Monday, September 01, 2003

It sure feels like everyone has a computer virus. During the past month at work I've been dealing with Sobig and MSBlast on a daily basis. I'm not sure about this, but it seems that everyone who gets the virus must be living under a rock. The news about the virus is all over TV and radio, all over the Internet… And every time someone gets the virus, they're completely perplexed. Clueless. I guess that for some people, the computer is such a mysterious thing (like a UFO sighting) that everything about it is without basis. I've written over three hundred e-mails, and quite a handful of articles about viruses, and it still just doesn't make sense. I could just as well write in Spanish. (?Donde esta el bano? No me gusta la sopa. El pollo es muy mal. Tengo dolor de estomago.) See kids? I've been out of school for over 12 years, and I could still pass as an ignorant American tourist in any Mexican restaurant! So here's the deal with worms, trojans and viruses: They come in many forms. More recently, they come disguised as e-mail from people you know, increasing your chances of opening things. There doesn't necessarily need to be an attachment in the e-mail. Several e-mail viruses launch themselves as soon as you read (or preview) the e-mail. Some (such as the Lovsan/MSBlast epidemic) don't even arrive in e-mail. So then, how can you adequately protect yourself? The things you can do: Get antivirus software and learn how to keep it up-to-date. Next, use a firewall program to protect your computer from worms. This is especially important for people with always-on Internet connections. Finally, try to stay on top of things - all the antivirus web sites have information about what new threats are circulating, and what you can do to protect yourself. If Uncle Joe isn't likely to send an e-mail called "Fw: Your Information" then don't open it. Or, just disregard everything I just said, and help keep a guy like me in business! J

Saturday, August 23, 2003

It's been half a month since anything has been added to this section. There have been a couple minor updates to this site - including the shopping section - a handy little area I put together to help some of my friends with their online shopping activities. I've been doing a LOT of work on a couple other sites (I maintain over half a dozen web sites) so there hasn't been a lot of time for all the frivolous fun of updating this one. The conversion van is still for sale. I'm looking for something else - like a mid-90's Bronco, Explorer or something similar. It's still too busy at work, and I need to put a new roof on the house at The Ranch. I think it also needs a coat of paint again. Or, maybe I just need to finish up from last time… I'm still working on my healthy-eating program. The nice thing is that I don't adhere to a rigid plan - that wouldn't work for me - but instead am eating a little less, a little healthier, and supplementing my regular diet with Herbalife products. If there's anyone interested in Herbalife nutritional products, let me know. I've looked at quite a few nutritional supplements out there - these seem to be the better of the group.

Friday, August 08, 2003

Oh I am so glad it's Friday! The company I work for had a little office party after work - a chance for everyone to get together and have some food and a few drinks. It actually works out well for our office, because we're one company split into two locations - so it's not like we see each other all day, every day… The Crow Wing County Fair is still going. Maybe the rides don't stay together like they used to, but no one's been killed yet - I'll probably go this weekend. Everyone was crabby today - people were a little "off" everywhere I went. It's really strange - sort of like a full moon, but that's not for several days. I'm sure I'll have a few things to say about that, as well. Now I'm tired. I'm going to bed.

Thursday, August 7, 2003 

My computer business is picking up. It's sort of growing proportionately with the amount that my enjoyment of my day job declines. In four hours working from home, I earn about as much as I do spending eight hours working for someone else. There are plenty other reasons beside the financial considerations, too. Part of the five-year plan I put together three years ago was to become self-reliant. So far, I'm on-track. I'll look back at this entry in a couple years and see how it compares.

Wednesday, August 6, 2003

Today I decided to start eating healthier. Though I'm not exactly unfit, it wouldn't hurt me to enjoy a more health-conscious lifestyle. So, for breakfast I enjoyed a V-8 beverage. For lunch I had a small salad. And for dinner I consumed half a fried chicken, a plate of mashed potatoes and gravy, some green beans, a dinner roll and another salad, three glasses of sweetened iced tea, and a fat slice of strawberry-rhubarb pie with four scoops of ice cream and a glass of milk to wash it all down. That was really healthy.

Tuesday, August 5, 2003

It's Tuesday. For everyone's enjoyment, I've decided to start my online journal. And I have to admit, it's one of those ideas that start out feeling like the right thing to do at the time, but I'm sure it will change.