Making the Switch

I think I'm finally ready to make that big life change. The one that seems so daunting. The one that I've agonized over for ages.

I'm switching to Firefox as my default browser.

There are things that I like about Internet Explorer. Most notable is the native ability to customize and combine the toolbars. That ability is, in fact, the primary reason it has taken me so long to make the switch.

Generally, I've used the two standard toolbars plus Google, Yahoo, Dictionary.com, and a long host of direct links. In IE I can put all those things into 2 lines of toolbars, leaving me maximum space in my actual browser window. Unfortunately, Firefox doesn't allow you to put multiple toolbars on one line so including all my standard toolbars would cost me a full 6 lines and irritatingly shrink my browser window to an annoyingly small size. Actually, that reduces to 5 lines since Dictionary.com is included in the google search bar add-on that I've got. But some of google's toolbar functions were previously unavailable without using the entire googlebar. Things like the Blogger button which I've grown to love.

But today, while discussing with a friend the advantages and disadvantages of Firefox (he's a dedicated Firefox user) I started playing with the browser again. Lo and behold! I discoverd that you could drag individual buttons and functions to whichever toolbar you wish. Yahoo's functions are not currently draggable so that toolbar still has to stay, but I put all my searchbar functions as well as my favorite Google/Blogger functions into my bookmark bar. So, having eliminated the need for the search toolbar and the Google toolbar, I'm left with only 3 - main/search/google, bookmarks/links, and Yahoo (which I've also customized by adding a couple of programmable buttons).

This I can live with - especially with the advantages of tabbed browsing.

So today I officially become a Firefox. Bye bye IE.

Get your own Firefox

After

Turkey Day has come and gone. We all feel our waistbands a little more accutely than we did a week ago. Homemade turkey soup, turkey sandwiches spread with cranberry sauce, and leftover stuffing with gravy are the menu in many a household accross America.

Sadly, to many people the idea of actually giving thanks has been lost in the event we call Thanksgiving.

Rather than spending quality time with our loved ones and relatives (sometimes those are actually the same thing even); we dovote our energies to turning on the Thanksgiving Parade (now shown on about 7 different networks simultaneously) and watching endless hours of college football. Rather than remembering the good things we have, and sharing with those who have less; we spend our time squabbling over who gets the drumstick and debating whether the stuffing or greenbean casserole is the best side dish. Rather than planning ways to make our world a better place; we plan which shopping mall we're going to hit first at the 'black friday' sales events.

Thanksgiving has become a holiday that is not so much about giving thanks, but is more just a turning point into the frenzy of conspicuous consumption that Christmas has become.

The origin of the word holiday (or 'holy day') lies in the idea that we should set aside time to remember or give reverence. Holidays were meant for God and family. What holidays have become is a reflection of the gods we have all chosen for ourselves... gluttony, greed, envy, sloth.... A generation ago - maybe less - those were things to be avoided. Now everyone knows that 'greed is good,' and envy is justified as just setting goals. Gluttony is acceptable as long as it's confined to designated dates and times... or the next trip through McDonald's drive thru. People take pride in putting in minimal effort - sloth has become a respectable work ethic. Pride, lust and anger have also taken up residence in our hearts, minds, and lifestyles.

During the next month or so, I think it would be fabulous if every person took some time - a day, a weekend, whatever - to reflect on their own priorities, their own values, and their own beliefs. Check in with yourself and see if your living up to your own expectations. If you are, fabulous!! But if you find yourself reveling in what you consider wrong thinking, wrong acting, and generally wrong attitudes, find a way to change course and put yourself back on the right track. And be thankful that you still have time to be the person you meant to be all along.

Unconscious Mutterings

LunaNina.com | Unconscious Mutterings: "

1. Stuffed:: Turkey
   
2. Armstrong:: Stretch
   
3. Bruise:: Blue
   
4. Content:: Happy
   
5. Musical:: Broadway
   
6. Assistance:: Help
   
7. Scrambling:: Up a hill
   
8. Battle:: Of the Bulge
   
9. Extended:: Stay
   
10. Discount:: Store
    

"

Unconscious Mutterings

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Mighty:: Mouse
   
2. Gotta find time to ....:: Fly
   
3. Statistic:: Analysis
   
4. Midnight:: Cowboy
   
5. Thaw:: Freeae
   
6. Hips:: Sway
   
7. Reader:: Writer
   
8. Related:: Alike
   
9. Brilliant:: Genius
   
10. Posture:: Perfect
    

It has begun

My third Epinions Meet & Greet has (un)officially started. We had a handful of folks over to our house for a pre-meet meet. Garrett was here and it was great meeting Brian (pyfr), Abraham (openroad) and Matt (hardcoreham). Some other members were going to try to make it, but weren't able to be here for one reason or another. Oh well.

Anyway, looking forward to more good times tomorrow afternoon at the actual M&G - probably to be followed by an outing involving some sweet Karaoke action. Yay.

The Novel Pear

The Novel Pear

Just randomly wondering if it's kosher to blog your own blog.

Answers to that question are welcome, but not really expected.

Unconscious Mutterings

LunaNi'a.com | Unconscious Mutterings: "

1. Deeper and deeper:: into the dark
   
2. Can't help .... :: thinking about it
   
3. Devil's advocate:: Satan's lawyer?
   
4. Superpower:: no such thing
   
5. Threatening:: violence
   
6. Played:: a game
   
7. War:: peace
   
8. Violate:: my perimiter
   
9. Invest:: in the future
   
10. Choke:: the chicken (oops - did I really say that?
    

"