Internet exploder 8 is out....

Well, it looks like Microsoft has released Internet Exploder 8. Of
course it is packed with all kinds of innovative features to make your
web experience better. And, as usual, Microsoft is behind the times.
Most of these "New" and "Innovative" features have been out in Firefox
for at least a year now. The address bar search of your history is old
news for Firefox, as is the safe site filter. I found it funny how all
but a few of the features in the new IE I have been using in Firefox for
quite some time now. I can't wait to see how many features and controls
Microsoft took away from us with the new release in an effort to protect
us from their own poor programming practices. I'll probably download it
at some point and play with it,but not at home since I have no desire to
ever try and run Microsoft's virus, spyware, and malware-prone browser
platform again. Since I went with Firefox as my browser, surfing the web
has been so much more enjoyable.

I love Wine...

One of the biggest reasons I haven't really played much with Linux so
far is that most of the things I do don't run on Linux. Well, I use
Thunderbird for Email, and Firefox for the web. Both have Linux
versions. Quicken doesn't run on Linux, but Wine may make it work (Wine
is a Windows emulator of sorts for Linux). I did get Evernote to work in
Linux tonight, which is way cool since I do use it quite a bit. I
haven't checked all the functions in it yet, but I can definitely access
all of my notes that are stored in Evernote. One thing at a time I guess...

valuable candlemaking lesson learned

Clean the molds! All 12 candles I made last night stuck to the molds. I
guess they weren't quite clean enough...

Candles....

Well, I'm getting pretty good at making candles now. I managed to make
almost 4 dozen votives from recycled candles (ones we'll never burn or
are almost burned down to nothing). I'm actually having fun with this
one. It's a fairly simple process and doesn't take all that much effort
to make a batch really. Next I'll try some jar candles or something I think.

Linux is progressing nicely

Little by little I am figuring this thing out. Now that I have an XP
virtual PC for my Quicken, etc. I can get to everything I need without
rebooting. Now to figure out how to sync the phone from Linux.

Linux....

Well, I finally decided to try Linux again. I have my laptop dual
booting Linux and Vista now. I can use Virtual Box to get a Windows
install going for the apps that won't work in Linux since I don't want
to have to reboot all the time. I'll have to see how it works out for me
before I decide to switch over totally...

Making candles...

Today I decided to finally try my hand at candle making. I got a starter
kit for votives and have 8 candles that I just topped off for the final
time. If this works out the way I think it will, I will be making the
votives for us to burn when we camp from now on. I figure I can make
them for about 1/2 the price it would cost us if we bought them. I am
going to buy wick pins and some wicks in bulk, because the ones at
Michaels are very pricey by comparison. It worked for the started kit,
but I plan on making about 100 candles for camp and home if this works
out. Next I may try a jar candle or something like that. We're going to
start saving the dead ends of candles and re-melting them so that I can
make new candles out of the remains. We'll find out tomorrow how good
these are when we actually light one. :) I have to wait a while longer
to remove them from the molds because I just added a little to the
molds. As a candle cools, the top collapses and there is a valley left
in the top. It takes another pour or 2 to top the candle molds off
properly. If nothing else, this is a fun project.

we're sledding...

we're sledding..., originally uploaded by graewulf.

Lots of snow...

Well, I just shoveled the driveway. The snow was a minimum of about 8"
deep and well over a foot deep in other places. I'm pooped!

Go Obama! [Fwd: Keeping Promises]

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Keeping Promises
Date:	Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:43:00 GMT
From:	<The White House>

In the Weekly Address this morning, President Obama explains how the budget he sent to Congress will fulfill the promises he made as a candidate.  On fiscal responsibility, a fair tax code, a clean energy economy, real health care reform, and education, this budget sets out a new vision for our country.

But having put his priorities on paper and having stood behind them, the President recognizes that there are those who will fight against change every step of the way.

"I realize that passing this budget won’t be easy.  Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington.  I know that the insurance industry won’t like the idea that they’ll have to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that’s how we’ll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs for American families.  I know that banks and big student lenders won’t like the idea that we’re ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that’s how we’ll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable.  I know that oil and gas companies won’t like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that’s how we’ll help fund a renewable energy economy that will create new jobs and new industries.   I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight as we speak.  My message to them is this:

"So am I."
 

Watch the full address below.

{VIDEO|56}
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