June 2008 Archives

Yesterday I received an email from a friend asking if I could play an mp3 that his computer had disabled. It was Rex Hunt going off at a cricket match and it played perfectly. I zipped it up and returned it by email to my friend.

Later, when I was in Firefox, I noticed that YouTube videos were taking an extraordinarily long time to load, as did web pages. I fired up System Explorer, a brilliant program for information about Tasks, Processes, Startups, IE Addons, Uninstallers, Windows, Services, Drivers, Connections and Opened Files, to check what I had running that shouldn't have been. System Explorer lets you check running files online at Virus Total to analyse them, and I found a file called svghost.exe that got the thumbs down from 11 of the 33 virus checkers they use.

Removing it was quite easy, just stop the process and delete the file. While searching for the file I came across a couple of other suspicious looking file called msupdte.exe and 17PHolmes1749.exe. I searched online for references to them and discovered they were associated with a rootkit virus, and the site recommended downloading a little program called SDFix to check system files in safe mode, which I did, and after a couple of hours of running various virus and trojan checkers I got a clean computer again.

Videos still wouldn't work though and I read that using MS Update would solve the problem, and after updating it did. Everything is now back to normal.

I'm running Spyware Doctor with built-in anti-virus on it's own now after AVG8 warned me about installing it with another anti-virus program installed. I should have ignored the warning and ran them both, because looks like the "Doc" missed this one.

It was bitterly cold at football again today but the Under 13s had a fantastic win against Gundagai, 52 - 0. Alex played fullback and scored a try today too. He was in the play alot today and I thought he was away earlier in the game, he was running for his life in front of the pack but got pulled down. Good effort though.

After football we went to Wagga to buy Riley his toybox and a birthday present for Zeke. Lauren had organised a party for 2 pm so we didn't have much time for browsing. Alex picked a pair of over-sized "The Hulk" boxing gloves that made a roaring sound when you hit something for Zeke. He was thrilled when he got them and all his other presents were forgotten while he ran around after the other kids.

The house was full of kids and their parents, Daniel's mum and sister, friends and family. We were getting hungry too by the time we got there and Lauren had little party pies and sausage rolls that didn't last long. Lauren made two excellent-looking cakes that tasted as good as they looked.

Zeke is a "Thomas the Tank" nut at the moment so his cake had Thomas on the top. Riley is Lauren's Riley Bear so his was a bear covered with coco pops.
 

Carly and Scarlett.
 

Daniel with Zeke. It's Zeke's birthday on Tuesday.
 

Riley turned one on Monday and he loved his party.
 

It was 2 years ago today that Graham died and I remembered him tonight with a few songs that he loved to listen to. Lauren and I had a bit of a chat about it today, but I'm glad I had the birthday party to go to because my new word for the day would have been maudlin.

I have a music collection on my computer that is in excess of 30 GB and tonight I discovered a way to access it from anywhere. Orb streams songs straight from your PC to nearly any Internet-connected device -- including some mobile phones. This free service turns your PC into a media server, streaming not only songs, but also video, photos, and even TV, to just about any Web-connected device. That means you can tap your music library from your work PC, your Palm Centro, your Nintendo Wii, or your iPhone -- to name just a few of the supported gadgets. Orb is also compatible with all major gaming consoles -- the Wii, PS3 and Xbox -- so you can now enjoy your media on your TV screen as well!

The Orb software client requires Windows XP or later and a broadband Internet connection. (If you want to add TV to the streaming mix, you'll need a TV tuner as well -- check Orb's FAQ page for a list of supported models.)

Once Orb is installed, configure the software to monitor the system folders containing your music (and, if desired, photos and videos). The software will also help you sign up for an Orb account, which requires nothing more than a user name, a password, and an e-mail address.

With the Orb client up and running, you're ready to stream. The hitch, of course, is that you'll need to leave your computer on at all times. To listen to your tunes, fire up the Web browser on the device you're using and then head over to mycast.orb.com.

When you install the software and create your account, your content is indexed on your personal Orb page. It is then accessible anywhere that has an Internet connection; you simply log in and access your files. After downloading the software, it took about half and hour for my whole collection to be available online. Orb even lets you invite friends to share your collection and you can blog on the site. A very cool tool indeed!

I downloaded Firefox today and sent an email to all staff recommending they do the same. The Mozilla site was labouring under the demand from users and it took two attempts to download. At around 2pm there had been around 2 million downloads. At 6 pm the figure had passed 5 million, and at 8 pm another 600,000 had downloaded Firefox. I think Mozilla were hoping for 5 million and they easily got there. I'd say that's a record that will be hard to beat.

Work was crazy for the last couple of days. We've got a tree planting project in the works and it's aimed at people who have larger-than-normal blocks on the outskirts of town. Junee has a salinity problem and the tree planting is aimed at reducing the problem. I had to come up with a mailing list of all the property owners, and using our mapping software and lots of patience we got all the letters sent out late this afternoon. It's business paper week as well this week and our Planning Department had more reports than usual for the monthly Council meeting so it's been pretty hectic. This afternoon I managed to catch up a bit and the pressure should be off for the rest of the week.

Carly and I went along to a Body Balance class at the gym tonight, and I feel totally s.t.r.e.t.c.h.e.d...... I enjoy the class. It's hard work and muscles are stretched to the limit but they end the class with a very relaxing wind-down. You listen to gentle music with a lavender-filled bag over you eyes, and the smell and the music is very soothing. Alex spent the time at the skate park but beat us home. It's cold out.

My youngest grandson turned one yesterday and we went to Wagga after work to wish him a happy birthday. He got lots of new clothes and toys and seemed to find great delight in the ribbon that wrapped his present. We were only there half an hour and he was crashed out spread eagle on his back, exhausted with all the excitement of the day.

Emily and Kai arrived with Scarlett the same time we did. Em's looking very pregnant with still 2 months to go. We had fish and chips for tea, a nice easy meal with no cleaning up. Zeke is 3 next Tuesday so they're having a combined party next Saturday.

Mark your calendar, wrap a ribbon around your finger or write a little sticky yellow note. Download Day will start on June 17, 2008.

Did you know?
The number of poisoned web sites is increasing.
1 in 1000 web pages are infected with malicious drive-by downloads.
source IDG News

For the last two days I've been sick and haven't gone to work. It's cold and raining and snowing above 1500 metres so I'm not sorry that I'm here in front of the heater instead of being at work.

Image via WikipediaAlex is home today too. He's had headaches every day this week. Bad ones that a panadol doesn't fix. I remember when I was his age I used to get them too. I think it's probably a puberty thing, though if he gets too bad I'll take him to the doctor. We're both home and feeling miserable but he's hassling me to go to Wagga to pick up his bike wheel that we left at the shop last weekend. If we don't go today it might be another week before we can get it. He re-spoked his back wheel but it ended up with a buckle, and the guys in the shop said they would have to redo it. Tomorrow the football is at 12 and the bike shop closes at 1 so we couldn't go after the game. As much as I don't want to go, I guess I'll have to.

I've been a slacko with the gym this week. Monday was a public holiday and I haven't been feeling well so I dragged out my workout machine and got into it on Wednesday night. I'd forgotten what a tough workout it gives you. It's mainly leg work with lots of stomach crunches. What I need! Tonight the social club from work are all going out to the Illabo Hotel for drinks and a meal. They've organised a bus to take everyone there and home but I gave my apologies this morning. I'm not feeling up to it and I know that on Monday I'm going to keep hearing about how good it was and how I should have gone. There'll be other nights...

Okay, it's now 3.30 and we went over to Wagga, only to be told that the rim wasn't done yet. They've had it for a week for God's sake! I was quite angry but could do little about it except to go back early tomorrow morning before football. Not impressed at all, especially with petrol so high at the moment, I could have done without another trip to Wagga.

Remember...
If one is lucky...
a single fantasy can totally transform a million realities.
Maya Angelou

The Queen's Birthday weekend was traditionally celebrated with "cracker night" on Saturday nights, but the tradition has dwindled since the laws around permits came in. Over the weekend we've seen many fireworks going off around Junee, and only one lasted any great length of time. Most are hit and miss affairs, with people running out to set of a couple of crackers and run back inside waiting to see if they get caught, then running out and doing it again. It was no different here last night when around midnight, Alex and his mate Jake disappeared and then followed the noise of a few bungers going off. They came back in laughing and carrying on. I've had fireworks in the cupboard for a couple of years and wouldn't give Alex the lighter to let any off. He found the matches instead.

Alex, Jake and I went to Wagga last night and had tea at Golden Seasons, an eat-all-you-can restaurant, before going to the movies to watch Iron Man. It was a great film and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Robert Downey Jr plays the lead role of a wealthy industrialist who is forced to build an armoured suit after a life-threatening incident, he ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil. In this case, Jeff Bridges is the evil opponent, and I had a hard time recognising him. Bald and big, and sporting a big beard, it took me a moment to work out who he was. Of course, the kids didn't care who he was, he was just one of the bad guys. The technology in the film is incredible, with all these robotic helpers aiding Downey to build his suit. I was in awe of the computer equipment he had. Really worth watching.

We called up to Lauren's before the movie and poor Lauren is sick with the flu and was in bed. The boys were fine though, and Alex and Jake played with Zeke and Riley for an hour. Riley is taking a few steps and standing up without the aid of anything. His birthday is next Monday so I'd best pull my finger out and look for that toy box he wants. We're back to normal next weekend with both Carly and Alex playing footy, and I'm hoping they're home games.

It's Friday night and we have a long weekend to look forward to with no sport this weekend and no plans for anything special. The holiday on Monday is to celebrate the Queen's birthday, but I'm pretty sure her birthday is in April. This June weekend was originally to celebrate King George's birthday, Elizabeth's father. It must suit us better here in Australia to have a long weekend in June. It certainly suits me.

Tonight I did a pump class at the gym and I just know that by Sunday I'm going to be stiff and sore. Pump is the most punishing of the classes I do and tonight I used a heavier weight that last time I went. I had to ease up a couple of times because my arms were shaking with the effort, and so were my legs with the lunges. It's been a few weeks now that I've been going to the gym, but I'm still very unfit. I just keep thinking, no pain no gain.

Carly has a friend sleeping tonight and Alex is once again pulling his bike apart in the lounge room. He's a bit like me with computers, but for him it's bikes. He's swapping his back rim and plans on having alternating silver and black spokes. To be 13 again eh?

I've been slack with the camera lately and haven't got any new photos to upload. I'll try and remedy that this weekend. Lauren has managed to wrangle a long weekend instead of working, so I imagine we'll do some family thing one day. The grandchildren have all got birthdays coming up: Riley will be 1 on June 16, Zeke is turning 3 on June 24, and Scarlett will be 1 on August 26. Both Riley and Scarlett have taken a couple of steps each too, so very soon they'll be running all over the place. They grow up so quickly. Number 4 grandchild will be along very soon too.

During the week Alex played football in Wagga for the school and had his footy stolen. Apparently two other had theirs stolen as well. Needless to say I was not impressed. This is the third football that Alex has either lost or had stolen in the last 2 years. The high school team won the first game and played a hard-fought game in the second round. Alex had football training on Thursday night after being in Wagga all day and was bruised and sore.

Yesterday we drove to Young for the football and the Under 13s went down again. Alex played full-back and did more running in the game than ever before. Young has a couple of representative players that make a real difference to their side, and most of our boys had convinced themselves before the game that they wouldn't win. It was a disappointing 14-24 loss.

Carly didn't play League Tag this weekend because Cootamundra doesn't have a girls team. With petrol prices continuing to rise I'm not sorry we didn't have to go to Coota. With her playing on a Sunday and Alex on a Saturday I'm doing twice the driving around.