VintageGent’s Menswear Daily

Step Inside The Computer. But Not Like Jeff Bridges

(At left: That is the amount of staff dad needed when he first started learning how to send an e-mail-technical director, button depressor, and supervisor.)

Just imagine if you were James Bond or some sort of retro 80s cyber hacker and somehow were able to reach into someone else’s computer and move the cursor across their screen while they were looking at the screen. That would be pretty cool, wouldn’t it? Not really. It is a frightening idea that someone could do that, but what if you couldn’t access any of their files, but rather could just play a joke. Thankfully, that doesn’t happen, but there is such thing as Remote Access software, where an admin computer could be used to help out someone on a different computer.

Something like that would help out if someone was so classic, old fashioned and retro that they still use their 1940s Royal exclusively to type off missives. The computers, of course would both have to have the software. Don’t worry, you couldn’t go skulking around in just anyone’s computer, but could access files or provide remote tech support for someone you work with or a relative who is terrified of breaking their computer. I remember when my dad sent me blank emails thinking that if he talked while looking at the screen that I’d hear him and get what he said. It usually involved several phone calls, and by that point, what was the point of saving money by emailing him?

By the way, with remote access, you are pretty stuff. You will not suddenly be transported and trapped in either your computer or the others. Thankfully, there will be no Tron scenario where that guy got sucked in and had to compete with laser-trail-emitting vehicles to fight for his life.  I shouldn’t say “the guy,” as it is clearly Jeff Bridges.  Either way, I know I am reassuring or disappointing many people by saying that. It may take something more like a Japanese Monster Movie explosion for that to happen.

Finding One’s Self

I wrote a few articles awhile ago on attending live auctions, and didn’t know, but a few folks had quoted the article and I was not aware of it. WordPress has a handy dandy area that shows what other blogs are linking to you, but its not always in real time. Oh, and if the quoter had a regular non-blog website or didn’t link back to you, the info doesn’t show up.

I found that Blog Copy has a tool for finding out where your stuff is. Pop some code into your template and it will automatically look around the internet for you. You’ll have to register at blogcopy.com first. Everything will show up in your control panel there.  If the writer gave you credit, but just didn’t link to you, you can happily go over and post a comment on their blog in thanks.  If they just lifted your material..well..then take a two by four. No, don’t do that, but you can send a helpful note.

I am Still 10 Years Behind. No. More Like 15

If you are a long time, or a short time reader of this blog, you know I can be pretty in step with what is on the forefront of fashion, but I am still a little slow. Maybe I shouldn’t say slow. It is just that I am sometimes reticent to change. Let me give you an example. To this very day, sometimes I have to catch myself as my brain still wants to look up something with AltaVista instead of Google! Even with search engines, I can be about ten years behind the times. Actually, I consider my tastes to err on the “classic” side, but nobody agrees and all of the old ones that didn’t work as efficiently have been bought out or have gone by the wayside.

FindHub.com leaves me equally as skeptical. In fact, the search is powered by Google. Why is this even its own search engine? Well, I suppose that the magic really happens when you use the left side bar. You can toggle between a regular internet search, music, and news searches. It switches to utlilizing Yahoo movies, Amazon search and Dictionary.com. In time, I will find this is something that saves me time. Of course, since we are talking about me, I will probably think of a convoluted way to do things, and then shuffle my feet back to using something more simple. A regular Rube Goldberg am I.

Talking Ties

I have been reading Burl Veneer’s Tie Blog for a few years near. He reports that his tie wearing has decreased, but still gives us the scoop when he does.

As I went out exploring, I found that there are quite a few gentlemen who chronicle their tie choices for the day.

Michael, on Knot a Blog has an ongoing chronicle as well. In his most recent post, he discusses Lenten Ties. I have never really thought of ties in connection to Lent, except, of course, in the sense that perhaps people are a bit dresser for the season while attending church. He brings up a whole new concept of “Tie Deprivation” as something to offer up for Lent, or at least for Ash Wednesday. He doesn’t give up ties, just goes for a tie that is much more dour and less expressive. In otherwords, perhaps a solid or basic red and blue stripe that surely is in every man’s closet.

In the meantime, Will Stuivenga, librarian, musician, and vintage tie aficionado is celebrating the 100th tie to grace his blog.

The Great Coat and Tie Experiment was born from rebellion. Because everyone was going casual, this software engineer rebelled by donning a coat and tie. The blog doesn’t seem to have been updated since ths summer, so I wonder of the rest of his colleagues followed his trend, and therefore he has gone back to casual attire.

When wanting to know what’s new or what’s old but has stood the test in time in ties, don’t wait for a fashion editor to tell you. Look around at what other men who are not in the fashion business but take their ties seriously have chosen to get hear the “word on the street.”

Do you or someone you know keep a fashion diary online? Comment and tell me about it!

Until next time,

Someone Likes Me!

Daily Crossover just tagged VintageGent’s Menswear Daily in their Top 10 Emerging Blogs.    I am speechless.  I just don’t know what to say!    I am not sure if this blog has officially “emerged” yet, but apparently someone has taken notice.   What are my picks?  What would I consider my short list of Top Ten Emerging Blogs to be?   I am halfway through deciding and will reveal my choices later today (I hope!)   There are four that surely you will not want to miss.

Whoa! A Whole Lot ‘a’ Shakin’ Goin’ On!

Yesterday Vintagent.Com was taking a little snooze.  Well, not really.  The site was down for a little bit.  I frantically called tech support at my host, BlueHost.   There was a server that had gone down (happens sometimes to the best of ‘em) and they were working to remedy the problem lickety split.   I have dealt with servers and moving database before, so know how that can cripple an operation for a week or more.   Not so, here. 

I was very impressed.  In fact, after battling it out with tech support and customer service agents at other companies that handle other electronics that are dotted around the stately VintageGent estate,  I needed to be pinched.  BlueHost customer service and tech support representatives are right here in the good old U.S. of A!   No offense to people working hard at call centers overseas, but with more and more customer service jobs going over seas, it is great to know you have hired a company that is creating some great jobs stateside.      

What’s more, I am saving loads of Washingtons because they let you host as many domains as you can stand on one account, instead of hitting you for hosting for each one.

I seldom “plug” services not relating to fashion or time past, but all I have to say to this is:
CLICK HERE TO SIGNUP FOR BLUEHOST.COM NOW. You won’t be sorry! I am floored, and you will be too for just good old fashioned value and courtesy.    I’ve added a little chiclet to the bottom of my sidebar, just in case you want to find their link later. 

Hen Pecked

Awhile back, I stumbled across a blog whose owner was looking for inspiration in order to write a few stories. I (as were others) was asked to come up with a name of a character and a genre. I was going to suggest a hardboiled detective, but I am sure lots of other people would choose the same thing.

So “Mrs. Polly Pickensfield,” who happens to be a hen, is what I suggested in the genre of Kiddie Lit that became the seed for a new story.

Read “Maestro,” which takes us back to a time when life’s realities weren’t minced in front of children, but were perhaps made a little more comforting with familiar settings and farm animals. I was quite impressed with the talent of the writer and the bittersweet story that came as a result.

Bloggers: Do You Want to be a “Dummy”

Teresa, the nice gal over at ScribbleScratch.Com is throwing a party. Actually, since this will be occurring amongst people in various homes and buildings all over the world, its more of a “happening,” which of course transcends party on the hierarchy of cool. The “happening” is a contest and the winner will receive a copy of “Blogging for Dummies.”

The entry rules are very simple.

1) You must have a blog. If you scribble a note in your trapper keeper, no one else will be able to read it.

2) You write a blog entry on your blog letting others know about the contest. Contest page is HERE. Entry deadline is 11:59 PM EST. (Unlike the 11:59 AM that my brain had interpreted it as – therefore inspired by the contest I already had a “Dummy” moment.)

Then, of course, you need to let her know that you entered by commenting with a link to your blog on the contest page. Otherwise you won’t be entered. She is a smart cookie, but with all the reading she is doing of your fine entries, her psychic senses might be a little busy and she might not “pick up on” the fact that someone out there entered. So be direct and tell her!

And, as an added bonus, by posting news of your entry on her blog, you may just get entered twice!

So be a Dummy…enter today! Show her blog some love ! And this way that you can have bragging rights that you beat out the VintageGent-ette for the rest of the entire year, or I can brag until December 31st that I beat you out and that you clearly never had a chance.

(and P.S. -= be sure to bookmark ScribbleScratch or subscribe. Teresa is a very talented photographer and writer and her blog is worth many revisits)