Michael Louis Scott June 1997 to Date

Note: <888> 05/18/04  Tuesday 2:00 A.M.:  Since I bought the barebones Northgate Computer from www.accessmicro.com in December 2002 for $320 plus about $30 shipping which included the case, power supply, AMD Athlon XP 2000 processor and a 512 meg. 2100MHz memory chip, it only had a one year warranty, which means the warranty is no longer in effect, so I am not voiding the warranty by changing the parts.  I have added the two 20 gigabyte hard drives, the two double round IDE cables, the, 58X CD player,  24X10X40X CR/RW player, Windows XP Professional Upgrade, a 256 meg. 2100 MHz memory chip, Creative Live MP3+ audio card, Mad Dog AGP 4X 64 meg. video card, Diamond Stealth 32 meg. PCI video card, LAN card plus all of the other accessories attached to it along with the parts that I just put into it, so it is a very good system, and I plan to keep it for a while.  I have the five 233 Mhz to 366 MHz backup desktop computers, which I can use if the primary system ever fails.  Around March 2003, I shipped the Barebones system without the parts back to Access Micro, when the system fail, and it has worked fine ever since.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/18/04  Tuesday 1:10 A.M.:  I finished going through my email.  One of these days, I have to get around to reading all the printed periodical material that I have received, which is mostly on computers and technology.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/18/04  Tuesday 12:50 A.M.:  I did something I normally do not do this past evening, when I went to Staples in Old Greenwich.  Instead of driving along Putnam Avenue, I drove from exit 2 to exit 5 to and from Staples on I-95.  There was not too much traffic at 7 P.M., and I guess it is good for my Hyundai to go a little faster occasionally instead of local driving to clean out the spark plugs.  I also still have to call the local Hyundai dealership to see if the previous owner obtained any extra warranty time on the car in the low horse power lawsuit that I received a settlement notice on, since instead of taking the $150 shop credit or $75 debit card, I think I would rather have the extra warranty time, if the previous owner had applied for it.  I would imagine Hyundai would know about the warranty.  I have a 5 year or 50,000 mile warranty, and I think the 5 year warranty is just about up, although the car only has 40,000 miles on it.  In my apartment with the four port network hub in the bedroom and the eight port network hub in the living room, technically a larger group of people could be online in an emergency situation, although it would be crowded providing we had cable modem and electricity service.  Of course since I am mostly here by myself most of the time, it would seem a bit crowded, and also since I have many personal items lying around the apartment, I do not think I am planning to open the place up to the general public unless possibly in an emergency, since I would prefer not to have my apartment treated as a gift shop.  CIO 

Note: <888> 05/18/04  Tuesday 12:25 A.M.:  I read reviews on the parts that I ordered and installed, and they seem to be top of the line parts.  The system is definitely running quieter, and it seems to be running smoother and more responsive with a bit more speed.  Possibly the old 250 watt power supply was not strong enough for my computer with all the additional parts and items in it.  I am most pleased with its overall performance, and some of the benchmarks have gone up.  I am in the process of going through my email.  I put the old IDE ribbon in my Syntax motherboard box on the white bureau in the bedroom.  Since I now have two rounded double IDE cables in the computer, there should be better ventilation around the hard drives.  When installing the Arrow 500 watt power supply, I did not have to install the power supply to the case switch, since the case switch is connected to the motherboard, so I just plugged the power supply to the motherboard and the IDE devices and that was it.  I am also running the Antec SmartCool fan off the power supply instead of the motherboard, except the white RPM? or temperature? wire is attached to the motherboard.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 11:20 P.M.:  CNN.com - Above-normal hurricane season forecast - May 17, 2004 .  CIO 

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 8:55 P.M.:  I have the computer up and running with the new parts.  I removed the old 250 watt power supply, and I installed the Arrow ATX 500 watt power supply.  It was a mater of removing the old cables and installing the new cables in the same locations.  The Arrow power supply has more connectors, since it is a more powerful power supply, and it also has dual fans for cooling.  I then removed the memory, and I removed the old CPU cooler, and I installed Spire www.spire-coolers.com 5F271B1L3 FalconRock II CPU cooler.  It came with the CPU thermal compound already on it.  It was a straight forward procedure disconnecting the wire and replacing the wire.  I had ordered a case fan, but the one that I ordered was a two wire fan, and I needed a three wire fan, so I did not use it.  I disconnected the ribbon cable from the CD and CD/RW drives, and I replaced it with the rounded IDE cable with three connectors.  I took out the LAN card, and I installed the Intel Pro/100 VE 10/100 Mbps CNR network card.  I test the system with a spare power cable, and it turned on properly with the new power supply and CPU cooler working.  I then put the cover on, and I reconnected it, and when I booted it, plug and play did not recognize the Intel CNR card.  I downloaded on the backup computer the drivers for it, but the system did not still recognize the card, although it installed the drivers, but they did not work.  I then decided since the old case fan was making noise to get another one.  I found one on Staples web site.  I shut down the computer, and I drove over to Staples in Old Greenwich.  I bought the Antec 80mm Smartcool case fan for $12.99 since the web listed it as $12.99 versus the store price of $17.99 plus .78 tax for $13.77 total.  I then returned home.  I uninstalled the Intel CNR network card driver.  I then shut down the computer, and I detached the cables.   I opened up the case, and I removed the old case fan which was noisy, and I installed the new case fan using the four pin cable to the power supply and one pin to control it off the motherboard.  The Antec Smartcool fan has a temperature sensor, so it varies the case fan speed with the temperature.  It has double ball bearings, since it is running off the power supply, it does not draw power from the mother board.  It is a lot more quiet than the old case fan.  I then took out the Intel CNR network card, and I installed the PCI network card.  I then tested the system to make sure the fans worked.  I then put the cover on it using one of the case cover lock screws.  I then reattached the computer, and it is all working just fine and much quieter.  I still have to hook up the Network 8 port hub and the four port USB hub, and straighten up the work area, but it seems to have been a successful maintenance upgrade without any problems.  CIO 

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 4:35 P.M.:  I opened up all three boxes, and all of the parts that I ordered arrived.  I will now shut down the computer, and I will disconnect it from its wires, and I will open it up, and I will install the new parts.  This should take about one to two hours.  CIO 

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 4:20 P.M.:  I was up at 2:30 P.M..  I ate breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry preserves, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee.  I went outside and waited for UPS www.ups.com , and I chatted with some neighbors.   The three UPS packages arrived at 4:04 P.M..  I will now open up the boxes to check their contents.  CIO 

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 11:20 A.M.:  After the last message, I ate two bowls of white corn chips, and then I went to sleep.  I had two crank fax calls.  All three packages are out for delivery according to UPS tracking as of 7:58 A.M..  I picked up my mail downstairs.  I will continue to rest.  CIO 

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 5:35 A.M.:  I did some regular internet work.  I checked outside briefly, and I threw out some garbage.  I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon.  CIO 

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 5:00 A.M.:  I ran RegClean, Ad-aware 6.0, Spybot, and Norton Win Doctor.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 4:35 A.M.:  I installed the update for Real Player 10 Basic.  I configured it and installed its updates.  CIO 

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 4:00 A.M.:  I printed out five sheets of laser paper with Microsoft Office Word 2003 Avery #5371 business card format, and then I cut each sheet of ten calling cards with a pair of large scissors, and I now have 50 more calling cards.  I put half in my wallet, and I kept half for future use.  The second 1.3 pound UPS package from www.directron.com  shipped from Stafford, Texas arrived at Norwalk, Connecticut at 3:07 A.M. this morning, so I guess I will receive all three packages today.  CIO 

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 3:05 A.M.:  I switched my Logitech cordless mouse from Mouse Channel 2 to Mouse Channel 1, which seems a bit more responsive.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 3:00 A.M.:  I went through my email.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 2:55 A.M.:  Pollen forecast weather.com - Allergies Forecasts Greenwich, Connecticut 06830 .  CIO

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 2:25 A.M.:  I boiled about a gallon of water in a six quart Revere pot with the lid on, and I added a teaspoon of olive oil and a half teaspoon of low sodium salt, and one it started boiling, I removed the lid, and I added a 16 ounce box of Stop and Shop vermicelli, which I am boiling for six minutes.  I will reheat in the General Electric microwave in a microwave proof container with lid, a half of a 26 ounce jar of Francesco Rinaldi no salt traditional tomato sauce, and I will put it one half of the vermicelli with several tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese, and I will have it for dinner with a glass of iced tea.  I will refrigerate the other half of the vermicelli in a Rubbermaid container along with the remaining half of the jar of tomato sauce.   CIO

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 2:00 A.M.:  The seven pound UPS package coming from www.outletpc.com from Las Vegas, Nevada arrived at Norwalk, CT. at 1:18 A.M. this morning, the 1.3 pound package coming from www.directron.com  from Stafford, TX. left Chelmsford, Mass. at 11:42 P.M. this past evening, I assumed destined for Norwalk, Ct., and two pound package from Infinity Remanufactured Toner Cartridges with the laser cartridge shipped from Chantilly, VA. arrived at Norwalk, Ct, on May 15 at 3 A.M., so it looks like possibly all three packages might be delivered later on today.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 1:55 A.M.:  A couple of weeks ago, I replaced the little LCD clock that I used to keep on my car dash board that did not work in the heat with the Quartz moving hands clock that I keep on the right map pocket of my passenger side door, since it works in the heat that builds u in the car in the summer.  I had put the LCD clock on my refrigerator door, but it fell off tonight because the Velcro glue would not adhere to the refrigerator door.  When one presses it to adhere to the Velcro, it also causes the disk lithium battery to depress the electrical contact too far, so it does not work.  I raised the contact, and I took the Velcro off, and I used its little wire stand, and I put it on the top side of my left primary computer monitor to easily see the time.  I also reset it.  I then took off the school magnetic labels and other magnetic labels from the refrigerator door, and I removed the duct tape that held on the horse calendar hook.  I put the labels in my center top desk drawer.  I rehung the horse calendar with one of the magnetic hooks from the wire rack to the right side of the apartment entrance door.  I took one of the three boxes of "As Seen on TV Orange Eliminator" cleaner from underneath the bathroom sink.  I bought them for 75% off from CVS for $2.50 each last fall.  I opened up the spray bottle of orange glo cleaner.  I used some Ronson lighter fluid to clean off the duct tape glue from the refrigerator and other heavy stains.  I then used the Orange Glo cleaner to clean the front and the side and the edges of the White Westinghouse refrigerator and the bottom shelf.  I also cleaned the rubber lining.  It looks much better clean without all the labels and other items stuck to it.  I left the Connecticut Poison Control Center number 1-800-272-3433 sticker attached to the freezer door, and I use two of the magnetic hooks to rehang the two Williamsburg blue pot holders on the refrigerator door.  I also cleaned the wall to the right of the refrigerator.  Thus it looks a lot whiter, better and neater.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 12:40 A.M.:  I was just look at an old link that did not work, and it refers to http://www.csit.fsu.edu/ and it refers to http://www.csit.fsu.edu/HHP/ , so I guess I might have been around Howard Hughes people when I saw a lot of TWA people and Howard Hughes medical people in Fort Lauderdale, Florida back in the fall of 1976.  In the field of science as well as aviation, Howard Hughes people keep popping up all the time, frequently when it is warm down south.  I also noticed this evening at the First United Methodist church across from the YMCA, they have a summer bible study program this June called "Lava, Lava", but I do not know if it has anything to do with travel to volcanoes or other tropical locations or why they are using the term.  I recall once being told that Howard Hughes' family attended an established Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, but we all know from the press that Howard was surrounded by the Mormons, since he thought they were more conservative.  Whatever, the case, I am sure the Hughes legacy lives on in terms of different ventures around the world, but I am still not going to subscribe to DirecTV ADSL, just so I can run a server.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/17/04  Monday 12:30 A.M.:  I went out after the last message.  I drove down by the waterfront, and I observed the western sky, and there is what looks like a bright star in the western sky gradually descending that I think is the Comet Neat.  One can not see its tail, since there is so much extra light in the New York City area.  I then went downtown, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue, and I sat out at various locations.  I then drove back down by the waterfront.  I then returned home.  On the way home, I noticed there is a yellow Connecticut Light and Power www.cl-p.com truck working on the underground cables across from the Splash car wash, which I suppose is what caused the power failure earlier today.  Since they are working on the electric power in this area, one should save one's computer work more frequently in case there is a power interruption again, and anyone running servers might have to reset them.  I replaced the Polaroid 40 watt bulb in the left parsons lamp above the day bed with the same bulb, since it had burned out.  I some times user lower wattage bulbs in those areas where one might focus, so the bulb wattage is not too bright.  There is no more new activity on the www.ups.com tracking activity on my three shipments.  From past experience, UPS usually starts back up to work at midnight between Sunday and Monday.  Hopefully the three packages will arrive today.  I will be resting this afternoon waiting for them to arrive.  CIO    

Note: <888> 05/16/04  Sunday 9:35 P.M.:  There is no new activity on www.ups.com tracking on the three packages scheduled for delivery for tomorrow.  I will now shut down the computer, and I will clean up, and I will go out.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/16/04  Sunday 9:25 P.M.:  I chatted with a relative.  I will now take the batteries out of the charger.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/16/04  Sunday 9:10 P.M.:  It is suppose to be clear tonight, so maybe one will be able to see the comet Neat high in the western sky at this moment.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/16/04  Sunday 9:05 P.M.:  I was up at 7:30 P.M., and I had to reset some clocks and turn the air conditioner back on since the electricity power had gone off for a short while.  I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry preserves, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee.  I will take the RadioShack Nickel Metal Hydride Rechargeable AA batteries out of the Radio Shack charger at 9:30 P.M., when they are fully charged.  I will put them back in their packaging and leave them on top of the TEAC DVD player next to the charger to have available for use.  I will switch back the RadioShack charger setting from Nickel Metal Hydride to Nickel Cadmium to have available for use in charging my AAA Nickel Cadmium batteries when I use them with the Emerson wireless headphones.  CIO 

Note: <888> 05/16/04  Sunday 11:45 A.M.:  I went out after the last message.  I chatted with a neighbor, and while I was chatting my allergies bothered me, so I went upstairs, and I took a Benadryl http://www.benadryl.com/ .  I went by the Exxon gasoline station next to the Greenwich Library, and I bought $5.25 of regular unleaded gasoline at $2.259 a gallon for about 35 miles per gallon usage.  I probably was not able to fill the tank all the way up, since I was at the second self service pump, which is on more of an incline, so I got better gasoline mileage, which means next time, I fill up at the first pump, I will probably get less gasoline mileage.  I then went downtown, and I chatted a bit with some waterfront observers down by the waterfront.  I was suspicious about the weather, whether it would rain or not.  I then went downtown, and I started to walk the length of Greenwich Avenue, but my arthritis was bothering me, so I cut short my walk, and I only walked about a block.  I next went by the ATM machine at Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason Street.  I then drove over to Radio Shack in Cos Cob, and I waited a half hour for the store to open at 10 A.M..  I bought a four pack of RadioShack www.radioshack.com Nickel Metal Hydride Rechargeable batteries 2000mAh 23-528 for $19.99 and a package of RadioShack 16 count assortment of wire connectors 64-3507 for $1.69 plus $1.30 tax for $22.98 total.  I then returned back downtown, and I sat out for a while.  I then returned home.  I next changed my RadioShack battery charger from Nickel Cadmium to Nickel Metal Hydride, and I am charging the four batteries I just bought at Radio Shack.  Apparently Nickel Cadmium occasionally have memory loss, and the need to be fully recharged when they are not fully discharged.  However, Nickel Metal Hydride need to be fully discharged before recharging.  I have four Radio Shack Nickel Cadmium AAA batteries that I use with my Emerson Wireless headphones.  I set my bedroom alarm clock to go off at 9 P.M. to indicate that the batteries are fully charged.  I had a former neighbor call from down by the waterfront who wants a copy of the next six months of tide charts http://www.maineharbors.com/ct/tidectw.htm , so I printed out a copy, and I will keep them in my car with my copy, and I will give them to him when I see him next.  I will now eat a piece of apple pie and drink some iced tea.  I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/16/04  Sunday 7:10 A.M.:  I will now shut down the computer, and I will clean up, and I will go out.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/16/04  Sunday 6:45 A.M.:  I am microwaving a Stouffer's Lean Cuisine 13 ounce glazed chicken dinner, which I eat with a glass of iced tea.  CIO

Note: <888> 05/16/04  Sunday 6:20 A.M.:  I checked the weather outside, and it seems to have cleared up.  The LCD screen on the Sony AM/FM Walkman went blank after a while, when I removed the new AA alkaline batteries, and I reinstalled the batteries, and it now works just fine.  I set the five channel presets to some radio station that I occasionally listen to.  I bought it at the Greenwich Hospital Thrift shop for a dollar about a year ago.  CIO