Fix spurious XP warning 'firewall not started', howto

Spuriously the last few days, booting my XP computer, I've been warned my firewall is down (in a yellow message bubble). Microsoft's Security Center software (running locally) says, "Microsoft Security Essentials is turned off." The message is not transient, either.

However, real-time protection is running just fine!

Running Microsoft's WMIDiag diagnostic tool didn't help, but web searching the message gave me this procedure (to rebuild a corrupted WMI repository—when prompted, answer yes):

> cd %windir%\system32\wbem
> net stop winmgmt
> dir /ad
> ren Repository Repository.old
> net start winmgmt
> net start "security center"
> firewall.cpl

Then in the General tab, select 'On' to restart Windows Firewall.

If you really want to understand WBEM (mentioned above, Web-Based Enterprise Management, or Microsoft's version: WMI, Windows Management Instrumentation) you can click this humorously easy introduction or web-search it.

Copyright (c) 2013 Mark D. Blackwell.

Thomas Young mass setting open letter

Subject: Thomas Young mass setting by Mark D. Blackwell

TYC Administrator
Thomas Young Centre
The London Centre For Theory And Simulation Of Materials

Dear madam:

Since your website:

http://www.thomasyoungcentre.org/about-tyc/contacts/

indicates you as the first point of contact, I write to announce with pleasure that I have composed a mass setting in honor of your own Thomas Young, the famous polymath.

This entire mass setting was inspired by Thomas Young's list of major thirds in his own Young Temperament (a well-temperament for keyboards). He arranged these thirds in order of increasing size (thus increasing distance from purity). In his design, this order matches the key signatures with increasing numbers of sharps and flats. His temperament (I assume you know) is described here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Young_temperament&oldid=505261244

To be more explicit, the chord roots in this mass setting exactly follow Thomas Young's ordered sequence (or otherwise relate to it): C, G, F, D, Bb, A, Eb, E, Ab, B, Db, Gb.

You might find it amusing to inform your membership of this connection to your namesake, perhaps in a note in a publication. At least, I hope so!

The "Thomas Young" mass setting can be heard here (click the icons which depict two notes on a staff):

http://www.bakerartistawards.org/nominations/view/MarkDBlackwell/#project_10581_detail

Copyright (c) 2013 Mark D. Blackwell.

Compositions self-nominated to Baker Artist Awards

I nominated my musical compositions for consideration for the various local Baker artist awards and grants (of Baltimore) by adding a page on their site just now.

Please consider looking! As you know, comments are love (there, as ever).   :-)

Copyright (c) 2013 Mark D. Blackwell.

SATB sheet music from Mutopia

I have prepared a selection (twenty-nine numbers) of SATB sheet music, starting from Mutopia's search filter in the vocal category.

All have lyrics in English, Latin, or Spanish (and some French, German, and Italian) in the staff (as opposed to being separately printed).

They are not filtered for quality, nor for content type (such as religious).

They are engraved using the beautiful Lilypond, as everything is on Mutupia.

• Abendruhe—W. A. Mozart (1756–1791)
• Al mormorar de' liquidi cristalli, madrigale a 6 voci—G. Gastoldi (1556–1622)
• Alas! and did my savior bleed?—J. K. Banks (1987–)
• All my heart this night rejoices—C. E. Horsley (1822–1876)
• Ave Maria—P. Benoit (1834–1901)
• Beatus vir—C. Monteverdi (1567–1643)
• Caligaverunt—J. Naujalis (1869–1934)
• Come again—J. Dowland (1563–1626)
• Dies irae—W. A. Mozart (1756–1791)
• Dolcissima mia vita—C. Gesualdo (1566–1613)
• El grillo—J. des Prés (c.1440–1521)
• Es ist ein ros’ entsprungen (Anonymous)
• Fairest isle—H. Purcell (1658–1695)
• Glory to god in the highest—G. B. Pergolesi (1710–1736)
• Magnificat—P. Benoit (1834–1901)
• Musiche per la maddalena—C. Monteverdi (1567–1643)
• O how amiable are thy dwellings—T. Weelkes (1576–1623)
• O nata lux de lumine—T. Tallis (1510–1585)
• Popule meus—J. Naujalis (1869–1934)
• Receive the body of Christ—D. Johnson (?–)
• Sestina—C. Monteverdi (1567–1643)
• Sibylla samia—O. de Lassus (1530 or 1532–1594)
• Silver swan, the—O. Gibbons (1583–1625)
• T'amo mia vita—C. Monteverdi (1567–1643)
• Tantum ergo sacramentum—F. J. Haydn (1732–1809)
• Tantum ergo—F. Schubert (1797–1828)
• To hope—S. Magnenat (1980–)
• Trust and obey—D. B. Towner (1833–1896)
• Unquiet thoughts—J. Dowland (1563–1626)

Copyright (c) 2013 Mark D. Blackwell.