Really slow here
I haven't felt much like writing lately, as there's really nothing much going on. Despite the fact this site is not very interesting at the best of times, when things get really slow around here, there's absolutely nothing worth talking about. The most exciting thing happening recently is controversy in the family about the new Passions of Christ film. I've decided not to see it, primarily because I try to avoid movies with gratuitous violence (even if it is historical in nature).
Monday, February 23, 2004
Life and death
I had actually typed the next few lines as part of my previous post, but thought they'd be better off separately...
I'm looking forward to my parents' return to Canada in April. They have been spending winters in Arizona for the past 20 years or so, and this year will be the last in their own condo. It's been sold - a concession to their aging and the realization that travel isn't as much fun when the majority of the people they used to visit are no longer among the living.
Speaking of which... during the past week, I attended a memorial service for the brother of the first girl I think I was ever in love with. I met her when I was in grade 10 and we were close throughout the next three years. I'd only seen her once or twice while I was a university student, because she had chosen a different path. I guess the last time I had seen her, before this past week, was in 1974 and maybe once more in 1977 (so hard to remember). Despite the pain of the moment, she seemed genuinely glad to see me - not even surprised that I had come. She should have been surprised... My sister had seen the obituary listing and informed me. Had it not been for that, I would not have known.
She was there with her grown children, and introduced me to them as "this is [email address]". We've been corresponding on and off for the past year, ever since my sister found an article about her in the Alumni magazine and passed the information on to me. I had so much hoped to be able to introduce my wife to her - oh what stories they could have shared - but my wife declined my invitation to come.
I had actually typed the next few lines as part of my previous post, but thought they'd be better off separately...
I'm looking forward to my parents' return to Canada in April. They have been spending winters in Arizona for the past 20 years or so, and this year will be the last in their own condo. It's been sold - a concession to their aging and the realization that travel isn't as much fun when the majority of the people they used to visit are no longer among the living.
Speaking of which... during the past week, I attended a memorial service for the brother of the first girl I think I was ever in love with. I met her when I was in grade 10 and we were close throughout the next three years. I'd only seen her once or twice while I was a university student, because she had chosen a different path. I guess the last time I had seen her, before this past week, was in 1974 and maybe once more in 1977 (so hard to remember). Despite the pain of the moment, she seemed genuinely glad to see me - not even surprised that I had come. She should have been surprised... My sister had seen the obituary listing and informed me. Had it not been for that, I would not have known.
She was there with her grown children, and introduced me to them as "this is [email address]". We've been corresponding on and off for the past year, ever since my sister found an article about her in the Alumni magazine and passed the information on to me. I had so much hoped to be able to introduce my wife to her - oh what stories they could have shared - but my wife declined my invitation to come.
I'm still here
Nothing has been happening lately that's worth talking about. The past week at work was uneventful, with some accomplishments and some disappointments, but nothing to write about. My wife and I did have an evening out with my sister and brother-in-law which I would characterize as very enjoyable. I used the visit as an opportunity to shore up the defenses on their computer system. They should be somewhat more secure now than they were.
I also spent time this weekend shoring up my own network security. The wireless network here had been guarded by WEP encryption. I upgraded to WPA yesterday. I feel somewhat more secure.
Nothing has been happening lately that's worth talking about. The past week at work was uneventful, with some accomplishments and some disappointments, but nothing to write about. My wife and I did have an evening out with my sister and brother-in-law which I would characterize as very enjoyable. I used the visit as an opportunity to shore up the defenses on their computer system. They should be somewhat more secure now than they were.
I also spent time this weekend shoring up my own network security. The wireless network here had been guarded by WEP encryption. I upgraded to WPA yesterday. I feel somewhat more secure.
Sunday, February 15, 2004
Fun fun fun
I found this game on another blog. I haven't solved it yet, but I only have one more piece to locate.
Update
I found what I thought was the last piece of the puzzle, but I still can't escape from the room. I suck at these puzzles!
I found this game on another blog. I haven't solved it yet, but I only have one more piece to locate.
Update
I found what I thought was the last piece of the puzzle, but I still can't escape from the room. I suck at these puzzles!
Saturday, February 14, 2004
Valentine's Day Movie
My wife and I saw 50 First Dates today. It was very different than what I expected, but in a good way. More later... we've got dinner reservations!
My wife and I saw 50 First Dates today. It was very different than what I expected, but in a good way. More later... we've got dinner reservations!
Friday, February 13, 2004
Old dog wins
It's official. Pop-Up Disabler allows some forms of pop-under ads to get through. Pop-Up Stopper doesn't. Period. End of story. I tried reinstalling the challenger (after switching back to Pop-Up Stopper and going two whole days without a pop-under) and within 12 hours, I had seen my first pop-under. That's conclusive proof as far as I'm concerned. I'll "put up with" clicking on a Ctrl-key if I have to, to make my authorized popups appear. Who knows, with a bit of improvement, the challenger may yet return.
It's official. Pop-Up Disabler allows some forms of pop-under ads to get through. Pop-Up Stopper doesn't. Period. End of story. I tried reinstalling the challenger (after switching back to Pop-Up Stopper and going two whole days without a pop-under) and within 12 hours, I had seen my first pop-under. That's conclusive proof as far as I'm concerned. I'll "put up with" clicking on a Ctrl-key if I have to, to make my authorized popups appear. Who knows, with a bit of improvement, the challenger may yet return.
Monday, February 09, 2004
Updated opinion on Pop-Up Disabler
Since installing it, I've been receiving pop-under ads (those are the ones that are on your screen waiting for you when you close your browser window). I don't think the disabler is causing these to occur. I just think it's not catching them. To test my theory (or whether it's just a coincidence), I'll be disabling the new software and going back to my tried and true. The pop-under ads have happened perhaps three or four times over the past 24 hours, so if there is a pattern, it should disappear (or not) with my old software.
We'll see.
In the meantime, I'll be running Spybot S&D to ensure I haven't picked up adware/spyware.
More to come...
Since installing it, I've been receiving pop-under ads (those are the ones that are on your screen waiting for you when you close your browser window). I don't think the disabler is causing these to occur. I just think it's not catching them. To test my theory (or whether it's just a coincidence), I'll be disabling the new software and going back to my tried and true. The pop-under ads have happened perhaps three or four times over the past 24 hours, so if there is a pattern, it should disappear (or not) with my old software.
We'll see.
In the meantime, I'll be running Spybot S&D to ensure I haven't picked up adware/spyware.
More to come...
Sunday, February 08, 2004
Very impressive!
I ran across this site today while reading the forums at dslreports.com. At first, I was impressed that Sergei had taken the time to document the strengths and weaknesses of every popup stopper software I had ever heard of. It sure sounded like a good service... and it appeared that his source of revenue for his endeavours was a panel of Google-sponsored ad links.
What I hadn't immediately noticed as a link at the top of his homepage - "Pop-Up Disabler". I clicked on it a few minutes ago, and it took me to an information page describing a utility he had written himself.
Finally, the reason for the website became clear. This man had researched all the popup stoppers on the market so that he could design one that was better.
My personal favourite has been Pop-Up Stopper Free Edition from Panicware. It's amazingly simple, really. It stops popups. Period. If there are things you want to appear, you simply hold down the Ctrl- key while clicking, and the box appears. I've always thought the product was awesome.
So today, I installed the new Pop-Up Disabler. It was eerie, really. No messages of any kind. Did I need to turn it on? There was nothing in the system tray. I looked at the list of programs on my machine. There was a new link for Pop-Up Disabler. But looking at the entry, there were simply entries for uninstalling, going to the website, and viewing the help file. Nothing about enabling the software.
Alright... I guess I'd have to test it. The first test... visit a few sites hosted by Yahoo/Geocities and Tripod. Tripod's pop-up ads had always been effectively blocked by Pop-Up Stopper, even though a visible "blink" was always noticeable as the popup came up and was instantaneously killed. With the new blocker, the blink never happened. Just a main screen, with no hint of popup. Then I tried going to a Geocities site. I guess I was a bit disappointed that the stupid floating ad appeared (it also appears with Pop-Up Stopper), but I understand that only one pop-up stopper on the entire market can stop those ads - and that program is not free. What really impressed me was when I tried to leave comments on blogs. The Pop-Up Stopper program automatically blocks the popup comment boxes. I have, over time, become accustomed to holding the Ctrl-key when I wish to comment. With the new software installed, clicking on a comment link brought up the comment box - no problem.
I'm going to keep this program installed a bit longer to see how it works, and to verify that it doesn't have any spyware component. But until then, I'm ready to give a preliminary endorsement to this product.
I ran across this site today while reading the forums at dslreports.com. At first, I was impressed that Sergei had taken the time to document the strengths and weaknesses of every popup stopper software I had ever heard of. It sure sounded like a good service... and it appeared that his source of revenue for his endeavours was a panel of Google-sponsored ad links.
What I hadn't immediately noticed as a link at the top of his homepage - "Pop-Up Disabler". I clicked on it a few minutes ago, and it took me to an information page describing a utility he had written himself.
Finally, the reason for the website became clear. This man had researched all the popup stoppers on the market so that he could design one that was better.
My personal favourite has been Pop-Up Stopper Free Edition from Panicware. It's amazingly simple, really. It stops popups. Period. If there are things you want to appear, you simply hold down the Ctrl- key while clicking, and the box appears. I've always thought the product was awesome.
So today, I installed the new Pop-Up Disabler. It was eerie, really. No messages of any kind. Did I need to turn it on? There was nothing in the system tray. I looked at the list of programs on my machine. There was a new link for Pop-Up Disabler. But looking at the entry, there were simply entries for uninstalling, going to the website, and viewing the help file. Nothing about enabling the software.
Alright... I guess I'd have to test it. The first test... visit a few sites hosted by Yahoo/Geocities and Tripod. Tripod's pop-up ads had always been effectively blocked by Pop-Up Stopper, even though a visible "blink" was always noticeable as the popup came up and was instantaneously killed. With the new blocker, the blink never happened. Just a main screen, with no hint of popup. Then I tried going to a Geocities site. I guess I was a bit disappointed that the stupid floating ad appeared (it also appears with Pop-Up Stopper), but I understand that only one pop-up stopper on the entire market can stop those ads - and that program is not free. What really impressed me was when I tried to leave comments on blogs. The Pop-Up Stopper program automatically blocks the popup comment boxes. I have, over time, become accustomed to holding the Ctrl-key when I wish to comment. With the new software installed, clicking on a comment link brought up the comment box - no problem.
I'm going to keep this program installed a bit longer to see how it works, and to verify that it doesn't have any spyware component. But until then, I'm ready to give a preliminary endorsement to this product.
Friday, February 06, 2004
Leno in Wonderland
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is my late-night talk show of choice. While not as funny as David Letterman, I find his guests to be more A-list, and I enjoy his self-deprecating humour. Tonight, his monologue was off. He really wasn't that funny. And to top it off, at the end of his monologue, as he cut to commercial, he introduced his band leader to the audience (as he has done every night for nearly the past 12 years). I wonder what drug he was on tonight... introducing Kevin Eubanks as "Branford Marsalis" - his original bandleader who left the show in December, 1994.
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is my late-night talk show of choice. While not as funny as David Letterman, I find his guests to be more A-list, and I enjoy his self-deprecating humour. Tonight, his monologue was off. He really wasn't that funny. And to top it off, at the end of his monologue, as he cut to commercial, he introduced his band leader to the audience (as he has done every night for nearly the past 12 years). I wonder what drug he was on tonight... introducing Kevin Eubanks as "Branford Marsalis" - his original bandleader who left the show in December, 1994.
Thursday, February 05, 2004
Having fun!
One of the blogs I read featured a game link. I don't play games much... no patience/imagination/coordination - pick your reason. But this one sounded fun, so I took a look.
I've posted a jpg screen capture of my high score (updated from 593) and low score (not counting 0 of course - downgraded again from 148.6). Now it's your turn.
High Score
Low Score
One of the blogs I read featured a game link. I don't play games much... no patience/imagination/coordination - pick your reason. But this one sounded fun, so I took a look.
I've posted a jpg screen capture of my high score (updated from 593) and low score (not counting 0 of course - downgraded again from 148.6). Now it's your turn.
High Score
Low Score
Monday, February 02, 2004
Baby returned by father
The Amber Alert worked. Sunday morning, the baby was turned over to police by the man (father) who took it. Mom's still in the wind. The newspaper here is saying the mother was suspected of having done drugs/alcohol during the pregnancy, due to the baby going through convulsions noticed by nurses. After they sent a Child Services worker to question the mother, she got up and left the building with the newborn.
The Amber Alert worked. Sunday morning, the baby was turned over to police by the man (father) who took it. Mom's still in the wind. The newspaper here is saying the mother was suspected of having done drugs/alcohol during the pregnancy, due to the baby going through convulsions noticed by nurses. After they sent a Child Services worker to question the mother, she got up and left the building with the newborn.