Try it at www.myheritage.com for free.
01
Jun
09
Ubuntu Saved My Desktop
I have a Dell Dimension 4550. If you didn’t already know that’s a pretty old computer. I got the computer back in 2002 and it has been an awesome machine. I have made a few additions over the years. The upgrades include a web cam, USB hub, external hard drive, memory card reader and more memory.
Last week while I was burning some CD’s (with Windows – not even an external program) and moving huge files around, my hard drive began to freak out. After every CD finished burning my computer completely froze. The only way to get my computer back to life was to hold down the power button and restart. After doing this a few times, my hard drive really freaked out and I got the unmountable_boot_volume error message.
After several moves over the past nine years my Windows XP disks didn’t keep up with the computer. I tried a Windows boot disk and after nothing was working it appeared that my hard drive was shot. Diagnostics from the boot screen also led me to have no hope for ever getting past the blue screen.
Enter Ubuntu.
After trying all I knew to try with Windows I came to realize that everything that wasn’t saved to my external hard drive was now gone. At least I had my pictures and music saved there. Nine years of files though were now all gone.
I downloaded Ubuntu on Brandy’s laptop and made my install disk. After about a 30 minute setup, I have what is the fastest operating system I have every used. Even my Internet connection is faster. I pay for 3 Meg service and speedtest.net confirmed that I am getting around 5 Megs. I never got that with Windows.
Ubuntu saved my computer from the trash heap. I am probably going to buy a new computer in another couple of weeks and it will probably be Windows because of all the software I already have, but for now this desktop has new life.
Thank you Ubuntu.
21
Apr
09
American Idol Top 7: Judges Push
I know they do it every season, but tonight the judges’ influence was a major theme of the show. It could be because they were all but muffled last week, being forced to influence only two per singer, and wanted to make up the face time.
The judges hate Lil. What do they expect? She started the show off fast paced and changed her performance up just enough to keep it far away from the standard singalong. When she was done singing they gave her an undeserved beat down.
Kris’s street performance style was a big hit. It seems the judges just noticed he’s a part of the show. He’s talented and he could be top 2.
Danny has been loved since his audition. His push from the table continued tonight even though he turned in a wedding singer performance.
Allison didn’t get the credit she deserved. She’s becoming more than a girl playing dress up each week. She’s talented and will be around for the top 4 at least.
Adam can do no wrong. My problem with Adam is he is over the top theatrical. How many contestants have been sent home – even at the audition stage – for being too theatrical? Adam will either make an early exit when his fans assume they don’t have to vote or when viewers voters decide they have had enough of the influence from the table.
Matt made an excellent song choice to follow up being the first ever saved Idol last week that probably went over the judges’ heads. There was nothing cliche about his performance, but that doesn’t make it all that wonderful either. It was good, but nothing great. Also, why did Kara feel the need to work another Adam reference into her thoughts on his performance?
The judges seem to be coming around for Anoop. They have not been fans for most of this season, but I think they may have put that energy toward kicking Lil off since Anoop has survived the bottom 3 repeatedly. Anoop takes the award for the most awkward note to end a song.
The bottom three for tomorrow will be Lil, Adam and Anoop, even though Danny should be there instead of Anoop. Anoop will stay and the others will be done.
06
Apr
09
The Whale Has Failed
After day-long hiccups and minor errors, it looks like Twitter has stepped away from the connected world to fix some of the behind the scenes issues.
Twitter spent a big part of the day eating avatars and deleting DM’s.
I hope they get it worked out. That worm guy doesn’t seem to be in a hurry and I’ve never been able to trust ice cream cones around computers.
01
Apr
09
More Storms For Soaked South?
The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has most of Mississippi and Alabama along with the Florida panhandle and a section of western Georgia at a moderate risk for severe weather Thursday.
More severe weather links:
- School closings from @wsfa12weather and @wsfa
- “Alabama Weather” on Twitter
- #alwx on Twitter
- #wsfa on Twitter
- Alabamawx.com – Weather Blog from ABC 33/40
- AlabamaSkies.com – Weather Blog from WSFA 12
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