Matt Fowler's Old Blog Posts

MDF Media update

As you know, I released mdfmedia.org back into the internet world awhile back, but it stayed a poorly built Frontpage website for awhile. Well, now I've merged it with Google apps which is proving to be very nice. Just thought I'd keep you posted.

oh yeah, I also have the most wonderful girlfriend ever, Alexis Rann. We're in love. It's great.

Everyone Must Watch!

big news for mdfmedia

Well, MDF Media has a site again, http://www.mdfmedia.org/ has been resurrected. I don't exactly remember why it was pulled out of commission for awhile, but its back for (hopefully) good.

The layout is being designed, so you'll just see a cheesy UC Page for right now.

The rant continues

Well, first off I've moved "The Rant of One" to Blogger beta, where you have to use your Google Account to log in, and things are supposed to be a whole lot better. So far I haven't noticed anything too different, but then again I don't know what will happen in the future (since it's still a beta)

Big things are happening, Brick Hill Publishing was moved from Vizaweb to Dreamhost. Vizaweb had a network crash and was out of comission for about 4 days and so BrickHillPublishing decided that was too long to lose a website for a business (I agree) and so they switched to a more reliable service. So far Dreamhost has been pretty good, but we'll see how it handles when thing slowly start going wrong and support has to be called and/or emailed.

Tenacious D is coming out with a new album (to correspond with their Movie I'm guessing) on 11/4 called "The Pick of Destiny".

Metallica is releasing all their videos (music vids and a few extras) on DVD... It's called "Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004" Which I'm going to pre-order the next chance I get. I believe its supposed to actually release sometime in December. Leave it to Metallica to release things late and make me have to wait (yeah I rhymed)

Well.. I better get off of here!

Good read - important issue

Please take the time to read what I've wrote about spammers using my domain for their pleasure

http://spammers.mattfowler.biz/

Office 2007 Technical Refresh

If you use the Office 2007 beta (Like I do) then you are going to want to install this update. It extends your Beta time, and fixes many bugs. I recommend downloading it if you want to keep your Office 2007 Beta.

:)

Vista, new blog

Got Vista yet? http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/rc1/en/download-5728.htm

I'm going to be trying out the blogger beta.. http://therantofone.blogspot.com (hopefully I'll get it transferred to mdfblog.com soon)

School is so...

LAME

You See Nothing...

All Within My Hands - Metallica
From the album "St. Anger"

I saw a really noticeable error, and I fixed it. And within a day, they uploaded my correct lyrics and gave me credit! Now my email is wondering aimnessly around their site though, not like I don't already get enough SPAM a day.

Check out my Vox blog

Hey, check out my Vox blog. It needs some views.
That is all

http://mdf.vox.com

Oh wait.. and if you have any kind of recommendation for a mail client - please let me know.
I'm using Thunderbird now and I need something more robust.

Don't tell me OUTLOOK!!! I am done with that program.
:D

Lame

Well, what possible things could I write about? I really have had nothing interesting that is internet worthy happen lately. Which is odd for me - because usually i'm full of them.

Sure, I've had some very interesting things happen lately, but they are things I really feel like sharing on the internet.

Well, I just thought of a topic. I can't decide which Mail program I want to stick with. I've abanded Outlook ever since 2007 beta was released. Maybe when the actual 07 is released, I will enjoy it more.

Right now I'm using Thunderbird - which is good, but it's not as loaded as I like. Sure, you can customize it (for the most part) to your liking, but it's just missing something that I'm used to.

I use Eudora on the Mac, but I don't like the windows version for some reason - and they are remotely the same thing. So yeah, it's pretty sad.

That's about all I can think of for now.

 -Matt

PS if you have a recommendation for a mail client - tell me.

Mattfowler.net

I've registered MattFowler.net -- but what am I going to do with it?? That remains a mystery!

Happy Birthday...

Ok - usually I'm not one to wish people Happy Birthday via blog, but for some reason I felt it was right to post this one.

A friend of mine, Alexis, has a birthday today. So yeah, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEXIS!

Still will never know why I've posted it on here. I mean come on, I put it on her myspace and I'm going to call her later on. But yet, the blog seemed necessary.

WinRAR

Has anybody else seen this digg post:
http://digg.com/software/WinRAR_to_be_free_this_Sunday_July_30

Well.. I am trying to get it free but it's not working out to well for me. So far, by reading the actual NeoWin forum that was submitted, I have found that you are supposed to head here and get it, but that page is down. Then if you go to the actual freebie site, it's also down. (Well it's there but they are experiencing "Technical Difficulties".

Curse you digg and you shutting down web sites! :)

Oh well... Not like I actually use WinRAR that much.. I've always been more a fan of Power Archiver.

Well.. that's all for now.

I am Iron Man

Ok, no I'm not - but I needed a snappy title.

Ok - so I need ideas on my Web Goodies idea. I'm completely blank. Usually I have something - but I have absolutely nothing this time. Why exactly am I posting this on here, you ask? I don't even know.

I should actually post something interesting when I do, but I'm LAME like that.

Nobody ever comments my stuff on here - it's odd.

Storming - pt 2

Yeah, once more. storm action.

Storming - pt 1

I am obessed with storms, always have been. AND it's storming! Awesome!

Stormin' Away

It's storming...yay...severe!

OK, I'm weird - but hey, I like storms.

Storm Scene 2

Storm Scene 1

The Rant of One

Although most of the people that view(ed) this probably only did because they read my post on mdfblog.com -- I just want to let some people that are in the Vox community know that I also have another blog.

You might call it my default blog, but do not get discouraged because I really like Vox! You can say I'm impressed.

Anyways, check out my other blog - dubbed "The Rant of One"

;)

Vox

There is a new Blog service around. It's called Vox.

It's by the brilliant people who brought you such things as Live Journal and TypePad, SixaPart.

I don't know what their plans are, but it's free by invitation right now.

I received my invitation today, check out my blog on there.. Don't worry, I'm not converting -- I'm staying with mdfblog.com, but it's just something to mess with.

-Matt

New things are around

Hello, and welcome to my blog on Vox. Currently, they are a invitation only company -- but if you are interested I recommend signing up for an invitiation (because this blog service is very great!)

I don't have much to say, except I really like this blog service!

Check out my personal site and my other blog.

-Matt

Additional July 11th Post

Morganwebb.com is expired...what happend???

Something New..."Song of the Moment"

When I get bored, I Create useless things that I will hardly be able to manage or update. And, I have created another one of those things.

I call it, the "Song of the Moment". You can call it "The Song Matt's Feeling" or "Listening too", but its more of just a spur of the moment thing.

Like right now I've got it set on Sad But True (hopefully it will change after a year of looking at this post) Yeah - it's going to be something for me to do when I have spare time.

I post the album cover, history, and google search for the lyrics.

On other news, I found a deer tick on me last night. Looked like it had been there for a little while. And it's really itchy. Great, Limes Disease. :( (It's not certain yet, i'm waiting for a certain symptom to show up...)

Also, a little while back I finally broke down and got me an iPod nano. It's really nice, I'm glad I did.

I'm using the sporty RAZR and its nice, but I have the Verizon edition and this phone is a walking VZW* advertisement. Ok, the phone doesn't walk. Sorry.

Anywho, thats all for now. Bye

*VZW stands for Verizon Wireless, I've been with this company so long I know all their little abbreviations. It's really sad.

What I've Been up too

Hey Gang, sorry this is a really delayed post, but I haven't been in the mood to post anything on here, not like anything too exciting has actually happend that I need to put on there.

I'm just going to talk about a few things on the web I've spotted. First off, I can't stop enterting codes that I get off of the top of my Pepsi bottles, I will win a Motorola phone, just you wait and see.
And then to make things worse, Dr. Pepper has me trying to win a hummer.

Noticed anything excited in Tech News? I sure have... It seems that you aren't aloud to make videos of you dancing to music that you don't have copyrights to. You can blaim your friends at the RIAA for that action.

I love Digg, I check that place almost everyday, but I guess they were getting too much fame for Netscape to handle. They have gone and created their own "Digg-Killer". I love the first thing they have up there (if it is still there when you all check it) - Kevin Rose's picture with a link to digg talking exactly what I mentioned, the "Digg-Killer". Netscape has a good idea going, the only problem is its not really their idea. If I was Kevin, I'd be sueing, but hey, that's me!

If you haven't checked out the clips at Ask-a-Ninja, you need too! They are great, keep me laughing non-stop.

Check out this absolutely amazing band I found on Myspace: PRIESTESS --> they are awesome! Buy their new album now! "Hello Master" (Great stuff right there)

If you are having a eBay seller problem, you can always talk to the sellers Mommy. Chuckle Chuckle

Also, I'm working on a project for my Grandma, it's called Chicken Scratchins, it's a bi-monthly article that she used to write back in the days when she was a reporter, it's pretty good stuff, go ahead and give a read. I'm using the Office Live Free During and After -- and so far I've seen no problem.
That is it for now peeps, I'm all out of news.

Myspace IM, MSN Messenger Clone, and Launchy

Here are some downloads I am featuring and a little review of them:
Myspace IM
Myspace.com, the popular friend networking profile site, has silently released a Myspace IM. I have it downloaded, and have just used it a little bit. Heres how it works:
You sign in with your myspace email/password, and whoever on your friends list also has the IM, shows up. Like right now, the only friend of mine that has the IM installed is the creator, Tom, who only says "woo!". It looks like a rip off of AIM if you ask me. But if a bunch of people install it, it won't be that bad.

You can find the download for it here.
MSN Messenger Clone
I use MSN, you probably use MSN Messenger, almost everyone uses MSN Messenger these days. It's the most popular IM client used today. Ever wanted a change? With the similar effects but a different layout and a few added features? Well Alvaro's Messenger, AMSN, is a really good clone. It has the nudges, display pictures, and all the smileys, but it also has Tabbed chatting (a feature Linux users would recognize from GAIM) I love it, I use it, etc.

You can find the download for it here.

Launchy
Now this program I have downloaded, but not installed. It is a keystroke program, you type in names of your files/programs/folders and it is supposed to find it. I don't know how the accuracy of this program is, I only know what I have read on the internet.
It looks really good as far as the screenshots go, but I couldn't tell you whether or not I think its a good or bad program.
Probably after I post them I'm going to install it.
You can find the download for it here.

Archive Problems

On the right of my blog you'll see my archives (Grouped In Month/Year).

You'll notice that anything after July 2005 does not work, why I can't really tell you. I am trying to get that fixed. And anything prior to July 2005 uses a very old template I haven't had on here in awhile.

I may just remove the archives, because you can view my Previous post in the current template I'm using now just fine.

Stormy Night

If the video does not display properly
click here to upgrade to Flash 8
This is just a short 47 second clip I shot while it was storming, I kept trying to get a good shot of lightning, I almost do in the middle of the clip, and at the very end I get a decent shot.

Either way, it was freakin rainy outside, I was getting drenched, and really windy!

The Rant of One

It has been born! Yes! The Rant of One! RIP Musings of a Technology Loving Teenager!

Enjoy!

One of those days [Mdfblog.com]

Have you ever had one of those days? Where you feel like you haven't completed anything in your life?

Well, today, I'm not having one of those days, but I am discontinuing the MDFblog .com idea.

It was fun, but I guess I have found out I just don't have enough time on my hands to manage Drupal. Blogger leaves it very simple and I don't have to do much.

I may just do a forward from mdfblog.com to here. Might be a smarter alternative.

We'll see what happens.

Experimental Blog

Guess What! News flash!

I'm starting something new - once more!

http://www.MDFblog.com/

Check it

Comedy Central

If the video does not display properly
click here to upgrade to Flash 8
It was hard not to laugh -- and at the end.. i released.

scenic view

If the video does not display properly
click here to upgrade to Flash 8
I guess you could say I am having way too much fun with Videoegg.com -- I really like their service -- it's video blogging, for free! You can probably expect a random video on my blog everyday (If I have the time)

I apologize for my Dialup viewers, I don't think these are really meant for you guys. Unless you like waiting.

Videoegg.com

If the video does not display properly
click here to upgrade to Flash 8
This is just a little sample record done by my very cheap webcam on Videoegg.com

Yahoo! Widgets (pre-review)

Hi!

Have you looked at the new program yahoo came up with?

It's called Yahoo! Widgets, and it actually looks pretty good. You can get yourself a copy of it here or directly download it: WINDOWS | MAC

I have downloaded it, but I haven't actually installed and messed with it.

I think I'll end this post and do that now - bye!
(maybe there will be a full review later)

Windows Live Safety Scanner

Hello Readers... Sorry that it has taken me so long to post anything, but lately I have just been really busy. Anyways, this post is going to be a rant about something I just discovered on the new build of Messenger 8.0 BETA. (If you haven't gotten this new MSN just yet, head on over to http://ideas.live.com/ and sign up for it).

I installed NOD32 from having AVG (I test AntiViruses- it's what I do - NOD32 is much better than AVG - but I've actually known this for awhile) and decided that it was time to change my Messenger Virus Scanner. Well, when I Went to Tools and Options, then File Transfer. I discovered this:

I clicked "Install", and like it says, it began installing a Free virus scanner.
Whether or not this works out ok, I don't know. Nobody has sent me a file just
yet, but at least Microsoft is trying. That is all I can say. I also captured
this window for you to look at:

That is all for now.

 

Internet Explorer 7 - Pros/Cons

I just noticed on the internet today that Internet Explorer: Beta 2 Preview was released. When the official date and time of this was, I have no clue, because this was the first I heard of a 'public' release.

Well, I picked up a copy of it (its what I'm using now) and so far it hasn't been all that bad. This might be Firefox in the final release. (I hold my tounge on that remark)

Here are the Pros and Cons I have found in this release:
Pros (Might as well start off good)
-The Tabbed browsing seems very effecient and very fluent.
- So far the RSS feature is very nice
- Phishing Filter seems to work (Though I have not had it tell me any site is bad -- which is good!)
- Love the added Search bar, now there is no need for the extra download of Google Toolbar. (After you upgrade the search to Google - which it prompts you to do as soon as you visit the Google homepage)
- I love the Zoom feature- Can magnify pages up to 1000X
- Quick Tabs -- The ability to view all your tabs on one page, reminds me of Mac OS X's Expose (CTRL + Q)
- It's called Windows Internet Explorer now, not Microsoft... Heh, why is this a pro?

Cons (It does have them -- after all, its still IE)
- The new layout is very confusing - It took me awhile to get used to it, but I do like it a lot better than IE 6!
- I know this is still a Beta release, but it has proved to be semi-unstable. Some things that you do cause it to get confused and crash itself and Dr. Watson (Don't know why Dr. Watson but it does!)
- Popup Blocker hasn't been upgraded at all from what I can see, they just changed the way it looks so it matches the new design.(Major disappointment from me)
- You have to press CTRL+ALT to disable the popup blocker now - and it puts the new window in a Tab.. Microsoft: You are flaunting the tab feature. Stop it.
- They copied Mozilla's Tab Browsing Hot Keys (CTRL + T , Clicking with the Scroll Wheel, CTRL Clicking)
- When you view a page that tells you what it 'thinks' your browser is, it says Netscape 4 (What's up with that? Like the page Danasoft.com)
- What's up with their logo? Looks like they actually might have Down Graded the logo-- ATTN Microsoft: Please design a better logo!

In All Out, this is a definite must have upgrade from Internet Explorer 6, at least I would wait until it is officially released if you are a Beginning user, even Experienced users might want to wait. Or you can just stay with IE 6 and continue using it or Firefox. You're choice.

I, myself, might actually start using IE 7 as my default browser again. Sorry Firefox, but IE 7 is proven to decent.

-Matt

Now Vol 62?? They are more advance than us!

Is it just me or are the Americans a little slow...

read more | digg story

Mdfblog (update) and Adsense

Hello! Sorry for the delay in posting, I just haven't got around to writing anything on here.
I know anymore it seems like I catch myself saying that whenever I do post something, because it does take me forever to update...

I've moved Mdfblog from SuperFreeWeb to my own home server at Vizaweb. It just added it on to my package for Mattfowler.biz and it hasn't went down yet. SuperFreeWeb is good for beginners, and starters, but I am not a one of those and got tired of it going down every other day. It had about a 45% up time, if that.

As you can tell above this post (and other posts in the future) I put AdSense on my blog. At first I was kind of weary of them but finally I gave in and decided, why not? It's free and I might make a little extra cash.

Oh, one more thing, I am just not doing too good with my Wordpress blog. I have been so spoiled with Blogger I decided to stay awhile.

Thanksgiving - Mdfblog

Hello readers,

Sorry that I haven't posted anything in awhile. I really haven't been in the mood to get on here and write something.

My Thanksgiving has already been planned, I'm heading out of state to see some family of mine, and have the Thanksgiving weekend with them. What are your Thanksgiving plans? Post them in the comments...

I am not "officially" moving to Wordpress just yet, but I went ahead and started up my blog there. I am not going to launch it as my main blog until I get the skin and such ready. You are welcome to view it, though you will get bored very quickly. http://weblog.mattfowler.biz/
When I am ready to switch it will be blog.mattfowler.biz like it should be. That is, if I even switch.

I just cannot decide what I want to do.

I started up another new site, well actually I started it awhile back I just never really made it global. It's called Mdfblog, and really it has no purpose what so ever. I bought a domain, then used SuperFreeWeb to host it. You can view it here.

** Update: Holy Freakin Crap! Somebody took down my Mdfblog.com!! Who Attacked it!!?? **

Thats it for now, -

Matt

Google Web Accelerator Sneak

If you haven't tried Google's Web Accelerator, I would say give it a try, but judging how many people go to Google to download it, you are not going to get in all that easy.

Lucky for you, I am going to put the direct link for the download. I don't like directly linking files so I won't be doing that, but this website auto-spawns the download.

Here its: http://webaccelerator.google.com/dc.html Enjoy...

Sorry, this post was lame, but I got nothin.

Flickr

Everybody has been ranting about Flickr... SO I'll give them a chance. Happy now?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdfowler/

Dreamweaver 8 / Blogger Problems

Hi again...

Well I tried to post about Dreamweaver 8 last week when I had some time, but I got a bunch of errors and didn't have the time to try and fix them. So here I am finally, on this Saturday, posting about Macromedia's Web Editor, Dreamweaver, new version 8. It's good. I like it. Which I've always been a fan of Dreamweaver, and when they announced of a new version I was right on top of it.

Those familar with Dreamweaver MX 2004 will find this one to be very similar. They just added a few extra things, and the HTML scripting is better. I cannot write all the new things and upgrades so just visit the site here.

Blogger... What a tool. If you read in my previous posts (and now on my web site) I've been thinking of switching to WordPress from Blogger for quite some time. And last week when I got those blogger problems it pushed my limit. I like Blogger, don't get me wrong, but it just doesn't give what a powerful one like WordPress does.

I also will like Wordpress better (If I choose to switch) because they will run directly off of mattfowler.biz, on its own MySQL database and everything. Rather than Blogger uploading to my site. (Which means there SHOULD be less errors)

I don't even know if you'll get to read this post now, but I'm going to attempt it.

Matt

The First Google Site

This was the first version of Google, made at Stanford. Has the first logo, the hardware they used, and everything else.

Check it.

http://web.archive.org/web/19980502040406/google.stanford.edu/googlehardware.html

read more digg story

Effective Brand = No

I changed my mind...
Don't customize, don't download, or support Effective brand.
The toolbar I made installed spyware on my Computer, and when I emailed them about it (WITH A SCREEN SHOT PROOF) they denied and I got no where with them.

They are hopeless...EffectiveBrand..HA Deffective Brand.

Dark Rocker Dude's Blog & Word Press

Levi's got him self his own blog now, you can view it here. Stop by and say hello.

I am also considering moving from Blogger to Wordpress... But should I really risk it? Well, I am having a fight with myself what to do. That's why I need you guys (the viewers) to post a comment.

I told you comments coming back was for a good cause.

The Return of Comments

That's right... Comments are coming back. But be nice!!! To post a comment, simply click the # underneath the post you wish you comment on, and you'll get Blogger's nice little instructions.

But there are rules, and they will be enforced... and if they get broken like LAST TIME...The comments will be removed again..

• No Spamming, Please. This should not happen that much (real spammers at least) because there is a word verification box now.
• No promoting unrelated websites (FreeIpods, etc)
• No pornography links or TERMS
• Be nice as you possibly can as if your child was reading this blog, because I am sure once in a great while a child is going to find this blog. It will happen.

As far as that goes, have fun commenting!

Call for Help -- America-- Did you watch it?

Well I watched (ok sorry recorded and then watched) the Call for Help and it was so good to see Leo again other than on my Computer! I am so glad that they are back... I just wish it didn't start so early in the morning. I'm hoping that it starts at 5 or 6 like it used to.

Anyways, I made an image that you are welcome to save... (its to the right)

Use it as your background, avatar, what have you.

Matt

Call for Help in America!! Bout Time!

Yes Folks!!! It's not just a rumor.. Leo confirmed it (See it here) It sounds like its almost too good to be true... Because of all people to put it back on the air, it was G4.

" G4 has purchased the show for air in the US. I will continue to fly to Toronto to produce it, and we're not changing a thing. In fact, as those of you who have been watching it know, it's really more like the Screen Savers of old than Call for Help used to be, especially now that Kevin Rose has agreed to appear on the show twice a week. We'll get Patrick up to Toronto, too, I promise" As in the post by Leo... I'll be counting the days!

It returns on August 29th. "...Starting August 29 CFH will be on G4 weekdays at 11a Eastern/8a Pacific and weekends at 6 and 7a Eastern. If enough of you watch I'm sure we'll be able to move to a better spot in the schedule. G4 has also purchased the last four months of programs so there will be lots of great stuff from many of your TechTV favorites including Kevin, Alex Lindsay, Steve Gibson, Mr. Excel Bill Jelen, Dick DeBartolo, and of course my Canadian cohort, Amber, Andy, Mike, and Sean..." which is also mention in the post.

Don't just take my word for it... view the post http://thisweekintech.com/node/3920

-Matt

Windows OneCare - My Review

Many of you have saw, or at least, heard of Microsoft's new idea to stop their PC's from having problems once and forever. Well they are probably going to turn this into a Subscription service, and if its around 10-20 dollars a year I recommend it to anybody. But if its any more than that stay away from it. Go here to read my review of Windows OneCare: (The Ins & Outs)
http://insandouts.mattfowler.biz/reviews/onecare.shtml

No... this is something new I'm starting, its just where I'll hold my reviews from now on.

Game reviews & registraton

I'm starting something new again -- and maybe this one will take hold.

I'm gonna start my Gamereviews site back up. (http://gamereviews.mattfowler.biz/) -- It's powered by WordPress to make it easy to post them. Its all neat and categorized so let's see how it goes.

I need a logo for Game reviews.. got any suggestions email em. matt(@+)mattfowler(dot)biz

Tomorrow is Registration day.. oh boy.