Disable Error Reporting in XP

When a program crashes while your computer is running Windows XP, XP gives you the opportunity to notify Microsoft about the unpleasant event. Great! You're already annoyed the program crashed in the first place.

We all click on "Don't Send" and move on. You don't? OK, most normal people realize the futility of notifying Microsoft.

You can stop Windows from asking every time.

Open Control Panel --> System --> Advanced
Click the "Error Reporting" button at the bottom.
Choose "Disable error reporting"
Click on OK.

This handy tip brought to you courtesy of PC Mechanic

Use Your Computer As A Leafblower?

What's more fun than clearing your yard of autumn's leaves? Doing it on your computer! Pro Leafblower 2005 challenges you to blow an unruly gathering of leaves onto a target before time runs out.

From The Twilight Zone

Can a computer really read your mind?

Laptops: The Essential Buying Guide

No matter what kind of computer user you are, there's a notebook out there for you. We help you find the perfect system for your needs. Read on to learn:
# The differences among the three main classes of notebooks and what you get with each
# Which notebook vendors are in the lead
# What types of features and components to look for when making your buying decision
# How much it will cost to upgrade

PC Magazine Notebook Buying Guide

It's Not All in Your Head

"SAN DIEGO -- While the real Iraq is more than enough for most people to handle, there's a virtual Iraq lurking on the laptop of psychologist Skip Rizzo, a research scientist at the University of Southern California.

With a push of a button, special effects will appear -- a mosque's call to prayer, a sandstorm, the sounds of bullets or bombs. 'We can put a person in a VR headset and have them walk down the streets of Baghdad,' Rizzo said. 'They can ride in a Humvee, fly in a helicopter over a battle scene or drive on a desert road.'"

This article gets much more interesting as it goes on. It's a look into future therapies for psychological conditions beyond Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and training for handling stressful events. Having gone through therapy for PTSD, I can see where this method could work - in the hands of skilled therapists well-versed in the use of the equipment.

I was imagining a surfing "flight simulator" for surf dudes wanting to prepare mentally for riding waves bigger than their usual waves - complete with an occasional salt-water dousing. Wouldn't want to short out the equipment, though .... back to the drawing board.