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Off-Point: Zidane, Zidane, Zidane!

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Enough already!

Those same idiotic talking heads on sports talk radio are at it again.

Zidane cost his team the Cup!

He did?

How?

Did he score in his own goal?

For goodness sakes, the guy, of Arab-French ancestry, was called a terrorist!

WTF?

I thought it was only the soccer fans, soccer media, and coaches that were hooligans!

Add players to the mix.

Since he is of North African or Middle Eastern origin, or of ancestry from a predominantly Moslem country, I can understand his lashing out: the fraustration of being either labelled with those lunatics just because of ancestral origins must linger.

And don't say he had to think of his country at that time. The same andrenaline pumping through his veins would have him freaking out.

Heck, if there was a derogatory term for people of Nigerian origin that I would find offensive and had a moron say that to me, I would have had to be surgically seperated from the person!

Since I would have ripped off his head, and jumped down his throat so far that I would be able to peek out his A$$!!!

Now everyone blames him? I wonder when soccer

  1. became an individual sport, and
  2. where the other 10 players, not counting the subs were?

Then these Mensas with microphones are now Monday-Morning quarterbacks. A$$holes.
© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Going to da' Basement

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I'm taking a break, aka, going to da basement, from now until July 18 for the baptism of my younger son, Trevor.

Since there will be lots of family members and friends from all over the globe, I decided to use this downtime to finish my detailed and publish Windows Vista Beta II Review.

This is my 2nd Beta II Review; however, this time I am aided by the Windows VistaTM Product Guide.

Also slated to be published this month is the latest issue of the SmallBizVista Informer, which will be back after a 3-month hiatus. I hope editing completed by the end of the downtime, and send it out for publishing by July 18TH.

Many thanks and props to Nick White and the entire crew at The Hive for the copy of the Product Guide.

AOL may offer web services for free

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And, pray tell, who cares?

Really, who?

The company, apart from all the cattle/customers/users/whatever they're called, do not pass the relevance test any more.

I can only hope that this development spurs Microsoft to open up the MSN Explorer product.

Though, in all reality, while it has been surpassed by the free Windows Live products gound at Live.com, it is still groundbreaking and relevant in that it allows for aggregation of your information using a standard web browser, rather than the AOL crapware

Nobody Came!

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What if you gave a party and nobody came?

Can you imagine what the Supreme Leader, the son of the Perpetual President must be feeling now?

How many of the scientists who worked on the Taepodong 2 missile will/are being targeted by that lift-wearing midget for some sort of re-education, even as we speak?

Can you visualize the fury?

Goes to show, just because you build a long metal cylinder, fill it with rocket fuel and electronics, does not mean it will fly.

What that in-bred dwarf wanted to do was probably deflect internal attention from himself and his failed, blood-thirsty, inhuman policies.

Judging by the sabre-rattling that followed his decision, he succeeded.

Prediction: the lowliest country in Africa will be orbital before that highheels-wearing Lilliput ever succeeds in his fantasy.

NOTE: Dwarf, midget, high-heels wearing Lilliput, and other pejorative terms have been knowingly used to describe Kim Jong-il, the genocidal leader of North Korea.
Copyright © 2006, John Obeto II for SmallBizVista.com®
© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Space Shuttle Returns

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I have been so happy about the return of the Space Shuttle's to operational status, with the STS-121 mission, albeit in a test stage, that I almost forgot to blog about it.

This is a Very Good Thing!

I hope the President and Congress give budget authority to NASA for studies into a follow-on reusable, manned, atmospherically-maneuverable re-entry vehicle to replace the current Shuttle fleet and also authorize their procurement. That would be a lasting legacy of this presidency.


This mission also means a lot to me personally: Stephanie D. Wilson, a mission specialist on STS-121, is an African American. And an F-O-X Fox! A real Hottie!

Following in the footsteps of the following Pioneers:
  • Colonel Guion Bluford, USAF - the 1st Black American in space, STS-8, STS-61A, STS-39.
  • Dr. Ronald McNair, R.I.P., civilian - unfortunately the 1st Black to die in a spacecraft (Space Shuttle Challenger, January 28, 1986); STS-41B, STS-51L - the ill-fated Challenger Mission.
  • Colonel Frederick Gregory - USAF, STS-51B, STS-33, STS-44.
  • Brigadier General Charles Bolden, Jr., USMC - STS-61C, STS-31, STS-45, STS-60.
  • Mae Jamison, MD, civilian - 1st Black woman in space - STS-47.
  • Bernard Harris, MD, civilian - STS-55, STS-63.
  • Captain Winston Scott, USN - STS-72, STS-87.
  • Captain Robert Curbeam, USN - STS-85, STS-98, barely older than I am.
  • Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anderson, USAF, R.I.P. - STS-89, STS-107 - the deadly crash of the Space Shuttle Columbia, February 1, 2003.
While she is not Black, I am adding Dr. Judith A. Resnik, STS-41D, STS-51L to the list. I made her part of the family in 1986, and twenty years later, she is still remembered.

We owe you all a world of thanks.

I especially want to thank all of you for living my dream, as I enjoy it vicariously through all your accomplishments.

Stephanie, you go, girl!

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Ultimate Keyboard for Vista

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Designed expressly for Vista, this is the first Microsoft keyboard for the new OS that is also built for a 30-foot experience.

While I like all of it, it is missing a crucial piece that will relegate it to the game room only: a numeric keypad.

So, Microsoft, please could you add a numeric keypad?

Pretty please?

If one is added, or already in the works, or already made (that company really has a lot of smart people), then Unimatrix Zero-1 will move all systems to it.

The productivity gains from the backlighting alone pays for it!
© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Schumacher Wins at Indy Again

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Now that is what I'm talking about!

At the 2006 Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile Formula One Grand Prix of America, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Schumi again showed why he is, without doubt and the pretenders running in circles in Neck-car notwithstanding, the best driver in the world.

I sincerely hope this will start a run for Ferrari with 8 races left in the season.

Schumi, please continue to do your thing, Bro'!
© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Symantec CEO: Microsoft is NOT Synonymous with Security

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And Symantec is?

Quick, ask three novice computer users out there about their feelings about Symantec?

Bloatware?

Yes, BLOATWARE!!!

Notice that I tried to be fair and did not ask advanced users or gurus about the company and their 'security' products.

How I long for the days of Peter Norton and his eponymous Norton Utilities product.

What do they say again?

Something about stones and living in glass houses.

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Active Directory to connect to Windows Live ID

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Microsoft is working to connect AD to Windows Live ID.

I see a lot of problems ahead for smaller companies if this solution is adopted by them, since they generally do not have defined security policies or security support staff in place.

I must confess I have not read any official announcement from Microsoft and will wait until I have more information before making a recommendation to clients.
Copyright © 2006, John Obeto II for SmallBizVista.com®

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Toshiba Tecra M7

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Just after I authorized the order for a Gateway M285, comes information about a new 14.1" widescreen dual-core Tablet PC from Toshiba, the Tecra M7.

Currently announced in the EU but rumored for availability in the US from next month.

Hopefully IBM/Lenovo/whatever they are calling themselves today will also announce a dual-core large-screen and widescreen Tablet PC in the same time frame.

As you expect, I cancelled the Gateway order immediately.
© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Unimatrix Zero-1 Moves to Cable Broadband

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After a month of super slooooow DSL, I finally bit the bullet and called Comcast for their cable modem service.

(I have DISH Network satellite service because of the sweetheart deal from bromwichmajor Communications for HDTV in every room, including the kid’s room, a total of 8 TVs for a low, low price.)

Anyhoo, I did not want to go the cable broadband way because the listed cost, $49.99, was a whole lot more than the $17.99 I was paying for DSL.

However, the slow speed of the DSL totally eradicated whatever goodwill I felt towards the helpful support crew at at&t. I just couldn’t take it anymore; it was getting to the stage where I wanted to heave my system outta the window.

Ordered the cable broadband service and was told of a Convert-from-DSL discount making my cost $29.99 per for the 1st year, installation in two days. You can imagine how fast I jumped aboard, this price good even without subscribing to the cable video service! Talk about eating your cake and having it!

So, Unimatrix Zero-1 now has fast broadband service, and all is well.

What I don’t know is if I was automatically signed up for a 1-year contract with Comcast.

PS. I need to call at&t mañana to cancel the DSL.
Copyright © 2006, John Obeto II for SmallBizVista.com®
© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Surveillance Drones for LA County

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When I first read this bit of news, I was like, “O Oh!”

These guys who can’t fly straight would be using drones? OMG!

I guess I was thinking of the General Atomics Predator drones and wondered why these kids would be trusted with it.

We can all rest easy. The drone in question is this folding device here.

Whew! What a relief.

All jokes apart, kudos to Sheriff Baca and his deputies for looking into such ways to extend the always meager resources of his department for the safety of his charges, the people of Los Angeles County.

NOTE: I met the current LA Sheriff, Lee Baca, in person once as we were both paying for parking in downtown LA and he was the most down-to-earth person in government I have ever met. I wish him the best.

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Vista Beta II, VistaTorrent, & Avalanche

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Tried to stay out of the Vista Beta II download brouhaha since I had downloaded my copy as part of the official beta a long while before the public floodgates were opened, but the news, over the weekend, that Chris Pirillo’s (IMO) helpful VistaTorrent.com website was deactivated prompted this.

Say what you will about the legalities of the issue, but Pirillo was trying to ease the woes of many potential upgraders.

Believe me, the initial download experience, or lack of thereof was a terribly dampening one for the newbie Vista™ testers. This I know from experience with earlier builds and the attendant horrendous download speeds.

Moreover, that takes a spark away from those who would like to give it a whirl despite all the negativity surrounding the Vista™ builds by media types trying to make a name for themselves by knocking an otherwise improved product.

Right after the last Vista™ Lab in May, I felt that whatever provisioning arrangements and services being planned for the public Vista™ Preview Program would fall horribly short of forecast, and I secretly hoped that Microsoft would use this opportunity as a tested for Avalanche, their Torrent-like distribution service under development by Microsoft Research. If not as the primary download mechanism, then as an adjunct to the general download.

I mean, even the Office 2007 Beta II download of a few days before was a serious drag on my happiness quotient – let’s not even start about the slow DSL speeds at Unimatrix Zero-1, formerly known as La Casa John, which I have since rectified by subscribing to Comcast Cable.

If as reports were in June of 2005, for which there was a thread in The Hive, that speeds were up for 4GB downloads at the time, surely the fine-tuning of the algorithms involved should be producing much better results now; in the very least better that what a lot of people were seeing.

Please don’t comment that there was an option to send for a DVD, OK?

I know that, OK?

However, the fact that you could get the download simultaneously, introduced the immediacy concept to potential testers, making the mail-order option a 'pleasure-delayed' final option.

The sensible thing to have done was to have opened the Beta II process a while before the download release to mail-order fulfillment, with initial deliveries timed to the download announcement/release. As previously done in the past with, I believe, a beta of Office or Windows. That would have alleviated the pain tremendously.

Or, make plans to utilize Avalanche.

Sadly, no one at Microsoft either saw the problem - which I don't think, as there are too many smart people employed there, thought of the Avalanche solution, or if they did, did not make enough of an effort to take the case to management that this was a superb opportunity for field-testing both Avalanche, and fine-tuning the delivery mechanism for future builds.

I know of no Vista beta tester that would not like to participate.

Alas, Avalanche, as a delivery option for Vista Beta II was not to be.

Back to VistaTorrent.com.

Shortly after the public release of Vista Beta II, and in response to (the beta) public outcry, Pirillo, with a partner, started VistaTorrent.com which aimed to ease the frustration of the potential testers. To assuage Microsoft’s fears of hacked, cracked, or malware-infested code, the site offered the following (from their site):

The only official tracker for this torrent is found here at VistaTorrent.com. We're providing an MD5 hash to verify the file after download to make sure you're getting the real thing. If the torrent URL is anything other than the one from Vistatorrent.com, don't download or install the file! We're staking our reputations on providing a clean ISO torrent here. There is no registration required to download this torrent.

By all indications, downloaders loved the freebie service, as observed by the number of compliments in the blogosphere.

But, all good things must come to an end and a boilerplate cease-and-desist letter was sent to VistaTorrent to deactivate downloads. Which was done immediately.

Unfortunate.

While Microsoft is totally right in issuing the C&D to protect its intellectual property, I cannot help but be upset that a product with a great upside (Vista) missed the chance to utilize another potential great product (Avalanche) to bring a very good download experience to a lot of potential beta testers.

A missed opportunity indeed.
Copyright © 2006, John Obeto II for SmallBizVista.com®

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows