Needing A Boot Disk

I am trying to install Slackware one of my old PC's. It appears that I have hosed up the partioning the hard drives so I need to get my hands on a boot disk. I have tried to make boot disks in the past using Windows XP. This has resulted in a boot disk that I can't use except with Windows XP. So I need an old DOS 6 boot disk. The web comes to my rescue again. The website Bootdisk.com has just what I am looking for.

ConnectionStrings.com

I am working on a project that requires the use of ADO.NET to connect to a MS SQL Server. In trying to figure out what I should use for a connection string I came across the website ConnectionStrings.com. This site lists connection strings for SQL Server, Access, Oracle, MySQL, Interbase, IBM DB2, Sysbase, Informix, Ingres, Mimer SQL, Lightbase, PostgreSQL, Paradox, DSN, Firebird, Excel, Text, DBF/FoxPro, AS/400, Exchange, Visual FoxPro, Pervasive adn UDL.

Blog Software Comparison Chart

I found a 'Blog software comparison chart' over at website USC Annenberg Online Journalism Review.

The chart by itself is great but if you tie it back to the companion article 'Time to check: Are you using the right blogging tool?' You gain insight into cost and how long it will take to sign up.

Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP

From time to time I hit Microsoft's website PowerToys for Windows XP.

There are some great little tools here:

• RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer
• ClearType Tuner
• HTML Slide Show Wizard
• Open Command Window Here
• Alt-Tab Replacement
• Tweak UI
• Power Calculator
• Image Resizer
• CD Slide Show Generator
• Virtual Desktop Manager
• Taskbar Magnifier
• Webcam Timershot

Hockey About To Start

It appears the cry babies know as the owners and players have finally come to an agreement so the hockey session can start. You can check out the press release from the NHL titled 'Board Of Governors Ratifies Collective Bargaining Agreement' to see what they agreed to.

Acer TravelMate C310 Convertible Tablet

Acer has release the TravelMate C310 Convertible Table PC.

The Specs:

• 14.1-inch XGA display
• Sonoma Centrino with Pentium M and DDR2 SDRAM
• GeForce Go 6200 graphics
• 802.11 b/g
• Bluetooth
• Gigabit Ethernet
• dual-layer DVD burner
• 80 or 100GB hard drive
• 4-in-1 card reader
• magnesium chassis
• 8.5-hour battery
• price $1,700

Harry Potter E-Book Controversy

Author J.K Rowling has a little problem with her last book Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Rowling and her publisher did not make and release the lastest book in e-book format but some of her fans did.

Wired has a nice write up about the issue in the post Pirates of the Potter-ian.

I think more publishers and laywers need to pay attendtion to these Seven friendly suggestions for J.K. Rowling and her lawyer

Firefox 1.0.6

Firefox 1.0.6 is now out and it fixes the the API issue with version 1.0.5.

Blogger Templates

If you are a Blogger.com user addition templates can be found at 'Blogger Templates.' The site also has tips, hacks and tools to help with your site.

Cleaning Up After Yourself In .NET

TechRepublic is running 'Ensure object cleanup in your .NET applications.' This is a quick little article on using the dispose method and how to implement it in your own classes.

Turn A Gmail Account Into A Hard-Drive

If you have any invites left in your Gmail account you may wnat to consider setting up a new account to use as a hard-drive. This is a create way to move files between computers that are not on the same network without burning DVDs or Cds.

I have come across two different programs to that can make a Gmail account into a hard-drive: xmailharddrive.com or GMail Drive shell extension.

I have not yet tested either of these programs. I am hoping to get to it testing them soon. By the way I have a few Gmail invites left, so email me if you need one.

Making Money With Your Blog

It appears that several people are making some serious money with their blog. The first site I have for your tonight is 'Google AdSense Sercerts.' This site is run by Joel Comm. He has is selling his book that shows you how to make money with your blog.

The other site I have is 'ProBlogger.' The site is run by Darren Rowse. He recently claimed to have made over $14,000 for one month using Google AdSense. ProBlogger.net has recently been Slashdotted. You can read about Darren's experience on his post 'ProBlogger Slashdotted.'

Open Source Is No Longer Just For Software

A group of students at IT University of Copenhagen has brought open-source to beer. The recipe for their beer is published under a Creative Commons license. Wired News has the full article.

DIY Projector

From inventgeek.com comes 'A Practical Guide To The LCD Projectors.' This guide covers the theory, materials, assembly, fabrication, testing and configuration for building your own LCD Projector. I am amazed that you can build a projector for $200.

Firefox 1.0.5

Firefox 1.0.5 is now out.

This version includes security fixes:

• Code execution through shared function objects


• XHTML node spoofing


• Javascript prompt origin spoofing


• Standalone applications can run arbitrary code through the browser


• Same origin violation: frame calling top.focus


• The return of frame-injection spoofing


• Possibly exploitable crash in InstallVersion.compareTo


• Script injection from Firefox sidebar panel using data


• Same-origin violation with InstallTrigger callback


• Code execution via "Set as Wallpaper"


• XBL scripts ran even when Javascript disabled


• Content-generated event vulnerabilities

2005-07-18 Update: You may want to wait a few days for the Firefox 1.0.6 to be released. It appears that there is a security flaw with the API in Firefox 1.0.5. You can get more from the eWeek.com posting 'Firefox Flaw Leads to Upgrade Encore.'

Internet-Controlled Train Set

I came across the website 'Control Our Junk.' The three brothers who run this site has setup a Train Set that you can control through the internet.

Podcatcher On A Stick

'Podcatcher On A Stick' is a podcatching client that you install on your audio device.

Real Life Tron

From the file of someone with too much time on their hands, you can build a unit that allows you to play tron's light cycles in the real world.

Hacking The Wolfgang Puck Self-Heating Can

Phillip Torrone took apart on the new Wolfgang Puck self-heating coffee containers. Phillip did a good job taking pictures and documenting the steps he took. You can read the blog entry here.

Love CSI And Scuba Diving

You can how get a degree from Florida State University in Underwater Crime Scene Investigation. You can find out more from the PDF 'Underwater Crime Scene Investigation: An Introduction To Our Academic Program.'

Create Your Own Podcast

Today I found two articles on how to create your own podcast.

The first is from Cnet by Rick Broisa 'Create your own podcast.' The article walks you through several simple steps to get setup podcasting with little to now cash out lay.

The second article is from Digital Music Playlist for PC & Mac by Michael Gowan 'A podcast of your own.' This article spends more time on the hardware you need for creating a podcast.

Hotels For The Scuba Diver

As a Scuba diver I have high demands of the hotels I stay out while out on vacation. Unfortunely most can't meet the first requirement, it must be underwater. Over at the 'Unusual Hotels of the World' website I found a few hotles that are underwater.

Personal Submersibles Organization

Check out Personal Submersibles Organization Web Site.

They have information on building your own sub. I also found what is being called PSUBS OSS (Open Source Submarine) Project. Please read the site carefully as there are lots of saftey items you need to be aware of in building your own sub.

Still on the topic of submersibles. You can check out the website http://www.submarine-history.com.

Platypus

Platypus is a Firefox extension that allows you to modify a web page from your browser. You can team this tool up with Greasemonkey to save your scripts and reuse the script.

Some of the things you can do with Platypus include:

• Remove parts of the page you don't wish to see.
• Move a part of the page to a different location.
• Change the style and format of page elements.
• Modify all the links on the page using a regular expression.
• Insert your own HTML code.

T-shirt Printer

Got an extra $11K laying around? You can now buy the Fast T-Jet Inkjet printer which allows you to print directly on T-Shirts, Towels and Sweats. If you are into screen printing this printer could add a lot of flexibility to your business. The printer does have some limitations like image size and it has problems printing on dark fabrics.

Skype Developer Zone

Skype Developer Zone has the information you need to build Skype-enabled programs.

I think it is really cool that Skype has released the API. There are several legal items you need to read and you also need to sign up with Skype Partner Program. Now that I got the legal stuff out of the way you can dig into the API Documentation and examples. They also have a directory of programs using Skype.

PrintFu

PrintFu is a system that takes a PDF of more than 25 pages, print it, bind it and ship it.

Programming Language: Haskell

I am always looking for different programming languages. I believe that a programmer can not have to many langauges in their toolbox.

Today I stumbled across the programming language Haskell.

Points of interest about Haskell

• Haskell is a function language.
• Haskell is free.
• Haskell has not loops.
• Haskell does not use variables
• Haskell can either compled to native code or interpreted
• Haskell had interfaces to Java, .NET, Python and C.

Haskell Webiste
Haskell Wiki
Haskell article at Free Software Magazine