Trixie

I don't use FireFox as I'm an ardent fan of Internet Explorer, it suites my requirements well. The cool feature I like in Firefox are the extensions like GreaseMonkey which can be used run your own scripts to modify the page you are viewing. It's cool to remove the annoying banner ads in HotMail, remove the google ads, etc. Wondered why there isn't such an utility for my favourite IE. Now there is, check out Trixie! There are not much difference between GreaseMonkey and Trixie scripts. It comes with some default scripts and the one I like the most is the Hotmail Previewer, it click-enables the small envelope icon next to your mail [in the inbox list] and on clicking it displays the preview of the mail underneath it...cool

Off to scripting now...if you find any other cool Firefox extensions, let me know and we'll find an IE equivalent :-)

later...

Stressed out hinge

It all started two days back, when my laptop [Dell C640] started giving strange noise. A noise which is of higher amplitude than the normal fan noise was coming from my laptop. The worst thing is the next, the CPU topped up at 100%. You know how it is when the CPU tops at 100%, it is as good as dead one. On the first thought, my guess was some virus hijacking my processor. But, then I found out that the cooling fan was not working, the processor might top out because of that too. This is my official laptop and we have Dell Gold Tech support. So I called up and reported the problem. The support guy also thought that the cooling fan might be the cause for the problem and went on to setup a technician to come and replace the cooling fan. There was some misunderstanding in taking down the contact info and delayed the arrival of technician by a day. In that one day, I also figured that one of the hinges of the LCD screen is broken and asked for a replacement.

So today, the technician came to my place to fix the laptop. We figured out the cause for the problem! As we guessed, the problem is the cooling fan. But, why the cooling fan stopped working suddenly? It was due to the broken hinge! The broken pieces of the hinge fell inside and blocked the spinning of the cooling fan. The processor, not able to contact its cooling buddy, reduced its processing power so it doesn't burn itself up resulting in topping up to 100%. A nice long chain of problems, building on top of one another. And you know the main reason? It's me! No, I didn't drop the laptop, but I stressed out the right hinge, by always opening the laptop screen with my left hand holding the left corner. This introduces mechanical stress in the right hinge and after all these months, it finally gave up. Lesson learnt today, always open your laptop by holding the middle of the screen! It was frustrating, but a nice lesson learnt.

later...

Wooden Mirror ?!

If you have time and will to do, you can acheive anything, as the below project of making a wooden mirror. A mirror made of wood? are you kidding? No I'm not and I'm a bit late in seeing this myself. The project appeared in Wired Magazine nearlt 6 years ago on Dec 1999. I think this is a cool work. The concept is great and the amount of work spent is really great. And yes, it is makes a nice art piece.

Wooden Mirror

later...

Space crunch and a Window

I know you're wondering what's with the title, space crunch and a window? I couldn't think of a better title. The space crunch is, at the place I work. Since the team is growing, we ran out of offices and employees have to share offices, and I, a contingent staff [contractors and vendors], have to move to a place which was previously a lounge [we use to play table tennis and foos ball there]. At first, I was very disappointed. I was sharing my office with one another person in a single occupancy office with no windows. The place I moved to now, the lounge has glass panes on two sides for walls. The place I choose in that 7 [Yes, 7] occupancy lounge, has a great view on SR-520 [a state highway in Washington] and beyond. I'm so happy that I had to move, that I get a window to see outside. It's so much refreshing than a windowless office. Windowless office is just not so productive, even though you have your own personal space. And moving to this new place has increased my productivity for sure :-) It's also a nice time pass to see all the cars that speed on 520. And not to mention the personal foos table I have now ;-)

I was so disappointed due to the space crunch, but now I'm very happy because I got a great window view work place. Now there, I got a connection to my title :-)

later...

Interesting blog from Michael Kaplan

Michael's one of the MS bloggies on my list, he spinned off a hilarious scene based on "The Matrix Reloaded" conversation between Neo and the Architect as with himseld and "The Architect"...hilarious

Sorting It All Out : The Architect (apologies to 'The Matrix Reloaded')

[I know, I'm very irregular in posting...will try to reduce the gap in between posts]

later...