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Monday, November 29, 2010

Remove Libraries from Windows Explorer in Windows 7

Remove Libraries from Windows Explorer in Windows 7

I recently received an e-mail message from a TechRepublic Windows Blog reader concerning a blog post that I wrote back in February, Be a power user: Customize the file management features of Windows Explorer. In that post, I covered eight techniques that you can use to get more out of Windows Explorer in Windows 7.
One of the techniques that I shared was how to expand the navigation pane, in which I showed you how to reconfigure Windows Explorer’s navigation pane with its five sections: Favorites, Libraries, Homegroup, Computer, and Network, as shown inFigure A, into a more streamlined tree.

Figure A

By default, Windows Explorer’s navigation pane contains five sections.
To do this, you just select the Show All Folders check box in the Folder Options dialog box, as shown in Figure B.

Figure B

You’ll access the Folder Options dialog box and select the Show All Folders check box.
When you do, the navigation pane will contain only two sections: Favorites and Desktop, with the latter containing Libraries, Homegroup, your User folder, Computer, Network, as well as Control Panel and Recycle Bin, as shown in Figure C.

Figure C

The navigation pane is more streamlined and now contains the Control Panel and Recycle Bin.
The reader told me that while reconfiguring the navigation pane so that Libraries were not as prominent was a good trick, but what he really wanted to be able to do was to remove Libraries altogether. After a bit of investigation, I discovered that it is possible to remove Libraries from Windows Explorer with a couple of Registry tweaks.
In this edition of the Windows Desktop Report, I’ll show you how to remove Libraries from the navigation pane in Windows 7’s Windows Explorer by editing the registry.
This blog post is also available in the PDF format in a TechRepublic Download.

Notes

I think that Libraries are a valuable feature in Windows 7 and use them regularly. However, I understand that if you don’t use them, having the Libraries show up in Windows Explorer can be annoying. Now, even though I will show you how to remove Libraries from Windows Explorer, my guess is that you may want them back at some point in the future. Therefore, as a part of the procedure, I’ll also show you how to create a REG file before altering the Registry so you can quickly and easily undo the change should you later decide that you want to make use of Libraries in Windows Explorer.
Keep in mind that even though Libraries will be removed from Windows Explorer, they will still be available and will show up in various places such as in the Open and Save dialog boxes of your applications.

Editing the Registry

Before you begin, keep in mind that Registry is vital to the operating system and changing it can be dangerous if you inadvertently make a mistake. As such, you should take a few moments to back up your system by creating a system image in the Backup and Restore tool. That way if anything goes awry, you can restore your system and get right back to work.
To launch the Registry Editor, click the Start button, type Regedit in the Start Search box, and press [Enter]. When the UAC dialog box appears, respond appropriately.
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Removing Libraries

When the Registry Editor appears, navigate to the following folder
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}\ShellFolder
When you get there, right click on ShellFolder and select the Export command, as shown in Figure D. (Take note of the Permissions command as you will use it in the next step.)

Figure D

You’ll use the Export command to make a REG file that you can later use to restore the Libraries feature to Windows 7.
When you see the Export Registry File dialog box, choose the folder in which you want to save your REG file, and then name the file Show Libraries, as shown in Figure E. You can use this file later to restore the Libraries feature to Windows 7.

Figure E

Save the file with the name Show Libraries, so that you can find it easily when and if you need it.
Now, right click ShellFolder again and this time select the Permissions command. When you see the Permissions for ShellFolder dialog box, select Administrators in the Group panel and then select the Full Control Check box in the Permissions panel, as shown in Figure F. Click OK to continue.

Figure F

You must set the Permissions for Administrators to Full Control so that you can change the contents of ShellFolder.
Now, right click on the Attributes value and select the Modify command. When you see the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value dialog box you’ll see that the default Value data setting is:
b080010d
Now, press backspace to remove the value and type the new value:
b090010d
As shown in Figure G.

Figure G

You’ll set the set the Value data to b090010d.
Now click OK, close the Registry Editor, and then log off your session. When you log back on, you’ll see the Libraries no longer show up in Windows Explorer, as shown inFigure H.

Figure H

Libraries no longer show up in Windows Explore

Saturday, August 21, 2010

WHY INDIA NEEDS NARENDRA MODIJI BY SUHEL SETH

WHY INDIA NEEDS NARENDRA MODIJI BY SUHEL SETH
Let me begin with a set of disclosures: I have perhaps written more articles against Modi and his handling of the post-Godhra scenario than most people have; I have called him a modern-day Hitler and have always said that Godhra shall remain an enduring blemish not just on him but on India’s political class. I still believe that what happened in Gujarat during the Godhra riots is something we as a nation will pay a heavy price for.
But the fact is that time has moved on. As has Narendra Modi. He is not the only politician in India who has been accused of communalism.
It is strange that the whole country venerates the Congress Party as the secular messiah but it was that party that presided over the riots in 1984 in which over 3,500 Sikhs died: thrice the number killed in Gujarat.
The fact of the matter is that there is no better performer than Narendra Modi in India’s political structure.
Three weeks ago, I had gone to Ahmedabad to address the YPO and I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch up with Modi.
I called him the evening before and I was given an appointment for the very day I was getting into Ahmedabad.
And it was not some official meeting but instead one at his house. As frugal as the man Modi is. And this is something that the Gandhis and Mayawatis need to learn from Modi.
There were no fawning staff members; no secretaries running around; no hangers on…just the two of us with one servant who was there serving tea.
And what was most impressive was the passion which Modi exuded. The passion for development; the passion for an invigorated Gujarat; the passion for the uplifting the living standards of the people in his state and the joy with which he recounted simple yet memorable data-points.
For instance, almost all of the milk consumed in Singapore is supplied by Gujarat; or for that matter all the tomatoes that are eaten in Afghanistan are produced in Gujarat or the potatoes that Canadians gorge on are all farmed in Gujarat.
But it was industry that was equally close to his heart. It was almost like a child, that he rushed and got a coffee table book on GIFT: the proposed Gujarat Industrial City that will come up on the banks of the Sabarmarti: something that will put the Dubais and the Hong Kongs of this world to shame.
And while on the Sabarmati, it is Modi who has created the inter-linking of rivers so that now the Sabarmati is no longer dry.
He then spoke about how he was very keen that Ratan Tata sets up the Nano plant in Gujarat: he told me how he had related the story of the Parsi Navsari priests to Ratan and how touched Ratan was: the story is, when the Navsari priests, (the first Parsis) landed in Gujarat, the ruler of Gujarat sent them a glass of milk, full to the brim and said, there was no place for them: the priests added some sugar to the milk and sent it back saying that they would integrate beautifully with the locals and would only add value to the state.
Narendra Modi is clearly a man in a hurry and he has every reason to be. There is no question in any one’s mind that he is the trump card for the BJP after Advani and Modi realises that. People like Rajnath Singh are simply weak irritants I would imagine.
He also believes that the country has no apolitical strategy to counter terrorism and in fact he told me how he had alerted the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the NSA about the impending bomb blasts in Delhi and they did not take him seriously. And then the September 13 blasts happened!
It was this resolve of Modi’s that I found very admirable. There is a clear intolerance of terrorism and terrorists which is evident in the way the man functions; now there are many cynics who call it minority-bashing but the truth of the matter is that Modi genuinely means business as far as law and order is concerned.
I left Modi’s house deeply impressed with the man as Chief Minister: he was clearly passionate and what’s more deeply committed. When I sat in the car, I asked my driver what he thought of Modi and his simple reply was Modi is God.
Before him, there was nothing. No roads, no power, no infrastructure. Today, Gujarat is a power surplus state.
Today, Gujarat attracts more industry than all the states put together. Today, Gujarat is the preferred investment destination for almost every multi-national and what’s more, there is an integrity that is missing in other states.
After I finished talking to the YPO (Young President’s Organisation) members, I asked some of them very casually, what they thought of Modi. Strangely, this was one area there was no class differential on. They too said he was God.
But what they also added very quickly was if India has just five Narendra Modis, we would be a great country.
I don’t know if this was typical Gujarati exaggeration or a reflection of the kind of leadership India now needs! There is however, no question in my mind, that his flaws apart, Narendra Modi today, is truly a transformational leader! And we need many more like him!
The writer is Managing Partner of councilage.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Captions

Sign over a Gynecologist's Office:
"Dr. Jones, at your cervix."
**************************
  In a Podiatrist's office:
"Time wounds all heels."
**************************
On a Septic Tank Truck:
Yesterday's Meals on Wheels
**************************
On a Plumber's  truck:
"We repair what your husband fixed."
**************************
On another Plumber's truck:
"Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber."
**************************
On a Church's Bill board:
"7 days without God makes one weak."
**************************
At a Tyre Store
"Invite us to your next blowout."
**************************
On an Electrician's truck:
"Let us remove your shorts."
**************************
In a Non-smoking Area:
"If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."
**************************
On a Maternity Room door:
"Push. Push. Push."
**************************
At an Optometrist's Office:
"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."
**************************
On a Taxidermist's window:
"We really know our stuff."
**************************
On a Fence:
"Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!"
**************************
At a Car Dealership:
"The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment."
**************************
Outside a Car Exhaust Store:
"No appointment necessary. We hear you coming."
**************************
In a Vets waiting room:
"Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"
**************************
In a Restaurant window:
"Don't stand there and be hungry; come on in and get fed up."
**************************
In the front yard of a Funeral Home:
"Drive carefully. We'll wait."
**************************
And don't forget the sign at a
RADIATOR SHOP:
"Best place in town to take a leak."
**********************
Sign on the back of yet another
Septic Tank Truck:
"Caution - This Truck is full of Political Promises"

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Do the Ziploc bags filled halfway with water and a penny really keep the flies away and why?

Water, Ziploc Bags, Pennies, and Flies

  • The common house fly has a morbid fear of drowning and is somewhat claustrophobic so goes out of its way to avoid enclosed bodies of water.
  • MythBuster: Actually, this is a domestic legend-- flies are not repelled by any type of water, regardless of whether it contains pennies. The best way to repel flies and bees is to get an orange wiffle bat out of the garage and swing away or use pesticides.
  • Its the reflection of the penny that keeps them away, it appears to be a predator.
  • No a ziplock baggy filled with water in it does not keep the flies away, but putting a penny in it does the trick.
 

One User tested out the theory:(FYI this is all in Jest)

THEORY: Placing Zip-Lock bags of water on the wall repels flies.
COLLECTIVE SUMMARY:

Makes you wonder how someone figured this technique out. The comment about the molecules of water having their own individual prism and the disco ball effect is not valid. Water would have to be in vapor form to have individual prisms, and because of distance from light source, would have identical photonic paths, and would produce no more than a shimmering effect, far too slow to cause any disorientation in a fly.

My hypothesis of this effect is that pennies in water will ionize (emit electrons), especially if there is trace sodium (salt) or other ionizing element in the water, thereby generating a electromagnetic field that produces a sine-wave/frequency based on ambient temperature; as the temperature of the water reaches optimal range (90 degrees or more), the frequency begins to match the resonant frequency of a fly's skull, effectively 'ringing' it's neural center-mass like a minuscule bell.

To test this hypothesis, I am nailing hundreds of bags of water with pennies to my walls in anticipation of flies simply falling dead in the air.

(Autopsies will be forthcoming. I will report results of this experiment at it's conclusion.
Thank you for your patience)

RESULTS OF TEST

As I tested my hypothesis, I discovered that having more than one bag in a room cancels out the effect, unless the ionization is synchronized prior to deployment. This is accomplished using the following procedures.

1. Each bag should have an odd number of pennies, but more than one. (see note 6 for detail) The pennies are not for ballast, because the water has enough mass to keep the bag behaving as per Newton's 'local cluster' theory of Gravity. Anything more than 5 pennies produces diminishing effects.

2. Pennies should be soaked in 2 parts Vinegar to 5 parts distilled water for 48 hours, then rubbed with salt for 2 minutes on the heads side, and 3 minutes on the tails side.

3. Pennies should be stacked and remain in contact with each other for another 24 hours, to synchronize electron frequencies.

4. Size of bag has no amplification effect; a sandwich bag is sufficient. 30 Gallon Garbage bags demonstrated no additional range or amplitude in effect.

5. IMPORTANT! The bag should be placed where it will be exposed to direct sunlight for no less than 1 hour, and no more than 4 hours. On rainy/cloudy days, hand-warming of bags will be sufficient to sustain 50% effectiveness.

6. The penny issue dates are inconsequential, but should be after 1958. 1934-1936 issued pennies work also. Pennies minted in different regions of the country and at different years will have solidified under different geomagnetic influences, which enhances the physiomolecular generation of an electromagnetic field. To avoid the canceling out of ionic emission frequencies, an odd number of pennies is necessary.

In addition:

7. Because effectiveness is based on the reflective properties of the walls and furniture, a test group of flies in the room are necessary to determine optimal placement of bags. The placement of bags will create fly 'kill zones' of about .5 cubic meters. When placing additional bags, observation of the flies are critical in determining optimal placement. Auditory observation is sufficient; a fly will let out a audible 'yelp' when it enters a 'kill zone' before falling to the ground in mortal seizure.

8. Ensure the fly is dead prior to handling; if only stunned, the fly may become aggressive and dangerous when recovered.

9. On a periodic basis, relocate bags in room; flies may learn kill-zones over time and avoid.

10. Effect may 'leak' out of room into adjacent living areas. Ensure your neighbors are aware of your effort to avoid 'flyslaughter' litigation.

11. As always, use safety goggles and knee/elbow pads, and OSHA approved safety gear when conducting setup and maintenance.

12. Contact your local Community Services division to determine any City, County or State ordinance prohibiting/restricting construction, and obtain permit if necessary.

13. If a male develops EDS over a period of time, or if a male that suffers from EDS finds relief from the condition, notify medical professionals immediately. If a female develops EDS, discuss this development with parents.

Standing or sitting 'in' a fly kill-zone may cause discomfort over an extended period. Seek help if you notice the following Symptoms:

Migraines, oscillopsia, lump in throat, color blindness, albinism, visual floaters, astymosism, thinning hair, hear heartbeat in ears, throat closes when lying flat, vomit in sleep, swollen face, low body temperature, low blood pressure, legs feel heavy, "strangling" feeling, "floating" sensation, thickening of finger joints.
If you have ALL of the above symptoms, please submit a video of yourself to Youtube.


It actually doesn't have to have a penny in it...the way it works has something to do with the flies eyes...the water messes with their eyes and they don't go near the door. It works, my Daddy has one at each of his doors and I asked the same of him...
http:/www.snopes.com/critters/wild/flies.asp

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

God has always been planning things for me - Naga Naresh Karutura


Naga Naresh Karutura has just passed out of IIT Madras in Computer Science and has joined Google in Bangalore.
You may ask, what's so special about this 21-year-old when there are hundreds of students passing out from various IITs and joining big companies like Google?
Naresh is special. His parents are illiterate. He has no legs and moves around in his powered wheel chair. (In fact, when I could not locate his lab, he told me over the mobile phone, 'I will come and pick you up'. And in no time, he was there to guide me)
Ever smiling, optimistic and full of spirit; that is Naresh. He says, "God has always been planning things for me. That is why I feel I am lucky."
Read why Naresh feels he is lucky.
Childhood in a village
I spent the first seven years of my life in Teeparru, a small village in Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of the river Godavari. My father Prasad was a lorry driver and my mother Kumari, a house wife. Though they were illiterate, my parents instilled in me and my elder sister (Sirisha) the importance of studying.
Looking back, one thing that surprises me now is the way my father taught me when I was in the 1st and 2nd standards. My father would ask me questions from the text book, and I would answer them. At that time, I didn't know he could not read or write but to make me happy, he helped me in my studies!
Another memory that doesn't go away is the floods in the village and how I was carried on top of a buffalo by my uncle. I also remember plucking fruits from a tree that was full of thorns.
I used to be very naughty, running around and playing all the time with my friends. I used to get a lot of scolding for disturbing the elders who slept in the afternoon. The moment they started scolding, I would run away to the fields!
I also remember finishing my school work fast in class and sleeping on the teacher's lap!
January 11, 1993, the fateful day
On the January 11, 1993 when we had the sankranti holidays, my mother took my sister and me to a nearby village for a family function. From there we were to go with our grandmother to our native place. But my grandmother did not come there. As there were no buses that day, my mother took a lift in my father's friend's lorry. As there were many people in the lorry, he made me sit next to him, close to the door.
It was my fault; I fiddled with the door latch and it opened wide throwing me out. As I fell, my legs got cut by the iron rods protruding from the lorry. Nothing happened to me except scratches on my legs.
The accident had happened just in front of a big private hospital but they refused to treat me saying it was an accident case. Then a police constable who was passing by took us to a government hospital.
First I underwent an operation as my small intestine got twisted. The doctors also bandaged my legs. I was there for a week. When the doctors found that gangrene had developed and it had reached up to my knees, they asked my father to take me to a district hospital. There, the doctors scolded my parents a lot for neglecting the wounds and allowing the gangrene to develop. But what could my ignorant parents do?
In no time, both my legs were amputated up to the hips.
I remember waking up and asking my mother, where are my legs? I also remember that my mother cried when I asked the question. I was in the hospital for three months.
Life without legs
I don't think my life changed dramatically after I lost both my legs. Because all at home were doting on me, I was enjoying all the attention rather than pitying myself. I was happy that I got a lot of fruits and biscuits.
'I never wallowed in self-pity'

 
The day I reached my village, my house was flooded with curious people; all of them wanted to know how a boy without legs looked. But I was not bothered; I was happy to see so many of them coming to see me, especially my friends!
All my friends saw to it that I was part of all the games they played; they carried me everywhere.
God's hand
I believe in God. I believe in destiny. I feel he plans everything for you. If not for the accident, we would not have moved from the village to Tanuku, a town. There I joined a missionary school, and my father built a house next to the school. Till the tenth standard, I studied in that school.
If I had continued in Teeparu, I may not have studied after the 10th. I may have started working as a farmer or someone like that after my studies. I am sure God had other plans for me.
My sister, my friend
When the school was about to reopen, my parents moved from Teeparu to Tanuku, a town, and admitted both of us in a Missionary school. They decided to put my sister also in the same class though she is two years older. They thought she could take care of me if both of us were in the same class. My sister never complained.
She would be there for everything. Many of my friends used to tell me, you are so lucky to have such a loving sister. There are many who do not care for their siblings.
She carried me in the school for a few years and after a while, my friends took over the task. When I got the tricycle, my sister used to push me around in the school.
My life, I would say, was normal, as everyone treated me like a normal kid. I never wallowed in self-pity. I was a happy boy and competed with others to be on top and the others also looked at me as a competitor.
Inspiration
I was inspired by two people when in school; my Maths teacher Pramod Lal who encouraged me to participate in various local talent tests, and a brilliant boy called Chowdhary, who was my senior.
When I came to know that he had joined Gowtham Junior College to prepare for IIT-JEE, it became my dream too. I was school first in 10th scoring 542/600.
Because I topped in the state exams, Gowtham Junior College waived the fee for me. Pramod Sir's recommendation also helped. The fee was around Rs 50,000 per year, which my parents could never afford.
Moving to a residential school
Living in a residential school was a big change for me because till then my life centred around home and school and I had my parents and sister to take care of all my needs. It was the first time that I was interacting with society. It took one year for me to adjust to the new life.
There, my inspiration was a boy called K K S Bhaskar who was in the top 10 in IIT-JEE exams. He used to come to our school to encourage us. Though my parents didn't know anything about Gowtham Junior School or IIT, they always saw to it that I was encouraged in whatever I wanted to do. If the results were good, they would praise me to the skies and if bad, they would try to see something good in that. They did not want me to feel bad.
They are such wonderful supportive parents.
Life at IIT- Madras
Though my overall rank in the IIT-JEE was not that great (992), I was 4th in the physically handicapped category. So, I joined IIT, Madras to study Computer Science.
Here, my role model was Karthik who was also my senior in school. I looked up to him during my years at IIT- Madras.
He had asked for attached bathrooms for those with special needs before I came here itself. So, when I came here, the room had attached bath. He used to help me and guide me a lot when I was here.
I evolved as a person in these four years, both academically and personally. It has been a great experience studying here. The people I was interacting with were so brilliant that I felt privileged to sit along with them in the class. Just by speaking to my lab mates, I gained a lot.
'There are more good people in society than bad ones'
Words are inadequate to express my gratitude to Prof Pandurangan and all my lab mates; all were simply great. I was sent to Boston along with four others for our internship by Prof Pandurangan. It was a great experience.
Joining Google R&D
I did not want to pursue PhD as I wanted my parents to take rest now.
Morgan Stanley selected me first but I preferred Google because I wanted to work in pure computer science, algorithms and game theory.
I am lucky
Do you know why I say I am lucky?
I get help from total strangers without me asking for it. Once after my second year at IIT, I with some of my friends was travelling in a train for a conference. We met a kind gentleman called Sundar in the train, and he has been taking care of my hostel fees from then on.
I have to mention about Jaipur foot. I had Jaipur foot when I was in 3rd standard. After two years, I stopped using them. As I had almost no stems on my legs, it was very tough to tie them to the body. I found walking with Jaipur foot very, very slow. Sitting also was a problem. I found my tricycle faster because I am one guy who wants to do things faster.
One great thing about the hospital is, they don't think their role ends by just fixing the Jaipur foot; they arrange for livelihood for all. They asked me what help I needed from them. I told them at that time, if I got into an IIT, I needed financial help from them. So, from the day I joined IIT, Madras, my fees were taken care of by them. So, my education at the IIT was never a burden on my parents and they could take care of my sister's Nursing studies.
Surprise awaited me at IIT
After my first year, when I went home, two things happened here at the Institute without my knowledge.
I got a letter from my department that they had arranged a lift and ramps at the department for me. It also said that if I came a bit early and checked whether it met with my requirements, it would be good.
Second surprise was, the Dean, Prof Idichandy and the Students General Secretary, Prasad had located a place that sold powered wheel chairs. The cost was Rs 55,000. What they did was, they did not buy the wheel chair; they gave me the money so that the wheel chair belonged to me and not the institute.
My life changed after that. I felt free and independent.
That's why I say I am lucky. God has planned things for me and takes care of me at every step.
The world is full of good people
I also feel if you are motivated and show some initiative, people around you will always help you. I also feel there are more good people in society than bad ones. I want all those who read this to feel that if Naresh can achieve something in life, you can too.