Officially Migrating To Vista

Today I officially migrated my desktop business computers to Microsoft Windows Vista. I deployed the Windows Vista Ultimate OS, as it provides complete Media Center functionality, as well as access to some cool new Ultimate Extras, such as the Windows DreamScene animated desktop wallpaper.

Most of the software incompatibilities I would encounter (such as was experienced earlier with QuickBooks, Remote Data Backups, Grisoft AVG antivirus, etc.) have been eliminated. Now that Vista has been out for about a year, third-party software publishers have had an opportunity to tweak their apps to better work with Microsoft's latest desktop OS.

Huckabee's OK In My Book

It's refreshing to see a politician mention Christ and prove unapologetic. That's just what Mike Huckabee's done this Christmas season. More power to him.

He recently ran an ad stating what's important this time of year "is the celebration of the birth of Christ and being with family and friends." Predictably, those subscribing to strict schools of political correctness took offense.

Huckabee's response?

"Forgive me, but I thought that was the point of the whole day."

He's right, of course.

The second chapter of Luke lays it out:

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

You can read more, free, online.

What Channel Is Bengals-Browns?

So yet again I turn on my television to watch an NFL football contest featuring the Cincinnati Bengals, but what do I find? Network broadcasters choose instead to televise within the Louisville market an essentially meaningless Indianapolis Colts game. Despite possessing one of the more storied rivalries in professional football, and even though a victory would earn the Bengals’ opponent their first playoff berth in five years, the Cincinnati Bengals-Cleveland Browns contest amounted to nothing in broadcasters’ eyes.

Why is that? Louisville is only 90 miles from Cincinnati, yet 115 miles (some 27% farther according to GeoBytes) from Indianapolis. Empirically, Louisville should be a Cincinnati town, then, when it comes to major league baseball and football.

Somewhere our culture took a distinct shift for the worse. In a time when Britney’s latest debacle or another socialite’s most recent arrest generates more news coverage than more important issues, we should recognize we’re in trouble.

While no slight is intended toward Colts fans – even if their franchise originated by moving cowardly in the middle of the night under cover of darkness – sports should be about loyalty. But, like other values, win-loss records now rule sports fans’ hearts. No one seems willing to stick out the lean years to will their local team to victory. Instead, it’s much easier to jump ship and join a different winner’s bandwagon.

Such sports fans should be ashamed. The most important sports legacies – the US Olympic team victory over the Soviets, the New York Giants dramatic walk-off homer to win the National League pennant in 1951 and the NFL’s 1967 Ice Bowl Championship Game won by the Green Bay Packers are but three examples – are that much more exalted due to the affinity the long-loyal fan base held for those teams.

Fans should invest emotionally in their teams. That doesn’t mean ranting and raving at poor officiating, calling for the coach’s head after a tough loss or bemoaning a star’s poor performance. No, sports should be equated with investing in a team for the long haul. Victories mean that much more when the winner is truly your team, an entity with whom you’ve enjoyed the ups, downs and in-betweens.

But unfortunately, network broadcasters are all too eager to cater to wishy-washyness in the pursuit of advertising dollars. It’s no longer about your team, the game or the actual physical contest itself. And that’s too bad. I don’t know about any one else, but I’d much rather stick with one team forever, enjoying its outstanding seasons that much more when they occur, than prove fickle willing to jump ship every few years to join a trendy winner.

Santa Switcher Ad

Seems about the right time of the year to post this little gem:



Merry Christmas!

Too Hard On The Mac?

OK, in a previous post I may have been to hard on my Apple Powerbook (and the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros, for that matter).

In case you missed it, I complained that Macs don't offer integrated cellular data cards, nor does Apple itself offer OEM docking stations. Both of those features would be nice, of course.

What makes me sorry now, however, is a single sentence I penned, "It's a better OS, but I live in the real business world."

The fact is, the Mac's a better PC. It's faster than a similarly equipped Windows system, it's more secure and it's better built than most Windows boxes by far.

Let the record state, too, that the same cellular data service I'd wish to utilize on a Windows laptop is just as easily available on the Mac. I can buy a Cingular USB key that supports the Mac, no problem.

Docking stations are another issue. Steve Jobs just doesn't like them. That's fine. If I really needed one I'd just buy a BookEndz.

What was really frustrating me when I wrote the original post is the expense of a new fast laptop (budget, say, $1500), the monthly expense of cellullar broadband ($60) and the cost for a Ram Mount (say $200 after shipping and tax).

That's a lot. I think I'll stick with my Mac, and wi-fi, as a result. At least for now.

Flirting With Mobile Broadband

I'm dangerously close to committing to mobile broadband. AT&T boasts its 3G/Edge network supports up to 1.4Mbps downloads and 800Kbps uploads. Monthly fees look to run $59.99, but I could likely 86 my PDA data plan, which would save me $25 a month. Thus, the difference would run only $35 more per month.

Frequently I find myself requiring Internet access while on the road and in between client calls. Mobile access to maps and email, and remote access to client systems, is becoming a necessity.

I'd like to purchase a new laptop with a built-in cellular data card. Dell's Latitude's can, and I think I could configure a ThinkPad the same way.

Apple's don't, and neither does Apple natively support docking stations, so that option's out. Sorry. It's a better OS, but I live in the real business world.

Just the other day I was waiting for a client to arrive. While parked outside (using my crappy Sempron-powered Compaq Presario) I was able to join the client's wireless network (that I set up, thus I knew the WPA2 key), check and respond to email, and remotely connect to another client's server and set up a shared production calendar.

I knocked off several to-do list items just while waiting ten minutes for the client to show up! And that was using 802.11 borrowed through office walls. Imagine how much more productive I could be with a Ram mount checking email at stop lights (ha!), ordering product in parking lots, etc.! Plus, I'd never have to resort to Web mail again (as everyone from Panera to others block common email ports).

Bobby Petrino Does It Again

I tried not to post this note. I really did.

I'm amazed that the Where-Will-Bobby-Coach-Next issue is an issue again; no slight to the man, but he really does move around (or at least interview with other programs seemingly annually).

ESPN's breaking the story. Petrino's leaving Atlanta.

Where's he going? The NFL was supposedly the destination, after all. Will he turn around the Bengals? Help resuscitate the Dolphins? Is it New York City and the Jets' bright lights?

Nope.

Arkansas.

Christmas Cards Are Ordered; Poly May Be Back

This year's Christmas cards are ordered; they'll likely be hitting the mail within ten days or so.

I tried several sites before settling upon Apple's iPhoto tools. DotPhoto had nice postcards, but the site's preview feature failed to work within four different browsers on two different operating systems. Snapfish's post cards included a border that chopped Hannah's head off, and I didn't feel like creating accounts on other sites just to see what offerings were available.

Apple, by far, had the most elegant cards. While its prices were higher, I've learned the value of opportunity costs and bit the bullet.

Meanwhile, I can't believe the fall's almost over. The season has really flown by, at least in my experience. Between work, home improvements, volunteer activities, and a broken arm (Andrew) here and bad viruses (Hannah and Erik) there, the past eight to ten weeks have sped by.

Worse, the polymyositis may be returning. The familiar neck and shoulder pain is back, and my hands and fingers are proving stiff the last few mornings. I've been on 15mg of methotrexate a week. I was hoping that would curb this crap, but it's not looking to be the case. Another round of prednisone may be in order; but I'm hoping to avoid that. We'll see. Either way I'm trying not to let it ruin the Christmas season.