Space on Mac OS Leopard

I think it is true that many Mac users aren't aware of Spaces. I saw this blog entry today on TUAW which gives an introduction. Since some relatives recently saw me using Spaces while looking over my shoulder and gave immediate ooohs and aaahs I thought it worth doing a post on how I use Spaces. Please read the TUAW post first as I'm not going to duplicate the info here.

I changed the default key to reveal all the spaces to F5 (from F19). This places it right next to the Dashboard and Expose hotkeys. I chose to run with 4 Spaces and use them thusly:

1. My main Space - Mail, Twhirl, Safari
2. Reference Space - iCal, AddressBook, iTunes
3. Secondary work Space - usually just has FireFox but I sometimes park others there
4. Multimedia work Space - usually Aperture but also other photo and video apps open here

I use the Spaces controls to force the named apps into the desired Space. I have DragThing set to appear in all Spaces since it is my main app launcher.

N.B. This blog is not as active as it was. I'm doing quite a bit of posting on FaceBook right now. We'll see how that works out...

Wow, may I have been right?

In my post a week ago I posited that there were indications we may be putting the worst behind us. Since then several positive signs have emerged. While I certainly have no crystal ball I remain convinced the world is not coming to an end and as always Americans, in particular, are adapting very quickly to the new financial reality. All that is needed now is for the government to finish articulating the "toxic asset" plan and then leave things alone for awhile. The ongoing threat of additional government intervention in additional aspects of business and life needs to be put on hold. People need to feel some stability and confidence in what the rules will be for at least the next year. 

Crazy "Customer Service" Letter

Just got a letter from my wireless provider, AT&T. It informs me of their efforts to "better serve you". I can summarize the lette :

1. I will have to change the address where the automatic bill payment is sent
2. My monthly service discount will no longer apply to the additional lines on my account
3. Various features and services will not longer be available (but of course in fine fashion it provides no clue as to what those may be)

Please explain to me how any of this better serves me...

Way out on a Limb

I'm going way out on a limb to say I am seeing some encouraging signs. Not items that are good news in the absolute sense but rather signs that the degree of necessary pain to put the worst behind us are starting to show up. Companies are finally cutting or eliminating dividends is one minor example. I mean, how insane is it to for a company that is facing huge funding and cash flow issues to keep paying a dividend? There is no shareholder value in going bankrupt...

Newly unemployed numbers are still huge but aren't accelerating. There is bound to be at least one more quarter of substantial layoffs. Heck, for all I know I'll be one of them. But with such poor government action there is no way to avoid this round of layoffs and the sooner they're done the sooner the bottom will have been reached. 

The massive numbers of people facing foreclosure and other loan problems is going to be a big boon to the financial service companies that are some of the ones facing the most dire situation. 

And it seems even GM is acknowledging that bankruptcy could be a viable option - something everyone except union-backed politicians has known all along. GM has long been a government subsidized company and can't compete without a bankruptcy to clean up unreasonable financial obligations. 

I'm not happy about all the pain. I'm feeling some now and it will be a miracle if I don't feel a lot more soon. But like a root canal the only option to get to a better days is to push through it.

Newest source of my disdain: People claiming things are as bad as the Great Depression. Get a friggin clue. Better yet, read some history books and pray for forgiveness.