Monthly Archive for November, 2004

Windows Server 2003, here I come

Published
by
Mark
on Sunday 14th November 2004
in Work
. Closed

So, after two long days I have finally got Windows Server 2003 and IIS 6.0 running on the Premio server at work. Now comes the long, boring phase of adding users to the server and assigning access rights to the many subwebs. Thankfully people at work have offered to help add the users to the server, after which I can assign their access rights.

I hit a couple of snags today. First, the site publish from the temp server to the production server did not go right at all. I ended up copying files via Windows file sharing. I still have to visit every subweb to ensure that the shared borders and themes carried over alright. The second snag was adding the users. Apparently, users created using the FrontPage extensions or SharePoint can only be used on one virtual web at a time. I have to get the users on as real Windows users in order to have them as users of multiple virtual webs. Hopefully this week will go by quickly as I work on the users and access rights.

Maybe I’ll play some GTA tomorrow to take my mind off of the whole situation.

No iTrip mod

Published
by
Mark
on Saturday 13th November 2004
in Hardware and Music
. 2 Comments

Checking over my search strings, I found that if you search Google for itrip mod, my site comes up fairly high on the results (#1, in fact, on the Google server my search went through). I posted something before about possibly attempting an iTrip mod, and posting and notes if I did try it.

Well, I just wanted to let you all know that I did not mod my iTrip, at least not intentionally. You see, while my iTrip was open, I tried using it, hoping that the uncovered antenna would yield a better signal. It turns out that the signal really isn’t all that much better with the exposed antenna, so I went to seal it up again.

When I went to seal up my iTrip, I noticed that two of the wires had become disconnected. Using the photos on the iTrip mod page, I tried to figure out where the wires were originally connected. The images were sufficiently blurry and dark, that I can’t say for certain that I picked the correct places to which I soldered the wires, but I soldered them anyway.

This is where the unintentional mod part comes. Since soldering the wires and resealing the iTrip, I’ve noticed that my iPod only gets about a half hour of play before running out of juice. Now, granted, the iPod is more than a year old now, has had its share of tumbles, and the iTrip is powered by the iPod, but come on! There’s no way that my iPod’s battery life is only a half hour with the iTrip. Unless, of course, I have somehow crossed some wires, causing the iTrip to consume more power.

I have noticed that the reception on the iTrip is phenomenal now. I still hear the occaisional blip, but I think that may be from my phone switching between cell towers as I drive. The blips occur at roughly the same places on my way home. It also happens when my phone is about to ring. Which brings me to another point: I may have hip and/or brain cancer one day from my phone. Call me paranoid, but if my cell phone can mess up the transmission from the iTrip and make my monitor go nuts when I’m closer than four feet to it, my phone has to be putting out some serious power.

Well, this post is long enough, I suppose. And I have to restart the transfer because someone’s website was returning a 404 error. Yippee!

Web server upgrade

Published
by
Mark
on Saturday 13th November 2004
in Music and Work
. Closed

Well, I’m in the middle of copying files between the two web servers at my disposal. This process alone could take me all of the time I’ve got available here at work today. I may have to come in tomorrow to start the upgrade on the actual server, and then start adding user accounts on Monday. So, as I had expected, something was going to be unexpected. But that’s life when working on large projects such as upgrading a production server.

The upside is that I have gotten iTunes to play music from my iPod. I didn’t know this was possible, but I guess it must be cause I didn’t do anything spectacular to get it to work. After installing iTunes, I told it to add the iPod_Control folder. Then, all of a sudden, rather than it importing my music from the iPod, it made the iPod an available music library that I could play :-) I wish this was a better documented feature, because it is just that - a feature.

Julia and Mandelbrot Sets

Published
by
Mark
on Friday 12th November 2004
in Uncategorized
. Closed

I just learned something about Julia and Mandelbrot Sets. I knew about fractals before, but I didn’t exactly know what they were. This little intro was a nice, short read.

I was intrigued after reading most of this article, linked from this article.

Gateway Solo laptop

Published
by
Mark
on Friday 12th November 2004
in Hardware
. 2 Comments

The first question I have received successfully through my ask me anything form from d:

i was wondering if you knew or could find out the value or selling price of a gateway solo 2000 laptop series 2300. i can’t seem to find it tying to see if i’m getting a good deal on something it has a 12.1 lcd

This question is quite subjective, as is any question asking to price out a computer, new or used. My honest opinion of most of Gateway’s computers is that they aren’t great machines. Then again, Dell and HP-Compaq would get the same opinion from me, too. You see, I feel that Dell, Gateway, and HP-Compaq make mostly mediocre machines. Companies like AlienWare and Falcon Northwest make great PCs with all sorts of niceties, like custom cases, lighting kits, and high end parts. I personally like Sony VAIO and Apple for both asthetic reasons and capabilities.

Back to the question at hand. Since I can’t find out much information about the model mentioned, I can only guess that this is an older model. I have even less faith in an older Gateway than I do in a new one to provide the usability, uptime, and overall value that I expect in a computer. Since this laptop has a 12.1-inch LCD, it is either small and compact or large with a small screen. If its the former, not bad. The latter is what I didn’t like about laptops from five or more years ago.

I would not pay any more than a couple hundred dollars for the laptop. That is still pricey, but it is a laptop, and portability comes at a cost. My recommendation is to look at other computers, unless portability at low-cost is a must.

Password security

Published
by
Mark
on Friday 12th November 2004
in General
. Closed

This is why networks all around the world are pretty much insecure:

Foxtrot 2004-11-12

Nevermind password security. There will always be that 10 year old kid who knows all of his parents’ passwords to everything, including the measly four-digit (not four character) password that blocks out the porn on the cable box. Nothing is safe from the clutches of today’s kids.

Ha!

Published
by
Mark
on Thursday 11th November 2004
in Uncategorized
. Closed

So, I’m just looking around the web, checking out some blogs and news and whatever else I do when I’m just sitting at the computer, when I take a look at Hersch’s new design. The new design looks pretty good, but his header could use some adjusting with the colors :-) Of course, that’s not the only thing I’m writing this about. The main reason for this post is this bit of irony:

people who owe me $$$

Oh the irony! Never in my life have I seen something so funny :-) No, I’m never going to collect on any debts owed to me by Hersch; that’s what free baby sitting, god parenting, good X-mas gifts, and other lifetime perks are for. Whew, too funny! Oh, and thanks for being a best man, dude!