February 2002 Archives

There's something different about this post. It's coming from Bloggar - a Windows GUI for Blogger. It's quite a basic program, but it does its job, and it at least reminded me to update the archive template - it should now match in with the rest of the site. Will I use it in preference to the Blogger website? Perhaps. It does have the advantage that it isn't an IE Window which can somehow become used by something else, therefore causing me to lose quite a bit of typing. But having said that it isn't the most efficient program out there. But my first impressions are good, nonetheless.

Forget what I said about a short lunch hour - Computing was disbanded after about 10 minutes since all we needed to do was type out a simple program for writing to files, ready for the next lesson (Monday). However, I'm doing it now since it needs to be saved on my college work space and I'm hopeless for remembering disks, or remembering to turn on my FTP server. The program is in Turbo Pascal, which I hate because it is DOS only (okay, you can run it from a DOS Window, but it's not the same). I prefer a nice UI, preferably of the G variety.

TeXHeX, the main man at Xteq, finally updated my profile with my new details - he also used E-Cloacker to mask our addresses from spambots. As a group we do occasionally get unsolicted mail from companies trying to talk us into including spyware (or scumware if you prefer) - don't bother guys, we are not interested. In fact, I'll talk the guys into including a "We are free of Scumware" button from the aforementioned site - if you're a programmer andhave the same attitude as us, I'd recommend you do the same - perhaps we can help discourage people.

Talking of spyware, I've just found a few nasties on this computer at College - namely something called 'SaveNow' which seems to pop up random adverts (I have Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel on my work area, just in case I see something I don't like).

Millennium Projects seems to be growing by the day - Julian suggested a number of extra links, and I've added a few extra myself, taking the total number of sites in the category up to 39. Ouch. I did finally find the web site for York's Millennium Bridge, not bad in terms of content, but the design is a little depressing. The photos are good though.

Today is the day of my french mock exam - 2½ hours long. Another ouch. Especially as my lunch hour is cut short by half an hour as a result. And I have a DME for Geography to hand in tomorrow. It's going to be a long night...

I think I've solved all of the template problems now - if you visited any time in the past hour you'll have noticed that either the sidebar text was too large or the body text was too large. Both should now be 'harmonious'. And if you're wondering, the pasta was delicious.

Where'd that sidebar come from? Yes, I've finally added a sidebar with my contact details and various links. Chris is the only person linking to me at the moment, hence the rather sparse 'Other blogs' section. If you link to me, drop me an email!

Talking of which, I've made use of E-Cloaker to convert my email address into UniCode to help thwart the evil spambots. And there's my ICQ number there too, should you wish to start a conversation/argument with me. And a guestbook, which I would be really happy if you could sign. It comes from Xavier Media, and is incredibly customisable, as you'll be able to see when you visit it. I'm not after your personal details, so don't publish your email address unless you want to, but I'd like to know how you got here and what you think.

Anyway, I'm about to sit down to Pasta Carbonara for dinner, made by mum using a Jamie Oliver recipe. See you in a bit...

First thing this morning the internet was still being a pain, but it seems to have returned to normal now.

Another new Security patch, for Windows 2000 and XP users - see 2000 and XP respectively. No TechNet bulletin as yet, though. You probably won't have to reboot after installing it, either - at least, I haven't on WinXP.

I've found another reason to install Linux... LMME. It lets you access MSN's IM network through a Linux computer, and although it is still in Alpha, it could prove uesful if I decide to jump on the open source bandwagon when I get my laptop. I'm looking at Mandrake, since I have it on CD-ROM (admittedly it's an old version - 7.1 I think) and it seems to be the easiest to use. And since I shouldn't have a WinModem to worry about, using the internet shouldn't be a problem - that's what has put me off being experimental in the past.

Ever wonder what the Open Directory Project servers run on? Now you know, courtesy of editor rpfuller. I never knew we had a Quake server...

Houston, we have connection problems... again. This time, it is taking an age to find servers. Eugh.

Nothing much to report from the doctor's, other than my lung capacity has increased since my last checkup (three months ago) - that means my asthma medecine is doing its job properly.

Here's an amusing article from the #odp chat room on the subject of Google's indexing bots - apparently they will even index servers that have robots.txt files telling them to go away. The difference is that the result won't appear in the directory, but may influnece the page rank rating of the site. Interesting.

Yay! I'm in the web archive! You can see what this looked like on Thursday 7th February 2002... okay, so it'll only take you back 19 days but give it time... And apologies for the double-posting earlier, I've only just had time to fix it - I only noticed it when I'd hit the 'publish' button...

Hello! Just a quick post before I go to doctor's for an asthma checkup - I've been drinking water all afternoon to make sure I can produce a reasonable urine sample. I'm sure you're all incredibly enlightened by that.

In case you don't know, Lockergnome has just launched yet another newsletter, this time a weekly one for webmasters, in co-operation with Sausage Software. It looks interesting - if that sort of thing tickles your fancy, sign up at the Lockergnome home page. That means I'm now subscriber for 6 out of the 8 available - I don't subscribe to the Penguin Shell (used to before Christmas, but lost interest since I don't have Linux and wasn't quite so keen on Tony's writing style) or the Tech Digest, but I do get the daily newsletter. Actually the Tech newsletter was the last I subscribed to, and to be honest, now that I've subscribed I'm kicking myself. Like Chris and Jake, Randy makes his reports interesting for people who are only slightly interested in the subject. In fact, I usually only read the first part of Jake's newsletter - it's that bit which I like the most.

I now have a virus scanner in Windows XP. Well, actually, I've had once since Saturday, but forgot to post it here :). I got rid of McAfee 5.0 in the end, and am now using GriSoft AVG 6.0. It's one of the few XP-compatible ones, and it is free to anyone not in mainland Europe (so that includes the UK). There is also a professional version, which is available as a 30-day trial - Europeans have to use this.

I have used AVG in the past on my previous computer, but removed it since it was hanging on Windows startup and the only way I could boot up was to use Ctrl+Alt+Del to end its task (and often a few others). So it got the kick, eventually. This time, no real problems - Windows did say that it had crashed the first time I ran it, yet it carried on regardless. I have however disabled the system tray applet because it was really hampering system performance - everything was noticably slow, particularly as this computer is only just competent enough to run Windows XP. But I can still run it every weekend or when I think something funny's going on. I've still got McAfee 5.0 on Windows 98, though.

Which reminds me, later this week I'm going to need to reinstall Windows 98 - it's reached a level of instability that makes it impossible to use for more than about 20 minutes. I am going to need to seek advice first though, as somehow I need to retain its multi-boot abilities. I'll also have a look at adjusting partitions so that my D drive is larger - there's quite a bit of wasted space on C that could be used on D. Though on the other hand, after May I almost certainly won't be using this computer so much, since I'll have my own laptop, and not at all after September, since I won't be here, so it probably won't matter. Though my parents will need to be able to use the computer still, so I'd better get Windows 98 working while I'm still here....

Ooh.. it's gone 3pm - time to go for my check up - see you later!

Argh! Darn connection! I've spent a rather bored morning trying to do my usual browsing, but it seems that there's a problem with NTL's DNS servers which mean a number of sites just don't work at all, including the Guardian and the ODP, and crucially, Hotmail. What really takes the biscuit was that Trillian reported that I had new messages but I couldn't pick them up! It also means I can't link to the rather useful site I found in my French lesson with information about the Presidential Elections in April. Google seems to be working though... and ezBoard, though only with the Proxomitron running and with images disabled. Oh well... lunchtime for me :).

Just me signing off for the night - you can see my work on Millennium Projects if you like. Managed 21 links, with the help of some of the other UK eds.

axcion in the #ODP chatroom pointed me to this page - it lest you buy a T-shirt with the standard Apache 404 message on it! How cool is that?

Well, probably as cool as some of the items in the Google Store or GnomeStore.

It seems that Chris is the only other blogger linking to me - see my BlogDex report for the full details. Sometimes I wonder who else is reading this - if you're also a blogger, give me a link and I'll link you back. That's why I'm holding off a permanent link section - not much point...

Actually, a quick read of Chris' blog brought this posting up about domain registrars, and as an ODP editor I have to agree. In fact, I'm going to comment on it.

The Observer ran an article by Andrew Sullivan in their News Review section (which doesn't appear to online sadly) about blogging, and included the obligatory mention of Blogger.com. While Bloggler is by no means the best blogging system out there, it certainly is the most popular, and for all its faults I still love it. In fact, I'm very tempted to part with some money for the Pro version, though I'd like a look at Radio first - Randy Nieland uses it for his Furo.com blog. Yup, now two of the Gnomes have blogs - Chris is still keeping his C:\pirillo.com blog going. In fact, if you count Gretchen, that makes three of them.

Maybe I'm in a minority here, but I've only just discovered Computer Stupidities - a collection of mostly true stories of stupidity on the part of the less computer literate out there. Some of them are very amusing, but it sometimes beggers belief at how stupid some people are - even my parents aren't that stupid. In fact, my grandfather is probably more PC-literate than some of the people there.

Talking of amusing PC web pages, have a look at this spoof MS site about 'MS-Linux'. Never knew that GPL = Gates Private License...

Over at the ODP, after spending the morning sorting out Doncaster Business & Economy I updated UK Localities with the new localities that I've created in both North and South Yorkshire. Or rather I requested the updates - I'll have to wait for someone to add them. I'm now about to set down to create UK Millennium Projects, a future category which I'm putting together. Not an easy job, but someone's gotta do it...

Yesterday was another day of idiotic weather - one minute it was sunny, the next we were caught up in a blizzard! We stayed at home yesterday, mostly for that reason... I also got my HE1 form filled out - this is the form that entitles you to student loans when at university, and perhaps the occasional grant too, though coming from a well-off background means I won't receive much in grants. Which is fair enough - the more I get, the less people who really need it get.

Looks like WhiteHous.gov has been affected by a Bushism - see http://www.whitehouse.gov/response/ or see this snapshot if it has disappeared.

Darn... my connection has dropped again. It does it now and again - something to do with my set-top box, I think. Luckily, turning it on and off solves the problem. Another uneventful day ahead, by the looks of things.

Man, the weather is being peculiar. Five minutes ago, it was terribly blustery, with rain pounding against the windows. Now it's sunny, blue sky, and a bit of wind. Bizzare.

Not much happening today - having an extra hour and a quarter at home due to lack of Geography is great for unwinding. I still have just under an hour before I need to back, yet I've been home two hours already. It's great!

And congratulations to our Great British Curling Team for getting a Gold medal in the Olympics - first winter gold we've had since Torvill & Dean in 1984 for ice skating. And I wasn't even alive when that happened. Ouch.

Yup... back to the updates of little interest to anyone... I'm in the LRC at college, waiting for the painfully slow internet connection to load pages on dMoz. It used to be fast until they added more computers to the network - one T3 connection for several hundred computers really isn't all that adequate. As I look over my shoulder, I see a few people hogging the bandwidth with pointless Flash movies - don't get me wrong, Flash is a good thing when used properly, but when you're sharing an internet connection with someone who browses one too many Flash sites, then you'll be wanting to rip their head off pretty quickly. Darn bandwidth hoggers, as the people in #ODP would say...

Microsoft have released yet another update to Windows XP, this time to fix problems with chkdsk.exe. I installed it this morning, thus meaning I had to reboot for the first time in 4 days. Actually, I just turned the computer off and left it, so when I return I'll have to boot it up. Since optimising my system (by clearing out unwanted services) using a link I found in Lockergnome last week (I'd give it to you, but with this connection being so slow it'll take me until next year before I found the issue with it in), booting up has been somewhat quicker (1 minute 30 secs, a saving of about 20 secs), and booting from hibernation now takes a mere 20 seconds. I haven't noticed a big difference in operating speed but no doubt there has been one - it certainly is quicker than Windows 98 ever has been.

Actually, if you're at all interested what I'm using at the moment, I'm sat behind a Dell Optiplex GX110, which includes some kind of Intel Pentium III processor, 128MB of RAM, 10GB HD and no CD-ROM. Windows NT 4.0 is the OS, with IE5.0 as the browser, though Netscape 4.7 is also available. We're running Novell NetWare with Novell ZENWorks for distributing applications across the network, and Sophos Antivirus (supposedly) stops viruses/vires running around. I say supposedly since a certain Word 97 macro virus ran around the network before Christmas, infecting a number of student's files (including my own). Fortunately it wasn't a destructive one - it just blocked access to the VBA editor. I'm off to French now, see you all later :).

Another apology for the lack of updates - I'm still 're-habilitating' after Paris, so I've been doing less casual surfing and therefore haven't found much that's really interesting on the net. That, and I'm still rather busy.

Where have I been all this time?! Paris, actually :). Admittedly I've been back in Blighty since late on Wednesday night, but I've not really had the time to write a lengthy entry in here. Well, I do have the time now, so I'll keep you up to speed on what happened...

Well, I'm just about to go to bed now, ahead of the Paris trip tomorrow. We leave at 7am sharpish, so I need the sleep. I'll be keeping a diary while I'm away, which I'll post elsewhere on the net when I get back. See you all soon!

Nope, it's not Trillian. I think it's the fan, so I've left the cover ajar to let more air through the computer. I thought it might have something to do with my mum not shutting the computer down properly, but that's probably not the case. Darn.

Having said that, at least I can use Trillian again - I really like the interface, especially when using IRC. Other than that not much to report, except that I'm back to square one with SETI due to the crashes.

I've also stocked up on boiled sweets and Vodafone talk credit for Paris (2 days!!!), which, when combined with a Cadbury's Creme Egg, cost me £14.27! That has to be the most I've spent at Tesco, though £10 of that was talk credit. At least I got a Computers for Schools voucher :).

I think the problem is due to Trillian's IRC component, unfortunately. I'm logged onto Newwave's ODP chat server with mIRC now, so if the computer stays running I know where the problem lies. I tried restoring a backup from jv16 Power Tools, and then tried a system restore to Saturday, but the problem persisted. It'll be a real shame - I liked using Trillian for IRC too :(. Having said that, mIRC 6 looks good.

Something is wrong with Windows, and it's only started happening today. I keep getting BSODs. I'm hoping it's not got something to do with me using IRC through Trillian. Or due to me removing some vital registry entry yesterday with jv16 Power Tools.

The SuperBowl. Watched by 130 million Americans, and 130 other people. That's the thing about American football - it's American, and barely no-one plays it outside America. Same goes for baseball.

"Mini-me" is now a word in the English language! According to The Guardian, it is one of a number of new words added to the dictionary this year, as well as "Eurocreep", "bed-blocking", "MVVD", "nopo" and "brain-fingerprinting". I can't say I know who my mini-me is, but I'd sure like to have one. Now, where's my "laser"?

Lately I've been downloading the ITV Digital adverts, featuring Monkey and Al, played by Johnny Vegas. They are really funny (if that sort of thing tickles your fancy) and have acheived cult status - that explains the large link on their home page. I'd love to get a toy monkey, but it means actually signing up with them, which would be pointless since we already have a perfectly good package from NTL. If you do download the videos, bear in mind they're in MPEG format, and one of them is getting on for 35MB, so if you don't have broadband you'll be there for a while.

One interesting event I forgot to mention yesterday was that someone decided to put the end of a French baguette on our door handle. I don't know whether to get angry or to roll around on the floor laughing. Today my dad also found that he'd accidently thrown out one of the packs of rechargeable batteries out with the rubbish, so that's £10 down the drain. He's now kicking himself.

I've been having a few problems getting onto the Yahoo! IM network using Trillian, though the guys at the Trillian board were very helpful and told me to use a different server, which worked. Seems like I'm not the only one either. At least Yahoo! aren't taking a leaf from AOL's book and doing a mass kicking of users on unofficial clients.

I spent last night trying to get some decent customised ringtones for my Alcatel phone. Unfortunately Alcatel use a different syntax to Nokia (which is what most mobile sites use), though I came across Ringtones4All which did have Alcatel tones. About.com also have a link to UniRing which does a good job at converting ringtones from Nokia to other formats. Since my mobile only has two spaces for custom tones, I now have "The Final Countdown" by Europe and "Better Off Alone" by Alice Deejay. Since there are only 3 tempo settings the speed isn't quite right on either, but near enough.

Although my phone won't accept ringtones by SMS like Nokia phones, I find it interesting how people are prepared to pay quite a bit of money for a ringtone, yet will use a file sharing client to download the actual song for free. Strange.

I also spent last night and this morning putting together a guide to using mobiles in France. When I was at the meeting a few people were asking about it, and my French teacher clearly didn't know much, so I knocked up an idiot's guide based on information from the UK networks. Plus points go to Vodafone and Virgin Mobile, who had easily navigable sites with the information easily available. Genie on the other hand, were useless. I'm certainly considering moving to Virgin when I turn 18 (and am therefore old enough for a contract phone) since they seem cheaper than other networks, and students get a 10% discount. And their roaming access is cheap - calling the UK from abroad is only 55p/min and receiving a call is 30p/min. To put that into context, making a call in the UK at peak rate on my Vodafone tariff costs 35p/min - more if I'm calling a mobile on another network.

Editing in Yorkshire and the Humber is proving to be a little more difficult then I expected, since it as well as including the four parts of Yorkshire it also includes what used to be south Humberside (now North Lincolnshire and North East Linclonshire). Unfortunately there is little provision for this, so it's going through discussion. But once I've sorted out a few descriptions I'll probably be able to move onto another category - I have my sights set upon South Yorkshire; it's in a slightly poor state and will get me a lot of credit if I fix it. As you may be able to guess, I'm aiming at editing at England level sometime in future :).

Only 4 days until I go to Paris! I'm really getting excited now. Though I need to calm myself down and write a Geography essay.

...it's 02/02/02! Yes - one of the few days when the American date format and the date format everyone else uses matches up (most people use dd/mm/yy except the Americans who use mm/dd/yy for some bizarre reason...).

Today's number is 32. That's how big my AudioGalaxy log file is, in megabytes. Though once I've finished using it it'll get deleted - I dread to think how defragmented that file will be. And besides, I've got better things to do with that 32MB.

My hair cut isn't as short as it could have been - it is still winter, remember - but I don't look like I have a mop on my head any more, which is a nice change. So now I'll be spending the day moulting bits of hair that didn't get brushed out :)

Yay! I'm now editor of Yorkshire and the Humber! Trouble is, there were over 50 sites to review when I started, with two Robozilla errors. Looks like I have a lot of work to do this weekend.

We had a meeting about the Paris trip today - I'll be sharing a room with two people from Lower Sixth that are in my Computing class, so it should be good. Only 6 days to go!

Tomorrow I'll be getting my hair cut - I'm starting to look rather 70's-like, so it needs trimming. I'll probably go for the usual short back and sides (#2 in case you're interested). Unfortunately this weekend will be a mainly homework-ish weekend - I've ended up with a load of homework and while most people have got the whole week to do it I only have until Wednesday, due to this French trip. But hopefully I won't have too much to do over my (shortened) half term holiday. It's just a pity that I miss Pancake Day...

I lost patience and went to clear out all of the unrevieweds in North Yorkshire, including those in categories where editors are listed. So now there are 1512 sites and nothing waiting :). Talking of the ODP - February is green-bashing month in the Bands and Artists branch of the ODP, with the aim of cutting the number of unreviewed sites to something more manageable. The target is over 200 per day, and I'd say it was probably acheiveable. Though admittedly my categories are clean, so unless I apply elsewhere I'm not going to be much help.

Since most of my French lessons were cancelled this week due to subject reviews, I have a little extra time off this morning, though unfortunately I have to forfeit coming home for lunch since I have to attend a meeting about the trip to Paris. Only 6 days now!!!

I made some very good timing this morning - I managed to catch SETI clicking over to its next work unit. My fourth took 206 hours to complete, making a total of 723 hours for four units. Not impressive, but then again I probably do exert more strain on this computer than I should - although it meets Windows XP's minimum requirements most magazines seem to suggest it is underpowered.

Anyway, I'd better do some Maths homework. Toodles!