Things ('n Stuff)

'n things.

How to break Notepad.exe

Wednesday, June 14, 2006 3:31 PM
This is kind of funny (in a WTF kind of way) for those of you running Windows...
  1. Open up Notepad (Start menu -> Run... -> type in "notepad.exe")
  2. Type in this sentence exactly (without quotes): "this app can break"
  3. Save the file.
  4. Close Notepad
  5. Open the saved file by double clicking it.
Visibility: Anyone
1. Posted by
my coworker says that it's because notepad wants to view that in unicode rather than ansi, although saving in ansi still has that happen. I see chinese text when I view it, but according to said coworker, it's just gibberish.
6/14/2006 3:46 PM
 
2. Posted by
how do you figure these things out, kevin? does dan not give you enough work to do?
6/14/2006 3:51 PM
 
3. Posted by
Haha, I didn't figure it out, I actually just ripped it off from here: http://www.wincustomize.com/articles.aspx?aid=117870&c=1

:)
6/14/2006 3:53 PM
 
4. Posted by
And to elaborate on Flora's explanation, here's the technical one: http://apipes.blogspot.com/2006/06/this-api-can-break.html
6/14/2006 5:50 PM
 
5. Posted by
I'll take your word for this one. I've got some rhododendrons that need pruning.
6/14/2006 6:04 PM
 
6. Posted by
I'd be surprised if it was an ANSI -> Unicode conversion problem. I tried other input text without a CR/LF combo to see if that was the issue, but it all came back just fine. I also tried (non-exhaustively) a few combos of the words, and it didn't change anything either..... I guess this is a prime example of why Kevin was suck a STUDHOSS(tm) tester for M$....

6/14/2006 9:10 PM
 
7. Posted by
funny stuff on this one kev, even though this does not fall into the easter egg category...
6/14/2006 10:22 PM
 
8. Posted by
the problem is fixed if you put a period at the end. its a notepad grammar check.
6/15/2006 4:10 PM
 
9. Posted by
That is too funny...great for a laugh after a day of battling photoshop and AfterEffects crashes...

whoopee...I broke Notepad!!!!
6/16/2006 3:55 PM
 

Amazing birdsong

Tuesday, June 13, 2006 5:35 PM
Wow, this is pretty impressive.  The Superb Lyrebird of Australia has an extremely elaborate  birdsong of its own, but also has the ability to mimic other animal and bird calls.  But check this out--it can also imitate cameras, car alarms, and chainsaws..


       
Visibility: Anyone

A video game that really does scare me...

Tuesday, May 30, 2006 12:30 PM
For some reason this scares me more than playing Doom 3 late at night in a dark room...

Imagine: you are a foot soldier in a paramilitary group whose purpose is to remake America as a Christian theocracy, and establish its worldly vision of the dominion of Christ over all aspects of life. You are issued high-tech military weaponry, and instructed to engage the infidel on the streets of New York City. You are on a mission - both a religious mission and a military mission -- to convert or kill Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, gays, and anyone who advocates the separation of church and state - especially moderate, mainstream Christians. Your mission is "to conduct physical and spiritual warfare"; all who resist must be taken out with extreme prejudice.

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/5/29/195855/959

Visibility: Anyone

Seattle drivers most courteous

Friday, May 19, 2006 2:23 PM
From MSNBC:

Survey looks at road rage across nation
Miami tops rude drivers list; Minneapolis nicest


Stressed Miami drivers speed, tailgate and cut off other drivers so frequently that the city earned the title of worst road rage in a survey released Tuesday.

AutoVantage, an automobile membership club offering travel services and roadside assistance, also listed Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles and Boston among the top five cities for rude driving.

Minneapolis, Nashville, St. Louis, Seattle and Atlanta were rated as the cities with the most courteous drivers, who were less likely to change lanes without signaling or swear at other motorists.

...


I wonder how you empirically measure something like that.  It's not a surpise though.  As annoying as Seattle drivers can be sometimes (a courteous driver is not necessarily the same thing as a good driver), I have to admit, they are awfully polite.

Visibility: Anyone

You know it's not your day...

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 8:50 PM
...when after getting your car washed, you park for roughly 30 seconds to reattach your screw-on radio antenna, and during that time, a passing bird drops a big fat load right in the middle of your windshield.
Visibility: Anyone