The mouse I had rescued from my problem pile to use at work died again recently,
and this time taking it apart and reassembling it didn't help. Since I can't live
without a scroll wheel, it was time for a little visit to the company store.
Last time I bought a mouse, I toyed with the idea of getting a trackball, since
I have almost no mouse space on my desk at home. I have no trackball experience
though, and they look strange enough that I was afraid it would be too awkward
and I'd have to buy yet another mouse right away. This time, since I
seem to be burning through mice fairly quickly, I decided the risk was worth
taking and got a trackball instead of a mouse.
Considering how different the control method is, I was surprised at how easy
it is to use. I was able to handle it reasonably well straight out of the box,
although fine control was difficult. After a couple of days it's starting to feel
more natural (although my thumb is confused by having to do so much work), and I
suspect it will be just as good as a mouse before long.
Besides being better-suited to the space I have at home, I get the added
advantage of having a different pointing device at work and at
home—I figure that regardless of which is “better” for routine
use, doing something different at work and at home is even better, especially
given how much computer time I log between the two. Now I just need some sort of
bizarre alternative keyboard construction, and I should be all set.
Category: Geek
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Imagine if you will that you are driving in a center lane on the interstate, and
come up behind someone going slower than you. You want to pass, then return to
your current lane. The lanes to the left and right are both clear ahead and
behind. Do you pass on:
- the left, or
- the right?
If you picked a), congratulations, you aren't an idiot! If you picked b), take
comfort in the fact that you will fit right in in California.
Category: Society
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As usual, I'm terribly behind in my posting. The most notable event(s) recently
have been some additions to the Morgan clan. Two weeks ago I branched out from
having just a niece, and now have a brand nephew as well. A couple of days later,
I went to an uncle's wedding, where I got not only a new aunt, but two bonus
cousins. Plus I got a chance to see basically everyone again after my long
exile in Ohio, and Laura got to meet most of my extended family in one gigantic
reunion—not only the best way to get the Morgan experience, but also good
retaliation for the whirlwind tour I got of her relatives.
It still feels a bit strange for things to be changing so much recently,
since for most of my childhood my family was fairly static. In recent years,
though, there's been a good bit of growth even without counting the massive
familial influx that came with marrying Laura. Before I know it, there may be
relatives in the next generation of my side of the family—the part I can
keep track of, even—to whom my relationship can't be described with fewer
than four words, one of which will be “removed”.
I suspect that the first time I remember some teenager in my extended family
at a family reunion from their infancy, and they don't have even the remotest
idea who I am, I'll have to go out and buy an expensive convertible or
something.
Category: Life
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