This following is currently the most-linked to item by webloggers (deservedly so): Weapons of Mass Destruction, a history in quotes. Outstanding.

Clara called today to ask for a computer recommendation. She has a teacher friend who is ready to buy a new computer. This friend has an older Macintosh, and she wants something modern with which she can browse the internet, process digital photographs, and do word processing.

"Are you still in the business of building computers?" asked Clara.

"Yes," I said, "though only half-heartedly. I think your friend should get a Mac."

That wasn't the answer Clara expected.

I was an Apple devotee from 1978 (when Dad bought our first Apple II), to 1989 (when I bought my first Macintosh), to 1995 (when I bought an Apple Macintosh Performa 640CD DOS-compatible).

In 1998 I defected to the world of Intel processors and Microsoft operating systems. I wanted to play computer games, and was unsatisfied with the number and quality of titles available on the Mac. I also wanted to delve into computer programming, and this was easier to do on a PC than on a Mac. None of my friends had Macs, so it wasn't hard to justify the switch to PCs.

Time passed.

My computer game consumption decreased. (I play whichever is the newest game from Blizzard, and maybe one or two others per year, but that's about it.) My interest in computer programming came and went. Mac/PC interoperability became more reliable.

Last fall I decided to take a chance: I bought an iBook running OS X.

I love it.

At one point I told Kris, referring to the iBook: "This is the best foolish purchase I've ever made." She wrote this down and stuck it to our front door.

After nine months with my iBook, I'm back in the Mac pack. PCs are better at many things (games, specialized applications, office environments), but this Mac is the perfect computer for where I am in my computing journey. Its built-in applications serve 90% of my needs. For most everything else, there's BBEdit.

Sometimes, on the way to work, I think to myself that it would be fun to take one photograph from Good's Bridge looking eastward every morning at 6:45 a.m. for one year. Naturally, this isn't an original thought. (I want to know how this photographer manages to get the horizon perfectly level and at the same location in every frame. Photoshop?)

Tony Pierce recently pointed to a photo essay about Salt Lake City, and he asked his readers to make photo essays about their hometowns. I like this idea. Maybe I'll try to complete a Canby photo essay once I'm mobile again.

Out of all the television I've watched this past week (during which I've watched more television than I'd watched in the previous five months combined), my favorite program has been Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. It's comforting, yet educational, perfect for my drowsy state.

In one segment, Mr. McFeely showed a video tape that explained how light bulbs are made. My favorite part was watching the light bulbs be put into boxes. It's not often one catches even a small glimpse of the packaging industry on television.

On this day at foldedspace.org

2005 — Three Cats and a Squirrel   The squirrel came down to the basket again. All three cats tensed. Nemo lunged! Simon darted to assist! Toto lunged to the ground! The squirrel sped up the tree!

2004 — Three Hour Tour   Our new home has passed its insepction; the appraisal came in fine; no known financial barriers stand between us and the new place. Because things look sure, we arranged a time to meet with the current owners.

2001 — Hanging On   Nothing much happening in my life...