about this blog
This is the weblog of Robert J. Young. I live in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.
Language is not censored here. You have been warned. It also does not represent the official policy of my firm. I suppose you’ll just have to take my word on that.
. . .
Even though I was trained to be a computer programmer, I now work as a computer technician. I wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. In fact, I’ve grown to rather like it.
cobolhacker is a nic that I used to have in college because I scored 100 percent in a COBOL language course once. I liked COBOL. One of the most perfect programming languages ever invented I think, its simplicity and utility unmatched even today.
At the time programming seemed like it was all the shit, but a fat lot of good it did me. It became pretty apparent that working as a computer programmer would involve living in Toronto. And I wasn’t down with that.
Cool place to visit. But I wouldn’t want to live there. I’ve got lots of friends living in the big city who attest to the awesomeness of the place, and I believe them, but somehow it was not for me. They could keep their bright streets, their pollution, their high rent, and their traffic jams. I just wanted to live in peace.
So I took another road. A less wealthy road perhaps, but a better one for me, I think. Many of those who live where I do know of what I speak.
Today, I own and run a business building and fixing computers and networks and stuff like that.
. . .
It started when Dan said I should set up some blogging software. He thought I might be into it. I figured that there might be some marketing potential, but it turned out to be different than that.
I’m not completely sure why I now write about what I do and think and why I should even share it. I’m no artist or journalist, nor do I want to be. Surely there are bloggers out there who’ve written stuff way better than I could write it. Yet here I am anyway.
It might be because a lot of folks think that all people in the information technology trades do is fuck around and play video games. Perhaps they need to know more about who we are, what we do and how we do it.
It might be because people tell me that it’s cool.
It might also be because I need to.
To understand more about what blogging brings to the Internet, you can read my take on it, or this excellent essay.
Or go to cobolhacker.com.
hello, robert j….
i came here via google in search of a way to avert the “you may be a victim…” etc., syndrome. i followed your instructions to the letter (and then some). however, before i googled here, i swapped my “legitchecker” thingie with one that was issued 04-28-06. but i thought i’d try both,just to be sure, i.e., your method + the “legitamabob.” well, i’ve rebooted, no winlogon nag! i log on, then micro tells me updates are waiting. crapola, it’s the dreaded, wga-monster. i dl it,and it’s been ’bout 1 hour now,with no word from ms. so, now comes the acid test: try to dl from them. wish me luck. oh, and the reason you have this blog is because you’re a thinker, and this is probably one of your primary “thinking out loud” tools. and you use it well. if the new “legitamabob” works, i’ll up it to rapidshare, then i’ll come back here and post the link to dl the file. so keep up the good work! i like it here! i like canada too. hitchhiked from one end to the other in ‘72, then zigzagged back through the states to home (los angeles at that time). 4.5 mos., 12,000 miles; all on $240 bucks. canadian youth hostels…you gotta love ‘em. it’s a shame we don’t have ‘em here, so the younger folks can see what beautiful countries in which we live.
your pal,
themidnightrambler
…just a shoot-em-dead, brain-bell jongleur…
the one you never seen before…
Comment by themidnightrambler — 2006/5/3 @ 09:08
Hey! LTNS, and long time no talk. We are alive, moved around a bit but we are still on planet earth. Good to see you are still around, someone here misses his days taking systems apart!
We enjoy using Linux now, 3/4 of the drive on both our machines are now dedicated to it. See, even we could get it! Finally lol
Anyway look us up, the web site is his business site.
Comment by C.J. aka Abrii — 2007/9/26 @ 18:13
interesting
Comment by harry — 2007/12/23 @ 00:49
Hi Mr Robert J. Young,
I ran into your blog by accident while doing a google search of how to get rid of hidden files.
I was wondering if you had some tips on how to get rid of annoying pop ups. I have the same one that keeps popping up. So I figured they loaded something onto my system.
It really sucks. Anyways I just figured I ask, have nothing lose you seem like a cool guy sharing this info like you are. I downloaded spybot and that was ok and also a pop up blocker called panic ware but none of these are doing the trick. For anybody else reading I found out where to download the two free softwares from G4 website ( I just typed in free software in the search box).
Well thanks in advance if you can help me and thanks anyways if you can’t. I liked reading your blog too!!
Vicky
Comment by Anonymous — 2008/2/13 @ 00:34
Hello, Robert – I came across your blog, after clicking on a Dr Who picture that came up on a Google Image Search. I have vague memories of Dr Who from the late 60s when it showed on local television (I live in Singapore). I caught “Doctor Who and the Voyage of the Damned” on a long flight from Europe a few days ago, and was blown away. So I’ve been re-educating myself on Dr Who, and must tell you that enjoyed your Dr Who posting, and the other postings on your blog.
Wishing you and your business well. I’m in tech myself, but with a MNC – not yet made the brave step of starting out on my own like you have.
Best Regards,
Philip
Comment by philip — 2008/6/14 @ 07:50