Archive for December, 2007

Microsoft is trying to kill me

During the Christmas Homes Tour (which went very well … thank you to all who attended) I tried to display construction photos of my house on my computer. I used the slide show feature that is part of Windows Vista — huge mistake. The slide show locked up the computer over and over. Yes, yes … I should’ve known better. All “features” of Vista are actually attempts to kill the user through terminal frustration. I knew that and tried it anyway.

Traditionally you could hit control-alt-delete to recover from one of Windows’ many many many glitches. No more. Vista doesn’t respond to control-alt-delete. Which makes sense — can’t allow anything that would lessen the user’s frustration. The reset button has also been removed from computers. The only way to unlock the stupid thing is to hold in the power button for 8 seconds until it shuts down. Graceful!

The slide show isn’t the only part of Vista that locks up. Pretty much anything that’s Microsoft-made locks up sooner or later (mostly sooner). Luckily other software publishers aren’t in on the plot to kill all computer users, so their software works much better.

I wonder if anyone has ever studied how many computer users have heart-attacks and strokes out of pure frustration every year? I bet the number is in the tens of thousands. Which makes Microsoft one of America’s leading killers, right up there with drunk drivers and trans-fats.

3 comments December 11th, 2007

Christmas Decorations Close-up

Here are some better close-up photos of Christmas decorations at my house. Onancock Christmas Homes Tour today, 2-6.

Christmas wreath

Christmas wreath on my front door. Very nice wreath sold by the OBCA this year.

Christmas wreath

Second wreath on the wall of the porch.

Partridge in a pear tree ornament holder.

The famous gumdrop tree, fruitcake from our town’s Corner Bakery, and Peppermint Bark Shortbread balls (”bite size hand cut pieces of shortbread drenched in dark chocolate then again in peppermint bark coating speckled with red candy pieces”) purchased at the North Street Gourmet Market downtown.

My “craft project” - a branch cut from a tree in my yard, stuck into a flowerpot full of sand, with 3 dove ornaments clipped to the branches. Instant modern Christmas decoration. Peace!

Add comment December 8th, 2007

Interior Decorated

Here are some interior photos of my home … the first I’ve posted although I’ve lived here for a year. Christmas decorations are up. Enjoy.

reindeer

living room

living room

gumdrop tree

Gumdrop tree!

bedroom

bedroom

Moravian Star ontop of one of my wardrobes.

bedroom

View onto the balcony, with the outdoor Christmas tree visible.

Add comment December 7th, 2007


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