Be humble

OhMiBod is the ultimate iPod accessory: a vibrator that hooks up to the iPod and buzzes in time with the music. You will never listen to music the same way again. Don’t miss the playlists compiled specifically for OhMiBod use.

With a support note quietly posted to its Web site, Microsoft confirmed what enthusiasts have long feared: Users who purchase Upgrade versions of Windows Vista will not be able to perform clean installs of the operating system. Instead, they will need to first install their previous OS and then upgrade in-place to Vista.

Thus, those of us who would prefer to do a clean install, using our legitimate CD from XP as confirmation of doing an upgrade, will not be able to do so.  Just plain stupid.

Our head geek ran out to by Vista today.  He wanted to upgrade his Media Centre version to Vista.  A quick trip to Future Shop and he was back with his shiny new upgrade CD.

Popped it in, and watch the shiny new stuff and whack - Vista will not upgrade Media Centre. 

Yanked out the hard drive, put in a clean drive and installed XP Pro.  Then popped in the shiny new upgrade CD and watch the shiny new stuff and zap - blue screen.  Re-booted, same thing.  Tried safe mode, same thing. 

Noted outside of Vista packaging said for 32 bit and 64 bit systems.  Shiny CD says 32 bit only.  (He has 64 bit system).  Called Microsoft - 32 bit won’t work.  Went back to Future Shop - they said Microsoft not right - one CD for both.  Future Shop will not take back as package open.

One geek screwed.

MS happy - they get paid.

Future Shop happy - they got paid.

I would not run out and get this one yet folks.

More tomorrow if geek has not jumped off bridge.

(BTW - geek is used as a flattering term - anyone who makes it to my geek list is one hell of an accomplished technical person)

I suspect that political parties that miss the significance of the soft vote are making a big mistake.  By soft vote, I mean those voters who, while they may consider themselves of a political leaning, will not necessarily follow a party line.  They often vote for the person rather than the party, and can be influenced by negative activity as well as positive.

In the very brief time that the Tories have been running their negative advertisements, I have encountered both Tories and Liberals who are appalled.  I suspect that continued use of these ads will result in more liberal votes.

This guy has hit most of my annoyances with web marketing sites.  Wisdom.

Que is getting fat.  Fat in the arse fat.  This is not good.  It is hard to be a big scary black wolf when you have an arse waddle.  Yoga is out as he already is doing his stretching exercises.  L*A Weight Loss won’t take him as they say they have standards (sheech, have ya seen the people going in there?  Standards?)

Intake reduction is the only way.  It has been a week and he stomps around the house sucking in his cheeks trying to look starving.  When I eat, I get the face:

This one earned him some baked lasagna with goats cheese.  I mean really, there are limits.  Could you resist this face.  It was just a little nibble, really.

I may have to cut back the carob chip cookies and ice cream for the bed time snack.

 WOW, at first I thought this headline was about a new enema product.  If the claims being made are accurate, this is huge.

EEStor claims that, using an automated production line and existing power electronics, it will initially build a 15-kilowatt-hour energy-storage system for a small electric car weighing less than 100 pounds, and with a 200-mile driving range. The vehicle, the company says, will be able to recharge in less than 10 minutes. 

Source: Boing Boing: Barium-nitrate battery breakthough

I know this is old and heard before, but it happened to me today.  Each month I present myself at my local bank to do an identical transaction.  I won’t bore you with why I do this with a living person, but there is a reason.  I always dread the occasion.  

My bank seems to be a training ground for new tellers, and I seem to be one of the unlucky who get to train them.  I just get a teller broken in to my monthly visits and they replace him / her with a new trainee.  Another new one today.

Please understand, I have been doing this on a monthly basis since 1992.  In the process of training some of the old dears that were there years ago, I confess to some of my best public rants.  Perhaps my most notable was, with veins pulsing in my forehead, I reached through the window and tapped the side of her computer - instructing her to enter the fact that I was who I said I was, had an account with the bank since 1975 and that my transaction was not to be questioned.  She did - and for a while I was not questioned.

Today was new trainee day.  (sigh)  OK, with great patience I talked her through what I was doing, why I was doing it and that I really was a legitimate customer.  Grudgingly she agreed to look in her computer, and rejoice, there were the notes.  As she concluded the transaction, I muttered to myself something about bankers, whores and horse thieves. 

With great indignation, the teller (who obviously heard me), assured me that she would never steal a horse.  ...and then gave me a big smile.  She made my day.  Not only did she diffuse my frustration, but she sent me away hoping that the next time I visit, it is her that will be my teller.  I am guessing that this person will go far with the bank.

Then:

and now:

He was a goof when he arrived and he is still a goof.

...for April 30th.  The Honourable Pat Binns has plans for us that day.  Just saying.