Google Talk has pushed me back over the edge. Too many programs, and they all do the same thing. I'll try Trillian again.

Trillian is a fully featured, stand-alone, skinnable chat client that supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, and IRC. It provides capabilities not possible with original network clients, while supporting standard features such as audio chat, file transfers, group chats, chat rooms, buddy icons, multiple simultaneous connections to the same network, server-side contact importing, typing notification, direct connection (AIM), proxy support, encrypted messaging (AIM/ICQ), SMS support, and privacy settings.

[ Cerulean Studios -> Learn about Trillian ]

In 2 weeks it will expire. We'll see then if I pony up the $25 for Trillian Pro (the only way to get Google Talk) or go back to my wicked ways.

I've been using this on a few machines that aren't attached to a domain, and think it works pretty darn good:

Our freeware Atomic Clock Sync utility can help you keep your local computer up-to-date with the exact current time.

[ Free Atomic Clock Sync utility from worldtimeserver.com ]

Can't beat the price, either.

From 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg was the capital of England's oldest, largest, richest, and most populous colony and the seat of power in the new nation's most influential state. It was in the shops, taverns, government buildings, homes and streets of Williamsburg that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Mason, and other Virginia patriots established the ideals — liberty, independence and personal freedom — that influenced the founding of our nation and have inspired generations of Americans and others around the world.

[ Colonial Williamsburg Media FAQS - Freqently[sic] Asked Questions ]

In September of 2005 it was the site of the celebration of Yaty and David's first Anniversary (God willing). There was revelry, good food, historical lessons, and roller coasters. And the most influential state continued its influence.

Read some Tintin...

At least be familliar with the concept. Once you are done there, make certain you've heard of Asterix and Obelisk too.

to Bloglines:

Create a personal Bloglines page loaded with the freshest news about the things you love.

[ Bloglines ]

I wrote my own system, but keeping it running smoothly takes more effort and time than I can spare. Bloglines has everything I need: central control, mobile version, notification system, etc.

I've even found that exporting my subscriptions as an OPML file which can drive my "blogroll" listing on this site.

Update: Joe Grossberg has just noticed that I've switched to the Green party as well.

I was a Boy Scout. Now I'm Muslim. Good to see that the two get along so well...

There are now all-Muslim scout packs and troops in at least 22 states, involving more than 2,000 scouts and leaders. They can be found in big cities like Chicago and Atlanta, centers of the Arab-American community such as Dearborn, Mich., and smaller towns like Pottsville, Pa., and Rochester, Minn.

[ TIME.com: Duty, Honor and Allah -- Aug. 29, 2005 ]

I do remember when working at Scout Camp, we had a Muslim troop come one year. They seemed to get along fine, just had some difficulties with the food service people and ensuring that all foods they were given were pork-free.

Granted, I'm the last person to do so. TiVo claims:

Only TiVo is so smart, it's simple to use.

[ TiVo.com | What is TiVo ]

What they don't tell you is that it will take hours to set up, and you must have a phone to do so. Sure you can use a USB Wireless Access Point to do everything, but only once you've connected by phone at least twice during the setup. Luckily this connection will go over my Vonage VoIP phone line, or I'm not sure what I could do.

Another sticking point is that Comcast's lineup isn't quite right. TiVo thinks that channel 81 is G4TV, as does the Comcast website. However my TiVo device is clearly picking up G4TV on channel 99, and always has in non-digital mode.

The driving force behind my need for TiVo? I can't find my TV's remote. I had returned my Comcast digital box with DVR, since the DVR never really recorded things that I asked it to, and the digital lineup is so seldom watched in my house. My cable bill drops $30 by doing so, and makes the purchase of a TiVo and the addition of another movie in my Netflix queue almost no-brainers. However I hadn't realized what a God-send the remote control is, and how lazy humans can really be. After a few days without one I determined that I would have to purchase a TV remote or change my habits all together. Since a universal remote costs at least $15, what's another $85 for a TiVo? (and $5 for a wireless access point after rebate)...

Update: If this, somehow, inspires you to get a TiVo, you can tell them I referred you by giving them my email address "tivo [at] davidkearns [dot] com".

More and more I think a Golf TDI is in my future. I found a resource that, if it is to be believed, is very convincing:

The Volkswagen Golf TDI (Turbo Diesel) is one of the most fuel efficient cars sold in America and one of the most popular cars in Europe. I own a 2002 Golf TDI, and this page chronicles some of my experiences and impressions of this vehicle.

[ VW Golf TDI Review, Long Term Road Test, Biodiesel Information ]

My needs for a vehicle are fuel efficiency, enjoyable to drive, flexible for cargo hauls, and big enough for my family. The Golf TDI fits all of those needs, and with the exact same body as my GTI, the only question remains is it peppy and fun to drive? From what I've read, yes it is. Oh, and in our post-apocalyptic future, I would be able to run my car on vegetable oil, that's pretty cool...

Sometimes a convergence of ideas and technologies come together to form something that is greater than anyone could have every imagined. This is just such a case.

Wedding Crashers Movie Preview (featuring Spongebob Squarepants)

Props: Gibson

Perhaps just come up with better guides. It took me close to 20 minutes to find any sort of site/page that had a decent explanation of forged email headers/addresses geared toward the non-technical.

e-mail forgery is easy-to-do and not unusual, and, at this point-in-time, little can be done about it

[ MFCF/CSCF Frequently Asked Questions: Dealing with Email Forgery ]

First, props to U Waterloo, I should have just checked the Canadian internets to begin with.

Second, if you are in a position to hire, make sure you hire good IT staff. Don't skimp. Really.

Third, if you are responsible for sending spam, shame on you.

I hope this one lives up to the hype in my head:

YOU ARE JOHN RAIMI, a disease-control agent with the federal government, temporarily assigned to an elite counterterrorism unit. The mission: Infiltrate the Volks Corporation in southern France and extract a sample of a mysterious biological agent. But as you creep through Volks's labyrinthine corridors, unraveling the secrets of the bioweapons program, the mission takes a horrific turn. Captured by Volks security and subjected to the corporation's gruesome experiments, your soul is wrenched from your body...

[ Geist for Nintendo GameCube ]

I haven't been playing much lately, I guess that most of my list just isn't very compelling. Zelda will be out soon, but man cannot live on Zelda alone.

...for crabs.

Obrycki's is located on land that was part of the original William Fell estate, in the area known as historic Fells Point. The corner building at 1729 East Pratt Street was built in 1851 and the adjoining building was built the following year.

[ Obrycki's - Steamed Crabs and Crab Cakes our Specialty ]

I've never been to Obrycki's, but I've heard through the family grapevine that there is no better place in B'more for steamed hard shell blue crabs. And, of course, there is no place in the world that could possibly make better crabs than Baltimore... TravelLady disagree, however. TravelLady also points out the surprise that Bohager's does crabs (though they might be closed), and I think that is quite the surprise. I see that Ocean Pride is in Lutherville, near my Aunt's place, so perhaps I should head for there instead...

Update: Done

The Internet is bigger:

Third Degree - "intense interrogation by police," 1900, probably a reference to Third Degree of master mason in Freemasonry (1772), the conferring of which included an interrogation ceremony.

[ Online Etymology Dictionary ]

Seriously, where would I have gone 15 years ago to research the things that I can investigate so quickly now?

I've finally eaten at the 24 hour restaurant on Little River Turnpike that has been calling to me. The name is displayed, along with an illustration of a little man in a big hat drinking soup from a bowl, but it's in Korean so I never knew the name of the place. 정선달 apparently means Jung Sun Dal, though I don't know what that means.

Not only is the sign in Korean, but practically everything inside is in Korean too. And, as far as I can tell, no one working in the place speaks any English. The menu, printed on the place-mats, does have rough translations of most of the menu, and Yaty decided to go with the "vegetables, beef, egg, and rice" because she couldn't tell which items was Bibim Bap. To her surprise the waitress said just that, so I ordered the same. Only $6.95 a bowl, and it comes with a big bowl of miso soup too, what a bargain.

The place seems to be "homestyle Korean" and does have a bit more pork on the menu than I care for, but the waitress does understand "no pork" so it's all good. I'm not sure what to rate it, as it's only the 3rd Korean restaurant I've ever eaten at in my life, and I'm still not sure I understand Korean food.