Link Site Update II
Okay, I am narrowing down the search to three candidate templates. One of the templates is for the Pligg platform and the others are for WordPress. Below is a thumbnail preview for the Pligg-template, which I think would be a nice fit for the link site.
The problem is that the template is not currently available for Pligg 1.0.x. The vendor offers the dark-pink theme for Pligg beta 9.9.5, but I do not want to install Pligg beta just so I can use the template. Hopefully it will be available soon. We are getting closer!
Portable Applications
I have known of portable USB applications for some time, but have not really adapted them for every day or frequent use. Well, that is until this week. I had to clean two notebooks of viruses and wanted an easy solution.
The typical process is boot from CD, enable wireless connections, download virus updates, and scan the affected notebook. What a pain in the ass. I could create a new boot CD with the current virus definitions, but that takes time and regular maintenance.
I need an easy to use solution without the bullshit. Ahh, I can use a portable virus scanner with current virus definitions and I am good to go. Well, as I had planned (hoped) it worked out great. Check out portable applications for more goodies.
PS3 Slim Update
Wow! A back-to-back PS3 Slim post. I had to post this one, because it puts Sony back in the crapper. If you do not know, the new PS3 Slim is not PS2 compatible. What does that mean to PS2 users with large collections of PS2 games? Three words, "You are screwed!"
Actually, Sony dropped PS2 backward compatibility long ago but it would be a nice-to-have feature. Sony's response? Buy PS3 games, of course! I am holding on to our 1st generation PS3s with hardware-based PS2 compatibility. Lame move Sony, go straight to jail!
PS3 Slim Edition
Too little, too late comes to mind, but it is about time Sony releases a cheaper and slimmer PS3 console. Sony, it took you three (3) long years to design and manufacture what should have been the 1st generation console!
I am not in the market for the new PS3 Slim, but wanted to report it as I have been bashing on Sony for their idiotic moves in the past. The latest news does not grant them a "get out of jail" free card, but it's a move in the right direction.
So, if you have been holding out for the PS3 for the past three years (HA!) then it might be your chance. The new PS3 Slim with 120GB drive and DualShock 3 controller is priced at an "affordable" $299.00. The release date is August 24, 2009.
Enable 32bit on Windows Server x64
Ran into a problem with 32bit applications the other day on my Windows Server 2008 x64. At first I thought it was an Oracle ODAC problem. I was receiving a "Could not load file or assembly 'Oracle.DataAccess ... or one of its dependencies. An attempt was made to load a program with an incorrect format." I figured that since my application was building in "Any CPU" mode that the server was running my program with x64 capabilities, but that the ODAC was specifically compiled with x86. At first I decided what I need was an x64 driver to bring the application up to x64 compalitbility. I went so far as to harrass some colleagues with metalink accounts to help me obtain the 11G x64 ODP drivers since they're not available at this time on Oracle's site. Though Oracle makes their website seems like they have some drivers just behind the metalink wall. I assure you that they do not. When you login to metalink site you find the following entry regarding the x64 driver.
Goal
Where to find the 11g 64-bit ODAC?Solution
Oracle did not provide a separate ODAC 11g install. You will have to
install the Oracle Data
Provider for .NET, Oracle Database Extensions for .NET, Oracle Provider
for OLE DB, and Oracle
Services for Microsoft Transaction Server from the Oracle Database
installation. Which is
available for download from otn at :
http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/database/index.html.Development is planning on providing an 11.2 ODAC installation, when
11.2 is released.
After giving up on finding the x64 drivers, I found some more information suggesting to explicitly compile my application in x86 format so each calling assembly would be compiled in the correct format allowing for each to communicate properly. That should have been no problem, except that the Website Application doesn't allow you to choose the platform to build because it gets compiled at run time. Therefore I had to change the Web Application to a Web Project in Visual Studio. Unfortunately, copying and pasting doesn't work as the Web Project needs to have the deisgner code behind associated with the aspx and aspx.vb. This means I had to create a new page for each page and copy paste the source into each new file. Doing so allowed the designer to properly create the designer code behind that I needed.
After burning several hours converting my entire web site over to a compatible format, I gave it a shot on the server, but alas still no go. Instead IIS still complained about incorrect format except this time it was for my first reference in my application. This made me think the problem has something to do with IIS. Sure enough here's the magic solution.
ENABLE 32 BIT APPLICATIONS = TRUE
That's it. I could have saved myself some time if I would have had some sort of server admin around.
Phone Home
Okay, I just read a post about Smartphone applications that phone home without the users knowledge or consent. I am NOT surprised, because spyware was bound to make its way to the mobile platform. Smartphone users take notice!
In addition to reading the Smartphone vendor's privacy policy, be sure to read the terms of the must-have application "before" you download it from the mobile marketplace. I am not concerned about usage data, but sending identifying data has a potential for misuse.
Visual Studio Unit Testing: Creating a Private Accessor
Tried desperately to have Visual Studio to create a private accessor for me today, but every time the Test was created I received this message:
Creation of the private accessor for 'Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.TypesAndSymbols.Assembly' failed
I ran into a bunch of people talking about bugs in VS, but then I tried on another project and it worked just fine. I figured out that I had discluded the accessor file and Test References folder from my Test project. Therefore VS wasn't able to overwrite the file on the file system since it wasn't included in the project. Once I included the folder and Project.Accessor everything worked perfect.
White Castle Lives
I am living under a rock! Has anyone seen the comedy film, "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle”? I have watched that stupid thing several times and I NEVER knew that White Castle was a real fast food chain.
The movie was rated R, so I thought the chain was made up specifically for the movie. Well, I was strolling down the freezer aisle and "BAM!" White Castle Sliders in the face. What the heck? White Castle is a real restaurant chain.
Funk Master
I stopped by Frys earlier today to pick up a USB extension cable and check out their latest notebook models. The Sony and HP 18.4" screen models are crazy! Well, on the way to the computer section I was stopped in my tracks by a disgusting wall of BO!
The smell was so bad that one could "taste" it. YUCK! Some smelly ass is walking around the store leaving their "mark" for others to encounter. I understand it has been hot, but there is no excuse for leaving a wall of funk minutes after you have left an area.
Who the hell is fumigating the store? I did not have to look far, because the smelly ass that was stinking up the store decided he was going to check out the notebooks too. Needless to say, I was out of there. That shit was and is gross. Funk masters, wash your asses!
I Heart Pizza
Yes, I heart pizza. Pizza is one of those foods, which I can eat several times a week. I rarely encounter a pizza that I do not like. I like Round Table, Steve's Pizza, Mountain Mikes, and even some frozen brands.
Today was my first time eating Papa John's Brand Pizza and I can easily state that I did not like it. Overall, the pizza was greasy, flakey, and not an enjoyable experience. Boo! I think the deal breakers for me are the biscuit-like crust and wafer-thin pepperoni. Comments?