Pity the poor Microsoft Software Engineers.

th2TKQPARXI’ve been transitioning from Windows XP. I didn’t use it very much anymore, but I decided to move to Windows 7.

I know, lots of you out there know I like Mac systems.

Hey how can you go wrong with a Mac?  At it’s core it’s running BSD UNIX. You can even set the system up to just present you with a command prompt.

VMware Fusion allows you to run practically any other operating system you’d like on your Mac. Red Hat Linux? No problem. Windows? Which version would you like?

Mind you, it’s not like I have Windows running all the time. But I have some applications that don’t have Mac equivalents. Those applications are important to me, so it’s worth it to me to have the option to run Windows.

Recently, I converted my 32bit Windows 7 from my old netbook to a Fusion Virtual machine. It worked OK but was so large (40 GB) that I found myself rethinking the merits of keeping Windows around.

After tinkering for a couple of weeks off & on, trying to trim the size, I was about to chuck it and keep using “Old Faithful” (My Windows XP) until it became useless or I no longer needed Windows.

Then I happened to notice Amazon was selling copies of Win 7 Professional 64 bit at a very reasonable price. “Hummm, I said to myself, that could be a solution to the problem.”

After some research and soul searching I ponied up the cash to Amazon. Yesterday I received my shiny new Windows 7 disk. Less than one hour later I had a working version of Windows 7 Professional.

The Win 7 that I’d transferred from my netbook to Fusion was 32 bit and slow. It was what Microsoft called Windows 7 Home, I’d upgraded it to Windows 7 Home Premium and even then I wasn’t impressed. I couldn’t back up to my network drives. Windows contains a backup utility, but it was crippled in the Home edition so that it would only backup to DVD or some kind of physically attached storage.

Sorta makes the backup utility useless and meant that I didn’t have a backup of the netbook. Sound familiar?

After seeing what Windows 7 Professional is like I realized what Microsoft had done and that’s when I felt compassion for the Microsoft engineers.

The software developers created a very nice operating system with Windows 7.

It’s obvious that they worked hard and tried to correct issues that people had complained about with previous versions of Windows. At the same time, they clearly worked hard to advance user convenience and make a robust feature rich system.

They succeeded! Dare I say it, Windows 7 Pro is actually pleasurable to use.

That will get me excommunicated from the Mac world!

thV76JZMNHIn the case of Windows 7, I think what we have here is a case of marketing run amok.

There appear to be no less than 4 different versions of the OS.

I remember looking at the versions when I got the netbook and thinking really? There were all these versions and they all had different price points. ALL EXPENSIVE! and it was unclear what you got from one version versus the next version.

The average user doesn’t give a damn. But their experience with the OS is unsatisfying when they find they can’t change their desktop backgrounds, or that they can’t backup to their network drive unless they upgrade. 

It feels like Microsoft is nickel dimeing them to death for simple and realistically expected features. (This is especially true when Apple distributes a fine robust operating system for $20 or as they’ve done most recently for FREE.)

The software engineers probably built two versions of Windows 7, a 32 bit and a 64 bit version. They probably built some ad-on packs that made the security more robust for corporate America.

They tested it and called it good. Then marketing came along and said “It’s nice but we’d like to charge for features that the ‘Average’ user will never use. so we’re going to need you to remove all this nice stuff and create a Home user edition.”

thAA1L8H7OThat’s when the butchering began.

Think of it like this, You’re lying on the operating table and the doctor has just finished surgery for some illness. Then the accounting people from the hospital come in and tell him to remove one of your kidneys, one of your lungs, perhaps one of your testicles or ovaries, and oh, one eye. After all they’ll preserve these things and should you decide you really need them, they’ll charge you to put them back in.

I’m sure that the Software engineers were pretty bummed out. There’s nothing worse than having to butcher your creation in the name of dollars. Especially when the changes you’ve been told to make are tantamount to hacking the shit out of it. (Interesting side note, The number of security fixes for Win 7 Pro, is significantly less than for Win7 Home Premium.)

thH2BFDT2SNow that I’m using a version of the OS that is probably close to what the engineers intended I’m actually impressed.

I’m glad I got a copy of Windows 7 Professional to replace my old Windows XP. Hopefully, I’ll get 6 or 7 years out of this version.

It also occurs to me that in this age of bring your own equipment, I’ll potentially have an OS that will work just fine if I end up at a company that does the BYOE thing.

The other surprising thing was that this installation of Windows only takes 12GB. I’m happy, it’s fast, small, and really a pleasure to work with.

Oh, by the way, The VMware folks produce a product that is absolutely awesome. If you’ve got a Mac and need to run Windows, buy their product. If you’re thinking of buying a Mac but are afraid of leaving Windows, VMware has you covered and their product is worth the price.

Microsoft, you really should reconsider the complications you’re creating. Have a couple of Operating Systems NOT 90! It will make it easier for you to maintain, and it will make it easier for us to decide what we’re willing to buy.

Just Sayin…

I read this article, then in disgust, I watched Idiocracy

Draining reservoir after urination incident show tenuous grasp of science.

Idiocracy made more sense, and I felt better.

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David Shaff of the Portland water bureau should be fired immediately.

This is the guy who’s decided to toss 38 million gallons of water from an open air reservoir because one teenager pissed in it.

By the way this is the second time in three years Portland has done this over urine.

Let me stress, this is an open air reservoir.

As in open to the sky, as in open to birds flying over it; we all know what our cars look like during bird migrations. Not to mention all the dust, plant debris, dirt, insects and anything else that may fly over the reservoir and fall in.  I don’t even want to think about the mess that ducks & geese leave behind, you do know that most all birds void their bowels prior to taking flight right? Mr Shaff should be a hell of a lot more concerned about that.

Lets not forget the algae, and bacteria, that inevitably live in this body of water.

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 Even if this body of water wasn’t open to the sky, let’s assume is was somehow sealed and sterile.

The concentration of urine distributed across that volume of water would be so small as to be irrelevant. In fact, Mr Shaff would get more urine in his mouth performing oral sex with his spouse.

But, and I must stress this, this reservoir is open to the sky.

Since I have no doubt that there is an ecosystem of microscopic plants & animals in the reservoir I suspect that the material from the teenager’s few ounces of piss have already been metabolized into a generation or 100, of paramecium, or caused a minor algae bloom. In other words, the urine is gone, long gone. Consumed by the natural processes occurring in any large body of water.

The Portland water bureau should be more concerned about treating the water for waterborne illnesses than whether one guy pissed in it.  

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This whole stupid mess begs another question.

How do people with this level of idiocy manage to keep their jobs?

I’m sure Mr. Shaff has all the right papers, and diplomas. Clearly he learned all the fact and figures to pass his exams, what he apparently didn’t learn was common sense.

Instead of calling for people to be fired because of their honestly held religious or political beliefs, perhaps a better use of our time would be to call for the firing of people that demonstrate repeated incompetence.

Just Sayin…

Happy Easter

imagesThankfully there’s not a ton of crazy to comment on.

I guess everyone decided to dial it all down to a dull roar in honor of Easter. I’m sure Monday will bring all kinds of interesting insanity.

In the mean time, I’m taking a breath.

I hope that you and your families are able to enjoy the same.

Been out of it for a couple of days… All I can say is DAMN!

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My ISP was having some difficulties with packet loss and their problems were affecting my ability to get email and upload to the blog.

Paraphrasing Poltergeist 

“I’mmmm BAAACCK!”

The question is what do I talk about first?

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The Bundy Ranch v the BLM?

I hate to even think about what could have happened if someone had squeezed off a shot during that standoff. That’s how really bad things happen really damn fast. I personally don’t think Mr Bundy has a leg to stand on legally. OF more concern to me is that we had an armed standoff at all. 

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When you start looking at issues surrounding the Bundy standoff. You can’t help but stumble over reports of other events where one could say that the US Government is overstepping its authority and behaving very much like a totalitarian entity.

There are currently issues over land between Texas & Missouri due to the ever changing nature of a river that had traditionally marked the boundary line between the states and ranchers in the area. The BLM is taking an interest and stands to usurp something like 90,000 acres without compensating either the states or the landholders.

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The EPA is attempting to assert control over many bodies of water, including watering ponds on farms and ranches. They are also making noises about assuming control of dry or seasonal creek and river beds.

Meanwhile The Border patrol has become a nuisance to Arizona ranchers whose property abuts the buffer zone between the US / Mexico boarder They’re doing things like cutting fences or leaving gates open without so much as a “by your leave.” 

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These supposed events are concerning because they’re in general, never picked up by the main stream media but are reported in local area papers. On an individual basis these seem like minor local issues but when you view them from the “orbit” of the internet it does start to look like a quiet conquest.

With government oversight, come government control. With government control, come fees, fines, and increased taxation (whether it’s called a tax or not.) This seems to be the source of the underlying embers that almost burst into flames at the Bundy ranch.

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The FDA is being reported as sticking their noses into a long standing arrangement (100+ years) between Beer Brewers and farmers regarding grain. The Beer uses the grain to make beer, then the waste material is usually given to farmers / ranchers to mix with feed stock. This arrangement takes care of the waste without requiring anything other than a farmer / ranchers willingness to haul the used grain away.

Now, the FDA is wanting to regulate this equitable arrangement in the name of public health even though there has never been an instance where the public or the animals have been harmed. Some old traditions bacme old traditions due to the test of TIME. It’s not in the best interests of Farmers or Ranchers to engage in an activity that is detrimental to their livelyhoods. So does the FDA really need to be involved? Probably not, but you can expect for their fees and inspections and whatever the hell else they’ll do to drive up the cost of a beer, and possible the cost of food too.

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The newest revelations about the IRS internal memos?

Just WHO is Lois Learner afraid of? She claims she’s in fear for her life and that’s why she doesn’t want to testify. REALLY? Can’t her employer The United States Government protect her & her family? Or is it the US Government that she’s afraid of?

The Ukraine?

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Does anyone really believe that Vladimir Putin is concerned in the least about what President Stompy Foot thinks? Don’t get me wrong Putin is not a nice guy but he’s doing what he things is best for his country ( Or Himself) and he’s not in the habit of asking permission. 

Potential for World War III?

There have been some writers comparing the flashpoint issues for WWI and WWII to what’s happening in the Ukraine.

I’m not sure that I completely agree with their assesment that WWIII could be in the offing but the correlations are interesting to read. I doubt Putin would move it to an all out war against NATO but hey no-one thought a strange little houspainter would end up Chancellor of Germany either.

President Obama’s trustworthy polls?

This one cracked me up. Approximately 60% of Americans believe that Obama is actively lying to them one way or another. Now that’s really gotta piss President Finger waver off.

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The President was on TV again today defending Obamacare and as usual took the opportunity to reiterate that Republicans are BAD and that their continued desire to revisit Obamacare isn’t in the public interest. Whoo Hoo 8 million people signed up. Lets see, there are approximately 313.9 Million people in the US. Does that mean a whopping 3% of the population signed up. Whoooo impressive!

I’d have been more impressed if this 8 million had ALL been previously uninsured people instead of poor schmucks that lost their insurance and had to find something on the exchanges.

I’d have been more impressed if there wasn’t a recent editorial by a lady that had called something like 92 doctors in New Jersey only to find out that her shiny new obamacare card wasn’t being accepted because the doctors didn’t want to deal with the smaller payments obamacare would provide for their services, and the increased overhead and oversight from the government.

I’d be more impressed if, instead of Pres. Stompy shaking his finger at Republicans he’d actually listen to what the vast majority of Americans are bitching about regarding having their health insurance screwed with.

I’d really be impressed if ALL of Congress, including that idiot Harry Reid had to sign up with Obamacare through the exchanges. (Hey Harry, let see if you’re smart enough to use the damn internet shall we?)

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I have no idea what the hell is going on anymore. I feel like I’ve walked through the looking glass into bizzaro world.

In short, HOLY CRAP BATMAN!

Wow, I remember when this was fast

imagesNot this particular computer but the speed of the processor. I suppose it’s all relative. Back when this speed processor was “Fast” we weren’t running Windows 7.

Yep I’m doing  a little maintenance on the Netbook and I’m paying or have paid, the price for not running this machine more often.  Wow, the endless updates are really a pain in the ass. I think the machine has caught up so Windows, Java, Adobe, and all kinds of other applications are current now.

This poor little processor has been running it’s heart out. I give it credit for hanging in there. I also did some housekeeping and deleted all the absolute crap, that Samsung had loaded on the machine.

They’d loaded all kinds of games (in addition to the games Windows loaded) and then there are the endless and to some extent pointless helper applications included “For the customers convenience.”

While I was at it I also transferred this Windows 7 image to a Virtual Machine on my Mac. To some extent this is a response to Windows XP no longer being supported, but the bottom line was that I wanted to see if I could do it. (Surprise! I could).

Take that, you HR weasels who say my skills are stale!

The Virtualization process ran while I was on the phone with my Mom who I’d swear is trying to drive me somewhat crazier than I already am. Apparently I’ve become tech support for the whole family. Unfortunately, I have to gently remind the family that I only need the basic facts and ask them to restrain from clicking randomly on any sparkly icon they happen to see.

It makes it so difficult to figure out what is going on when you have various applications opening and the person needing the help is reading fragments of information to you over the phone from the windows opening on top of what you were trying to get them to read in the first place.

Hey, it’s all computer gobility goop anyways isn’t it and it doesn’t matter what screen you read it from, Right?

Sheesh! Nothing like a 10 minute fix taking 4 hours because you’re getting bad data!

Ah well, I’m going to go walk the dogs, the remainder of my Sunday, AKA the sunset will be nice.