So I was doing some consulting for my friend's dad this weekend and one of the things he asked me to fix was a horrible, uninstallable program called "PC Doctor OnCall". This stinking program is installed as a "trail version" that has no uninstaller!! I causes the goddamn popups every 5 minutes that tell you your computer has "25 problems" (it's always 25 as far as we could tell, not very creative at all). Check online forums if you don't beleive me. Search the registry, edit autoexec.bat, the start items, etc etc etc. You can't find it. Anyway, after going over the running processes I found it.

*EDIT* - This program does NOT have any entries in the Add/Remove programs control panel, either! Evil!

So as a public service to you damnportladers who have been cursed with this thing:

To Fix: Find the file c:\windows\realtime.exe and rename it c:\windows\PCDoctor_sucks.ass

It won't start again! :)

I'm going to post this on all the forums where I found complaints about this and no solutions.

current state: accomplished
current tunes: BBC World Service

It kinda sucks sometimes to be an American. On the one hand you are inundated with digitally remastered females in magazines, and on billboards, and on the television. On the other hand, you deal with old adages about ice cream after a break-up, and chocolate when you PMS, and greasy foods when you are depressed.

A year and a half ago, I was anorexic. I was 20 pounds underweight, I excersized like a fiend, and ate around 800 calories a day. My heart beat irregularly, my body was a gigantic firey anxiety ball, I hated myself, and I obsessed every single day that I was getting fat. Men never saw me as anything but someone to be with, as all they saw was my body, despite my efforts to talk with them and make friends.

I couldn't go out the door without a pound of make-up on, which I would then scrape off throughout the day because I was constantly picking my face in anxiety, then getting anxious about that. I couldn't stand to be in my own skin, and everyday was a tremendous battle to get out the door and to work.

Why? Self-esteem, of course. Its easy to fall in the hate-me trap in a world full of people taught how not to love themselves and buy wellbutrin instead.

One day in a thrift store I found a book on personal affirmations. It described me to the T. So, I decided to try it. Every single day I looked in the mirror and began to counter my negative thoughts with positive ones.

Instead of, "Your butts too big", it was, "God I have an awesome full ass."

I started eating again, and learned how to moniter my eating habits with excersize. I gained weight back, and quickly, of course, as my body had been starved for two years.

But I like my weight now, even though some may describe me as "chubby". It makes me happy to have curves and to look and feel healthy. I embrace my body because it is a precious thing to be alive, healthy, and happy.

I posted this for all those out there who know what its like to hate the skin your in. Love yourself, and tell yourself you love yourself, everyday. Screw what society says, noone can say what beauty is. We are all worth more then that.

current state: contemplative

(since i remember talk to tsunami benefit parties on here before I decided to pass this info on to those who were interested.... -dB)

attached msg:
Date & Time: Saturday, January 15 2005 more on this date
10:00 PM
Location: Center Space
420 SE 6th Ave
Portland, Or 97214 view map
More Info: 503-768-4023
http://netevents.tribe.net
N.E.T. and Apollo's Lute have come together to bring you a night of tranced out bliss while we help our brothers and sisters in need.

PSYNAMI
Saturday January 15th 2005
a donation based benefit for tsunami victims

Live performance by

""MUBALI""... Mistresses of Evil Rec ... San Francisco

plus special 2x4 dj sets by

""AMBER and ry.N""
""MANIFEST and CRACKERJAP""

and dj sets by

""MALACLYPSE""

Live downtempo and visual performance by

""PERIPHERAL BLISS""

We are proud to present a fundraiser benefit named PSYNAMI. As we dance we will we open our hearts to those victims of the eight countries that have recently been ravaged by this natural disaster.

We will be sending the proceeds of this event to the relief efforts in South Asia. There are also people within in our local community that have family and friends that need immediate assistance in Thailand and Indonesia. Come celebrate with us and create a tide of loving support.

As our families grow and solidify, they also begin to merge. I personally am very happy to be working with everyone involved in this.

The event will be donation based. Please donate what you can. We do have expenses for this event but will be doing all we can to raise as much money for the relief effort as possible. Many of the upfront costs have been donated. There will be an altar to leave your donations at as well as someone at the door accepting donations specifically for the relief effort.

More info to come soon.....

In light and love

Pierre

current state: optimistic
current tunes: Freaking - Hypnosis

We (my boyfriend and I) are going to a wedding this weekend. I searched high and low for a registry for the bride and groom and it does not appear that they are registered anywhere. I take this to mean that they would prefer money, right?

What amount of money would you give for a wedding of a friend? They are both in their late 30's - early 40's, and have been living together for years.

I want to make sure that I give her an appropriate amount, but I am not sure what that would be. Input appreciated.

Edit: I just called her to inquire whether she was registered somewhere or preferred a monetary gift and she told me that they decided they did not want gifts, only the presence of the friends and family invited. She said they had two charitites that they felt strongly about that needed more than they did, so if we felt like doing anything, we could donate on their behalf. That is very cool and I will do that. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions, I will keep it in mind for the future.