I got this error when trying to install the latest VMWare Server 2 on a stable, running Windows 2003 Server that had hosted all sorts of applications over the years including Microsoft Virtual Server (removed).

 The fix is simple but makes no sense whatsoever. Just install this Microsoft Hotfix which is for something completely different and reboot your server.

Whalla! 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925336

"... I turned to the skilled [developers]. I knew quite well that I had practically no technical qualifications myself, and I was sure that I should find them full of impressive knowledge. In this I was not disappointed; they understood things which I did not, and to that extent they were wiser than I was. But, Gentlemen, these professional experts seemed to share the same failing which I had noticed in the [salesmen]; I mean that on the strength of their technical proficiency they claimed a perfect understanding of every other subject, however important; and I felt that this error more than outweighed their positive wisdom. So I made myself spokesman for the [company], and asked myself wheter I would rather be as I was - neither wise with their wisdom nor stupid with their stupidity - or possess both qualities as they did. I replied through myself to the [company] that it was best for me to be as I was."

- Plato 

Over christmas holidays in Canada, I bought myself a little christmas present. Since my wife is bulgarian we have a satellite dish in our summer house in bulgaria that receives about 70 channels. Most are in Bulgarian of course, but many are in English (HBO, Cinemax, Discovery etc.). I thought it would be a good idea to get a slingbox and hook to it so she can watch bulgarian TV no matter where we find ourselves.

After a little investigation, I came across Monsoon Media's Hava. It was 100 bucks (135 including shipping to Canada) for their entry level model. It's called Hava Gold although it is red. I didn't quite understand the need for the more advanced models, so I just went with the simplest model. Here it is sitting on the bulsatcom satellite receiver:

Hava Gold on Bulsatcom receiver

It took me a while to get set up but Monsoon Media released a new firmware upgrade that allowed me to set up the remote IR codes myself by pointing the remote at the Hava and pushing the buttons. This took a little fiddling but worked really well. The signal and quality while watching on my PC is incredible. I am really surprised. I still haven't checked it out over the Internet (there are different throughput rates for local area and wide area networks).

You can pretty much do anything with the Hava that you can do with the satellite receiver as it is just transmitting the output and allows you to control the receiver remotely. The added advantages are that you can also record the emissions and pause them (among other more trivial things). Here is an example I recorded:

I know, the bulgarian folk music is a little cheesy but I thought it made a charming example (Maya doesn't really watch this stuff). And hopefully the musicians won't sue me for posting it. In the second video you can see a bulsatcom satellite dish behind the singer. :-)

I recently stumbled across the auction for the assets of the Copenhagen Carlsberg brewery. Not sure if you remember but Carlsberg announced a couple years back that they would be moving all their brewery operations to Fredericia.

 So, If you want to make your back yard home brew a little more professional, check out the equipment for sale here.