bowdlerized epistemological epiphanies

hello again!

2006-03-04T18:47:00.000-08:00

yeah, it's been over a year since I last posted here…

it's easier for me to maintain 1 site and I prefer my moblog

however, when I feel like I've got something to post that doesn't belong in my moblog, then it'll go here.

what I've noticed that it's been a little more inconvenient to post here… thanks to the sploggers and the fact that it's almost impossible to contact support from blogger, I'd rather not post here.

employees of "Microsoft Contact US" can't understand simple English!

2006-03-04T16:53:00.000-08:00

-----Original Message-----
From: ;-)
Date: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 09:28 AM
To: CS
Subject: How can you view .pdf online w/IE while 'File download' is disabled?
---
CUSTOMER PROVIDED SYSTEM PROPERTIES
Country/Region: United States
---
PRODUCT
Internet Explorer 6
---
SYSTEM PROPERTIES
Ref URL: http://supportmicrosoft.com/contactus
O/S: windows nt 5.1
O/S Lang: en-us
Br: msie 6.0
Br lang: en-us
---
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
Message: How can I view .pdf online w/ IE, while having the 'File download' set at "Disable"?
(Internet Options > Security Settings > Downloads > File download > Disable)

----- Original Message -----
From: Microsoft Contact US
To: ;-)
Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 1:55 PM
Subject: RE:'RTCProd=011-226-257'

Hello,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Online Customer Service.

I understand from your e-mail that you wish to view pdf files online without downloading it. I realize the importance of the issue and look forward to assisting you.

As a Customer Service Representative, I can assist you with the support options available for your copy of Microsoft product. However, I have taken the time to research the Internet and have found that to view pdf files online, you have to download Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher.

To download Adobe Acrobat Reader, please visit the following third-party web site:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

The above site is not from Microsoft and information at these sites may change without notice. Microsoft is not responsible for the content at any third-party Web sites and does not guarantee the accuracy of third-party information.

I hope the above information is helpful. If you have further concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for using Microsoft products and services.

Biswanath
Microsoft Online Customer Service Representative

If you have any feedback about your Online Customer Service experience, please send an e-mail message to my manager, Biji Balan, at @microsoft.com

-----Original Message-----
From: ;-)
Date: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 11:22 AM
To: Microsoft Contact US
Subject: RE:'RTCProd=011-226-257'

Biswanath,

You've misunderstood me.

After downloading the latest version of Acrobat Reader, "Disable" 'File Download' with your IE; then try to view any PDF online. Tell me, if you can view ANY pdf with IE, after you "Disable" 'File Download' with your IE.

To change your IE settings:
(Internet Options > Security Settings > Downloads > File download > Disable)

----- Original Message -----
From: Microsoft Contact US
To: ;-)
Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 9:58 PM
Subject: RE:'RTCProd=011-226-257'

Hello,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Online Customer Service.

I appreciate that you have taken time to write back to us.
As a Customer Service Representative, I can assist you with the support options available with your Microsoft product. I have taken the time to look through our self-help website and found steps that may assist you in resolving this issue.

Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader may be unable to display a PDF file inside a compatible web browser window if Acrobat or Adobe Reader can't read the PDF file, if the web browser isn't configured correctly with the Adobe PDF Browser plug-in, or if the web server on which the PDF file is stored can't serve the PDF file. To resolve this issue, please perform the steps given below:

1. Enable Acrobat ActiveX Control. (Windows only)

If you use Internet Explorer on Windows, enable the Acrobat ActiveX Control in the security options.

Note: This procedure changes the security options for all ActiveX Controls in Internet Explorer. If you prefer to use stricter security, contact either your network administrator or Microsoft for information about using the Administrator Approved setting in the Internet Properties.

To enable the ActiveX Control:

1. Quit Internet Explorer and Acrobat or Adobe Reader.
2. Choose Start > Settings > Control Panel and then double-click Internet (or Internet Options).
3. Click the Security tab in the Internet Properties dialog box.
4. Choose the appropriate zone for the location hosting the PDF file (for example, Internet or Local Intranet).
5. Click Custom Level.
6. In the Security Settings dialog box, select Enable under Run ActiveX Controls And Plug-ins, and then click OK.
7. Click OK in the Internet Properties dialog box.

2. Delete temporary Internet files. (Windows only):

If you use Internet Explorer on Windows, delete the temporary files that Internet Explorer creates.

1. In Internet Explorer, select Tools > Internet Options.
2. Click Delete Files in the General tab and then click OK when prompted.

3. Repair Acrobat or Adobe Reader:

To repair Acrobat or Adobe Reader, you must have access to the installation media or to the network path from which you originally installed the product.

In Windows:

1. Choose Start > Control Panel > Add Or Remove Programs.
2. Select Acrobat or Adobe Reader, and then click Change/Repair (Windows XP) or Change/Remove (Windows 2000).
3. In the Setup dialog box, click Next.
4. Select Repair, and then Click Next.
5. Click Update.
6. When the process is complete, click Finish.

4. Deselect and then reselect the Display PDF In Browser preference:

1. In Acrobat or Adobe Reader, choose Edit > Preferences (Windows) or [application] > Preferences (Mac OS).
2. Select Internet.
3. Deselect Display PDF In Browser, and then click OK.
4. Quit and then start Acrobat or Adobe Reader.
5. Choose Edit > Preferences > Internet, select Display PDF In Browser, and then click OK.

I hope the above information is helpful. Please let me know has above steps resolved the issue.

Thank you for using Microsoft products and services.

Shakeel
Microsoft Online Customer Service Representative

If you have any feedback about your Online Customer Service experience, please e-mail my manager, Unni Krishnan Anupama Kumar, at @microsoft.com

-----Original Message-----
From: ;-)
Date: Thursday, March 02, 2006 01:39 PM
To: Microsoft Contact US
Subject: RE:'RTCProd=011-226-257'

Hi Shakeel,

Before we start, I'd like to know, is there anything hard to understand with my written English? Both you and Biswanath have COMPLETELY misunderstood what I originally wrote.

Let's keep it simple.

First, follow ALL of your suggestions below.
Then, change the settings of your Internet Explorer's "File Download" to "Disable"
To change your IE settings:
(Internet Options > Security Settings > Downloads > File download > Disable)

What I'd like to know is if it is currently not possible to view online .pdf files with IE while having the "File Download" setting at "Disable". If it isn't "currently" possible, then I hope it would be considered as a feature request for Internet Explorer 7.

If my written English is difficult to understand, please let me know. At the moment, I can't think of how much more simple can I explain my concern.

----- Original Message -----
From: Microsoft Contact US
To: ;-)
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 1:04 AM
Subject: RE:'RTCProd=011-226-257'

Hello,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Online Customer Service.

I understand from your message that you need to read the files created in pdf. I realize the importance of your issue.

As a Customer Service Representative, I can assist you with the support options available with your Microsoft product.
For viewing the files created in pdf you need to download Adobe Reader. Please visit the following website to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Please note that Microsoft provides third-party resources to help you find customer service or technical support resources. Information at these sites may change without notice. Microsoft is not responsible for the content at any third-party Web sites and does not guarantee the accuracy of third-party information.

I hope the information provided is helpful. If you have any further questions or concerns regarding Microsoft Products, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be glad to assist you.

Thank you for using Microsoft products and services.

Dipti
Microsoft Online Customer Service Representative

If you have any feedback about your Online Customer Service experience, please e-mail my manager, Ranjith Chakkambadh, at @microsoft.com

-----Original Message-----
From: ;-)
Date: Friday, March 03, 2006 09:53 AM
To: Microsoft Contact US; @microsoft.com
Subject: RE:'RTCProd=011-226-257'

So far, NOBODY has understood the simple grade school level English I've been using with this correspondence.

It seems that EVERYONE just uses an auto keyword search tool to read the e-mail and replies using an answer bank based on the results. So far, I don't think ANYONE who replied actually READ any of my e-mail.

Here's a simple "Yes" or "No" answer question: Can I view .pdf online w/ Internet Explorer 6, while having the "File download" set at "Disable"?

----- Original Message -----
From: Microsoft Contact US
To: ;-)
Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2006 7:38 AM
Subject: RE:'RTCProd=011-226-257'

Hello,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Online Customer Service.

I apologize for the inconvenience caused.

I understand you would like to know whether you can view a PDF document online while the file download option is disabled. I realize your concern.

Please note that if you have disabled the file download option in your security settings in Internet explorer (for any zone) then you will not be able to download any file to your computer. However if you would like to view the file online then depending upon the web site you will be able to view the document. For example if you would like to view a pdf document you receive in gmail (google mail) then you will be able to view this pdf document in html version. Hence in general it is not possible to view a PDF document online when the file download option is disabled.

I would like to inform you that I have forwarded your feedback to Internet Explorer (IE) development team so that they will look into the feasibility of including this feature in the new version of Internet Explorer (IE).

I hope the above information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be glad to assist you.

Thank you for using Microsoft products and services.

Ajay
Microsoft Online Customer Service Representative

If you have any feedback about your Online Customer Service experience, please send an e-mail to my manager, Sujith Sadasivan, at @microsoft.com

2005-02-25T15:24:00.000-08:00

testing my background to be stored in a new location

Firefox

2005-01-30T16:38:00.000-08:00

this is my customized toolbar settings for Firefox (Fx).

I finally decided to try Fx for the 1st time, yesterday…

I've been resistant to anything I've considered as redundant software 'coz of harddrive space… but now, security issues have superseded my resistance… and, so far, so good… and 2 (or more) browsers are definitely better than 1!

I believe that Fx, Internet Explorer (IE), & Opera use their own browser engine… but, I think, Netscape's usin' Fx's engine (so don't bother installin' Fx, if you've got Netscape's latest version)…

I never bothered to use Opera's free (ad-sponsored) version 'coz it was known to have some sort of tracking (similar to adware) built into it… so, I've never trusted Opera's free version… and, I still don't… and, I don't think that it's worth (currently $39) purchasin' the regular version…

bein' a wannabe tech geek, I've heard about Fx prior to it's official release… however, I've decided to do a "wait-and-see" approach before tryin' it… sure enough, a month (or so) after its official release, there was a security issue… but, I haven't heard about ANY, since then… I'm sure, just like ALL other software products, there'll be more bugs that will eventually be discovered as more users, hackers & crackers discover them… but hey, after tryin' Fx, I definitely can say that it feels safer than IE…

my IE will be for trusted sites that need to use plug-ins & scripts…

I've set my Fx to the highest security settings (Safe Mode) and I'll be using it to test sites for compatibility and security…

Fx may be buggy which is okay 'coz they're still in version 1 (compared to IE, which is currently version 6.x.x.x; and, Opera's version is 7.x.x)… BUT, I still recommend that EVERYONE should use Firefox! AND, I think that it's best to keep your other web browser(s)… Fx & other non-IE browsers either won't or can't view/use certain features from other sites… someday, either those sites will be modified to view properly with other browsers or the other browsers will have more features to make it possible to view/use other sites…

Blogger Hacks

2005-01-27T21:45:00.000-08:00

well… I stumbled into the Blogger Hacks and decided to give it a go… there are actually some that I think are very useful…

this is the new "Archives" layout…

Pre Blogger Hack

2005-01-27T21:17:00.000-08:00

this is the old "Archives" layout…

kinda waste of space…

"hello - BloggerBot" sucks!!!

2005-01-27T18:02:00.000-08:00

a major peeve of mine are programs that change your browser's toolbars without your consent…

this is how I like my browser's toolbars to look like

I just recently installed "hello - BloggerBot" 'coz it's the program that I 'need' to use in order to post pictures directly into my blog… if I'd known that it would hijack my browser's toolbars, I would've never installed it!

here's what it did:

it brought it back to the default "Standard Buttons" plus added 2 of it's own buttons

it also hijacked the dropdown menu of the "Tools"

oh, and this stupid "hello" program apparently can't allow you to make paragraphs. I have to manually enter paragraphs by loggin' into my blog! plus, everytime you post a photo, it automatically pops-up a new window of your blog; which gets very irritatin' after postin' more than 3 photos in a row!

don't install this program, if you really don't need it! it sucks!!!

another thing I can't stand are 3rd party toolbars…

I've made some minor modifications (to add more viewin' space) but I don't add anything more than the 3 original toolbars:
1) the main drop down menus
2) my customized "Standard Buttons" are at "No text labels" (why have the labels, when they become visible, if you hoover over the icons) & "Small icons" (for more space)
3) the "Address Bar" without the "Links"
my reason for keeping it down to 3 is 'coz I'd like to see more of the viewin' space on my limited size monitor…

check these toolbars from hell

thanks to JayJDC's phlog post for introducin' it to me…