Blogger - Conversion to Blogger Beta

Well as you can see, I have finally been able to make the conversion to the new Blogger Beta.

I have settled on this template for now. I think it is simple and easy on the eyes.

I have not had time to fix things up very much, but there is a lot more available in the Blogger Beta, so check back often and let me know what you like or don't like about the new look, as changes occur.

I intend to go back and tag my previous posts to make it easier to find relevant entries, as the next part of the conversion.

XP - Single Click File Open

Some people have asked me if there is a way to use only a single click with Windows Explorer, to open a file, like clicking on a link in a web browser.

The answer is yes, if you use Windows ME or XP.

To set it up:

• Access your Control Panel.


• Open the Folders Options applet.


• Under the General tab, select Single-click to open an item (point to select).


• Also select Underline icon titles consistent with my browser, to have all icons underlined (Default).


• Or select Underline icon titles only when I point at them. (Optional)


• Click Apply.


• Click OK.


• Close Control Panel.

Personally, I leave my options to be opened by a double click, as I find myself opening things I don't really want opened, using the single click method. This is really a matter of personal preference, so if you can get used to the single click option, it should make your computing experience better.

Try it out for a while, if you can not get used to the change, or just find it doesn't work for you go back to the Control Panel General tab and reselect Double-click to open an item (single-click to select), click Apply and then OK and close Control Panel.

Portable Apps - Firefox and Firefox Portable Settings Part 2

This is a follow up of my 31AUG06 Portable Apps - Firefox and Firefox Portable Settings Part 1 posting, in which items in the General and Privacy settings were discussed. Part 2 will be concerned with the Content settings, subsequent postings will contain the information for the Tabs, Downloads and Advanced settings.

I use the same settings for both the local and portable versions, for the most part. See the tables below:

Firefox and Portable Firefox Contents Tab
Option	Secondary	Comments	My Preferences
Block Popup Windows		Checked: Popup windows blocked. Unchecked: Popup windows not blocked	Checked.
	Allowed Sites	A section to list exceptions to the above.	A very few sites, that use Popups are set up in both local and portable versions I use.
Warn me when web sites try to install extensions or themes		Checked: Warning given if website tries to install extensions or themes. Unchecked: No warning. At the time of the warning you can give permission or not.	Checked.
	Exceptions	A section to list exceptions to the above.	None, I always want to know what extensions or themes are being installed.
Load Images.		Checked: Images loaded.. Unchecked: Images not loaded.	Checked, but if using Portable Firefox somewhere with only dial up access I change this before accessing the Internet.
	Exceptions	A section to list exceptions to the above.	None.
	For the originating web site only	Checked: Images will only be loaded for the originating web site.	Unchecked, not sure what the advantages or disadvantages would be.
Enable Java		Checked: Java enabled. Unchecked: Java disabled.	Checked.
Enable JavaScript		Checked: JavaScript enabled. Unchecked: JavaScript disabled.	Checked.
	Advanced	More detailed JavaScript options.	Allow: Move or resize existing windows. Raise or lower windows.
Fonts & Colors		Control default fonts and colors.
	Default Font	Drop down of available fonts.	Times New Roman.
	Size	Drop down of available point sizes.	12 points.
	Advanced	More detailed font option controls.	Proportional: Serif: – 12 points. Serif: Times New Roman. Sans-serif: Arial. Monospace: Courier New – 13 points. Display resolution: 96 dpi. Minimum font size: None. Allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of my selections above: – Checked. Default Character Encoding: Western (ISO-8859-1).
	Colors	Controls default colors.	Text: Black. Background: Light Grey. Use system colors: Unchecked. Unvisited Links: Blue. Visited Links: Violet. Underline links: Checked. Allow pages to choose their own colors, instead of my selections above: Checked.

As you can see the Content settings, are rather involved and give you quite a bit of control. Try out different settings for yourself, to see what works for you; you can always put it back the way you had it.

Let me know what works for you that is different from my preferences, maybe it will work better for me also.

Internet - Ixquick Search Engine

Today I read the posting September 1, 2006 "Search Engine Embraces Privacy" on Sandy Berger's Blog "Keeping It Short and Simple" and the related Compu-Kiss article "Ixquick Search Engine Embraces Privacy".

I was intrigued enough by these, to try out Ixquick www.ixquick.com myself; from what I have seen and experienced so far I think that I will be using this myself, along with my current favorite Google.

My reasons are not so much privacy related. If the Justice Department really wants to know my surfing habits, I am sure they can find out by other means anyway.

I personally like the star system to show the relevancy of the search results, see the Compu-Kiss article for more details. As Ixquick is a Meta Search Engine, you are actually searching multiple search engines at the same time and the stars indicate how many of those turn the result up in their top 10./P>

All in all, at this point, I think the Ixquick Meta Search Engine, is well worth trying out.

Once you have tried it out, let me know what you think.