WinDirStat provides visual usage of your hard drives

A coworker pointed out this interesting utility for visualizing what files are taking up space on your hard drive.

http://windirstat.info/ 

Using Live Search Maps for address lookup

 For work today I had to help someone figure out how to link our building database application to web based mapping software.  As of recently I've become bored with Google Maps, and spent time looking at Live Search Maps, since they have a bunch of web based tools for adding thumb tacks and a neat 3D view (which is kinda freaky).

First I found this Top 10 Cool Features in Live Search Maps and from there, I was able to figure out How to build a URL for Live Search Maps.  And from that you find out that you can just add any street address to a static URL and get the map and from there, someone could get directions.

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?where1=10945%20Vista%20Sorrento%20Pkwy%20San%20Diego,%20CA%2092130&v=2&style=h

Which breaks out into:

Static web site: http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?where1=
Variable address to map: 10945%20Vista%20Sorrento%20Pkwy%20San%20Diego,%20CA%2092130
Static display options (zoom/map style): &v=2&style=h

An example of one of our buildings

New Silent PC for Me

So originally I was going to buy a CyberPowerPC computer.  But after they took 20 days before shipping it to me, and messed up my plans to goto Vegas, i decided to take the parts list to www.newegg.com and buy the parts myself and put the computer together.  I ended up saving money on the purchase (even including the tax, that I was avoiding with the CyberPowerPC).  In addition, I was able to add silent CPU + GPU fans to the order, as well as getting an Antec Sonata 2 case, that offers a quiet solution for my computer.

Motherboard: EVGA nForce 680i 122-CK-NF68-TR
Processor: Intel E6600 2.5Ghz Core Duo 2
Video Card: EVGA GeForce 7300 GT 512MB
Memory: 2x1G Corsair CM2X1024-6400
HDD: SATA: 160GB Primary, 500GB Seagate ST3500630NS
Case: Antec Sonata 2 - Ultra Quiet 450W Case (Piano Black Finish) 

Saturday Night Sabbat

P1010437

Originally uploaded by SDTJ.

This Saturday, I had a couple people over before Sabbat to Pre-Party, and to meet my Cousin Ryan, who was in town. He ended up not able to come, but we did get to pre party a bit, but utter schenanigans broke out at our afterparty as my collection of Burning Man hats became the thing to wear around the house, as well as getting Yoda into as much fun as possible.

Here we see Alexia feeding Yoda a drink... after helping climb into the ceiling fan. What happened next is reminicent of the Muppet Movie...

Moving iTunes Libraries

Every so often, I get calls from people about how to move or backup their iTunes libaries.  For the most part, backing up your collection to CD/DVD is probably the best.  And by backing up, I don't mean making audio CD's, but rather using the built in feature from iTunes to Back Up to Disc...  This lets you backup your entire iTunes library, or only iTunes Store purchases.  The later is the most critical thing for anyone that has purchased things from Apple iTunes.  I strongly recommend doing this often, since it should all fit on a very cheap CDR.

Once backed up you can take those CD/DVD's and restore your Library to another computer.  It keeps your playlists and media intact.

Another way, is to modify the libary files directly, which can be tricky.  But there is an article on Life Hacker that covers this.