grade gas these run on is responsible for most respiratory ailments.

https://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/indian-oil-and-israel%E2%80%99s-phinergy-test-aluminiumair-battery-on-mahindra-treo-78264

Ashok Leyland is also interested:

https://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/ashok-leyland-israels-phinergy-develop-electric-cv-solutions-27814

Even Renault and Nissan are interested: Watch the YouTube Video

https://youtu.be/KRlxwTNnq9E

Source for the above: https://www.hybridcars.com/renault-nissan-to-use-phinergys-aluminum-air-battery/

Video source:https://www.autoblog.com/2019/10/22/aluminum-air-electric-car-battery/

What are the capabilities of the Signal app?

 

Signal protocol used by Signal provides end-to-end encryption for voice, video and instant messaging. It was developed by Open Whisper Systems in 2013 and it was later introduced to create the open-source TextSecure App. 

Signal protocol development is based an earlier protocol called TextSecure by Whisper systems. Later encryption of voice lead to the RedPhone. All of this together got into Signal. another company called G Data Software launched a messaging app called Secure Chat which used Signal protocol. Google's Allo messaging app also uses Signal. Google discontinued Allo in favor of Messages app on Android. Microsoft and Whisper Systems announced Signal support for Skype in an optional Skype feature called Private Conversations.

Signal App can do most of what WhatsApp can do. This is because, WhatsApp is based on Signal. The WhatsApp's Status feature uses Signal to secure its contents. Facebook has a feature called Optional Mode, Secret Conversations in Facebook messenger which provides end-to-end encryption using an implementation of the Signal Protocol.

Signal has a long history of its encryption features that has been leverage by many. 

Summary based on Wikipedia article: 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_Protocol

Which is better 'Google Translator' or Bing Translator?

This time around, I found that Bing did a more reasonable translation (almost perfect) than "Google". You can check it for yourself. Google had no clue for some of the words or phrases. I picked up an answer in Quora in Spanish to translate.

The following passage was randomly chosen.

"El ius primae noctis o "derecho de la primera noche", también conocido como "droit de seigneur" era la práctica supuesta por la cual un señor feudal tenía derecho a tomar la virginidad de cualquier niña campesina en sus propiedades. A pesar de ser supuestamente una práctica generalizada en la Edad Media, no se menciona en ningún documento medieval, caso legal ni en ningún otro lugar. No se menciona en absoluto hasta el siglo XVI, donde se afirma que fue una práctica en algún momento del pasado. Voltaire lo consideró una práctica histórica y sus referencias a él en sus escritos satíricos llevaron a la creencia generalizada de que había sido un verdadero derecho feudal medieval. Desde entonces, el mito de esta práctica se ha perpetuado en varias novelas e historias populares y, más recientemente, en la película Braveheart.

Al igual que con las historias sobre el uso de "cinturones de castidad" y otras prácticas ligeramente espeluznantes atribuidas a la Edad Media, parece ser un mito posterior que se proyectó en el período medieval como una forma en que los caballeros podrían tener un poco de prurito reírse al amparo de hablar de historia. No hay evidencia de que alguna vez fue una práctica genuina."

This is what Google Translator provided:

"The "primate nocoche", also known as "droit de seigneur", was the supposed practice for the feudal señor tenia derecho to take the virginity of any girl in her properties. Despite being supposedly a widespread practice in Edad Media, no medieval document is mentioned, no legal case anywhere. It is not mentioned in absolute terms the siglo XVI, where it is said that it was a practice at some time in the past. Voltaire considered it a historical practice and its references to his satirical writings brought to light the general truth that there was once a true medieval feudal end. Since then, the myth of this practice has been perpetuated in several popular novels and stories and, more recently, in the Braveheart film.

As with stories about the use of "chastity belts" and other slightly sparkling practices attributed to Edad Media, it seems to be a later myth that was projected in the medieval period as a way in which men could have a bit of time. prurito reirse alparo de hablar de historia. There is no evidence that it ever was a genuine practice.

This is from Bing Translator:

"The ius primae noctis or "first night right", also known as "droit de seigneur" was the supposed practice by which a feudal lord had the right to take the virginity of any peasant girl on their property. Despite being supposedly a widespread practice in the Middle Ages, it is not mentioned in any medieval document, legal case or anywhere else. It is not mentioned at all until the sixteenth century, where it is claimed that it was a practice at some point in the past. Voltaire considered it a historical practice and his references to it in his satirical writings led to the widespread belief that it had been a true medieval feudal right. Since then, the myth of this practice has been perpetuated in several novels and popular stories and, more recently, in the film Braveheart.

As with stories about the use of "chastity belts" and other slightly creepy practices attributed to the Middle Ages, it seems to be a later myth that was projected in the medieval period as a way for gentlemen to have a little itching to laugh under the cover of talking about history. There is no evidence that it was ever a genuine practice.'