Google Fonts Not Displayed in Mozilla Firefox Browser

Sometimes there is a Google Fonts problem with Mozilla Firefox.  The fonts at Google Fonts aren't shown correctly and one sees only regular type. Usually this is caused by the default settings of the NoScript Add-On if it is installed. To change the NoScript settings to show Google fonts properly one must enable the @ font-face setting by doing the following:

1. In Firefox click on the Tools menu and select Add-ons (or use hotkey Ctrl+Shift+A)
2. Select the Options button that should appear for NoScript
3. Click on the Embeddings tab
4. Uncheck the box for "Forbid @ font-face"
5. Choose OK to apply change

Go back to Google Fonts and reload the page.  The previously plain type sample text should be rendered using different fonts.  For other problems with Google Fonts and Firefox try looking at this troubleshooting page.

JQuery Frequent Class Replacement Between Two Alternatives

Replacing class repeatedly in JQuery using the addClass and removeClass functions is inefficient for some operations.  There is no official replaceClass function but there is a toggleClass function.  To change (toggle) between two classes easily use the code $("element").toggleClass(classname1 classname2) for an element already assigned to class= "classname1".  

Problem with Deflate or Gzip Compression

So you find out from some optimization or efficiency program like YSlow or PageSpeed that your website could benefit from gzip or deflate compression.  You search online and find code that you put into the .htaccess file in your host server's root directory.  Having followed the apparently simple directions you check to see if compression is actually working by using something like the GidZip Test to verify.  You find out the deflate or gzip compression is not working.

There are a number of possible reasons but perhaps the obvious one that may take time to dig up is that your webhosting service provider has not enabled the feature or does not allow it.  You may need to ask the webhost to activate it.  Some hosts like NearlyFreeSpeech, however, have a policy of not activating it for on the fly compression although static gzip pre-compression may be possible.

SPTD.sys

sptd.sys is a driver file created by Duplex Secure Ltd. that uses its proprietary SCSI Pass Through Direct method of accessing storage devices. It has been associated with software programs like Daemon Tools, Alcohol 120%, and PowerArchiver.

Remove or Uninstall sptd.sys

Unfortunately sptd.sys sometimes conflicts with other programs and is not usually automatically uninstalled when the associated program it came with is uninstalled which can also create conflicts upon reinstallation of the software program. To uninstall and remove sptd.sys follow the directions given at the Duplex Secure website here.

IPSEC Services Error 1747: The authentication service is unknown - Fix for Windows XP

When looking at Windows XP's Event Viewer one might encounter this authentication service is unknown error.  This probably indicates that the IPSEC Services Service, which manages IP security policy and starts the ISAKMP/Oakley (IKE) and the IP security driver on the computer, is disabled and unresponsive to commands to start.

If IPSEC Services won't start and attempts to enable the service by selecting Start, Manual, or Automatic under Start → Control Panel → Administrative Tools → Services do not work, the reason may be an uninstalled or missing Client for Microsoft Networks module and the solution may be to activate Client for Microsoft Networks.  Go to Start → Control Panel → Network Connections and select a connection or create a new one.  Select Properties. In the window under the heading "This connection uses the following items:" Client for Microsoft Networks is probably not installed.  Install it by clicking Install..., then selecting Client and clicking Add..., selecting Client for Microsoft Networks, and then OK.

Google

Google is an internet and technology company with headquarters at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043.  It is a leader in internet search and advertising and is involved in the development of internet product and service technologies such as cloud computing and mobile internet.  Google states its mission is to "organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful" and has adopted the words "don't be evil" as its motto to guide its code of conduct.  It was founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google's incorporation date being September 4, 1998.  It became a publicly traded corporation when on August 19, 2004 when Google's initial public offering was conducted and it was listed on the NASDAQ.

Products and Services

Google is a frequent acquirer of other firms.  In 2011 bought over 25 companies to integrate into its businesses.  It has also been known for experimentation, observable from the projects on display on the former Google Labs.  However, there was a feeling that it was losing direction and spreading itself thin.   Since Larry Page took over as Google CEO in April 2011, replacing Eric Schmidt who became Google's Executive Chairman, Google has sought to focus on seven areas:  search, advertising, social networking, Android, Chrome, YouTube, and local mobile commerce.

Some of the well-known tools and services Google provides and companies it runs are

Google Search
Google News
Google Images
Google Maps
Google Finance
Google Books 
Google Scholar
Google Translate
Google Earth
Google Reader
 
Google+

Google Mail / Gmail

Google Drive / Google Docs
Google Calendar
Google Alerts
Google Voice
Google Talk / Google Chat
Google Sites
Google Groups
Google Latitude
Google Cloud Platform

Google Play
Google Mobile
Google Wallet / Google Checkout
Google Offers
Google Shopping

Google Webmaster Tools
Google Analytics
Google Code
Google Apps
Google AdSense
Google AdWords
 
Chrome
Android

Google Nexus

Blogger
YouTube

Picasa / Picasa Web Albums

DoubleClick 
Zagat
Motorola Mobility

The Internet

The internet is incredible.  So much information at your fingertips.  But sometimes it feels like too much information.  Sometimes one wonders if Sturgeon's law "90% of everything is crud" applies.  Let us try to navigate this wonderful universe called the world wide web, sift through the net wisdom, and cut out the dross.

The internet has its origins in ARPANet a precursor government network of the Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Some notable people involved in the development of the internet and world wide web:

J.C.R. Licklider
Larry Roberts
Leonard Kleinrock
Ray Tomlinson
Robert Taylor
Vinton Cerf
Robert Kahn
Tim Berners Lee
Doug Engelbart
Bob Metcalfe
David Boggs
Paul Baran
Marc Andreesen

Sources

• Hiltzik, Michael. (July 23, 2012). So, who really did invent the Internet? Los Angeles Times.
• Kaplan Karen. (October 25, 1999). Internet Visionaries Connected the World, Link by Link by Link. Los Angeles Times.