[Ok it’s time to answer those emails. Thanks to everyone that wrote me since doing this challenge and if you want to write to me, look at the email graphic on the right sidebar or click the Contact link at the bottom of every page.]

Q: Can you tell us more about this Julie/Julia tech challenge you’re on? What are your goals? Why did you start it?
A: Well that’s 3 questions but ok let’s give it a go:

(1) After watching the movie Julie & Julia I decided to challenge myself to come up with 365 posts in a year that were Worth the Geek Read™ on this blog and what I mean by that is something of substance that geeks who like computers and technology would enjoy reading and not feel like they wasted their time

(2) Well like I said coming up with 365 posts this year that people thought were worth reading, that’s an average of one post a day all by myself for the whole year. Which kinda sucks a little because I thought of it a few days into January so I’m like 4 posts behind when I started and I never updated the blog more than infrequently at best. Well, except when I made myself be what I loathe, a daily blogger for a month and that was hello-kitty for me, so I really don’t see what the hellski I was thinking with this now that you got me actually thinking about it. Why would you do that to me? Why? Did I do something bad to you? I don’t even know who you are? Am I supposed to? You’re mean! And oh yeah before I totally freak last part of your question:

(3) I cannot explain why I started this except maybe to do something more useful with this blog and help people in the process. I really don’t know why I decided to do this quite frankly. Attention? Fame? Fortune? Well, if I was doing it for those things then I think I’m more of a moron than I thought. I’m going with helping people for $500, Alex! Uh, Mr. Trebek. Sir.

Q: How’s it going with the challenge?

A: Pretty good so far, I started out at 365 posts Worth the Geek Read™ and I’m down to 294, no 293 now! WOO-HOO!

Q: Has it been a struggle to come up with worthy posts?

A: There have been a few up and down moments when I start to try to decide what to write about but so far I’ve managed the task I set for myself and am having a lot of fun with it as well.

Q: Do you use all the software you talk about/review?

A: Yes I do. I can’t honestly recommend something I talk about here if I’ve never used it or haven’t used it for long. I see paid reviewers out there on the Net or in magazines (like the Net but printed on paper) whose job it is to come up with 50 reviews in a month of something that it’s clear when they’re talking they’ve had either little or no experience with the program or product and yet they get paid to recommend this stuff to people. Which can be quite misleading to the people that read their stuff and next thing you know a lot of people buy something that totally sucks that no one should buy. I can’t do that to people. I don’t get paid to say what I do and so there’s no reason for me to recommend crap to people in order to cash a check. It’s my Word I’m putting out and it has an infinite value to me. Same for when I say something sucks. I really believe it, not just writing to make my quota.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake geeks make when purchasing hardware, software or their latest shiny gadget?

A: Not doing enough research beforehand to make sure they’re not paying too much or failing to taking advantage of their peers’ experiences with what they want to buy in order to avoid wasting their money. There’s no excuse with the Web to buy a tech-lemon, really no reason save laziness. GOOGLE. It’s not even a lot of letters, people.

Q: Do you really dislike Irfanview and GIMP? Why?

A: Because they awful on so many levels they bring suck down to whole new levels. Irfanview has one of the worst interfaces of any program out there and has ever since it was created. There’s just no excuse to create a program with no attention to the user experience. There’s no pride there, no caring about how it looks which turns a lot of people off. I hate looking at an interface that looks like there’s duct tape on the dash and the radio’s missing. GiMP sucks because it does two things I hate (1) it’s commonly billed to as an alternative to Photoshop (and it’s not even close) and it’s still very, very buggy. The only reason it’s ever mentioned is the Linux community and that’s because they don’t even have a GiMP alternative. Heck Ubuntu’s dropped it!

Q: How many years have you used computers?

A: A very happy long time, since 1981 when I was in high school. My cool life started at 15.

Q: Is there anything that makes you mad about people who use computers?

A: Anyone that misuses a computer to commit a crime or to hurt, torment or otherwise abuse people or rip them off. Those kind of people aren’t people in my book. They’re a few levels below pond scum.

Q: What do you think all programs should do?

A: Perform their intended function well without errors, be as intuitive and easy to use as possible without problems and auto-update. No excuse any program failing any of those 3 criteria! None.

Q: Has your site seen more activity since you started your 365 post tech challenge?

A: Yes, but that’s not a goal I’m worried about. My goal is to create posts for anyone that stumbles across my blog to want to read and be happy they read it. That maybe they learned something, thought about something in a different way once they read my point of view. Laughed at something I wrote or better yet found a method that made their computing life easier or were put onto some new software, hardware or cool gadget they had not been exposed to before. As long as they didn’t feel they wasted any of their time they spent here, I’m happy. And if I meet my goal by the end of this year, I’ll be delighted!

Q: How long did it take for you to come up with that Illegal Alien Wants to Bed a Predator personal ad on Craigslist? How did you come up with that?

A: The day I thought of doing a spoof Craigslist ad is the day I posted it. It took 20 minutes to find the appropriate 4 graphics I used in the ad and the wording took under 5 minutes to make up. I did it totally on the fly at Craigslist. The how I came up with it, I can’t say as my brain just normally works that way. I’ve come to understand after a lot of time that what I consider normal isn’t to most people. Oh well, that said I LOVE THAT AD! (In case the ad has been taken down you can read it here elsewhere on my blog).

Q: What makes you happy?

A: The total absence of Scott Baio and ducks in my life.

Q: Do you have a girlfriend?

A: I’m currently taking applications. The Alien ad on Craigslist has given me a very promising start, I must say. But continue to send them applications in ladies! Your future Geeky Love Muffin™ awaits…