For Tam...

Tam, you had mentioned that you were having some log file problems but did not log back online to let me offer suggestions.

So with the fuzzy memory I have of the one sided conversation I suggest this:
Log Parser 2.2
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=890cd06b-abf8-4c25-91b2-f8d975cf8c07&DisplayLang=en
"Log parser is a powerful, versatile tool that provides universal query access to text-based data such as log files, XML files and CSV files, as well as key data sources on the Windows® operating system such as the Event Log, the Registry, the file system, and Active Directory®. You tell Log Parser what information you need and how you want it processed. The results of your query can be custom-formatted in text based output, or they can be persisted to more specialty targets like SQL, SYSLOG, or a chart."

Monday reading material

Yes, I'm still making up for a multiple week absence from posting, enjoy your Monday morning coffee break reading.

( It's news and toys day )

Just in case you are bored

Something to do, for the record it's possible to finish in much less time than 45 minutes.

Classical Intelligence Test - 2nd Revision
60 questions, 45-60 min
http://psychologytoday.psychtests.com/tests/classical_iq_r2_access.html
" This test is supposed to assess your intellectual potential, not your performance under stress. Therefore, there is no time limit. Nonetheless, this test is usually completed in less than one hour. You may use a calculator, a piece of paper and a pencil."

Yes it is basically a front end for buying a report:
"The complete results for this test provide you with 6 subscores. For example you scored 100 on the logical reasoning subscore.", but that's ok because all you really want is to get an easily postable number that says you're a genius. Which by the way is anything above 130 on a standard test, below 70 would be mental retardation.

Have fun all.

Yahoogroups question

Anyone know off hand the process for getting control of an admin/moderatorless yahoogroup?
I know it's been done in the past, I just can't seem to recall how.

EDIT: To clarify the last moderator has wandered off to parts unknown, this isn't a request about a hostile takeover.

What is your favorite color? How about the people living with you, what do they think of it?

So I'm looking at the American Community Survey, a 24 page survey from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Well most people are aware that every 10 years there is a census to decide the Representatives in Congress. Well it seems that wasn't good enough, now they are asking every year (different people in theory) a huge list of invasive questions. Here are a few sample questions:

• What is the main reason members of this household are staying at this address?
  
• In the past 12 months, what was the cost of water and sewer for this house, apartment, or mobile home?
  
• When did this person last work, even for a few days?
  
• What time did this person usually leave home to go to work last week?
  
• What kind of work was this person doing?
  

Last I checked none of this information was needed to figure out census data and they sure as hell don't need my name, birth date, and Social Security number for random statistical data collection.

If you want real amusement consider that if you don't send the form back they resend it with threats:

Do I have to answer the questions on the American Community Survey?
Yes, your response to this survey is required by law (Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193). Title 13, as changed by Title 18, imposes a penalty for not responding. The survey is approved by the Office of Management and Budget. We estimate this survey will take about 38 minutes to complete.

After they send it to you twice you will get phone calls, after the phone calls, you'll get a Census staffer knocking on your door. How do I know all this? I could say I read online stories of it happening to lots of other people, but it's faster to say they did it to me a few years ago when I was out the in the burbs.

Why am I so annoyed at all of this? Simple:
Amendment XIV - Citizenship rights. Ratified 7/9/1868.
"2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State,..."

I see nothing about asking how big my kitchen is (question number 10) or how well my bathroom plumbing works (question number 9).

Comments on the topic are more than welcome, they are strongly encouraged.