SSL Certificate Generator, SSL Certificate, Self Signed Certificate, Test Certificate:

The Xenos Certificate Generator will create SSL certificates you can use for testing secure applications and web sites.

These certificates should not be used in a production environemnt because they are not signed by a trusted certificate authority.

The Xenos Certificate Generator can create self-signed certificates as well as ones signed with the certificate you specify.

Requires Windows 2000/XP/2003.

What a great tool.

Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Click Start, type gpedit.msc in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

2. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, verify that the proposed action is what you requested, and then click Continue. For more information, see Additional Resources later in this document.

3. In the Group Policy Object Editor console tree, click Local Computer Policy, click Administrative Templates, click Windows Components, and then double-click BitLocker Drive Encryption.

4. Double-click the setting Control Panel Setup: Enable Advanced Startup Options. The Control Panel Setup: Enable Advanced Startup Options dialog box appears.

5. Select the Enabled option, select the Allow BitLocker without a compatible TPM check box, and then click OK.

   You have changed the policy setting so that you can use a startup key instead of a TPM.

6. Close the Group Policy Object Editor.

CF5 under Vista:

Re IIS7 not running ASAPI[sic] filters. Sure it does, its just not in the default installation. (At least on Vista, which I've been running for 3 days now, you have to go into: Control Panel/Programs and Features/Turn Windows Features on or off/ Internet Information Services/ World Wide Web Services/ Application Development Features and choose ISAPI Extensions and ISAPI features.

I really have to get out from behind this CF5 Eight Ball. We have a plan in place to migrate everything to ASP.NET, but even once the new site is done it will be years before we turn the old CF5 system off...

Configuring Server Bindings for SSL Host Headers (IIS 6.0):

In addition to installing a wildcard server certificate on SSL-enabled Web sites, you must also configure the SecureBindings metabase property on each site so it contains the host header name of the site. All SSL-enabled sites that use the same IP/port binding and are distinguished only by host header name must use the same wildcard server certificate.

I guess it's nice that even though this property isn't editable via the GUI that there is a way to set it with what is required, but it just seems like such an odd thing to have to do. Especially since I'd expect to be able to set the hostname in my WCF code and/or configuration and not have to touch IIS, perhaps this is "fixed" in IIS 7...

FBI — Most Wanted Terrorists - Press Room - Headline Archives 04-21-09:

An animal rights extremist wanted for allegedly bombing two San Francisco-area office buildings in 2003 has been added to our Most Wanted Terrorists list—the first domestic terrorist to be included with international terrorists such as Usama Bin Laden.

Daniel Andreas San Diego, 31, should be considered armed and dangerous. His domestic acts of terror were planned to destroy property, to cause economic hardship for the companies he targeted, and possibly to take lives—one of his bombs was laced with nails to create potentially deadly shrapnel. We are offering a reward of up to $250,000 for information directly leading to his arrest.

Note: not a foreigner, not Muslim.

Bloodstained Gary Bettman: 'I Have Taken The Necessary Measures To Ensure A Crosby-Ovechkin Final' | The Onion - America's Finest News Source:

NEW YORK—Addressing reporters yesterday in an unnervingly calm tone of voice, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman—his hands, face, and white-collared shirt covered in blood—said that any obstacle standing in the way of both Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin playing in the Stanley Cup Final has been "taken care of." "Sometimes you have to put the greater good of the league ahead of the fact that the [Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals] are in the same conference. Unfortunately for some, that point needed to be made...how should I put this...more clearly," Bettman said as he removed black leather crimson-splotched gloves from his hands and what appeared to be an ear from his jacket pocket. "Needless to say [NHL Players' Association executive director] Paul V. Kelly, [New York Rangers General Manager] Glen Sather, and Mario Lemieux will not be attending this press conference as was originally scheduled." When Bettman asked if there were any questions, no reporters raised their hands.

And apparently they follow hockey!

Americans Support Goal of Improved Relations With Muslim World - washingtonpost.com:

There is still a broad lack of familiarity with the world's second-largest religion -- 55 percent of those polled said they are without a basic understanding of the teachings and beliefs of Islam, and most said they do not know anyone who is Muslim. While awareness has increased in recent years, underlying views have not improved.

There are so many places to get your questions answered, if you stumbled on my blog and have a question about Islam, feel free to ask. I think the issue isn't so much that people don't know anyone to ask questions, but it is just easier to have a negative opinion without doing the research.

The White House - Blog Post - Crossroads in Turkey:

The United States is not, and will never be, at war with Islam.

Good to hear a sitting  President of the United States say it, though.

Museum finds secret message in Lincoln's watch | Reuters:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A gold watch owned by Abraham Lincoln bears a message marking the start of the U.S. Civil War, but the president never knew of the "secret" inscription uncovered on Tuesday at the National Museum of American History. The engraving, by watchmaker Jonathan Dillon, is dated April 13, 1861, and reads in part:

Secret Civil War treasure hidden and only found by Nicolas Cage... OK, maybe not, but at first this sounded like a new National Treasure movie...

A pair of my wool socks just got a hole in it, and Yaty said it is way too tough to fix the hole, it's just easier to buy new socks. I remarked that there must be a guide to darning socks online, and while I agree that athletic socks aren't worth the time, my yummy REI wool socks just may be worth the trouble. Rants and Ramblings to the rescue with Just In Time How To advice:

Craftzine.com blog: Darn It!:

When you darn, you are essentially reweaving the textile; with modern knit items, it's a little bit trickier because you need a similar stretch as the base material, but still doable. The old adage "a stitch in time saves nine" is something everyone should pay more than lip service to: it's a lot easier to repair a small hole or threadbare fabric than a gaping vent! Repair your moth holes or tears right away and you'll thank yourself later.

Props to Rants and Ramblings.