MMP - GT's Airport Adventures or, Paris-CDG, an airport that comes with a manual

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
161

Not at all.

In fact, I’m thinking VERY strongly about ditching Windows and getting one of the new Intel-Inside iMacs. By the time the tax refund arrives, any major kinks and problems with its entirely new hardware design should be found and sorted out.

Just because I get paid to worry about security problems in Windows doesn’t mean I need to deal with them at home for free!

Just for comparison - I’m setting up a Windows XP laptop for a friend. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve had to go to “Windows Update” and get patches and fixes, install them and reboot. And reboot. I still need to install anti-spyware and anti-virus programs. All this just to be able to give them a laptop that will stand a chance at surviving for more than five minutes before the script kiddies find it on the net and start messing with it. There’s already a PowerBook in the house, and it needs no virus or spyware protection, and in nearly a year, has only needed two minor updates.

162

I deal with both systems. Win at work and OSX at home. There are only 1 or 2 things I prefer about windows (the 2 button mouse with the wheel is one; IE as a browser the other) Mac is great. I have last year’s iMac G4 and it’s still fabulous (tho I still wish I’d waited a few months - had I only know the G5’s release date…sigh) The only thing I don’t like about OSX is Safari. and Foxfire isn’t much better. I wish MS would support an OSX version of IE. I mean, with the growing number of Mac users, you;d think they’d want to!

163

(Sending good-test-results rays at eleanor)

(Also sending nice-smooth-problem-free-moving rays at Drae)

164

[nitpick] Firefox. [/nitpick]

What don’t you like about it?

165

Just plug in your favorite USB rodent. OS X understands scrolling and right-clicks even if the default hardware doesn’t. I’ve heard mixed reviews of Apple’s new “Mighty Mouse” that has two buttons and a wheel.

166

Is it wrong that the thought of brussel sprout muffins intrigues me?

Yeah, it probably is.

167

It’s missing the same features that I miss in Safari, most notably, the ability to email a link right from the browser; also I can’t just “click & bold” when posting - I have to actually code it (tedious and annoying); also Tripod doesn’t seem to like Safari (some features are unavailable), and likes Firefox even less.
grrrrr
I just want my IE for Mac back. That’s all.

168

WARNING TO MMP LURKERS: THIS THREAD IS DEGENERATING INTO A COMPUTER TECH DISCUSSION. WE SHOULD HAVE CONTROL SHORTLY. PLEASE REMAIN PATIENT.

I personally love Safari at work, and have no major problems with it. Our database (written for us using MySQL, I am told) has one or two small problems with it, but nothing that can’t be solved by clicking on the “Refresh” button.

WARNING TO MMP LURKERS: THIS MY TAKE LONGER THAN WE THOUGHT.

169

I am going to need my own computer–should I try a Mac? I find anything after Windows 95 to be Greek to me. Is it hard to get used to the difference? Can I still do all that I do–like surf, play spider solitaire and email people? (gee, I do so much–oh, wait, I write thingies, too!).

Where can I go for a NON techy comparison of Mac vs Windows?

Oh, and yeah…I took a test this mornin’. Bright and damned early, IMS.

Would y’all like to know how I did?
Oops…phone ringing–brb.

170

I would have missed the scroll wheel and right and left click buttons but this Mac’s mouse came with them. Seems to work fine, although somewhat sluggish if used with a mousepad WHICH it really doesn’t need. I agree with you about Safari. It’s okay, but I really like IE. OTOH, generally the system is way more user-friendly.

171

No. We don’t care a fig for your capitalist, materialistic examination of your ability t…

I’m sorry - that was my evil twin chiming in.
OF COURSE WE WANT TO KNOW!

172

Oops… what have I started?

We now return to our regular discussion of snerking in bed, poke chops and sketty and life in bel towers.

173

Wow. Four pages, and I haven’t read any of it.

I’d rather be bored at work than busy.

174

Seems not too many of you are all that interested(you all went and moved the party on me, didn’t you? Always happens to me ). So I put this here for posterity. (which reminds me–where do old threads go?)
Anyhoo, I entered the testing facility at 0800 sharp and quickly learned that the folks at S…(name withheld to protect the innocent) are somewhat lacking in a sense of humor or even civility. Gal behind the glass partition seems to just want name, rank and serial number. I wasn’t planning on chatting, just sayin’ “good morning”. :rolleyes:

Public rest room reeks of mold–my sinuses immediately start screaming. Gah.

Am photographed, told to bring my glasses( but not my glasses case), hang up my coat (not responsible for any lost or stolen articles), find a locker with lock and key, put purse there and follow her-of-the-no-common-courtesy.

Enter a room filled with cubicles (I looked for Dilbert), and am given #6. Immediately think of “The Prisoner” and want to know who is number 1.

Focus!

Have to sit thru about 15 minutes worth of stupid computer directions, which scan like origami as translated from the Japanese. Realize that I already know this shit and move on.

Do my essays. First one, I almost run out of time (ack!); second one, do alright, but battle an intense need to use the facilities. Raise my hand.

Proctor comes in and I ask when I can take a break. She states in a monotone, “the computer will tell you when.” Immediately think of 2001, Space Odyssey and HAL…

Click on the button and the computer gives me a 10 minute break! Yay! Potty time.
Have to sign out, take picture ID with me. Forget to take watch with me, and now panic in mold-reeking toilet as to how much time I am taking in there. Bolt back to test–must sign in (and yes, she does check my ID again)–find I was in toilet for 3 minutes. <sigh>

Back at it–Verbal first. Don’t mind the analogies (which they suck at, btw) or the antonyms (ditto), but hate, hate, hate the reading comprehension. Now, RC is an important thing, I think we all agree, but the stuff they put in there is soooooo boring to read! I think they count on that, actually. Your eyes will glaze over and you’ll pick the wrong answer…

On to Math. Yikes. It starts bad and goes downhill. I am sweating now and my back feels like it’s being sawn in half (nasty chairs in there). I can hear other test takers making small noises and sighs and half formed whispers. My chair is creaky. When I move like this it squeaks; when I move over this way, it kinda thuds in a weird way. Oh, cripes! Focus! I don’t KNOW if these parameters make z less than x when they are folded, spindled and mutilated. Furthermore, I don’t CARE. Ack! the time! Holy shite–guess on last 5…

But wait, folks! there’s more! I get to take the experimental portion. Yes, I LIKE being a guinea pig for the testing service. Sure, why not? It’s Verbal (thank og). I sit thru MORE instructions on computer usage that I again realize are self-explanatory. This stuff is easy-peasy. I finish 45 questions in less than 20 minutes.
THEN.

I have to decide–keep scores or dump? I am asked this (in proper academic language) no less than 4 times. I am terrified that I will accidently click the WRONG button. I compulsively read and re-read the screen. OK, boys, here goes.
I click.

There is a flash of gray, blank screen and a million neurons start firing up from the massive adrenalin release I have.

But, no. My scores show up on the screen:

Verbal: 770

Math: 510
My entire body relaxes and I can’t stop smiling. I want to hug Ms Glass Cubicle, but don’t think we’re there yet in our relationship. I re-acquire my coat, purse, book, ID and watch and drive away, one step closer to my goal of Grad School.

<doffs hat; bows>

175

I am very quickly cramming my lunch salad down my throat because I have a departmental meeting to attend. :rolleyes:

Items on the agenda include: Projected leave, customer service culture ( :rolleyes: ); upcoming conferences, classes, general admin shit (who’s attending what meetings, ect), progress reports on projects, and the most important thing of all: "(insert employee’s name here) trash can isn’t for “public” trash! :eek: :rolleyes: :dubious:

Yes, this is soooo important it must be brought up at a staff meeting. Some people need to get a friggin’ life. One freakin’ person sat at her desk and put some trash in there.

I’d skip the damn thing, but I got out of the last one.

176

eleanor sneaked a post in while I was submitting mine.

Congrats! Now go have a drink on me!

177

wow!1280! Good on you!
how long has it been since you last took a standardized test of this sort? For me, 26 years. I shudder to think how I’d do were it necessary for me to do it again.

178

SEEEEEEE!!! Hmmmm, I may need to get a crystal ball and take up a new line of work. How’s Anachi Prophesies Inc. sound? :wink: Now, about that liberry of Congress job…

179

Do they go with the combined score?

See how much I DON’T know?
I was thinking of drinking, but I am high on life at present. Sun is shining in Chicago, it’s about 52 outside, had the sunroof open, and the tunes cranked–all is right with my world (for now).

I am just gonna enjoy this. I have called a few friend-type people that knew I was taking it–and I am basking in their adulation. All bow before the intellectually superior and all round nice chick Rigby! If I decree it today, it must be so.
The last standardized test (I assume you are not counting life–which is both essay and multiple choice at the same time) I took was in February of 1985. It was my nursing boards, taken over two days with computer scan-tron tests and #2 pencils. None of this computer adaptive shit. I think a nice standardized test every 20 years is the way to go–whether you need it or not!
Hope I’m not being obnoxious, but I am doing a perpetual Snoopy dance over here…

:smiley:
Thank you ALL for your support and attention and humor. I thank my teachers, my love of learning garnered from librarians and people in my life, my children, my parents, friends and siblings. I’d like to thank the Academy…hey! What’s with this sheperd’s crook-type thingy?

180

[Kermit the Frog]YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!![/KtF] Good on ya! Pizza’s on you tonight, right? :wink:

So now that that’s done, what are you going to do for aggravation??