"Would you like a toolbar with that?"

For some reason, major software makers have picked up a nasty habit of rolling some internet browser toolbar application into the install file for their products.

Several applications I use, both free and for pay, have a little screen in their setup where, if you are not careful, you will end up with a search toolbar installed.

I'd just like to take a quick moment to say KNOCK THAT OFF, and DON'T DO IT AGAIN.

I purchased your software, and it shouldn't be trying to sneak anything in during the install process- and what I mean by that is I should be able to install your application with default settings just by clicking "next" until I see "finished". Having to wonder when you might slip in some nonsense like the Yahoo toolbar, google toolbar, ask toolbar, etc, is not cool.

When I want a toolbar, I'll go find it myself.

Also, Nero, thanks for the useless crapware which does not show up under "custom install", so that it can be removed- "Nero Scout". It's nice that I have to worry about THAT, too.

"Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter."

What a dick.

The human entity we refer to as the President of the United States of America has just qualified, again, as the world's biggest vacuous boob.

This sound bite brought to you by Karl Rove and the jerks who are probably mining an orphan farm for oil while the world is busy being pissed about this comment- not that anyone's trying to hide the wholesale criminal behavior of the white house.

Pathetic.

NVidia, SVideo Out, Netflix and DRM

The other day I went to watch a streaming video on netflix, and I started to get DRM issues- and then I had to re-install the little add-on to make it work. It still didn't work. It popped up some kind of microsoft error web page which told me next to nothing.

If you have Netflix, an Nvidia video card, and are trying to use the S-Video out to watch netflix movies on your television, the bad news is that Nvidia goofed and you can't.

If you've called Netflix, their solution is to hook up a second monitor, blah blah blah. Nobody wants a second monitor in their living room.

If you don't use the pc for much more than just watching Netflix movies on your TV, there is a simple solution: uninstall the Nvidia drivers. They are what allows the DRM to "function", that is, block you from watching what you've paid to watch.

Restart your pc. Windows will start up with its native drivers, attempt to search for something better, and if you direct it correctly, it will fail and now you're done- you want it stuck with the 'generic' windows drivers because they don't support the built-in DRM on the Nvidia card.

Watch all the Netflix you want, and hopefully someday Nvidia will fix their dumb old driver issue.

John Yoo: Yoo Weenie

An excellent example of our worthless government: John Yoo and his evasion when questioned by John Conyers. Yoo wouldn't be doing this if he knew he'd actually get in trouble for it.

As a law professor at a university now, Yoo is no longer bound to kiss the hineys of the bosses from previous job and toe their line, but he still does, most likely because they'll be the ones saving him from his evasion.

It's really no wonder people just shrug and turn their heads away when faced with the issues our country's government has- it's a vacationland for scoundrels, crooks, liars, and people who don't want to step on toes and lose their jobs because of it.

"Get paid a lot to smile for the camera and pretend you're actually changing the world your supporters live in."

[insert standard misanthropic close here]

The Little Sandwich Shop

There was a little sandwich place on Hawthorne in Southeast Portland which was one of those hidden-away gems that you hope to find when you move somewhere. They baked lots of different snacky items as well as the bread they made their sandwiches with. I went there a lot when I lived right up the street.

Well, after many years of business, Bower's Bakery has retired from business. I don't live over there any more, so I wasn't there to notice they'd closed up shop at the end of April.

It felt sad to see the place empty, with just a farewell note taped to the window.



The note said:

"After 23 years of baking, we have decided to hang up our aprons. Wednesday, April 30th will be our last day. Please join us this Saturday, April 26th, for an open house so we can thank you for being such great friends. Thanks again, Dave, Jessica, Steven, Natalie, Daniel."

So long, Bowers Bakery. We miss you.