My Geek Notes

From the first day I started programming, I was taught that I should try to use, as a development environment, the same platform for which the code is destined to ultimately run. I realize that this isn’t always practical (fat clients, mobile apps, and cross platform development come to mind) but it usually is with web applications.

I started hacking in 1999 as a classic ASP developer, At that time, the platform of choice was Windows NT 4.0 with the necessary Option Pack. Times have changed since then and I’ve long since settled into the comfort of Server 2003. It’s got its quirks and, like any operating system, isn’t perfect. But there are a few simple things that can help Server 2003 (I use Enterprise edition since I get to choose any version with my MSDN subscription) behave a bit more like a desktop (read: Windows XP) to make it more user friendly as an everyday workhorse.

1. Enable sound - even though the drivers may be installed, the sound card will still need to be enabled. Use the Control Panel -> Sounds and Audio Devices Properties to enable it.
2. Turn video hardware acceleration all the way up - from Display Properties -> Settings tab -> Advanced -> Troubleshoot tab -> move the slider all the way to Full. You may need to do this for multiple monitors and displays if you have them.
3. Enable DirectX - from the run command, type “DXDiag” and be sure to enable all of the necessary accelerations. This is required if you want to run any games. Otherwise, it probably doesn’t matter.
4. Enable Themes (not necessary unless you want it to look like Windows XP) - from the run command, type “Services.msc”. Find the service named “Themes” and enable it, set it to start automatically, and then start it. You’ll be able to apply whatever theme you want.
5. Disable the pesky “Shutdown Event Tracker” logging junk - from the run command, type “MMC” -> choose File -> Add / Remove Snap-In -> Add -> Group Policy Object Editor In this snap-in, find Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Display Shutdown Event Tracker. Change this to disabled. There are quite a few settings in this snap-in that might be of interest. I suggest browsing through them to tweak some of the settings.

These are the typical items I do to get my machine in a usable state for development. I’m sure I’ve forgotten some key items, but that’s my typical starting point.

So I have been meaning to say something about this restaurant that I went to Friday night. It is called Wasatch Wingz. They have lots of different kinds of wings like Wasabi Teriyaki, Citrus BBQ, and Caribbean Coconut. They had a special that night so we tried that, it was boneless wings. We got them BBQ style and they were good. Not the most amazing wings I have ever tried but they were very good. We also shared a Philly Cheesesteak. It was excellent. I highly recommend the Philly if you go. Ever since Wings N Things closed there hase been a large vacuum of Wings in Salt Lake City. So I was realy glad to find a new place.

What does all this have to do with Geeks you ask. Well friends I am here to tell you that you that Wasatch Wingz shares a space with Gamerzz an internet gaming cafe. So you can get 48 wings and play WoW all night long.

So go check out the link and then go check out the eats. They were really nice to us. Plus on there menu under salads it says “What Food Eats”

Laters.

I usually quickly glance at the news each morning to see what’s happening in the headlines. It’s been a while since I was shocked like I was today at what happened at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia early this morning. It was only 7am here when the second shooting spree happened so the news sites had a good amount of information already by the time I pulled up CNN’s website to see it on the homepage.

I can’t even imagine the horror that it must have been for those on campus and the anguish felt by those who lost loved ones. Just a little over 2 months ago Sulejman Talović killed 5 bystanders, injured 4 others, and then took his own life in Salt Lake City at the Trolley Square shopping mall just 20 minutes south of where I live. Yet I’m having a harder time getting a grasp on today’s tragedy.

Over the next few days/weeks I’m sure we’ll hear many in the news saying that stronger and better gun control laws could have prevented it. It may have, sure … probably not. I think it’s more important to remember that by taking away the right of the law abiding people in this country to own a gun and protect themselves when needed will not reduce the number of guns the criminals have.

erikdew thinks he just found the greatest thing I have seen in a long time. it is a new Childrens program call Yo Gabba Gabba! . Check it out, it has two of my favorite musical talents Biz Markie and The Aquabats. Not to mention really great character design. With a lot of the childrens programing today so watered down or just plain annoying it is great to see something like this coming down the pipeline.

Laters

Every once in a while I sit down and take all of my scattered notes and compile them into one big list. This works well for me for about 3 days then it’s back to scribbling on any piece of paper I can find. I’d like to move to a fully online task management system (one I’ve wanted to code myself forever) but really lack any free time to do it. Someday, maybe.

Have you ever heard of viral games? Well, they’re called that for a good reason. Recently a co-worker introduced me to one game written in flash that I just can’t seem to beat, and have determined that I will! Someday, maybe. Anyway, it’s a strategy game where you place defense towers on the board and try to stop the little “creeps” from making it to the other side. I can’t even beat the easy level, although I’ve gotten close once or twice. It’s called Desktop Tower Defense. Good luck!

I’ve searched through all of my news links today and didn’t find very much of interest. Although, on CNN’s homepage as the main story it was announced today that Don Imus was canned by CBS for the racist remarks he said on the air the other day. He is 67 years old so maybe it’s about time for him to retire anyway.

UPDATE: With just 2 lives left, I just beat the easy level. Yea for me!

Okay, so I was watching my favorite show the other day - “Big Idea w/ Donny Deutsch” and he had the creator of what is probably one of the coolest recent products released in the past decade! This product is the “lotus Sanitizing System”. This product turns ordinary tap water into environmentally safe cleaner that is 3 times as powerful as bleach! It also kills 99.9% of bacteria on contact! This is definitely worth looking into! crazy cool stuff! In addition to their sanitizing system they also have a water purification unit as well. I’ve ordered the sanitizing system so I’ll let you know from first hand experience how it works!

Today I want to talk about one of my favorite music making programs: GarageBand. And some tutorials Apple has put together for it.

GarageBand has been one of my favorite programs to mess around with ever since I first discovered the program when I made the permanent switch to Macs. It is an easy to use music creation program with quite a few features. One of my favorite parts is that you can quickly create music using preinstalled “loops” and the songs come out great. Or if you get a little more indepth you can create or record your own music right inside the program and then chop it up any way you want to.

I recently stumbled across Apple’s tutorial site for iLife ‘06 (which includes GarageBand). All of the tutorials are Quicktime movies that you stream from Apples website. They are usually a minute or two long (some are much longer) and contain easy to follow step-by-step instrutions. The GarageBand tutorials can be found here. With topics ranging from a basic introduction to capturing live music to scoring your latest cinematic masterpiece, there is pretty much something for anyone.

Some of the tutorials are a little basic if you have used GarageBand before (or have any music editing experience in more advanced programs like Soundtrack Pro). But if it is your first time with the program or creating your own music in general, these tutorials are definately worth checking out. And while your there you can find tutorials on all of the other iLife programs (iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie HD, iDVD & iWeb).

Big day tomorrow on my project and I’ve got tons to do so this entry will be pretty short. Surprisingly I’m not too tired yet and my iPod is fully charged. Wish me luck!

Quick plug today on a friend’s site/software that just hit the big v.2 with updated features, etc. I used it in the past and was really impressed with how easy it was to set up and monitor. It’s called GeoDetector and is a geo location software along with some pretty cool security features; basically it blocks bad IPs based on the geo location. And, if I remember correctly, you can even specify what countries/regions you want to limit your site to - don’t do business in China, no need to have you site there then. Check it out, GeoDetector, it’s free for the next little while! Oh, and if you like what you see, Digg It.

In the news … sigh. Really not much of interest. I guess I could talk about how much heat Don Imus is getting over what he said the other day, but in all honesty, he’s getting what he deserves. Racist or not, there’s no need to make comments like that. Are people over-reacting? The publicity seems to be feeding the fire. Other than that, here is a link to an article that cites the Top 10 Firefox extension to avoid.

I was listening to NPR the other day and they were doing this story about the “Large Hadron Collider” that is scheduled to be tested in November of this year. The Large Hadron Collider just happens to be the largest particle collider ever created. The thing has 16 miles of magnets that are located underground from France to Switzerland. Physicists are using the collider as the biggest physics experiment ever. They hope to find the Higgs field which to my understanding is the sticky stuff that holds the universe together. I am sure I have over simplified.

The crazy thing is that some people have theorized that crashing particles together like this could create a black hole. Now call me crazy but a Black Hole inbetween France and Switzerland sounds bad for me. Did anyone ever see that movie The Black Hole I mean the Black Hole in that movie ripped the crap out of a huge space ship. Imagine what It will do to have one hear on Earth. Plus I have seen Ghostbusters and played enough video games to know that what will likely happen is that it will open the door for some big pissed off creature to come have its way with earth.

Anyway good luck to those guys over there I hope that some covert military types are there to witness the event. And to those guys I say, what ever you do DO NOT CROSS THE BEAMS.

I’m working late tonight at the office thrashing through a project due within the next two days and my iPod just died on me. That is, the battery just gave out so I’ll have to remember to plug it in for the long haul tomorrow.

In a previous post my monkeyx talks some about Flash, which I think I’ll give a little word on tonight. It’s more of a success story really, or not. Either way, I tried the new Flash 9 plugin for Linux again today (after it constantly crash my browser last time, over a month ago) and so far so good. What does this mean? It means I’ll see the full features of Flash apps now. Woot!

Not too much in the news, but here are some links to some important places in Silicon Valley. The first is the Shockley Semiconductor Lab and the second is that HP Garage. Interesting that one is being preserved and the other not at all.