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Vista Computer Cannot See XP Computer In Home Network
2008-01-16 13:58:00
I recently purchased an Acer Extensa 5420 laptop that was running Windows Vista . My home computer runs Windows XP and I wanted to network the two machines so that I could access files and the printer from my laptop. It seemed to be an unending problem that I was unable to fix. Anyhow, I finally got it working. I can't even remember everything I did, but I tried to do as much as possible through the Control Panel to get the network working. This included: Running the Network Setup Wizard. Creating shared folders on either computer. Defining a name for each computer in the Control Panel->System. Make sure the computers are both part of the same Workgroup. After rebooting a couple of times and tinkering with various settings, my laptop was able to see the XP machine when I looked at the Network through Vista. When I double clicked on my computer I would still get the following error though: xxxxxxx is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource....
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Getting Frets On Fire Working On Vista
2008-01-15 14:11:00
I recently installed Frets On Fire on my computer and have been having a great time. I still need a guitar though, but I'll figure that out soon enough. Getting Frets On Fire to work took a little bit of effort though. I had issues getting it to work on both Vista and XP, but managed to figure them both out. Windows Vista Frets On Fire Error #1 I tried installing the latest version which is Frets On Fire 1.2.512. I installed it and loaded it up. I was able to scroll through the menus and make selections. As soon as I enter a song, I get the following error in a window titled cx_Freeze: Python error in main script: Traceback (most recent call last): File "c:usersprojcx_Freeze-3.0.3initscriptscon sole.py", line 27, in ? File "src/FretsOnFire.py", line 79, in ? File "srcGameEngine.py", line 369, in run File "C:APPSactpythonlibsite-packagesopengl-3. 0.0a4-py2.4.eggOpenGLerror.py", line 90, in__str__ File "C:APPSactpythonlibsite-packagesopengl-3. 0.0a4-py2.4.egg...
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Canmore Hiking Self Portrait - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-15 14:00:00
I was doing a scramble on a mountain (forgot the name) south of Canmore in 2004 and decided to do a self portrait at the top. Not the prettiest photo of myself.Published on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
More About: Photo , Hiking , Portrait , Self Portrait

Frets On Fire - Free Version Of Guitar Hero
2008-01-14 14:53:00
What is Frets On Fire If you have ever played Guitar Hero then you will understand Frets On Fire. The Guitar Hero series has been one of the best selling games the past few years. Basically the game consists of trying to play a pattern of notes for various popular songs by following the note patterns on the screen. It sounds simple, but it can be really difficult and very addicting. Frets On Fire is an open source software program written by some guys in Finland. It is free and has the ability to do any song. So if you are looking to try it out, then it is a great opportunity to see what it is all about. If you are looking to play songs that are not in the real Guitar Hero series, then Frets On Fire might just have them. Check out the Frets On Fire Homepage or watch a demo video of Frets On Fire. What Is Great About Frets On Fire Free You cannot beat the price. If you don't like it, then who cares? Guitar Hero itself costs anywhere from $50 for just the software to $100 ...

Sinking Boat In The Mekong Delta - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-14 14:00:00
This looked really funny, but I shouldn't really laugh at it. In 2004 I was traveling in south east asia and was on a tour of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. As we boated along the river we came across this scene. There were a crew of guys quickly working to do something. I'm assuming to try and float it again. It looked like a nasty predicament either way. I snapped this with my Canon S50 point and shoot camera. Published on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
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Edmonton Man Made Waterfall - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-13 14:00:00
If you have ever lived in Edmonton , Alberta, Canada for a period of time, you will have seen this sight. For special occasions (like Canada Day) they create a man made waterfall off of the High Level Bridge. It looks pretty neat at night when it is all lit up. I took this photo from the 18th floor of WatersEdge Condominiums (101 St. and Saskatchewan Drive) using my Canon S50 point and shoot. The falls are in the left hand side and you can see some of the Alberta Legislature to the right.Published on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
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Engagement Evening At The Cannery Row - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-12 14:00:00
Cheryl and I were engaged on August 13, 2004 in Calgary, Alberta. That night we went for a nice dinner at The Cannery Row. Excellent food for and excellent day. The waitress took this photo for us with my Canon S50 point and shoot camera.Published on Sat, 12 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
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Acer Extensa 5420 Black Screen On Startup
2008-01-11 18:20:00
Well I have already screwed up my Acer laptop, but have managed to recover it (somewhat). I purchased the Acer Extensa 5420 in the end of December 2007 and been quite happy with the laptop so far. I have been installing applications and I decided to upgrade to the latest ATI drivers for my ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2400XT video card that is inside. I went to the ATI website and searched through their drivers sections. This is where I went wrong. ATI's Site Does Not Provide Laptop Drivers I was searching around for drivers and could not find the 2400 series drivers in the Mobility section so I downloaded the ones from the regular Radeon area. If I had read the fine print in the Mobility section, I would have seen that they do not provide drivers for laptops. The laptop manufacturer is responsible for this. Anyhow, after I installed the driver package I downloaded, the laptop would only boot to a black screen. After some messing around I decided I would just to the restore from...
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Fluffy Dog - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-11 14:00:00
This little guy/girl was looking pretty cute as he tried to run across the cul de sac in Victoria, British Columbia. I took this with my Canon S50 point and shoot camera.Published on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
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Portrait Photography Tips
2008-01-10 16:03:00
I read a blog regularly called Epic Edits Weblog. There is an excellent article with 31 Lessons In Portrait Photography . Check it out for some good examples and things to think about.Published on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:03:01 MST. - 0 Comments
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Canmore Hiking - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-10 14:00:00
This is me with my goofy grin. I had just scrambled up one of the mountains (forgot the name) to the south of Canmore, Alberta, Canada. I had a picture taken looking down from the top at Canmore. Pretty spectacular view from up there. Published on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
More About: Photo , Hiking

Schweitzer Ski Resort - Review
2008-01-10 13:05:00
I spent the first week of 2008 in northern Idaho at the Stoneridge Resort at Blanchard. One of the closer ski hills is Schweitzer Ski Resort. It is a fantastic little ski hill that claims to be the 3rd best tree skiing in North America. I don't know if that is true or not, but I had a pretty good time. Just a few minutes north of Sandpoint, Idaho, you turn west off the highway. There is a parking lot at the bottom where you can take a bus up to the top. I think they said it was around 9 miles from the bottom to the top so it is as bit of a drive. When you get up there, there are a few different parking lots that are basically all ski in and ski out of, but be careful. The top parking lot is a $10 fee to use. There is a front side and a back side to the hill and there are quite a few treed areas that you can ride through. Quite a few of them I would say are blue tree runs so it is good for more beginner types. Not Too Crowded It might have been the day, but there were a ...
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Hoya Macro Filters Review
2008-01-09 14:18:00
I have always wanted a macro lens to get those close up shots, but have convinced myself out of it. They are more expensive, take up more space in the bag, and can be a bit cumbersome to change lenses depending on the situation. Anyhow, my wife purchased the Hoya Close Up Filters for me and I have to say they are a convenient middle point for taking macro shots. You can get a set of 3 filters that are 1x, 2x, and 4x. The ones I have are for 52mm thread diameter lenses so it works perfectly on my 50mm Nikon 1.8D lens. Basically, it decreases the minimum focusing distance for you lens so that you can get closer to the object than you were able to before. I was able to get a lot closer to my test subjects at Christmas time and get some decent close up photos. Limitations It does not get a 1:1 ratio so you will not be able to get your subject to be the same size in the photo as it is in real life, but it definitely can make it a couple magnitudes larger.Published on Wed, 09 Jan 2...
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Looking Through Tunnel At Niagara Falls - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-09 14:00:00
I was in southern Ontario for a wedding in November of 2004 and was able to see a few sights while I was there. At Niagara Falls , you can go down into some tunnels to get a better look at the falls. As you walk along at one point, you can look down this tunnel and see the waterfalls pounding down.Published on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
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Owl - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-08 14:00:00
This owl was perched in a cage at the guest house I was staying at in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It was kind of creepy looking, but I had to get a picture of his big yellow eyes.Published on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
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Dell Laser Printer 1110 - Review
2008-01-08 13:05:00
I purchased the Dell Laser Printer 1110 around 6 months ago and it has definitely been one of my better purchases. I was sick of being ripped off on ink cartridges for ink jet printers and wanted to step up to a laser. My problem is that I wanted color, fax, a scanner, a copier, and other features. You know, one of the all in one machines. Unfortunately, the laser multi-function printers are still a bit pricey for the average consumer. When I saw the Dell Laser 1110 go on sale for $69.00 during Dell Days of Deals I decided to just pay the money. It only came with a half full toner cartridge at that price, but this will still do a thousand pages and won't dry up on you like ink cartridges will. Dell Laser Printer 1110 Specs These were taken from the Dell 1110 Laser Printer Product Page on Dell's Canadian Website. You can find detailed specifications there as well. Fast Up to 17 pages per minute(actual print speed will vary with use) Sharp text and graphics at 600 dpi Smal...
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Nanaimo River - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-07 14:00:00
In the summer, it has been a bit of a tradition to go for a swim at the Nanaimo River . It bulges out at one point and creates a rather large pool where you can jump off the small cliffs or just relax and sit in the sun.Published on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
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Water Falls In Vietnam - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-06 14:00:00
Outside of Dalat, Vietnam are these waterfalls. I ended up having a shower in them, but the water was a bit too brown to say it was that great. Dalat billed itself as the Paris of the East as it is a honeymoon town for the Vietnamese and it has a tower that resembles the Eiffel Tower.Published on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
More About: Photo , Water , Falls

Silhouette In Victoria - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-05 14:00:00
My wife and I were taking photos for our wedding invitation and this was one of the hundred or so that didn't make the cut, but I still like it. It was taken along the ocean just off Dallas Road in Victoria at sunset.Published on Sat, 05 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
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Butterfly - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-04 14:00:00
I was in Ontario for a wedding in Hamilton and ended up going to the Butterfly Museum on my way back from Niagara Falls. It was hot and humid inside, but well worth the tour.Published on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
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Iomega 500GB External Hard Drive - Review
2008-01-03 14:01:00
If you are running short of hard drive space, one of the best options is to purchase an external hard drive. That is what I did when I saw the Iomega 500GB external hard drive go on sale. It is a 500GB drive that is available from a lot of different retailers. I purchased mine for CA$119 during Dell's Days of Deals. Why I Purchased The Iomega 500GB Hard Drive 500 GB Size I want a decent size drive to store pictures and video on. 500GB is a big shot in the arm for my storage capacity. Price I paid CA$119, which is the same as the US dollar right now. That is less than 24 cents per GB. USB Connection Any computer built in the last 7 or 8 years will have these connectors on them. I can hook my external drive up to anyone's computer. Firewire or eSata are faster, but not everyone has them. Fanless This was the big one. This hard drive is very, very quiet. Unless the hard drive is really working, you do not even hear a noise. Physical Size It is quite compact and my is com...
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View From Mount Maxwell - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-03 14:00:00
This is an awesome view and entirely worth it for anyone who takes the ferry over to Saltspring Island. It is one of the gulf islands off the coast of Vancouer Island. You can drive most of the way up to the top of Mount Maxwell and then walk 50 yards to have this amazing view. It looks across this valley from east to west and is fantastic.Published on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
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2007 Year In Review - Thoughts From My Life
2008-01-02 18:09:00
2007 has finally gone by. My first full year of blogging has past and I have written a lot of articles and learned a lot of lessons. Fortunately, I have made some money in the meantime as well. I started this blog in November of 2006. My intent was to try and make money on the internet and use the site as a diary of what I was thinking about or working on at the time. I have a variety of interests ranging from computers, finance, travel reward programs, music, photography, traveling, and you name it. So the blog has not been overly focused, but it has made it a lot easier to continually be writing content for the site. If you like any of those topics then there is a good chance you will find something of value here. Traffic For 2007 The traffic had a couple of cycles this year. I ramped up to around 200 unique visitors a day in the spring and then Google dropped me from their search results for some reason. I have since built it back up to 100 uniques a day and have just p...
More About: Life , Review , My Life , Thoughts , Year

Earn Revenue Online - December 2007 Recap
2008-01-02 15:29:00
December of 2007 is now finished and Thoughts From My Life has ended on the highest note of the year. A great sign for the new year. It was the best month ever for my passive income! New records. Thoughts From My Life Traffic Stats for Decdember December's numbers and November's numbers are in brackets. Page Loads: 9828 (5754) Unique Visitors: 5745 (3016) Average Uniques/Day: 185 (100) Lowest Uniques/Day: 78 (73) Highest Uniques/Day: 766 (129) Traffic was over 100 for the first part of the month. I was happy with this and then the last week of this month my traffic exploded. I definitely have higher expectations now. This traffic came from a couple of sources. One was Stumbleupon users going to my Nikon 18-200mm VR Lens article and the second source was my new article on my Acer Extensa 5420 laptop. December Traffic Thoughts From My Life Revenue Overall, my earnings for December were $171.33. Here is the breakdown with last month's numbers in brackets. PayU2Blo...
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Floating Market Woman - Photo Of The Day
2008-01-02 14:00:00
This woman was sitting in her boat selling lychees at the floating market in Thailand. The picture is a bit out of focus, but I still like it nonetheless.Published on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
More About: Photo , Market , Woman , Floating

Logitech V400 Notebook Mouse - Review
2007-12-31 14:18:00
I purchased the Logitech V400 Notebook Mouse about a month ago after my regular mouse died on me. I have been quite happy with it so far. It is a wireless optical mouse made by Logitech for notebooks. It is quite compact and has pretty fine control. It retailed for around $40 when I first found it, but I ended up finding it on eBay for around $15 plus shipping so I was pretty proud of my purchase. Features Of The Logitech V400 Compact - I do like the size of it. Not too small or too big. Wireless - It come with a little USB receiver. USB Receiver Storage - It snaps into the back of the mouse and clips into place. One Battery - Only takes one battery. Page Up/Page Down buttons - They can be configured I believer. Scroll wheel also acts as a left and right button to move horizontally on the screen. I don't have any real complaints so far. Excellent little mouse with the extra features to make it handy in various situations. Here is another review of the Logitech V400 that ...
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Cheryl On Saltspring Island - Photo Of The Day
2007-12-31 14:00:00
This is a picture of my wife before we were married. I like this photo. She is staring out to the ocean on a beach on the north tip of Saltspring Island just off the coast of Vancouver Island.Published on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
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Floating Market In Thailand - Photo Of The Day
2007-12-30 14:00:00
The floating market an hour or so outside of Bangkok in Thailand is a very popular tourist destination. Boats fill the little canals and people boat along and can buy goods of vendors in their own boats filled with produce and other goods. Taken with a Canon S50.Published on Sun, 30 Dec 2007 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
More About: Photo , Market , Floating

Saltspring Island - Photo Of The Day
2007-12-29 14:00:00
On the northern tip of Saltspring Island off the west coast of Canada is a neat little bay. The view was fantastic and boats could be see sailing through the passage between Saltspring and the next island to the north. This was taken using the Canon S50.Published on Sat, 29 Dec 2007 06:00:26 MST. - 0 Comments
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First Link Sale
2007-12-28 15:19:00
I am happy to announce I sold my first permanent link placement on this blog. I am always looking to have more passive income on this blog to increase the revenue each month without increasing my own workload and this will do just fine. The link sponsor section is in the right column near the top. If you are interested in purchasing links on my blog to increase traffic to your own site, please contact me using through the Advertising page.Published on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 07:19:00 MST. - 0 Comments
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