Posted on

Javascript nasty

Last updated on June 24th, 2015 at 01:34 am

Today I also came across a nasty endless loop Javascript. This sucker can trap IE, Firefox and Opera in an endless loop requiring you to kill the application via task manager or kill the process if using one of the *nix.

Go get the NoScript – Firefox Extension immediately.

From the description

NoScript allows JavaScript execution only for trusted domains of your choice (e.g. your home-banking web site). This whitelist based pre-emptive script blocking approach prevents exploitation of security vulnerabilities (known and even unknown!) with no loss of functionality? Experts will agree: Firefox is really safer with NoScript ;-)

If you doubt the need for this I point you to the following site. I won?t link to it as it will kill 90% of my visitors? browsers. Save your work first and copy the address and paste it into your address bar. It will kick off an endless loop javascript. Let me know if your browser is safe. Of course that applies only if you have javascript on.

unfix.org/~jeroen/archive/javascript_loop.html

Posted on

American or British Spelling

Last updated on June 24th, 2015 at 01:31 am

A dozen years ago I was a publisher of childrens and adult non-fiction books. That role allowed me to set editorial policy on spelling and style usage. We decided to follow the lead of the Macquarie Dictionary as the leading arbiter of Australian English.

We?d discuss and debate the correct or preferred spelling of words. Normally I?d push for rewriting the piece to avoid the problem words.

One funny point was the assumption that Americans spelled things wrongly. Specifically the belief that the omission of the penultimate u in word ending in -our. In simpler terms we?re talking about humour, humor; favour, favor; colour, color and so on.

Interestingly at the time the Macquarie dictionary was showing the American spelling as correct but not as widely used.

Most Commonwealth citizens assumed American English was just a slothful and illiterate simplification of the Queen?s English. At the time I came across some research that the American War of Independence predated the standardisation of English. I wish I could find that research now.

Today I came across H.L. Mencken?s The American Language: An Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States.

There?s a fascinating chapter on American Spelling and the Influence of Webster.

Posted on

Samsung DigitAll Connect KL

Last updated on June 24th, 2015 at 01:26 am

In Kuala Lumpur the free internet kiosk is called the Samsung DigitAll Connect. It?s right outside the arrivals gate. Cool! I?ve already had a cute German backpacker ask me if the internet was free. One day we?ll take ubiquitous free internet access for granted.

Posted on

International Power Plugs

Last updated on June 24th, 2015 at 01:17 am

I just realised that I?ve become addicted to my electronic gadgets. on this trip I?ll take a laptop with me, but what about my mobile phone and digital camera? The phone has a camera that I don?t use much. I?ll need power adapters!

Electricity Around the World to the rescue. I may pack a power board and buy a single travel adapter.

Posted on

Travel Planning Malaysia

Last updated on June 24th, 2015 at 01:08 am

I?m flying to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow for a three day conference. I?ve never been there and I like leaving arrangements to the last minute. I call is freestyle travelling.

So I booked a flight on Friday on Austrian Airlines. They were cheapest and I?ve never flown with them before.

I?m finalising my accomodation right now. Lastminute.com.au and?Wotif.com.au provide great searches. I use Wotif.com.au exclusively for my Australian travel.

I find Airport transfers to be one of the trickiest things to manage for the freestyle traveller. Some airports are brilliantly organised, others like LAX have great facilities but lousy organisation. I found WordTravels has a reassuring guide. In a pinch I?ll take a cab.

Posted on

Airline Seating

Last updated on June 24th, 2015 at 02:18 am

Further to my last post on Air Reviews, I found SeatGuru.com who bill themselves as the ultimate source for airplane seating and in-flight services information. From their website

  • Do you want a seat with extra legroom? A seat with a non-restricted recline? A seat that is extra quiet?
  • Would you like to compare the First Class, Business Class and Coach Class seat pitch and seat width of different airline carriers?
  • Are you traveling for business and need to know which airplanes have laptop power at your seat and what type of adapter you?ll need?
  • Have a long flight and want to know what type of in-flight entertainment is featured on your flight and what movies are playing this month?

There is even a page on Qantas.

It?s considerably more specialised, drier and impersonal than Air Review but it covers the technical aspects of airline seating and entertainment. Don?t fly without checking their seating plans. At least you?ll know what seat to request.

Posted on

Airline Reviews

Last updated on June 24th, 2015 at 01:07 am

Air Review : Online and Uncensored is a great site for reviews of airlines – their inflight food, bar, service, lounges, and planes. I just lost an hour reading their review of Qantas and comparing it to Emirates Airlines.

Be aware that many of their links have typos. So if you see a Page not Found (404) error just check the slash is the right way around or the airline name has the correct plural like Emirates.

They also have a comprehensive description of each Frequent Flyer program.

Posted on

Rabbi Ohs

Last updated on June 24th, 2015 at 01:14 am

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are a team in the Australian National Rubgy League.My 5 year-old daughter saw fans in team jerseys walking to a game over the weekend. Her cousin is a mad Rabbitohs fan. And being 5 years old she called them Rabbi-Ohs.Now that?s funny on so many levels. Given two of her best friends are Jewish it makes sense that she would be familiar with the term ?rabbi?.I don?t claim to be an expert in modern Jewish Australian culture (for the record I?m a gentile), what sort of trouble could a team of burly rabbis get into on a pre-season bonding trip to Coffs Harbour?Or is the team selected by the Rabbinical Council of NSW?Obviously Friday night football is out (as is any game before three stars emerge on Saturday night).No one should think the team are easybeats. ?Yo, semite!? could be the shout-out of encouragement on the field. Tough Jews only need apply.

Posted on

ZagZ.com

Last updated on January 17th, 2018 at 02:30 pm

A collection of stuff of interest to some people and of no interest to others.

Bare with us as we perform some essential maintenance on our site. The posts will be back soon.