I had some reservations with the beta releases of Windows 7.  There were clear usability issues.  But they’ve all been addressed in the RC.

For the record I’m running the 64-bit version of Windows 7 RC build 7100 on a 3.4GHz Pentium D with 3.0GB RAM.

On the whole, this is the first Windows release I am happy with since Windows 98 Second Edition.

However, some features take a little getting used to.

At the moment, I miss the quick launch toolbar.  Pinning items to the task bar is fine, but the application pinned opens where its icon sits on the task bar.  That means you could have several icons between two running programs on the taskbar.  You also cannot “push” the pinned icons close together.  As a result, they consume significantly more space on the taskbar than the quick launch toolbar did.  I find these factors annoying.  They disturb my sense of order.  And I suspect the end users I support will feel the same.  At least until we get used to it.

From an I.T. support perspective, the new locations of users’ desktop and start menu folders is a nightmare.  I haven’t located an ‘All Users’ folder, just the ‘Default’ user’s folder.  This makes it complicated to set up a standard desktop and start menu for multiple users sharing one computer.

The new Start Menu path, for example, is:
“C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu”

Does it have to be this difficult?  Couldn’t it be simply “C:\Users\<username>\Start Menu”?

Another annoyance is the default desktop icon size.  Instead of the 32×32 we’re all familiar and comfortable with, the default size is 48×48.  This not only gives the impression that the system is in vision impaired “Accessibility Mode” by default, but it also pixelates existing program icons that were designed as 32×32 causing them to look like, well, like crap.  You might as well make the default color scheme High Contrast and make the system truly configured for the vision impaired by default.  I could at least understand and appreciate that.  To be in Accessibility Mode by default means that users with sight or hearing impairments wouldn’t need assistance with making the system usable for them.  Those people lucky enough to have good eyesight or hearing could easily make the changes to take the system out of Accessibility Mode.  That makes sense.  I would applaud that.  But just making the default icons larger accomplishes nothing.

The 64-bit version of IE 8 hangs a lot and is slow to load.  I frequently find myself going back to using the 32-bit version.  That may be a non-issue as I am a devoted Firefox user and Firefox is 32-bit.  There’s really nothing on the web, yet, that requires or takes advantage of the capabilities of a 64-bit browser anyway.

That said, if those are the only problems I find, I am a very happy I.T. guy.  Windows 7 has already become my primary operating system, pushing Windows Vista SP2 to the back burner and placing Windows XP in a strictly virtual world to be used as reference for end user support.

That is to say, I’ve become addicted to tweeting on Twitter.

I’ve finally found a social media that works with my attention span (or lack thereof).

Since I update Twitter more regularly than this, or any other social medium/web log, I’ve added a Twitter widget to this blog, my MySpace page, and my Facebook page.

Still haven’t found a way to add it to my Livejournal page, with my free membership, so I’m open to suggestions from my other Twittering friends.  I know utilities exists because I have friends that use them, but I’m not into paying money for a journal when I am perfectly happy with the features I receive for free.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/joshthegeek.

As many of you know, I served on the Belleville Village Board in 2006 and 2007.  During that time, I learned A LOT and it was overall a great life experience.  I lost the re-election in April 2008 by five votes, primarily because I didn’t campaign.  Serving on the board is very hard, time consuming, thankless work, so I truly wasn’t heartbroken by the loss.  In fact, I looked forward to having some free time again.

Last week it was announced that Belleville only had two candidates to fill three vacant seats, so a write-in candidate would be elected.

A knock on my door yesterday confirmed my suspicions.  They want me back on the board.  Four of the seven current board members are all ready to start campaigning for me as soon as I express interest.

Should I decide to run I am basically gauranteed a win.  But, should I run?

On the one hand, it’s a great experience, looks good on a  resume, impresses employers, and I enjoy the responsibility.  Thank goodness I feel fairly secure in my current job, but in today’s market things change fast.  Anything that makes you stand out from other candidates, particularly proven leadership skills, gives you a leg up on the competition.

On the other hand, it’s a lot of stressful work, requires a major time commitment, and with the current economy it’s going to be even harder.  Taxes are going to have to go up simply to maintain the status quo during a time when people can’t afford to spend more.  People aren’t going to like the governmen, no matter who is in charge.

I pictured myself being on the Village Board again twenty years from now with the hopes of becoming Village President/Mayor in the future.  I didn’t expect to be on the board again so soon.

Should I commit to being a write-in candidate or should I just say no?

Are you looking for that perfect iPod accessory?  Do you already have all the Nike+, armbands, ear buds, cases, covers, docks, transmitters, and projectors you need?

I bet you don’t have one of these:

“From the Institute for the Advancement of Musical Science comes Bocelli, an unprecedented breakthrough in teeth whitening technology.”

Don’t get confused when you visit the website, The Institute for the Advancement of Musical Science is apparently Veratronics, Inc.  Bocelli must also be called Professor Bocelli in some parallel universe where professors are iPod accessories.  But that’s besides the point.

Just plug the whitening tray into your iPod (or any audio device with a 3mm headphone jack), sit back, and let your teeth rock out to the very best of Vanilla Fudge.

“Use Musical energy power to help the solution whiten your teeth.”

Don’t have an audio source?  Do not fret little one, Bocelli comes with a “Universal Pressure tray to use with out Music.”

As Geordi La Forge always said, “But don’t take my word for it.”  Cruise your filthy, stained teeth over to RockMyTeeth.com and check it out for yourself. If the video doesn’t convince you that Bocelli is the iPod accessory you never knew you needed, I don’t know what will.

With proper use, you too can have a smile as beautiful as Shane McGowan’s.

The roads were ice covered, as they have been the last week, as I left work early Wednesday afternoon.  With temps well below zero, salt doesn’t do any good on the roadways.  I turned west onto CR K from CR M and started to climb a long, albeit not exceptionally steep, hill that curved slightly to the left.  As I was pondering if I was going too fast, under the posted speed-limit of 45mph at 40mph, a late model Dodge sedan passed me and sped up the hill.  A pickup truck cresting the hill swerved right to avoid a collision and I prayed he wouldn’t over correct and hit me head on.  Thank goodness, he didn’t.

As I crested the hill I witnessed the Dodge passing another car and speeding away.

At the stop light at CR Q and CR K I was one car behind the Dodge and was able to get the last three digits of his license plate, GKG.  I remember distinctly what the letters were because I had a difficult time remembering the aviation code for the letter ‘K’.  I kept wanting to say Kango, but I knew that was wrong and it took me a moment to remember it is Kilo.  Golf Kilo Golf.

He floored it and sped away when the light turned green.  That was enough for me to call the police.  This guy was hell bent on killing himself or someone else and had no business on the roads that day.

He got trapped behind a line of slower, rationally driving, vehicles and I was again behind him as we pulled to a stop in the left turn lane to turn east onto Highway 12 from CR K.  When the light turned green, he pulled out of the left turn lane, passed five or six vehicles on the right, and cut left onto Highway 12.  At least he used his turn signal.

He was gone in a flash.

As I crossed Unversity Ave. I recognized his car exiting Hwy 12 onto Greenway Blvd.  I called 911 and gave them an update on his location and proceeded to follow his vehicle until he parked and ran into Cosi restaurant in Greenway Crossing.

In a not very well thought out attempt to keep him from leaving before the cops arrived, I pulled in front of his car.  All he had to do was put the car in reverse; there was nothing behind him.  Within a few minutes two Middleton police cruisers pulled in and sufficiently boxed in the car.  I gave my statement and an officer went into Cosi to retrieve the driver.

After running the plates and the driver license number it was discovered the driver had a long list of traffic violations and was driving on a suspended drivers license and suspended registration.  He admitted that the car was his and he parked it there which was enough evidence for Middleton to bust him on the operating while suspended charges.

As I was wrapping up my discussion with the Middleton police, I received a phone call from a Dane County deputy.  Based on my statement and willingness to testify, the deputy cited the driver for one count of improper lane usage, two counts of passing in a no passing zone, and adriving at unsafe speeds for the road conditions (since it couldn’t be proven he was going over the speed limit).

One of the Middleton officers and the Dane County deputy had a nice chat using my iPhone to make sure they knew who was handling which charges.  As I pulled away a tow truck arrived to take away tthe offending driver’s car and the driver himself was still sitting in the back of a Middleton cruiser.

That was my trip home Wednesday.

I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I’m a

What would inspire someone to design, manufacture, and offer for sale a scale inside of a computer mouse?  With a 2.25″ x 2.75″ platform and a max. weight of just over one pound, what would you put on it?

Is this madness or brilliance?

The people at American Weigh think they’re onto something.  I think they’re on something.

Behold, the American Weigh MSC-500 Optical USB Mouse Scale

I have some geekish and non-geekish items to clear out (to make room for more of course), so I’ve added an auction section to The Geek Site.  I’ll post again once I have items listed.  In the meantime, check out http://thegeeksite.com/buyme and feel free to sell your own items if you so desire.  I don’t charge listing fees or make money off of other peoples’ sales.  What you sell your item for is what you get paid, no hidden fees or charges.  Try to get a deal like that on eBay.

• Post more frequently to my blog.
• Get at least seven hours sleep nightly.
• Exercise at least three times a week.
• Eat my vegetables.
• Treat my body better.
• Deposit at least $200 / mo. into savings.
• Have a more positive attitude.
• Sit at home less.