I'm so political

[cilla4progress]

After a day-and-a-half without access (dead motherboard) I now see what it is I value about DU.

I don't have the opportunity to have substantive political discourse anywhere else. Too busy at work. Husband is iffy on interest, intensity. Not much time for other interaction - except here!

Thanks, DU!

[Live and Learn]

1. Yes, I am sure without this outlet

I would be driving my family even crazier than I already do. DU provides a valuable service to political junkies and their families everywhere.

[cilla4progress]

2. Happy and relieved to know the syndrome

is shared!

I'm in good company, methinks!

[Control-Z]

4. This. n/t

[JDPriestly]

9. Yes.

[Kath1]

3. I feel your pain!

Formerly apolitical but now a political junkie!

I think it is fantastic to have this forum to have discourse and to vent. Glad the motherboard has come to life! Welcome back!

[ProudProgressiveNow]

5. It's tough being a political junkie!

[Voice for Peace]

7. I've never been a political junkie

but DU is turning me into one.

DU's like the heroin dealer who invites you over
and gets you high.. you'll be back....

[ProudProgressiveNow]

10. True....

First site I go to in the morning...

[TeamPooka]

6. life is not all politics. Don't neglect your loved ones....

[Skittles]

8. you want I should kick some iffy hubby ass, cilla4progress?

JUST SAY THE WORD MY SWEET

[Jennicut]

11. So true.

My husband is very non political. He thinks Mitt was a fake jerk but actual policy discussions are not really something we get into. I can talk to my parents about politics but they are conservatives. So we just end up arguing. DU is about it for me for politics.

[cilla4progress]

12. Nice

My tribe!

[barbtries]

13. me too.

DU is such a blessing for me.

[HopeHoops]

14. So what finally resolved it? (other than the dead motherboard) - how did you fix it?

[cilla4progress]

15. You mean ..

this?: new laptop. Ugh. Windows 8. Would have loved to go for an Apple product. Even though I'm a Washingtonian I'm sick of MS products. But I thought I needed more easy compatibility with some specialty software I need for work...

[HopeHoops]

16. There's the catch, eh? The office needs are easily handled by OpenOffice.

Specialty software is often tied to the OS, and in various jobs I've developed on M$, VAX, Linux, Prime, Amiga, Mac, Sun, HP server, and AIX machines - and then there are the home machines (not listed). They've all got their OS-specific software. Even when it's multi-platform, there are usually quirks between the platforms.

I've got several versions of M$ Office on different machines and frequently have difficulty getting them to load (or at least load correctly) WITHIN ALL M$ OFFICE PRODUCTS! I suspect that's M$'s plot to force people to upgrade. The exact same files open just fine in OO and save out in a way that is at least forward and will load correctly in the newest M$, but also takes into account the needs of older M$ software. It just pisses me off that M$ can't even load it's own earlier versions right. Writing would be nice too, but not loading?

I also do most of my personal writing on a HP mini that came pre-loaded with Linux (an Ubuntu flavor) and I've yet to have any problem moving OO files between it and OO on M$ and Mac machines - in any direction. Then there's the added but often unspoken benefit - it's free.

Our entire household also relies on Firefox, Thunderbird, Sunbird, FileZilla, and IZArc - all free. IE has always sucked, every version, and I've been forced to use Outlook in the workplace and there's no way in hell I'd subject one of my own machines to that piece of shit.

I've heard Win8 sucks. Your opinion? Vista's got it's problems but Win7 is actually pretty damn stable! Well, at least with 24GB on a 3.33 i7 6-core box. I can't speak for lesser configurations. I've never even laid hands on a Win8 box.

[cilla4progress]

17. I'm starting to figure out Win8,

which of course makes me hate it less. I'm with you on Win7 - I was perfectly happy with that on my cheap little old HP laptop! Way WAY too many bells and whistles for someone like me, who uses PCs as a tool, not a toy.

I should send my husband your post...it aggravates him that I also have the suspicion that much of incompatibility, other issues, are profit-driven. Just like in health care. You know, I don't even have a copy of my medical records, but you're damn sure my insurance co. and primary care provider do!

Rant over ... !

[HopeHoops]

18. 100% agreement. Send him my post.

[x2 vancouverite]

19. OMG!

You're hitting on us, aren't you?

[cilla4progress]

20. You found me out!

How did you manage to move to BC from Washington?