Emo continued

Can you be Emo and still have self-esteem?

I submit yes. Example: Me.

I'm afriad I'm leaning more toward the non-shoving, non-pot smoking, thick-rimmed glasses wearing, thrift store shirt buying crowd of Emo. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing. I really like the music.

In contridiction to the linked post, I don't think it's the popular thing to do. According to the article, My Chemial Romance and Panic! at the Disco are the more popular Emo bands. Dashboard Confessional, Circle Gets the Square and Rites of Spring are true Emocore.

What's a girl to do?

Virus Update

Thank you, Jeremy, for what you tried to do with my computer.

Friday, I took my computer to the Best Buy Geek Squad (they are on call 24 hours a day because none of them can land dates). After running a system check up popped a screen with what exactly was wrong with my computer. The list follows:

Trojan-back-door
Spyware
Addware

On a scale from green good zone to red danger zone my computer was well in the red danger zone (there were no jets taking off from an aircraft carrier). In fact I'm surprised a box didn't pop up that read, "You're screwed. Buy a new computer." While in the process of telling me what my options were about my computer the very cute Geek Squad guy informed me that none of the work done to my computer will be charged hourly (thank goodness for that one). Jointly we sold antispyware and antivirus protection to a wonderful middle aged couple that really needed it.

An hour and a half, a $425 charge and a $600 in-house credit line later I walked out of the place.

Fast forward to today. Yes, I know it's Sunday, but I had this feeling I need to go see what was up with my computer. I asked if it was ready and the other very cute Geek Squad guy told me that he found another virus on it. Okay, that I can handle. His next sentence was thus, "There were also two hackers using your computer but we took them off."

Come again?

"Two?"

"Yep."

"Now does that put me at risk for identity theft?"

"It can."

It was one of those this happens to other people moments. Virus I understand. That is what happens to computers that have no antivirus protections (Allison crosses herself and apologizes to the computer gods). I never thought it would come down to hackers using my computer. Which rises a list of questions that I'm sure the Geek Squad guys won't be able to answer:

What did they do with my computer?
How is this accomplished?
How does someone learn they can do this?
How do they find the computers that are easiest to hack?
Once this is fixed how can I keep this from happening in the future?

It is still sinking in. Not just a hacker, two hackers.

Last summer when I was starting automatic bill pay and pay on-line accounts I thought it was going to be easier. Less stress on my life. Now I'm glad that everytime I went to do it I got this resounding "Allison, this isn't a good idea." Now I know what that was all about.

Why do I always have to learn lessons the hard and expensive way?

Road Trips Rule!

Road trips are so very much fun.

I went to Santa Jorge (St. George) with my family over this fantastic Labor Day weekend. I keep thinking there should be some type of fireworks display. But alas there will not be one. We went to get out of the valley and we went to go see the Joseph Smith movie. I was a wreck. If you looked at me right after the movie you would think a very close family member passed away. In reflection, this is quite accurate. He's my brother. During part of the film there was an instrumental version of Praise to the Man. I couldn't help but think of the words "Earth must Atone for the blood of that man/Wake up the world for the conflict of justice/millions shall know 'Brother Joseph' again." How many strong is the membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints? Millions know Brother Joseph again.

My sister, her husband and I went to Zion's and Bryce Canyon because we really didn't have anywhere to be that night. I think what they wanted to do was plant National Park seed inside me. It worked. Next summer we are going to backpack Bryce Canyon. I'm going to hike King's Peak (note to self: Don't go alone). Jellystone is also on the list.

I brought my knitting needles with me. I'm going to have a cool new purple scarf this winter. Maybe even a hat, too.

We also figured that we can also break the Sabbath while on road trip status. We were going to stop in Nephi for dinner but we missed all the exits...construction. Then we stopped in Spanish Fark but the Winger's was closed. We made our way to Provo...yeah right. We found an eating establishment. I, like Michelle, think there are many things wrong with Provo. A backward town.

All in all, not a bad weekend I say. I love being with my family.