URGENT FROM ZENITH BANK LAGOS!!!

Which Nigerian spammer are You?

Take the Polygeek Quiz at Thudfactor.com

[Geek test thanks to David]

QOTW #2: Mousing History

Here's the second question of the week. Feel free to give your answer in the comments, if you'd like.

What type of mouse/trackball/touch pad do you use to control the cursor on your computer? What past mouse devices have you used? Did you like them better?

For the most part, I use a Logitech MX700 wireless optical mouse. It's a really nice mouse that has great battery life and very good precision. I have it hooked up to my KVM, so I can use it to control my Mac as well as my PC's. I also use an Apple Pro Mouse on my Ruby iMac.

I've used a lot of mice. I started off with a “Z-Nix” mouse that came in a bundle with Windows 3.1. It was a simple little square, glossy mouse. I think my next mouse was a brightly colored mouse that I was given (it was a review unit from a company that a family member worked at). After that, I had a three button el cheapo mouse (even cheaper than the others). Then I switched to an Alps touch pad… that was back when touch pads were new and so they were selling a stand alone one for desktops.

From there, I went to a Microsoft IntelliMouse I received with a Dell computer. Then, I bought an IntelliMouse Pro (from Big Lots for only $9.99). After that I switched to the Logitech iFeel mouse (also from Big Lots) — I never installed the software to make it “feel,” I just liked its design (very comfortable). After that mouse — which I still use for various purposes — I was given a “water mouse,” a little mouse that had water and little plastic fish swimming in it. That was amusing for a summer, but I soon switched to the MX 700, which I am still using. I also have a mouse that came with my Wacom tablet, but I rarely use it.

On occasion, I also use an Apple Mouse (which is clear and white and is the current Apple mouse, not to be confused with the clear and black Apple Pro Mouse that no longer available), but for the most part, it just sits here.

The MX 700 is my favorite by far. Logitech makes great mice.

How about you?

What in Tarnation is this!?!?!?

I went over to Christopher's blog when my blogroll noted that the site had been updated and I found quite a surprise there! Asisaid has received Christopher's blog of the month award.

May 2004: As I Said

Needless to say that was a great surprise. Thanks Christopher!

Gateway Arch

I'm ashamed to say that as a St. Louisian, I had never been up to the top of the Arch. Until today, that is. It was great. The view was perfect — I'll have to post some photos, maybe I'll do that tomorrow. The view of Busch stadium was particularly stunning, since it was filled with fans in red and set against a bright blue sky.

The arch is a spectacular monument, I've always enjoyed seeing it — it just seemed like the scheduling never worked out for going up it. I'm glad it did this time!

Pastor's Computer Update

A few months ago I wrote about moving my one pastor's computer over to GNU/Linux. I feel kind of bad I never finished the story, so I guess I will now.

I spent probably about 10 hours polishing up Fedora with updates, installing software, installing Windows inside Win4Lin, and so on. Overall, I spent about the same amount of time getting things ready as I do when setting up a fresh copy of Windows XP (because you always have umpteen apps to install, you need to do a bunch of updates, get stuff like Acrobat, AdAware, etc., etc.).

I got the machine back to him at the end of February. It worked, save a problem with his Palm m500. The system simply wouldn't talk to the m500. I was going to go over and look at it, but something cut the grand Linux experiment short. I get a call “Tim, what would be causing the system to do this…” It was a kernel panic. A quick consideration of the error revealed quite clearly what was wrong: the hard drive had failed.

Apparently, it would seem, the hard drive had been working on dying, and probably killed Windows ME as well. It just happened to be “well enough” to allow me to setp GNU/Linux before it failed again. Now, I did have a disk image of my tweaked Fedora configuration, but as long as we were starting over, my pastor decided he'd like to move to Windows XP.

I suspect he would have considered sticking with GNU/Linux if given the time to use it, but unfortunately, only getting to use it for about a week before the system failed prevented him from even getting a little comfortable with it before it was lost.

So, I hauled the system back home, and Dell sent us a new hard disk (and a new CD-RW, since that drive bay was sticking a bit). I then repeated the reinstall process, reinstalling all the applications again, etc., then restoring all of the data again, and finally reimaging the system again.

sigh

So, it wasn't an unsuccessful attempt of GNU/Linux, but unfortunately a big hardware problem ended the experiment all too soon.

QOTW: TV Classics

I decided to restart the Question of the Week on ChristianSource (I posted it each week there during most of 2002), and thought I'd post it here too. Feel free to answer in the comments or post a link to your answer if you find the question worth answering on your blog instead. I'm going to try to post a new QOTW each Monday — although don't hold your breath.

TV Classics
If you think back to TV shows of at least 25-30 years ago, is there one particular show you can pick out as your favorite? Would you prefer it to what's on today? What was on five years ago? Ten years ago? Twenty years ago?

For me, I'd say that I would — without a doubt — pick I Love Lucy. That might sound like an easy out, but it really is a classic to the extent that you can see the same episode multiple times and it is still funny. Really funny. And not the least bit vulgar. If today's sitcoms truly followed the Lucy comedic style, they'd actually be worth watching.

While there is some stuff (like Star Trek: TNG and DS9) that might have provided a little competition during the 90's (for my vote that is), I basically can't think of any (fictional genre) show I'd say I'd prefer to watch over Lucy. Usually, a few times a week, I'll grab an episode off TV Land and watch it that evening (one of the few times I actually watch TV). If there could only be one show on from now on, I can't think of a better choice for it.

What do you think?

Vacation

It's time………………….

[Apologies to Michael.]

Miss'n Mormons

Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good debate. I relish and savor it. It isn't uncommon for me to drive others crazy because I love to debate and my interest in a debate will often go much longer than the other party's. I find debate both entertaining and edifying.

A few years ago, two Jehovah's Witnesses stopped at my door. Over the next few Saturdays we had a pretty good discussion, but it was somewhat disappointing. They didn't have anything to say — they just read from their “script” (i.e. the Watchtower Materials). That isn't very interesting at all, never mind my overly ambitious plan to try to convert the Witnesses (call me an eternal optimist).

But, I'm not easily discouraged either. Call me weird, but I'd been waiting for the day that another pair showed up. In black clothing. Yes, the Mormons. I knew they would eventually, and I figured when they did, it would be an interesting experience. I'd learn more about the Mormon's method of “attack” and, who knows, if God might provide a chance to plant a seed in their minds (although I am ashamed to admit that often times this most important objective is not the one on top of my mind).

So, cut to today. This morning, I get a phone call from my father. He needed me to drive over and help him, preferably within the next half hour or so. I told him I'd be right there and got ready to head off. Then the door bell rang. Sure enough — “Hi, I'm Elder John and this is Elder Joe, where with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and we'd like to spend a few moments talking to you about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Rats!

I had to turn them down and head off, I explained, despite my interest in having such a discussion. I think they were disappointed not only in getting turned down again, but also realizing I actually was interested in giving them an audience — I just didn't have time (the fact that it was pouring down rain probably didn't make them any happier about leaving either).

Oh well.

A Dozen Thoughts for the Day

12. Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die

11. Always get the last word in: Apologize.

10. Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

9. Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

8. Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?

7. Whenever you feel blue, start breathing again.

6. All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

5. Why does a slight tax increase cost you two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut saves you thirty cents?

4. In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

3. Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.

2. How is it, one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

AND THE # 1 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
You read about all these terrorists —- most of them came here legally, but they hung around on these expired visas, some for as long as 10 -15 years. Now, compare that to Blockbuster; you are two days late with a video and those people are all over you. Let's put Blockbuster in charge of immigration.

Kerry Makes a Firm Indecision