Statler’s Rogue Valley Views

This is a trick to lock an XP based workstation or server without using a screen saver. The problem with the screen saver comes when using scripts like AutoIt3 which interact with the screen. Screen savers effectively block scripts from interacting with windows, but just locking the workstation does not. When mixed with turning the monitor off this is an effective method of protecting the workstation or server.

Create a new scheduled task (Start/Programs/All Accessories/System Tools/Scheduled Tasks).

Add the task:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation

Use the starting directory:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\

Run as an Administrator account

Click the schedule tab

Select “Daily” and “Every day”

Click on the advanced button

Repeat the task every 20 minutes (or however long you want the computer idle before the workstation locks, roughly)

Set the “Duration” to be 24 hours

Select “OK” until you return to the Scheduled Task window

Select the settings tab

Under “Idle Time” check to “Only start if the computer has been idle for at least”, and perhaps give it 15 minutes and maybe 40 minutes for “If the computer has not been idle that long, retry for up to:”

That should do it.

On a somewhat regular basis I find myself concerned about the neighbors and their booming music. The low frequency beat from their car’s sub-woofer penetrates the walls of my home. Unfortunately for me, I’m sensitive to the low frequency sound waves. I’m not alone, not by any means if a random sampling of people I meet in public is any indication, but it does not seem seem to bother everyone…some people just don’t notice the low rumbling sounds.

The booming beats disturb me enough that I’ve done frequent searches on the Internet to see what other people have written on the  subject of low frequency neighborhood noise pollution. I wasn’t particularly happy with the results I found, particularly since they offered little in the way of persuasive arguments for presentation to legal authorities (elected officials,  government agency officials, and law enforcement officials).

However, my most recent Internet search (spurred by booming beats awakening me from a Sunday afternoon nap) turned up some interesting results that just might better fit my need for persuasive arguments.

First reference of recent note is a downloadable PDF file of a paper called “A Review of Published Research on Low Frequency Noise and its Effects” Report for Defra by Dr Geoff Leventhall Assisted by Dr Peter Pelmear and Dr Stephen Benton May 2003

“The noise, typically classed as “not a Statutory Nuisance”, causes immense suffering to those who are unfortunate to be sensitive to low frequency noise and who plead for recognition of their circumstances.”

The report is one of four papers that came from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in response to may complaints about low frequency noise. As stated on their web page related to  Low frequency noise research papers, “The University of Salford was commissioned by Defra to develop a proposed criteria and methodology for the assessment of low frequency noise complaints.” There are three other papers available for download on that page that may be of interest.

The second reference of recent note is an article reproduced on the site nonoise.org, “Noise Pollution: A Modern Plague” by Lisa Goines, RN and Louis Hagler, MD from the  Southern Medical Journal, Volume 100: March 2007, pages 287-294. Beginning with a little history (“ In more recent times in Philadelphia, the framers of our Constitution covered nearby cobblestone streets with earth to prevent noise-induced interruptions in their important work.”) this article proceeds to the conclusion that

“ Local control of noise has not been successful in most places. This points out the need for improved methods of local control that should include public education, enlightened legislation, and active enforcement of noise ordinances by local law enforcement officials.”

That last article contains many powerful phrases and provides several academic references.