Last Word

It would appear that the resident at Sam's Place would like to have the last word. To that I say "take it and run with it." Some of us don't have the financial resources to have a computer that could handle all that stuff anyway. Consider yourself lucky and type til your heart's content. It's still a personal preference, and I can accept that people want different things in and for their lives. It would be a dull world if we all wanted the same things and thought the same way.

Answer about Slickrun

The answer to your question, Keyboard, is one click to the desktop. There is an icon on the status bar that brings the desktop to the front of everything else. Voila!! All icons are now visible for use. *blows a raspberry* To each his own.

In Defense of Your Comments
Keyboard, I didn't say that the program was no good. I am sure that it has its advantages and disadvantages as does every piece of software I have ever used. It comes down to a personal preference. From what I saw, I couldn't see any real advantages for me. Let me answer your questions in sequence.

1. One click to the desktop using the desktop icon found on the status bar.

2. One click to the bookmarked webpage and a scroll through the list. However, I do not do a whole lot of surfing.

3. One click to the control panel and then a scroll.

4. A double-click to start WP program and one click to choose the document if it is in the last used list. Two if I have to scroll from the drives.

5. Starting several programs at once has a tendency to crash a machine. I generally allow one to launch completely before starting another, so multi-starts are not a necessity. If I want to start more than one, I click that desktop icon and back to my desktop I go.

6. The carpel tunnel problem did not come only from using a mouse, but rather overuse of both a keyboard and a mouse. Just plainly too much repetitive movement. This is why I use a combination of both.

7. If it is faster to keep my hands on the keyboard for any one thing, that is what I do. When it is faster to move my hand to the mouse, I do that.

8. Other programs have that feature built into them too. WordPerfect has a quick correct feature that will allow that same option for commonly used words.

9. Many program install themselves as "quickstart" icons on the status bar or in the start menu. Same difference.

10. I suspect the amount of resources that takes is not a tremendous amount. I've not encountered many problems with low resources except on older machines with a newer OS on it.

I prefer not to run too many programs at once if I can help it. Whether you start them with the keyboard or the mouse, the computer can crash due to conflicts and lost ROM.

So...if you prefer to use this program, by all means go ahead. I'm sure it is a great program for anyone who prefers to use the keyboard almost exclusively. I still prefer the option to use both.

Update—Slickrun

Well, Keyboard, I tried your Slickrun program. I have to say that I fail to see the time-saving feature of it. It is just as fast, if not more so, to double-click on the icon on my desktop that launches the program or single-click on the quickstart icon on the statusbar. Sounds like Slickrun is actually more time-consuming than time-saving. I think this program is for those who have a fear of mice!

Is Technology Going Too Far/Too Fast?

Money talks ... but all mine ever says is goodbye.

I read this quote the other day and had to chuckle. I know mine sure says goodbye in a hurry, and I do not live extravagantly. This makes me wonder how people can keep up with the costs of upgrading technology at its ever-rapid pace. I find there comes a point if what you have does what you need it to, why spend the money to upgrade to keep up with the Joneses. When it no longer suits your needs and you can afford to, by all means, go ahead. By then, it is probably less expensive to buy it anyway.

I have to shake my head at some of the advancements. I question whether they are really necessary, but I suppose some people find a use for them. For instance, as Keyboard pointed out, cell phones can have options for taking photos and for playing games. I believe these are used to entice the younger generation to pester their parents for them. I understand the photo quality isn't great, so you still need a camera for good pictures. The games are not as sophisticated as some of them are on computers, X-box, and Nintendo systems, so why bother to pay the extra money. My children both have cell phones and have gotten sucked into going on line with them to identify and download new "rings" for the phone. Oh please ... the money you pay for that is not worth it. They come with the choice of 3 or 4 rings. Pick one you can hear and go with it. It's a freakin' phone already!!!! (I have to admit that the funniest one I heard was a chicken clucking. I laughed at that one.)

Now I just read an article that describes how Timex (in the US) has created a new "Speedpass" timepiece. It allows you to wave your watch in front of the fill-up tanks at Esso or Exxon to pay for your gas. You can even use it at 400 McDonald's outlets in two US cities to pay for your food. It gives a whole new meaning to "time is money."

Our world is progressing so quickly, that people no longer know how to be patient and never seem to have enough money to buy the latest and greatest. A lot of the important parts of life are whizzing past them without being acknowledged. Life is a wonderful thing, with all its ups and downs. Take time to smell the roses (or the coffee, if you wish.)

Cell Phones

There are times when cell phones are very convenient. There are also times when cell phones are a nuisance. The following are some of the times I believe that people should not use cell phones:

- while driving a car
- while driving a bicycle
- when giving someone your credit card information
- while in church
- in the middle of a meeting
- while in a public washroom

I cannot believe it when someone actually answers their cell phone in a public washroom. Don't they know the person on the other end can hear the noises and identify where they are? Who wants to hear someone washing their hands and getting papertowel from the dispenser. Who wants to hear someone pee (or worse) and flush the toilet? What are they thinking? The caller doesn't need to talk to you that bad that it can't wait a few minutes. If they do, they will call back, and you can answer it when you leave the washroom. Please people, have some couth. Consider the privacy of the other people around you.

Dear Keyboard

It would appear that you got angry at my comments. First of all, let me tell you that I know that answering machines are not a new technology, but then again neither are computers, but we refer to the latest and greatest versions of them as "modern technology." I was one of those "soothing female voices" (your words) 24 years ago. I was the person making recordings on a reel-to-reel recorder to advise of where you could go to "u-pick" strawberries and vegy's on farms in our fair province. So...you see, I am quite aware of when this technology began.

Then today, I had to make a call to a business where I had to press 1 for English, Press 2 for ___, Press 1 for ___, then press 1 again for _____. The difference is, I was patient enough to wait to get to that last person (the correct person) to do my business.

I guess the real problem here is one of impatience, but that is a personal issue. Now today, I see that you prefer to be patriotic during daylight hours only. That would mean that you are patriotic less than half of the time. It would seem to me that those people who fly their flags 24/7 are much more patriotic than that. I don't see it having less meaning to fly it all the time as opposed to only during the daylight hours. Would you put the same emphasis on people? Would they only mean something to you during the daylight hours so that you turn them away at night? Or perhaps they would only serve your purposes at night and send them away during the day so they will not be seen?

Long story short—very little we call "modern technology" is really new, patience must be learned, and patriotism doesn't take a rest.

Technology at Sam's Place

Well, well, well, MouseGuy ... lookee at what we’ve got here!!!! It would appear that our friend, Keyboard, has found himself a piece of technology that he doesn’t like. Isn’t he the one who has preached to us about the pros of having the “latest and greatest in technology.” It seems he is afraid of his own voice! He will take the time to search for hours on the Net looking for that one particular piece of information, yet he is intimidated by phone systems that ask him to press a single button to help him with that “advanced search criteria” to get to the one person who can correctly answer that all-important question that he is burning to ask? He can be patient for Web pages to load but not to listen to a human voice tell him to press “1” for technical support? Go figure!!!! Doesn’t he know that leaving a message in his own voice gets across exactly the message that he wishes to have received? What is next? Will he be afraid of his own shadow? Oh dear me...

Cuddle up Close & Make a New Friend

I've heard this expression more than once in all my years travelling the transit system. Well today, I had to do that twice. On the way to work, my bus broke down in a most awkward place—right in the middle lane of a three-lane highway. We couldn't get off because the right lane that we would exit into had cars driving onto the off-ramp. Several buses stopped in the lefthand lane to ask if they wanted us to get on their bus, but the driver says no, that there is a bus coming. Coming to the middle of a highway??? Finally, a kind bus driver pulled into the right lane and blocked traffic so we could get on his bus safely. Of course, by then, I was left standing on a crowded bus. In order to get everyone on, we had to "cuddle close and make a new friend." Some of the comments were rather humourous. Humour was a good since we would be late for work.

Then in the afternoon, that bus was late taking me home too. Apparently there was an accident somewhere that slowed things down. When I got on this bus, it was pretty full, but alas there was a sit in the front between two ladies. I turned around and sat my butt in it only to discover why it had been left vacant. Both of these ladies had rather large ... hips so there was not much room. I had to sit on one cheek and rest the other cheek against this stranger's hip. Good thing she had a sense of humour!!! Anyway, I guess today I was cuddling up close and making new friends. Not exactly my style, but necessary under the circumstances.

I Can See Clearly Now

I have new windows, and I don't mean on my computer. Today, in the midst of all the rain and wind, new windows were installed in my apartment. They are really nice, and now I have a bit of a window sill as well, so that is an added bonus. My apartment is still cold, however, from the wind ripping in here all day. Now to paint the trim.

I knew this was being done and that my current venetian blinds (which I hate) would no longer fit because the windows are different. So...I ordered roller blinds cut to fit on an outside mount so that I could have more darkness for sleeping. I can't sleep well in the daylight, if at all. Well...guess what? When they put new trim around the windows, they put a slightly wider trim on than what they took off. Consequently, my new blinds will now not fit. I know they can be cut for an inside mount, but I have no idea how, and I am not certain if they can be returned since they were a custom fit. Go figure!! Good thing they were not expensive. Perhaps these blinds will fit the house I will buy sometime in the near future.

In the midst of having the windows installed, I was baking a chocolate cake. I thought I might as well since I was craving something sweet and the only room I could really stay in the whole time was the kitchen. However, this was a bad idea. With all 3 windows out at the same time, it created somewhat of a wind tunnel. The doors were banging so much and so hard and so often, that my cake dropped in the middle. I figured, oh well, I will be the only one to eat the darn thing anyway. As it turned out, the workers had a piece too. The youngest one of the men (he was probably about 24), had a big smile on his face when I asked him if he wanted a piece. He was commenting on how good it smelled when I was baking it, so I figured he would like some. He was very grateful to have it. At least some people are not afraid to try my baking with alternate flours. I'm getting used to being asked "What's in it?"

Age

Last night my son, my youngest, said to me, "Mom, do you realize that in 3-1/2 months I will be 19?"

"Yes," I replied. "I realized that just a few days ago. Boy, it makes me feel old."

"Do you know how old my friends think you are?" he asks.

"No, how old?" I said.

"They think you are about 31 or 32. They are surprised when I tell them how old you are." he told me.

Now ... the question becomes, do they think I look young for my age or do they think I was some kind of loose woman as a young adolescent? Good heavens, I hope it isn't the latter!!!!!

We Have a New Multimillionaire!

Nova Scotia's newest millionaire resides in Cape Breton. She lost her job last week and then won $10m last night on the Lotto 6/49 draw. The word has spread like wild fire already, and she has not yet collected the money.

That is good for her, but I would never let word out until I actually collected the money. People know who she is and where she lives. She could run the risk of someone breaking in and stealing that ticket before she even makes it to Moncton to cash it in. That would be stupid, mind you, since her picture was on the news, but one never knows what desperation may do to people, especially in Cape Breton with the high unemployment rate. I only hope she is smart with the money.

In any case, congratulations to her. It is nice to see the money come to Atlantic Canada. In fact, every major prize in last nights 3 draws went in Atlantic Canada. Wahoo!! It's about time.

You and I, We're Different

One of the most important lessons I have learned in the past several years is the difference between the word you and I. "You language" can be very intimidating and cause one to be defensive. "I language" completely changes the perspective and can actually accomplish what it is you set out to do. Let me try to explain.

Think about this for a moment. If someone was in your face saying "You shouldn't ..." "You never ..." "You always ...," wouldn't your first reaction be one of defense? Would you immediately shut out the person yelling at you? If you heard this type of thing over an extended period of time, would it change how you felt about them? Would it affect your self-esteem?

Now change this type of thing around. If they said to you "I don't like it when this happens." "I feel unappreciated when I am treated like this." "What is the problem here?" instead of "What have you done?"

Pointing to someone and saying "you...you...you" is not effective. You are placing blame. Remember that when you point a finger at someone, there are always three pointing back at you.

The only time I recommend using "you language" is for building someone up. "You are very special." "You are a wonderful person." "You are doing a terrific job." That's when it needs to be very personal.

Mind you, no one is perfect. We will all slip up and say the wrong thing from time to time and hurt someone. The difference is to recognize that you have done that and make apologies. It is also the responsibility of the person being told something to ask for clarification before assumptions are made.

This is my opinion only, and one way that I know of to diffuse potentially hurtful/harmful situations. I really liked this lesson and try to practice it as much as possible. I wish those pointing a finger at me over the years had known about this.

More Antics

Here's what happened to me today:

For the past 3 days, I have been running late in the morning and just arriving at the bus stop as the bus is about to pull in. So this morning, I thought I would multi-task to speed things up. I decided to brush my teeth while I was packing my backpack. That is not easy with one hand, so at one point I stopped brushing and tried using both hands to pack when I accidentally clipped the end of the toothbrush and sent it flying out of my mouth. I watched it as it proceeded to flip over my halfwall and right behind my freezer into a dust bunny, where I could not reach it. Now what do I do with a mouth full of toothpaste foam and no brush? The only thing one can do. Swish it around in the mouth and go spit. No time to rescue and clean that sucker before catching the bus!!!!

Speaking of buses, I have had this one driver driving either morning or afternoon for the past few days. I have to say there are not many people I don't like, but there is something about him that just doesn't quite sit right with me. He picks me up after work today and before I can even get seated, he is pedal to the metal and jerking the bus. I nearly fell flat on my face. I would never be able to read on a bus he is driving. He was all power or all brake and the bus ride was really jerky. I would be car sick at that rate. Who trains these guys anyway? Surely it isn't my two favourite trainers? Must have been prior to their time. Had to have been. ;o)

Morning Chuckles

This morning, I went to talk to our AD to vent a little. We both tend to do that from time to time. He listened patiently and empathetically while I vented. Then he began to chuckle. He told me he had a present for me, but it wasn't long-term. I was rather puzzled. He began to open a box that had arrived in his office. He slit it open and reached inside pulling out none other than a rubber chicken. He handed it to me laughing telling me I could take it to work out my frustrations. I immediately began wringing its neck. He, his assistant, and I were laughing to kill ourselves. It was great! How appropriate, since I had begun my venting with wanting to wring someone's neck.

That was not all that happened this morning. I started both my computers this morning. The one I needed to use most of the day would not display anything on the screen. I pushed the on/off button again, and got the RGB test pattern that said the monitor was working but the computer was not talking to it. I was puzzled. Then the display disappeared altogether again. I checked all the connections and they were in place, but I noticed that the plug had a dual connector on one end. I hadn't seen it before because I had not put it together. I restarted the computer. Still nothing. So I called the helpdesk. Two and one-half hours later, they finally appeared. The tech reached over and pushed a second button beside the on/off button and voila. THe display appeared and he laughed his ass off at me. I didn't know my monitor had dual output and a second button that allowed for the switching. Somehow the button got pushed between the time I left last night and got there this morning. I couldn't help but laugh, looked at the tech and said, "So sorry to have troubled you. Have a great day!" He continued to laugh and walked away saying "No problem. I like this kind of call. THey are easy." He was still laughing as he went around the other side of the office and back upstairs. What a doughhead!!! I'll know for next time (I hope).

They Came Two by Two

You know, it is an admirable thing that Noah did. He allowed God to take a drunkard and make an ark to save humanity from 40 days and nights of rain. (And to think a professional built the Titanic.) Then he called all the animals into the ark two by two, a male and female of each species so that the world may continue to thrive once more.

However, I can think of a few animals that I believe would have been best to leave behind. It has been rumoured that the unicorn was one such animal. I believe that is a myth. The animals that I believe should have been left behind have wings and 6 little legs. That's right!! It's those blessed blackflies and mosquitoes. I fail to see the significance of these creatures in our ecosystem except to fill the bellies of bats. Those wonderful little flies love me. The feeling, however, is not mutual. That is my complaint about this time of year. I can dress for the rain; I can dress for the wind; but I have a lot of difficulty keeping those little suckers away from me, no matter how I dress.

If I ever have a house again, I will put a bat house (perhaps several) in my backyard. I'm told they eat their body weight in mosquitoes each night. Fill 'er up boys!!!! As for the blackflies, once those leaves pop out on the trees and their little legs start to turn white, we can be free of them once again. Thank God!!!!

PS: Noah, couldn't you have left them behind?

Health Care Crisis?

Most say we have a health care crisis. Maybe, maybe not. Tonight on the news I watched a man speak who has written a book about the subject stating that we do not have a health care crisis. In his opinion, what we have is a sufficient supply but too much demand. He says that we have more doctors per capita than a lot of other countries, but we are going to see the doctor for more things than we need to.

Hmmm ... I think perhaps he is right in a sense. I know many people who run to the doctor with the first sign of a runny nose. Some will even go so far as to go to the emergency at the hospital if their doctor is not available. I'm not talking about real emergencies. I'm talking about the things that will probably pass with time, like simple viruses, not critical issues. Do they not realize that to step foot in an emergency room costs the tax payer $200? I also know people who should go to the doctor with symptoms indicative of something serious, but won't go because they feel they will be wasting the doctor's time.

There is one issue that really burns me. That is requiring a medical excuse for absenteeism from school or work, particularly school. On more than one occasion, I have had to waste my doctor's time to take one of my children to the doctor to get a medical excuse because they were feeling sick with a head cold and couldn't function to be in school. Failure to have an excuse would mean they could not graduate, even if they had A+ marks. Excuse me, but that is absurd!!! An already overstressed system does not need that kind of foolishness. I am taking up the doctor's time for something that will run its course and taking time away from some other patient who may have a serious illness and can't get in to see the doctor.

An overused system? Yes ... I think perhaps we might.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

I love all those cute little things kids say when you least expect them to. Here is a list of some things I thought were cute when a teacher asked her class what they had to say to God.

- Maybe Cain and Abel would not have killed each other if they had their own rooms. That's what my Mom did for my brother and I.
- In school they told us what you do. Who does it when you are on vacation?
- Are you really invisible or is it just a trick?
- Is it true my father won't get into heaven if he uses his bowling words in the house?
- Did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?
- I went to this wedding and they kissed right in the church. Is that OK?
- Did you really mean, "Do unto others as they do unto you?", because if you did, then I'm going to get my brother good.
- Thank you for my baby brother, but I think you got confused because what I prayed for was a puppy.
- Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.
- I want to be just like my Daddy when I get big, but not with so much hair all over.
- My brother told me about being born but it doesn't sound right. They're just kidding, aren't they?
- We read Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday school they said you did it. So, I bet he stole your idea.

Aren't kids cute? I just love them. I will leave you today with a quote I like:

You make a living from what you get; you make a life from what you give. Give til you heart feels full. Making a life is what it is all about.

Clarity Please!!

The English language is such a funny thing. So many words that sound the same but have different meanings. Tonight my daughter called me to tell me she watched part of the movie Willard in which there is an Gambian pouched rat. What I heard was poached rat. My first thought was that they cooked this thing. The thought of eating rats was gross. Then I thought they killed it when they weren't supposed to, much like poaching deer. What she actually meant was that it's cheeks have pouches like a chipmunk. Oh ... now I understand. I just couldn't imagine eating rats. Such a wonderful thing this English language is. Sheesh!!!!

Mouses or Is It Mice?

Mouses, mices, whatever you want to call them, are wonderful little tools, but can also cause pain. Ouch!!! I have been doing a lot of layout work the past two weeks. More than usual. Now ... I use a trackball to alleviate wrist and shoulder pain, but there is no perfect solution. I can roll the ball with my fingertips, but need to use my thumb for the button. Now my thumb is hurting. I told Keyboard about this, and he suggested that I am another MouseGuy, er MouseGal. (teehee) What can I say ... some things are just easier to do with a mouse, like placing graphics. Some things are just faster with a mouse. However too much mousing, or too much keyboarding, can both cause RMIs. So ... be careful.

Mystical Computer Chips

I find it really funny to get all these e-mails that say "Forward this to 10 people and your wish will come true within 2 days." "Forward this to 5 people and you will see a miracle in 30 minutes." "Don't forward this to anyone and you will receive bad luck."

Come on already!!!! Do you really think there are mystical computer chips in this machine? I have yet to open one up and find a genie, a leprechaun, or even Christ himself!!! This machine is made of metal, plastic, and silicon!!!! Didn't you take chemistry? I don't believe in good luck or bad luck. That is just the essence of life. It has its ups and downs, it triumphs and defeats. If you really want a miracle, try praying for one. You are sure to have more success that way than thinking that pressing the forward button to all your friends will produce the desired results.

Sure, I want good things to happen for me, and I would like them to happen now rather than later. I will admit I am impatient for some things, but I know that no computer in this world that is programmed by or used by a human will ever produce such results. So give it up already!!!! Send me the nice story or poem or prayer, but leave off that end part about forwarding it. I really hope you don't believe in all that crap.