Independence Eve...

[alexpgp]

One of our customers came in to ask how much it would cost to ship a computer. When Lee and I found out she was sending it to her daughter because she (our client) couldn't get online, Lee offered to help. She went over the other night and ended up formatting the disk and reinstalling Windows. Her initial call on the modem driver to install was not successful, so she brought the unit home last night, in preparation for taking it to the store and packing it off to the client's daughter.

I, um, helped a little, we eventually found the right driver on the Internet, and returned a functioning machine to the client today. Interestingly enough, in the course of looking at what was going on, Lee ran across some "droppings" from the local computer "expert" that our client had engaged to solve the problem. (The problem didn't get solved, though the client paid $70 for the expert's time. All the expert seemed able to do was install a version of Outlook Express that had his name and phone number embedded in the title bar, as well as - probably - a piece of spyware that gave the guy backdoor privileges on the client's machine.)

Today I found out this guy does work for the county (I'd gone down to the sheriff's office to get my S&R ID, only to find that the Windows software on the applicable machine had "lost" the printer somewhere in the shuffle, and the lady who does the ID cards said she'd have to have "the guy who works on our computers" take a look at it).

Yikes.

* * *Drew, et alia pulled in around 4 am this morning. I sure am glad to see them home.

* * *Tonight's dance lesson was the foxtrot. I had a ball. I think Galina did, too (even if she did turn to another partner to avoid getting, um, stepped on one more time). One thing I notice is that the folks who really treat ballroom dancing seriously seem to have a great air of detachment when they do dance. But it's fun.

Tomorrow, the folks who organize the classes have engaged the facility we use to practice in to have a party. Galina and I plan to go and have a good time.

* * *The nuclear translation is done and gone. I just hope that my several Google searches on subjects such as 'plutonium' and 'plutonium aerosols' (which is what the document was about) didn't get logged by some computer and get me placed on a list of some kind. (Then again, I wonder if entering those words here might not have the same effect? If I really were paranoid about it, I'd delete this paragraph, no?) But I'm not.

Paranoid, that is.

* * *It actually rained in Pagosa today. On the one hand, it wasn't the kind of rain that gives the ground and everything attached to it a good soaking, but it was no light sprinkle, either. I worry that the rain, coming on the eve of the Fourth, might sway some inhabitant from the shallow end of the gene pool to think that - despite official prohibitions - it may actually be okay to let off a few fireworks, as is the perceived right of every "red-blooded 'murican." With any luck, at this time tomorrow, there will be no fires burning in the area.

Time to take it easy.

Cheers...

Comments

[macaholic.livejournal.com]

perhaps you ought to engage the local gendarmery about your experience with this gentleman and suggest that they or someone (other than this particular gentleman) look inot thier computers to see if there is any spyware included therein...that is not for the legitimate purpose of providing support remotely.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Perhaps we can work a a trade of some kind? I'll send you some of this rain, and you can send me some pine cones or something. ;)

[bookfoole.livejournal.com]

I would definitely mention the spyware to the county and police.