You have Vista on a computer reporting only 3.2 Gigabytes of RAM on a system with 4 Gigabytes installed

It’s too bad that they don’t actually tell you about this when you are, I don’t know, actually purchasing your computer! I picked up a new Dell Inspiron 530 computer back in early October of 2007 and saw that, in spite of having paid for 4 Gigabytes of RAM, the system reported only 3.2 Gigabytes. … Continue reading You have Vista on a computer reporting only 3.2 Gigabytes of RAM on a system with 4 Gigabytes installed

iTunes Library updater keeps 2nd iTunes machine in sync

We share our music library by keeping separate copies on each of our machines. This works MUCH better then trying to share using a network drive (speed-wise). For simplicity, the decision needed to be made to choose a master copy and then find some way to ensure that the slave would keep up-to-date as songs … Continue reading iTunes Library updater keeps 2nd iTunes machine in sync

Renovations – a couple of months later

Now that we’ve had a few months to live with and consider some of our renovation choices I just wanted to share some of my thoughts. One big change that I would make is to NOT go with fitting the standalone bathtub into an alcove. Even though they offer the bead kit that will prevent … Continue reading Renovations – a couple of months later

Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial

Mich and I just finished watching Nova’s “Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial” on PBS. I was very pleased to see that the ID proponents got their butts handed to them in their outrageous attempt to further dilute what is already considered to be a shaky science curriculum. We very much need to grow up, … Continue reading Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

I’ve been tailoring a bunch of recipes for years. This is my always-tasty recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies. I originally pulled it off of a “Chipits” package nearly two decades ago and have been tweaking it ever since. Try it, you’ll like it! Marc’s Chocolate Chip Cookies 1/2 c    shortening3/4 c    brown sugar, firmly packed1    … Continue reading Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Overzealous Marketing is a Turn Off

Pictured at left is a picture of the SIX (count ’em – six!) solicitations to purchase Christmas greeting cards from AOPA’s Air Safety Foundation that I’ve received in the past couple of months. I like the ASF and, in fact, did purchase some (darned expensive!) cards last year from them. They do good work to … Continue reading Overzealous Marketing is a Turn Off

Programs continue to run even after I close them in Vista

Something I’m finding quite interesting with Vista Home Premium is the propensity for some programs to continue running even after I close them. For instance, if I’m playing any kind of media in Windows Media Player (audio or visual) and just click the little “X” at the top of the application, the window closes but … Continue reading Programs continue to run even after I close them in Vista