Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
What are U doing today?
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What are U doing today? (Ongoing thread)
Thank you all for you input.Onward and upward!
Jim wrote: "No AV company would even begin to THINK about creating a monster to fight. There are far too many watchdog groups out there tracing the real monsters back to their source. AV companies are fierce..."I too have often thought about the av companies cashing in by cultivating viruses. I now run a free version of Avast. It's ok but the free version won't allow you to play with any controls. Therefore it MUST run on bootup, slowing it down to a crawl.
However I have another weapon in my arsenal I've used for years and preached about. No one has EVER heeded my advice. This weapon is an IMAGE backup, run every week or so. It takes a picture of your c: drive. That's ALL the files, every damn one! When catastrophe happens you boot on a cd, choose the backup you want (usually the latest) and tell it to Restore - all the bad stuff gone, you're back to EXACT condition you were in a week ago. 8888 times better that Microsoft's stupid System Restore. My favorite app is Drive Image 7.0 (now bought out and defunct). Naturally it no longer works in Vista and I had to buy Acronis for my laptop (jury is out on that one, I never had to do a Restore yet).
You need a 2nd hard drive or a separate partition on your only hard drive to place the image on. You need to PURCHASE the bu software. You then need to learn to use it. Forever after you are independent of expensive repair men.
The only time this won't fix your machine is if it's a hardware malfunction that's causing your problem - blown sector or something, as your bu probably imaged the bad sector too. The type of bu that fixes that is a CLONE, different app and it must have 2nd hard drive, as big or bigger than your existing one. I've got one of those also, but finally stopped using it when I never had another 'accident' like that.
What happens to that 'important stuff' that happened since your week-old bu? I do a DOS .bat file (yeah they still exist even on XP, they fake the dos commands), that scatters my email out to another hard drive than c: That happens every time I shut down. Can't quite remember how I implemented that, but it's in my system log if anyone is interested. After a Restore I run another .bat file to copy those latest emails back into my Eudora (email app) mailboxes.
Thanks, Earl, for your input. It's beyond my own capabilities but our son has often suggested this type of backup to us. He also says that, for a fee, there are online servers who will save your backups for you. We have external hard drives to which we save certain files as backup. I can do these backups but, more and more, it seems as nerve-racking as doing brain surgery. So I dread doing them.
Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Thanks, Earl, for your input. It's beyond my own capabilities but our son has often suggested this type of backup to us. He also says that, for a fee, there are online servers who will save your ba..."I can't imagine giving anyone else my backups. But then I don't believe in broadcasting our location into outer space either. paranoid much?
Tomorrow there's a town wide yard sale in Lake George, I'm hoping to find books. Anyone close enough, come on into town.
Earl wrote: "Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: ... "He also says that, for a fee, there are online servers who will save save your backups for you."...
"I can't imagine giving anyone else my backups. But then I don't believe in broadcasting our location into outer space either. paranoid much?"
Earl, I know what you mean. That's a good point.
Earl, I agree with you about having an image backup. I use Clonezilla, which is free, & send the image to my 500gb external drive a few times a year. I also keep a regular backup on there - I use Microsoft's free Synctoy to sync directories that contain my documents, pictures & such. That I run about once a week & then turn it off, so there is no chance it will get infected.
Jackie wrote: "Tomorrow there's a town wide yard sale in Lake George, I'm hoping to find books. Anyone close enough, come on into town."I hope it's as successful as the one in Warrensburg.
Katherine, I don't think it'll be that big. The Warrensburg Yard Sale is legendary.
Jackie wrote: "Tomorrow there's a town wide yard sale in Lake George, I'm hoping to find books. Anyone close enough, come on into town."Jackie, let us know what books you find.
I slammed my pinkie toe so hard into an endtable leg that it bent backwards. Big time Ouch! I had to go out on crutches, my poor foot couldn't hold any weight without serious pain. So my big walk through town was amended to being driven by my friend Helena. I found an old wooden spice rack with glass bottles that I plan on restoring and hanging in my kitchen. And 5 books:Sliver by Ira Levin
The Last Universe by William Sleator
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
Bleachers by John Grisham
Poor toe! Why do you abuse it so?
What ever did it do to your or me?
Your poor little pinkie...
That little pinkie is now abusing me! LOL I can't believe such a tiny thing could cause so much pain!
James broke his completely in half one time chasing his sister in bare feet. He jumped up a flight of stairs & hit it. We made him go to the doctor who set it & told him to always wear his special shoe. Of course, being 18, he didn't. He promptly hit it on a chair & the bones went out of line again. He set it that time himself. Dumb, but tough!
Ooowwww! My toe is throbbing in sympathy. Mine is better today, at least I can get around without wincing. I slept really late and I think it helped in a big way.
Jackie wrote: "Ooowwww! My toe is throbbing in sympathy. Mine is better today, at least I can get around without wincing. I slept really late and I think it helped in a big way."Jackie, sorry to hear about your sore toe (and about Jim's son's experience too). I know how painful that can be. Hope that pinkie toe heals quickly.
Looks like you found some good books in the yard sale. Thanks for the links.
Have any of you tried the book swap on Goodreads? If so, was it a good experience? What did you think?
I never see the book swap, so haven't used it. Well, I might have gotten a book or two that way, but usually it's because it comes up in the group. I've been given & sent books without any strings attached.For trading books, I use BookMooch.com or PaperBackSwap.com. The latter seems to get me books quicker.
I haven't used the Goodreads' book swap feature at all. Like Jim, I belong to Book Mooch (though I've never checked out Paper Back Swap); to me, the Book Mooch payment method is simpler and more efficient. There, you pay the postage yourself on any book you send to others, but not on books you receive --those truly are free. With Goodreads' swap system, it's set up the other way around; so every time you request a book, you have to mess with writing and mailing a check.With Book Mooch, there's no guarantee you can get any particular book you want; it depends on what other people there have in their inventories. But recently I put most of the books I'd gotten from there in a pile by themselves, and it proved to be quite a few!
In less than an hour, we're expecting the arrival of company for the weekend, a lady from the Harrisonburg, VA area who's a dear friend of ours, and whom Barb met when they worked together for a time back in the 70s. So I may not be online much over the weekend. But my friends on Goodreads are always close to my heart, even when I need to be offline!
Have a great weekend, Werner!
Saw on a bumper sticker today:"Well behaved women rarely make history".
Katherine wrote: "Saw on a bumper sticker today:"Well behaved women rarely make history"."
Katherine, I first saw that interesting quote on a lapel button a couple of years ago. I then searched for its attribution. I found the following online:
==========================================================
“ 'The pervasive theme is rebellion.' Laurel Thatcher Ulrich begins her new book, Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History, struggling to explain — understand — the appeal of an aside she made in the spring 1976 issue of an academic journal, a comment that has become a popular slogan printed on T-shirts and coffee mugs and bumper stickers, usually without her permission and often without attribution."
...
"Ulrich, a Harvard historian whose A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for history, uses “three classic works in Western feminism” as a springboard for examining the theme of “bad” behavior."
FROM: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/boo...
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It's interesting to learn how Ulrich's comment, made as a simple "aside", has become so famous.
Not what I'm doing today, but June 11, 12, and 13 will be the Crandall Library Book Sale in Glen's Falls. I'll be on line Friday the 11th at 8 AM, hope to see some of you there.
Thanks for the reminder, Jackie.
I'm not sure, Jackie. I'll let you know if I do intend to go. I really have to start getting rid of books and things at this stage. It's so hard to do.
I know what you mean, LOLI used to go to all 3 of crandall's Books Sales, but I've cut it down to the June one for the past two years. That's enough, I get books from friends, buy online, and use the library, plus what I already have. I'm in no danger of not having something to read. I just can't help myself. And the time of year is so nice, I don't mind standing outside waiting an hour for it to open. February was rough, that was the first one to go, LOL
Well, 8:00 AM IS a bit early for me! LOL But I did enjoy meeting you there last year. I had to FORCE myself to get up and out early. LOL But it was worth it. Had a nice time.
I go early the first day because it gets cleaned out rather quickly. Especially the sci-fi/fantasy section and that's what I'm there for. I don't really have a choice if I want to get a look at what's there.
I admire your energy. You're a real book lover!
I'm really quite lazy. It's the books that get me motivated to go out and bring them home to live with me.
"Remember the old adage, how an infinite number of monkeys typing on an infinite number of typewriters will eventually type something beautiful? Well, the Internet disproves that."Kurt Vonnegut /nina
Werner wrote: "In less than an hour, we're expecting the arrival of company for the weekend, a lady from the Harrisonburg, VA area who's a dear friend of ours, and whom Barb met when they worked together for a ti..."My brother in law and sister in law live in Massanutten, VA(Harrisonburg, VA area) Their name is Peck. Perhaps they know one another. Also, did you know Abraham Lincoln's family came from there? His grandfather donated the land my ancestor, John Alderson, built his church on? The Lincoln homestead is still there, I believe. nina
Nina wrote: ""Remember the old adage, how an infinite number of monkeys typing on an infinite number of typewriters will eventually type something beautiful? Well, the Internet disproves that."Kurt Vonnegut..."
He's such a cynic. I really liked his books as a teen & in my early twenties. I still like some. I read Welcome to the Monkey House not too long ago. I think those short stories are some of his best work, especially the title story.
Thanks for the suggestion of Vonnegut's short story book. It certainly got rave reviews. I do remember my son wanting to read much of his work. He thought he was very good. Maybe he should have stuck with short stories. They are harder to write than a novel. nina
Nina, our friend Beulah is actually from the Bridgewater area (and now lives in that town, at a retirement community), so I doubt if she knows the Pecks. But it's interesting that you have family in the area! And no, I didn't know about the Lincoln family connection with the area; thanks for sharing it.
Missed everyone - I'm back. Medical transcription class is over on Saturday (started back in late September). Three courses: anatomy, terminology and transcription. The transciption portion was grueling (lots of dictators mumbled, background noise, etc.). I downloaded an audiobook last night onto my Zen to listen to in the car today. So excited! Long Lost by Harlan Coben.
After Saturday's class, I'll revisit my bookshelf and get my hands on a book and savor the feeling.
Glad to be back!
Welcome back, Linda. I hope class went well.
Hi Linda. Glad to see you back. Hope all is well with you.Enjoy your book: Long Lost by Harlan Coben. Sounds like a real thriller.
Transcription class is over! The 4-hour class seemed as though it would never end. I'll let you know if I get hooked up with a part-time transcriptionist position (actually more like 1/4 time as I have a full-time position). Not all companies hire newbies.Today, during a car ride got to listen to my eaudio book Long Lost by Harlan Coben. Enjoying it very much!
Linda wrote: "Transcription class is over! The 4-hour class seemed as though it would never end. I'll let you know if I get hooked up with a part-time transcriptionist position (actually more like 1/4 time as I ..."Linda, good luck in getting a transcription position. Some doctors dictate so fast and some have accents on top of that. I've always wondered how anyone could transcribe such difficult dictation, especially when it included difficult medical terms. I once had to transcribe dictated letters for a boss. I used to slow down the recording so that I could catch more of what he said. :)
If all goes on schedule, in a little less than an hour, Barb and I will be leaving for about a week's vacation visiting her side of the family in the Harrisonburg, VA area, returning May 28. While I'm gone, I'll have virtually no Internet access; but I'll look forward to getting back to Goodreads once we're home!
Werner wrote: "If all goes on schedule, in a little less than an hour, Barb and I will be leaving for about a week's vacation visiting her side of the family in the Harrisonburg, VA area, returning May 28. While..."Have a good time, Werner!
Well, we got back late yesterday afternoon, having had a great time. (Naturally, I got some reading and book shopping done during the trip. :-)) We'll be going back on June 22, to stay for roughly another week. But for now, I'm glad to be back on Goodreads!
Glad you had a great time, Werner.I'm getting two goats this morning in hopes they'll help with the weedeating. They're Boers, but rather smaller than the original breed. They don't get much over 100 lbs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boer_goat
We'll see how they work out for a week before I actually pay for them. My neighbor has a couple of hundred of them that they raise for meat. I'm getting two young wethers, so if they don't work out, they'll be very unhappy.
We had goats when I was young. Heidi, the one I remember the best, was the goat I learned to milk on. She gave us a lot over the years & I remember her fondly. She got along well with our dogs, ponies & horses. Hopefully these two will, as well.
My wife always had bad experiences with goats. A lot of racing stables keep them around as company for race horses. Goats are quite mischievous & seem to look for trouble like a bored 5 year old. They'll also eat anything, which includes leather tack, helmet liners & such. They're also escape artists, very nimble. They can chew through a rope or climb out of a pen in seconds. Since our property is fenced in well enough to keep the Jack Russells in (well, most of the time) I'm hoping it will keep the goats in, too.
Marg collects animals like crazy & for years I've threatened to get a goat if she got another animal. Yesterday, she decided we should get the goats. What am I going to threaten her with now?!!!
A pig. That's it!
;-)
Good luck with the goats, Jim! When Barb and I were newly married, our next-door neighbor (of course, this was in the country, so "next-door" allowed for a lot of space) owned a few milk goats, and a billy; we owned a half interest in one of them, so I learned to milk a goat, too, and can affirm everything you say about them! (Have you ever eaten homemade goat milk ice cream? It's actually pretty good.)Don't threaten Marg with a pig. One of my sisters-in -law had a pet pig for years, until it died; she liked it, and even let it in the house quite a bit. :-)
Werner wrote: "Well, we got back late yesterday afternoon, having had a great time. (Naturally, I got some reading and book shopping done during the trip. :-)) We'll be going back on June 22, to stay for roughl..."Glad to see you back, Werner!
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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While I don't personally consider myself super knowledgeable about computers, my significant other works in IT. I have learned a lot from him in the past few years, and it's greatly helped me to avoid getting viruses and having problems with my computer. Again, I'm no expert, but here are a few tips that might help you out a little bit. I haven't had a virus for about three years now.
First of all, as Jim said, Microsoft is a big part of the problem. If you can avoid using Windows, which is hard for many people, using a Mac or Linux will help you to avoid 99.5% of viruses out there. I personally am not particularly computer savvy enough to be comfortable with Linux, and it's really only for people who are very comfortable and knowledgeable with computers.
Try not to use internet explorer. Instead, use google chrome, or Firefox, and I think Safari is probably okay too. Internet Explorer is hard wired into your computer's Operating System and allows the "bad guys" on the internet to easily access your other software and information on your computer.
Be wary of attachments that people send you. I almost never, never open an attachment unless I know what it is and who sent it. For example, my dad often sends me videos of the dogs, or funny things. I usually wait until I've talked to him, know that he sent it, and it's safe to open. Sometimes people get their accounts hacked, and a "virus" or person, will send out damaging attachments from their email--so even if it's coming from someone you know, make sure that you know what it is before opening it.
Be carefully about downloading anything, or using software if you are uncertain about it. A while back, my brother(who was in his late teens at the time) put something called a weather bug on my computer. I had seen other people use it, and it looked like a helpful application. It was a little ladybug that sat on the computer and told me about the weather conditions. A few years later(yes, it had been on my computer for years and I had gotten viruses during that time), I learned that it was the sort of application that gave viruses and hackers easy access to my computer. There are good, open source applications out there, just make sure what you use is trusted by others(not just your little brother) and comes from a well respected source. I don't want to discourage anyone from using open source software, like firefox, but if you are unsure about something stay on the safe side.
I hope this was helpful and good luck!
Ash