Archive for November, 2006

AOL advertising even in their NDR messages

// November 22nd, 2006 // No Comments » // tagged:

Amazing. AOL spams is everywhere now. One of my users got this NDR (Non Delivery Report) message today when attempting to send an email to an AOL user:
The following recipient(s) could not be reached:

There was a SMTP communication problem with the recipient's email server. Please contact your system administrator.

[mail.domain.org #5.5.0 smtp; 550 We would love to have gotten this email to lb8017@aim.com. But, your recipient never logged onto their free AIM Mail account. Please contact them and let them know that they're missing out on all the super features offered by AIM Mail. And by the way, they're also missing out on your email. Thanks.]

Zune Zune ….

// November 14th, 2006 // No Comments » // tagged:

zune.jpg Microsoft's new mobile music player might just have a chance at giving Apple *some* competition. It looks cool ... they're doing a good job with marketing ... the price is right ($249) ... and you know they are going to start bundling it with PC sales - at the very least zune software will be included with windows on new pc's. That's where Microsoft makes its money anyway ... bundling. It might be a tall order to come close to ipod sales ... but the zune might have what it takes to atleast get Microsoft in the game. Built in FM tuner Share songs with zunes nearby (3 plays over a 3 day period) Comparable size.... and with a cool brown version! Large 3" screen ... vertical & horizontal orientations Wireless (this is huge ... having it in the unit opens up all sorts of possibilities ) I doubt Apple is concerned about the zune at this point ... the ipod has too much iconic appeal. However - the social aspects of the zune are very cool. You can be sure the next gen of ipods will be sporting something similar ... following on the heals of microsoft for once ;) [interesting writeup about the zune and microsofts knack for just not *getting it*]

Baptism Cannonball!

// November 7th, 2006 // 1 Comment » // tagged:

Not Frog-like enough for me.

// November 4th, 2006 // 1 Comment » // tagged:

I saw Umbridge in a totally different way in my head. I think this is the first time when I have been *totally* disappointed with the casting in Harry Potter. I've been pretty pleased with everyone up until now; she is just *not* AT ALL what I had in my head. :( Shorter. Wider, shorter face. Definite frog features. I think I saw Zelda Rubinstein in my head ... Imelda Staunton just is not doing it for me.

Glorious view

// November 3rd, 2006 // 1 Comment » // tagged:

I was syncing my treo today - and realized there were photos on there I forgot I had taken! When we flew to Florida in April for Paul's wedding - the view from the plane was simply breathtaking. I pulled my treo out and took a few pictures ... and you just never know how cameraphone pictures are going to turn out. I got several pretty good ones though. Picture163_11Apr06 Picture159_11Apr06 Picture172_11Apr06

Y’all Magazine

// November 3rd, 2006 // No Comments » // tagged:

Saw this in Davis-Kidd Booksellers this weekend. y'all magazine. Seriously?? y'all - the magazine of southern people

Claudia Nunez had four years to get her act together. Now she’s crying mercy?

// November 1st, 2006 // 4 Comments » // tagged: >

Katherine blogged about the Claudio Nunez sob story ... here are my thoughts [getting on soapbox] Yes - its sad that she will be separated from her family. But she's had more than ample time to file papers with INS ... and would most likely have speedy service (say less than 4 years) since she has US citizen children. Yes its a lengthy process ... and yes it costs money ... but nothing in life is free. We jumped through all the hoops, paid all the fees, and got to hang out in immigration offices for several years. It took over four years for Steve to get his greencard. We had to file for *advanced parole* during those years to allow Steve to leave the US and go to England to visit his family. But we filed the paperwork. We paid the fees. We did the interviews. And then we waited for the giant sloth that is INS to do their jobs. And eventually ... they did. Steve now has a shiny greencard. Mrs. Nunez could have done the same thing ... and because she didn't ... now she expects our government (and the media is lapping this up - they love the sob stories) to bend the law for her. We shouldn't have to bend the law. She had FOUR AND A HALF YEARS to get her act together and file for her greencard. She would have gotten it faster than my husband did because she has children. They count for more than spouses! There has to be a line ... where you say - ok - here is the law - and it's not unreasonable. All people have to do is their part. She would have *DEFINITELY* been given a greencard since she has children ... so its not like she even had to worry about being denied. Why does someone deserve mercy for ignoring the law and crossing their fingers that they can get away with it? Although mercy isn't something that is *deserved* by its very nature ... ARGH! Her poor children! Perhaps everyone should have to go to an immigration office at least once. Seeing who is there ... and what goes on ... makes you understand why we need to have tougher immigration laws. Perhaps Mrs. Nunez doesn't need to be deported ... maybe she just needs to pay a huge fine and have to start the greencard process at the very beginning ... and in four years she could have her very own greencard! In the meantime - they'll get her a work visa - and her life will get back to normal. That would be mercy. Who should be given the right to decide who should and shouldn't be deported? Case by case basis isn't really feasible ... when you think of the hundreds of thousands of applications flowing through INS all the time. I don't know what the answer is. But I'm just not going to feel too sorry for a woman who knew exactly what she was NOT doing ... [getting off soapbox. preparing to be tarred and feathered because I don't have a bleeding heart] I even have a tag on my blog for my ins frustration entries over the past few years. Most of them to do with our frustration at how slow they are.