Month: May 2006

Atariboy and Geeklimit.com have some good tips on removing Spyware and other mal-ware.

As an iT Geek, I quite often get asked to look at peoples machines outside work. The majority of the faults are related to spyware or virus activity making the PC slow, flaky or just unusable.
As each machine has a different configuration, a different set of software (usually) and often a different connection method to the internet, I have come to rely on ridding the PCs of some of the viruses and spyware by hand.
“Why?” I hear you cry. “When there all all those great, free utilities such as Ad-Aware and AVG?”.

I found the audio version of the BBC story on Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep online.
Listen here

NPR has reported that Sept. 11, 2001, conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui will not face the death penalty for his involvement in the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., but instead will spend the rest of his life in prison.
The jury decision was not unanimous, but no breakdown of the decision was available.

From NPR’s All Things Considered:

At many newspapers, the top priority is how best to prop up revenues. But the family that owns The Anniston Star in Alabama is quietly planning to devote the paper’s profits to training new generations of reporters.
The Star is a small daily that packs an outsized punch, situated in a town west of Atlanta. The paper has a circulation of just 27,000. But under the leadership of publisher Harry Brandt Ayers, it fights above its weight class. It campaigned for racial desegregation at a time when much of Alabama was brawling to keep it out, and it has uncovered pollution and government corruption. The newspaper has maintained a staff that is twice as large as what industry consultants recommend.

“It is the duty of a newspaper to become the attorney for the most defenseless among its subscribers.” ‘Anniston Star’ philosophy, Col Harry M. Ayers

The BBC reported today on a group from Colorado, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. The group organizes photographers to take very artistic and tasteful pictures of families and infant children either terminally ill or recently passed.
The founders say it is a huge aid in helping families cope with the loss of their child.
“In a heartbeat ~ a life is stilled, a dream dies, and Heaven becomes amazingly real.” ~ Dawn Siegrist Waltman

For Parents experiencing an infant loss, (as early as 20 weeks gestation) we can provide you with these heirloom memories of your precious baby. At your request, we will have a professional photographer come to your hospital location for a private and sensitive photography session. You will be provided with a DVD of your baby set to a meaningful melody and the CD file of all photographs taken that you can personally reproduce up to a 5X7 size. (please note: Each photographers offer varies location to location. Check listing photographer for what he/she can provide.)
NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. There are no fees for this service.

Please send your tax deductible donation to:
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
1153 Bergen Parkway#M103
Evergreen, CO 80439-9501

A new BBC poll says that Americans trust the American government, more than the media that covers it.

On average 61% said they trusted the media, compared to 52% who believed their government’s explanations.
The poll also highlights growing use of internet news sources, including blogs, especially among young people.
Results varied across the range of countries surveyed. Trust in journalists was highest in Nigeria (88%, with 34% trusting the government), Indonesia (86% v 71%), India (82% v 66%) and Egypt (74%; government question not asked).
Only in three countries did governments score higher than the media. In the US, 67% said they trusted the government compared with 59% prepared to put their trust in the media.