I use FamilyTreeMaker too, but it was fairly expensive, it installed some additional software I didn't want that was hard to get rid of (I think it was adware from Broderbund, but I don't remember the details now, just that it left a bad impression—it ran in the background and wanted internet access), and they try to suck you into signing up for subscriptions to their database and software upgrades.

One alternative is Personal Ancestral File, which is free from the LDS [link] It has just as many bells and whistles as FamilyTreeMaker, but is not quite as intuitive to use.

edited further to add: It was dssagent.exe, spyware from Broderbund, and they say they stopped doing that in 2002.

Connie, and dcp, I already sent dh out shopping, but thank you, anyhow.

You guys are insane. Pink, yes. Glitter weekly. Hugs for sure. Bunny ears in your fevered dreams.

I have a NUMB3RS question: when they were reviewing the radar data in order to find the flight plan -- it was old data, right? How did that work? Is it something inherent to radar data? Aerospace radars were working at a metal frequency, weather at a water frequency. Did they combine the data to find something inbetween? It sure seemed like they were re-examining at a new frequency, but what's gathered is gathered. Can't change the past.

So I was confused. I do continue to adore the Epps family interaction. Judd Hirsch is amazing, and the two kids aren't bad at all.

I was wondering that too, ita, but then I pretty much assume I have to handwave the math and science and the fact that younger bro knows everything about everything math or science related that comes up.

Pancake house was good, but the apple pancake was too big. I didn't even finish have of it, and I am still full.

Also, I think I am going to have to do battle with my landlord over every little thing that needs to get done. He promised me the counter tops in the kitchen would be replaced, and one of the two of them was, even though it wasn't quite finished grout wise, but the other one had to be special ordered so it wasn't in yet, then it was in, and they would have installed it, but they claimed the maintanance couldn't install it since I had boxes in the way (fair enough), so then I unpacked those boxes, but now the countertop isn't in yet. Grr.

I don't mind that Charlie knows all the math. But him knowing how to use all the computer programs bothers me. Go figure.

Perkins, my landlord hasn't done the touchups they promised either. They had a whole week before I moved in! Still, I have a few boxes in my bedroom -- I should get rid of those before I have them in to fix stuff in there.

For Jesse, should she stop by.

Perkins, my landlord hasn't done the touchups they promised either. They had a whole week before I moved in! Still, I have a few boxes in my bedroom -- I should get rid of those before I have them in to fix stuff in there.

Grr to your landlord too. I clearly have been slackerly about getting the apartment set up, so it's hard to get upset that they are doing the same, but it irks me that the stories keep changing.

For Jesse, should she stop by.

Not Jesse, but yum.

ita, why do you think I love Jon Bon Jovi?? The big hair does make me laff, though.

I cannot believe how much time I have wasted today instead of doing my goddamned work. I am currently trying to identify the artists on the songs on a mix cd I got second hand.

Numb3rs: I didn't see the show (also forgot to tape it) but I listened to the simulcast while driving back from Tulsa. I'm a little curious as to what design of plane they used. They seemed to ignore the existence of gyrocopters, ultralights, paragliders, and powered parachutes.

The radar discussions were bunk through and through, and made me grind my teeth. Back in 1988 I went to a session of "Operation Raincheck" at the Longmont, Colorado, Air Route Traffic Control Center, where civilian pilots got to tour the facility and sit with controllers to see that their job entailed. The sector I got to sit in on was a very quiet one, so the controller had a lot of time available to show me what the equipment could do--and this was '60s and early '70s vintage equipment. We watched traffic on the interstates, we marked traffic signs, we watched hawks circling and geese cruising. When I asked him about spotting fiberglass sailplanes, his response was "We get as much return off the body of the pilot as we do the rest of the glider, so they're easier to spot than hawks." It was pretty amazing what an experienced operator with time to interpret could do with primary return info.

They were overdue for equipment upgrades then, and when I left Colorado in 1997 still hadn't received them. Dunno what their status is now. It used to be a standing joke that Russia was the only place they could still order the vacuum tubes to keep some of the machinery going. Dunno how much truth there was (or is) to that.

I like reading Natter. Wish I had more time to do it.

Does anyone else care that the Derby is running in ten minutes? It's probably a good thing that I can't bet on it from here, because I would.

Plei probably cares, if TickyBox will cooperate, that is.