Koozie Notes

Breaking a Two Hundred Year Old Code

In today's WSJ, Rachel Silverman authored an article title, "Two Centuries On, a Cryptologist Cracks a Presidential Code Unlocking This Cipher Wasn't Self-Evident; Algorithms and Educated Guesses."  A 36 year-old mathmatician breaks this code in a letter written to Thomas Jefferson.

PDF version of letter  (11 MB)

-Chris

Issues Converting from SQL 7 to SQL 2005: 6.5 Compatibility

Yesterday evening, I was working on moving an old database from MS SQL Server 7.0 to a new server running MS SQL Server 2005.  Using SQL 2005 Management Studio, the moved database just stated "Database Name" (6.5 Compatibility).

After a few google searches, I found this site describing the same problem.  To correct the problem and convert the old database to SQL Server 2005 format, you would issue the following SQL command:

EXEC sp_dbcmptlevel 'MyDBName', '90';

I learned another fact last night about SQL 2005. SQL Enterprise manager, which was in SQL 2000 and SQL 7.0, is now called Management Studio. And the query analyzer, which used to be a separate application, is now incorporated inside SQL 2005 Management Studio.

--Chris

Old School Programing: Basic-256

While listening the Leo and Steve on the "Security Now!" podcast, they mentioned BASIC-256, a version of BASIC used to teach computer programming.  This evening, I downloaded and ran it.  Pretty cool. 

It reminds me of childhood programming on my Sinclair 1000, typing out programs, and saving them to cassette tape.

BASIC-256 web site.

You might also want to take a look at a Salon article title, "Why Johny Can't Code."

--Chris

Funky Error Code Using Perl and Win32::ODBC

While working on a perl script today, I came accross a strange error message from Win32::ODBC.

[Microsoft][ODBC Microsoft Access Driver] Too few parameters. Expected 1.

Now in the SQL statement, I was passing in the following VBA function:
    DateDiff( interval, date1, date2, [firstdayofweek], [firstweekofyear] )

When I passed in  DateDiff( "d", date1, date2), I received an error.  So I left off the double quotes and passed in DateDiff( d, date1, date2), which still failed.

Solution:  Pass it in with single quotes.

DateDiff( 'd', date1, date2)

--Chris

Making Audio CD Copies on Mac OS

On Windows, I'm a big fan of Nero burning software for duplicating audio CDs.  Tonight I tried using the Mac Disk Utility that comes with OSX to make a copy of an audio CD, but failed.  After googling for answers, I found some comments praising a free application called Simply Burns.

http://simplyburns.berlios.de

This application worked as advertised.

--Chris

Online Picture Editor: Pixlr

  Via the Windows Weekly podcast with Leo and Paul, they mentioned a new online web service, pixlr, that allows you to edit digital photos, similar to programs such as Photoshop Elements.

-Chris

They also mentioned Quake Live.

How to setup ssh tunnel: Cups Redirection

Today, I needed to configure cups on a server and used ssh tunneling to accomplish my task.

ssh -L 8888:localhost:631 [enter username of cups server here]@[enter ip address on name of cups server here]

--Chris

---------

CUPS provides a web interface (which is sometimes called a GUI, although we rely on the web browser to provide the graphical part) that allows you to view print jobs, printers, and the online help, as well as manage your printers.

The CUPS web interface is available on your machine at the following URL:

    http://localhost:631

Books Read in 2009

For 2009, I have finished reading reading the following books on my Kindle, which I received on 29 APR 2008. (Not including tech book, manuals)

1. The Chimes by Charles Dickens (5 JAN 2009)
2. Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Defend, and Explain the Catholic Faith by Scott Hahn (11 JAN 2009)
3. 1632 by Eric Flint  (23 JAN 2009)
4. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher (3 FEB 2009)
5. OH BOY! The Life and Music of Rock 'n' Roll Pioneer Buddy Holly by Staton Rabin (4 FEB 2009)
6. 1633 by David Weber and Eric Flint (12 FEB 2009)
7. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll (12 FEB 2009)
8. Orphanage by Robert Buettner (21 FEB 2009)
9. Anathem by Neal Stephenson (19 MAR 2009)
10. Death Masks by Jim Butcher (28 MAR 2009)
11. Sunborn by Jeffrey Carver (11 APR 2009)
12. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (12 APR 2009)
13. Orphan's Destiny by Robert Buettner (15 APR 2009)
14. Battlefield Earth by L Ron Hubbard (12 MAY 2009)
15. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien (23 MAY 2009)
16. Blood Rites by Jim Butcher (26 MAY 2009)
17. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (21 JUN 2009)

-Chris

Kindle 2.0

Sweet.  Amazon just came out with Kindle 2.0, which looks cleaner and thin than my version 1.0.  Reviews can be found on sites like Engadet and Kindleboards.

--Chris

Boxee for the Mac

Take a look at some free software called Boxee, which provides an easy interface, to stream free video content from the Internet to your computer.

They have versions for Apple Macs and Linux.

--Chris

Huge Photo of President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address

Via Gigapan, a cool photo of President Obama's Inagugural Address.  Image size is around 2 gigabytes.

--Chris

MP3Tunes CEO Says Capitol Record Distributes Free MP3s

While reading Slashdot on New Year's day, I found this post and legal brief where the CEO of MP3Tunes make a case that Capitol Records is already distributing MP3 songs without DRM for free over the Internet.

--Chris

Trial Transcripts: Capitol Records vs. Thomas [RIAA]

As posted on Slashdot,  the court transcript of Capitol Records vs. Thomas is now available to peruse online.

Transcript, October 2, 2007, pp. 1-278
Transcript, October 3, 2007, pp. 280-543
Transcript, October 4, 2007, pp. 544-643

--Chris

2008 Book List: Read

For 2008, I have finished reading the following books on my Kindle, which I received on 29 APR 2008. (Not including tech book, manuals)

1. Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
2. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
3. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
4. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
5. The Confusion by Neal Stephenson (4 JUL 2008)
6. The Hacker Crackdown by Bruce Sterling (7 JUL 2008)
7. Final Report on Jack Thompson by Florida State Bar (13 JUL 2008)
8. My Own Kind of Freedom by Steve Brust (16 JUL 2008)
9. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving (18 JUL 2008)
10. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (29 JUL 2008)
11. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (31 JUL 2008)
12. The System of the World by Neal Stephenson (23 SEP 2008)
13. The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi (1 OCT 2008)
14. Spin by Robert Charles Wilson (9 OCT 2008)
15. Neptune Crossing by Jeffrey A. Carver (13 OCT 2008)
16. Dauntless (The Lost Fleet) by Jack Campbell (19 OCT 2008)
17. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (22 OCT 2008)
18. Strange Attractors by Jeffrey A Carver (3 NOV 2008)
19. The FairTax Book  by Neal Boortz and Congressman John Linder (9 NOV 2008)
20. Animal Farm by George Orwell (10 NOV 2008)
21. Fearless (The Lost Fleet Book 2) by Jack Campbell (14 NOV 2008)
22. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (16 NOV 2008)
23. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown (24 NOV 2008)
24. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher (29 NOV 2008)
25. Infinite Sea by Jeffrey A Carver (11 DEC 2008)
26. Briefer History of Time by Leonard Mlodinow and Stephen Hawking (15 DEC 2008)
27. Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (25 DEC 2008)
28. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K.Rowling (25 DEC 2008) [Dead Tree Version]

-Chris

$50 Discount for Amazon Kindle

Last Friday Oprah Winfrey unveiled her new favorite gadget, Amazon's new ebook reader, Kindle.

According to her web site, if you use the Code OPRAHWINFREY, you will receive a $50 discount on a new Amazon Kindle.  This discount offer is good through Saturday, November 1st.

--Chris

Lone Star Ruby Conference

I'm currently hanging out at the 2nd Annual Lone Star Ruby Conference held in Austin, Texas.  The creator of Ruby, Yukihiro Matsumoto "Matz", will be giving the conference keynote at 8:00 pm local time.

The guys from RailsEnvy are at it again this year showing off some funny videos.

--Chris

Kindle: Automatic Page Turns

Wow, while perusing through the Amazon forms I came across this cool key board shortcut for turning on automatic page turns.

• To turn on automatic page turning, press Alt-0. Then press Alt-1 to activate it. Alt-2 to stop it.

I find it a bit fast, though.

--Chris

Financial Times: Now on Kindle

Amazon bumps up their newspaper subscription offerings on the Kindle to 24 with the addition of the Financial Times , priced at $9.99 per month. 

--Chris

Ping Publishers for Kindle Versions

Today, I noticed that Amazon added a new feature to their book product subscription web page that allows one to "Ping" the publisher for a Kindle version.  Thank you Amazon.

For example, I would like a Kindle version of John Grisham's The Brethern.  So, just click on the link and if you look to the left side, below the book cover, you should see a new box that reads as follows.

Please tell the publisher: I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Let the pinging begin.

--Chris

Outlook Express: Troubleshooting

Today, I spent time troubleshooting Outlook Express, Microsoft's standard email application on Windows, which should not be confused with Outlook, Microsoft's more elaborate email client that can come package with MS Office.

A good place to start is reading should begin with Microsoft's Article on Outlook Express File Corruption.

In our case, we were able to get everything working by going offline, compacting the inbox and deleted items folders, and finally moving saved messages outside of the default Outlook Express folders.

If you are not as fortunate, you might take a look at some of the software tools listed below for repairing and recovering lost email with Outlook Express.

1. DBXtract - Extracts messages from corrupt dbx files -- Slow, limited and may not get all the files.
2. DBExpress - Extracts messages from corrupt dbx files -- Fast, accurate, and versatile. Can extract from entire disks, even if formatted

Even though I did not have to use these tools, they might come in handy in the future.

--Chris

IRS Updates Pub 1220: Procedures for Filing 1099 Electronically

IRS has published an updated version of IRS Publication 1220, which covers electronic filing of 1099s for tax year 2008. [IRS PDF Download site]  As result of the new rules for 2008, the IRS will no longer accept magnetic media, which makes Form 4804, Transmittal of Information Returns Reported Magnetically, obsolete.

If you are new to filing information returns, wikipedia has a some good information on 1099 filing.

--Chris