Run DMZ

Just completed my last two-hour run for the year. It was a little rough, with me more than once regretting that second glass of cabernet at last night's wonderful holiday party. I've been reading lots of bloggers' annual rundowns on year-end mileage and milestones electronically recorded in logs and journals. I've kept the same record-keeping system since I began road racing in 1992 -- a pocket calendar I either pick up at a Hallmark store or receive in the mail from a charity organization. It ain't sophisticated, but then neither am I. I duly note if I exercised and for how long or how far; I also mention my weekday routes for later comparison. The asterisks represent the onset of "that time of the month" -- a potential PR killer for women like me. I also note trips to help jog my memory and make me feel less guilty about missed opportunities. That's it. By the time W-2 forms arrive in the mail, I'll have misplaced my 2005 race calendar. By St. P...

Once again, I managed to skate out of serving on a trial yesterday when all three civil cases were settled. So, now I'm back in business and working through my usual scans for interesting security news. My friend Annie R. in North Carolina passed along a Business Week story analyzing the Sony BMG settlement that will provide free downloads and CDs that are "clean" of its prying copyright-enforcement program in exchange for New York dropping what amounted to a national class-action lawsuit. Sony still has to deal with Texas, though, which is pursuing criminal charges for violating its antispyware law. Annie asked what is to be done for those that installed an infected CD on their computer. Sony's issued a rootkit remover tool that had its own problems when first released. I would recommend going with Rootkit Revealer or similar freeware which by now should detect the spyware. Sandy M. in Pennsylvannia sent me a CNN story about the NSA doing something similar to unsuspe...

It's your trusted computer security reporter here, letting everyone know there's what is known as a zero-day exploit circulating that will automatically download nasty spyware and use your computer to spew out spam (while also looking for you to provide credit card information voluntarily). This one's tricky because there's no "patch" to stop it so it's up to computer users to use common sense to avoid infection. If you get an e-mail, instant message or a pop-up in the corner of your computer telling you you've been infected with spyware DO NOT OPEN THE LINK. That's how they get you. Also, this one can spread merely by you placing your cursor over an infected image on a malicious Web site (one that's been contaminated), so be careful where you browse, especially if you use Internet Explorer or older versions of Firefox. Also, Outlook or the Opera Web browswer. Here's what I just filed before I head off to the Halls of Justice downtown to do...

My weight. I’ve already got a 10-pound head start. But if I’m going to regain any of the running glory of my past, then I’ve got to shed another 15. You will see less of me by mid-year. And you will not see me steer the car into the In-n-Out drive-thru more than once a month. My master’s PR. Okay, that’s too easy considering how much I’ve slowed since turning 40. But running a sub-4-hour finish, given my current track record, will mean shaving more than 30 minutes off my average time for the last four years. And if I do accomplish this feat, I’ll also qualify for the 2007 Boston Marathon. My credit card and debit card use. I’m tired of companies knowing so much about me. I’m going to carry more cash and stick to weekly allowances. This likely will be among the hardest of my goals to achieve, given my bank is 20 feet from my front door and I show up almost daily now on the ATM’s hidden camera. My belongings. We’ve got to downsize at some point, might as well start now by clearing out...

It's better if you listen along to the free download from Browntide.com. Christmas Eve in San Diego © 2005 Brown Tide Records. All Rights Reserved. Merry Christmas San Diego! I figured San Diego needed a Christmas song To call its own So I wrote this one for y’all . . . It was Christmas Eve In El Cajon And everywhere else San Diegans are known To spend their time Celebrating Christmas In my motel room I was feelin’ alone After a biker bar show In San Anton’ So I grabbed my guitar To make myself less homesick I played a song for Del Mar And folks in OB And people in Alpine And Mission Valley And before you know it I wasn’t feelin’ so down Because I was singin’ To myself And for San Diegans out there Everywhere else About the funny, sunny place We call our hometown CHORUS: I’ve spent holidays In New York and LA And on the road from N’awlins To Chicago Ain’t no place I’d rather be Enjoying Christmas Eve Than back at home In sunny San Diego There was a knock at the door And Tony Gwynn ...

Without fail, this time of year I always get homesick for Kodiak, Alaska. And during this morning's run, I finally figured out why. Those vintage commercials and TV specials now in circulation tend to trigger memories of a place where Christmas lasted a long time. For starters, we'd tape all the holiday specials from RATNET, the Rural Alaska Television Network, and replay them regularly all winter long. My favorite was "A Charlie Brown Christmas." A close second was "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." To help get through those long, dark winters, people kept up their Christmas house lights longer than is custom, like until April. Soon as we'd get home from day care, I'd bundle up the girls, then toddlers, for a winter walk, only instead of a stroller I'd use a plastic sled and pull them along snowy roads to look at the colorful lights. It took years, and a relocation to the Lower 48, for those two kids to realize Christmas lasts only one day. That...

Did you know yesterday was Bruce Browne Day in San Diego? Yep, our very own mailman was honored at a fete last night for his 18+ years of outstanding service to our little community. He retires Dec. 31. I brought a batch of overcooked brownies and managed to bring home more food than I brought, but not many brownies. They apparently were a hit, which makes me think my neighbors have no taste :-) Some of the village elders at the gathering expressed concern with my early morning running and warned me to be careful out there. This was underscored by my friend Louise, who last week at lunch mentioned I might be a tad foolhardy. Cathy from across the street reminded me to break up my routine so would-be predators won't know my usual pattern. Good advice, all. And I decided to follow it and head out this morning, rather than in the evening as is my usual Tuesday routine. I'm not sure if it was the infusion of hot tea or a residual sugar buzz, but I started out strong and just got st...