Never mind. HP Help is telling me the only or at least best in their eyes solution is a full system recovery.

Whcih they've recommended and Iv'e done twice. And they were going to set me up a time to talk to a case manager and I accidentally disconnected the phone and since I've been on the phone with them for almost 2 hrs and I'm straving I'll try back tomorrow.

I'm venting. I'm sorry.

The MPAA's message on the website is obnoxious as fuck.

God. You're right. "Illegal downloading: Inappropriate for all ages." Whatever. "You can click but you can't hide."

Remember, kids, when you download movies, you're downloading Communism!

Well, as someone who's paycheck is at least partially from things like TV and Movies and other such things...

Theft is theft.

I'm tempted to get this: [link]

Up for auction is a circuit bent Texas Instruments Speak and Read, His name is FREAKENSPEAK, and he lives up to that name. This unit is similar to the Speak and Spell, or the Speak and Math units.

I have been making strange electronic instruments and circuit bent creations for 23 years.

...

Here is a list of the circuit bent features:

2 bend/glitch switches that bend and twist the words in different ways depending on what mode you are in and how many of the switches you have on. You can get endless bent sounds and words with these 2 switches. When you turn on both bend switches and you are in the right mode,you can get the unit to ramble on endlessly.

etc....

I'm thinking about doing an iPod car integration for my GF for her birthday but I have no idea a) what it should reasonably cost b) the best way to do it (she's a tech geek and I wouldn't want to do it too cheaply cause that'd ruin it for her). Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

ita linked to this [link] a couple of months ago, and I think Rio got one and likes it.

Thanks! So, can you install it yourself? Did Rio?

No idea, but here's a testimonial from their website (take it for what it's worth...):

After purchasing a Neo Changer online I called my local Best Buy to ask how much installation would cost. Best Buy explained they install the Neo Changer for roughly half as much as any other changer because it is so easy, after hearing this I decided to install it myself.

Cool. I bought it. I think the GF can install it - it does look pretty easy. She's gonna freak out! I love when you find The Perfect Gift.

[link]

Above is a link to a truly geeky valentine's day t-shirt. I love it, of course.

I just got a flurry of emails from addresses I've never sent email to telling me my email was refused as spam. I think my email address has been hijacked. I sent in a ticket to my hosting company notifying them of the problem. Has anyone else experienced this? I feel sort of like I've been mugged.

GC -- my co-worker installed his own. He said it was easy.

Allyson -- that might be that someone (or ones) with your e-mail address in their addressbook has been hit by some sort of virus. Try googling an exact sentence from the e-mail and see if it turns up any informative hits.