FB_init

Sunday, June 25, 2006

voodoo with COM

Voodoo with COM! Yes, to work with COM you need some voodooing. For instance, if you just want to have an application to change the navigation in an IE instance, you will need voodooing and it won't work. I tried getActiveObject to get a running instance of IE and, of course, it doesn't work. I tried then to create a new IE object but when I try a simple IWebBrowser2 method like navigate I get a nice "unknown runtime error" with error code 0x80004005. The event viewer says "
Faulting application iexplore.exe, version 7.0.5346.5, faulting module ssv.dll, version 5.0.60.5, fault address 0x0000248b." Is it because it's IE 7 beta? Probably not.
Regardless, it's very difficult to work with COM to do basic tasks. What if all I want is to talk to a running instance? getActiveObject and its ROTten table don't seem to work, and I tried in more than one occasion.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

IBM Irrational



This is IBM Irrational. Look at the black icons. Look at the blank entries in the dialog. See how it can't fine java.lang.Object. See how I can't deploy an application. Beautiful. No wonder people can't use computers.

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

"How to Score"


"How to Score" reveals the secret science that lies behind 'the beautiful game'. From international team formations to the psychology of the pitch and the changing room, Ken Bray describes the influences that impact upon play. He answers many of football's hottest questions: what is the perfect way to take a free kick? Which players are under more stress; attackers, midfield, or defenders? How do we know when a ball has crossed the goal-line? And, how can teams win a penalty shoot out? "How to Score" analyses many of the most memorable games over the last 50 years and the tactics of our favourite international and local footballers, as well as touching on big scientific themes such as aerodynamics, computer simulation and game analysis, via a brief journey into football's history. Drawing on the latest research from the fields of physics, biology, physiology, computing and psychology, football's hidden rules are illuminated like never before. From down the pub to up on the terraces, we love to talk about football - "How to Score" is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the game's secrets.

Publisher: Granta Books
ISBN: 1862078327

Thursday, June 01, 2006