Note:<888> 2/20/98 Friday 10:40 P.M. EST: Today I got up around noon. I had ham and scambled eggs and English muffins with orange juice and coffee with 2 percent milk and nutrasweet for breakfast. I called up the electric company and my bill is paid up. They said my monthly bill average would now be $130. I called Chris Shays office about the electricity and they were gone for the day. I was told by Connecticut Light and Power that Massachussetts has a hydroelectric facility where they use the excess electricity at night to pump the water in the resevoir upstream at night to run it down in the daytime when power is needed. I told them that the Russians were doing that in the 1920s and that Nord Hydro does that in Norway also. I went out and stopped by the Mews thrift shop and then the Hospital thrift shop then ELDC thrift shop and then St. Catherine's thrift shop. I also stopped by Peabody's garage looking for a low milage used car for a friend. I went by the Hyatt Hotel and withdrew $20 from the money machine and stopped by Egghead. I was told by one of the Egghead salesman who had met Bill Gates' that he is 5 foot 6 inches tall as published in one of his earlier biographies and he is personally quite frugal. I stopped by Caldors and purchased 2 quarts of Mobil Oil for $1 apiece, a Revlon cushioned brush for $4, and two six packs of ICB root beer from Dallas, Texas for $1.79 a six pack. If one likes frosted root beer, I recommend keeping frozen mugs in the freezer to pour the chilled root beer into, of course one could do that with any other beverage. I then stopped by McDonalds' in Old Greenwich and had two big Macs for $2.12. I drove back into town to the library. I checked out "Edward and Mrs. Simpson" videotape and read the local newspaper. When I returned home I adjusted the Water Pik I repaired and it works fine. Caldors wanted $45 for a new Water Pik. Basically the green tubing inside my older model wore out and leaked. I noticed that the green tubing accummulates a lot of bacteria and scum. If Water Pik is still using the same setup in their newer models they should make it more sanitary. I used a black 5/16 inch automotive tubing for the repair and adjusted the pressure dial for higher power. A guest stopped by so we watched the first half of the video. I updated Scott's Index www.mikescott.net/scopor01.htm . I noticed Dell computer is doing well. I was wandering if Michael Dell was the fellow I chatted with selling computer parts out of the back of his car at the Knights of Columbus flea market nine years ago. I don't quite remember what I said back then, but perhaps it was him. IBM belatedly is going to start more marketing over the internet, which is about time. I guess they have been worried about upsetting their established OEMs. The car is running fine with the new repairs. It starts efficiently. I guess the fuel filter was interfering with it not starting rapidly. The Greenwich Times reported that President Clinton is making an appearence with Hollywood types up in Westport, Connecticut. I guess he needs their money whereever they really get it from. God only knows the Hollywood types are tied of with some shady finanical groups. Let's hope the drug cartel folks are not backing them, perhaps it is just old Roosevelt and Dupont money poaching in this area. However, I believe the dean of Middlebury college former wife has lived in that area, so perhaps she is backing the Democrats to get back at her Republican husband. That is why I prefer to remain the Swiss Chard Guard in this area. Perhaps they all should take up new passtimes like needlepoint or crafts if they are frustrated with political intrigue. It basically comes down to the fact that they are trying to recreate their television realities in their isolated environments. Anyway the kids seem to be having a bit of fun on vacation and lets hope they have more of a sense of humour. Also I replaced one of the broken knobs on a closet door. I will probably do a small bit of web surfing before going out for Orange Juice which is 3 Tropicana half gallons for $5 at the Grand Union this week. CIO
Note:<888> 2/20/98 Friday 4:40 A.M. EST: I noticed that two of the link copies in the DOD Air Force page www.mikescott.net/dod.htm did not work, so I was able to correct the problem. There was some mysterious coding problem in the www.mikescott.net/airforca.htm page. I surf the net a bit this morning. CIO
Note:<888> 2/20/98 Friday 1:15 A.M. EST: Yesterday I got up about 2 P.M. and listened a bit to tech broadcasts while I had breakfast. I went downtown and stopped by the library. I took a walk on Greenwich Avenue and chatted with a few people I had not seen in a while. I came home for dinner. I repaired a water pik by adjusting it and installing a clean feeder tube. It works pretty well. I moved the computer in the bedroom to the right side of the desk and put the IBM selectric typewriter on the center of the desk. I made a page www.mikescott.net/scottdod.htm which can be used with both the DOD and Scott's Directory in the same directory location. I updated Scott's Index www.mikescott.net/scopor01.htm. Greenwich seemed the same as usual. It is still cool and damp. The car is running fine. It was a good day I did not spend any money except for $10.80 for smokes. I need to look into the Glaxo "Zyban" pills for quitting smoking. Will try to catch up on a little work this morning. CIO
Note:<888> 2/19/98 Thursday 6:30 A.M. EST: Up all night back on a night schedule. I have been up all night trying to figure out why I keep getting disconnected from IBM.net frequently particularly when I use a Real Audio program. I basically figured out the my customized init string in the Advanced Property setting of the Modem configuration was interfering with with the connection. It had worked successfully since before Christmas. I tried the Logicode init string, and the IBM init string for U.S. Robotics 3 Com X2, and it still disconnected, I finally deleted the init string completely and the MS Dialer and the IBM dialer both worked successfully without disconnecting particularly to a Real Audio file. I theorize that IBM.net made some sort of change in its ISP to cause this to happen. Now I get a 48,000 baud connect message instead of 115,200 however speed of usage seems pretty much the same. I also reinstalled RealAudio 5.0 since when I installed theDJ beta I might have messed up RealAudio 5.0 even after I had uninstalled theDJ beta. The system seems to be running smoothly, but I am a little burned out after being awake for close to 23 hours on a busy schedule. Time for shut eye. Enjoy your daytime net surfing. The local entrepreneurs won't have my pockets to pick when I am on a night schedule. Hope you all have a nice day. Remember to look at www.mikescott.net/scotwork.htm for what I normally work on and www.mikescott.net/stats.htm to see how well my Florida site is performing which should be much the same on the unmonitored site in Ohio. I'm trying to behave like a Swedish or Swiss neutral so don't bring me down with politics. I advise those who are discontent with the world to try meditation, it seems to work for quite a few responsible people or just take a nap and try day dreaming. Enjoy yourselves. Got to remember to take the Tylenol. CIAO, CIO
Note:<888> 2/18/98 Wednesday 11:40 P.M. EST: Today was a busy day for me. I was up at 4 A.M. and had breakfast and went back to bed until 8 A.M.. I signed my yearly lease at 9:30 A.M.. I then took my 21 year old Volvo to Midas muffler down the road. They were not busy since the kids are out of school and lots of people are away. I got an estimate of $362.44 for having the Catalytic Converter replaced and for having the fuel filter replaced. The Catalytic converter was leaking and about to go. I decided to have the work done, so they started and I went for a walk. I stopped by the Hospital thrift shop and said hello. I then went to Putnam Trust Bank of New York and got a money order for $362.44 for Midas' repairs. I normally don't carry large amounts of cash and though it would be safer to use a money order. I then went to the library and read two computer newsweeklies. I paid my respects to some regular internet users and the Burns security guard. I then walked back to Midas and stopped by the Fashion Light center and picked up two 15 watt frosted candlelabbra bulbs for $2.70. I returned to Midas and they were still working on the car. They had to install a pipe kit to hold the Catalytic Converter which meant welding and fitting. I went to McDonalds' next door for two big Macs for $2.12. I then returned to Midas and my car was ready shortly there after. The total Catalytic Converter repair was $274.47 plus tax. I then went over to Stamford to go to Sears for a new battery. Unfortunately Sears is no longer there anymore and the Ridgeway Center has been completely redone with many new stores. I then stopped by the Goodwill Thrift store in Stamford and bought a set of 6 Chinese demitase cups and saucers for $4.24. I noticed they had some very old computer equipment for sale there at what I though were high prices. I then went back to Greenwich and stopped by the ELDC thrift shop and while parked there check under the hood and body of my car on the repairs that had been made. I noticed they had forgotten to install the fuel filter I had paid for. I returned to Midas and they quickly ordered the fuel filter from NAPA in Stamford. After and hour it was installed and I was back on the road. The fuel filter replacement was $67.45 plus tax which I had already paid for. I read the Greenwich Times while waiting there and noticed the Greenwich police had indentified the dinner time bandit and were looking for him. I also read two PC Magazines while there. I then went to Exxon for $12.25 in gasoline. Premium is down to $1.49 a gallon. I inquired about the price of a battery and they said it was $84.75, so I went over to the money machine at Putnam Trust and withdrew the funds for a new battery. I purchased a Deka maintenance free battery with five year warranty. Exxon wanted $18.95 to install the battery, so I decided to do it myself. I returned home and it took two hours and a half to install the battery. Complication as usual on an older car. The hold down clamp was not attached on the old battery. I finally freed up the rusted bolt on it with a floating nut on the invisable back side. I broke a 12 mm socket trying to loosen it. One of my neighbors consoled me on the effort. I finally after installing the new battery and securing it with the hold down clamp noticed the cables were not long enough, since the original battery had its terminals in the center, and the new batter had its terminals in the front side. It I reversed the new battery one of the cables would not reach. I thus loosened the hold down clamp, and push the battery as close to the cables as possible. I then stretched the cables a little further by loosening a holder clamp. I finally was able to secure both cables on both terminals and clamp down the battery. I stored my tools and cleaned my dirty hands which recieved one cut and were very arthritic. I tested the car and all was well with the new battery. I then went upstairs and cleaned my hands. I returned the old battery to Exxon for tradein. I drove down Greenwich Avenue, and saw quite a few young people floating around with the holiday. I returned home and had ham, chicken, and potatoe for dinner and then updated my site and filed this report. I also updated Scott's Index www.mikescott.net/scopor01.htm . The Tylenol is helping with the arthritis in this cold damp weather doing all these chores. Tomorrow should be more of a normal routine. I decided not to have the tires done, since I probably have at least six months tread left on them. I thus spent funds that I might have used for upgrading my computer system on automobile maintenance which is important particularly when driving an older vehicle. Off to bed. CIO
Note:<888> 2/17/98 Tuesday 7:00 P.M. EST: Updated Scott's Index, www.mikescott.net/scopor01.htm . Four the last three days I have been cleaning house, and doing maintenance on my apartment. I straightend up my closets, sorted out one of my file cabinets, did a complete cleanup of the kitchen, washed all the walls except the bedroom's for twelve hours with Spic and Span, cleaned the mirrors and pictures, polished the furniture, and did a complete cleanup of the bathroom. The apartment looks much cleaner having a lot of the cigarette smoking film removed and doing a thorough cleaning. I also stopped by Tod's Point on Sunday went by the library today and read two computer newsweekies. I stopped by Arnold Bakery outlet store and a senior elderly lady had hit her forehead on the end of of one of the shelves with very sharp edges. Arnold should install side panels on the shelves, so there are no sharp edges on the shelves. I also bought three loaves of Healthnut bread and went by McDonald's and had two big Macs, French Fries, and diet coke for $4.80. It is cold and rainy out and my arthritis is very painful after all the cleaning with this damp weather. Time for the Tylenol. I started using the Microsoft mouse I found disgarded. It is much more responsive on the screen. I like it a lot. Tomorrow I have to resign my lease. Up since 4 A.M., time to relax. CIO
Note:<888> 2/15/98 Sunday 7:00 A.M. EST: Updated Recent bookmarks www.mikescott.net/bmnow.htm . I finished launry, made www.mikescott.net/icetea.htm and had dinner of Kraus ham and potatoe and www.mikescott.net/coffee.htm . I will backup my system now and go out for the Sunday paper. CIO
Note:<888> 2/15/98 Sunday 4:00 A.M. EST: Up at 11 P.M. and finished watering plants and cleaning apartment. I am finishing up on laundry. I will surf the net a bit this morning. CIO