More Bad Luck!!

Well, I think my VW felt bad about it being left out of my blog, so it gave me a really nice streak of bad luck too.

So, it starts off by loosing a fog light, then a tail light, and then finally a head light. I guess it was like a "car stroke", all on the same side. Then, shortly after the head light died, I hit the rim pulling into the In-Laws house... "What the..." I get out, and sure enough, it is looking really low. It turned out to have only 5 psi when I checked it at the service station. So, I take it in to the tire place where I bought the tires from. They say, it had a nail and they couldn't fix it because it was ran low and now had a "ripple". On the positive side, they replaced it for free. So, they put on the spare, and ordered a new one. Of course it would be the only tire they didn't have in stock anywhere in the entire valley.
After A few days they call and say it is in. Trying to squeeze it into a over packed Christmas schedule, I take it back to them after work that night on my way to pick up the kids from the in-laws. Well, then their car lift managed to destroy the big plastic cover under the engine, which VW bends you over for .3k+ to replace. On the positive side, it was already "beat to stink" and probably need to be replaced soon anyway and they paid for most of it. I was also bummed because I thought they had lost the VW center cap and the lug nut caps. But they found them later in the compartment that holds the spare tire tools.
Later, I tried to fix the headlight on my own and ended up breaking another stupid piece of plastic on the light housing. Funny thing was, I was trying to fix the wrong side. I decided that was semi lucky but didn't try again and instead had a mechanic fix the headlight and the fog light when I had the engine splash guards replaced. Also, On the bright side, since I had already bought the parts he didn't charge me for fixing the lights.
Oh, and sometime in the middle of all that mess I picked up a speeding ticket on the freeway. It's funny how you never feel guilty even when you know your guilty. Oh, I managed to talk the court down another 15 bucks and give me a month extension to find the money to pay it.
I almost forgot, I also decided to decorate my front right fender backing out of the garage by turning the wheel before I was totally clear. I guess that was a double dip for the custom garage door frame dark blue stucko decoration on the participating garage door frame.
I know it doesn't sound all that bad, but I left out all the normal "day to day" crappy stuff, that always seems to happen at the same time. Which makes it all total up to be a good kick in the shorts. OK, I feel better now. :)

Pass2Go: Portable Automated Password Manager, Form Filler, Password Generator for USB key, ZIP disk

Ok, I found this to be really cool... personally I had gotten lazy with my passwords. I couldn't be bothered trying to remember long random unique passwords for every website that wanted me to log in. I found myself reusing weak passwords that I wouldn't forget. Recently I started listening to the Security Now podcast from the security site GRC.com and they had this program listed in the show notes, along with a few others I tried but didn't care for. Since, I seem to lose or my wife washes all the scraps of paper with my passwords on them this was exactly what I was looking for. Something quick, easy, portable and secure. Anyway, I've been using it with it's downloadable firefox extension and really really like it. I sleep better knowing that my email or whatever is protected by something a little harder to guess than "bobdog" or "asdf123" and I'm not scared to make them all unique. (um, I know usb sticks are still prone to hitchhiking a ride through the washer in my pocket, so it probably wouldn't hurt to make a backup stick every so often)

Read more at www.roboform.com/pass2g...

'Leap second' to be added on Dec. 31

I wonder if this is going to screw anything up or if most people will never know the difference. Don't forget to set your clocks back before you goto bed. Myself? I'm looking forward to that extra second of sleep time. :)

Read more at news.com.com/2061-11204...

Writely - The Web Word Processor

This web app looks really promising! I am most excited about the collaborative feature and ease of use. Still fiddling with it, but I like what I see so far. (Um, pay for another Office suite? what?)

Read more at www.writely.com/BasePag...

Protopage v2 released - free AJAX start pages now with RSS news feeds, sticky notes and bookmarks

I think this has a lot of potential. If nothing else it is flexable and better than most potential start pages (with a bit of personal effort and creativity)

Read more at www.protopage.com/v2

Groove Me Baby!!

Absolutely my favorite software tool! Perfect for my multi-PC file syncing needs. I stopped using it because I was too cheap to buy a license ($70) for something I could painfully do with a memory stick. Well, I just got my groove back because they are giving away their $70 license if you spread the word to 3 friends (credited by email address) and they try it (or at least fill out the information sheet that pops up when you run the trial), no money, no obligation. Supposedly up you can get up to 3 free licenses to keep or share out (each can be used on up to 5 PCs). So far I have 2... Thank you Groove!

New Flock version released!

Can't help but love it and use it... bugs and all. Anyway, version 0.4.10 is out with hopefully less bugs to love.

Flock 0.5 alpha

I like it! Have you tried the newly released Flock browser? It is built on Firefox, but has added some cool toys, like Blog, Flicker, and Del.icio.us integration, which I happen to be trying for the first time right now. :)

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

I guess it's true that bad luck comes in a waves of three. I got a nail in my motorcycle tire that I just replaced 6 months ago ($200 bucks!). I lost my rear leather moto bag on my way home from work when I forgot to clip it on ($200?), which had my new leather riding gloves inside($65). And just in case that didn't count as two, my wife just picked up a speeding ticket($100). Ok, I think I've had my share for a while.

Picture my daugter Morgan drew on her computer. 

Fun at Maggie Moos - May 13, 2005 

Kids May 13, 2005 

Does this look like March 30th to you? Looked like a telecommute day to me. 

So where is the dog? 

Is it really moving? or not?
images - trippy

This looks like a worthy download. If you try it, let me know what you think.
America's Army - Downloads - Full Client

The 46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities This site has some really great links to some great free programs. A bunch of which I've been recommending to friends for some time. Some I've never seen and I am going to try out but sound really cool.

Scorched 3D - A 3D Remake Of Scorched Earth
Need I say more? tried it, and after I figured out how to get around, it wasn't too bad.

Stay anon use a proxy.
Public Proxy Servers

Really cool program for downloading satelite and topo maps from the terraserver. JDMCOX Software

Free service to get around having a dynamic IP address. Seems to work ok. You can even download an updater.
Dynamic DNS, Static DNS for Your Dynamic IP

STOP paying for ringtones for your phone! goto to this site and download any of your mp3 files to your phone as a ringtone! FREE!! This is awesome! Serves those ringtone crooks right.

smashTheTONES :: Why would you pay FIVE BUCKS for a ringtone or graphic???

This GPS software is awesome. Allows you to compete against yourself and others over the internet virtually.
sportsim - Activity software

Something I want to look into more when I the time
SV2AGW Packet Pages

Got a phone, laptop and a gps, now you've got real time tracking - GPS2SMS, TRACK-BOX, SMS2OZI

MS jump into faster desktop searching. I like the interface better than desktop searcher by Google, Yahoo, and Copernic (2nd choice)
MSN Toolbar Suite Beta with MSN Desktop Search

What Torrent program do I like the most? Azureus : Java BitTorrent Client

Could this be the next SuperNova? Torrents Live!
TowerSeek.org

Torrents live on even after the death of SuperNova. Here is a search engine that has a plugin for Firefox.
TorrentSpy.com : The Most Advanced Torrent Search Engine

Warning!! Don't Buy Kodak Digital Cameras! Update 12/28/05: I just recieved a friendly email from Henry Korotnicki. In it he suggests a possible fix for this little problem. I haven't tried it out yet, but plan on it. He writes:

Hi Greg,

Was just trying to get my kodak DVC325 camera working on Win XP Pro SP2 and I came across your blog post through google.

This might be a little too late but in case you are still interested I later managed to find a driver for the kodak camera that works here: http://www.pcdrivers.com/scanner2.htm#31
You'll probably need to uninstall any of your previous DVC325 Kodak drivers before installing.
Good luck

Worked!! Thanks Again Henry. Don't you just love helpful people!

Update 4/26/07: Just reinstalling again (BTW kodak driver still locking up windows on the install) and I couldn't find the driver in the link above anymore... I think I found it again here http://www.digipark.co.kr/db/dvc325w2k.zip
=============

Warning!! Don't Buy Kodak Digital Cameras!
In a year it may not be supported. Kodak's answer, go drop another couple hundred dollars on a new one that works with the latest systems. See the following email conversation I had with Kodak tech support. [It starts at the bottom and goes up] Do you get the feeling these are 'canned' automated responses, as the last response had nothing to do with my problem. I have no idea where Nancy Kodak came up with Asus motherboards from my previous emails. I emailed back again after this reply from kodak and have been waiting some time for a response.


Greetings Greg,
We have received your e-mail regarding the KODAK DVC325 Digital Video Camera and Windows XP.
If you have a Asus p4 motherboard it is not compatible with the KODAK
DVC325 Digital Video Camera will not work on your computer.
We are glad to be of service and are here for you if you need us in the future. If you do, please reply "with history."
Best Regards
Nancy K.
Kodak Information and Technical Support

Original message follows:
-------------------------
I think you need to come up with a better answer than "why don't you go drop another couple hundred on a new camera and chuck that worthless piece of unsupported crap we sold you". Are you telling me there are no plans of supporting your products with future operating systems (new drivers)?
If that is the case, I can tell you what brand I won't be choosing next time.
That is so disturbing, I had better post this conversation to all the relevant newsgroups and websites, so no one else gets confused about your product support.
Sincerely, Greg Williams

-----Original Message-----
From: Kodak Digital [mailto:askdaitech@kodak.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2004 11:00 AM
To: gregwilliams@
Subject: Re: Your question to Digital_Cameras_English in Topic: DVC325
(KMM7412200C0KM)

Greetings Greg,
We have received your e-mail regarding the KODAK DVC325 Digital Video Camera on Microsoft Windows XP.
The DVC325 Digital Video Camera is not supported on Windows XP Service Pack 2. I would suggest you upgrade to a new camera that is supported on this system.
We are glad to be of service and are here for you if you need us in the future. If you do, please reply "with history."
Regards,
Ara T.
KODAK Information and Technical Support


Original message follows:
-------------------------
UserEmail: gregwilliams@
Topic: 51

Name: Greg Williams -Interactive Troubleshooting: No - System: Windows XP Pro - Processor: Pentium 4 - RAM: Over 1.0 GB - Network: Other -
Browser: Other - Country: US - Question: Computer locks up completely when installing webcam. Gets to file usbcamd.sys and freezes everything.
I tried shutting down all other programs thinking it might be a conflict but still freezes. I have to do a hard reboot to get my computer running again.
Running XP pro sp2. ?

Id: 101

Another Picture of the Flood in Bloomington Utah. Looking NE (upriver) from the Country Club across what use to be the driving range. [Camera phone photos taken by ALW] 

Picture of the recent flooding that happened in Bloomingtion Utah. Looking East from the Bloomington Country Club across what to be the bloomington park. 

test number 2

My first post by email didn't go through right away. I wonder if the
attached picture gave it some problems. this one is plain.

Here is a link to Hello.com's picture sharing chat. Makes it possible to post pictures to blogger blogs using bloggerbot. I'm user: gregwilliams

Hello : Introducing BloggerBot

screenshot from Gary's mod for Half Life 2 

New Half Life 2 Mod
This is a link to an entertaining mod for Half Life 2 that I saw on TechTV. [Tangent] Yes I still watch, even though it is going through a tough time right now. I find the new female cohost (not Sarah) practically unbearable to watch. The other new cohost, Kevin2, is tolerable when he's not being disgusting. (If G4 ever sees this post. I beg you to get back the last cohost Alex, he was a perfect match to the old Kevin.) [End Tangent] Anyway, give this mod a look for a few hours of physics fun. I'm going to, (just finished downloading the mod myself).
Garry's Half-Life 2 Mod v5

Testing my email blogger

Wow, is there no end to the ways you can blog? This is very much!
Going to try attaching a pic too just to see if it will post too

2004 pumpkins