Story: The Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was really friendly. So I asked, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!”

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call “The Law of the Garbage Truck.” He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you.

Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the street. The bottom line is that successful people don’t let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so…

“Love the people who treat you right. Forgive the ones who don’t.”

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it! Good Day!

Source: Bits & Pieces

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Tags: Inspirational Story, Garbage, Attitude

Flock Social Browser Unveils Version 1.2.3

Late yesterday, Flock’s Development Team announced the availability of a stability and security patch identified as version 1.2.3.  According to Flock’s website, below are the changes made to previous version:

• Incorporated Mozilla’s 2.0.0.15 patch for Mozilla Firefox.
• Several fixes for a better Digg experience
• Several fixes for sharing media with Yahoo! Mail.
• A fix for the Media Magic bar and YouTube videos.
• A character encoding fix for importing Favorites.
• A fix for displaying the YouTube avatar.

As this is just before a long Holiday weekend in the United States, Flock will be updating the localized builds and turning on the automatic updates for all editions on Monday, July 7th.

If you’re a fanatic in having the latest release of your applications, please click here to download Flock 1.2.3.

Notice that at this moment, only the English version is available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.

Enjoying a Cup of Rich Hot Chocolate

After viewing too much violence on the TV news or reading about negative stories in the newspapers, I thought it was time to read something positive which would clean all the trash received through the media.

This is a story about a group of people enjoying a cup of rich hot chocolate and the lessons learned from this innocent social activity. Here we go.

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.

During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups—porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite—telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: “Notice that all the nice looking; expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. “

“While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you’re drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.”

“What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups. And then you began eyeing each others cups.”

“Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate we have. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything they have.”

Yep, I’m afraid I’m one of those looking at the cup rather than the rich hot chocolate inside. I promise to do better next time. Good Day!

Opera Released Version 9.51

The Opera Developing Team has announced the availability of Opera 9.51 early this morning. They have really worked hard to upgrade this search engine that could.

These are the latest security and stability changes made to Opera 9.51 according to Opera’s website:

User Interface

• Fine-tuned the new Opera skin.
• Improved drag/drop of tabs.
• Fixed problems with search engines when upgrading from Opera 9.2x.
• Fixed a stability issue when printing or when in print preview.
• Added an option to toggle mouse flips in opera:config (User Prefs - Enable Mouse Flips).
• Textarea inputs now clear when no-cache is set.
• Saving of images is no longer recorded in transfers.

Mail/News

• Feeds now show the first time when you subscribe.
• Corrected a stability issue that could occur when clicking the drop-down to switch views.
• Adjusted thread expanding in Mail when receiving new messages.
• Corrected a problem where multiple views (access points) show for the same account.

Display and Scripting

• Corrected a stability issue with User JS.
• Style sheets now load when navigating in history.
• window.close() now functions after invoking a context menu and when closing Opera Dragonfly.

Security

• Fixed an issue where <canvas> functions could reveal data from random places in memory, as reported by Philip Taylor. See our advisory.
• Fixed an issue that could be used to execute arbitrary code, as reported by Billy Rios. Details will be disclosed at a later date.
• Security status is now correctly set when navigating from HTTP to HTTPS.
• Corrected an issue related to OCSP and CRLs that would lower security.
  • Note: This will take effect with the weekly update, or when checking manually for an update (Help > Check for Updates).

Miscellaneous

• Corrected a stability issue with Yahoo! Mail.
• TinyMCE 2.1.x editor now works properly.
• Printing of chat items has been improved.
• Reconnection of the IRC client has been adjusted and improved.
• Menus on deviantart.com now work properly.
• Eliminated unwanted line breaks in rich text editors.

Windows-specific changes

• Fixed a resource leak in the transfer window that could cause visual paint problems and other related problems.
• Command line parameters must now be specified before any URLs on the command line.

If you’re interested in using this latest release, please click here. Good Day!

Joke: Twenty Years Ago

A woman awakes during the night to find her husband was not in bed. She puts on her robe and goes downstairs to look for him. She finds him sitting at the kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee in front of him.  He appears to be in deep thought, just staring blankly at the wall. She watches as he wipes a tear from his eye and takes a sip of his coffee.

“What’s the matter, dear?” she whispers as she steps into the room, “Why are you down here at this time of night?”

The husband looks up from his coffee, “I’m just remembering when we first met 20 years ago and started dating. You were only 16. Do you remember back then?” he asked solemnly.

The wife is almost reduced to tears herself, just thinking how caring and sensitive her husband is. “Yes, I do” she replies. The husband pauses.

The words were not coming easily. ”Do you remember when your father caught us in the back seat of my car?”

“Yes, I remember,” said the wife, lowering herself into a chair beside him.

The husband continues. “Do you remember when he shoved that shotgun in my face and said, “Either you marry my daughter, or I will send you to jail for 20 years?”

“I remember that, too” she replies softly.

He wipes another tear from his cheek and says….”I would have gotten out today.”

That’s it guys.  Stretch your laughing muscles and have a great day.  Adieu!

SeaMonkey Upgrades to Version 1.1.10

SeaMonkey’s Development Team announced today that Version 1.1.10 is available for download.  What’s new in this version?  Take a look at all bugs fixed:

• MFSA 2008-33 Crash and remote code execution in block reflow
• MFSA 2008-32 Remote site run as local file via Windows URL shortcut
• MFSA 2008-31 Peer-trusted certs can use alt names to spoof
• MFSA 2008-30 File location URL in directory listings not escaped properly
• MFSA 2008-29 Faulty .properties file results in uninitialized memory being used
• MFSA 2008-28 Arbitrary socket connections with Java LiveConnect on Mac OS X
• MFSA 2008-27 Arbitrary file upload via originalTarget and DOM Range
• MFSA 2008-25 Arbitrary code execution in mozIJSSubScriptLoader.loadSubScript()
• MFSA 2008-24 Chrome script loading from fastload file
• MFSA 2008-23 Signed JAR tampering
• MFSA 2008-22 XSS through JavaScript same-origin violation
• MFSA 2008-21 Crashes with evidence of memory corruption (rv:1.8.1.15)
• MFSA 2008-20 Crash in JavaScript garbage collector

It’s been a while since I last heard from SeaMonkey. I thought it had gone the way of the Dodo.  Anyway, if this application suite is your cup of tea, you can go ahead and download this latest release by clicking here.

With these fixes, SeaMonkey stays at the same level of security as its sibling Mozilla Firefox 2, which is issuing updates for the same problems this week as well.

The SeaMonkey team urges users of older SeaMonkey versions, including the SeaMonkey 1.0.x series, which no longer receives security updates, to upgrade. Additionally, the team continues to strongly urge people still using the old Mozilla Suite or Netscape 4, 6 or 7 to upgrade to the new SeaMonkey 1.1.10 version.   All  of these older software packages suffer from a large and steadily increasing number of security vulnerabilities because they are no longer being maintained.

SeaMonkey 1.1.10 is a modern, drop-in replacement, providing the same familiar suite functionality with additional features and fully up to date security.  Sayonara!

Joke: A Clever Old Guy

When asked about his activities now that he’s retired, a clever old guy said:

“Well, I don’t have much of a chemical background but one of the things I enjoy the most is turning beer into urine!”

I’ll have to admit it’s not a bad activity for a newly retiree, now that gasoline prices are going through the roof. What da ya think?

Source: Bits & Pieces

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Tags: Beer, Gasoline, Jokes, Humor, Chemistry

Top Browsers Market Share for June 2008

After the launch of Firefox 3 on June 17th, I could hardly wait until June was over so I could see how this new release had impacted its market share performance. As you know, I use Net Applications as my reliable source for this information.

According to Net Applications, these are the statistics for June 2008:

Top Browser Market Share for June 2008
(Expressed in Percentages)

Web Browsers	June	May	Difference
Internet Explorer	73.01	73.75	0.74
Firefox	19.03	18.41	0.62
Safari	6.31	6.25	0.06
Opera	0.73	0.71	0.02
Netscape	0.67	0.62	0.05
Others	0.25	0.26	0.01
Total	100	100	0

COMMENTS:

Even though Mozilla Firefox 3 was available during only thirteen days in June, it grabbed 19.03 percent of the market. This helped Mozilla increase its market share by 0.62 points. During July it is expected that Firefox could reach the 20 percent landmark, meaning that one out of every five web surfers would be using Firefox as their preferred Web browser.

Apple Safari was on slow motion in June. It only advanced 0.06 points. This was also true with Norwegian Opera who remained almost stagnant. However, we all know that the real party for Opera is in the mobile phone arena where it flies high above the rest of the pack.

It was a surprise that Netscape increased its market share by 0.05 points. I know this isn’t much, but considering it’s a dying species, I think it speaks highly of its loyal fans.

Now it’s time to play the waiting game until August comes along and we can take a look at July statistics. Good Day!

Joke: Studying a Dead Cow

First-year students at Texas A&M’s Vet School were receiving their first anatomy class, with a real dead cow. They all gathered around the surgery table with the body covered with a white sheet.

The professor started the class by telling them, “In Veterinary Medicine it is necessary to have two important qualities as a doctor: The first is that you not be disgusted by anything involving the animal body.”

For an example, the Professor pulled back the sheet, stuck his finger in the hind end of the dead cow, withdrew it and stuck it in his mouth. “Go ahead and do the same thing,” he told his students.

The students freaked out, hesitated for several minutes, but eventually took turns sticking a finger in the dead cow and sucking on it. When everyone finished, the Professor looked at them and said, “The second most important quality is observation. I stuck in my middle finger and sucked on my index finger. Now learn to pay attention.”

“Life’s tough, it’s even tougher if you’re stupid.”

Source: Bits & Pieces

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Tags: Veterinary, Observation, Texas A&M, Anatomy, Joke, Humor

Windows XP is Almost Dead

Microsoft Windows XP officially terminates its reign today and heads for retirement.

Today Microsoft Windows XP finally reached its cul-de sac. It’s no big secret that Microsoft decided to stop selling Windows XP today and focus its attention on Windows Vista. Windows XP, R.I.P.—at least for most buyers of new PCs.

Today Microsoft will stop selling copies of the operating system to retailers and computer manufacturers. There are exceptions: Until June 2010, manufacturers of limited and lower-cost computers can place Windows XP Home Edition on their systems, and small businesses that custom-build PCs will be able to install XP on computers through Jan. 31, 2009. Stores that carry XP can still sell it if they have it in stock.

“We’ve spent more than a year consulting with our customers and industry partners to ensure that we’re doing the right thing,” Microsoft said at its Web site, “The Future of Windows XP.”

“We understand that not everyone may agree with our decision—just as not everyone was happy to see Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows ME retire.”

Windows Vista is scheduled carry the baton until Windows 7 is launched sometime in January 2010. Vista, released early last year, has been scorned for several reasons. It runs better on newer computers with faster chips and more memory than on older or economy-scale PCs.

Many consumers and businesses are reluctant to spend more money to buy new PCs and the software and peripheral equipment needed to work with Vista. Also, all the drivers, or software programs, needed for Vista have not been available, something that is starting to change.

“It’s not a huge surprise that just over half the enterprises we surveyed don’t yet have Windows Vista deployment plans,” said Forrester Research in an April report. “Others are simply taking a wait-and-see approach.”

Businesses and individuals that buy a new PC with either Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate on it have the option of “downgrading” to Windows XP Professional through Jan. 31, 2009, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft, which last month released Service Pack 3 for Windows XP, with various operating system fixes, will continue to provide mainstream support for it through next April. Last week, Microsoft said it would provide full technical support for seven-year-old Windows XP through 2009, and limited support through 2014.

As of June, Windows XP, which was released in 2001, had 72 percent of the operating market share, with Vista at a little more than 15 percent, according to Net Applications.

I’m one of those making up the 72 percent market share. I’ve been using Windows XP for more than three years and feel no need to spend more of my hard-earned greenbacks to embrace Vista. Even with 140 million Vista copies sold, there are still extremely few programs that really harness the features of Vista.

Windows Vista has been nothing short of a disaster for Microsoft. It has been able to sell a reasonable number of copies, but only because Microsoft has essentially forced PC manufacturers to switch from pre-installing Windows XP to the new operating system instead. In terms of customer satisfaction, Vista has been a terrible product for Microsoft, and the sooner it is put out to pasture, the better.

Nope, I’ll keep on using my reliable Windows XP no matter what they say. Hasta la Vista baby!