Thursday, August 19, 2004
The perfect avatar for today
I found the perfect avatar for today at AllAvatars.com. Aside from being lovely shades of blue with a hint of tan and a smidge of teal, it's the kind of jumble I'm feeling.
Putting a book on hold and other miscellany
I've decided to put The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon on hold. I've been plugging away at this book since the 15th and I just can't get into it. I made it to page 60 last night, but I kept reading that page over and over. The words just wouldn't sink into my brain. I'm going to try my hand at The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon instead. My omnibus edition arrived a few days ago and I've been itching to read it. Maybe this book will hold my interest.
My errant progeny still hasn't found a job and he spends more time telling me he's looking for one than he actually spends looking for one. He also lost his cell phone which had to be replaced today. We've only had cell phones since December and the one I got for him today makes his third phone. The first went swimming with him back in May or June and had to be replaced then. I'd really like to know what horrible evil I've committed that warrants a son like him. It must have been a doozy. I hope I enjoyed it, whatever it was.
I'm definitely feeling my age today. Everything is just hitting me the wrong way. I've been short-tempered ever since I got up this morning. To be honest, the whole week has been like that. I got up on the wrong side of the bed on Monday and it's been a downhill slide since then. I've avoided answering the phone all week because I don't want to talk to anyone. I just want to be left alone, literally. I'd like to have the house to myself without anyone else in it and no one calling to talk to me. I want to watch Alias S2 D5 and the remake of "The Lion in Winter" with Close and Stewart and read and just be a worthless couch potato. Thank goodness tomorrow is my day off!
My errant progeny still hasn't found a job and he spends more time telling me he's looking for one than he actually spends looking for one. He also lost his cell phone which had to be replaced today. We've only had cell phones since December and the one I got for him today makes his third phone. The first went swimming with him back in May or June and had to be replaced then. I'd really like to know what horrible evil I've committed that warrants a son like him. It must have been a doozy. I hope I enjoyed it, whatever it was.
I'm definitely feeling my age today. Everything is just hitting me the wrong way. I've been short-tempered ever since I got up this morning. To be honest, the whole week has been like that. I got up on the wrong side of the bed on Monday and it's been a downhill slide since then. I've avoided answering the phone all week because I don't want to talk to anyone. I just want to be left alone, literally. I'd like to have the house to myself without anyone else in it and no one calling to talk to me. I want to watch Alias S2 D5 and the remake of "The Lion in Winter" with Close and Stewart and read and just be a worthless couch potato. Thank goodness tomorrow is my day off!
Buffy Season 7 news from TV Shows on DVD.com
According to TV Shows on DVD.com, Season 7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is to be released on November 16th. If you follow the link in the header, they also show the cover of the DVD set. It's basically Buffy and Spike.
The comic side of Dyson
Committed, by Michael Fry
This is hugely funny to those of us who spent a nice chunk of change to buy one of these suckers (pun intended) based on Jennifer Roberson's recommendation in her newsgroup. I have the purple Animal variety because I have four indoor cats and the Animal does wonders picking up cat fur. If one can be in love with a vacuum cleaner, the Animal is the vacuum of my dreams. I wouldn't trade my purple Animal for all the tea in china (that's a pun, by the way, not a mistake).
This is hugely funny to those of us who spent a nice chunk of change to buy one of these suckers (pun intended) based on Jennifer Roberson's recommendation in her newsgroup. I have the purple Animal variety because I have four indoor cats and the Animal does wonders picking up cat fur. If one can be in love with a vacuum cleaner, the Animal is the vacuum of my dreams. I wouldn't trade my purple Animal for all the tea in china (that's a pun, by the way, not a mistake).
Ever have one of those days?
Nothing seems to be working today like it's supposed to or like it used to. I'm not sure where the problem lies since several things happened all at once. The first was blogger implementing their new nav bar thingy. Almost simultaneous with this, I moved my blog to its own domain. Since then, the BlogThis button on my IE toolbar has started writing out rubbish for the title and URL when I click it. And using Mozilla 1.7.1 with blogger has gone wonky again. Sometimes Publish Post works fine. Sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes the html pages on my server are overwritten. Sometimes I have FTP in to delete them and publish again.
I guess I'm just feeling my age today. I would rather be just about anywhere other than stuck behind my desk.
I guess I'm just feeling my age today. I would rather be just about anywhere other than stuck behind my desk.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
The specialized equipment is between his ears
It's the 1990s, and an IT pilot fish at a catalog company hears about this hot new line of servers from the company's preferred vendor.
"Well, of course, we need these," fish says. "So we place two into a cluster with several gigabytes of disk space for high-transaction database queries.
"Shortly after rollout in production, these servers start crashing -- abruptly and without warning of any kind, never the same problem, appears to be really random."
The vendor's engineers come out and replace one of the parts that fails most frequently. Everything tests out fine. The engineers leave, the servers go back into production, and soon the system crashes again.
The vendor's engineers return. Another suspect part is replaced, things test fine, engineers leave, system crashes again. And again. And again.
"This goes on for two months, and things are being escalated to the highest levels within the vendor and our management," says fish. "So the vendor flies in one of its top designers to perform electronic analysis on these servers."
Fish and his cohorts figure the expert will arrive with all kinds of specialized diagnostic equipment, and they prepare to stay the night as he tears the equipment apart.
But when the expert arrives, there's no special equipment, and he doesn't start tearing into the servers. He just settles in to wait for the failure everyone knows is coming.
"Sure enough, about midday one of the clustered servers crashes," fish says. "We proceed to remove the covers and examine the server. After an initial examination, the specialist pulls out a network cable scissors and snips a quarter-inch off a copper ribbon that's grounding the motherboard to the chassis.
"This solves the problem."
Seems the grounding ribbon on these new servers is held in place with the wrong kind of glue. As the server runs, the glue heats up and the copper ribbon curls, shorting out the motherboard at random locations. Which is why sometimes the problem appears to be the CPU, sometimes memory, sometimes the network connection.
The expert packs up his scissors and heads for home.
"After this, they change their manufacturing process for future machines," fish says. "And we never see another problem like this from any of these servers ever again."
"Well, of course, we need these," fish says. "So we place two into a cluster with several gigabytes of disk space for high-transaction database queries.
"Shortly after rollout in production, these servers start crashing -- abruptly and without warning of any kind, never the same problem, appears to be really random."
The vendor's engineers come out and replace one of the parts that fails most frequently. Everything tests out fine. The engineers leave, the servers go back into production, and soon the system crashes again.
The vendor's engineers return. Another suspect part is replaced, things test fine, engineers leave, system crashes again. And again. And again.
"This goes on for two months, and things are being escalated to the highest levels within the vendor and our management," says fish. "So the vendor flies in one of its top designers to perform electronic analysis on these servers."
Fish and his cohorts figure the expert will arrive with all kinds of specialized diagnostic equipment, and they prepare to stay the night as he tears the equipment apart.
But when the expert arrives, there's no special equipment, and he doesn't start tearing into the servers. He just settles in to wait for the failure everyone knows is coming.
"Sure enough, about midday one of the clustered servers crashes," fish says. "We proceed to remove the covers and examine the server. After an initial examination, the specialist pulls out a network cable scissors and snips a quarter-inch off a copper ribbon that's grounding the motherboard to the chassis.
"This solves the problem."
Seems the grounding ribbon on these new servers is held in place with the wrong kind of glue. As the server runs, the glue heats up and the copper ribbon curls, shorting out the motherboard at random locations. Which is why sometimes the problem appears to be the CPU, sometimes memory, sometimes the network connection.
The expert packs up his scissors and heads for home.
"After this, they change their manufacturing process for future machines," fish says. "And we never see another problem like this from any of these servers ever again."
Weather Pixies
Gosh, I'm having so much fun. Blogging should be illegal . . . well, no.
I've just added a weather pixie to my sidebar. Now all you poor people who aren't trapped here with me will know what the weather is like in my neck of the woods.
I've just added a weather pixie to my sidebar. Now all you poor people who aren't trapped here with me will know what the weather is like in my neck of the woods.
Cockaigne
from Dictionary.com
Gives one to wonder if this is where "cocaine" derived from.
Cockaigne \kah-KAYN\, noun:
An imaginary land of ease and luxury.
Cockaigne comes from Middle English cokaygne, from Middle French (pais de) cocaigne "(land of) plenty," ultimately adapted or derived from a word meaning "cake."
Trivia: References to Cockaigne are prominent in medieval European lore. George Ellis, in his Specimens of Early English Poets (1790), printed an old French poem called "The Land of Cockaign" (13th century) where "the houses were made of barley sugar and cakes, the streets were paved with pastry, and the shops supplied goods for nothing."
Gives one to wonder if this is where "cocaine" derived from.
Free nation
from The Complete Bushisms by Jacob Weisberg:
Dare I ask the obvious question? Better yet, do I need to ask the obvious question?
"See free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don't attack each other. Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction." -- Milwaukee, Wis., Oct. 3, 2003"
Dare I ask the obvious question? Better yet, do I need to ask the obvious question?
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Bemused musing
I have two domains registered -- seitherin.com and glynngarthold.com -- and neither of them has anything to do with the real me, but they both have to do with my two best D&D alter egos. Seitherin was my happy, innocent, joyful, youthful F/MU/C (that's fighter, magic-user, cleric for the uninitiated) who loved music and Cel. Glynn Garthold is the walled city my cleric Gareth had built to help her friend Achen guard his little bit of the world, and which she named after her husband Garth (Garthold = Garth's Hold). My third D&D alter ego doesn't have a domain and probably never will. I didn't get to play Tris long enough for her to become 'real'. She was a fighter.
And just one more little change
I keep saying that, don't I? But I never stop, do I? Oh, well . . .
I've added a Blogging Buddy -- The Wild One -- and a Link -- Wild Magic Lady. Both belong to my roomie at Shadowmarch where we cohost the Oxygen Bar and Needlework Shop.
I've added a Blogging Buddy -- The Wild One -- and a Link -- Wild Magic Lady. Both belong to my roomie at Shadowmarch where we cohost the Oxygen Bar and Needlework Shop.
Otherwise, what's it good for?
This pilot fish works at a big PC company, handling support for point-of-sale systems, when a call comes in from a user who says her store's computerized cash registers aren't working properly.
"They all say Q123," user tells fish.
That usually means that they can't talk to the server, fish explains. Is the server powered on?
"It's not getting any power at all," user says.
Are you sure the circuit breakers didn't trip and the server is plugged in? fish asks.
"I can't really check that right now," user says. "We've had all this rain and it flooded out the store, so I can't really do anything right now. Do you think that you can send someone out?"
Wait, says fish -- did the server box itself get water in it?
"Well, it's still sitting in about two feet of water right now."
What? says fish. How are you able to check the registers?
"They're on these counters that are up high, so they aren't sitting in the water," user says. "But the server sits on the floor so it did get water in it."
And we know the power is on, since the registers are giving you that code, fish says. Ma'am, I would strongly suggest getting out of the store until all of the water drains. You could get shocked by the equipment or anything else that uses electricity.
"Can someone come out to look at it today, since it is down?" user asks.
I can't send someone out until the water drains and the machines have had at least 24 hours to dry out, fish explains.
"Well, what am I supposed to do until then?"
You need to get out of the store and call your home office to let them know what's happening, fish says. And I can't send out a tech, because he can't do anything with it while it's still underwater. Electricity and water don't mix, and we can't put our tech in harm's way. It's not like you can open the store anyway."
"That's not the point," user says. "We have a 24/7 fix contract with you, and we expect service."
"They all say Q123," user tells fish.
That usually means that they can't talk to the server, fish explains. Is the server powered on?
"It's not getting any power at all," user says.
Are you sure the circuit breakers didn't trip and the server is plugged in? fish asks.
"I can't really check that right now," user says. "We've had all this rain and it flooded out the store, so I can't really do anything right now. Do you think that you can send someone out?"
Wait, says fish -- did the server box itself get water in it?
"Well, it's still sitting in about two feet of water right now."
What? says fish. How are you able to check the registers?
"They're on these counters that are up high, so they aren't sitting in the water," user says. "But the server sits on the floor so it did get water in it."
And we know the power is on, since the registers are giving you that code, fish says. Ma'am, I would strongly suggest getting out of the store until all of the water drains. You could get shocked by the equipment or anything else that uses electricity.
"Can someone come out to look at it today, since it is down?" user asks.
I can't send someone out until the water drains and the machines have had at least 24 hours to dry out, fish explains.
"Well, what am I supposed to do until then?"
You need to get out of the store and call your home office to let them know what's happening, fish says. And I can't send out a tech, because he can't do anything with it while it's still underwater. Electricity and water don't mix, and we can't put our tech in harm's way. It's not like you can open the store anyway."
"That's not the point," user says. "We have a 24/7 fix contract with you, and we expect service."
Monday, August 16, 2004
And they say football players are dumb
I love a good chuckle first thing in the morning. It sets the right tone for the day. I spotted this very early in the a.m. and I've been snarfing to myself ever since.
"Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein." -- Joe Theismann
"Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein." -- Joe Theismann
Pervicacious
from Dictionary.com
Being a word snob to a minor degree, I think I'd rather be known as pervicacious than stubborn.
pervicacious \puhr-vih-KAY-shuhs\, adjective:
Refusing to change one's ideas, behavior, etc.; stubborn; obstinate.
Pervicacious is from Latin pervicax, pervicac-, "stubborn, headstrong," from root pervic- of pervincere, "to carry ones point, maintain ones opinion," from per-, "through, thoroughly" + vincere, "to conquer, prevail against" + the suffix -ious, "characterized by, full of."
Being a word snob to a minor degree, I think I'd rather be known as pervicacious than stubborn.
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Another blah day
. . . although this one was slightly more productive than yesterday. I actually managed to do a load of laundry. Guess that means I have to go to work tomorrow.
I also watched Hellboy. That was quite a good movie, even on the small screen. This one, as well as Spider-Man 2, show that you can tell a comic book story and make it have plot and character development and not just be a mindless special effects fest.
And after I finished with Hellboy, I watched Out of Time starring Denzel Washington, Dean Cain, and two women I've never heard of. I had the feeling watching this movie that maybe they were going for a kind of noir thing, but I don't know that they succeeded all that well. Or maybe I was expecting too much. I don't know. Not that it was a bad movie. I enjoyed watching Denzel sweat getting caught. It just seemed too easy and too obvious.
I also watched Hellboy. That was quite a good movie, even on the small screen. This one, as well as Spider-Man 2, show that you can tell a comic book story and make it have plot and character development and not just be a mindless special effects fest.
And after I finished with Hellboy, I watched Out of Time starring Denzel Washington, Dean Cain, and two women I've never heard of. I had the feeling watching this movie that maybe they were going for a kind of noir thing, but I don't know that they succeeded all that well. Or maybe I was expecting too much. I don't know. Not that it was a bad movie. I enjoyed watching Denzel sweat getting caught. It just seemed too easy and too obvious.
The Book of Atrix Wolfe by Patricia A. McKillipMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another wonderful book by Patricia A. McKillip. This one is a wonder of language, the way she puts words together to form sentences to make thoughts to tell the story. She paints pictures without rambling on incessantly. In my opinion, Ms. McKillip is probably one of the best fantasy authors writing today. There is nothing typical about her stories and they are not derivative of those fantasy authors who spawned the lot of fantasy we get all to often these days.
This book is the story of a mage who, in pain and horror, creates a horror to stave off an even worse one.
Link to amazon.com
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Blah day
That's what I'm having. I just can't work up the interest to do anything. I've been playing those silly little games online and listening to music. I haven't had breakfast yet, never mind lunch. No first cup of coffee. I haven't even gotten dressed yet. Haven't combed my hair. Haven't brushed my teeth. Just being blah. Except now my bum is getting numb so I'm going to have to move about.
Another minor cosmetic change
I reordered the sidebar a bit. Nothing drastic, but I wasn't terribly pleased with how it was before. I'm not altogether sure I like the change either. Oh, well, I must be having an artistically temperamental day . . .
Friday, August 13, 2004
Spring-like weather
I seem to have become obsessed with the weather. It was another remarkably spring-like day here. When I got home just a while ago, I checked the temperature - 84F/29C with 51% humidity. I can actually bear to be outside in that.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Speaking of the weather
My son said he had the A/C off and the windows open at home all day today. When I got home about 5:30-ish, the house was cool. I got online and checked the weather. It was 88F/31C with humidity of only 42%. I can't recollect ever having the A/C off and the windows open in August. That just doesn't happen here on the coast.
Got bored
. . . so I changed how things look. I've tested the new look under IE 6.0, Netscape 7.1, Mozilla 1.7.1, and Firebird 0.9.2 running under Windows with the screen resolution set at 1024 x 768 on two different computers. I don't have access to a Mac and I don't know anyone who has a Mac so I have no way to test how things look on a Mac. Ditto for Linux. I'm mostly satisfied with the new look, but I would appreciate constructive criticism.
Almost forgot . . . I call this layout/template Serenity One. The background and colors are based on one I have up at Graphics from Glynn Garthold called, you guessed it, Serenity 1.
Almost forgot . . . I call this layout/template Serenity One. The background and colors are based on one I have up at Graphics from Glynn Garthold called, you guessed it, Serenity 1.
He says he's looking for work
. . . and I'm going to take him at his word. Short of having my son followed 24/7, I have no choice but to do that. He says he hit grocery stores and all the little computer shops today and put in applications, and tomorrow he plans to hit the mall and the better class of restaurants in the area.
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Arcanum
from Dictionary.com
This reminded me of playing D&D . . . remember the Unearthed Arcana manual from TSR? I haven't played in very nearly two years and I've been missing it lately. Not so much the game play as the sitting around and BS-ing. That was always fun.
Although, now that I'm thinking about it, I do wonder who the elf in the woodpile is and what his claim to fame could be. I also wonder who Garth's other siblings are and why the only sister is so much worse than the any of the brothers. And poor Rannith . . . did he ever get his act together? And Jake and the Dragon Lady . . . did they ever . . . well, reproduce?
Well, heck and darn. I miss playing D&D.
arcanum \ar-KAY-nuhm\, noun;
plural arcana \-nuh\:
1. A secret; a mystery.
2. Specialized or mysterious knowledge, language, or information that is not accessible to the average person (generally used in the plural).
Arcanum is from the Latin, from arcanus "closed, secret," from arca, "chest, box," from arcere, "to shut in."
This reminded me of playing D&D . . . remember the Unearthed Arcana manual from TSR? I haven't played in very nearly two years and I've been missing it lately. Not so much the game play as the sitting around and BS-ing. That was always fun.
Although, now that I'm thinking about it, I do wonder who the elf in the woodpile is and what his claim to fame could be. I also wonder who Garth's other siblings are and why the only sister is so much worse than the any of the brothers. And poor Rannith . . . did he ever get his act together? And Jake and the Dragon Lady . . . did they ever . . . well, reproduce?
Well, heck and darn. I miss playing D&D.
Eerie reminder
I have an old Yahoo! email account that I set up years ago when I was into bowling. I also used it to set up reminders so that I wouldn't forget birthdays and anniversaries and such. Today I received a reminder that tomorrow would have been my niece's birthday. She would have been 7 years old. That was so strange. I felt . . . well, I'm not sure how I felt. I'd removed the calendar reminders from my Outlook in May when she died, but I just never thought to check that old Yahoo! account. And what's even worse, I just realized today is the 3rd month anniversary of her death.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
The Haircut
A young boy had just gotten his driving permit. He asked his father, who
was a minister, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father
took him to his study and said to him, "I'll make a deal with you. You
bring your grades up, study your Bible a little and get your hair cut
and we'll talk about it."
After about a month the boy came back and again asked his father if they
could discuss use of the car. They again went to the father's study
where his father said, "Son, I've been real proud of you. You have
brought your grades up, you've studied your Bible diligently, but you
didn't get your hair cut!"
The young man waited a moment and replied, "You know Dad, I've been
thinking about that. Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had
long hair, and even Jesus had long hair...."
To which his father replied, "Yes, and they walked everywhere they went!"
was a minister, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father
took him to his study and said to him, "I'll make a deal with you. You
bring your grades up, study your Bible a little and get your hair cut
and we'll talk about it."
After about a month the boy came back and again asked his father if they
could discuss use of the car. They again went to the father's study
where his father said, "Son, I've been real proud of you. You have
brought your grades up, you've studied your Bible diligently, but you
didn't get your hair cut!"
The young man waited a moment and replied, "You know Dad, I've been
thinking about that. Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had
long hair, and even Jesus had long hair...."
To which his father replied, "Yes, and they walked everywhere they went!"
Yahoo! News - FCC Clears 'Buffy,' 'Grace' on Charges of Indecency
To quote from the article,
Grow up, people. I can decide for myself whether or not something offends me. I can also decide for myself what, if anything, I will do about it. I can also make that decision for children under my care, and since I believe in holding open discussions with children about topics most people wish vehemently did not exist, I would have discussed the ramifications of the particular Buffy episode the article references if I'd been dense enough to let anyone under 14 watch it in the first place. It was very obvious early on in the 6th season of Buffy that this season would not be appropriate for younger viewers. Heck, it was obvious that it wouldn't be particularly appropriate for any viewers.
"The commission noted that there was no nudity and there was no evidence that the activity depicted was dwelled upon or was used to pander, titillate or shock the audience," the commission said in a release.
Grow up, people. I can decide for myself whether or not something offends me. I can also decide for myself what, if anything, I will do about it. I can also make that decision for children under my care, and since I believe in holding open discussions with children about topics most people wish vehemently did not exist, I would have discussed the ramifications of the particular Buffy episode the article references if I'd been dense enough to let anyone under 14 watch it in the first place. It was very obvious early on in the 6th season of Buffy that this season would not be appropriate for younger viewers. Heck, it was obvious that it wouldn't be particularly appropriate for any viewers.
The Cheeky Squirrel Network: Squirrel Name Generator
This is just too funny. As Seitherin, my squirrel name is Twitchy Crazy Whiskers. Using my real first name, I become the squirrel known as Furry Nutless.
Senescence
From Dictionary.com
Well, doesn't that just make a person feel special? Saw this first thing this morning and it just made this senescent person feel so young and spry.
senescence \sih-NEH-suhn(t)s\, noun:
The state of being old; the process of growing old; aging.
Senescence is from Latin senescere, "to grow old," from senex, "old." It is related to senile. The adjective form is senescent.
Well, doesn't that just make a person feel special? Saw this first thing this morning and it just made this senescent person feel so young and spry.
Monday, August 09, 2004
Kinda back . . .
I'm still recovering from that allergy bout I was hit with last Thursday. I'm still congested, but at that gummy state where it just doesn't go anywhere. (I know. Too much sharing.) I did spend 10 hours at work today and I have caught up with email and all the other minutiae that consumes my on-line life. Well . . . mostly.
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Hubble sights Milky Way's 'twin'
I can't believe the government is going to let Hubble die. I know a newer, fancier telescope is supposed to take its place, but I'll believe that when I actually see it happen.
BBC NEWS | Americas | King Kong heroine is dead at 96
I can remember being a small child and watching the original King Kong on TV. I was mesmerized. I would still rather watch it than any remake.
Another legend has gone.
Another legend has gone.
CNN.com - Husband of child killer files for divorce - Aug 2, 2004
I cannot possibly convey the utter contempt with which I regard this man. I cannot possibly convey the utter contempt with which I regard the jury that found his wife guilty. And I cannot possibly convey the absolute contempt with which I regard the district attorney who did not file charges against this man for complicity in his children's deaths.
My fervent hope is that he hasn't already found some poor, brain dead fundamentalist whom he can keep barefoot and pregnant so the world can get a repeat of what has already happened once because of him.
My fervent hope is that he hasn't already found some poor, brain dead fundamentalist whom he can keep barefoot and pregnant so the world can get a repeat of what has already happened once because of him.
Friday, August 06, 2004
Returned from the vet
The kittens are still doing fine. They haven't yet reached the magic five pound weight that makes them 'adult' with regard to the flea prevention medication. Miss Muggles weighed in this time at a hefty 4 lbs 10 ozs. Mouse is lagging behind at 4 lbs 4 ozs. They go back in four weeks for the last feline leukemia shot and their first rabies shot. I suspect both will have hit the magic 5 lbs by then.
The truth will out
Yahoo! News - Bush misspeak cites U.S. readiness to harm U.S.
Just in case you haven't heard,
Don't look now, Mr. Bush, but your Freudian slip is showing.
Just in case you haven't heard,
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
Don't look now, Mr. Bush, but your Freudian slip is showing.
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Guardian Unlimited | The stakes are too high to sit this out
Bruce Springsteen, Vote for Change:
It is through the truthful exercising of the best of human qualities - respect for others, honesty about ourselves, faith in our ideals - that we come to life in God's eyes. It is how our soul, as a nation and as individuals, is revealed. Our American government has strayed too far from American values. It is time to move forward. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting.
Sick again
Just like last time except with the added benefit of having lost my voice. I came home from work just before lunchtime today, had some water and crackers, and then fell asleep. I've only been awake for . . . well, it's been two hours now. I can deal with being sick but the kind of sore throat that makes the insides of your ears itch is driving me crazy.
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Fiennes named as Potter villain
My, my, my. I guess whatever problems or trepidation Ralph Fiennes had about committing to a recurring role in the Potter films has been resolved. I can't wait for either the new book or the next movie to be out. I'm like a spoilt, selfish child . . . I want them NOW!
Adventure Is the New Boredom
This is a wonderfully scathing, literate review of the movie Van Helsing. To quote from the review,
So true. Seemingly more often, we get visual stimulation without the benefit of a story.
We'’re in an age, cinematically speaking, in which special effects have evolved into a form of pornography, when the design of a good many movies is merely a series of money shots linked by scenes that (for the most part) crudely seek to build the audience’s anticipation.
So true. Seemingly more often, we get visual stimulation without the benefit of a story.
bloviate
From Dictionary.com
bloviate \BLOH-vee-ayt\, intransitive verb:
To speak or write at length in a pompous or boastful manner.
Bloviate is from blow + a mock-Latinate suffix -viate. Compare blowhard, "a boaster or braggart." Bloviation is the noun form; a bloviator is one who bloviates.
Trivia: Bloviate is closely associated with U.S. President Warren G. Harding, who used it frequently and who was known for long, windy speeches. H.L. Mencken said of him, "He writes the worst English that I have ever encountered. It reminds me of a string of wet sponges; it reminds me of tattered washing on the line; it reminds me of stale bean soup, of college yells, of dogs barking idiotically through endless nights. It is so bad that a sort of grandeur creeps into it. It drags itself out of the dark abysm of pish, and crawls insanely up the topmost pinnacle of posh. It is rumble and bumble. It is flap and doodle. It is balder and dash."
bloviate \BLOH-vee-ayt\, intransitive verb:
To speak or write at length in a pompous or boastful manner.
Bloviate is from blow + a mock-Latinate suffix -viate. Compare blowhard, "a boaster or braggart." Bloviation is the noun form; a bloviator is one who bloviates.
Trivia: Bloviate is closely associated with U.S. President Warren G. Harding, who used it frequently and who was known for long, windy speeches. H.L. Mencken said of him, "He writes the worst English that I have ever encountered. It reminds me of a string of wet sponges; it reminds me of tattered washing on the line; it reminds me of stale bean soup, of college yells, of dogs barking idiotically through endless nights. It is so bad that a sort of grandeur creeps into it. It drags itself out of the dark abysm of pish, and crawls insanely up the topmost pinnacle of posh. It is rumble and bumble. It is flap and doodle. It is balder and dash."
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Monster day at work and other stuff
It was another one of those monster days at work where you don't have time to think, never mind breathe. There weren't any new virus infections to fight, but we did have an awful lot of computers that had to be built up. I now know more about Windows 98SE than I did when I was actually using it as an OS on my computer. I've also gotten pretty good at configuring Windows 2000 and XP to play nicely with our network both wired and wireless. About the only thing I haven't done is take one of those babies apart and try to put it back together again. I suspect I would fail miserably if I tried that.
Nothing electronic or mechanical stopped working at home today so I didn't have to replace anything or send it off for repair. Maybe the solar flares I've been blaming for my run of bad luck have finally diminished and nothing will break for a while.
The unemployed progeny still hasn't found employment though he did go to the dentist to get the last wisdom tooth pulled and the last two cavities filled. He's done until November when he has to go back for a cleaning. I, however, start my stint with the dentist next month. I shudder to think what has to be done to get my mouth in shape.
I had the second disk from the second season of Alias waiting for me from netfix.com. Unfortunately, there is some kind of damage to the disk that prevented almost all of the third episode on the disk from playing. Fortunately, I found an Alias site that has a fairly decent episode guide so I read about what I missed. I am really enjoying watching this show. It is definitely one of the better things on the boob tube. It gets three thumbs up from me.
That pretty much takes care of life today. I'm off to bed . . .
Nothing electronic or mechanical stopped working at home today so I didn't have to replace anything or send it off for repair. Maybe the solar flares I've been blaming for my run of bad luck have finally diminished and nothing will break for a while.
The unemployed progeny still hasn't found employment though he did go to the dentist to get the last wisdom tooth pulled and the last two cavities filled. He's done until November when he has to go back for a cleaning. I, however, start my stint with the dentist next month. I shudder to think what has to be done to get my mouth in shape.
I had the second disk from the second season of Alias waiting for me from netfix.com. Unfortunately, there is some kind of damage to the disk that prevented almost all of the third episode on the disk from playing. Fortunately, I found an Alias site that has a fairly decent episode guide so I read about what I missed. I am really enjoying watching this show. It is definitely one of the better things on the boob tube. It gets three thumbs up from me.
That pretty much takes care of life today. I'm off to bed . . .
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
It must be solar flares . . .
I get the car fixed yesterday and what happens today? The microwave stops working and had to be replaced. Fortunately, Target had microwaves on sale and I got a small one, though bigger and more powerful than the one I had, for only $45 . I'm putting this run of really bad mechanical luck down to solar flares. They've got to be blamed for something. It just wouldn't be fair if something wasn't their fault.
Ooh, ooh, I almost forgot . . .
The A/C in my car is finally fixed. It went into the shop yesterday morning and came out yesterday afternoon blowing cold air just like it's supposed to. I am such a happy little camper.
BBC NEWS | Americas | US terror plot intelligence 'old'
Not only is it old, but there appears to be nothing going on that anyone has picked up on to indicate that any of those plots are even actively being pursued.
BBC NEWS | Health | Womb flu link to schizophrenia
I found the article interesting. What I wonder is how people conceive the notion to study whether or not something has an effect on something else when there doesn't appear to be a reason to connect the two things in the first place. I guess I just don't have an appropriately inquisitive mind or intuitive bent to make such left field jumps.
BBC NEWS | Technology | Net virus posing as Berg video
OK, this is the epitome of scum. As low as my opinion of virus writers is, this plummets it to new depths. There are not enough bad words in the English language to convey the utter contempt with which I regard these people.
The Lost Balloonist
A man piloting a hot-air balloon discovers he has wandered far off course and is hopelessly lost. He descends to a lower altitude and locates a man down on the ground. He lowers the balloon to within hearing distance and shouts, "Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?"
The man below says: "Yes, you're in a hot-air balloon, about thirty feet above this field."
"You must work in information technology," says the balloonist.
"Yes, I do," replies the man. "And how did you know that?"
"Well," says the balloonist, "what you told me is technically correct, but of no use to anyone."
The man below says, "You must work in management."
"I do," replies the balloonist, "how did you know?"
"Well," says the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you're going, but you expect my immediate help. You're in the same position you were before we met, but now it's somehow my fault!"
The man below says: "Yes, you're in a hot-air balloon, about thirty feet above this field."
"You must work in information technology," says the balloonist.
"Yes, I do," replies the man. "And how did you know that?"
"Well," says the balloonist, "what you told me is technically correct, but of no use to anyone."
The man below says, "You must work in management."
"I do," replies the balloonist, "how did you know?"
"Well," says the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you're going, but you expect my immediate help. You're in the same position you were before we met, but now it's somehow my fault!"
ABQjournal: Obtaining Cheney Rally Ticket Requires Signing Bush Endorsement
"You can't come hear me speak unless you're already on my side and you're willing to sign to prove it." Makes sense.
Sunday, August 01, 2004
Putt's Law
"Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand."
Saturday, July 31, 2004
The Village
I saw the movie today. Suffice it to say that I enjoyed it and I appreciate the means to an end approach the movie is. I can't really say anything about the movie without giving away the film's secret which must be seen to be truly appreciated. The only thing I will offer up here is that in one scene very early in the film the word "scared" was used. I found it to be jarringly anachronistic. I wonder if anyone else in the world will have been bothered by its use. I also wonder if its use was deliberate.
Today's Dilbert comic
Having been at both ends of that phone conversation, I find the comic particularly funny.
Friday, July 30, 2004
Have child, will trade
Need I mention that my progeny still hasn't gone job hunting? He didn't even bother to come up with an excuse today for not doing it. But he did swear he'd go next week. Of course, he won't be able go job hunting on the day the car goes into the shop to get the A/C fixed (which I was told would be Monday) and he won't be able to go on the day I have to take the kittens to the vet (which will be Friday). And I'm sure something else will come up on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday that will make it difficult to go then.
Sigh. Long, drawn out sigh.
Sigh. Long, drawn out sigh.
Another tiny tweak
I bet you can't even tell what formatting I tweaked on my blog. The change is so minor I'm almost embarrassed to even mention I made it. But I like the subtle difference in the appearance.
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Just a nip and a tuck
No major changes to my blog layout. I just took down the Harry Potter poll and put up a new one about the title of the new Star Wars film. I also added an atom feed button for my blog. And last, but not least, I added a new category called "Reciprocity". I've discovered that I am a link on someone else's blog so I thought I would reciprocate. I have no idea who this person is or why she would have a link to me, but . . .
Would you like a beagle to go with that mitglieder?
You guessed it . . . one more company computer succumbed to the W32.Beagle.AG@mm virus today. This computer hadn't had any of the Windows updates or virus definition updates run since April. I'm frankly surprised the only thing on it was the Beagle.
And no joy on the job hunt today
The male person who claims to be descended from me still hasn't gone job hunting. His excuse today was being in pain from having his wisdom tooth out yesterday. You will note that this alleged pain did not and has not interfered with his ability to hang out with his friends all over town today. Oh, well . . . I had the illusion of living only for myself for 2 1/2 months.
Cat poop coffee
Well, now I really have heard everything.
news@nature.com | Cat droppings yield chic coffee
I like coffee but not at $1,000 per kilogram and certainly not knowing for a fact that some jungle kitty ate the beans and pooped them out before they were roasted to yield my morning cuppa.
news@nature.com | Cat droppings yield chic coffee
I like coffee but not at $1,000 per kilogram and certainly not knowing for a fact that some jungle kitty ate the beans and pooped them out before they were roasted to yield my morning cuppa.
Still no joy on the job front
My baby boy didn't go job hunting yesterday either although he did stop and pick up a newspaper so he could look at the help wanted ads. I see that as a positive step forward. (I'm not being facetious when I say that. It really is forward motion for my brown eyed boy.)
Instead of pounding the pavement for work, he went to the dentist to have a wisdom tooth pulled and a cavity filled. He has to go next week as well to have his last wisdom tooth pulled and another couple of cavities filled.
Did I mention that my son had six - yep, six - wisdom teeth? He had four on top and two on the bottom. He's already had the top four removed and we're working on getting the bottom ones out now.
Instead of pounding the pavement for work, he went to the dentist to have a wisdom tooth pulled and a cavity filled. He has to go next week as well to have his last wisdom tooth pulled and another couple of cavities filled.
Did I mention that my son had six - yep, six - wisdom teeth? He had four on top and two on the bottom. He's already had the top four removed and we're working on getting the bottom ones out now.
Trojan.Mitglieder.M . . . again
I've cleaned up a second computer infected with the Mitglieder.M Trojan horse. I have no idea how it found its way in. This, of course, required me to send out another round of emails about updating virus definitions and running virus scans.
I see that we're heading toward a full moon. And a second one for the month of July at that. Guess that ol' blue moon is wreaking havoc.
I see that we're heading toward a full moon. And a second one for the month of July at that. Guess that ol' blue moon is wreaking havoc.
Monday, July 26, 2004
Cowboy Bebop, The Movie
I finally got around to watching it. Well, almost all of it. The DVD wouldn't let me watch scenes 14, 15, and 16 on my player even after I cleaned the disc. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. It was much better than I was expecting a "cartoon" to be. I watched the film dubbed in English with English subtitles. That was interesting. Very often the dialog on the dub had almost nothing to do with the subtitles. I strongly suspect that if I'd watched the film in Japanese with just the English subtitles I wouldn't have liked it very much. The subtitles were very minimalistic.
Murder on the Orient Express
I watched a modernized remake of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express last night on the telly. It starred Alfred Molina as Hercule Poirot. It was totally bland and dull and uninspired. Instead of Poirot being this prissy little busy-body with a ridiculous moustache, he was . . . Alfred Molina . . . using a laptop . . . and having an implied liaison with a woman at the end of the film.
If you're going to watch Murder on the Orient Express, watch the Albert Finney version. That one had character.
If you're going to watch Murder on the Orient Express, watch the Albert Finney version. That one had character.
I'm glad I didn't hold my breath
When my son picked me up from work I asked him if he'd gone job hunting today. He hadn't. He went back to bed when he dropped me off this morning and didn't wake up until 2 p.m. or so. Naturally, that left him no time to job hunt before he had to pick me up at 5 p.m.
In a Shift, Bush Moves to Block Medical Suits
To quote directly from the article in the New York Times:
I am so disgusted with this. I'm in favor of tort reform because too many frivolous lawsuits are filed and not thrown out of court; however, when a product or device or service can be proven to be harmful, I think no one, including the government, should have a say so in whether a lawsuit can be brought.
The Bush administration has been going to court to block lawsuits by consumers who say they have been injured by prescription drugs and medical devices.
The administration contends that consumers cannot recover damages for such injuries if the products have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In court papers, the Justice Department acknowledges that this position reflects a "change in governmental policy," and it has persuaded some judges to accept its arguments, most recently scoring a victory in the federal appeals court in Philadelphia.
Allowing consumers to sue manufacturers would "undermine public health" and interfere with federal regulation of drugs and devices, by encouraging "lay judges and juries to second-guess" experts at the F.D.A., the government said in siding with the maker of a heart pump sued by the widow of a Pennsylvania man. Moreover, it said, if such lawsuits succeed, some good products may be removed from the market, depriving patients of beneficial treatments.
I am so disgusted with this. I'm in favor of tort reform because too many frivolous lawsuits are filed and not thrown out of court; however, when a product or device or service can be proven to be harmful, I think no one, including the government, should have a say so in whether a lawsuit can be brought.
Mystery Lottery Winner Donates $1.8 Million Ticket
Jul 26, 8:43 am ET
TOKYO (Reuters) - Officials in western Japan were marveling on Sunday at the generosity of a mystery philanthropist who donated a $1.8 million lottery ticket to help victims of recent torrential rainstorms.
In an extremely rare display of charity, a winning lottery ticket good for a 200 million yen ($1.82 million) grand prize was mailed to the governor of Fukui prefecture on Friday with a note saying it was intended as a donation for rain victims.
"I am sending a lottery ticket that is blessed with luck hoping that it will be of some help to the people who had the misfortune of suffering damages," the letter said.
Hiroko Imatomi, a Fukui prefecture official who first spotted the mail, said the note convinced her the sender was sincere.
"It was a wonderful letter ... It was definitely not intended as a hoax or a joke," she said.
"It must be from a rare type of person who has a big heart and hopes it will help people who suffered a lot," Imatomi said.
The sender used a false name and local authorities have no way to find out who sent the winning ticket, which has been confirmed as being authentic, she said.
Torrential downpours pounded Fukui prefecture on July 17-18, killing three people, injuring 17 and destroying or damaging more than 200 homes.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Officials in western Japan were marveling on Sunday at the generosity of a mystery philanthropist who donated a $1.8 million lottery ticket to help victims of recent torrential rainstorms.
In an extremely rare display of charity, a winning lottery ticket good for a 200 million yen ($1.82 million) grand prize was mailed to the governor of Fukui prefecture on Friday with a note saying it was intended as a donation for rain victims.
"I am sending a lottery ticket that is blessed with luck hoping that it will be of some help to the people who had the misfortune of suffering damages," the letter said.
Hiroko Imatomi, a Fukui prefecture official who first spotted the mail, said the note convinced her the sender was sincere.
"It was a wonderful letter ... It was definitely not intended as a hoax or a joke," she said.
"It must be from a rare type of person who has a big heart and hopes it will help people who suffered a lot," Imatomi said.
The sender used a false name and local authorities have no way to find out who sent the winning ticket, which has been confirmed as being authentic, she said.
Torrential downpours pounded Fukui prefecture on July 17-18, killing three people, injuring 17 and destroying or damaging more than 200 homes.
Trojan.Mitglieder.M
I can just image you asking yourselves why I would know about such an obscure trojan that it barely qualifies as a threat. Guess why. I dare you!
That's right. The fifth computer infected with the Beagle virus is also infected with the Mitglieder trojan.
Just another manic Monday . . .
That's right. The fifth computer infected with the Beagle virus is also infected with the Mitglieder trojan.
Just another manic Monday . . .
Couch potato on the weekend & virus fighter on Monday
I was a couch potato this weekend. I didn't even bother to get dressed yesterday. I watched TV, though I'd be hard pressed to tell you what I watched, and I read and I played around on the computer a bit. I was gloriously unproductive.
My son said he was going to go job hunting today, but I'm not holding my breath for that to happen. There is always something more important (and I use that word loosely) that comes up instead. I think he was surprised and disappointed that I didn't find his being fired amusing or that I didn't take his side against the mean employers who expected him to show up for work on time. I've been working for almost 27 years straight with only a two month break between jobs when I got married and moved up here. I've pulled my own weight as well as that of my son's father and now my son's, and I'm tired of it. I want me time.
Oh, well, enough of that.
I trampled another beagle infection into the dust this morning. That makes five infected computers. When will people learn?
My son said he was going to go job hunting today, but I'm not holding my breath for that to happen. There is always something more important (and I use that word loosely) that comes up instead. I think he was surprised and disappointed that I didn't find his being fired amusing or that I didn't take his side against the mean employers who expected him to show up for work on time. I've been working for almost 27 years straight with only a two month break between jobs when I got married and moved up here. I've pulled my own weight as well as that of my son's father and now my son's, and I'm tired of it. I want me time.
Oh, well, enough of that.
I trampled another beagle infection into the dust this morning. That makes five infected computers. When will people learn?
Saturday, July 24, 2004
Isual looking for sprites and elves
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | High-altitude light show in focus
The Taiwanese government put a satellite in orbit containing an instrument from UC Berkeley that is studying the electrical phenomena called sprites, jets, and elves found in the Earth's upper atmosphere. The instrument is called Isual - Imager of Sprites and Upper Atmospheric Lightning.
The Taiwanese government put a satellite in orbit containing an instrument from UC Berkeley that is studying the electrical phenomena called sprites, jets, and elves found in the Earth's upper atmosphere. The instrument is called Isual - Imager of Sprites and Upper Atmospheric Lightning.
Word of the Day: sciolism
sciolism \SY-uh-liz-uhm\, noun:
Superficial knowledge; a superficial show of learning.
I think the adjectival version of this word could be used to describe the man at Firestone yesterday who thought the solution to ending world terrorism was turning 'em all to glass.
Superficial knowledge; a superficial show of learning.
I think the adjectival version of this word could be used to describe the man at Firestone yesterday who thought the solution to ending world terrorism was turning 'em all to glass.
BBC NEW | Science/Nature | World's tiniest fish identified
This hefty little bugger comes in at about 1/4 of an inch in length and lives around the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Friday, July 23, 2004
Turn the place to glass
I had to take the car to Firestone this morning to get my front driver's side tire fixed. While sitting in their lounge waiting for the repair to be done, some news report about the 9/11 findings came on the TV. The announcer pointed out that all the pundits and theorists and general doom sayers were predicting that something worse than 9/11 was on the horizon. As the report came on, another customer, a man, was walking out the door. In typical Texas fashion, he commented that if people kept saying the worst was coming, they would eventually be proven right.
"It's like them people that say a hurricane's gonna hit the Texas coast every year," he said. "When one actually does hit, them people will say 'I told you so'."
The three of us - a man, a woman, and me - sitting in the lounge area chuckled and agreed with him. He left. After a couple of minutes, the man sitting in the lounge began to talk about how no one was going to do what really needed to be done to put an end to terrorism because it would make America unpopular but it would save the world. According to this man, all Muslims are the same no matter what they say and they all bring up their children to be dyed in the wool terrorists because it says in the Koran that Muslims must kill all the imbeciles. He said it was up to good Christians, even Catholics, to do the right thing.
"The next time they cut off somebody's head, tell the people that don't have no business there to get out, and turn the place to glass. Got some other country helping terrorists, turn 'em to glass too. Nobody'll like it, but we done it before. Show 'em we mean business. That'll put an end to it."
It will certainly put an end to it. I wonder what the next cycle of evolution will bring when this old world recovers from massive nuclear devastation.
"It's like them people that say a hurricane's gonna hit the Texas coast every year," he said. "When one actually does hit, them people will say 'I told you so'."
The three of us - a man, a woman, and me - sitting in the lounge area chuckled and agreed with him. He left. After a couple of minutes, the man sitting in the lounge began to talk about how no one was going to do what really needed to be done to put an end to terrorism because it would make America unpopular but it would save the world. According to this man, all Muslims are the same no matter what they say and they all bring up their children to be dyed in the wool terrorists because it says in the Koran that Muslims must kill all the imbeciles. He said it was up to good Christians, even Catholics, to do the right thing.
"The next time they cut off somebody's head, tell the people that don't have no business there to get out, and turn the place to glass. Got some other country helping terrorists, turn 'em to glass too. Nobody'll like it, but we done it before. Show 'em we mean business. That'll put an end to it."
It will certainly put an end to it. I wonder what the next cycle of evolution will bring when this old world recovers from massive nuclear devastation.
The rings of Saturn
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Cassini-Huygens Home
These images are courtesy of NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute.
Saturn's A Ring from the inside out
Saturn's C and B Rings from the inside out
Natural color view of Saturn's rings
Cassini-Huygens Home
These images are courtesy of NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute.
Saturn's A Ring from the inside out
Saturn's C and B Rings from the inside out
Natural color view of Saturn's rings
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Useless
My son got himself fired yesterday. He didn't bother to tell me until today. He thought it was amusing. I didn't.
He managed to hang on to this job for 2 1/2 months.
He managed to hang on to this job for 2 1/2 months.
Can a Doughnut Drink Save Krispy Kreme? [Motley Fool Take] July 22, 2004
Not if the drink is as foul tasting as the doughnuts.
I really don't know what all the fuss was about over Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I actually tried some not too long ago and they were possibly the worst doughnuts I've ever had in my life. They had no flavor (not that doughnuts usually do but these were particularly without taste) and they looked as if they were made out of plastic. Which they must have been since there was nothing inside expect air pockets. I was really unimpressed.
I really don't know what all the fuss was about over Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I actually tried some not too long ago and they were possibly the worst doughnuts I've ever had in my life. They had no flavor (not that doughnuts usually do but these were particularly without taste) and they looked as if they were made out of plastic. Which they must have been since there was nothing inside expect air pockets. I was really unimpressed.
Word of the Day: eructation
That happens when I eat raw onions. Or chili dogs. Or even chili dogs with raw onions.
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Pregnancy (Youngest Mother)
I don't really have anything to say about this. It's interesting in a disturbing way.
FoxTrot by Bill Amend
Oh, dear. Another good chuckle to start off my day. I wonder what's going to go wrong with this one. Yesterday I chuckled and the Beagle virus struck. Did someone write a new nasty while I slept that will magically creep its way into my life?
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Too pooped to 'puter . . . again
Gagh! Today at work was awful. So far I've found and dealt with three computers infected with the new AG version of the Beagle virus that came out Monday. Again I sent out the slew of emails that I send out every time some fool lets a virus in because (s)he didn't follow the instructions in the slew of emails I sent out the last time I battled a virus.
Scream!
Scream!
FoxTrot by Bill Amend
This has got to be the epitome of geek. This gave me such a chuckle first thing this morning. FoxTrot is such a hoot.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Osama emerges -- on Kentucky bumpers
If I didn't already think that Bush and his cohort are the worst thing to happen to this country since I became a citizen in 1976 and started voting, it is politics like this that would make me vote for the other guy, whoever that other turned out to be.
Of all the tasteless, mean-spirited, immature, conniving, back-stabbing, worthless . . . gagh! Words fail me.
OK, now I'm going to watch TV.
Of all the tasteless, mean-spirited, immature, conniving, back-stabbing, worthless . . . gagh! Words fail me.
OK, now I'm going to watch TV.
Too pooped to 'puter
Today was one heck of a day at work. I didn't know if I was coming or going. I am so tired that I think I'll plug myself into the Alias Season 1 Disc 6 which is patiently waiting for me in the living room.
Monday, July 19, 2004
Happy camper
Well, I guess I'll admit to being a happy camper since I installed Mozilla 1.7.1 as my browser of choice and Blogger is mostly working for me again. I guess it really becomes obvious when you count how many posts I've made today. Honestly, I don't mind change. Change is good. It keeps things from becoming stale. What I hate is the cascade failure that usually accompanies change.
King Arthur
And I did like it although it is a flawed film. One reviewer I read, cited Clive Owen (Arthur), Mads Mikkelsen (Tristan), and Stellan Skarsgård (Cerdic) as the actors in the film while the rest of the cast "mistake facial hair for acting." This gave me a chuckle because I found Clive Owen to be rather wooden in the part. He was the least expressive of any of the actors including the ones with beards.
But despite all these flaws, I truly did enjoy the film. It will definitely find its way into my DVD collection.
I, Robot
Call me dense, but I can't figure out what to do at the official movie site.
Any which way, I saw the movie on Saturday. It was exactly what I was expecting it to be . . . a Will Smith movie. I enjoyed it for what it was not what it wasn't. At no time did I ever harbor any illusion the film would have anything to do with any of Asimov's robot stories. For a while there when the previews first started, I didn't even think they had the Three Laws right. But for a mindless Saturday afternoon matinee, it suited just fine. I do have to admit that the character I liked best was Sonny (who was voiced by Alan Tudyk.)
The gist of the whole movie involves Will Smith's character figuring out what's really broken in the world that is 2035. Not exactly rocket science, but . . .
Any which way, I saw the movie on Saturday. It was exactly what I was expecting it to be . . . a Will Smith movie. I enjoyed it for what it was not what it wasn't. At no time did I ever harbor any illusion the film would have anything to do with any of Asimov's robot stories. For a while there when the previews first started, I didn't even think they had the Three Laws right. But for a mindless Saturday afternoon matinee, it suited just fine. I do have to admit that the character I liked best was Sonny (who was voiced by Alan Tudyk.)
The gist of the whole movie involves Will Smith's character figuring out what's really broken in the world that is 2035. Not exactly rocket science, but . . .
BBC NEWS | Technology | First Pocket PC virus discovered
What a refreshing notion . . . a proof of concept virus that asks your permission to spread. Gosh, what will they think of next?
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Fossils from forgotten time amaze
Neato! Scientists say the fossils are neither plant nor animal and the article has a couple of very good pictures of the fossils.
Yahoo! News - 'Beowulf' Pic Set to Slay Hollywood
Oh, yes, please, let's get a former Soho art dealer, especially one who views the poem as "the first horror story", to write the screenplay for an Old English poem. I can just see it now . . . actually, I refuse to look. I've shut down my brain.
Gosh, darn . . .
. . . it's tomorrow already.
And there is still the posting ad infinitum problem that the Blogger folks are already aware of.
Oh, well. I'm off to bed. It really is way past my bedtime.
And there is still the posting ad infinitum problem that the Blogger folks are already aware of.
Oh, well. I'm off to bed. It really is way past my bedtime.
Is it fixed yet?
Not exactly. It was suggested by massless that I upgrade my Netscape 7.02 to 7.1. I tried doing that but 7.1 would not install on my computer no matter what I did. It wound up totally hosing my 7.02 installation. I bet you can imagine just how pissed I was about that. So I downloaded Firefox 0.9.2. Hated it. Looks like a cheap imitation IE from what little I bothered with it. So then I downloaded Mozilla 1.7.1. And surprise, surprise. It looks, mostly, like my Navigator and Blogger actually appears to function.
Am I happy? Let's just see what tomorrow brings . . .
Am I happy? Let's just see what tomorrow brings . . .
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Ombria in Shadow by Patricia A. McKillipMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Anyone who reads Ms. McKillip knows the kind of fantasy she writes. Her stories always seem very dark though they often have bright(ish) endings. This one is about what happens when light and shadow overlap. This is only the third McKillip book I've read, but I have become a huge fan. I enjoy her non-traditional style of fantasy with its darker tone.
Link to amazon.com
Look, ma, it's still broken
I've had to resort to using IE again to post. I resent having to use IE at home instead of my preferred Netscape, but I guess that's the price I have to pay for progress I neither asked for, needed, nor wanted.
The Blogger interface never actually worked worth a damn under Netscape, but I was willing and able to work around it's little idiosyncrasies because the two buttons I used most, aside from "Save as Draft" and "Publish Post", worked like a charm. Those buttons were the spell checker and the preview. Neither of them function at all under Netscape since the glorious upgrade.
I actually enjoyed blogging. It was fun and silly. Now, it's become a cumbersome burden.
The Blogger interface never actually worked worth a damn under Netscape, but I was willing and able to work around it's little idiosyncrasies because the two buttons I used most, aside from "Save as Draft" and "Publish Post", worked like a charm. Those buttons were the spell checker and the preview. Neither of them function at all under Netscape since the glorious upgrade.
I actually enjoyed blogging. It was fun and silly. Now, it's become a cumbersome burden.
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