The Firefox 2 Beta 1 release candidate I mentioned last night includes a new feature that I just noticed (after using it practically all day), and it's simply terrific. It may seem small, but often it's the little things that make a real difference.

As-you-type spell checking is built right in. Just right-click on anything Firefox doesn't recognize and you'll get just what you'd expect. Looks like it's a basic English dictionary that's used, so you'll have to add some commonly typed terms - even Firefox isn't in the dictionary.

In Internet Explorer I have used IESpell for a couple years and it's always been very useful. But it doesn't do the red-underline thing to show me what's out of whack as I type, though, so this is another case where the Firefox team is again raising the bar.

Nice stuff.

NOTE: The Beta 1 release is set to hit the streets this week. Also, I confirmed that this weekend's binary release is definitely a pre-beta-1 release candidate (one of the nightly builds) and so it's likely (even probable) that it's not the same code that will ship as the actual Beta 1 this week. So, as mentioned last night, downloader beware. You'll probably want to wait. Sorry to anyone reading for gun-jumping, but hey we're all geeks around here, and it's in my nature to test early and test often.

Note: Sometimes bleeding-edge is fun, but it's not for everyone. I mention that so you'll know that this blog post is not for average computer users. But for those that like to try the latest, greatest things the second they become available and don't mind installing pre-release software...

UPDATE 7/10/2006: Since this post was originally authored the RC2 binaries for FF2B1 have been released earlier today in the nightly builds area. I've removed the old links.

You know Firefox is a great browser, and if you're one of the hard-core, gotta-have-it types (like I am), you'll be glad to know binaries for Firefox v2 Beta 1 are available on the Mozilla.org FTP server. It won't be formally released they say 'til Tuesday, and the files could certainly change between now and then (this looks like it's labeled RC1 of Beta 1), but as you can see from the image at right the 2.0b1 English binaries are there. You can grab it now:

Download binaries for:

• Linux
• Mac
• or Windows

You know you want it. There's some nifty and subtle updates in the release, like close buttons on browser tabs and friendly, clean feed display in the browser window.

And by the way... Really, you should know how this stuff works, it's not magic, you know. People are organized and work hard to give you something you can download for free and which makes your life better. Have you said thank you yet?

So, why don't go and get to know the project a little bit? Find out what goes into the software you use. It is a community thing, after all. Here, I will help you with starter links and a few facts:

The codebase was frozen on July 5th in preparation for release this week. The latest status meeting notes are viewable here. The code name for the release up 'til now has been "Bon Echo." From the Firefox 2 section of the MozillaWiki (where you can get lots of geeky details for yourself, by the way - so go learn and amaze your friends) here's a touch of high-level Firefox 2 trivia:

Theme of Firefox 2

Firefox 2 will aim to build on the success of Firefox by addressing issues related to the problem of managing the vast amounts of use a pre-release code name taken from a public park. Bon Echo Provincial Park is located in Ontario, Canada. The name literally translates to "good echo", and reflects how it is our goal echoes that of Firefox information available on the Internet. Our goal is to provide a browser that helps users manage and organize their online information channels.

About Bon Echo

Continuing the tradition, Firefox 2 will x 1, once again focusing on improving the browsing experience for our users, making it simple, effective, fast and useful.

While the release notes are not yet up as of this writing, and while the binaries you see on the FTP site certainly may change before they're formally released, you might also be interested in taking a look at the changes that were made up through the latest Alpha release (Alpha 3).

Looks like a new variant of an old virus is making the rounds.

I got an email tonight in my personal email account that pretended to be from Microsoft and which contained a virus in an attached ZIP file. The attachment was called "Microsoft SMS Manager.zip" and contains two files - which are packaged as a .JPG file and a .HTA file. The JPG file is actually the infected binary and the HTA file is a real HTA with malicious content to call the binary and perform some other actions. The email came from an IP at an ISP located in Asia.

Of course I didn't get infected, because I saw it as obviously fake. Microsoft will never send software or updates via email, but in the social engineering department this one is bound to fool a number of people (despite the bad grammar), so it's a good idea to get the word out. I confirmed the virus infection with Symantec's AV software client on the local machine.

Here is the info about the infected contents of the ZIP file (specifically the JPG file):

Scan type:  Auto-Protect Scan
Event:  Threat Found!
Threat: W32.Gavgent.A
File:  C:\DOCUME~1\*********\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for Microsoft SMS Manager.zip\Product.jpg
Location:  C:\DOCUME~1\*********\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for Microsoft SMS Manager.zip
Computer:  *******
User:  *******
Action taken:  Delete succeeded : Access denied
Date found: Saturday, July 08, 2006  11:22:31 PM

If the AV software is correct and it's actually a W32.Gavgent.A virus in this file, this is an older worm (1995) that was not too prevalent at the time. The dates on the files in the ZIP are 8/2005, so it's entirely possible this is a reuse of an older virus. The HTA file in the package is an actual HTA file, and it references "Gavgent.B" in it's contents, so it's likely this is a repackaging of the Gavgent.A variant. At this time, there is no reference to Gavgent.B at Symantec Security Response. Luckily the old Gavgent.A variant is what trips the Symantec software, so detection seems to be easy enough. Below is the header from the HTA file. The executable section contains a lot of obfuscated VBScript and an IFRAME that loads the microsoft.com site with some extra arguments on the query string.

<HTA:APPLICATION ID="GavGent.B-ID"
    APPLICATIONNAME="GavGent.B"
    CAPTION="Microsoft SMS Manager"
    SHOWINTASKBAR="yes"
    SYSMENU="yes"
    WINDOWSTATE="maximize">

This virus does the classic network worm thing and collects email addresses and spreads via the common methods. It tends to restart the computer it infects and is generally an annoying dude. It will also try to kill AV and other security processes upon execution. Details are available here.

The original email I received is below. The subject line was "SMS Manager from Microsoft."

Developer@microsoft.com wrote:

Dear Customer,
This email provides you information about new product from Microsoft
Corporation, called Microsoft SMS Manager.
These product would help your activities, you can send and receive SMS
messages through your PC with no charge before December 31, 2005 (trial
period).
It's compatible with most of GSM and CDMA operators.
The Installation's document is attached (Microsoft SMS Manager.zip).

For further informations, please contact support@microsoft.com

Best Regards,
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Microsoft Corporation
http://www.microsoft.com

Remember that guy who decided last year to start with one red paperclip and trade it up for a house?

Well guess what?

He succeeded.

Kyle MacDonald will soon be moving into a house in the small town of Kipling in Saskatchewan.

The two-storey house in Kipling was built in the 1920s and has undergone renovations in recent years. Roach admits some touchups and yard work are needed before turning the keys over to MacDonald, and a work party is scheduled for Saturday, July 8 to do just that. He is hoping residents will jump on the bandwagon and that there will be lots of help that day, in preparation for welcoming Kyle and Dom to Kipling.

Here is the progression of trades (with a link to the details of each item):

Tenacity and a blog. Wow.

I'm feeling rather thoughtful and somewhat random today. I even cleaned the island counter in my kitchen. Well, sort of. How's that for unusual? It's nice to have a "down" day, for sure.

So anyhow, this morning I took this Jung personality type test online after surfing around on Portland craigslist for random stuff and finding a not-where-you'd expect link to the test on there somewhere (no idea where, craigslist is this infinitely random web of always changing complex stuff where one can always go to see how much more screwed up than oneself people really are). I took the profile test for kicks, and basically just because I like those sorts of things. They make me think. I ended up classified as type INFJ, which it seems is pretty much spot on when I read the description. I don't especially like everything about the fact that it's right on the mark, but hey - what can ya do? Heh.

Then I took the short version of another online profiler that assesses your entrepreneurial business type. the results of that were also interesting. I'm fascinated with the questions these profile systems use, especially the whole group of them in combination. Depending of how the answers pattern out, I can see how one could accurately draw certain conclusions. Not sure how accurate these are in reality (they sure seem to hit the mark), but they are fun to run though nonetheless. It makes me think.

Hmmm, always interesting to see what the robots think of you, eh?

So that got me thinking about something else that always seems to be on my mind: What do I want to be when I grow up? Sure I'm 39 and turning bald and grey (prematurely by the way, I really don't feel this old). But there's a part of me that wants to do things that matter - to somehow change the world, if you will. So, I have to indulge that part of me from time to time, if for no other reason then just to stay happy and sane. To make me think.

Earlier this week we did a big ol' fireworks display for the Clatskanie (Oregon) Heritage Days on July 4th, which was a lot of fun and quite successful. One of my friends from the pyro crew - Brad - brought along a friend of his who had not worked a fireworks show. Jake is his name and he works for a non-profit called Action Without Borders, and they have this interesting and cool web site at idealist.org that is basically a clearing house for, well, non-profits and idealists. Check it out, it's cool. It makes me think.

Anyhow, I enjoy what I do today because there are parts of it that "matter," and that drives me to do more. There are many other things I'd like to do someday - other things that might in some way change the world, or something like that. But I'll leave the descriptions of those things for another time.

Ask yourself this: How can you change the world? What will you do? What makes you think?

Just when you thought you'd seen it all, well - you'll just have to check this one out for yourself (from KGW.com).

Straight from the Portland Bureau of Ridiculousness...

A Northeast Portland man is suing basketball superstar Michael Jordan and Nike founder Phil Knight for a combined $832 million. Allen Heckard filed the suit himself, June 29th in Washington County Court. Heckard says he’s been mistaken as Michael Jordan nearly every day over the past 15 years and he’s tired of it.

 
kgw.com

“I'm constantly being accused of looking like Michael and it makes it very uncomfortable for me,” said Heckard.

Heckard is suing Jordan for defamation and permanent injury and emotional pain and suffering. He’s suing Knight for defamation and permanent injury for promoting Jordan and making him one of the most recognized men in the world.

Uhhh... Yeah, right. You can read the whole story here. And roll your eyes like me. Rolling eyes is so much fun. What an idiot.

My favorite quote from the story:

Some might wonder how he decided to sue Knight and Jordan for $416-million each. "Well, you figure with my age and you multiply that times seven and ah, then I turn around and ah I figure that's what it all boils down to."

Wow. Scary thing is he might get a few bucks tossed at him to go away. Or if we're lucky he'll lose hard and get stuck with the defendants' attorney's fees. You think he considered that possibility?

What an idiot. Sorry, but there are times when you just have to come out and say it.