Brian G

The Maxtor has landed again. Hopefully this one isn't a squealer. I hates a squealer, don't you Mugsy? I've uninstalled the software since they have individual licenses and unit numbers, might goof things up. Tomorrow I'll take another stab at it, and if I get snagged I'll call the customer support tech immediately. May the force be with me. [:-masked] Brian G.

Next ignorant question: Zactly what is the ethernet? The wireless router doesn't sound too bad, and I almost certainly will be adding a laptop this summer. I'll have to check for the NIC, no idea. I have a cousin about 5 hours away who was a computer geek long before there was a term for it. I'm planning on lining up a number of improvements and kidnapping his butt for a few days. Work slave! I'm sure you know that if you do find such a photo it's almost certain to be a fake. Might still be worth a peek though...admire the mastery of the digital artist, y'know. [:-dev3] Brian G. I Done Got Some Smarter A'gin [:-propeller]

I saw a story on a news magazine type show once about a guy who had combined super deep-freeze equipment with a special computer program he had written. The idea was very interesting. It seems that all soild matter is made of molecules (or was it atoms?) which are dispersed in varying density (distance between the molecules). No matter how hard you try in fabricating a material, you will end up with variations in density. BUT, if you take any material down to absolute zero, the molecules will spontaneously realign themselves in perfectly even density. You have to do this very slowly though (hence the special program) or the stuff will just shatter. Why bother? Well, according to the gentleman the net effect is to significantly improve a number of properties of almost any material, particularly durability in raw materials and minor imperfections in delicate macinery. He did everything from pantyhose to Harley engines, if you had the fee. Lots of expensive parts for expensive machinery, musical instruments (trumphet, sax, etc.), high-end specialized saw blades and drill bits, and on and on. I thought it was fascinating, really stuck in my mind. Hey Bill, if I'm off on the atoms / molecules, correct me. Brian G. [:-cold]

Okay, a couple of questions. A. How expensive are NAT routers, and do I need a computer geek to install one? B. What about that 8 x 10 glossy I asked about? [] Brian G. Geeking-Up, Inch By Inch [:-glasses]

It could be a lightening arrestor Chris, but most of the ones I've seen mount through a knock-out and are somewhat bigger than that. No way to be sure without any markings. Brian G.

I'm fairly well familir with cast iron and it's problems, but I also see galvanized steel supply lines under a lot of older houses, and I really don't know much about those. What's the typical rated life, what are the typical problems they have, what warning signs should I be looking for, etc. I'd be interested in any informed comments on the subject, and whatever boilerplate you might have for it. The same is true for lead, except that if I've seen any I didn't know it. How can you tell for sure if it's lead? Then all of the same questions apply again. Brian G. Rusty on This Subject []

What constitutes a valid test is another one of those side issues to licensing that currently has no good or fair answer. There are dozens of factors to be considered when trying to imagine what an ideal test might cover, not cover, etc., all contributing to the overall question of "How hard should it be?". If you're going to give it as a prerequisite to even obtaining the right to work as an HI, is it fair or reasonable to give a test that a seasoned 20 year vet would consider "tough"? I don't see how it is. Is it fair or reasonable to the vets, the profession, or the consumer to give a test that almost anyone can pass. I don't see how again. So the test either has to find a middle ground (compromise) or you need more than one test, given at different points in time. I like the second idea. A demanding but reasonable minimum competency test to get in the door, and a notably more demanding, comprehensive one after so many months / years / inspections. All combined with meaningful training requirements, field / peer review, and CE, carefully worked out by the same semi-miracle I suppose. With two tests niether one would have to compromise to avoid being unfair. I don't know how many competeing exams there are out there, I've only heard about the NHIE and the Texas exam. I had to take the NHIE to obtain a license, without ever having performed a single inspection. The day I took it I was the only one who passed. I've heard some brag about blowing right through it without breaking a sweat, but later found that they had tons of experience in the field. Well duh, they should smoke it. Brian G.

Donald my brother, You are the man! That website is loaded with info for computer dummies like me. I emailed several "Daily Tips" to myself about firewalls, settings, security, etc. All 1 page, very readable stuff with specific instructions about what to click and what to change. The only downside I saw is that the stuff isn't print-ready. I subscibed to the "Daily Tip" and the weekly newsletter. Hey Norm, you gotta try this site. Mike, you should put that link in the "Resources" section under computers. She is a lovely woman too. Looks just like Ellen! [-crzwom] Brian G.

Norm, The one I have plugs into a USB port, but they have firewire and other options available. How difficult it is to get up and running I can't say at this point. I had problems on my first effort, but I have a defective unit (soon to be replaced). The customer support guy was great, so I'm just gonna call him back when I'm ready to go again with the new one. The instructions claim an "Easy 1-2-3" set-up. More to come on that. Even if it takes a little effort, I still think it's a smart move to get it done. One-touch back-up + notebook = Plan B in a worst-case scenario, Brian stays in business. Brian G.

It's a good-looking bungalow for $15,000, but it sure is gonna be lot to chew for somebody. Here's hoping for the best. Brian G.

I finally got some free time Friday to call Maxtor about my installation difficulties and that odd noise it's making. The nice tech guy said it isn't supposed to make that noise, and immediately offered to ship me a new one. He also said to call back when I was ready to install the new unit and he would walk me through it. Lovely fellow. None of this has soured me on the Maxtor (yet), it's still a very sound, intelligent idea. Stuff happens. Brian G. If At First You Don't Succeed....[:-banghead]

I'm seriously thinking of making the leap to DSL, but I'm nervous about having my computer "open" on-line, all of the time. I'm sure most of you noted that post a few days ago by the gentlemen who talked about how much fun it was to browse other peoples' computers via DSL, looking at credit card numbers, etc. Is there any really tough protection available in a firewall or something like that, or is it a waste of time and money? Yeah, I know if a hacker is skilled and has time you can't stop him, but what about just being as "hard" a target as possible? Is it worthwhile to try? Brian G. Dial-Up Dinosaur [:-indifferent]

I could definitley support the idea of peer review, but it could be tricky to keep the politics out of it. I think you might need a board or panel behind the field guy, making the ultimate call in open session. I'll have to look at the Canadian stuff later, see how they go at it. The HI schools are also problematic. As one who looked at several options just a couple of years ago, my personal opinion is that most are poor performers. Some are hard to judge because they're owned by a big HI franchise. Do you suppose anyone who pays the big franchise fee has ever failed to be "certified" by their school? I doubt it. But lumping them all into one pile is wrong. I had a short list of 3 I felt comfortable considering, and I felt I was given all I could have hoped for in the time frame given where I went. I'm the one who could only swing a week, not their fault. The American creed assures us the right to try it if we want to, nothing more. Lots of different people fail in lots of different businesses every day, trained or not. Most folks really aren't cut out for it. Brian G.