The computer that I currently use is a Dell Dimension 4550 and was purchased in March of 2003. My industry standards, that is getting pretty old. It has gotten loaded with tons of software over the years and gradually become slower and slower. Now it is at the point where I have decided to wipe everything out (reformat the drive) and reinstall Windows XP.
Really, this is a good thing to do for your computer from time to time anyway. It basically takes your computer back to the state it was in on the day you purchased it. Of course, no one ever wants to do this because it's a pain trying to be sure that everything you need is saved to another drive. I have made lists and double checked, so I think that anything important enough to save is backed up. Now I am going to physically open up the case and blow out the dust, dog hair, and other various foreign particles that collect inside there. The reformat process will begin shortly after that.
I say all this just to let you know that if you don't see a new blog post here on Monday, you will know that something went wrong and I am probably sprouting additional gray hairs this weekend.
Update: All went well - computer is back up and computing much faster than it was previously.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Okay, time for a break
Sometimes you work a lot and you deserve a break. This week, we showcase some websites that are designed to give you that break from work that you so richly deserve. Of course, they might also end up wasting a lot of your time. But at least you'll be having fun! Thanks to my friend Gizmo for the information about these sites.
Side note: I don't know why, but this blog post took me hours to finish.
World Clock
I found this site very interesting. This World Stats Counter shows current statistical figures for world population, births, deaths, deforestation, and much more. Except for population and earth temp, all stats reflect the growth since the beginning of the selected time period. Hint: click the "Now" button to reset several categories to zero, and see how quickly the numbers rise.
What's wrong with this picture?
You may have seen this before. Look closely. I figured it out - can you?
You control gravity
This is a fun little diversion. Drag the circles and the levers around, and adjust the angles of the levers, to control the direction of the bouncing balls.
Line Rider
Draw the line from top left to bottom right, then click the Play button and watch the little guy ride his sled down the slope you just created. My guy died multiple times at high speeds.
Scene switcher
I am not sure exactly what this is because the site is not in English, but it seems like an advertisement for a kitchen manufacturer. Click and hold the mouse for a panoramic view of the different scenes.
Fake or Foto?
Do you think you can look at an image and tell if it is a real photo, or if it is computer generated? Take this quiz and find out. I got five out of ten correct.
Icon's Story
Every wonder what your desktop icons do at night while you are sleeping?
Your birth date
Everything you ever wanted to know about the day you were born. I didn't really care to know the date I was conceived, but it was interesting to find out that I share my birth date with Paul Revere and J. Edgar Hoover.
Only Riddles
If you like figuring out riddles, this is the place for you. Example: Which does not belong in this group: Apple, Grape, Banana, Cherry, Pear. (Answer: Banana - it's the only one that you have to peel before eating). Just keep hitting the Home/Refresh link to get a new set of riddles.
Optical Illusions
Nothing here but things to trick the human eye. I particularly liked the Mona Lisa test.
Cool Illusion
This one is amazing! I still don't get how it works. First you see some pink dots in a circle. Then you see a green dot that isn't really there. Then all the pink dots disappear, and only the green dot is left - even though the only dots there are actually pink, and they never did disappear! You have to try this one!
Falling Sand Game
Draw lines to see how you can control the falling sand.
Slow motion videos
Lots of common things shot with a high-speed camera and then played in slow motion.
Kitten band
Complete nonsense, but it will make you smile.
Windows Sounds mix
Whoever created this knows Flash and Sound Recorder very well. And has way too much free time.
This week's video - why every kid should have a pet!
Side note: I don't know why, but this blog post took me hours to finish.
World Clock
I found this site very interesting. This World Stats Counter shows current statistical figures for world population, births, deaths, deforestation, and much more. Except for population and earth temp, all stats reflect the growth since the beginning of the selected time period. Hint: click the "Now" button to reset several categories to zero, and see how quickly the numbers rise.
What's wrong with this picture?
You may have seen this before. Look closely. I figured it out - can you?
You control gravity
This is a fun little diversion. Drag the circles and the levers around, and adjust the angles of the levers, to control the direction of the bouncing balls.
Line Rider
Draw the line from top left to bottom right, then click the Play button and watch the little guy ride his sled down the slope you just created. My guy died multiple times at high speeds.
Scene switcher
I am not sure exactly what this is because the site is not in English, but it seems like an advertisement for a kitchen manufacturer. Click and hold the mouse for a panoramic view of the different scenes.
Fake or Foto?
Do you think you can look at an image and tell if it is a real photo, or if it is computer generated? Take this quiz and find out. I got five out of ten correct.
Icon's Story
Every wonder what your desktop icons do at night while you are sleeping?
Your birth date
Everything you ever wanted to know about the day you were born. I didn't really care to know the date I was conceived, but it was interesting to find out that I share my birth date with Paul Revere and J. Edgar Hoover.
Only Riddles
If you like figuring out riddles, this is the place for you. Example: Which does not belong in this group: Apple, Grape, Banana, Cherry, Pear. (Answer: Banana - it's the only one that you have to peel before eating). Just keep hitting the Home/Refresh link to get a new set of riddles.
Optical Illusions
Nothing here but things to trick the human eye. I particularly liked the Mona Lisa test.
Cool Illusion
This one is amazing! I still don't get how it works. First you see some pink dots in a circle. Then you see a green dot that isn't really there. Then all the pink dots disappear, and only the green dot is left - even though the only dots there are actually pink, and they never did disappear! You have to try this one!
Falling Sand Game
Draw lines to see how you can control the falling sand.
Slow motion videos
Lots of common things shot with a high-speed camera and then played in slow motion.
Kitten band
Complete nonsense, but it will make you smile.
Windows Sounds mix
Whoever created this knows Flash and Sound Recorder very well. And has way too much free time.
This week's video - why every kid should have a pet!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Gmaps pedometer
I love to walk, and I hate for something to come up that messes up my walking routine. Here in Florida we have some great thunderstorms, so that can be a hindrance (only sometimes - I have been known to keep walking in the rain). In the summer I have to wait until around 6 pm or so when the temperature has dropped a bit; collapsing from heat exhaustion is not my idea of a good walk.
I have a 2-mile route and a 3-mile route. If you're a walker, you can identify with this - you want to know how far you actually walked that day. How do you measure the distance? Oh sure, you could do the old-fashioned thing - drive your walking route in the car and measure it on the odometer. But that's not absolutely accurate (and don't you know that when you drive your car you are destroying the planet by causing global warming?).
Instead, I use technology (probably not a big surprise there). Almost everyone uses the internet to get directions to an unfamiliar address now (Mapquest, like Google, has become a verb). Now you can use the Google Maps site along with a hack for measuring distance. It is called the Gmaps Pedometer.
First, enter the zip code of the city where you want to walk. Then zoom in so that you can see your walking route. Click the button that says "Start recording", and just double click the starting point of your walk. Double click your way through your entire route, and when you get to the end, you will see the total distance covered.
This week's video shows a little kid having a really good time!
I have a 2-mile route and a 3-mile route. If you're a walker, you can identify with this - you want to know how far you actually walked that day. How do you measure the distance? Oh sure, you could do the old-fashioned thing - drive your walking route in the car and measure it on the odometer. But that's not absolutely accurate (and don't you know that when you drive your car you are destroying the planet by causing global warming?).
Instead, I use technology (probably not a big surprise there). Almost everyone uses the internet to get directions to an unfamiliar address now (Mapquest, like Google, has become a verb). Now you can use the Google Maps site along with a hack for measuring distance. It is called the Gmaps Pedometer.
First, enter the zip code of the city where you want to walk. Then zoom in so that you can see your walking route. Click the button that says "Start recording", and just double click the starting point of your walk. Double click your way through your entire route, and when you get to the end, you will see the total distance covered.
This week's video shows a little kid having a really good time!
Monday, September 10, 2007
There are better choices than Comcast
Looking for a new internet provider? If you are considering Comcast, think again.
Comcast advertises high speeds and great service. What they don't tell you in their initial advertising is that they limit your use of the internet. What is that limit? They won't say, and you won't know until you exceed the limit and get cut off.
This generally would apply to the user that downloads large files each month. However, since Comcast will not specify "how much is too much", no one really knows what the limit is. If you have other choices, you would be better off to go with an ISP that lays out all the rules clearly. It is much easier to stay within policy if you know what the policy is.
More details here.
This week's video sends a message - even if you are having a bad day, you can still be happy.
Comcast advertises high speeds and great service. What they don't tell you in their initial advertising is that they limit your use of the internet. What is that limit? They won't say, and you won't know until you exceed the limit and get cut off.
This generally would apply to the user that downloads large files each month. However, since Comcast will not specify "how much is too much", no one really knows what the limit is. If you have other choices, you would be better off to go with an ISP that lays out all the rules clearly. It is much easier to stay within policy if you know what the policy is.
More details here.
This week's video sends a message - even if you are having a bad day, you can still be happy.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Monday, September 3, 2007
Google Earth surprise!
You probably already know that I am a fan of Google Earth. What an amazing program - you can have virtually a "treetop" view of just about any place in the world. And this great program is also free.
But there's more...Google Earth actually has a flight simulator program built into it! That means you can have the controls of a virtual airplane (your choice of an F16 Fighter, or a more comfort-oriented SR22 4-seater). You can choose where you want to fly, and since this is inside the Google Earth program, you appear to be actually flying over whatever city you choose. To start flying, open Google Earth and then hit Ctrl + Alt + A.
It takes a little practice to avoid flying the plane in uncontrolled loops and crashing into the ground. But if you are interested in flying, or just want to see what it is like to fly over your city, it's worth a try. You can see the various keyboard controls here.
Note: you have to have the most current version of Google Earth in order to use this feature.
This week's video is a hand-shadow puppet presentation. Big deal, you say? Just watch it.
But there's more...Google Earth actually has a flight simulator program built into it! That means you can have the controls of a virtual airplane (your choice of an F16 Fighter, or a more comfort-oriented SR22 4-seater). You can choose where you want to fly, and since this is inside the Google Earth program, you appear to be actually flying over whatever city you choose. To start flying, open Google Earth and then hit Ctrl + Alt + A.
It takes a little practice to avoid flying the plane in uncontrolled loops and crashing into the ground. But if you are interested in flying, or just want to see what it is like to fly over your city, it's worth a try. You can see the various keyboard controls here.
Note: you have to have the most current version of Google Earth in order to use this feature.
This week's video is a hand-shadow puppet presentation. Big deal, you say? Just watch it.
