Forbes Haiku

I was looking for some financial-related information and saw a link to Forbes.com and thought I could probably trust the information I would find there since I've read a lot of other articles on the site and it's all been good advice.  They have a "splash page" before the link, the content of which I don't see because of my ad blocking add-on on my Firefox browser.  I have to wait on a countdown clock for a few seconds before I can proceed to the article, but it's no problem, much less annoying than an advertisement. 

Yesterday, though, I got this message on the splash page:

I'm fairly certain that doesn't fit the definition of a Haiku, but that's not my complaint; rather, it's trying to shame me in such a "cutesy" fashion.  Sorry Forbes, I hate to deprive you of ad revenue, but many sites go overboard with their adverts, slowing the page load times even with my fairly fast connection and often having multiple flash ads which sometimes hangs up my browser.  I also don't like places like Facebook following me all over the 'net...that's why I use an adblocker.

I wrote a reply, not in a Haiku, but a short verse.  I can't post it because I have a few words in it that rhyme with "Haiku".  It DOES have a little bit to do with "love", though.

The Cowboys Are Making Me Angry!

Well, not the team, but the Dallas Cowboy website. (I don't get angry at how the 'Boys play; I used to get furious but these days I don't let it bother me, at least not for long. That's why there's a switch or button to turn the channel or station to something else or just turn the game off.)

Here's the reason I'm annoyed; I have a couple of add-ons on my Firefox browser: AdBlock Edge and Disconnect. The AdBlock Edge lets me block most ads on sites I visit and the Disconnect does just that, disconnects from social media and other things.

I had to "cut" the following graphic in half, then "stitch" back together in order to fit it in this post. It takes up the entire top part of the screen when I visit the DC website. (click any image for larger view)

The thing is, I DO have my adblocker turned off:

And, as you can see, I've also "whitelisted" the site on the Disconnect add-on:

Now, I know many websites rely upon advertising revenue in order to stay online and to remain free to the viewer. However, I doubt the Cowboys are relying on the revenue stream in order to keep the website up. -snicker-

I wouldn't have any ethical problems blocking the ads but I can't view any of the videos onsite unless I DO disable my add-ons; there's always an advertisement at the first of each and every video and if they're blocked, the video won't load. I don't watch all the videos there, but I do like to watch The Break and Talkin' Cowboys. For a while, I was just downloading the audio portion and listening to it later, but there are times when I want to watch and listen to the show live. I've never called in, but I might want to or send an email in hopes they'll read and answer it during the show.

So, what really annoys me is that they detect I have adblocking add-ons and chastise me for it....even if I have them disabled!  I used to have another add-on that would do away with those "nags" but it quit working several browser updates ago.  I COULD block the nag with my adblocker, but I'd be right back to not being able to view the videos.  It's a Catch-22 situation.

Catch-22, not this 22, Emmitt Smith.  He was hard to catch.

Firefox 13.0

Firefox just released the newest version of their browser.  From Firefox 13 Tweaks Tabs, Home Pages, Speed and Security

Before the upgrade, when Firefox users clicked to open a new tab, they saw simply a blank page, unlike browsers such as Chrome, Safari or Internet Explorer, which provide users with links to recently opened or favorite sites. Now, the Firefox homepage will feature icons that enable quick access to bookmarks, history, settings, add-ons and downloads. Additionally, when users click for a new tab, they'll see thumbnails to their most recently and frequently visited sites.

I really like the thumbnail part when opening up a new tab and it does seem a little faster.  Only one of my add-ons was not compatible, much fewer than with other releases. 

The funny thing about this is that I've almost always liked the upgrades Firefox has done.  I didn't like the last few MSN Group upgrades and don't like the new Facebook Timeline, so I take offense when people say I (or others) don't like change.  The changes Firefox has done are easier to get used to and are more useful than other "upgrades" I've gone through.  Even going from Windows98 to XP wasn't as bad as trying to get used to the new Timeline. (so that's why I installed some extensions for Firefox that hides it from me!)

I do wish my Windows Media Player on this Vista machine was more like the one I had with my XP computer.  It's definitely not an improvement, I don't care how much they try to convince me otherwise.

The very best upgrade I ever had was going from dial-up to DSL.  Who wouldn't want a hundred times more speed?  (I really need to upgrade to cable, though, but my speed is satisfactory for now)

Check Your Firefox Plugins

Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!

Found a cool trick at Firefox Facts:  

25 Most Popular Firefox Support Tips in 2010

For those of you playing with Firefox 3 – Beta 5, try typing about:robots into your address bar and hit enter.


Which will bring up a page with this: (click image for larger view)

Klaatu barada nikto

Plugin Check

See your Firefox plugins and update them at this handy Mozilla site: Plugin Check

From the site:

What is a Plugin?

* Plugins power videos, animation and games.
* They're built outside of Firefox by companies like Adobe Systems and Apple.
* Plugins don't always update automatically.

Why should I update my Plugins?

* Old Plugins can interrupt browsing and waste your time.
* Old Plugins increase your risk for attack by malware, viruses, and other security threats.
* Updated Plugins have improvements that make the web better and safer for you.

Plugin Check

Déjà vu All Over Again

Issued by The National Weather Service
Amarillo, TX
3:46 pm CST, Sat., Feb. 6, 2010

... WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR ALL OF THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES.

* TIMING: FREEZING DRIZZLE CAN BE EXPECTED SUNDAY MORNING WHICH SHOULD TRANSITION TO A MIXTURE OF LIGHT RAIN... LIGHT FREEZING RAIN... SLEET OR SNOW BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE PRECIPITATION IS THEN EXPECTED TO CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW SUNDAY NIGHT. THE SNOW SHOULD END BY MONDAY EVENING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 3 TO 5 INCHES POSSIBLE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE... WITH AROUND 5 TO 7 INCHES EXPECTED ACROSS THE OKLAHOMA AND THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLES. AT THIS TIME... THE TRACK OF THIS WINTER SYSTEM WILL PLACE THE HEAVIEST SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE... AND THE NORTHEAST TEXAS PANHANDLE.

* OTHER IMPACTS: LIGHT FREEZING RAIN... FREEZING DRIZZLE OR SLEET MAY OCCUR PRIOR TO THE SNOW DEVELOPING SUNDAY NIGHT. ANY ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN LIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW... SLEET... OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

---

Radar ain't showin' nuthin'. Looking off to the west, there's some weather just past the mountains in N. Mexico, some precip comin' up from the gulf that's now south of Dallas, maybe those two systems are gonna meet right here. Hope not, they've said this same thing four times in the last month, but they were right twice.

I've got some problems with my Weather Channel Firefox add-on; it keeps popping up the "tool tip" warning even when my mouse isn't hovering over the icons. I might have to check out another weather add-on, but other than this latest glitch, I've really enjoyed having it. It must be something to do with the latest Firefox update - I've had quite a number of updates since then.

---

Sussed out the Firefox "bug". It was a setting I had enabled, to give me weather updates every ten minutes. Duh. Yep, they kept popping up, every ten minutes, just like I had it set. Double Duh.

See the "Idiot" post above.

50 Useful Firefox Extensions

50 Firefox Extensions to Turn Google Into the Ultimate Research Tool

I use several of the ones listed: the Adblock Plus, FlashGot, DownThemAll, IE Tab and Grease Monkey.

Firefox 3.5.2 Released

Firefox 3.5.2 fixes the following issues:

• Several security issues.
• Images with ICC profiles now render properly on all monitors.

Please see the complete list of changes in this version. You may also be interested in the Firefox 3.5.1 release notes for a list of changes in the previous version.

Quick Search

Looking through my Firefox Bookmarks, I clicked on "Quick Search" which relies on my search history for the results. If the following is an indication, then I think someone has been sneaking in here and getting on my computer.

(click for better view)



I did visit craigslist a few weeks ago to see what an article I read about it was referring to and I also visited the US Postal Service site just the other day to see the first class postage rates. (hey, it seems the price of a stamp goes up every week!) I don't understand why Macy's was included; nor do I understand why MapQuest, Sotheby's or the Library of Congress websites were in the results. HotAir is just that, full of hot air and I don't go to McDonald's, either in person or online.

I haven't visited Victoria's Secret, either....but if I WERE to visit it, I'd go there to ogle the models, not looking for stuff to wear myself.

Just wanted everyone to know, that's all.

And yet one more reason

to hate living in a duplex.

Holiday Surprise: Stranger in the Attic

And that, my loyal few readers, is the first use of my newest Firefox add-on, a nifty little feature that lets me copy a snippet of text, such as a headline, and have it copy as an HTML link.




Plus, in my haste, I had spelled nifty as "nitfy" and thanks to my Firefox spell check, I didn't make a bigger doofus of myself than I ordinarily do.

Anyway...I've lived in quite a few duplexes, and never liked 'em. Three different times I've moved in next door to newlyweds.

Of course, one of those times I was a newlywed myself, so maybe that one shouldn't count.