I tried the Mac laptop today and didn't get very far. I did get Opera installed and started fiddling with it and found that everything that had been a single key action (or one key and a click) was now a two-key (or two-key and click) action. There was a two-key and click that still is two-key and click, but the keys are now awkward, even for a ( Read more... )

I've been using linux on one of jmaynard's old laptops for a while and I generally like it, but there are a few things that could be a bit easier, such as getting wireless to work fully. One way out of that would to go to a newer machine, and that's possible as Jay has a Mac laptop that he isn't using. That brings with it a different problem: Steve "do ( Read more... )

Most of the vehicles I've driven, especially those I've driven for any length of time, have had manual transmissions. Occasionally I'd drive something with an automatic transmission and those vehicles had the standard straight-line PRNDL or straight-line PRNDL21 controls, whether on the floor or on the steering column. I had, until very recently ( Read more... )

Yesterday afternoon I wound up taking a few pictures with an unfamiliar digital camera. I forget the make, which is a bit unfortunate as it's probably one I best avoid. The digital cameras with which I am somewhat familiar, which are jmaynard's, have a certain shutter button behavior that I've gotten used to.

To take a picture with the cameras I'm used ( Read more... )

We replaced the microwave oven last night. The place we bought the new one from took the old one for a few dollars so the disposal problem is solved. As the title reveals, the new one is an Amana. It'll do. It will take some getting used to, however.

The new one is white, which matches the rest of the kitchen with the exception of the ( Read more... )

I've been setting things up on icelandic and have run into an old complaint of mine: "Kewl" default skins or themes that try too hard to be coolkewl and end up being ugly or difficult to read.

There's nothing really wrong with skins and themes in and of themselves. But is it too much to ask that the default be the "boring" useful, readable look ( Read more... )

With this post, rillaspins reminded me of a bit about the water dispensers at work. We used to have the typical water cooler with the 5-gallon or so jug that would need replacing every day or two. Then a while back we got these gadgets that filter the city-supplied water into something that doesn't taste as miserable as city-supplied water.

These ( Read more... )

That message is one I expect to see if I made changes to some file and tried to exit the program without having saved the file. That's fine. I like that reminder. It's useful and has saved me headaches and re-work.

What I do not like is using Word, saving the file, printing it, and then being asked if I want to save changes. Huh? I made no ( Read more... )

Someone had a list of questions phrased to make somewhat common things seem rather silly. But the it's just the phrasing that does it. A little thought about how things probably actually happened defuses the phrases. It spoils the joke, but sometimes a right answer is more useful than a moment of alleged humor. So from time to time I'll post ( Read more... )