Amid the Sobbing

When it seems closure is near then battles arise to further taunt my sanity. No, I am not talking about Vietnam. It's the Battle of the Gateway Modem. I may have to replace this computer just to get it out of my life, but if that happens it'll find out how fast 80 rounds of .223 ammo will pass thru it!!?"!%$&!!!

I am going to take my medication now.

"Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward."
-Kurt Vonnegut

PC Buyers Will Be Conservative This Year?

If you are thinking about purchasing a new PC during the holiday season, you may want to wait a few months. CNetNews.com has an article outlining the woes of the industry during this holiday season. Microsoft's weird and shaky debut of Vista won't happen until after the new year and I'm betting it may even be delayed further.

At one time it was kicked around that Microsoft would not make Vista available as a standalone package installable on a computer built by an individual. That would mean a disaster for the Windows folks on both sides. Apparently this rumor is being hushed up. Still looking for details here and will provide them in the near future.

Buy Vista? The beach house will wait. It's very possible it will be installed on only one machine just for work related projects. The five flavors are enough to throw anyone for a loop. Don't be too shocked at the cost when it finally hits the shelves.

I hope Microsoft proves my pessimism wrong, but seems they are hell bent on alienating the consuming public. Loudmouth Ballmer needs to retire and leave the CEO position to someone that is sane. What a jerk. He's the paranoid creep that thinks Microsoft should squeeze every dime possible out of the consuming public. No need to link, this guy is all over the net as the Saddam of the computing world. Wow, maybe a new friend for Darth Jobs?

"Integrity has no need of rules."
-Albert Camus

Problems with AVG 7.5?

AVG Anti-Virus is in the process of changing to version 7.5. They will stop support on the recent 7.1 version in January 2007. Recently I upgraded to the newer version and upon booting the computer takes forever with AVG doing something in the background. This has been going on for a week and has not stopped. If it does not cease I'll switch to Avast and recommend that to all my clients. It seems that even though the software has been told to scan at a specific time the program will run a scan immediately after boot if it was turned off during the scheduled time. Sorry, this just won't work. It's MY computer and I'll decide when something runs. Will keep you posted. In the meantime, stick with the older version. It's controllable. One important note about all this, AVG does provide this edition as a FREE service controllable or not.

Have you had such problems? Right now I kill the avg.exe process and turn off the control center. This PC rarely goes to unknown sites and GMail is in use so it's not in great danger. Let me hear from you.

"Choices are the hinges of destiny."
-Markham

A Planet Out of Orange Roughy?

Not much of a tree hugger here, but just finished an article that disturbs me. Seems our gluttony and lack of attention to the environment may have dire consequences in the very near future. Try this on for size; Salt-Water Fish Extinction Seen By 2048. This is not your usual greenies spouting sometimes valid, sometimes invalid concern. This group is a collaboration of scientists with impressive credentials.

In Mississippi when trees are harvested, more are planted than cut. Hardwood is taken with great care. Our logging industry seems to be on the right track, but some won't agree. One important difference to remember while comparing these two scenarios is that we don't eat trees. Thanks goes out to CBS News for an important piece of journalism. Check out the above link and let me know your opinions.

"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon."
-Doug Larson

To Modulate or Demodulate

The Battle of the Gateway Modem was won last night (dialed out and remained online for over 3 hours), but has returned for another round after being moved to the client's abode. It'll be sooooo nice when modems become extinct. Modems and all-n-one printers are hideous devices. Anyway, it'll be an onsight repair, but that's part of the biz. And whining certainly doesn't help so I'll stop.

It's getting late, big day tomorrow, and work will continue through the weekend. Great combination which helps with the decision to turn in early and rest. Have a glorious evening.

"Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value."
-Albert Einstein

Penguin Stuff

Release 6.10 of Linux Kubuntu; this is a beta that is being downloaded now at the beach house. Kubuntu is Linux Ubuntu with the KDE interface instead of Gnome. The last version of Kubuntu was BEYOND ANY DOUBT the easiest install of an operating system ever done around here. It also has been uber stable and just super to use. This is an excellent way to start a journey into the land of the Penguin. Linux Rocks! FreeBSD rocks, and Windows is k (after the 300 or so updates).

Now I must return to the Battle of the Gateway Modem. I think it just waved a white flag as the new drivers installed. It will have no quarter if that's what it seeks. Later.

"If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization."
-Murphy's Laws of Technology

Boo!

It's ghost and goblin time again. Please go to houses where you know the people or use the mall. If you have little ones please, please don't let them out alone. Stay out of streets (well, duh!) and be polite. Say thank you. Here's a hint; a whole shopping cart of toilet paper is a dead give away and your face will probably be remembered. Please also remember that I sleep with my windows open on Halloween night. If I don't see you before Halloween go ahead and eat all that chocolate without me!

"There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls."
-George Carlin

Square Peg and Round Hole

It seems part of the posting problem here is cured. This is VERY frustrating and time consuming. If I do have to move this site the greatest effort will be made to leave a redirect addy here. Really hate that this is happening. Definition of technology: Collaboration of transistors and ICs that works some of the time, almost works part of the time and doesn't work when most needed. Hopefully, issues will be resolved in the next 24 hours. Your patience is appreciated.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled."
-Richard P. Feynman

!?!?!?

Test 1 2 3 4. Past few days have seen problems with publishing to Blogger. They are changing some stuff and it may be time to move to another host. I hope not. With only a few exceptions, their hosting has been a nice experience. We will see.

And the Rain Came

It has rained all day. Rained all day yesterday. The new module for Guild Wars arrived and is installed. Now we wait for the weekend to get into some gameplay. My 2000 units a day of vitamnin C may be warding off a cold. Being sick sucks. It's been one malady after another the past few weeks. Wait...I feel a whine fest in the making. Will sign off and avoid that! Later.

"Man's heart away from nature becomes hard."
-Standing Bear

Rain's a Coming

The short evening nap turned into a long one, lol. Rain will be here tomorrow and slow things down a bit. Why do all the crazies come out in traffic during bad weather? Guild Wars Nightfall should arrive during the work day and my note to the driver which gives him signede permission to leave it is made and on the door. This one is so neat because it is a gift. It will also have a Guild Wars T-Shirt. Kewl threads Rock! Later.

"There are many in this old world of ours who hold that things break about even for all of us. I have observed for example that we all get the same amount of ice. The rich get it in the summertime and the poor get it in the winter."
-Bat Masterson

Browsing Thru the Day

After a long wait and several attempts, Firefox 2.0 downloaded via FTP. When installed it didn't want me to delete the 3 extra icons it placed on the desktop, but there was no victory in this glitch. It readily took the noia extreme and adblock extensions without any problems. Now we wait and see. Also downloaded SeaMonkey 1.05 to my laptop without a hitch. This is another Mozilla browser that had to be downloaded because of the name, lol. It reminds me of the original Mozilla browser more than Firefox. Haven't even bothered with IE7. Just not that much of a Windows Nazi anymore.

"An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it."(Mahatma was a heavy dude, huh?)
-Mahatma Gandhi

Firefox 2.0 Premiers Tomorrow

You know the stomach virus going around? Well, it's at the beach house. That's all that needs to be said because having this mess is downright gross. After suffering with a backache for several days it felt good to get up Saturday morning and actually do some laundry. That changed later in the day. Seems I am falling apart, lol. Thank goodness there's a doctor's appointment this week.

Firefox 2.0, a major revision, will be released tomorrow. If you haven't tried this super browser and are still tied to the popup plagued Internet Explorer it's time to switch. You can read about this update at TimesOnline. Another browser that is based on the Firefox engine is Flock. It is also used at the beach house. As a matter of fact, it's in use now. Stop your popup blues and get with the program.

"I learned a long time ago that minor surgery is when they do the operation on someone else, not you."
-Bill Walton

Shamed Scout

Some of the lowest bastards and bitches on earth are the RIAA and The MPAA. If upsetting old fashioned, common-sense values might anger you it might be a good idea if you don't read TehcDirt's article about how the MPAA is sponsoring a merit badge for the Boy Scouts of America which encourages them to act like Hitler's Youth Corp and turn in Mommy and Daddy if the are suspicious about them downloading.

Low, low scum and I am talking about the leaders of the BSA. If I had a child in this organization, removal from such Nazis couldn't be quick enough. The Scoutmaster might get a can of whupass opened on him as well. This info can be found all over the internet, but TechDirt's article is brief, intelligent and direct. It makes me ashamed that I was once a member of this organization.

Let's shoot for positive news tomorrow. It's so tiring to follow these jerks whose sole purpose in life is to make the consuming public miserable.

"Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight."
-Phyllis Diller

Downright Good Link

A good friend, EdC from Texas, emails on occasion and has some interesting links. He has been quoted on this site several times and is just an all around kewl, extremely intelligent dude. Recently he sent a link that is spectacular, Drill. Be sure and hang around for the whole video (it's really not that long but the line that goes across the bottom streams across several times), it should amaze and astound you. Turn on the sound. Makes me proud to be an American.

"Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without."
-Confucius

Shock the Monkey, Animal Rights Song or a Tune About Jealousy?

After spending most of yesterday in a Flexiril stupor it is nice to arise from sitting position even at a slow speed. Appreciate everyone understanding and letting me rearrange the schedule to accommodate my wimpiness. Really don't know if the drug actually "relaxes" muscles or just knocks one out and the immobility gives the tissue time to recoup. Suspect the latter, lol.

On October 31st Blogger is changing the way accounts are handled. It may not be a big deal, but this site needs an overhaul anyway. So there will be construction for a few weeks. Shouldn't be any down time so please keep reading. Encourage other to come here too. Use the comments and recommend changes. Possibly finishing the online tutorials for installing protection software can be completed as well. That's only 2 years overdue.

Peter Gabriel has been a fav at the beach house for many years. He is participating with other artists in a project where you download one of his songs and remix it. This is kewl. Mr. Gabriel is a huge supporter of music downloads. Remember folks, download your music and pay for it. Don't buy CDs. If you do then you are supporting the RIAA and they need to die...as an entity. They are EVIL. Anyway take a look over at BusinessWeek.com. Be sure and click on competition to see the video and listen to the winners of the recent contest if you visit Real World Remixed. Also, thanks goes out to Slashdot for the links.

Answer to the question in the title? It has been embraced by Animal Rights groups as an anthem as well, but Peter said it is a song about jealousy.

"If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much."
-Mark Twain

More Absurd Goofiness

This is ridiculous. This is so stupid it's almost beyond comprehension. There are some baboons (AKA politicians, dirtbags, fools, etc.) that want to tax items acquired in online gaming. Gee, does this mean I can spend my Monopoly money at the department store? Hey, you blithering idiots!!!!!!!! It's ALL zeros and ones!!!! You know, binary code!!! Wait, you probably don't know. Gosh these folks need something to do with their lives! Read about this foolishness at TechDirt.

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein

Goofy is as Goofy Does

Coupla' days ago I linked Weird Al's 'White and Nerdy'. In the post it was mentioned that MC Hammer's 'Can't Touch This' was the only other rap song tolerated at the beach house. Well, Cowboy Troy's 'I Play Chicken With the Train' is okay too. Why mention all this? It is my considered opinion that these guys thought out the lyrics, politely considered their listening audience, and entertained many folks.

You can rap your life away if you want, but to me it's just not music. Usually it is a vulgar spewing of simplistic rhyme pertaining to violence and filled with mean spirited racial slurs. Let's face it, I don't want my children and your children idolizing violence and ignorance. The life they spare may be my own or possibly their own maybe even YOUR own..

You can shout and fuss trying to justify drivel but my mind is made up. You want to hear music then listen to Mozart (anything without the singing), or Miles Davis, John Mayer, Corrine Bailey Rae, Van Morrison, Phil Perry, Mindi Abair, etc. Must stop this list because it can grow long and eclectic.

Can you imagine Cyndi Lauper shooting Mick Jagger? Or Elton john cappin' the drummer of Better Than Ezra? How about a knife fight between Cher and Rod Stewart? Can you imagine the Temptations and the Drifters in a dustup? Getting the point? This article Rapper Fabolous Shot In Manhattan is sad in many ways. It is good they arrested him as well as rushing him to the hospital. He's in stable condition. While recovering, any chance someone can get him a spelling primer?

Sean "Diddy" Combs appeared on David Letterman a few nights ago very well dressed and speaking in a positive, progressive manner. Snoop Dog has started a youth football league. Two people that are changing their image and leaning towards the light side of the force. The world needs more examples like these guys. We certainly don't need America's youth emulating "gangstas."

In closing, let me just say that this is NOT a forum. If you don't agree then use the comments and tell me why. Try to do it without profanity if possible. Later.

"Thus the metric system did not really catch on in the States, unless you count the increasing popularity of the nine-millimeter bullet."
-Dave Barry

So You Wanna Be a Warrior, or Ranger, or Monk, or Mage?

This is a short post to answer an inquiry about different character builds in Guild Wars. First, try GuildWiki. This is probably the best site for GW participants on the net. It has loads of info about the game. Might help a new or potential player too. Second, go to Guild Wars Guru Build Directory. Then check their homepage. This is a nice site that is pretty and well maintained. Later.

"It is impossible to imagine Goethe or Beethoven being good at billiards or golf."
-H. L. Mencken

Laid Back

Sunday has been nice. One PC is on the bench and not playing nice, but everything seems to be casual. Watched some TV, listened to new music, ate some kewl food, went grocery shopping, sat in the swing on the veranda enjoying the weather, put off mowing the yard since rain is due tomorrow, remoted in to several networks and updated protection software, and ended this day enjoying a great session of GuildWars with family and friends. Tomorrow is a return to the normal missions impossible. Now for a nice round of sleep. Later.

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." -George Moore