Doctor Who - A Fine Show

When I was a kid, I caught Doctor Who, a year or two after its British release, on my local PBS station. Tom Baker was king back then. At that time, in Madison, there were four TV channels, and one of them was PBS.

I thought Season 1, of the "new" Doctor Who series, was silly, or rather, those episodes that I saw were silly. I'll catch them eventually, in re-run, and perhaps revise my opinion. However, with this new doctor (Seasons 2 and 3 so far), it's...kind of amazing (his page is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenth_Doctor). Really good drama, regardless of the SF.

As such, I thought I'd point to a few fun links:

The Wiki on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who

Kylie Minogue will guest star in a December 2007 Christmas special, though I am unclear on whether that will be in the U.S. by then.

The Wiki on the TARDIS. (they're grown, not built): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TARDIS

The current Doctor Who series has a spin-off, Torchwood, designed as a "series in the style of the American shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (both highly popular in Britain), and even having those series' James (Spike) Marsters as a guest star: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torchwood . Note that Torchwood premiers tonight on BBC America, (a year or so later than in Britain, which is usual), and their site is http://www.scifi.com/sfw/screen/sfw16914.html. I don't have BBC America access, so it looks like I'll be buying the DVD's.

In another Buffy tie-in, Tony (Giles) Head appears as a villain in the animated series, per information at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenth_Doctor .

Official Gmail Blog: Gmail eats your Bacn

Official Gmail Blog: Gmail eats your Bacn

Click the link above to read a great tip about how to deal with Bacn (pronounced 'bacon'), that solicited email, that you've actually asked for, from vendors, retailers, groups, magazines...whatever, but that you don't want to read right now. The tips the author suggests are methods I have used for years, in Outlook -- and then in GMail too -- and he took the time to write them up.

Dick in a Box and other classic SNL shorts (plus one amateur one on YouTube)

Many of us saw this live, when Justin Timberlake hosted SNL. However, now that he and Andy Samberg are up for an Emmy for this short, I thought I'd post the link. See it at NBC at http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/uncensored.shtml or on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dmVU08zVpA .

Note a gal responds with her own version, surprisingly well sung, entitled "My box in a box", to be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xElIik0Ys0&NR=1

While we're on the subject of Samberg and Co.'s digital shorts, don't forget Steve Martin's "Close Talkers", or Natalie Portman's absolutely classic rap, all of which can be seen at http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/#mea=2922 .

GPS - Automotive Systems

Due to a recent car accident, I had to have an extended use of a Hertz rental Taurus, equipped with a Magellan Hertz NeverLOST GPS Navigation system (http://www.hertzneverlost.com/) . It got me thinking that, aside from my hand-held Magellan GPS 315 – now four or five years old – I’ve not had new GPS gadgetry in some time. Okay, okay… my cell phone is an LG VX8300, and technically it is GPS capable, but I’m not one to pay for extra Verizon services, so I’ve not used it.

What do you use? What is your favorite GPS toy?

My Basic Tenants

I’m of the belief that all GPS units should include the ability to navigate to latitude/longitude locations, but I’m also pragmatic…and it probably will very rarely be something I’ll need (and I have my old hand-held for that, should I require it). Also, I own a Bluetooth headset, for my phone, and the phone itself has a built-in speakerphone, so I have no interest in Bluetooth capabilities in a GPS unit. My media player will remain my media player.

GPS Buying Guide

Good ole CNET comes through again with a buying guide at http://www.cnet.com/gps.html?tag=pm. They’re always good for good background information, etc., although their “current prices” are often not quite so updated, especially when comparing online merchants beside each other. It’ll take you a little extra time, but click on each merchant to find out their real price of the moment. For better prices, simply visit your favorite online electronics stores, Google a few GPS specialty sites, and do the shipping math. Obviously, check each site for its authenticity via your usual, diligent means.

[UPDATE: TigerDirect has better prices than CNET lists various sites having them, at least as of the moment of this posting update. See

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?Recs=10&Nav=c:2374&Sort=4

Rudimentary/elementary units

Magellan RoadMate 2000

Check it out at http://www.autonav2000.com/mall/anProdDetail.asp?ProdID=512 (one of the places to purchase) or http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2006/10/review_magellan_roadmate_2000.php (review, October 2006). Note the review is dated from the product’s release period and thus states a much higher price ($299) than one would actually have to pay (less than $200). It has a 100% touch-screen interface. The review is worth reading, as a stand-alone document, for its quality of writing and its explanation of how routing engines (routines) work. Fascinating stuff. Another review of it at CNET at http://reviews.cnet.com/car-gps-navigation/magellan-roadmate-2000/4505-3430_7-32065622.html?tag=prod.txt.2. [Note: the 2000’s big sister is the 2200t (http://reviews.cnet.com/car-gps-navigation/magellan-roadmate-2200t/4505-3430_7-32065623.html?tag=txt), which sports an SD chip and the ability to play MP3’s and display photos. About the only reason I’d want one of these things to play media files is to play podcasts, but whatever.

TomTom One

Similar to the Magellan, though seemingly a bit more pricey. Review at http://reviews.cnet.com/car-gps-navigation/tomtom-one/4505-3430_7-32026663.html?tag=also.

Garmin StreetPilot i3

Similar to the above two units, this one has a very small screen but is the cheapest of all three, and it gets good reviews (aside from the screen size comments). Would probably be cute in a VW Bug or compact car where windshield real estate is at a premium. Check it out at http://reviews.cnet.com/car-gps-navigation/garmin-streetpilot-i3/4505-3430_7-31468216.html?tag=b_readfull . [The big sister of this unit is the i5, as seen at http://reviews.cnet.com/car-gps-navigation/garmin-streetpilot-i5/4507-3430_7-31518215.html?tag=sub, although I’m not seeing how it is that much better.]

Navman iCN 330 Portable GPS (Auto)

Small enough to go in one's hand, etc. You can find these for $120 (usually refurbished). A small screen, but a good looking unit, not touch-screen, but smartly designed buttons, if you're not sure if you need a GPS, but want to dabble without investing a lot of money, this puppy, at $100 plus a couple of bills, seems like a reasonable choice. See it on sale, at TigerDirect (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=2248785&sku=N555-1028&CMP=EMC-TIGEREMAIL&SRCCODE=WEM1432DL) and a review (if you can count something that seems more like advertising, with no negative comments, as a "review") at http://www.mobilewhack.com/reviews/navman_icn_330_gps_device.html . The reviews from the TigerDirect buyers all like the unit, but they say the maps are at least a couple years old, and they have not found updated maps at the Navman site. So, you might want to poke around yourself, for map updates, before buying.

"New author" discovered - Peter F. Hamilton

Though an avid SF reader, I was out of the loop, in the 1996 time period, regarding new authors, so somehow I missed Peter F. Hamilton's emergence onto the scene. As I wrote to my droogies, below, the guy can write. After I sent that, I went around to various used book stores and other stores, to see about completing the series. It turns out that the three parts of the series are actually in two-book segments, thus bringing the series to six books, not three. I bought part 3, both books, and ordered part 2, both books, and the second book of part 1. I just got an email that the second book is in, so I am ready to continue the series, after the brief hiatus of another book (another author) that I picked up. Hey, I had to read something while I waited for the other novels to show up.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: me
Date: Jul 11, 2007 10:05 PM
Subject: "New author" discovered - Peter F. Hamilton

I closed my eyes and stabbed out a finger, at Half-Price Books, and landed near this one http://www.amazon.com/Reality-Dysfunction-Part-I-Emergence/dp/0446605158 . Very Brin-like, with a contagious plot, with – dare I say it – a bit of Dean Koontz thrown in! I highly recommend it. It's part 1 of 3; I searched today for parts 2 and 3, at ½ Price Books, and they didn't have them, so I'm off to Barnes & Noble tomorrow at lunch.

A very good read.

Out with LookOut, in with Windows Desktop Search

Also known as simply Windows Search, Windows Desktop Search is based on the old LookOut search tool.  Microsoft bought LookOut a couple years ago, and their first try at incorporating it into their MSN Toolbar product was horrible.  They finally got it right!

 

Windows Desktop Search will, like LookOut before it, index the contents of one's hard drive, one's Outlook (both PST's and Exchange inbox), and network drives (now via UNC paths).  However, it will now allow dragging and dropping, from search results windows.  It will also allow multiple search results windows and the ability to sort them on various fields.  One can choose a dynamic "as you type" hit list, or one can de-select that (as I did).

 

Installing it, and uninstalling LookOut, will greatly increase Outlook's response and load times, because the tool is no longer an Outlook add-in.

 

To download the tool, go to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926356.

 

For information on trouble-shooting and configuration, see http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows/search/dtstshoot.mspx#ESC .

GoogleMail (GMAIL) - Configuring POP (email software) Access

                I love Gmail.  I used to use my ISP’s email as my primary email, my Yahoo! email as, what I lovingly referred to as, “my crap bucket” – the account I would use when I filled-in online surveys, purchased items from online stores, or joined discussion groups – and all was well.  Then I realized that, while at coffee shops or relatives’ houses that did not exist on my ISP’s service, I could not send email from Outlook.  So, I switched to Gmail, and I’ve never looked back.

 

                The following link has instructions for configuring your email software to download and upload email.  If you don’t want to do it, that’s obviously fine.  I just wanted to give you the information just in case you’re interested.

 

                GoogleMail help regarding “POP” access:  http://mail.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?topic=1555

 

                While I love new things, I am a bit “old school” when it comes to managing my email.  I like having a local copy of my inbox and sent box.  Thus, should I ever find myself in a temporarily offline situation – and as a notebook users I often do – I can continue to compose messages that later get uploaded when I have a network connection.  Also, I then have copies of the email I can occasionally burn to CD or DVD, for archiving.  If you don’t care about such concerns, you might not want to go through the trouble of configuring your Gmail for POP use.