Setting up 64-bit Tomcat 6 on IIS7

Download the latest Tomcat binaries for Win64 (AMD64 or x64)

1. Download Tomcat binaries (Windows Service Installer) from http://tomcat.apache.org/download-60.cgi
   
   NOTE: It appears the latest Tomcat Service Installer now supports 64 bit so the below files may no longer be needed
   
2. Download 64 bit Tomcat Native binaries from http://tomcat.apache.org/download-native.cgi
   
3. Download 64 bit versions of tomcat6.exe and tomcat6w.exe from http://svn.apache.org/viewvc/tomcat/tc6.0.x/tags/TOMCAT_6_0_20/res/procrun/
   (replace the 6_0_20 to reflect the version you downloaded in step 1
4. Download 64 bit Isapi_Redirector.dll from http://tomcat.apache.org/download-connectors.cgi

Install Tomcat

NOTE: It appears the Tomcat Service Installer now supports a 64 bit installation. A typical Tomcat install should work (I haven't tried it), in which case you can skip to the Configure Tomcat section below.

1. Run normal 32 bit Tomcat install but install as if it were a 64 bit install. Install to "Program Files" and not "Program Files (x86)". Alternately, you can install to a different location completely (ex: "C:\Tomcat"). Make sure to point Tomcat to a 64 bit JRE.
2. If you chose to install "Tomcat Native" in the above step, replace tomcat native dll's (found in tomcat's bin directory) with 64 bit versions
3. Replace tomcat6.exe and tomcat6w.exe (found in tomcat's bin directory) with 64 bit versions
4. If copied from another computer, unblock the exe's (Properties -> Unblock)
5. Allow tomcat6w.exe to run as Administrator

Configure Tomcat

1. Set up server.xml
2. Set up context.xml
3. Set up isapi_redirect.properties, workers.properties, and uriworkermap.properties (see http://tomcat.apache.org/connectors-doc/reference/iis.html)

Configure IIS 7

1. Open IIS 7 Manager
2. Navigate to your host.
3. Double click on the ISAPI and CGI Restrictions icon
4. On the right hand panel, click Add...
5. Point the path to your isapi_redirect.dll file and give it a description eg. tomcat
6. Check "Allow extension path to execute"
7. Now, click on the Default Website and navigate to ISAPI Filters.
8. On the right hand panel, click on Add... and point to your isapi_redirect.dll file, give the filter a name (eg. tomcat)
9. Navigate to your Default Website again
10. Add a virtual directory and name it jakarta, point this to the directory containing isapi_redirect.dll
11. Click on the newly created virtual directory jakarta
12. Navigate into Handler Mappings, on the right hand side you will see a panel called Actions. Click on Edit Feature Permissions and tick the execute permission.
13. Finally, navigate to your host context again and do a restart.

Why I am voting for Ralph Nader for President in 2008

The simple answer is that Ralph Nader’s platform matches my beliefs more closely than any other candidates’ ( http://www.votenader.org/issues/ ).

Now the general response is to say that a vote for Nader is a vote for McCain - and a vote for McCain is a vote against those very issues I believe in – therefore, I should vote for Obama. I am still going to vote for Nader. Below are my reasons why. Each reason on its own may not be enough, but add them all together and I can’t deny that Nader is where my vote should go.

I’ll start with my problems with Obama. He always struck me as touting the idea of change without having any idea of how to achieve it. I don’t believe in his energy solution ( especially his support of ethanol ). I question if he will get us out of Iraq. I am disappointed by his FISA vote (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/opinion/04fri1.html). It is getting to the point where I am seeing little distinguishing differences between Obama and McCain.

Next, I’m upset with the Democratic party as a whole. The last two years gave the democrats plenty of opportunities to stand up to the Bush administration and let them know their actions will not be tolerated. But instead of standing up, the democrats rolled over (with the exception of a few gems like Russ Feingold). They have not shown that they are the party of change like Obama would have us believe. The FISA bill, taking impeachment off the table, allowing the war to continue without timetables for withdrawal – these are just a few of the things the Democrats caved on.

I am also very upset with how the Democratic party responded to Nader’s campaign in 2004. They used dirty tricks and illegal actions (http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=3771) to keep Nader and others off the ballot in many states. Their actions were the very opposite of democratic and that is not something I can endorse with my vote.

I don’t want to live with voting for the lesser of two evils. In 2004 I fell for the rhetoric of the lesser of two evils theory. After placing my vote, I felt like I had sold my values, especially when Kerry didn’t even win. That truly felt like I threw away my vote. I’m not falling for it again.

Lastly, I know Nader won’t win. But I also know that I can’t expect change if we all just cave in to the lesser of two evils. We need to show that we will stick to our beliefs and won’t just roll over. Why would the democrats give up their corporate money to take on progressive issues when they know we’ll come crawling back. We need to make our politicians earn our vote by taking on our issues, not by being less evil. And I believe now is the perfect time to show the Democrats we are serious – even if it does mean McCain gets elected. I mean let’s face it, McCain isn’t that bad, especially when compared to Bush.

I can understand why people will vote for Obama. The lesser of two evils case is very powerful because it feeds on our fears. This year I am putting aside the fear. The above reasons allow me to vote for hope – to vote for Nader – with a clear conscience and my head held high because I voted for what I believe in.

Punkins 2006

See the punkins on Photogasmic.

Keep your cats clawed

It saddens me that so many people think declawing their cats is an appropriate thing to do. This attitude must come from a lack of information about what declawing does to a cat. I'm going to post some info and links to more info in hopes it will encourage you to spread the word on declawing.

Taken from http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/declaw.html:

Declawing is the removal of bones, tendons, ligaments and claws to the first knuckle of each toe. Declawing robs the cat of a vital part of his or her anatomy. Simply stated, a declawed cat is a maimed cat.

A 1994 study by the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine found that of 163 cats who were declawed, 50 percent had one or more complications immediately after surgery, such as pain, hemorrhage, lameness, swelling, and non-weight bearing. Of the 121 cats whose progress was followed after surgery, 20 percent had continued complications, such as infection, regrowth, bone protrusion into the pad of the paw and prolonged intermittent lameness and palmagrade stance (abnormal standing posture).

Taken from http://www.declawing.com/:

In England declawing is termed "inhumane" and "unnecessary mutilation." In many European countries it is illegal.

Some cats are so shocked by declawing that their personalities change. Cats who were lively and friendly have become withdrawn and introverted after being declawed. Others, deprived of their primary means of defense, become nervous, fearful, and/or aggressive, often resorting to their only remaining means of defense, their teeth. In some cases, when declawed cats use the litterbox after surgery, their feet are so tender they associate their new pain with the box...permanently, resulting in a life-long adversion to using the litter box. Other declawed cats that can no longer mark with their claws, they mark with urine instead resulting in inappropriate elimination problems, which in many cases, results in relinquishment of the cats to shelters and ultimately euthanasia. Many of the cats surrendered to shelters are surrendered because of behavioral problems which developed after the cats were declawed.

More information on the harmful effects of declawing and humane ways to deal with claws:
http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/declaw.html
http://www.declawing.com/
http://cats.about.com/cs/declawing/a/nodeclaw.htm


I should point out that the Winona Area Humane Society does not declaw any of their animals, although many come in already declawed. Perhaps someone's nice little kitty wasn't so nice once it got declawed.

Help stop the cruelty. Spread the word. Tell your friends. Tell your family.

Happy Birthday, Weblog

Today is the 2 year birthday of my blog. Hard to believe. They grow up so fast. It seems like just yesterday that he was born. Maybe if I didn't neglect him so much, I wouldn't be so shocked at how old he's gotten. I'm a horrible parent.

MySpace: The world's biggest popularity contest

Well I created a MySpace page. Not much to see there, but you can see that I have 16 friends (7 of which are actually free advertising). I think I might have a unique picture or two on there also. So without further ado, I present to you... [drumroll]... Jeff's Space [cymbol crash]

This MySpace craze is like an indie band's wet dream. Offer up some songs. Become everyone and their grandma's friend. Get others to put your song on their page and voila, instant publicity. You know, I think it is cool for fans to want to spread the word about their favorite bands. My problem is when the bands push themselves on you. The other day I got a message from someone I never heard of wanting to be my friend. Turns out the person was actually some crappy indie band. They must have gone to every friend of some other band and tried to make new friends. I listened a little to the music - kinda weird, but not half bad - but I won't have anything to do with that band again because I got MySpammed. (MySpammed... I like that. I wonder if anyone else has used it yet. I just looked and turns out I wasn't the first. Damnit.)

The other thing I wanted to say was Thank You to MySpace for making me feel inadequate yet again. It is a real esteem builder when the shiest girl in high school has more friends than you. Course most of my friends aren't on MySpace... or I just haven't gotten around to adding them as friends... and I don't really care about my friend count anyways... I just joined to view other people's profiles... It's just a big stupid popularity contest, anyways, and I'm above that... besides, popularity contests are so high school... I mean jeez, grow up.

Congrats Sarah and Cale

The big news of the year so far is that Sarah (my sister) and Cale got engaged. Sarah is a high school teacher, so Cale got on the morning announcements and said some nice things about Sarah. He then told her to come to the office and proposed to her. Cale had it video taped, which was cool. They're going to get married already this summer.

In other news, my brother Dan built an arcade cabinet with a computer running MAME arcade emulation. I'll post a picture of it on Photogasmic. It is pretty awesome looking. I'm going over there tonight so I'll get a chance to play it. Of course I want one now, but that will probably have to wait. I want new furniture first, I think... and a widescreen HDTV.