If I get a new desktop computer, would my readers have any recommendations? I've been going with Dell for most of my life (since the choice has been mine), but in light of this perplexing failure that has affected both hardware and software, despite a fully reformatted hard drive, I'm open to suggestions.

I realize that one hardware problem is hardly indicative of a need to switch brands, especially since this is the 9th or 10th Dell computer I and my family have owned (and I ask a LOT of my machines). But still, I'm willing to consider other options if people have recommendations. That said, Dell's tremendous track record, excluding this failure which I'm only 90% convinced is a problem with the device itself, makes the company a front-runner.

Also, what do people think of Vista now that it's been put through its paces a bit and patches have been released? DeluxX seems to be having quite a good experience with his.

This is NOT an invitation to try to get me to switch to a Mac. I need my Excel, and Excel for Macs sucks (the new Excel doesn't even have VBA compatibility!).

Update: I reformatted my hard drive, reinstalled Windows XP from the CD, and I still get a blue screen of death every time I try to install my wireless internet card (it's a Linksys USB Wireless-G card). Does anyone have a wireless card I could borrow? Or some other way of figuring out if my computer's broken or if it's just my card?

My Cry for Computer Help

Sorry to use this generally scintillating blog for mundane personal reasons, but I'm using every avenue I can think of. My computer broke (I'm on my laptop). I left for work; it was fine. I come back to a blue screen that says "A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer." Every time I restart, I get that message on a blue screen with a 0x0000007E error (and some other text). I'm currently backing up my files through safe mode, but I'd really like to get my desktop working again without having to reformat the drive and start from scratch.

If you think you might be able to help, please contact me. Whoever fixes this gets some big prize (I haven't decided what yet; the winner can have some input).

[Editor's Addendum: An update and more details on the problem are in the comments, in response to a reader's suggestion, which didn't help but for which I thank him or her.]

My Boy John, and My New Boy Barack

John Edwards, whom this blog endorsed for President of the United States, has finally endorsed a candidate of his own after dropping out of the race in late January. He has endorsed Barack Obama for President, after voting for him last week in North Carolina's primary.

His endorsement is well timed--as super-delegates flock to the front runner and as this much anticipated announcement is sure to detract from Hillary Clinton's overwhelming victory in West Virginia, one of the three least interesting states in the union by far (I'd argue it's top 1 or 2, but definitely up there with North Dakota and Oklahoma).


Edwards is endorsing Obama for his progressive vision. This blog's editorial board, and ergo this blog, will also endorse Barack Obama for President, now that Edwards is out of the race and the time has come for a new endorsement. Though Edward's opinion factored in slightly given this blog's previous alignment, the reasoning for this endorsement is actually quite different from Edwards' own reasons. The president is our chief negotiator, and has tremendous impact on foreign policy. Obama has shown a willingness to engage other leaders that the other candidates have not, as they espouse a hybrid elitist/cowboy diplomacy that isn't sustainable. Their refusal to engage, their aloof, haughty, holier-than-thou approach to foreign relations would continue the international embarrassment brought upon us by our current president. Our relationship with emerging economic superpowers will define the 21st century (mostly China, but to a lesser extent Europe and later India), and we need an engaged leader who commands respect, who can bring people together, and who is always willing to negotiate in good faith.

Obama's willingness to receive input, and desire to build a consensus, also factored strongly into this endorsement. Where the other candidates are arrogant, Obama willingly concedes that there are many good ideas he hasn't thought of. I believe this to be a strength, especially given the complexity of the issues our next president will have to face (especially relating to appointments, privacy issues, foreign relations, the middle east, and of course, the economy). Obama's idea to appoint a Chief Technology Adviser is a great one. While McCain can't grasp the complexity of the new economy and the emerging and constantly-in-flux world order (to dramatize foreign affairs quite a bit), and while Hillary would rather give a long rambling nonsensical rant that more or less just proves she doesn't know what an interest rate is than admit she doesn't know the long term macroeconomic implications of a plan she stole from someone else and claimed as her own, Obama is seeking ways to get the best information as fast as possible, so that he might make better decisions. He's looking forward more than any other candidate, and liberal or conservative, the 21st century requires leaders like him.

So if you haven't yet voted in a primary, help Obama defeat Senator Clinton. And when the general election comes, it is the strongest recommendation of Nobody Doesn't Like Molten Boron that you help Barack Obama defeat John McCain, who has flip-flopped so many times in the past few years that he makes John Kerry look like...hm...who never flip flops...he makes John Kerry look like Charles Montgomery Burns.

Also, a special congratulations to John Edwards, my boy, for getting 7% of the vote in West Virginia, despite the notable handicap of not having campaigned there and not having been in the race for almost four months before the election!

I'm considering a return to politics, or rather, political commentary. I'm thinking about an editorial on John McCain. Meanwhile, amuse yourself with this link:

http://www.bush-mccainchallenge.com/

It makes the point that McCain isn't really what most people think he is, and does so in an amusing way.

PS - Thanks for the advice, everyone. Guess I'd better take the GREs or something.

I'm thinking about getting a PhD. I'd like to be taken more seriously as a "thinker," and do more interdisciplinary things (you know, aside from blogging). I'm just not sure what you get a PhD IN when that's your goal. Something too soft and it's useless; something too quantitative and you get pigeonholed. Any thoughts?

My Passover Diary

Day 1: The seder last night was delicious. Still have yet to decide whether or not I'm keeping Passover. As long as Mom's cooking, though, it's easy, so I might as well keep my options open. Matza brye is delicious. They should serve it at IHOP.

Day 2: The second seder was also delicious. Used Passover as excuse to have lunch with coworker I haven't seen in a while. Had to eat a salad, but it was worth it. Beginning to think I might keep it this year. The idea of keeping my streak alive, and ergo a smooth pattern intact, becomes surprisingly persuasive. Pondering the addition of "Overcome OCD" to my "To Do" List.

Day 3: Jewish guilt setting in. Decided to keep at least one version of Passover (the regular kind, and/or my "no-chocolate" kind--replacing the "bread of affliction" with a product actually grown by slaves). Still have consumed no chocolate or leavening. May wind up doing both; wouldn't that be hardcore.

Day 4: I can do this. I just don't want to. Wishing I had good reason not to, but in absence of rationale I consider legitimate, I eat some vegetable-laden Chinese food. Thanks, Grandpa, for the corn syrup in the cola, which is making this deceptively colorful pile of bland mediocrity remotely edible. Dinner consists of a jar of applesauce. Still no chocolate or leavening.

Day 5: Thanking the Lord yet again I'm technically Sephardic by Jewish Law. Rampant sexism has it's benefits. I think of my paternal grandfather appreciatively as I eat surprisingly edible sushi I bought in a train station. I also down another salad. Have now taken 3 leafy bullets this week for the J-Team. Still no chocolate or leavening.

Day 6: The Oreo Cakesters in the office vending machine mock me as I walk by. They call me names like "insane" and "crazy." I refuse to let their childish taunts make me question my sanity. I can hold out until tomorrow night; the wyvern told me so. Still the prettiest.

Day 7: Freedom! Sweet juicy freedom! The Red Sea of despair parts like the warm, welcoming mouth of my pizza box, that wonderful cardboard crucible containing my post-holiday redemption. Barbecue Chicken Redemption is particularly delicious. As I celebrate with DeluxX, Sheba, Chuck and his new girlfriend, Lucy (who brought me a cannoli!), I have renewed appreciation for liberty, for freedom, for those who have neither, and for the myriad leavening agents that I consider true and valued friends.

My Confusion

Why is Israel not talking?

Hamas wants to talk. They want a temporary cease-fire. Who cares if they're on the run; who cares if they're just buying time to regroup; who cares if it might be a ploy. Israel's not going to militarily press a tactical advantage to the extent it would need for any Hamas weakness to be decisive; they couldn't if they tried. They don't have to agree to a ceasefire; they don't have to agree to anything; they don't have to give an inch. No one can force it. But there's an offer to talk.

Why not talk? The downside is tiny; the upside is unlikely but great. The minor fallout from not talking is probably as bad as the worst-case-scenario if they do sit down at a table. That's all they have to do...and they don't even have to do much talking. They can just listen, and talk if they want to.

Why not sit down?

There are a lot of policies I don't support, but this one I barely understand. Israel has a formerly implacable foe willing to talk, possibly willing to do things like recognize their right to exist and get on board with a two-state solution.

JUST TALK. That's how things get done. With words, behind closed doors. They don't have to change a single thing they're doing...just send a few people with authority to a meeting or two and see what happens.

(Also, the United States should be helping, not hindering, a dialogue between interested parties. "You want to talk on neutral ground? Come to Camp David.")

Israel, just talk.

The woot.com blog posted a list of things the pope didn't get to do while in America, all of which are more or less good suggestions that will never be followed. The list includes things like eating a deep-fried Twinkie or finding out why his hat is so funny. I especially liked the Number One item on the list: "Convene a panel of bishops to determine the correct canonical position on the question of who makes Philly's best cheesesteak"

Not only is that awesome, but I'm adding it to my "to do" list if I ever become pope (I'd be such a good pope...come on, guys, just give me a chance!).

My Best TV Segment Ever

This may be the greatest segment I've ever seen on TV.