Here's a random update of useful things:



Freeware:

Evernote: http://evernote.com/

This is something I just found moments ago - it allows you to take notes, pictures, audio, whatever and sync it between multiple devices - iPhones, regular phones, laptops, desktops, and thus have ever-present notes when you need them. I find this handy, as I may find something on my laptop I totally want on my desktop, or the other way around, and not want to travel to my room.


Revo Uninstaller: http://www.revouninstaller.com/

This is one of my favorite programs - it cleans up your computer like almost nothing else can. Have a program you think might be infected? Something on your computer the Windows Uninstaller doesn't seem to recognize? Just hate windows components? RU will scan your computer for programs and display them in an icon format, nice and easy to use. It will then offer you several options for uninstalling, which allows you to determine just how thoroughly you want to scour your hard drive for remnants. It also scans your registry which basically means it will keep windows running faster with less junk.


CCleaner: http://www.ccleaner.com/

Another favorite, this program is made to clean up your computer's junk files (CCleaner stands for Crap Cleaner). CCleaner will remove browsing history by default, so uncheck the box if you don't want that. Easy to use and with powerful extra options (A registry cleaner makes windows run faster, and I like its startup manager more than Windows Defender), a definite must-have maintenance tool.


SuperAntiSpyware: http://www.superantispyware.com/

This is another program I only found recently. To be honest, I hadn't had much of an issue with viruses since the turn of the century (I actually got to say "since the turn of the century" in real conversation!) so until recently I had been using Ad Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy. Don't get me wrong, those are both good programs and if you're computer is badly infected you should grab all of them, but I hadn't realized how far behind the curve they had fallen until recently. The new champion is SAS. It has a fairly simple interface and is apparently extremely good at picking up viruses. I can say from experience on a certain someone's computer that it picked up over 100 infections not found by Ad Aware or Spybot (My computer, of course, was spotless. Shocking, really).


Launchy: http://www.launchy.net/

This is a nifty little program. Your average windows vista user has no real need for it, but those running a different OS or considering using WindowBlinds or a Desktop Shell Replacement will want to look into it. Launchy serves the same basic purpose, in a much better way, as the Vista search window in the start menu. By default, you simply hit Alt + Spacebar and it pops up a window. Start typing in the program you want and it will bring it up for you. Launchy offers much more, however. You can set it to search for files of different kinds (documents, text files, .exe but also more obscure types) and even use plug-ins for features such as twitter and to-do lists. Honestly, I just use its basic functions, though I had it index a few extra things, because I modded my desktop and was planning to get rid of the start button entirely (Actually, since that didn't entirely work out I have both the start button and launchy, but I like launchy more =P)


SUMo: http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?sumo

SUMo is a utility which indexes all the programs on your computer and will check online for updates. This is handy as some programs don't automatically check themselves (in particular drivers). Fairly simple, but very effective.


KMPlayer: http://kmplayer.en.softonic.com/

I like this media player a lot. It is compatible with everything I've wanted to play so far, with a variety of codecs, and has a sleek, minimalistic interface. It will play audio and video files, and is particularly nice with video as it has options to sharpen the picture, among other things. Definitely an improvement over Windows Media Player.


7-zip: http://www.7-zip.org/

This is a program for extracting archives. If you download compressed files of any sort, this will open them. It even has its own compression format which is better than the standard .rar files. (Compression is when you code a file to make it take up less space, but you need to unpack it before you can use it). If you find yourself using WinRAR, switch to this.


CD Burner XP: http://cdburnerxp.se/

Better than most free burners I have found. If you like making CDs, I recommend this. It is usually better than anything your computer comes with anyway. It may take a little getting used to, but the website has some good documentation.


Digsby: http://www.digsby.com/

Oh how I <3 thee, Digsby. If you're familiar with Trilliam or Pidgin, you know what Digsby is about. AIM, Yahoo, MSN, Windows Live, it incorporates all the major instant messengers into one. What sets digsby apart, aside from its interface, is that it also incorporates social networking and email. I have Digsby set to notify me when I get an email on GMail or my Binghamton Email, facebook updates, and twitter updates (like I really use twitter...) I love this program to death.


Rainmeter: http://www.ipi.fi/~rainy/legacy.html

Okay.. well, basically, this program will allow you to put stuff on your desktop - weather updates, clocks, meters showing how much of your Memory and Processor are being used, to-do lists, whatever. Unfortunately for the average user, it requires some minor know-how to get beyond the default settings, and it doesn't have a huge user base (Check out the program Samurize for similar features but a larger community). That said, it is rather nice and allows you to really customize your desktop. You can see what I've done with it here: http://tomthesaint.deviantart.com/art/Desktop-2-104546489 The stuff at the top-left is mostly Rainmeter.


ObjectDock: http://www.stardock.com/products/objectdock/

Okay, to get everything out of ObjectDock you'll have to pay, but the basic features are free. ObjectDock lets you create an icon-bar like the ones we know from Macs on any computer. It provides plug ins like weather and clocks and such things as well. ObjectDock is nice if you are trying to change your desktop, give your computer a new look, or be more efficient. In the above deviantart link, I am using object dock for two main things: 1) to display minimized windows on the left, as live thumbnail icons (live meaning they are real pictures, not icons. If I watch a movie and minimize it, I can watch a tiny version on that window), and 2) to show my system tray on the top. I do this because I have, as you can see, hidden my taskbar. I don't like the taskbar. The taskbar is not my friend.

Well, that is all I feel like going over for now. Hopefully this will provide someone with something interesting to read, and perhaps you'll even try out some of the programs I am using.





Thanksgiving break was good to me. I managed to get a lot of important thinking done, and it has really refreshed me. I've realize at least part of why I have felt so lonely this semester - I had difficulty making friends in the beginning (mono is partially to blame) and I had moved away from my old ones, leading me to feel isolated. Having also just gotten out of a relationship where I was lavished with attention, the difference was particularly pronounced. I have, at last, reached a point where I am again content in myself and, in fact, am someone averse to seeking out a relationship at this point. Note, I said 'seeking out'. I'm not averse to relationships, just acting the way I have trying to get one.

More than that, I took some time to reflect on myself and how I act. I now see some things with greater clarity, and feel a reserve of energy and compassion I had thought lost. For this reason, I gave Jenna a call and left her a voicemail. I'd like to speak with her if she is willing. Since our breakup, there has been a lot of resentment between us, and I'd like to fix that if possible. She thinks I am a jerk and I have been of the opinion that she is immature, but I care very much for her and would like to be her friend. I think that what I see as immaturity could be helped by having someone reliably there for her, someone to talk to, and I now feel greater empathy for her than I once did. In truth, I was immature in labeling her such because she gets upset more than I am used to and takes some things personally.

I am also renewing my efforts to be a better friend and a better student leader. I am going to make time to see my friends, make plans, do nice little things - the stuff I relish in. I am also going to continue my initiatives with students groups and redouble my efforts to end the semester in an organized and enthusiastic manner while laying the groundwork for an even better semester come January.

Schoolwork is again an ever-present force, and I must stay on top of that. I will be doing my best.

I realize I have been unduly negative of late. I have taken to heart that people badmouth me and spread ugly, and untrue, rumors about me. I have let a few anecdotal instances blind me to the real truth - I believe I am a good person and I am relatively happy with myself, and that is far more important than what anyone else thinks, good or bad. In addition, the vast majority of people like me, and only like 4~5 have serious issues with me. Of these two of them may change and I have yet to really speak with them (Jenna being one). It is unreasonable to expect everyone to like you, and it is a poor goal to wish for this, but it does make sense at least that I feel disappointed when people dislike me for things which are untrue (like saying I am a jerk). All this said, I am going to try and speak less of it - the ones who think poorly of me aren't a terribly large concern of mine and I speak of it far out of proportion to how poorly people speak of me. In action as well as thought I will be putting it further behind me.

I've been doing some stuff well. I've been honest, and am growing more so, I've been kind and spontaneous, and will definitely be more so, especially in the coming days. I am looking forward to good times and a solid end to the semester. I have a second wind at just the right time.

Plus, I'm getting my laptop back tomorrow! It will be nice to see it again, though I'll have a lot of cleaning up and updating to do!

Notes:

Tomorrow:
-Pay parking ticket - its not worth fighting even though I don't deserve it
-Deposit reimbursement check - it'll even make me feel better about paying the ticket!
-Pick up packages at post office
-Check mailbox (I haven't since before my b-day)
-Study for CritRace test between classes
-Ask Jordan if he wants to watch the movie for LitRev together (ooh lala)
-Office Hours
- (HH) Call Josh about buying stuff for the Trainee Conference, see if I can get one more speaker
-SVC Email - new signup system and Event Committee meetings, meeting Thursday reminder
-Outline Paper for Dave's class
-Confirm when I'm seeing Jamie Wednesday
-Consider Ice Skating plans for Saturday - ask Sarah (offer to pay as I ditched her last time and her b-day is coming up anyway) and Becca and Steph and Deirdre
-Work on News Articles, editing if Rob sends me anything
-Movie night? I always love those and people could use the break
-Bubble tea with liz sometime this week, maybe with Leah after Dave's class