November 2007 - Posts
There's a process that I run at work quite often that has to be run from a Command Prompt window. I found a quicker way to get to the Command Prompt by adding it to the Windows XP Explorer right-click context menu - I used Method #3, as I don't have Microsoft Powertoys or Send to Toys on my PC.
Edited to specify Windows XP - see comment below about Vista.
Last spring, I purchased a Graco infant car seat from Target.com as a baby shower gift for the daughter of a friend. I saw on NBC News the other night that there was a recall and I was going to follow-up on it.
Yesterday, I got an email from Target notifying me of the recall, listing all the affected model numbers with a toll-free number to call (1-800-345-4109) and a link to the Graco web site to order a replacement part to fix the problem.
This is a first for me - I can't ever remember a company being so proactive about a recall. Target gets 5 gold stars from me.
The bad news first - not only do I have a bone spur, but I also have a partially torn rotator cuff, torn cartilage and a cyst - the last two are most likely the result of waiting too long to go to the doctor.
This can all be taken care of with 1 day outpatient arthroscopic surgery. After the surgery, I will be on 4 weeks of "light duty", which means no driving. I can return to "full duty" after 12 weeks. Physical therapy starts one week after the surgery, for 11 weeks.
The good news is that the surgery can wait until January, so I can still provide promised coverage at work when everyone else is out for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas, and be available during our cut over to a new version of Peoplesoft HRMS. I can also take my annual New Year's trip to North Carolina to spend time with my parents.
Last night, I rebooted my Dell PC twice, once before applying this week's Microsoft Security Updates, and once after. Both times it booted up with C:\Program Files\Dell open on the desktop. I asked my fellow MVPs how to fix it and Malke Routh referred me to this article: Dell folder opens when logging on to Windows. I followed the instructions, rebooted and it worked. I rebooted again, just to be sure, and it was still working. Thanks, Malke!
I'm back. The MRI only took about 20 minutes and wasn't bad at all. Of course, I did keep my eyes closed the whole time. They gave me noise-canceling headphones to wear and also piped in music from Grey's Anatomy Season 1 (my choice).
It actually sounded like I was in a building that was being taken down by sledgehammers. If it weren't for the noise, it would have been a great opportunity to take a nap.
My doctor should get the results in two days
I happen to be home today - it's Veterans' Day - and Select Insurance just called again - this time the number was (508) 422-9661. Not only am I on the National Do Not Call Registry, but when Select Insurance called last week, I told them to put me on their Do not Call List. So I have filed a complaint with the National Do Not Call Registry.
This is step 2 in determining how extensive the surgery on my shoulder is going to be. I've never had an MRI before, so I don't know what to expect. I'm quite sure I'm not claustrophobic - I would think at my age I would know that, right?
Great news at the IEBlog:
Back in April 2006, we made a change to how Internet Explorer handled embedded controls used on some webpages. Some sites required users to “click to activate” before they could interact with the control. Microsoft has now licensed the technologies from Eolas, removing the “click to activate” requirement in Internet Explorer. Because of this, we're removing the “click to activate” behavior from Internet Explorer!
It’s important (and cool) to note that this change will require no modifications to existing webpages, and no new actions for developers creating new pages. We are simply reverting to the old behavior. Once Internet Explorer is updated, all pages that currently require “click to activate” will no longer require the control to be activated. They’ll just work.
So you’re probably wondering when we are going to release this update? The first chance will be with an optional preview release, called the Internet Explorer Automatic Component Activation Preview, available in December 2007 via the Microsoft Download Center. Additionally this change will be made part of the next pre-release versions of Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP SP3. After giving people enough time to prepare for this change, we’ll roll this behavior into the IE Cumulative Update in April 2008, and all customers who install the update will get the change.
More at the source.
The fix that worked for me has two parts:
1. Bring up your remote site in IE 7. Then go to Tools > Internet Options > Security > Trusted Sites > Sites and Add your site to the list. Then Close > Apply > OK. You may need to restart IE 7 for this to take effect.
2. In IE 7, Tools > Internet Options > Security > Trusted Sites > Custom Level > User Authentication > Logon > Automatic logon with current Username and password and then OK your way back out.
Last fall, I was contacted by SupportSpace, a startup company in Israel. They had a new idea for providing tech support to computer users in the US and wanted to know if I was interested in being part of it. I was, and over the last year, have been involved with them, helping to set their direction and alpha test their new platform for offering online real-time tech support.
The concept was great - the execution is even better. The SupportSpace community of independent technology experts specializes in various areas of expertise including PCs, peripherals, networking, security and a wide range applications and online services. Customers can choose from a variety of experts based on availability, price, specialty, and customer ratings and reviews. All experts are certified by SupportSpace, and are given their certification based on their technical knowledge, service and communication skills, and a complete background check.
Support is provided in real-time chat, remote desktop assistance and/or by phone. If you are tired of playing email tag or waiting on hold for hours with your hardware or software providers, this really is the way to go. Whether it's a problem with your PC, your scanner, camera or printer, you really should check out the 24/7 support available at SupportSpace.
"SupportSpace is a new type of technology service company that originated because we felt the pain that consumers experienced from traditional tech support, and we have created a way for consumers to get the help they needed, when they wanted, from the best tech support experts in the country," said Yair Grindlinger, Chief Executive Officer of SupportSpace. "As part of a continuing commitment to educate consumers and engage them with the technology that shapes their daily lives, we offer a completely new and different kind of service community where consumers can get the information they want and the help they need from experts offering personal attention, world-class expertise and an exceptional customer service."
From November 1 through December 15, SupportSpace is offering one free session to new users to come and experience SupportSpace.
For the last few months, I've been seeing "Insurance Select" (1-508-458-0203) on my Caller ID. They never left a message, so I didn't think much of it. Actually I thought they might be a bill collector after my daughter, but that's a whole other story. Tonight I got a call from "Out of Area" - the number was 1-213-537-1391. I usually don't answer the phone when I don't know who's calling, but tonight I picked it up.
It was Select Insurance.
First the woman wanted to make it clear they weren't trying to sell me anything - good thing, because I am on the Federal Do Not Call List.
She wanted to know if I was the person in the household responsible for paying for health insurance premiums. I said I was. Then they went on to name the company I have my health insurance with. I went "Wait a minute - how do you know that? Who are you? Where did you get that information?"
She turned me over to her supervisor. He said again, we are not to sell you anything - you do have your health insurance with Company XXX, right?
I said, in this order: take my information our of your files and put me on your Do Not Call list (in addition to the Federal List, each company is supposed to keep their own list and put you on their list if your request it).
So who is Select Insurance and how did they get my personal information?
Google doesn't give me much to go on, although the 213-537-1391 phone number does show up on some sites where people report annoying phone calls.
I was cleaning house over the weekend and guess what turned up? Actually hidden behind some boxes I hadn't moved in a while. Yup, the Mio Digiwalker that I thought I'd lost. Since I'd already replaced it with a Garmin nuvi 660, I gave the Mio to my daughter. That was actually my plan when I bought the Mio. I intentionally bought a low-end model - I'd never used a GPS before and didn't want to spend a lot of money if I wasn't going to get any use out of it. My rationale was that if I did use it, I would give it to my daughter and replace it with something that had more features. Funny how things work out.
In July, I started feeling pain in my left shoulder when I raised my arm. I didn't think much of it and thought it would go away by itself. I think everyone thinks that at first, when something starts to go wrong with your body. I was secretly attributing it to old age and/or arthritis. Well, it didn't go away; in fact, it got worse. You'd be amazed at the number of things you do every day that require you to lift your arms, or even just use your shoulder. I finally went to the doctor last Wednesday, and he suspected a torn rotator cuff. He referred me to an orthopedic surgeon and I had that appointment today. They took x-rays, which showed a bone spur on the shoulder bone that is over the rotator cuff. Evidently I was born with it and I have no idea why it's just starting to cause a problem now. So, there's definitely surgery coming, but before that I need to have an MRI to see how much damage, if any, the bone spur has inflicted on the rotator cuff. If it's bad, they will do rotator cuff surgery at the same time. Hopefully the MRI will be scheduled this week and then I'll know how long the recovery period is going to be.
For the last few months, I've been using the Sprint Phone-As-Modem plan, but I've not been happy with it for a few reasons - the speed is not that great, I can't seem to keep myself under the 40MB limit (for $39.99) and I can't make or receive calls on my phone while I'm using it as a modem. Today I went to the Sprint store and bought the Merlin™ EX720 by Novatel Wireless and signed a two year contract and got unlimited for $59.99 a month. Got home, installed the software, put it in the card - and it's not the right one. I have a Sony Vaio VGN-TX650P/B notebook - the little one - and I assumed that because it's so small that it took an Express Card. Wrong. So it's back to the store tomorrow to exchange it for a PCMCIA card. There is some good news, though - the PCMCIA cards are cheaper, so I'll get a bit of a refund.
... For starters, the way IE mobile reports itself has changed in a big way. No longer are we reporting an old agent string of MSIE 4.01. Now we’re MSIE 6.0. This is a good thing in that the old browser agent string actually prevented devices from accessing some newer sites that required current browsers. IE Mobile has added a lot of new capabilities and we needed to report a newer browser version to move it forward. The agent string also makes a big difference if your web site renders content differently based on the client agent (e.g. – full page for desktop browser, simple page for a Smartphone). If you used to detect a Windows Mobile device by looking for MSIE 4.01 and PPC/Smartphone in the agent string—you’ll need to update it to look for IEMobile instead.
Read more at the source.