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To Be Read

May 9, 2008

Multiple IE Fix

So I’ve been pretty lazy posting on Everomp lately. Boo hoo. Luckily it’s been for a good cause. We’ve been heavily (overly) saturated with work, both print and web. In wrapping up a micro-site I’ve been utilizing Multiple IE for testing purposes.

If you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend this solution for multiple IE testing. It’s self-explanitory: it gives you the ability to test in different versions of our favorite web browser. It goes as far back as IE3, however that might be overkill (though interesting for nostalgia sake!). I find it most useful for testing in IE6 and 5.5.

As usual, with anything IE-related, there is a catch. If you’re running Windows XP on your testing platform (be it a laptop, or Parallels on a Mac) you have a 50/50 shot of hitting a brick wall. Namely, IE6 and 5.5 crashes upon opening, making these browsers virtual paper weights.

After reading through dozens of comments, I found the solution:

Apparently it (possibly) has to do with Norton Antivirus considering these browser applications “dangerous” and shuts them down. In a way it makes sense, because Multiple IE is simply a hacked version of IE. I’m running a factory-installed version of Norton, though I can’t honestly confirm if this is the reason.

The fix? Rename the browser program file from “iexplore.exe” to “my_iexplore.exe.local”.

I won’t explain why it works. I’m not a good enough programmer to comprehend the answer. Bottom line: it worked for me.

I would note that, upon program name change, IE6 crashed once for me. The second time around it ran just fine. It has since worked perfectly.

February 16, 2008

Happiness

While browsing through my feeds this morning (as I do every morning with a piping hot coffee) I came across a simple idea. What makes us happy? What makes us happy on a daily basis? It got my mind churning. I realized we don’t often stop to consider the tiny moments each day that flag positivity.

Each morning I focus my attention for a moment on being happy. A cross between prayer, will, and simple thought. Happiness. May it come to me today, whatever the form. I then move on and don’t look back. I’ve never stopped to consider how this might manifest itself.

Consider this my exercise in appreciation. A random list of things that brightened my days this week:

  • Hugging Red for the first time in two weeks since her return from Hawaii.
  • Making our Project Manager well up in tears, laughing.
  • A true “guy” conversation had with Dad about the upcoming football season.
  • Finding the perfect song for a video the office is currently writing.
  • Finally getting the perfect photo I’ve been barely missing the passed two weeks.
  • A phone conversation with an old friend in Miami, making me laugh so hard my side hurt.
  • Red and I watching the Indiana Jones trailer. Can’t claim that often.
  • Discussing the finer points of Bruce Campbell awesomeness with Lea.
  • Finding a really great book to read.
  • Sipping on my favorite coffee for the first time in a month. Mmm-mm.
  • A couple deep breaths on Saturday, enjoying a Spring’ish morning in Orlando.
  • Blasting AC/DC throughout the office, attempting the Angus dance with fellow co-workers.
  • Checking my totals after selling quite a few items on eBay (holy cow, this adds up)
  • That Philly Cheese steak purchased on Thursday. Greasy and good.

It’s the little things in life we forget.

What makes up your list?

February 4, 2008

XLII

A few mental notes regarding this year's Super Bowl. In no particular order, and totally biased. Good thing, too, because there are a few things to complain about (yay!).

  • "XLII" looks strange. I overheard a few people having trouble properly deciphering the "L". I also heard a design intern did the logo in an hour. If that's true, good job.
  • Fuck the Patriots. I'm tired of the mindless "Ohh, I feel so sorry for them! They were so close!" quotes. Why feel any more sorry for them than any of the countless other teams that were one, two, three games away from the Super Bowl? It was exciting to watch them go for the undefeated record, but in no way should we feel sorry for them. At all. Tom Brady is dating a Victoria's Secret model. The entire team consists of millionaires. These aren't even complaints. Good for them. But let's keep everything in perspective. Regardless of their record, any football fan knows that the only game that counts is the very last one. They couldn't do it. End of story.
  • Credit where credit is due. Never would have seen it coming. I thought Green Bay had a better shot. The Giants?! Well, okay. I knew the Pats were beatable. They were the luckiest team all season to go undefeated. But for the Giants to claim victory? Wow. Eli Manning? Wow.
  • Let's put this thing to rest. I'm a Dolphins' fan. Yes, I know, we suck. Besides that mindless point, I'd like to bring up my opinion on the '72 Dolphins' team. I don't care. I'm tired of constantly defending myself against other teams' fans who somehow think I want nothing but death to any franchise that comes anywhere close to beating the record. I don't care about the record. I was born in 1980. I'm so far removed from that era I can't even relate. I want to see a team go undefeated in my lifetime. This goes back to point number one. The Pats couldn't do it. End of story.
  • The game blew. Three and a half quarters of nothing, followed by a spectacular ending. A local radio personality this morning claimed the game "got boring" at the end... huh?
  • Commercials? Lame. I'm not alone in this opinion. Our entire Super Bowl party last night went almost silent for most of the commercials. The funniest (best) included a screaming squirrel, floats, and a mousetrap. I don't know what happened this year, but it really felt like we were a notch below. Even the movie trailers were nothing to write home about. Iron Man looks like a blast, but Pixar's Wall-E fell kinda flat. Note to advertisers: do not hire Charles Barkley for any commercials. Ever. Nor should he be allowed on NBA pre-game shows.
  • Half-time show. Tom Petty rocks. I don't care how old the guy is by now. Nothing fancy to the show. Petty, his band, and his songs. Keep it simple. Don't quite understand that scarf he was wearing... but whatever! Great performance. And no Britney dancing around.
  • Food. Big thanks to Jesse and Krista for the grub. Best chili dogs I've had in a long time.

I can easily see the Pats performing just as well next season. I have my doubts their coach will bolt. They'll be around (as a great team) for at least a couple more seasons. They might even make a run for that record again. However, it looks like we all might have to make room for a new dynasty centered in New York.

Aw, crap. Football season's over.

"Art is the highest form of hope."

— Gernhard Richter