Good for you (and especially for him).

You can do better, too - you aren't stupid, but you give a damn good imitation, sometimes. (And you know that, I'm convinced.) Maybe just too lazy to say anything thoughtful - is that it? Being ignorant of some areas is something we all share. But you have also made some original observations on occasion. Maybe next you can make those more often, and skip the predictable ones -- more often.

Yes it is a 'side show' here, but it doesn't have to be a boring one. And it damn well better never become a vicious one, or most will leave for good cause. Your message above isn't boring. I hope you can see what is different, too. Simple descriptions of actual life are often more satisfying to hear - than all the silly analytical stuff.

You can get out of your habitual mindset. Faith? - that is what it's for! Nobody knows exactly what will work for you - but others have done it, and you will find harsh words will disappear here and no doubt other places too, whenever you are actually trying. Trying earns respect universally.

Luck, and a peaceful Season - you need the rest. You will be different after a bit of that. Just try to keep in mind: there is nobody here who is on a mission to try to make you feel badly. Not one.

Ashton

PS - thanks again for the tips last year re boxes. All 3 machines are doing their thing with no surprises yet.

I think you'll notice that those here who have suggested that you "get off the Internet for awhile", were nOT saying: "Norman, GTF Outta Here because I want to see you Dead'. Those (and I among them) think that your addiction to the play-roles is an escape from facing habits which have gottten you to (wherever it is you are, currently).

You Can.. kick this habit - some manage to do that with the most addictive substance known: nicotine alkaloid.

If you manage that, the time.. the Time you save - can be used productively. You can find out what you can do well enough to feed self & all. You might find that VB may be as hazardous to your mental state as.. nicotine. And if you are having trouble remembering (what you Know you already knew) re such things as "checking IP addresses", say: then I.T. is sure to require more memorization of useless trivia than --

Most any area of work I can imagine. Y'know?

Of course the idea is scary, of starting over elsewhere: but, what have you to lose? except - the agony of not being able to satisfy the exact kinds of people you know that you cannot get along with, as bosses.

You've asked for advice here many times. No one can seem to recall your ever acting on any of it. Clue there, somewhere.

And no, just currently - I wouldn't say that you are posting here a whole lot. Just try to make the topic something other than: the usual. OK?

e-Machine - main negative is the puny PS. But that's OK for most sane usage which doesn't need a liquid-nitrogen cooled video card. None of the 3 seems to have garnered a single hdwre glitch in now 18 months. I may need to setup an alternative soon, for a friend stuck with a fucked-Dell, but it will have to accommodate a GEForce video card yada yada.. so I guess I'll be looking to see if later e-Ms have ramped up the PS to at least 200 Watts.

(On mine, there isn't even a spare 'Y' on the PS for adding another HD - but the sucker was able to routinely install W2K-Pro on a new 80GB HD, so there aren't any obscure mem. or other defects - either.) Nothing wrong with Korean techno in my estinmation.. and they are matching Japan in auto construction quality, in a few samples - per the mavens who care about such stuff.

Cheers,
Ashton