Hotmail out of Synch

Got this in my main Hotmail inbox earlier today. Basically, it means I cannot use my OE program to access any of my HM addys after June 30.

I've always liked using my Outlook Express even though I've been told and have read there are better email clients. Not for sure now, but signing in to a HM acct. via OE was the same as signing into one's Passport, thereby keeping them valid (and with the old 30mb limit on uploads to Groups) OE was one of the first programs I learned to use and it was comforting to have something that seldom caused trouble. (for me, anyway)

Not for sure I will like the new LiveMail; have already d/l the program but have yet to install. Instead, I expect I will start using and accessing my main GMail acct with my Thunderbird program, so to all my email pals, be on the lookout for my mail explaining the change of address. I've been trying to use my Firefox browser more and more, but there are a few sites that require Internet Explorer. (my LaunchCast radio/video website/subscription, for one)

The msg. boards around the 'net are already full of angry people; add those to the ones who already hate Microsoft and that means nearly everyone.

Here's the mail:

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Dear Microsoft Outlook Express customer,

Thank you for using Microsoft® Outlook® Express. Our information indicates that you use Outlook Express to access a Windows Live™ Hotmail® e-mail account via a protocol called DAV (Distributed Authoring and Versioning protocol). DAV, like POP3 or IMAP, is the way that a mail client communicates with a web-based mail server.

As a valued customer, we want to provide advanced notice that as of June 30, 2008, Microsoft is disabling the DAV protocol and you will no longer be able to access your Hotmail Inbox via Outlook Express. As an alternative, we recommend that you download Windows Live Mail, a free desktop e-mail client that has the familiarity of Outlook Express and much more. This next generation of free e-mail software will allow you to easily manage multiple e-mail accounts—including Windows Live Hotmail, plus other e-mail accounts that support POP3/IMAP. Better yet, Windows Live Mail integrates well with other Windows Live services, and downloads in minutes. After you provide your user name and password, you will automatically be linked to your Hotmail account, providing continued access to your email and contacts.

We encourage you to download Windows Live Mail at http://microsoft.msn.com/.

And, to make your transition smoother, we've provided answers to frequently asked questions below.

Again, thank you for your use of Outlook Express and we are confident that you'll be just as delighted with the new Windows Live Mail.

Your Windows Live Mail team

Frequently asked questions:

Why are we disabling DAV?

DAV is a legacy protocol that is not well suited for client access to large inboxes. Over time, as we've provided more e-mail storage to our users—and now offer 5GB inboxes for free—a more efficient access protocol is needed.

What are we replacing DAV with?

We have developed a new, much more efficient protocol called DeltaSynch that is far superior to DAV especially for large e-mail inboxes. It enables email clients to only download changes since the last time the client polled the email server for changes. This is much more efficient and high performing than having to download all the headers in every folder as is the case with DAV.

Is DeltaSynch compatible with Outlook Express?

The new protocol unfortunately is NOT supported by Outlook Express and support would require too many changes to the Outlook Express software.

Is there a different or new mail client I can try that uses DeltaSynch?

Microsoft is providing Windows Live Mail, a free e-mail client that has the familiarity of Outlook Express and much more. This free, next generation email client enables users to easily manage multiple e-mail accounts including Windows Live Hotmail and other e-mail accounts that support POP3/IMAP. Windows Live Mail also integrates well with other Windows Live services, is optimized to work with Windows Live Hotmail, and offers:

Offline mail

Windows Live Hotmail account aggregation for those users with multiple Hotmail accounts

Account aggregation for POP and IMAP mail accounts

Rich photo-sharing capabilities

Advanced search via integration with Desktop Search

Safety tools (Anti-Virus scanning, anti-phishing, anti-spam features across aggregated accounts for customers who do not have an Anti-Virus product)

Integration with Windows Live services including Windows Live Spaces

RSS (Real Simple Syndication) feed aggregation

Ability to send SMS (short message service) text to a mobile phone from Windows Live Mail

Where can I download the new Windows Live Mail client?

You can download the new client at http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview.

Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more, please read our online Privacy Statement.
Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052

Twist & Shout - The Beatles

New York 1965

Pin-up Girls

A cool feed/gadget.

Always have liked this old pinups (although I've noticed a few photos mixed in the ones I've looked through) and a few years ago was pleased to discover that my online pal Garazon enjoyed them too.

State prison guard shortage 'critical'

NOTE: I've noticed quite a few "hits" on this from Google searchs. Sorry, but the link is no longer valid. The Houston Chron. does archive their articles, so perhaps you can find it there. Sorry for the inconvenience.

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From the online Houston Chronicle

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AUSTIN — The Neal prison in Amarillo has so few guards working these days that Dorothy Barfoot, a correctional officer, often finds herself working alone in a dorm with 80 to 100 male felons. Sometimes she gets so scared her knees shake.

"Usually there should be two (correctional officers with me), at least," said the 13-year veteran.

But the prison can't find enough people to do the job of guarding inmates in Amarillo or anywhere else.

The Texas prison system is short more than 4,300 guards, with 17 percent of its full-time security positions unfilled. Nearly one in five of the state's 106 prisons operates with fewer than 75 percent of its correctional guards.

Far-flung Fort Stockton, the worst-staffed unit, operates with 59 percent of its correctional officers.

Barfoot's lockup in Amarillo operates with 76 percent of its alloted guard positions.

The prison system has 34 percent fewer guards today than when seven Texas inmates pulled off an escape at the Connally Unit in South Texas in 2000, even though its inmate population has grown 5 percent since then, to 153,000.

Testifying before a legislative hearing last month, Texas Prison Board Chairman Brad Livingston called the guard shortage "critical."

To deal with the shortage, the prison board recently approved a 10 percent emergency raise for new employees, bringing starting salaries to $25,000 a year and $1,500 signing bonuses for those taking jobs at the hardest-to-staff units.

The raises were an attempt to address the fact that Texas guards earned the second-lowest salaries in the nation, according to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

The turnover rate for first-year correctional staff is 43 percent.

The signing bonuses were a recognition that staffing shortages are as much about geography as about pay.

Texas prisons were built in some of the most out-of-the-way areas of the state.

Thirteen of the 15 prisons with the most severe guard shortages are in towns with fewer than 15,000 people.

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The article also brings up the Dalhart prison, and then there is a msg. board at the bottom of the page. That's what I always find interesting; the reactions of people to these types of topics.

Personally, I wouldn't work in a prison for the new starting salary. Oh, I suppose I would, if there wasn't a single thing left I could work at, but in my opinion, that starting salary needs to be raised again, perhaps doubled. They'd have to quadruple it for me to consider hiring on.

Life in a Northern Town

Heard this song a week or so ago on the country music station and couldn't remember who had released the earlier version.

Here's (Wiki Warning!) The Dream Academy version, released in 1985



Wiki - for what it's worth - explains about the song.

Here's the Sugarland version, just as I saw it on CMT.