CyberCoyote - February 5, 2009

NEWS and NOTES

Business

We started with a short business meeting today. We have $2,900+ in funds, after spending several hundred dollars this season. There was discussion about contributing to a sound system for NC-2. Other organizations are also interested. George will explore the question further with Brent.

TECH TOPICS

File associations

How do you change which program opens a specific file format, for example, *.doc files. That question came up today. One way is to select the file (left-click) in Windows Explorer, then right-click the file and choose "Open-with..." from the context menu that opens. You then get an option to change the default program for opening files with that extension. The links below might help, but I'd suggest searching for an answer in Windows Help as well.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307859

http://www.fileinfo.net/help/windows-change-program.html

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/06/20/how-to-edit-or-change-file-type-or-extension-associations-default-programs-in-windows-vista/

Resizing photos for email

Another interesting question today was how can you reduce the size of files before you attach them to an email message? The more megapixels your camera's sensor has, the bigger the file size it produces, and these days even simple cameras can produce huge files.

full size

I suspected that you could resize photos using Windows itself, but I wasn't sure. In Windows XP, just "Open" (don't Explore) the folder containing the photos, select the ones you want to resize and a task called "Email the Selected Items" will appear. Click that, and Windows will resize the ones you selected and put them in another folder. The originals will still be where they were. It took me about ten seconds to find that solution using Google. :-)

Most free photo editors offer options for reducing file size. Take Picasa for example. Under "File" in the menu you have the option to "Export Picture to Folder..." If you click that option you'll be able to reduce the picture size and/or quality. Reducing the picture size by 1/2 would reduce the file size to about 1/4 of the original. Reducing the quality would also reduce the file size. [Picasa] [Irfanview]

Looking ahead to Windows 7

If you're the impulsive type — not that there's anything wrong with that — you can skip this item. :-) It's not too early to start thinking about Windows 7 if you're a bit more deliberate though. For example, if you've been thinking Vista, is it worth waiting a little while for 7? I've been following Windows 7, and it's looking good. All the signs are that it's getting closer too — late summer looks likely. If you already have a PC that runs Vista well, moving up to 7 when the time comes should go well.

SECURITY

More on Java

Last Thursday, I wrote about how to clean up Java installations. On Friday, I began restoring my home-built, five-year-old computer to a happier time in it's life. :-) The computer finished it's time travel on Saturday, and then I installed Java. I had not yet installed Java five years ago. Since I was working in the virtual past, I guess you'd say it was virtually the first time, eh? :-)

The next day, Secunia PSI — the little watchdog I recommend — barked at popped up a notice about the version of Java I had just installed. It announced that a critical vulnerability had been discovered that would allow an attacker to silently attack my newly-rejuvenated computer. I installed the update that Sun just released, and all is well — for a while. To paraphrase John Philpot Curran, "The price of security is eternal vigilance." Secunia PSI just makes it easier. [more on PSI]

ODDS and ENDS

Business review

Up and to the right. :-)

Surnames

Distribution of the surname Spohn

Where does your name come from?

If you parse the site name, you might deduce that dynastree involves family trees. You can sign up there to create your own family tree online. You can even let other family members contribute.

It's fun to just see where people that have your surname come from though. Knowing a little family history, the map for "Spohn" makes some sense to me, except I don't know how so many ended up in California. Maybe it's because ten times as many people live there now as when we did. Try it yourself from right here.