Digital Choke Daynotes

...working on a special project that's taking up all my spare time. More will be posted by next Sunday (5/16).

In the meantime, I changed the font size on these pages. How do they look on your system? Send me a note via the mailbox icon; include you screen resolution and browser text size that you use.

It would seem, because of the high volume of mail since yesterday (well, at least four), that this new font size is a bit nicer for many folk.

When I built these pages, I previewed them on two computers (here and at work) to make sure that the font size and style was pleasing to the eye (and not too big). My computers run at a bit higher resolution than most, and I also installed the 'large fonts' on my system. So although it looked OK to me, I was really seeing the text at 125% of normal. (Does that make me better than normal? OK, you in the back, try to keep the laughing to a minimum.) Which made my 'x-small' font look OK on my computer, but too small (extra small?) on everyone else's.

So, the style sheet now uses a 'small' Geneva font. And I changed my system back to normal sized fonts.

And, to prove that I can link with the best of them (although sometimes I dislike sites that rely too much on links to other places). The first one is an important security alert; the others I found interesting. Besides, I am working on my ''special project', so have less time to be 'fruitful' with my words. (As usual, links around here will open up a new window.)

• - if you use Symantec/Norton's personal firewall programs, another flaw allows hackers access through your firewall. Some say the exploit is rather easy. Remember that when ISS had a similar flaw in their firewall, the result was "Witty", which trashed hard drives. Updates available. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/05/13/symantec_firewall_flaws/
• - if you live in California, Microsoft settled a class action suit here that entitles anyone who bought a computer between 1995 and 2001 with certain MS software can get a voucher for $5 to $29. The lawyers are claiming $258 million (plus expenses), about $1K - $3K per hour per lawyer. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/05/13/microsoft_lclass_action_awyers/
• - The gag order from OptinRealBig (big-time spammer) to SpamCop (big time
  anti-spammer) was lifted; the lawsuit continues. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/05/13/spamcop_gag_lifted/
• - an Irish graduate student figures out how to uncover blacked-out words of declassified US military docs, using a dictionary and text analysis software. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/05/13/student_unlocks_military_secrets/
• - And the German police are raiding more homes relating to the "Sasser" worm and the 18-year-old prime suspect. Seems he had some help from his friends. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/05/13/sasser_worm_dragnet_widens/
• - "Wired" reports that browser hijacking programs infecting your computer with "adult" sites may cause difficulties with the authorities (not to mention your spouse). Although some more enlightened investigators are able to determine that the defense of "a worm made me do it" can be discounted through forensic analysis of your computer. http://www.wired.com/news/infostructure/0,1377,63391,00.html

And now, back to our special project.

... more later ...
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