WOO! Gotta love it when they serve Margaritas for lunch at school. Kids Visit Margaritaville
posted by MikeM at 3:41 PM    

 
The Diebold voting machines can be hacked by a chimp. They proved it by having a chimpanzee delete the audit file. Touchscreen Hack Effort Called 'Monkey Business'.

posted by MikeM at 11:03 AM    

 
Zathras, Rest In Peace. As reported on Lyta Alexander's Website, Tim Choate, the actor who played Zathras on Babylon 5 was killed Sept 24 when hit by a car as he was riding his motorcycle on the way to a play.

"Zathras used to being beast of burden. Zathras have sad life, probably have sad death, but at least there is symmetry."

Wisdom of Zathras Site

posted by MikeM at 10:12 AM    

 
Coming soon to a theatre near you: Spaceballs: The Sequel.
posted by MikeM at 7:13 AM    

 
Play old favorites online! Midway Arcade games - you need the shockwave player installed to play, however. Includes Joust and Joust2!
posted by MikeM at 1:02 PM    

 
Over the past few days, you might have seen several news articles about a problem with Microsoft and the way it handles JPG files - namely, that a maliciously-coded JPG could be designed that would infect a computer as soon as it was opened. There is more information on this vulnerability here at the Internet Storm Center and here at Microsoft.

Here is the official Microsoft page to check your system for problems with this vulnerability.

However, the MS tool (above) only goes halfway in finding the problem DLLs - it only checks for a very limited number of applications and does not find all applications that use the outdated DLL file. To locate all of the files, you have to use a separate file. After you find them all, you need to replace them with the new version of the DLL, which Microsoft helpfully hid in the following site : Download details: Platform SDK Redistributable: GDI .

It is important that you apply all of the critical patches from the microsoft update website, as well as all of the Office patches!

After you have done that, run the GDI scanner program from the ISC, and replace the vulnerable dll files with the new one found in that MS distributable pack. Running the EXE from the dist pack will only extract the file you need (gdiplus.dll) into a temp folder - you may want to change the folder it places the files in - put them somewhere you can find them! The default folder is rather hard to find, deep in the file structure of the system. Silly Microsoft.

Oh yeah, before you copy the new file into the folder where the old file is located, rename the old file, just in case.

In other news, Microsoft has said that it will not be updating Microsoft Internet Explorer under Windows 2000 and other systems to have all of the security patches that the version in Windows XP will have. Microsoft denies that it is using the threat of viruses and vulnerabilities in it's older products to spur greater sales of Windows XP.
posted by MikeM at 10:47 AM    

 
Saturday I watched the rest of the Ultraviolet series - sad that it was cancelled after only 6 episodes. They wrapped up several threads but left it wide open to continue at some point. I only hope the upcoming movie will deal with the same storyline! The series is about vampires and a special group of paramilitary/police agents that are funded by the Vatican. Imagine X-Files meets Vampire: The Masquerade. The vamps are worried about the humans self-destructing by war or environmental damage, and so have decided to take over the world. Sounds strange, but it makes sense - we are their food source, and if we all die, so do they. Anyway, a very good investment of 6 hours to watch the episodes.

I also watched the Samurai Jack movie - basically the first three episodes strung together - great stuff! I'll try to watch the rest of the season as I have time.

A warning to Ad-Aware users - if you attempt to upgrade to the newer "SE" version of Ad-Aware, be warned that it can result in Very Bad Things happening to your system. I had to restore from a ghost image Sunday. Seems that at some point after the install, while it is scanning your system it tries to insert hooks in the registry to intercept all calls to other programs - this means that every icon you click, program you run, or anything else that causes anything to be executed will go through the Ad-Aware program. I find this VERY intrusive, but that isn't the problem.

When Ad-Aware tried to redirect the execution controls, it alerted me that someone was trying to change certain registry entries. Yes, the ones it was changing. It warned me about it's own doings, and asked if I wanted to allow it. Well, I said no.

It had already deleted the old entries. It was prevented from adding the new ones.

Thus, I was no longer able to run anything, execute anything, even the start menu was useless. "My Computer" claimed that I didn't have permission to run it. Things looked black.

I logged in as administrator and was able to run "My Computer", but nothin else. I copied my outlook pst files to a safe place on another drive, ditto for my entire desktop and some other files, then restored from a ghost backup that I had made only about a week ago. Lucky me! I hadn't backed up for over a year prior. For some reason last week I just bit the bullet and did it. If I hadn't I would NOT be a happy camper - I would have had to reinstall from scratch, basically.

So - be warned - I no longer recommend Ad-Aware for anyone to use, and I'll be ditching it. Pest Patrol, that I have mentioned from time to time is also on my blacklist, as they have been bought by Computer Associates, and it is just a matter of time before that program also gets assimilated and rendered unusable by the Borg of CA.

I'm researching anti-spyware applications, and so far Spybot Search & Destroy looks like the best option - but I'm still looking.

posted by MikeM at 7:18 AM    

 
This is just too cool!

I came out as Kosh. I agree. :) Who are you?
posted by MikeM at 11:52 PM    

 
OK, I partially retract the nasty comments about Doom 3. I just fired it up at 1600x1200x32 and ULTRA HIGH DETAIL, and according to 'fraps' I was getting between 2 and 11 fps. 2 if moving, 4 if looking into a large room, and 11 if staring at a wall at point blank range. Wow, that is one intense graphics-card devouring game.

I have an nVidia Ti 4600 - which was once the top of the line for all makes of video card. Now it is somewhere south of 'economy'.

The graphics are simply stunning - I mean realistic to the point where I can now see what is meant by immersive. Also, the surround sound effects work BETTER when at 1600x1200 - has anyone else noticed this? Could it just be the ultra effects have better sound? Very nice.

OK, I might buy it now. At least, once I buy a new computer. This 866 is simply not going to cut it. It was stuttering at places even at 640x480 and medium detail. But the monitor is awesome. :)
posted by MikeM at 8:00 PM    

 
My new Dell 2001FP 20" LCD monitor is installed, and WOW! With the old 19" tube CRT I was only able to get easily readable text at 1280x1024 @85hz refresh - with 16bit color. 32-bit or any higher refresh rate made the monitor whine.

With this new monitor I am running 1600x1200x32bit color @60hz refresh, (60hz is standard for all LCD's), and it looks great!

Now to play some games and see how it does!
posted by MikeM at 7:13 PM    

 
Hilarious version of Poe's "The Raven", rewritten with an eye towards the SCO/IBM lawsuits and adding in a dash of LOTR for spice. Quoth the Nazgul, "Nevermore."
posted by MikeM at 1:13 PM    

 
New spam/virus mail to watch out for.

Be careful! You should never click on anything in a spam or any other email you don't know who sent you! This particular case is of a spam that has a link to opt-out, and when you click it sends you to a website that will try to infect your computer with a virus or trojan!

posted by MikeM at 11:53 AM    

 
Well, I just finished the Doom 3 Demo, and I'm not impressed.

The graphics are OK, but the levels are too damn dark. I don't mind switching between the flashlight and the shotgun - it works quickly enough, but sometimes you just want to see more of the graphics that everyone is oohing and ahhing about.

I have heard people exclaiming about the environment and the immersiveness, and yes, it does have an effect - the sound is well done, and the voices/whispers/conversations you overhear are a nice touch.

Overall, though, I can't help but compare it to a game from the late 90's - HALF-LIFE. The plot is nearly the same, the lighting and sound effects, the items you can pick up, everything just reminds me of Half-Life, but actually Half-Life was better in so many ways.

Understand that I can only play this game in 640x480 at medium detail level. That said, the graphics are nice, but they just don't seem to have the detail level that Half-Life did. I know that at higher resolutions and with the high and ultra detail turned on it should blow my mind, but I expected the low res/med detail to be at least as good as HL was at the same levels.

I might get Doom 3, but not at full price. When it hits $20-$25 I'll consider it. More likely I'll wait until it hits the bargain bin or I can get it on ebay for $15 shipped.

I'm glad I got the demo - it saved me $50!

I had much the same dissapointed reaction when I bought Unreal 2. While it really wasn't like half-life at all, it wasn't quite as good as Doom 3 seems to be. And short. I finished Unreal 2 in 12 hours or so. The Doom 3 demo I finished in about 3 hours, I think. Not bad for a demo!

I recommend everyone grab it, and if you don't have a fat internet connection, find someone with a CD burner that can make you a copy of it. Bruce - I'll be sending my CD copy of Doom 3 Demo to you along with the VHS-DVD recording unit. When I get around to mailing it. ;)
posted by MikeM at 9:29 PM    

 
Update to the "I Found Some Of Your Life" story, below : The site has been taken down, as well as all pictures, apparently due to complaints and possible legal threats from people who weren't even the owner of the memory card.

Oh well, it was interesting in a voyeuristic sorta way while it lasted. I'm just sorry that because some people complained about something that really wasn't any of their business and did them no harm, now nobody can enjoy it. Asinine people piss me off.
posted by MikeM at 3:04 PM    

 
Want to buy a wand, broom, or official Hogwart's robes? Go to Alivan's. You can even buy a replica of Voldemort's wand! (Yew, 13 1/2", Phoenix Feather core, $45)
posted by MikeM at 7:23 AM    

 
This is wierd but cool : I Found Some Of Your Life

A fellow found a memory card from a camera in a taxi, and is posting the pictures from it on the web one each day.
posted by MikeM at 7:17 AM    

 
The end of a nice weekend & the beginning of a new week!

Friday evening I went to a small birthday party for a friend, then Saturday we reprised the party at Dave & Buster's - love that place! Saturday evening my brother dropped in, we spent a little visit-time before I went to the party and he decided to catch up on some lost sleep as he has been working 10 hr days.

Sunday early he went to work, then I slept in til 10:30 or so. Went to see the new Resident Evil movie "Apocalypse" - excellent! If you liked the first one the second one is a must see! I think it may be better, actually. It ties up all the loose ends from the first one and leaves it wide open for another sequel!

Then dinner at Patty & Sara's and watch the first Austin Powers movie. Hilarious! I had forgotten just how funny that movie was.

Now I'm exhausted and gonna try to get some sleep. Later!
posted by MikeM at 10:28 PM    

 
I received all of my miniatures! Over 1000 of them, with a lot of dupes, but still over 100 unique minis! They all are there, plus a few extras. I also got in all the Dwarven Forge stuff I ordered, so I can build the dungeon layout and map as we go, as long as space holds out.

Now I need to find a way to store all of these things. I thought about bookshelves, but maybe something like an apothecary's table would be better. And maybe a glass display case for the corner - I could put some of the nicer miniatures in there.
posted by MikeM at 1:56 PM    

 
Most of this week has gone smoothly, same old same old. I did cancel my order for that tapestry I ordered at the Ren Fest, however. Seems that they were charging $400 for an item that they listed on their website for $300, and I found at homedecorators.com for $99

I'll be buying the one from Homedecorators. It's sad that people feel they need to rip off ren faire visitors. Just because we come to a festival that celebrates the days of kings and queens (and confiscatory taxation) doesn't mean we want to get screwed by having the items for sale be doubled and tripled in price.

Watched "Under the Tuscan Sun" last night - wonderful movie. I also ordered all three of the books by the same author - they run in the same groove as the movie, and by all accounts are excellent.

I would love to move to Italy, except for the inevitable lower standard of living and possible lack of high-speed internet and reliable power. Plus the fact that I speak no italian. And speak only poor english. :)

posted by MikeM at 1:49 PM    

 
I just discontinued the enetation commenting service as they were less than reliable and kept losing my account information. I experimented with the blogger.com built-in commenting solution, but that over tripled the size of my blog on the server, and that isn't cool. Oh well, the comment system wasn't used very much anyway. From now on if you have a comment, please email me!
posted by MikeM at 7:20 AM    

 
Gizmodo : eBay: Paintball Gatling Gun

WOW! six barrel, 288 round per minute paintball minigun, like Jesse Ventura was carrying in Predator. holds 4000 rounds. Ouch.
posted by MikeM at 3:35 PM    

 
Live for now, you never know how long you have. A friend's wife just passed away suddenly. By suddenly, I mean she was taken to the emergency room last saturday and she passed away early this morning. She apparently had some form of extremely aggressive and incredibly fast acting liver cancer that caused blood clotting throughout the body. I believe it was mentioned that Walter Peyton died of the same thing. She was diagnosed only Thursday night. She is survived by a stunned husband and a confused little girl.
posted by MikeM at 11:24 PM    

 
Feeling much better today, as I slept most of thursday and went to bed friday at around 6pm. Today I went to the Renaissance Faire here in Maryland - great fun! There were a lot of varieties of food, entertainment, crafts and other 'buyable' items! We spent over 8 hours running around the place. I resisted buying a beautiful claymore for my wall, and instead got a 64" x 33" tapestry of an italian lake and garden to go over the sofa. Now I have to find a bar and hanging kit. Home Depot, here I come!

The weather was perfect, no rain, somewhat overcast so it never got too hot, there was only direct sunlight after about 4 or 5pm, and we left at 6. The place closes at 7, and we didn't want to face the sea of traffic all trying to escape at once!

I'm going to have to go again - I do think I want that claymore, and I'm thinking about some other lethal items as well. A nice set of battleaxes and perhaps a war-scythe, and then there was the halberd and several styles of mace/morning stars. Smogasborg of weaponry!
posted by MikeM at 7:24 PM    

 
Yesterday wasn't much fun - went home sick and slept from 11 to 5pm, got up, ate a bit, walked the dog, etc. Then finished Silent Hill 2. When I put in the game, I noticed that all of my saves from the day before were gone except for a few early ones! Seems that if you have too many saves, the game forces you to start saving into another file, which is lost when you reboot! Annoying. So I replayed the hour or so I had lost, and got it finished around 9pm. Decent game.

Turns out that there are FIVE possible endings, and you have to take different actions during the game to see them. Sheesh. GameShark to the rescue. If I can't use cheat codes to see all of the endings, I'll just have to do without them - I have never been one to replay a game multiple times just so see a different ending movie.

Feeling better today, we'll see how things turn out.
posted by MikeM at 7:38 AM    

 
Army rebuilds networks after hack attack
I just found this - interesting that the hackers had total access for several months before being detected and then were allowed to continue for a while more before being stopped. This from an Army base in a nation currently at war? C'mon guys - step up to the plate and track these fellows down and shoot them.
posted by MikeM at 9:24 AM    

 
I've been playing Silent Hill 2 for the past couple of days - good game. Scary, great sound/music effects, very strange plot and twists. So far I have about 8 hours in it and still don't understand the storyline - perfect! It's a thriller that reminds me of Twin Peaks, and in some cases the music becomes reminiscent of that. Lotsa atmospheric effects too, like fog. Indoors, the flashlight illuminates realistically - which is itself scary when you hear a monster coming towards you, and the well-done 3D positional effects let you hear it as well as its hollow echo from down the other hallways. And this all on a PS2! I take back every nasty thing I ever said about console games. They aren't better than PC, and PC isn't better than console - that's like comparing flavors of ice cream.
posted by MikeM at 8:37 PM    

 
My Mom, brother and nephew just left for home after a great visit! They arrived Friday afternoon and we went to White Flint Mall, where we enjoyed four or so hours of the best game arcade in town, Dave & Buster's! Then we ate at the D&B restaurant, right next to the arcade - I had a full rack of ribs. Oh yes - I like that place.

Yesterday we took the metro into DC and spent the day walking around looking at the smithsonian buildings and checking out the Dinosaurs and the Hope diamond before heading back home, completely walked-out. Last night we watched the Crocodile Hunter:Collision Course movie (which was quite good, actually).

This morning we went over to visit with Patty & Sara for a bit, then they had to leave - it's a four hour drive, after all!

Looks like my brother has a jobsite in Sterling, VA, so he won't be but 45 min or so from me. Perhaps he'll visit again if he has time on his hands.

Everyone is doing well and happy, and they should be home by 4-5pm tonight. I'm exhausted, so I think I'll take a nap.
posted by MikeM at 1:55 PM    

 
...and on the other, the same scientist says it is nothing : Astronomers deny ET signal report
posted by MikeM at 1:56 PM    

 
One one hand, this scientist says it could be important : Mysterious signals from 1000 light years away
posted by MikeM at 1:55 PM    

 
Now you can buy a Cigarette lighter & drink holder for your computer.
posted by MikeM at 8:44 AM    

 
Contact?
Could Space Signal Be Alien Contact?
posted by MikeM at 7:43 AM    

 
Here is a nice collection of information and links : Debunking Kerry's Attackers. These are sites that disprove the 'Swift Vets' claims about Kerry's Vietnam service. Personally, I think that without hard proof, those guys should be prosecuted for libel.
posted by MikeM at 3:32 PM    

 
Fred is out again. I like this guy. Fred Columns
posted by MikeM at 1:16 PM    

 
I just found Mountain Dew Pitch Black! Grape flavored Mt. Dew! While I find that the orange stuff (Live Wire) is nasty beyond words, this grape stuff is fantastic!
posted by MikeM at 1:06 PM