Microsoft Patches -- Conflict of Interest

My wife's mother was having trouble with Windows Vista (64 bit). She said that  Windows installed a couple system updates, then stopped working. Sure enough, I restored the computer to a previous configuration, got everything working. Then Microsoft installed ten updates again, which completely broke the system. It wouldn't even boot. This took several hours to fix.

Seems like this was a widespread problem:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/183335/latest_microsoft_patches_cause_black_screen_of_death.html

I think it's questionable on Microsoft's part, why this broke. Especially since it occurred during the start of the biggest spending week of the year, right before Black Friday. 

Coincidentally, Microsoft just introduced a new product they are wanting to sell: Windows 7. It certainly would be a clever way to drive up sales of new PC's during the spending spree. If they break Vista and XP, a lot of people would just buy a new computer rather than paying the cost of fixing an old one.

Or maybe they just don't know what they are doing.   Neither explanation is good.  :-)

At the very least, there's an inherent conflict of interest in that Microsoft is able to modify software that someone purchased, at the same time they want people to stop using it and buy something else. Since like any company, they assign priorities in terms of what makes the most money.  :-)

Ubuntu Linux 9.10 released!

Ubuntu Linux 9.10 was released over the weekend and I upgraded my computer. The newest version is fantastic. It has thousands of free apps that can be installed with one click, and 2 GB of free storage in the "Ubuntu One" cloud.

http://www.ubuntu.com/products/whatisubuntu/910features

Origami Tiki Head

Here's a experiment to design a Tiki head. This is just three "eye socket" folds (used in the previous faces):


The back side is looped (by interweaving the folds):

Redman origami puppet (with moving eyes, mouth)

This is another paper origami puppet I designed. I wanted something a little more human looking. What's funny about this one, the eyes blink, and the mouth can be pulled open (straight up/down).

Really, it's not a whole lot different from the previous design. I use the same base fold for creating the eyes ... but instead of making inset sockets, I used diagonal folds for outward eyelids. The nose is basically just the top-half of another eye-socket (from the previous design), and the mouth a long eye-socket. It's just a bunch of eyes. :)

With raised check bones he kinda reminds me of Clint Eastwood.

origami puppet 2 (with moving mouth)

Here's another version with a longer beak. I started off on a narrower strip of paper (cut the paper in half longways) and double folded the ends to be sharper tips.



Here's the puppet from the previous post:

Origami bat puppet (with moving mouth)

I wanted to design an origami puppet with a moving mouth. Like a flapping bird, but with a flapping mouth. :)

The interesting thing I discovered about this one, is that the deep inset eyes always look like they are staring at you. It looks something like a cross between a bat, pig or a bird:



To make, start with a standard sheet of letter paper, and fold in half (in the long direction):




Fold up the corners


Fold bottom tip to the center edge:

Fold tip to the bottom

Fold the top tip to meet the bottom tip

Fold up along edge meeting the bottom tip. This is the base of the mouth.


Lightly fold half way to the center, for the hinge of the mouth: Repeat on both sides, top and bottom. This will extend to a moving mouth.


Now fold seven guide lines about a 1/4" spaced, starting around the center line. You can just fold in half (to the center) repeatedly. These will be used for the eyes. It doesn't have to be perfectly sharp ... it can be more of a rounder, organic shape.


Collapse paper along guides (side view)

Lightly pinch the eye corner and create diagonal folds for socket.

Repeat for each corner:


If you want a self-standing sculpture that stares menacingly at you, flip it around and interweave the ends:


Or if you want ears, flip over and fold the outside edge to inside edge. Pull up the compressed folds for an ear. Also, if there's a space between the lips, you can easily pull up the bottom jaw and refold. I also reshaped the bottom jaw to make it pointier (like a bat):


And that's it. Fold along the center crease (or hold the corners of his lips and pull outwards)... and his mouth should move. Here the mouth is closed.


With a little planning, and a longer sheet of paper, you could make a much longer beak (by double-folding sharper top and bottom tips).

Sassafras Bonsai

This Sassafras tree was growing in the yard, protected between two metal fence posts.

I had thought about making a tea out of it, but after looking up Sassafras (in Wikipedia) I was surprised that the teas are banned by the FDA because Sassafras contains chemicals that can cause cancer and liver damage. I doubt it's all that harmful, compared to other things, but decided I'd try making it into a bonsai.

The wild plant:


After digging it up. I had to trim the roots down a bit for it to fit in the new container:


It's new home. I'm not sure if it will survive .. it's more or less an experiment. Although I do know Sassafras is pretty sturdy. To propagate it, you can just cut off small branches and plant them.


I'll trim this back a little more after it bounces back from the transplant.