Burning ISOs in Vista
Today I had to do something I’ve not done since I switched to Vista: burn a ISO image. Normally I would just fire up Nero and be on my way; but my version of Nero is old, and I didn’t feel like fighting with it. So I decide to find something new. I found a fair bit of discussion on the topic, and a few highly recommended (and free) choices:
Read more…WordPress 2.0.7 & Upgrading to 2.1 (Beta 2)
Well, WordPress 2.0.7 has been released, and I’ve upgraded this site to WordPress 2.1 Beta 2. I was expecting a rather painful upgrade; not so much because it is a beta, but the rather large number of changes. After a couple of simple tweaks to my custom theme, within 10 minutes it was up and running perfectly. Knowing the effort and quality the WordPress team puts out, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised.
Read more…WordPress 2.0.7 & 2.0.8
Just a few days ago the WordPress team announced that 2.0.6 would be the last before the much anticipated 2.1 release. Although now it look like there will be at least one more release before 2.1, if not two. Based on discussions on the wp-testers mailing list, it’s looking like two. Due to a security issue with some configurations, along with a few other issues (details), the WordPress crew is moving along with a release in the very near future.
Read more…Crash Course in WPF
Looking to get a good start in the latest Microsoft technology? Rob Eisenberg has written what appears to be a rather interesting, and quite useful, crash course in WPF. If you’re looking for a quick way to get up to speed, this looks like a good place to start.
IE Developer Toolbar
For those that do any web development, you’ll be interested to know that the IE Team has released beta 3 of the IE Developer Toolbar. From what I’ve seen, this looks like an impressive release. This is well worth the download and has saved me a fair bit of time in the past.
Microsoft PageRank?
I’m sure there’s nothing to this, but I have to point it out: a Microsoft employee publicly seeking information on Google PageRank. Roberto D’Angelo, in How Google PageRank(tm) works (the post has been removed, here is a PDF version of the original), discusses how the PageRank algorithm works as well as asks for others to provide additional information. Anybody find this a bit odd? I’m not trying to knock Roberto, or Microsoft, it just strikes me as odd that a Microsoft employee would be publicly seeking information on a proprietary feature of a competitor’s product.
Read more…WordPress 2.0.6
Time once again, for a WordPress update, the software that powers this site. This is primary a security update, fixing a few nasty issues as well as cleaning up some other things (here’s the breakdown). If you are running a WordPress blog, I’d recommend going for the update. It’s a painless update, and so far seems quite stable.
Building a Windows PowerToy
Brandon Paddock is writing what promises to to an interesting series on creating a Windows PowerToy on the Windows Shell Team blog. This series promises to provide an interesting insight into the process of developing my favorite part of Windows: PowerToys. I’ve always looked forward to seeing the next generation of Power Toys after a new version of Windows is released; seeing the process of one being developed will be a real treat.
Read more…IIf() May Get a Dose of Legitimacy
Paul Vick announced a possible change for VB 9.0, this change would give the IIF method the legitimacy it has long deserved. The issue with IIf is that it’s not a short-circuit operator, which can severely limits its usefulness. Take the following example, that will throw an exception if obj is Nothing: IIf(obj IsNot Nothing, obj.Property1, String.Empty) Since IIf() is just a normal method, all parameters will be evaluated, regardless of weather obj is Nothing.
Read more…Assertiveness for Software Developers
Here is a quick read from Jeff Atwood that all developers should read: Assertiveness for Software Developers. Jeff brings up a great point, developers aren’t assertive enough; and that ends up biting us later (I know it’s bitten me a few times). This is well worth reading, and well worth some serious thought for next time your manager hands you an impossible deadline.
About Me
Security researcher, engineer and software developer with more than 20 years of experience.
Work: I primarily focus on application security, usable security, secure communications, and cryptography. I build and lead strong and dynamic teams, who cover all facets of security and privacy.
Writing: I write about my research, security in general, development and software design, and leadership through my blog, essays, and various publications. I also engage in some creating writing when I can.
Photography: I am a purist fine art photographer, working primarily in black & white, and focused on sharing new perspectives of the world. Limited edition prints of my work are available on my online gallery. I also have a background in photojournalism, and volunteer in this field when I can.