Google closing Aardvark

Google has decided to close Aardvark.
I hope that they wouldn't.
Aardvark is a service that allows you ask a question and the system would refer it to a person (volunteer) that reported to have knowledge about the subject.
This system works best for question that a human would answer better than any Google search.
Let's hope that Google would use this technology in their searches someday, if they kill the project after all.

New GWT Tools

Google has brought out some very elaborate tools for web development. Developing these tools must have required considerate effort and money. Why would a company develop these tools and deliver them for free?
My guess is that these tools are designed to come in complement with Chrome Apps store and intended for the coming Chrome OS.

Flotilla of Provocation

This is my translation of "Flotilla of Provocation" by Voitenko Michael

The big headline of today - the storm of the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" by the Israeli military, which, as declared, carried humanitarian aid intended for the Gaza strip, which is blockaded by Israel without proper authority.The fleet's flagship, cruise ship called Mavi Marmara (525 tons deadweight, buit in 1994, sailing under flag of Comora and operated by Turkiye Denizcilik Isletmeleri Denizyollari Isletmesi Mudurlugu), was taken by storm, resulting in several people dead, exact number unknown. The progressive mankind is furious and demanding that the Israeli war machine to be brought to justice. The old and familiar case - would the USSR still exist, by the evening the "masses of workers" would be brought to protest demonstrations, where they, yawning as usual, would ask each other, what is the matter and who do we protest against this time.

This whole story, from the pretentious name "Gaza Freedom Flotilla", to thousands miles and even more, smells like a very elaborate provocation. It has been declared that the flotilla cariies 10,000 tons of cargo, strictly humanitarian. Look at the photo of the fleet's flagship, the Mavi Marmara, and tell me where do you see the cargo holds. There are none. On the other hand there are 750 activists, that would eat and drink more than it would cost to deliver these 10,000 tons of cargo. There are 6 (six) vessels, while for the 10,000 tons, it would be sufficient to chart only one small cargo ship, which would cost much less than one Mavi Marmara. The question - why one would chart an expensive cruise ship and load on it 750 parasites, charting another 5 ships for the cargo, 5, when only one would be sufficient?

Let's assume that I'm set out to deliver 10,000 tons of cargo to the Gaza strip and I do not have any other hidden agendas. While at it, the shipper what's to save costs, as it should be. What would I do? I would freight a descent cargo ship, meanwhile I would make inquiries about the status in Gaza, and if my ship can reach it without issues. I would be told that it would not. Then I'd ask about the cargo. I would be answered that it would, under the condition that it would pass through an Israeli port, where it would be checked for restricted materials, since the strip is controlled by Hamas, which most of the world classifies as a terrorist organization. I'd make sure to inquire which goods are allowed and which are restricted. I woudl agree tho the terms. Next I would ask how can I make sure that the cargo would reach the target? I would be told, that I can take whoever I like, observers, journalists, as ling as they are peaceful and unarmed. I would take the ship, load the cargo, and a dozen of journalists and rights activists, and calmly set off on my way. The cargo could be in the strip a long time ago.

On the other hand, let's assume that my agenda is different - to make sure that the cargo is stopped, while at it someone to get hurt, and to make as much noise and yells for the whole world to hear. Let's assume that I was told thet the money is not an issue, and the humanitarian supplies and other nonsense, is all for cover, and the main goal is to show the world the inhumane face of Israel.Assuming that I was tempted by the offer, I would rent an expensive cruiser, which is totally unsuited to cargo transfer. I load 750 people, take whoever I can as long as they are loud and some are armed and violent. As for the cargo, which would contain, deliberately, forbidden items, so to make sure that it would be detained, I would chart 5 ships, since I don't need a cargo transfer. I need a "Gaza Freedom Flotilla". I would take this flotilla and for a long and boring trip around the Mediterranean, in order to produce the required hype. Finally, as I would be sure that the whole world knows about my flotilla, and everyone is already interested, I would rush the fleet to the forbidden waters, hopping that, in the last minute, the Israeli authorities wouldn't withdraw and storm the fleet.

I wouldn't be disappointed. The ships were intercepted. When they boarded the flagship, where they were met with my 750 noise makers, and not just them. I succeded in my mission - a scandal for the whole world, the progressive mankind is professionally indignant, Europe calling Israel to justice. Who cares about the cargo? I don't care and don't want to, since I wasn't hired for it.

This is, in my view, the whole story about the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla", which deserves a better name as a "Flotilla of Provocation".

Sharing a printer from Windows 7 to Vista/XP

Many people encounter a problem, when trying to share a local (USB) printer from Windows 7 to it's older cousins, like Windows XP, or Vista.

The problem is that many manufacturers (HP, Canon, etc.) have decided to package their printer drivers into executable installer file, instead of using Microsoft's "inf" file format with libraries.
Windows printer sharing service allows to provide drivers for others versions of Windows for the guest computers, however it requires drivers in the "inf" file format. On the other hand, the guest system can use it's own drivers, if the server (host) doesn't have the correct version, then again it requires the "inf" format. So, apparently, we are in a deadlock.

Fortunately there is a trick that helps to avoid this deadlock.
You will need to:

1. Install the printer locally on the guest and host machines.
2. On the host machine to share the printer
3. On the guest machine
1. Go to the printer's preferences (right click ->  preferences)
2. Go to port tab
3. Add port -> Local port -> enter the shared printer's network path (eg. \\PC\Printer).
4. Confirm
4. Check that it works.

This way we make Windows to use the installed drivers, even if the manufacturer didn't provide the "inf" files installer (probably on purpose).

Hat tip to user kgo08 on Tom's Hardware forums.

New Mail for Exchange breaks Google Sync support

Nokia has never officially supported Mail for Exchange for use with Google Sync, however even without the official support, it worked. Unfortunately with the introduction of Mail for Exchange 3.0, syncing mail does not work anymore with Google Sync.
Google, obviously do not use MS Exchange, rather they provided with their own implementation of the protocol, possibly buggy and/or incomplete.
Nokia on their side point at Google that their implementation is incompatible, meanwhile made the previous working version unavailable, probably wanting to favor their Symbian over Android and crappy Ovi service over Google's.
Google on their side, do nothing, and being Google, probably do not care too much, and/or do not want to promote Symbian.

So here, users of Google services with Nokia devices are left out in the cold, without support from neither company.

Good work, Nokia and Google.

P.S.
My  local Nokia representative was kind enough to provide me with a last working version (2.9.158) of Mail For Exchange for my device.

The bad, the ugly and copyright

Recent developments in the the fields of copyright and the field of responsibility of the the hosting provider are more than alarming. They are outright dangerous.

Recent court verdict in Italy against Google, semi legal attempt to close down Russian torrent tracker Torrents.ru and several other cases show that we are at a very dangerous path that can seriously damage our cultural and technologic progress. Furthermore, copyright laws, quickly becoming into a weapon to ram anyone or anything, like business or political opponents.

If drastic moves will not be taken soon, we will see more such cases and they will be more and more dangerous and ugly.

Country’s leading paper

I’ve reminded myself why I don’t read printed papers anymore. I  happened to get the latest weekend edition only to see how little space is dedicated to actual content. I don’t even refer to commercials, which take up to 70% of the printed space. The rest, very much reminds of children picture books, where you get a few lines of text and a large drawing above or below.

That is a country’s leading paper.

eviL swodniW

I keep getting disturbing messages from Microsoft about this mysterious "eviL swodniW".

Apparently Microsoft are unable to send an email correctly when using RTL.

Update:

Apparently is it a bug in Windows Live Mail desktop application.

Some things do not change

Taken out of context, 101 years old, yet true as ever:

They just used to skedaddle off to work--I've seen hundreds of 'em, bit of breakfast in hand, running wild and shining to catch their little season-ticket train, for fear they'd get dismissed if they didn't; working at businesses they were afraid to take the trouble to understand; skedaddling back for fear they wouldn't be in time for dinner; keeping indoors after dinner for fear of the back streets, and sleeping with the wives they married, not because they wanted them, but because they had a bit of money that would make for safety in their one little miserable skedaddle through the world. Lives insured and a bit invested for fear of accidents. And on Sundays--fear of the hereafter. As if hell was built for rabbits!

H.G. Wells. The War of the Worlds (1898)

What’s the fuss about bing?

Seriously, what is the fuss about bing?

What are the killer features that could sway customers from using Google? I can’t see a single one.

Results accuracy is quite similar, search features, I think are better at Google, with a little nicer visual design at bing.

Will bing become a Google killer, or Microsoft great success? I really doubt that.

Symbolic indeed

"It is very symbolic, that president of Iran has chosen Russia for his first first to a foreign country after his reelection", said Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. "We view it as a sign of active development of relations between Russia and Iran".

I say that it is symbolic indeed, that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad comes to Russia, while his country is torn apart by allegations of rigged elections, elections that he is being accused of rigging, due to Russia's great experience of rigging elections.
Perhaps Ahmadinejad should have come to consult with Vladimir Churov before the elections and not after, since the rigging din't go too well in Iran.

However Chinese representative to the summit in Russia, could instruct him on how to handle the opposition and the civil unrest.

A must read

A Minority Report from the West Bank and Gaza
I'm not even going to quote parts of it, even thou there are a lot of thing I could quote from the article. I suggest you read it whole, for it's entire length.

The true meaning of "HAMAS"

Got in an email message:
source "The San Diego Union-Tribune"

Spot on...

I just hope that islamists would get it's own sting up in his own ass soon enough.

Annoying issue with FireFox 3.x and FireBug 1.2.x

There is an annoying issue with FireFox 3.x and FireBug 1.2.x.
When trying to parse XML you get:

Error: Permission denied to get property Element.childNodes
Source file: http://www.w3schools.com/XML/tryit_view.asp
Line: 24

Apparently it is an issue with FF itself.
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=434522
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=385676

Hopefully, since both issues are recently marked as solved, this issue would be resolved in the next FF update.

Update:
This issue was solved in FF 3.0.3

Update 27 Jan. 2009:
This is finally solved with Firebug 1.3

A must see...

Is Putin delusional?

I would like to combine what I've heard, read and seen for the last few years and combine it all into a theory that I've come to about Mr. Vladimir Putin.

There is a continuous trend in declarations and actions by Russian administration, that Russia is up again and ready to take the place of the former Soviet Union in cold confrontation with USA.
Many consider all of the anti American sentiments part of the Putin's government's propaganda for domestic consumption. I think that they are wrong. Even if they were right to some extend, it was obvious that some day it would make it to Russia's foreign policy.

I think that Mr Putin is caught in the soviet reality, and he projects this reality on Russia's policy on every "front".

I think that Putin actually believes in "The West's" ambition to conquer Russia and all of the former Soviet Republics.
If you assume that I'm right, you can easily understand Putin's position on NATO's expansion to the east and how it must fuel his suspicions. So goes for the war in Yugoslavia and Iraq. The situation around Iran and North Korea.
Now if you look the missile systems that US wants to deploy in Europe from Putin's perspective you can see nothing but another step in the plan to conquer Russia, and all the promises and explanations that these are steps against nuclear Iran, look, at best, as cheap trick to fool the public opinion.

Unfortunately such convictions, which are often called paranoia, are really hard to cure. Often such patients require compulsory hospitalization. Being the president of the state, Putin may only be hospitalized by the Russian people, but at this stage, they are either too scared, don't care, or share his delusions.

Stop these chain mails

Damn, how I hate chain mails!
All of us have received tons of them. All those messages with shaman like prophecies:

"If you send this message to 'enter number of' friends you would get a 'enter time span' of 'enter a reward', if you send to 'enter a larger number of' friends you would get a 'greater time span' of 'the same reward', if you 'close/delete/ignore' this message you get a 'very long time span' of 'some cruel misfortune'."

Fill the italic fields with correct values.

Message like this, work on your feeling while bypassing all logic and sense. This is a marvelous display of the technique called social engineering and is often abused by various cyber criminal groups.

Therefore, I come to propose this set of rules to all of us:
If you get such a message by email, IM or SMS, you should be doing the following:

1. Reply the person or his whole distribution list and explain to him/her the error of his/her way. Perhaps even send him to a link to a resource that will do it better and save your time, while be more successful in delivering the message.
   
2. Delete this message permanently, even if it means fighting the urge to sending it to someone else.
   

I hope that some day we would convince all of our naive friends that forwarding all of these "I love you, my friend" messages is stupid and even dangerous.

Maybe this year Linus Torvalds is right

Lets place some facts together:

• Dell is successfully shipping desktops and laptops with Ubuntu Linux for quite a while, and recently has updated it's line.
  
• Asus EEE PC is a huge hit in US and it is shipped with Xandros Linux.
• Everex Green PC is one of the bestsellers at Wal-Mart and it is shipped with modified Ubuntu Linux (gOS) .
• Acer is starting a pilot in Australia, shipping it's low end laptops preinstalled with Linux.
• Shuttle introduced an Everex Green PC competitor for similar price. Also running Ubuntu.
• Everex is expected to start shipping their Cloudbook laptops with similar characteristics as Asus EEE PC and also at similar price. Will be shipped with gOS.
• Lenovo has announced , that it would ship R61 and T61 Thinkpad laptops with SUSE Linux.
• There are small companies like System76, ZaReason that, for quite a while, offer Linux based systems.
• There are companies that offer Linux based thin clients as products (Koolu) or as service (Zonbu).
• There are OpenMoko and Google Android projects providing Linux in cellular phones.

Update:

• Mirus are selling another sub $200 desktop, with Linspire Linux at Sears.
  

Do we have a trend here?
I think that we do.
Perhaps it is not long for Linux to go mainstream.

Microsoft at their game

Want a perfect example of how Microsoft makes business?
Read an open letter to Steve Ballmer, in recent post on a blog by François Bancilhon.
Two best describing quotes from the letter:
This:

Then, your people get in the game and the deal got more competitive. I would not say it got dirty, but someone could have said that.

and this:

Wow! I’m impressed, Steve! What have you done to these guys to make them change their mind like this? It’s quite clear to me, and it will be to everyone. How do you call what you just did Steve? There is various names for it, I’m sure you know them.