Last Night...

Tick
Tick
Tick
Tick
...lots more ticks...
Tick
Tick
Tick
Victory!

That is what it said in the java window.

What was I to think? I didn't open any applets, but there it was in a java window on my machine. It was getting on for 2am and I was tired, but I smelled "Virus". I started the full scan on the virus checker. I started a scan in ad-aware. It was now after 2am and nothing was showing up. I forced both the virus checker and ad-aware to update their databases. I started them scanning again. Still nothing. Windows media player was refusing to play - was this virus-related, or just a hang-up like I've seen it do on random past occasions?
(Oh no! Virge has been exposed to a Minor Drama.)
The computer was still running smoothly. There were no unexpected disc accesses. There were no unexplained network up/downloads. Maybe the virus is benign. There seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary after a reboot - no new java windows. Time to get some sleep.
crunch grind grind grind ...pause
What?
crunch grind grind grind ...pause
Oh, it must be 2:30am. The bread maker has started up. Why is it making that awful noise?
(Virge has been exposed to another Minor Drama.)
This one was too easy: open lid; press baking tin down till it clicks in; close lid.
click purrr purrr purrr ...pause
That sounds better. I'll be able to sleep through that sound. Actually, I'd be able to sleep through the grinding sound too. I could probably sleep through a major earthquake. The virus worries will have to wait till morning.

Virge: "Good morning"
SonOfVirge: "Good morning"
Virge: "I don't suppose you know of anything that might create a window full of tick tick tick...?"
SonOfVirge: "Oh yeah. There was a little asthma game program that I ran last night when I was doing my health assignment..."

There was no virus. There was only the remnant of an educational applet.
Here endeth the Minor Drama.
Bring it on, Bruces. You have to be able to do better than that.