Donna Vitan

I really want to work in Google and become a googler. They have too much to offer: everything is free; free food, fitness center, massages, $5000 for a hybrid car and you can wear your PJs to work? Hell yeah. Now if only I can get my resume to stand out amongst a million applications a year…

These employees are so devoted to Google and are given almost everything they need that it almost reminds me of communism. Perhaps not so extreme but I did have a dream one time of the future.

In the future, instead of countries at war, there will be real corporate wars with each company’s employees acting as the soldiers. Big companies like Microsoft and Apple determining the fate of mankind and maintaining a monopoly over our daily life. That’s insane.

Now, to get started on my Google application.

*Updated: April 9, 2007*

So, I’ve organized my bookmarks once again and realized I had a great link of 10 seriously cool workplaces by Alexander Kjerulf, the Chief Happiness Officer. Sure I envy the people who work in these places just a bit, but it also inspires me to make my own working environment be a place I want to be. The fact that I love what I do sure helps, plus we’ve turned our conference table into a ping pong table when we need it most.

It all began with the GenuineCheck.exe, a validation tool that checked if you are running a copy of the operating system. Initially this was to prevent “pirates” from downloading additional software and addons from Microsoft.com. This wasn’t that big of a issue for me as I only had to download from there a few times and i could easily just delete the exe file afterwards. It has become a more sinister plot when MS decided that this should be on everyones system as a critical update. Not alot of people pay attention to what is being updated and installed when it comes to Window’s automatic updates. You simply click yes and install because you trust that these are critical updates that improve and secure your system.

I run a couple of programs that help me control my system and to prevent unauthorized installation of programs and the like. ZoneAlarm flagged Windows Genuine Advantage Notifcation (WgaTray.exe) as suspicious behaviour. I looked further into it to find out the necessity of allowing it to read and modify my physical memory.

People have been talking about this since June 2006, and many have deemed it to be in the same family as spyware due to the fact that it sends user system information back to the mothership without your consent. Now, granted you did update using MS automatic update but your consent from that doesn’t necessarily cover this invasion of privacy by Microsoft. I’m not a lawyer but that pretty much sounds like spyware and I hate spyware.

During my search into this, I’ve come across hacks, workarounds, uninstalls and various articles on Windows Genuine Advantage Notification. All of these have convinced me that keeping WgaTray.exe around isn’t something that’s critical or necessary for me. It just makes MS look like a bigger ass, not because they make it mandatory to validate your system but because they get shadier in their handling of the situation.

The following are links that I have come across that can help you form your own opinion.

• Microsoft’s official page on Genuine Microsoft Software
• Microsofts’ How to disable and uninstall Windows Genuine Advantage Notification
• WikiHow.com’s How to remove Window’s Genuine Advantasge Notifcations (Does not uninstall)
• The Inquirer.net’s “How to dump Windows’ piracy ’spyware’“
• ZDNet.com’s “The WGA fiasco continues by Ed Botts“
• Groklaw.net’s “Microsoft’s Calling Home Problem: It’s a Matter of Informed Consent“

This is just one of those miscellaneous links that I come across online when I simply have nothing better to do but link hop. Well, actually, it’s not that I have anything better to do, it’s just that I like to veg out so much. Enjoy.

Came across this neato window display by Lululemon. I give this presentation a high five on originality and balls to do something completely different in regards to this week’s upcoming holiday.

I love Scissor Sisters. They’re such a fun, original and energetic band. They remind me a bit of Queen, and come on. Queen is freaking awesome.

I just thought I’d share this video of Scissor Sister’s She’s My Man. It’s very enjoyable. So go on with the enjoying.