On a whim, I decided this morning that I’d like to try out the latest test build of Firefox 3 (codenamed, very appropriately, Minefield). I figured since it installed in a directory separate from Firefox 2, I’d have no trouble running both versions at the same time. However, when I tried to run Minefield, Firefox 2 popped up a new instance. A quick on-line search yielded this excellent blog entry that describes exactly how to pull this off, and it works very well. Now I can watch the development of the next version of Firefox without worrying about losing my working version.

Sometimes you run across an essay that sums things up just perfectly. As the local “computer guy,” I can relate to a lot of what Shaun has to say. Check it out.

Here’s a quick tip that I discovered through trial and error. If you load MP3s onto your LG VC8300 phone by removing its memory card, plugging it into your PC, and copying files directly to it, be sure the filenames are under 32 characters long. Longer filenames won’t be recognized and you won’t be able to play your music or podcasts. The phone uses the information in the ID3 tags for its screen display, so it doesn’t matter what the filenames are, as long as they are unique.

I’ve never had much use for the Palestinians, having had first-hand exposure to them during our 1999 trip to Israel. Now not only are they showing their true colors with their idiotic civil war, but an even more radical splinter group has kidnapped and holds one of their only press allies. Sign the petition calling for his immediate release by clicking on the photo.

Update: Wow. I guess I’m more influential than I thought. One day after signing the petition and posting my blog entry, Alan was freed. )

While Hezbollah continues to indiscriminately lob rockets into northern Israel trying to kill as many civilians as possible, Israel’s strikes continue to hit strategic targets while leaving nearby civilian objects as untouched as possible. Hezbollah fighters use cowardly tactics including dressing as civilians, firing their rockets from the middle of neighborhoods, and using women and children as human shields. Trying to counter such actions obviously results in innocent people being injured or killed, but there is no way Israel can stand by and let these terrorists continue their killing campaign unchecked.

The New York Times has a very nice graphic comparing satellite photos of a Beirut neighborhood where Hezbollah had their headquarters before and after Israel’s bombings. What’s especially striking is how churches, mosques, and schools in the area are completely untouched, while the headquarters compound, which was fenced off and heavily guarded, is completely flattened.

Like most tech people who blog, I’m always the guy who’s called first by family and friends when computers go bad. I found a blog entry that nicely summarizes the problems encountered during long-distance troubleshooting. However, the author then goes on to describe a very nice VNC solution that makes life much easier. I’m going to have to add this one to my bag of tricks.