A neat desktop customization for XP & Vista. Sits on the desktop nicely, kind of sticks to the wallpaper, you can right click normally through it & almost none resource usage. Very cool! (100 times better & sleeker than vista native stuff)

http://lifehacker.com/5087956/customize-your-own-killer-enigma-desktop

Firefox: Google Search in the Address Bar

How to do enable Google search with Firefox’s address bar









1. On the address bar type: about:config
2. Press Enter
3. Access the about:config page.
4. Find the keyword.URL preference name, by writing in "Filter:” field
5. Double-click on it to change the string value to http://www.google.com/search?&q=
6. Click OK and close the about:config page/tab
7. Voila, it works perfectly, very convenient

How to delete cygwin folder

The other day I spent sold 2 hours trying to delete the annoying cygwin folder for installing a cleaner version. :p

every time I deleted it gave me access denied error until I used calcs in command prompt to reset the permissions. (Equivalent to chmod *.* 777)

CACLS c:\cygwin /E /T /C /G "wahmed":F

where wahmed is my user account in windows. After that just right clicked the folder and poof, deleted. Phew!

------------------------------------------
I suppose before you get to the above point, you already have done this small bit

Complete Method
First kill the cygwin services, by either going to Start>RUN>services.msc or type these lines in cmd prompt/Run
1 - cygrunsrv -E sshd
2 - cygrunsrv -R sshd

3 - Delete the folder c:\cygwin and all its sub-folders (if it doesn’t get deleted follow the above guide)

4 - Remove the Environment Variable CYGWIN (by right clicking My Computer->Properties->Advance-Environmental Variables) edit the Environment path accordingly

5 - Start>Run>regedit and delete these two registry trees
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER_Software_Cygnus Solutions"
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE_Software_Cygnus Solutions"

6 - Go to Control Panel>Category View>Performance and Maintenance>Administrative Tools, Computer Management.
or click Start>Run>compmgmt.msc
delete the sshd user if it exists in the "System Tools" - "Local Users and Groups" - "Users" section.
-----------------------------------

Three UK and Ireland broadband Latest Drivers for USB E169G Modem

Latest Drivers for Three USB modem (Huawei 169G Drivers). Got them directly from Three Ireland. Data speed does seem to be increased after this one, and the interface also seems to be better. The drivers are for Microsoft windows XP, Vista and MAC OS-9 onwards.

http://rapidshare.com/files/158006757/Huawei_169G_USB_3G_Modem_Drivers.zip

For Linux (ubuntu): to make E169G working on linux Ubuntu and Debain, please follow this guide, its quiet comprehensive

http://blog.tech-pro.net/entry/38/Linux_and_the_Huawei_E169G

Free Land line numbers for UK & US

Just wanted to share some links. I am sure many of you already know about this, but I was trying to setup a free SIP based land line no's. (Skype and many other services give it for money)

http://sipgate.co.uk - for UK or Germany's land line no's

and

a combo of http://www.freeworlddialup.com/ - for SIP forwarding
& http://www.ipkall.com/ - for US land line no

for sipgate there is already a pre-configured X-lite(software for voip calls) available, for IPkall you need to download "X-Lite" and do the setting as mentioned on their website.

both of these work nicely, and people can call from Ufone-Pakistan for Rs.1 or something. Its quiet useful.

"The Black Swan" an interesting book by Naseem Taib

Usually I am not too fond of reading mathematics & probability books for fun, but someone strongly recommended this book, so I borrowed it from library and started reading with a condition that If I get bored during the first 5 pages its going out of the window.

But my O my how wrong was I. This book is simply amazing. It shattered some of my everyday concepts on many levels. Its written with a reason to predict unpredictable events in stock markets around the world, and about highly improbable events e.g not having very un-common events like 9/11 or war in Lebanon is actually more uncommon than having ones (means that unprobable events are bound to happen, world can not be happy place for too long, the probability of things going right for too long is very low); and the influences these highly improbable and unpredictable events create are massive. But since we often bring our intuition from Mediocristan for the events of Extremistan, leading us to error. The result is a tendency to be blind-sided by the unexpected.

kool… :) rite?

LinuxBIOS (Faster boot time for linux)

If someone wants to get freaky with their Linux boxes try this open Bios thing (LinuxBIOS, http://linuxbios.org/ ). It replaces the native Mobo bios with a trimmed down Linux version (with no support for DOS). Grub gets loaded into BIOSäs rom, reduces boot time and support parallel hardware initializations i.e. faster boot time for Linux.

When booted you just see two panes for Linux hardware initializations, (no Intel inside screen or press F2 or F12 etc..) I have tried it on dell optiplex gx620 (Intel 915 mobo) without any problems.

Though, there is no apparent reason to do this, and probably it has potential to fry the motherboard, but its cool :)

{Open Source} Heroes happen here... :D

what?? I don't get this. Is Microsoft trying to steal the name "OpenSource" or what?

http://www.microsoft.com/opensource/heroes/default.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/opensource/heroes/player.htm?f=John-3.flv


Well general perception is either you can be "kool" or use "Microsoft Visual Studio 2008". But probably some super cool genius at MS is going to change all that. The idea is one should write Open Source Code with Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 on a trial copy of Windows Server 2008. And most importantly the download package is called "Hack Pack". :)

Also, Microsoft's opensource project hosting Web site is called CodePlex. (http://www.codeplex.com). I dont know, but it sounds like GooglePlex & looks similar to http://code.google.com/

G n'R's Chinese Democracy

If you guys didn't get a chance to hear about Gn'R's new album, Chinese Democracy. Do give it a listen, its seriously good; all the leaked songs are excellent, especially "The Blues" & "Chinese Democracy".


just google for download links, "Chinese Democracy" + "rapidshare.com". old mirrors are keep on getting blocked. But new are coming up with more speed.

btw download at your own risk, apparently FBI is seeking the leaker. Well it took 14 years in the making, poor Gn'R guys. ;) & God bless the internet. :)

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/06/24/guns-n-roses-chinese-democracy-leaker-gets-fbi-visit/

How I met yout Mother, Experiment

......

marshallandlillyselltheirstuff.com
marshall and lilly sell their stuff.com

http://lilyandmarshallselltheirstuff.com/

Guy Forces His Wife To Dress In A Garbage Bag For The Next Three Years.com

http://www.guyforceshiswifetodressinagarbagebagforthenextthreeyears.com/
(hollyshit this is actually a site)

Just doing an experiment to see how many ppl actually search this. :), and also log their IP locations to see where are the most die hard fans of "How I met yout Mother"

scroll down to see the counter. I have turned it zero.

Spooky Wireless Sensor Lab, TCD, CCG

TCD's Wireless Sensors lab is located in Dunlop Oriel House in Dublin, which used to be old prison/torture center for IRA, few ppl were even hanged here.

A friend of mine was working late at office, he had to deploy few wireless sensors nodes all over the building in corridors and stairs, to verify some of the results. He got late at work and our lab is kind of spooky. Keeping all this in mind read below.

Rxxxxx is online.

W: you still in office? go home man! :)

R: yes man
W: O crap! dont kill yourself
R: i have to do the experiments for tomorrow no killing
W: are you sure, is it complete
R: i think so
W: kool! okay
I will be there tomorrow, if you need any help
R: ok I might, I will do some now
W: seiously man! go home, working at 12 at the night, I feel like shit :)
you know the building gets haunted at this time
lolz
Sent at 11:38 PM on Tuesday
R: jajaj fucker
i'll be here until latre
man i'm scared now
fucker
W: ha ha ha! yess
R: i'm going to the toilet
if i dont come back do something
W: dont look down on your way back
lolz, okay, ping me when you are back
Sent at 11:39 PM on Tuesday
R: man I'm back again
I shited my pants
W: ha ha! okay
ha h ah aha!
maan you are one scared pussy
nothing happens man, I was just joking
R: man i think i am not tying the sensors now in the whole building
fucker why did u say sth
come here now prickeeeeeeeeeee
W: or it can be like that movie, in which death follows ppl and they die one by one
what was its name,
yeah that final destination :)
Sent at 11:53 PM on Tuesday
R: final fucker
I am going to kill u 2mw
now i have to live
W: ha ha! it makes sense, taking away only the postgrads
R: true man
come here
please
W: ha ha ha ha!
R: i'm a pusy
W: maan this is funny

TinyOS 2.0 Installation Problems

Following this link (http://www.tinyos.net/tinyos-2.x/doc/html/install-tinyos.html) and setting up TinyOS 2.0 on cygwin took more than 3 hours for me, mainly because of these three problems, well finally I am able set it up properly and write programs to Micaz and Mica2.

My life would have been a lot easier had I known these three issues before hand. So here we go as a public service message. Leave comments if you run into problems I will try to answer them.


Error #1 : /bin/sh is needed by msp430tools-base-0.1-20050607
Solution: rpm --ignoreos --nodeps -ivh *.rpm

***My Environment variables***
TOSROOT: /opt/tinyos-2.x
TOSDIR: /opt/tinyos-2.x/tos
CLASSPATH: C:\tinyos2.0\cygwin\opt\tinyos-2.x\support\sdk\java\tinyos.jar
MAKERULES: /opt/tinyos-2.x/support/make/Makerules
PATH: /opt/msp430/bin:$PATH

Error #2
--> WARNING: CLASSPATH may not include '.' (that is, the symbol for the current
working directory). Please add '.' to your CLASSPATH or you may experience conf
iguration problems.
--> WARNING: No java in current path.
--> WARNING: No dot in current path.
--> WARNING: tos-check-env could not find the 'dot' executable which is part of
the AT&T Graphviz package. Please install version 1.1.0 of Graphviz if you'd lik
e to use the nescdoc documentation generator. If Graphviz is already installed,
then dot may not be in your PATH.

**Path Environment variable
./opt/msp430/bin:$PATH;"C:\Program Files\Graphviz2.16\Bin";C:\Java\jdk1.6.0\bin;
C:\cygwin\opt\tinyos-2.x\support\sdk\java\tinyos.jar

--> WARNING: CLASSPATH may not include '.' (that is, the symbol for the current
working directory). Please add '.' to your CLASSPATH or you may experience conf
iguration problems.

to solve this we are changing
CLASSPATH: c:\cygwin\opt\tinyos-2.x\support\sdk\java\tinyos.jar

to CLASSPATH: .$TOSROOT/support/sdk/java/tinyos.jar

------------------------
ERROR: when we compile the first program like, Blink a lot of error messages appear
***********fixing this problem `->' token
/opt/tinyos-2.x/tos/lib/tossim/tossim_wrap.cxx:3238: error: ISO C++ forbids
Declaration of `Py_INCREF' with no type

*************
SOLUTION:
1- Go to Cygwin, with TinyOS stuff install, write "Python" to check the version, something like below will appear
$ python
Python 2.3.4 (#1, Jun 13 2004, 11:21:03)
[GCC 3.3.1 (cygming special)] on cygwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

2- Note down the version of Python mine is 2.3.4

3- Search for a file "sim.extra" in cygwin/tossim directory, use windows search if you like. its usually in
C:\cygwin\opt\tinyos-2.x\support\make

4- Open it in notepad, and find the link PYTHON_VERSION=2.5 and change it to PYTHON_VERSION=2.3 (depending on the version you checked before,
if its 2.3.4 change it to 2.3 if its 2.4.5 change it to 2.4 etc.)

5- Save the file, restart cygwin and compile again.

6- Voilà *** Successfully built micaz TOSSIM library.
---------------------------

My first DSLR! :)

My New Pentax camera: check out some of the shots I took the first day, just went out for a walk.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wahmed/IrelandStPatrickSDay

I was thinking to buy Canon XTi but it doesn't have image stabilization and had a small viewfinder actually it felt a little cheap plasticky plasticky when I hold it. I Really loved Nikon D80 but it was too expensive with stabilization lens. I did a lot of research before buying it. I actually first bought Sony Alpha A300, used it for 3 days, it was kool and all, but felt like a Casio Piano playing in auto mode, then I returned it and bought a proper Pentax SLR. Anyways, Pentax is a good balance with a lot of available cheap lenses. Its very complex to use though. I probably have to go through a lot of photography concepts to have some serious results out of it. Hopefully I will be savvy before summers :)

Ha ha... Very Funny!

copied from here: http://www.tatuagemdaboa.com.br/

Why should you take your camera everywhere with you (Point and Shoot Vs DSLR)

Original CD software for "Three Skype Phone", AMOI WP-SP1

Original CD software for "Three Skype Phone"

which Actually is AMOI WP-SP1

http://rapidshare.com/files/95201668/Three_Skype_Phone__AMOI_WP-S1__Original_CD.zip

Someone send me a mail regarding all the International Scholarships and awards, some look really good. I wonder how many of theses are available in Europe


1) Bell Labs Fellowships
http://www.bell- labs.com/

2) Student Inventors Scholarships
http://www.invent. org/collegiate/

3) Student Video Scholarships
http://www.christop hers.org/ vidcon2k. html

4) Coca-Cola Two-Year College Scholarships
http://www.coca- colascholars. org/programs. html

5) Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships
http://holocaust. hklaw.com/

6) Ayn Rand Essay Scholarships
http://www.aynrand. org/contests/

7) Brand Essay Competition
http://www.institut eforbrandleaders hip.org/IBLEssay Contest-2002Rule s.htm

8) Gates Millennium Scholarships
http://www.gmsp. org/nominationma terials/read.dbm?ID=12

9) Xerox Scholarships for Students
http://www2. xerox.com/ go/xrx/about_ xerox/about_ xerox_detail. jsp

10) Sports Scholarships and Internships
http://www.ncaa. org/about/ scholarships. html

11) National Assoc. of Black Journalists Scholarships (NABJ)
http://www.nabj. org/html/ studentsvcs. html

12) Saul T. Wilson Scholarships (Veterinary)
http://www.aphis. usda.gov/ mb/mrphr/ jobs/stw. html

13) Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
http://www.thurgood marshallfund. org/sk_v6. cfm

14) Fin Aid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid scholarships
http://www.finaid. org

15) Presidential Freedom Scholarships
http://www.national service.org/ scholarships/

16) Microsoft Scholarship Program
http://www.microsof t.com/college/ scholarships/ minority. asp

17) Wired Scholar Free Scholarship Search
http://www.wiredsch olar.com/ paying/scholarsh ip_search/ pay_scholarship_ se

18) Hope Scholarships & Lifetime Credits
http://www.ed. gov/inits/ hope/

19) William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students
http://www.apsanet. org/PS/grants/ aspen3.cfm

20) Multiple List of Minority Scholarships
http://gehon. ir.miami. edu/financial- assistance/ Scholarship/ black.html

21) Guaranteed Scholarships
http://www.guarante ed-scholarships. com/

22) BOEING scholarships
http://www.boeing. com/companyoffices/educationrela tions/scholarshi ps

23) Easley National Scholarship Program
http://www.naas. org/senior. htm

24) Maryland Artists Scholarships
http://www.maef. org/

26) Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship (for Afr Am students in South Florida)
http://www.jackituc kfield.org/

27) Historically Black College & University Scholarships
http://www.iesabroa d.org/info/ hbcu.htm

28) Actuarial Scholarships for Minority Students
http://www.beanactu ary.org/minority /scholarships. htm

29) International Students Scholarships & Aid Help
http://www.iefa. org/

30) College Board Scholarship Search
http://cbweb10p. collegeboard. org/fundfinder/ html/fundfind01. html

31) Burger King Scholarship Program
http://www.bkschola rs.csfa.org/

32) Siemens Westinghouse Competition
http://www.siemens- foundationorg/

33) GE and LuLac Scholarship Funds
http://www.lulac. org/Programs/ Scholar.html

34) CollegeNet's Scholarship Database
http://mach25. collegenet. com/cgi-bin/ M25/index

35) Union Sponsored Scholarships and Aid
http://www.aflcioor g/scholarships/ scholar.htm

36) Federal Scholarships & Aid Gateways 25 Scholarships Excel
http://www.blackexc el.org/25scholar ships.htm

37) Scholarship & Financial Aid Help
http://www.blackexc el.org/fin- schhtm

38) Scholarship Links (Ed Finance Group)
http://www.efg. net/link_ scholarship.
htm

39) FAFSA On The Web
http://www.fafsa. ed.gov/

40) Aid & Resources For Re-Entry Students
http://www.back2col lege.com/

41) Scholarships and Fellowships
http://www.osc. cuny.edu/ sep/links. html

42) Scholarships for Study in Paralegal Studies
http://www.paralega ls.org/Choice/ 2000west. htm

43) HBCU Packard Sit Abroad Scholarships
http://www.sit. edu/studyabroad/ packard_nominati on.html

44) Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities
http://ccmi. uchicago. edu/schl1. html

45) INROADS internships
http://www.inroads. org/

46) ACT-SO "Olympics of the Mind" Scholarships
http://www.naacp. org/work/ actso/act-so.shtml

47) Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships
http://www.baeo. org/options/ privatelyfinance d.jsp

48) ScienceNet Scholarship Listing
http://www.sciencen et.emory. edu/undergrad/ scholarships. html

49) Graduate Fellowships For Minorities Nationwide
http://cuinfo. cornell.edu/ Student/GRFN/ list.phtml? category= MINORITIES

50) Rhodes Scholarships at Oxford
http://www.rhodessc holar.org/ info.html

51) The Roothbert Scholarship Fund
http://www.roothber tfund.com

Into the Wild (very interesting movie)

I watched Into the Wild last night, a friend recommended it quiet demandingly. The movie was about Christopher McCandless (Alex, the dude changed his name to hide from everyone, parents, friedns, authorities etc.), an American wanderer who saw society as being empty and had dreams of going to Alaska and living off the land. It's definitely a very different movie from normal action or chick flick movies... interesting though. There's one point in the movie when Christopher has been wandering for a year or two and is suddenly hit with a great deal of loneliness. In his journal, he writes, "Happiness is only real when shared." That quote really struck me. The whole idea of taking photographs even, is knowing that we can look back at them, share and relive that moment with others. When I'm going plaves or taking photos of my new experiences, I take them with that mindset that I'm going to post them on my blog, or post them on Facebook or picassa web so they can be shared with friends and family. What good are a bunch of amazing photos that are hidden in the back of your closet? Anyways, I thought it was an interesting movie overall (it's probably more of a dude movie).

One thing, for some reasons while watching the movie I kept on thinking about a freind "RK" whos is just like Alex... a wandrer who is allergic to cellphones and has also changed his name... but for some other reasons... RK, dude don't get your self killed :).

a Song Stuck in the head

Its funny how sometimes a song gets stuck in your head, good or bad you can’t get rid of it.
Few days back I happed to listen to "Valerie" by Zutons and now I am stuck with it. By the way It’s a good song, with some nice guitaring and lyrics are not the bad as well, so I am playing it again and again in my mp3 player.

--
Well sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I think of all the things,
what you're doing And in my head I make a picture .....

Why won't you come on over Valerie?.....
-Valrie by Zutons