Ok, I need TLC and the Discovery Channel to give it up already when it comes to a few topics. They all come under the heading of “We funded, we found nothing, but we’re gonna show you the boring ass documentary of it anyway”. Titles for some of the shows could be things like “Assinine Assumptions” and “We’ve Learned Not To Look For Bigfoot Anymore” on TLC. Or “Toilets; The Search For The Downward Spiral” on the Discovery Channel.

These happen to be 2 of my favorite channels, actually. So why am I getting on their case? Because they are constantly trying to pique my curiosity with stories of Bigfoot, the Lochness Monster, Atlantis, mysteries of the Sphinx, and other imaginative topics. But they always use the same sort of catchphrase to grab me—“Watch and see if we’ve discovered the true home of Atlantis” Trust me, they haven’t. If any actual evidence of these things comes to light it will be a global media frenzy and won’t be a Discovery Channel exclusive. And yet, they’ve got me; and strangely, I find myself watching these things. The often boring fact-filled journey of another two-comma funded waste of film. I am paralyzed when it comes to changing the channel. It must be the little kid in me that goes, “Oh boy! Maybe they really found Bigfoot this time. I always knew they would. He was so cute in that movie with John Lithgow.”

Maybe send them out in the field and tell them not to come back ’til they actually find something. Tell them you’ll only pay them when they do. That ought to get results.

Until then I’ll be watching Junkyard Wars. Now that’s quality programming!

Well, I knew it wasn’t going to go unnoticed.

Ok what now? My posts from work aren’t good enough for Blogger?! Nothing seems to be posting. Ack!

Has anyone else noticed that Microsoft, and all it’s affiliated sub Microsoft sites, like MSNBC, Expedia, and the rest are all down, and have been down since yesterday?

Did someone finally hack them into submission?

Speaking of rat bastards, I bought a new webcam today. The camera is great. It takes a very high quality picture for a webcam. Especially when compared to my previous cam. But their software is for shit. It just installs everything without so much as a custom button to configure the install. When are these pseudo software companies going to stop forcing me into bundles of crap that I don’t want, and is a pain-in-the-ass to uninstall once they put it on? Give me the choice!!! Idiots!! I’m not just your average user. Get a clue! I already had NetMeeting installed you fools! Why did you have to reinstall it and screw up my settings?!

And of course, each one of these morons has to design their own interface so that nothing is compatible, and you have to open some bloated piece of crap software with a more gooey GUI than jell-o, but not nearly as customizable. At least jell-o will take the shape of whatever you put it in.

I’ve learned a few things dealing with users in my company. If you teach them how to do something, they will learn, and be better users. If you try to do everything for them, they will be drones that you have to follow around with a mop because they can’t do a thing without your help. That’s fine if you wanna draw in a bunch of sheep (CMV $ 96,500.00 – heaven help us!) to follow your product line, but more than half the consumer market out there are knowledgeable, computer literate/savvy geeks. Geeks that don’t need to be led by the hand and have bundles of software installed for them. Geeks who have taken PC tweaking to the level of fine art, only to have it screwed up by some hardware manufacturer, who is outsourcing their software projects, and trying to reach the lowest common denominator with their little pet projects.

Oh my God! Did I just rant about a webcam? Wow, must be the tequila talking.

Ok, the moment I’m home from work, my nightly ritual begins. Which consists of nothing more than tweaking this friggin’ blog. I like it, I don’t like it. Could someone please call me a psychiatrist?

And a hair stylist. I need a hair stylist!!!

Microsoft, Intel Look Beyond the PC

I’ll tell you exactly what’s to come. The war cry was “A PC in every home!!!” Now they are gonna tell you that you don’t need it. That it’s an outdated machine in the new digital culture model. They’re going to have everything available online. All software will be accessed on the net. All your files will be saved and accessed online. You will have a dummy terminal in your home which will connect you to the Internet. Don’t think so? Wanna bet?

In some 1984, Orwellian nightmare kinda way, I understand the thinking of it. But just try and take my PC, just try! You’ll meet the barrel end of the gun you didn’t get either.

I say don’t buy into the propaganda machine!! Don’t extend your hand when Big Brother comes online with a smile on his lips and sidles up next to you offering his friendship. It’s crap!!! Do you think that with all the power outages in this country and the way small ISPs work that you will ever use the Web productively again? That you won’t lose your life’s work in some overlooked bug, or server crash? It’s bad enough we have the kinds of trouble that exists with our PCs now. I’m supposed to trust my ISP to keep track of my files, and keep their servers operating 24/7 without a hitch? Uh Ungh!!! Not this digital boy! The “I” in i·me·michael doesn’t stand for intel. I have a little more intelligence than to follow that white rabbit. « My point exactly.

Well, what do you know? I’ve managed to change the look of my blog and start using SSI all at the same time. Woohoo!! I’m so happy I switched hosts. It feels a bit like invasion of the body snatchers every time I say that.

I’m gonna continue with my SSI plans, as well as changes in the way this all looks. I may even have a couple of different looks to choose from. Still not sure. You’d think I’d be doing something over at tree|trybe, but I’m a little fried at the moment when it comes to that.

I’m shopping for a camera, and I may have settled on the Canon EOS Rebel 2000. It’s just a matter of price shopping, and who’s offering the best package. I checked it out at a local camera store, and their prices were nearly $100 above prices on the web. So needless to say, a’surfing we will go!

Scientists Bring Light to Stop – What the article fails to touch on in this amazing achievement, is some of the other uses. Can you say Romulan Cloaking Device?

YAY!!! So far there have been no glitches, no loss, no errors. A hitch-free switch. Oh happy day!!