Into the Void

It’s a Siemens SX66. I reviewed it earlier this year. Read my review.

I’m posting this from it via my home wireless network.

Cingular has their own GPRS network, and I’ll use it in a pinch, but it’s really sssslllllooooowwww, not to mention expensive. I prefer other options

It is very important that you password-protect your home wireless network. I bet there are scads of middle-aged women driving around looking for open wireless networks so that they can steal bandwidth.

Well, I finally made it to the big time.

Well, no, what I really mean is that the spambots found “Into The Void” this week and they are hammering my Wordpress blog with comment spam. I’ve received 500-some requests in the last 48 hours.

Would anyone in their right mind patronize a company that has its people dump irrelevant ads into sites? The most common were drugs and online casinos, followed by mortgages, and then a specific bank’s credit cards. Oh, yes, let me just give all my financial information to someone who uses a fake email address.

Anyway, I installed Bad Behavior.

Let’s see how it goes.

Update 9/22/2007: Bad Behavior, when it isn’t used in the sense of “Leslie’s hobbies,” is a Wordpress plugin that blocks spammers from the site.

Bad Behavior works great. See the bottom of the page for stats. FYI, Homeland Stupidity has moved to a new website.
They also have an immensely satisfying project called Project Honeypot. This project identifies bad spiders and reports them for later action including lawsuits against repeat offenders and the occasional witch-burning. See if you can find it on Into the Void and get yourself added to the spam list… NOT!!!!

Flush with my recent success running Tiki Wiki under Windows XP SP2, I thought it might be fun to try Subdreamer, too. Subdreamer is a Content Management System and is different from a Wiki mainly in the way it organizes and presents data. Subdreamer has the advantage of allowing me to integrate my phpBB forum into it so that my current users have the same user id and password on the new CMS.
In case anyone else wants to smear Linux web apps all over their harddrive, it’s not very hard to do. In this article I’ll walk you through the four main tasks required to evaluate the Subdreamer CMS on a Windows XP box.
You will be using an application called PhpTriad. PhpTriad contains Windows versions of the ubiquitous Apache server with PHP support, MySQL database software, and phpMyadmin. You’ll have no trouble at all getting PhpTriad running.
Next you’ll get the free version of Subdreamer and unzip it onto your hard drive. If you want more functionality when you take your CMS on-line you can buy the full version later.
Then you’ll run the MySQL software and use phpmyadmin to set up the MySql database where the Subdreamer CMS will store the contents of your web site.
Finally, you’ll open the Subdreamer installation file in your browser, work a little magic, and there you’ll be. It’s a little tricky, but I’ve made the mistakes several times so I’ll try to point out the gotchas before you make them.

Ok, let’s do it.

Download and install PhpTriad.

1. Download and save phptriad r2.2 from the project pages at http://www.sourceforge.net/phptriad/ on SourceForge.
2. Run phptriad2-2-1.exe.
3. When the install is done, run PHPTriad -> Apache Console -> Start Apache from the start menu like any other Windows app. A command window named “Start
   Apache” opens. Minimize the Apache window, but don’t exit the program. Apache is now listening on port 80 for browser requests.
4. Open your browser to http://localhost/ and you’ll see the PhpTriad welcome screen. Great!

Download Subdreamer Light.

1. Register on the Subdreamer site at http://www.subdreamer.com/, then log in. Go to http://www.subdreamer.com/light/, download the Subdreamer Light .zip file
2. Extract it into C:\apache\htdocs\. This will create directory C:\apache\htdocs\Subdreamer_Light_2202. Go into this directory, find the directory named upload and move it up to C:\apache\htdocs.
3. In directory C:\apache\htdocs\subdreamer\includes\, make a copy of the file config.php.new. Rename this file config.php.
4. Important! Check the properties of folder subdreamer and uncheck Read-only if it’s checked.

Configure a database for Subdreamer.

1. From the start menu run PHPTriad -> MySQL -> MYSQL-D-NT.
2. When you point your browser to http://localhost/phpmyadmin you’ll see the phpMyAdmin welcome page. It’s pretty much self-explanatory.
3. Point your browser to http://localhost/phpmyadmin and create a new database named sdcms.
4. Point your browser to http://localhost/phpmyadmin and Reload MySQL. It is very important to reload the SQL by revisiting http://localhost/phpmyadmin after every command, so check that out if things don’t work.
5. Point your browser to http://localhost/phpmyadmin and go to Users.
6. Select database scms in the pulldown menu Check Database Privileges. Now add a new user sdadmin and with password sdpasswd. Give the user all privileges. Don’t forget to write down that password!

Install Subdreamer Light.

1. Run the Subdreamer installer by pointing your browser to http://localhost/subdreamer/install/install.php. Fill in the requested data:
      Database server hostname: localhost
   Database name: sdcms
   Database username: sduser
   Database password: sdpw
   Table Prefix: sd_
   Username: admin
   Password: changeme
   Confirm Password: changeme
   Email: you@your.com
   When you click “Install Subdreamer” it should take you to the “Installation Successfull!” page. Hooray!
2. Now delete the install directory and you’re ready to create your web site.
3. Go to the subdreamer admin panel at http://localhost/subdreamer/admin/ and log in as user admin with password changeme. You will be prompted (via a pink error message) to enter the full URL for your Subdreamer installation. It is http://localhost/subdreamer/

And that’s it! Experiment with settings, post entries, create and delete users. Subdreamer is suitable for a small to medium website, and that is why it is so easy to use. If you like Subdreamer, by all means buy the full version.
Just remember to periodically export the sdcms database via http://localhost/phpmyadmin. Not only does it protect your data from late-night errors, and there will be errors, but when you decide to go live with Subdreamer you can reuse your local data on-line. Your web host will likely also use phpMyAdmin and you can follow the same steps to create the database, and then import the file.

Updated 3/6
Journey to Wild Divine is a biofeedback program disguised as a computer game. In the game you use your autonomic responses/breathing/emotion to perform tasks such as levitating a ball, spinning a lotus-like mandala, and other tasks that I haven’t reached yet. It’s something like a graphical version of the old adventure games, but with a New Age appeal. I hear that you get to play chess against the Grim Reaper on Level 7.
The biofeedback unit plugs into the USB port, and consists of a “[tag]light stone[/tag]” control unit with three finger sensors that measure heart rate and skin resistance. The optional graphing expansion pack lets you view your EKG. Quite fascinating, really.
I had a world of trouble installing the software because of a bad install CD. It took me several tries and some trickery. However, the good folks at Wild Divine sent me out a replacement CD right away.

Deleted technical description of installing from a warped CD.

Once I got things working, playing the game was like being in one of those dreams where I’m sure that I can fly, if only I can allow it to happen. The feeling was absolutely delightful. I’m looking forward to setting aside time to start playing the full game.

Technorati: biofeedback autonomic+responses mandala New+Age Grim+Reaper EKG Journey+to+Wild+Divine

Santa wasn’t very good to me this year. I suspect that he heard me accidentally call him Satan the week before Christmas. Or maybe he figured out that I’m a [tag]techno-Pagan[/tag].
I bought myself a toy instead. It’s better that way… I got exactly what I wanted and I didn’t have to be a good girl to get it.
My latest toy is a [tag]Siemens SX66[/tag] PDA phone. I needed this phone, really I did. My old Toshiba e310 is still in great shape, but it doesn’t have enough RAM. My old cell phone was one of Cingular’s freebies.
It’s not cutting edge, but the
SX66 is still an impressive little device. It runs the [tag]Windows Mobile 2003[/tag] OS, so I didn’t have to RTFM.
Yeah, ok, you want some more details. 400MHz [tag]X-Scale[/tag] processor, 128M of RAM and 64M of flash. For reference, my spare computer is only marginally faster and originally had less RAM. 128M of RAM doesn’t hold much in the way of fun, but the SX66 has an SD slot so I can carry around videos and photos on SD or MMC cards.
I have Cingular, and they have this silly thing called MEdiaNET. It’s expensive, a penny per kbyte. Fortunately the SX66 also has [tag]WiFi[/tag], and I set it up to check for WiFi first. It also has bluetooth - and of course the first thing I did was make it talk to my husband’s Motorola Razr. Hmmm, Santa was pretty good to him this year. The second thing was to have a great bluetooth group grope at work. Engineers…
As an aside, there are variations on this PDA for other phone systems. The Audiovox XV6600 PDA Phone works with Verizon and seems to have a bonus - a camera.
The SX66 connects to my PC with ActivSync via USB, just like my old Toshiba. It shares the calendar, notes and contact list with Outlook. I don’t use Outlook for anything but to keep all that stuff backed up.
And if that’s not good enough, it also has an Irda port. I had a universal TV remote on the Toshiba, which came in handy more than once. I love a good practical joke.
And of course, I had to get some accessories:

• Logitech Mobile Freedom -Bluetooth Headset
• Krusell Handit Multidapt Case
• ClearTouch Crystal Screen Protector
• Ballpoint Pen - Stylus Replacement

This [tag]Staples printer cartridge[/tag], clearly labeled “compatible with Epson T027201 color” didn’t work in my Epson Photo 820. The printer couldn’t detect any ink in it. Not only didn’t the cartridge work, but it also hosed the printer. When I switched to a new Epson cartridge, it still couldn’t detect any ink. Oh, I did the obvious things: I cleaned the contacts, I even bought Epson’s special use-this-and-no-other cleaning solution to soak the inkjets. No good. “‘E’s kicked the bucket, ‘e’s shuffled off ‘is mortal coil, run down the curtain, and joined the bleedin’ choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-PRINTER!”
I should have known better. The electronics and the jet mechanicals are all designed for ink with a specific viscosity, the right amount of surface tension and with precise electrical characteristics. All so that the right size drop of ink will hit the paper at the right speed and splatter on the paper just the right way. It’s pretty amazing.
What you can’t read in this picture is the fine print to the effect that Staples is not responsible for any damage to my printer caused by their cartridge.
Thanks, Staples.
I’m not likely to buy Staples brand anything after this. Whether I switch to Office Max is still up in the air.

Eat your heart out, DSL users. I just upgraded my Comcast Internet service, and data roars down into my computer. Before the upgrade it was at around 4000kbps.

Results of the Speakeasy.net Speed Test.
See larger picture.

I’m not terribly pleased with the stability of Windows XP Professional. I guess I’ll have to add another Gig of RAM and think about upgrading the video card. There’s enough cache RAM in the processor, I think, at least for my evil purposes. My evil purposes being engineering apps like Altera Quartus II.

I’m not going to go into the politics of buying… uhhh, renting… internet from a monopoly. And yes, I do think it’s overpriced. I’d feel much better about it if I thought they’d bring fiber into my working-class neighborhood sometime soon. I would feel better about it if I knew they’d stop charging me to help them upgrade to fiber once they have it all in place.
The only drawback to the Comcast upgrade, besides the part about them being the only game in town, is that I had to subscribe to basic cable to get it. Now Mr. X can surf dozens of channels of garbage instead of only six or eight. And I’m not allowed to use the clicker, either. I guess it’s a guy thing.

Update 11/10:
We have Verizon DSL at work and the speed test clocks it at 1500kbps.

Update 11/6:

My buddy Jim gave me some good hints on getting the Wifi card running on the laptop under Linux. He has his own Wifi tale of terror. Plus he pointed out that I can compile the driver, drop it into the file system, then use modprobe to tell Linux to look for it. Great!
XP is up and running. I am in the process of re-installing software. It refused to upgrade Windows 2000 Professional to Windows XP Professional so I had to install XP in a different directory, which happened to be the default directory for XP. It didn’t bring in any of the settings. I was afraid it would clobber user Application Data so I created a new user and am copying settings from the 2000 user to the XP user, like Eudora mailboxes. What a pain in the @55.
Now the computer is dual-boot, which isn’t at all what I wanted. During the install, XP warned me I couldn’t do a dual-boot system in the same partition. WTF? Of course, if I *wanted* a dual-boot system, XP probably would have shredded the existing file system. Sometime in the next week I’ll figure out what to change to uninstall 2000.
On the plus side, I backed up a lot of data to CD/DVD before starting, and then I cloned the hard drive. Just in case. I’ll install it in the other computer, which is currently doing a fine impression of a doorstop, if XP doesn’t implode in the next week. Then I can use *that* to recover the data from the original hard drive from that computer, which is currently doing an impression of a paperweight.
I’d have to change mobo drivers, among other things, to use it in the other computer. Might require a repair installation of Windows 2000. Did I mention that this whole process is a pain in the @55?

Plus I started using a Microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse Wireless Optical Desktop Pro last week. The mouse is huge and is shaped to provide an easy, solid handhold. Unfortunately, that means that it’s hard to shift it around in my hand as I use it. Reorienting the mouse as you work is a way to prevent Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs), and this mouse forces me to use it in a way that is guaranteed to make my hand ache. Which it did. Well, I’m aware of it now. Maybe I can rig something up with an old mouse shell and this ones guts.
Update 11/10:
Mr. X, who has hands the size of catcher’s mitts, has no problem using the wireless mouse.