Article at Infopackets detailinghow to get rid of BHOs. I am just about ready to dump IE as a more complete solution to this problem.

Found via SpywareInfo

Unitus: Global Microfinance Accelerator – one of Mike Murray’s post-Microsoft efforts – a worthy cause.

* Boing Boing: MP3-ringtone converter – very cool, how long before iTunes or other apps just do this automagically? * Blogpulse trendline tool * Yahoo maps shows WIFI hotspots * Mapping corporate board memberships * Scriptygoddess moving to Wordpress – a WP function reference, converting MT templates to WP * Pinball emulators and more at VPForums

Scobleizer: Microsoft Geek Blogger – wow brings back memories, most of them bad. I’m ashamed to admit that I was a huge proponent of active desktop but the idea clearly wasn’t motivated by user demand, nor was it able to be implemented with reasonable performance. Painful but lessons learned.

WinHEC Presentations

First we have the wireless broadband tv – tv over wireless IP.

Combine with broadcast tv downloading which is exploding.

Seems like we are at the tipping point – analog tv sales could absolutely collapse in the next 5 years as people flip en masse to PCs and other digital devices. I think this could happen faster than we realize – will the current generation of college students ever buy a regular TV?

MAVROMATIC - Speakerless Speaker? – the latest speakerless speakers. Prices on these doohickies are getting a lot more attractive.

Cicadaville.com - Premier Cicada information source - ha ha ha ha ha. Man this takes me back 34 years. Excerpt:

Q: Do Cicadas make that loud buzzing sound to attract a mate? A: No, that is a common myth. Our research indicates that sound is actually a battle cry that roughly translates as Kill the Humans. When you hear that sound, take cover! It means the killing spree is about to begin.

Via Rebecca.

Marginal Revolution: Ten percent of the world’s music market is ringtones. Wow.

I draw two conclusions:

* People want their music mobile. Fixed location music is worth a lot less than mobile music. * People love to express themselves thru customization – ringtones, custom engraving on ipods, faceplates, themes for blogs, etc. Never underestimate the demand for this.

I’m unfortunately at the age at which I need to worry a little more about heart disease and other issues. This week I went to Health-Scan and had a full-body CT scan. What amazing technology, what a great experience – walk thru your entire body organ by organ, artery by artery. I’m glad to report my arteries are clean as a whistle and everything else looks good too!

Blog Software Breakdown via Scriptygoddess

Currently reading Musashi and came across this gem:

The human mouth is the gateway to catastrophe.

Update: Zagula finds a gem as well.

6/8 issue of pc mag has a big utility review (i don’t see it online). Cool stuff I saw:

* RipDigital: Convert your music CDs to a digital music library – you send them all your cds, they send them back ripped on a dvd. Sure you can do yourself but this is a huge timesaver. * A lot of keyboard macro utilities – Quickeys or Perfect Keyboard seem worth trying * I really have to try Object Desktop one of these days, I see continual references to it

Out of the forums in the last week or so:

• FL-Studio recommended for crafting your own scary soundtracks.  With all the existing soundtracks out there, hard for me to get into creating my own, but maybe someday
• Scary Terry – lots of great little prop construction ideas – using wiper motors, driving a servo with sound, etc.
• Handy note about scavenging old PCs for power supplies – And while we’re talking about PC supplies, I’ve found that the new ATX supplies are NOT good (for me), because you’ve got to get the Power-On signal jumpered and supplied just right to get it to actually turn on.  (No, the switch on the back does not turn it on…it just allows the supply to be turned on.)  I found several websites with connector pinouts (it’s a motherboard connector), but I still managed to toast a new 300W ATX power supply.  On the flip side, an old power supply often has a button attached to it - the part that is actually secured behind the front panel on/off switch and this will turn power on/off. 
• Cheap wall warts at Parts Express – these are great for generating DC cheaply – I switch AC on/off with DMX and X-10, and use wall warts to convert the AC to DC signals for solenoids.
• Guide to color organs

GhostDroppings.com – found via bloglines