Gasoline

Monday got you singing the blues? Cheer up, Charlie. “Microsoft
today announced that gamers can experience the full version of
Asheron's
Call v1.0 free for 30 days. With just three simple steps,
players will be transported to the massively multiplayer fantasy
world of Dereth, where they will find real-life comrades, strange
and fearsome monsters, mysterious landscapes, and a constantly
evolving storyline where they decide their own fate and destiny.”
That oughta keep you busy. At least, until Wednesday. By then,
you'll have moved on to the next digital diversion. Like
witnessing the Crazy
Days at TechTV. What is it about avocado that makes me wanna
dance? Wait a second. That's not avocado – it's wasabi! Someone
spiked my guacamole with wasabi! And it's not even REAL wasabi -
it's that made-from-powder junk. Chris isn't sleeping tonight.
Woo boy!

I was looking at the list of registered
Gnomedex attendees on
Saturday. I'm heading back to Iowa a full week before the event,
so there may be some “unofficial” gatherings before that weekend.
I was also blogrolling – and I discovered someone's 2002
Geek to Gnomedex
Campaign. “I want to go to Gnomedex. I currently do not have the
money to go. That's where all of you, my devoted and occasional
readers come in. Below are just some of the affiliate programs I
belong to. If you want something that one of them sells, please,
go there from here and support me.” I thought that was a rather
unique way to ask – and I just so happen to need something that
one of his affiliate links provides. Here's to helping another
geek get to meet the rest of us in Des Moines. Any other bloggers
making the journey? Get listed with the
Gnomedexers. Oh, this
is gonna be fun. I just sent out an update to our speakers, and
Pud immediately responded
with one word: “rad!”

Hey, it looks as though Smarterchild now works
with Microsoft's instant messenger: “SmarterChild is an
interactive agent. Users simply add [it] to their instant
messenger buddy contact lists, as they would any fellow IM user,
then make conversational requests.” Like, you can find out what
movies are playing in your area, the current weather in any ZIP
code, get your horoscope, read the news, play some games – it's
awesome. I've been using it on AIM for a while. I don't know why
it has to install an ActiveX control now, but I haven't had any
problems with it so far. CptSiskoX
sent me a link to a possible vulnerability in the latest version
of the Microsoft IM client, too. It's from
MSN Fanatic, so
I can't verify the bug. However, a third-party patch is already
available. Funny thing is: there's no problem if you use Trillian
(which I do, on a daily basis).

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