Rewrite for MS Word Visual Basic Error Message

My re-write of a dense error message to improve rapid comprehension.

= Original Message =
[file://C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\OFFICE\Alerts\WatsonAlertHelp.htm]

This error is usually due to insufficient memory or low disk space. It also occurs when the default Word template ('normal.dot') is corrupt, the 'VBE6.DLL' file is the wrong version, or permissions to the Temp folder on a server share do not allow access to the folder by the user.

Low memory or disk space can be solved by either closing unused applications, de-installing unused programs or files from the hard drive, or by adding RAM or a larger hard drive. In some cases, a memory leak may have been encountered and is consuming RAM without your knowledge. If you suspect a memory leak is the problem, shut down Word and VBA and restart the computer.

Rename the normal.dot file and restart Microsoft Office Word. When you exit Word, Word will rebuild a new normal.dot file. If you have a backup of the normal.dot, you can replace the defective one with the backup copy instead of having Word repair the file.

If the VBE6.DLL is not the correct version, replace it.

If the network permissions are inadequate for access to a TEMP folder on a server share, consult the administrator and determine if the permissions can be changed. Otherwise, redirect VB to use a local Temp folder.

[link:
http://watson.microsoft.com/dw/errormessages.asp?
ProductName=Office11&EventSource=OfficeErrorMessages&EventID=10094
&Language=1033&productBuild=11.0.5525.0]

------------------------------
= My Rewrite =

"The Visual Basic environment could not be initialized."

"This error is [often] due to insufficient [system] memory, or low disk space.
[The error can also occur] _when the default Word template (normal.dot) is corrupt_,
[or] _the 'VBE6.DLL' file is the wrong version_,
or [, if the "Temporary" folder used by MS Word resides on a shared server,] _permissions to the 'Temp' folder do not allow access [to the current user]_.

Remedies / Potential Fixes:
1)
Low memory or disk space can be solved by either closing unused applications, de-installing unused programs or files from the hard drive, or by adding RAM or a larger hard drive. In some cases, a memory leak may have been encountered and is consuming RAM without your knowledge. If you suspect a memory leak is the problem, shut down Word and VBA and restart the computer.

2a)
Rename the 'normal.dot' file and restart Microsoft Office Word. This file is located at "C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates".
After you restart and exit Word, Word will rebuild a new 'normal.dot' file.
2b)
If you have a backup of the 'normal.dot' template file, [instead of having Word repair the file,] you can replace the current (defective) file with the backup copy.

3)
If the VBE6.DLL is not the correct version, replace it.[*]

4)
If the network permissions are inadequate for access to a TEMP folder on a server share, consult the administrator and determine if the permissions can be changed. Otherwise, redirect Visual Basic (VB) to use a _local_ Temp folder.**

Link: [More help fixing this error is available online]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* (I can't rewrite this point because there is no info offered on what constitutes "correct", how you would replace it, et cetera.)
** No idea how this would be done...

A Great Day for the Internet

"A Great Day for the Internet" 

It was a great day for the Internet, today [August 1st, 2008].  Just hours ago, the [United States] FCC ruled that Comcast violated federal policy by interfering with certain Internet traffic.  In doing so, it took an important step toward assuring that the Internet remains open and free.  In Chairman Martin's words, consumers are entitled to unfettered access to the Internet. [...] it means that the FCC is prepared to act against tactics that threaten innovation and the level playing field of competition.

... Today's FCC Order does two important things.  First, it makes clear that, while reasonable network management of Internet traffic is permissible, there is a line that cannot be crossed.  Comcast crossed that line, and has been sanctioned accordingly.  Secondly, the FCC endorsed the idea that the rule of law must be accompanied by transparency into what ISPs are actually doing to our Internet traffic.

...

read more: http://blog.vuze.com/index.php/2008/08/01/a-great-day-for-the-internet/

 

An Actual Index

A Message for the CSS and XML Cultists	View
Why Nero is called Nero	View
How You Can Tell Someone's Not In A Relationship	View
Request for Enhancements (RfE) - to Miscrosoft, re...	View
Video Games, and Too Much Free Time	View
Find Other Web Sites Hosted on a Web Server	View
50th Anniversary of the LEGO Brick	View
Microsoft Q2 Earnings Summary	View
About Voicemail & Google Chat	View
Confirmed: you CAN run Windows 95 on Virtual PC!	View
BitPim, a CDMA phone organizer	View
I Sure Stumble on Some Random S&*t...	View
Osaka dialect 大阪弁 Japanese lesson in English	View
OPTIMUS MAXIMUS KEYBOARD	View
SLB: Fixed! TSC.EXE CPU, Hard Drive, and Hibernate...	View
Liberty Miller Individual Sweeps 2nd Place	View
Gordon's Notes: A problem with Megan's Law: the pr...	View
Gee, I wonder what time it is?	View
Tip d'jour: Add Your Own Help Pages to Photoshop C...	View
2004's Cisco Hacker Convicted this week in Sweden	View
What are "Advanced Features" in Google Desktop?	View
Miro (official/ non-beta) version 1.0 Launches!	View
About Vista's "Windows Experience Index"	View
Marvel launches online comic service w/ 250 free s...	View
Blade Runner Final Cut - NOW PLAYING at a theater ...	View
(stocks) Cisco profits up 29%, stock drops 9%	View
OMG! I bought the wrong video card!	View
your computer might be showing the wrong time toda...	View
Easily Add A Storage Hard Drive to Your Home Netwo...	View
Dear Epic Games (Re: Unreal tournament 3)	View
blogger template update	View
Time for a Flash-based ("Solid State") Hard Drive?...	View
stocks for week of oct 15 to 19, 2007	View
rfe: Microsoft Windows Xp > System Restore Utility...	View
unfortunate display of incompetence	View
only the first 60k hybrids qualify for tax credit ...	View
[NOTE] website style - a page (with tabs) detailin...	View
Come on Kids! It's Fun to be Healthy!	View
not "second life" - it's "surreal life"	View
Exploring Beyond 'Guitar Hero' - Add your own musi...	View
Cisco Makes Unimaginable Sums of Money, Single Han...	View
Beyond Guitar Hero - Be a Keyboard Hero !	View
Change and taxes, Cigarette Lighters on Planes	View
Meat Production's Environmental Impact	View
Blade Runner 'Final Cut' DVD will be available for...	View
Add Vista Premium/Enterprise features to XP (or Vi...	View
Web Developer Toolbar for Internet Explorer	View
How to implement abbreviation definitions correctl...	View
Posting to your Blog using Blogger: Post an entry ...	View
Image Blog for July 22	View
Structured Procrastination	View
How I Hacked Your LinkSys Router (Which You Probab...	View
odd relationships : 'blogger.com' to 'blogspot.com...	View

Sigur Ros - Saeglopur

embed test:

Personal Online Journals?

A 'to do' item: which blogging tools allow you to set access permissions? What about posts which you only want to allow yourself to see? Does it have to be for the 'blog' as a whole, or can it be done per-post?

GPS is now awsome

I have been finding my in-car driving directions (GPS) to be amazingly useful. I love the way I've grown to trust it enough to take little side-roads/alternate routes, allowing me to see streets and places I've never seen before (even though I've lived in this area for almost a decade). I got the "TomTom One" around December, and I don't regret my purchase at all.

So I'm currently recommending the "TomTom One", 3rd Edition:
TomTom ONE 3rd Edition 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Vehicle Navigator

(plain text URL:
http://tinyurl.com/6s9e65
)

a wine recommendation: J.W. Morris Merlot 2005

Had an excellent drinking/dinner wine this evening; thought I'd pass along the recommendation.

J.W. Morris, Merlot, (California); 2005 vintage

---
I saw one review online that really panned the 2004 Merlot, and complained of an "aftertaste"; my experience (with the 2005) was quite the opposite, as I found the wine to be mild and pleasant. A quick search online lead to other amateur reviewers with a few negative reviews, so I thought I should throw in my opinion/recommendation for this "bargain wine." Grab some if you find it! (Try Trader Joes if you're in California.)

Caveat/disclaimer: As with all wines (but esp. with mass produced or 'discount' wines), one never knows if they were able to maintain a consistent vintage, or if the bottling/corking process was consistent. Your experience may vary. (But I think you have good odds.)

quick note on "What is postmodernism?" article (a top search result)

April 23rd, 2008

[critique, philosophy, postmodernism]

A recent search I performed at ask.com for "What is postmodernism?" returned an article from an English professor [1] which is a sort of a book commentary-slash-essay... This post is just a quick commentary on one glaring logical fallacy (as much for me to come back to and refine / elaborate on as for you, gentle reader...)

Mary Klages' essay, titled simply "Postmodernism", does present some good summary points, but I have to point out that it has some glaring statements of bias presented as "fact"/"truth". In particular, her statement

"Because modernity is about the pursuit of ever-increasing levels of order, modern societies constantly are on guard against anything and everything labeled as "disorder," which might disrupt order. Thus modern societies rely on continually establishing a binary opposition between "order" and "disorder," so that they can assert the superiority of "order." But to do this, they have to have things that represent "disorder"--modern societies thus continually have to create/construct "disorder." In western culture, this disorder becomes "the other"--defined in relation to other binary oppositions. Thus anything non-white, non-male, non-heterosexual, non-hygienic, non-rational, (etc.) becomes part of "disorder," and has to be eliminated from the ordered, rational modern society."

While her claim about "western culture" may be true, the "Thus..." statement does not follow. (In formal logic, a non sequitur is an argument where the conclusion does not follow from its premises.) The concept of an 'ordered society' that collectively and/or governmentally moves to squelch or otherwise suppress societal elements that represent 'disorder' is by no means exclusive to the philosophical construct of "modernism." Such efforts would seem to be a natural result of a societal power-structure that seeks to retain power (and what government doesn't?) and could be classified in any other number of political or societal terminologies. More importantly though, in the context of this discussion on modernism, it is not a fundamental "truth" that those who subscribe (or have subscribed) to the idea of a 'ordered, rational, modern society' must think in only "binary" concepts (as the author puts it), or that elements of disorder will be conceived of as "anything non-white, non-male, non-heterosexual, non-hygienic" et cetera.

Assuming the ideas of "modernism" are at play, cultures -- western or otherwise -- can define elements of "disorder" in any number of ways; these elements are historically things which are seen to be different than the "norm" (i.e. of the perceived majority), unfamiliar (foreign / "foreigners"), or that are perceived to be a threat to the established power-holders. These elements _have_ been, at various times and in various cultures, "non-white" or "non-male", etc, but there's no play in a rational discussion for claims that they MUST BE, or that the only logical manifestation of a modernist philosophy will be one of "binary" thinking and an "ever increasing" effort to impose more and more levels of "order".

Pay attention to her use of words in the rest of the article as well; they seem to express an opinion: that "order" and its connotations in the context of modernism is "bad"/undesirable and that postmodernist relativism is "good". This instead of what the article pretends to be; which is an objective look at the philosophical underpinnings of the terms being discussed.

I suspect that this article may also have problems of generalism, by which I mean a tendency to ascribe to the philosophies being discussed characteristics that are not part of the original concepts -- expansions of the ideas put forth by the original proponents that seem logical to the writer, but are actually from other (albiet related) schools of thought.

[1] http://www.colorado.edu/English/courses/ENGL2012Klages/pomo.html

notes-on_what-is-postmodernism_article; by Liberto M., April 2008

How You Can Tell Someone's Not In A Relationship

"Valentine's Day?

Forget that---there's a new episode of 'Lost' on tonight!"

Request for Enhancements (RfE) - to Miscrosoft, re Vista

Request for Enhancements (RfE)
TO: Miscrosoft
RE: Vista

(Man, this operating system's user interface is really annoying.)

------
RfE #5,822 : Fix it so that the UI doesn't show me a Shortcut creation icon if it's just going to *&^%$#@! copy the folder.

Action: [Alt] + click + drag file or folder from one folder to another folder (from one drive to another drive).
Visual cue: A 'shortcut creation' icon.
Actual Result: Vista copies the entire folder to target. (no shortcut)
Why It's Annoying: The folder I was trying to create a simple link to was HUGE, and there was no clear way to cancel the COPY command I had not intended to issue.

------
RfE #5,823 : Make the metadata displayed in the Details pane CONSISTENT! !!!!!
(MUCH more USER control of file metadata is required if this is to be at all useful. Why can't we set up global metadata of all files REGARDLESS OF EXTENSION?)

------
RfE #5,824 : Why is it that I could set attributes for mp3s (.mp3 files) by right-clicking on a file in XP, but Vista won't let me change the attributes?


------
(*&^%$#@!-*&^%$#@!)

Video Games, and Too Much Free Time

[posted by Liberty; file under: shared bookmarks, links, recommended]

---

This is a great idea for a blog:

"Too much free time - Playing every video game, because it needs to be done."

It's not actually ever game; he really meant "playing every obscure DOS or NES game I could find online" -- but it's still a great title and idea.

Check it out at http://tmftgame.blogspot.com (opens in a new window or tab).
~~~

---

Updated : Beyond Guitar Hero -> Be a Keyboard Hero !

(http://libertymiller.blogspot.com/2007/08/beyond-guitar-hero-be-keyboard-hero.html)

Find Other Web Sites Hosted on a Web Server

[posted by affiliate0]
_____________________ _ _ _________ ___
A reverse IP domain check takes the domain name or IP address of a web server and searches for other sites known to be hosted on that same web server. Data is gathered from search engine results, which are not guaranteed to be complete. Knowing the other web sites hosted on a web server is important from both an SEO and web filtering perspective, particularly for those on shared web hosting plans.

Part of the spammer-detection toolkit

http://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/web-sites-on-web-server/

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~