The Disappearing Content

I am going to miss my morning newspaper. I still get a paper every morning, but it is less and less all the time.

There are a lot of full page ads, but I won't miss those. There are some articles that I still enjoy reading, but those are few and far between.  Most of what is in the paper I saw on the local news the day before, or I read it online from USA Today or CNN.

I used to get enough grocery coupons to pay for the cost of the paper. Now the coupons are still there, but not for stuff I want. Besides the store brands are less than the name brands even with a coupon.

I have been debating for some time whether or not to keep the newspaper. There has always been something satisfying about reading the paper with my morning coffee, and that enjoyment kept me from unsubscribing even though the content has been diminishing and some days there doesn't seem to be much of anything besides the comic strips. I need that morning chuckle to start the day.

Today was my decision day to stop paying over $200 a year for the paper. Sunday morning comics have always been a nice respite from all the negative news.  Today they were gone. No comics.  I called the paper to find out why and was told they were to be found in Section F. Why would you put the comics in the 'Homes for Sale section? Perverse humor? Nope they weren't there either.

"Well, look in the Your Life section, That is section F" the customer service rep said. Nope, not there either, and that section is section E not F. I know sometimes I may not 'get it', but I can read the section numbers! The comics are missing. So she sent me out another paper.

Guess what, no comics in this one either, but there were a few more ad circulars. The section numbers are still the same as the first paper. So, the customer service rep didn't know which section was which or else no one told her the comics were gone. Another thing could have been a 'Dilbert' move, they laid off the folks who know how to put the paper together.

Regardless of what happened, my decision has been made. I customized my Google page to include my favorite comics and that's the end of it.

Martha

Internet Explorer 8

Did Microsoft finally get IE right? Time will tell.

I installed IE 8 on my test computer which is using a nearly pristine version of Vista Home Premium. The computer is less than two months old and so far I am only using it to test stuff (no betas yet).

I attempted to import my bookmarks from Firefox (a nice improvement) and then I got the same old thing, 'not responding'. I closed IE and reopened it and found to my surprise that the bookmarks did import.

So I looked to see if the humongeous security hole was gone, but nope, it's still there! (ActiveX)

Until ActiveX is removed from IE, it will never be my default browser.

When I get a new computer with Windows 7, I will get two other browsers, Firefox and Opera and then I will disable Internet Explorer! (I hope they keep this option in the final release!)

Martha

Bonus Definitions

Bonus - Old definition. A reward for a job well done.

Bonus - New definition. Another way to screw the Amercian taxpayers by rewarding people who really should be fired for incompetance.

How terribly sad!

Martha

The Vista Bashers; Will They Bash Windows 7?

I am using the beta for Windows 7 and it is pretty cool.

It still has UAC. There are several levels of UAC, but if you really want protection, it needs to be the top level. (Security. Stops MBR Rootkits from installing as well as untold other crimeware).

Vista bashers like UAC turned off; guess they don't like to rely on Windows to protect their computers. First they fuss about the lack of security, but when they get it, they don't like it. Can't please some folks regardless of what you do.

It still won't support your old printer or scanner, because the printer and scanner manufacturers don't make drivers for them. (Not the fault of Vista or Windows 7, but try and make folks believe that!)

It looks cool and still puts things in different places than Windows XP. (The locations make more sense!)

The Internet connection utility is super cool. Windows 7 found my print server and installed the printer with no problems. I was amazed at how well that went.

So far Windows 7 seems to be fast, lean and working well. I did have to download an email program as no email client is included with Windows 7.

Unfortunately the biggest security hole in Windows is still there. (Internet Explorer) I hear there will be an option to turn IE off; that is great news!

After updating Windows 7 the first thing I did was download and install Firefox. Then I installed Avast for virus protection. For what it is worth, everyone should have a backup browser. Even if you use and like Internet Explorer, you never know when IE will have a 'spasm' and quit working.

I expect some of the Vista bashers will try Windows 7 and really like it.

Martha

The Vista Bashers, Part Two

It's been a while since I posted the first 'HTML Vista Bashers'. I still like Vista and the 'Vista Bashers' are still bashing.

I keep asking folks why they don't like Vista.  The answers I get vary, but most of the time there is only one reason.

A favorite program won't work. When I ask them if they tried the Program Compatibility Mode, they don't know what that is!

They can't find anything because it isn't where Windows XP put stuff. (They don't look!)

The UAC (User Access Control) is too much 'in my face'. They could turn it off, but they don't know that.

Some of the replies indicate they aren't even using Vista, but someone they know has it and that someone doesn't like it.

A common response was 'I read it's no good'.  No real reason, they are just repeating what they have read or heard.

I think the real reason may be Vista isn't Windows XP!

Some of these folks remind me of sheep. They follow someone else and never make a decision for themselves. Sheep sometimes will follow the lead sheep off a cliff, at least that's what I have heard.

Martha

Why Do Some Programmers Think Everyone Uses IE?

I do not use Internet Explorer. I don't like Internet Explorer. Rumor has it I can turn it off in Windows 7 and I hope that's true! I will use it long enough to download Firefox and then it will be turned off.

So if I turn IE 8 off, then what will happen when I want to update programs that open IE when I click Update? IE is NOT my default browser and I deeply resent it when programmers that insist I use it to update a program!

Most programs when updating from within honor my preferences and use my default browser.

I won't mention any names, but I just updated my favorite screen capture program and when I clicked for the update IE opened. Grrrrrrrrr!

Martha