Frustressed !

That's right...I am very frustressed lately! Yeah--that's a real word--"frustressed".

Look it up if you don't believe me. OK, Ok, I just made it up, but it should be a real word ! It's a combination of frustrated & depressed. These stupid computers are driving me nuts ! As my last post (which I sent as a text message from my phone) said, my laptop quit working and I'm stuck using an old desktop that runs really, really slooow....

Not sure what caused the laptop, which is only little over a year old, to stop working. I kept getting the "blue screen of death", as it's called. Meaning Windows kept crashing, so I decided to just re-install a fresh copy of Windows on it to try to correct the problem. Unfortunatly the re-install didn't work--in fact, it would not even complete the installation process. But it did format the hard drive, leaving the computer with NO operating system at all ! I think it may be a hardware problem, either the hard drive itself or something on the motherboard. But I don't have the money right now to take it in to be repaired.

So I got out an old desktop computer and set it up. It had problems as well, I got a lot of error messages saying "Delayed write failed", whatever that means. It got so bad you couldn't run anything because these error message popped up so often. So again I tried to re-install Windows on that machine.
And guess what--it would not install Windows--it would just get partway through and stop. I thought maybe the hard drive was bad because of all those "write errors".

After giving up on the whole thing for a few days, I ended up buying a book at Borders called "Moving To Ubuntu Linux" which came with a DVD containing a complete Linux installation. I tried installing this "Ubuntu Linux" operating system on the laptop, but it wouldn't install, just as Windows had failed to work. So I installed it on the old desktop, and that WORKED !!

Finally, I had a computer again! Even though it is an old and very slow machine. In fact, even as I type this, each letter slowly appears on screen a few seconds after I type it. And I have no sound coming from my USB speakers! So I can't watch videos , play games or do anything that requires audio. I haven't been able to figure out why the audio doesn't work as the Linux operating system recognizes all my other USB devices, including the USB audio (as well as the built-in motherboard audio and sound card). But--still NO SOUND. I've checked various Linux forums and help sites but still am unable to get sound. Well-that's not entirely true. I can get sound through just one program-the XMMS music player. But that only works for audio files that are stored on the computer. Not with CD's, DVD's or any online video or audio files. It's strange...since this one program works I know the speakers work and Linux is recognizing the USB audio, but it's a mystery why no other sound files work. ???
Any Linux experts out there who might have an answer?

Needless to say, it has been a extremely frustrating and depressing time trying to get this stupid machines to work! So that's why I am so FRUSTRESSED !

It has made me want to give up on computers and the internet entirely, but being an internet junkie, that's hard to do. So I guess I'll have to struggle along until I can get the laptop fixed or find a way to speed up this old machine.

Or go back to using my old Commodore 128 or Commodore Amiga !

My laptop has died and my old desktop is not working either so i guess no internet or blogging for me for awhile :-( Martin

No End In Sight

When will the American people wake up and DEMAND the impeachment of Bush and Cheney?

"A VISITOR FROM THE PAST"

Even though this video was created for the 4th of July, it's message needs to be heard every day!

Spiderpig...Spiderpig...Does whatever a Spiderpig does...

Yes...I went to see "The Simpsons Movie" tonight!

And as Comic Book guy would say: "Best Movie....Ever!"

At least if you are as big a Simpsons fan as I am.
I'm not going to say anymore about the movie 'cause I don't want to give anything away, except to say...don't rush out of the theater as soon as the credits start to roll...you'll miss a few funny moments.

OMG! All Online Data Lost After Internet Crash!!!

Oh no! How will people read about my incredibly boring life?!?

The Jena Six

Earlier today I was listening on my MP3 player to an episode(from July 10th) of the "Democracy Now!" podcast and couldn't believe this news item!

It is an outrageous story of racism and injustice that is taking place in the town of Jena, Louisiana. The two videos below are part of the 'Democracy Now!' report and tell the story better than I could, so please watch them. I'm surprised that this story hasn't gotten national news coverage, but this was the first I'd heard the story.




There are actually six parts to this report, but I just put up these two. You can find the other sections on YouTube. Click the links below:
Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

There's a petition here calling upon the Civil Rights Division of the U.S Department of Justice to investigate this case. I urge everyone to go and sign it to bring this to the attention of the Federal government. There are currently almost 5,000 signatures, please add yours.

There's a link in the sidebar (and the post title) to 'Democracy Now!' as well if you'd rather read the story. The website "Friends of Justice" also has updated information on this case. A defense fund has been set up to provide money for lawyers for the accused students who have not yet gone to trial. The address to send donations to that fund is as follows:
Jena 6 Defense Committee
PO BOX 2798
Jena, LA 71342

This kind of hatred and injustice CANNOT be tolerated--whether it be racism, homophobia, religious intolerance, or any other irrational hatred, it must be exposed and opposed !
Generally I don't get too upset or angry, but something about this story really got my blood boiling!
I think what first struck me was the fact that the black students at this school asked for permission to stand under what was considered to be the 'white students' tree. Since when does anyone have to be ask permission to stand in a particular spot? What kind of a country are we living in when the President commutes the sentence of one of his friends, while these students are being charged with serious crimes over a schoolyard fight?

Boom ! Boom! Whoosh ! Ooohhh!

It rained here on the 4th of July so I didn't go out to see the local fireworks, but today there were some at a nearby city so I went to see them and take a little video. It gave me a chance to try out the new digital camera I recently got. The fireworks display was put on in Freedom Park in the town of Scotia, which is just across the Mohawk river from the city of Schenectady. I stood on the bridge over the river to take this video. The sound near the end is a bit muffled because I unknowingly had my finger over the microphone on top of the camera. I was using both hands to steady the camera and didn't realize the opening for the mic was on top.
Hey--give me a break ! I've only had the camera for a week; I'm still learning what features it has.
Anyway....here's the link to that video: FIREWORKS !

Friday The 13th !

HaHa ! Fooled you-this post has nothing to do with Friday the 13th ! Except for the fact that it happens to be today's date.
I recently bought a new digital camera to replace the cheap one I got a couple of years ago and took some random photos and video to test it out. Since I never travel anywhere interesting, I
shot these pics while wandering through a local park and from my apartment window.
I even came up with titles for them just to make it look as though I actually know what I'm doing (don't really have much experience with photography).

Two Paths Diverged In A Wood (apologies to Robert Frost)
~click on the title to read Frost's poem~


Wood Nymph
~click title for more info. on nymphs~
Caught a photo of a little wood nymph hiding in this log. Look closely and you'll see his face peeking out from the opening.

Don't be scared, little fellow--I won't hurt you!

And finally, just some video of a thunderstorm taken from my window--click here.

Harry Potter Mania !

Yes!! It's that time again...when movie theaters and bookstores will be overflowing with aspiring wizards! The movie opened yesterday and next week (July 21) the last book in the series will be out. I haven't seen the movie yet but I'll admit I did just pre-order the book from my local Borders bookstore. I was going to wait and eventually just buy a used copy on Amazon.com as I did with the last book, but decided--hey! why not join in the mania!
So, in honor of the Harry Potter craze, here's a trailer from the movie:


Whoops! Sorry, I guess someone must have cast a confusion spell on me! I feel alright now so here's the real trailer:


And as an extra treat, if you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you can listen to some music from the soundtrack along with stills from the movie.
(I had to place it there as it was too large to fit in the sidebar.)