Ready for Pure Digital TV? - Bye Bye Analog!

If you have not heard yet, Analog TV signals are set to be turned off around the US, February 2009. This means that if you have rabbit ears or an older TV not connected to cable, you will lose your TV signals on this date. Newer digital signals will be broadcast, but only new TVs with a digital tuner, such as HD TVs, will be the only televisions that can receive signals. Take a look at the government TV Converter Box Program site if you want a coupon towards $40 off of a converter box that hooks to your old TV, to enable you to receive the digital signals. Be warned you have 90 days to use the coupon, so don't get it too soon. Also read to get more in depth information about this process.

2007 Holiday Gift Guide - 50 possible gifts for giving!

Time to find the perfect gift for that special person or persons. You might be able to find that gift in this listing. Take a gander, and check out the Bust of Elvis that speaks and sings. It is kinda scary, to me. It is called the Alive Elvis from WowWee Inc. Seems that Alive Elvis can communicate with you, and he has sensory equipment to keep his eyes on you. Yikes!

But my favorite one is the NEW USB Doomsday Device Hub. It looks like the device used to launch thermonuclear war. Gotta have it!

Vick's VapoRub on the FEET?

Ever hear of putting Vicks Vapor rub on your feet to cure or at least stem a cough? I got this from a friend and reader, then my wife said she had some friends who have tried it. News is, it works. Hard to imagine, seems weird, but if it works, why not. I have been down with a cold the last few days, and next coughing spell, I am gonna try it!

Some of us have used Vicks Vaporub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time although the scientists at the Canada Research council (who discovered it) aren't sure why. To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks Vaporub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime, then cover with socks. Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many , many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition, it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly. I heard the head of the Canada Research Council describe these findings on the part of their scientists when they were investigating the effectiveness and usage of prescription cough medicines in children as compared to alternative therapies like acupressure. Just happened to tune in A.M.Radio and picked up this guy talking about why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good due to the chemical makeup of these strong drugs, so I listened. It was a surprise finding and found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bedtime, in addition to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly. A friend tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes and believe me, this was a deep, (incredibly annoying!) every few seconds uncontrollable cough, and she slept cough-free for hours every night that she used it. If you have grandchildren, pass it on. If you end up sick, try it yourself and you will be absolutely amazed by the effect.

Why are Macs More Costly, or Are They?

Lockergnome has a nice article on comparisons of the cost of a leading brand PC to the Mac Pro. The comparisons are to HP and Dell systems. Mac Pro is the high end Apple offering.

Now that you see the reason of Apple’s pricing, let’s move onto ownership. One big difference between a Mac and PC is the life they have during ownership. After you get a Mac, you might start realizing that the cost you paid for it will soon save you much in your wallet. The first thing you will come to notice is the software. Software on the Mac side is normally cheaper. I believe that the amount of software you buy for your computer can eventually equal or surpass the cost of the computer. Well this is just one reason why a Mac can save you money.

Interesting discussion on cost of ownership. Might be worth a thought when you are ready to purchase a new system this holiday season.

Wow, another Mac Leopard problem!

I see a new Leopard problem just about once every 2 days. This is a big one in my mind. Makes me glad I didn't upgrade to 10.5. As I stated earlier in a few posts, Leopard has had way too many issues. At that time there were 15 or so, now there has to be 20. Apple MUST correct these issues, and has tried with their latest patch to 10.5.1. But they are beginning to learn the pains of being successful. The more who use Apple computers, the more people who will be vocal and speak out. Oh and take their new OS through paces that Apple can not do themselves. I welcome Apple as a true contended to the Windows dominance. They still have a few things to augment. They need to lower the price of their computers, especially to grasp PC switchers. Perhaps they should market their low end iMacs as an alternative to the low end PC. Or better market the mac Mini as a direct PC replacement. For instance, add the stupid keyboard and mouse, and market it to supplant the PC box in a 30 day challenge promo. I just don't think they have done a very good job in this area. Marketing is good at Apple, as far as getting the word out about iPods. But they need a little more effort in the desktop area.


I think it is time for Apple to allow Mac OS X the ability to run on any PC platform. Windows dominance has been done with applications on top of their Windows operating system. Apple could do the same thing, especially since the iPod is the major stock pusher, not the Mac hardware. Still I do understand that Apple makes a double sell on the OS and the hardware when someone purchases an Apple computer. Perhaps they could ramp up the price of the OS, maybe double it, for the run anywhere version. I think this move has come and the time is right while Vista flounders. It will not be long before Microsoft gets their act together and fixes Vista. Once they do that, their 90 percent coverage advantage in the desktop software will really shine.

Dell XPS ONE, kinda like iMac, but BETTER!

Yeah, I am an Apple iMac guy right now, but this computer from Dell is a winner! It offers many features that the iMac does, integrated speakers, built in webcam, all in one design, one cord, wireless internet. But this new PC offers something the iMac lacks! Wow, a TV Tuner! It has a glass base, and is black. Looks great, has FULL feature remote, not just a one button remote like the iMac. It has the same Intel Core Duo 2 (Extreme version), 2 gig of memory... on and on. Did I mention the 8 slot memory card reader and USB slots on back and side. This is simply awesome! It really is a pound for pound winner when placed against the iMac. Only problem, it doesn't run Apple OS X. You gotta stick with Windows. But if you like Windows or have to use it, and don't want to switch to Apple, then this is my candidate for "Weblinksnewsletter Must Have". Dell has outdone itself, taken Apple's idea and made it even better. I want one for sure!

Star Trek Movie Room

This is a fun movie theater room. I would love to do this one day, make my movie theater room into the set of a Star Trek TV show. Thats what this home owner did. You can note the Trek-like seating and the bar off to the side, complete with Trek lighting techniques.

Vista Death - Mac OS X Glut!

Lockergnome hooked me up with a very interesting article from John C. Dvorak (as I have said in the past, one of my fav tech writers). Johns says that we are experiencing a Vista Death watch. He explains that Vista is nowhere near as popular as the installed base of Mac OS X users, and is a mere sliver of the installed base of Windows XP users. XP users are so fed up with Vista that they are moving back to XP. Windows just seems unable or unwilling to concentrate on their "core" software business. Vista is a gluttonous OS, and this should be expected, it is huge, has too much eye candy, and is expensive.

Now, I have been a Mac user for a few years now, so that qualifies me as being an advanced user, based on my system admin background in the PC world. Mac OS X for once, has followed in Microsoft's footsteps. They have placed all kinds of eye candy in OS X 10.5 Leopard, that the advanced user sees the functions as getting in the way. This software feature glut, I call it, has crept into the Mac OS. It was always standard with Windows.

Ok point: Apple has taken an incorrect detour with this last iteration of Mac OS X Leopard. They have decided that features and eye candy are more important than stability and bug fixes. Don't believe me? Take a look at the RSS feed (feed://docs.info.apple.com/rss/macosx.rss) from Apple on the sheer volume of bugs in 10.5. Not to forget that complaints on the semi-transparent menu bar, and the Dock. Oh Spaces, the virtual screen manager has many people worked up too, and Time machine is a little buggy, even if it is kool.

Apple should never follow Microsoft, but Apple should listen to us. I would prefer to see these cool new features have an ability to be toggled off. Mac OS X Tiger is sturdy, fast efficient, and gets the work done. Leopard is eye candy, and chock full of extras. I don't mean to be rude, but 10.5 should have been a 10.4 feature pack. Thats all it really is.

I see both Microsoft and Apple in trouble on this war to settle the eye candy debate. Vista is indeed so plum full of eye candy that gets in the way of doing work, email and web browsing, that many just can not take it anymore, and are dropping it for XP. I opted to pass on Leopard because of the same reasons. It didn't offer me a single thing I needed. Not one thing! Sure, it looks cool, and has many new tools and features, but nothing I can not life without. I would love a new iMac, but would load 10.4 on it if it would allow me, and I suspect it would.

Both of these companies have upped the ante. Not long ago, within the last 2 years, Apple always sold their OS based on speed, efficiency, and user experience. However Leopard took some of that away. They decided to please some, instead of everyone. Why not release each program as a small iTunes download?

Why not be able to purchase just Time Machine? If thats all one needs, sounds viable to me. How about Bootcamp, I want that as an extra, but don't need it, since I run Parallels. Let me but it for $20.00 if I want it. Or maybe give me a "triple choice". Buy any three software packages for a reasonable price, maybe $30.00.

Both companies are still entrenched in the old way of doing business, even though Apple is somewhat ahead in the Music category, they lack in many other places.

Booker T Joins TNA Pro Wrestling - Leaves WWE

This is a huge acquisition for TNA Pro Wrestling. One of my all time favorite in ring performers, as well as one of my favorite mic workers, Booker T, has jumped from WWE to join TNA. Booker T is a highly decorated and well respected pro wrestler, who was part of the old WCW, many Independent circuits, and lastly lately WWF/WWE. WWE talent seems to be very interested in TNA options, one of which is less travel and equal pay to what the famed WWE often pays performers.



One of the best things that has happened to pro wrestling, is this new competition. It gives wrestlers a real bargaining chip, it gives them more leverage for less travel and better working conditions. And since I am really into TNA right now, this will make it much more fun, watching Christian Cage, Kurt Angle and Booker T. WWE has to be concerned. All TNA needs now is Kane and Shawn Michaels. May never happen, but we can dream.

Global Warming Greatest Scam in HISTORY!

Straight from the ICECAP Blog from the Founder of the Weather Channel. Reposted here for record:

By John Coleman
"It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming; It is a SCAM. Some dastardly scientists with environmental and political motives manipulated long term scientific data to create an illusion of rapid global warming. Other scientists of the same environmental whacko type jumped into the circle to support and broaden the “research” to further enhance the totally slanted, bogus global warming claims. Their friends in government steered huge research grants their way to keep the movement going. Soon they claimed to be a consensus.

Environmental extremists, notable politicians among them, then teamed up with movie, media and other liberal, environmentalist journalists to create this wild “scientific” scenario of the civilization threatening environmental consequences from Global Warming unless we adhere to their radical agenda. Now their ridiculous manipulated science has been accepted as fact and become a cornerstone issue for CNN, CBS, NBC, the Democratic Political Party, the Governor of California, school teachers and, in many cases, well informed but very gullible environmentally conscientious citizens. Only one reporter at ABC has been allowed to counter the Global Warming frenzy with one 15 minute documentary segment.

I do not oppose environmentalism. I do not oppose the political positions of either party. However, Global Warming, i.e. Climate Change, is not about environmentalism or politics. It is not a religion. It is not something you “believe in.” It is science; the science of meteorology. This is my field of life-long expertise. And I am telling you Global Warming is a non-event, a manufactured crisis and a total scam. I say this knowing you probably won’t believe a me, a mere TV weatherman, challenging a Nobel Prize, Academy Award and Emmy Award winning former Vice President of United States. So be it.

I have read dozens of scientific papers. I have talked with numerous scientists. I have studied. I have thought about it. I know I am correct. There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril. I am incensed by the incredible media glamour, the politically correct silliness and rude dismissal of counter arguments by the high priest of Global Warming.

In time, a decade or two, the outrageous scam will be obvious. As the temperature rises, polar ice cap melting, coastal flooding and super storm pattern all fail to occur as predicted everyone will come to realize we have been duped. The sky is not falling. And, natural cycles and drifts in climate are as much if not more responsible for any climate changes underway. I strongly believe that the next twenty years are equally as likely to see a cooling trend as they are to see a warming trend. See John’s full blog story here.. See John’s forecast blog on the KUSI site here."

Baltimore Votes Democrats As Usual

The Democrats won unanimously, as well as Dixon, Democratic Incumbent for Baltimore Mayor. Seems that Baltimore is just thrilled with the crime, death toll, murder rate, and budget crisis. Baltimore will not improve until party lines are crossed and business friendly leadership comes to Baltimore. The results from the voters, rolled over to Democrats as usual, even though under Democratic rule over the last 35 years, nothing has really improved for the impoverished and the poor. Guess we will have plenty more of the same for the next many years to come. Oh well, it is no wonder Baltimore is crumbling from within. The last mayor who actually did good for Baltimore was Schaefer.

New iMac is WOW! Georgeous!

I must say that I have been very critical of new Leopard Mac OS X and the new iMac keyboard, but here are some very positive views abut the new iMac itself. I took some quality time out today to really check over the new iMac at COMP USA who had an older one and a new one on display, so I could analyze them side by side. I must admit that the new iMac is gorgeous. The screen resolution is the sharpest and clearest computer screen I have ever seen. The older Intel iMac is nice, but not even close to the fine dot pitch and clarity that the new aluminum Intel iMac has to offer. It is thinner, sleeker, and really looks good. It also seems to run a bit faster and smoother. I have to highly recommend the new iMac, even if I choose to swap out the keyboard and mouse.

Mac OS X 10.5 = BUGGY!

I have been keeping an eye on the bug reports straight from Apple's RSS Feed, and I am really sort of surprised that so many BUGS and problems are already popping up. Seems to be at least one or two a day. It is a safe bet to hold off for a few months until they all get worked out!

The problems range from hung systems at login, permission issues, account permission issues, invisible backup sets, inability to backup, and even a BLUE SCREEN after reboot. Yes the dreaded Blue Screen of Death, which is well known to Windows users. I see 12 problems listed over the last week. Thats just the ones that Apple has announced, and are able to correct. There are more than likely many more yet undocumented or misdiagnosed issues.

feed://docs.info.apple.com/rss/macosx.rss

Inspirational Young Man and his Dad!

Born without eyes, this young man is in a marching band and a musical genius. What an inspirational story, and proof that we can do anything. This young man brought tears to my eyes, as well as the actions of his dad! May god bless them both.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qTiYA1WiY8

Mac OS X Upgrade Leopard - Maybe, But NOT Now.

Hi gang, I have been mulling over the new Mac OS X Upgrade called Leopard from Apple. Sure, it is feature packed, and many of the items are fancy eye candy, and fancy fun applications. Take a look at the very cool Chat program that comes with it, in which you can use any "Weather man" effect and place a scene behind you while chatting. Only thing is that I have been unable to video chat anyone since I went to the mac. It just doesn't work for me. How about the new Finder Bar, has reflective shadows, ohh ahh. I actually like the changes in mail, with the ability to track and enter sticky notes and calendar reminders from mail. But it is not that hard to simply open iCal and enter an appointment. TimeMachine is their cool backup utility, but I already backup my data to an external drive. I just copy what I need, simple! "Spaces" is their multi desktop virtual server, so you can have 4 or many more desktops. Cool, but I never really liked multiple desktops. They are hard to keep track of for me. I can just shrink work and expand what I want in the same window, it is easier. Pound for pound every cool feature is something I really don't need. But here is the kicker! No where did Apple claim that Mac OS X Leopard is gonna run faster. For those of us with slower Macs, even those of you with G5 and G4 Macs, the obvious answer has to be a Big NO! I am sure Leopard will be kool, but unless it makes my computer faster, I don't want any part of it. If you have an old Mac, you may be better off buying a new one with the new OS pre-loaded. I don't like the new iMac as much as my current one. So sadly this user fell off the upgrade train on this one.

Rush Limbaugh Announces eBay Charity Auction

Complete Idiot Harry Reid, and 40 other buffoons from Congress actually signed a letter addressed to Clear Channel Radio, asking for censure of Rush Limbaugh. The Federal Government has NO authority to apply censorship to private citizens for speaking out in a political manner. This is real red Socialism going on, and you bare witness to a sad thing in America. However, Rush always wanting to do something positive for troops and their families, has placed this letter on eBay for auction. The proceeds from this charity fund raiser will goto the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, who provides college for kids who have lost their parents in Iraq.

Take a look at the actual letter and see which Congressional Idiots want to be censorship hounds.

See the Inside of the Intel iMac

This is a pretty cool site. Basically this person has looked into a bunch of Apple products, iMacs, Powerbooks, ibooks, etc. This is a view of the iMac computer, taken apart, that not many of us experience, due to the fancy way the cases are fastened together, and also due to the fact many times the computers don't have upgradable parts or pieces that we can swap easily. That doesn't stop Kodawarisan though. Yup Kodawarisan is japanese for Kodawarisan, what else did ya think his handle meant, "great computer disassembler"?

American Leftists Attack Talk Radio

Dr. Walter Williams has an Op-Ed that is a must read for those interested in private property, rule of law and limited government. This editorial comes from a truly brilliant man, with high credentials, a professor of economics at George Mason University, and interested in founding principles of this nation. Oh and he is a BLACK Conservative. Ya gotta love that! The LIBS hate it.

See the Article.

11 Lies in Al Gore's Movie "Inconvenient Truth"

Leave it to the Doctor of Democracy to bring this story from the dark corners of the Media cover up machine. A British Judge has ordered that if schools show this fantasy movie to students, it must cite the truth on 11 major points of the movie. Woa, so the movie is misleading, what a surprise!

See a link to the info from Rush Limbaugh's Page.

Carter Calls Cheney a Disaster?

No way, former President Carter actually had the gall to call VP Cheney a Disaster? One of the worst presidents of the 20th century, and a failure himself, in economic, defense, and policies... Now thats calling the kettle black, what a guy! Carter is responsible for Iran and the troubles it is causing today!