Dear [Lynn],
I have no plans on Sunday. If you let me know what time you’ll be calling, I can put you on my calendar, so I don’t schedule something else.
Actually, I still have the 742-xxxx number, but that’s a FAX line now. Use the 742-yyyy number instead.
And, my address is “RR 7 Box xxx” not “RR 1 Box xxx”. You got the rest of it correct however.
You have my Mom’s phone number correct.
Tom
Dear [Lynn],
No, sounds like you’re preparing the CD properly.
Once you have the files on the CD, you can view them in Windows Explorer by accessing the folder (on the CD you made) where you put the files.
It sounds like the Zoom Browser can display them chronologically for you. However, I’m not familiar with this program. So I can’t say for sure exactly how it works. But you can do the same effect in Explorer if you find yourself using a machine that doesn’t have the Zoom Browser installed.
Tom
Dear [Lynn],
I’ll need to call my email host provider and see how they configure their spam settings. Hopefully, it was just a fluke. Let me know if you have further problems.
I could talk you through setting up Explorer to see your pictures in the right order on the phone, if you wish.
Tom Hesley
Dear [Lynn],
You can use Windows Explorer to list the pic files on any CD in either alphabetical or chronological or some other order. To display them chronologically, you must assure that Explorer is displaying the “Date Created” field. If yours isn’t showing this field when you display the directory where your pic files are, I can explain how to show it.
Anyway, click the title bar for the “Date Created” column, and this will sort the files according to their creation date, and give you the chronological order you desire, either forward or reverse.
Tom
[Lynn has been trying to email me, but getting her message returned with an error that says that my server thinks that she's a spammer. Anyway, she finally got through today. So I responded as follows:]
First I’ve heard of that too. Are you certain that it is my server that’s doing the rejecting? You might send along the email you got, indicating this.
Tom
Dear [Lynn],
Yes, the router also performs the HUB / Switch function. As long as it has enough connections (ports) for all the computers you want on your network, it will function well as a network hub.
Each computer has ONE cable, that connects it to the hub. So if you’ve got both computers accessing the Internet now, it sounds like you have all the network cables you need.
Yes, installing a USB 2 card is actually easier than installing a NIC. No network settings to fool with. USB is quite idiot-proof. 
Yep. Just five years ago. How long ago did YOU think it was? Ten years?
Well, I suppose I respond quickly because I’m not very busy these days. I’m not “rich” anymore, but I love the leisure. I like smiling these days too. Notice?
Tom
Dear [Lynn],
Congratulations on the NIC [network interface card] installation. Most device cards install just that easily these days.
Well, to get the computers to talk, you must have a network hub/switch. And each computer must have a NIC installed. Then, you need the cables (of the required length) to connect each computer (via the NIC card) to the hub/switch. Netgear makes some nice switches that also have a built-in firewall for the Internet. If you go forward with this, buy the hardware you need (as just discussed) and once you have it all hooked up, I can help you configure the computers to talk to each other. Again, this is fairly straight-forward.
I’ve used the Adaptec USB Xhub 7s with great success. I’d recommend these or the Xhub 4s (the 7s have 7 ports and the 4s have 4).
If the computer is from 2001 or before, the port is probably USB1. You can use USB 2 devices in USB 1 ports but they won’t perform as fast. USB 2 is between 20 and 30 times as fast as USB 1. When you plug a USB 2 device into a USB 1 port, the device detects this, and reconfigures itself as a USB 1 device, slowing down its data transmission rates to match USB 1 speeds. In the case of a printer or digital camera, this might not be too noticeable. But for an external hard drive that you plan on heaving lots of data to and from, a 20 minute backup at USB 2 speeds will take almost 8 hours at USB 1 rates. So you’ll need to make sure that your port is USB 2, unless you don’t mind the slow performance. If the built in port is USB 1, you could add a USB 2 card to the computer to get the higher USB 2 performance.
Enjoy your trip. Wow, that was 5 years ago that we went there. Just seems like yesterday. Well, give my regards to Bella, if she remembers me. How are you getting there? Flying?
Later,
Tom
[Mentat],
Yes, I’ve been talking to a lady from New York since late January. Nothing going on there however, beyond friendship. I’m still looking.
Have been doing some in-depth study of Evolutionary Psychology. I’ve found the information unsettling. For a while, it made me question my very mission in life and wonder if I shouldn’t come up with a more fruitful [one]. But I’m past that. Things are going well once again, and my purpose is clearer than ever.
I’ll give you a call soon.
By the way, did you know that John Britzki passed away in March from a massive heart attack? He is survived by his brother, and Rosalie Keating – John and Rosalie lived together for some years before his death.
Also, [Tad's] wife was in the hospital for 20 days a few weeks ago. Apparently, she’s got some sort of blood disorder – she almost died, and was on a ventilator for most of that time. Now, she’s not able to speak loudly yet – presumably due to the ventilator pipes being in her throat for so long. But she’s getting physical therapy in Johnstown. No word yet about when she’ll be going home to Pittsburgh.
Now to Winamp: Winamp gets its CD information from Gracenote. Sometimes, copies of a CD have different CD Ids, even though they’re the same album. Perhaps this is why Gracenote reports that it has the Jethro Tull CD but Winamp can’t find it. Gracenote may have the album listed under one CD Id number, but the copy of it that you have doesn’t match that number. Thus, Winamp doesn’t find it. In order to get around this problem, you can add an entry to the Gracenote DB for your copy of the album, and then, subject to their approval, your new listing will appear shortly in the DB, and Winamp should find it then.
I’ll look into [Jim]. I thought he graduated from the school as well. [Korro] did not graduate from WPSB. He left there in seventh or eighth grade. This list has only graduates.
Hope all is well for you. I’ve been more depressed than usual the past few months. In February, the dissonant voices of mid-life crisis reached quite a piercing din in my head. All sorts of conflicting thoughts of how to live my remaining days, uncertainty, nasty dreams, and over 400 rejections since January 1st from women, have made life difficult in the first quarter of 2005. But I’m weathering the storm okay. I hope I reach a point where it will seem appropriate to write all this down. I really believe it could help people, especially if I can emerge victorious in this struggle for happiness. At least it’s all in the journal.
More later,
Tom Hesley
[Gene],
Upon further reflection, it seems like the best way to proceed with this is to have [your friend] contact the Alumni Assn. herself and tell us just what her needs are. She can talk to [our president] or myself, and we’ll advise her on how we’ll go forward. Would you tell her this, please?
Thanks much,
Tom Hesley
Dear [Gene],
Good morning. My initial thoughts on this are as follows:
Is she able to pay her monthly phone bills? In the conversation last night, it sounded like she cannot. Does she have the cheapest possible phone service? Does she spend her money wisely in other areas? Phones and phone service are pretty cheap these days and just about every properly-managed budget can afford them. What I’m trying to say is that I’m not convinced that there’s a true need here that she couldn’t fill herself by cutting spending elsewhere in her finances.
I’ve talked with [our president] and she says that we can explore this at the next board meeting but was doubtful that we could help with this expense. Further, [she] is in a nursing home as I understand it. Don’t they provide landline phone service to clients?
Finally, what kind of phone service are you requesting for her? Cell or landline? Cell phones are not necessities, and thus, we probably would not fund a cell phone.
Helping [this lady] with a wheelchair purchase might be possible. However, I’m told that there are state and federal agencies that supply wheelchairs for people “in need.” We’re talking to [Z] about this to get the details. And if there are no other options for [this lady], we might be able to assist. But again, we’ll discuss this at the next board meeting.
Later,
Tom Hesley