So i found this really great new IM client, better than all the other silly ones. Called BitWise, it’s better than other IM for several reasons. Of course, it’s totally cross-platform – Mac, Linux, windoze – even when it comes to file transfers and other add-ons, more than i can say for any of the others i’ve tried. The interface is simple and easy, the network is reliable. No spam-chat like ICQ. Best of all – and this is the big one – all communications are encrypted and secure, so your boss, creepy internet trolls, bored war drivers, the CIA and wayward Homeland Security agents are all unable to stroll thru your private conversations. There’s no ads, no spyware, no selling of your info to everybody and their dog. You can download it right here and come look for me (my user name is “schuss” – shocker). The owner/creator of BitWise, Kevin, stopped by to say hi today and seems like a cool guy. He uses phpbb for the BitWise Forums and obviously feels strongly about personal privacy and internet security, so that pretty much says it all right there. :)

Anyway, go download it, recruit your friends, and start chatting where big brother can’t eavesdrop. And don’t be surprised if you don’t see me online in the other clients as much… I, for one, value my privacy!

And now a word from the yesterday-was-my-birthday department: People keep asking me how my birthday was, so i’m just gonna spill it and save all the quizzing – i’m starting to feel like i just tried to cross the Canadian border with a bag full of ganja! Anyway, it was very nice to not work all day, i slept in – started the day off right! Kim bought me coffee, then Danielle bought me lunch, then Christian bought me a beer on a harbor cruise. Steph picked us up and we put the top down and got some sunshine as we drove around Alki beach. Then a 5-course italian meal at Luigi’s involving bottomless red wine and espresso-chocolate sauce. Ian and Jenn gave me a funny (and slightly sarcastic) book and Adam and Lindsey hooked me up with an iTunes gift certificate – thanx, peeps! Mom and Dad sent me a totally sweet *personalized* Mariners jersey – has my name on the back and everything! – that i wore all day, feeling like the rockstar that i should be. Then Eric bought dinner and drinks last nite after we worked on his car in the sunshine all evening, and Patrick bought coffee…. overall i pretty much paid for nothing and hung out with my friends for two days straight, not a bad way to spend a birthday! And tomorrow we’re spending all day on the boat – the party continues! :)

Mom and Dad sent me this great Mariners jersey with my name on it – thanx you guys! Sporting the home team & a starbucks cup today… ;)

Basking in the sun in a downtown park, midweek holidays are the best! Happy birthday to me!

Well kids, it’s the 27th. I turn 26 tomorrow, but as i won’t be at work (taking day off to sleep in – birthday gift to self) with all this free time to kill i might not have any good links for you or anything, so thought i should share some good ones today. Also, just wanted to brag that it was 80 degrees in Seattle yesterday, and my early-season tan is progressing well – the t-tops provide a much more even side-to-side tan than a sunroof.

Okay, so i have some amusing and creepy photos for you of Micheal Jackson and the various stages of his face (if that’s what it can still be called) in the last 20 years. Complete with witty commentary by Rahni. Follow the links for the ratification / debunking / beleaguering of many of your favorite urban legends / tabloid fodder / celebrity scandal, including mad cow disease, how to spot a psycho killer and who really killed Kurt Cobain. I’m not saying i agree with everything on this site – in fact, the site author is a little bit creepy and any link that looks creepy probably is, so beware – but it’s pretty funny looking at jacko’s screwed up face, regardless. ;)

Perfect sunny day – 80 in april! Picked up ian to work on cars. Definitely working on my driver’s tan today :)