February 2009

Clean Keyboard., originally uploaded by iMachias.

I have been a tech guy for a really long time. In fact, I’ve been using instant messenger and e-mail since 1984 when I used a service called GEnie to send e-mail to my cousin who lived 10 miles away. I have been connected to the world via computer since that first day of dial-up (and a huge long distance bill) and have always obeyed once cardinal rule: Never Get Thy Computer Wet!

This has all changed. A while back I saw a on one of the regular tech shows that I watch that you can clean your grimy keyboard by running it through the dishwasher. I thought this was outright blasphemy, but last year when I was cleaning out the cellar and throwing away old crappy keyboards I had inherited over the years, I found one that was particularly grimy. Since the keyboard was destined for the dustbin anyway, I decided to put the suggestion to the test and I ran it through the dishwasher.

That keyboard is now a prized possession in my server room!

Not only did the keyboard survive the dishwasher, it looked sparkly and shiny new like it had never looked before. I have now started up a “rotation system” with the keyboards in the tech center at work and have promised to replace any keyboard that I might bork by running it through the dishwasher.

Here’s how I do it with a couple of tips that I have found along the way.

• I have that this works with both PS2 and USB keyboards. I HIGHLY recommend that you don’t put your entire notebook or laptop in the dishwasher to clean the keyboard. That’s just silly.
• I have only put one Apple keyboard through the dishwasher and that was an older Apple Pro Keyboard with the black keys. I have another one (with the white keys, but still the older kind) that I’m going to try soon. If you’re interested I’ll post the results).
• Do NOT use the ‘heated dry’ cycle. That will melt things.
• I have tried this both by including the keyboard with the dinner dishes on a cycle and by running it through alone. Both work, but watch out if you have rice or something on your plates, it ends up under the backspace key and doesn’t make a very good at desk snack later on.
• Allow your keyboard to dry with the keys facing down for ONE WEEK after you run it through the dishwasher. Don’t try to plug it in when it’s fresh and shiny as that will definitely short something out. Just pull it out of the dishwasher and put it on a dish towel or something with the keys facing down so any extraneous water can drain out.
• As I said before, I’ve done this with USB keyboards as well as PC/2 keyboards. I have even cleaned a Dell keyboard with a volume knob, two extra USB ports and a bunch of extraneous lights without an issue.
• I assume no responsibility for any experience you have with trying this.

Having a keyboard that’s devoid of the typical geek grime one finds on a heavily used keyboard is a beautiful thing. Happy cleaning!

Tonight we are celebrating Earl’s birthday! It seems like it always snows on this joyous occasion, but nevertheless, it is here and there is much cheering.

For the occasion, I share one of my favourite photos of us. It’s from 2003. We look younger.

After returning from Orlando we promptly went to Red Robin, where Earl enjoyed the free hamburger for the birthday boy without much fanfare. Tonight it’s about finishing the laundry and watching the snow fall.

We need to relax after our vacation.

Yesterday we ventured over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the day. The timing was good, it was the warmest day this week and the park was open for extended hours for resort guests so we were able to make a day of it without feeling rushed.

I mentioned earlier that Epcot is my favorite park here at Walt Disney World, but I no longer think that’s the case. Animal Kingdom takes top billing for me now. There are a number of reasons for this: there are no french fries available (to maintain the safety of the animals), which keeps me a little healthier, I love the layout of the park and the whole jungle theme (it doesn’t feel like a theme park, it feels like you’re in a really busy place in the woods) and most importantly, I think there are some very valuable lessons to be learned amongst all the fun and animals and games and such and even if only 10% of the visitors ‘get it’ after they leave the park then the world will be a better place.

I love animals. I have always loved animals. I’d work with animals but I can’t fathom to see an animal hurt and I’m really bad at biology so that was never an option for me. And while I don’t enjoy a zoo, I really enjoy the way that the animals appear to be living at the Animal Kingdom. They seem happy. There are no monkeys behind bars in an abnormally small cage throwing their poop. There are no guests trying to feed the monkeys a neon coloured circus peanut. Instead there are seemingly authentic and large, expansive areas where the animals are spending much of their daylight hours doing things that make them content. Yes, they are probably sick of hearing every caravan that goes through on a safari playing the same tape over and over and over again, but the area is big enough that they can hide behind some rocks or turn their back and not partake in the showbiz angle of their life if they don’t have to.

The folks at Animal Kingdom say that they train their animals to come in and out at night and such through natural behaviour. Not once did I see an elephant in a hula skirt trying to dance on their back legs to “Surfin’ U.S.A.” What I did see were some beautiful birds at the “Flights of Wonder” show doing some great things but more importantly, just being birds.

Each time we visit the Animal Kingdom we always take the train ride over to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, where they have exhibits on conservation and an area where you can mingle amongst the gentler animals and visit with them. Earl had a conference call for work so I went in alone and had a nice chat with a couple of animals. When the animals aren’t in the mood to chat with the guests they can hide under a pavilion out of reach. Several goats went in and out while I was in there. One sniffed through my pockets to see if I had any goodies in there. I also made a goal to do something constructive with an area of the backyard this year. I have a couple of bird feeders already; I need to do something more to give back to the folks that are living in the woods around the house.

It wouldn’t be a theme park without at least a couple of rides, so later in the day we rode Exhibition Everest. We actually rode it twice. As we were approaching the “standby” line three very nice looking ladies gave us their FastPass tickets for an hour later, so we waited the 60 minutes in standby and then got in the FastPass lane and rode again two minutes later. Exhibition Everest is a very impressive roller coaster and I HIGHLY recommend that you ride it. It’s not so violent that you’re going to feel sick afterwards but it will boost your pulse rate for a bit and it’s a really good time. The first time I rode, a young girl from the ‘single riders’ line joined me and she told me it was her seventh time riding that day. She was a pro, didn’t scream once (I might have screamed once or twice but I didn’t sound like her) and impressively wrapped her Minnie Mouse ears around her leg to hold them in place whilst we were whipped around the ride.

All in all yesterday was my favourite day thus far here at Disney. I’d be content to go back again today, but there is one more park for us to visit.

Spaceship Earth., originally uploaded by iMachias.

Today we spent the day at Epcot. The first thing we discovered is that Disney is no longer doing the “Leave A Legacy” etched pictures at the entrance. Existing photos are still up but they’re not taking any new ones. Earl and I have two different photos on the walls; the first is from 2000, the second is from 2007. The guide that looked up our location showed the full colour photo from 2000: I was a lot bigger (and clean shaven) and Earl had red hair and a big red beard! Good times.

Our first stop was Spaceship Earth, which has been completely updated and totally appeals to my geek side. The presentation has to do with communications through the centuries. I like that a lot.

The minimum wait for “Soarin!” was 160 minutes, so we didn’t make that ride today. We ended up spending most of the day in the World Showcase. I was pleased to see that they updated the “O Canada!” Circle-Vision 360 film. They kept elements from the original film but updated the music and many of the scenes. The song (“Canada [You’re A Lifetime Journey]” remains the same but is now sung by Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila. The “O Canada!” presentation makes me teary every time I see it. I needn’t go into the reasons why this is so. I’ve said it many times.

The France presentation was experiencing technical difficulties (and they were kind of haughty about it), but outside of that we went to the show that each country offered. I recognised some of the singers in the “Voices of Liberty” a cappella group at the “American Experience”. They are amazing vocalists and it’s good to hear traditional vocals without crazy runs and/or electronic augmentation. During one of their songs it hit me why I feel the way I do about “God Bless America” and my revelation is going to be a separate blog entry that will appear next week.

The one disappointing part of World Showcase was in Norway; they were having a very hard time managing the crowd and lines for their Viking Ship attraction. I don’t know if it’s the layout of the waiting area or guests being goofy or what but it seemed very chaotic and uninspiring. Out of all the attractions in World Showcase, and since the updating of “O Canada”, Norway now seems the most dated. Mexico was a little weird too; the sites and sounds of Mexico now have Donald Duck and a couple parrots hootin’ and hollerin’ all over the brilliant cinematography. I don’t know why they added this to the mix – probably to make it a little more fun.

Overall I was impressed with the updates to “World Showcase” since our visit in 2007. It was an enjoyable afternoon.

Afterwards we went to “The Land” and took the boat tour through Living With The Land. I really enjoy the educational aspect to the attractions at Epcot. I think this is what makes it my favorite park here at Walt Disney World.

Tonight we went back to Downtown Disney for supper. We enjoyed a late meal at the Rainforest Cafe. The jog this morning and the jog tomorrow morning will make up for the calories, I suppose.

Queue., originally uploaded by iMachias.

Today was spent at The Magic Kingdom, which is now apparently called “Magic Kingdom Park”. Since we conquered Tomorrowland last night, we spent most of our time in the other themed areas of the Magic Kingdom.

We went on our usual selection of attractions: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad. We also hit the Country Bear Jamboree, Philharmagic, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted House and It’s A Small World. The Hall of Presidents was closed, I have a feeling they’re adding President Obama to the mix.

Later this evening I commented to Earl that the human race isn’t disappointing me too badly on this vacation, cell phone use has been discrete and non-intrusive for the most part. I’m somewhat impressed.

The park was quite busy with it being a National holiday and all but enjoyable nonetheless.

On the recommendation of Greg in Connecticut we went to Bongo’s at Downtown Disney for dinner. I found it to be quite nice. I had my first cerviche (quite tasty) and I discovered Ironbeer Soda. It’s not quite birch or root beer or cream soda, but it was quite tasty. I highly recommend it.

There was recently an article on MSNBC proclaiming the return of beards and moustaches; the male population here at Disney supports that fact. I’ve been taking fan photos. I’ll have to share them once I sort them out.