Firefox 3.5.2 Released

Firefox 3.5.2 fixes the following issues:

• Several security issues.
• Images with ICC profiles now render properly on all monitors.

Please see the complete list of changes in this version. You may also be interested in the Firefox 3.5.1 release notes for a list of changes in the previous version.

Quad-Lock Unit Converter

From the website:


Unit Converter is a freeware tool that can take care of all your unit conversions even when offline. It has an easy-to-use interface and contains more than 900 units commonly encountered while solving engineering or everyday conversion problems. Other features include a function to Find Units and a Smart Input box that evaluates fractions, complex expressions etc. Everything is built into a single executable file so no uninstaller is necessary. Its small file size makes it easy to distribute among friends and co-workers.

Quad-Lock Unit Converter

Conficker Eye Chart

Check to see if your computer has been infected with the conflicker virus using graphics linked to security websites (AT the website; these are only examples)



From the website:

Conficker (aka Downadup, Kido) is known to block access to over 100 anti-virus and security websites.

If you are blocked from loading the remote images in the first row of the top table above (AV/security sites) but not blocked from loading the remote images in the second row (websites of alternative operating systems) then your Windows PC may be infected by Conficker (or some other malicious software).

If you can see all six images in both rows of the top table, you are either not infected by Conficker, or you may be using a proxy server, in which case you will not be able to use this test to make an accurate determination, since Conficker will be unable to block you from viewing the AV/security sites.

Go Ask A.L.I.C.E.

Talk with A. L. I. C. E. The Artificial Linguistic Internet Computer Entity

I have better conversations with my cat, but Alice is good for a laugh, especially when she wants to talk about her dress and I want her to take it off.

She's such a tease.

Online Email Protector

Note: I made the mistake of embedding my email addy into the graphic at the top of the right-hand column and paid for it by having my inbox deluged with spam. Obfuscating an email address using the following method isn't new, but I just didn't do it. -sigh-

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From the website:

Keep your email addresses safe when you post them on the web.

You can use the online email protector to stop people from stealing your email address when you post it online. To use, simply type you email address in the box and then click in either of the textboxes. You can use the simple link code, or the more complicated Javascript link. Either links will effectively mask and cloak your email address from spammers.

The code for my email address looks like this:



(screenshot graphic, because it won't render as all of the code)

Which creates this:
mikeintexas@gmail.com

Online Email Protector

iSerenity

NOTE to visitors: I've noticed quite a few hits on this post and will have to apologize to all who have found the link invalid. I don't have a clue as to why the website no longer exists.

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From the website:

Welcome to iSerenity - ambient sound environments at your desktop for relaxation and solitude. 31 sound and image environments to choose from, and counting.

iSerenity takes you away from your usual desktop setting and delivers you via a variety of sounds and image environments to a tranquil, private and entertaining space. iSerenity offers the capability of a sound machine without the added expense.

I'm not so sure about some of these; a cricket noise makes me nervous, afraid that it will suddenly hop onto my face just as I drift off to sleep. (it's happened!) A hair dryer? I'd be counting the kilowatt hours like sheep as it droned on. The crackling noise of a fire would put me to sleep, but not if it was a fire that was from an overheated hair dryer.

I could probably get to sleep after I threw the typewriter out the window, though.

Visit iSerenity

AT&T = P.O'd

Got this in my ISP mailbox the other day.

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Important Notice Regarding Discontinuation of LAUNCHcast Plus Service

Beginning in February 2009, CBS Radio will power LAUNCHcast Radio. LAUNCHcast Radio will still be accessible from the Yahoo! site. However, it will be hosted and operated by CBS Radio rather than by Yahoo!. As part of the transition to CBS Radio, the LAUNCHcast Plus premium service will be closing on February 12, 2009.

Existing AT&T customers will no longer receive LAUNCHcast Plus as part of their AT&T membership after February 12, 2009.

Even though the LAUNCHcast Plus subscription service will be discontinued, you will still have access to most of your favorite preprogrammed LAUNCHcast stations through the new CBS Radio-powered experience. The difference is that those radio stations will be supported by advertising and there will no longer be a commercial-free option.

With LAUNCHcast Radio powered by CBS Radio, you will also get access to some new features, including a new streaming radio player and CBS Radio's wide variety of local music, news, talk, and sports programming. The new radio player will also be compatible with Macintosh computers and Firefox and Safari browsers. Not all existing LAUNCHcast features will continue, however. Your custom "My Station" and "Moods" Stations will no longer be available after February 12, 2009. Additionally, you will no longer be able to add "Influencers" to your personalized "My Station."

There is no need to cancel or do anything with your service to make the transition to CBS Radio. Yahoo! will not transfer any of your account information to CBS Radio. You will not have to pay for the new LAUNCHcast service since it will be supported by advertising.

We hope you will enjoy our new radio experience and the broader range of radio stations that it will bring.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about LAUNCHcast Radio and the changes to the service, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions.

Radio station lineup is subject to change and we cannot guarantee that all stations will be available after the transition to CBS Radio.

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My bill keeps going up and they keep discontinuing services. I can't recall all that they've quit offering, but they discontinued their alt binaries access and their Briefcase barely works. I've got the investment in the DSL modem, but I've been thinking of going total cable: phone, TV and internet access for about the amount of money I'm paying now for my phone and internet.

I listened to my LAUNCHcast quite often, at least once or twice a week, sometimes more while I'm cruising the 'net. One reason I clung to Internet Explorer is because the service wouldn't work with Firefox, but after adding the "View in IE tab" to my Firefox browser, I could listen to it.

OTOH, I've checked out the CBS/AOL radio and while it doesn't have the features I liked about LAUNCHcast (I could click through a song I didn't like), the new service does have a wide variety of online radio stations.

Still...this was a service promised to me when I signed up and I think they owe me a discount! I am going to call AT&T tomorrow, see if they can knock some off my bill. I think people would be surprised at how accommodating these companies can be, especially since they're loathe to lose customers.

'Barack Obama Has Refused to Be a President'

Heads-up from JammieWearingFool about cloned Obama websites with the above title and having been outfitted with a computer virus.

The malicious websites originate from China. Whodathunkit? I thought the Ruskies and other ex-Soviet bloc nations had cornered the market on that sort of thing.

"Jammie" is one of my new favorite blogs I follow and a multiple winner of the famous Weblog Awards

They're not up there in searches for "sister's feet" like this one, though.

My Painting

(click graphic for larger view)

Nah, I didn't paint that; it was a photo I took last year of Ford the Mustang, but I used a new program called FotoSketcher on it.

My IrfanView has a similar feature, but without as many changeable parameters. I also liked the pencil sketches the program is capable of creating. It is extremely easy to use and the learning curve is barely one at all.

The results look cool, and I can't wait to try it on a few other favorite photos I've taken.

Download FotoSketcher

I Don't Like Spiders and Snakes

So, I wouldn't have any need for the software from JC Software, particularly the Exotic Keeper’s Record v1.2

(from the website)

Keep track of your exotic animal collection with Exotic Keeper’s Record.

Amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles are all covered, with a comprehensive list of scientific names ordered in an easy to navigate hierarchy for your convenience.

Details, such as feeding, molting, maintenance , breeding, health treatments and personal injury can all be recorded with a full history.

View your animal’s growth progress with an easy to use chart page. You can even compare the growth rate with another animal!

Custom and standard reports are generated in your choice of either HTML or text files.

You can keep track of purchases and sales and even breeding loans with a built in contact manager.

They LOAN out snakes? Sheesh.

If you don't like or have a need for that software, you might opt for The Tarantula Keeper’s Record v2.3

Spiders and Snakes - Jim Stafford

Morse Code Ringtone Generator

From the website:

This page converts text into a morse code ringtone playable on most mobile phones.If your phone can play 'polyphonic' or 'poly' ringtones it should work fine. If your phone has WAP internet access you should be able to download ringtones (for free) directlyfrom this site. You can also play them back and/or save them on your PC or MAC, oruse the Morse2Email feature to send morse messages to other people via email.

This is cool. I don't even have a cell phone, but this makes me want to get one so I can record something rude and have it as my ringtone.

On the other hand, the only people I'd piss off would be ham operators.

Morse Code Ringtone Generator

One free entry in ToTG's "Free Gas for a Month" contest to whoever can decipher the following message:

Speaking Clock

UPDATE: Apologies to anyone who came to this post and expected to find a speaking clock. Google did away with most file storage a while back, so the links no longer work. I forgot where I found the original files and script or I'd link to it. Sorry.

I had also altered one of the pages I had made with some sound files I had recorded of an online British friend I had at the time; I had her record all the little snippets "It's" "one", "two", etc. along with "o'clock" and "AM" and "PM". It was a lot of work but pretty cool. I made a start page w/ weather and news modules and had that script embedded in it.

Anyway, sorry the files are gone. I'm sure I still have them somewhere on this computer and could zip them up and send them to anyone if they wanted...and asked nicely. My email address is on a graphic in the right-hand nav bar.

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I'd forgotten I had some Google Page space and after running across the link in Favorites, was delighted to find out it could "host" some files for this site. I was thinking of using it for my calendar images and for a few other applications, but discovered they were going to discontinue it.

It still works for the time being, so check out this Speaking Clock script and page made with files I had forgotten I had. (some troubles with it, might need to refresh the page after entering)I didn't like the original voice on the files that came with the script, so I made my own using a Text to Speech site that had different languages and accents.

I've always been fond of how most British women talk, so I made files in that accent.

There's nothing else on the page, but was thinking of adding to here as an "iframe" with a clock, but face it, most folks will look at the clock on their computer for the time.

I'm sure that it would piss people off, too. I can dig that. I don't go often, but there's another Texas blog that has a loud "YEEHAW!" when I enter. I'm always forgetting it's there and not prepared for the sound through my headphones.

I still like it as something to add to a "home-made" home page. It could serve a purpose, too, like a countdown because the script can be altered to have it repeat as often as you like.

Using a mike and the voice recorder on your computer, you could have your voice or any other person's for the clock.

(and would be willing to sit through an hour or more of recording "One", "Two", etc., all the way to "fifty-nine", as well as "The Time is" and "AM" and "PM")

Dunno if the script is buggy or if it's Google and their file hosting servers, but it sometimes skips "The Time is" and just blurts out the number. Oh well.

UK Female Voice Speaking Clock

Kuku Klock

My online pals know that I love alarm clocks. (Not the "real" kind, but the sort made with java or javascript.)

Don't trust your alarm clock? I set several to make sure I wake up on time. Now I can add another backup alarm with Kuku Klock, the online alarm clock.

Set the alarm and choose the sound you wish to use. The selections are a rooster, a classic clock sound, electronic buzz and "Slayer Guitar".

(if you can sleep through that last, you probably should go to bed earlier.)

Kuku Klock

"Designed to wake you up."

Color Worm

Anyone notice it?

Fade to Black

No, not about movies, nor am I talking about the end scene of the last episode of The Sopranos.

I leave my computer on most of the time (not too green here, sorry) but I do set my monitor to go off after fifteen minutes of inactivity. I really like the LCD monitor that came with this computer; it's flat and doesn't take up nearly the room as did my other computer monitors, and the picture is... well, was... nearly TV quality.

The other night I got up and lay down in my recliner to watch TV. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a "flash" and decided it was just my monitor going off.

Well, it went off all right. It bit the dust. The power light wouldn't come on, even with me trying another socket for the plug.

I thought to myself "Well, this might be a good thing; I can get some stuff accomplished, read a book, get out more, do a lot of things."

I did go get a couple of books but I didn't get too much accomplished. I DID get out; went to Wal-Mart to price monitors.

I knew I had the PC Jones when I kept going back to the computer, wiggling the plugs and wondering if I could use one of the monitors off one of the other computers I have. I went up to the library today to check Amazon or Wal-Mart for a replacement monitor, but all I could find online were used models of this type.

Went and talked to a computer guy; he said it would probably cost nearly as much to fix it as it would be to buy a new one.

So, earlier today I went back to WM and bought a new monitor. I bought a 19 in. model one (saving 40 bucks over the 20 inch model). It was fairly expensive, and I noticed that I could've bought a new computer, even a laptop, for a few hundred dollars more.

That's all I need, another computer. (and it did cross my mind, 'cept I'd have to go with Vista)

The recommended resolution is 1440x800, and it's driving me nuts. I know I'll get used to it, and I've tried other resolutions, but I can't get the font size to my satisfaction except with the recommended.

Like I said, I'll get used to it...about the time this monitor and/or computer bites the dust. Hope that's a few years down the road.

Maybe I can finish my books by then.

Picassa problems, practically picayune

Looks as though Picassa is having problems again. I've not been able to upload any photos today.

Most of my posts for the last several days, esp. the car show pics, are from the post-dating feature Blogger has provided us. That's a really nifty feature of these things.

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August 18, 2007

It happened only once, and was most likely due to me deleting some unused photos out of this blog's album.



At least someone has a sense of humor, huh?

Strange Error Message

This is a screenshot (altered a bit to get it all) I got a few minutes ago when trying to access a YouTube video.

I'm glad to see they have their team on it.

My HJT Log

New Software

I downloaded a duplicate file finder and set it to index my mp3 folder so I could get rid of any doubles of songs I've put into my jukebox.

The only trouble is, it deleted all of my Nickleback except for one song.

Snap Shots

Put in a new little widget from Snap Shots, will preview the links for you before you click, sort of like the Windows Live! does.



Lemme know what you think.