Dubious Improvements

Later this year Microsoft will release Windows version seven. After nearly a decade-and-a-half in development, this new software package promises to give you the same smooth, hassle-free experience as Windows 95. As with the release of any new operating system, the arrival of Windows seven is exciting the geek community the way the [...]

Technologically Dependent

I am utterly reliant on odd assortment of inventions, devices, gadgets and gizmos; so long as the technology holds out, I’ll be fine. In my imagination, I am a survivor-type whose courage is a match for any calamity. In truth, I’m a technologically-coddled coward who whimpers when the DVR misses the latest episode [...]

Short Answers

My son isn’t speaking to me anymore. Instead he texts, tweets and updates his Facebook profile. From what I can infer, he’s doing fine.
I have trouble understanding his messages because I’m not fluent in “text”. Unlike him, I’m not a native speaker. He makes fun of my text messages and says that I’m old-fashioned and [...]

Feature Rich

The origins of defense contracting are shrouded in the mists of history — or at least cloaked by the Official Secrets Act. I’ll bet, though, that the original defense contractors were the guys who came up with the Swiss Army knife.
Really.
The Swiss Army knife inconveniently combines unrelated tools in a package which is simultaneously [...]

Technically Competent

Being good with technology is like being the guy who owns a pickup truck; everybody wants to be your best friend when there’s heavy lifting to be done. Face it, the question “Can you help me move?” is substantially the same as “Can you get my internet working?” The only real difference is [...]