Like anyone still needs a reason.

Today, the helpful Microsoft updater offered to upgrade IE7 to IE8. Always a sucker for some new software and always forgetting the more that occasional pain associated with installing new software, we let it do it’s thing on the home computer. Not a good idea.

After the update, IE8 would not access any web sites, not even Microsoft. That’s bad. Even worse, Firefox now won’t access any web sites. It’s not the Internet connection because I’m checking out the Home computer over a remote session. A quick search shows that there are others having the same problem. Even more amusing is those saying that there is no way IE8 could be responsible. Like this response to a guy who describes a problem similar to mine.

red alert: IE 8 shuts down my web REGULARLY. - Technology Questions

Again, installing IE8 could not possibly have caused other browsers to fail.
The environment in which you installed it could have.

1. If you don’t own the computer in question, you should NOT be upgrading
IE, period.

2. The various security measures put in place by your employer may well be
related to the problems you encountered after installing IE8. These include
any GPOs and Admin Templates.

3. For best results, you should disable (a) the anti-virus application, (b)
all real-time “system protections” (e.g., those afforded by any third-party
application, (c) any third-party firewall and then (d) enable the Windows
Firewall prior to installing AND uninstalling an IE upgrade.

However, I disagree! IE8 or some other evil that gets done by it’s installer screws things up. Several other folks with this same issue uninstalled IE8 and their problem was gone. I uninstalled IE8 and problem gone. The bad news was that it still left IE7 behind.

Are you practicing your trail riding skills and getting ready for MDH 2009?

Ouch!

Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

Sometime during the night this tree came down on the truck. Not exactly a great thing to wake up to, but the damage is minimal and the door still works fine and no glass was broken so I’d say we got off easy.

After a few cups of coffee for fortification I’d planned on tackling the removal project. Before I could even get out of the door, one of the neighbors roared up on his quad and offered to help, very nice. Apparently, my truck is currently causing quite a bit of excitement on the road. As I go out to start limbing the tree, three other guys are at the bottom of the driveway discussing my “situation”. Of course they all had to come up and have a closer look. It sounds like we’re the only one with a big tree down this time around but one of the guys recounts how a tree wacked the corner of his cottage causing significant roof damage.

Anyway, after a couple of hours it’s all cleaned up and I’m soaked to the skin because it’s been raining steadily. A hot shower is in order and Shirley has brunch ready to go when I come back in.

YFC opening session

Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

Wow, Wi-Fi at Camp Ceaderwood in the Phase 3 section, and I have my own room, with a bathroom, awesome!

The picture is from my perch in the sound booth, which required that you climb a ladder up to a trap door to get into it. The band has just finished and they are playing a crazy game. And, it’s just getting started, snack at 11pm, outdoor games until 1am, movies until 2am, and then curfew, but not necessarily sleep. Should be a wild weekend.

A nice Saturday morning on May at the Lake
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

That’s right, at about 6am, it’s snowing. We arrived last night and had the water on in about an hour with no major complications. It seems that the cottage of an age where there are more little things starting to show their age. For example, the upstairs sink tap won’t shut off fully. It seems that the internal springs and/or the rubber o-rings that shut the flow off just aren’t what they used to be.

Another new little mystery is the furnace. After running for varous amounts of time, several hours last night, and only several minutes this morning, the circuit breaker trips. Not right away when you flip it on which would indicate some sort of short or issue with the fan motor perhaps, but some time later. I’m thinking the breaker is just getting old and tired. We’ll replace it later today and see.

The shingles were on the driveway for replacing the 26+ year old roof, next weekend. I hope everyone has warmed up their muscles. Carrying 50 bundles up the ladder should be an excellent workout

Gary at the Finish Line
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

OK, that’s not me, but another “Gary” from the FOG club, with a very nice bike.

Unfortunately, there was nobody taking photo’s as I crossed the finishing line at my first ever Time Trials race at Birds Hill Park today. The race was a lot of fun and it will be interesting to see my time when it gets posted. (Photos)

This weekend was really quite a high mileage weekend with 94km yesterday on the FOG ride and a warm-up lap and two race laps for 33.9km, a total of 117.9km. Still feeling good, but we’ll see how that plays out tomorrow morning.

I’ve kicked my 2 a day Starbucks habit! For a whole week I didn’t pull that shiny gold Starbucks card out of my wallet, not once!

Did I give up coffee? Not a chance, well at least not yet. I’ve replaced Starbucks by brewing my own at the office with a French Press and coffee ground at home. Mmm, good coffee at a fraction of the price. Sorry Barista buddies, you were just too expensive a habit to maintain.

My New Ride

Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

Oh yeah!
Taking her out for the FOG ride tomorrow and possible a Time Trials race on Sunday. Zoom Zoom

Goggle Reflections

A little more Photoshop practice. The manipulation that you can do is quite surprising the first time you do it. Even though I knew what was going to happen, the first reflection in the goggles gave me quite a jolt. I hear the little inside voice say, “You’ve got to be kidding!”.

The first FOG ride of the year was great. It was cool at about 1°C and a fair breeze, but still a great ride, well for most of the way. About 21 of us set off at 10am and several turned back at Lockport while the rest of us headed over to Birds Hill Park for a couple of laps. After 1 1/2 laps, I decided that I needed to head back and 5 of us started the return on Hwy 59 while the rest of the keeners headed of for another lap at 35-38kph.

Thinks were good until I got out onto Hwy 59 and we were cruising at about 37-38 with a tail wind. Aerobically I seemed fine, the legs were burning a bit but there was this feeling deep in the pit of my stomach that said “slow up or throw up”. I opted for the “slow up”, and drifted back from the group and limped into the parking lot, well off the group pace for a 74km ride. A little zapped, but feeing good.