Just Widgets Blog

Here’s a couple of tips I discovered while writing a script to analyze my web logs and then load the .html file with the analysis in a browser*:

Problem #1 - Have a script load an .html file in your browser (under MS Windows)
Solution - Run the command: start fileName.html

Problem #2 - The start command does not work under Cygwin
Solution - Invoke start this way: cmd /c start fileName.html
(I’m guessing this problem occurs because start is a built-in of the cmd.exe shell, so it can’t be invoked directly (i.e. there’s no start.exe))

Problem #3 - Display a URL in a browser from the command line
Solution - Run the command: start http://www.someURL.com/
(This appears to be an undocumented feature of the start command in Windows. Using other URI’s like file:// works too.)

*The method described here invokes whichever browser you have set as the default in Windows. Alternatively, you can invoke a specific browser using:

"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE" www.site.com
"C:\Program Files\Internet\Mozilla FireFox\firefox.exe" www.site.com

This spring I took a course in Operating Systems. Towards the end of the course we studied file systems and learned about link files in Unix. Creating a link makes it look like you have two copies of a file but what you really have is one physical copy of a file and two references to that file (the original reference when you first created the file, known by the user as newFileName, and the second reference created with the command:

ln existingFile newFileName.

The instructor commented that the closest you could get to this under Microsoft Windows was to create a Windows Shortcut (aka .lnk file). The problem with a Windows Shortcut is that if the orginal file is moved to another directory the shortcut no longer works because it is based on the location of a file as given by a directory path, such as C:\Windows\file.txt, instead of how the file system itself internally tracks the file and the filename reference.

Well, since the Windows NT 4.0 days I’ve heard about the sophistication of the Windows NTFS file system - the journaling, security, and how it took a while for the Linux community to figure out how to safely read and later, write to this complex file system. With all that sophistication, I found it hard to believe that the ability to create links was left out; a feature that has been available in Unix since when? Well, it turns out you can create links under Windows, even XP Home Edition* using this the built-in command:

fsutil hardlink create newFileName existingFile

Have fun.

* Assuming your disk is NTFS formatted - which is the default for PCs that ship with XP - and not FAT32 formatted, the default for Windows 98/ME.

I’ve checked the blogs I followed during the contest (see below*) but found no news on the winner of The Da Vinci Code Quest. Despite claims of sub-5 minute times on the final puzzle, no one has come forward. According to the rules it seems inevitable that the winner will eventually be known:

9. Rules/Grand Prize Winner’s Name: … send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to : The Da Vinci Code Quest On Google “Rules” or “Grand Prize Winner’s Name” (specify which), P.O. Box 10301, Burbank, CA 91510. All requests must be received by July 21, 2006. …Grand Prize Winner’s name may also be posted on the Web Site and/or other media including on-air.

The identity of who won of course is not important, I’m just curious if he or she claimed the travel portion of the prize given the huge tax consequences. The tax question kept coming up on the blogs and the consensus seemed to be that for most people, the tax bill would be at least $19k unless the travel prizes were declined. The tax issue even came up on eBay. While my cryptex was up on eBay, someone sent me the following message:

… My legal method of winning the Quest comes from my understanding of the mechanisms and rules of this contest and my IQ (165). I will reveal my method to you if you email to -removed- with an acceptable legal tax strategy.

Just shows you there’s all kinds of people on the web. Time to move along…
It looks like Google has - moved on to another promotion that is. This time it’s a cross-promotion between Mazda and Google Earth.

*Sites I followed during The Da Vinci Quest:

• slickdeals.net/forums…
• google.blognewschannel.com…
• googlefact.blogspot.com…
• solomon.dailygrail.com…
• gapp.wordpress.com…

I must cleanse myself from the heresy that is The Da Vinci Code (buy it)… how about with a little Holy Water?
(Actually, this post is just an excuse to test image posting using Flickr)

(”Holy Water Tower”: Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers Georgia, USA)

As of 1PM today, the deadline passed on the final puzzle in The Da Vinci Code (buy it) Quest on Google. I completed it in 7m 20s so I guess I don’t have to worry about the tax consequences (fool.com) of being the winner. It took me about 2m 40s to complete the first four puzzles (sudoku-like, restoration hexagons, chess moves, and hanging-the-paintings) so the final jigsaw put me out of contention. It was a fun contest. I wonder if Google and Sony consider it a big success?
Hopefully, they’ll do something like this again.

(All 16 images in the Final Jigsaw Puzzle)

I received another Da Vinci Code Quest Finalist email. To the relief of some, it addresses a few of the problems people have been reporting such as completing the contest in time but not receiving a cryptex.

(A side note: The eBay market in cryptexes continues to fluctuate. They started off well above $100 and yesterday (May 18th) cooled off down to $40-$50 but today auctions picked back up to $60+.
Will prices drop off permanently after opening week or will we see a resurgence when the DVD is released? I know The Noble Collection, who sells the cryptexes, has shipped ads in Harry Potter and The Lord of The Rings DVDs, so if they do so for The Da Vinci Code, then maybe it will increase interest on eBay?)

From: Da Vinci Code Quest
<davincicodequest@sonypictures.com>
Reply-To: Da Vinci Code Quest
<davincicodequest@sonypictures.com>
Date: May 19, 2006 12:43 PM
Subject: The Da Vinci Code Quest on
Google Final Challenge - Good Luck

Dear Da Vinci Code Quest on Google Finalist.

Today is the day! The Final Challenge begins shortly. We have heard that some of you had not received the Finalist notification that we sent out on Monday. This may be due to our mail being directed to your spam filter. Therefore we wanted to send another email in the hopes that it reaches those of you who may not have received our last communication. In order to participate in the final challenge visit the link below and start your quest for spectacular prizes.

http://www.google.com/ig/davinci/puzzle.html?puzzle=100 (edited to not identify me)

Keep in mind that this is a journey. You must complete the challenge by 1pm EDT on Sunday 5/21. The winner is not the first to complete the challenge but the one who finishes in the least amount of time will be crowned the champion. Be sure to leave enough time to finish, for once you begin you may not pause or stop the clock.

Good luck and enjoy the final challenge.

We have also heard word that some finalists have not received their cryptexes in the mail yet. The cryptexes were sent out Sat 5/13 and Monday 5/15. They were sent to the addresses provided on the contest registration form, therefore if anything was not provided correctly the cryptex may have been shipped to the wrong location. Be assured that if a cryptex comes back in the mail we will be contacting you to get the correct address.

The Da Vinci Code now in theaters

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thedavincicode/ (edited to not identify me)

WARNING - Spoiler for Da Vinci Code SeekTheCodes.com

As I mentioned in my last post, The Da Vinci Code (buy it) Quest Finalist email contains a link to a video. In the video, there are some letters which are brighter than others. When the following people are on camera the brightened letters are as follows:

• Ron Howard: “HITR”
• Tom Hanks: “MEAN”
• Brian Glazer: “AU”
• Minister for Culture and Communication: “NIVNF”
• Audrey Tautou: “DTIV”

So, altogether that’s: “HITRMEANAUNIVNFDTIV”… (more…)