Time You Enjoy Wasting Is Not Wasted Time

I was glad that Ars Technica published the article Why Ad Blocking is devastating to the sites you love. It always pains me when people proudly proclaim they block all ads on the web. Ads are what enable us to get content for “free” on the web, just like commercials pay for the network TV shows.

I draw a similar line with the teabaggers and other people who are against paying taxes. It is these taxes that provide many useful services, from social services to the roads we drive on.

Nothing comes for free, there is always a cost involved. Sometimes you pay directly for a service, sometimes when the service is supported by other means (ads or taxes). By refusing to participate in the means of support (blocking ads for example) you have no right to enjoy the benefits of the service. If you block ads, in my opinion, you should only frequent sites that have no ads or that you pay subscriptions for.

The other side is on the provider. Sure you need ads to support your content. But they do not need to be obnoxious windows that follow you around as you browse. Nor is auto-playing sound or video acceptable. If ads were less obnoxious, people would be less prone to wanting to block them. Similarly, taxes are needed to provide service. However, it is then the government’s job to provide the most efficient use of the tax revenue to provide those services. Don’t waste the money on overpriced consultants when talented staff are already on the payroll. Don’t allow corporate interests to outweigh the needs of the public.

A compromise can always be reached among rational people. It is up to everyone to remain rational and to be wiling to achieve that compromise.

I attended a presentation today entitled “What Google Can Do For You.” It was very interesting and I learned a bit more than I already knew about some of the cool things you can do with Google Docs. It’s always nice to see things demonstrated and presented to get a different perspective on how tools can be used.
The presenter, Andrew Cullison, has the presentation on his site. Check it out:
http://www.andrewcullison.com/2009/12/what-google-can-do-for-you/

Recently we discovered that while using Internet Explorer 8 to access Outlook Web Access it was no longer easy to save a Word .docx file that is attached to an email. The problem is that by default instead of saving as a .docx file it saves as a .zip file. This was causing  a lot of confusion and we needed to apply a fix quickly.

Since the only results I found when searching for a solution to this problem were server based I figured I’d post the client solution in case someone else is running into this issue.

To resolve this issue, place the URL for your OWA into Internet Explorer’s Trusted Sites list. Then when you attempt to save a .docx file from an email attachment it will save as .docx instead of .zip.

A simple client-side solution, easily pushed down through group policy or configured manually.

Another website I put together for Dr. Lawson. Matching games to test your knowledge of Bible names:

http://www.fredonia.edu/faculty/emeritus/edwinlawson/BibleNames/index.html

Yesterday I finished up with my lab renovation. I wound up needing the entire week, right up until Friday afternoon, to get everything done. I think it was worth it though, the lab looks great and should be a big improvemnet for the students.

You can see the whole 48 picture set on my Flickr. Here are a few shots of the finished product.

Yesterday the new tables for the lab were delivered. We got them installed so quickly the guys brought the computers and monitors over that morning. After lunch we unboxed them and set them up. Today we finished the cabling. I hope to get the lab completely done by Thursday the latest. Tomorrow the printer is getting delivered. Still need to set up the printer, image the lab, inventory the lab, and test everything. I had one DOA machine, so hopefully that will get fixed quickly.

Tom, Max, and Jeff – the best tech crew I could have asked for. Thanks guys!

Empty lab, nice and clean.

Tables fresh off the truck.

Tables installed. The teacher’s station is in the foreground. The student stations have recessed monitor shelves.

Action shot.

End of the day Monday. No more pictures from today, I’ll take some more later this week.

Today I removed the last of the cables, power strips, speakers, security, etc. from the lab.

3 boxes in a cart was all that was left. I beat the rain by about two minutes.

The only thing left in the room were the tables and chairs. The chairs will be used again in the lab, but the tables are being replaced. I am not involved in the removal of those or the cleaning of the lab, so the next installment I have pictures for will be installing the new tables on Monday. Thank you to all those involved in getting the room ready for the new equipment!

The old equipment in storage awaiting its new home.

The new equipment and the box of stuff returning to the lab, waiting for next week.

Today was the first day of the Houghton Lab renovation at work. That means that today was tear down day. I spent a very hot morning pulling computers and monitors. Then after lunch Tom and I moved the computers, monitors, and printers into storage until they are ready to be installed in their new location. Tomorrow we will finish clearing the room so it can be cleaned. Then next Monday we will start installing the new equipment. I am very sore from it all, but am glad we got as much done today as we did.

This is the first year I remembered and had a camera available, so I started photo-documenting the process. This is the hidden work that gets done while most people are not even on campus. I feel it is important to show what is done and who does the work and have wanted to do this pretty much for the last seven years. I’ve started a Flickr set for this project and will add pictures throughout.

This is the lab ready to be torn apart.

Many of the tables were on the point of collapse. The worst one is being supported by an empty ink cartridge.

Gum was one of the more disgusting things I found on and around the computers.

The row of computers waiting to be removed from the lab.

Tom and the van full of computers and printers.

Microsoft is finally producing interesting commercials. Below are the 2 laptop hunter commercials so far. I think they have struck an important fact that is often overlooked. There is nothing wrong with Apple computers, it’s just that you can get better for less with a Windows PC. I view Apple like a religion. I have no problem with your belonging to the denomination of your choice, but stop trying to convert me. I don’t care if you think Steve Jobs is God or that Macs are the most bestest computers in the world because they can do things like run Windows while looking good. Really, STFU. I don’t want to hear it. A computer is a tool. I don’t really give a damn what it looks like as long as it works. And it’s not like Dell and HP are molding steaming piles of horse crap into computer cases. They just don’t have a piece of fruit on them. You want to be a Mac, good for you. Now let me get back to the real world and work on my PC. Interesting fact, Karen and I each bought PC laptops recently, and the cost of both of them combined was less than one Macbook and we got better specs too. So yeah, I’m a PC. And the only reason I bothered to mention it is because I’m tired of all the Mac evangelists preaching and trying to gain converts.

I am pleased to announce the completion of the Pronunciation and Meaning of Estonian Names website I have been working on with Dr. Edwin Lawson.

Due to various time constraints on my part, as well as a few revisions, this site has taken about a year to complete! Needless to say I am very pleased to have this project completed. Check it out, I hope you find it as interesting as I do.