John Lamansky

I found this quite amusing: according to the Washington Post, a definitions update to Microsoft AntiSpyware has reportedly caused the program to identify Norton AntiVirus as a keylogger and password stealer and to suggest making component removals that will cripple the Norton installation.

Yep, sure looks like Microsoft is getting ready to launch Windows OneCare.

[Update: Hmm… according to CNet, Norton products aren’t affected, but rather only Symantec AntiVirus and Symantec Client Security. Who do we believe: Washington Post or CNet?]

I am convinced that my WordPress installation is half WordPress 1.5 and half WordPress 2.0. As detailed previously, I had a bit of trouble upgrading to WordPress 2.0. Besides the fact that my theme has a functions.php file now, the main thing I have noticed is that my Quicktags toolbar has changed. That’s the post composition toolbar that has links to common HTML tags.

First of all, the “b” button used to be called “strong,” and the “i” button used to be called “em.” In addition, I don’t remember the “del,” the “ins,” the “more,” or the “lookup” buttons being there. But I’m glad those new buttons are there. Cool stuff.

I have to give credit to WordPress. Even though it’s a half-upgraded installation, it still works.

A government secret has been leaked on Google AdWords: Iowa is experiencing major climate change!

Okay Uncle Sam, then why did we have this huge snowstorm last week?

Hmm… snow hurricanes?

When I was googling for info on Office 12, I saw this unusal Google AdWord:

Hmm… either Wal-Mart has an exclusive deal with Microsoft or they’re just trying to lure visitors to their website. But after clicking through on the ad, I was taken to a product page for Corel WordPerfect Office 12. Go figure.

Once this summer we were camping with our grandparents. We decided to play a game of Monopoly, since it was our custom to do so while camping with them. So we got the Monopoly game set up.

Then there were the bugs, flying around the picnic table on which we were about to play. My brothers and I didn’t really mind the bugs, but my grandma apparently did, so she decided to get her Deet-containing bug spray. Of course, I was automatically repulsed by the thought of using a Deet-containing bug spray, after hearing how powerful the chemical was and how it had been frowned upon by government health agencies. But I figured, “it must be okay; people use it all the time.” So my grandma sprayed it on and around our Monopoly playing area. I really would have preferred that she would have done it before our Monopoly game had been set up, but I couldn’t really protest; it was too late anyway. So we sat down to play.

Suddenly I saw something very frightening: the bugspray was apparantly eating right through the ink on the Monopoly board. (Whoops, there goes St. Charles Place.) The ink didn’t really smear (there was a little smeared ink on the dice, but that was it), it just seemed to vanish. Very disturbing. And they want you to put that stuff on your skin?!

My dad is a carpenter who does marvelous construction work, and one day he got a sticky note from one of his customers that read:

I sure am pretty!!!! Thanks

I kid you not.

I read an article from Microsoft Watch that read:

The beta refresh also will include support for longer descriptions of spyware from Microsoft, Bryan said.

Of course, this is just a writing mistake, but still…

In the July 2005 issue of PC Magazine, I found three big “boo-boos” within eight pages. All three errors were within an article about notebooks written by Bill Howard, Sean Carroll, and Cisco Cheng (just so we know who to blame ;-)).

1. Page 90: A review of the Apple PowerBook G4 showed a screenshot of the notebook running… Office PowerPoint 2003?!
2. Page 93: In the “Notebook Accessories” side section, there is a review of the “Etymotic ER6″ earphones that reads, “These great sounding phones form a snug fit in the ear canal using foam or silicone tips and reduce outside noise by about 30 dB. Just make sure to carry spare tips with you because these detach easily.”
3. Page 98: In a review of the Toshiba Qosmio G25-AV513, the writer said, “The 48-Wh battery, on the other hand, lasted a dissapointing 1 minute 59 seconds.”