Suddenly we're cut off. We can't hail our friends across the globe and say, "It's a beautiful day in the cyberhood."
--Mr. O'Neill, "Cafe Disaffecto" Daria episode 104

I'm sitting here soaking up the free 802.11b bandwidth here at LAVC, but cursing how many ports they've blocked. I suppose it's a really good idea to block ports like the ones that Windows worms use, but it's annoying I can't do AIM or IRC or anything like that. And AIM Express on the AOL IM website won't work either with Mozilla 1.7.3, FireFox 1.0, or Konqueror 3.3.1. Never mind that it says it will work with Mozilla 1.4. Stupid braindead site!

I brought the ThinkPad with me because I wanted to show Doc Rosow some software I have installed on the Dark Side of my HD. (bwahahaha!) Turns out that I wound up getting an opportunity to hip someone to Linux. I won't connect this machine to wireless bandwidth on the Windows 2K side of the hard drive, so I'm on with Linux and happy. This poor gal has a Dell Latitude (good thing it isn't an Inspiron!) and has an install of Windows XP that she can't get Administrator access on. I showed her my install of Linux and she was amazed. Yes, Linux comes with a full-fledged office suite, a bunch of cute games, and all the Internet stuff you can use. No, it doesn't cost you a dime.

Hopefully she'll keep in touch with me and I will convert her to the Penguin side of the Force. Resistance is futile...wait, I'm mixing my Sci-Fi metaphors here...drat.