My Commonplace Book

I just submitted this critique to the entertaining and educational site Web Pages That Suck:

( One of the worst sites I've ever seen )

I have two problems with Mozilla and add-ons. One is about Firefox and the other is about Thunderbird.

1. Firefox
Has anyone else noticed a problem with Firefox and GoogleMaps? Starting a few weeks ago, I've been plagued by browser crashes almost every time I use GoogleMaps -- and only when I use GoogleMaps. Is there a known incompatibility that needs to be fixed, or do I have a problem with my computer?

Could it be one of my add-ons that's causing it? I did install some new add-ons not too long ago, but I'm not sure if that's when it started.

( FF add-ons I use )

In listing them I remembered that I had installed Get directions from Google Maps 0.4 at some point -- could that be the one causing the problem? I just disabled it, and I'll see what happens.

In listing them I also noticed that there are a few that I'm not using at all. Is it better to clean things up by deleting or disabling them or just leave them alone in case I remember to use them?

2. Thunderbird
For the last several months, Thunderbird has refused to update my add-ons. When I try -- or when a new update comes out and the program offers to update them -- I say yes, and then when I click the Update button, I get a dialog box for each add-on with the same error message:

Thunderbird could not install the file at [file address]
because: Download error
-228

Four or five of my add-ons have been updated, but I can't get the newer versions to install. Does anyone know what Download error -228 is?

I've tried reinstalling Tbird and then doing the update, but I still get the same result.

Any other ideas?

Thanks!

For some reason the Llama Song popped into my head out of the blue. It's an exceptionally sticky earworm! Of all the "songs" to have going round and round in your head....! Bleah!


ADDED 8:45 pm: I was reading the Newsweek that came today and saw Honda's cute "Greatest Hits" ad, with titles like "You're so Van," "These Wheels Were Made for Errands," and the last one, "I'd Like to Teach the World to Carpool." As I was walking upstairs 15 minutes later, I noticed I was humming to myself and realized it was "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing." MUCH better!

Is anyone familiar with Paint Shop Pro (or even Photoshop)? I've been going over my photos from the Alaska trip, picking out the best ones, adjusting the color or whatever they need, and saving them in a folder to upload. But I suddenly noticed that the saved images are only around 1 meg in size, while the original images from my 7.1 mp camera are around 3 MB each.

I'm not compressing the images (that I know of??), reducing them, or doing anything else that would affect the size. I tried opening one in PSP and then saving it under another name without doing a thing to the photo, and it was only 1 MB!

I did all that work getting the colors just right, cropping a tiny bit here and there and whatnot, and I thought I'd be able to get decent prints from some of these. Where is all the information going? Where do I look in PSP to get it to stop compressing the images (if that's what it's doing)?

Someone posted this on my UU congregation's discussion group today. It's pretty scary.

I am a bit of a (progressive) blog hound, and one of my regular stops contained a link to this article excerpt, to be published in the April 19th issue of Rolling Stone.

The subject of this article is BattleCry, a militaristic, "Christian" youth crusade, that travels the nation in an attempt to form a "warrior" mind set in their teenage attendees.  This isn't my first exposure to this group,  having read about their means, mission, and methods in the past.

Rather than run on with my opinion, I invite others to explore, via the link to the article and the video(s).

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/14021621/teenage_holy_war

http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/?p=983

I just submitted this hideous website to Web Pages That Suck. What on earth were they thinking?! Even the URL is unwieldy, and the site ... well, it's worse than most of the sites on WPTS's Ten Worst Websites of 2006 list.

Vincent,

This is one of the worst sites I've seen in a long time -- I think it may even rate a place in your Top Ten for 2007. Best take some Ritalin before you look at it:

www.modernbabiesandchildren.com

The overall design is the most obvious problem, but don't miss the "Site Legend" at the bottom of the page. Text links for visually impaired users (and aren't they all after that page loads?) -- nope. It's just a list, you can't click on anything!

There are so many other sucky features, I can't even begin to list them all. Try clicking on the "Our Stories" tab and picking any of the choices in the drop-down box ... heck, try all three -- it doesn't matter, none of them work. Going to the shopping page and choosing "Pets" takes you to an ad for a photography studio (that appears to specialize in children and families, not pets). And the list goes on....

Even more frightening, it's proliferating! There are three of them already! This web designer should be ashamed of himself.

Hope you can use this.

Is anyone else in Maryland getting an inordinate number of calls from the Ben Cardin for Senate campaign? I'm getting almost a call a day. Twice in the last few days I got a call from a live campaign staffer asking me if I could help with the campaign. I don't have the heart to snap at them, they always sound like idealistic kids, and it's so heartening to see young people interested in politics. But when I got my second recorded call from Cardin's wife today, I snapped.

( Pointless rant -- just venting )

Someone tried to post this on my freecycle group today:

SUBJECT: WANTED:  See List (PLEASE!!!! )

I am in need of a few things, and would love it if someone out there has any of the items I am looking for. Recently lost my job, totalled my car, and have no money to get things. Sorry about the sob story, but I could really use some help.
 
1. Twin bed frame
2. Any Spongebob Bathroom Accessories
3. Any Dallas Cowboy items for a boys room
4. Swiffer Wet Jet
5. Any cat, small dog or hamster accessories
6. Any ideas where I could have a yard sale
 
Sorry so many items, but wanted to get as much out there as I could.
 
Thank all of you for consideration, and appreciate any help at all.

She lost her job, totaled her car, and has no money ... but what she wants is theme bathroom decorations and a glorified mop that requires expensive disposable refills?

We didn't allow the post because it contains at least four major rule violations, but that's not the part that irritates me. If her sob story is true, and she doesn't have a job or a car, then she must need stuff that's a lot more important than the luxuries she's asking for.

Last month she asked for a Digital HP Photosmart E317 Camera. Yep, model number and all. Hers broke and she wanted exactly the same camera, she said. (She admitted "I know this will be a hard item to locate.")

Either her sob story is phony and she's just trying to selfishly get what she wants by making people feel sorry for her, or her values are badly skewed. Public transportation in this area absolutely sucks. If she really is job-hunting without a car, her options are seriously limited. Asking for luxuries -- and being picky about exactly what kind -- strikes me as very inappropriate.

What a member asks for is their business, of course (as long as they follow the rules, which she didn't bother do to). But so is selecting a recipient, and I'm certainly never going to choose her for anything I offer!