Monday, April 12, 2004
AAAAAAAAARHGHHHH! Damb spyware and viruses. If I am away from this space for a while, it's because I opened an email that I shouldn't have, and am experiencing AAAAAAAAAAAARGH.

Please, all of my friends, if you like to send me forwarded emails (jokes, petitions, chain letters, or weird pictures) that you are sending to everyone in your address book, use the bcc or blind carbon copy so that my email address isn't being forwarded exponentially throughout the universe.

I am savvy enough to work through this problem (even if it means reformatting the hard-drive) so fear not, I shall return.

Love to all...
g

Tuesday, April 13, 2004

Problem solved, at least temporarily. I accidentally opened a spam email thinking it was from a friend in school from whom I used to hear. Many pop-ups later, I think I may have clicked on a ad/spyware install button while trying to close the exploding windows.

Working with the advanced features in Spybot Search and Destroy (an awesome free program,) my MSCONFIG/REGEDIT files, and Norton Antivirus, I think it’s all taken care of… without formatting the hard drive! I have quintuple checked, and I don’t think I was ever infected with a virus or Trojan Horse, just lots of system eating ad/spyware. Just in case however, If you get any mail from me, look for my and your names in the subject line. (E.g. Hey mom, it’s me Greg) Please let me know if you get a message from me that is strange. I am pretty sure I got rid of everything, but I’m never as quick as those crazy h4x0r kids. I’d hate for an email worm to come from gregburge@yahoo.com. It’s time for a good firewall.

I am also in the process of getting a new computer. The hamsters inside of this one are getting tired. I need to be ready for Half Life 2. I’d feel bad if Ruby came into the world without several video game options. Video games were at the core of my existence as a child, and I would be wrong to deny my firstborn the advantages and experiences that I had. Besides, we need another opponent for when starcraft 2 comes out, right Dan? Right Justin? When I was a kid, I dreamt about how great the games of the future would be. They have surpassed my imagination in many ways.

Ok, I know that not all of you share my love for video games, so here's some Ruby Pictures:

My mom came over while I was at work.

Dink protects the puppy at all times.

Thursday, April 15, 2004
Ok, Round two. I decided to see if I could give the old system some life, while I was screwing around with the viral problems, so I got a copy of xp pro that was hanging around and installed it, getting rid of all the crap that came on this computer. So, yes, I did reformat the hard drive. I figured I'd get rid of that spyware for sure and for good. While I was goofing around trying to get everything loaded, I got three worms! Someone has it out for my ISP. They got in through my broadband connection off of a random isp search. This was made impossible by a windows update service pack that I hadn't gotten to yet. A lesson to all. Firewall=good. windowsupdate.com=necessary evil. Oh well... All infections are gone and everything is running smoothly. 'Cept my DVD drive. Gotta find the drivers and codex for that. But everything else is running well. XP is a lot smoother and more stable than the ol' system. Cool...
I wish Macs had better games. No virus worries with a Mac. Of course, if they had better games, and were in more use, there'd be viruses written for them too.
It'll be a minute before I install all the photo stuff, so be patient, more pictures soon!

Archive
Nine Fingered Girl
Rock on Little Lady
You and Me Kiddo
A Great Day
Baby Lugosi
Big Papa
A Call To Arms
Ruby in the Wilderness
Pyramid
I Broke It
River Rat
Beaker
ZZZZZ
Shitty Day
Oh No, Bono
Big Pointy
Blow it Dry
Baby Burn
Long Story
Spring Rose
Bennetts and Monkeys
Why Can't I?
Smarty Pants
Primavera
Bjorn
Stim
Yum
*Yawns*
Mulling It Over
Arrgh
Ms. Clean
Easter Cometh
Lucky Number Seven
Fooled
As Jobs Go...
March 23-28
She's Here
March 1-18, 2004
February 2004