July 31, 2007

My web host rules!
<rave>This month (July of 2006), I had to pay for my domain hosting. I've been with the same host since May of 2002, and I just wanted to take a minute to say that "My hosting service is outstanding". It's run by a friend of mine, so that might be part of the reason. On the other hand, it is a fantastic service. He's helped me set up all my domains, configured qmail, php, a statistics package (webalizer), sql, and various other services. He answers all my service requests in a timely manner, and the price is right. Finding a web host that responds to your personal needs is no small chore. Dale has a fantastic service, and I for one (yes he has other customers) am glad to be a huge fan. Thanks for all you do Dale.</rave> For more info on Dale's hosting services, see the URL listed below.
<http://www.internet-ms.com/>

Music collection:
Here's a list of some of the music I recently acquired. Where do I get all this stuff? I find a lot of free (actually free) music by visiting several of the new music web sites out there. Artists want you to hear their music - If you like it, you'll buy it. The major labels want you to pay for their product - letting you hear it for free is contrary to their business model. Well, guess what? I won't buy it unless I can listen to it first. The major labels are killing themselves with their restrictive distribution and dissemination policies. If you like new music, you can do a google search to find your favorite artists web site, a new music web site, or an archive of free music. Free music is available - Legally! Don't believe the major labels propaganda - Not all free music is illegal. You can legally download music for free. I download music from websites, newsgroups (when I already own rights to the music), and a couple of commercial sources. Here's a listing of some of the music I legally downloaded.

iTunes download:
* The Kooks - Inside In/Inside Out: (15 songs) Discovered by listening to the iTunes new music podcast. Another British band. This one has a garage rock sound. Acoustic and electric, but mostly dynamic. Energetic, rhythmic and witty. This is their first album, and it Rocks!
* The Cinematics - A Strange Education: (14 songs) I discovered this band by downloading the weekly free music download from Apple's iTunes store. That's right a free track every week. You may not like every song they offer, but every once in a while, they get it right. Here's a great new band. This is their debut album. This time the band is from Scotland (still GB, right?). The vocals remind me of the Cure, and I'm also reminded of Echo & the Bunnymen while listening to their moody, catchy post-punk rock. (This album is available on eMusic, but it showed up on iTunes first. I couldn't wait...)

Web site download:
* Ryan Ferguson - Three, Four: (5 song EP) Discovered via 3hive.com. This download came as a free download at the artists website (No longer free? See iTunes or eMusic for your copy). Powerful pop-rock, with splendid vocals. Warm and artful, soaring, and serious. The acoustic guitar work is excellent.
* Ryan Ferguson - Only trying to help: (3 songs) Discovered via 3hive.com Here are two tracks from the artists debut full length. Talented, powerful work, backed around acoustic guitar, but backed by other instruments. Meatier than the EP, but just as good.
* Great Lakes Myth Society - Great Lakes Myth Society: (2 songs) Discovered at 3hive.com. A folk rock band based in Michigan. The surprising thing is the vocals. Is the lead singer from Ireland? I don't think so, but the accent does remind me of the folks back home. Fantastic instrumentals, and powerful, mythic lyrics that brought me back to the U.P.

These are just some of the items I added to my music collection during the month of July. Since returning from Japan in 2001, I've been rediscovering my appreciation for music. I really picked it up again in September of 2005. Since then, I've been slowly adding, revising and updating my music collection. If you have a comment or a question regarding my music collection, please don't hesitate to send me an email.
<https://www.robsworld.org/mymusic/index.html>
<https://www.robsworld.org/music.html>

Software favorites:
One of my favorite pieces of software recently released an update. GraphicConverter moves ever forward. One more steps towards perfection. Another product that's always getting better. This release marks the introduction of a new version. It's been quite a while since I paid for a GC update, but given the amount of added and improved features, it's well worth the price.

GraphicConverter released a new full version (6.0), on the 27th of July. GraphicConverter is an image converter and editor. A fantastic piece of shareware that is well worth the price ($34.99). I use it to convert image formats into web standard formats, to create and edit image maps and other graphics. I've been singing GC's praises for many years now, and I'm not sure I would do without it. The best part about GC is it's author. Thorsten Lemke is completely committed to his customer base. Constantly and Continuously responding to customer recommendations and bug reports. GC is a dynamic, evolving, application. Always on the cutting edge, an absolute must in any web developers tool box. At a fraction of PhotoShop's cost, this photo editor puts a huge wrench in your toolbox.

Some of the new features provided in this update: Save for web function; Polygon selection tool added; Basic layer support added; Set gps coordinates from Google Earth; Go to photo position in Google Earth; New rulers added; Additional automator actions added; Additional layer frames added; kdc import; Open exr import; Some measure functions (line, rectangle, circle, mean) added to the measure tool; Selection of alpha channels (drag, copy, paste); Basic import of HD Photo (wdp) added; New browser sort options added (sort from position and sort from position hexadecimal); Paste into alpha channel added. The addition of several new layer functions puts GraphicConverter up there in the PhotoShop competitor category.
<http://www.lemkesoft.com/xd/public/content/index._cGlkPTE5Mw_.html>
<https://www.robsworld.org/myfavs.html>

Parade of Homes:
Our first attendance at the 'Parade of Homes'. We've heard about it before, but this year we found out what it is. Parade of Homes is a fund raiser and new homes showcase. Sponsored by Home Builder associations, it's a regional series of 'open houses'. New homes are furnished and showcased to the public. Do a search and you'll likely find a regional one near you. The one we went to was sponsored by the HBA of Metro Denver - and other merchants in the Denver metro area. This year (2007), the event was held at a community called 'SouthShore'. Adjacent to the Aurora reservoir, and only a couple of miles away from our house, this is definitely one of the 'upscale' communities in the area. Kim and I went and viewed the homes on the 29th of July. We were impressed by a couple of the homes, and Kim got a bunch of interior design/decoration ideas. If you get the opportunity, I urge you to check out a Parade of Homes near you. We had a good time, and I'm sure you will too.
<http://www.paradeofhomesdenver.com/>

Kuchta's Visit Colorado - 2007:
During June/July of 2007, Kim and I took a vacation. We planned the vacation well in advance, and we had a fantastic time. The vacation began on the 22nd of June, when our guests arrived. Over the course of the next ten days (22 Jun - 01 Jul), Kim and I hosted her parents (Ted & Sharon), and two of our nieces (Chantelle and Amber). It was the first time the girls had ever flown on an airplane, the first time they left the state, and the first time they came to visit us in Colorado. Everyone involved had a great time, and I'm glad we had the opportunity to entertain our family from Wisconsin.

It took some time, but I finally managed to sort through the 800+ photos from the vacation. After considerable consideration, I trimmed the number down to a barely manageable 233 pics. I then set myself to editing, cropping, adjusting and sorting, and the results were a set of photos which fairly represent the fun filled vacation that we plowed through in 2007. After all the editing, I put the photos together (using iPhoto and BetterHTMLExport) on a series of web pages. In addition to the photos, I added a synopsis at the bottom of each page. Hopefully, everyone will enjoy the photos and comments.
<https://www.robsworld.org/iphoto/kuchtavisit2007/index.html>

July 26, 2007

Kim's Birthday:
Happy Birthday to Kim! Kim celebrated another birthday on the 25th of July. Don't worry Kim, I won't tell anyone how 'old' you are. :-) Besides, you'll always be younger than me. We both took the day off, and relaxed a bit. We watched a movie around lunch time, took a little nap, and went out for dinner. We went to a place called 'Movie Tavern'. It's a place where you eat dinner while you watch a movie. Well, it was o.k. The movie was 'Chuck & Larry' (you can read my review later), and the food wasn't the best. I had the "Ocean's Eleven seafood dinner". Yuck! Everything except the coleslaw was deep fried. The batter was cold and gooey, and and the cod was horrible. I'm not sure what possessed me to order that meal. Kim said her meal (smothered chicken) was good. We liked the seating, but the place was too dark to see what you were eating. The service was fair, and I liked the 'press button' style of waiting. I like movies, and I like food (who doesn't!), but I don't think we'll be back to that place. I guess it was too much to hope for - One place that does both right...

House Rules:
Like any other D&D campaign (outside of tournament play), the campaign that I manage makes use of various house rules. You can pick up a new copy of these House Rules online. The House Rules are published in pdf format, and they define the 'flavor' of our campaign. Every good DM has his own list of House Rules. Recently, I've updated one of the house rules documents used in our campaign. I've revised the rules regarding monster identification (yet again). This time the change is relatively minor. In fact, it's not really a change at all. Just a bit of an enhancement really. The relevant change takes place on page 8 of the 'New Feats' document. Note: Due to copyright concerns, you'll need a password in order to view the new feats document.

- As a general rule of thumb, a DC 15 check or higher will reveal all of the base creature’s type and subtype traits as defined in the appropriate Monster Manual glossary (see paragraph above regarding general types). This often includes information about energy resistance or various immunities. For instance, a DC 15 Knowledge (arcana) check reveals that Dragons have high hit points (12 sided HD), all good saves, and have darkvision out to 60 feet and low light vision. They are immune to magic sleep effects and paralysis effects. They eat, sleep, and breathe. Note: Information on the basic ‘Types’ is available for download from Rob’s World! A player who’s character has knowledge of a monster ‘Type’ may download the appropriate document(s), print them, and consult them in game. If a character has knowledge of a specific ‘Subtype’, the player (of that character) may likewise keep copies of the relevant information for use during the game. Information on monster types and subtypes is also available in the Monster Manual(s). Whenever possible, the most recent rule book should be consulted. Player access to the Monster Manual(s) is restricted by the DM. Please do not bring Monster Manual(s) to the meeting.

Not only did I update the '3enewfeats.pdf' document, I've also made some material available for download - See the "Monster 'Types'" update on the 3ecampaign page. As a player, you are under no obligation to download or print this information. You can make notes during the game, you can print out these documents, you can memorize the info, request to review it, or have it repeated to you each time you come across these particular monster 'types'. We've made this material (thanks to Mark for his help in this matter) available to you as an aid to your game play. Hopefully, it will serve as that - Something that enhances your enjoyment of the game.
<https://www.robsworld.org/3enewfeats.pdf>
<https://www.robsworld.org/3ecampaign.html>

Military Honor and Decency?
Are you a military member? Perhaps you're just concerned about free speech or personal privacy - You know those pesky rights we take for granted in the U.S. If you're a member of the military, are you intentionally damaging the military's image of honor, professionalism and proper decorum? Perhaps it is your intent to destroy the character and corrupt the moral principles of the armed forces. Maybe you are guilty of undermining the well-being of military families. Or, perhaps you are intentionally attempting to compromise America's defense readiness! Well, that's what the members of congress think. They think that you're of such low moral character, that you are responsible for all these despicable things. As a matter of fact, they felt so strongly about your actions, that they have curtailed some of your rights. By purchasing 'sexually explicit' materials at the BX/PX, you were contributing to the compromise of America's defense readiness. So, they took Penthouse, Hustler, and Oui off the shelves. That ought to make things right - Right? Don't believe me? Well, you should - It happened, back in 1996 congress made it 'against the law' to sell 'sexually explicit' material in the BX/PX. I wrote a rather lengthy rebuttal of that decision back in 1996, and recently, there's been something of a change in the way that the military is implementing DoD instruction 4105.70. Be sure to check out my updated article on 'Military Honor and Decency' for all the details.
<https://www.robsworld.org/dishonor.html>

July 24, 2007

Spammer Developments:
Four recent developments in the never ending battle - Death to Spammers! - If you think that this motto is extreme, you're either a spammer, or you're not receiving your fair share. Here are a few of the spam related problems that have been vexing me of late

German language spam:
Recently (over the last two months) I've been experiencing (as have many others) an explosion in the amount of German language spam that I receive. Much of this can be attributed to a recent round of trojan attacks. As the number of compromised German computers increases, the amount of spam increases. Another reason for the increase in German language spam is the lack of effective bayesian filters for German language content, so it gets through many of the spam filters. In either case, the amount of German language spam in my inbox has increased exponentially.

pdf spam:
Another new trend in spam tactics. Spammers are attaching a pdf (which isn't scanned for content) to an email, and sending their spam without any content in the body. By avoiding the body portion of the message, they completely avoid most content filtering. Because of the popularity of pdf attachments, many individuals are prone to open these attachments without hesitation. They don't cary the stigma of Word documents, they can't initiate any executable/java actions, and they're generally perceived as 'safe'. Unfortunately, this may lead to trojan exposure for those individuals who can't resist the urge to 'double-click'. This new trend won't last long. Since pdf is an open standard, and it's transmitted in an unencoded/unencrypted format, ISPs will soon write routines which scan the content of the pdf. Spammers will soon find that they can't hide their spam inside a pdf. Just another development in the never ending war. If you don't recognize the sender, it's safe to assume it's spam. Don't bother opening all those pdfs that you've been receiving.

More forgery:
Last week, I received another bounce message. Another misdirected spam bounce. A spammer forged my email address as part of a 'Return-Path' line in the messages header. Most header data can be forged by spammers. It's very easy to do, and spammers do it routinely. They forge portions of the header in order to confuse, deceive and deflect. Unfortunately, there are still some ISPs out there that blindly trust that much of the header data is authentic. This leads to plenty of cases where an ISP will send a bounce message to an innocent victim, route spam to unwilling recipients, mis-deliver legitimate email, and all sorts of other shenanigans. I sent an email to the upstream provider of the email provider in question. They responded in a positive manner. Informing the service provider that sending bounces based on header data is ineffective, sometimes harmful, and primarily an annoyance to an innocent party.

eMail address compromised:
Yet another one down. Controlling your own domain has it's advantages. Take for example the ability to create, delete and manage your email addresses (thanks Dale). Recently, spam began arriving in my inbox. That's nothing new, but this time the spam was addressed to an email address that I was using exclusively on a mailing list. Apparently, one of the list members is a spammer, or spammers have compromised the server, or the spammers scraped my address from the archives... Well, you get the point. If you use an email address, it's inevitable that the spammers will find it, add it to their lists, and you'll get spam. Thankfully, this address was one that I could easily throw away. The next time a spammer sends email to that address, they'll be wasting their time. Sorry, no one here by that name.

If you ever need any help figuring out a problem involving unsolicited email, or help hunting down a spammer, don't hesitate to ask for my help. I'm willing and eager to help. Just drop me an email. I'd put the email address here, but this email message is also posted online, where spammers could scrape the email off the web page. Damn those spammers!
<https://www.robsworld.org/index2.html#fightingspam>

Hot, hot, hot & Finally some relief:
It seems like I've said this before, but it bears repeating. Record high temperatures continue to bake Colorado. Thankfully, these high temperatures are occasionally interrupted by some thunderous rain storms. That's precisely what happened on the 19th of Jul, 2007. Sweltering in the heat of another week of high temperatures (in the high 90's, even breaking the 100 degree mark), Thursday marked a period of brief relief. As a cold front moved through the area, we eagerly welcomed a rainy day. This time it was an all day affair. The temperatures stayed low all day (down in the 60's and 70's).

D&D update:
We played D&D on the 14th of July , and the updates are in. Over the last two months, I've been searching for some new players. One new player (Todd Jordan), has been added to the roles, and it looks like the quest to fill that final slot has ended. This week, I interviewed and invited Lars to join our group. Hopefully, everything will work out with Lars, and he'll join our group on a permanent basis. In the last few months, we've added three new players. Lee, Todd and now Lars. Hopefully, these three will stick around for the long haul. The party recently finished a protracted battle with a group of giant Dwarves, and the party has finally started to explore the caverns and catacombs of Firestorm peak. Here are the updates from the meeting on the 14th of July:

Players in our campaign:
Players update. Recently, one of the players in our group had to call it quits. It' the sort of thing that happens in every campaign. A change in work schedule, medical reasons, changes in living place, military deployment, going back to school, etc, etc. There's always someone coming or going in our campaign. With Stacy's departure, the group was down by two players. After a bit of effort, I was able to fill both of those vacancies. The first player to answer the call: Todd Jordan has joined our group, and taken up play of Grenco. The most recent addition (he's slated to attend his first meeting on the 28th): Lars will run Tanar for the time being. With the addition of these two players, I made a few changes to the "players" page. Great, now I'll have to take another group photo!
<https://www.robsworld.org/players.html>

Character update:
With the loss of one player (Stacy), and the addition of a two new ones (Todd & Lars) I had to make some minor changes to this web page. Grenco is currently being played by one of our newest players (Todd). Lars (our newest player) is currently playing Tanar. In addition to these 'new player' changes, I had to make some changes to Zedd's character entry. Fang is no longer with us. "Who's Who?" is a listing of characters, both player characters and non-player characters.
<https://www.robsworld.org/3ewhoswho.html>

Monsters encountered:
As a result of the meeting on the 14th of July, I added entries for three new monsters that the party encountered. The urquirsh is an aberration from the Far Realm. Wraith's are undead creatures that suck away your fortitude, and then there were those giant skeleton's. Another variant endemic to Firestorm Peak. The monsters page is a listing of monsters that the party has encountered, read about or heard of.
<https://www.robsworld.org/monsters.html>

New feats:
One of the documents used as a house rule in our campaign. The feats document contains campaign tailored skills, feats, traits and flaws. The feats listing is available for download by the members of our D&D campaign. It's a password protected pdf, so you'll need the password in order to read it. I encrypted the document because some of the materials are taken in whole directly from copyrighted game materials. It's not my stuff, and I don't have explicit permission to re-distribute it. Thanks to Apple for making my computer powerful and versatile. Somehow, the document ended up in an unencrypted state, so I had to re-post it. Thanks go to Mark for pointing this out.
<https://www.robsworld.org/3enewfeats.pdf>

Our next gaming date is 28 Jul 2007, and I'm sure that there will be lots of thrills and excitement in the months to come. Hopefully everyone will make our next meeting. Hopefully, I can find another player to fill that remaining slot. The parties next big challenge lays inside Firestorm Peak. Be sure to follow our adventurers as they look for Tanar's father, and seek out the source of taint inside Firestorm Peak.

404 Page Not Found:
Every now and then, visitors to "Rob's World!" click on a broken link, or execute a search which leads to a missing document. When that happens, they're redirected to a specific page. The 404 page. Recently (July '07), I updated the page, making some minor format changes. Hopefully, you'll never encounter this particular page.
<https://www.robsworld.org/404page.html>

No advertisement!
Since posting my ‘No Advertisement’ graphic and link, the website that originally promoted the ‘Ad-Free’ stance went 'off the air'. As soon as I posted my updated 'Ad free page', I received an email from the authors of the 'Adfree blog'. They're back again. After receiving the email, I updated my 'Ad free page'. I maintain my ‘No Advertising’ ethic. I’m not against all advertising, I just find it offensive on a web site that’s not serving as the author’s primary source of income. You can consider "Rob's World!" to be your ad-free leisure zone. Never had 'em, never will!
<https://www.robsworld.org/iwebpages/Ad-free_blog.html>

Music collection:
Here's a list of some of the music I recently acquired. I've finished my cassette digitization project, and now I'm beginning to explore some new music web sites. With more time on my hands to discover new music, I'll likely start downloading more music from websites and newsgroups. This set of music comes from a couple of different sources.

Newsgroup download:
* Wall of Voodoo - Call of the West: (10 songs) The album which put Stan Ridgeway & Wall of Voodoo - on the map. I own this album (yes the vinyl), but it didn't do well in transition from album to tape to mp3. Here's a fresh rip of the music. I downloaded this music from a newsgroup. Awesome tunes. The lyrics are rock, western, dark and full of evocative language.

iTunes download:
* Editors - An End Has a Start: (11 songs) The follow-up to a brilliant debut. Another one of those post-punk revival British bands. With a sound reminiscent of Joy Division. Dark, moody, powerful and poignant. This second album is superior in it's sound, more powerful in it's message, but lacking in fresh cuts. Many of the songs sound alike, and that will spell their doom if they don't mix it up on their next album.
* Wilco - Sky Blue Sky: (13 songs) The latest offering from the Kings of alt-country/folk-pop. Excellent guitar work marks this slow, moving, contemplative journey. A beautifully crafted work of art.
* Crowded House - Time on Earth: (16 songs) The first new album in ten years. After the death of their drummer, the band took some time off. This album marks their return with a notably dark current running through this melancholy reflective offering.
* Interpol - Our Love to Admire: (11 songs) Another powerful release by this British post-punk power pop group. The first album in three years. It's a shame we had to wait so long for this work. Sonically, it's similar to Antics, in fact, it sounds like they made it just a day later. Revisiting the success of their former formula.

Web site download:
* Extra Blue Kind - The Tide & The Undertow: (13 songs) Downloaded from a fantastic website - Musical Family Tree. Fresh alternative tracks, with an amazing amount of variety. Thankfully, the band manages to belt out a great debut with these melancholy, energetic, and unpretentious pop plugs. Three huzzahs for EBK!

These are just some of the items I added to my music collection during the month of July. Since returning from Japan in 2001, I've been starting to rediscover my appreciation for music. I really picked it up again in September of 2005. Since then I've been slowly adding, revising and updating my music collection. If you have a comment or a question regarding my music collection, please don't hesitate to send me an email.
<https://www.robsworld.org/mymusic/index.html>
<https://www.robsworld.org/music.html>

Donate!
Back in July of 2005, I added a donation link to the bottom of my main page. During July I received a generous donation! This is the second donation so far. "Rob's World!" has actually made some money. $10.00 donated by Dennis - A huge fan of Rob's World! I'm sure there's more fans out there, but Dennis has really pulled out the wallet in order to show his appreciation. Thanks Dennis, I really appreciate the donation. As a result of this recent donation, I updated my PayPal page.
<https://www.robsworld.org/mypaypal.html>

July 16, 2007

D&D update:
We played D&D on the 16th of June, and the updates are in. Over the last two months, we've only played a few times. We missed a session on the 2nd of June (due to a lack of players (we need four players to run a session)), and we missed a session on the 30th of June (Kim and I were on vacation). In addition to the missed meetings, I've been searching for some new players. One new player (Todd Jordan), has been added to the roles, but we're still looking for one more player. If you know someone interested in playing D&D (in the Denver/Aurora area), feel free to mention my campaign to them. With the conclusion of our recent vacation, I've finally had the time to post some updates. The party finally finished a protracted battle with a group of giant Dwarves, and the party and they've started to explore the interior of Firestorm peak. Here are the updates from the meeting on the 16th of June:

The Adventurers journal:
The tale of our adventurers. A series of journal entries from various party members. This document contains details of their encounters. Victory, defeat, desire and glory. Here is the tale of S.C.R.E.W.O.F.F.S., a group of adventurers who set forth from Whillip seeking fame, fortune and the defeat of evil in these lands. Thanks to contributions from Lee and Mark, I was able to post this session's update, and update the entry from our last session. Be sure to read about the party's journey into Firestorm Peak.
<https://www.robsworld.org/ajournal07.html#jun16_2007>

Players in our campaign:
Players update. Recently, one of the players in our group had to call it quits. It' the sort of thing that happens in every campaign. A change in work schedule, medical reasons, changes in living place, military deployment, going back to school, etc, etc. There's always someone coming or going in our campaign. With Stacy's departure, the group was down by two players. After a bit of effort, I was able to fill one of those vacancies. Todd Jordan has joined our group, and taken up Grenco for the time being. Todd has made it to two of our meetings, and we're all glad to see him at our table. With the addition of Todd to our group, I made a few changes to the "players" page. Great, now I'll have to take another group photo!
<https://www.robsworld.org/players.html>

Character update:
With the loss of one player (Stacy), and the addition of a new one (Todd) I had to make some minor changes to this web page. Grenco is currently being played by our newest player (Todd). I also updated the entry for Madreus, a Wizard reportedly working towards some nefarious goal deep inside Firestorm Peak. "Who's Who?" is a listing of characters, both player characters and non-player characters.
<https://www.robsworld.org/3ewhoswho.html>

Where Now:
I added a new location to this page - With the party finally entering the mountain, they've found some clues which point to a location known as 'The Far Realm'. "Where Now?" is a listing of various places the party has visited or researched.
<https://www.robsworld.org/wherenow.html>

Our next gaming date is 28 Jul 2007, and I'm sure that there will be lots of thrills and excitement in the months to come. Hopefully everyone will make our next meeting. Hopefully, I can find another player to fill that remaining slot. The parties next big challenge lays inside Firestorm Peak. Be sure to follow our adventurers as they look for Tanar's father, and seek out the source of taint inside Firestorm Peak.

Apple Security Update:
Another security update released by Apple - QuickTime update 7.2. This update addresses security concerns regarding QuickTime and arbitrary code execution brought about by maliciously crafted web pages. Apple's software update makes it easy to find out about, and implement these security updates. If you own a Mac, you can rest assured that any potential security concerns will be addressed in a timely and thorough manner. You can read more about the update at Apple's website. Keeping my Mac safe from malicious hackers and such.
<http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/security/>

Vehicle maintenance:
Recently we brought both of our vehicles in for service. We brought the XC90 in on the 9th of July '07, and the Passat on the 11th of July '07. Maintenance on both vehicles was completed in a day. <rave> The Volvo made it through the check-up with no problems at all. I opted for a change of radiator fluid. Aside from a broken plastic cover on the rear wiper, and a recall on the Volvo's tie-rod/linkage, I've had excellent performance and low maintenance requirements on my 2004 XC90. I'm considering the purchase of an S80 to replace our Passat. </rave>

</rant> Unfortunately, the Volkswagen didn't fare as well - As usual! It had a torn boot on the driver side CV joint. This is the second boot that's gone bad on our Passat (the one on the passenger side also went bad). It seems (after some internet research), that the boots on these Passat's (And the Audi A4) are prone to this problem. With the checkup and CV boot repair, the cost for the Passat was well over $500.00. We will not buy another Passat! So far, it's been nothing but one problem after another. </rant> It sucks when your car breaks down, and Kim and I have lived through quite a few vehicle breakdowns. When we start looking to replace the Passat (in 2009 or so), reliability will be a top priority on our list.

No advertisement!
<rant>During June of 2006, I added a new graphic and link to my front page. This graphic represents my stance on advertisement. I'm not trying to make money by posting my drivel, and I don't expect anyone to pay for it. It's my drivel, and it's free!

Imagining that someone might want to read my blatherings, amuses me immensely; and besides, I wouldn't stop if no one read this. Posting to my blog/web-site (Rob's World! Was a blog before there were 'blogs'), acts as my personal social catharsis. Sometimes I actually rant to the walls! Getting it off my chest helps. I despise blogs and web sites that are littered with advertisements. I left GeoCities (now Yahoo!), because they insisted on putting advertisements on my web page. Even after I started paying for the hosting service. What crap! Anyway, I don't see the point. I'm not trying to sell anything, and I don't think you need to see advertisements 24/7. </rant>

Since posting my ‘No Advertisement’ graphic and link, the website that originally promoted the ‘Ad-Free’ stance has closed shop. Apparently, they caved to pressure from those who prefer advertising? In either case, I maintain my ‘No Advertising’ ethic. I’m not against all advertising, I just find it offensive on a web site that’s not serving as the author’s primary source of income. Since the demise of this original 'Ad-Free' blog, I've created a web page explain my stance on advertisement.

You can consider "Rob's World!" to be your ad-free leisure zone. Never had 'em, never will!
<https://www.robsworld.org/iwebpages/Ad-free_blog.html>

July 14, 2007

Software favorites:
A couple of my favorites were recently updated. Safari (Apple's web browser) is now available for Windows. This release precedes the OS 10.5 release slated for later this year (October of 2007). In addition to the new release of Safari, another favorite - GraphicConverter, moves ever forward. One more steps towards perfection. Another product that's always getting better. When the new version 6.0 (non-beta) comes out, I'll have to pay for an upgrade. It's been quite a while since I paid for a GC update, but given the amount of added and improved features, it'll be well worth the price.

Safari is Apple's default web browser for OS X (also available for Windows!), is way ahead of the pack. Apple's browser contains a plethora of incredibly powerful features. I wonder why Microsoft stopped developing IE for Mac? I'm currently using version 3.0.2 (522.12).

Battle of the browsers. Netscape versus Internet Explorer. Those are your choices right? Wrong! Think different! Think Mac! Choose Safari, the new kid on the block. A fast (The fastest available for Mac) but full featured browser, which performs like a pro. Tabbed browsing, URL snap-back, a powerful but elegant bookmark implementation (with built-in import capability), Google search integration, built-in pop-up blocker, multiple standards (HTML, XML, XHTML, DOM, CSS, RSS, JavaScript, and Java, plus QuickTime, Flash and Shockwave plug-ins), and a host of other features. Just one more reason to Switch! It's won a place as my default browser, give it a chance and it'll soon be yours.

By the way, Safari is fully compliant with the Web standards projects Acid 2 test. So, if you're concerned about standards and compliance, you've nothing to worry about. Develop your web site using the Safari webkit and you won't have to worry about rendering problems or sticky browser compatibility issues.
<http://www.apple.com/safari/>

GraphicConverter released another new beta version (6.0b4), in the past few days (hey, they skipped 6.0b3). GraphicConverter is an image converter and editor. A fantastic piece of shareware that is well worth the price ($30.00). I use it to convert image formats into web standard formats, to create and edit image maps and other graphics. I've been singing GC's praises for many years now, and I'm not sure I would do without it. The best part about GC is it's author. Thorsten Lemke is completely committed to his customer base. Constantly and Continuously responding to customer recommendations and bug reports. GC is a dynamic, evolving, application. Always on the cutting edge, an absolute must in any web developers tool box. At a fraction of PhotoShop's cost, this photo editor puts a huge wrench in your toolbox.
<http://www.lemkesoft.com/xd/public/content/index._cGlkPTE5Mw_.html>
<https://www.robsworld.org/myfavs.html>

Music collection:
Here's a list of some of the music I recently acquired. I've finished my cassette digitization project, and now I'm beginning to explore some new music web sites. With more time on my hands to discover new music, I'll likely start downloading more music from websites and newsgroups. This set of music comes from a couple of different sources.

Website downloads:
* Project Jenny, Project Jan: (11 songs) Discovered through 3hive.com, this band combines hip-hop with danceable alternative grooves that just don't quit. I found lots of free music on the bands web site.
* Crowded House - Don't Stop Now: (single) Crowded House is releasing their first album in ten years. Reformed after a tragic loss, this single signals the bands return with a world tour and a sound that is instantly familiar to fans of that distinct New Zealand sound. Discovered by a tip from a friend.

eMusic downloads:
* Art Brut - It's A Bit Complicated: (11 songs) Another new album from a band that I like. Post-punk power pop in the British indie-pop tradition. Much like the debut album, just a little bit more serious.
* So Many Dynamos - When I Explode: (7 songs) I already had three songs from this album. This marks my second foray into this infectious slam-dance, slam-dunk, post punk art riot group. Non stop lyrics, pulse pounding instrumentals and it's a combination I really dig.
* Stephen Malkmus - Pig Lib: (11 songs) My second album from this artist. Shaking off a yoke of pavement. Here are some sterling lyrics, truly outstanding guitar work and a thoughtful body that doesn't resort to gimmick vocals or synthetic rapture.
* Bad Brains - Bad Brains: (16 songs) The debut effort (back in 1982) from a cutting edge punk pioneer. Re-discovered with the help of a friend. Here are politically offensive lyrics from a raucously rebellious group. Reggae powered punk, helped move the music forward at break neck speed.
* Delta 5 - Singles & Sessions 1979-1981: (16 songs) If you like Gang of Four, you've got to check this out. The instrumental tracks are very reminiscent of that great band. Another great post-punk band from Leeds, U.K. The vocals sound a lot like Martha and the Muffins.
* The Sound Of Urchin - The Diamond: (14 songs) Discovered through emusic.com recommendations. A rock band with all the best indie-pop creative twists. All over the map, the genres are snapping with energy and verve. Another emusic.com recommendation.
* Glide - Curvature Of The Earth: (10 songs) Will Sergeant is a former/current guitarist for Echo & the Bunnymen. Here he stretches his solo limbs. Electrock pop, with swirling guitar work and synth syrup. Sparse on lyrics, the instrumentals are all Sergeant needs to create a soundscape of imagination. I already had one of the songs from this album.
* Willy Mason - Untitled 5 song EP: (5 songs) This is my second album from this artist. Mournful, soulful and full of imagery that evokes the back roads of western ghost towns. This folk rock alt-country artist is well worth listening to.

These are just some of the items I added to my music collection during the month of July. Since returning from Japan in 2001, I've been starting to rediscover my appreciation for music. I really picked it up again in September of 2005. Since then I've been slowly adding, revising and updating my music collection. If you have a comment or a question regarding my music collection, please don't hesitate to send me an email.
<https://www.robsworld.org/mymusic/index.html>
<https://www.robsworld.org/music.html>

Newsletter:
Each month I send out a monthly newsletter to the avid fans of Rob's World! (Imagine that?) If you're interested in reading about happenings at Rob's World! you can forego the daily chore of logging in to check out the latest nugget. The newsletter is a more convenient way to keep up to date on the comings and going in the life and times of Robert & Kim Vaessen and my crazy little web site. I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want a copy emailed directly to them every month! This month (July 2007), I updated the way I manage my mailing list. For some time now, I've had the ability to set up proper mailing lists (thanks to my web host 'Internet Marketing Services'); the kind of mailing list which can automatically handle subscribe and unsubscribe requests. The new mailing list management method includes a built in double confirmation mechanism, a web based list management interface, and a much more efficient way to control the addresses and characteristics associated with the mailing list. While I've been handling the mailing list for this newsletter manually (for the last five years), the time has come to switch it over to this more efficient method. If you're interested in receiving the newsletter, all you have to do is send an email to "newsletter-subscribe" at Robsworld.org. Check out the web page for more details.
<https://www.robsworld.org/newsletter.html>

Hot, Hot, Hot & Finally some rain!
Record heat continues to plague Colorado. Thankfully, the high temperatures are occasionally interrupted by some thunderous rain storms. That's precisely what happened on the 8th of Jul, 2007. Sweltering in the heat of another scorching hot summer day, the evening brought some welcome relief. As a cold front moved in from the north, the area was treated to one of those far too rare summer thunder storms.The sky boomed and rumbled, followed by a decent soaking that lasted through most of the night. At this rate (the heat has been well above normal), we're gonna need a lot more of these.

July 11, 2007

Summer Vacation:
During June/July of 2007, Kim and I took a vacation. We planned the vacation well in advance, and we had a fantastic time. The vacation began on the 22nd of June, when our guests arrived. Over the course of the next ten days (22 Jun - 01 Jul), Kim and I hosted her parents (Ted & Sharon), and two of our nieces (Chantelle and Amber). It was the first time the girls had ever flown on an airplane, the first time they left the state, and the first time they came to visit us in Colorado. Everyone involved had a great time, and I'm glad we had the opportunity to entertain our family from Wisconsin. Here's a brief synopsis of our vacation. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to go through the 800+ photos yet, so you'll have to wait a while for the pictures.

Day 1 (Jun 22): Picked up the clan at the Airport (DIA). Air travel went o.k. Thanks to Northwest. No lost luggage, delays or cancelled flights. Throughout the vacation, we used the XC90 to get around. Drove back home, and unpacked. After everyone had a chance to rest for a few minutes, we headed out to eat at Rumbi Island grill. With our bellies full, we set out on our first adventure. Soaring over Boulder. Unfortunately, due to the weather, I was the only one who got the glider ride. We'll be back this way for more. That evening we saw the ISS (International Space Station), as it crossed the night sky. I had researched it ahead of time, and we spotted it after a few minutes of star gazing.

Day 2 (Jun 23): Let the adventure begin. The first stop was Cañon (pronounced Canyon) City, for a train ride through the Royal Gorge. All aboard! After that relaxing journey, we headed to the top of the gorge. On the way there, we detoured to drive along sky-line drive (which overlooks Cañon City), one of Sharon's favorite scenic drives! After arriving at the Royal Gorge park, we spent the day taking in a movie (about the Royal Gorge), getting tattoos (the temporary kind), listening to some live music, riding the sky tram, etc. Afterwards we stayed over night in Cañon city.

Day 3 (Jun 24): More fun in central Colorado. This morning we drove to Buena Vista (pronounced byuna vista) for some white water rafting on the Arkansas river. The water levels were high and the weather was perfect! After the rafting, we checked into our favorite B&B (Sawatch Vistas). That evening, we ate at a fantastic restaurant - The Laughing Ladies (in Salida, Colorado). After the meal, some of us even had time to relax in the hot-tub. I really needed that, as I had twisted my ankle while rafting.

Day 4 (Jun 25): Still in the Buena Vista area. We chartered a Jeep tour of mountain towns. We drove through St. Elmo - stopping for a few minutes, and some photos. Then we headed up the mountain to the site of the former Mary Murphy mine. While we were up on the mountain, we did a bit of prospecting from a pile of leavings. We found a couple of sparkly rocks and headed back down the mountain. After our day long tour we headed back to the Denver/Aurora area. We headed straight for Golden, Colorado. We arrived just in time for one of the last tours of the Coors brewery. After the tour, we picked out some gifts for folks back in Wisconsin. Following the tour, we headed back home to Aurora. That evening we ate Jim & Nick's BBQ.

Day 5 (Jun 26): Up early, and off to Denver. We started the day with a tour of the Denver mint. Learned a lot about coin making. The gift shop was a bit difficult to find, but they had some nice stuff. After the mint, we headed up to Boulder in order finish up the soaring that the girls (Chantelle and Amber) missed out on earlier in the vacation. The weather wasn't the best, but the girls had a good time. After that we took a short trip over to the Celestial Seasonings plant. We didn't have time to do the tour, but we ate at the cafeteria, and bought a bunch of stuff at their gift shop. They've got an awesome gift shop. After our bellies were full, we were ready for one more event. NOAA - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A tour of NOAA finished up the day. They've got this awesome globe that they project 3d data onto. It's awesome, the presentation took up most of the tour, but it was great. After that we headed back to our house for the evening.

Day 6 (Jun 27): Up early - again! Off to Denver - again! This time we're walking. We did a lot of walking. We booked three walking tours of Denver. Two tours, lunch, and one more tour. The first tour was the 'Golddust and Traildust' tour. All about Denver's early history. We toured Union Station, and some of the early hotels. Following that, the second tour was all about 'Victorian Denver'. Denver at the turn of the century (1900s) - Brown's Palace hotel, the state Capitol, and the Byers-Evans house. By now our feet were tired, and we took a short break for lunch. After lunch, it was back on the streets for one last tour. This time we learned about the 'Wild Side' of Denver. All about the early saloons and brothels. After that our feet were tired, but we couldn't resist a little shopping. The 16th street mall offers much shopping and entertainment. By now everyone was tired of walking, and hungry as well. With reservations at the Denver Chop House, we feasted on some of the cities best fare. Afterwards, Kim and I surprised our guests with a horse drawn carriage ride through downtown Denver. A perfect ending to the day.

Day 7 (Jun 28): We get to sleep in - a little. By 0800 we're on the road again, back to Boulder for one more tour. This time it's NIST (The National Institute of Standards and Technology). The tour was very interesting. In a science classroom environment, we learned all about the scientific standards that help our industries compete in the global market place. Afterwards, we learned about Atomic Clocks (they're not really clocks!). Following that highly educational tour, we drove down to Denver for a tour of the Capitol dome. There were some really good views from up in the dome, and we took a bunch of pictures. Following that, we spent some more time shopping. This time we were really focused on getting that souvenir shopping out of the way. While the girls shopped, I enjoyed a free summer music festival. We ended the day by driving back to our house, and packing for a trip out of town.

Day 8 (Jun 29): No rest for the weary. It's a good thing we got home early last night, because today was the earliest day of the vacation. We were up at 0400! After we gulped down some coffee, we packed up the Volvo, and headed out onto the highway. The trip to Castle Rock was a short one, but we had to wait for our next event. After a brief delay, we were on our way to a hot air balloon ride. Up, up and away! in a silent ride, high above Colorado. The views were magnificent, and the weather fantastic. Floating high above the busy city, we enjoyed the spectacular views and serene experience. After the ride (we were up in the air for a little over an hour, but the event took more than four hours total), we drove over to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. We took the guided tour, watched a movie (history of the park/area), and shopped in the gift center. After everyone was tired of shopping (yeah, like that ever happens!), we had a bite to eat in their cafeteria. Following that, we took a trip over to the Cave of the Winds, for a guided tour of an underground wonder. By now we were ready for a rest. We checked into another B&B, the Red Crags is a magnificent old victorian home, high up in the hills of Manitou Springs. After we checked in, we took a short drive downtown for some food at the Stagecoach Inn. After we finished our meal, we headed back to the B&B for some sleep! It was a long day, and I for one, appreciated the fact that we didn't have to get up too early in the morning.

Day 9 (Jun 30): We woke, up and enjoyed a fantastic breakfast at the B&B. I really liked that old house, and I'd like to go back some day to spend more time at the place. While we were there, a bear was up the tree, just outside the entrance. The darned thing stayed up there all day, and didn't come down until 2130 or so. Thankfully, we were all inside when he finally decided to come down out of that big old pine tree. After breakfast, we packed up, checked out, and headed for Pike's Peak. If you want, you can drive to the summit, but that's no fun. The best way to the top is the Cog Railway. A guided tour that takes you to the top, while providing a wealth of information about this magnificent mountain. At the top, we did a little shopping, before we headed back down to a place where the air is easier to find. Speaking of shopping, Manitou Springs is a great place to do some. There are lots of little shops, and we did our fair share. We even had time to get some Old Tyme photos taken. Leaving Manitou Springs behind, we headed back to Denver. We had reservations at Maggiano's Little Italy for dinner, but we arrived a little early, so we enjoyed a couple of drinks at the bar. The food is fantastic, and the portions provided leftovers for the next three days! After we ate our fill, it was time to head back home.

Day 10 (Jul 1): The last day of our vacation. Up early to catch the plane. We had enough time to stop for breakfast, but we didn't dally. You never know how long it's going to take to make it through security. We had a terrific vacation, and the family made it more memorable than it could ever be otherwise. We're really glad that Chantelle and Amber were able to make it. I hope they had a good time. Having family (Ted, Sharon, Chantelle and Amber) visit us is always a treat, and we appreciate the effort that they make in doing so. Despite the fact that we live so far away (from Wisconsin), our hearts are closer than the distance would allow. It was hard to say goodbye, but we know they'll be back some day!

As always, Kim made the vacation a wonderful experience, and we all learned a lot during the past ten days. We packed in as much fun as we could stand, and the weather was wonderful the whole time (Thank you Colorado!). No one was injured, the Volvo ran like a dream, no one got sick, and the luggage is all accounted for. It was a perfect vacation, and I for one, would like to do it all over again. I hope to sort through the 800 plus photos in the near future.