Hopkin Revisited

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Scott Hacker reports an update on Hopkin, including the revelation that the original poster was drawn, not by a child, but by an autistic 16-year-old.

The library of images is growing. To “jump” ahead to where you last left off, try typing in a higher number.

Greg and Ted… are you guys even old enough to know how funny this one is?

http://lostfrog.org/84.html

It’s even more funny to me because I first played “letter” in high school in Alan Cronce’s basement on a terminal that used *paper* (not CRT) output. He hacked into the Georgia Tech network to play it. Alan and Charlie stole the terminal from BellSouth which was sponsoring our Boy Scout Explorer’s group…. but that’s another story…

MovableType 3.12

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I purchased an “Unlimted Personal License” to MovableType ($99.) This is the only way to move forward with future upgrades. No more free lunch (unless you want to only have one author… we have 12.)

I did a test upgrade on the old Blue Mac, and all went well. Watch for some changes the next time you log in. I’ll point out new features as I uncover them.

One of the biggest changes is the (optional) integration with TypeKey to help combat comment spamming. I like our common password method, though. It seems to have solved the problem and did not require everyone to register with TypeKey.

Simon Test

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Many years ago, Nicole kindly scanned almost all of my Simon cartoon strips. That captured the images digitally, but I’ve been waiting for the right technology to manage the comments I want to build around them and view them over the web. I think iPhoto and its ability to export to web pages may be the way to go.

Does this test of one week’s worth of Simon’s work as a way to read them? There is a bonus Saturday issue in this series.

Do Not “Delete Weblog”

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I have disabled the Configure Weblog for all users except Ted, Kelly, and Eric. I did this because when enabled, there is an option that shows on the main menu “Delete Weblog” which wipes out a person’s entire blog. It could easily be accidentally hit or enterpreted as “delete the last posting”. This is what happened to Danny last year.

Deleting your log would not be a tragedy, because everything is backed up once per day. But it would be a hassle for me to restore.

For most people it means they will not see many of the settings that you don’t really change, so it won’t matter. However, it is fun to change your blog descriptions sometimes, and I think Kelly, Eric, and Ted are most inclined to do that.

Now playing: Watching The Detectives from “The Best Of Elvis Costello And The Attractions” by Elvis Costello

No Irish Need Apply

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I once saw an antique sign hanging in an Irish lawyer’s office: No Irish Need Apply. I assumed it was real, and I’ve passed on this story. After reading this article, I’m inclined to believe it was a “false replica” based on a myth.

Gandalf The White (infected)

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Gandalf (the white) was set up two weeks ago without anti-virus protection. So a worm (or two) moved in and started routing pirated files. This morning it started being so “loud” on the network it ground everything else to a halt.

I had to go make a personal call to perform surgery. Norton Anti-Virus found the following:

C:\WINNT\MSsrvs32.exe is infected with W32.Randex.gen

C:\WINNT\system32\MSsrvs32.exe is infected with W32.Randex.gen

C:\WINNT\system32\webchecks.dll is infected with W32.IRCBot

C:\WINNT\system32\dhcp\csrss.exe is infected with W32.IRCBot

C:\Documents and Settings\DoNotUse\payload.dat is infected with W32.Randex.gen

C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\winspsv.exe is infected with W32.Spybot.Worm

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\payload.dat is infected with W32.Randex.gen

I had to manually delete MSsrvs32.exe and webchecks.dll using a command line because Norton and Windows were “denied access.”

Raleigh St. Augustine Grass

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Master Gardener Walter Reeves reports St. Augustine grass is becoming more popular in Atlanta. He mentioned a “Raleigh” variation that is supposed to be more cold tolerant.

St.Augustine Grass

Raleigh St. Augustine grass was released by the North Carolina Experiment Station in 1980 as a cold tolerant, SAD resistant strain. Raleigh is finer textured than Floratam and develops a dense turf much like the Texas Common strain of St. Augustine grass. Raleigh is also more shade tolerant than Floratam. But, unlike Floratam, Raleigh is not resistant to lawn chinch bugs.

Gas Pipe Is In

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GasTee.JPGDanny and I installed a new gas line for $75 in materials. This included two new pipe wrenches! It saved us so much money, I gave DC a $50 tip for helping out with both his brains and brawn.

This photo shows where we tapped in, replacing a 6″ link with a “T”. The other T’s heading back go to the water heater and dryer.

This photo shows the elbow hanging above the mudsill going up through the kitchen floor.

GasElbowOnMudSill.JPG

Danny did all the work behind the narrow space of the stove. (He’s taller than me and weighs the same, so I’m not sure how that worked out.) The valve is currently in the off position with a temporary plug screwed in for extra measure.

GasValve.JPG

One thing that made this project possible (besides Grant and Ted telling me I could do it) was being able to get the new stove’s installation manual off the internet before buying it. That is how I knew I had a 7″ high x 15″ wide x 3.5″ deep space to install the valve in the back left corner. Kathy and I wonder how the expensive plumbers would have known that. Maybe it is an ANSI standard.

Now playing: Bloody Well Right from “Crime of the Century” by Supertramp

I Wish Someone Had Told Me

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This is a request from two friends. I’m not sure I’ve written this kind of advice to my own kids, so it is going to take some work. However, the easiest one for me was #3. Feel free to reply with comments, and I’ll pass them on!

Dear Family and Friends,

Our son, Kevin will be turning 13 years old on December 22, 2004. He will become a teenager, beginning the transition into adulthood. In today’s world, being a teenager can be very challenging and sometimes overwhelming. We would like to help prepare Kevin for this exciting transition from childhood to young adulthood, and we are asking for your help in doing so. We would like to provide Kevin with a keepsake of a treasury of messages to live by. A book of words that he can look to for inspiration, advice, love that will help guide him on life’s journey.

We would be most grateful if you would help contribute to this book by writing something, drawing a picture, sending a family recipe or favorite photo or postcard. Some ideas are: 1) Tell Kevin, the most important thing(s) you ever learned; 2) The three (or five or ten) most important qualities a man should have; 3) Some thing(s) you wished that someone had told you when you were 13; 4) A special memory you have of Kevin; 5) What you wish for him; 6) A favorite quote, poem, prayer, or song and why it is special to you; 7) A top ten list of the things you love in life and why; 8) What you believe about life.

These are only suggestions, please feel free to add your own ideas. You can send your contribution to us via e-mail or mail by December 10 (late arrivals will still be accepted). We graciously appreciate your time and effort in making this keepsake book for Kevin. Young people today need positive influences in their lives. They need reminders that they matter and that others love and believe in them. Thank you for helping to make a difference in Kevin’s life.

With love and gratitude,

Andrea and Jim

Comments welcome!