Blizzard of 2007

Winter finally arrived in a big way on February 3rd with a blizzard. The weather did an excellent job of basically shutting down the region. You know the weather is bad when the state police have TV stations flash the following message, "Please, oh please, just stay in your homes." Our high temperature that weekend on our front pourch was 8 degrees Fahrenheit with a windcill of probably -15. Brrr! We didn't actually receive that much snow, but it was very windy.

I Got Me Some Mega Hertz

Have you ever wondered about the actual meanings of various computer technology terms? If so, then today is your lucky day, my friend. For today, just for you, Spike the Wave presents Technology for Country Folk. Click on the image to see the full version and learn the true definition of such computer technology words as "monitor", "RAM", "software" and "reboot". Enjoy!

disclaimer: The image is not my original work. Should I ever learn the name of the image's creator, I will post appropriate credit.

Frustration Buying A New Computer

Have you ever wanted to buy a computer but, frankly, were a little confused by all the various options? If so, perhaps you can sympathize with Lou Costello as he tries to buy a computer from Bud Abbott.

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business.? What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal.? What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".
COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start with some straight answers? What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to tr ack my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on "START"...........

To learn more about Abbott & Costello, check out their official web site, their entry in Wikipedia, or read a transcript of their Who's On First comedy routine.

disclaimer: This homage to Abbott and Costello is not my original work. Should I ever learn the name of the actual author, I will post appropriate credit.

Portrait

People keep asking to see a picture of me on my blog here. I couldn't find one, so this will have to do until I can find the camera.

Update

My wife thought I should point out that, in fact, no one has actually asked to see a picture of me posted here (or anywhere else). So, my secret identity continues to be safe.

Having Fun With the PSP

I was given a Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) for Christmas. Yay! It's been a lot of fun so far.

Normal people use a PSP to:

• play video games desgined to run on PSP, and/or
• watch movies designed to play only on PSP (using special discs).

I'm not normal.

Please stop laughing.

Since I know you're wondering what things I do with my PSP, here's a list:

• copied my mini-intranet web site (mainly just a collection of organized bookmarks)
• added to that a web page that runs a little javascript keyboard for PSP (can sometimes be easier to use than the PSP's own keyboard app, which is only fun to use if you like typing text messages on cell phones)
• decided that the PSP's web browser doesn't implement javascript and CSS very well, and really needs a way to use memory stick storage to augment main memory
• downloaded demo versions of some games; played them for about 2 minutes so far
• loaded with various mp3 files
• practiced converting video files into one of the two video formats the PSP will play (side note: the PSP can play many different music file formats, and display many different image file formats, but it can play just two video file formats)
• used as portable storage (Windows and Linux see it as being just another USB file storage device)
• discovered that it really doesn't like playing flash videos, so no Homestar Runner (can only do this in its web browser mode, and there it just runs out of memory too quickly)

Still have not played a regular (non-demo) video game or watched a movie disc.

The next thing I want to try with it is running VNC. If I can get that to work, then I could use the PSP to control another, regular, computer. Now that would be cool!