Kurt's Thoughts

Here’s a checklist of things to do upon arriving into McCarron International:

1. TAXI 
   Don’t get longhauled.  Clearly utter the words, “SHORTEST DISTANCE – TAKE PARADISE” to your cabbie.  Unless you’re going downtown, there’s no scenario in which you should be “taking the freeway”.  If you find yourself going through a tunnel – you are being what is called “longhauled” or intentionally taken for a longer ride that you should.  This will make the ride cost $10 more than it should.  This is ILLEGAL.  If this happens, get the cab number, the driver name, the cabbie’s permit #, the cab company, license plate if possible, and the general look of the cab… then report it here:
   http://taxi.nv.gov/Complaints/Complaints/
2. HOTEL:  REGISTRATION
   Before you get to the registration desk, be sure to have your driver’s license, your credit card, and a $20 bill to tip the front desk clerk.  Fold the $20 into 4ths and place it in between your driver’s license & credit card and hand it to the clerk and ask to check in.  If you don’t know why you’re doing this, visit http://frontdesktip.com.
3. HOTEL:  ROOM SETUP
   If you have a Purell wipe, take one & wipe down the TV remote – this is the #1 most germ/bacteria ridden item in the room.  Next, wipe down the phone handset, the clock radio, the thermostat, & RJ-45 cabling for the wired Internet connection if you’ve got one.  You don’t want to know what’s been discovered on these items in hotel rooms & remember:  Across the thousands of guests that pass through your room, these items are NEVER cleaned or wiped down.  It’s up to you to stay healthy for the next 5 days.
4. HOTEL:  REQUEST HUMIDIFIER
   I hope you arrived early.  If you did, you may have a shot of requesting a humidifier for your room.  Do it immediately:  Vegas during CES is DRY AS A BONE.  This will not only make your stay much more comfortable, it will keep your skin from getting itchy & will keep the static electricity in your room to a minimum.
5. HOTEL:  BEDSPREAD & CHAIRS
   This is going to sound paranoid but if you think about it for just a moment, it’ll start to sink in:  Ask the front desk for a new bedspread.  Spill some water on it or some soda if you have to.  Then lay a towel over the desk seat.  Why?  The bedspread is RARELY CLEANED.  You are using the same bedspread that was used by over 2 months worth of occupants.  And you can bet most weren’t wearing clothing.  Now think about all those same guys sitting in the desk chair… with no pants on.  Yes.  Let that sink in.  Now go get a damned towel & cover the seat with it.
6. HOTEL:  LEAVE HOUSEKEEPING A TIP
   Leave a tip with a note stating that the money’s for the housekeeping staff.  They appreciate this & if you ever need something – extra towels, sheets, pillows – that tip will go along way to making sure it gets delivered within this lifetime.  If you have the same housekeeper coming through every morning, it can’t hurt.
7. FIND THE HOTEL CES SHUTTLE PICKUP/DROPOFF
   Determine the location of the CES shuttle for you to use in the morning.  Find out when they start & end – because they don’t run all day.  Also find out if they’re running on Monday so you can pick up your badge if necessary.  Badge pickup is WAY in the back of South Hall I’m afraid and is more than a quarter mile walk so.

UPDATE 1/5/12:
Interesting.  Asking Quora about Google’s evilness produces are number of good points.

1. https://www.quora.com/What-are-examples-of-Googles-evil-behavior
2. https://www.quora.com/Google/Is-Google-being-Anti-Competitive

———————
ORIGINAL POST:

This is a great summary of how much of a ridiculous pass Google gets in the public & the media.  Remember that all of these quotes were said publicly:

“The Top Ten Things We Can’t Believe Eric Schmidt Ever Said”
Sam Biddle, Gizmodo – Jan. 21, 2011, 8:38 AM

Eric—it’s been great. We’re going to miss you as CEO of one of history’s most important and influential companies. But we’ll also miss you for the strange, creepy, absurd, and downright dumb things you’ve uttered. Below, our favorites:

1. “One person’s definition of evil is another person’s different definition.”
2. “One day we had a conversation where we figured we could just try and predict the stock market… and then we decided it was illegal. So we stopped doing that.”
3. “More and more searches are done on your behalf without you needing to type. I actually think most people don’t want Google to answer their questions…They want Google to tell them what they should be doing next.”
   …

(Read the other 7 quotes at:  http://read.bi/hlVkCA)

… and the crazy part is that my favorite jawdropper didn’t even make the list:

• “If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.”
  – Eric Schmidt, CEO Google

(This one did in fact catch fire requiring Google to effectively issue a retraction.)

For your reference, apparently, I’m not the only one that thinks so:

1. GIZMODO:  Google’s Broken Promise: The End of “Don’t Be Evil
   http://gizmodo.com/5878987/its-official-google-is-evil-now
2. WIRED:  Google is Evil
   http://www.wired.com/business/2012/06/opinion-google-is-evil/
3. MAIN STREET:  Is Google Evil? 12 Incriminating Facts
   http://www.mainstreet.com/slideshow/smart-spending/technology/google-evil-12-incriminating-facts
4. GAWKER: Google Under Investigation for Being Evil
   http://gawker.com/5814891/google-under-investigation-for-being-evil
5. HUFFINGTON POST: Google Goes “Evil”
   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-green/breaking-google-goes-evil_b_676021.html
6. BUSINESS INSIDER: Google Is Now Officially Evil
   http://www.businessinsider.com/google-is-now-officially-evil-2010-9
7. AD WORDS, EVIL, AND GOOGLE HUBRIS:  The Evil Google Does
   http://www.googlehubris.com/
8. SEARCH AND DESTROY:  Why You Can’t Trust Google Inc.
   http://searchanddestroybook.com/

I have a Kindle 3G.  Y’know – the one with the keyboard?  Been using it for a few years now & it’s treated me well, despite reading it in the hot blazing sun of Las Vegas… bringing it with me into the pool (in a waterproof Kindle holder, mind you)… and travelling all around the globe with it.  But recently, I haven’t had time for it.  I’ve spent most of my reading time on my Microsoft Surface or my HTC Windows Phone 8X, both of which have the Kindle app on them so using the Kindle 3G really isn’t necessary for 90% of what I need to do.

So of course I lost track of it.  I really didn’t know where it was… it’d been THAT long since I used it.  Just yesterday, I started looking for it and lo-and-behold, it was behind my nightstand here it’d fallen after having been used for bedtime reading for quite a while.  Completely drained of battery, I plugged it into my MicroUSB charging clock radio (it has a slot at the top with cables for charging USB peripherals) and of course it came up.  10 minutes later it’d downloaded all the books that I’d had queued up for delivery and away we go.

Then it suddenly froze.  The GREEN/YELLOW charging light wouldn’t turn off.  I have a suspicion this had something to do with the pending remote Software Update that Amazon pushed (which after this ordeal occurred without me knowing) but I can’t be certain.  The Software Update that I’m referring to provided New Reading Font, Parental Controls, Kindle Format 8, Comic Book/Children’s Picture Book Support, Enhanced Table/Image Viewing, Whispersync for Voice support,

Anyway, to get it out of this frozen state, I had to do the following:

1. Hold the power switch to the right for 20 seconds.  Release.
2. Press the Home button for 60 seconds.  A “Reset” screen will appear.
3. Hit the DEL key on the keyboard.  This brought my unit back to a stable state, as if I’d done a reboot or a soft reset of the device.
4. I’m told that if this doesn’t work, you have to do a hard reset of the device, which is the equivalent of wiping & resetting your Kindle.  This procedure will wipe out all your books and require you to re-download them to your Kindle which, while not disastrous, will take time.  It will also lose your bookmarks & settings.
   To do a hard reset, type the word “reset” in the above screen after following step 1.  Warning:  There’s no turning back from this once you type the entire word in and there’s no “Are you sure?”

I’d point to the place where I found this information but I can’t for the life of me find it again.  Kudos to whomever it was that documented this originally & I apologize for not cross-posting to you.  Your article was indeed helpful.

The other day, Lola from Lola Couture created a memorial photo for my beloved dog Sheepa, who passed away about 1 year ago.

The dog in the photo isn’t of course of Sheepa.  It’s simply a photo memorializing Sheepa though Lola’s fashions for dogs featuring a potential adoptee from Save-a-Life Rescue… the organization I used to volunteer for for many years. 

Here’s a photo of Sheepa.  As you can see, it’s really hard to not smile when a face like this comes by the couch.  He looked like a living muppet:

Even when lounging, the guy was just awesomely friendly and just a wonderful dog.

And I miss him.

Apparently, Fatburger acquired a restaurant chain from Atlanta called “Buffalo’s Café”.  They specifically offer buffalo wings.  And if they’re anywhere near Buffalo Wild Wings?  Best.  News.  Ever.  Why?  THERE’S ONE OPENING IN WESTWOOD.   It’s on the site of an old Yoshinoya (good riddance) and I think this is the address:

Buffalo’s Cafe
11090 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
http://buffaloscafe.com/

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG…
My favorite food in the world is buffalo wings & blue cheese, and celery.  And beer to wash it down.  Until now, I had to drive to the Buffalo Wild Wings in Hollywood which has the BEST wings in the galaxy – hands down.   (And the worst?  Hooter’s.  Damn, are they godawful.  I wouldn’t subject my colon to their cuisine if I was starving.)

I’m not a frequent visitor to Fatburger… however, if this Buffalo’s Café is even half as good as Buffalo Wild Wings… nomnomnom.  Every week.  Here’s the photo on their front page:

Here’s the press release:

Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc., parent to the Fatburger chain, has acquired the 26-unit, casual-dining chicken wing chain Buffalo’s Café, one of several new concepts the group plans to add to its franchise portfolio.

Andrew Wiederhorn, Fog Cutter’s chairman and chief executive, said the move would allow the group’s franchise development subsidiary to offer a new concept to its base of existing brands, both domestically and internationally.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Fog Cutter subsidiary will operate Buffalo’s Café as an all-franchised brand under Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts Inc.

Based in Atlanta, Buffalo’s Café was founded in 1985 and specializes in Buffalo-style chicken wings and tenders, as well as salads, wraps, burgers, ribs and other American classics.

Yup.  As sent to me by others.

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

Why the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas – no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ‘ Holiday’.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe’s the word Christmas – was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears
You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream Tree’
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!

Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is The Reason’ for the Christ-mas Season!
If you agree please forward, if not, simply delete.

http://oktosaychristmas.com/

It’s nice that you guys at Yelp appreciate the tile-layout of Windows Phone & Windows 8.  (Complete with in-tile imagery & text-over-translucent backgrounds… apparently renamed “Mosaic” view)

Given that you guys like the Windows Phone style so much, would you care to let us know when there’ll be a reasonably useful Windows Phone client that exceeds the capability of the Yelp web page?  Location services is nice but c’mon guys, really?   No login.  No mobile reviews.  No checking in.  No uploading of photos.  No account history.  No “FUC” ratings.  No threaded discussions.  No messaging.  FourSquare, Facebook, & Urban Spoon apps all beat the crap out of your WP app and they aren’t even that great!

Here’s a snapshot of Yelp’s last 6 reviews as of 11/25/12:  

There’s 1169 reviews right now, and the average review is a 2.5 stars out of 5.  That means that more than ~550 people rated the app EQUAL OR LESS THAN 2 1/2 STARS.  I’ve never seen a major brand have such a low score for their app on Windows Phone. 

Here’s a short listing of apps that have a better score than Yelp for Windows Phone:

• RedBox Locator – Find a RedBox rental machine –> 3 1/2 STARS
  http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/redbox-locator/023fd257-e6f7-4feb-8324-69983535dd57
• WHERE– City Guide & Mapping App –> 3 STARS
  http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/where/1ed8f1dc-73d5-df11-a844-00237de2db9e
• Cloud Nine – Casinos, Bars & Adult Entertainment locator –> 5 STARS
  http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/cloud-nine/239482d6-689d-4bba-a01e-be38c6c73f30

And while I’m dreaming… a Windows 8 app would be nice too for us Windows tablet users, yes?

In celebration of the 38-28 UCLA win over USC, the UCLA Store/Bearwear has its 5% discount per touchdown offer. (25% max)  Since we scored 5 touchdowns… we get the max 25% discount, but TODAY ONLY!  (11/19/12)

INSTRUCTIONS:
To take advantage of the discount, go down to the Student Store today with your game day ticket… or shop online using the coupon code “SCOREBIG” when you go to http://shop.uclastore.com/.

Here’s the discount announcement: 
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151149328890835&set=a.98340885834.90622.97850775834&type=1

For posterity.  And for Jim Mora.

We endured  the rain & constant playing of “Tusk” & “Tribute to Troy”.

Sweet revenge on a team that did NOT expect us to show up.

$5 program drenched with rain water from the downpour.  And for once, I saved my souvenir cup.  This was *almost* the most fun I’ve ever had soaking wet.

Having actually been in a live studio audience taping of “The Big Bang Theory”, I can tell you that THIS DOESN’T SURPRISE ME IN THE LEAST.  That show is fun fun fun to watch in any capacity.

I only wish I was at this taping.

Someone needs to recognize & respect…  NOW.  Y’all did it for “The Family Guy”.  You can do it for Firefly too.  I’m sorry but I have to say the quote one more time:

“We have done the impossible, and that makes us mighty.”

TGDAILY:
Firefly finally a ratings winner
Posted on November 14, 2012 – 22:49 by David Konow

Time has proven to be the best friend of Firefly, which wasn’t exactly considered a hit show when it first aired ten years ago, but it’s obviously managed to attract a very strong cult following today.

So strong in fact that now Firefly is finally a big ratings winner a decade after the show went dark.

As Firefly fans know, on November 11, the Science Channel ran the special Firefly: Browncoats United, and they also played the series leading up to the special. As the Hollywood Reporter confirms, the special brought in 1.2 million viewers and was also the Science Channel’s most-watched Sunday night program among people ages 25-54.

…

There’s a LOT more article to read so go here:

• TGDAILY: “Firefly finally a ratings winner”
  http://www.tgdaily.com/entertainment/67481-firefly-finally-a-ratings-winner 

You know you receive way too many boxes from online purchase deliveries when your 3-year-old does this out-of-the-blue.

I walked up to the refrigerator the other day & was like, “Wait, WTF? HONNNEEEEY? Did you teach him this? No? Okay, come check this out: Look at what he spelled out on the fridge.”

<insert family laughter here>

Yeah, I can vouch that Surface can both ‘flip in the air’ and take a hit as well.

The band geek in me just swooned at this set.  Good job, Bows.

I love this video so much, I’m posting it here for posterity.

My wife didn’t understand me when I made a remark about distinguishing between ‘Tier 1’ and ‘Tier 2’ candy.

I suspect she will make an excellent trading partner next year.

Admittedly since it released, this is what I secretly think of every time I hear someone mention Nokia’s flagship Windows Phone.

During the COMDEX days, the conference was always scheduled right over my birthday.  Frankly, no one I knew really went to COMDEX so I always went alone simply to work in the booths as a demo geek.

On my birthday, I used to check out of my booth at the show, then go to the Las Vegas Hilton next door to drink at a bar called “Quark’s Bar”, a real restaurant/bar located at the “Star Trek Experience” on the floor level.  Folks would come by dressed as Klingons, Ferengi, Vulcans, etc.  and you’d sit back and drink Star Trek themed cocktails.

Frankly, it was a geek’s home away from home.  No, trekkie/trekker (the term used to describe a devout follower depends on how insanely committed you are the the Trek universe) could visit Las Vegas without visiting “the mothership”, so to speak.

But now it’s gone.  The whole Star Trek area was torn down.  Even the Hilton itself has now been renamed to just LVH, having lost their license to the Hilton brand.  [tear drop]

If you’ve ever been there, you know that one of the celebrated drinks there was something called the “Warp Core Breach”.  It was an insanely large concoction designed for multiple people to drink that featured dry ice that overflowed the bowl it was served it… not unlike an actual warp core. 

Well, I just so happen to have the recipe, so here it is for those of you that want to reminisce of a special, possibly better, time:

WARP CORE BREACH
(To be served in a big globe-type bowl for 2 or more people)

• 3 ounces – White rum
• 2 ounces – Lemon rum
• 1 1/2 ounces – Spiced rum
• 1 1/2 ounces – Dark rum
• 1 1/2 ounces – Razzmatazz
• 1 1/2 ounces – Bacardi 151 rum
• 30 ounces of any juice (commonly cranberry)
• Dry ice & cubed ice

Place a chip of dry ice in the big bowl for smoky effect.  Combine all 10 ounces of rum in a large glass separate from the bowl.  Pour fruit juice into the big bowl.  Add cubed ice. (2 or 3 large scoops)  Mix in rum combination.  Stir.

I miss you Quark’s Bar.

Every year like clockwork, we see the same “Death of Microsoft” articles coming out of the media & the blogosphere.

Why? 

It generates hits, sells ads, & it appeases the egos of of certain narcissists. 

• 2001:  “Microsoft Waltzes The Next Step In The Dance Of Death (Avoidance)”  http://www.macobserver.com/columns/thebackpage/2001/20010810.shtml
• 2003:  “Microsoft is dying slowly”
  http://skatterbrainz.com/2007/04/16/microsoft-is-dying-slowly/
• 2004:  “Microsoft Is Dead. Long Live Microsoft.”
  https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/23/opinion/microsoft-is-dead-long-live-microsoft.html
• 2005:  “R.I.P. Microsoft” http://abcnews.go.com/Business/SiliconInsider/Story?id=508399&page=1
• 2006:  “The Microsoft malaise: Eight signs that the software giant is dead in the water”
  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/eight-signs-microsoft-is-dead-in-the-water
• 2007:  “Microsoft is dead” 
  http://www.paulgraham.com/microsoft.html
• 2008:  “Are we looking at the death of Microsoft Windows?” http://webtrends.about.com/b/2008/04/11/are-we-looking-at-the-death-of-microsoft-windows.htm
• 2008:  “Is the Cloud the End of Microsoft?”
  http://www.dashboardinsight.com/news/news-articles/is-the-cloud-the-end-of-microsoft.aspx
• 2009:  “Microsoft is dying”  http://distorted-loop.com/2009/07/24/microsoft-is-dying/
• 2009:  “Microsoft is doomed.”  http://blogs.computerworld.com/microsoft_is_doomed_again
• 2011:  “Is Microsoft dying?”  http://www.aiim.org/community/blogs/expert/Is-Microsoft-Dying
• 2011:  “Microsoft-Watchers See A Company In Decline” http://www.informationweek.com/byte/microsoft-watchers-see-a-company-in-decl/231002608

And every few years we get another ad-revenue generating, attention-getting reason why Microsoft is going down in flames:

• First, it was Macintosh & the GUI.
• Then, it was Netscape and the “browser OS”.
• Then it was Java, “write once, run anywhere”, and the Java OS.
• Then it was Thin clients & “the end of the fat desktop”.
• Then it was the DOJ & “the breakup of the monopoly”.
• Then it was Linux/OSS & “the death of proprietary software”.
• Then it was VDI & “the return to mainframe computing”.
• Then it was HTML5 & “web-based applications”. 

… and this season it’s the “post PC era” & the emergence of Consumerization of IT (COIT) solutions that will displace Microsoft everywhere.

With all that being said, look what that clown Marc Benioff is mouthing off about now in 2012:

• NEWS: Salesforce.com CEO predicts Windows 8 will be “the end” for the OS
  http://www.neowin.net/news/salesforcecom-ceo-predicts-windows-8-will-be-the-end-for-the-os

Being a Larry Ellison disciple, I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Assuming I know nothing about my audience’s interests, here’s some stuff I’ve thought about demoing, with no regard to flow or anything… just standout capabilities:

(Again, this is in NO PARTICULAR ORDER.)

1. I’ll login with Picture Password. [CUSTOM LOGIN SCREEN]
2. I’ll show the music service & how you can “pick any song… guess what? You can play it… for free.  Over 30M songs.  No fee.”  [XBOX MUSIC]
3. I’ll demo the Start screen interface – and in particular show them how the Live Tiles have rich animated information, & apps can have secondary tiles.  Stocks –> MSFT.  People –> Steve Ballmer.  Music –> Eminem.  Also tiles can be rearranged in any way they like them, how I can name app groups, and how new apps can be added to the screen or hidden using App Search.  [START SCREEN]
4. I’ll take the content from the photo app & share it with Twitter, FB, or eMail. [SHARE]
5. I’ll take MSFT from the Stocks app and post it as it’s own tile on the START screen. [SECONDARY TILE]
6. I’ll break out the keyboard.  I snap it on & demonstrate how it deactivates when folded behind.  Then I lay the scissor-switch keyboard on the table, fold out the kickstand, and prop up the Surface like a laptop using this new keyboard.  Then I grab the keyboard and shake it vigorously while Surface dangles from the magnetic latch.  [TOUCH & TYPE COVER]
7. I’ll show them how I can control the mouse with the touch pad at the base just as I would my finger via touch.  Then I’d plug in a mouse.  [TOUCH PAD/MOUSE PRECISION]
8. I’ll open the VPN client which is integrated into the OS for Cisco, Juniper, MS VPN, etc. and use a RSA USB fob for authentication. [USB DEVICES]
9. I’ll connect to a VDI session, which in it of itself isn’t unique however unlike every other platform, there is no VDA license subscription ($100/yr) or CSL ($TBA) required for Surface RT & Windows RT-based devices to use VDI.  [VDA RIGHTS]
10. I’ll open up Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & OneNote.  And show how I sync our family’s grocery shopping list between my wife’s phone, my phone, and my Surface.  [OFFICE]
11. I’ll reveal the Windows desktop.  Show how it provides a familiar file management paradigm as well as the traditional Windows Interface.

    ** FOR SURFACE PRO ONLY
    Show how it’s 100% compatible with previous Windows 7 applications & devices. [COMPATIBILITY]

12. I’ll open Internet Explorer 10 and show ESPN.COM and all the Adobe Flash video & content on there from the browser. [FLASH SUPPORT]
13. I’ll open the Bing Travel app & let someone pick a panorama.  Then I’ll move the screen around to view different areas of the 360 view.  [ACCELEROMETERS]
14. I’ll display a video on the screen along side with the Mail client.  [SIDE-BY-SIDE APPS]
15. I’ll plug in a USB drive & copy some files off of it.  Then plug in a microSD flash card and display some photos from it.  Then plug in a mouse and use it to work more productively. [USB & microSD SUPPORT]
16. I’ll prop up Surface with the kickstand and aim it in one direction with the keyboard folded under… then start recording & walk into frame.  [CAMERA TRIPOD]
17. I’ll set up the keyboard & kickstand then open the CAMERA program in SnapView & bring up OneNote RT in the primary window.  I’ll start recording the video from SnapView & begin taking notes using the keyboard. [ANGLED CAMERA+MULTITASKING]
18. I’ll switch profiles & login as my son, showing “my son’s desktop” with Angry Birds & children’s games ONLY.  Then I’ll show how it’s monitored using Family Safety. [CHILRDEN’S DESKTOP]
19. I’ll show the photo below on the screen of the Surface as a demo of the device’s durability.  [VAPORMG]

Today, I did something that I haven’t done in more than a decade: 
…I loaded Windows 95. 

Yup, you read that right.  Remember this screen?

Check out that icon for “The Microsoft Network”!

Why?  Well, the last chess program that I really enjoyed was something called Sierra Online’s “PowerChess”.  I decided that I’d load up my 14 year old copy to see how it held up and it turns out that it won’t work with Compatibility Mode… so I had to load up Windows Virtual PC.

As part of the installation process, it does a performance test.  I found this dialog box funny:

I guess Pentium Pro-13 was considered state-of-the-art back then ‘eh?  Anyway… just thought I’d share this ‘flashback’ to the 90’s with y’all.