RADIFIED
News for September 2004

 

Radiation tri-blade symbol 28.Sept.2004 - After upgrading Windows XP to Service Pack 2 (SP2), some people are having trouble downloading files with the Internet Explorer browser. This is because SP2 adds a pop-up blocker to IE (a good thing, enabled by default) and some web sites use a pop-up to activate the download.

If you look closely, you'll see a thin yellow strip appear at the top of the IE page. If you click on this strip, you'll be able select an option from the menu that appears there which will enables you to download the file. This scenario occurs on relatively few sites, but seems to be plaguing many people.

I've been using SP2 for three weeks now with no observable problems.


Radiation tri-blade symbol 26.Sept.2004 - Looks like da boyz at DELL have begun including a Ghost image with their latest computers (at least, with their laptops). See HERE. They used to provide a Restore CD, but you can only include so much data on a CD.

DELL is including the Ghost image at the very END of the hard drive, where hard drive performance is slowest (good idea). There they create a separate partition, which takes up ~3.5GBs. With hard drive capacities growing so large, even with laptop computers, allocating 3.5-GB of disk space to a Ghost image is no problem.

When viewed in Partition Magic, this partition shows up as: "CP/M, Concurrent DOS, CTOS" (Primary). See HERE. But this new partition creates a problem for those of us who like to create our own back-up images.

The remainder of today's post is blogged here:> DELL now includes back-up Ghost image in Concurrent DOS partition.


Radiation tri-blade symbol 22.Sept.2004 - Been fielding questions lately regarding how I go about setting up a new laptop. It became easier to post these responses in a new guide. See here:> Radify Your New Laptop.

I thru it together rather hastily, so it's probably riddled with grammatical errors, but I'll continue to dial it in over the coming weeks. Still, it is usable in its present crude form as a guide to help you set up (Radify) your new laptop. Cool dude On a less technical note, today is the autumnal equinox. (Or is it tomorrow?)


Radiation tri-blade symbol 19.Sept.2004 - This is my favorite time of year. If they had to pick a single 30-day period in which to live the rest of their lives, many would choose the month of July or August, when mid-summer temperatures are H-O-T hot. But I would choose the the period from Sept 15th (now) to October 15th.

The remainder of today's entry is blogged here:> Favorite Time of Year.


Radiation tri-blade symbol 18.Sept.2004 - Big fight tonight. Update. I saw this fight the following week on HBO. It suk'ed. Boring, defensive fight. Glad I didn't pay $50 pay-per-view. Oscar went down and stayed down after a love-tap to the ribs from a 40-year-old fighter. At only 31, Oscar should've been able to run circles around the aged Hopkins. Rather it looks like Bernard is the one who is putting Oscar into retirement.


Radiation tri-blade symbol 16.Sept.2004 - This pop-up check is kinda cool. Most people pass all but the last test (8 out of 9). I despise pop-ups. Speaking of pop-ups, this is one feature I really like about SP2.

On a less technical note, I saw a PBS special last night: The Question of God. Refreshingly interesting & thought provoking. More intellectually-based than you standard religious channel (which some heathens find offensive). Part I aired last night. Part II airs next week.

Answering the question: "Does God really exist?" reminds me of Philosophy class. One of the most interesting classes I ever had.


Radiation tri-blade symbol 14.Sept.2004 - Mozilla releases v1.0 (Preview Release) of Firefox. Everyone should have a copy of this browser installed on their system. It's fast, fun & better than free: open source. Download here (4.5-MB).

The remainder of today's drivel is blogged here:> Mozilla Releases Firefox 1.0 PR.


Radiation tri-blade symbol 12.Sept.2004 - Updated the forum software to v1.3.2. It fixes 3 "high-level" security issues and is considered a "critical update". I used Board Mod to edit the code. Radified uses YaBB, which stands for Yet another Bulletin Board, an open source Perl-driven CGI script.

On a less technical note, I spent the afternoon snorkeling down at Woods Cove here in Laguna. Swam thru schools of zillions of silver fish, all reflecting sunlight. It was like a living in an optical illusion, being enveloped in a giant, moving silver blanket.

Also saw lots of colorful fish hiding near the reefs. Even a squid. They swim so weird. A baby shark let me touch him. (her?) Was having such a cool time ... that I didn't realize my back was roasting. This morning's shower was painful. Y'ouch.


Radiation tri-blade symbol 11.Sept.2004 - Also known as 9/11/2004. Last night I watched the Now with Bill Moyers PBS special titled: 9/11: For the Record. This is by far the *best* and most concise presentation (distillation) I've seen of the events that occurred on, and leading up to, 9/11.

The hour-long special incorporated many of the findings from interviews conducted by the 9/11 commission. The computer-generated 3-D graphics were outstanding. The whole thing was very professionally done.

The remainder of today's entry is blogged here: 9/11 Anniversary, Politicians Still Reject Personal Accountability.


Radiation tri-blade symbol 10.Sept.2004 - Every year around this time, the images I posted HERE receive (greatly) increased web traffic.

The most popular one this year is the photo of the Pentagon. There are several conspiracy theories circulating the web, claiming it was really a missile or a fighter jet that hit the Pentagon. I don't know if this happens to be why that particular page is seeing so much traffic. See HERE for the famous flash video. More posted here and here.

Been three years now. The good news is that we've had no more such attacks. For which our government deserves kudos. The bad news is that the administration, in their recent convention (held in New York City), seems to be celebrating the attacks of 9/11 .. making them the centerpiece of their re-election campaign .. instead of seeing them for what they really represent: the biggest Intelligence screw-up in our nation's history.

The remainder of today's entry is blogged here: 9/11 is Nothing to be Proud of.


Radiation tri-blade symbol 09.Sept.2004 - A documentary airs on HBO tonight: Indian Point: Imagining the Unimaginable. Indian Point is a nuclear plant built on the beautiful Hudson river in New York's (densely populated) Westchester county, ~30 minutes (24 miles) north of the city. I worked there for a year back in the 90's.

In the aftermath of 9/11, Indian Point has been receiving much attention because it's located in such a heavily-populated area, making it one of the most attractive targets for terrorist attacks. More info here.

The remainder of today's drivel is blogged here: Indian Point: Imagining the Unimaginable.


Radiation tri-blade symbol 08.Sept.2004 - Finally upgraded Windows XP to Service Pack 2 (SP2). All seems to have gone well. Of course I first made a back-up Ghost image .. just in case. A tale of woe would've been more entertaining.

On a less technical note, I made a pot of chicken soup over the weekend. From grandma's secret recipe, smuggled in from "the old country" at the turn of the century. Carrots, onions, celery, parsley, garlic, leeks, scallions, whole peppercorns, seasoning. Simmered the chicken nice & slow until the meat fell off the bone. Cooked the veggies separate from the chicken. Came out good. Having a bowl now. Yummy.


Radiation tri-blade symbol 06.Sept.2004 - Looks like our friends in Florida are getting pounded. I think Florida's flatness is the thing that makes it so susceptible to hurricanes. I mean, there's not a hill in the whole state. Great for biking, tho.

I lived in Orlando for a year, back in the late 70's (think Jimmy Carter). That's where the Navy had its Nuclear Power school. The school itself was modeled after a (tri-blade-shaped) control rod. Every time I think of Florida, I see that school shaped like a giant control rod (where I spent so much time). The remainder of today's entry is blogged here:> Florida, Francis & Control Rods


Radiation tri-blade symbol 02.Sept.2004 - Reminder for those of you who live here in/near Laguna Beach (La Beana Gouch): today is the "First Thursday Art Walk". Official times are 6-9 PM, but we like to get started early.

I've mentioned the Art Walk before. See here:> First Thursday Art Walk (04.Dec) and HERE (04.March). Every month around this time, I get mail regarding those blogged entries. If you search Google for the query-string "art+walk+laguna", you'll see why.

For example, here's a fellow blogger who found those pages thru a search. He calls Laguna "the jewel of California" (might have to scroll down to entry for Wednesday, August 04, 3:25 PM). Certainly, that's how we feel, but we're biased. The Libertarian also seems to be a big fan of Crescent Bay. Mr. Tom calls Laguna "one of the most charming little towns on earth". In fact, he's downright religious about it.

Hope to see you out on the town tonight for a little art and culture (and free vino). On a more technical note, I found this post about the RIAA and file-sharing rather interesting.


Radiation tri-blade symbol 01.Sept.2004 - How do you know when your car needs washing? Back in the day, neighborhood kids would use their fingers to write Wash me! in the grime. Now-a-days, they seem to prefer a more graphic approach. [55-KB, mature audiences only] =)