Should I Upgrade to Windows Vista?

I have been asked by quite a few people lately if I thought it was a good idea to upgrade their computer systems to Windows Vista. My thoughts on the subject:

Windows Vista is the newest major operating system release from Microsoft. The last major release was Windows XP in October 2001. Before that was Windows 98 in June (surprise) 1998. So they do not release these things too often. So, if you run Windows, you will probably end up running Vista sooner or later (you buy a new computer, a new piece of hardware or software requires it, etc.).

So my two assumptions are that that Vista will be the primary operating system for computers for the next 4-6 years and that eventually you will be running Vista. So, why not start now and get the benefits of the whole life span of Microsoft's next gen OS?

So now that you have decided to run Vista, the next question is, should I upgrade my computer or should I buy a new one with Vista pre-installed?

My advice to people with computers more than a year old... buy a new computer with Vista pre-installed. If you try and upgrade your older computer it will probably go something like this:

1. Buy Windows Vista ($100-$260) depending on the version (more on this later)
2. Upgrade video card to support Vista ($89-$250)
3. Upgrade RAM and/or hard drive to support Vista ($50-$150)
4. One year later: Encounter some kind of problem due to old hardware, old software, etc.
5. Decide to buy a new computer with Vista pre-installed

Sure, if your existing computer is working flawlessly and you have no problems or concerns in the world, there is nothing wrong with waiting to get a new computer, but you don't need to upgrade either. That would be a waste of time and money.

If, however, your computer is less than a year old (or you have a powerhouse from a little over a year ago), then run the Microsoft Upgrade Advisor and see what you will need to do to your computer to get it ready to run Vista. Chances are you will not need to change much (maybe you will need to swap out the video card).

Oh, and as some people have noticed, there are quite a few versions of the new Vista OS, for most standard home users, I would suggest Home Premium (upgrade: $159).

Lost in Translation

So when I was in Mexico a while back, I was looking at the DVDs on sale at the grocery store and I noticed Sofia Coppola's movie, Lost in Translation. However, since I was in Mexico the title was in Spanish, Perdidos en Tokio. Wait a second, that translates to Lost in Tokyo.

Maybe it is just me, but I find the fact that the title of the movie Lost in Translation was actually lost in translation. I suppose you could say that Ms. Coppola asked for it?

Ladies and gentlemen, the Human Sling Shot

I don't know why, but this video just cracked me up...

I'm the lead writer of my blog, baby!

So when I was trying to come up for a name for my blog I considered all the options... OK, so really all that I could think of was "Trevor's Blog" and "You Wanna Know What I Think?" Obviously, the latter won out... The title was actually favored to win all along, namely because it was the title of my column when I was the Editor for my high school's student paper.

As easy as it was for me to come up with a blog title, it was a bit more challenging to find a suitable URL for my blog. You see, http://trevor.blogspot.com was already taken, as were most other variations on my name. And, although http://youwannaknowwhatithink.blogspot.com was available, it seemed a bit too long.

So I decided to get clever (where my logic normally diverges from the rest of the world's) and I thought about what would most people first think when I asked them the question, "You wanna know what I think?"

"Not really, Trevor"

Thus my blog's URL was born, http://notreallytrevor.blogspot.com.

(This posting was written in order to explain where the "not really Trevor" came from and possibly offer some insight on my humor. As for the title of this post, it is a play on the lyrics of a song, but we can save that for another day.)

Polythelia

Random fact of the day: Polythelia is the medical term for the condition of having more than two nipples. Here is the article in Wikipedia for your educational enjoyment.

Start looking for a job 24 Hour Fitness counter boy

So I went to the gym tonight and at the entrance there was a new turnstile and biometric reader (read: fingerprint pad) where there had not been a turnstile or biometric reader before. It turns out that from now on, instead of being welcomed by two or three 24 Hour Fitness employees, I will simply press my thumb down on the pad, type in my phone number -- and presto: access granted.

I am sure many of the muscle endowed counter personnel think this is a wonderful stress-relieving, load-lightening new technology... but the wiser among them can probably see the writing on the wall: start looking for a new job, the day is coming when we will be (as they say in England) made redundant.

It's always sunny in San Diego

Today

Sunny High 79°F Precip 0% Wind: NNE 6 mph Max. Humidity: 16% UV Index: 3 Moderate Sunrise: 6:52 AM PT Avg. High: 66°F Record High: 78°F (1983)

Scouring the internet so you don't have to...

In case you haven't noticed the Interesting Stuff from 'Blogs I Read' box on the left hand side click here for a well put together page (thanks Google) of some of the things I find on the internet and think are the most interesting.

Congratulations!

As some of you may know my brother and sister are graduating from high school this year... the implications of this event are numerous and I probably won't post much about their personal lives. However, a little recognition never hurt anyone. Recently Heather was accepted to the University of Portland and Tyler was informed that he would be receiving a Sequoia Award and scholarship.

I don't know if either of my siblings read my blog, but if they do: I am very proud of and excited for both of you, I am sure this is the beginning of many more great things that will happen this year.

Pedometer

Many of you may not realize this, but I really like Rice Krispies, made by the good people at Kellogg. This evening, while I was pouring myself a bowl of Krispie goodness, out of the box fell a plastic-wrapped digital pedometer (we have come a long way from secret decoder rings). Along with the pedometer there was the instruction sheet that I have included for you below.

I think that instructions 1-6 are pretty good pointers on the use and opperation of . However, I do think "instruction" 7 is a little odd: "The battery is not replaceable or rechargeable." I must say that if you are going to make something digital, replaceable or rechargeable batteries does not seem like too much to ask for, but I suppose it was free...

"Instructions" 8 and 9 were the ones that really caught me off guard:

"8. Participants take part in exercise at their own risk"
"9. Kellogg's will not be held responsible for any illness or injury that is incurred while using the pedometer"

I know there are some that accuse the populous of the United States of being too litigious, but come on, this is just ridiculous... "Really? I exercise at my own risk?" I almost wonder if the lawyers wrote this line to give people ideas on what they could in fact sue Kellogg for.

As for "instruction" number 9, I understand that if I break my arm while using the pedometer Kellogg does not wish to be held responsible. However, what if the non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery inside the pedometer blows up on me. I think, in this case, Kellogg should be held responsible for my injury -- no matter what a little piece of white paper says.

Thus, I call "instructions" 8 and 9 bunk. And, sadly, instruction number 4 is probably necessary for many people to figure out how to make their pedometer work.

Coca-Sony

Q: What do Sony and Diet Coke have in common?
A: They are both the topic of this trivial blog post.

Below are a couple things I learned over the holidays that I wanted to share...

The first Sony product was a rice cooker, and as the Sony website states, "tasty rice was a rarity." In fact not only would the cooker under and over cook the rice, but it was also rumored to have spontaneously combusted on some occasions, not unlike some of their more recent products.

My good friend Brandon reported to me last week that the 12 ounce, 20 ounce, and 32 ounce varieties of the popular beverage, Diet Coke list the number of calories to be zero. I also discovered that the 64 ounce size (commonly known as a 2 liter bottle) of Diet Coke lists the caloric content per serving to also be zero. However on a single-serving 42 ounce Diet Coke, the caloric content is listed as 5 calories. This seems to be a an incredible feat of Coke's mathematicians or chemists... for the same Diet Coke that is packaged in a 32 or 64 ounce bottle has zero calories, but in a 42 ounce container it has five calories.

A quick look at Wikipedia and explanation is offered -- FDA guidelines allow any serving containing less than five calories to be listed as calorie free. In actuality all Diet Coke contains calories, probably somewhere around 0.10 calories per ounce. However, because the 64 ounce bottle has multiple servings in it, pursuant to FDA guidelines, they can list it as a zero calorie product. And, single serving sizes smaller than 32 ounces also contain less than 5 total calories, and once again, according to the FDA <5=0. Only the 42 ounce king size Diet Coke tops the calorie scales and must report the horrible truth: even diet soda contains calories.

Y2K7

Happy New Year!

I hope that everyone had a blast this evening wishing 2006 a fond farewell and welcoming 2007 with excitement and expectation... and if you are feeling a little nostalgic for times gone by, don't forget what actually happened in 2006*.

As for me, I am hanging with the family (less one) in Palm Desert, California. Yeah, I decided to forgo some of the crazy parties I was invited to (OK, crazy parties that I am sure I would have been invited to...) to chill with the 'rents and my Bro -- the four of us had a good time. We went and saw The Good Shepherd and then had cheesecake before heading back to the hotel to watch the Waterford Crystal Ball fall on New York (what an odd tradition). And speaking of that tradition, this was the first year that the previously mentioned ball was lit with LEDs as opposed to halogen lights... interesting, huh?

Well whether or not you are into ball lighting technology or not, have a very happy 2007 -- I wish you and all those that are important to you a very special new year.

*may not be safe for work -- probably depends where ya work...

Nerdy Comics

The holidays have caused me to be negligent in my blogging duties. To all my loyal readers and those just passing through, I apologize. I am going to try to remedy this situation as part of my 2007 New Year Resolutions. I resolve to blog more and procrastinate on blogging less.

While I enjoy the last couple days of 2006 and hence blogging laziness, I would like to suggest a great site, XKCD, that a few of you may have noticed on my "Interesting Stuff..." column. They have some of the most wonderfully nerdy comics I have ever seen, and they definitely deserve some recognition. I have posted a few of their comics and then feel free to check them out!

Great Scott!

When I was younger I used to think that the Back to the Future trilogy was the definition of perfection in cinematography. Robert Zemeckis was the greatest director in history and Spielberg was only significant due his role as Executive Producer of the film. Michael J. Fox was not only the best Canadian actor ever, but rather he was the greatest actor, period. I was never saw the original movie in the theater (I was only 5 after all), but I can still remember seeing Part II at the old Hillsdale theater (next to Bay Meadows, most recently home to Organized Living before its departure) with my dad.

I was really into this series of movies: I would draw pictures of hovercrafts in my spare time, my favorite CDs were the Back to the Future soundtracks (mostly musical scores by Alan Silvestri), I did a school report on John DeLorean, I would write trivia books and fictional stories relating to the characters from the movies... so when I say I was into Back to the Future, I mean it.

I don't know why, but recently the internet has erupted in Back to the Future fever... perhaps it has something to do with Bravo recently showing the prolific trilogy, or maybe it has to do with Michael J. Fox's recent involvement in the mid-term elections. Whatever the reason, I have come to realize that my hovercraft drawings and trivia books were not even the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Back to the Future mania.

For starters check out this recently posted and extremely detailed Wikipedia entry on all the timelines from the trilogy. Then, there is this extremely realistic Back to the Future DeLorean replica that went on sale at ebay last month (the bidding got up to $51k, but the reserve was not met). Of course there is this petition for Nike to make the shoes Marty McFly wore in Part II. And, apparently I am not the only one that enjoys writing Back to the Future trivia -- the blog of my favorite magazine, mental_floss, just posted their own version of trivia relating to Marty and Doc. My drawings of hovercrafts couldn't compete in the internet age, they would be the laughing stock of the Back to the Future fan club. However, when I think about the joy and entertainment that the movies brought me (and considering the crap that Hollywood is currently producing ::cough::Man of the Year::cough::) maybe, in its own special way, Back to the Future really was cinematographic perfection.

Never buy software again OR how to make your computer work like new

So, you are going to get a new computer for Christmas - or maybe you would like to make your old computer work like new - either way, I have some tips to make your computer fly. The best part is you can get most of the software you will need for free (legally).

Step One: Reformat your hard drive and install a clean copy of Windows XP
Even if your computer is brand new, it is a good idea to wipe your hard drive if you want to allow your computer to be all that it can be... Starting from scratch is important because older computers can build up lots of junk files and newer computers are shipped with a lot of junk files. Here is a pretty good set of instructions on how to reformat an hard drive using the Windows XP CD-ROM.

Step Two: Update Windows
Using the Windows Update program in your Start menu, update all of your software and hardware to their current versions. This is very important as quite a few vulnerabilities have been discovered, and fixed, in Windows XP - but since you just installed a clean copy, you need to get everything current.

All programs suggested below are free for personal use, they may require registration.

Step Three: Install necessary utilities

• Anti Virus - avast! 4 Home Edition
  Yes, that is correct, there is a free, self-updating, anti virus program... I have used avast! for ages and have been virus free ever since.
• Anti Adware/Anti Spyware - Spybot Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware SE Personal, Windows Defender
  I highly recommend downloading and installing all three of these programs to be properly protected from the crap that is out there.
• Housekeeping - CCleaner, DirMS-S, NTRegOpt
  Programs to clean up temp files, to defragment your hard drive, and to optimize your computers registry respectively. Run these (along with Spybot and Ad-Aware) every 3-4 months and your computer will be finely tuned and keep running as such.
  

Step Four: Figure out what kind of programs you use on a regular basis
Not everyone uses a database program or needs a animation suite, so if you don't need it for regular use, don't install it. Most people typically use a small number of programs on a regular basis. Take a looks at the list of programs I recommend below:

• Audio Player - iTunes
  There are many other very high quality audio players out there, but for sheer use of use and features I am using iTunes right now. Plus stay tuned for a 'how-to' post focused on organizing your music collection for tips on adding album artwork, renaming your files, sorting your music, and creating custome playlists using iTunes. (Note, if you need to move files from your iPod to your computer, I recommend using EphPod)
• BitTorrent Client - µTorrent
  If you know what BitTorrent is, you need this client program.
  
• CD/DVD Burner - CDBurnerXP Pro
  Nero is great, but they charge for it... this program will take care of 99% of your CD and DVD burning needs at no cost.
  
• Chat - www.meebo.com,
  I can not say enough about meebo. This is a great web application that allows you to sign onto the instant messaging sides of AOL, MSN, Yahoo, Google, ICQ and Jabber. Because it is web based you don't need to download any programs and you can log on from anywhere. Create a user name with meebo and you don't even need to remember your screen name and password for each of your accounts. Words can not describe how well this site works, unless you are using Internet Explorer, I have heard its performance is a bit more stellar with Firefox. Chat runner up: Gaim (if you need to download a program onto your computer to feel like you are really chatting)
  
• Compression Tools - ZipGenius
  If you have never needed a program to zip and unzip files, don't worry about this one... but if you need create an archive or get into a .rar file every once and awhile, this is the program for you.
  
• Earth Viewer - Google Earth
  If you have yet to see Google Earth in action stop reading this now and download it -- you will be amazed at what you can see.
  
• Email - www.gmail.com, Thunderbird
  Gmail is wonderful -- even if you use another web based mail service such as those provided by Yahoo! or Microsoft, you have Google to thank for the improvements they have been forced to make over the past couple years. If you need to have a local mail client on your computer, Thunderbird is a great alternative to Outlook.
  
• Image Editing - Paint.NET
  If you need something better than what Microsoft gives you with your copy of Windows to edit images, but you are not quite ready for Photoshop, Paint.NET is the way to go.
  
• Image Viewer - Picasa
  If you have a digital camera, Picasa is here to save you from the crappy software they gave you with your camera. Uninstall the program that came with your camera and use this instead.
  
• Office Suite - OpenOffice.org
  Ready for the best kept secret on the internet? Here it is: Chances are, you don't need Microsoft Office. OpenOffice.org can open, create, and edit Microsoft Office files in an environment very similar to the Microsoft products. Check it out, I almost guarantee it will fit your needs... I repeat you can open, create, and edit Microsoft Office files.
  
• PDF Utilities - Acrobat Reader, PrimoPDF
  Acrobat Reader is pretty much a necessary evil. They did just come out with their new version (8), so click the link above and go get it... much more useful, however, is PrimoPDF. This program adds a virtual printer to your list of printers. When you select the PrimoPDF printer instead of you HP LaserJetMate XL VI24, the program simply creates a PDF file that you can then email, save, or print. It is a great way to save trees and create PDFs (which, among other things, can have great security features).
  
• Phone - Skype
  If you have yet to try Skype it is worth checking out. Everyone has a different opinion of internet phone, but you should at least know how the rest of the world is communicating (Skype is very popular in Europe and Asia).
  
• Video Player and Codecs - K-Lite Codec Pack
  If you have ever downloaded a video file that would not play on your computer it is because you did not have the proper codec. Once you download the above "pack" you will be able to watch the newest video of Bob Sagget telling you about his tryst with Kimmy Gibbler.
  

Step Five: Only install programs that you actually need and use
Many computer programs do nothing more than slow your computer down, so only install the programs you use. If you notice you are not using an installed program, uninstall it using the Add/Remove Programs control panel.

(revision 2, updated 12/13/2006)

Randomness

Well, I haven't blogged in a while... and I am not really sure what I am going to write about... but sometimes randomness with excessive ellipses is a good thing...

I spent most of last week in Northern California with family and friends... there are pictures from some of the Thanksgiving festivities over at trevordanthony.com. Activities in NorCal included attending my sister's volleyball playoff games, breaking and fixing computers at my mom's place of work, going out to dinner and brunch, drinking at multiple Peninsula bars, playing board games with family and friends, eating lots of turkey, picking out a Christmas tree, going to coffee mutliple times in a day...

I drove home Sunday evening (travel time 8 hours, 15 minutes, not bad considering traffic and rain). Upon my return on Monday I fulfilled my civic duty and served jury duty. I had to stick around all day and was almost put on a jury (twice)... but I escaped by the skin of my teeth and the judge said to me, "Mr. Anthony, I am not sure if you are relieved or disappointed, but either way you are dismissed." And with that, it was over.

I am currently getting ready for the big holiday party this weekend... should be fun... if you are a friend of mine and you are in San Diego, you are invited - so drop me a line if your evite got lost in the mail :-).

Not for profit

The United States has a long history of philanthropy, when you make a fortune, you give it away. Take a look at people like Andrew Carnegie donating money for thousands of public libraries to be founded; or Bill Gates and Warren Buffet and the Gates Foundation's focus on world health and development. If you can think of a wealthy individual, you can often come up with a charity they support. There have, however, always been more charitable, not for profit, organizations than there have been former robber barons to help them. Well now you don't have to be Henry Ford to help a good cause or two, and once again it is the Internet that is changing everything.

A fairly new website, GoodSearch, was founded to give regular people an effortless and easy way to contribute to a charity of their choosing. Basically, the site gives 1 cent to the charity for every search the user/supporter performs (or approximately half the site's revenue). They also use the Yahoo! search engine to perform the search, so the results you get are the same as they would be with the major search providers. Last year the search industry alone made more than $6 billion, so there is some money out there to be shared.

I am currently supporting Our Lady of Mount Carmel, for those of you that do not know, this is the school that my mom has been the Principal of for a number of years. They are planning to use the funds raised by GoodSearch to support technology enhancements throughout the parish as well as family involvement activities. So if you need a charity to get started with, Mount Carmel would certainly appreciate your searches. Unlike other charities that might put additional revenue into their general fund, I think it is a good thing that Mount Carmel has a plan to dedicate any funds raised to new and necessary projects.

To get started:

1. Go to www.goodsearch.com
2. Look for the box labeled "Who do you GoodSearch for?"
3. Type "Mount Carmel" or another meaningful charity
4. Select the last Mount Carmel on the list "Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and School (Rdwood City) [sic]
5. Begin searching
6. After you have set up your charity, I would suggest clicking this link to add a GoodSearch search bar to your web browser

Disclosure: I am not paid or compensated in any way to write this blog. The topics I write about are of my own choosing. When I do endorse products or services it is because it is something that I use and/or think is a good idea. I do not solicit or accept advertising.
Affiliations: I am a user of GoodSearch, my mother is the Principal and my brother and sister attended of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. I am employed by E.I. DuPont Nemours and Company and the opinions expressed here are my own and are not those of my employer. This blog is not sponsored by or endorsed by my employer.

What's a polymath?... keep reading, you can become one!

I have an iPod, I listen to a few different podcasts... but it is rare that I find one as clever as the Princeton Review's Vocab Minute. They are short and to the point, and I think they provide some entertaining refreshers on vocab, even if you aren't 17 and about to take the SAT.

Since not everyone listens to podcasts and not everyone even knows how to do such a thing, you can just click on the audio player below to listen to a couple of my favorites thus far... If you would like more info on podcasts, leave a comment and I will either drop you a email or write another blog entry about it.

I actually learned the word polymath from this one... and I plan on using it!

Polly Find out how Polly does it all.

And for you pirate and parrot lovers, check this out...

The Mare Song With a yo ho ho to all the maritimers out there.

Compliments on the embedded audio players above gladly accepted in the comments section below.

Starbucks has wreaths up, so it must be that time...

To my loyal readers, let me begin by apologizing for falling off the radar recently... in the future, I promise to blog with increased regularity. Despite my lack of recent inspiration, I have seen a number of interesting gift ideas for Christmas (or other winter holidays).

NOTE: If you frequently check my shared links on the left hand column of this blog, some of these items will be repeats of what you have already seen, but this format provides you with my commentary.

Possible Christmas presents:

• If the outside of your fridge has a ferrous material and you are not very good at magnetic poetry this cool toy might be worth checking out, for kids and adults alike. Reminds me of the San Jose Tech Museum or something...
• If you (or a special female) are environmentally conscious and do not like to using plastic or paper bags this could come in handy. For those times when you forget your Trader Joes's canvas carrier, just whip off that bra (it is not that scandalous, every girl knows how to do it without taking off their shirt, they must teach it in like 5th grade or something) and turn it into a handy sack. It's your bag, baby!
  
• NASCAR, who doesn't love it??? Well, now you can "get your heart racing" with this excellent gift for the romantic race rouser, or perhaps the rousing romantic racer... I don't know.
  
  
• For the friend who has everything, get them nothing. Empty box gag gifts from the king of fake printed news, The Onion, include such classics as, a Salt of the Month Club membership, a make your own umbrella kit, and a USB toaster. The USB toaster may be fake, but the USB cup warmer is real.
  
• If your friend has purchased a iPod Video for her car, an iPod nano for the office, and a iPod shuffle for working out, and she still can't get enough of Sexy Back, check out Tooth Tunes, the MP3 playing toothbrush that plays music through your bones... look ma, no speakers!
  
• For the special geek in your life, check out these nerdy gifts...
  
  
  
• If death and dudes are your thing, check out the Men of Mortuaries 2007 Calendar.
  
• My father insists they are printing newspapers in a smaller font nowadays... if this kind of denial is found in your home as well, perhaps you should pick up a super-sized television remote.
  

If you have found some interesting gifts for the holiday season let me, and everyone else, know about them by posting links below in the comments section.

Mailbox surprise

I just recently changed my DMV record to reflect my San Diego address. This may or may not have been due to the fact that I was issued a citation for not having the correct address on my license somewhat recently. (Talk about a victim-less crime...) Anyway, good thing I made the change, otherwise I might not have received the jury summons that I got in the mail today.

The one thing most people would consider worse than an unexpected bill is the dreaded jury summons. I actually would not mind doing my "civic-duty;" being on a jury is actually pretty intriguing to me.

I am concerned about something, however. On the back of the summons it reads:

The right of a trial by jury is the privilege of every peson in the United States. This right is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the California Constitution, which provides, "the right of trial by jury shall be secured to all, and remain inviolate."

It goes on to say that in order to make the system work that people need to be willing to serve on juries. But the Superior Court of San Diego seems to be misinformed, or maybe they just printed their summons forms before President Bush signed into law legislation allowing the Executive Branch to decide if you get a jury trial or not.

This makes me wonder if there is such a thing as a conscientious objector status (or something equivalent) for jury duty.

The reason that the Superior Court system gives for fulfilling your civic duty is because each one of us is guaranteed a jury trial. However, I am now asking myself, should I fulfill my end of the covenant, serving on jury, when our government is no longer willing to fulfill their part of the deal?