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Greetings, Quotaholics:
I use the internet a lot, and I have been doing so for over a decade.
I began my second college career in 1998 and learned how to do very specific
searches for very esoteric things. I had one professor who loved to make
us all hop through hoops each weekend to search for something and then
on Monday tell us what we really needed for our search efforts. It did
two things. First, I waited for Monday to search and second – I got very
good at searching.
Google,
Inc. did not exist in August of 1998, but they had just gotten a check
for $100 to help them start. By September of that year, they were set
up in someone’s garage and working. They asked for incorporation papers
and hired their first employee that same month. By December PC Magazine
was praising the site and putting it on the Top 100 Web Sites for 1998.
I was still using AltaVista.
I
can’t tell you when I first found and began to use the search engine,
but it has been years now. Even people who don’t use the internet, such
as my elderly aunt, know what "googling" something or someone
means. The definition, based on the trademarked name for the company,
is not just in slang dictionaries, but is included in the Merriam-Webster
Dictionary, as well.
Microsoft
has a desire to be a world leader in all things computer. They are remarkable
successful with their Windows OS and their Microsoft Office Suite. There
have been browser wars for years now with Internet Explorer competing
against a variety of other companies’ browsers. Google itself has a browser
called Chrome. Now Microsoft has a new search
engine.
Google
doesn’t really need to own the world, but they are the premiere search
engine. They are remarkably successful in this venture, as Microsoft is
in the OS and Office applications sector. Both companies have tried to
create operating systems for mobile phones, with Microsoft’s Windows Mobile
up against Google’s Android. Neither is burning up the phone lines.
Microsoft has
entered once again into the domain dominated by Google. They have given
us Bing.com, their search engine. There
are some nice features. I’ve only just looked at to write this article.
I like the pretty picture with the little facts, especially since some
are based on history and we all know how I like that.
But still, Google
is the place to be for searches. It is fast, clean, and accurate. Microsoft
has spent millions on an ad campaign ($80 go $100 million) and they say
it is working. Traffic is being driven to their new search site. Well,
yes. Some traffic. The curious are looking, but that doesn’t mean they
are going to give up their old patterns.
Most
people are happy with Google. They are not looking for a new product because
the old one works perfectly well. It isn’t broken; there is no need for
a fix. Most browsers can include a Google search toolbar. All of my browsers
do, and I have several.
Those
who watch
businesses have pointed out that although it is illegal, Microsoft
could create a "bug" that would make it impossible to load Google.com
onto Windows machines. It could take a while to fix the "bug"
and in that time, Google would be financially wounded, if not destroyed.
Both of these internet giants have to keep working at various money losing
projects to keep the idea of "accidental bugs" away from the
rest of us.
What
is the likelihood of you clicking on that link up there and checking out
the new Microsoft search engine? Did you try it? Isn’t it pretty? Does
pretty matter? Did you find the search feature, the actual working of
the engine to be better than Google? Do you even have any parameters to
measure such a thing?
Would
you switch to Bing as your default search engine? Could they or should
they have chosen a better name? If this worked, would you want to be binging
something? Had you even heard of this search engine before?
Searchingly,
Comment
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“Things are only impossible until they’re not.” - Jean-Luc Picard, ‘Star
Trek: The Next Generation’
“No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of
policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets.” - Edward
Abbey
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Shopping Trip
[Thanks sied]
Husband and wife
are shopping in Safeway when the man picks up a dozen Bud Lites and
sticks it into the trolley.
“What do you think you are doing?” asks the wife.
“They are on special, only $10 for 12 cans,” he says.
“Put them back. We cannot afford it,” says the wife and they carry
on shopping.
A few aisles later, the woman picks up a $20 jar of face cream and
sticks it into the trolley.
“What do you think you are doing?” asks the man.
“It is my face cream. It makes me look beautiful,” she says.
The man replies, “So does 12 bottles of Bud Lite and it is half the
price.”
(The cast comes off tomorrow)
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“A good upbringing means not that you won’t spill sauce on the tablecloth,
but that you won’t notice it when someone else does.”
“All of life and human relations have become so incomprehensibly complex
that, when you think about it, it becomes terrifying and your heart stands
still.”
“Any idiot can face a crisis - it’s day to day living that wears you out.”
- all from Anton Chekhov who died on this day in 1904
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Wow
A Flash Really Helps!
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BJ
had some thoughts about the importance of the family table. Here’s
your 15 minutes BJ.
I
remember when growing up at my aunt and uncle’s farm eating there on Sunday.
The table would be pulled out and the leaves would be inserted for the
family that would be there. Oftentimes the minister from the Church would
eat with us. The men when they entered the home would take their hats
off and hang them up by the door. All would wash their hands and sit at
their designated place. My uncle would sit at the head of the table, his
wife at the opposite end. The best dishes were used every Sunday along
with the best silverware. During the hot, dusty summer, the dishes might
be turned upside down to protect them from the dust and flies, as this
was before air-conditioning. Sometimes if the meals were served and my
aunt was not ready to eat, the plates would be covered with a clean dishcloth.
Everyone sat upright, no elbows on the table, when my aunt entered the
room everyone stood up, it was expected. She was being honored. My uncle
would either say Grace or ask someone to say Grace. After the prayer was
concluded he would take the first dish of food and put some on his plate
and pass it to his right, and on it would go. Usually the elders would
sit to his right with the children being the last served. This was normal
and there were no questions asked.
At the table people discussed family events, church events, school happenings,
matters of consequence. Never was there a heated discussion, and always
proper manners were in place. When finished eating, you asked for permission
to be excused from the table and you cleaned your mouth with a real napkin.
You politely removed yourself, and put your chair back into place. The
women would clear the table and do dishes while the men would retire and
discuss matters for menfolk. The children would go outside and play. The
table would be put back in it’s place until it was used again.
When did the table lose it’s place in our family? Or is the better question
when did our family lose it’s table?
When did manners fade away? When did respect of our Elders dissolve? Do
you pray before receiving your food? Do you bless your food? Do have your
family time? Does what I describe to you sound like a better way of life,
of living? Take the time. Start at home. Home…what a beautiful word.
Think about this…. The Lord gave us Hope with His Last Supper at the
Table. Commune with your family. Start today.
BJ in Oklahoma
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Boating
Just the one word conjures up an array of thoughts. Ask anyone what
their idea of an ideal boating excursion is and you’ll get everything
from a slow meander down a lazy river, to a weeks long intercontinental
trip on a cruise ship, and everything in between.
I have often heard the adage, "There are two times a boat owner
is happy. When he buys his first boat. And, again when he sells his
boat. As a child, I was privileged to have friends with boats. We
would go out on lakes, rivers, and even the ocean in a wide variety
of craft. My father being in the Navy even permitted me to experience
a cruise on a warship. I found it enjoyable no matter how the vessel
is powered.
Throughout my adult life, I have had only occasional boating experiences.
I simply did not consider it a priority. After all, if I wanted to
float on water, an inflatable raft thingy was just fine on a lake
or at a pool. I had already heard boat owners use a variety of explicative
when the motor wouldn’t start when out skiing and in the middle of
a large lake. A few adventures were cut short on the outset when the
motor wouldn’t start when the boat was launched at the ramp.
My son, brother, and father once arranged a surprise weekend
for me. It included my brother bringing his catamaran. Sans motor,
it was equipped only with a sail. He had boasted his ability to pilot
the craft. We met at a lake in Illinois and enjoyed a water weekend,
although, "enjoyed" was not the proper verb for some of
the time. Sure he could pilot the 2-man vessel out into the lake WITH
the wind, but getting it back to the boat ramp AGAINST the wind was
another thing. It’s a good thing there were 4 of us and I rented a
2-man jet-ski. We could at least tow them back to shore.
With all the negative encounters, I had no interest in owning a boat,
until recently. Geocaching made me a challenge. There were some caches
placed on islands in nearby lakes. No, I didn’t want some sleek cruiser
that could tow 4 skiers at the same time. No, I didn’t want to learn
the intricate details of harnessing the wind. No, I don’t plan on
having a need to go faster on water than I do in my car. As I own
a convertible without any practical way to tow or tote any hard-shelled
boat, an inflatable was my only option besides renting. But renting
at one lake doesn’t allow access to other lakes or rivers.
So, an inflatable kayak became my choice. A few
weeks ago it was delivered and I quickly registered it (yes,
it is a watercraft and therefore needs to be properly registered)
and I set out of my quests. Since then I have had other opportunity
to enjoy the boat. Yes, there are things to do with it besides blow
it up and set out on the water. It has to be kept from getting moldy
in it’s carry-bag. It has to have debris and scummy stuff removed
from it. And it has to be carried to & from every activity. However,
I don’t know if there will be a day when I’ll be happy to have sold
it.
Here’s your quiz:
Do you now, or have you ever owned a boat of any size?
Did you find the enjoyment outweighed the responsibility?
What did you use your boat for, even if it was a rental?
How often do you go "boating"?
Boating - It Can be Fun Under The Right Circumstances
Cliff (the High-Tech
Redneck who doesn’t rate a fancy ’signature pic’) 
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Email Kirsten
“Mommy,
you look tired. Come and watch the clouds with me.”
~ Kirsten’s three-year-old son James ~
My life is very crowded with events these days. We have just gotten
over a major plumbing catastrophe (we are able to take showers and
flush toilets again, to my utmost relief), all of us are getting over
various forms of illness, I am about to change jobs, we are trying
to enable my husband’s business to weather the economic storm. We
are planning a vacation with my Mom that my brother was supposed to
join us on, only my brother has gone and slipped a disc. We don’t
know yet whether surgery will be required. My younger son is about
to start school, my older son is about to change schools, and since
my older son has reached the age limit of the daycare the boys both
attend, we have to figure out alternative after-school care arrangements.
Usually I take multiple stresses in my stride, but from time to time,
there just isn’t enough room in my brain to accommodate all of it.
And so, my dear readers and adoring fans (OK, OK, the “adoring fans”
bit might be a stretch), I have decided to give myself the day off
from writing. I am going to relax, catch my breath, drink a glass
of wine, and be back for Friday’s issue.
Kaleidoscopically yours,
Kirsten
Comment
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Tim’s
on vacation, here’s an article from the archives.
As most of you know (I think), I work as a techie at a college and
we are building a new library so they had to move our office over
25 feet to build this new library but we still needed one wire to
be able to print checks (those things that pay the bills like constructions
costs). The construction guys cut it yesterday, but I only found out
about it today when the college couldn’t do business because it couldn’t
print checks.
I got that call
when the director of financial aid was already in my office explaining
how important it was for him to get labels for students that have
to re-submit financial aid loan applications because of some new law…
blah, blah, blah.. I told him to shut up, answered the call about
the checks, then turned back around and asked him to make it quick.
He only wanted mailing labels for last semester’s students and I had
them printing within seconds.
That is,
until the ribbon in the label printer decided to somehow strangle
itself. No problem, we had a brand new spare. It didn’t work. I mean
defective. I called purchasing and they could get me one by this afternoon,
but it would cost me $40 and her a trip to the store, and financial
aid needed the labels now.
Okay, so
everything that we needed seemingly broke all at once, but I’ve been
through that before. I sent my PFY to retrieve the check printer and
the checks, then unplugged the cut cable for the check printer and
plugged our working lineprinter cable into that port. When PFY got
back with the check printer and the checks, it was a simple matter
to get them printing.
After that
was done, I plugged our lineprinter back in and configured it to print
labels. As I was telling my PFY that I was taking a walk up to hand
them to the financial aid director, he walked by the door. The look
on his face when I handed him the pile of labels was priceless. I
have no doubt had we been near a bar, he would have bought me a Labatt
Ice and a shot of Chivas with a sliver of ice in it. 
Do you
ever get the feeling you’re just too damn good?
Tim a’Musing
Having a Ball with Yarns
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Summertime Food Safety
It’s a good idea to use a separate cooler for drinks, so the one containing
perishable food won’t be constantly opened and closed.
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Great response. Hope this line does as well.
Next opening line…
There once was a Martian named Zed…
Hints:
Here’s a great new rhyming/composition tool. http://www.writerhymes.com/
There’s also a great rhyming dictionary at http://www.rhymezone.com/
Limerick rules. http://freespace.virgin.net/merrick.sheldon/limerickrules.htm
Submit
Opening Line
Submit
Limerick
There
once was a lady named Sue
Who performed Wagner’s ‘Ring’ on kazoo
She had six nights in all
At the Carnegie Hall
And a sell-out tour of Peru -
Julian, England |
There
was was a lady named Sue
Who really had nothing to do
So she set up a store
Named it "Hardware Galore"
Where, it said, you could get the best "screw". - Bonnie
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There once
was a lady named Sue—
who liked to hang out at the zoo—
she danced with the apes
while wearing red capes
it was clear she knew not what to do. - Cassandra in New York |
There once
was a lady named Sue……..
A girl who hadn’t a clue……..
As to what to wear……….
To a formal affair……
So she went wearing only her "do". - Skeeter |
There once
was a lady named Sue……
Who had a sister named Lou…….
They stuck together ………
Through all kinds of weather…..
Don’t try to separate the two. - Skeeter |
There once
was a lady named Sue…….
She went with the "man from Peru"…..
On a late dinner date……..
But he had to wait…….
While she took a trip to the loo. - Skeeter |
There once
was a lady named Sue…….
Ain’t it a fine "howdy do"?
That the things she had done…..
Though she had lots of fun……
She finally began to rue? - Skeeter |
There once
was a lady named Sue
Who had nothing whatever to do
And who did it so badly
I thought she would gladly
Have stopped before she was through. - Author Unknown |
"There
once was a man from Peru"
That limerick was my debut
From rhyming Ellen’s gnu
To monkeys in the zoo
It has been fun writing for you. - Anne Onimous |
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Re: Shockley Park
I’d be happy to enjoy a park named after Shockley, as long as it wasn’t
segregated. Nature vs nurture needed champions on both sides, and still
does. See http://www.alternet.org/rights/141158/the_hidden_health_toll_of_race/?
- Bob of the North
If the City of Auburn doesn’t
have the balls to publicly name the park after Shockley then they should
refuse the gift. - Laura in Minneapolis
Re: Cliff and Wood
All the solid bamboo I’ve seen has been glued up from thin sections.
In its natural state, it is as strong as aluminum aircraft tubing, at
1/6 the density and stiffness. Pretty good for a form of sugar! Techies
sometimes call cellulose "hydrocarbon fiber." Both my boats
are wood, bright finished, but the second one hasn’t been worked on
much since the epoxy coating went cloudy from the humidity as I pushed
on into fall weather. I wanted to get it back to furniture-grade appearance,
but I also wanted to be able to enjoy hauling it up on beaches. Meanwhile,
the new, super expensive finish on my first boat just peeled off, and
I gave up. I realized that if I got the new boat to match my dreams,
I’d feel like a bag lady with a two-carat diamond.
I’m looking
at cheap wall panels produced by printing photographs of wood on paper
for a finish. Odd that all the commercial artists have not made a more
pleasing pattern. Over it are some book shelves I made of rough poplar,
sanding only the edges. I have left the painted trim and cabinets here
alone, but I also highgrade my firewood, making the prettiest pieces
into trinket boxes for gifts. I love the grain patterns where branches
emerge. Most of my custom furniture is just corrugated cardboard and
cloth, but I may re-do it in solid wood if I have the time and the design
stays stable. I used to have a nice business making knotty pine shelves,
with the knots sometimes arranged to make toughened corners.
As well
as high strength, wood has a specific stiffness equal to the common
engineering metals, while the low density makes it far more suitable
for resisting buckling loads as a panel or column. The work of fracture,
or toughness, is also superb, including a cloth-like intermediate mode
during failure. To get a rowing shell or glider as light as a wooden
one, fiberglass and more advanced fibers have to be layered with a low-density
core in aerospace-grade work, and even then, the fatigue life is far
worse. The cellular structure also accepts nails and screws easily,
where the advanced composites require tedious potting of each fastener.
(The nosecone of a Polaris Missile is molded plywood!) Wood usually
fails gradually, with dramatic audible warnings - as J.E. Gordon notes,
a wooden structure will usually frighten you away before actually collapsing.
As it ages, the appearance of wood remains attractive, while most modern
substitutes become hideous. And, of course, it grows on trees, providing
forest cover to prevent erosion and shelter wildlife, while removing
greenhouse gas from the air. - Bob of the North
 Our
cabinets are a wood veneer and we have a shelving unit made of wood.
It is stained and I love the smell it gives out when I clean it with
a damp cloth.
As for the wood accent, we had 2 trees in front of the house that had
to be chopped down when we renovated the house. We had one of them cut
in planks and there was the end cut that the guy asked if we wanted
to keep. Of course we did, and it is part of the decoration in the basement.
A unique piece that’s for sure. We also took one of the plank and put
it beside the kitchen sink as a finishing touch. And we also have a
slice of a tree as a wall display.
We have hard wood floor in 95% of the house, the bedroom and the bathroom
doors are wood, our kitchen table and chairs are made of wood. And,
the outside walls are made of pine. Both bedroom furniture are made
of wood too. Wow, I never realised how much stuff we have that are made
of wood.
The property of wood that I like is it’s smell and all the different
colors it has.- Nathalie
Re: Kirsten’s Plumbing Problems
All’s I can say is that I’ll Pray for you till you write again and let
us know that your plumming is back to normal. Nothing like having to
hop out of the shower and find a flood happening rite under you.
Oh did I say that? Sorry. LOL! - Tazz
Reader Submission
An intersting article sent
in called Eric’s
Autos: Traffic Enforcement Dollars and Cents - dEE
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Disclaimer- All quotes printed in this publication are believed to be
accurately attributed, but no guarantees are made that some incorrectly
attributed, or even outright false quotes won’t get in here from time
to time. I assure readers that I will do my best to weed out incorrect
quotes, and will print a retraction as soon as I become aware of any errors.
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Click here to see the archives of past issues, or go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/reallygoodquotes/messages.
If you run across something really outstanding when perusing the archives,
I’d appreciate it if you’d mail me at TheBestOfRGQ@yahoo.com
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called, not surprisingly, The Best of RGQ, and I’d like to hear from you
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