Pete Dudchenko

Today was the first time I was allowed in my condo since the flooring/tile/countertops/etc were put in. Basically the first time since all the options I selected had been installed so I was a little nervous with how it would all come together. I had a tough time at the show room selecting options and picturing how it would look when installed so that was my biggest concern. As soon as I walked in though, I was pleased. I think it all came together really well and it really has the feeling of a home, not an apartment. Only a little bit left to do on the inside such as install the washer/dryer and fridge. The windows and balcony face the courtyard and are right above the fountain which should provide a nice view. About a month and a half before I move in…anyone local looking to help carry some heavy things?

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Spent last weekend in Tahoe which was awesome. First, it was Matt’s 30th birthday last Thursday which was part of the reason for going. Because of work, I didn’t get in until late Friday night but everyone else was already there and either up a lot or down a lot at the casino tables. I played a little Blackjack and Roulette but also spent some time at Altitude, one of the clubs at Harrah’s. Saturday, we rented a boat and headed out on the lake which was beautiful. We also spent some time at the golf tournament in the morning (well it felt like the early morning after Friday night but it was really the mid-afternoon by the time we got up and moving). Sunday was more of the same with some gambling, golf and recovery. We flew out Sunday night and arrived home late. Great time though. Sorry, no pics.

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Came up with an idea for a new reality TV show. I figure since San Diego is having such a tough time with selecting a Mayor that can actually stay in office, why not pitch the election idea to ABC, NBC or CBS and see if we can’t make some money off of the whole thing. I know it would help the financial trouble the city is in. We could follow the candidates as they campaign around town and interview Joe Public for reactions.

This of course natually leads into season two where the elected mayor would then be followed around to document the daily responsibilities and decisions a big city mayor must endure. Of course if this newly elected mayor fails to complete his or her term, that would only boost the ratings due to the scandal coverage, which would almost certainly lock in a season three.

Of course if the scandal is large enough that may mean jail time…can we say spin-off series?

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As many already know, I’m in the process of signing my life…*ahem* I’m sorry. I mean purchasing a condo. Its all very exciting and I’m planning to move in in the next couple of months so its coming along quickly. Phase One is almost built and ready to go and below is a picture that I just received from the Condo office. More information and pictures to come…

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You may or may not know about Firefox. Firefox is a browser, similar to Internet Explorer except it isn’t made by Microsoft. Why is this important? Probably the biggest reason why people switch is due to security. With all the adware and spyware out there, most target Microsoft products. Obviously using a non-Microsoft browser reduces your exposure to those threats.

I recently made the switch and so far I must say I really like it. At first glance there really isn’t much difference that I’ve noticed in terms of layout and use however there are a couple of key differences. Aside from security, there’s the ability to have multiple tabs open on one browser. Think of tabs as separate browsers but all combined under one window. One suggestion I read on making this feature useful is when you are browsing a number of bookmarks. Here’s an example…

Every time I log on to my computer at home I visit a set number of websites on a regular basis (email, Yahoo news, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition just kidding), all of which I have bookmarked. Well instead of opening a new browser, one at a time, or navigating to each site, in Firefox, I just open my bookmark drop down, select the category which holds all the sites and select “open in tabs.” All of my sites immediately load on separate tabs at the same time. When I’m done reading one, I can close it and move on to the next.

Another useful feature is the ability to add extensions. Think of extensions as added functionality but you control what’s added. I’ve only tried a few but one is called Stumble and so far, this is Firefox’s killer app in my book. After installing and registering for Stumble (registering includes selecting a few topics you enjoy browsing), at the touch of a button you are instantly brought to a new website. A site specifically recommended based upon your preferences and reviewed and approved by others who share the same interests. So far in trying it out, I’ve come across some really cool sites and the more you use it and rate it, the better it works.

The only disadvantage to using a non-Microsoft browser is related to one of the advantages. Like I said, most people who develop adware and spyware target Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. The same is true however with websites themselves. Most sites are geared towards IE. This means that sites with plug-ins and complex coding may not appear as they should in Firefox. So far I have not experienced this at all. I’ve only noticed maybe one or two minor differences and neither affected the sites functionality in any way.

So in closing I’m going to have to give this product 4 “nerd laughs” out of a possible 5. What does that mean? I have no idea, I just needed something to close with.

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Every year, during the 4th of July, I meet up with family in Hilton Head to rent houses on the beach and enjoy the “other” ocean. Between my two cousins and their husbands, they have seven kids that are there (6 boys and 1 girl). I basically spend my time with Drew, either beating them up, or getting beat up (each year they get a little bigger, and I get a little older). This year was no different.

Pics coming soon on the website…

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