What's New

November 30, 2009

D&D updates:
We played a D&D session on the 14th of November. Here are some of the updates from that meetings. With the conclusion of the 8 August meeting, our players have moved into an entirely new phase of the game. Gone are the S.C.R.E.W.O.F.F.S. - Existing now as a group of non-player characters. The player characters are now members of an entirely new group. The H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights. A new group of adventurers strike out from Whillip. In search of glory, fame, and justice, they seek to right the wrongs of this land. To defend the weak, enslaved and oppressed. Striking out at evil and taint, this group of characters vow to make their mark upon the land. Let H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights be a name both feared (by evil) and revered by the (good) citizens of these realms.

3rd Edition Campaign:
I updated the date of our next meeting - Our next meeting is 12 Dec. In addition to the new game date, I also updated the small gamers photo and the annotations beneath it. This page is the first stop for information on the campaign that I'm currently running. Here you'll find information regarding our next meeting, some notes, and an index of web pages and documents that are important to our campaign.
<https://www.robsworld.org/3ecampaign.html>

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 The H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights, a group of adventurers who set forth from Whillip, seeking fame, fortune and the defeat of evil in these lands. The meeting on the 19th of September was another session in and about town. The party is in Whillip, and they're trying to get things done before the next adventure. Training has been completed, Solmar has returned from his personal quest of faith, and the party has decided on a course of action - They've selected an adventure to embark upon. The party has decided to help the citizens of Deepwood in their quest to vanquish a Blue Dragon from their backyard. So, get ready to venture forth in search of valor, sharpen your blades and hitch up your horses - Adventure calls and danger beckons! This entry features inputs from Mutteran/Ortega Blanc and Solmar. Thank you Lee and Mark.
<https://www.robsworld.org/ajournal08.html#nov14_2009>

Character updates:
With the party recuperating in Whillip, I find myself busy connecting the dots, updating character entries, and tweaking things here and there. With Todd's departure from the Denver area, the character he played has been withdrawn from the campaign - Quinton has decided to devote himself full-time to building and establishing his new church. I removed Quinton from the Player Character roles, and added an entry in the 'Former' category. I also added an entry for Edvard Kititch of Deepwood. Edvard Kititch is the person who introduced them to their latest adventure. The "Who's Who?" page is a listing of characters, both player characters and non-player characters.
<https://www.robsworld.org/3ewhoswho.html>

Players in our campaign:
Over the last few months, our player line-up has stabilized some - Recently one of our players relocated to Wisconsin to take a new job, leaving one of the chairs at our table vacant. I contacted the waiting list and posted some 'Player Wanted' adds in search of another player to join our group. Within a few weeks a new candidate was located, and a new character created. We welcome Joe to our table and Jusarian to our Player Character adventuring group. With these changes around our table, I took a new group photo and posted it on the Players page. I updated the associated image map and the annotations beneath it. A group of crazy characters constitute the players in our campaign. Many players have graced my gaming table over the years, some are old friends, some are new, but in the end - friends are what I call them. The players page contains a photo of our group and a short listing of who we are.
<https://www.robsworld.org/players.html>

Quinton the Cleric:
Quinton was a player character until Todd left our campaign and the Denver area. Quinton was run as an NPC until the character announced his departure from the Player's Adventuring Group - The H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights. Quinton is still around - He's hard at work, establishing a new church in Whillip. With his departure from the Player Character roles, I've created a stand-alone web page for the character. With this change - Transition from PC to NPC, I updated all the links for that character. 94 links were located and updated.
<https://www.robsworld.org/quinton.html>

Ysoac the Druid:
Ysoac (pronounced 'So-Ack') was a player character until Dino (an on again/off again player in our group) left our campaign. Ysoac is now an NPC adventuring with the S.C.R.E.W.O.F.F.S. (an NPC adventuring organization). While working on the new 'Quinton' page (see above), I noted and corrected some errors on the 'Ysoac' page.
<https://www.robsworld.org/ysoac.html>

Here there be Heroes:
With all the recent character changes, I took the time to update the "Hero's Gallery". I added a new entry for Jusarian and made some format updates. The Hero's Gallery is a list of characters from my campaign. Past and present, the characters listed represent a fraction of those who have called Rob's World! home. Some of the players are long forgotten, but many of the characters live long in our memory. Who can forget their heroic feats, the daring deeds, and tragic endings? Let's heft our mugs, sing their praises, and salute those hero's of lore!
<https://www.robsworld.org/gallery.html>

Letter from Edvard Kititch:
The letter from Edvard Kititch of Deepwood. This is the letter that spurred the characters on to their next adventure. In this letter, Edvard entreats the H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights to help the town of Deepwood with their 'Dragon' problem. Apparently, a young Blue Dragon has a lair in the vicinity of the town. Of late, this Dragon has been causing problems and the town needs help getting rid of it. Read the letter for more details.
<https://www.robsworld.org/kititchletter.pdf>

Where Now?:
As the party investigates new adventuring possibilities, they discover, and research numerous new places within these realms. Some of the places they researched over the past few days (in-game time) are: Deepwood - Town with a Dragon problem. The countries of Amn, Tethyr and Calimshan. The Shilmista forest (also known as the Forest of Shadows), The Snowflake and Omlarandin mountains. The towns/cities of Riatavin and Mintar. The Lake of Steam and the Shining Plains. "Where Now?" is a listing of various places the party has visited or researched.
<https://www.robsworld.org/wherenow.html>

Monsters encountered:
While the party researches their next adventure, Skifander spent a considerable amount of time doing some research on Dragons. Dragons in general and more specifically - Blue Dragons. The monsters page is a listing of monsters that the party has encountered, read about or heard of.
<https://www.robsworld.org/monsters.html>

These updates follow our meetings on the 14th of November. Our meeting on the 19th of September saw the party back in Whillip, and they're trying to get things done before the next adventure. Training has been completed, Solmar has returned from his personal quest of faith, and the party has decided on a course of action - They've selected an adventure to embark upon. The party has decided to help the citizens of Deepwood in their quest to vanquish a Blue Dragon from their backyard. So, get ready to venture forth in search of valor, sharpen your blades and hitch up your horses - Adventure calls and danger beckons! You can keep up to date with our adventures by continuing to visit "Rob's World!" for all the latest campaign info. If you're enjoying the story of our adventurers, I encourage you to write me and let us know. Perhaps you've got an idea you'd like to share, some criticism or praise. Either way, it'll be earnestly appreciated.
<https://www.robsworld.org/3ecampaign.html>

GraphicConverter:
Thorsten Lemke (of Lemkesoft) released a couple more beta releases over the last few days. They come so fast and furiously, that he sometimes skips a few in releasing them to the public. Over the last few days Thorsten released 6.6b29v2 and 6.6b31. GraphicConverter is an image converter and editor. A fantastic piece of shareware that is well worth the price ($35.00). 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>

With these software updates, I've updated my Software Favorites page. It's primarily dedicated to web publishing for the Mac user. Not meant for the professional, It's my hope that home users and hobbyists will find it useful. It's a listing of applications that I find useful in publishing my web pages.
<https://www.robsworld.org/myfavs.html>

More Roku News:
Just in case that amazing announcement about the new 'Roku Channel Store' wasn't enough... Roku recently (Late Oct '09) expanded and updated their product line. The original product was released in May of '08 (I got mine in Aug of '08). Back then there was one device (Known as the 'Netflix Player'). By March of '09, (with the announcement of Amazon Video on Demand) they had rebranded the set-top box as the 'Roku Player'. Now (as of Oct '09) they've refreshed their product line-up. Redesigning their base model, and offering two new devices.

There are now three boxes for customers. The new Roku SD (Standard Definition), The redesigned Roku HD (High Definition), and the new Roku HD-XR (High Definition eXtended range). Theses three products offer a fairly wide array of choices and price points for consumers. The new Roku SD features Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) and ethernet connectivity, with SD/DVD quality output via Composite (Yellow, Red, White - 480i) outputs. The redesigned Roku HD (previously known as the Roku Player) has Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) and ethernet connectivity, with HD quality output delivered via HDMI (720p/480i), Component (Red, Blue, Green - 720p/480i), Composite (Yellow, Red, White - 480i) or S-Video connectors (480i). Audio output is available via HDMI (Stereo/Surround), RCA (R/L stereo), or Optical audio (Stereo/Surround TOS link) outputs. Finally, the new Roku HD-XR offers connectivity via Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n (for extended range/higher speed)) and ethernet. The video is HD quality delivered via HDMI (720p/480i), Component (Red, Blue, Green - 720p/480i), Composite (Yellow, Red, White - 480i) or S-Video connectors (480i). Audio output is available via HDMI (Stereo/Surround), RCA (R/L stereo), or Optical audio (Stereo/Surround TOS link) outputs. The Roku HD-XR also features a USB port for future expandability/connectivity.

The prices on these boxes are as follows (from Roku web page - as of 17 Dec '09): Roku SD - $79.99, Roku HD - $99.99, Roku HD-XR - $129.99. All three Roku players are available immediately at www.roku.com and www.amazon.com and include free shipping for a limited time. With a variety of features and price points, customers should be able to find a Roku player that fits their needs. To learn more about these new models, visit the Roku website (or Amazon) and check out the specs.

Disclaimer: I don't really need one do I? I don't work for Roku, Netflix, Amazon or any of the Roku partners. I'm simply a Roku owner. I love my Roku, and wanted to tell all my friends about this amazing set-top device. Go forth and Stream!
<http://www.roku.com/roku-products>

November 25, 2009

Roku News:
Some great news for those of you (including me!) who own a Roku player - First of all, what's a Roku Player? Well, just in case you didn't know. A Roku Player is the first set-top box designed to stream Netflix 'Watch Instantly' titles directly to your television. More than a Netflix player, the inexpensive (I paid $99.99 for mine) Roku Box has recently evolved (The device is periodically updated by internet downloads and patches) into a premium streaming device. While they started out with Netflix, they added other 'channels' over the last year. In Dec of '09 they added streaming of (some) Netflix titles in HD. In March of '09 they added Amazon video on demand, in August of '09 they added an MLB channel.

So what's new? What other amazing announcements has Roku to trumpet? Well, they've really outdone themselves this time. With the version 2.4 (build 334) update, the Roku is now (as of Nov 22nd, 2009) an open platform for streaming video (and audio) content. This latest announcement heralds the arrival of the 'Roku Channel Store' - With featured (Netflix, Amazon VOD, Pandora, MLB.com), Free (Home videos by Motion Box, Mediafly, blip.tv, TWIT.tv, Facebook photos, Revision3, FrameChannel, flickr, Pandora) and Premium (Netflix, Amazon VOD, MLB.com, Mobile Tribe) channels, the Roku player moves into an entirely new category. No longer a niche player, it is now a fully functioning conduit for web content, streaming content, audio and video. This is IP TV, and the cable companies should be afraid. Here are the channels/here is the content we were promised nearly a year ago. It's the course we've all been hoping for, Roku is charting new territory for a set-top device. I've had a bit of time to surf these new "Channels", and I thought you might like to know a little more about some of the juicier additions to the 'Channel Store':

Pandora: Of course - Free streaming music, tailored to your tastes. 24-7 dj-rific tunes, just for you.
Home Videos by Motion Box: Now you can stream your own video content. Upload video to the Motion Box cloud/servers. Share and stream the video to any TV via Roku.
Mediafly: Podcasts galore. More shows than you can shake your RSS reader at. Set up your personalized (free) Mediafly account and set up some channels. Pick from a large selection of premium content - CNET, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, CDBaby, ESPN, Nova, WSJ, HBO, BBC, NPR, Comedy Central, and many more.
blip.tv: A channel dedicated to fully Independent IP TV content. Shows created outside the mainstream media, for the unconventional, independent, adventurous.
TWIT.tv: TWIT = This Week In Tech, a 'netcast' I've been listening to for years. Over the years, they've expanded to encompass a vast array of content - both audio and video. You'll find shows such as: TWIT, Giz Wiz - Gadgets and such, MacBreak Weekly, Net@Night, Windows Weekly, Security Now, Futures in Biotech, and more.
Facebook Photos: Your Facebook photos, and the Facebook photos from your friends profiles.
Revision3: As if blip.tv, Mediafly, and TWIT.tv weren't enough, here is another channel chock full of IP TV content. Check out shows such as: ByteJacker, Diggnation, HD Nation, Tekzilla, The Totally Rad Show, Pixel Perfect, Film Riot, and many more.
FrameChannel: Another personalized channel with content such as: Your photos (upload to the cloud), your friends photos, 3-day weather forecast, an online calendar, People.com, Time Magazine, The current weather, Wired.com entertainment, BBC, Twitter, boing boing, and more.
flickr: Looking for some photos? Want to share some photos? flickr has been storing photos online for years, now you can access the flickr content right from your tv.

It's an avalanche of media, more music, video, photos and IP TV content than I can possibly consume. It would take me years just to check out all the possibilities. The addition of these 'channels' makes the Roku player the set top box to own. I really don't have much choice. I'm going to get another box. I moved the Roku player into our bedroom a few months back - Giving the Apple TV the prime spot in our living room. With this update, the Apple TV really has nothing much to offer. They've got podcasts (audio and video), and movies (to rent), but they haven't got all the channels that the Roku is offering, and I don't think they ever will. There are a lot of competing services here, and there's no way Apple would allow them on their platform. Roku wins!

This move not only catapults them to the head of the class, it also shows the Roku as paving a way forward for more content. As the number of boxes increases, the platform will become more attractive to other content providers. I sure wish I had some stock in this company.
<http://www.roku.com/Libraries/Press_Releases/Roku_Channel_Store_Release.sflb.ashx>
<http://www.roku.com/Libraries/Press_Releases/NetflixWithHD.sflb.ashx>
<http://newteevee.com/2009/08/10/roku-adds-mlb-tv-channel/>
<http://www.motionbox.com/go/roku?utm_source=roku&utm_medium=rokuprogpage&utm_campaign=rokuprogpage>
<http://www.roku.com/pandora-partner>
<http://www.blip.tv/>
<http://www.twit.tv/>
<http://revision3.com/>
<http://www.flickr.com/>
<http://www.framechannel.com/>
<http://www.roku.com/facebook-partner>
<http://www.mediafly.com/Welcome>
<http://www.roku.com/mlb-partner>
<http://www.roku.com/roku-products>

Even more new music for November:
Here are more free tracks 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 (Pandora, 3hive.com, musicalfamilytree.org and several other music blogs (Analog Giant, Brooklyn Vegan, Fluxblog, Gorilla vs. Bear, etc)) out there, and listening to a few different music podcasts (iTunes new music tuesdays, discovery download, and indiefeed). 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 (iTunes and eMusic). Here's the latest music I legally downloaded.

iTunes Discovery download:
Sometimes I purchase music from iTunes, and sometimes I take advantage of their free downloads (check it out on Tuesdays). iTunes is the King of the Hill when it comes to the bigger names, so sometimes I find that I have to pay the higher prices. Here's one of those free downloads from the iTunes store:
* Das Wohltemperierte Klavier: Book 1, BMV 846-869: Prelude in C Major, BWV 846: (single) Why must classical music have such long names? How about some more info? Maybe a translation? 'Well-Tempered Clavier - Johann Sebastian Bach - Performed by Maurizio Pollini. I do enjoy Classical, and I appreciate the fact that iTunes has finally offered up a free track for those who enjoy this type of music.

Starbucks gives away free iTunes Tracks:
Kim and I occasionally visit Starbucks to pick up some java juice. While we're there, we grab the most recent Starbucks Pick of the Week card. Starbucks and iTunes have teamed up to reward loyal customers with these handpicked downloads. Just visit your local Starbucks every Tuesday to pick up the latest free Pick of the Week card. Here's a track I downloaded this month.
* Don't Get Hung Up In Your Soul - Richard Hawley: (single) From the album "Truelove's Gutter". I'm a fan of Richard Hawley. His deeply soulful music is a beautiful force of inspiration. I've been listening to his music since 2007, but I haven't downloaded anything lately. Unfortunately, eMusic is only carrying one 3 song EP, and one of the songs isn't available. Thankfully, this 'Starbucks' download didn't have DRM protection.

This is an example of some of the tunes I've added to my music collection during the last month. Since revamping my music collection back in September of 2005, I've been slowly adding, revising and updating the collection. If you have a comment, question or correction regarding my music collection, please don't hesitate to send me an email. Please keep in mind that my collection isn't for sale, and I'm not interested in giving you any copyrighted materials. I'd rather not go to jail for music piracy. :-)
<https://www.robsworld.org/music.html>
<http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/>

Software favorites:
More beta releases for one of my software favorites. GraphicConverter moves ever forward. As usual, developer has been busy updating this application. Here are more beta releases for the product that's always getting better. More free upgrades for those who own a license. If you need a powerhouse converter, editor and browser for your graphics, grab a copy of GraphicConverter - You won't be disappointed. In addition to the GC update, there was also a one-up increment to Transmit - Transmit is an FTP tool that does it all. If you need to upload and download lots of files. This tool will likely fit your needs.

GraphicConverter:
Thorsten Lemke (of Lemkesoft) released a few more beta releases over the last few days. They come so fast and furiously, that he sometimes skips a few in releasing them to the public. Over the last few days Thorsten released 6.6b22, 6.6b23, 6.6b24, 6.6b25 and finally, 6.6b26. GraphicConverter is an image converter and editor. A fantastic piece of shareware that is well worth the price ($35.00). 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>

Transmit:
An FTP tool that does it all. Anyone who publishes web pages eventually needs a way to upload their pages to a web site. I've found that stand alone FTP tools are the best for this task. Transmit has a clean and easy to use interface, and some really nifty features, like the ability to resume a transfer that's been interrupted, site synchronization capabilities, iDisk integration (It's way faster than the finder!), drag-to-dock sending, column views, a built in text editor, and secure ftp transfer (in various different flavors) capability. The most recent update moves this software up to version 3.7.
<http://www.panic.com/transmit/index.html>

D&D updates:
We played a D&D session on the 31st of October. Here are some of the updates from those meetings. With the conclusion of the 8 August meeting, our players have moved into an entirely new phase of the game. Gone are the S.C.R.E.W.O.F.F.S. - Existing now as a group of non-player characters. The player characters are now members of an entirely new group. The H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights. A new group of adventurers strike out from Whillip. In search of glory, fame, and justice, they seek to right the wrongs of this land. To defend the weak, enslaved and oppressed. Striking out at evil and taint, this group of characters vow to make their mark upon the land. Let H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights be a name both feared (by evil) and revered by the (good) citizens of these realms.

3rd Edition Campaign:
I updated the date of our next meeting - Our next meeting is 28 November. In addition to the updated meeting date, I also changed some of the formatting on this page. This page is the first stop for information on the campaign that I'm currently running. Here you'll find information regarding our next meeting, some notes, and an index of web pages and documents that are important to our campaign.
<https://www.robsworld.org/3ecampaign.html>

These updates follow our meeting on the 31st of October. That meeting saw the party back in Whillip leveling up and preparing for their next adventure. Training is nearing completion, and the job offers have been rolling in. Solmar is engaged in a personal quest to awaken the power of an Ancestral Relic. Gregor embarks on a solo adventure. Opportunities to adventure continue to entice the group, while our party chaffs at the bit under the drudgery of mundane matters and requisite advancement training. You can keep up to date with our adventures by continuing to visit "Rob's World!" for all the latest campaign info. If you're enjoying the story of our adventurers, I encourage you to write me and let us know. Perhaps you've got an idea you'd like to share, some criticism or praise. Either way, it'll be earnestly appreciated.
<https://www.robsworld.org/3ecampaign.html>

November 15, 2009

Updates to the Tollgate Crossing Website:
My odd-ball schedule actually works in my favor for some things. A couple of those activities are the community support activities which I enjoy - Volunteering with our local neighborhood watch, and supporting our community by maintaining the Tollgate Crossing website and mailing lists. What started out as a website focused primarily on our Neighborhood Watch has grown to encompass the whole of our community, in the form of an expanded website and a variety of email mailing lists. Here are a few changes I made at our community website in the last few days:

* Updated the banners/badges on the Welcome page. I changed the order of the banners, updated the dates for our next HOA meeting (8 Dec). I also added a banner for an upcoming Ward VI meeting (19 Nov).
* Updated some information on our Events page. Updated the entry for our next HOA meeting date, and added an event entry for the upcoming Ward VI meeting.
* On the Neighborhood Watch page, I posted some info regarding Aurora's Door-To-Door disposal program for hazardous materials (batteries, fuels, pesticides, etc).
* On the Info page, I posted some info regarding Aurora's Door-To-Door disposal program for hazardous materials (batteries, fuels, pesticides, etc).

If you are a resident of 'Tollgate Crossing' in Aurora, Colorado, you might want to check out the new website. If you're interested in our Neighborhood Watch group (Serving Tollgate Crossing, Sorrel Ranch, The Wheatlands, Beacon Point, Southshore and Tallyn’s Reach), you should check out the Neighborhood Watch section. If you're a fan of "Rob's World!" you'll want to check out the web page, just to see what can be done with Apple's iWeb software. The web page turned out very nicely, and I hope it serves our community well. If you're a resident of Tollgate Crossing, and you're concerned about the safety and security of our community, you might want to join our mailing lists to receive periodic alerts, updates and information.
<http://www.apple.com/ilife/iweb/>
<http://www.tollgatecrossing.org/Welcome.html>

Is it Winter yet?:
Another pre-Winter snow storm swooped into the Denver region over the last couple of days. This one snuck in on the 14th of November, and by the time it ended - on the 15th, it managed to drop approximately 8 inches of snow on our back yard. We've sure been getting our fair share of snow this winter. It's good news for the farmers, the rafting companies and the plants behind my house. Unfortunately, the cold weather means higher heating bills this season, and my back doesn't appreciate the fact that I'll have to move some of that snow using a shovel.

D&D updates:
We played a D&D session on the 31st of October. We skipped the 17 October meeting while Kim and I attended Dino's wedding (A good friend of ours). Here are some of the updates from the meeting on the 31st. With the conclusion of the 8 August meeting, our players have moved into an entirely new phase of the game. Gone are the S.C.R.E.W.O.F.F.S. - Existing now as a group of non-player characters. The player characters are now members of an entirely new group. The H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights. A new group of adventurers strike out from Whillip. In search of glory, fame, and justice, they seek to right the wrongs of this land. To defend the weak, enslaved and oppressed. Striking out at evil and taint, this group of characters vow to make their mark upon the land. Let H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights be a name both feared (by evil) and revered by the (good) citizens of these realms.

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 The H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights, a group of adventurers who set forth from Whillip, seeking fame, fortune and the defeat of evil in these lands. The meeting on the 31st of October was another session in and about town. The party is in Whillip, and they're trying to get things done before the next adventure. Thanks to input from Mark and Lee, I added seven entries from three meetings to our online journal.
<https://www.robsworld.org/ajournal08.html#oct31_2009>

These updates follow our meeting on the 31st of October . That meeting saw the party back in Whillip leveling up and preparing for their next adventure. At first I thought there wouldn't be much 'adventure' in town, but these character sure keep it exciting. You can keep up to date with our adventures by continuing to visit "Rob's World!" for all the latest campaign info. If you're enjoying the story of our adventurers, I encourage you to write me and let us know. Perhaps you've got an idea you'd like to share, some criticism or praise. Either way, it'll be earnestly appreciated.
<https://www.robsworld.org/3ecampaign.html>

Yet Another Comcast outage!:
<rant>Over the last few weeks (29 Sep - 12 Nov), I've experienced some unexplained Comcast outages, and no ones seems to know what's happening. I am starting to hate Comcast (or at least their customer service). I was hoping that the service interruptions were done with. There's some indication that these problems are occurring as a result of Comcast's recent update to DOCSIS 3.0. Unfortunately, the outages haven't ended. Perhaps there's a problem with backward compatibility, and my modem's ability to handle certain types of Docsis 3.0 packets? In either case, the interrupted service continues. This afternoon I suffered another network outage. Of course, Comcast would blame it on me or my equipment, without proving anything. If I call, they'll be unable to find a cause, and I'll be left scratching my head and cursing Comcast. So who corrected the problem, and got my network back online with the Comcast servers? - I did! I went downstairs, unplugged the modem, waited a couple of minutes, restarted the modem, and connectivity was re-established. </rant>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOCSIS>

iTunes New Music for November:
Here's another free track 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 (Pandora, 3hive.com, musicalfamilytree.org and several other music blogs (Analog Giant, Brooklyn Vegan, Fluxblog, Gorilla vs. Bear, etc)) out there, and listening to a few different music podcasts (iTunes new music tuesdays, discovery download, and indiefeed). 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 (iTunes and eMusic). Here's the latest music I legally downloaded.

iTunes Discovery download:
Sometimes I purchase music from iTunes, and sometimes I take advantage of their free downloads (check it out on Tuesdays). iTunes is the King of the Hill when it comes to the bigger names, so sometimes I find that I have to pay the higher prices. Here's one of those free downloads from the iTunes store:
* I Wonder Why - Harmonica Shah: (single) It's a discovery for me. If you like harmonica blues, then this is definitely something you'd enjoy. Play those blues baby, play those blues. This single was offered free as a 'Discovery Download'. Pulled from the album 'If All You Have Is a Hammer' Excellent!

Software favorites:
Yet another software update for one of my favorites. Coming just after a Mac OS update, Apple has released another update to their web browser. It's my primary browser, and I'm very happy with it.

Safari:
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 (over 150 features), and this release moves the browser forward for everyone. I wonder why Microsoft stopped developing IE for Mac? I'm currently running version 4.0.4 (6531.21.10). This update brings improvements for JavaScript, browser history, search performance and improvements in a number of areas and a handful of security updates.

Battle of the browsers. Internet Explorer vs FireFox. 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. The full release version is a powerful workhorse - Featuring 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 4.01 and some HTML 5, XML, XPath, XSLT, XHTML, DOM, CSS, RSS, ECMA Script, Proxy Support, SSL, TLS, JavaScript, Java, plus QuickTime, Flash and Shockwave plug-ins), and a host of other features. The beta boast a bevy of new features that will certainly enhance future versions of the browser. New features: Top sites - A visual representation of your top visited sites. Cover Flow - A fantastic new way to visualize your bookmarks. Tabs on Top - Not so hot. Nitro Engine - Makes Safari the fastest in the pack. That's just a small taste of all the new features. Check out the website for more info. Safari is 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 (it was the first Browser to meet that bench mark) with the advanced Acid 3.0 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/>
<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222>
<http://www.webstandards.org/action/acid3>

With this software update, I've updated my Software Favorites page. It's primarily dedicated to web publishing for the Mac user. Not meant for the professional, It's my hope that home users and hobbyists will find it useful. It's a listing of applications that I find useful in publishing my web pages.
<https://www.robsworld.org/myfavs.html>

November 9, 2009

Mac OS 10.6.2 update / Security update 2009-006:
Apple is hard at work, making sure that Snow Leopard is running on all cylinders (in my case 8 - or 16 if you count the virtual threads). Finding security flaws, patching annoying bugs, improving the user experience. These particular updates brings a slew of improvements, corrections and updates. It includes recent security updates, as well as updates and bug fixes to the following applications and services: An issue that caused data to be deleted when using a guest account (Yowza!); an issue that might cause your system to logout unexpectedly; the reliability of menu extras; shutter-click sound effect when taking a screenshot; an issue adding images to contacts in Address Book; reliability and duration of VPN connections; general reliability improvements for iWork, iLife, Aperture, Final Cut Studio, MobileMe, and iDisk; Fonts fixes; Graphics fixes; Mail fixes; MobileMe fixes; Network file systems fixes; Printing and faxing fixes; Safari fixes.

In addition to the OS update, Apple also released a security update (2009-006) to bring the 10.6.2 security updates to users of Leopard (10.5.8 and later). This security update isn't necessary for users of Snow Leopard. The security updates were included in the Snow Leopard update.

You can read all about these upgrades, bug fixes, security updates, and more by following the links I've provided below. I upgraded to Snow Leopard during August of 2009, and I have to say, the tweaking, enhancements and multi-core refinements have resulted in considerable speed improvements on my machine.

As a result of these recent updates, the following pages have been updated. myfavs.html, feedback.html, encryption.html and mycomputer.html.
<http://www.apple.com/macosx/>
<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3874>
<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3937>

Yet another spammer pretending to be me:
Occasionally I receive bounce messages triggered by email I didn't actually send. It's evidence that the spammers still hate me. As I continue to report them, they find out that someone cares. I do my best to report the spam that I receive. Some of it reaches ISPs that care, and they shut down the spammer(s). Sometimes it heads right back to the spammer. Many of these spammers control the mail server directly (the machine is compromised/they own it), or they're friendly with the service provider. The bounce messages I receive are proof that spammers use my email address(es) in the From: line of the spam they send. Most of these bounce messages are a cost of 'doing business'. Some spammers take offense when I try to get them shut down, and I do that a lot. They break the law, don't respect privacy, and use deceptive measures to conceal their true identity. Just another volley in this 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.

My first run-in with this sort of header forgery dates back to 2002. Like then, this instance is an attack on my domain. Based on the number of bounce/auto-reply messages that I've received, it's fairly evident that this spammer hasn't sent many messages. While I only received four 'bounce' messages, the odds are very good that the spammer sent many more messages where my email address was forged to appear as the From: address. The spammer is pretending to be me; intentionally targeting me/my domain. The blow-back from his spam run is damaging to my domain and name. I can only hope that no-one will assume that I actually am the spammer. That's what the spammer is hoping for. He/She is hoping that my ISP(s) or email provider(s) will mistake me for the spammer.

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>
<https://www.robsworld.org/forgery.html>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpamCop>

Yet Another Comcast outage:
<rant>Over the last few weeks (29 Sep - 9 Nov), I've experienced some unexplained Comcast outages, and no ones seems to know what's happening. I am starting to hate Comcast (or at least their customer service). I was hoping that the service interruptions were done with. Unfortunately, that's not the case. The interrupted service continues. Checking my logs shows no outages while we were on vacation (during that vacation (21 - 29 Oct, 2009), I used Apple's VNC (Back to My Mac) service to control the desktop at home), but this morning, I woke up to another network outage. Of course, Comcast would blame it on me or my equipment, without proving anything. If I call, they'll be unable to find a cause, and I'll be left scratching my head and cursing Comcast. So who corrected the problem, and got my network back online with the Comcast servers? - I did! I went downstairs, unplugged the modem, waited a couple of minutes, restarted the modem, and connectivity was re-established. </rant>

Software favorites:
Yet another beta release for one of my software favorites. GraphicConverter moves ever forward. With the recent release of a new Mac OS, the developer has been busy updating this application. Here are more beta releases for the product that's always getting better. More free upgrades for those who own a license. If you need a powerhouse converter, editor and browser for your graphics, grab a copy of GraphicConverter - You won't be disappointed. In addition to the GC update, there was also a one-up increment to my favorite cataloguing applications.

GraphicConverter:
Thorsten Lemke (of Lemkesoft) released a few more beta releases over the last few days. They come so fast and furiously, that he sometimes skips a few in releasing them to the public. I'm currently running 6.6b10, but I'm sure it'll change soon. GraphicConverter is an image converter and editor. A fantastic piece of shareware that is well worth the price ($35.00). 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>

DVDPedia:
DVDPedia is a great little application for cataloging and displaying your movie collection, and I'm running version 4.5.4. It's list of features is impressive, and it keeps getting better with every update. The database is capable of generating statistics, you can keep track of multiple collections, you can easily add titles by typing the name of the movie or you can scan the barcode (using your iSight camera or a barcode reader) right off the movie box (it then searches the internet, and displays choices). It has customizable HTML export capabilities, a borrowed feature with address book integration, the ability to play movie in full screen mode, and many more features which make an awesome addition to your software library. I use it to generate HTML listings of my movies. Below are links to some of the pages I created using this software.
<https://www.robsworld.org/mymovies/index.html>
<https://www.robsworld.org/iphonemoviecollection/index.html>
<http://www.bruji.com/dvdpedia/>

CDPedia:
CDPedia is a great little application for cataloging and displaying your music collection, and I'm running version 4.5.4 It's list of features is impressive, and it keeps getting better with every update. The database is capable of generating statistics, you can keep track of multiple collections, you can easily add titles by typing the name of the artist, album, or track. You can scan the barcode (using your iSight camera or a barcode reader) right off a jewel case (it then searches the internet, and displays choices), or you can import lists of music from iTunes. It has customizable HTML export capabilities, a borrowed feature with address book integration, and many more features which make an awesome addition to your software library. I use it to generate HTML listings of my music. Below are links to some of the pages I created using this software.
<https://www.robsworld.org/mymusic/index.html>
<https://www.robsworld.org/iphonemusiccollection/index.html>
<http://www.bruji.com/cdpedia/>

Bookpedia:
Bookpedia is a great little application for cataloging and displaying your book collection(s), and I'm running version 4.5.4 It's list of features is impressive, and it keeps getting better with every update. The database is capable of generating statistics, you can keep track of multiple collections, you can easily add titles by typing the name of the author, book, or isbn number. You can scan the barcode (using your iSight camera or a barcode reader) right off the book cover (the application searches the internet, and displays choices). It has customizable HTML export capabilities, a borrowed feature with address book integration, and many more features which make an awesome addition to your software library.

I haven't started using Bookpedia yet (for web page production), but I'm planning to use it to update a bunch of pages featuring book collections. If it performs as well as the other applications from Bruji.com, I'm sure I'll be very satisfied with the product.
<http://www.bruji.com/bookpedia/>

D&D updates:
We played a D&D session on the 19th of September, and again on the 3rd of October. Here are some of the updates from those meetings. With the conclusion of the 8 August meeting, our players have moved into an entirely new phase of the game. Gone are the S.C.R.E.W.O.F.F.S. - Existing now as a group of non-player characters. The player characters are now members of an entirely new group. The H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights. A new group of adventurers strike out from Whillip. In search of glory, fame, and justice, they seek to right the wrongs of this land. To defend the weak, enslaved and oppressed. Striking out at evil and taint, this group of characters vow to make their mark upon the land. Let H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights be a name both feared (by evil) and revered by the (good) citizens of these realms.

3rd Edition Campaign:
I updated the date of our next meeting - Our next meeting is 14 November. This page is the first stop for information on the campaign that I'm currently running. Here you'll find information regarding our next meeting, some notes, and an index of web pages and documents that are important to our campaign.
<https://www.robsworld.org/3ecampaign.html>

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 The H.A.L.L.O.W.ed Knights, a group of adventurers who set forth from Whillip, seeking fame, fortune and the defeat of evil in these lands. The meeting on the 19th of September was another session in and about town. The party is in Whillip, and they're trying to get things done before the next adventure. Thanks to input from Mark, Lee and Sean, I was able to add more entries from Solmar, Mutteran and Skifander.
<https://www.robsworld.org/ajournal08.html#sep19_2009>
<https://www.robsworld.org/ajournal08.html#oct03_2009>

These updates follow our meetings on the 19th of September. That meeting saw the party back in Whillip leveling up and preparing for their next adventure. At first I thought there wouldn't be much 'adventure' in town, but these character sure keep it exciting. You can keep up to date with our adventures by continuing to visit "Rob's World!" for all the latest campaign info. If you're enjoying the story of our adventurers, I encourage you to write me and let us know. Perhaps you've got an idea you'd like to share, some criticism or praise. Either way, it'll be earnestly appreciated.
<https://www.robsworld.org/3ecampaign.html>

eMusic New additions for November:
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 (Pandora, 3hive.com, musicalfamilytree.org) and several other music blogs (Analog Giant, Brooklyn Vegan, Fluxblog, Gorilla vs. Bear, etc) out there, and listening to a few different music podcasts (iTunes new music tuesdays, discovery download, and indiefeed). 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 (iTunes and eMusic). Here's a listing of some of the music I legally downloaded.

eMusic monthly downloads:
Every month I download 50+ tracks (50 download credits) from eMusic.com. Unlike some music outlets, eMusic doesn't have any DRM and they don't insert unique track id's into the ID3 tags. Their terms of service are consumer friendly; eMusic allows you to burn as many CDs as you like and copy downloads to an unlimited number of computers and portable MP3 players, including the iPod and Zune. At less than $.40 a track, it's a really good value. iTunes and Amazon still charge more. eMusic offers more music for your money, and the variable bit rate recordings make for exceptionally high quality recordings.
* Everyone Is Here - Finn Brothers: (12 songs) The Finn Brothers are two brothers (Neil and Tim) from New Zealand. Back in the '70s, they were members of a band called 'Split Enz' - A favorite of mine. That band broke up in 1984, and the brothers went their separate ways. Neil started 'Crowded House' in '85, and that band lasted until '96. Neil then recorded a couple of solo albums before reforming 'Crowded House' in 2007. Tim started a solo career in '83, then joined 'Crowded House' for an album release in '91. In '95 and again in '04, the brothers managed to get together and record a couple albums. I hope to see more from the pair. Both brothers are well accomplished, have excellent vocals and write some great songs. I'll be adding some of Tim's recordings to my list.
* Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper - Julian Plenti: (9+2 songs) Julian Plenti is... Paul Banks; former vocalist for Interpol. I'm not sure what happened there, but here is a solo effort by the man who made Interpol tops on my list. The vocals are most impressionable. I like this sound.
* Flip Your Whig - Husker Dü: (14 songs) Husker Du was a favorite of mine back in the early 80's, and I owned a few of their albums. All that remained when I converted my collection to all digital, was 'New Day Rising'. Well, now eMusic is carrying some of their albums. Classic punk-rock. Influential, dense, and artistic. They had no idea what they were doing. No idea how these tunes would infect, influence and inspire countless American artists.
* Kill the Moonlight - Spoon: (12 songs) Tremendous. An outstanding effort from a band I've recently come to appreciate. An instant classic. I love this one. The vocals, lyrics, and instrumental arrangement all mesh in a mesmerizing manner. I actually rated it 5 of 5 on eMusic - and I don't do that very often.
* So Many Lemons - Volcano!: (3 songs) Not to be mistaken with various other bands named 'Volcano', this band is eclectic, noise pop, with a wry twist. Electronic beats complement the twisted, warbling, voice of the lead singer. Reminds me of some Talking Heads stuff. I picked up this 3 song EP after hearing a sample on one of eMusic's free compilations.
* Toxic Crusaders - Deastro: (2 songs) A single from a band that I like a lot. Can't get enough. Thankfully, Deastro is cranking out a good supply of EPs and singles while I wait for their third full length release. I've been enjoying this band since March of this year. Deastro is a one man act. At 22 years old, I'm blown away by the music he's been creating. Excellent electronic tunes, mixing, vocals and lyrics.

These are some of the items I added to my music collection during the last month. Since revamping my music collection back in September of 2005, I've been slowly adding, revising and updating the collection. If you have a comment, question or correction regarding my music collection, please don't hesitate to send me an email. Please keep in mind that my collection isn't for sale, and I'm not interested in giving you any copyrighted materials. I'd rather not go to jail for music piracy. :-)
<https://www.robsworld.org/music.html>
<http://www.emusic.com/>

November 5, 2009

Netflix news for owners of a Sony PS3:
Good news for those of you who own a Sony Playstation 3. Netflix recently announced compatibility with the gaming console. That's right, you've been waiting for it, now it's here. Netflix streaming over the PS3. Now you can instantly watch movies and TV shows by way of Netflix and your PS3. The key requirements: You'll need a Netflix account ($8.99 gets you the basic 1 disc at a time & 'unlimited' watch instantly services), a special 'Streaming Disc', an internet connection (with bandwidth adequate to streaming video - not dialup!), and of course - Your PS3! The disc is free with your subscription, and you'll need it in order to enjoy the 'Watch Instantly' feature. I've heard rumors that future versions of the Playstation won't require the 'Streaming Disc'. For PS3 owners this is great news. No need to buy an additional device to 'Watch Instantly' and the disc comes free for those who want it. Get it now at the Netflix website.
<http://netflix.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=339>
<http://www.netflix.com/InstantStreamingDisc>

GraphicConverter:
Thorsten Lemke (of Lemkesoft) released a few more beta releases over the last few days. They come so fast and furiously, that he sometimes skips a few in releasing them to the public. I'm currently running 6.6b10, but I'm sure it'll change soon. GraphicConverter is an image converter and editor. A fantastic piece of shareware that is well worth the price ($35.00). 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>

Transmit:
An FTP tool that does it all. Anyone who publishes web pages eventually needs a way to upload their pages to a web site. I've found that stand alone FTP tools are the best for this task. Transmit has a clean and easy to use interface, and some really nifty features, like the ability to resume a transfer that's been interrupted, site synchronization capabilities, iDisk integration (It's way faster than the finder!), drag-to-dock sending, column views, a built in text editor, and secure ftp transfer (in various different flavors) capability. The most recent update moves this software up to version 3.6.9.
<http://www.panic.com/transmit/index.html>

* Updated the banners/badges on the Welcome page. I updated the banner and badges for our next Metro District (16 Nov) meeting. I also added a banner for an upcoming test of the communities emergency/warning sirens. With the installation of a new siren at the north-east end of the Southlands mall, we should have better coverage over Tollgate Crossing and the communities of South-East Aurora. The city will be testing these sirens on the 10th of Nov.
* Updated some information on our Events page. Updated the entry for our next Metro District meetings, and added an entry for the emergency siren test.
* On the Neighborhood Watch page, I posted some updated info regarding our PAR (Police Area Representative). Our PAR will be changing in December of this year. Officer Samuels will be promoted to Sgt and moved to new responsibilities. Our new PAR (Officer John Cassell) will be taking over for our communities in December.
* On the Info page, I updated some info regarding the Aurora Police Department and our PAR (Police Area Representative).