If you’ve got a qmail server with a large number of users spread out over hundreds of domains, how will you figure out how many users you have? I don’t know of any official way, but there are ways to guesstimate.

Let’s say you’re using vpopmail. Let’s say there’s a file called lastauth - telling you when each user last checked e-mail and from what IP address.

Then you could get a guesstimate of the number of users by doing this:
find /home/vpopmail/domains | grep lastauth > yourfile

This will take quite a while, if you’ve got many users.

Then check number of lines in that file, by typing:
wc -l yourfile

Finally remove yourfile

And no, I don’t provide support on this. This is for qmail admins, not regular users.

I need a shower. Upgrading the processor can get fairly physical, if said processor is of the Penitum III, Slot 1 variety, and you need to change the heatsink. Word to the wise, don’t give up even if the screws don’t pop off right away. You may need to use some force…

I needed to upgrade the bios to get the new processor to take (Pentium II 400 HMz is a bit slow with SimplyMepis, a Pentium III 600 would hopefully mean a performance boost, and the new processor was a spare part…), and had Linux on the machine. Which means the bios upgrade was the wrong operating system. No problem, just boot from a win95 or thereabouts boot floppy, then do the upgrade from a floppy.

But of course, I started the computer thinking the board would autodetect the new processor. Luckily I saw it didn’t have the right frequency and powered down to read the motherboard manual. After changing some dipswitches, I was good to go.

The intended user is reading newspapers right now, and is confirming that the machine is faster. BTW, a good idea for “newspaper reader users” is to have all their links on their browser’s home page. Less stuff to learn in the beginning. And a few icons on an uncluttered desktop for the one or two programs they use, easily marked (Internet browser is better than Firefox or Internet Explorer. Write Letter is better than Word or Text Editor).

Mission accomplished.

I have a tiny laptop that’s too old for any other windows edition than win98.

Problem is I never got any wlan card to work on it. Finally I was desperate enough to try alternate solutions (who wants to lug 3 kg around when you could lug less than 1 kg?). Here’s something that might work for you if you’re in the same predicament. Just remember you’re doing this at your own risk.

This relates to machines with Windows 98 first edition. The version of Ndis.vxd changed from first edition to Win98SE. The card requires the version that came with Windows 98 Second Edition.

To fix (and it might break something else, so beware), download the right language file from this page:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q243199/

Then save it to some location, open a dos prompt and type:
243199us8.exe /c /t:a:\

Change folder to the one you’ve got the file in (cd nameoffolder, cd .. to go up a notch etc). Replace the file name here with your language version. The /t is the location it zips the files out to. Right here it’s set to the floppy drive, but it could easily be c:\drivers\ or something else.

Then the safe way is probably to do as described in this newsgroup thread, but I simply renamed the old Ndis.vxd in thec:\windows\system\ folder, and pasted the new version in. It worked for me, but I haven’t tried a second time, so no guarantees.

All of this was done after the card was installed, and I found a yellow exclamation mark in the hardware list, and found the driver complained about Ndis.vxd and Ntkern.vxd. Replacing the first file was enough to make it work.

I’d actually love to install Linux on it instead. Damn Small Linux would be about right, if I could get the wlan card to work on it? But I’ll leave that for another day.

I often see clients struggling with trackpads on their laptops, and it gets me every time.

Why not get a small mouse to go with it, instead of contorting your hands with those trackpads?

OK, so maybe lugging a mouse with you doesn’t appeal to you, since a laptop is portable and it’s more weight and bulk. But really, have you SEEN how small the travel mice are these dasy?

I’ve got a Logitech one I wouldn’t be caught without!

I was even at a customer’s house when his cordless mouse gave out, and using keyboard shortcuts gets real old, real fast. So I got my little mouse out of my car, and was good to go in a few minutes!

Check out mine:

It’s about the size of the palm of my hand.

I’ve been meaning to write this one for quite some time.

What’s on YOUR keychain?

I’ve had useful stuff on mine for a long time now. I only keep two keys on there (car and apartment), so it’s way too small and I’d lose it unless I had something weighty on there.

For a few years I had a mini Maglite torch

But then I got a cell phone with a flashlight, so I removed it and put a mini leatherman knockoff on there.

Then i lost that one, and had a regular pocket knife for a while.

Finally I switched cell phones (anyone else get tired of using the same for more than a year?), and once again needed a flashlight handy.

This time I find a mini leatherman knockoff locally, with a mini led torch hidden in one of the handles. It’s slightly larger than I like, and comes in a small pouch, but I’d rather be caught WITH a Phillips screwdriver and a torch, than without…

So, what’s on your keychain?

And since so many geeks would say: USB thumbdrive, I’ve included a link to a discussion about what geeks keep on it:
What’s on your USB drive
The main link there is to a list that’s wonderful for IT support people. It’s just amazing how poor shape regular users leave their computers in, and I think I need a larger thumbdrive in order to be able to fit all this stuff:
http://www.miketechshow.com/2005/09/mike-tech-show-podcast-30-09-24-05.html

Finally, I think the time for me to only have a USB thumbdrive is over (or even worse, I usually only have an MP3 player filled with music).

I think I need to get my boss to shell out for one of these:
eMagic hard drive enclosure

Some people check Alexa ratings to see how much traffic a site has.

Well, as one who has a a few sites, I can tell you they’re totally unreliable.

One site is currently ranking 560,204. It has 7 times the traffic the site that’s ranking 322,578 has.

But they’re in different segments. One appeals to geeks and SEO’s. And as we know, the SEO’s are more likely to use the Alexa toolbar. The other site probably has a bigger percentage of housewives than any other group. That doesn’t exactly translate to all that good Alexa rankings…

Pusur caught and killed a bird and a mouse during the night. He ate the mice, and left the bird a little messed up (doesn’t like the taste apparently). Even so, he was ravenous when he pounded on the door this morning at 6 AM.

But today he can hardly keep his eyes open, he’s so pooped…

There’s an ant problem here. I find them crawling all over me, and over and into the computer.

Last night the DVD burner started producing coasters. I was burning CD’s at the time, and not the highest quality either. So I can’t be sure of any conclusions.

I did check the underside of the discs before burning though.

One of the discs had some sort of smearing on the underside.

I just wonder…

Fried ant?

I haven’t commented on Michael Jackson’s acquittal before. Probably most bloggers have by now.

We don’t know for sure what happened. The case was complicated enough, we couldn’t have known unless we were present at the alleged molestations. So I’m not getting into if he was guilty of what he was accused of.

What I am going to address, is his behavior.

He knew well before the incidents he was accused of, that the world was looking at him for child molestation. He kept on doing what he’d done, and has been argumenting that it’s innocent and good.

I can’t see any advisors saying that was a good idea. So it had to have been his idea. Or he can’t help himself. Either way, it might indicate a persona that is incapable of taking good advice. A persona that thinks he knows best, that won’t be denied. Or who doesn’t have the good sense to attract good advisors, only yes people.

That’s a recipe for disaster.

I’m not a shrink, I can’t say exactly what is wrong. But for my untrained eye, something is wrong.

There are so many people walking around, with serious emotional dysfunction. Personality disorders of various kinds. It’s nothing new. Chances are most of us will encounter at least one or two we recognize as having problems, and many we never suspect.

They’re high functioning, in that they’re not raving lunatics that must be kept locked up. But they’re still damaging others. And usually the damage is emotional or psychological. Some go off the deep end now and then, and become physically threatening.

My point being, there are many shades of emotional and psychological problems around us.

Michael Jackson displays what I’d consider odd behavior, judging from TV programs I’ve seen. I hope he gets help. I think he needs someone around him who says no to him, sets boundaries. But, considering his popularity and former wealth, I can’t see that happening. I’m not sure he’d allow it. Sadly.

I’m sure he thinks his behavior is not only perfectly justifiable, but something more people should do. Those were his sentiments a while ago, at least.

You know, when I saw him on TV, I felt that he truly believed what he was saying. That doesn’t mean what he was saying is the absolute truth, but it does mean that it’s HIS reality. Make of that what you will.

Most of us use the keyboard that came with our computers. I did that too for a few years.

But then I saw and fell in love with Microsoft Natural Keyboard. Naturally, I had to have it. After all, I did write touch, and the old keyboards aren’t too comfortable.

Then a few years passed, and I saw a keyboard on sale, with a really nice mouse that I’d already tried an loved. Hmmm… So I bought it. That was the Logitech Y-SD5. It’s a clone of the Microsoft keyboard, except smaller and flatter. And it became my new favorite. I’ve been using it for years.

And recently I thought, hey, what if I wear it out? How will I get a new one? So I went looking. The only model I found currently in production was the

Logitech Cordless Comfort Duo

It’s a similar package to the one I bought. If it feels the same way mine does, GET IT!!!

I was about to say I’m not getting any percentages. But then I realized, hey, they sell them on Amazon! So up the affiliate link goes. Amazon also has a nice display of similar keyboards, if this one doesn’t look right to you. Oh, but if you’re in Norway, remember not to buy US keyboard. Go to Logitech Norway instead.

I just think it could help people who have carpal tunnel syndrome, or other ergonomical problems. And it’s a really good keyboard to boot. The mouse in my package was the M-BA47, which is a wonderful mouse. Built to the contours of my hand. Not sure the new one is that good?

Well, if you don’t write touch, you’ll hate it, of course…