Fine, okay, it's a blog already!

I have squandered a lot of time trying to figure out how to make simple explanatory pages for people on how to use their computers and the net. So, I went looking and I found some people who can do it a whole lot better than I can.

If you know people who need help learning the basics of the internet, point them to BBC's Webwise page. There's also a really basic tutorial on computers too. They'll thank you for it.

With Leslie being gone over the past couple of weekends on interviews I have been tinkering about with some ideas for pages and content. Hopefully you'll see a bit of that in the upcoming weeks.

So, I'm trolling through the job ads this morning and then bounce over to CNN to check on the news (yes, that IS entertainment for me). Anyways, our unofficial government news agency FoxNews is suing Al Franken because they don't like the title of his book - nor likely the content of it either. Just goes to show how whiny people get when you give 'em a little power.

Some of you may have come across that nasty MSBlaster/LoveSan worm. Hopefully you do not have it on your computer, but if you do, come on back after your computer reboots.

You back yet? Okay, take a visit over to this link, which will give you directions on where to get your relevant Windows updates. I will give you to quick links to McAfee and Norton's advice as well. Good luck out there.

Alright, you won't get this from me a lot but here goes. Sometimes I stroll down to the local Barnes & Noble and persue the bookshelves. I don't usually buy anything so basically I'm a nuisance there I guess. Anyways, I found a noteworthy book for all of you using a computer (namely, anyone reading this). It's called PC Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things about Your Personal Computer by Steve Bass. Even though I've been working with these darn things for years I still found a lot of neat tidbits I could use to tweak the home computer and I figured I'd share it with the rest of you seeing as we all need some help getting these things to work. The reason I mention it now is that the book, normally $19.95, is on sale at Barnes Noble for like $15 or even cheaper online, $11.25 at Bookpool.

Since I'm on a product placement roll, Leslie & I picked up some new toothpaste awhile back. Its that Crest Whitening Expressions stuff. We got the orange stuff, called Fresh Citrus Breeze. The reason I mention it is that the stuff tastes like those little pink St. Joseph's aspirins we all took when we were kids. Yeah, sounds disgusting but I'm actually hooked on it now.

Onto my usual stuff. Guess where's I'm not eating soon. McCormick & Schmick's. Here's why.

One place we are excited about is the reopening of Lindo Michoacan, a place we enjoyed back when I lived here before.

Okay, downloading songs I already own is illegal, but this isn't? I thought we took rights away from prisoners.

I claim no responsibility for the answers you get from this quiz.

"As you can possibly see, I have an injury myself—not here at the hospital, but in combat with a cedar. I eventually won. The cedar gave me a little scratch."
—Bush, visiting with wounded veterans from the Amputee Care Center of Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 1, 2006

What do you expect from an idiot who equates fighting a tree with getting seriously wounded in an illegal war? Well, I can give you an idea. Not getting the point that violating privacy and civil rights is actually un-American, Bush keeps fighting for the PATRIOT Act to get renewed. Not to mention that he slid in a loophole that will allow him to authorize torture, even after signing McCain's pet bill. In addition, he made a bunch of crony-loving appointments, bypassing Congress as they are in recess. After Harriet Miers and Mike Brown, not to mention UN-hating UN Ambassador Bolton, you'd think he'd have some humility. You know, Christian humility. Guess his abridged bible has none of the Beatitudes in it.

Molly Ivin on Bush's spy games.

Speaking of games, Bush is returning $6,000 of Jack Abramhoff's tainted and corrupt money. This of course, is a small drop in the at least $120,000 the influence peddler gave Bush directly.

They say we're progressing in Afghanistan. If so, how do you explain this story of a teacher getting beheaded for teaching girls?

The GOP, after lengthening the year-end session to cover all the issues they couldn't railroad past actual conscientious politicians (I know. Gasp!), now want to extend the break so they can maybe make Tom DeLay Majority Leader again. You know, provided he can shake his felony charges.

Pat Robertson says Ariel Sharon is being punished by God. Then again, Robertson is the same sick bastard who wants to build a theme park on the sea of Galilee.

Bush says Arab media doesn't portray America in a good light. Then again, the Army isn't writing their headlines. That, and he's used to FOXNews kissing his butt. He can't shut them down like the military does soldiers' blogs, and he can't count on his pals who own TV stations to censor shows his religious fanatics find unsavory.

Speaking of the religious wrong, here's an Oklahoma pastor who hates homosexuals and engages in some self-loathing by propositioning an undercover cop.

TSA. Saving America from four-year olds on the terrorist watch list.

Letterman takes it to Bill O'Reilly and an English pilot does what I wish our pilots would do to unruly passengers. Wired gives a list of the 50 best robots ever.

Want a small taste of freeware? Download the Google Pack. Nowhere near as complete as it could be, but something to give you food for thought.

Speaking of food, for you anti-globalization readers, the story of a baker who fought McDonalds...and won.

Say, I know I once had a list of recommended software on a page (which I may either update or get rid of soon) and I know some of you used it as a reference. So, here's an attempt at an update at that kind of info.

Google has thrown together the Google Pack of software for ya. I recommend Firefox, Picasa, and Google Earth specifically. I like Trillian as well, but use the full version so no clue what your experience will be there.

The Open CD project also has some good open source and free programs to check out. Download, burn, and pick something to use.

For those looking to build a new PC - all others might as well call the fine folks at Dell (hi Jamal!) - ArsTechnica gives you some good guides based on whether you want an extreme budget box, one of a good range of PCs, or a media center.