Only in an elementary Halloween parade can you see not one, but two Power Rangers pick wedgies. It just takes away from their mystique, you know?
Happy Halloween everyone. 
Archive for October, 2007
Blue Power Wedgie
Oct 31
Unsolicited Leopard Review
Oct 30
I keep reading reviews about how great OSX 10.5 is, and how much I should praise Steve that I have such an OS. Like in my pre-release review, I’m still less that excited. Here’s a list of 7 things that frustrate me about Leopard:
1) Time machine, it all it’s awesome splendor, is pointless for me. Sure, I could repartition my drive, and make a spot to mirror to — but would it really have been that hard to allow me to just point to a folder? Come on, it doesn’t do anything magical to the second drive (or partition), so why make me reserve a crapload of space? And don’t get me started on the inability to use my Airport-friggen-Extreme hard drive for Time Machine. Guess why I bought that overpriced access point? Yep, the upcoming “amazing” program. Ugh.
2) Mail got all crazy, what with it’s ToDo, Notes, etc. I’ve read that it’s so much faster now, but I haven’t noticed ANY speed increase on my IMAP connection. The one redeeming quality is that I can actually have it permanently accept my self-signed SSL certificate — I was never able to figure that one out in Tiger. But still, I’m not impressed with the redesign, and since I despise HTML mail anyway, Mail seems to be ALL fluff.
3) While I understand the need to ask about opening a new application, that “first run” acceptance window just stinks of Vista. Again, I know it’s a feature, but it just makes me throw up a little in my mouth every time I install a new app.
4) iCal doesn’t sync with my 10.4 machines. I haven’t actually tested this with the retail version, because it borked up my calendars so bad with the pre-release. Does it have to be so tied to the OS that a simple application update couldn’t bring them up to speed?
5) iSync in general is a bit odd. Do I really need my Dock to sync? What if I have different applications? What if I use some things at work, but don’t want to even see the icon at home? It just seems like a weird feature to me, but since this is my review, that’s what matters.
6) Spaces is a feature that I’ve always liked about Linux. I don’t use it very often, but I like that the idea has finally made it to OSX. It’s not easy to figure out how to move applications to other spaces, but it is possible, so I won’t complain too much. It just doesn’t seem as easy as with Gnome or KDE.
7) Here’s the real deal: I don’t see any reason at all to upgrade. I know, that’s harsh, but really — apart from a few more translucent menus and such, Leopard has been a really expensive upgrade that amounts to a new, “theme.” WTF? Why are all the reviewers so amazed and so happy?
Dreams and Risk
Oct 29
I used to think when people talked about taking risks in order to follow your dreams, they mainly meant the financial aspect of risk. I think that might be largely true, but as I’ve recently been following my dreams, I’ve discovered the risks aren’t always financial.
I’ve wanted to be a writer for literally longer than I can remember. Writing is that thing that gives me the most fulfillment. When I wake up in the morning, I think about being a writer. Likewise, when I go to sleep at night, I usually drift off dreaming about it. Even though it seems like I’m being melodramatic, I’m actually being completely serious!
Many of you know that I’ve recently been published in a magazine. It’s really quite awesome, and I think the relationship with Linux Journal might grow into something more. (I can’t really discuss details, but it’s pretty exciting stuff) I’m also trying to write at least a first draft of a fiction novel this winter. Needless to say, I’ve started down that scary road of dream fulfillment.
Here’s the part that threw me for a loop: The failure I’m worried about has nothing to do with finances. I’m not quitting my day job, and if I never make another penny writing, it won’t matter a whole lot to my family financially. We’re fine. However, if I write a book, and it sucks — then what?!?! The risk is that my dreams will crumble. I never realized just how significant that would be to me. See, a dream is exciting, but a reality is, well, pretty real. If I never try, the dream stays intact, but if I go for it, the dream might just fall apart.
The encouraging thing is that it turns out I’m actually a decent word-putter-togetherer. There is still the risk of failure, but I finally see that following any dream takes courage — because the risk of failure is always there! In my case, it’s not financial failure, but a crushed dream is almost harder to stomach than losing a job.
What a scary and exciting time in my life. Thanks for sharing it with me.
Poor Telemarketer
Oct 28
A very nice young telemarketer from AT&T called me yesterday. Most of the time I gauge my phone nastiness factor on how idiotic the caller behaves. I vary between just hanging up, to stringing them along, to acting insane, or sometimes I just leave the phone off the hook and see how long it takes for them to hang up.
This guy was trying to sell me DSL. I have DSL, but not through AT&T. Here’s how the conversation went:
Me: Hello
Him: Hello sir, I’m sorry to interrupt your evening (and he sounded genuine!), but I wanted to call to inform you that AT&T is finally offering DSL in your area.
Me: That’s actually interesting.
Him: Thank you sir, do you currently have Cable Modem, or are you using Dialup?
Me: Actually, there’s not Cable Internet service available here, and I’m using DSL, but though a local provider.
Him: [pause as he follows a flowchart I'm sure] I see, sir, are you aware that AT&T offers DSL service for only $19.95 a month?
Me: How could I be aware of that? You told me yourself AT&T just started offering service. I realize you weren’t trying to be condescending, so tell me the details. What speeds do you offer?
Him: We offer 1.5 megabit service
Me: That’s downstream, but what upload speeds do you have?
Him: Um, we offer uploads speeds between 128 and 384 bits. (I’m sure he meant kilobits, but I didn’t bother correcting him)
Me: I currently have 1 megabit symmetric DSL, so that my VPN to work is a more manageable speed. Do you offer anything greater than 384 kilobit, or is that the best service you can offer? If so, what’s the cost?
[ridiculously long pause, really absurd]
Me: Hello?
Him: I’m sorry for the delay sir. Did you know that AT&T offers wireless modems?
[slight pause on my end]
Me: Young man, let me save you some time. I’m not the client you’re looking for. Thank you for your time, but I’ll let you go for tonight, OK?
Him: Thank you sir, you have a great night. Sorry for interrupting your evening.
Tonight, the full moon is also the Perigee Moon — which means it’s actually at it’s closest point to us. Here in northern Michigan, we have a beautiful clear night as well, so the view is spectacular. In celebration of the Full, Perigee moon, I give you the Spongemonkey’s rendition of, “We Like the Moon.” You’re welcome.
Another week of youth group, and another episode of Exciting Excitement. This one isn’t quite as long as the last episode, but equally as entertaining (so either equally good, or equally bad!) Enjoy!
Here’s a link to the original file, just in case you don’t like YouTube.
Restaurant Spike Nightmares
Oct 23
(This is an old post, but I actually had a nightmare about one of these things last night, so thought I’d repost)
There are some things that really scare me. Bees, hoop earrings, woolen underwear, and restaurant spikes. Ok, ANY earrings give me the heebee-jeebees, but that’s another story altogether.
Every time I go to a restaurant, I have the horrible feeling I’m going to slip, and impale my hand on that darn receipt-grabbing weapon. I know it’s absurd, but my hand tingles just typing about it. It doesn’t help that our local diner didn’t spring for the fancy, pretty model you see here. There’s just a chunk of 2×4 with a huge nail pounded through it.
Why do we have to skewer our proofs of purchase? Can’t we count the register with unholy receipts? Would it kill people to put these things in a box?!?! Buy a clothespin man!
Sorry, those things just freak me out…
Throbbing Zombie Pony
Oct 22
It’s a long story. Based on an even longer story. Don’t worry if it doesn’t make sense.
