Monday, April 14, 2003

HERE'S A FEW FUNNY READS TO PASS THE TIME If you're not busy, here's a few funny articles I came across today. The first is a supposed interview with a hacker who "authored" the XP.BSOD virus. The other is a parody of an official US Government website offering anti-terrorism advice. File under Blog Talk 9:03:25 PM    Go ahead, make my day  []

"FUN" WITH UNIX It was a slow day at work today. So, with idle hands being the Devil's tools, I decided "wouldn't it be a good idea to play around with Unix" on my PowerBook. You think I would've learned from my past experiences messing around with Linux, but no, I had to move up to the Big Boy. Since Apple just released a new beta for X11, I decided to download it and replace my old version. Since we still have dial-up at work and it's a 42MB download I managed to stay out of trouble for quite some time. Then, I just happened to have a copy of Fink on CD so I attempted to install it. Fink is allegedly a "nifty" open-source project that ports Unix software to OS X. Well, the trouble is Fink and Virex 7.2 won't play nice with one another. Fink wants to install a /sw folder but Virex got there first. So, after consulting Fink's website for "ideas", I decided to use Terminal to rename the existing /sw folder to /swold. Fink then had no problem installing. The trouble was, now Virex didn't work. Since even Terminal refused to let me remove the new /sw folder I renamed it /swfink and renamed the /swold folder back to /sw. Bingo! Now Virex works again. Next, in order to "use" Fink I edited the default Terminal shell's configuration file to execute Fink's initialization file when a new shell opens. Yeah, like I even know what the hell I'm talking about. Next I attempted to have Fink scan its online database for available Unix programs. No dice. Terminal wouldn't play nice and find Fink. I'm beginning to understand it's name. Remaining optimistic to the end, I downloaded and installed FinkCommander. Well, whatever the hell it's supposed to do is a mystery to me since it "couldn't find Fink" either. Having decided that I'd done enough damage for one day, I bravely exited Terminal and returned to Mac's Aqua GUI. Thankfully, it appears that no damage has been done. Ah, the power of stupidity! File under Geek Talk 8:39:38 PM    Go ahead, make my day  []

HEY KIDS! GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS!   Yes, once again we bring you PromoGuy's Monday Mission 3.15   1. When I was a kid, I used to always get Strep Throat. I seemed to get it every year. Are there any illnesses that you seem more susceptible to than others?   Cabin fever in the winter.   2. A recent poll stated that "Michael" and "Ashley" are the number one baby names in New York. (However, in Oklahoma it seems like there are two or three girls named "Madison" everywhere you go). What are your favorite boy and girl names? What names do you think are trendy or overused? If you have children, would you give them the same name if you had another chance?   For a boy, Christopher and for a girl, Sarah. We would not change our son’s name.   3. Any current songs on the radio (or elsewhere) that you think are pure crap? Why don't you like it?   Almost everything you hear on the radio now is pure crap because accountants and demographic consultants are deciding what you and I get to listen to. Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen wouldn’t stand a chance if they were just getting started now. Could you imagine either of them on American Idol?   4. I used to play the trumpet in High School. I was never very good and always seemed to be last chair. I tried to play it again last week and it was a pretty sad sight. Can you (now or in your youth) play any musical instruments? Do you still play?   I used to play the trumpet up to college when I played in the orchestra. I was pretty good but I haven’t played it in years. My experience with picking it up recently was the same as yours.   5. What is the most recent self-improvement program (fitness, weight loss, learning something new) that you began? Did you stick with it? Why or why not?   I joined a new gym but sadly I have not been going on a regular basis because my schedule is so overloaded.   6. How would you look in a Hooters uniform? - provided by Hootress   You wouldn’t want to look.   7. Have you ever had a dream where you interacted with a celebrity (sex or otherwise)? What happened? - provided by Kat Lively   Not that I can recall.   BONUS: Do you believe in love, do you believe it's true?    Yes and yes.   Today's Comment Question: Who are your current favorite male and female actors?   My favorite male actor is Al Pacino. My favorite female actor is . . . hmm . . . I can’t decide.   File under Monday Mission. 7:36:58 PM    Go ahead, make my day  []