Basically, koans are a series of failing tests that you have to fix in order to move forward. As you fix each test in a file, you run the file in a terminal window to see the results. If you fixed the test correctly, it will move on to the next error. The point is not to move through the test as quickly as you can, but to stop and understand each test as you go. First, why is it broken, second, fix it, third, improve it (Red, Green, Refactor). Every time you solve a test, go back to make sure you understand what you actually fixed and why it works. The koans each build upon each other and upon your knowledge of Ruby as you gain it.

If you have ever been interested in learning Ruby, koans are definitely a great way to get acquainted with the language!

                  

Microsoft is continuing its investigation of public reports of attacks against a new vulnerability in Internet Explorer. Our investigation so far has shown that these attacks are only against Windows Internet Explorer 7 on supported editions of Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows XP Service Pack 3, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, and Windows Server 2008. Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 4, Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1, Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, and Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 on all supported versions of Microsoft Windows are potentially vulnerable.

So basically, every version of IE is vulnerable. Microsoft offers several solutions until this problem is fixed, but they don’t really address the problem. Suggestions include: enable a firewall, contact the FBI, and keep windows updated. Since they haven’t fixed the problem, I don’t see how this helps. Any solution they have that works will probably be hard for the average internet user to understand. I know my grandma wouldn’t be able to “Restrict Internet Explorer from using OLEDB32.dll with an Integrity Level ACL” or “Disable XML Island functionality.”

Now, Microsoft will never say this, even though some sites are unsubstantially claiming they have, but the best way to avoid problems is to stop using IE. My suggestion would be to switch to Firefox. Even though I have some complaints about it, it is by far the best browser available, especially  in terms of customization and add-ons.

I know that all browsers have security problems, but IE is so far behind the times and until they get it together and make a browser that isn’t 10 years behind the others people really need to stop using it. Just because it comes with your computer, doesn’t mean other options aren’t available.

                  

So, since I was bored with the old look, I figured now was a good time to finally update and integrate both blog and portfolio into one seemless site.

I hope anyone who feels like taking a look likes what I’ve done to the place. I am very happy with how it turned out. If anyone cares, I basically designed a wordpress theme, so now my entire site can be controlled through wordpress as a CMS. This was a lot of fun!!

http://www.davidgillhespy.com

                  

Unfortunately, lately I have been really dissapointed with Firefox 3. Firefox 2 had its problems, such as being a huge memory hog at times, but it was a very stable borwser. Firefox 3 (now 3.0.3) has one problem that is absolutely driving me nuts and forcing me to consider switching to a new browser. It crashes constantly. I have reinstalled several times, hoping I just had a bad instal. But after being updated 3 times to 3.0.3, it crashes as much as the day I installed it.

There are 2 specific types of crashes I experience. The first is the old one common to FF 2 where it closes and brings up the standard windows vista  “Firefox has stopped working” dialog. The other is new to FF 3 where it closes and brings up a new dialog box asking me to report the problem to Mozilla and giving me the option to restart.

Thankfully FF has the “Restore Previous Session” option, so I don’t lose my browsing history from my current session, but when it happens over and over, it begins to really annoy me.

I wish there was a fix for this because I don’t like any other browser as much as Firefox. I really don’t want to switch.