From: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org (loud-fans-digest) To: loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Subject: loud-fans-digest V5 #164 Reply-To: loud-fans@smoe.org Sender: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk loud-fans-digest Friday, July 1 2005 Volume 05 : Number 164 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [loud-fans] Since the finest minds of my generation generally congregate here... [zoom@muppe] Re: [loud-fans] Since the finest minds of my generation generally congregate here... ["Pete O." Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Since the finest minds of my generation generally congregate here... - --- zoom@muppetlabs.com wrote: > ...can anyone tell me why my computer persists in setting my Explorer home > page to something I never told it to, specifically: > > http://vv6.i1.topx.cc/index.php?aid=20037 > > ...and how to make it stop? > You've got spyware/adware/toolbar-hi-jacker type problems. Same thing happened with my computer at home (i.e. no firewall). Try running one of the trial versions of the anti-spyware scanners to seen if you can identify it and delete it manually from your registry. The trial versions will offer to clean your drive after purchase. Also, in Explorer go to "Tools/Internet Options/Advanced" and disable "Enable third-party browser extensions" under "Browsing". If all else fails, switch to another browser. Netscape for one seems impervious to these kinds of problems (so far). - - ====== "Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals ... except the weasel." H.J.S. ====== ===== Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 08:07:21 -0700 From: Michael Mitton Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Since the finest minds of my generation generally congregate here... > ...can anyone tell me why my computer persists in setting my Explorer home > page to something I never told it to, specifically: Why? No. The fix? Firefox. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 08:41:32 -0700 (PDT) From: zoom@muppetlabs.com Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Since the finest minds of my generation generally congregate here... Many, many thanks to everyone who sent in advice! I don't know that I can afford a new browser, or anti-spyware (I'm broke, and suffering anxiety attacks due to brokeness, two whole 'nother stories), but I'll see what I can do with the free stuff, and I thank you all once again. Someone with the number "1400" in his/her handle posted two messages which I deleted, thinking them spam, and now, to my frustration, I can't get'em back. Could that person please resend? And has anyone else used eTrends? I deleted their old software on their prompting, or at least I think I did, then found I couldn't download their new one, not even after three hours on and off the tech support phones and a removal program sent to me by a tech. Ideas? I know, I know, I have no idea about how computers work. At least it keeps things lively, Andy "ER was one of my favourites. I played a car accident victim who has leukemia. I got to wear a neck brace and nose tubes for the two days I worked." - --Dakota Fanning ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 10:34:04 -0600 From: "Roger Winston" Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Since the finest minds of my generationgenerally congregate here... "Afford a new browser"?? Who the heck is charging for a browser? Download Firefox, man, it's free. http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ And there's plenty of free spyware/adware eliminators that do a decent job. Note that usually one package will not take care of all spyware, so it's good to use two or more. Two I use are: Spybot Search & Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html Lavasoft Ad-Aware (free version): http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/ Latre. --Rog - -- Distance, Redefined: http://www.reignoffrogs.com/flasshe - ----- Original Message ----- From: zoom@muppetlabs.com [mailto:zoom@muppetlabs.com] Sent: 6/30/2005 9:41:32 AM To: loud-fans@smoe.org Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Since the finest minds of my generationgenerally congregate here... > Many, many thanks to everyone who sent in advice! I don't know that I can > afford a new browser, or anti-spyware (I'm broke, and suffering anxiety > attacks due to brokeness, two whole 'nother stories), but I'll see what I > can do with the free stuff, and I thank you all once again. > > Someone with the number "1400" in his/her handle posted two messages which > I deleted, thinking them spam, and now, to my frustration, I can't get'em > back. Could that person please resend? > > And has anyone else used eTrends? I deleted their old software on their > prompting, or at least I think I did, then found I couldn't download their > new one, not even after three hours on and off the tech support phones and > a removal program sent to me by a tech. Ideas? > > I know, I know, I have no idea about how computers work. > > At least it keeps things lively, > > Andy > > > "ER was one of my favourites. I played a car accident victim who has > leukemia. I got to wear a neck brace and nose tubes for the two days I > worked." > > --Dakota Fanning ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 13:34:38 EDT From: DOUDIE@aol.com Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Uh-oh - do you think Blank Frank got 'im? In a message dated 6/29/05 8:09:15 PM, wsilvers@earthlink.net writes: > t's not my wish to be catty or critical, because my exposure to Ms. > Cantrell's work to date has been pretty limited, but has mostly confirmed the word > on the streets where I live-- she's working with a, um, limited vocal > instrument. Do you find that to be an issue with this current record, which is > getting some strong notices? > She's a wonderfully expressive singer and has impeccable taste in songwriters. All three of her records are worthwhile. On top of that she's going to expose the Matador crowd to some authentic country music. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 14:09:21 -0400 From: "Stewart Mason" Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Uh-oh - do you think Blank Frank got 'im? - ----- Original Message ----- From: > She's a wonderfully expressive singer and has impeccable taste in > songwriters. All three of her records are worthwhile. On top of > that she's going to > expose the Matador crowd to some authentic country music. I love Laura Cantrell and all, but I wouldn't really call what she does "authentic country music." Although she's closer to the mark than 90% of what's been coming out of Music Row for decades, you'll never mistake Laura Cantrell for Kitty Wells. S ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 14:24:19 EDT From: A52boy@aol.com Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Uh-oh - do you think Blank Frank got 'im? In a message dated 6/29/05 5:41:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time, craigtorso@verizon.net writes: and the new Orange Peels is the first Allen Clapp-related album that's not doing much for me at all. I think it's a definite drop-off in quality from AVAILABLE LIGHT, which was overall better than SO FAR, which was considerably worse than SQUARE. But basically, it's just starting to feel like the guy's been repeating himself since 100% CHANCE OF RAIN and he's running out of variations. That's interesting, as I like the Peels stuff better than the Clapp solo stuff. I like SQUARE and SO FAR probably the same. "She is Like a Rose" from SQUARE is a song that will pop into my head at the weirdest times. I think it's because I like the way he sings the word "contrary." But, I like the vocal effects on "So Far." I think the personell change in the band has been to Clapp's benefit, and I think this new record is like REVOLVER, where SO FAR would be HELP!, and SQUARE would be HARD DAY'S NIGHT. The Clapp solo stuff would be like TWO VIRGINS (just kidding). I think the Clapp solo records are interesting, but not fleshed out like Peels stuff, and I don't find myself visiting them like I do the Peels material. I wish Clapp still wore his old Buddy Holly frames and his hair short again. I liked the indiepop geek boy look he used to work. I suppose after about 35 its connotations change from vinyl junkie to Bob Jones University professor. Still think Belle and Sebastian are worse than rancid hagas? - --Mark ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 14:39:19 EDT From: JRT456@aol.com Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Uh-oh - do you think Blank Frank got 'im? In a message dated 6/30/05 1:43:48 PM, DOUDIE@aol.com writes: > On top of that she's going to > expose the Matador crowd to some authentic country music. > Even her biggest fans will often concede that Cantrell's a triumph of the inauthentic. I really like her fake truck-driver husband, too. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 12:46:19 -0700 From: Michael Mitton Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Since the finest minds of my generationgenerally congregate here... On 6/30/05, Roger Winston wrote: > Download Firefox, man, it's free. There are many reasons to use Firefox, from security to tab-browsing to link prefetching. But I've found that even people who use Firefox don't know about my favorite feature: Extensions. Small programs (like a plug-in) that modify or add functionality. They can be found here: https://addons.mozilla.org/?application=firefox A few of my favorites: AdBlock--When used with an updated list (see here: http://www.pierceive.com/), it filters out advertisements. I think it blocks about 90% of advertisements for me. Especially useful if you're still on dial-up. All in One Gestures--Control your browser with little mouse flicks. FireFTP--Very easy to use graphical FTP client. Flash Block--Stops Flash objects from being automatically loaded. Instead, it places a button there, and only if you click on it will the flash load. Forecast Fox--There's more space on the bottom of my browser than my system tray, so put the weather info there. Scrapbook--Right-click to save web pages, and keeps them organized. You get only one file, not a whole folder of stuff. Indispensible if you ever want to save a web page. Other popular ones: Customize Google (add preview thumbnails, results from other engines), No Script (for security--you set up a list of domains allowed to run Java Scripts), Stumble Upon (a network that will serve up web pages that other people like you found interesting), Gmail Notifier, Abe Vigoda Status (monitors whether Abe Vigoda is alive or dead), and about 200 more. Trivia Question: How many developers did Microsoft have working on Internet Explorer prior to the rise of Firefox? Answer: None. This is why the browser wars mattered. mm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:58:39 -0400 From: John Swartzentruber Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Since the finest minds of my generationgenerally congregate here... On 6/30/2005 3:46 PM Michael Mitton wrote: >On 6/30/05, Roger Winston wrote: > > >>Download Firefox, man, it's free. >> >> > >There are many reasons to use Firefox, from security to tab-browsing >to link prefetching. But I've found that even people who use Firefox >don't know about my favorite feature: Extensions. Small programs >(like a plug-in) that modify or add functionality. They can be found >here: > >https://addons.mozilla.org/?application=firefox > >A few of my favorites: > > You're not using Googlebar or Greasemonkey? I'm shocked. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 16:40:21 EDT From: DOUDIE@aol.com Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Uh-oh - do you think Blank Frank got 'im? Authentic was definitely the wrong word. Triple Oops. I'm going to see Tris McCall at Maxwell's on Saturday. I'm going to see Ms. Cantrell, Mr. Malkmus and Yo La Tengo in battery park on Sunday. Anyone else going? Anyone else going apeshit over the M.I.A. record? Rock of July, Steve ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 16:17:51 -0400 (EDT) From: Bill Silvers Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Uh-oh - do you think Blank Frank got 'im? A few thoughts: - -Folks, in general, are hard on women's voices in a way that they'd never be on men's. Whether Bob Dylan, Neil Young or Dr. Frank are good singers seems superflous to their music in a way that relatively few female performers can travel. - -That said, Ms. Cantrell has issues with maintenance of pitch, aside from whether or not she intends to sing in a lesser range of notes than most folks who are actually doing it in public for money. - -That said, I hear that she's a great gal, that her radio show is excellent and I wish her success. - -The idea that what Ms. Cantrell is performing "authentic country music" is perhaps a popular one in some circles, but it is not borne out by many folks with any particular depth of exposure to it. And as vapid and counter to traditional country sounds as country pop divas like Shania Twain or worse, Faith Hill, are, I prefer both gals as singers to Ms. Cantrell. Not that that's saying much. - -I apologize for differing with Stewart's taste in this-- it's just a matter of taste after all, and it's been cool to read about music here for a change, aside from my opinion that best-of/favorites lists ought to be sacrosanct from critique. At any rate, I got the message on Laura Cantrell's new one, and y'all ought to check out that new Dressy Bessy record. b.s. - -----Original Message----- From: Stewart Mason Sent: Jun 30, 2005 2:09 PM To: loud-fans@smoe.org Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Uh-oh - do you think Blank Frank got 'im? - ----- Original Message ----- From: > She's a wonderfully expressive singer and has impeccable taste in > songwriters. All three of her records are worthwhile. On top of > that she's going to > expose the Matador crowd to some authentic country music. I love Laura Cantrell and all, but I wouldn't really call what she does "authentic country music." Although she's closer to the mark than 90% of what's been coming out of Music Row for decades, you'll never mistake Laura Cantrell for Kitty Wells. S ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 17:05:05 -0400 (EDT) From: "don't mine me" Subject: [loud-fans] fire dressy cantrell fox Bill S: >> - -That said, Ms. Cantrell has issues with maintenance of pitch ... y'all ought to check out that new Dressy Bessy record. >> should i take this to mean that dressy bessy've fixed their pitch issues? *** Michael M. >> There are many reasons to use Firefox, from security to tab-browsing to link prefetching. But I've found that even people who use Firefox don't know about my favorite feature: Extensions. << I use a couple of these myself, but I feel like somebody ought to say that somebody who's just had spyware problems should probably not dive into these things willy-nilly. GreaseMonkey is particularly problematic, unless you know enough Javascript to make sure you know what a given script will (or won't) do before you start running it. But in any case, when you install an extension, you're opening your machine up to code that may not be subject to the same rigor, from a security perspective, as the browser itself. Caveat Downloader. Please don't write me back at this address; this is an outgoing-mail-only address, because addresses I use to post to archived mailing lists aren't safe from spammers. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 17:28:04 -0400 From: "Stewart Mason" Subject: Re: [loud-fans] fire dressy cantrell fox - ----- Original Message ----- From: "don't mine me" > Bill S: >>> > -That said, Ms. Cantrell has issues with maintenance of pitch > ... > y'all ought to check out that new Dressy Bessy record. >>> > > should i take this to mean that dressy bessy've fixed their pitch > issues? I had been thinking much the same: if you want to talk about limited singers with pitch control problems, well, Tammy Ealom is Exhibit A. Although, again, I do really like Dressy Bessy. S ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 18:00:48 -0400 (EDT) From: Bill Silvers Subject: Re: [loud-fans] fire dressy cantrell fox Aw phooey-- you're both onto something, but when you're working the guitar/vocal side of the street, as opposed to full band pop-rockin' with vocal, the bar is raised, or open, or something. b.s. - -----Original Message----- From: Stewart Mason Sent: Jun 30, 2005 5:28 PM To: loud-fans@smoe.org Subject: Re: [loud-fans] fire dressy cantrell fox - ----- Original Message ----- From: "don't mine me" > Bill S: >>> > -That said, Ms. Cantrell has issues with maintenance of pitch > ... > y'all ought to check out that new Dressy Bessy record. >>> > > should i take this to mean that dressy bessy've fixed their pitch > issues? I had been thinking much the same: if you want to talk about limited singers with pitch control problems, well, Tammy Ealom is Exhibit A. Although, again, I do really like Dressy Bessy. S ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 18:51:19 -0400 From: "Stewart Mason" Subject: Re: [loud-fans] fire dressy cantrell fox - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Silvers" To: Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 6:00 PM Subject: Re: [loud-fans] fire dressy cantrell fox > Aw phooey-- you're both onto something, but when you're working the > guitar/vocal side of the street, as opposed to full band pop-rockin' > with vocal, the bar is raised, or open, or something. Well, the pop/rock angle I'll grant, but at least on record, Cantrell works with a full band. Never seen her live (the place she usually plays in Boston/Cambridge is one of my least favorite venues in town, Johnny D's), so I don't know what she does onstage. There's something to be said for just plain not liking a singer's voice, and there's not much anyone can say in response to that. There's every chance I would have liked Radiohead if I didn't think Thom Yorke was such a mewling little whiner, for example. It's hard to get past that. S ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 14:14:18 -0700 (GMT-07:00) From: Steve Holtebeck Subject: [loud-fans] Uh-oh - do you think Blank Frank got 'im? Stewart: > the new Orange Peels is the first Allen Clapp-related album that's > not doing much for me at all. I think it's a definite drop-off in quality > from AVAILABLE LIGHT, which was overall better than SO FAR, which > was considerably worse than SQUARE. But basically, it's just starting to > feel like the guy's been repeating himself since 100% CHANCE OF RAIN > and he's running out of variations. I've had the new album for awhile now, and it's made me realize that a good bit of what I liked about the Orange Peels was Larry Winther's guitar, and CIRCLING THE SUN suffers from his absence. That said, some of the songs are pretty catchy, and emusic subscribers with four tracks to give could do worse than the first four odd-numbered tracks (1,3,5,7) from CTS. Some of the things I've been enjoying this year (alphabetically): Brendan Benson, Decemberists, Fountains of Wayne, Go-Betweens, Pernice Brothers, Josh Rouse, Soundtrack of Our Lives, Teenage Fanclub - -Steve ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 23:25:19 -0400 From: "Stewart Mason" Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Uh-oh - do you think Blank Frank got 'im? - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Holtebeck" > I've had the new album for awhile now, and it's made me realize that > a > good bit of what I liked about the Orange Peels was Larry Winther's > guitar, and CIRCLING THE SUN suffers from his absence. I think that pretty much nails it. Larry added hugely to the Orange Peels on SQUARE, and on all of their records since (except for the parts of SO FAR that he played on), there's been a distinct lack of, for want of a better term, balls. Larry's garage rock background provided an instrumental foil for Allen's prettier tendencies, and without that balance, Allen's stuff has been floating off into the ether. (The balance on ONE HUNDRED PERCENT had been the homemade sound of the album, which made even the lighter songs sound kind of clunky, in an appealing way.) S ------------------------------ End of loud-fans-digest V5 #164 *******************************