Finding trust in the ones and zeros

I was mid email when I heard the ding, a new email had arrived.  It could wait until after I finished composing the email currently in front of me, however modern day ADD was over-whelming.  There was something new and shiny waiting for me, what could it be. Save as draft, inbox.  A message from the friendly people at Google, “It appears someone has attempted to access your account from Denmark.  We have blocked the attempt, please click the link to change your password.”  Wait a second, isn’t that how hackers get your password? By sending you an official-looking email saying you need to change your password for security purposes and then when you type in your current password…Bam! They got you. Back to the draft, finish, send.  Now back to this password issue, wait my cell phone is now saying it can’t access my email, password is incorrect.  Quickly log out of Gmail and try to log back in, immediate prompt to change password, no choice.  I do it, still thinking it might be a trap.  I have no way of knowing who’s real and who’s not, because none of them are real.  They’re all just anonymous email addresses, digital files.  When I walk into my bank and an employee tells me something, I believe it, when Chase.com tells me something, I am always curious if it’s really them…what if a one became a zero?

Another day in the dessert

Here is a video I put together from the last ANJ race.  A second place finish put them First in points for the series.

Vegas

The residue of torched tobacco hit my eyes before my nostrils and I had only made it to the parking garage elevator.  Within hours my throat was scratchy, my eyes were watering, and my wallet was quite a bit lighter.   Luckily the next morning we were up early and heading away from the windowless ashtray filled with felt tables that seem to never stop calling your name. 

We got to Red Rock for our planned hike and quickly abandoned the leisurely walking trail and began to climb.  Adam, aka the billy goat, pressed ahead, every time we looked, he had scaled another peak, and we followed.  Sitting atop one of the large rock masses we conquered, looking out over a beautiful panoramic view, I realized I would've never guessed one of my best times in Vegas would happen outdoors.

Here are a few pics of the “other” Vegas. 

Organ donor

For many years the MacBook given to me by a friend has faithfully served me.  She has traveled many places with me, been my scribe, recording my life.  Sadly, she has started to slow down and I've had to supplement her with a younger, stronger, MacBook pro.  Recently it was decided that she would become an organ donor.  I will be performing the operation myself; she is in good hands. I am putting her original 60gb hard drive back in, while her current 300gb hard drive will be donated to a much more vibrant Playstation 3.  She will still be able get around the Internet and do some light work, but her memory won't be as good; she will no longer be taking on large projects.  If she seems up for the travel, I'm thinking about taking her on my next trip.  

It's funny how a computer can become a travel companion, a confidant, an iFriend.