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Six More Weeks of Winter

Feb.02, 2010

This morning Punxsutawney Phil woke to a sunny day in Gobbler’s Knob and saw his shadow.

Superstition being what it is, Phil’s shadow predicted for us another six weeks of Winter. Aside from that pseudo-blizzard of sorts we had right around Christmas, this has been a pretty mild Winter season, so I’m not all that sure I’d be too concerned about it. Regardless of what the furry rodent comes up with each year, Spring always begins for me on my mother’s birthday every March 20th anyway.

After all, I’ve don’t recall having ever celebrated President’s Day in the springtime.

Popularity: 8%

Tags: Groundhog Day, holiday

Happy New Year!

Filed Under: Ben Suddard, Holidays, New Year's

Jan.01, 2010

Ten years ago I remember ushering in the new decade with friends in two states connected by a crude computer connection. This year the new decade is ushered in with friends from two states, albeit with less technology involved.

Nicole’s mom (Yulia) arrived today from Ohio to spend a little over a week with her — just in time for the New Year.

This year Nicole and I are continuing our personal quest to learn American Sign Language. We will be learning at least one new sign each day. At that rate, we should learn 365 new signs this year.

Nicole will also be meeting with BSuds in the coming weeks to see if she’s truly interested in learning to play the drums. If so, BSuds will start teaching her to play. If that happens, I intend to sign up for professional guitar lessons.

That all aside, I wish everyone a very happy New Year filled with joyful prosperity. I hope that we all find ourselves taking the time it takes to make the right choices rather than just doing what comes easiest or following the flow. With all of my heart, I pray that we are good to each other, more so than we have ever been before.

Popularity: 16%

Mac OS X Tiger is Running

Filed Under: Al Noyes, Macintosh

Nov.20, 2009

I know I’ve been saying “thank you” a lot lately, but that’s because there’s been some serious thanking to do!

As I mentioned before, my good friend Al Noyes recently gave me his eMac since he was moving on to a laptop computer. He benefited from a portable computer and I now have the opportunity to gain some invaluable experience on a different platform.

The only downside was the operating system. It worked but it was rather outdated, which resulted in limited functionality and a complete lack of available resources from those snooty folks over at Apple.

This is where Liz Michel stepped in. She mailed me the copy of Mac OS X Tiger from her former computer (she’s since moved on from that particular Mac) in hopes that I might have some success installing it on mine. The DVD arrived earlier this Thursday afternoon, though it wasn’t until about 11pm that I got around to trying it out. The installation went without any hiccups or issues at all! Approximately fifteen to twenty minutes after popping the DVD into the drive on the eMac, the new operating system was up and running.

Now I can finally use that “Check for Updates” feature to keep the system updated. I now also have the opportunity to use one of the newer versions of the Safari browser, rather than the 1.0 that I had before. Additionally, I can now download and use free software from the Apple Web site that simply wouldn’t install before.

So, once again, THANK YOU AL and THANK YOU LIZ!

Now I am a PC and I am a Mac… and it’s pretty cool…

Happy 34th Birthday, Bryant!

Filed Under: Bryant C. Vernon

Nov.16, 2009

Every year, for one month and two weeks, we’re the same age as each other. For the rest of it, you’re my older brother. Every day of every year, your my big brother — and I thank you wholeheartedly for being who you are.

Thirty years ago I potty trained myself so I could be more like you… to go to preschool and do the things my big brother did. From that time on I knew I would always look up to you, and you have certainly not let me down.

From doing the craziest of tricks on your skateboard, to excelling in academics, to being a champion on the chess board, to being comfortable in your own skin. I have, time and again, strived to emulate you and — in time — found myself in the struggle.

To date you have had numerous successes, coming from our more than humble beginnings. You have succeeded in your educational goals, found that someone special to stand by your side, and brought into this world a beautiful daughter that is without parallel.

I’ve learned a lot about strength and conviction as well as hard work and perseverence from you — even when you didn’t realize I was looking. I truly admire the person you’ve become, as we each have grown up and matured from the young kids from Barnegat that we started out as.

You are my favorite person in this world (excepting, of course, my daughter), and I know that I am better for having been a part of who you are.

I want to wish you a very happy day, on this, the occasion of your 34th birthday. May you, Mona and Layla have a fantastic time celebrating together. And may we see each other again real soon.

I love you.

Here Comes the Tiger

Filed Under: Al Noyes, Macintosh

Nov.12, 2009

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, my new (to me) eMac is in desperate need of an operating system upgrade. Considering the G4 processor it’s incapable of running the newest Mac OS X “Leopard” (10.5) as that’s written for the newer Intel based lineup. However, the eMac is fully capable of running the just-prior OS X “Tiger” (10.4) which was written for the G3, G4, G5 and Intel processors. With that all figured out, next came the issue of obtaining a previous or somewhat outdated OS.

I was browsing Amazon and a number of other sites and was, quite literally, taken aback by the seriously high cost associated with purchasing the software. The least expensive price I could find on a reputable site was somewhere in the area of $150 for an open box (used) copy. A sealed box was running about $100 more. Holy crap. Not only are the computers expensive, but so’s the software that makes them run. I remember reading somewhere that Steve Jobs said that Apple couldn’t make a system for under $1,000 because of their quality and how everything “just works”. While I think it’s actually more of a monopoly on the architecture and their resistance to licensing that’s kept the prices ridiculously high, I’m finally getting to understand what Mac users must go through. In the end, Apple must make one hell of a slamming system for their loyalists to be so damned loyal at such a high cost of ownership.

Here, again, is where I am amongst the VERY fortunate few. First I was given the actual computer by my friend, and fellow Freemason, Al Noyes. Now my friend, and former high school classmate, Liz (Elizabeth) Michel is sending me her original copy of OS X “Tiger” from the Mac she used to own. She’s mailing it to me from Portland, Oregon sometime as early as tomorrow!

Once the OS X “Tiger” software arrives I’ll only have the Superdrive left to upgrade for just about $100. Replacing the 512MB of memory to max out at 1GB isn’t that big of a deal as PC133 memory isn’t all that terribly expensive, currently about $60 total for two 512MB chips.

I am very excited, first at the prospect of being that much closer to my upgrade goals and, second, at the fact that I have the kind of friends that are ready and willing to do what they’re doing or have done for me. Thank you so very much, Liz! You are as awesome as you ever were! In fact, you just keep getting that much more awesome in my book…

THANK YOU AL and LIZ!!!

Now I’m a Mac and I’m a PC…

Filed Under: Al Noyes, Macintosh

Nov.11, 2009

eMac I would like to extend a very personal and heartfelt thank you to my good friend and companion in Capitular Masonry, Al Noyes, for being so kind as to gift to me his eMac in all of its self-contained splendor and glory.

Al recently moved from this standalone system to a laptop computer which he could use wherever he would like around his home. His new laptop uses Windows Vista Home Premium and enables him to do all the things he had hoped to be able to do with the eMac. Now he can browse the Web and handle emails while in the company of his family without having to isolate himself in his office at the end of the hall… unless he so chooses to. Also, by moving out the eMac Al now has room to hook up his new printer so that he can print out more than the cool photos his 4×6 photo printer allows him to do. Considering that I had REALLY wanted to obtain a Macintosh computer for some time now, but was restricted by my need to invest in technologies related to my work and existing technological infrastructure, this turned out to be a winning solution for the both of us. This is one of those rare instances where everyone walks away happy and I walk away with a cool new computing platform.

Aside from the mobility afforded by the new laptop (for a significantly lower price than to be expected for a comparable Mac laptop), Al was having problems with performance on the eMac. This turned out to be partially remedied by upgrading the 128MB of included RAM to a more reasonable 512MB. I had the 512MB laying around in my office since the chips were of the standard PC133 188 pin variety. I’ll eventually get out and upgrade the memory to the maximum 1GB capacity indicated in the system specs. Another issue that impaired operability turned out the be the OS X 10.2 operating system, which was (and still is) in need of an upgrade to OS X Tiger (10.4). Once that’s complete I’ll get around to the last upgrade. The eMac came with a CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive which I intend to replace with a CD-RW/DVD-R Superdrive. I was suprised to find that the system is compatible with a Blu-Ray burner, though the $500+ price tag is downright retarded and, therefor, not going to happen.

Over and over again I can’t help but keep on thanking Al for his generosity. While, for him, he may have been simply been clearing up space while passing on the system to someone who would appreciate it, for me it’s the opportunity to gain experience with the Mac OS that I’ve been so desperately wanting.

Companion Al Noyes: you are cool, you are awesome, you are da bomb, you are the cat’s meow, you are super fly!

Thanks to you… I’m a Mac AND I’m a PC. How cool is THAT?!

Popularity: 17%

Tags: Al Noyes, eMac, friends, OS X

Will Flanagan Wins Election

Filed Under: Political

Nov.03, 2009

Mayoral candidate Will Flanagan soundly beat out Cathy Ann Vivieros by around 3,800 votes out of approximately 18,000 votes cast. With a solid 60% of the votes, the “new hope” promised by the Flanagan campaign appealed to the voters who went out to their respective polling places. Will Flanagan will be the 39th mayor of Fall River, replacing Mayor Robert Correia — who failed to make it into the final election.

It was cool working on a winning campaign, this time as the Webmaster. I put together and maintained the site at www.willflanagan.com on Will’s behalf. I also handled some of his Facebook content, though he was often on top of linking to relevant news stories.

Campaigning aside, today was very pleasant for an election day. It was cool (in the 50’s) but not cold and any drizzle that came down held off until the polls closed at 8pm. With that in mind, it’s was a little disappointing to see that about 1/4 (or less) of the city’s registered voters actually got to choose their new mayor.

Also in today’s election were City Council and School Committee seats. Unfortunately, the vast majority of victors were incumbents. This means more business as usual and it also means that the city lost 2/3 of the election in a very big way.

Congratulations to Will Flanagan for succeeding in this election.

Shame on Fall River for their other ballot choices.