How are Derb’s computer problems? people ask, after all that blegging I did

a couple of weeks ago. Answer: I don’t have computer problems any more.

Two kind readers (well, NRO readers are ALL kind–I mean, two EXCEPTIONALLY

kind readers) traded me copies of, respectively, Windows 2000 and Windows XP

Pro for signed copies of Prime Obsession. My intention was, and still is,

to install both operating systems (which you can do if you have enough disk

space, which I have). I confess that so far, though, I have only got round

to installing XP Pro–a clean install, not an upgrade. Did I say “only”?

Wheeee! XP RULES!! Everything is better, faster, sturdier. Viagra has

nothing on XP! If I ever again say an unkind word about Microsoft, may I be

cursed in the city and in the field, may my basket and my kneading trough be

cursed, may I be struck with blight and mildew and boils, may the sky that

is over my head be brass and the earth that is under me be iron, etc. etc.

etc.