Contemporary Classic Music

Tonight was Contemporary Classic Music for Akron Symphony.
- The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughn Williams
- The Phoenix Rising by Stella Sung
- The Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky
- The Garden of Cosmic Speculation
- On a Wire for sextet and orchestra by Jennifer Higdon

Highlight of the evening was the On a Wire commissioned composition played by the eight blackbird ensemble.  This group now in its 15th season has won many awards. It will soon perform this same music with the Cleveland Symphony.

My Review of Building the Perfect PC

Originally submitted at O'Reilly

Even if you’re not a total geek, you can build your own PC -- and it’s worth it. You'll discover that the quality is better and the cost is much lower than any comparable off-the-shelf PC you can buy. Written by hardware experts, this book delivers complete instructions for build...

Building the Perfect PC

Building a PC yourself has many benefits

By Frank M from Akron, OH on 12/12/2010

 

5out of 5

Pros: Easy to understand, Accurate, Helpful examples, Thorough, Well-written, Up to date

Cons: Software little coverage

Best Uses: Novice, Intermediate, Expert, Student

Describe Yourself: Developer, Maker, Designer

Authors Robert & Barbara Thompson have again written an amazing guide for anyone with intentions of building their own PC. I am again happy to be a dedicated PC user. Apple users are not able to build their own Mac computers as far as I know.

This book is a great supplement for the usual motherboard User Guide but should not be considered a substitute. There is now a lot new to learn about parts because everything has changed from my previous build in 2005. As the writers say you can't even get any of those parts any more. Now we must learn about Intel Quad core i3, i5 or i7 processors, SATA hard drives, LCD monitors, USB devices, SATA 3.0 ports, and new kinds of memory. Other possible processors and other components also are new.

The most valuable part of the book is help in choosing and buying components, and how to design a perfect PC. There is also a general section re troubleshooting after assembly. Most helpful to me is a final checklist before "the Smoke Test" for each design. Each PC described has such a final check list.

Many color photos and detailed building descriptions for all of the models are very thorough. There is a model for almost everyone. This edition has 6 different PC's for your choice. Included are a Budget PC, Mainstream System, Extreme System, Media Center System, Appliance/Nettop System, and a Home Server

Using the book I am in the process of selecting components for my new Extreme Mainstream System, a combination of two models in the book. I am not into Gaming, Video production or other high end use. So far I have purchased a full tower case, an Asus P7P55D- E Pro motherboard, and an Intel Quad core i7 processor. Next is likely a 2 TB SATA 3.0 Gb/s hard drive. The final acquisition of all components will soon be completed. Then comes the final fun of building the system, guided by the motherboard user guide and this amazing resource book. Slogan on the book cover: "The perfect PC is the one you build yourself."

(legalese)

Saturday Soup Day

Saturday Menu : Leek and Potato Soup

We have made this Leek and Potato soup since 1997, with
various variations.  Today we added some celery and carrots,
plus milk and flour to make it a bit creamy.

Basic recipe contains:
-  4 tablespoons butter or margarine
-  4 sliced leeks (4 cups)
-  1.5 pounds sliced russet potatoes
-  6 cups unsalted chicken stock
-  1 tablespoon salt
Serves 6

This family favorite soup is usually made with our own
home grown leeks.  This year's crop was good and now
mulched with leaves for winter protection. These usually
survive until next March or April.

Recipe from:
A Passion for Potatoes by Lydie Marshall
200 recipes for appetizers, entrees, side dishes and desserts. 


 

Ebay Fun

                          Ebay Fun
Selling items on Ebay is always a lot of fun for me.
Composing the description comes first as well as making
good photos. After posting some fun is in checking frequently
to see how many have viewed the item.  Some folks with
interest set watch to be advised of any bids.  My past
experience has been that most bidding takes place in
the last hour of a 7 day auction.

Here is my latest 7 day auction item posted last night. Sixteen hours
later Ebay shows 15 people have viewed the item and 3 have set
a watch to see the progress.

Skutt Ceramic Kiln: Model 818+WR - 240 volts: 40 Amps (with 3 rings) Temperature Cone 10, 2350 degrees, with 3 wired rings.
Chamber 17.5 " opening, 27" deep, 3.94 cu. ft.
Third ring can be removed for small loads.
Manual firing with Dawson Model K Kiln Sitter - operating manual included.
Listed as used but used very little.  Never fired over cone 6, 2250 degrees.
Very clean inside and out - see photos.
All heating elements are intact, in place, and in excellent condition.
Only small appearance defect is one small chip off of internal edge of one ring, easily repaired.  Otherwise in as new conditon.
A wide assortment of accessories is included, see photos:
1. Shelves, 3 full and 3 half size.
2. Triangular shelf spacer posts, 3 each of 11 lengths.
3. Peep Hole plugs - 5.
4. Various ceramic ware supports.
5, One Kemper Klay Gun for extruding 19 different small shapes.
6. Boxes of controller firing cones: cone 07 and 6. (50 each, almost full boxes)
7. Large witness cones: Cone 06, 07, 08 and 5, 6 and 7. (50 each, almost full boxes)
8. Outlet box for 3 pin, 240 volts, with 8 foot length of wiring.9. Dawson Kiln Sitter firing instructions, Skutt catalog, Skutt current price list.

For local pickup only.  Location is near Akron, Ohio.
If going to Summit County location I could help to deliver.

Cyber Monday

                          Cyber Monday

Monday after Thanksgiving now has the name of Cyber Monday. 
Good for computer nerdy folks looking for computer and book
bargains.  Other delighted shoppers had their day in the sun on
Black Friday.

My Cyber Monday this year was enhanced by the O'Reilly book
company with 60 percent discounts on all ebooks.  I shopped
their website and found 4 computer books I really wanted.
One on Building the Perfect PC, 3rd edition, I have been waiting
for. It was released in late November this year.

These were my four ebook bargains from O'Reilly:
1.  Building the Perfect PC, 3rd edition
2.  Microsoft Expression Web 2 Step by Step, 1st edition
3.  Microsoft Office 2010 Inside Out, 1st edition
4.  Troubleshooting Windows 7 Inside Out, 1st edition

Imediately after completing the purchase online, the message
said these ebooks could be downloaded now.  The mobi version
of each was very quickly into a file on my PC. The Building the
Perfect PC was download in the pdf version also for comparison.
The pdf file is much smaller than the mobi version. Kindle on the
PC was used to start reading these ebooks.  On the PC all of
them show photos and graphics in color if printed that way.
Later when I get my Kindle reader all will be in black and white.
That is a good reason to have the Kindle on the PC softerware
on my computer in case some ebooks have a lot of color.


 

My Day to Cook

              My Day to Cook - November 20, 2010
On this Saturday the soup is our family's favorite chili.  The recipe name is
"Chili H. Allen Smith."  He is the author of an article with the title: "Nobody
Knows More About Chili Than I Do."  It was published on this International
Chili Society website where you can read the entire story and see the recipe.
Check here for it: http://www.chilicookoff.com/history/history_started.asp

Allen Smith grew up in  Decatur, IL and argues that Chili was not invented
in Mexico, Texas or otherwise in America. He claims it was invented by
Canary Islanders in the 1720's. Smith says that the secret of making
superior chili lies first in the ingredients and second in the genius of the
cook. Nothing should ever be measured.  Experimentation is the thing. 
But in his recipe he does indicate some amounts to be used.

Here is a list of  the ingredients scattered through a long paragraph in his
article:
-  3 pounds of coarse ground chuck
-  3 medium-sized onions - chopped
-  1 or 2 cloves of garlic
-  1 bell pepper - chopped
-  1/2 teaspoon oregano
-  1/4 teaspoon cummin seed
-  2 small cups tomato paste, or canned or fresh tomatoes
-  1 quart water
-  salt to taste
-  black pepper
-  2 or 3 tablespoons chili powder
-  or chili pods in place of chili powder
-  2 cans of pinto or kidney beans
Cooking instructions:
1.  Brown the ground chuck
2.  Add other ingredients except beans in the order listed
3.  Simmer for 1.5 hours
4.  Add beans
5.  Simmer another half hour
6.  Let it set for several hours
7.  Heat and eat later and remainder into refrigerator
8.  Tastes better 2nd day, even better 3rd day, and absolutely superb
on 4th day.
9.  One week later, you can't even emagine the delights in store.

On the Road Again

My new Garman GPS arrived today and already having fun
learning how to use it while still at home.  Tired of traveling
with that old outdated GPS telling me too often that I was
"At the end of road."

This new Garman nuvi 1450T has some interesting features that I
could not enjoy with that old thing. It includes FM transmitted
traffic information.  When traffic is jammed up ahead it is possible 
to request the GPS for an alternate route.  Amazing if it works.
I understand that traffic info is available mostly in or near larger
cities.  

I paid something extra for lifetime map updates 4 times per year.
Sitting here at home I tried out the Points of Interest feature.  Very 
easy to use .  I found  4 nearby restaurants, 3 gas stations, several
hotels, a shopping center, and 2 movie theaters.  It shows the street
addresses and miles to each. If on the road I believe I can click on
my choice and start traveling to it with the GPS showing the way.

A  lot more to learn.  I downloaded a 65 page Owner's Manual to
help with the finer points.  The quick start manual was very brief

I am no big fan of Willie Nelson but that "On the Road Again" movie
and song title came to mind when writing this tonight.