Zonie Zambonie's profileAnother hole in the wall...PhotosBlogListsMore  |  Tools Help |
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Another hole in the wall spot for me to waste my time at...A rather random and eclectic compilation of my brainwaves chosen to share with the world at large.
12/19/2007 My Adventures in 2007Well, here we are near the close of 2007 and I have not really posted much on my Spaces blog. Not that I am avoiding it, I have just been a bit busy around here.
The JOB (Just Over Broke) has been taking more of my time than I would like and what little time there is remaining in the day is spent trying to relax and recover.
I bought a webcam earlier this year (sometime in the spring) with the full intentions of installing it and streaming the weather along with the National Weather Service local radio on Weather Underground. The webcam went online last week -albeit not pointed at what I wanted to show - and the radio is still pending. That is an example of the fine mess work has me in. Another example is that the website that I was fully intending on getting accomplished in Feb or Mar still has yet to come to fruition.
It just really sucks that my full-time employment has yet to realize that I DO have a life away from plumbing and that I have dreams and aspirations of owning my own business outside of the trade. Oh, well. I guess I need to set some limits on them and tell them that I work certain days and times at their place and work somewhere else at other times.
I was forced to move the photo portion of my main blog and went to Flickr. I have been happy with that change and have even had photos published. Wow - who would have thought. Later this fall, I was forced to move the main blog also, and went to blogspot. I want to keep my Spaces Live for more technical things, so it remains. All others are KIA.
That about sums it up for me. Hope all are doing well.
Zonie. 4/19/2007 How To Really Get Me Thoroughly 100% Ticked OffImagine the irony of this. I am going to flame Microsoft, using my Live Writer Beta, on my computer that is using Vista Ultimate Beta and posting it on my MSN Live Spaces. Using Microsoft products to bash Microsoft - this ought to be interesting. FLASHBACK - May 2, 2006: I saw a Microsoft ad on MSN that was touting the Office Live Beta (I am really into Beta testing, if you couldn't already tell that) and after looking at the information, I signed up. It offered a free domain registration so I jumped onboard with keycityservices.net and started creating a site for my business. Nothing fancy, just something for a couple of us to use for document storage and possible communication about things pertaining to business. FLASHFORWARD - April 19, 2007: Looking over my records, I notice the domain name for keycityservices.net is coming up for renewal in less than a month, and I wanted to know what I needed to do to either renew the name or transfer to my registrar. I log into my Office Live Suite and notice that not only can I not find any information about renewing or transferring away from Microsoft's registrar, but that my Office Live Suite has been upgraded today. Since I didn't upgrade, I contact Microsoft Office Live to find out what is going on. While speaking to Ed at Microsoft Office Live, it is discovered that he cannot pull up my information using my email address. When he pulls up the information using my Live ID, he discovers that the reason my account is upgraded is because the Beta has expired. No warning, nothing - just 'POP!' Beta done we will now rape you for $39.95 and continue raping you for $39.95 each month until you cancel your service. Well, I am thoroughly P*^^%@ OFF at this point, but keeping my composure, I explain that I do not understand why I was not notified of this prior to my being charged - mind you, the charge is still in their computer, not sent out yet and not at my bank - and what we have to do to get this charge stopped prior to it being sent to the bank. Ed tells me that I can cancel today and within 30 days I will receive a refund. Sorry, that is not good enough for me. Every Beta that I have performed, for every company (including Microsoft) has sent me a notification that the Beta was about to expire and I would have to do yada, yada. Notification prior to expiration! So, can this be blamed on being sent to the old email address that is listed AS my MSN Live ID Handle? Not hardly. On June 2, 2006, I made sure that my email address (GMail address) was current. Last Fall, I went through all of my registered domain names and verified that the Administrative Contact Information was current, reflected my business mailing address, phone number and email address - again to my GMail address. Also, I have been receiving a lot of correspondence at my GMail address from Microsoft since June 2006 that is tied to my GMail address and my MSN Live ID. Therefore, it is feasibly impossible for me to NOT receive any email notifications from Microsoft. Before anyone touts that it probably went to the spam folder in error, you would be wrong with that assumption, because Microsoft.com is a trusted domain - nothing from them hits the spam box. Another reason I cannot understand why I wouldn't receive any email regarding my Office Live is because at some point after June 1, 2006, I updated my credit card information with my current card number - issued by a bank that I was not affiliated with prior to moving to Dubuque. So, where are the problems with this? How can this be rectified?
I also do not understand why a supervisor is not available at all hours that the CSR's are. Again, my other web host has a supervisor available 24/7/365, why can't Microsoft? I would love to hear from anyone within the Microsoft organization as to why this is happening and what is being done to rectify the situation. Should I bog down the legal system with this or can it be rectified immediately? I am looking for an answer here! 4/9/2007 When Antispyware Is Really SpywareHow to protect yourself while protecting yourselfWe have all heard that we need to protect our computers from hackers. We use Antivirus programs, Antispyware, Spam filters, popup blockers and Phish filters just to name a few of the items to try and maintain our system and keep us safe online, keep our data secured and our ID our own. However, there is another threat that is even larger and harder to protect against. I have said it for quite a number of years and, since it is worth repeating over and over, I will put it here too. The most effective virus out there will be the one that comes disguised as a protection, shuts off legitimate protection and can protect itself from being eradicated. This is something that is not too far fetched and is being used today (and for several months past). I was chatting by IM with a family member this afternoon and discovered that their computer was reporting a virus discovery. The issue is that they couldn't get the virus cleaned and the warning keeps popping up. Via Remote Assistance, I was able to track it down and fix the problem for now and I will detail the issue here for all the world to see. To protect the confidentiality of the client, I will not reveal the name. Several months ago, client is surfing the internet and gets a popup web window announcing an AntiSpyware program. Knowing that there is a lot of hub-bub about spyware, the client installs the program and thinks nothing of it. Now, we are several months down the road and the computer has gotten slower and some program - client cannot figure out which - keeps warning that there is a virus on the computer. That virus is a Trojan. When the client clicks on the taskbar notification, they are taken to a site that proposes that the spyware program be updated (for a cost, naturally) to eradicate the Trojan. This is what is referred to as either Rougeware or Ransomware. Because the warning comes from a trusted program on the computer - or at least a program that hasn't given problems yet, it is felt that the site pointed to for a fix is also trusted. Then the program holds your computer hostage unless you do what it wants while it is doing God only knows what with your information. Is My Computer Infected?While new viruses come out each day, it is hard to say with certainty whether or not your computer is infected. Even having an up-to-date antivirus program is not always a surefire cure for an infection as virus definitions are always one step behind the release of the virus. Now that I have dispensed with that, I can tell you that if any of the following symptoms or program names are on your computer, then chances are good that your computer may be infected:
How Do I Get Rid Of This Malware/Rogueware/Virus?While it is perfectly normal to now think that no program is safe for protecting your computer, there are actually legitimate programs out there. First thing that we must do is clean up the stuff off of the computer and then we can protect. Before proceding, ensure that your operating system (Microsoft Windows, etc.) is up to date and current, by visiting http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. As I stated earlier, virus definitions are always one step behind the virus creators, you should do at least one online scan - two is the best. Some malware will disable your antivirus program or stealth from it, but an online scan is able to see these files because of the fact they are on a remote system. While I am not directly endorsing any of these programs, I will say that they are at least safe and legitimate:
Next thing that you would do is to use those same online tools to get rid of the malware or seek help from a professional. Rogueware is sometimes difficult to locate and remove and with the possibility of the malware mutating, the difficulty level rises. There are also some online resources to remove the virus automatically, but I warn you that you really need to read the directions at least twice before using them. Antispyware 101 (http://www.anti-spyware-101.com) has some great tips and removal advice / programs. As with all virus removal, re-run the online scan after you remove the virus to ensure that all of the viruses are gone. Last thing that you need to do is learn how to keep yourself from being re-infected. How Can I Protect My Computer?Once you have gone through the process of cleaning up your computer you should be ready to protect your data by keeping your operating system and virus files up to date. Additionally, you can install a legitimate anti-spyware program such as Spybot Search and Destroy or the The most important thing that anyone can do to protect themselves from infections is to stop and think it all through. Stop pushing the "OK" button at every opportunity. Learn to click the X in the upper right of the window, right click the item in the task bar or learn to use the keyboard command of ALT + F4 to close those pesky popups and popunders. Don't believe everything that you see on the computer, it may be lurking to pounce on your computer and make your computer vulnerable. 2/25/2007 Snow, Ice and Blizzard Warnings Hit DubuqueAfter a week of almost springtime conditions, Eastern and Northeastern Iowa is once again digging out from what is being billed as a 25-year storm that blanketed the area with ice and snow. The storm arrived Friday afternoon with light snow flurries followed by a wave of intense snow dropping upwards of three inches of wet snow within a couple hours that hit in the evening. Saturday saw freezing rain and about one-half inch of ice early in the day that gave way to snow that is expected to leave accumulations of up to 15 inches in some parts of Northeast Iowa and Southwest Wisconsin. In addition to that, steady winds of 10-20 mph and gusts of up to 35 mph could cause drifts as high as 3 feet in some areas. According to the National Weather Service, the storm is a combination of two storms - one from the West and one from the Gulf of Mexico that have stalled over the upper Midwest. Because of the high winds, the National Weather Service issued a Blizzard Warning for the area that lasts until 6:00am CST on Sunday morning. A Winter Storm Warning will continue through 6:00pm CST on Sunday. The storm brought on slippery roads that kept the plow trucks busy laying down salt and brine and plowing the blowing and falling snow from the roadways. The ice and snow also caused at least 187,000 people to be without power at one point. Alliant Energy reported on the television news that it could take several days for power to be restored in some areas because of the power lines that came down from the ice and wind. Coming from Central Arizona and this being my first "Blizzard", I have learned a few things that I never knew. First of all, I learned that it is possible to have rain falling out of the sky when the temps are down in the mid 20's. I knew from my high school physics classes that it was possible to have water both below the freezing point and above the boiling point, I just never expected to have rain showers happen. The second thing that I learned is closely related to the first, and that is that an ice storm is hell. I came home from work this afternoon to what appeared to be a freshly shoveled sidewalk. As I was walking across it to the front porch, I realized rather quickly that there was a half inch of clear ice on top of the concrete. I know for a fact that it was a half inch because, while it was impossible to determine with my eyes a approximately 6 foot when standing, it was rather easy to see the depth with my eyes a few inches above where my feet were a second earlier. Since I was already in a position to determine the ice depth in one spot, why not get a feel for how deep the ice was over a section of the sidewalk - like the full 10 foot section that I was sliding down in front of the house. I was there, might as check it out too. Another thing that I have learned is that there is a such thing as a Thunder snow. Think of it as a thunderstorm only think of snow instead of rain. It was pretty spooky to experience it firsthand. Third thing that I have learned is that the plow trucks cannot always keep up with the snow. I know this because we live really close both of the local hospitals and thus, the first streets that get plowed are the ones leading to the hospital. Because of our proximity, our street usually gets plowed in the process of the trucks turning around to make second and third passes. You can usually count on the truck making two passes on this street every hour, however, it has now been close to 4 hours since I have heard the last pass through here. Either they are turning around elsewhere, or they are stuck someplace. If they are stuck, I hope the drivers are keeping warm. Last thing I learned is that church is canceled for tomorrow. While some may worship and have devotions at home, I can't help but to wonder how many little boys will actually be thanking the Lord for a snow day from church because they will be able to get another hour or two of riding their sleds down the hills. Then again, they could be shoveling snow at home and therefore a little upset at God for the snow. I wonder. As for me, I will stay inside as much as possible and just ride this one out. Depending on conditions tomorrow, I could end up learning something else new - what it is like to get a snow day from work. 2/19/2007 Microsoft's Answer to Google and YouTube
Well, Microsoft has released their version of a video player that it hopes to be as successful as Google Video and YouTube. It is called Soapbox and can be found at http://soapbox.msn.com/video.aspx
Here is a cute video cultivated from the site. |
This is a list of the programs that I am currently beta testing
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