I babysat for Cassie for a couple of hours today while Lynn sang at a funeral. She wasn't too keen on seeing me at first, because it meant that her mother was going out. C. stayed in her room and watched a video (Jungle Book). By the end of the video, she wanted me to meet her new cat, Tigger. (I'd met the Tigster a couple of days ago, but C.'d forgotten that.) So, the three of us played outside in the sun. C. can grab Tiggs by the haunches and carry him around like a sack of cooked pasta. He doesn't mind a bit.
At one point, the Tiggman went under the snowmobile trailer. "Iso," she said, "I need some help here." I crawled under the trailer and brought him back into the sunshine.
When Lynn returned, she and Cassie went out to a lunch gathering along with mothers and other three-year-olds. I stayed at the house and worked on their computer, ridding it of a couple of nasty bits of spyware and a couple of rootkits. It took a long time to run the scans, so I was still there when Lynn and Cassie returned. At that point, C. didn't think that I belonged there anymore. "Please don't come to my house anymore," she said. She went to the door and held it open until I left.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
RB-3, Home Network-2
We now have three computers connected to our home wireless network, one each of Win2k, XP, and Vista. For all the troubles that people have reported, the Vista system was the best behaved when it came to connecting to the new configuration. The Win2k system was the most trouble, starting with lack of support for the higher encryption services available on the router and for later operating systems.
One of the things about working in a corporate IT environment is that, for the most, 'things just work.' You connect a new system to the network and both the system and the network know what to do; in a matter of moments, you're working. At home, particularly when you get a message like this, it can be a long day.
One of the things about working in a corporate IT environment is that, for the most, 'things just work.' You connect a new system to the network and both the system and the network know what to do; in a matter of moments, you're working. At home, particularly when you get a message like this, it can be a long day.
Why people hate computer networks
One of the first rules of being a TV meteorologist is to look out the window before you go on the air. That way, you're less likely to say that it's a nice day if it's snowing outside.
There ought to be a similar rule for computer messages: look at the condition before saying what the condition is. In this case, I was trying to set up our laptop with our new modem/router. I had some trouble configuring the security settings. As a result, the system was telling that I was both already connected and not connected (the latter was true).
There ought to be a similar rule for computer messages: look at the condition before saying what the condition is. In this case, I was trying to set up our laptop with our new modem/router. I had some trouble configuring the security settings. As a result, the system was telling that I was both already connected and not connected (the latter was true).
And, by the way, ...
Not only are some of us in the Boomer generation, but "Between the ages of 25 and 60, people's ability to use websites declines by 0.8% per year — mostly because they spend more time per page, but also because of navigation difficulties."
What generation are you?
You Belong in the Baby Boomer Generation |
 You fit in best with people born between 1943 and 1960. You are optimistic, rebellious, and even a little self centered. You still believe that you will change the world. You detest authority and rules. Deep down, you're a non conformist. |
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
This week's RoasterBoy playlist
B-52s - Funplex |
| Their first album in 15 or so years. While there's nothing that's terribly new in here (includes live versions of Planet Claire and Private Idaho), it's good, solid danceable music with their particular style of charming naughtiness. 04/08/2008 04:07 PM |
|
Monday, April 07, 2008
Ten Commandments Weekend
Senators Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) and Joe Lieberman (J-oementum) have introduced a bill in the Senate that would designate the first weekend in May 2008 as Ten Commandments Weekend. Nice idea, if we could agree on what the commandments are and, within that, how they should be observed.
There are two versions, in Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21, of the statements that we commonly regard as commandments. They aren't numbered. The specifics differ, depending on the translation and the sectarian history. Furthermore, even if we try to observe the fourth (or third) commandment, remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, we can't agree on the day of the week that we should remember.
So, maybe we should think again about designating creating a holiday based on such uncertainty. Besides, when asked which commandment was the most important, Jesus replied:
There are two versions, in Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21, of the statements that we commonly regard as commandments. They aren't numbered. The specifics differ, depending on the translation and the sectarian history. Furthermore, even if we try to observe the fourth (or third) commandment, remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, we can't agree on the day of the week that we should remember.
So, maybe we should think again about designating creating a holiday based on such uncertainty. Besides, when asked which commandment was the most important, Jesus replied:
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”
A great answer to a great question: accept the Lord our God is One, love Him, and worship Him to the best of your ability.
Jesus was not finished. He had more to teach. Obviously Jesus was teaching the man everything he needed to get into the Kingdom of God. Jesus added:
“…The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The Great Teacher further clarified:
“There is no commandment greater than these.”
A year of traveling from the world of work
It's been a year since I left my job, a string of days that got us from there to here. There's no doubt in my mind (and reported by those around me) that I'm doing a lot better now. The improvements come from many channels - love and support of my family, aggressive medical treatments (ECT, meds, and a hospital stay), therapy, and lifestyle changes. 
The numbers tell an interesting story. As they tell you in business presentations, good charts move up and to the right. Up and to the right it goes, but with sharp peaks and valleys, each with a story.
What's ahead? Dunno. Living a day at a time is a wonderful way to live. Often, though, it narrows the focus to just that block of 24 hours, making it to envision life beyond the day. The Red Sox have their home opener tomorrow. The guy from Sears will be coming here to fix our refrigerator's freezer (again). That's plenty of future thinking for me for now.
About 10 years, I worked for a small group that had produced the company's new flagship product in a year. As we reviewed the year, the development director asked us to describe our major accomplishments. "We're still standing," I said.
The numbers tell an interesting story. As they tell you in business presentations, good charts move up and to the right. Up and to the right it goes, but with sharp peaks and valleys, each with a story.What's ahead? Dunno. Living a day at a time is a wonderful way to live. Often, though, it narrows the focus to just that block of 24 hours, making it to envision life beyond the day. The Red Sox have their home opener tomorrow. The guy from Sears will be coming here to fix our refrigerator's freezer (again). That's plenty of future thinking for me for now.
About 10 years, I worked for a small group that had produced the company's new flagship product in a year. As we reviewed the year, the development director asked us to describe our major accomplishments. "We're still standing," I said.
Is that Forwarded Email Fact or Fiction?
I've used Snopes.com for a long time. It's one of the best reference sites on the Internet, particularly for determining if Uncle Louie's latest email that proclaims that reusing water bottles will give you a horrible disease. This page, Is that Forwarded Email Fact or Fiction?, from CyberNet, provides good guidance on how to use Snopes.
Video Games Versus Violence
Now, here's something that we wouldn't have expected. In the years that video games have become increasingly popular and, as most of us would think, delivering increasingly violent content, the incidence of violent crime has dropped(from Frostfirezoo.com). Here are the statistics from the Justice Department:
Bureau of Justice Statistics Violent Crime Rate Trends.
Bureau of Justice Statistics Violent Crime Rate Trends.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
set mode=vulture
This coming weekend, you can take a bus tour with a local real estate agent to look at foreclosed properties in the Worcester area.
Dental Dept., redux
In the continuing discussion with friend eba regarding teeth, I discovered that one of my crowns has developed a fault line. I have a previously scheduled appointment with my dentist later this month; we'll decide at that point whether he'll be able to get the new navigation system on his boat this year or not.
The father of a friend of my father went to the dentist and learned that he'd need dentures. In order to get the denture, all of the guy's remaining teeth would have to be pulled. This was in the 1930s or so (as the story goes) and would have cost perhaps two hundred bucks. That seemed like a lot to the old Finn. So, he went home, got a bottle of whiskey, a pair of pliers, and a bucket. He'd take a swig of whiskey, pull a tooth, and spit the blood into the bucket. By the end of the day, he'd pulled all of his teeth.
This news story from the UK shows that DIY dentistry is still going on.
The father of a friend of my father went to the dentist and learned that he'd need dentures. In order to get the denture, all of the guy's remaining teeth would have to be pulled. This was in the 1930s or so (as the story goes) and would have cost perhaps two hundred bucks. That seemed like a lot to the old Finn. So, he went home, got a bottle of whiskey, a pair of pliers, and a bucket. He'd take a swig of whiskey, pull a tooth, and spit the blood into the bucket. By the end of the day, he'd pulled all of his teeth.
This news story from the UK shows that DIY dentistry is still going on.
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