life as a dog…

Since I am supposed to be traveling more with my new job, I had seriously considered the "Registered Traveler" program (aka "Clear").  Normally, I would have said absolutely not… I’m not giving the government any info on me.  But when you see the lines at the regular security checkpoint and then look at the line at the Trusted line (I’ve never seen more than 5 people in line), it almost seems worth it.

Almost.

Turns out, that third party (Verified Identity Pass, Inc.) isn’t as capable as you might hope.  Even at the minimum.  Why?  Because apparently, they can’t keep their OWN equipment secure.  You can read it here:  Verfied Identity LOSES laptop.  So they got it back and TSA apparently was satisfied with the end result.  Me…not so much.

I’ll take the long line, thank you.

I have a habit of reading the web site of my hometown newspaper.  Mostly, it’s curiosity…do I see something about someone I know, or a parent of someone I grew up with…or whatever.  It’s rare that something like that actually appears.  Mostly, it reiterates my view that I grew up in a town that, while it may have been a halfway decent place at one time (I like to think it was when I was growing up), it has mostly turned into a minimum-wage-mostly-uneducated-redneck town.  Reading the comments from locals is really an embarrassment.  I can’t believe people lack a grasp of common sense.

Regardless…today I came across something that I found disturbing…yet fascinating.  Maybe it’s fascinating because it’s disturbing…

The Indiana State Fair presents to you…The Colossal Colon!

The list is growing.  I have definitely gotten to the point where I need a backup of my thumb drive.  The documents on it have been backed up - either to google docs or to ADrive.  But the applications…no backup other than the install files.

How much do I have now?  My thumb drive is 4GB.  I have 1.4GB free on it.

Here’s what I run off it now:

• Digsby
• Open Office
• Firefox
• Thunderbird
• EssentialPIM
• Filezilla
• Windows Live Writer
• Adobe Lightroom
• 7-Zip
• Audacity
• The Gimp
• Foxit
• SIW (great program if you want to know anything about the computer you are working on)
• Camtasia
• Weatherbug
• DVD Shrink
• CCleaner
• Media Player Classic

There was a website that was posting U3 versions of a lot of bigger name programs (where I got Camtasia) for free.  But they are now charging for "membership."  Screw that.  But I did manage to get one last good program from there.  Dreamweaver.  Not the CS3 version…  the CS4 version.  Yes, it’s beta…but it seems to be working just fine for my needs.  They had Photoshop, Flash and Sony Acid Pro, too.  But I was never able to get those to work properly.

Of course, a lot of this could be moot in a few months, as I plan to replace my laptop with a Mac.  I’ll still use them with my work laptop.

As far as backup…I see that Costco is now selling the 8GB version of my thumbdrive for $39.99.  I think that’s what I paid for the 4GB version.  Gotta love computer prices.

One thing I miss about living out in the midwest is the sound and smells of nature.  I guess it would be better to say that is a thing I miss about living in a small town.

I miss waking up to the sound of a cardinal outside my window.  Of NOT hearing traffic all the time (really, I forget what that sounds like).  I miss the sound of the mourning dove cooing away.  I miss the smell of fresh cut grass (it’s here, just not that often).  I even miss that awful smell of the ginkgo tree.  Heck, I’d even say I somewhat miss…how should I describe it…that "country" smell…you know…the smell as you go by the livestock farms.  Yeah, it stinks…but is that worse than knowing you live in an exhaust filled metropolis?

When I lived in Reston, it was close to that.  Reston has been very good about keeping as much natural surroundings as possible.  There are woods everywhere.  There are no streetlights except right at the houses.  But even with that, I still didn’t hear much as far as wildlife goes.

When I moved to Arlington, I figured it would be even worse.  Especially since I’m probably about 500 yards from I-395.  But surprisingly enough, it wasn’t worse.  I can hear the cardinals and even occasionally the mourning dove.  I hear the traffic, but it’s not horrible.

BUT…  for the last week, I have awakened to a very annoying sound.  I am on the second floor.  Everyone on the first floor has a backyard - townhouse size, yes, but still a back yard.   And they all have wooden fences up.  The fence below me has apparently become the choice de rigueur for at least one chipmunk.  He sits there chirping away incessantly.  We aren’t talking 5 minutes.  The other day it must have been going for at least an hour without stopping.  This is one sound of nature I am completely tired of and would be happy to never hear again.