Ra and Ram; Expense Cutting; Scary Scary

The vast, unwieldy project to allow users to input info into the web site continues. Much of the effort has centered on dealing with multi-media files.

In order for Real Media rm files to stream, it is necessary to create another file that points to them. It is a one-line text file that indicates the absolute path to the rm file. And it is given a suffix of ram. So once you've create rm files, you will need to generate matching ram files.

The input software recognizes only htm files directly, all other formats have to be dealt with by triggered external editors. I finally gave up trying to create ram files from within the software. My next thought was to try an external solution.

I discovered that if you right click on a ram file under the document / file listing, then highlight "Open With," you're given a list of utilities you can use. You can play it. Or edit it with Notepad. This was exactly what I needed. This allows a user to look at a directory listing of rm files, bring up a ram file, edit and save under a new name.

So at this point, I think I've solved this and another group of quirky problesm. But I'm sure another will surface.

I didn't pay the cable bill last month, so when it appeared this month, it reflected two months of service. The amount was a tad stiff, so I decided I needed to do some expense cutting. However, it means I'm having to give up "Queer as Folk."

I guess the entries are sincere. Truth is stranger than fiction. And some of the truths therein are indeed strange.

WARNING - the site should be accessed with caution. To say that some of the writers appear to be a wee bit dysfunctional would be an understatment. Some of the entries are amusing, but some are downright scary. And that's not nice scary, it's scary scary.

PAX!