Writing a simple Javascript function to create a Date object from a 'yyyy-mm-dd' string I found a small, but important, issue with the parseInt function, used to transform strings to integers.

Both parseInt('08') and parseInt('09') return zero because the function tries to determine the correct base for the numerical system used. In Javascript numbers starting with zero are considered octal and there's no 08 or 09 in octal, hence the problem.

To fix this just add the second parameter for parseInt, the base to be used for the conversion. The correct calls should be parseInt('08', 10) and parseInt('09', 10).

Another of those little details, uh?

Whenever I subscribe to a new feed on Google Reader I can choose a folder for it and that's the only way I see for adding a tag to that subscription. It makes me wonder why Google insists on confusing us using both folders and tags to refer to what it seems to be the same thing.

Other feed readers, like Rojo, allow you to add many tags at once by just writing them, on the same way you can add tags to photos on Flickr. I've used Rojo before but I really prefer Google Reader now.

Am I correct on assuming that the only way of adding more tags to a subscription on Google Reader is by going to Settings, Subscriptions and then checking the subscriptions and choosing a tag from the more actions list?

Don't we have an easier way? I hope I'm missing something really obvious here.

Opera is a great browser and the latest beta offers nice features, including a few tools for web developers.

I'm not sure why the 64 bits version for Linux is hidden on Opera's site but anyway, if you're looking for it get it here: Opera 9.50b2 for Linux 64 bits. It's Opera's FTP server.

Some days ago Amber, my loyal Pangolin from System 76, stopped working, apparently due to some power supply issue.

The System 76 guys were very kind, they helped me to discard the problem via email and offered me to repair it at not cost, honoring the warranty, but I was in Lima and couldn't ship it on time.

I'm enjoying World of Warcraft more and more lately. I recently started to play it with my Beatriz, I bought an account just for her, and it really kicks ass. Now we have to convince Yesenia to install it on her lappy for the whole family to be shouting for the Horde! all day.

It's a little hard finding time to play but I'm already planning my early retirement, super early, and dedicate my days to writing, making music and playing World of Warcraft.

What really amazes me is how after so many years, WoW was released on November 2004, a game keeps attracting so many users, a little more than ten millions as I write this post.

I'm still exploring Azeroth as the bad ass Zuska in Kalecgos so if you're around let me know.

By the way, if any of you, who's not playing it yet, want to give World of Warcraft a ten day trial just let me know to send you an invitation.

Some days ago I started using Hulu, the new video star online, but, like many, I found the restriction imposed to users outside the United States, I live in Peru, rather annoying.

I started looking for solutions and found a few which I tested during one week. In this article I'll tell you about each and will guide you on setting up the one I think is the most convenient: your own VPN setup running on Ubuntu.

Your Options To Get Hulu Outside The US

Google quickly told me that using a virtual private network (VPN) with a server in the US would fit the bill for this problem. My connection would go thru the VPN and Hulu will see me as coming from a US based IP.

Hotspot Shield is perhaps the most known free VPN application for doing this these days, I tried it and it worked. Quite easy setup and I was using Hulu in just a couple of minutes.

The bad news? Hotspot Shield has a bandwidth limit per month, some say it's 10 Gb., shows ads and does not work in Linux. I really hate having to boot a Windows box just for using one application (World of Warcraft and iTunes are very special exceptions).

So, Hotspot Shield is option 1.

After a little more searching I found two paid services that offered Linux support: HotSpotVPN (afiliado) and WiTopia (both affiliate links). I tried HotSpotVPN, US$ 8.88 for one month of service, in Windows XP and it worked as advertised but they never replied to my email asking for instructions on setting up my Ubuntu laptop.

WiTopia has a US$ 39.99 per year plan, that's a really good price, but I didn't have enough funds in Paypal at the time and couldn't try. However I've read really good feedback about it.

That's option 2.

But a VPN is not good only for accessing limited-to-US-residents services like Hulu or Pandora (yeah, I missed that one too), it's much more. We'll learn about it while we review option 3: building our own VPN setup.

Ok, so let's see how to install OpenVPN on Ubuntu Gutsy.

I never imagined how wonderful was taking pictures, even of the silliest objects around, until Toma, my Canon Digital Rebel XTi, arrived a few weeks ago.

What I got with my Olympus D-320 or Beatriz's Canon Powershot A460 (a great point and shoot camera by the way) were nice memories, with a Canon Digital Rebel I get real photographs.

I'm not a professional or pretend to be one. It's just plain fun discovering so many things thru the viewfinder: a couple of toys doing nasty things, a rock to block the door, a misteryous flower at night and even a lonely metal bar at some gas station.

Digital photography is a fascinating field, no doubt about it. I still have a million things to learn and quite a bunch of functions to master on the Rebel.

The lens I got with my kit (EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6) are more than enough for now but I'm sure that I'll start looking for new options as I learn and I'll spend more in the new hobbie as well.

Anyway, I'm quite happy with Toma, my Digital Rebel. Now I can tell, for sure, there's a big world of difference between a regular digital camera and a real SLR.

I've spent almost two years running a VPS with JaguarPC (affiliate link) and now it's time to move my stuff and change my hosting provider, and this time I'm going the colocation way.

Some weeks ago I told you I had ordered our first Asus Eee PC. Today I'm glad to announce that the little toy is already at home. And even if I had named it Silfen, Beatriz decided to change that to Samantha.

I haven't had much time to play with it but I can tell you that the Eee PC is smaller than it looks on pics, works wonderfully and I really like it. A complete analysis is on its way.

Take a look at more pictures of our new Eee PC.

2007 is almost over and in recent months several new gizmos have arrived. To repeat something I did some time ago in the discussion forum here are the names of our toys at home:

• Desktop 1, a Pentium 4 HT: Woodcarver
• Desktop 2, an old Pentium 4, soon to be upgraded: Flenser
• Laptop System76 Pangolin: Amber
• Laptop Dell Vostro 1000, Yesenia's: Lucy
• Nokia N800: Ozzie
• iPod 5G, 30 Gb: Manny
• Digital Rebel XTi: Toma
• Server 1, AMD Dual Opteron: Alpha
• Asus Eee PC, coming soon, it's for Beatriz: Silfen
• Palm Z22, long time friend for reading ebooks at night: Myo
• Palm TX, Yesenia's: Clare