As a business environment research project I downloaded and installed Ubuntu Linux on one laptop and Windows 7 RC (release candidate) on another. Now you have to understand, the people using the laptops in the work environment only need Office, email, a web browser and a wireless Internet connection.
Ubuntu is an easy download on DSL, under 700 MB. You must install an ISO burner to burn it to a CD. The first thing that amazed me about the Ubuntu is that it installed and worked without installing the time-consuming Windows driver installs. Right "out of the box" I had a working email program, OpenOffice and a DSL cable connection. However the wireless connection utility was not connecting. I have to admit that I am so much a newbie with Ubuntu that I didn't know how to install the utility needed to make it work. But...when I found the right support it was a breeze! Everything works from a drop-down menu from a task bar at the top of the page. I love it! However---IMPORTANT---before you go formatting your drive and installing Ubuntu, remember Windows applications won't run on it.
The next laptop got the mega install, 2.3 GB download---took 5 hours! Since this is also an ISO image, you must use an ISO burner to burn it to a DVD, since a CD isn't large enough. The machine you install it to must also have a DVD player, so it can read it. Anyway, Windows 7 is an upgrade of Vista, and honestly I haven't figured out why anyone would want to drop that much moola into a program which looks pretty much like the one they just paid a lot of moola for. I did find out that avast! antivirus works on Windows 7. However it does NOT come with an email client. I downloaded Windows Live mail and I don't like it, so I installed Thunderbird instead.
So, I expect to be testing these two laptops for awhile.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
On Soapbox
Well, I've been quiet too long. Time to spout off a bit. The doomsday people, special interest groups and naysayers are trying to spell health care as E-V-I-L, so I'm going to pass on some important info I got from the AARP.
Here are some Myths the fear mongers want you to believe:
Health care reform is socialized medicine.
Health care reform means rationed care.
Health care reform will hurt Medicare.
Health care reform is too expensive – we can't afford it.
Health care reform means the government can make life-and-death decisions for you.
The answers to the above statements are FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE and FALSE.
Read the TRUTH here: http://aarp.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Myths_vs_Facts
Although I'm several years away from Medicare, I am an AARP member and here are some important messages for all of us.
FACT #1: Medicare will not be ended, and no benefits or services will be cut.
Your services will not be ended, nor will your benefits be cut. AARP's position on this could not be clearer. And we have sent this message loud and clear to Congress. While the current proposals include savings in Medicare by cutting out fraud, abuse, waste, and inefficiency, we're standing up and making sure benefits for Medicare recipients are not only fully protected, but are improved. [See "A" below]
FACT #2: No legislation currently in Congress would mandate the rationing of care. Period.
Our staff has read all of the legislation circulating in Congress and there are no provisions in these bills that would ration care for our members. None. If any ever did, we would vigorously fight to stop that legislation. [See "B" below]
FACT #3: There is no provision of any piece of legislation that would promote euthanasia of any kind.
The rumors out there are flat out lies. Right now Medicare does not cover counseling for end-of-life care. The portion of the bill in question would simply provide coverage for optional end-of-life consultations with doctors, so that the patient can be aware of all of the treatment options on the table. It is not mandatory and it has nothing to do with euthanasia. [ See "C" below]
FACT #4: We have not endorsed President Obama's plan.
In fact, we haven't endorsed any plan. We are supporting reform of our health care system, something that AARP has pushed for many years.We're working closely with Republican and Democratic members of Congress to lower health care costs and to ensure quality affordable coverage for older Americans - and we want reform legislation passed and signed by the president this year. [See "D" below]
So what is AARP fighting for in health reform?
A. Stopping insurance companies from charging older Americans unaffordable premiums because of their age.
B. Ending the practice of excluding people from insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
C. Holding down health costs and making insurance coverage more affordable for all Americans.
D. Making prescription drugs more affordable by narrowing the Medicare doughnut hole, bringing generics to market faster, and allowing Medicare to negotiate better drug prices.
So...there you go.
Off soapbox.
Here are some Myths the fear mongers want you to believe:
Health care reform is socialized medicine.
Health care reform means rationed care.
Health care reform will hurt Medicare.
Health care reform is too expensive – we can't afford it.
Health care reform means the government can make life-and-death decisions for you.
The answers to the above statements are FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE and FALSE.
Read the TRUTH here: http://aarp.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Myths_vs_Facts
Although I'm several years away from Medicare, I am an AARP member and here are some important messages for all of us.
FACT #1: Medicare will not be ended, and no benefits or services will be cut.
Your services will not be ended, nor will your benefits be cut. AARP's position on this could not be clearer. And we have sent this message loud and clear to Congress. While the current proposals include savings in Medicare by cutting out fraud, abuse, waste, and inefficiency, we're standing up and making sure benefits for Medicare recipients are not only fully protected, but are improved. [See "A" below]
FACT #2: No legislation currently in Congress would mandate the rationing of care. Period.
Our staff has read all of the legislation circulating in Congress and there are no provisions in these bills that would ration care for our members. None. If any ever did, we would vigorously fight to stop that legislation. [See "B" below]
FACT #3: There is no provision of any piece of legislation that would promote euthanasia of any kind.
The rumors out there are flat out lies. Right now Medicare does not cover counseling for end-of-life care. The portion of the bill in question would simply provide coverage for optional end-of-life consultations with doctors, so that the patient can be aware of all of the treatment options on the table. It is not mandatory and it has nothing to do with euthanasia. [ See "C" below]
FACT #4: We have not endorsed President Obama's plan.
In fact, we haven't endorsed any plan. We are supporting reform of our health care system, something that AARP has pushed for many years.We're working closely with Republican and Democratic members of Congress to lower health care costs and to ensure quality affordable coverage for older Americans - and we want reform legislation passed and signed by the president this year. [See "D" below]
So what is AARP fighting for in health reform?
A. Stopping insurance companies from charging older Americans unaffordable premiums because of their age.
B. Ending the practice of excluding people from insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
C. Holding down health costs and making insurance coverage more affordable for all Americans.
D. Making prescription drugs more affordable by narrowing the Medicare doughnut hole, bringing generics to market faster, and allowing Medicare to negotiate better drug prices.
So...there you go.
Off soapbox.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Lucky
Stripey Cat has a new name, Lucky. He came to visit us today and I snapped some pictures. (click on them for full size)
Gold eyes with teal green centers! Awsome!
We are SOOOO glad he has a good home.
Below---I put him on the lawn chair because he wouldn't stay still
You are not seeing things---the centers of his eyes are just as green as the chair he's sitting on!
Gold eyes with teal green centers! Awsome!
We are SOOOO glad he has a good home.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Kitty Update
Stripey Cat (I thought adding the "e" made it look more like stripe-ee and not strip-ee) must be happy next door. They haven't turned it out. The former owner was across the street this morning. Didn't even show her face, or even look for it, or even miss it. What a shame. Glad it has a new home. I will try to find out if "it" is a he or she.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Stripy Cat
Aww I hate it when people dump animals!! And no we didn't take it in---can't with three older cats.
I know who dumped the kitty, too, because she had it with her and her children when they were visiting across the street. Because I know her she came over to talk and brought the kitty with her. She told me how much they loved this kitty named "Precious".
Today little silver and black striped cat Precious was meowing at our door, but I didn't see the owner and her children anywhere. I brought the kitty water but couldn't let it inside, not with my upset kitties peering out the window at it. For hours dad and I watched for the owner to drive up, looking for kitty, but they never came (we have no way to contact her). Finally dad broke down and said we should feed it, although that means they never leave, and we can't take it in. He said to set the food over by the gate, away from the porch, so our kitties couldn't see it.
Stripy Cat came bounding over with joy when it saw the dish in my hand. I called it over to the gate and set down the food. Just then our next door neighbors came home. They came over and asked if that was our cat. We told them no and who owned it. The son (who was playing with the children of Stripy Cat's owner) said they didn't want it anymore and just left it. The mom said it was at their door this morning and they let it in, but turned it back out when a call to the landlord wasn't promising. She told her family if it was still around when she got home from work she was going to buy a litter box and food and take it in anyway. She said they always had cats and she wanted to give this little one a home. I was so happy to hear they were taking it in. I gave them an extra bag of cat food.
So Stripy Cat Precious is living next door. Dad and I are relieved because I would have been in tears if this had gone on much longer. Dad said it's a smart little cat and if it wasn't for our own kitties we would have taken it in. Maybe I'll get a picture of it sometime.
I know who dumped the kitty, too, because she had it with her and her children when they were visiting across the street. Because I know her she came over to talk and brought the kitty with her. She told me how much they loved this kitty named "Precious".
Today little silver and black striped cat Precious was meowing at our door, but I didn't see the owner and her children anywhere. I brought the kitty water but couldn't let it inside, not with my upset kitties peering out the window at it. For hours dad and I watched for the owner to drive up, looking for kitty, but they never came (we have no way to contact her). Finally dad broke down and said we should feed it, although that means they never leave, and we can't take it in. He said to set the food over by the gate, away from the porch, so our kitties couldn't see it.
Stripy Cat came bounding over with joy when it saw the dish in my hand. I called it over to the gate and set down the food. Just then our next door neighbors came home. They came over and asked if that was our cat. We told them no and who owned it. The son (who was playing with the children of Stripy Cat's owner) said they didn't want it anymore and just left it. The mom said it was at their door this morning and they let it in, but turned it back out when a call to the landlord wasn't promising. She told her family if it was still around when she got home from work she was going to buy a litter box and food and take it in anyway. She said they always had cats and she wanted to give this little one a home. I was so happy to hear they were taking it in. I gave them an extra bag of cat food.
So Stripy Cat Precious is living next door. Dad and I are relieved because I would have been in tears if this had gone on much longer. Dad said it's a smart little cat and if it wasn't for our own kitties we would have taken it in. Maybe I'll get a picture of it sometime.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Rocks!
I was looking through my rock collection, and I decided it was time I unravel the mystery of these milky white, waxy smooth rocks we (my parents and I) found in the desert back in the later 1950's or early 1960's. The larger rock on the left looks like wax, and both of them have a smooth, bubbly surface. They both can scratch glass (hardness of 7) and appear to me to be made of quartz. (Click on the photos for a closer look. I think three of them will do that. I don't know why one won't)
The biggest surprise comes when I turn them over. The smaller rock on the right has a crystalline cavity suggesting a broken geode. The rock on the left is a mysterious bunch of drips.
Here is a closer look at the crystals. They are very tiny. I love the milky patterns that look like cirrus clouds. The parts that look darker are actually more clear, allowing the brown background to show through.
The biggest surprise comes when I turn them over. The smaller rock on the right has a crystalline cavity suggesting a broken geode. The rock on the left is a mysterious bunch of drips.
Here is a closer look at the crystals. They are very tiny. I love the milky patterns that look like cirrus clouds. The parts that look darker are actually more clear, allowing the brown background to show through.
And now a closer look at the "drips". I am amazed at how something like this could be formed of rock. I am guessing that it must have been molten.
I searched my rock books and the Internet for an answer. Finally I found a forum headed by a geologist. After posting pictures I found out my rocks are Chalcedony or "white agate", which is a form of quartz. I still don't know how such an unusual pattern was formed.
I searched my rock books and the Internet for an answer. Finally I found a forum headed by a geologist. After posting pictures I found out my rocks are Chalcedony or "white agate", which is a form of quartz. I still don't know how such an unusual pattern was formed.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Fishing
A few months ago I was blessed with $150 worth of Cabela's gift cards and today we finally got around to using them. It was like Christmas in July. Dad and I both got fishing poles.
This is mine. It's very light so my wrist won't get tired. I like how the reel is below the rod, yet it's not open-face, which often tangles for me. It's easy to hold in my right hand and turn the knob with my left, which is good, since I had the surgery on the left I can't over-work it.
Dad wanted the pistol-type grip for his arthritic hands, so he bought his rod and reel separate.
Dad said he always wanted to learn to tie flies. He hesitated at picking up a $30 book but I insisted since it was FREE. I think I want to learn, too!
In addition I talked him into getting a small fly tying tool kit. We opted not to buy materials at this time.
Can you believe it---all of the above and we got a quarter in change back! We also found out the Cabela's has free fly-tying classes and a discount on supplies at that time. By the way, dad has a fly rod, and we have a tackle box in the garage. We're going to be all set to go fishing after we move :-)
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