I was helping a friend with her computer the other day and she went into Microsoft Word to show me something. Across the top of the screen was a message in dark red on light red background saying (more or less) “your version of Word is no longer supported. You Read more…
I just (really, just now) read a new scientific study suggesting that sodas might be bad for your health. Gosh, what an idea. [That’s sarcasm…] Let me see: Carbonation leaches calcium from your body, leading to osteoporosis and various other conditions. The grotesque amount of sugar in them is damaging to Read more…
Advertisers: stop it. You talk yourselves out of a sale, every time you try to coerce instead of convince. I never yield to emotional-based, irritation-based(1), slogan-based or razzle-dazzle-based advertising. If you can’t convince them with logic, baffle them with bull-shit. I became (mostly) immune to such stuff shortly after 8 Read more…
Dear Microsoft: On what planet does it possibly make sense to devolve your error messages and error handling from vague, cryptic but partially useful text to Something went wrong? That was not how to “fix” your systems. The way to fix them was to hire high-level computer folks with excellent Read more…
Hey Y’all CEO’s of the Computer Industry… I know (or it says so, at least, in the advertising) that you believe you have made all your toys and gadgets easy and “user friendly,” but some one needs to point out to you. They are not easy to use. I’ve been Read more…
I want to propose a word that almost perfectly describes the actions of government bureaus and most government officials and an increasing percentage of so-called professionals: Specious Apparently good or right though lacking any real merit. Superficially pleasing only; no true content. A marvelous word, really, though a shame that Read more…
Why is there no psychological screening for folks hired, appointed (self, or otherwise) or elected to public or celebrity offices? From the DMV counter clerk, all the way up to the President of a nation or the hottest radio personality (who may have more actual power(1), over all, than any Read more…
Mostly in Star Trek, but in other Hollywood-style sci-fi as well, there is a very common, very persistent, extremely ignorant error that crops up. Out in deep space, away from any star, our intrepid heroes encounter a “rogue comet” and that comet, out in deep space away from any star, Read more…
Just a quick question: When (the heck!) did “family movies” become PG rated? To put it another way: when did violence and “questionable” content become “family” material? Try to find a “G” rated movie these days. G-rating seems to have gone the way of 8-tracks and floppy disks(1). Personally, I Read more…
There are a lot of things in this website that I complain about (point out, think over, mumble around, hope some of you will get enthused over helping to change and improve…), but here’s the fundamental question: How did all that happen? How could any thinking, rational, emotionally mature(1) person Read more…
You want to put an end of SPAM phone calls and emails? It’s simple. Never, ever buy anything, take any action, or even volunteer the time of day (literally) to anyone who called you out of the blue. Buy NOTHING from an unsolicited phone call. Even if (especially if!) it Read more…
There’s a thing emerging, called “Long CoVid,” the symptoms of which sounds awfully familiar to me. Admittedly, there’s not much known about the condition yet, though, in truth not much is really known yet about CoVid or the many vaccines that have been simultaneously produced and released under conditions of Read more…
An utterly fabulous quote from Colonel Sherman Potter (MASH, 4077th): “There’s a Right Way and a Wrong Way to do everything, and the Wrong Way is to keep trying to make everybody else do it the Right Way.” You know what? It just doesn’t get any clearer than that. [30] Read more…
Considering that it takes 15, 18, even as much as 30 years to reach our physical peak, why do we think that a few weeks of exercise should restore the “damage” done by lounging on the sofa for a decade or two? You know what I mean? [30]
I just came across the term “deep tech.” Apparently It’s meant to describe really, really great tech application / engineering. Such as why the new Space Programs are working so well. I find the term misleading. It’s saying that “the heavy, conscientious, thorough application of technology” is unusual. (Unfortunately, it Read more…
So I was on the internet the other day and came across this ad for Banking services. What the heck is “Cha-Ching” ??? The expression is “Ka-Ching!” Hello? It’s spelled like it sounds(1), dude? Are you trying to tell me that 1) banks — professional, money handler banks Read more…
When we are growing up, it takes us 15, 18, even 30 years to reach out peak of strength and endurance. Why then, after sitting our duffs for the next 30 years or so, and then getting all excited to “get it back,” do we get discouraged when it doesn’t Read more…
So I ordered a something (computer parts, in this case) and it came in a United States Postal Service (USPS) Priority box. Normal enough. I open it up and there’s another USPS priority box inside, close to the size of the actual item being shipped, and this is also wrapped Read more…
Some of you will remember Jackie Gleason the actor and comedian, many of you will not. He’s part of this posting for two reasons, his famous line “How Sweet It Is!” after drinking a little from the cup of “coffee” he would be given shortly after getting out on stage, Read more…
If you’ve been reading any of these posts you might be able to guess my reaction when ever I see some product in a store with the label on it “As Seen On TV,” as if that’s a selling point. In case it isn’t obvious, what’s my reaction? I Read more…