Jcpma Blogger

115 - PrivySwap tutorial

2011-12-23T20:47:00.003-07:00

115- Encryption series: simple apps to encrypt things from your little brother or sister. Tutorial of:
PrivySwap v 1.0
===== written Nov.08.2011 by JCPMA ©

Summary
*Diffie-Hellman, Public Key Exchange Passkey manager
*Why: Stronger passwords
*Small portable
*Easy to use
*Private Key is kept secret
*Mutual Key is kept secret
*Public Key is not a secret

[screenshot: privyswap-ss22.png]
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zlluz1zoo8r8hmk
http://www.box.com/s/ugflzhcc7c8frc8vgvh3

Voon-Li Chung is one of my heroes. He wrote Privycrypt, an app for text encryption, and is the creator of PrivySwap, an app that simplifies Public Key Exchange. PrivySwap is a small portable program at under 400 KB for Windows. (Although somewhere in cyberspace there may exist a UNIX port of it.)

The point of Public Key Exchange is to enable encryption where the passkey need NOT be transmitted, and thus reduce risk of cracking.

Although it was created to be a companion program to Privycrypt, the beautiful part of PrivySwap is that the passkey it generates can be used in ANY encryption program which can handle its length (56 characters)!
For instance Scrambled Egg, Copyright (C) 2011 by Cristi Constantin.
Website : http://scrambled-egg.googlecode.com/ or similar type app.

Tips on using PrivySwap
===
-Just as both parties each require a copy of the encrypting software, so it is that both require a copy of the passkey manager, namely PrivySwap.
-Your Private Key can be up to 28 characters. It is something you think up yourself. Alternatively you can have a shorter Private Key and check the box "Expand private key to full length". It's best to have a long Private Key. Keep this a SECRET.
-Next, press the Compute Public button. This will generate your Public Key. Your Public Key is for all to see.
-Now clear the Public Key field. Obtain your friend's Public Key and paste it in the Public Key field. Make sure your own Private Key is in the Private Key field. Click the Compute Mutual button. This generates a Mutual (Pass)Key. Use this Mutual Passkey to encrypt your messages. Keep the Mutual Key a SECRET.
-At the other end, your friend would generates the same Mutual Key, but using their own Private Key and your Public Key. They will then decrypt your cipher-text using the Mutual Key.

The Copyright © holders have all rights reserved. The software and web documents are provided "as is" without express or implied warranty of any kind by the parties and contributors involved.

privyswap1_0.zip http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?tppmt94d7hedtl0
privyswap1_0.zip http://www.box.com/s/td0uhjeqsnfzdrxzzqt3

The contents of archive privyswap1_0.zip:
(MD5 of privyswap1_0.zip: 0DC41FB213332751CC9D5E03DAF90268)

- copy of privyswap.exe
(MD5 of privyswap.exe: a4553b13a781a7a9877cd2a30f715b06)
- copy of privyswap info & license (the readme file)
- quikguide.txt http://www.box.com/s/enuu9d68qu48kb961co6
- screen shot privyswap-ss22.png http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zlluz1zoo8r8hmk http://www.box.com/s/ugflzhcc7c8frc8vgvh3

- crypton1.2 signature: privyswap1_0.sgn http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?eyk9dg9wfmq2830 http://www.box.com/s/psne4uxdrvmoip79c9j9

- crypton1.2 public key: jcpma2011-public-crypton-key_242A.pbl http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?3bruccy636bkd23 http://www.box.com/s/b4anqmo29hoqd1fovaov

privyswap filesharing directory http://www.mediafire.com/?38aewn13oah94
privyswap filesharing directory http://www.box.com/s/sl9bmt4ldgioov02g49q

- my privyswap public key is:
a21bc4ef48e722b90763e991544dba81aebca8b9df6deffdc038848f

(In the future if I find a javascript html version of PrivySwap or something similar to PrivySwap, I will definitely post a link to it!)

±±±± pre-amble of Public Key Exchange encryption
A casual/vague synonym for Public key exchange may be "Diffie-Hellman exchange" named after the duo who invented this type passkey encryption. They could be considered the grandparents of Public Key Exchange encryption. RSA, Elgamal, & DSA are some of the variations of this type of encryption†.
I'm most comfortable with traditional passkey use, the kind that does not involve a Public key exchange. Examples are many: webmail login; using a bank card at an ATM or retail shoppe; logging on to a computer; logging in to a blog account to post a blog entry; etc... This is much SIMPLER, but LESS SECURE. If someone guessed or found your password it would be easy for them to pretend to be you. Non-crucial information can be encrypted by any of the vast number of available encryption apps to prevent it from being viewed by nosy neighbors. It's fast and easy and most of the time it is adequate. However for sensitive data, Public key exchange types of software should be considered for encryption.

I was introduced to Public key exchanges when PGP, and GnuPG started to become popular. These programs secure email's text and email's file sending. (PGP doesn't really stand for Pretty Gconfusing Privacy, nor does GnuPG stand for Gnu Privacy Gconfusion.) It was a steep learning curve for me to just get a grasp of the basic/minimal concepts before I even touched any of the software.
This type of key use enables:
1. encryption targeted for a specific receiver.
2. a working hybrid key that is difficult to crack.

Public key exchange based programs like PGP, and GnuPG have a built in Key Manager. The key manager performs two crucial functions:
i.) It creates unique pairs of private-public keys.
ii.) It creates hybrids between your own private key and an external third-party public key (OR in some cases hybrids between the program's temporary key, your private key and an external third-party public key).

If anyone gets a hold of two public keys, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for them to figure out the hybrid key. (If they were to get a hold of a private key,... well that's "a different story!").

(†)"Introduction to Cryptography" (Copyright 1999, Network Associates, Inc., Santa Clara, CA 95054 http://www.nai.com)
end of pre-amble ±±±±

114 - logging out of stumbleupon

2011-12-23T20:07:00.006-07:00

114 - logging out of stumbleupon.com
written by JCPMA Dec.22.2011

Today I went into stumbleupon to review an account. When I was ready to log-off I couldn't find a link or button to do so.

Easy way:
Enter this url into your browser; This will bring up a log-off type button:

http://www.stumbleupon.com/logout

http://s556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jcpma/blogger-kx/?action=view&current=dec2011-logout-stumbleupon.png

113 - 4t HIT Mail Privacy LITE and Scrambled Egg

2011-12-22T21:42:00.003-07:00

113 - steganography series: simple apps to encrypt things from your little brother or sister. test of:
4t HIT Mail Privacy LITE and also Scrambled Egg steganography
==== written Nov.06.2011 by JCPMA©

4t HIT Mail Privacy LITE 1.01 by Niagra Software (2002) can encrypt 250 characters
text into an image.
http://www.4t-niagara.com
It runs on Windows. The source image can be any common format jpg, gif, etc...
Output file is a BMP (or ZIP or HIT archive of the bmp). Zip apps should be able to extract the bmp file from either archive. Checksums of the 3 bmps differ but the decrypted text message is OK.

I performed the encryption process for 3 cycles with two different jpgs.
One cycle gave 3 outputs where the CRC checksum was identical for the 3 versions of bmps.
With the next jpg, the CRC was different for the 3 versions of bmps. I confirmed this by repeating the cycle again but with different text and password.

250 text characters isn't very much. It is about a paragraph. It is however easy to put such a small amount of cipher text into a small image. The smallest jpg I have so far used measures approx. 54x54 pixels. You can probably use a smaller image if you wish.
It appears the output bmp may contain a digital WATERMARK which tells the app that it is an encrypted container. I haven't confirmed this. But for casual use, this will be inconsequential.
It would be nice if this app could output files in other image formats, perhaps jpg, gif, png etc..
This app encodes traditional ANSI text.
It does not encode Unicode text.

My subjective ratings for this app (out of 5 stars):
-overall:3
-ease of use:5
-encryption strength:3
-plausibility/deniability:unknown
-versatility:2

The Copyright © holders have all rights reserved. The software and web documents are provided "as is" without express or implied warranty of any kind by the parties and contributors involved.

4tHITMailPL-ss-etc.png http://www.mediafire.com/?reppiphg8r6hio8
4tHITMailPL-ss-etc.png http://www.box.com/s/xgh5vfbpinfek3blkz43

[image/example]-the password is "password"
outputs are:
130k_G0RD0N.bmp (126KB), http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?9752o0fwjdl9o5g http://www.box.com/s/13alyflnr9opyzi8fb30

130k_G0RD0N.HIT (99KB), http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?gabixidpvbxrwcu http://www.box.com/s/xxnia662xh33tf6g7xa4 and

130k_G0RD0N.zip (99KB). http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?qscc32r3d85yl4r http://www.box.com/s/ghr4fvdkxbu44b5u0iku

[file share folder 4thitmail] http://www.mediafire.com/?x6tkew1hawgex
http://www.box.com/s/0jbuy8099ny81u6x21d8

4tHITMailPrivLite.zip MD5:F4EFA7E141D293CEA31F603DA10A8985
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?6brdzc4ay7ma9y8
http://www.box.com/s/qhs84id5lnn53fkt4bks

4tHITMailPrivLite.sgn Crypton1.2 signature file
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ulas8oge8i7y743 http://www.box.com/s/xpn9gmv1u8y5xvzm0yqg

jcpma2011-public-crypton-key_242A.pbl Crypton1.2 public key
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?3123o7c1nnlt21t http://www.box.com/s/v846yqiqb405eqs0zgnn

Scrambled Egg 0.4 Portable
===
ŠË is primarily a text to text encryption app. I stumbled onto its steganography feature by accident. Press the "Export" button on the lower right corner and it will export the cipher-text into a square PNG image. The size of the square depends on the amount of cipher-text. The square PNG is an image of noise/static.

Description & user guide for Scrambled Egg
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/control-text-encryption-scrambledegg/
Download page for Scrambled egg portable 0.4
http://code.google.com/p/scrambled-egg/downloads/list

SummaryTableOfSomeSteganographyApps (ratings out of 5):
###########
App-name
Carrier/Output; CarriedData; (Ease) EncrStength; [Deniab.] Comment;
--------------- ------------ ------ ------------ --------- --------
4t HIT Mail Privacy Lite v1.01
common images/bmp,zip..; text; (5) 3; [unknown] userfriendly

BmpPacker v1.2a
(none)/bmp; anyfile; (3) 4; [0] output is always strips of noise bmp

Camerashy v0.2.23.1
gif/gif; text or basic html; (2) 3; [3] somewhat clunky

Eyemage IIE v0.9.0.1
bmp/bmp; anyfile or text; (4) 4; [4 w.TradPassword] lowerDeniability w Intimakeys. noisyBmpMakingFeature

Jpg+FileBinder v1
jpg/jpg; zip; (3) 0*; [0/low] ok for casual steganography, (*any encryption depends on the zip app used)

Jphs jpeg hide and see v0.5
jpg/jpg; anyfile; (3) 3; [4] hiddenFile's extension is lost

Paperback v1
none/bmp; anyfile; (4) 3; [0/low] practical for small files

Puff v2
png,bmp,others?/same; anyfile; (1) Unknown; [Unknown] MediaFilesAsCarriers; Clunky/low confidence

Scrambled Egg v 0.4 Portable
none/text or png; text; (4) 5; [unknown] pngs are noise/supports Unicode text!
==
In a previous posts, I wrote about some of the picture steganography apps mentioned above.

112 - Icon Spacing on Windows7 Starter

2011-12-20T18:36:00.002-07:00

A Newbie (Noob) Adjusts Icon Spacing on the Desktop of a Windows 7 Starter Netbook
======== written by JCPMA© [Oct.14.2011]

My netbook's default resolution is 1024 x 600 pixels. The default icon spacing values are 47 pixels horizontal and 47 pixels vertical. This translates into being able to fit 12 icons across the screen and 6 icons along the height of the screen. This means this desktop can accomodate 72 icons visually. If you have more than 72 items, they are still there, but you will not be able to see them on the desktop.
Holy Cow! Who has 72 or more items on a desktop?

My preference for desktop items is along the philosophy of "Fewer is Better." Perhaps the ideal desktop has six or less icons on it. This being said, there may be times where you need to do some intense work or heavy organizing, and being able to have more desktop items will be helpful.
When you reduce the Icon Spacing values, what you are doing is decreasing the space between icon items. That is, decreasing the pixel number of the "spacing" (padding) will "scrunch/squish" the icons more closely together. The Horizontal spacing will adjust the number of icons for the width of the screen, and the Vertical spacing, the number of icons for the height of the screen. In my extreme example, without altering the netbook's resolution, I can fit upto 120 icons on the desktop! (Values for this are: "IconSpacing Horiz."=36(pixels), and "IconSpacing Vert."=28; [ie., This holds 15 icons across & 8 icons down].) Look at the illustration for examples.

Photobucket netbookIconDensity-b.png http://s556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jcpma/blogger-kx/?action=view&current=netbookIconDensity-b.png

Accessing the Adjustment
This adjustment is located in the "Advanced Window Color and Appearance" settings. Access this by typing into the StartMenu search field "Change the color scheme" > Advanced button > Item dropdown menu > adjust the size to your taste, and then > click OK, followed by clicking on the Apply button.

Here are the values. [You would enter the 1st number before the slash]:
Icon Spacing Horizontal: 47/12 icons; 46/13 icons; 40/14 icons; 36/15 icons
Icon Spacing Vertical: 47/6 icons; 41/6½ icons; 36/7½ icons; 28/ 8 icons

This method allows upto 120 desktop items, 48 more than the default 72. Although we may prefer a sparser icon spacing on our desktop, it is nice to know we can have the choice of easily changing this when the need arises.
===
In a future post, I will discuss the Windows 7 Starter netbook desktop theme "Visual Styles".

111 - Crypton tutorial

2011-12-20T18:14:00.005-07:00

111 - Encryption series: simple apps to encrypt things from your little brother or sister. Tutorial of:
Crypton 1.2
==== tutorial written by JCPMA © Nov.07.2011

SUMMARY
•Crypton requires no installation & is usb-drive portable.
•is small (only 30 KB)

What you can do with Crypton:
* Sign files (to vouch for/ prove their integrity).
* Verify signed files.
* Calculate files' checksums (MD2, MD4, MD5, and SHA1 hashes).
* Wipe/Shred files.
* Encrypt files for yourself.
* Encrypt files for others (you need their public key first though).

Crypton v 1.2 created by Damian Bakowski is a brilliant small app, for Windows, that incorporates a Public key exchange. Where PGP and GnuPG are mainly concerned with email, Crypton is mainly focused on encryption of a FILE and signing of a FILE. It has no compatibility with PGP-type programs, but it shares similar theories in encryption.

I downloaded this app in the Spring of 2006. Obviously there was an English users manual which I have since lost, but I have partially retained some of its information through a .txt copy.(see links below). Like most, I find the whole process of Private and Public key-pairs, PGP keys, GPG keys etc... intimidating and complex. After reviewing the little information I had with Crypton, my first instinct was to delete it. But I reconsidered and am promoting it here because...
It does a great job of encryption but it has even greater value as a SIGNING application! With Crypton, you can sign files (whether they be encrypted or not) before you post/send them via the internet/other. Others will then use Crypton, a small 30 KB app, to verify the files you signed.
PGP (& so far with GnuPG) require their program to be installed on a computer for the ability to sign and verify files. If you do not mind installing programs you should choose either PGP or GPG(GnuPG). It is a good type of software to have. GPG4usbPortable-version0.3 is about 11 MB in size, but have not yet finished their development of signing emails or files. Thunderbird2Portable-with-GPG1.4-with-Enigmail0.95 is a 36 MB package that is portable. It can sign emails/email attachments, but cannot sign files or verify other signed files. Perhaps a more recent version will be capable.
What is wrong with using checksums like MD5 or CRC to verify files? Nothing! I use checksums for 99% of my needs and it works perfectly. However, signing a file adds a personal touch, in that, you are personally vouching for a file's integrity. If you want to be a geek, you have to go that extra step.

crypton-ss_3.png http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?38x8wcj64y3s44f
http://www.box.com/s/85770lidq58esb6bb30k

The original website was here: http://www.d--b.webpark.pl/crypton_en.htm
Crypton is still available for download from other internet sites but I uploaded my own copy with some keys here:

Box.net FileShareFolder \crypton\ http://www.box.com/s/plgvnuncu3k65duxm7ux

crypton12jc-pkg.MD5.txt http://www.box.com/s/ixyr2rv5vdep76ksp5lv
crypton-ss_3.png http://www.box.com/s/85770lidq58esb6bb30k
howtoUse-Crypton3.ans.odt http://www.box.com/s/rrlryrx1mjgh2cmx78u6
howtoUse-Crypton3.ans.pdf http://www.box.com/s/azyqr81yevnazfpkvlmt
howtoUse-Crypton3.ans.txt http://www.box.com/s/3mo3qbfy3gexfamltc47
crypton12jc.sgn http://www.box.com/s/2idn116b73n7cff75via

crypton12jc.zip <== this is the software
http://www.box.com/s/btgx3fjhako1kqrcqqeo

Mediafire FileShareFolder \crypton\ http://www.mediafire.com/?pa1wjewwt79sb

crypton12jc-pkg.MD5.txt http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?z4dpmwjh1dfoj92
crypton12jc.sgn http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?pvvsrbcobortl7e
crypton12jc.zip http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?dj4e34j39ccwwme
crypton-ss_3.png http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?38x8wcj64y3s44f
howtoUse-Crypton3.ans.pdf http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?tx35x6wm5i9xtda
jcpma2011-public-crypton-key_242A.pbl http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?53983hy5oi7sd4x

The Copyright © holders have all rights reserved. The software and web documents are provided "as is" without express or implied warranty of any kind by the parties and contributors involved.

±±±± pre-amble of Public Key Exchange encryption
A casual/vague synonym for Public key exchange may be "Diffie-Hellman exchange" named after the duo who invented this type passkey encryption. They could be considered the grandparents of Public Key Exchange encryption. RSA, Elgamal, & DSA are some of the variations of this type of encryption†.
I'm most comfortable with traditional passkey use, the kind that does not involve a Public key exchange. Examples are many: webmail login; using a bank card at an ATM or retail shoppe; logging on to a computer; logging in to a blog account to post a blog entry; etc... This is much SIMPLER, but LESS SECURE. If someone guessed or found your password it would be easy for them to pretend to be you. Non-crucial information can be encrypted by any of the vast number of available encryption apps to prevent it from being viewed by nosy neighbors. It's fast and easy and most of the time it is adequate. However for sensitive data, Public key exchange types of software should be considered for encryption.

I was introduced to Public key exchanges when PGP, and GnuPG started to become popular. These programs secure email's text and email's file sending. (PGP doesn't really stand for Pretty Gconfusing Privacy, nor does GnuPG stand for Gnu Privacy Gconfusion.) It was a steep learning curve for me to just get a grasp of the basic/minimal concepts before I even touched any of the software.
This type of key use enables:
1. encryption targeted for a specific receiver.
2. a working hybrid key that is difficult to crack.

Public key exchange based programs like PGP, and GnuPG have a built in Key Manager. The key manager performs two crucial functions:
i.) It creates unique pairs of private-public keys.
ii.) It creates hybrids between your own private key and an external third-party public key (OR in some cases hybrids between the program's temporary key, your private key and an external third-party public key).

If anyone gets a hold of two public keys, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for them to figure out the hybrid key. (If they were to get a hold of a private key,... well that's "a different story!").

(†)"Introduction to Cryptography" (Copyright 1999, Network Associates, Inc., Santa Clara, CA 95054 http://www.nai.com)
end of pre-amble ±±±±

110 - Step 64 Text Encryption

2011-12-16T21:18:00.009-07:00

### - Javascript Encryption series: webpages to encrypt things from your little brother or sister.
Step 64 Text Encryption ===Dec.11.2011-written by JCPMA===

This is the inaugural post for the Javascript Encryption series. The series begins with Step 64 Text Encryption.

Step 64 can encrypt messages written with contemporary text. It accepts most text characters of another language, unusual symbols, or non-standard punctuation.

Step 64 is hosted at http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/step64-tnk.html
If the IFrames link below, does not work in your browser, then here is a screenshot of what it looks like.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Your browser does not support iframes.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

----Download a copy of Step 64 Text Encryption----
Step 64 is a 20 KB standalone webpage. Its complement logo is 2 KB, but is not necessary for for the script operation. (It just makes the webpage prettier.) Saving a copy from the website will work, however, it is recommended to download from the file sharing site Mediafire or Box.net for reasons of html purity.

The webhost I am using is advertisment-supported. They inject ad-related code into the webpage inflating it to a size of 35 KB. Also, they anchor the page by associating it with approximately 20 (ad and marketing related) extra files of 104 KB. Thus a total of 22 files at 139 KB instead of the original 2 files at 22 KB. None of these extra files are necessary to the function of the encryption.

Download the ad-free original webpage, step64-tnk.html, from Mediafire: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?nol5eomkagx97sn
Download the ad-free original webpage, step64-tnk.html, from Box.net: http://www.box.com/s/tdcb24rz49jdjhmpnxbf

Download the logo, step64logo32.png 2 KB
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/step64logo32.png
step64logo.32.png at Mediafire: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?oecqrxvsrcyle6v
step64logo.32.png at Box.net: http://www.box.com/s/973aboc02x42tq019zyk

Javascript Encryption series preamble (Links to the series follow below)
I have assembled and modified a compilation of html webpages which run on Javascript and perform to encrypt text. (This includes one of my own creations, that is, a javascript webpage made by a non-programmer!)
Why I am a proponent for encryption. Briefly explained, the promotion of privacy is one of the pillars of a coveted civilization. (If convenient, this may be discussed in a future post.)

Why I chose javascript. In my own words, javascript is ubiquitous and is supported in most if not all current popular web browsers. Operations are performed locally, ie., at your computer terminal whether you are connected to the internet or not. Javascript has one aspect of superiority over "Java". Most web browsers are ready to perform with javascript, whereas with Java, the computer must undergo a one-time installation of Java software/plug-in in order to work. Many but not all computers have Java installed. Another way of saying this is that at any given moment, the likelihood of a web browser having Java ability is less than javascript ability. Also, the webpages when saved locally should function even at a moment when the hardware is disconnected from the internet.

Why the creator of Javascrypt, John Walker of www.fourmilab.ch, supports javascript. (The quote is not exact verbatim, but the thoughts are his.) "...Transparency and Security. Transparency refers to the opportunity to view/inspect the javascript code/source code to ensure it does what it claims to. Security refers to performing encryption at your unique browser terminal. It does not rely on a constant calling of software from another location or across the internet. ..."

---PLAN A---
My intention was to publish each webpage of this series as a separate post. Notice the series header begins with three hash (###) marks. I wanted to start each post with an identifying number unique to this blog.
The Obstacle. The obstacle to this plan was the incompatibility with Blogger. I experimented by posting a webpage via Blogger's html editor, and the interim result showed only a partially functioning javascript post with most of the formatting and colours incomplete or mishandled. I reviewed some of the solutions from the internet on how to enable javascript in Blogger. The answers distil down to two categories.
One, make the javascript a part of your template/layout; or
Two, make the javascript a part of a post by altering the code.
Method One is unacceptable as I do not want the javascript to be loaded (UNIVERSALLY) with each and every post.
Method Two is IMPRACTICAL as altering the javascript is labour-intensive; Tremendously a massive amount of effort is needed, and not guaranteed to work. (The information I found on the internet claims the javascript in a post will function if you write the code as a single line. Remove all components which 'freak out' Blogger's editor thus preventing it from 'hiccupping' and inserting line breaks defacing the code.) Method Two may be adequate for small short pieces of javascript, but my compilation contains huge lumps of the stuff.

---PLAN B---
This is instead how I will proceed. The collection will be uploaded via FTP to a traditional non-blogging webpage hosting site. This permits employing or trying out the webpage directly from cyberspace without having to download anything. The disadvantage is that there are host inserted ads, usually banner ads at the top and or bottom of the page, which inflate the size (KB) of the webpage. Surprisingly the dvertisements and its components can take up a lot of space. (see above)
These pages will be linked by IFrames (experimentally) to this blog. For archiving redundancy the original (unaltered) webpages will be uploaded to file sharing sites Mediafire.com and Box.net (My current two favourite file sharing sites).

[Cloud Impermanence. A rehashing of my own biassed opinion: One of my favourite web 2.0 ("cloud") services, was Drop.io, a file sharing and archiving site from a southwestern company. The convenience it offered was slick and beyond excellence. Then one day business forces resulted in a restructuring of the current terms of service. Reasonable and adequate notice was given for Drop.io users to prepare for service termination. For the informed user, no loss of digital files happened. Unfortunately, any user hyperlinks pointing to the site were nullified. Thusly, so was the work put into setting up the links. I only had a handful of dead-links, but others had many many links. What a frustrating process. Here is some good news. As powerful as Google is, they remain surprisingly ethical. Like Mr. Spock would say, I wish Google, Bravenet, Mediafire, and Box.net "long-life and prosperity" so their current excellence can be maintained. My skeptical nature however tells me any service can decline/cease with time. There will be more dead-links.]

So far, the entire series is hosted at this website in this directory:
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/
This is the js-encr folder at Mediafire: http://www.mediafire.com/?yz2o4lrg3xplq
This is the js-encr folder at Box.net: http://www.box.com/s/g3mjclevtqh5zucy5hi2

The files:
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/11jscram.htm
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/ba_index-b64-6.html
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/base64logo32.png
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/block-tea7.html
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/j4jscrypt.html
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/js-encr.txt

http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/js-encr-checksum.md5.txt
js-encr-checksum.md5.txt at Mediafire: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?fqv0agszmuzepg7
js-encr-checksum.md5.txt at Box.net: http://www.box.com/s/uy95tayfxx9lburtj33v

http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/js-encr.zip <== this file represents all the files in the directory.
js-encr.zip at Mediafire http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?28i307t6nktfhi9
js-encr.zip at Box.net http://www.box.com/s/ay3l6q9zlojbdqqfaaeg

http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/m_aes8.html
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/md5logo32.png
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/md_index-md5-6.html
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/n-alphac8.html
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/PG1pubkeya.htm
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/PG2encodi.htm
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/sereg7.htm
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/step64-tnk.html
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/step64logo32.png
http://jcpma.bravehost.com/js-encr/v2c-JEnc.htm

md5 hashes of the directory:
11jscram.htm,292edb74be45bc5114f725d215786180
base64logo32.png,15fe14a4e58b6777942190ed84ea6833
ba_index-b64-6.html,9f7bbe60e1e2c19ddaef9e7291b8f6c3
block-tea7.html,989ad5c2c5dbadfeb0328ae6519a36f5
j4jscrypt.html,c0374cced40bbfb97ea992f7c8ca44d5
js-encr.txt,09cd9a9bbb94a3bc23854cd43a9e8573
js-encr-checksum.md5.txt,00e5ff886491a1a62acb43c8f13a3de7
js-encr.zip,71e86697e6589075e3f05eb4592871cc

md5logo32.png,d898a1ee216ab264edc677d2efec7be6
md_index-md5-6.html,5a5f9d940b5abab1ce5224a50fb61b18
m_aes8.html,5803a81cc5f10314325a7ceb6d2be398
n-alphac8.html,ee0733a05ab84a81ba5efe6d8e0a94a4
PG1pubkeya.htm,f6a6e06a1e6b89d4b789ad90d3f610c2
PG2encodi.htm,b7d5fb7e29d353271767d732d0e4988b
sereg7.htm,833585e0d25fa79d5fcbe23074f90ec2
step64-tnk.html,a418dd41773e3a58cf8e6e73b3fb52f2
step64logo32.png,1ca4e881eb2216b2d46e2aac85eb4ac7
v2c-JEnc.htm,93289a6e0e14ab51962f79fc43ae89f7

109 - Newbie Windows 7 Starter netbook Backup and Restore

2011-10-08T17:26:00.001-06:00

109 - A Newbie (Newb) test-drives Windows 7 Starter netbook's Backup and Restore program
====== [Sep.30.2011 written by JCPMA] ===

Windows 7 Starter® Backup and Restore
what it is used for: backing up personal data/files
ease of use: 4 (out of 5)
user friendliness for newbies: 2
documentation clarity: 1

Windows 7 Starter® Backup and Restore
what it is used for: making a system-image of a hard drive
ease of use: 4 (out of 5)
user friendliness for newbies: 1
documentation clarity: 1

Recently, I tried Windows 7 Starter Backup and Restore program. It does have some usefulness value but the user experience is poor. This program is lacking a user manual. You are left to piece together how it works and what options are available, by jumping around, it seems, haphazardly clicking on links to help-files whenever you see a link. It would be less confusing if all this information was gathered into one document. I will try to explain plainly what Windows fails to make clear.

Experience with older Windows machines.
----
My Windows 98® PC came bundled with a Seagate® backup software which I can't remember using often. It also came with Configsafe®. This program may have come with only certain brands of PCs. I don't know; But it was the program I relied on. It backed up your SYSTEM-STATE quickly and into a small file which could be exported.
Windows XP® comes with an extra feature called NtBackup® which works very well but is not enabled by default. It can save data &/or the system-state. It is reasonably fast and has size and time-remaining indicators to let you view the progress of the backup.

On Win7S Backup and Restore, you CANNOT backup the system-state. You can backup data &/or a system-image, ie., an image of your core drive C:\. It takes an understandably long time to backup an image. The program must compress, re-encode and verify the files. Approximately 30GB sys-image + personal files took 1 hour & 7 min. to back up. There is a progress bar, but no indication of time remaining or size expected.
Access Backup and Restore by going to your: StartMenu > AllPrograms > Maintenance > Backup and Restore. Here is the first problem. There is a another way is to go into this: ControlPanel > ... > System and Security > Backup and Restore; Here is the second problem. At this screen you have 2 choices. On the left pane is the link "Create a system-image". On the right is "Set up Backup". The left link leads to making a system-image of drive C with one or a few clicks of the mouse. The choice on the right gives an extra option of making the same image, but you can leave out some/all personal files. Both methods of making a system-image ultimately result in the same output using the same program!

The backup is saved on another internal or external hard drive at its root. You cannot choose a specific location for the target. It will be located at the root. A folder illustrated as a silver storage device will be labelled with the name/nickname of your computer. In this folder are many many zip archives of your personal data. You can accumulate more than one backup set in this folder.
Also at the root of your hard drive will be another folder called WindowsImageBackup. It contains your system-image in the form of one or two .vhd (virtual hard disk) files. These files will be huge ie., 20GB or more or less depending on your current computer system. The info in the help-file is misleading in that you can keep multiple images. This is partially true. You can keep only 1 image on 1 hard drive. If you do a subsequent backup, the image is overwritten by the most current one. You can have another image, but it has to be on a different hard drive. If you explore/check out these folders/files you will be greeted by a prompt that says "you don't have permission".

If you click on your funny-looking data folder in the root of your (external) hard drive, Windows will ask you if you want to restore your files, or all user files, or manage disk space. This is pretty straight forward. But you cannot recover your system by clicking on this icon. This icon is only for restoring files. The next paragraph summarizes the ways to recover your system from your backup.

Restoring from your system-image can be done in one of three ways:
i) using the Recovery Control Panel:
ControlPanel ... > Recovery ... > AdvancedRecoveryMethods > "use a system-image you created earlier to recover your computer"
ii) at boot up:
press F8 during bootup > Advanced Boot options > highlight "Repair your computer"
iii) reboot with a Windows installation disc OR system repair disc in the cd/dvd drive.

I tried to backup a system-image to another internal hard drive. It progressed to 12% and then the program realized there was not enough space and aborted the procedure. Well this is just an example of poor coding. Microsoft has enough money, talent and resources to design an app which can calculate/estimate space required BEFORE the backup begins. In this instance, the backup starts and has wasted the time spent up to the 12% mark.

PROS:
•pre-installed
•you have the option to make backups on demand and to turn off scheduled backups
•you can make subsequent backup sets of personal data
•other computers with Windows 7 should be able to read/recover your data if needed.
•simple one click operation
•automatic creation of system restore point when you make a system-image backup

CONS:
•difficult to navigate
•confusing interface(s) for the beginner
•you can only have one (the most recent) backup of the system-image
•you can't backup the SYSTEM-STATE/registry separately.
•you can't choose a specific target folder for the backup; it will be at the hard drive's root.
•documentation is scattered; there is no single user manual
•Backup is turned on permanently after your first use; this adds to more processes or services running in the background on your computer

"System Restore is a good feature. Why not just use that instead?" Yes it is a good feature, but every 7 days one restore point is made and if you run out of space, that means one restore point will be deleted. Also, there is no way to isolate and archive a good restore point.

Epilogue
====
Backup and Restore does have value. It is convenient. It comes ready to be setup on Windows 7 Starter. Once you get the hang of it, it is easy to do a personal data backup. However, there are many data backup/synchronization apps available which don't require installation, and don't require to constantly be run in the background. My two favorite examples are "z-Back" and "Back4Sure".
Making a system-image may be a good investment. There may be a day in which you will depend on it to recover your computer. It may save you.

My Suggestions
----
1) Make a System Restore® point now.
2) for safety's sake, use Backup and Restore to make a system-image.
3) after completion, restore back to the System Restore® point you made above. (This will effectively take you back in time to the point where Backup and Restore has NOT been turned on yet.)
4) now you have a system-image that you can store, indefinitely, for "a rainy day".

108 - Picture of Chica Umino

2011-10-08T17:23:00.001-06:00

108 - A Picture of Chica Umino
=========== [Sep.27.2011] by JCPMA

I have a picture of the writer, Chica Umino of manga Honey and Clover.

This picture is a gif image based on a jpg photo of my own rendition of the self-portrait of Chica Umino.

107 - Newbie Password Reset Disk Windows 7 Starter Netbook

2011-10-08T17:01:00.002-06:00

107 - A Newbie (Noob) makes a Password Reset Disk on a Windows 7 Starter Netbook
==== written Sept.25.2011 by JCPMA

When Windows XP was young, I stumbled upon the feature "create a Password Reset Disk". I had all but forgotten about this until recently when I looked at my Windows 7 Starter netbook God-mode folder. One of the shortcuts "create a Password Reset Disk", in this folder is categorized under User Accounts. What this does is, for 1% of netbook owners is to make a floppy disk with a file unique unique to your netbook. The file is "userkey.psw" and it is 2 KB in size.This floppy disk is used so you can gain easy access to your netbook and account in the unlikely scenario where you forget your logon password. For the remaining 99% of netbook users who don't own an external floppy disk drive, this feature will create the userkey.psw file onto a USB flash drive.

Access this feature by going to: Control Panel > User Accounts and Family Safety > User Accounts > click on the left link "Create a password reset disk".

Note: You can only make 1 Reset USB disk (or Floppy disk) at a time. If you choose to make another one, Windows informs you that it will invalidate the first one that was created.

Future posts
(On previous posts I wrote "A Newbie (Noob) Uses Ten Tweaks on a Windows 7 Starter Netbook" & "Changing the color of the desktop of a Windows 7 Starter netbook")

106 - shortcut faster shutdown Windows 7 and XP

2011-10-08T16:55:00.002-06:00

106 - Make a shortcut for a faster shutdown on Windows 7 and Windows XP
==== [Sept.27.2011]

The excerpted info from the following will tell you how to create a quicker shutdown shortcut that shout work for Windows XP as well as Windows 7:
3 Ways To Speed Up The Windows 7 Shutdown Process
posted on June 15, 2011 by Tina Sieber
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-ways-speed-windows-7-shutdown-process

Create a Fast Shutdown Shortcut
As of Windows 2000, Windows has come with a remote shutdown tool to shut down and restart Windows. You can control this tool through the command line, but a much faster alternative is to create a shortcut.

•Right-click your Windows 7 desktop and select > New > Shortcut.

•Enter > shutdown.exe -s -t 00 -f in the location field,

> click Next, > give the shortcut a descriptive name, e.g. "Shut Down Computer", and > click Finish.

The letters (options) added above tell the tool to:
•(-s): shut down with a
•(-t): timeout of
•(00): zero seconds , and to
•(-f): force running applications to close without forewarning the user .

... You can see a full list of options when typing > shutdown.exe into the command prompt, which you can open via > [WINDOWS] + [R] then type > cmd into the text field and click > OK.

You can move this shortcut from the desktop to your quick launch bar or pin it to the taskbar. Double-click the shortcut to instantly shut down the system.

This trick is courtesy of Seven Forums.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61294-shut-down-computer-shortcut-create.html
Shutdown time: 24 seconds

105 - Newbie Changes Desktop Color Windows 7 Starter Netbook

2011-10-08T16:47:00.004-06:00

105 - A Newbie (Noob) Changes the Desktop Color on a Windows 7 Starter Netbook
==== written Sept.25.2011 by JCPMA

Many users of Windows 7 Starter netbooks will have the Windows Classic desktop theme instead of the Windows Basic. The reason is because it makes the netbook less slow. The default background color of this theme is a very lovely calm blue. This color can be easily changed to personal taste by accessing these steps: Go into your Startmenu search field and type "color scheme" > click on the resulting control panel's "Change the color scheme" > click the Advanced button > select Desktop > to the right there is a drop-down panel which lets you choose the new desired color.

I used a black desktop on all my computers, for the longest time, but this default blue on Windows7Starter is very pleasing. The reason I looked into altering this blue is because it intereferes with the Google Chrome Browser's blue. This browser has a similar but not identical shade of blue for its skin. My compromise is to alter the desktop color of the netbook slighty darker to provide enough contrast in order to identify the edges (especially the top edge) of the browser.

What About a Desktop Wallpaper?
Desktop Wallpaper feature has been removed in Windows 7 Starter. However,...
I'm not brave enough to try it, but I found what appears to be a convincing (un-official?) method of implementing a personal wallpaper on this site. http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/11243/how-to-personalize-windows-7-starter/
A commenter named bOrek on this post, April 12, 2010 3:06 am, contributed this method:
To change wallpaper you can do the following:
1. Open regedit (aka registry editor; you can access it from the star menu by typing “regedit” in the search box…)
2. Go to “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\” folder and click on it
3. On the right hand side find there are a bunch of entries. Find the key named “Wallpaper” and double click on it and put the path of the picture you want as your new wallpaper (example path is “C:\Users\Bob\Pictures\new_wallpaper.jpg”)
4. Right-click on the “Desktop” folder in regedit that you found in step 2 and click Permissions.
5. Click “Advanced”
6. Go to “Owner” tab, highlight your name in the box that says ?Change owner to' ( There are only two choices the other is Administrator )… once your user name is highlighted click “OK”
7. Click on “Advanced” again
8. Uncheck the button that reads “Include inheritable permissions from the object's parent”… click “Remove” when prompted
9. Click “Add”
10. Type “Everyone” and click “OK”
11. Check Allow “Read Control” and click “OK”
12. Click “OK” again
13. Highlight “Everyone” and check to Allow “Read” and click “OK”
14. Restart Computer and enjoy new Wallpaper

My 2 cents is that you should consider the screen/wallpaper dimensions for a netbook. I think the default is 1024x600 pixels. This should be ok for most. Sometimes the netbook is run at an artificial (squished) horizon at false dimensions of 1024x768 pixels. I also read somewhere that the background should be a .jpg of less than 256 KB. I don't know if this applies to the wallpaper or if it applies to the logon screen background.

What About a Logon Screen Background?
I have not tried to change it, but perhaps the easiest way to do it is to use the tweaking app Ultimate Windows Tweaker v 2.2 by Ramesh Kumar. In the middle of the page is a button to "set custom background on Welcome Screen". It has a note about a file size less than 256 KB and a resolution of 1024x600.
This website instructs on a registry edit which will allow a change in background.
http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/67-windows-7-tips-tricks-and-secrets-643861?artc_pg=2
22. Customise the log-on screen
Changing the Windows log-on screen used to involve some complicated and potentially dangerous hacks, but not any more - Windows 7 makes it easy.
First, browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background in REGEDIT, double-click the DWORD key called OEMBackground (not there? Create it) and set its value to 1.

Now find a background image you'd like to use. Make sure it's less than 256KB in size, and matches the aspect ratio of your screen as it'll be stretched to fit.

Next, copy that image into the %windir%\system32\oobe\info\backgrounds folder (create the info\backgrounds folders if they don't exist). Rename the image to backgroundDefault.jpg, reboot, and you should now have a custom log-on image.

Alternatively, use a free tweaking tool to handle everything for you. Logon Changer http://tweaks.com/software/tweakslogon displays a preview so you can see how the log-on screen will look without rebooting, while the Logon Screen Rotator http://www.lukepaynesoftware.com/lsr accepts multiple images and will display a different one every time you log on

Future posts
(On a previous post I wrote "A Newbie (Noob) Makes a Password Reset Disk on a Windows 7 Starter Netbook.") My future posts will include the topic Making a Shortcut for Quick Shutdown of a Windows 7 Starter netbook.

104 - Newbie Ten Tweaks Windows 7 Starter Netbook

2011-10-08T16:42:00.002-06:00

104 - A Newbie (Noob) Uses Ten Tweaks on a Windows 7 Starter Netbook
==== written Sept.25.2011 by JCPMA

My netbook is over a year old. It comes pre-installed with Microsoft® (MS) Windows 7 Starter®. And I must state I am pleasantly surprised with how well Windows 7 works on a netbook. Before writing this I had, for a long time, already customised and improved, performance by turning off Win7's visual "candy" (see item No. 5). How I got "caught up" recently in doing more tweaks started by my search to reduce the number of Windows "processes". This will be discussed below as well as other tweaks that I have tried and learned about from the internet.

1.) Recently I became overwhelmed with my obsession of viewing the MS Task Manager and its number of processes shortly after booting on the netbook. The processes number in the 50s to 60s! It bothered me for months. A significant number of these are start up processes. Michael Lin's Startup Control Panel 2.8 helps remove them, but not all. Some are locked and cannot be changed in real-time. So I began my web-crawl to find some solutions. It is funny that most articles about "tweaking" on the web discuss "turning off" Windows' features rather than using them to their full advantage. I guess like most people, speed and performance are more important to me than fancy appearances.

2.) Before continuing, if you are a newbies' newbie (noobs' noob), and tweaking is not really your fancy, then the best suggestion is to download a copy of Ultimate Windows Tweaker v 2.2. This version works for Windows 7 and probably for other recent varieties of Windows too. This is not a "plug" for UWT, but a personal testimonial. This small app requires no installation. Just go ahead and start using it. Take your time to review each option. Change the ones you feel comfortable about. For each "page" of the program, remember to click on "apply" at the bottom before you proceed to the next page of tweaks. I will talk more about UWT later.

3.) To reduce the number of startup processes, you have to access the Windows interface "msconfig". Hit the Start button > in the search field type "msconfig" > the result will include "msconfig.exe"; click on it > go to the Startup tab > uncheck the boxes of the items you don't want to run at start-up. The beautiful part about this tweak, is that it is very easy to reverse if needed.
Notes:
*There is an Adobe®..."?sth?" process here. I discovered that it makes the Adobe pdf reader quicker to launch when you open a pdf file. If you rarely/occasionaly use pdf files, then it is ok to uncheck. If you frequently use pdfs, then you should leave it alone.
*If there are audio driver or graphic driver apps at startup you should not change them. It is ok however, to uncheck their task-tray launcher apps. This will not disable the driver, but will quicken startup because one less item will be loaded into the task-tray. I unchecked an audio driver app and had some strange behavior from my sound devices. So I had to re-checkmark the box to put it back. I had not realized that this particular app had an option to disable the task-tray icon! If possible, see if you can right click on the app itself and select the option to remove its presence in the task-tray (This may not be possible with all apps). Finally, there may be startup items in the task-tray that are beyond the skills of a newbie to remove.
*A USB DVD-drive & its supporting software had been installed previously. To my dismay, the software suite inserted 8 startup items! These processes were not task-tray items but they were easy to recognize because they belonged to the manufacturer of the DVD-drive software.

4.) Services take up resources. To get access to services, go to
Start > type "services.msc". The method of changing a service is to select the particular service, right-click on it, select Properties. There is a button to click on to STOP the service. A drop-down menu lets you choose the "startup type". The four choices are Automatic-delayed; Automatic; Disable; and Manual. Several sources from the internet mention a handful(s) of SERVICES that you can stop in order to improve performance. I reviewed Tweakhound http://www.tweakhound.com/windows7/tweaking/8.html , and BlackViper http://www.blackviper.com/Windows_7/servicecfg.htm sites and came to these decisions:
*a) Cautious note: avoid tweaks in this category if you don't know what you are doing. Altering a service also changes your netbook's functionality. It is ok to leave all services alone, even though there are many of them.
*b) It is safer to switch a startup type to "manual" than to "disable"
*c) some of your settings are already (by default) "manual" or "disabled"
*d) Active X Installer - my preference for this service is "manual"
*e) Application Experience - my preference for this service is "manual"
*f) Remote Registry - "disabled" (note, this may already have been disabled because it may pose a security risk.)
*g) Windows Time - "disabled"
*h) I left this one alone: Windows Search. It is a unique part of Windows 7 and should not be resource heavy if in normal use you elect to limit the locations Windows® offers to index. (In my situation, I never ask Windows to index any of my searches or locations.)
*i) I left this one alone: Superfetch. It seems too valuable to turn off.

5.) Disable (fancy) visual effects. This category of tweaks may be the most significant enhancers of performance because visuals require diversion of a lot of computing power. In your StartMenu > right-click on Computer > Properties > Advanced System Settings > Advanced tab > click the "Settings" button of the Performance section. Choose the radio button "Best Performance" or alternately, choose "Custom" and then select 3 or 4 features you can't live without. (Personally, I like MousePointerShadows, and SmoothEdges of ScreenFonts.)

6.) Disable Aerosnap. This feature makes your windows a different size and moves them to different locations if you happen to drag a window to the sides of the screen. It is very annoying. Fixing this probably will not speed up your netbook but will make you happier. Access: Control Panel > Ease Of Access > then click on "Make it easier to focus on tasks" > uncheck the box "Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the screen".

7.) Turn off the Windows 7 Features that you don't use. Access: Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > "Turn Windows Features On or Off". Here, you clear the checkmarks from the boxes of items you don't want. In my case, I unchecked some of the Games, and I unchecked the Windows Gadget Platform

8.) God-Mode is a folder of shortcuts. This aggregation of shortcuts quickly direct you to the spot where you can adjust system settings. Choose a location where you want the God-Mode folder. From what I have read, the Desktop is the recommended location. Create a new folder here and give it the following name (without the quotation marks): "GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}"
I learned about God-Mode from these sites: http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?63273-*-Windows-7-Ultimate-Tweaks-amp-Utilities-*&s=aa15af640cd8be455050932f34883dde
http://lifehacker.com/5439498/create-an-all+inclusive-control-panel-shortcut-in-windows-7

9.) Registry Tweaks. If you are comfortable navigating Registry Editor and altering registry keys, then consider the following tweaks.
*a) Shorten the mouse hover delay before the pop-up message appears. Access: Start > type in the search field "regedit" > open the Registry Editor. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse. Right-click on the key MouseHoverTime and click Modify. Change the value (from the default 400) to 100 (milliseconds).
*b) Shorten the shutdown time, specifically the time taken to kill a service. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control. Right-click on the key WaitToKillServiceTimeout and click Modify. Change the value (from the default 12000) to 6000 (milliseconds).
*c) Shorten the menu show delay, the time it takes for a menu to activate from the instant the mouse touches it. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. Right-click on the key MenuShowDelay and click Modify. Change the value (from the default 400) to 200 (milliseconds).
*d) Shutdown's Kill App delay, and Hung App delay. These keys exist in the earlier Windows flavor, Windows XP®, but I was unable to locate them in Windows 7's registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\. The keys are: "WaitToKillAppTimeout" and "HungAppTimeout". The default values are 20000 and 5000 ms respectively. I am not at a comfort level to manually creating new keys in the registry, so my work-around is to use the portable software Ultimate Windows Tweaker 2.2 to do this for me. Navigate to UWT's "System Performance" page, and move the sliders to the left until you get the desired values of 7000 for Killing App Time & 2000 for Killing Non-responding App Time. The desired values are approximately 1/3 of the default, but you can modify them if you wish.

10.) Enable Clear Type Font on your netbook. For me, since Windows XP, this is a major tweak for laptops and netbooks as they use LCD display screens. The Clear Type font feature offers such a large improvement in readability, I wonder why it doesn't come enabled by default. Access: Control Panel > Appearance > Adjust ClearType Text > put a checkmark in the box "Turn On ClearType". Follow the prompts and take a few minutes to fine-tune the settings. This is easy to do and only requires a one-time setup.

Epilogue
My netbook Startup processes have been reduced by 11! There are 2 fewer items being loaded into the task-tray. The time saved by the task-tray loading may not seem like much, but over the long term you save a big chunk of time and you are happier! Adobe (pdf) reader still works fast enough for my satisfaction; Alternate pdf readers are available if I am really picky about it though. My resource meters seem to be lighter but this is subjective. Objectively the tweaks don't appear to have a noticeable effect. I can't notice a quicker shutdown time. That is because, my netbook manufacturer has its own built-in software for managing shutdown & its pretty quick (slower than a Windows 98 old old old Pentium®2 computer, but faster than a Windows XP computer circa 2005.)! Before I wrote this my netbook Windows Experience Index was 2.3. This index is a score out of a possible 7.9 points. It is a miniature benchmarking feature which evaluates your netbook's strength. This reviews five elements: processor, memory, graphics, gaming graphics, and hard drive. Your Index is the lowest score of these five elements. After I applied the tweaks in this article, my Index sky-rocketed to 2.4. Ok so no big deal, but I am happier++ with the improved performance. To run this feature, access this: Control Panel > System and Security > System > click on the link Windows Experience Index > at the bottom of the screen click on "Run the assessment". It will take a few minutes to complete.
Here is a "plug" for a small resource meter. Try PESoft's TinyResMeter. Version 0.96 is simple to use. Version 0.97 has more "bells and whistles"

Sources
Many of the tweaks I learned about also came from reading these websites:
http://www.computingunleashed.com/speed-up-windows-7-ultimate-guide-to.html
http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?63273-*-Windows-7-Ultimate-Tweaks-amp-Utilities-*&s=aa15af640cd8be455050932f34883dde
http://www.askvg.com/master-tutorial-to-make-your-windows-7-super-fast
http://techtalk.pcpitstop.com/2009/05/26/windows-7-tweak-guide/
http://www.tweakhound.com/windows7/tweaking/index.html
http://www.askvg.com/windows-7-services-that-can-be-safely-set-to-manual
http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/67-windows-7-tips-tricks-and-secrets-643861
http://www.blackviper.com/Windows_7/supertweaks.htm

Future posts
(On a previous post I wrote about system recovery options for a Windows 7 Starter netbook.) My future posts will include the topic Creating a Password Reset Disk for a Windows 7 Starter netbook.

103 - Warzone 2100 Manhattan Cheat Challenge

2011-10-08T16:37:00.004-06:00

103 - Warzone 2100 Manhattan Cheat Challenge
==== [written 2011.10.01 by JCPMA]

This article discusses setting up a single player game against the computer which may be challenging especially to Warzone 2100 newbies.
I came up with this challenge to take on the 7 computer opponents. Why I had to incorporate a cheat was to even the odds. The other 7 will form alliances and share weapons research at, relative to you, an exponential rate. Without a cheat, they will quickly attack you with superior weapons.
This is how you set it up. You only have to do this once. After downloading the game Warzone 2100 Portable 2.3.3 (from Portableapps.com), start a multi-player game with the 8 player map "Manhattan" against the computer. For the game settings, allow Alliances.
Enable cheats by going into debug mode (Shift+Backspace). Use the cheat "research all". This will give you all the research available. Press Escape and save this game and give it a name you can remember. Exit. Restart the game by loading what you have just saved. Now the other 7 will gradually grow in weaponry sophistication and will form alliances to get you. You already have everything researched and can concentrate on total annihilation.
(You can play this map without the cheat, and without allowing alliances, but what fun is that?)

102 - 9 recovery options Windows 7 Starter netbook

2011-10-08T16:27:00.002-06:00

What nine system recovery options do you have with a netbook which comes pre-installed with Windows 7 Starter operating system?
====================================== [written by JCPMA Sep.17.2011]
The most significant factor for system restoration of netbooks is that they do not have built-in optical drives, ie, CD-drive or DVD-drive. My netbook comes pre-installed with Windows 7 Starter operating system. Here are some recovery options available, some with, some without the need for an external optical drive.

1. Use the Microsoft's LAST KNOWN WORKING CONFIGURATION. Access this by pressing F8 button during the boot screen.

2. Microsoft's AUTOMATED REPAIR. If your computer has booting problems, this feature may kick in by itself and run a self-diagnostic and then prompt you to try different things. It takes several minutes or much longer++ but if it is successful it is well worth the wait.

3. SYSTEM RESTORE ("System Protection") is one of the options the Automated Repair Wizard, mentioned above, may offer you if you run into a critical booting problem. Users familiar with Windows XP will recognize this feature as "System Restore". From my perspective it looks identical to Windows XP's System Restore. (I can see no value in giving an alias of "SystemProtection" to SystemRestore; It just adds to un-necessary confusion!)
PROS
* easy to use
* at least 7 days current
* can manually configure/set a restore point anytime

CONS
* first usage requires manual ACTIVATION
* older (good) restore points cannot be kept for a long time.
* some computer power is diverted to this feature

A funny but not so funny story: This Spring, the automated repair wizard recognized a critical OS malfunction and went through all available Microsoft options to get Windows7 back to a working condition. System Restore was one such option, but when selected, Windows stated that there are no Restore-Points in the computer. It is true, that by default, System Restore is active for the netbook hard drive that contains the Windows Operating System (; see screenshot win7sysR-20110917_161636.gif below), but I found out recently, that you MANUALLY have to move a slider before it will save any RestorePoints. Under the SystemProtection tab, hit the "Configure..." button in the middle of the screen. This brings up a field where you move the slider, which is currently at 0 bytes disk space usage, to a larger number (; see screenshot win7sysR-20110917_161733.gif),. Windows help screen, "System Restore: frequently asked questions" (screenshot win7sysR-20110917_162042.gif), recommends a minimum of 300 MB. My gut instinct tells me, however, that you should set the slider for perhaps 5-10% of your hard drive space. If I activated SystemRestore on my netbook, I would move the slider to 3-5 GB!

4. The above story continues by my attempt to restoring the computer, by trying the netbook manufacturer's REPLACING WINDOWS' CORE SYSTEM FILES. This has the similar effect of reinstalling Windows.
You access this feature by pressing one of the F# keys at boot-up. Either F1 or F4 or F7 etc., "which" button depends on your particular netbook and manufacturer. Microsoft's Automated Repair Wizard has a similar feature, but it is always nice to have another choice.

5. Netbook manufacturers usually include an option to restore the hard drive to ORIGINAL FACTORY CONDITION. This option is likely the least preferred as it erases your current data. Again you access this by one of the F# keys during boot-up.

6. For lucky netbook users, some manufacturers offer the ability to create one SYSTEM IMAGE in addition to the pre-existing recovery factory system image, using the manufacturer's proprietary software. Also you would press one of the F# keys during boot to recover with this image.

7. Microsoft's SYSTEM IMAGE creation and recovery. Windows considers this as one of two Advanced Recovery Methods for more serious conditions where SystemRestore fails. You must have first though, created a system image in Microsoft "Backup and Restore". In my Start Menu I would find it under All Programs > Maintenance. Some info from Microsoft Help file, "What backup settings should I use to maximize my disk space?":
*a "full backup" is known as a "backup period";
*once your hard drive is occupied by 30% with backup system images, it starts to delete older Backup Periods;
*backups are stored on "internal or external drives or on CDs or DVDs"...

8. Microsoft's System Repair Disc. To use this option, go into "Backup and Restore" and choose "Create a system repair disc". According to the help file, "Create a system repair disc", you can make such a disc to repair Windows if you do not have a Windows Installation disc. (It sounds like this will make a System Repair CD disc or DVD disc.) You will know this feature is unavailable if during the procedure, the computer prompts you to insert a Windows Installation disc. (This is too kooky!)

9. Microsoft's 2nd Advanced Recovery Method is to Reinstall Windows. This requires a Windows Installation disc. If you click on the dialog (; see screenshot win7sysR-20110917_163130.gif), A pop-up prompt asks if you have an Installation disc, if you click "No", the recovery process is aborted.

Well there you have it. Nine possibilities for restoring a netbook Windows7 system. Hopefully at least one of these will be successful for you and thus prevent you from having to have your netbook professionally restored and save you some buck$. I have not tried options 7, 8, or 9 above. If anyone wants to share their successes/experiences please drop a comment. My motivation for writing this was to sort it out, for my own benefit, as you can see it can be quite confusing. The ideal software would be one where your system image is saved to a different partition or external hard drive. A good image could be kept indefinitely and not arbitrarily erased by the backup software. Recovery would be initiated by booting off from a USB flash drive.

[In a future post, I will review Windows 7 Starter's "Backup and Restore" application as I try it out.]

101 - Life of an Averatec Laptop

2011-10-08T16:01:00.004-06:00

101 - Life of an Averatec Laptop
A description of the history & events of resurrection of my Averatec 3250 HX laptop follows.
=== written Sept.2011 by JCPMA

[2005] I think it was in 2005 that I bought this laptop. It received good product reviews in computer magazines. I have never heard of the company Averatec, but someone had indicated it may be a Taiwan company. (Years later, I believe the internet says Averatec is a Korean company.) Browsing online product info and product features let me decide to purchase it. It is an economy/subMid-class product in a compact size. For this time period, compact laptops and laptops with smaller than 13"-14" lcd screens were not as common as they are now. This machine has a good size 500mb? memory, 80gb HD, wifi b-g card, and a dvd-burner! It comes pre-installed with OEM Windows XP sp2.

[2007 - 2008] I can not remember the year the lsass.exe boot error started. I guess around 2008. When booting, a small window shows there is an lsass.exe error. The window gives you one choice: click "OK". And, when you click OK, the laptop reboots and repeats this cycle, (much like a shampoo: wet hair, lather, rinse, repeat; wet hair, lather, rinse, repeat...). No information was found online whether this error is just a coding/software error, or if it is the result of a virus/worm. These two schools of thought cannot agree. I read somewhere that if the lsass.exe error is shown with a lower-case "l" than the problem is a glitch. If the Lsass.exe error is shown with an upper-case "L" than the issue is due to a virus.
What disappointed me was that several options of Windows XP booting wouldn't help: ie., Boot into safe mode; Boot into DOS (& even if I could boot into DOS, I am DOS-Stupid); Use System Restore; Use Windows Backup (This doesn't work as you need a working OS to do a restore); putting in a WindowsXP SP2 installation CD of which I don't have because the computer only comes with Recovery-Image-Discs.
I recovered from this error by several methods:
a) boot-option into "last known good profile" <-- this saved my bacon many times.
b) replace the corrupt registry with an older good copy using a BartPE CD in concert with ERUNT.
c) The least preferred method is to put in the manufacturer's "Ghost-like" recovery discs which will reinstall everything from scratch, and thus take your current data with it into oblivion.

[2009] The DVD-drive fails in late-2008/early-2009. Now I no longer have the use of the optical drive to recover from an error or the lsass.exe error. In the autumn of 2009, when the lsass error strikes again, I am still unable boot into Safe mode, or into a DOS-prompt. I bring the Averatec laptop to a big-name chain electronic shop. The techs say it is too expensive to replace the dvd-drive. What I could afford was to have them recover my data and reinstall Windows XP (but with SP3). The staff said future optical disc booting would be possible with an external usb dvd drive.

[2010-Spring] Seven to eight months have passed without concern and then the lsass.exe error shows its face again. An external DVD-drive was connected to the laptop. The bios however did not recognize the drive for booting purposes. I tried several variations in bios settings but with no success. It is too expensive to shell out another three hundred bucks to service this, so I put the laptop away for storage.
[2010-Summer] Using a live Linux usb stick with Ubuntu (10.04) on it, I tried booting the Averatec laptop. Again tweaking the bios did not help. The machine goes back into storage.

[2011-Summer] The big chain electronic shops do not have a laptop hd enclosure that will fit the Averatec3250HX. I went to three such shops. A medium sized computer shop DID have a suitable usb hd enclosure though. If you have not removed the hard drive from this laptop then it is quite intimidating. It involves removing about a dozen or so screws, unplugging some internal non-hard drive connections (for ease of access) and prying/lifting the front half of the keyboard laptop/plastic casing. Fortunately, some nice soul has posted a series of pictures on Flickr describing how to do this. At this stage I understand and appreciate why the computer repair techs charge an extra 25$ to access your laptop HD if it does not have a modern HD-access panel/door. (Usually these modern access panels involve the removal of only 2-3 screws!)
With the Averatec HD in the usb-enclosure I manually copy as many files as possible to an external HD. Windows disallows what it thinks are important system files in an effort to prevent piracy of its (buggy) OS. The HD imaging software XXClone recognizes the usb-enclosure as a source drive but will not see my external HD as a destination drive. I end up using DriveImageXML version2. It fails to copy the Averatec HD by "shadow copy" mode, and also fails by "locking files to copy" mode. However, it continues to copy an image to the destination external drive and it appears to work.
I restored the corrupt registry by manually (Explorer) copying an older ERUNT's registry over top of the current registry. (If you have no pre-existing backup of ERUNT registry files, try copying the 4 or 5 files in ...\WINDOWS\Repair\ to this folder, ...\WINDOWS\System32\Config\ )
Removing the HD from the usb-enclosure and re-installing it back into the laptop is just as unpleasant as removing it from the laptop! Now with fingers crossed, I tried to boot up the Averatec 3250 HX laptop. It works!

[2011-September01-September10]
*I set up another Admin Acct on WindowsXP without a password. (Could the password/login feature be something that promotes a lsass.exe boot problem?)
*Ubuntu 11 co-installed using WUBI. It seems to work, and doesn't require the hassle/knowledge of partitioning HD, or boot managers. If you are interested in boot managers, take a look at PLOP. The beautiful part of a WUBI installation is that you can access your WindowsXP HD files even though the HD is formatted as NTFS. I don't think the reverse is true however. Averatec3250HX cannot handle wubi-Ubuntu11. It seems not to have enough power to support the "Unity" theme desktop. It will repeatedly crash. Ubuntu, at this stage suggests you choose the less resource heavy "Ubuntu classic" theme desktop. This choice is better but still seems sluggish and may crash this old laptop.
*Instead of Wubi-Ubuntu11 I switch flavors to co-install Wubi-Xubuntu11. This is a less glitzy flavor of Ubuntu and Averatec3250 seems to accept it.
*A different brand of USB-external-DVD-drive than the one mentioned above was tried with some boot optical discs. It seemed to be bootable. (This DVD-Drive is externally powered and shows up in the bios as a "ramdisk cd/dvd-drive".
*puppy 5 live (Linux) recognizes Averatec's wireless card, whereas, DSL 4 (Linux) will not.
*JKDefrag3.3 is a no-install app which seems superior to WindowsXP's built-in defrag app. It defrags in 4 or more stages. Maybe it optimizes data placement better. It definitely is better as far as the GUI is concerned. Throughout the procedure you can look at the moving pixels which represent your drive's data. XP's app doesn't show a current process meter. When you are defragmenting it appears frozen and then suddenly after a long wait, it is finished. I'm not saying JKDefrag is a short process, only that the meter gives you something (animated) to look at.
*Ubuntu11-live-usb-flash-drive made with Lili-usb Creator 2.8 will boot up ok, but subsequently fails, because as previously mentioned Ubuntu11 is too powerful for Averatec.
*Windows-XP live usb flash drive made with Novicorp's WinToFlash0.7 on the Averatec fails to boot. Ironically this flash drive boots on a Windows7 machine though.
*BartPE live usb flash drive made with Novicorp's WinToFlash0.7 on the Averatec fails to boot. Ironically this flash drive boots on a Windows7 machine though.
*activate Clear Type font for the Averatec LCD screen. (This is probably the best tweak ever)
*This laptop hangs most of the time if you shut down by going into the StartMenu. This will take 1 - 2 minutes or more. If you shutdown by pressing the physical power button, shutdown is much quicker, 0.25 - 0.5 minutes or less. I try 2 apps to make shutdown quicker, but it's not apparent if anything was changed:
1) xpConfig 1.1 - by Werner Rumpeltesz
Performance Tab: boot/shutdown: change "close services on shutdown after max.: from 20000ms (20 sec) to 10000ms (10 sec).
check the box: "activate boot defragmentation" <-- (not related to shutdown)
check the box: "activate prefetching" <-- (not related to shutdown)
2) xpy 0.10.9 -
http://xpy.sourceforge.net
http://xpy.whyeye.org/
General: check the box "Enable fast shutdown"

[2011-September.11] The Registry Tweaks I applied to quicken the shutdown of Windows XP:
===================
http://www.johntp.com/2006/02/14/speed-up-windows-xp-shutdown/ From this webpage, I used instead the settings of "2000" (which means "2 seconds"):

Open REGEDIT and navigate to ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\’
Highlight the ‘WaitToKillAppTimeout’ value.
Set it to ’1000'. [note: I used "2000"]
Now highlight the ‘HungAppTimeout’ value
Set it to ’1000' also. [note: I used "2000"]

The second part of this tip changes the same settings, this time for all users on the system.
Open REGEDIT and navigate to ‘HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop’
Highlight the ‘WaitToKillAppTimeout’ value.
Set it to ’1000'. [note: I used "2000"]
Now highlight the ‘HungAppTimeout’ value.
Set it to ’1000' also. [note: I used "2000"]

In the third part of this tip, we will alter a second registry setting to decrease the amount of time Windows XP will wait before shutting down active services after receiving a shut down command.
Open REGEDIT and navigate to
‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\’
Highlight the value ‘WaitToKillServiceTimeout’
Change this value to ’1000.’ [note: I used "2000"]

To allow Windows XP to close non-responsive applications automatically upon shutdown:
Open REGEDIT and navigate to ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop’
Highlight the value ‘AutoEndTasks.’
Change the value to ’1'

http://tweaks.disqus.com/shutdown_xp_faster/latest.rss
http://www.computingtweaks.com/2011/04/improve-windows-xp-shutdown-speed.html
http://blogs.howtogeek.com/mysticgeek/2009/03/12/make-windows-xp-shut-down-faster/ has similar info as johntp.com above.

http://oakroadsystems.com/
Kill Hung Processes Automatically
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Look for the value AutoEndTasks, and change it from 0 to 1.

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowshutdown.htm
[HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]
Set ClearPageFileAtShutdown value to 0

http://www.optimizingpc.com/optimize/registrytweaks.html
Fix for shutting down your computer automatically
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
PowerdownAfterShutdown to 1

Fix for shutting down Windows slowly (or not at all)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
change the value PowerOffActive to 1

A faster NTFS file system
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Filesystem
DisableNTFSLastAccessUpdate = 1 (last file access is no longer registered)

These preceding registry tweaks, seem to quicken shutdown, but subjectively, it doesn't seem consistent. Sometimes shutdown is fast ie, 15 seconds. (This happens if the computer is on for a short time, 1-2 minutes.); Shutdown seems to take longer, however, if the computer has been on for a longer time.

======================

Where to from here?
------------------
**Now I wait for the time when the next lsass.exe error attack occurs. In the meantime I try to pay attention to do a System Restore, backup my system state using MS "Backup", and also make a current version ERUNT registry backup. Most likely a future recovery from lsass.exe error would involve: external-dvd-drive and bartPE disc + ERUNT, or copying a good registry overtop of a bad one using a Linux OS.

An unrelated note:
Jolicloud, I think is another flavor of Linux which can be co-installed in netbooks using its own Windows-installer. But perhaps the Averatec3250HX can't handle something which is obviously made for newer machines. [I haven't tried Jolicloud];
Meego, is another similar netbook Linux OS. [I haven't tried Meego]

LH!t-1816

100 - E-text tutorial

2011-07-12T14:25:00.005-06:00

This picture shows a tutorial for Etext version 1.1 text encrypter & how, if you must, use it on a computer with Windows XP or higher (Windows7).

http://i56.tinypic.com/2dueeee.jpg

alt.link:

099 - My Windows7 laptop dies

2011-07-12T14:23:00.001-06:00

My Windows7 laptop dies
===
Date of Windows crash = The morning of Saturday May21,2011. There is some strange Karma today. This day is the prophetic Doomday/Rapture predicted by the religious people at www.familyradio.com . At Calgary International Airport, many experienced inconvenience as there was a ??power/computer?? disruption. This is also the Victoria Day long weekend (Monday the 23rd is Victoria Day). Thus the airport would be more busy than a typical weekend.
"
My Windows7 laptop dies. Windows states there is an error, likely an "incompatible driver". It starts into a self-diagnosis, and then suggests:
1) checking disk for errors. I do this as prompted. I am unable to boot into computer;
2) use last known good configuration. This fails. Windows can't do this;
3) use system restore. Windows says it can't find a system restore point. This is funny because I always keep at least 1 system restore point on the hard drive. Also, system restore is automatically active, by default, for the C:\ drive in a Windows 7 computer.

Now, I try booting into "safe-mode". This fails because, once again Windows says there is an incompatible driver.

One day prior, (ie., Friday May20, 2011), there was a reminder on my computer to install an Adobe upgrade, probably for flash or shockwave. I click OK but nothing happens as Adobe tries to connect to the internet and cannot find the connection. Also on this day, before shutting down, I had cleaned the drive C:\ simply by right-clicking on the drive C:\ icon, then on the Properties, and next choosing the Disk Cleanup button. This was straightforward and the process only took what seemed to be 1-2 minutes.

Two days prior (ie.,Thursday May19, 2011), at the public library, WiFi was very slow. My current antivirus software was, as usual, turned on.
(Come to think of it, my WindowsXP laptop similarly experienced a fatal "lsass.exe error", almost 1 year ago, on the evening of Tuesday May25, 2010. During the day, of May25,2010, I was also at the public library on their WiFi network, and my antivirus software was active too.) What kind of a coincidence is this?!
There is something else that is similar that may have occurred on these 2 dates. I may have intentionally or unintentionally switched wifi networks without shutting down the browser first. Windows may report an error with a router conflict of address or connection or similar jargon.

Back to the WindowsXP laptop and the lsass.exe error. No one seems to know exactly what an lsass.exe error is. I ask the computer technicians at the big chain electronics retailers and they don't know. The web has information that it is a software error resulting in a registry corruption. Other web sites claim that the lsass.exe error is due to a virus. Approximately, from the year 2007 to the Summer of 2009, this laptop has several times, encountered the lsass.exe error at the startup/boot stage. This was always remedied by my choosing the Windows-XP choice of using the "last known good configuration" or by restoring the registry via the ERUNT/ERDNT app (Written by Lars Hederer), using a (BartPE)live-CD. In the Summer of 2009, the CD-drive breaks down, so I am no longer able to restore the registry by this method.
In the Autumn, on September 06, 2009, the lsass.exe error strikes again. All Windows could show was a small box saying there is an lsass.exe error. If you click on the "ok" button, the laptop reboots & goes into this vicious cycle again. Now that I can't use the cd-drive to restore the computer, I had to use the services of the computer technician for a pricey $ data recovery and OS re-installation. As indicated above, the lsass.exe error happened again May2010 and the laptop remains dead.

I'm so cynical about Windows. As for my Windows7 laptop, I used the manufacturer's proprietary recovery software, and it worked like a charm. I did lose some data, but most of it had previously been backed up and my losses were minor. It's funny how Windows has frustrated me so often (ever since Windows 98), and yet reliable hardware and software all seem to come from non-Microsoft Brands or Corporations!

Conclusion
----------
Things which I speculate may cause Windows to get a major/fatal booting error:
- lsass.exe error;
- switching wifi networks without first shutting down the browser;
- trying to upgrade Adobe Flash player (or Shockwave?);
- Using Windows' Disk Cleanup feature;
- some unknown virus which strikes in the month of May? (note: I don't know if I got a boot error in May of 2009/2008/2007; I don't have it documented. If the error did occur annually, that would be freaky.)

The only preventative measures I can think of for boot errors:
- frequent antivirus updates;
- don't switch wifi networks without first closing your browser;
- don't update your Adobe software, unless you absolutely must;
- make frequent/regular backups of data
- avoid cleaning your hard-drive using Windows' Disk Cleanup button;
- don't totally rely on Windows' System Restore feature. It has failed me several times on two different machines, and with two different versions of Windows.

tags: incompatible driver, lsass error, windows xp, windows 7,

098 - Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

2011-02-08T14:38:00.001-07:00

Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi

I think Return of the Jedi released in theatres in 1983 or 1985? The hairstyles seem almost odd. I can't put my finger on it, but maybe it is a reflection of the mid or late 1980's.
Compared to Star Wars (Episode4), Luke and Han have aged considerably. Princess Leia has stayed youthful though. (How did this happen? Medical bo-tox had not been invented yet.)
Some changes made for Episode 6 compared to the original release are as follows. Were a few Jabba the Hutt castle scenes were deleted? Wasn't there a scene where a slave who didn't capture the favor of Jabba ended up being swallowed by Jabba? The dungeon monster sequence, where the giant monster was crushed by the portcullis, I think they deleted the dialog where the grieving keeper/tamer indicated he had raised the monster since it was a baby.
At the end of the movie, the destruction of the 2nd death-star is celebrated by fireworks among several worlds. We see cutaway shots of Tatooine, Coruscant, etc. The awful part is when Naboo is shown and we hear Jar Jar Binks' voice in the crowd. Shortly after, Luke sees the spirits of the three Jedi: Obi-Wan, Yoda, and youthful Anakin. The original movie however, showed a gregarious old Anakin. Although the youthful (Hayden Christensen) Anakin is very handsome, the other two Jedi spirits take the form of old Yoda and old Obi-Wan. I'm just saying they should have left this part alone.

097 - Star Wars: A New Hope

2011-02-08T14:33:00.002-07:00

Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope (year 2004?)

When this movie originally was released in the 1970's (1976?) it was called Star Wars. Now it has become known as Star Wars Episode 4. Star Wars is strong enough to stand on its own and does not require re-editing/tweaking. That being said, Episode 4 brought changes I didn't mind or notice and some changes that I did notice.
. At Mos Eisley, a "wretched hive" to some of the most villianous scum of the galaxy, and to the Cantina bar, the exterior shots seem to have been enhanced with extra traffic and lifeforms. eg., There are numerous (too many) reptiles and flying objects that I don't remember seeing in Star Wars. This is distracting.
. Han Solo speaking face to face with Jabba the Hutt seemed un-necessary.
. The DeathStar explosion pattern is different. However, I don't mind it. (There was nothing wrong with the old explosion either.)
There's an error that probably happened in the original cut. I wouldn't have caught this error unless I so nerdily watched StarWars so many times. In the climactic Rebel fighters attack scene on the Death Star, pilot Porkins is killed in action. Poor Porkins! His radio "call sign" is Red6. He is either destroyed by a tie fighter or a cannon that blasts his ship to pieces. Shortly after, (within 5-10 minutes?) we hear Porkins (Red6) on the Rebel radio announcing his call sign in some communication. Like I said, only a person who watched Star Wars too many times would notice this blooper.

096 - Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

2011-02-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (year2002?)

Recently I watched again, The Phantom Menace. It was ok. But if I could, there would be several items I would alter.
I would have Jar Jar Binks play his role with a serious personality, instead of the current clown and slapstick character.
The Anakin pod-racing sequence would be shortened.
Darth Maul would be creating more havoc throughout the movie, perhaps even kill many jedi's! As it is, Maul's presence is short and frivolous. His absence from the movie would hardly be noticable.
Anakin's father would be some cool guy, instead of having no literal father (ie, immaculate conception).
Throughout the show, there are comedic characatures. It almost seems if the movie was targeted to kids who watch Saturday morning cartoons! Less comedy please!

095 - Mai the Psychic Girl

2011-02-08T14:20:00.002-07:00

Mai the Psychic Girl -- Feb2011. written by JCPMA

In the late 1980's/early 1990's I've read at random some of the (few) manga titles available in NorthAmerica and translated into English. The manga at (comic) book stores at this time were all in traditional North American "comic book sizes", approximately 8 x 10", perhaps 50 to 80 pages (ie., similar to the size of a NorthAmerican comic book like DC or Marvel etc titles like Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Archie & Jughead ... well you get the idea). The common manga format that I see nowadays, are in compact digest compilation sizes. They are approximately 6 x 8". They contain 4 or more issues/chapters of the story per volume, and each digest (volume) may have 300 or more pages! It is common for translated manga to be "flipped", that is, read from the right to left direction. Rumiko Takahashi's work is cute. Other authors' work was somewhat interesting.
I even purchased a few titles of Chinese manga (translated into English); One is a story around a martial arts theme set in ancient China. I can't recall the name of the title (I think the work "Sword" is in the title) but it is somewhere stowed away in my "stuff" storage area. This manga is absolutely terrible. The art is good and acceptable with perhaps an average (subjective) rating. The storytelling however is very bad. It is boring to read. There is no real heavy suspense, and I don't really "care" about the characters. It seems much of the story is based on action/fighting sequences.

Back to present times. I don't get out much, but it seems to me Chinese manga never caught on in North America. Am I wrong? (Does this mean all Chinese manga is this bad? There must be some quality work out there, somewhere.) Ironically, I have noticed that there are Japanese Manga titles translated into Chinese! I guess quality is accepted universally.

Mai the Psychic Girl is the series, decades ago, that got me hooked onto manga. It was one of the few titles which was compelling and captivating at the time. This is one of my favorite, if not my most favorite, manga series. Fortunately, the retailer carried back-issues and I was able to collect the entire (28 issues) series! (I understand that Viz recently republished the entire series as a 3 volume manga called "Mai the Psychic Girl, Perfect Collection".)
The writer is Kazuya Kudo. The art is more realistic than in most manga in that the eyes are less "cartoonish". Ryoichi Ikegami is the artist; He also illustrated the adult manga series Crying Freeman. This is from Wikipedia. In Japan, Mai the Psychic girl is titled "Mai"; the Kanji for Mai is " 舞 "
BigFive BB52
EACC 21543D
GB12345 4672
GB2312 4672
Unicode 821E
CCCII 21543D

The original NorthAmerican comic book format of this series was published bi-weekly by Eclipse Comics and Viz Comics.

Plot: Extra-Sensory abilities are seen as a curse as they hinder a young girl's life and freedom. The heroine has to remain strong to do all she can to avoid using her powers and to try to live a normal teenage life. This series is a super-page-turner. A fun roller-coaster ride. One of my favorite supporting characters is "Ron" the dog.

If Tim Burton does direct the movie, I hope it DOESN'T contain an Edward Scissorhands, or Batman type cinematic flavor.

Links.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mai,_the_Psychic_Girl
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryoichi_Ikegami
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse_Comics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viz_Media
http://www.comicvine.com/mai-the-psychic-girl/49-26428/
http://www.viz.com/product?id=3976
http://www.amazon.com/Mai-Psychic-Girl-Perfect-Collection/product-reviews/156931070X/
http://www.screenrant.com/tim-burton-mai-psychic-girl-ross-60405/

5star Manga

094 - Hikaru No Go

2011-01-05T14:43:00.004-07:00

094 - Hikaru No Go
written by Yumi Hotta
artist is Takeshi Obata (also artist for Death Note)

This manga is originally intended for young teen's or even pre-teens. (Amazon.com says it is for readers ages 9-12). But it is one of the most suspenseful, action-packed stories I have encountered, even without any elements of violence or sex etc. You have to read it to believe it. The suspense really rivals the intensity of an adult story or movie of action/violence! It is a roller coaster ride!
The main theme of the story is a chess-like game played with colored-stones/pieces. The manga series illustrates the challenging path to become a professional Go player.

plot: a boy finds a haunted Go (game)-board and falls in love with the game of Go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikaru_no_go

according to amazon.com, this is a 23 volume series.
http://www.amazon.com/Hikaru-No-Go-Vol-1/dp/159116222X/

http://store.viz.com/Hikaru-No-Go-Vol.-1/A/159116222X.htm

5 star manga

093 - Color of Earth trilogy

2011-01-05T14:33:00.002-07:00

093 - The color of earth TRILOGY
written by Kim Dong Hwa

This three volume set of manga/graphic novels represents two love stories. The love story of a woman in rural Korea, and the love story of her young daughter. (If I remember correctly, in the notes, these are based on true stories.)

The Color of Earth is vol.1
The Color of Water is vol.2
The Color of Heaven is the final volume, vol.3.

My biggest surprise after completing the stories, is the bio profile of the author. The story is told from the point of view of the daughter, and sometimes her mother. I expected the author to be female! Yet, the author is male. It just caught me by surprise.

published by First Second Books http://us.macmillan.com/QuickSearchResults.aspx?search=color+of+earth&ctl00%24ctl00%24cphContent%24ucAdvSearch%24imgGo.x=22&ctl00%24ctl00%24cphContent%24ucAdvSearch%24imgGo.y=7

(wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Second_Books)

http://www.amazon.com/Color-Earth-Story-Golden-Fields/dp/1596434589

5 star manga

092 - Real

2011-01-05T14:14:00.002-07:00

092 - Real

I picked up Real to pass the time; This manga shakes you!
Takehiko Inoue, the writer, incorporates a surreal quality of story-telling analagous as Oliver Stone is to movie-making. (Currently, I have savoured eight volumes of Real).

plot: The lives of 3 teens evolve in the world of Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball.
This simple storyline doesn't do the series justice. It doesn't just expose the lifestyle of atheletes, but also Life's complexities are captured with the feel of snapshots.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_%28manga%29
http://www.amazon.com/Real-Vol-1-Takehiko-Inoue/dp/1421519895/
http://store.viz.com/Real-Vol.-1/A/1421519895.htm

5star manga

091 - Imadoki Nowadays

2011-01-05T13:49:00.003-07:00

o91 - Imadoki! Nowadays
by Yuu Watase (Yu Watase)

A short series of only 5 volumes. (This could be the shortest series of my personal favorites).
This is a pleasant surprisingly charming shojo manga. Like many of Yuu Watase's other works, this title is a fun read. I'm almost tempted to find and raise a pet-fox!

plot: a teenager moves to the big city to attend high school.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imadoki!
http://store.viz.com/Imadoki-Nowadays-Vol.-1-Dandelion/A/1591163307.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Imadoki-Nowadays-Vol-1-Dandelion/dp/1591163307/

5star manga

090 - Ooku The Inner Chambers

2011-01-05T13:11:00.004-07:00

090 - Ooku : The Inner Chambers

by Fumi Yoshinaga

This MANGA is "epic" literally. It has the same flavor as Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima's expression of medieval Japan. (egs: Lone Wolf and Cub; Path of the Assassin; Samurai Executioner; The Color of Rage).
Throw in a splash of Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale". and Ooku is the result.

So far I've only read the first three volumes.
The art is beautiful.
Summary/Plot: Nature inflicts a shortage of males in Japan. This shakes the country's internal and external national politics.

Links
http://store.viz.com/oku-The-Inner-Chambers-Vol.-1/A/1421527472.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Coku:_The_Inner_Chambers
http://www.amazon.com/%C3%94oku-Inner-Chambers-Vol-Ooku/product-reviews/1421527472/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8

5 star manga.jcpma

089 - honey and clover

2010-12-23T14:09:00.004-07:00

Honey and Clover

The plot - A handful of college students experience romance and love triangles.
This is a manga set worth keeping. There are 10 volumes. From what I have read so far, the series started in 2000 and finished in 2006 (there are 64 ?or more? chapters).
The Manga-ka is Chica (Chika) Umino. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chika_Umino

It is a story told with charm.
A "rom-com" full of humor and melancholy.

The US site for the english translated manga is:
http://honeyandclover.viz.com/

wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_and_Clover

It looks like there is: 1 animation series; 1 Japan tv series; 1 Japan? (movie); 1 Taiwan tv series.
I sure would like to see these; My fingers are crossed to see if they will contain English subtitles.

5star manga

088 - drop.io disappears

2010-12-23T13:52:00.002-07:00

drop.io disappears

as you know, Facebook purchased Drop.io and thus its service ceased on Dec15,2010.
I was not a heavy user of drop.io but I found it a very user-friendly service.
Various sites have suggested alternatives but really there aren't any (i'm aware of at this moment).
It had a very unique ease and freedom of interface; There was the options of implementing more restrictions if the user wanted.

John Dvorak writes about its demise: The Cloud Fiasco of 2010: Drop.io
Article URL
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372243,00.asp

If we are fortunate, some intelligent company will put out a similar service to drop.io. Perhaps in the future Google will, they are a smart operation.

Again, this is an example of the impermanence of the internet. Once a site ceases, the (digital) information/content is loss. I wonder if a (paper)book, wouldn't outlast digital information as a storage medium?
Backup your content from the cloud, should another rainy day occur.

087 - how to use yahoomail chinese

2010-12-21T17:08:00.004-07:00

How to use Yahoomail (Hong Kong) or Chinese -- autumn of 2010

Click on picture or link for the entire screenshot.

Url is
http://tinypic.com/m/dgjh5k/2

086 - vase jpeg6 tinypic

2010-12-21T16:55:00.004-07:00

vase jpeg6 tinypic

HTML for Websites

IMG Code for Forums & Message Boards
[IMG]http://i54.tinypic.com/27zahww.jpg[/IMG]

URL for E-Mail & IM
http://tinypic.com/r/27zahww/7

Direct Link for Layouts
"http://i54.tinypic.com/27zahww.jpg

085 - optimal Nokia 2760 phone settings

2010-12-21T16:46:00.002-07:00

these are the optimal Nokia 2760 phone settings for
a compromise between user-friendliness & power efficiency.[5]
==================== written by JCPMA===== Nov.06.2010:

[item] [explanation/reason]

Settings-->Main Display
-----------------------
Notification Details -SHOW get more info on incoming messages or missed calls
Fold animation - OFF saves time & power
Screen saver - OFF A screen-saver is redundant, as the 2760 standby screen fades to dark grey after about 15 seconds. But it still retains the current screens image and info without the color; It is visible with adequate overhead lighting. The screen saver disrupts use, and interupts showing of info. The LCD is re-lit momentarily (thus wasting power) on each occasion. This can be distracting, especially if you are in the middle of a call.
Power saver - OFF according to the user-manual[10], this feature displays a clock when your phone is inactive; This feature is redundant, as the 2760 standby screen fades to a dark greyscale after about 15 seconds. I like to leave it OFF, otherwise the standby screen is interupted. Also, this can be distracting, especially if you are in the middle of a call.
Sleep mode - OFF according to the user-manual[10], this feature turns off the standby screen after a period of inactivity. I don't use this feature as when I am finished with a call/task I immediately close the flipPhone/clamShell!
Cell info display - ON caller id info on incoming calls is shown if available.

Settings-->Mini Display
-----------------------
Screen saver - OFF There are 4 choices here: AnalogClock; DigitalClock; TimeOut; On.
The analog clock is round but can be confusing as there is no obvious top or bottom to the clock. ie, Which direction is 12'o'clock?
The DigitalClock is a nice large size. Similar to the analog clock, there is no "seconds" indicator.
TimeOut lets you choose the duration of elapsed time before the screen saver activates.
ON, turns on the screensaver feature.
Don't use any of these settings! The mini-display LEDs use up a lot of power! Whenever you close your flip phone, the LEDs light up once. After the preset screensaver time elapses, the screensaver activates and your LEDs light up a second time! Also, the screen saver re-activates each time you drive through a tunnel, (lose and then regain telephone signal strength), thus lighting up your LEDs a third time! **My educated guess says you can probably DOUBLE your standby battery time just by disabling this one feature of the phone!** The other important reason to disable the mini-screen screen-saver is information display; You get a constant display of Date, Time, BatteryCharge, SignalStrength. And, you don't have to worry about the LEDs flickering on and off all the time. (What I would change if I could: - a slightly bigger screen, or - a bigger font; -perhaps have an option to have 1 or 2 LEDs light up.)
Sleep mode - OFF The User-Manual doesn't say anything about this setting. On the phone's "HelpTipActivation (tooltip)" display, it says SleepMode saves batteryPower. I don't enable it because I want the mini screen to be on/visible during standby so that I know the phone is on and that it works and that there is adequate signal and batteryCharge. If the screen is asleep, I will think the phone is off. This screen of course is a battery drain, but when there is no LED involvement, it is a relatively low consumer of battery power (like a digital wristwatch).

Settings-->Date and time
------------------------
Date and time format settings-->
Date-->Date on standby screen - SHOWN when you look at the standby screen don't you want to know the date?
Time-->Main display clock - SHOWN shows you the time.
Time-->Mini display clock - SHOWN shows you the time.
Time-->Time format - 12-HOUR there's a bug in the software, where if the format is set as 24-HOUR(ie military time), the time on the mini-display loses some numbers after several hours have elapsed!!
Auto-update of date & time - OFF saves battery power if it is off; you can overide this and do a 1 time update, whenever you want.

Settings-->Phone-->
----------------
Welcome note - OFF wastes time & power; this feature shows you a note when you turn the phone on.
Start-up tone - OFF when you power up the phone, a tone associated with the start-up animation is played.; This one is not a big issue.

Settings-->Enhancements-->
-----------------------
Charger-->Lights - AUTOMATIC otherwise, if this is set to ON, charging the phone takes longer.

++++see the blogBox/otherBox for current updates (if any)++++
The (Box.net) blogbox is located at this blogger post:
http://jcpma.blogspot.com/2010/11/075.html
The direct link to the blogbox folder is:
http://www.box.net/shared/5i4hmkqj2u

[ ] footnotes: see the bottom of document
2760general-notes.txt or
1-nokia2760startHere.html
1-nokia2760startHere.txt

084 - Nokia2760 security settings

2010-12-21T16:41:00.002-07:00

Nokia2760 security settings notes
================================= by JCPMA
last updated 2010-11-16, 2010-11-05, 2009-09-05

Pre-Ramble:
My exposure to poor user-guide documentation/ poor technical-writing began with my purchase of a PC computer which came pre-installed with the Windows98 OS. I found the documents so weak and lacking that I had to go purchase an external user-friendly guide to using Windows 98. I think this phenonmenon occurs with all technology. The general population, for some reason, accept this low level of service quality. Now it seems to be the norm. People get sub-par documentation and accept it, and expect it; they are not surprised. They do not expect to get adequate education/instructions. Mobile phones are not exempt from this. This is the case with the NOKIA 2760, especially its instructional material on phone Security Settings. The problem may even be worse than the Windows98 scenario as there is no user-friendly guide available to be purchased!
The cell-phone, this one & cell-phones in general, are inherently frustrating. The security settings described below are CONFUSING. This is compounded by having different sources of information give different facts. (Below, if I don't have a comment for a topic, it means I don't understand or have information about that particular feature; Where I indicate I am "guessing", it means there is no factual information found in the paper user-guides that come with the new phone/ or in the PDF formatted user-guides. )
My suggestion is to leave the security settings alone where you are able. You SHOULD change your voicemail default password, however, so others can't access your personal voicemail. Other than that, the other security settings probably don't require alteration, unless you have a valid concern for Sim-Card/Phone loss/theft.

voicemail default password
--------------------------
This is a 5 digit code. 11111 source:[2 Consumer forum : Security features (Nokia 1208/1600/1112), 3, 5] This password has nothing to do with the physical phone. You have to set up your voicemail password with your cellular-phone service provider. The first time you access your voicemail-box, use the default 11111 code, (unless for some non-traditional reason, your provider changes the default to something else). Follow the audio-prompts and when your voicemail account is set up/activated, you can then change the password digits to one that is unique[5].

Automatic Keyguard (Keypad lock) [1 document tm51982]
-----------
no password required for this feature; it locks your keypad to prevent accidental key presses. Enabling this feature:
Menu|Settings|Phone|Automatic keyguard|On type in the TIME DELAY desired and select OK.

Security Keyguard (Phone lock)
----------
This locks your personal handset with a password. Each time you power on your handset, you are asked to enter the SECURITY CODE. (This one actually works, I have tried it sucessfully.) How to set the password to enable this feature:
Menu|Settings|Phone|Security keyguard|On --> type in the security code and select OK
The SECURITY CODE is a 5 digit code. You will be asked to create a security code if you haven't previously created one. [1 document tm51982, 5]

Bluetooth pairing code
----------------------
0000 - The standard Bluetooth pairing code for Nokia audio enhancements (some Nokia integrated car kits have part of their serial numbers as pairing codes, if this it the case with your product, the user guide will tell you). source[1 (nokiausa.com)]

Information codes from nokiausa.com [1]
--------------------------------------
Dial these numbers into your handset to find out information.

*#0000# - Find phone and software version information
*#06# - Find your phone's IMEI number (also on the product label inside the phone's battery casing)
*#2820# - Find your phone's Bluetooth address
*#62209526# - Find your phone's MAC address (WLAN)
*#99# - GPRS dial-up code

enter *#7780# fron the standby screen - revert to factory default settings.

=== This next section discusses the enigma of the Sim Card Pin Codes ===

This paragraph summarizes what little I know. A Sim Card has two pin codes, Pin Code and Pin2 Code. When entering a pin code, you have three chances of doing it correctly. If on the third attempt you fail to enter the proper code, the Sim Card has a tantrum and locks itself up & you can no longer use the phone. To unlock the Sim Card, you have to talk to it nicely and give it a PUK code. (Incidentally, PUK stands for Pretty Useless Kode.) If it were the Pin2 Code which was mis-entered, you would remedy that by giving the phone a PUK2 code. This sentence fragment is from page11 of the UserGuide[10]: "...you are asked for the PUK or PUK2 code. If you do not have them, contact your local service provider."
2009.Late August. I go to the local shopping center to its Kiosk which sells my Nokia phone (and other brands of phone also) and I ask the agent about Sim Card codes and PUK codes. The agent cannot shed any light on the subject. They referred me to call the company's customer service phone number.
*2009.09.04 - I called customer service. The operator says "do not change the sim card code as it will destroy your sim card."..."The default code is 12345". They cannot provide you with unlock codes as they don't have them. "The pin2 code is just another code on your sim card", ie, the sim card has a pin code and a pin2 code. no other info provided. The operator was polite/curt and well-meaning, but my instinct told me this was being recited to me by rote. Does the operator, that I spoke with even know the difference between a SIM Code and a Security Code? Or, the difference between a PIN code and a PUK code or a VOICEMAIL code? The operator couldn't answer my questions, and nothing from our conversation or tone of voice or other verbal cues told me to totally trust this information exchange!
Well there you have it. Here are the problems:
·Little/no information describing the Sim Card codes;
·Little/no information describing the features of the phone which require the Sim Card;
*Did you know, for example, that the PIN2 CODE is the one used for configuring FIXED DIALING LISTS?
*The feature of Call Restrictions requires a RESTRICTION PASSWORD. Is this related to the Sim Card?
*Is the default RESTRICTION PASSWORD 1234, 12345,or Blank or other?
·Unclear documentation about the Sim Card default passcodes;
*Is the default PIN CODE 1234, 12345, or Blank or other?
*Is the default PIN2 CODE 1234, 12345, or Blank or other?
·You get only three attempts to properly enter a code;
·Zero information/service to provide you with PUK or PUK2 codes in case you need them;

Sim Card Pin Code
-----------------
This protects the sim from being used in other phones. When activated, it requests the code every time the phone is turned on.[1]
To turn on "Pin code request":
Menu|Settings|Security|Pin Code request ... --> the default pin code is 1234 source:[1][2 unreferenced though ... "Nokia 2760 - Security settings folder"]. This contradicts what the customer service operator (2009.09.04) says above; The operator says the default code is 12345, ie five digits in length.

To change this code:
Menu|Settings|Security|Access codes|Change Pin code
type in the default pin code. select OK
type the new pin code and select OK
Retype the new pin code and select OK [1 document tm51982]

This excerpt is taken from pages12 & 13 of the 2007 UserGuide[9],
My personal comments are in square [ ] brackets:
----excerpt--------excerpt--------excerpt-------excerpt------excerpt----

G e n e r a l i n f o r m a t i o n
12
General information
■ Access codes
The security code supplied with the phone protects
your phone against unauthorized use. The preset
code is 12345. [Similarly this statement is made on an internet forum [2], and a paper user-guide [7]:"The default ... security code from the factory is 12345 ... " I think they are referring to SECURITY CODE which locks the phone and not to the Sim card PIN CODE. Strangely enough though, when I activated Security Keyguard on my own phone, the SECURITY CODE was not preset. I had to create an entirely new code "from scratch." ]
The PIN code supplied with the SIM card, protects the
card against unauthorized use. The PIN2 code
supplied with some SIM cards, is required to access
certain services. If you enter the PIN or PIN2 code
incorrectly three times in succession, you are asked
for the PUK or PUK2 code. If you do not have them,
contact your local service provider.
The module PIN is required to access the information
in the security module of your SIM card. [The 2007 UserGuide may be from Britain of from Europe. Perhaps they have different names for codes. Is the Module PIN the same as PIN CODE or PIN2 CODE?]
The signing
PIN may be required for the digital signature. [Is the Signing PIN the same as PIN CODE or PIN2 CODE?]
The
barring password is required when using the call
barring service. [Is the BARRING PASSWORD the same as RESTRICTION PASSWORD? (This setting is found at Menu|Settings|Security|Access codes|Change restriction password ). Is the Call Barring Service the same as CALL RESTRICTIONS? (This setting is found at Menu|Settings|Security|Call Restrictions )
G e n e r a l i n f o r m a t i o n
13
Select Menu > Settings > Security to set how your
phone uses the access codes and security settings.

----excerpt ends--- ----excerpt ends--- ----excerpt ends--- ----excerpt ends---

=== ===

This is part of the menu structure of the phone. source [4 document tm51978]
------------------------------------------------
* Security
o PIN Code request
+ On/Off
o Call restrictions
+ Outgoing calls
+ International calls
+ Int. calls except to home country
+ Incoming calls
+ Incoming calls if roaming
+ Cancel all call restrictions
o Fixed Dialing
+ On
+ Off
+ Number list
o Security level
+ None
+ Memory
+ Phone
o Access codes
+ Change security code
+ Change PIN code
+ Change PIN2 code
o Code in use
o Authority certificates
o User Certificates

Similarly, this is my phone's specific menu structure with my (own) notes added.
------------------------------------------------
* Security
o PIN Code request (Toggles on PinCode Request each time you turn on your phone. Tooltip:"Allows you to select whether the code is required when switching on your phone. The SIM card may require that code is always asked for.")
+ On (There is no tooltip. Clicking prompts you to enter the PIN Code.)
+ Off (There is no tooltip. The Code Pin Request was already set to OFF.)
o Call restrictions (you can place a limitation on type of incoming/outgoing phone call; Tooltip:"Requests the system to restrict calls to or from your phone.")
+ Outgoing calls (Tooltip:"Requests the system to block all outgoing calls.")
· Activate (no tooltip)
· Cancel (no tooltip; clicking, requests you to enter Restriction Password)
· Check status (no tootip; ?? clicking causes your phone to communicate with your service provider ??)
+ International calls (tooltip: "Requests the system to block all outgoing international calls.")
· Activate
· Cancel
· Check status
+ Int. calls except to home country (tooltip:"Requests the system to allow outgoing international calls only to home country.")
· Activate
· Cancel
· Check status
+ Incoming calls (Tooltip:"Requests system to block all incoming calls.")
· Activate
· Cancel
· Check status
+ Incoming calls if roaming (Tooltip:"Requests system to block all incoming calls when roaming.")
· Activate
· Cancel
· Check status
+ Cancel all call restrictions (tooltip:"Requests the system to cancel all call restrictions." Clicking, prompts you to enter the Restrictions Password.)
o Fixed Dialing (You customize a list of numbers which are allowed to be called; Tooltip:"Allows you to create, edit and activate a list of allowed phone numbers or prefixes. When the list is activated you can only call or send messages to the numbers on the list".)
+ On (When you turn on this feature, it asks you to enter the PIN2 CODE ! There is no tootip.)
+ Off (no tooltip)
+ Number list (no tooltip)
o Security level (tooltip:"Allows you to protect the phone or its memory with a security code.)
+ None (no tooltip; clicking, prompts you to enter the SECURITY CODE)
+ Memory (no tooltip; My guess: clicking, prompts you to enter the SECURITY CODE; Does this just protect phone memory or both phone memory & sim-card memory? Does this feature protect against alteration of memory or access to memory?)
+ Phone (no tooltip; clicking, prompts you to enter the SECURITY CODE)
o Access codes (The tooltip says "Includes the option to change access codes for SIM card, phone, or call restriction)
+ Change security code (This is the code which locks the phone; Tooltip:"Allows you to change the code that protects the phone and its memory.")
+ Change PIN code (This is is the code which locks the simCard; What else? Tooltip:"Allow you to change the code for accessing SIM card." Since by default, the CODE PIN Request is set to "off", clicking on this causes a warning to appear: "Set PIN code request ON" simultaneously with a red stop sign symbol.)
+ Change PIN2 code (This code is used in FixedDialing settings; Is it used in internet browsers and digital signatures? Tooltip:"Allows you to change the code for accessing protected SIM card features, if the SIM card contains this code.")
ö Change restriction password (ö This is on my phone menu; Tooltip:"Requests the system to change the password for restricting calls.")
o Code in use (On my phone, it shows that the PIN Code is in use. The phone's tooltip says: "Allows you to select whether the UPIN or PIN code should be active." If I click on this, it prompts me to toggle PIN CODE REQUEST to "on".)
ö PIN2 code request (ö - this is on my phone menu; This is what the tooltip says: "Allows you to select whether PIN2 code is required when using specific phone features which are covered by PIN2 security code. USIM card may require that this code is always used." On my phone this is already set to "on". If I click "off" it asks me to enter the PIN2 Code.)
o Authority certificates (Some online browser transactions require security certificates [10]. I guess this is like a webpage which has a certificate embeded in it. There is no tooltip.)
o User Certificates (There is no tooltip)
ö Security Module Settings (ö - this is on my phone menu; it is greyed-out. when I click on it, it says "Insert Security Module" The userGuide, [10(pg.53)] says "Security features may be required for some services, such as banking services or online shopping. For such connections you need security certificates and possibly a security module which may be available on your SIM card. For more information, contact your service provider." There is no tooltip.)

++++see the blogBox/otherBox for current updates (if any)++++
The (Box.net) blogbox is located at this blogger post:
http://jcpma.blogspot.com/2010/11/075.html
The direct link to the blogbox folder is:
http://www.box.net/shared/5i4hmkqj2u

[ ] footnotes:

1. http://www.nokiausa.com/get-support-and-software/discussions or nokiausa.com
2. http://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/ The Unofficial 7-Eleven Speakout Wireless Canada Consumer Page

3. 7-11 Speakout Nokia 2760 Quick Start Guide (book, Canada) 9205744 09/07
4. T Mobile website (USA)

5. my own (subjective) notes.
6. http://www.nokia.ca

7. Canadian Nokia 2760 User Guide (book) 9205625
8. Quick Start Guide (color pamphlet) 9205756

9. Nokia 2760 User Guide 9203335 Issue 1, 2007 (Europe?) (pdf format)
10. Nokia 2760 User Guide 9203335 Issue 2, 2008 (Europe?) (pdf format)

083 - bluebox in your webpage

2010-12-08T19:29:00.002-07:00

083 - how to put a bluebox in your (html) webpage using css (tutorial)

click on image for larger size.

picture link: http://s556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jcpma/otherTutorials/?action=view&current=bluebox-tutorial.gif

082 - Puff v 2 tutorial review

2010-12-08T19:23:00.003-07:00

082 - Puff version 2 tutorial and review

click on thumb image for larger size.

link here http://s556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jcpma/otherTutorials/?action=view&current=puff-v2.gif

081- jpg+ filebinder tutorial and review

2010-12-08T19:19:00.003-07:00

081 - jpg+ filebinder tutorial and review

http://s556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jcpma/otherTutorials/?action=view&current=jpg-plus-fileBinder.gif
http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jcpma/otherTutorials/jpg-plus-fileBinder.gif

080 - audio recorder notes for the Nokia2760 phone

2010-12-08T19:02:00.003-07:00

audio recorder notes for the Nokia2760 phone.

==================== by JCPMA

(20101106; 20090803 updated)

audio recorder duration = maximum 1 minute (unconfirmed)

recorded audio file format = .amr

bitrate = 12kbps [info source = properties detail from WindowsMediaPlayer12]

audio file properties: [info source = another media player]

codec: AMR NarrowBand (samr);

sample rate 8000Hz;

1 Channel (Mono)

Bits per sample:32 ?? (?? Some apps say these files have 16 Bits per sample ??)

++++see the blogBox/otherBox for current updates (if any)++++
The (Box.net) blogbox is located at this blogger post:
http://jcpma.blogspot.com/2010/11/075.html
The direct link to the blogbox folder is:
http://www.box.net/shared/5i4hmkqj2u

079 - camera notes for the Nokia2760

2010-12-01T19:57:00.002-07:00

camera notes for the Nokia2760 phone. Written by JCPMA
============ (20101107; 20090830 updated)

PHOTO
-----
photo = maximum of 0.3 megapixels resolution (640 x 480 pixels).
Zooming is digital. You wind up with a small cropped photo of only 128x96 pixels!
ie. zooming is a waste of time. The only time where this may be useful, is when
zooming in may take advantage of the camera's auto exposure and thus improve lighting. Otherwise, you are better off with the 640x480 sized picture!

image sequence = takes a series of 3 jpgs (time duration = 1 sec.? unconfirmed?)

you have the capability to set the default picture/video name.

Photo capacity. In the upper right corner, there is a count-down type indicator which tells you how many photos you may still take within the alloted memory. This gauge is misleading! With every 2 photos (640x480 size) you take, the indicator goes down by 3-4 in number. For example, If the gauge says there is room for 50 photos, and you take 2 photos, the gauge will then refresh to the number "47". A good rule of thumb, is to therefore, divide that number by 2! A user can expect to be able to take at least 100 photos before the memory is full.

if you edit a photo image: ---> it saves it as a new .gif!!!
and then, if you use this gif for a wallpaper, it only covers up 75%-80% of the screen!.
That is because, any action done with the built-in phone editor will save the output as a gif file, and also a file which is 92x115pixels, LESS-THAN 128x160 pixels. (128x160 is the size the screen.)[5].
-What I would change if I could:
a) Have the built-in editor save files as .gif or .jpg format
b) have the built-in editor save/resize files as 128x160 pixels or more.

VIDEO
------
Zooming in for videoClips: Fortunately when you zoom in for video, the size of the video output resolution, ie the WidthxHeight stays the same., ie 128x96pixels. This is a nice size for a postage stamp.

video duration
-default = 9 seconds
-maximum = upto 2 min and 30 seconds.

audio is recorded via the built-in mic.

vidClip info:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
video file format = .3gp
Video codec = H263
FourCC: s263
videoBitRate = 63 kbps
AudioBitRate = 12 kbps
128x96pixels
color mode: YUV 4:2:0 Planar
FrameRate= 29.97 fps (?interpolated?)
FrameRate = 7.25 fps
Audio = AMR-NB (FourCC:samr), sampleRate=8000Hz, 1 Channel;
AudioBitrate 12 kbps; bits per sample=16

The 2760model only has 10MB of internal memory to work with; It is understandable, why the videoClip specs are so poor/low. However, given these specs., the mono audio sounds remarkably impressive. The video isn't great. The video quality is suitable for just having some fun. The only media type which approaches acceptable quality is the still photo at 640x480 resolution.[5].

++++see the blogBox/otherBox for current updates (if any)++++
The (Box.net) blogbox is located at this blogger post:
http://jcpma.blogspot.com/2010/11/075.html
The direct link to the blogbox folder is:
http://www.box.net/shared/5i4hmkqj2u

[ ] footnotes: see the bottom of document
2760general-notes.txt or
1-nokia2760startHere.html
1-nokia2760startHere.txt

078 - Nokia 2760 cellular phone Bluetooth and Download notes

2010-11-26T20:14:00.001-07:00

Nokia 2760 cellular phone Bluetooth & Download notes
================================================ written by JCPMA
last updated 2010-11-07

Settings-->Connectivity-->Bluetooth-->
Bluetooth - ON
My phone's visibility - choices are [Permanent visibility/Temporary visibility/Hidden]| You want to have this setting on Permanent the first time you set up Bluetooth with another device. Once the setup has occured you can switch this back to "Hidden".
Search for audio enhancements | I think this makes the phone search for bluetooth earphones.
Active devices | This lists the (external) bluetooth devices currently communicating with your cell-phone.
Paired devices | This lists the (external) bluetooth devices which have worked with your cell-phone already.
My phone's name | here, you set the bluetooth nick-name of your phone to something easy for you to remember/recognize

Settings-->Connectivity-->Packet data-->
Packet data connection - WHEN NEEDED | I'm not sure about this one; the other choice is ALWAYS ON; I don't know if you always want your internet to be on.
Packet data settings-->Active access point - INTERNET | I think the default is INTERNET. There are slots here, another 9, if you want to set more access points.

Settings-->Connectivity-->Data transfer-->
Server sync | I'm not sure what this does; It connects to your telephone service provider??
PC Sync | This sets the UserName & Password for connecting your phone to PC via Bluetooth.; (tip:Make sure your Password is numeric.)[5]
Contact | To enable this feature, hit "Options"-->Add Contact; This lets you synchronize notes/Calendar/& contacts from your phone to your PC.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

By connecting to your PC using Bluetooth, you can transfer small files such as notes and pictures, and perhaps small video clips under 300KB.[5]
For video clips greater than 300KB & the full range of PC/Cell-phone file transfer, including contacts transfer, you have to install Nokia PC Suite 7 onto your computer. This app is about 30-35MB, but it is needed if you want functionality.
Recently, Nokia's website suggests the Computer software be the Nokia Ovi Suite 2.2. This app is about 100MB. (I haven't tried this.)

The Week of Oct20.2010: Nokia website suggests model2760 users install NokiaPCSuite7 from link http://europe.nokia.com/A41157164
The week of Oct27.2010: Nokia website suggests model2760 users, instead, install Ovi Suite 2.2 from link http://europe.nokia.com/support/download-software/nokia-ovi-suite/compatibility-and-download
http://www.nokiausa.com/get-support-and-software/software
http://www.nokiausa.com/get-support-and-software/software/nokia-ovi-suite
http://nds1.nokia.com/files/support/global/phones/software/Nokia_Ovi_Suite_webinstaller_ALL.exe
The Ovi suite faq is at this link:
http://europe.nokia.com/support/download-software/nokia-ovi-suite/faq or
http://www.nokiausa.com/get-support-and-software/software/nokia-ovi-suite/faq

If you are able to obtain a connectivity cable for your phone, you can connect to your PC without using Bluetooth. (However, the userManual/Guides all say the connection port on the 2760 cannot be used at all). If you do use a cable, you will still have to install the Nokia PC Suite. (note: I have been unable to obtain a cable).

For accessing files, you can use the browser windows like you would in a normal computer; But, for transfering files from PC to your phone, you have to Drag and Drop the files onto the NokiaPCSuite user interface. Otherwise it won't work. I think the User Interface acts as a security guard. It won't let you access protected files at all. And, certain media files are first inspected &/or reconverted to a suitable format for the phone. Anyway, your files will end up in the "Gallery" folder. From there, you can redistribute them in the appropriate file.
If you drop in an mp3, it won't end up in the Tones folder. That folder appears to be reserved only for downloading using the phone's internet service. Your computer mp3 file will end up automatically in the "Music" folder.[5][Nov.06.2010]

Downloading apps/games
-----------------
No matter what programs you download whether it be games or other, Nokia PC Suite will install them into the "Collection Folder" not the "Games Folder". This is a minor issue; just another "quirk" of this phone.
.jad files contain internet addresses; they tell your phone/computer what/where to download the games from.
.ashx files could be .jar files in disguise.
.jar files are the actual files which contain the games. These are the files that get installed.
.sis files are programs for other Nokia phones. The Nokia2760 phone does not support sis files.[5].

Downloading Wallpapers
----------------------
This is pretty straightforward. Jpg images used by this phone should be 128x160 pixels or more. Anything less will leave parts of your phone screen uncovered and show through as white space.[5]

Downloading Themes
------------------
Themes are files with a .nth extension. Some themes you download from a site claiming to be compatible with the 2760 may not be so. For example, themes where there is a working clock image fit this category. These "clock" themes may work on other Nokia models, but not the 2760. They contain flash files, (Adobe Shockwave Flash?) .swf files, which work on computer internet-browsers or flash swf players but this feature is NOT part of the model-2760.[5] (If it is let me know.)

Using your own audio files for ringtones/alert tones
---------------------------------------
This is the worst feature of the Nokia2760. This is why my reserved grandmother, who refrained from smashing the phone onto the concrete walkway, gave me her Nokia2760 and went out to buy a phone of a different manufacturer. After you read these next paragraphs, you will see why I do not blame her. Nokia sure doesn't try very hard to retain "repeat business"; The "cell-phone experience" instead of being "fancy-free" has been full of bugs,quirks, & restrictions. Most likely with the next cell-phone I get, I will follow my grandmother's lead, and go with a different brand of cell-phone. I know there must be worse phones than the Nokia2760, but I'm getting fed up with it too. Unlike a pre-arranged marriage where the couple learns to grow and love each other and discover their partner's strengths, the Nokia 2760 faults far outweigh any of its assets.
The Nokia 2760 will not permit using your own mp3 files to use as tones. You are able to play them back but you cannot use them as tones. My guess is mp3 downloads from a Nokia certified service provider would be ok to use as ringtones. But, I am not going to try to download any ringtones. It's one thing to pay 5 or 10$ to buy some ringtones. It's quite another thing to go through different available services, by trial-and-error, ending up paying perhaps hundreds of dollars, and not being guaranteed that the mp3 ringtone will be usable. The user-guide, non-surprisingly is vague about this issue.[10] It says, on page34, "Your phone supports mp3 format ringing tones. You can also set your recordings as ringing tones." I have made some mp3 tones from scratch. They are not copied from music or published as music. They are audio sounds and sound effects which are unique. Importing these files into the phone was accepted, but once, again they were rejected for tones. The phone flashes a message "Not Allowed by Activation Key". This scenario is analogous to recording an mp3 audio Christmas message, emailing it to your family, and having it undeliverable due to it "not being allowed by activation key".
Other audio file formats can be imported into the phone. But the 2760 cannot play them back; I have tried .wma, and .aac formats.
This is the highlight of the story. I used NokiaPCSuite (version 7.1.51.0) to transfer audio files into the cell phone. It opens up a dialog window and asks you which format, if any it should covert the audio file into. There are 2 formats available, AAC and M4A. It has several bit rates of conversion to choose from. One of these bit rates is even promoted as a "mobile optimised format" (The software spells optimized as "optimised".). I do several transfers. Some as AAC format, and others as M4A. I try this with different bit rates too. The result is the Nokia 2760 does not recognize the .aac files or the .m4a files. "Isn't that a kick in the head? (and a waste of time and energy as well.)."
One compromise is a work-around option enabling you to use your own audio sources for ring tones. Convert them to .AMR audio format. Obtain or create your audio file/tone. Search on the internet for an application/program which can convert audio files to AMR NB (Narrow Band) format. The output file will have poorer audio quality, and be in mono channel sound but will be recognizable to the listener and be acceptable by the Nokia 2760.

++++see the blogBox/otherBox for current updates (if any)++++
The (Box.net) blogbox is located at this blogger post:
http://jcpma.blogspot.com/2010/11/075.html
The direct link to the blogbox folder is:
http://www.box.net/shared/5i4hmkqj2u

[ ] footnotes: see the bottom of document
2760general-notes.txt or
1-nokia2760startHere.html
1-nokia2760startHere.txt

077 Stumble to a random site and Submit a site

2010-11-23T20:22:00.006-07:00

Stumbleupon: Stumble to a random site; & Submit a site
======================================================
2010.10.19

written by JCPMA 2010.11.19

There are several ways of surfing to a random site in StumbleUpon.com's
database.

1. Use the StumbleUpon demo url.

(No login or install required). This is especially handy for
those that don't use browsers like Firefox or GoogleChrome.
[from source http://www.labnol.org/tag/stumbleupon/ ]
http://www.stumbleupon.com/demo/#url=http://www.labnol.org/ This link
is referred by Labnol.
try it now

[from source
http://operawatch.com/news/2008/02/how-to-get-stumbleupon-to-work-in-opera-
and-safari.html]
http://www.stumbleupon.com/demo/#url=http://operawatch.com/ This link
is referred by Operawatch.

With these links, the topics are not pre-set, you click on some
interesting ones before you start stumbling:

http://stumbleupon.com/demo/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/

2. Create a user account at StumbleUpon.com.

After login, set your preferences/interests. Then you can
click on the "Stumble" button in the upper left corner to go to a
random site that matches your interests.

3. Install the Stumbleupon (SU) add-on/extension for the
browsers Firefox, or Google Chrome.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/addon/
https://chrome.google.com/extensions
http://getsatisfaction.com/stumbleupon/products/stumbleupon_stumbleupon_for_chrome
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/138/

Login and start Stumbling.

4. Log in to http://su.pr

This is StumbleUpon's branch service, of urlShortening/blog-
content integration to social media sites. (You need to be a user of
Twitter &/or Facebook.) You should have access to a StumbleUpon
toolbar there.

Different methods of submitting (recommending) a site to Stumbleupon.com

When you submit an url with a button/badge etc, this is what it puts
into the browser address bar, appended with the full url that the user
wants to submit immediately after.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://url-to-submit-for-example.com/easy.html

There are three general categories of ways to submit a site
to StumbleUpon.

A. From the Firefox/GoogleChrome add-on SU toolbar.

Hit the the "Thumbs up" button. You will be prompted for more
details, if the site in not in the SU database. After filling in the
details click on "submit"

B. Bookmarklets

Two sources of Bookmarklets

Navigate to Stumbleupon's page to find the bookmarklet on
the right side: http://www.stumbleupon.com/addon/
Once you are there, you can drag its link to your bookmark bar

This next bookmarklet is from source
http://www.ampercent.com/stumble-see-reviews-bookmarklets/1745/&t=Two
Useful Stumbleupon Bookmarklets to Replace the Toolbar written by Amit
Banerjee

Submit
a page <= Bookmark or drag this link to your
browser's bookmark bar

Here is the code

<a
href="javascript:document.location.href='http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url='+document.URL+'&title='+document.title.replace(/%20/g,'+');">Submit
a page</a>

C. From a button (badge) that has been pre-embedded on a site.

i) Putting a submit button on your own web site

The easiest way to get a button is to go to
Stumbleupon.com at

http://www.stumbleupon.com/buttons/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/badges/landing/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/badges/

ii) Putting a javascript button on your website
This javascript code, is taken an modified from David Kwan's
page at
http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/1dku1S/www.articlestools.com/articles/stumbleupon.shtml

It puts an imagebutton or, if you choose, a non-image link on your
static webpage:

/*-- This is javascript code for your static webpage. --*/

<script language="JavaScript">
document.write ('<a href="');
document.write('http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url='+document.URL+'&title='+document.title.replace(/
/g,'+')+'">');
document.write ('<img border=0
src=/yourImageDir/SU-logo.gif>Submit a site to
StumbleUpon</a>');
</script>

/*!-- Note, you can omit this string from the above script if don't
want a logo: --*/

/* <img border=0 src=/yourImageDir/SU-logo.gif> */

iii) Putting a badge (submit button) on your Blogger site Follow the
directions at:

http://www.stumbleupon.com/badges/

http://woork.blogspot.com/2007/12/add-stumbleupon-button-in-your-bloggers.html
http://herselfswebtools.com/2007/05/how-to-add-stumbleupon-links-to-your-blog-posts.html

076 - Three Apps to add album art to mp3 files

2010-11-23T20:04:00.002-07:00

076 - Three Apps to add album art to mp3 files

written by JCPMA Nov.17.2010.

I have a handful of untagged mp3 music that I wanted to add jpgs to. I don't use ITunes player. WindowsMediaPlayer doesn't seem to help (nor do I trust it completely). And, I did not feel like installing a music-player for such a minor reason.

The ideal application of course, would require no installation and be easy to use. Three such programs are listed below. (Other notes: all three programs have an internet database feature for tagging!; They can support retention of original file modification dates.)

Broken tags?: The strangest thing is that after my initial tagging, Windows Media Player (WMP) would recognize all my mp3s and play back the album art, but Windows 7 OS would only display some of the mp3 icons with art, others without, in the file folder. (Is this a Windows quirk?)

This article by Richard Farrar is a great educational piece on mp3 art tagging: http://www.richardfarrar.com/embedding-album-art-in-mp3-files/ The standards in art embedding for mp3s is using formats of .jpg or .png. It involves the ID3v2 tag. The BBC embeds 300x300pixel sized images in their mp3 podcasts.

TagScanner by Sergey Serkov is a user-friendly full featured music file tagger. The one I used was version 5.1.593 (Oct.or Nov.2010). Download the portable version in a zip package. It works for Windows2000 to Win7, and is about 2 MB in size. http://www.xdlab.ru/en/download.htm

I lucked out and found this program Media Tagger v. 1.35 at The Portable Freeware Collection: http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=141 It is a small, 1.2 MB tagger, that works even on older computers like Win98 and WinXP. The programmer is Ladislav Dufek and his website is http://www.mediatagger.zde.cz It is quite versatile and has a simple interface.

The third app MP3Tag ( http://www.mp3tag.de/en/ ) requires installation, but the author suggests a method to make it portable: http://forums.mp3tag.de/index.php?showtopic=976&view=findpost&p=23162

(I used Universal-extractor 1.6 app (learn more at http://Portablefreeware.com or http://www.legroom.net/), to extract the contents of the setup installer to an empty folder; This method isn't sanctioned by MP3Tag but so far MP3Tag has worked well)

The MP3Tag setup installer is about the 2.5 MB; The portable product (that you make yourself) is about 6.5 MB.

The version of MP3Tag I used is 2.46a for Windows XP-Win7.

Windows2000 users need to use version 2.39

Windows95 to Windows ME users need to use version 2.32a

A note about the pseudo broken tags in Windows 7. This is what really prompted me to write about art tagging. I didn't understand why Windows couldn't see the jpgs, even though WMP could see them. I have used tags on older machines and older tag makers with no problems. My theory on this is the encoding format.

· This may involve the program setting of "retain file modification times." This feature lets you edit the tag info without changing the last modified/last saved date of your mp3 file. So, if you created an mp3 in June2010, and you altered the tag info in August2010, clicking on the mp3 file will still show that the mp3 was modified in June. (I had this setting activated and Windows7 was able to see some of the mp3s as being embeded with art.)

· I don't know if this phenonmenon has to do with the tag ?text? encoding setting. Windows 7 may be unable to see tags encoded in unicode. In the programs' options menu, choose to use ID3v2 tag and choose the encoding format of "Ansi or Iso8859, or Western Iso", something along those lines. (I don't think you get this choice with Media Tagger 1.35.) Avoid the formats which say "unicode or UTF-8 or UTF-16 etc."

(LATE ENTRY. Nov.21.2010)--Please disregard the above paragraph about unicode. I just tried to tag my second set of mp3s & changing the unicode setting to non-unicode did NOT have an effect on making the jpg art visible in Windows7. I turned off the setting for "retain file's last modification date" in the program MP3Tag, and this made all the jpgs embeded in the file, appear in Windows7. I wonder why Windows was only able to see some of the files with art (as discussed above)?

· MP3Tag v2.46a can show a music file's tag version. It appears, that Windows7 likes tags which are ID3v2.3 but not ID3v2.4. ID3v2.4 is encoded in UTF-8 according to MP3Tag. If practical, I suggest you use ID3v2.3 only and avoid tagging with ID3v1. (SUMMARY: Windows7 is incompatible with ID3v2.4; Is that because the version is different (than 2.3) or is it because version 2.4 is encoded in UTF-8?)

Conclusion - to have Windows7 be compatible with mp3 tags (in decreasing order of likelihood):

A. deactivate tagger's setting of "retain file last modification date"

B. use ID3v2.3 ISO-8859-1 encoding or ID3v2.3 UTF-16 encoding. (Both these result in an mp3 file where the jpg art is visible in Windows7 AND WMP; the version of WMP I currently have is 12.076. The setting ID3v2.4 UTF-8 will NOT show album art in Win7 or WMP! I just confirmed these statements!)

C. To be on conservative side, use ID3v2.3 settings of ANSI or ISO-8859 (ie non-unicode) where able.

(If any of the above is incorrect, please leave a comment below.)

"3taggers.gif"

http://tinypic.com/m/dpb7kj/2

http://i55.tinypic.com/2i94ebb.jpg hotlink

075 - AVP and AVPR

2010-11-23T19:38:00.004-07:00

075 - AVP and AVPR

I read some reviews on the 2004 movie Aliens vs Predator (AVP) on Amazon.com. There were several critics who disliked it. Similarly several reviewers on Amazon.com enjoyed the 2007 sequel Aliens vs Predator: Requiem.

The sequel I agree was dark in some scenes but not overly so. (I didn't realize this until I read the Amazon reviews!) However, the first movie is the better one.

AVP has a more sci-fi atmosphere/feeling to it. The same sensations felt from the movies Predator, or Aliens. The only things I would change to AVP would be to give the auxillary characters a more thorough reveal of their backgrounds, who they are. Without connecting to these characters, the viewer really doesn't care about them as much, like the crewmen in the original Star Trek television series who wore the red uniforms. They were destined to die like nobodys. The subplot about the Predators quest for the blaster weapons stored in the pyramid, could have been fleshed out more. Otherwise AVP is a very fine movie. Budget seems to be big. The special effects are believable.

AVP:R on the other hand was less thrilling. It is a combination of a teenage slasher/horror movie + biological vector gone awry theme. It felt more like a halloween flick than a sci-fi flick. The only part of the movie which had some sci-fi atmosphere was at the beginning when the hunter Predator prepares to launch to Earth, and at the end when the politician/espionage type characters close the show.

AVP Summary: Humans Aliens and Predators interact in an ancient game.

rating 4stars****

AVP:R Summary: A U.S. town gets infested by Aliens. A predator goes to fight them.

rating 3stars***

074 - Nokia 2760 User Guide Manual

2010-11-23T19:11:00.002-07:00

document: "1-nokia2760startHere.html"

Nokia 2760 User Guide by a layman; Nokia 2760 cellular phone general notes

written by JCPMA

last updated 2010-11-16; 2010-11-07; 2009-10-31

Nokia's worldwide: http://www.nokia.com

Description:

I made these sets of notes because the documentation on the web and the included

paper documentation are HORRIBLE. I wonder if there is any phone on the market

with decent instructions. It seems, all phone OS's suck. They are clunky and

confusing.

Information I have appreciated or found useful, information which should have been

included in the user manual, is recorded here. [Oct.2009]

INTRO

-----

the Nokia 2760 is a S40 type phone (but i don't know which generation though.)

source [1]

north american gsm dual band phone:

bands: 850MHz and 1900MHz source [2 http://www.speakoutwireless.ca/sim-card-guide/][5]

Speakout sim cards will work on a locked Rogers phone but probably will not work on

a locked Fido phone. [2 (Oct.2009)]

CALLING

-------

Using the speakerphone:

While on an active call, press the Right Soft key to select Loudsp. source [4 document tm51986, 5, 7]

Handset volume:

During a call, you can increase/decrease the volume of the handset by pressing the

right/left cursor key. However, make sure your screen is cleared of all

characters/numbers or else the volume control won't respond. (This is especially

relevant when calling customer service where you are prompted to press 1 or 2 etc...)

Headset: The model-2760 comes with a headset with a button in the center; "Is it a built in mic?

Is the button like a walkie talkie where you push to talk?" or "Does it start the phone

call and end the phone call?" (I wish there was some documentation included.)

CONTACTS

--------

Phone contacts on your sim card:

If you choose to store/use your phone contacts on your sim memory, a sim card icon

will appear on the upper part of the screen. The advantage of this is portability.

The contacts stay with your sim card. The disadvantage, is that the Nokia 2760

will not let you associate a photo/picture with a phone contact, if the storage is

on the sim memory (compared to phone memory). [5] [2009-09-01]

you cannot associate a ringtone/tone to a particular contact.[5] [2009-10-02]

FIRMWARE

--------

[5 (dial *#0000# will show your phone is hardware version eg, RM-259 and a 3 digit firmware version)]

I am unable to find any new firmware for this phone. According to the Nokia,

USA/Europe Websites, there is no software upgrade for this model of phone.[2010-10-27]

I wasn't able to find software available to update current firmware at this site:

http://www.nokia.ca/get-support-and-software/software/device-software-update/can-i-update

source [6, 5(Sept/Oct 2009)] [http://europe.nokia.com; www.nokiausa.com (Oct.2010)]

This link to a list of Nokia firmwares: http://wiki.forum.nokia.com/index.php/Nokia_Firmware_Versions [Nov16.2010]

INTERNET DISABLING

------------------

I found this tip on a Speakout forum[2], I think. You can disable your phone from

accidentally connecting to the internet, for example if you are playing a game and

it decides to connect without your knowledge etc... (I can't remember who the

author is though, but it works.):

Settings-->config-->Personal config-> Add New-> ¤Web-> leave everything blank & save.

Settings-->config-->Default config-> choose PersonalConfig

Settings-->config-->Preferred Access Point-> choose Internet.

POWER

-----

I can get approx. 10-11 days worth of standby time if my phone use is minimal.

It takes me about 2 hours to recharge the battery (that originally comes

with the phone) from a "dead" state to a full charged state.[5]

When the battery level is low to the point of critical, the phone "beeps" once per

minute for a total of 3 minutes. Then, it seems, in the next minute, the phone

"dies"/turns itself off,.[5][2009-10-02]

TEXT/SMS

--------

text quota = 159 characters per sms message

This phone has a bad habit of mixing up your saved texts. That is, if you have

several saved messages, they can be cut and spliced with the body of each other.

"It is quite a messy defect". [5]

TONES

-----

IM Alert tone:

The default is

"Standard" very loud. This one sounds like two "beeps from an Aliens Scanner"

(ie the scanner Ripley and the crew used in the 2nd Alien(s) movie.)

Message Alert Tones:

"Standard" very loud. This one sounds like two sets of loud sonar pings: "ding Ding, ding Ding!"

"Beep once" very loud. Sounds like 1 loud beep.

"Special" medium loud. Sounds like Morse code/telegraph code: ... -- ... ...-- ...

"Ascending" from soft to very loud. plays 4 sets of successively loud 2 beeps. Each pair of beeps get louder than the last.

Calendar Tone:

If you substitute your own tone, the phone makes it sound progressively louder after about the 5 or 6 second mark.[5]

(See 2760bluetoothDownloads.txt for more information on using your own tones/ringtones.)

VOICEMAIL

---------

The first time you activate your voicemail,...

This is how you do it:

(the user manual instructions are missing a step. it tells you to hold the "1" key and then input the 5 digit password code)

but, first you have to program your phone number into the cellphone. (yes, this is the missing step.)

Go to Menu|Messaging|Voicemessages|...

Enter your voicemessage mailbox number here; it is your 10 digit cellphone number. source [5].

Explanation:

a) you program your phone with your 10 digit cellphone number, so that when:

b) you hold down the "1" key, this causes your cellphone to phone itself and the call then connects to voicemail.

c) Once connected to voicemail, you enter your 5 digit voicemail password code.

When you get a voicemail, ...

Speakout texts you, the msg alert tone sounds, and there is a "voicemail" icon on

the top of your standby screen:

O_O

as well as a "sms text message" icon:

_______

| V |

|_/_\_|

Your mini-screen should display "new voice message". You should follow this cue to

check your text (message) inbox for details, or you can go ahead an check your audio voicemail.

Caller-ID does not work with voicemail[5].

This is what is displayed on your main screen sms text:

Voicemail 1 new. Sender not available.

Received hh:mm:ss yyyy/mm/dd

At this point, the screen gives you an option to listen to the voicemail from your handset.

When your phone is off = instant voicemail pickup source [5];

When phone is in use, voicemail probably picks up right away too. (guessing).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Why the Nokia2760 is a good celluar phone:

. flip phone

. buttons are well placed

. speakerphone

. economical

. good sounding audio for phone calls

. acceptable entry level 0.3 megapixel camera

. voice-recorder is handy

Why the Nokia2760 is a bad cellular phone:

* thick

* plastic shell/housing looks/feels cheap

* software/operating system needs more user-friendliness

* require better user manual (cell phones in general do too)

* low capacity memory: approximately 10MB

* no expansion for memory, ie no slot for a SD-MicroCard or other.

* short battery life (shorter than most phones.) ie, 2.5 hour talk time; 10 days standby time.

* lack of documentation on how to save files from/to a PC computer

(Manufacturer should have included a USB cable)

* the low resolution 0.3 Megapixel camera. Other phones have 1 or 1.3 or 2 or 5 or more Megapixels!

* there is no external volume buttons. These would be handy to adjust volume of ring/handset-audio/speaker.

* unable to use your own mp3 files for ringtones.

* no built-in electrical contacts for easy "cradle" charging. You have to lift

a plastic tab at the top of the phone to get access to the charging jack.

* easy to obstruct/cover external speaker with palm of the hand

* using the fm radio requires the insertion of the earphones

* instead of having a radio, they should have added more memory or a bigger battery!

* the predictive texting input is TERRIBLE. i suggest not using it.

Internal Links:

--------------

1-nokia2760startHere.txt a copy of this current document, 1-nokia2760startHere.html, in txt format

2760bluetoothDownloads.txt on Bluetooth and Downloads (and Ringtones)

2760camera-notes.txt on the built-in camera

2760recorder-notes.txt on the audio recorder

2760security-notes.txt on the phone's security settings

bestNokia2670settings.txt on my preferred phone settings to balance power conservation and usability.

External Links:

---------------

Nokia 2760 Guides http://www.nokiausa.com/get-support-and-software/product-support/nokia-2760/guides

Nokia 2760 User Guide in English 2760_US_en.PDF 3.39 MB http://nds1.nokia.com/files/support/nam/phones/guides/2760_US_en.PDF

[This links to the 2007 user guide. Nov.16.2010]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[ ] footnotes:

1. http://www.nokiausa.com/get-support-and-software/discussions or nokiausa.com

2. http://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/ The Unofficial 7-Eleven Speakout Wireless Canada Consumer Page

3. 7-11 Speakout Nokia 2760 Quick Start Guide (book, Canada) 9205744 09/07

4. T Mobile website (USA)

5. my own (subjective) notes.

6. http://www.nokia.ca

7. Canadian Nokia 2760 User Guide (book) 9205625

8. Quick Start Guide (color pamphlet) 9205756

9. Nokia 2760 User Guide 9203335 Issue 1, 2007 (Europe?) (pdf format)

10. Nokia 2760 User Guide 9203335 Issue 2, 2008 (Europe?) (pdf format)

Nov.2010.

Below is a "box" from Box.net. (I think it requires a browser to have Adobe Flash or Adobe Shockwave Flash in order for it to be visible.)

This nokia2760box is contains my tips and user information for the Nokia 2760 mobile cellular phone.

Please refer back to this blog-entry or to the link of this blogbox (which is http://www.box.net/shared/5i4hmkqj2u ) for any updates.

073 - How to Restore your Portable Settings on Locate32

2010-10-16T16:59:00.002-06:00

How to Restore your Portable Settings on Locate32 version 3.1
=======

Locate32 is a file-search tool for Windows which creates indexes for fast searching.
More info is available at www.portablefreeware.com on Locate32.

072 - Zback v. 2.20.b Review and Tips

2010-10-16T16:50:00.003-06:00

Zback v. 2.20.b Review and Tips
===
This is a wonderful backup & synchronization tool for Windows PCs.

071 - PaperBack v.1.0 review

2010-10-16T16:40:00.004-06:00

PaperBack v.1.0 review by JCP
===============
.What - back up (small) files to printed paper; OR a bmp steganography app.
.who - Oleh Yuschuk
.where - http://www.ollydbg.de/Paperbak/index.html
.when - today is Sept29-2010
.why - It is a neat concept.
.how -

PROS
- small 227KB; - Portable!; - v.innovative! -password encryption available!

CONS
- not practical for large size files:
(132kb jpg file : 3/4 page : 14.5mb bitmap);
(3 bytes txt file : 1/8 page : 2.2mb bitmap)
[ (3 bytes txt file : 1/8 page : 1.12mb bitmap) <== at extreme settings.] - need a nice printer and scanner - version 1. backs up 1 file at a time.

myNotes
~~~~~~~
IdealEquipment = 600dpi LaserPrinter; Scanner with 900dpi+ real resolution.
Inkjet printer limitation = maximal useful resolution 200dpi

You can save a file to a bmp by using "save to bmp" in the file menu.
Drag and drop is supported. But dropping a bmp will activate recognition/recovery.

Do not convert resultant bmps to other than 8bit-color, or recovery will be impossible.

Much thought went into coding this app. For example, Encryption algorithm,
drag&drop feature, Redundancy for correcting errors; Paper formatting; Data compression

Options:
~~~~~~~
Printing Options are:
Dot Density: use (120 or) 150 dpi. You store more data on a sheet of paper
with a higher dpi, but at the expense of requiring a nicer printer, and also a nicer
scanner for recovery of data. At 150 dpi setting, the programs suggests for recovery,
that you scan at a physical resolution of 450 dpi. Also, a higher dot density means a
smaller bmp file.
Dot size: author suggests 70%. The reason is that some white space around
the dot will help scanner recognition/dot distinction.
Compression: author suggests Maximal, unless you have a slow computer.
Redundancy: 1:5 means app's recovery algorithm allows 1 data-block to be
recovered, rebuilt in case of error for every 5 data=-blocks which are printed.
A smaller ratio, ie 1:10 would mean your resultant bmp or # of sheets to be printed
would be smaller. A higher ratio, ie 1:2 would mean your data is more safe. (For
my tests, i used 1:7)
Header and Footer: This option allows descriptive info for human eyes.
Border Around The Page: This should be checked; This improves autocropping
by twain drivers.

Decoding Options are:
Autosave complete files: when scanning multipage files, Paperback recognizes
the completion of scanning and prompts you to save your file.
Determine Best Quality: slows down recovery, but the app works better to
analyze and repair data.

Encryption Options are:
Encrypt data: This activates encrypting the backup.
Password in open text: whether or not pw is shown as you type it

MyResults (with MD5 checksums)
~~~~~~~~~
jpg0 = original file to be backed up. It is a 132 KB jpg image.

jpg0.jpg 132 KB (136,165 bytes) 4d8c2b60bdc77345b801b57a0573943c
jpg1.jpg 132 KB (136,165 bytes) 4d8c2b60bdc77345b801b57a0573943c
jpg2.jpg 132 KB (136,165 bytes) 4d8c2b60bdc77345b801b57a0573943c
jpg3.jpg 132 KB (136,165 bytes) 4d8c2b60bdc77345b801b57a0573943c

bmp1.bmp 14.5 MB (15,218,038 bytes) 8bit color baf58cb7192043ce31d9c8f58a3b98b5
bmp1.bmp.zip 449 KB
bmp1.bmp.jpg 8.88 MB (9,312,597 bytes) 8bit color
bmp1.bmp.jpg.zip 715 KB
bmp1.bmp.jpg.gif 3.39 MB (3,562,963 bytes) 8bit color
bmp1.bmp.jpg.gif.zip 3.39 MB
bmp2.bmp 14.5 MB (15,218,038 bytes) 8bit color b3373776f8c93f3515fb1cbbd7c30a15

bmp3.bmp 14.5 MB (15,218,038 bytes) 8bit color 8ca1d7f0431db0ff853f414e78151c8e

backup jpg0 file took 1 sheet of paper and filled up 3/4 of a page with dots.
backup jpg0 file with encryption took 1 sheet of paper and filled up 3/4 of a page with dots.

Explanation of results:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Printing Options used for the test:
DotDensity - 150dpi;
DotSize - 70%;
Compression - Maximal;
Redundancy - 1:7
Header & Footer - Yes;
Border Around the Page - Yes

Backing up the 132KB original file by saving to bmp resulted in a bmp file ("bmp1")
14.5MB with dimensions of 4192x3630 pixels at 8bit-color depth.
Next, I converted bmp1 to bmp1.jpg 8.9 MB, and then this I converted this to
bmp1.jpg.gif 3.4 MB. (Interestingly, zipping bmp1 gives you a zip file 449 kB). I
converted bmp1.jpg.gif to bmp2 and proceeded to recover the file. It worked perfectly.
The resultant jpg file, jpg2.jpg is identical to jpg0.jpg

Backing up jpg0.jpg using encryption to bmp3.bmp gave a bmp with identical size and
dimensions as bmp1.bmp, 4192x3630 pixels at 8bit-color depth. The MD5 hash was different
and visual inspection of the bmp image showed the dots were placed differently. Recovery
of this backup was successful: jpg3.jpg is identical to jpg0.jpg.

070 - Back4Sure - ScreenShots Tips

2010-10-16T16:21:00.004-06:00

Back4Sure - ScreenShots Tips
===
Here are some tips for Back4Sure version 3 backup program for your files.
It is portable and works on Windows.
You can read more about it at www.portablefreeware.com

Here is a copy of the pics as a zip archive http://www.mediafire.com/?c371kleeg469hbf
http://www.mediafire.com/file/c371kleeg469hbf/Back4Sure-TutorialPics.zip

md5 checksums
-------------
1-Back4Sure-tutorialMain.png,dc8fe0f5f51cff2586c9571d2a9d6167
2-Back4Sure-MiddleTabs.png,eeca20639bea29f1f7353fd46322fd43
3-Back4Sure-ActionsTab-other.png,1f12034703a7a442ef7b24f5225b5c7a

069 - Initial Setup for Bluetooth Phone PC Data transfer

2010-10-16T16:12:00.002-06:00

Initial Setup for Bluetooth Phone PC Data transfer
===

Background: I have pics etc on my phone that I want to transfer to a PC using the PC's Bluetooth transceiver.[Oct.2010]
This blog post, is written from memory, as I only has a short opportunity to try a Bluetooth enabled computer. It illustrates the steps to expect when PAIRING a DEVICE and the steps to expect when sending a file(s) between PAIRED DEVICES.

My friend's PC has Bluetooth. Having never used Bluetooth before, I went through the required settings in order to transfer a file to the PC, and subsequently, in the reverse direction, a file from the computer to the phone.

I right-mouse-click on a small text file on the PC, and then from the context menu, clicked "SendTo Bluetooth". A Windows® Bluetooth Wizard starts and tells you to proceed. When I continued, Windows immediately indicated Bluetooth was not available. So, after consulting the Windows Help feature, and a long time of trial & error, I remember ending up in the ControlPanel and finally enabling the PC's Bluetooth. ... To make a long story short, the PC needs to be configured to recognize and connect to your cell phone, & similarly, your cell phone needs to be set up to recognize your PC. During this process, Windows self-installs Bluetooth drivers specific to your cell-phone model.

In Jargon, this is called a setting up a "PAIRED DEVICE":

Main steps for the Cell phone:
- Navigate to your phone's Bluetooth section and turn it ON.
- Create your phone's unique (Bluetooth) NAME. (Usually there is a factory preset name, but you can change/tailor it to your own taste)
- Change the phone's Bluetooth visibility setting from Hidden to VISIBLE.
- Go to the phone's PC Data Transfer/Data Sync setting; from here, create your USERNAME, and your PASSWORD

Main steps for the PC:
- ENABLE/activate Bluetooth on PC
- use the Bluetooth Wizard (or ControlPanel?) to SEARCH for active devices (ie search for your Cell phone)
- From the list of Bluetooth devices found, choose and CONNECT to your phone
- enter the (cell phone's ) PASSWORD into the PC
- when prompted by your phone, enter the cell phone's PASSWORD in to your phone.

---note re: PASSWORD. Some phones appear to like numeric passwords over alphabetic character passwords. I don't know why that is.

Results:
---
I sent a small text file,"abc.txt", from the PC to the phone via the context menu "SendTo Bluetooth" selection. If I were prompted, (I likely had to) Accept the connection, once on the PC and once on the phone. Then I had to when prompted, enter the PASSWORD, once on the PC and once on the phone.
I received a note in my phone, (not my text message inbox). The note had no file name, but upon saving it, the phone used the content of the text file as the name of the note. The content/body of the the text file was accurate. [I don't know if this would work for unicode characters. In my test, the test file contained ANSI characters.]

Next, I sent a picture, a .jpg file from the phone to the PC. The phone prompts you to choose from your list of "Paired Devices" for the name of your PC. It asks you to enter the PASSWORD. The PC says a file is being sent (to the PC/itself) and also asks for a PASSWORD. Again, you enter the same one as discussed above. The PC receives the jpg but it stores it in a unique folder, not on the desktop.

068 - Preferred Way of Dealing with Pictures on Blogger

2010-10-09T15:06:00.005-06:00

My preferred way of dealing with pictures on Blogger

I haven't blogged for a while & had forgotten how un-fun (not fun; unenjoyable) it was to add a small/medium sized picture to a Blogger post.

Yesterday, I uploaded some small pics for a tutorial to Blogger. The pics have small print on them.

When I finished the post. I realized that clicking on the pictures would not enlarge them to their normal size nor any larger size. So, today, I had to upload the same pictures to another webservice. (I used Photobucket.com). Next I painstakingly linked the Blogger pics to the new Photobucket links. Coding, even simple html coding, is not that fun. It took some time but I finished it.

Blogger uses its sister-site Picasa.google.com to handle posted pics. You get 3 choices of picture size when you upload; they are small, medium & large. I used "large" in this example, and it wasn't big enough to my liking.

Another reason which frustrated the process, is that adjusting the placement of photos/pics on your post is very non user friendly. The editing "Compose" window is small, and "dragging" your pics, especially large pics to another area on the blog is very difficult, if not impossible. I ended up moving 3-4 pics successfully by dragging; the remaining 2 that I had to move was done by using the "Edit Html" window.

Here's the suggestion of this post.

Upload your pics to another web-service if you have more than 2-3 pics.
Make sure the web-service has either hot-linking or webpage/blogpage friendly embeddable links
The ones I like to use are:

- Photobucket.com

- Tinypic.com

- Mediafire.com

I heard Flickr.com is a good one to use; You need to have/open a Yahoo account to use Flickr.

067 - Toucan Backup Tutorial Pictures

2010-10-08T19:00:00.015-06:00

Tutorial Images for Toucan v. 3.0.3 backup and synchronization software.

Here are the lost pictures from the User Guide.

[Late entry: October09-2010: unrelated -- I just spent a fairly long session, editing this blog page and its picture formatting. The images you see on this screen have been cross-referenced to link with Photobucket(R). I chose to do this because, the pictures I uploaded to Blogger won't display any larger when you click on them.]

archive copy of tutorial is at http://www.mediafire.com/?wssog8blp53my

zip archive of pictures http://www.mediafire.com/?lhg0cfp8lml2ali

checksums.md5.txt http://www.mediafire.com/?774midwhp0qfiu7

066 - Dragon Fruit

2010-05-25T19:44:00.001-06:00

066 - Phan Thiet Dragon Fruit 火龍果火龍果

The following is a translation of the plastic packaging of the Dragon Fruit.

巴斯德生化研究所 | 巴斯德生化研究所 Pasteur (Louis) Biochemistry Research Institute
成功分折報告: | 成功分折報告: succeed breakdown listing:
含豐富維他命 B1, B2, B12, C 天然粁維素, | 含豐富維他命 B1, B2, B12, C 天然粁維素,

contains rich plentiful vitamin B1, B2, B12, C natural fibre

葡萄糖及人體所需礦物質,鐵,錳,鎂,鈷,鈣,磷,鉀 | 葡萄糖及人體所需礦物質,鐵,錳,鎂,鈷,鈣,磷,鉀

glucose and human body required (dietary) minerals iron, manganese, magnesium,
cobalt, calcium, phosphorous, potassium

065 - CamerayShy test

2010-05-25T19:02:00.004-06:00

065 - - steganography series: simple apps to encrypt things from your little brother or sister. CamerayShy test

CameraShy 0.2.23.1

CameraShy0.2.23.1.exe is a Windows based internet browser which encrypts and decrypts hidden text in .gif files.

camerashy-window.jpg (tinypic.com coverts gifs into jpgs), http://i45.tinypic.com/2wrdx8n.jpg
camerashy-window.gif mediafire.com, http://www.mediafire.com/file/xzzyatyjnyz/camerashy-window.gif

How to decrypt the two gif files:
three-marked-tabs.gif 6 Kb, md5-hash:d5977bbc65737bc74cf965b80de9aea4
Wikipedia-tab.gif 2 Kb, md5-hash:f552a6c0b9e56f17ccc377f7f29611d1

Step1. open the app, and type "password" into the password field and "[Hacktivismo]" into the signature field.
Step2. If online, select the gif on the webpage on the programs's bottom field.; If offline, select the gif using the upper clockwise direction blue arrow button.
Step3. when successfully decrypted, you can view the text in the upper small window, or by pressing the checkmark button, view the same text in the upper big window.

image links:
three-marked-tabs.gif, Photobucket, http://s556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jcpma/20100521stegano/?action=view&current=three-marked-tabs.gif

three-marked-tabs.gif, Box.net, http://www.box.net/steganography/1/43429648/440358266

Wikipedia-tab.gif, Photobucket, http://s556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jcpma/20100521stegano/?action=view&current=Wikipedia-tab.gif

Wikipedia-tab.gif, Box.net, http://www.box.net/steganography/1/43429648/440358232

App. Package:
camerashy.zip, Mediafire, http://www.mediafire.com/file/mm3yizqqd32/camerashy.zip
camerashy.zip, Box.net, http://www.box.net/steganography/1/43429648/440358894

064 - EyeMage test

2010-05-25T18:25:00.003-06:00

064 - - steganography series: simple apps to encrypt things from your little brother or sister. EyeMage test

EyeMage IIE version 0901 by Proporta Ltd

Eyemage can encrypt a file or some typed text into a bitmap.
The bitmap can be self-generated noise, or a pre-existing one.

Decrypting an pre-existing illustration bmp with a file hidden in it:
Step1. open EyeMage IIE.exe. click on the (right) `decrypt' button.
Step2. click the "Image" button & load/open the bitmap "eyemage-file-test-2k-content.bmp (49 Kb, md5-hash:2c51515ae01e2fb1cfb930b361645563). This is a picture of a yellow taxi cab.
Step3. click the lower right corner `decrypt' button. Enter "password" as the password.
Step4. A save window should appear, with the name of the hidden file, "eyemage-contents.zip" (2 Kb, md5-hash:ab7d998966de28465dc9331f01071b36). click "save" to complete the process.

Decrypting a self-generated "noisy" bitmap with a file hidden in it:
Step1. open EyeMage IIE.exe. click on the (right) `decrypt' button.
Step2. click the "Image" button & load/open the bitmap "eyemage-file-test-noise-9k-content.bmp (24 Kb, md5-hash:8d51baae375cf68bb91d49146e752786).This is a picture of a rectangle of static.
Step3. click the lower right corner `decrypt' button. Enter "password" as the password.
Step4. A save window should appear, but without any name or extension of the hidden file. also, the location of the save folder may be different. The actual name of the hidden file is: "eyemage-content.zip" (9 Kb, md5-hash:13303674805d3e4a3a0e7d4e1ca1db3e).

Notes:
* One advantage of the noisy bitmap encoding method is that it saves space. i.e., the resultant bitmap is 24 Kb holding 9 Kb of content. Compare this with using a pre-existing bitmap: ie 49 Kb containing 2 Kb of content.
* A disadvantage of the noisy bitmap encoding method is that it may work inconsistently. (ie Failure).
* Another disadvantage, as stated above, of the noisy bitmap method is that the hidden file name is not remembered.
* The minimum length of a password is 4 characters.

Decrypting a hidden text message within a bitmap:
Use the same process of decrypting as above, with these files:
"eyemage-text-test-portrait.bmp" 24 Kb, md5-hash:6de2af2abe79309da789130a4d4ac6a9. An icon sized picture of a portrait.
"eyemage-text-test-noise.bmp 15 Kb, md5-hash:16d8cf4b6bc65566cf4e57b4753822f3. A picture of a smaller block of static.
Both these files contain identical hidden text. On the Eyemage program, it should reveal a few lines of the alphabet & other text from the qwerty keyboard.

Links:
eyemage-file-test-2k-content.bmp Mediafire, http://www.mediafire.com/file/2mzdyrynzig/eyemage-file-test-2k-content.bmp

eyemage-file-test-2k-content.bmp Box.net, http://www.box.net/steganography/1/43429648/440359038

eyemage-file-test-noise-9k-content.bmp Mediafire, http://www.mediafire.com/file/dnglinz3mjj/eyemage-file-test-noise-9k-content.bmp

eyemage-file-test-noise-9k-content.bmp Box.net, http://www.box.net/steganography/1/43429648/440359048

eyemage-text-test-portrait.bmp Mediafire, http://www.mediafire.com/file/udyijukgtmz/eyemage-text-test-portrait.bmp

eyemage-text-test-portrait.bmp Box.net, http://www.box.net/steganography/1/43429648/440359090

eyemage-text-test-noise.bmp Mediafire, http://www.mediafire.com/file/nyehdzhmetj/eyemage-text-test-noise.bmp

eyemage-text-test-noise.bmp Box.net, http://www.box.net/steganography/1/43429648/440359064

App.Package:
eyemage.zip, Box.net, http://www.box.net/steganography/1/43429648/440359016
eyemage.zip, Mediafire, http://www.mediafire.com/file/mjqmdujdmgi/eyemage.zip

063 - jphs, jpeg hide & seek, test

2010-05-21T19:23:00.004-06:00

063 - - steganography series: simple apps to encrypt things from your little brother or sister. "jphs"(jpeg hide and seek) test

jphs for windows version 0.5 by Allan Latham

Jphswin.exe = the program

This program encrypts a file into an existing jpg file. The hidden file size limitation should be about
1/10th the size of the jpg!

To "decrypt" the test file "jphs-test1.jpg" (approx 21 Kb, md5-hash:d894f502137973ae0a2182e32fb054d4. This is a picture of a happy face on a blue background):

Step1. Click on "Open jpeg" button & then choose jphs-test1.jpg
Step2. Click "Seek" button. A pass phrase window appears. The pass phrase is "password".
Step3. Next, a save file dialog window appears. Save the file with an arbitrary name like jphs-content.gif. (You have to enter the extension.)

If the process is successful, you will have a resultant .gif file approximately 2 Kb in size, md5-hash:21b5afd61cdebbaf4491ee748e0c6762.

Links:
box.net "jphs-test1.jpg" http://www.box.net/steganography/1/43429648/440359102

mediafire "jphs-test1.jpg" http://www.mediafire.com/file/yzbuwmmdoyg/jphs-test1.jpg :

photobucket "jphs-test1.jpg": http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jcpma/20100521stegano/th_jphs-test1.jpg

tinypic "jphs-test1.jpg": http://i50.tinypic.com/1zvsikp.jpg

.
mediafire: App.Pkg: jphswin.zip archive http://www.mediafire.com/file/mvmqwjn32dg/jphswin.zip
box.net: App.Pkg: jphswin.zip archive http://www.box.net/steganography/1/43429648/440359180

062 - bmpPacker test

2010-05-06T20:09:00.006-06:00

062 - - steganography series: simple apps to encrypt things from your little brother or sister. "bmpPacker" test

bmpPacker version 1.2a

This app. encodes a file into a self-generated "noisy" bitmap (.bmp) file.
When you view the resultant .bmp image, it looks like "noise" or "video snow".
The program is bmpPacker.exe. There is an accompanying file called bmpPacker.cfg.

The test-file to decrypt is "bmpPacker-test.bmp" 4 Kb, md5-hash:722479e25226ec9fe5315957e3263d2f.

Step1. Open bmpPacker.exe; use these "options": "blowfish", and "ascii" mode.
Step2. Click the "Encode/Decode" button and open the file "bmpPacker-test.bmp". This is a picture of a narrow strip of static.
Step3. Type into the window the passphrase "password" into both fields. Press "OK".

If successful, you will find a resultant "rich text file" (bmpPacker-content.rtf 2 Kb, md5-hash:3b81b00cb2766ee69918437a2146b6fe).

Notes:
* The information for the name and extension of the hidden file is contained in the bitmap.
* The program provides a self-generated CRC32 checksum; This is somewhat considerate and reassuring.
* The password has to be at least 8 characters long.

The bitmap generated from this test, in this instance, looks like a dark horizontal line.

This originally was the bmp uploaded image to blogger.com ; [Don't use this one as Blogger automatically converts bmp files to jpg (bmpPacker-test.jpg) ! --similarly, Tinypic.com and Photobucket.com also converts .bmp files to .jpg files] ; Use the links below.

image link at mediafire.com (bmpPacker-test.bmp); this black line below is the bitmap:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/2jezmlznzhg/bmpPacker-test.bmp

image link at box.net (bmpPacker-test.bmp):
http://www.box.net/steganography/1/43429648/440358398

App.Pkg:

link to bmpPacker app package at mediafire (bmpPacker.zip):
http://www.mediafire.com/?c1ymmjm22zi

link to bmpPacker app package at box.net (bmpPacker.zip):
http://www.box.net/steganography/1/43429648/440359498

.
.

http://mediafire.com/jcpmamediafire
mediafire= jcpmamediafire~~A~~m
#$%%
http://box.net/steganography

061 - Equivalent

2010-05-03T21:23:00.002-06:00

061 - Equivalent

QAWBECRDTEY h!r19aNA equivalent
qawbecrdtey

| L A < H
n h * @ -

060 - My First Time at the VAG

2010-04-04T15:13:00.003-06:00

My First Time at the VAG

I'm so happy I went to the Vancouver Art Gallery by JCPMA 2010 Spring.
My first visit to VAG, the Vancouver Art Gallery was quite astounding. Here are some highlights. This grand building used to be a courthouse. The featured exhibit was the drawings of anatomy by Leonardo Da Vinci:"The Mechanics of Man". To appreciate his genius, I was fortunate enough to get a close look at his work. First the drawing paper. The paper has withstood centuries of aging, and is in excellent condition. Is this special, high grade paper available to the wealthy? or is it just generic paper that the masses used?
Leonardo made lengthy notations beside his drawings. I'm amazed yet not surprised at how tiny his writing font is. It is very ordered and aligned in a straight fashion as if a computer printer had spit it out. His writing code is totally alien; Is it backwards, reversed, upside-down, Italian, Latin? or all of the above? The ink is somewhat faded by time.
The drawings are so detailed that I would wager his anatomical knowledge would exceed if not rival most modern day physicians. Skin, Muscles, Tendons, Blood Vessels, Ligaments, Connective tissues et cetera. The quality is just so incredible. When Da Vinci put this collection together, his country's MRIs and CT Scanners and Ultrasounds where all in disrepair but being an impatient man he continued on. Can you imagine the amount of time and effort he spent on this? I cannot. Can you imagine the work required to go carefully through each layer of body tissue to accomplish his drawings? Can you imagine the stench that had to be endured in this project? I cannot.
The Renaissance Man reveals a bit of his engineering mind in his notation on the ankle area. Da Vinci remarks that due to the distances of the heel bone and the ball of the foot, the calf muscle(s) would need to support the weight equal to total body weight when one stands on their tiptoes. (Forgive me, this last sentence I'm writing is from memory & it may be worded incorrectly.)

Bonus 1: The exterior of the VAC is draped in a beautiful crimson floral fabric.

Bonus 2: Some of the undercard exhibits are related to the theme of anatomy and historical anatomy.
Bonus 3: Gorgeous First Nations sculptures and wall carvings on the supra-levels.
Bonus 4: There is a small wonderful painting of plant specimens in black and green; I looked at the description card. It turns out to be an Emily Carr piece (Aesthetics win!). I asked the staff if I could have it. They refused.
Bonus 5: There is a whale skeleton,... wait for it... made of lawn chairs! :)
Bonus 6: ,,, and much more.

LateEntry 2010.oct.08:
Can anyone help verify that the art draping the exterior of the Vancouver Art Gallery, this Spring as shown, is art by Vivienne Tam? I just want to make sure. Another blogger thinks so: http://twilightcupcake.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/olympic-mascots-on-ice/
It certainly looks like something she could pull off.

059 - Bangkok Dangerous

2009-07-21T21:11:00.003-06:00

059 - Bangkok Dangerous
Year: 2008
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Charlie Yeung
Director: Danny Pang, Oxide Pang Chun
Plot: A hitman becomes personable.
Rating: 4 stars

058 - Rush Hour 3

2009-07-21T20:57:00.002-06:00

058 - Rush Hour 3
Year: 2007
Stars: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker
Director: Brett Ratner
Plot: Police partners fight triads in Paris
Rating: 3 stars

057 - Alien vs. Predator: Requiem

2009-07-21T20:38:00.003-06:00

057 - Alien vs. Predator: Requiem
Year: 2007
Stars: Stephen Pasquale
Director: Greg and Colin Strause
Plot: An American town gets invaded by Aliens and Predator
Rating: 3.5 stars

056 - The Spirit

2009-07-21T20:23:00.002-06:00

056 - The Spirit
Year: 2008
Stars: Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Frank Miller
Plot: Superhero vs villian.
Rating: 2.5 stars

055 - Knowing

2009-07-21T20:19:00.003-06:00

055 - Knowing
Year: 2009
Stars: Nicolas Cage
Director: Alex Proyas
Plot: Precognition to avert disaster
Rating: 5 Stars

054 - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

2009-07-21T20:12:00.002-06:00

054 - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Year: 2008
Stars: Brendan Fraser, Jet Li
Director: Rob Cohen
Rating: 3 stars

053 - The Dark Knight

2009-07-21T20:06:00.003-06:00

053 - The Dark Knight
Year: 2008
Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger
Director: Christopher Nolan
Plot: Batman faces the Joker and Harvey Dent
Rating: 3 stars

052 - Pineapple Express

2009-07-21T20:03:00.003-06:00

052 - Pineapple Express
Year: 2008
Stars: Seth Rogan, James Franco
Director: David Gordon Green
Plot: Running from a drug lord
Rating: 4 stars

051 - Hancock

2009-07-21T19:49:00.003-06:00

051 - Hancock
Year: 2008
Stars: Will Smith, Charlize Theron
Director: Peter Berg
Plot: Superhero with negativity
Rating: 2.5 stars

050 - Live Free or Die Hard

2009-07-21T19:46:00.002-06:00

050 - Live Free or Die Hard
Year: 2oo7
Stars: Bruce Willis, Justin Long
Director: Len Wiseman
Plot: national terrorist.
Rating: 3 stars

049 - Two Lovers

2009-07-21T19:33:00.006-06:00

049 - Two Lovers
Year: 2008
Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow
Director: James Gray
Plot: love triangle; 2 paths
Rating: 4 stars

048 - Star Trek

2009-07-21T19:28:00.003-06:00

048 - Star Trek
Year:2009
Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto
Plot: revenge in an alternate time line
Rating: 5 stars

047 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

2009-07-21T19:11:00.003-06:00

047 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Year:2008
Stars: Brad Pitt
Director: David Fincher
Plot: aging unlike others
Rating: 4.5 stars

046 - Angels and Demons

2009-07-21T18:53:00.002-06:00

046 - Angels and Demons
Year: 2009
Stars: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor
Director: Ron Howard
Plot: Large Hadron Collider; blackmail; Vatican
Rating: 5 stars

045 - healthy stir fry fast food

2009-07-18T13:30:00.006-06:00

045 - healthy stir fry fast food

U-Grill (Metropolis)
312-4700 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC
Tel: 604-435-2320

This is probably the healthiest fast food stir fry you can get.
The uncooked food bar has fresh ingredients & you get choose what goes on your plate. This is always a busy stand and there are ample staff in the front in the back (to accomodate the business volume!). Service is acceptable, but it is inline with this assembly line type of operation. The price of your meal is based on the weight of your platter. It is competitive but if you are very hungry or very frugal, you may want to try another venue for that day. This certainly is a refreshing change from your mainstream food court places.

food 5 stars
service 3 stars
value 3 stars
ambiance 4 stars
overall rating ... 3.75 stars

http://www.dinehere.ca/restaurant.asp?r=4542#43811

044- Link List

2009-07-18T12:58:00.007-06:00

044 - Link List

The Link List (the Blogger gadget on the upper right hand side of this blog) contains some of these links/topics.

guestbook
photobucket
picasaweb
JianChomeshiMemoirs
RavinderChomeshi.blogspot.com

043 - Photos of "20090607bus" album

2009-07-16T14:59:00.004-06:00

043 Photos of "20090607bus" album

in Picasweb:

20090607bus

in Photobucket:

http://s556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jcpma/20090607bus/

There are links to more of my shared photos at Picasaweb and Photobucket on the Link List on the upper right hand corner of this blog.

042 - links to some classic/old TV shows

2009-07-02T20:34:00.003-06:00

links to some classic/old TV shows

Beyond Reason
http://archives.cbc.ca/science_technology/unexplained/clips/4344/

CBC game show with a paranormal twist

Broadcast Date: Feb. 21, 1977
Tapping in to the growing interest in the supernatural, CBC Television airs Beyond Reason, a psychic take on the hugely successful CBC game show Front Page Challenge. The panellists include an astrologer, graphologist and a clairvoyant. Armed only with a birth chart, a handwriting sample and a personal possession, the psychic panel tries to guess the identity of the hidden guests.

Mr. Dressup

The Beachcombers

The Friendly Giant

041 - La Viena Italian Restaurant

2009-07-02T20:33:00.003-06:00

La Viena Italian Restaurant

2139 Kensington NW Calgary
403 283 3063

june28

=============

Home Made Taste

One of the best kept secrets in Calgary.

Open for Lunch Tues to Fri.
Reservations strongly recommended for suppers.

Are you looking for down to earth Italian dining experience at affordable prices?
Do you enjoy home-made pasta, bread, desserts, & entrees?
This is the restaurant for you.

From the outside, it doesn't look like a restaurant. It looks like a convenience store, but appearances are deceiving. Once you cross the threshold the environment changes significantly. This is a cozy restaurant with a very thoughtful decor. Fresh flowers & simplicity make this a very pleasant family eatery. Service is delivered by very professional and patient servers.

I had a very rich Lobster bisque to start off with. Just the right menu item to go with the fresh/warm baked rolls. My entree consisted of Filet of Sole, with baby shrimp & a garlicky tomato sauce. This is served with side of potato & mushroom/garden pepper veggie medley. The bisque is very very rich and flavorful. I think it is one of the signature dishes, if it is not, it should be. Be fore-warned, this is a very filling soup. The entree was perfect. Appearance, smell, and flavour. It is a well balanced dish. The red sauce compliments the seafood perfectly with just the right amount of garlic. The veggies are seared and retain the garden crispness. The teramisu is another signature item. A delicate desert with light blend of flavours. This needs to be slowly enjoyed and each bite savoured.

Here's the breakdown:
.service 5
.food 5
.ambiance 4
.value 5
overall rating... 4.75

040 - earbud Surgery

2009-07-02T20:32:00.002-06:00

earbud surgery (ie, the headphones)

June28 2oo9

after months of sleeping with my earbuds on listening to mp3s, my left bud finally succumbed to mechanical damage. that is, the left wire bent so often that it finally torn inside its insulation resulting in periodic/frustrating audio pulsations.

i have repaired other earbuds before, but this one requires some surgery as the housing of the phone is sealed and has no user servicable parts. This earbud set is OEM. The casing of the miniature speaker is sealed shut in a plastic housing.

Being careful with my sharp pocket knife I proceeded to stab the perimeter of the plastic seal respecting the blade. 10 seconds before I broke the seal, I stabbed my left thumb just near the nail and broke the dermal seal. Evidently the red fluid indicator in my thumb seeped through to show that not enough respect was given to the blade. The plastic seal was broken shortly after. I removed 4-5 inches of the old wiring and soldered on the fresh exposed wiring. Glued the housing back together and 24 hours later I have a usable set of earbuds again.

Moral of this story:
When you force a hack/repair on a non-repairable item, you are at a great chance to injure your thumb!!

039 - Chinese Character Dictionary links 中文字典

2009-06-23T01:55:00.009-06:00

Chinese Character Dictionary links 中文字典

Maybe for about 1 year now, I have done my Chinese to English translations of Chinese characters with paper and electronic references.
One of the best paper dictionaries is the Oxford Chinese-English/English-Chinese dictionary. In the middle of this book is a character/radical table to help with the reverse translation.
On-line resources are speedier but they too require a knowledge of Chinese pronunciation, definition or characters to be useful. User input is by keyboard. Searching for the character or the building elements of the character was very (very) time consuming! I have always wondered why no-one has come up with a program where you would write with a stylus on a computer/electronic tablet, the Chinese character and then have the computer come up with the exact character and definition.

I used these resources painstakingly for years. When I got stuck/frustrated, I would resort to entering my query (usually in the form of an image/jpeg) in a forum often half a continent away and hope some merciful/friendly soul would assist me! ... that is until today.

I stumbled on this wonderful website, where not only can you find a character by: certain code, or meaning or pronuciation, but also by drawing. You click on the "brush" icon and use your mouse to "draw" the chinese character. It works very well. This is almost like getting a birthday present! (Note, your browser needs to have java abilities enabled.) The website is
http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=chardict

Links to other chinese character dictionaries etc:

Software:
dimsum mandarintools.com http://www.mandarintools.com/dimsum.html
hanzilookup http://kiang.org/jordan/software/hanzilookup/
firefox browser addon MandarinPopup https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/9931 __(other addons include PopupChinese, and Cantofish)
kanjibrowze http://www.stackz.com/KanjiBrowze/kbr.htm
njstar products http://www.njstar.com/
pablo http://ehaton.blogspot.com/2007/02/learning-chinese-pablo-my-personal.html
wakan http://wakan.manga.cz/ (this is the one I understand the most)

online translation sites:
google translate http://translate.google.com/
babelfish http://babelfish.yahoo.com/
PopupChinese Chinese characters to english: http://www.popupchinese.com/tools/adso

Online chinese character/radical dictionaries; Handwriting input:

chineselanguage.org http://www.chineselanguage.org/dictionaries/index.php?module=ccdict&lang=en
chinese-tools http://www.chinese-tools.com/tools/sinograms.html
chinese-tools http://www.chinese-tools.com/tools/mouse.html
kiang.org hanzidict http://kiang.org/jordan/software/hanzilookup/hanzidict.html
mandarin tools http://www.mandarintools.com/chardict.html
mdbg.net http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=chardict (click on the brush icon 畫筆 to enable handwriting input)

nciku http://www.nciku.com/
popupChinese single character dictionary http://www.popupchinese.com/words/dictionary
purpleculture.net http://www.purpleculture.net/Chinese-Handwritten-Input.asp
zhongwen http://www.zhongwen.com/zi.htm

Forum:
chineselanguage.org (this is not a typo) http://www.chinalanguage.com/forums/index.php?

Etymology of a single character:
chineseetymology.org http://www.chineseetymology.org/CharacterASP/EtymologyHome.aspx

Study tools:
chinese mac [study] http://www.yale.edu/chinesemac/pages/study_tools.htm l
stroke order Dylan Sung http://www.sungwh.freeserve.co.uk/sapienti/bihua.htm
stroke order wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke_order

.

038 - Pit Pub Burger Bar

2009-06-23T01:35:00.003-06:00

AMS Pit Pub Burger Bar is simple and solid!

This burger bar is located at UBC, at 6138 SUB Boulevard.
It is a big grill kitchen behind a small counter service window.
There are no frills, but the service is prompt and friendly.(80) [4 stars]
The burgers are 1/4 pound patties. Side orders are fries and chicken strips. They also have veggie burgers. Food Quality = 80 [4 stars]
Atmosphere = fast food/food court (80) [4 stars]
This is the type of place Fred Flintstone would go to. Simple. WYSIWYG.
Prices are competitive.(70) [3 stars]
Overall rating = .......%78 [3.75 stars]

http://www.dinehere.ca/restaurant.asp?r=5825#42763

037 - Moon Noodle Bar

2009-06-23T00:31:00.005-06:00

The Moon Noodle Bar is "a fresh taste"
http://www.amsubc.ca/index.php/businesses/category/the_moon

In the SUB UBC food court, next to the Pit Pub, this fast food chinese food/noodle bar provides good value & speed for lunch. I had fried noodles, green beans and beef with black bean sauce, and spicy tofu. The food quality earned 4 stars. One star was deducted because some of the noodles were chewy and rubber-like. (To be fair, perhaps this was just a one time thing).
Service & Ambience was inline for a fast-food place.
The menu had many items. You can also create your own combo as I did above. This place is a hidden gem. For authentic Chinese fast-food taste head toward the Moon Noodle Bar and stay away from the boring mainstream fast-food outlets.

food 4 stars
value 4 stars
ambience 3 stars
service 3 stars
Overall rating .... 3.5 stars

http://www.dinehere.ca/restaurant.asp?r=3286#42761

036 - a few shopping centres on No.3 Road in Richmond

2009-06-21T23:02:00.026-06:00

a few shopping centres on No.3 Road in Richmond

1. Richmond Centre is a classic mainstream shopping mall. The decor/atmosphere is vibrant.
(The Skytrain, Canada Line, at the time of this writing, has completed the track concrete foundation from the North next to Richmond Centre.)

2. North several blocks, and just west off of No.3 road, is the new location of XS Cargo.

A store, selling discounted and refurbished items.

3. Around the 4600 block on the west side of the road is The Real Canadian Superstore.

4. Across the street is Hon's Wun-Tun House restaurant.

5. Next to (North of) Hon's is Parker Place (百家店), an Asian retail mall.

Photo by Arnold C and Buchanan-Hermit
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parkerplace.jpg

6. Across the street northbound fom Parker Place is the Aberdeen Centre,
時代坊 another Asian mall.

Photo by Christopher Dewolf; cross reference with http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2007/03/08/gung-hay-fat-choy-notes-from-vancouver/

This mall has your typical Asian retail boutiques much like Parker Place. There is a neato food-court on the 3rd floor. Two stores caught my attention though.
--i) Daiso http://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/english/ is a Japanese version of a "dollar store". If you have 5 or 10 bucks burning a hole in your pocket, then, this is the store for you. Actually, not all of the (cra*), I mean goods, are a waste. There are many items which are practical. However, if you can't tell what a product is for and you can't read Japanese, then the best advice is not to buy it. Funny though, all these Japanese labeled goods are made in China. No surprise here as the cost of labour/manufacturing is lower.
--ii) Cube inc. is the other neat store. http://www.cubeinc-bc.com/ I am so mad at myself for not being able to come up with a retail concept like this store. It is a paradigm shift for me. This store is on the 3rd floor. It rents/leases clear plexiglass cubes to other retailers. The store staff have keys for each locked cube. When a customer sees an item he/she is interested in, the staff opens up the cube and sells them the item. All the proceeds go to the cube renter. The store itself just makes money on the rental fees. If you just have to see one store in Aberdeen Centre, make it this one.

7. President Plaza 統一廣場 is 1 block north on No.3 Road at Cambie Road.

Photo by Arnold C and Buchanan-Hermit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pres-ext1.jpg

-
It is comprised of retail and professional services including the 2 main companies T and T Supermarket 大統華超級市場, and the Radisson President Hotel.

8. North of President Plaza is the Yaohan Centre 八佰伴中心

Photo by SqueakyMarmot
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37804160@N00/285237963/

.
(These pics come from their website http://www.yaohancentre.com/) . This mall is best summarized as: "An Asian supermarket with an adjacent Asian food court beneath some small shops."
The supermarket here is called OSAKA Supermarket 大阪超級市場
It is a sister store of T n T Supermarket 大統華超級市場. It is a busy place. If you like Chinese/Asian fast-food, this is one the best place to go for variety.

9. North of the Yaohan is Canadian Tire near Capstan Way.

035 - Hon's Wun-Tun House Restaurant in Richmond

2009-06-21T20:55:00.013-06:00

Today I read some poor reviews of Hon's Wun-Tun House restaurant 漢記麵家 (http://www.hons.ca) in Richmond on the internet.

image source http://www.menunette.com/?q=node/3044 <-- click here for current menunette.com viewing

I have eaten there before, a long time ago, and I can't believe the poor reviews.

negative reviews:
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/180842/restaurant/Vancouver/Hons-Wun-Tun-House-Richmond-Richmond#
http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~crowley/restaurant.html
http://www.tasteof604.com/1/8/Default.aspx?dmdid=22&rid=13286
http://www.dinehere.ca/restaurant.asp?r=448
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/107507

positive reviews:
http://chowtimes.com/2007/09/10/hons-on-no-3-road-revisited/
http://www.yelp.ca/biz/hons-wun-tun-house-richmond

There were several statements about the poor quality of the food, the service and the hygeine.

So, armed with my bias, I went to Hon's today for lunch and I am happy to report I am 1 satisfied customer. I had the Wor Won Ton soup (ironically, the spelling on the menu, Won Ton, is different than the restaurant name, ie. Wun-Tun,). It is a well balanced dish with won ton, bbq pork and small bok choy.
It was filling and the price was reasonable. I would return there again.

One staff seated me promptly, and another quickly got me some tea. Another took my order. For the type of restaurant that Hon's is, the service is appropriate. It is a busy Hong Kong style type soup and noodle house and the staff need to be fast and efficient. I didn't find any rudeness at all.

Photo by Steve Portigal
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steveportigal/3289047158/

The washroom cleanliness was o.k. Certainly it gets a passing grade. I think the negative reviewers don't understand that it is a fast food environment and not a fine-dining venue.

food 4 stars
service 4 stars
value 4 stars
ambience 4 stars
Overall rating ... 4 stars
My grading of this eatery is... a Passing grade and then some: %80

(this review now posted at http://www.dinehere.ca/restaurant.asp?r=448#42762)

034 - Dyson Air Blade

2009-06-21T20:04:00.003-06:00

Dyson Air Blade hand dryer (from the maker of the vacuum cleaners?)
http://www.dyson.com/airblade/caen/

I seen 2 of these so far. The first one in Alberta (Calgary??) and the second one in Aberdeen Shopping Centre in Richmond B.C.

They dry your hands in 12 seconds, with unheated air at a speed of exceeding 640km/hr!

Before this I was impressed by the Xlerator.
http://www.exceldryer.com/products/xlerator.asp
This device claims to dry your hands in 10-15 seconds.

033 - my path in Lower BC June2009

2009-06-20T23:23:00.004-06:00

my path in Lower BC June 2009

June21 Sunday: Richmond | shopping along No.3 Road
June20 Saturday: Surrey | Central City & Guildford Shopping Centres
June19 Friday: ******* Wild Goose Chase day
June18 Thursday: Burnaby, rough one Vancouver
June17 Wednesday: New Westminster
June16 Tuesday: Vancouver | rsch
June15 Monday: Abbotsford, Langley, Vancouver

032 - Army & Navy Stores (Canada)

2009-06-20T23:22:00.011-06:00

Vancouver Army and Navy Store
photo from http://ryanchen-wing.com/2008/12/19/working-in-aunt-vs-yard-on-my-monday-in-vancity/

Army and Navy Stores (Canada) are still thriving in Canada!

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Army_%26_Navy_Stores_(Canada)&oldid=292276498

It was such a treat to discover an Army and Navy store in New Westminster. It is located next to the Burr Theatre.
For some reason, I assumed the last remaining store was the Calgary location. To my surprise, it appears there are six locations operating: Vancouver, New Westminster, Langley, Calgary, Edmonton South, an d Edmonton Londonderry Mall. http://www.armyandnavy.ca
--Photo by DennisSylvesterHurd
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennissylvesterhurd/3487397114/sizes/l/

.

This photo is from Christine R.
http://www.yelp.ca/biz/army-and-navy-department-store-ltd-new-westminster

Photo by JMV
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmv/2666242627/

The New Westminster store has traditional decor. It has 4 levels and a working escalator. Photo prints of vintage store locations are hung up throughout the store: Vancouver, Regina?, Moose-Jaw, Saskatoon and others. The interior orange and black store signs are new but they retained the classic font. ... what you call "Army and Navy" font.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilphotodevil/354244857/

Wikipedia says the location used to be an Eaton's store. There doesn't appear to be any Eaton's atmosphere at all. The shelving and color scheme and merchandising are classic Army and Navy.

Other Army and Navy links:
http://collectionscanada.ca/mailorder/029006-150.1-e.php?uid=029006&uidc=CollectionCd&sk=31&&&&PHPSESSID=kv7bg03hakugj2p6obu70p3p05

http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/exhibitions/cpm/catalog/cat2401e.shtml#1247636

http://www.axionet.com/bcreport/web/990913f.html

031 - Tower1 of Trays

2009-06-13T15:44:00.007-06:00

Tower1 of Trays
From Dec2008 to June2009
This is the first stack of trays that Steven and I built:

Here are the rest of the pics:
http://s556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jcpma/20090602vTrays/

030 - gasoline update 2009-06-09 final

2009-06-10T17:42:00.003-06:00

gasoline update 2009-06-09 (**final)

The last price change, a 2 cent decrease, happened on May 28 (twelve days ago).

↑ 3 cents| On 2009-06-19 I noticed the gas price at "Safe-way" and "Co-op" was increased 3 cents from
$ 0.969/Litre to $ 0.999/Litre

** note: this is the last gasoline price update for Calgary

029 - Puck Monster hand held electronic game by Gakken

2009-06-07T17:50:00.004-06:00

Puck Monster hand held electronic game by Gakken

This is the international version of the North.American table top electronic "Pac-man"

http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Gakken/Puck.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuxapYRrxEk

028 - the definition of WASP

2009-06-06T14:53:00.004-06:00

the definition of WASP

This posting is for my toy friend (grammar?) Outdoor Josh.
On an older radio broadcast of Terry O'Reilly's advertising program, The Age of Persuasion, the demographic term WASP was used. When I seen Josh I asked him if he knew what it meant. He thought it could mean White and Socially Priveleged, definitely not White and Sexy Person. I had taken some advertising classes in skool, but I forgotten what the term WASP stood for.

Josh was very close! Here is the term from dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wasp) :

WASP
/wɒsp/ Pronunciation [wosp] Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive.
–noun
1. a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant.
2. a member of the privileged, established white upper middle class in the U.S.
–adjective
3. Waspy.
Also, Wasp.

Origin:
1955–60

===

on Google book search (http://books.google.ca/books?id=0f5Grm_DkCoC&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=demographic+term+wasp&source=bl&ots=J3OF7ECVAk&sig=hLE2_mp4T6lUb7ZeAcCSlc1Dgq8&hl=en&ei=_9QqSq-EFY_ItAPjkZnvCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10#PPA61,M1)
Eric P Kaufmann's book Rethinking Ethnicity mentions the abbreviation: (page 61)
... White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) Americans ...

==

so there you have it. probably not the most politically-correct term as it may encompass elements of prejudice, racism & reverse racism.

027 - A woman missed her shark fin soup in Hong Kong 我要食魚翅呀

2009-05-31T17:31:00.005-06:00

A woman missed her shark fin soup in Hong Kong 我要食魚翅呀

ok i can't resist.
From a cbc radio broadcast (dnto), I learned of the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbVw7entkxg of the chinese woman who missed her flight on youtube. Here is a parody on youtube already: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYVfBpMUe4E

I clicked on a related link. And this is even funnier than the airport video. It is funnier because the adjacent customer is laughing, and then at the end of the clip she realizes this tantrum is being recorded.

This lady is having a tantrum because the restaurant ran out of soup!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im7W1AnDmgA ,

(i'm reading the comments on youtube; this sharkfin soup video could have been staged.)

026 - Inouk winter boots

2009-05-30T15:08:00.011-06:00

here is my bit on INOUK brand of winter boots

-

- I purchased these Inouk brand of winter boots in the early 1980's. I can't remember what store they were from, but I believe they are made in Canada! (Most shoes and clothes nowadays are made in China.) The retailer was either one of these: Woolco, Eatons, Sears, SAAN, MacLeods, Zellers, Kinney, Gallenkamp. I don't believe they were from Army & Navy's department store. My memory fails me.

Check out the neat logo that will be left in the snow by the sole of the boot:

These shoes were put into storage until Autumn of 2008. They were in pretty good shape (Canadian-made quality of course!) but I started wearing them again in a warehouse environment and they are scuffed up now.

The photos are here in Photobucket.com:
.

http://s556.photobucket.com/albums/ss4/jcpma/inouk-boots/
-
-

The only website that I found another pair of Inouk boots are here:
http://daggerdebs.blogspot.com/search?q=inouk

(Search engines also point to ebay.com, but the items' auction has already expired or the shoes have already been sold).

025 - gasoline update 2009-05-28

2009-05-30T15:07:00.001-06:00

gasoline update 2009-05-28

↓ 2 cents|on 2009-05-28 the gas price at "Co-op" and "Safeway" gas station was posted at
$ 0.969/Litre. This was a 2 cent decrease from May 20th's price of $0.989/Litre.

The last price change was a 7 cent increase 8 days ago (May 20th).

024 - gasoline update 2009-05-20

2009-05-22T17:30:00.002-06:00

gasoline update 2009-05-20

Two days after Victoria Day (Monday 2009-05-18) the price of gasoline went up at the pumps. (The last price changes happened on May 07th and May 15th.)

↑ 7 cents| On 2009-05-15 I noticed the gas price at "Safe-way" and "Co-op" was increased 7 cents from
$ 0.919/Litre to $ 0.989/Litre!

023 - gasoline update 2009-05-15

2009-05-17T17:02:00.003-06:00

gasoline update 2009-05-15 strange

Something strange happened today. The gasoline price went up and then back down. This morning, Friday, the radio announced gasoline prices were starting to increase in time for the Victoria Day long weekend. Sure enough, the price at Safeway and Co-op went up 4 cents (since the last increase 8 days ago on May 07th).

↑ 4 cents| On 2009-05-15 I noticed the gas price at "Safe-way" and "Co-op" was increased 4 cents from
$ 0.919/Litre to $ 0.959/Litre!

However, later on that same day, in the evening, the gas price went back down.

↓ 4 cents|on 2009-05-15 the gas price at "Co-op" and "Safeway" gas station was posted at
$ 0.919/Litre. This was a 2 cent decrease from this morning's price of $0.959/Litre.

This is strange.

022 - vcd rot

2009-05-08T17:43:00.006-06:00

vcd rot & Bruce Lee the Game of Death

I have a movie which I purchased on VCD format maybe 5 years ago? The complete movie is spanned over 2 cds. This is typical for a VCD movie.
Yesterday, I went to watch it but neither disc would play past 5 minutes. There were no scratches nor markings on the surface, but I could see abnormal/irregular concentric rings.
Perhaps this is a type of media disc rot.
Now I have to look for another copy. (note; my VHS copy is still good! and it is much older).

on a similar note
last month on you tube i looked at this fight sequence with Kareem Abdul Jabbar fighting bruceLee. :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGcQ0cGOG0U

ok. awesome;

last week i dig up my vcd of the movie. It wouldn't play. It has been victim if disc rot! (both discs).
so, next i dig up my archive vhs copy of the Game.of.death & it plays like a charm.

The producers edited the Kareem A-J fight totally different than the youtube link above. They spoiled it. The other thing they did wrong was putting at the end, the fight level was with Stieger (the guy with the walking stick). This should have been the proper sequence:

A. Steiger
B. Judo Guy
C. Dan Inosanto
D. Kareem

if you look around on Youtube you can find much lost/unused footage for the game of death. I just found some more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNvdSbMW_F8 ;this is the fight with Inosanto. look at the 2 extra fighters. There must also have been a change in the plot from the released version of the movie.

021 - gasoline update 2009-05-07

2009-05-08T17:40:00.002-06:00

gasoline update 2009-05-07

↑ 7 cents| On 2009-05-07 I noticed the gas price at "Safe-way" was increased 7 cents from
$ 0.849/Litre to $ 0.919/Litre!

020 - gasoline update 2009-04-26

2009-04-26T10:42:00.003-06:00

gasoline update 2009-04-26

↓ 2 cents| earlier this week 2009-04-22? the gas price at "Co-op" gas station was posted at
$ 0.849/Litre. This was a 2 cent decrease from $0.869/Litre.

019 - gasoline update 2009-04-20

2009-04-20T17:18:00.001-06:00

gasoline update 2009-04-20

(late posting, from memory):
↓ 2 cents| approx 2009-03-22 the gas price at "Co-op" gas station was posted at
$ 0.869/Litre. This was a 2 cent decrease from $0.889/Litre.

018 - gasoline update 2009-03-20

2009-03-20T17:12:00.005-06:00

gasoline update 2009-03-20

↓ 2 cents| 2009-03-16 the gas price at "Co-op" gas station was posted at
$ 0.839/Litre. This was a 2 cent decrease from $0.859/Litre.

↑ 5 cents| On 2009-03-19 I noticed the gas price at "Co-op" was increased 5 cents from
$ 0.839/Litre to $ 0.889/Litre. This happened 3 days after the last price change. (see above).

017 - energizer duo charger

2009-03-08T14:29:00.002-06:00

energizer duo charger

model CHUSB

purchased 2009

UsbCharger_setup_V1_1_1.exe = installer software for windows
software that lets you monitor charging progress from your
computer screen (this software is NOT portable)

Energizer_Charger_DriverAndTools(ppc_intel).sit = installer software
for the mac computer (same idea as above)

CHUSB_E_F_S.pdf = owners manual

nickel review:
*this charger is for NiMH batteries only.
*you can charge 1 or 2 batteries, either 1 AA or 2 AA cells,
or similarly, 1 AAA or 2 AAA cells.
*sometimes when charging 2 batteries, the green led flashes rapidly indicating
a bad battery. The way to get around this is either:
- remove the batteries and reinsert OR
- remove a battery and charge only 1 battery at a time in slot 1.
*this charger is small and allows charging by AC or usb port.

* i give this product a rating of 6 out of 10.
-it is handy & is of good value
-software needs to be installed and is not portable
-charging 2 cells sometimes results in a charging error

016 - gasoline update 2009-03-03

2009-03-08T14:26:00.004-06:00

gasoline update 2009-03-03

↓ 2 cents| On 2009-03-03 the gas price at "7-11" was posted at (the same as Safeway gas station)
$ 0.859/Litre. This 2 cent decrease happened 1 day after a 6 cent increase.

↑ 6 cents| On 2009-03-02 I noticed the gas price at "7-11" convenience store was increased from
$ 0.819/Litre to $ 0.879/Litre

Jcpma Blogger

115 - PrivySwap tutorial

114 - logging out of stumbleupon

113 - 4t HIT Mail Privacy LITE and Scrambled Egg

112 - Icon Spacing on Windows7 Starter

111 - Crypton tutorial

110 - Step 64 Text Encryption

109 - Newbie Windows 7 Starter netbook Backup and Restore

108 - Picture of Chica Umino

107 - Newbie Password Reset Disk Windows 7 Starter Netbook

106 - shortcut faster shutdown Windows 7 and XP

105 - Newbie Changes Desktop Color Windows 7 Starter Netbook

104 - Newbie Ten Tweaks Windows 7 Starter Netbook

103 - Warzone 2100 Manhattan Cheat Challenge

102 - 9 recovery options Windows 7 Starter netbook

101 - Life of an Averatec Laptop

100 - E-text tutorial

099 - My Windows7 laptop dies

098 - Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

097 - Star Wars: A New Hope

096 - Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

095 - Mai the Psychic Girl

094 - Hikaru No Go

093 - Color of Earth trilogy

092 - Real

091 - Imadoki Nowadays

090 - Ooku The Inner Chambers

089 - honey and clover

088 - drop.io disappears

087 - how to use yahoomail chinese

086 - vase jpeg6 tinypic

085 - optimal Nokia 2760 phone settings

084 - Nokia2760 security settings

083 - bluebox in your webpage

082 - Puff v 2 tutorial review

081- jpg+ filebinder tutorial and review

080 - audio recorder notes for the Nokia2760 phone

079 - camera notes for the Nokia2760

078 - Nokia 2760 cellular phone Bluetooth and Download notes

077 Stumble to a random site and Submit a site

076 - Three Apps to add album art to mp3 files

075 - AVP and AVPR

074 - Nokia 2760 User Guide Manual

073 - How to Restore your Portable Settings on Locate32

072 - Zback v. 2.20.b Review and Tips

071 - PaperBack v.1.0 review

070 - Back4Sure - ScreenShots Tips

069 - Initial Setup for Bluetooth Phone PC Data transfer

068 - Preferred Way of Dealing with Pictures on Blogger

067 - Toucan Backup Tutorial Pictures

066 - Dragon Fruit

065 - CamerayShy test

064 - EyeMage test

063 - jphs, jpeg hide & seek, test

062 - bmpPacker test

061 - Equivalent

060 - My First Time at the VAG

059 - Bangkok Dangerous

058 - Rush Hour 3

057 - Alien vs. Predator: Requiem

056 - The Spirit

055 - Knowing

054 - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

053 - The Dark Knight

052 - Pineapple Express

051 - Hancock

050 - Live Free or Die Hard

049 - Two Lovers

048 - Star Trek

047 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

046 - Angels and Demons

045 - healthy stir fry fast food

044- Link List

043 - Photos of "20090607bus" album

042 - links to some classic/old TV shows

041 - La Viena Italian Restaurant

040 - earbud Surgery

039 - Chinese Character Dictionary links 中 文 字 典

038 - Pit Pub Burger Bar

037 - Moon Noodle Bar

039 - Chinese Character Dictionary links 中文字典