Technology, friends and miscellaneous thoughts

Been a while since I've written anything here, but wanted to say how much I appreciate the technological help one can get online in various forums. Recently I decided to put a Linux operating system on a little older laptop one of my sons gave me, as XP seemed to give the P3 1000 some issues. I chose Ubuntu because there seems to be more support online for it. At the time I installed the system I went with 6.06 as it was the one with the most LTS (long term service). It's a nice interface, and I want to learn Linux. Can't be left behind.

I have 4 computers, and 4 operating systems. Don't get too excited. None of the computers are new, and the only P4s I have are a 1.3 ghz and a 1.8 ghz. The little Toshiba laptop is a nice little machine, even being older. The big downfall I saw with it was its wireless accessibility. I went through 3 different wireless cards before finding one that actually worked. The first, a Netgear WG511 was being recognized, but I could not connect with the router. Then I tried a Belkin variety, which I've forgotten what breed as I returned it to Amazon.

Then I got this on sale, discontinued D-Link DWL-G650 as it was supposed to work "out of the box," which it probably would have had I known what the hell I was doing with the new operating system. I struggled with the thing for about 4 days. I even had a wonderful tech person at AT&T helping me, which is rare. Even the makers of these cards are clueless when it comes to Linux. They better wake up because according to my son, Ben, Dell is shipping systems out with Ubuntu installed and more and more people are going to the open source operating systems.

Well, yesterday I finally gave up and asked for help at the Ubuntu forum. From all my diddling around with the system I knew they would want some information, so I gave them the results of a command in the terminal program (Applications/Accessories/Terminal).

sudo lshw -C network

This gives information about all your Internet connections. You can check out this page for more detailed information about troubleshooting a wireless connection with Ubuntu, with examples. The point is that I posted 1 post in the Ubuntu wireless forum with the information from that command, got one response and I was connected. Amazing. Here I had been struggling trying to work it out on my own. Sometimes it pays off to admit defeat. If Chili555 ever comes to Chico, CA he can have a prime rib dinner (medium) and however many gin martinis with extra olives that he wants. My treat.

Now I can concentrate on learning the operating system without this problem looming over me. What a delight!

I've had help before from people at Tech Support Forum . Computer people are most often helpful and you seldom see any of the drama I've seen on fan sites for actors. People want to help.

I don't want to put down fan sites completely because I have met a lot of nice people online through them, but there was always cliques and people who wanted merely to argue. A group of about 50 women who are fans of the Scottish actor Gerard Butler solved this problem quite nicely by creating our own private board. Very supportive, bright, and open-minded women. If you are ever around Yuku, check me out.

Our board is called Gerry Luvin' and we do plenty of luvin', but we also bash the guy now and again, as well as chatting up just about everything important or interesting to us. And believe me, there is a lot that is important and interesting to us.

Anyway, I appreciate the online community contacts I have made, but also know full well that humans need physical contact, so don't forget to go out into life and meet up with people face-to-face.

Blessings all who care to read, and even if ya don't. Be well.

Picking up the pieces

So, it's been over three years since I opened this blog account, and a lot has happened since then. It wasn't long after my last post that a series of tragedies struck and I had to move, then moved again, and yet again. Today I was going through boxes that have been in storage since December 2004.

I'd like to report all happy things, but alas, life doesn't always present the sunshine. One can't always be profound either. So prepare for the mundane, which by nature, always seems somehow connected to the sublime.

I really miss life on remote ranches, but moved to Chico to be closer to my Mom, who will be 87 next May. I've been working at a library for a little over a year, but recently decided to aim for a more technical position working with computers. (Check out Computers for Classrooms ) I enjoyed the library, and being part of a great team of co-workers. Helping the patrons has been quite satisfying. Seeing a computer newbie's face light up when they learned something new is its own reward. But time to move on...

I'll be back when I have something more interesting to say. Be well and follow your bliss. Peace.

Hey, hi

Hello to the brand new blog!  After dinking around on Usenet again, after over a year's absense, it only took a could of days to realize it's the same old shit as it was.  Insults and intolerance, hardly anyone who can be kind.  People ripping other people.  Lots of Bushians spouting obsenities.  People arguing just for the sake of it.  So little understanding, compassion, empathy.  I was inspired to back there by seeing Farenheit 9/11 and wondered what people had to say about it.  At first, I got excited because I was writing--passionately.  But the mud-slinging got tiresome fast.  The Bushians speak the loudest and there is not room for discussion.  If you don't agree, you get blasted. 
 
Then there is misc.writing--same old crowd--same old arguments, more mud-slinging, intolerance.  Blah!
 
So I am out of there.
 
I'll give this bit a whirl and see if I hack it.
 
Cute time with the new kittens today.  I usually have to chase them down towards nightfall...so many critters here on the ranch that would love to make a quick snack of them.  But about 6 pm they went inside the trailer on their own.  I put a couple of paper grocery sacks in there (opened up) and they had a blast with those for a while.  June would get in and Henry would attack the bag.  Had me laughing, but I guess you would have to be there.
 
Damn deer ate the new leaves off my green beans.  Pissed me off, so I sprayed more of that Liquid Fence® around--gag me.  Stuff is rank, but it did keep them off for a while before.  Gotta keep at it, I guess.  Got a few zukes coming on, cherry tomatoes, and the romas are beginning to color, a few eggplant.  No sign of a potatoe leaf as yet.
 
Yesterday we got two golf carts delivered to the ranch--fun time with Ashley (one of the owners) riding around.  Sure shocked me tho' when I went to charge them and they sucked the life out of our inverter batteries (solar charged, usually), so that I had to run the generator the whole time they were charging. 
 
Been listening to The Constant Gardener--John Le Carré--full length audio book.  Gawd I love that man's writing.  His characters are so appealing and his plots complicated.  More on that later, tho' as I just started yawning and know I have got to get horizontal.