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It’s that time of the year . . . Ellen, Vera, Mike, Kristin, Brian, Dion, and Phil

As a fan of Garmin GPS products for my car, I thought I might find some utility for one on my bike. It turned out to be a good idea, at least for me. Being able to create and download routes from my PC to my bike GPS closed the loop between simply feeling my way, with sweat in my eyes, to dead nuts easy to read directions, while in route. Don’t get me wrong, I like the adventure of feeling my way, but more often, I like following a plan. A bike specific GPS makes it easy, and I have been using one, in conjunction with route mapping web site services and software, for a few years. Here is my list of favorites:

• http://connect.garmin.com/ – Not really a mapping route generator, more of a database to store your history, and a fine job it does at that. Includes a route player that simultaneously displays cadence, heart-rate, speed, elevation, and distance. Pretty flashy. It also does a reasonable job reporting historical data (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, averages, max/min, etc).
• http://bikeroutetoaster.com – A great route generator. It can utilize OpenStreeMap.org data to create bikspecific routes. Provides a very good auto-router between points. Supports uploading and downloading your generated routes directly to and from your device.
• http://www.gpsies.com – Creates routes just fine, but much better at GPS data conversions. Supports various formats for several GPS devices. It seems this site can take any gps output from various devices and convert it for use with any other device or other mapping software. That’s special. But, what’s really special is the conversion usually works. Most others I have used do not.
• http://bimactive.com – Old favorite. It does a very decent job with everything mentioned above with an added twist – No GPS bike device needed! It uses your phone’s GPS feature to record AND upload your movements while in route. Go ahead, read the last sentence again . . It’s called Personal Live Tracking, permitting your significant other, friends, etc, to watch your progress as you go ($5 monthly subscription). Of course, at the end of your ride it will also accept data from your GPS device as well, filling in the holes for heart-rate and cadence. This site is also ready to push out your rides to your favorite social networking sites. Pretty slick. Yea, I know, Android has a few apps that purport to do the same thing, I tried them. They have a lot of catching up to do.

That’s my list. For a gadget geek like me, these tools add a dimension to cycling that keep me in the saddle.

We did our Ilink to PDMLink9.1 migration a few weeks back.  The wave of hyperactivity associated with the change has passed.

Not much to say on the down side.  Just the usual users complaining about change.  I also miss the briefcase for multiple change tasks (state changes, and other metadata table changes).  Default search configurations seem to change on their own.  The upside, however, looks pretty good.  Proe/Pdmlink integration/interaction is pretty tight.  An update to WS triggers pro to update your session.  Check-ins are smooth from inside Pro.  Product View is finally useful (viewing, create redlines, etc).  Leading wildcard searches are as fast as any other.  Deleting an object from CS tells you who and in what WS a user may have the part, and allows you to delete it from their workspace as well.  I cannot find any missing key features.  Bait and switch still works, but you have to download your old part before opening a session with the new part, otherwise the session will be updated.

Most default behaviors can be set from the Workgroup manager (checkout configurations, collectors (set all but “download” to none)).  Key config.pro settings that default the wrong way include:
dm_emulate_ilink_sys_parameters – “yes” (without this all your legacy drawings will open without a revision)
dm_checkout_on_the_fly – “continue” (keeps you from doing a “check out” of all your hardware)
dm_overwrite_contents_on_update – “yes” (if you just want to update metadata, do a CS sync)
dm_upload_objects – “yes” (on save move local cache to server workspace)

Most of our problems are process.   PDMLink process flow tools are robust, providing lots of ways to screw up.  The more complicated the process, the more ways users can break it.

>>>>>>>>>>Update 5/28/2009

Here are a few more config.pro settings currently in use:

dm_cache_limit 7000
dm_http_compression_level 3
dm_network_threads 5
dm_remember_server yes
let_proe_rename_pdm_objects no

By Mike Gomez

Passwords are essential to keep out unauthorized users. The Windows XP login screen is a security feature of crucial importance. However, sometimes this security feature meant to keep out intruders becomes a nuisance. For anyone who has ever forgotten their password, or been locked out of their computer, this can be a serious problem. It is a very frustrating experience if you are not prepared. So before you format your PC, read this guide. You will save yourself a lot of time and frustration if you are in this situation or if it ever comes up.There are many methods of bypassing the Windows XP login screen. Most of the time these standard methods will work. However, eventually you might mess up so bad that these methods are useless. There is no guest account, booting into safe mode doesn’t help, and you are not about to format your PC. Luckily there is still another way to get in and it doesn’t involve any of the above.Windows XP password discovery tools exist, but most of them are time consuming, costly, or ineffective.

After getting locked out of my only account on my home computer, I discovered a helpful utility called PCLoginNow. This utility is burnt to a CD then is booted. If you don’t know how to burn a CD just read this article. PCLoginNow completely resets any Windows passwords. You can also change account settings. The best part is that this software is completely free.All you need is the .ISO file, a CD, and a CD burner. Once you have burned the CD just boot to it. After doing so the utility should come up and you should now follow the on-screen instructions. You have the option to choose which account you want to modify. After doing so, you can now choose to reset or modify the account password.When you boot to it, a bunch of text will appear. Just wait patiently until PCLoginNow is ready. There are a couple of options for Windows accounts. You can make a user an administrator, erase a password, disable an account, lockout an account, or set a password to never expire.

This guide also applies to all of the Windows 2000 and newer versions of Windows.PCLoginNow Download - http://sourceforge.net/projects/pcloginnow/
PCLoginNow Website – http://www.pcloginnow.com/Here are the simple steps to follow:

1. Download PCLoginNow.
2. Burn PCLoginNow to a CD.
3. Boot to PCLoginNow.
4. Choose which account to modify.
5. Make any changes to this account.
6. Wait for your PC to reboot.

See the pics here!

Short sale offer was accepted.  It has a few rough edges.  There are some signs of distress, and it’s an as-is deal, but easy to fix.  Neighborhood and topographic location is very good.  Built in 1994, all the living space is usable.  Needs professional interior paint, screens, Stanely Steamer for the carpet, and toilet leak repair.  Outside, well, plenty of cleanup work.  Zillow details.  Other pictures.

<Update December 8, 2008> Still waiting on the short sale bank approval.  Both realitors indicate it’s a done deal, but the fat lady has yet open her mouth.  Good thing I’m not holding my breath.

Just got back from my 30th.  What a night.

It was a catered affar at a Marriot in Huntington LI, NY.  My only suit does not fit since I lost a few pounds.  I found a tie and jacket, packed my bags, took off for New York.

Everyone looked good.  So much so, I got the feeling only those that thought they did showed up.  After all, everybody can’t be beautiful, but there they were.  It’s amazing how people change over time.  What’s probably more amazing is how our perception of others changes.  Remember how we looked at others in high school?  W ether it be the nerd, jock, or misfit oddball, everyone had an imaginary slot to put you in, sometimes two or more.  And, you probably had pretty specific feelings about each.  I did.  And every click had their own air, there own smell, there own space.  You were either in, passing through, or on your way out.  Anyway, fast forward 30 years and you may find yourself swirled up in a completely different dynamic.  Many things you once thought indisputably true, are false.  That classmate you hated links up with you and you end up having a great time.  The once unapproachable are reaching out to you.  Folks are genuine, and excited just to be there, happy to still be alive.

It was a good time then, and a good time now.  Worth the trip for that alone.

We managed to piggyback a few visits with family and friends.  We spent a night and a day in Boston with mom.  Then a fair afternoon with my buddy Scott, who was happy to drive me to my departing flight from Islip NY (if your flying Southwest, always ask for a medical pre-board pass.  No questions asked).  I got to surprise Scotti’s boys with a visit to their jobs.  You should have seen their faces when I walked up on them.  Priceless.

We took a few pictures.  Scott has done a great job getting his kitchen completed, and the reunion pics are posted at WestburyHigh.us.

Ingredients:
1 stick margarine
1 cup sugar
6 egg whites
6 egg yolks
8 oz Starbucks Frappachino
1 cup sugar
6 tbsp baking flour (Softasilk, Pillsbury)
food coloring, yellow
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Filling:
Mix 1 stick butter/margarine
Add Starbucks slowly
Add 1/2 cup sugar
Mix into paste (on high)

Cake:
Mix egg whites till stiff
Add yokes one at a time
Add vanilla extract
Slowly add1/2 cup sugar
Slowly add flour
Add 4 drops food coloring

Preheat oven 400.
Pour batter onto large greased cookie sheet or wide shallow pan
Bake for 15 minutes
Cake should rise to approx 1-2 inches high

Preparation:
Generously spread filling on cake while still in pan
Roll up cake onto itself to create a roll
Finish roll with extra filling to help keep roll in place

Got rid of the apartment. Good riddance. Found a nice house to rent, and saved a few bucks on the monthly. A garage and a yard.

I was starting to get comfortable with the notion the house would not sell. It did. My neighbor, good o’l George, put his house on the market just when ours was coming off. This resulted in a lot of spill-over traffic. Turns out, what we lacked in upgrades we were able to make up for in “location”. We received and accepted a very reasonable offer. Good thing too. My neighbors would have killed me for accepting anything less. That’s not to say I am happy to have sold the house. Heck. Now I’m house-less. I miss it. Where once my “private” patio overlooked a serene canyon with birds and whispering palms, I now enjoy a great close up view of the apartment complex parking lot joined by the I15 Freeway only yards from the lots edge. This sucks. But hey, I picked the place out, smart guy that I am. Second to a yard, I miss my neighbors. Joe, John, Gras, and Sheri. And George, and Frank, and Tim . . . those two guys with the dogs, life was good.

I also miss the quiet, and the garage. There is something to be said about groceries and an attached garage with a full size fridge. Right now I have to walk a block to my assigned space. Sure, exercise is good. Right.

The adventure has begun.