Google is awesome. I enjoy the power at my fingertips. Apparently the power is going to expand, as the G has bought into a technology developed by a guy working on a research project at a university.

Some of my favorite Googlings:

site:*.microsoft.com [search terms]
Lets you limit the search to only a particular website's domain. This search will only return results from Microsoft sites.

inurl:waldo [search terms]
Let's you specify a word that must be in the URL of the search results. In this case, the URL must contain "waldo".

robots.txt
This file on web servers tells Google what not to catalog. Sometimes you can find places on a web site that are not intended to be known to the general public. Not an exciting sample, but look at this one.

I also enjoy the Google personalized home page. I can add RSS widgets and check email. Very fun.

Microsoft has unleashed the beast! Their new flagship Operating System, Vista, is now available for purchase. Before jumping on the bandwagon, one should know what Vista entails for the average user.

The Bad/Ugly:
+ Steeper requirements. Vista recommends 2GB of RAM and a Video card capable of 3D acceleration. This means a bit more money for many users. Anyone with 512mb of RAM or less should not get Vista without a system upgrade.

+ Performance is not really better than XP; it is about the same in many respects. You get features more than performance.

+ Activation. Microsoft wants Vista to "call" home during activation, and Vista's policy on reactivations has changed several times. It will either periodically activate on the net (it will tell you), or it will lock itself to your current hardware, requiring you to reactivate if you install it somewhere else (nullifying the old system). It is a fairly painless process, but is disconcerting, imho. There are other methods of activation, but without a net connection, you may have to call MS in some situations. The details currently are here.

+ Security Popups and UAC. By default, Vista typically warns you before doing anything on the system that attempts to make global changes. You can turn this off (option #4 is good), but there are other Security Center notices and corner-of-the-screen-annoyances that just make you want to slap duct-tape on the corner of your monitor.

The Good:
+ The whole user interface is slick. People make fun that XP and OS X (Apple) had a child named Vista, and there is some truth to that. Many features that have been in OS X for years are now in Vista (see: Widgets/Gadgets, Aero). I find myself having fewer Windows Explorer folders open since I can navigate around folders from the one window with ease and bounce back and forth quickly (pictured).

+ Most major applications are compatible. You will run into some programs that just won't work, especially old kid games and legacy video/audio software. Vista has the ability to attempt to act like XP while running an app, and is fairly successful.

Overall, the best part of Vista is the abbreviated way to get to your files and folders. The OS indexes your files for faster searches, schedules tasks easily, bounds around your folders like an excited puppy on linoleum, and includes some nice perks in the Ultimate versions.

Expect to upgrade any computer more than a year old (probably). Anyone interested in Vista should use the Upgrade Advisor tool to determine hardware, software compatibility and system performance capabilities.

Busy days, blogging by the wayside. Trip coming up this weekend. Resuming blogness Monday.

If you stuck a pin in AOL, you'd probably stop about a third of the world's SPAM. Apparently PCWorld agrees with my sentiments about AOL, voting them the WORST tech of all time.

They are the emperor's new clothes and I'm pointing the finger right now.

---

People are debating whether or not Microsoft's new Windows Vista is better than Apple's OS X.

Both can do many of the same functions. It comes down to what you are comfortable with, and how secure it can keep you.

Many people are missing out on the personal accountability each owner has in making these products good or not. If I buy a door from Home Depot because they say it is a strong, secure door that can take a beating, whose fault is it if I leave the door unlocked and get robbed? We learn to lock the door.

On personal computers, a lot of people are assuming that all the security features have to come from the maker of the products. Sure, they need to work to make hardened operating systems, but c'mon! At some point, people have to realize that installing every piece of junkware that looks cool on softpedia.com isn't always the best for their home computer. Somewhere along the line, we have to come to grips with the fact that there are websites out there that are malicious in nature and can cause harm to the computer. Also, why do individuals feel compelled to open attachments on emails from people they have never heard of?!?

My name is Paul, and I have infected my computer with a virus at home ONCE. Ever.

---

This is Don's dog, Siouxsie. This is one cool dog. She's smart, although slightly hyper. If you measures her heartbeats per nanosecond, you'd probably reach a quadruple digit number. She gives kisses, sits for treats (although struggles with the urge to attack you for the treat), and has impeccable timing when chasing after thrown objects. She hates when you try to fake her out.

She's a fun car-dog, too. She likes to sit on someone's lap and look out the window. She hates to ride alone in the car.

Typical car ride with Siouxsie:
Don "Siouxsie, get in the car!"
Siouxsie hops in the car in the driver seat.
Don "Get in the back seat."
Siouxsie gets in the back seat, curls up laying down.
Paul gets in the passenger seat, looks out window and finds Siouxsie in his lap, looking out the window.
Don "Siouxsie, get in the back seat."
Siousxsie returns to the back seat.
Paul looks at Siouxsie in the back seat, turns to look out the window and finds Siouxsie in his lap, looking out the window.

Such personality.

Whenever I shop for computer parts or electronic gadgets, I will spend an insane amount of time researching the good, bad, and ugly of a product. I will have several browser windows open on the computer, all with a puzzlillion* tabs holding all sorts of price comparisons, reviews, benchmarks, forums. It is very fun, and is essentially like shopping in real life, only fewer calories are burned. I actually gain weight, as I must eat at the keyboard to maintain my mental acuity. Eventually, I settle on the right product or products and pull the trigger on the purchase.

Afterwards, I don't look at any ads or prices for the purchased items for at least two months. It is far too depressing to see the speedy depreciation of electronics. Our first computer purchase was around $2,750. Within 30 days, the computer world had a paradigm shift and my computer was licking the boots of the next best thing (for the same price).

My method of online shopping madness?
+ Deal Headlines:
Dealnews (and coupons)
Techbargains
Dealcatcher
XPBargains
SlickDeals
FatWallet

+ Others
ZipZoomFly - Free FedEX on a lot of items.
Mwave - Cheap, fast, reliable.
Geeks - Mishmash of cheap prices, cool people
Newegg - Cheap, fast, reliable. Lots of user reviews. Easy to find items.
Bottomdollar - Helps to find places that sell an item. Buyer beware.
CNet Reviews - Simple reviews, but often have video to help see the products.

---

*It's a number. My daughter made it up. I think it is a lot.

I explained to my daughter that MLK Day remembers a man who wanted something better for all people. I told her there are people who think others are lesser than them because they have skin of different color, and that MLK was really against that kind of thing. I said, "That's pretty silly, to make fun of someone for their skin color, huh?"

Katie replied, "Yeah, I have red hair. There are lots of different hair colors."

I love my little girl.

I've played many a game in my time.* Every so often, I come across some gems that are worth mentioning to other people. The fact that this one is free adds to the appeal.

If anyone is a fan of racing, stunts, or cars, then Trackmania: Nations is worth a download. You run multiple tracks varying in three levels of difficulty, totaling around 90. As you run each track, there are medals you can win based on your time for the track. Bronze, Silver, Gold, and a special award for beating the best time of the people who made the game.

As you progress, each track becomes a puzzle in itself. You have to jump, flip, squeeze, slide, and speed your way over ramps of all shapes and sizes. After each race, you can repeat the track and race against a ghost car that performs your best previous attempt. There is online play, but I don't recommend unattended children to play there, as you never know what people will type in chat. The rest of the game is highly family-friendly. This is a 270mb download, and provides great free fun for me and my son. There are no trashy women or crude content worries in the offline play, and you can customize your own tracks to expand the content. There are even other player-made tracks online that you can download.

Free family fun. I like it.

---

* I was, after all, born with a Nintendo controller in my hand.

I am not one for piracy, but I have to hand it to the scurvy dogs at The Pirate Bay, a Sweden-based bittorrent rig known for its piratey warez, as they have rattled their sabers at all who have obstructed their progress over the years. In order to avoid international pressure to stop their habits, they have elected to buy their own nation. They located an old WWII gun platform that is a few miles off the UK coast, unofficially recognized as its own principality. By moving their business to this locale (and establishing principality), international copyright law would have zero jurisdiction over their operations. Even if they are unsuccessful, Pirate Bay has made their point. Not everyone agrees with their free-Willy internet philosophies. If you do agree, you can donate and become a Sealand citizen with a zippy bittorrent account. Not a pirate's life for me!

My kids color a LOT. My daughter has been crafting up a storm since she could hold a crayon, yet my son has been drawing mostly scribbles and an occasional face here and there. He's 4 years younger than her, and still a little guy, so he's learning the ropes. Recently, he decided that the table was not a satisfactory surface for him to draw against, so he took his papers and marker to his mom & dad's bedroom and clambered up onto the bed. His haphazard motion markered the top cover pretty good (although it is green-on-green). He was scolded quite well and eventually relocated to his normal table. After that, his next two color creations I saw were simply an amazing departure from his previous work. He's drawing people holding hands, attempting letters more often on his own, and getting facial expressions down really well. It is such a kick to watch him grow and learn and play so hard.

I now have even more artwork to hang up next to his sister's stuff in my office at work. My coworkers may not enjoy my office decor as much as I...

Paul at work "Look at what my kids drew!"
CoWorker#1 "..."
Paul at work "Isn't it great?!?"
CoWorker#2 [Walks in, sees kid art] "That one of those ink-blot tests?"
CoWorker#1 "Yes, it is. I see a cheeseburger. Let's hit lunch."

Not everyone appreciates the art. I did have to explain a drawing my daughter made of a hunter killing an animal. She wrote the word "dead" on the paper, clarifying the state of the animal in question. Some work-related psychologist is going to come by my office and think my children are disturbed. I know the truth; they are geniuses who are allowed to stretch their creative talents on mediums such as beadspreads.

I'm a geek, but sometimes you just need to unplug. Some places you should just be unplugged. Roto Rooter is attempting to do...something, I don't know what. They call it Pimp My Toilet. Call me old fashioned, but a book works for me. Maybe a PDA.*

This scene would not be complete without the Roto Rooter ringtone, though.


* I keep my PDA from becoming unsanitary.

You hear about people doing smart things at MIT, but don't always realize the results of that work. Pictured here, the $100 laptop aimed at spreading the information age anywhere in the world. Much research and labor has gone into building a device that serves multiple purposes, is rugged, and fairly inexpensive to operate.

Possessing a 500Mhz processor, 128mb of RAM, flash storage, and built-in ad-hoc-able wireless, this green machine can perform all sorts of educational tasks. It runs a Linux OS, and (believe it or not) can be powered by winding it up like a child's toy. Speak-n-Spell, eat your heart out.

Still in production and testing, the efforts of many are materializing to bring fast-paced interactive learning to those who could never dream of affording it. One portion of the program is suggesting that it also be sold to the general public. Such individuals would be required to pay the price of two, one for themselves, and one to be sent to an underprivileged child somewhere in the world.

Nicely done! Keep up the good work!

I must admit that my previous Apple predictions were colored by the buzz on the net that the iSmartyPants were up to something again (and the fact that Apple always releases new stuff at their expos). Still... *drumroll* ...the iPhone and iTV are here! These gadgets I think are cool, but would not buy. I didn't think there'd be a phone, but it IS wireless.

The convergence of home entertainment and computing is exciting, but I still don't think we're ready for it.

At the risk of ruining a good thing, I must share the joy that is WOOT.com. Every midnight, a new single* item is displayed for sale. It will last 24 hours, or until sold out. It might be a stuffed animal, it might be the woot grab-bag (order in 3's..READ THE INSTRUCTIONS), or it might be a pair of walkie talkies. Some days it is a digital video recorder or a handheld computer. Whatever it is, the price is nearly always dirt cheap.


* I guess woot has a soft spot for spirits, as there is usually a wine woot as well.

My predictions for 2007.

Technical:
+ Newspapers will NOT get replaced by the internet in 2007
+ Blue-Ray DVD format will fail to beat HD-DVD. A 3rd format will appear.
+ Apple will enter into the DVR market, expanding iTunes to become a home entertainment console, complete with movie downloads.
+ Apple will release a wireless entertainment device.
+ Several major companies will have huge layoffs: AOL, IBM, Sun, Sony America, RedHat.
+ Flat-panel TVs will drop in price to the point where people who didn't need a new TV will buy one anyway. LED monitors and TVs will become a new consumer product.
+ Starbucks will offer free wireless instead of the payment model.

Political:
+ Democrats will not bring our troops home in 2007. If they are successful in anything, it will be redeploying our troops to other places.
+ China will sever itself from the world's DNS servers in an attempt to control information flows. (may have already happened)

Personal:
+ I will still be a ninja.
+ I will drink more Starbucks.

Momofuku Ando, founder of Nissin and inventor of Instant Noodles, died at age 96 on Friday in Japan.

Ode to Ando

Your countrymen hungry,
Your bellies not full,
Less food for the masses,
You took the horns of the bull!

The war was double,
The famine set in,
Your family set out,
To make affordable din.

It needed to be humble,
It needed to be quick,
So bullion and noodles
Seemed to be the right trick!

Foodmakers laughed,
Competitors quibbled,
But your cup-o-noodles
Allowed the mobile to nibble!

Your product sustained
College students abroad,
May your people and family
Always think to applaud!

Two-thousand Seven,
Your last chicken stew,
May your family and friends
Always think about you!

I saw that the local Starbucks are using these. They appear durable. Apparenly they really are.

"Don't try this at home." (WHATEVER!)

Top Ten Least Popular Star Wars Inventions:
10. Jar Jar Binks
9. Death Star: Available in Red
8. Jabba: Calogne for Men
7. Reversible Jedi Robe (one side light, one dark)
6. Lightsaber Pez Dispenser
5. R2D2 Tequila Spout
4. Tie Fighter Sun Roof
3. Imperial Insurance
2. Wookie Beard Trimmer
1. Ewok Jerky

I do not know many people who enjoy getting junk mail. I know even fewer people who enjoy getting junk email. It is frustrating when I go to work on someone's computer, and I hear, "Would you fix my mail? I get a lot of SPAM." The poor recipients
expect me to be able to apply a special charm to their inbox to magically prevent unwanted mail from appearing. The saddest part is that I know how to stop or manage the flow of the garbage passing over the internet, yet I am not in a position to actually effect the changes needed to make this happen.

We all know why SPAM exists: to make money. Not everyone knows why or how it comes to them. Here is the general reason this junk makes it to you: there is no accountability for sending email.

Imagine for a moment that you receive packages at your wholesale food business. You registered online with "FoodCo" to receive food to resell. You pay them, the food comes. They seem reputable, and they offer all sorts of promises about speed of shipment and your health protection. What "FoodCo" doesn't tell you is that your food comes from ANYONE, and they never verify that the food is actually fit for human consumption or that it comes from a business that ships food at all. You find that 30% of the food you receive is made of plastic.

Why is this food a problem? Isn't "FoodCo" living up to its promise? They ARE delivering food, and they offer you medicine to cure you when you get bad food. They even provide a bin to dump the plastic food in. They tell you that they cannot guarantee that all shipments contain real food. They say this is just part of ordering food in the world today.

Bunk.

Would it be the responsibility of the person ordering food to make sure it is actually food? No. If I got sick from "FoodCo" prodcts, I'd hold them accountable for it. So, escape from "FoodCo" for a moment and look at them as an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that supplies you email instead of food. They make no guarantees that every email is something you want to digest. The fact is that no ISP takes steps to 100% assure that they know where their mail is coming from! Some guy in Russia has a computer set up right now, pumping out tender vittles about hot penny stocks, and spoofs the email to look like it comes from a friend, a reputable business, or a random internet domain he picked up for $5. He hopes a quarter of one percent of the 12 million people on the email address list he bought or spidered respond to his lure. He masks his identity and codes the email to dodge "FoodCo" SPAM countermeasures (which he is years ahead of).

THE SOLUTION:
The way the internet is set up requires multiple factors to reduce unwanted mail down to a trickle of legitimate businesses.

+ The origin of an email must be verified. Our ISPs need to verify the origin of those sending email. This means using the internet's DNS system to run a background check of sorts. DNS is just a series of address-to-name associations. You type in www.yahoo.com and DNS servers on the internet point you to 209.131.36.158. Think of it as looking in the phone book to find a street address. So an email comes to the ISP tagged with the number 209whatever, and asks DNS "Is this address REALLY yahoo.com's email server?" DNS says "Yes", and the mail gets moved along. DNS says "No", and the mail never gets delivered. This stops most spoofing. THE RUB: Every ISP/mail server has to participate worldwide. Not every ISP wants to. Some ISPs are spammers themselves.

+ Residential internet customers should not be allowed to host email servers. This means email has to run through a registered ISP, not from my house off Adelphia high speed internet. No more Russian guy sending from home. THE RUB: Every ISP/mail server has to particiapate worldwide. This does not mean you can't email anyone; your email still travels to your ISP then on to its final destination. Some spammers send mail directly from home or from a junk domain. THE RUB: People want their MTV. Not everyone abuses the privilege of sending email directly.

+ Band together. We have solutions like SPF (uses the "ask DNS" process) to take advantage of some of these aspects, but not everyone adheres to it. If only some people use it, then suddenly Hotmail can't send mail to AOL, or something odd like that. Home users can send mail like crazy or come up with the cheap domains to send mail from. It is far too easy to be an email server. I could set one up at home in 10 minutes and be pumping out molded content like a playdoh factory.

There are other factors to help reduce SPAM, but describing them alienates non-technical observers. This at least overviews that a larger ugly body is at work, unmanaged, blasting all our inboxes with junk. From the link,

"Massive volumes of unsolicited email are still being sent: Security firms Symantec and MessageLabs estimate that spam is between 54% and 85% of all email. In 2005 Ferris Research estimated spam to cost €39 billion worldwide while Computer Economics calculated malicious software to cost €11 billion globally. While the very latest figures from Sophos say 32% of relayed spam came from Europe with Asia leading at 34%."

'Nuf said.

I actually like hot pockets. What does that say about me?!? Never been a big Nascar fan, tho. Haaaaaaaawwwt Pockeeeeeeeet!

Foods I am weak against:

+ Tim's Cascade Jalepeno Potato Chips

+ Nalley's French Onion Dip (with Ruffles)

+ Sweet Tea

Resolutions for 2007:

Make resolutions more specific and less ethereal so I can actually target the goal. Instead of saying "I'm gonna shoot this arrow into that field over there", I'll say "I'm gonna hit that big rock by the oak tree over by the corner of the fence, and I will do it this week."

I am going to whip myself into better shape. I prefer a six-pack to the two-liter (or keg). I'd settle for a four-pack. My goal is to maintain 190lbs or less and to be able to bench my own weight for 10 reps.

Use GTD for my personal life in addition to my work life. No more post-it notes or scraps of paper. If someone gives me a phone number, I will pop out my PDA or phone and enter it right there. (Geek it up, yo.)

Translate all my paper to electronic form. Some things shouldn't be only in digitized format (like certificates, kids' art), so I will keep those. I am aiming to reduce my clutter. This also involves getting rid of the Leaning Tower of Electronics Boxes for electronic devices that are out of warranty anyway.

Spend more time with my kids. I spend time with them, but I believe the time should be more consistent than scheduled around the rest of my life. I want them to know that they are a priority over the myriad of time-suckers.

Speak my wife's love language. I, like many, struggle to break out of that box where I show love in the way I want to be loved. I know my wife's love language details, and I will aim to be more consistent in how I show her.

I'll be playing traditional golf more. I have no target other than to play at least once a month (weather permitting), hopefully often.

To par the disc golf course at the local college on a regular basis. I can par it, yet I can also bounce a disc off a window or throw it over the surrounding road onto the beach (where there are no goals, only angry citizens).

To read the Bible more consistently. I read, yet I will be reading more (and more directed).

To help lead a college-campus group for directing attendees in life-improving discussions. Target membership, 15 campus students by summer.