JohnA lifeBlog

Risk Your PC’s Health for a Song?

The solution to this problem? Don’t download Microsoft’s encumbered, and now dangerous, WMA format audio files. With open standards like MP3 and AAC, there is no concern that playing an audio file will launch my browser and connect to some rogue server automatically and without warning.

Day after day, I’m so happy I’m using an operating system from a company that respects its customers instead of viewing them all as criminals.

Hola from Pensacola, FL.

I just got back from the Christmas party where about 2.4 x 10⁴ of my relatives were present… lots of fun, but at the same time quite challenging.

Having fun? Doing anything fun? My sister just called my grandmother, so I’m going to talk to her for a bit.

Hope you have a GREAT Christmas!

Greetings From Phoenix, AZ!

For those wondering why I’m in Phoenix, AZ, join the club! Here’s the sitch. Yesterday, my America West flight out of Oakland was delayed by an hour. So, upon arrival in Arizona, it turns out that I missed my connecting flight.

After waiting in line for an hour to talk to a “customer care specialist”, I learned that there were no other available flights until the next day. So, they gave me a hotel room and a dinner coupon, and said “See ya!”

Which means that I’m currently in a very nice room at the Country Inns & Suites. Thankfully they have high-speed internet access, otherwise I’d be completely lost!

Well, time to go enjoy my complimentary “expanded continental breakfast”… hopefully I’ll be in New Orleans before the day is out.

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

It’s been a long day, but this certainly makes it better. I am so stoked. When Anne sent me that link, I was convinced it was a fake… but it’s not! Yay!

This year is the 50th anniversary of NORAD’s Santa-tracking efforts.

Since 1998, NORAD has made their sophisticated Kringle-tracking technology available online at http://www.noradsanta.org/. Those wishing to keep abreast of Santa’s whereabouts should take a look!

The new JibJab movie has been released… it’s pretty cute.

In case you’ve forgotten, they’re the guys who did the “Our Land” movie earlier this year.

When family starts to call to make sure you’re still alive, it’s time to update your blog.

I’ve been incredibly busy, which is so odd, because in our business, December is supposed to be the slowest month of the year. It makes sense because no merchant wants to mess with with their online store during the busy Christmas season. Alas, it’s great for business that we’re so busy.

The other factor that is keeping me from blogging on a regular basis is the indescribably amazing game World Of Warcraft. I’m playing every night with my brothers, my sister-in-law, my nephew, and my friend Jonathan. It’s so much fun, and so addictive.

We’re all playing on the Aggromar server if you want to join up with us.

I can’t believe I am writing this.

For those who know me well, you already know that I love music & I love Christmas. Put those together, and for about 2 months, I am a Christmas music addict. That being said, here’s the thing that I am scared to write: Hilary Duff’s Christmas album Santa Claus Lane is one of the finest Christmas albums I’ve ever listened to.

Her vocals are surprisingly strong, especially when compared to breast augmentation advocate Lindsay Lohan. Plus, the songwriters her handlers and agents hired are top notch, as demonstrated in the defining tracks “What Christmas Should Be” and “Same Old Christmas”. If you’re an iTunes Music store user, click here to visit the album’s entry.

If you’re a fan of Christmas music, you owe it to yourself to check out this album. I was as shocked as you are.

I’ve been an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember… While in high school, I put an advertisement I created using Micrografx Designer that pitched my ability to do almost anything.

I just wonder… what is it that teenagers pitch today? Do they specialize, or simply approach the market in a blanket fashion as I did.

I’ve been fortunate… my entrepreneurship has paid off. But I would hate to think that there is some teenager being jaded because people in their lives would not consider a “teen” to do an adult’s job.

No, I’m not dead. Just incredibly busy.

Today’s rant is on draconian and worthless product activation. For some unknown reason yesterday, my copy of DreamWeaver decided to flake out. I removed it, and re-installed. I got my bouncy icon, and then nothing.

After doing some Googling, I discovered that this was caused by corrupted Macrovision product activation code.

I OWN my copy of Studio MX 2004, and yet I am STILL treated as a criminal. As a software developer, I understand the importance of getting paid for my hard work. But the only thing product activation does is drive honest users to sites for software cracks and serial numbers that are activation free. In the end, you have a user who is less trusting, and more willing to circumvent software license restrictions.

Honestly, I sometimes find it easier to go download a crack rather than register / activate my purchased software.