spiderwebwoman : Miscellaneous

Looking for a new home for “Baby”

Kathleen Anderson — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:38:56 GMT

I recently relocated from Connecticut to North Carolina, and left my daughter’s cat, Baby, in a kennel in Middletown, CT, with the understanding that my daughter would be picking her up in the middle of December. My daughter’s plans and living arrangements have changed, and she is not able to take her.

Baby is a female domestic short hair, neutered and up-to-date with her shots. She is 7 years old. She was an indoor cat while we had her, but she has her claws, so you could let her go outside if you wanted to.

You can also tell by the picture below she’s a total Geek :-)

If you think you might be interested in meeting Baby, please send me an email and I will let you know where she is and let the kennel know you are coming.

Thank you.

How to install an .iso file

Kathleen Anderson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:15:25 GMT

I’ve always been very confused by the instructions I’ve found on how to install a program from a .iso file. Some instructions say you need to burn the file to a CD/DVD before you can install it; others say you need to use a program called ISOBuster; others talk about mounting the .iso image so you can access the contents through a virtual drive letter. For some reason, I have a mental block when it comes to all of this – I needed step-by-step hold-my-hand instructions. Thanks to Christoph Schneegans, Microsoft MVP for Expression Web, I now have them and they worked like a charm!

He recommended a program called 7-Zip.

Download 7-Zip from <http://www.7-zip.org/download.html> and install it. I used the 32-bit Windows version.
Right-click the .iso file and choose "7-Zip > Extract Here".
Run setup.exe.

Easy-peasy and no need to use a DVD.

Thanks, Christoph!

Now that's what I'm talkin' about

Kathleen Anderson — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:47:37 GMT

Transition advisers to President-elect Barack Obama have compiled a list of about 200 Bush administration actions and executive orders that could be swiftly undone to reverse the president on climate change, stem cell research, reproductive rights and other issues, according to congressional Democrats, campaign aides and experts working with the transition team.

A team of four dozen advisers, working for months in virtual solitude, set out to identify regulatory and policy changes Obama could implement soon after his inauguration. The team is now consulting with liberal advocacy groups, Capitol Hill staffers and potential agency chiefs to prioritize those they regard as the most onerous or ideologically offensive, said a top transition official who was not permitted to speak on the record about the inner workings of the transition.

The article specifically states that Obama administration officials will look most particularly at measures that were imposed for "overtly political" reasons.

More at: Daily Kos: Our long national nightmare is over

November 5, 2008

Kathleen Anderson — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:57:08 GMT

More at: November 5, 2008 - Bob Englehart | Englehart's View

History

Kathleen Anderson — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:34:25 GMT

I Voted

Kathleen Anderson — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:14:18 GMT

Another MRI - more surgery soon?

Kathleen Anderson — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:05:12 GMT

For the last few months I've had pain in my left knee when I walk upstairs - and living in a 3 level condo, I do a lot of stairs. My doctor sent me for an MRI, which I had today. He thinks there may be some cartilage that needs to be removed. I should find out Friday. Fortunately, the surgery and recovery will not be nearly as bad as the Rotator Cuff surgery I had in January - he said I'd be back on my feet in two days and back at work within a week.

Hot Garlic Clam Dip

Kathleen Anderson — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:46:14 GMT

I've been to a few picnics this summer and brought a Hot Garlic Clam Dip - so many people have asked for the recipe that I thought I would blog it and just pass out the link when asked. So here it is:

Hot Garlic Clam Dip

2 cans minced clams (do not drain the juice)

1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

2 sticks butter – cut up

1/8 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. oregano

½ tsp. parsley flakes

Parmesan cheese

Put cut up butter in glass dish

Pour clams over butter

Sprinkle seasonings over top

Sprinkle bread crumbs over top

Sprinkle cheese over top

Bake uncovered at 350 until it bubbles (usually about 30 minutes)

Serve with Roasted Garlic Triscuits

Hotmail will continue to work with Outlook Express - for now

Kathleen Anderson — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:13:12 GMT

Last month, I posted about Microsoft's plan to disable the ability of Hotmail users to use Outlook Express to download their email. Today, we heard this:

Recently, many customers received notification regarding Microsoft’s plan to disable the DAV protocol, which allows you to access your Windows Live Hotmail inbox from Outlook Express. From the feedback we received, it became clear that you needed additional time to evaluate alternative solutions and with this in mind, we are postponing the transition deadline previously announced. This means that you will continue to be able to access your Windows Live Hotmail accounts from Outlook Express beyond the June 30 transition deadline.

Link: Windows Live Hotmail Technical Support Blog: Responding to Customer Feedback – Disabling DAV

So where have I been and where am I going?

Kathleen Anderson — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 01:07:27 GMT

I know I've been slacking off here lately. Between working on a project that is launching next week and getting back to work full time after my rotator cuff surgery, I haven't spent much time here. And tomorrow I am leaving for the 2008 MVP Global Summit.

I was planning on leaving this morning, but my flight from Chicago was on an American Airlines MD-80 - you know where this is going, right? I have been rebooked to leave tomorrow afternoon, connecting in St. Louis and taking a Boeing 757 to Seattle. With any luck, I will be on my way there this time tomorrow night.

Check back here next week for a launch announcement and reports from the Summit!

Zappos shipping - a well-deserved rave

Kathleen Anderson — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:05:42 GMT

Zappos has been getting some buzz lately in the blogosphere for their shipping policy, which has always been great. Free is always great, right? Yesterday, I placed an order at Zappos.com for 3 pairs of sandals and chose free standard shipping, which is 4-5 business days. It's still winter - I can wait 4-5 business days for sandals.

Today I got another email from Zappos:

Good news!

Although you originally ordered Standard (4 to 5 business days) shipping and handling, we have given your order special priority processing in our warehouse and are upgrading the shipping and delivery time frame for your order.

Your order will ship out Monday, March 3rd 2008 and be given a special priority shipping status so that you can receive your order even faster than we originally promised!

Wow. What a great way to keep me loyal as a customer!

Did you know we set our clocks ahead on March 9th?

Kathleen Anderson — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:24:12 GMT

It's going to be nice to have the extra hour of sunlight at the end of the day, when we can really enjoy it, but it's going to suck to be driving to work in the dark again.

Lawsuit targets Network Solutions, ICANN over the 'front running' of domain names

Kathleen Anderson — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:04:01 GMT

This one was as predictable as lawsuits ever get: A Los Angeles firm this afternoon has announced a class action against Network Solutions and ICANN over the former's practice of locking up domain names as soon as they are searched for on its site, which means the party searching can buy the name only from Network Solutions.

The practice has been highly controversial and now lawyers at Kabateck Brown Kellner are tossing around words such as "defraud" and "scheme." They're also suing ICANN for failing to stop what is known in the industry as "front running."

From the press release:

Network Solutions has forced millions of people to buy Internet domain names from them instead of cheaper competitors through a scheme that's netted the firm millions of dollars, a federal class action lawsuit filed today by Kabateck Brown Kellner, LLP states. ICANN, whose policies facilitate the scheme, is also named in the suit, filed in U.S. District Court, Central District of California.

Lawsuit targets Network Solutions, ICANN over the 'front running' of domain names | NetworkWorld.com Community

Network Solutions Defends Holding Domains Hostage - Still apparently a security 'feature', not anti-competitive endeavor... - dslreports.com

Kathleen Anderson — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:23:00 GMT

If you recall, back in January Network Solutions found themselves under fire for purchasing and holding certain domains for five days after they're searched for at the company's website. The tactic allowed the provider to keep shoppers from doing business elsewhere. At the time, Jonathon Nevett, Vice President of Policy at Network Solutions, issued a statement saying that the practice wasn't anti-competitive -- it was a security feature:
...we have implemented a security measure to protect our customers. The measure will kick in when a customer searches for an available domain name at our website, but decides not to purchase the name immediately after conducting the search...You are correct that we are trying to take an arrow out of the quiver of the tasters. As you know, domain tasters are the largest Front Runners. [...] Some folks may not agree with our approach, but we are trying to prevent this malicious activity from impacting our customers.
ICANN's Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) recently investigated a number of front-running complaints, and found more often than not, the complainants generally misundertsood the domain business. While SSAC did not formally investigate Network Solutions, they did have a chat with Nevett (see this transcript, about halfway down), who continues to defend the practice as their response to front-running.

Network Solutions Defends Holding Domains Hostage - Still apparently a security 'feature', not anti-competitive endeavor... - dslreports.com

Need a new cordless landline phone - any recommendations?

Kathleen Anderson — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:23:46 GMT

In addition to the normal features, here's what else I need:

Multi Line is OK
Cordless handset
CallerID & Call Waiting
Speakerphone on the base is required; Speakerphone on the handset would be nice
Voice Mail compatible (no answering machine)
Ability to plug a corded headset into both the base and the cordless handset
CallerID screen on the handset and the base
Ability to see on the handset and the base the last 10 or so numbers that I called out and redial them

Physical Therapy - how can anything that hurts so bad be good for you?

Kathleen Anderson — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:50:55 GMT

The bandages are off, the stitches are out, and I've weaned myself off the meds - well, not really. I didn't take much of the heavy duty stuff after the first 48 hours.

I started Physical Therapy last Friday and today had my fourth session. So far, the Therapist has me doing a set of 7 exercises during the session, and doing them once or twice a day at home. She's recommending to the doctor that I continue PT for another four weeks. I see the doctor on Monday and hopefully will get from him a return-to-work date.

I have reached the point where I'm glad I had this done. With assistance from the PT I can now put my arm up over my head with less pain that I was experiencing before the surgery. I am still not allowed to do it by myself, though. That will come in time.

United to charge $25 for extra luggage on domestic flights

Kathleen Anderson — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:07:00 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) -- United Airlines will start charging domestic passengers $25 to check in a second piece of luggage if they are not part of its most-frequent-flier programs, the airline said Monday.

United to charge $25 for extra luggage on domestic flights - Feb. 4, 2008

Looking for a blog software/platform recommendation

Kathleen Anderson — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:25:00 GMT

I have a client who is ready to start blogging and we are looking for some recommendations. She would prefer it if it could be hosted on her existing site which is running on Microsoft-IIS on Windows 2000 (we manage the site with FrontPage). She would like the URL to be either www.domain.com/blog or www.blog.domain.com

We are not sure what her current host VIA net.works offers or supports - I've written to them but haven't heard back yet.

She also looking for a CAPTCHA based commenting system, but if that doesn't work, she'd like the ability to switch to comments moderation - I'm not sure that's possible, but I told her I would look.

Her other request it that it be customizable with respect to the colors and font, so it looks as much like her existing site as possible.

Price wise, she's looking for anything from free up to $15.00 a month.

Do you have any recommendations and or examples we could look at?

Edit: I should also mention that this customer is a nonprofit organization as described by Section 501 (c)3.

Posting with Windows Live Writer Feed Insert Plugin

Kathleen Anderson — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:28:04 GMT

Josh Legard has written a Windows Live Writer Feed Insert Plugin that makes it easy to pull multiple RSS or Atom feed items into a blog post.

Have Facebook Apps Peaked in Popularity? - BuzzYA!

Kathleen Anderson — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 03:37:25 GMT

Glaser talks about how he used to be excited when he received a notification of a new action on Facebook -- a poke, a wall post, a message -- but more recently, all that has changed. "Now, my reaction to getting the same kinds of notifications has changed, and I dread clicking through to see what kind of spam or scam is coming my way," he writes.

What happened? Well, for one, the Facebook platform happened. The Facebook platform allowed application developers to flood the site with applications, both useful and not (by many accounts, mostly not), and because of the way it is set up, app developers were able to encourage, and sometimes force or trick, users into sending out mass invites, notifications, or new feed announcements about often times trivial matters. This increased the noise on the Facebook network ten fold, and decreased the enjoyment of the social networks for some people.

Users, though, are beginning to push back. In just over a month, more than 65,000 people have joined the No, I will NOT invite 20 friends just to add your application! group, which has spun off an ancillary group that catalogues the applications that require users to invite friends before even using the app. And over 4,200 people have signed a petition calling on Facebook to step in and stop developers from using the "forced invite" tactic to grow their apps virally.

Have Facebook Apps Peaked in Popularity? - BuzzYA!