Dear Denver: Denver advises readers on men, Windows

10/1/09 7:00pm

For the past few weeks, the Thresher has run a covert advice column online at www.ricethresher.org. After advising on everything from Screw dates to screwing roommates, it's time for "Dear Denver" to come to print.Dear Denver,

This guy says he's interested in me, and he made the first move, but he refuses to take me out on dates, won't pay for anything and doesn't really do a whole lot with me. He's pretty fun around people, but our alone time is definitely lacking in interest. He doesn't even kiss me. I really like the guy, so I want to try and fix this, though it might be hopeless. What's the best way to go about this?

- Wanting Attention

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Dear Wanting Attention,

You want to fix him? Are you trying to say he is broken? Maybe he doesn't actually like you. Maybe he thinks you are just trying to take his money. It is possible that he liked you at first, got to know you and changed his mind. Or maybe he is stupid and doesn't realize what a wonderful person he is missing out on.

I would say this guy needs to make up his mind first. He must be experiencing some cognitive dissonance if he says he likes you but acts otherwise. If you tried to get him to go on a date with you and he refused, then he might not be the right person for you. It actually sounds like he is just playing games with you for his own amusement. In which case there is no fixing: He is probably a tool.

Or maybe the problem is with you. Do you really assume the guy should buy you stuff and pay for everything? I wouldn't want a girl like that, and I can't imagine many guys falling for that either.

Dear Denver,

How do you remove Personal Anti-Virus 2009? I've read some articles on Google about the removal process, but I'm not having any success. Also, I tried using the Malwarebytes program to remove it, but that is giving me trouble as well.

- Sickly Computer

Dear Sickly Computer,

I think a number of Rice's computers - including mine - have been infected with this as well. I couldn't do my homework because of it. A quick Google search suggests using Malwarebytes, and everyone says it works for them, so I am going to guess that you are using the program improperly. Talk to your college's Student Computer Consultant or go to the help desk in Mudd Laboratory.

One life skill you should learn is to not fall for scams. That virus in particular says it finds problems in your D: drive, usually for CDs or DVDs. My computer doesn't even have a D: drive. Also, it was designed to look like an Explorer window but it was inside an Internet window, which doesn't normally happen. Most viruses these days try to trick you into downloading something onto your computer to get rid of a virus, which just turns out to be more viruses.

Also never give your password to anyone! Not even if they claim to be me, and especially not if they claim to be Rice Information Technology.

Your last option is to use Linux. Linux users don't get viruses - they make them. But if you fall for stupid virus scams then you probably can't figure out Linux.

Denver Greene is a Brown College senior and neither a professional nor responsible for anything stupid that you do. Please submit questions by e-mail to thresher@rice.edu or by going to www.brown.rice.edu/deardenver.

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