Michael Louis Scott's November 2003 Notes

Note: <888> 11/30/03 Sunday 9:00 P.M.: I made and ate my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm . Instead of tuna fish, I use two 1/4 inch thick slices of the medium rare top round roast beef that I cut into half inch by two inch strips. I did not use a sliced plum tomato because I was out of them. I had the salad with iced tea. I will now shut down the computer, and I will clean up and go out. CIO

Note: <888> 11/30/03 Sunday 7:25 P.M.: I just ran Ad-aware 6.0, and it removed 20 tracking devices since yesterday, so in my normal routine, I get that many tracking devices on my system. I left the settings on the television monitor, where the icons and text are a bit fuzzy, but the video media is clear enough. I chatted with a relative. The relative said that I might receive their broken computer, which I could try to fix. I will now send out my weekly notes two weeks late. CIO

Note: <888> 11/30/03 Sunday 6:30 P.M.: I just ran Norton System Works 2003 copy of Norton Win Doctor, and it repaired 26 problems, mostly do to with Active X and Microsoft shared files all relating to Symantec files. Still, all the programs seem to be functioning, and the Outlook Express email and the Norton Anti Spam 2004 are all functioning fine. CIO

Note: <888> 11/30/03 Sunday 6:05 P.M.: I tried reinstalling Outlook Express with the "IEsetup" program for Internet Explorer, and I kept getting messages, the download was not "XP" compatible. I tried uninstalling Outlook Express and Internet Explorer from the Add/Remove programs for Windows, but although it said they were removed, the programs were still on my computer. I tried disconnecting the Siemens router, and I still had the same problem with the email. I finally tried the Outlook Express email program on the Dell backup computer, and it was able to send and received email. I finally determined the Norton Systems Works 2003 and the Norton Firewall 2003 were somehow swallowing up my email when I sent it out, but it showed in Outlook Express that it had been sent. I uninstalled Norton Systems Works 2003 and Norton Firewall 2003, and the Outlook Express email program finally worked sending out email. I sent myself email to verify this. I deleted the remains of the Norton programs in the "C:\program files" directory, and I suddenly remembered that Symantec also installs programs in the "C:\program files\common files" directory in the "Symantec Shared" folder. I tried to delete this folder, but it would not delete, so I did a safe boot, and I was able to delete it. Normally when I buy software, I make a copy of the CD, and I use that CD to install the software keeping the original software CD in mint condition as a master CD. I happened to have the copy of the Symantec Norton Internet Security 2004 Professional software that I returned yesterday. Out of curiosity, I tried installing it, and it installed without any problems. Thus the Windows XP protected "Symantec Shared" folder with its old files in the "C:\program files\common files" was preventing its installation. Well, after three days, I solved that problem, but the software was only on sale on Friday and Saturday. Since it was basically free software with the rebates, I hope Staples and Symantec will not mind if I keep it installed on my computer. If product activation disables it some time in the future, I will buy it when it is on sale again or uninstall it. Since it was free software after the rebates, and since I worked continually on the problem for three days during the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, I do not feel like I have taken advantage of the system, although the software sure did take advantage of my system. I then installed Norton System Works 2003 without installing Norton Antivirus 2003, since Norton Internet Security 2004 Professional installed Norton Anti Virus 2004. I thus basically have the same features as I had before in the 2004 version, but I also have Norton Anti Spam 2004 which came with Internet Security 2004 Professional. The Outlook Express email program works just fine, but I will have to resend my "Scott's Notes" again since they never went out. I first will do some system tweaks before I send them out. CIO

Note: <888> 11/30/03 Sunday 1:30 P.M.: I chatted with Optimum Online tech support, and we determined that my outgoing messages were not going out. I think I will have to reinstall Outlook Express. CIO

Note: <888> 11/30/03 Sunday 12:50 P.M.: I called the local number for Optimum Online in Greenwich, Connecticut 348-9211, and I have a 15 minute wait for tech support. CIO

Note: <888> 11/30/03 Sunday 12:40 P.M.: I was up at 8 A.M., and I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I went back to bed until noon. My Optimum mail server does not seem to be forwarding mail that I send to myself. I will try calling them up now. CIO

Note: <888> 11/29/03 Saturday 11:30 P.M.: Well, I ate a Quaker low fat white cheddar cheese flavored corn cake. If one is curious about the Quaker Oats company http://www.quakeroats.com/ which is owned by Pepsi http://www.pepsi.com/home.php a local company that also owns Tropicana http://www.tropicana.com/ , I can only say that Quaker Oats is a Midwestern company, and when I attended Lake Forest College www.lfc.edu in Lake Forest, Illinois from 1968 to 1972, Quaker Oats was considered a Chicago company. There were a large cross section of Midwestern business types living in the Lake Forest area. One of the more profitable companies there was McDonald's http://www.mcdonalds.com/ in nearby Oakbrook, Illinois. Of course the list of Midwestern businesses is too numerous to mention here, but it surprising that one never hear much about them. Of course www.sears.com is also a Midwestern business as is http://www.walmart.com/ , so basically Midwestern business is well represented in this area, especially if one drives a www.gm.com or www.ford.com or http://www.chrysler.com/ all of which seem to be numerous in this area. Thus, one could basically say, I am just publishing the farm report from this area. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/29/03 Saturday 11:05 P.M.: I went through www.geocities.com/mikelscott/scotwork.htm . I listened to President Bush's www.whitehouse.gov weekly radio address. He mentioned this web site for volunteers http://usafreedomcorps.gov/ . Of course it is the nature of living in the U.S.A. one generally needs money to pay expenses, so some people would prefer to be paid for their efforts, so they can meet their bills. Of course some people have surplus funds, so they occasionally volunteer. There are suppose to be 8,500 volunteers in Greenwich, Connecticut U.S.A., so they probably indeed help keep the town going. CIO

Note: <888> 11/29/03 Saturday 8:55 P.M.: I sent out my notes, but the copy to myself which usually come back to me instantly, did not come back after a half hour. I guess Optimum's server is a bit slow. CIO

Note: <888> 11/29/03 Saturday 8:30 P.M.: I received about a hundred spam email without the spam protection. Of course, I am pretty quick at scrolling and deleting. I downloaded and install the 30 day demo of this spam program http://www.spamoff.com/item_15.html . I emailed this spaghetti tomato sauce recipe to a email that I received inquiring about Aunt Millie's spaghetti sauce.

Here in the New York area, Aunt Millie's spaghetti sauce is carried by the local Stop and

Shop food chain, which is a part of Ahold http://www.ahold.nl/ in the Netherlands. Recently, it was a dollar

a jar, when it usually is twice as much. Also here in Greenwich, Connecticut Lever Brothers

Of course I personally when I have the time make my own sauce, which is much

richer. I use canned two 28 ounce cans of plum tomatoes and one 12 ounce can of tomato paste, a pound of ground beef browned in a few tablespoons of olive oil, a large chopped onion, 6 to 8 gloves of chopped

garlic, a large chopped green pepper, a quarter cup of wine, several tablespoons of olive oil, and dashes of garlic powder, celery salt, Old Bay Seasoning, ground

black pepper, chicken and meat seasoning, Italian spices, oregano, basil, cloves, bay

leaves. I bring the mixture to a boil bubbling over medium high heat, and then I simmer

it on low for an hour. I usually eat half with pasta for a few days, and the other half I freeze

in a Rubbermaid container while it is still hot.

One can add dashes of Tabasco sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, or Worcestershire sauce.

Recently I have been on a low cholesterol diet, so I have not eaten much pasta and tomato

Mike

I will now send out my weekly email. CIO

Note: <888> 11/29/03 Saturday 6:50 P.M.: I made and ate my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm . This time I cut two 1/4 inch thick slices of cold medium rare eye round beef, and I cut them into half inch by two inch strips which I added to the salad instead of tuna fish. I had the salad with iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/29/03 Saturday 5:50 P.M.: I finished house cleaning and watering the plants. I listened to Germany n-tv.de , which is a very professional broadcast, but unfortunately I do not know German. Since I do not own a credit card, I can not subscribe to the Real Media content on the internet. I think for the price that Optimum charges for high speed cable modem service, they should include the Real Media content. CIO

Note: <888> 11/29/03 Saturday 3:35 P.M.: I went out after the last message. I went by Staples in Old Greenwich, and although they do not normally let people return opened software, they let me return the Norton 2004 Internet Security Professional, when I explained the problems with it. They refunded me $69.94 plus $4.20 tax for $74.14 total. I looked at the McAfee Anti Spam 2004 for $40 less a $10 mail in rebate, but I think I might try to install Eudora Email first which has anti spam features and is free. I then went by Radio Shack at the Riverside shopping plaza, and I bought a Gold Series package of two RCA phono plug female couplers for $3.99 both and a three foot Gold Series Y adapter audio cable with one 1/8th inch stereo plug to two RCA phono male plugs for $5.99 plus .60 tax for $10.58 total. I then drove through town, and I returned home. I chatted with a relative. I removed the 1/8th inch phone plug from the computer sound card primary outlet with the Y splitter which I connected to the new Y adapter audio cable with stereo phono plug to which I connected the two phono plug couplers which I connected to the audio cable leading to the audio inputs on the Orion television. I now have the Orion television playing the computer output in stereo. I put the phone Y adapter audio cable in the left top desk drawer. I tweaked the video settings on the television monitor. The video and audio feeds are quite good, but it is not a high resolution monitor for web browsing. I also finished running Norton Anti Virus 2003 complete system scan on the primary computer while I was out. I will now do my house cleaning. CIO

Note: <888> 11/29/03 Saturday 12:35 P.M.: I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I will now run Norton Anti Virus 2003 on my computer. I will clean up and go out now too. CIO

Note: <888> 11/29/03 Saturday 11:55 A.M.: I tried reinstalling Norton Anti Spam 2004, and it would not install. I basically feel the Norton 2004 Internet Security Professional is too buggy, and after breakfast, I will return it today. I found quite a few web sites that report the same problem. CIO

Note: <888> 11/29/03 Saturday 10:30 A.M.: I woke up, when I just had a telephone call from a relative. I will now research Norton AntiSpam 2004 to see if there is something I can do with it to permit installing Norton 2004 Internet Security Professional. CIO

Note: <888> 11/29/03 Saturday 4:45 A.M.: I ate two 5/16 inch thick slices of cold eye round beef with Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce and horseradish along with half of the remaining steamed rice from yesterday with La Choy low sodium soy sauce and a glass of iced tea. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/29/03 Saturday 3:35 A.M.: I have been working since the last message trying to install Norton 2004 Internet Security Professional. Originally, it installed without any problems, but when I rebooted there were startup file errors. I then uninstalled the program along with the other Norton programs. However, when I went to reinstall it, I got a "System Error message 'Privacy Control Feature: DRM_IntegratorCategoryHook' ". I tried reinstalling it a number of times with Norton System Works 2003 installed and without it. I also tried removing all the Symantec registry entries. This did not permit it to install, but when I reinstalled finally the old version of Norton System Works 2003 and Norton Firewall 2003, the updates file was renewed again, so they have a year to go. I am think maybe that the fact the Norton AntiSpam 2004 had expired when I uninstalled it after having it on the computer when I installed Norton 2004 Internet Security Professional might have caused a conflict, because when I try to reinstall it, it fails at the same point. I think it might be a problem with "Product Activation" since DRM stands for "Digital Rights Management". I did not call Symantec yet, but I will later on today when I wake up. This all took a lot of time tinkering, and I am very tired. I also setup the cable box and the television on the Radio Shack remote control, but I have not succeeded with the other items. I have not eaten yet. Well, I pretty much have the system back to way it was before I tried installing the Norton 2004 Internet Security Professional. CIO

Note: <888> 11/28/03 Friday 4:10 P.M.: I went out after the last message. I went by Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason Street. I then drove over to the Riverside Shopping plaza, and I went to Radio Shack, and I bought a Radio Shack Five in One Universal Remote Control for $5, a Goldseries 1/8 inch mono phone plug to dual RCA phono jack Y-cable for $2.99, a Goldseries three headphone cable adapter 1/8" stereo plug to three 1/8" stereo jacks $6.99, and a 24 foot dual RCA A/V cable for $9.49 plus $1.47 tax for $25.94 total. I then went to Staples, and I bought the Norton Internet Security Professional edition 2004 on sale for $20 off for $69.99 plus it has a $40 Symantec rebate and a $30 Symantec upgrade rebate, so once I get the rebates in a few months, it will be free. It contains all of these features http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/nis_pr/index.html . I also bought 60 sheets of Christmas stationary with holly design on the paper for $4.99, and a three pack of Staples clamp binders for $5.99 plus $4.86 tax $85.78 total. I then drove back downtown, and I went to the central Greenwich Post Office, and I obtained a money order at .90 cost to pay my GEICO automobile insurance, which I mailed. I then drove down by the waterfront. I next parked again, and I checked out Charles Stuttig lock smiths, but they were closed. I was looking for a computer case lock. I then went by Entree computer, and they do not carry a computer case lock either. I then returned home. I had a glass of iced tea. I have connected to my primary sound card audio out connector a dual Y splitter to the new three Y splitter. I put two of the speaker systems on the three Y splitter, and I connected from the first two Y splitter the 1/8" mono plug to dual RCA phono jack, and then I connected the it to the 24 foot dual RCA A/V cable, which I plugged into the dual front audio ports on the Orion television. When I booted the computer, I noticed that I had disconnected the television video cable from the computer, so I shut down and reconnected it, and booted up. I reinstalled the NVIDIA drivers again, and I tweaked the settings. In Clone mode with the Creative Live MP3+ sound card enabled on the computer, the sound plays through on to the Orion television just fine for internet viewing of media content with quieter sound than the computer speakers, so as not to disturb my neighbor downstairs. I tweaked the video settings on both monitor and television. The television video is fine, but the text on the screen seems a bit fuzzy. I guess I might improved the video quality in the future by installing a gold cable, when I can afford it. I also changed on my primary computer monitor to default 125% fonts, and I changed the screen resolution to 1024 X 768. The computer monitor seems a lot sharper with those settings. I basically made the display fonts larger, and then I changed the resolution setting to a sharper picture which reduces the display icons, but with the combination of both, it looks the same but sharper. I might see in the future if their is a stereo 1/8" plug to dual RCA phono jack Y cable, so the television would get a stereo feed. Still it sounds fine. I will now install Norton Internet Security Professional 2004. I will then fill out the rebate information. CIO

Note: <888> 11/28/03 Friday 10:05 A.M.: I will now shut down the computer, and I will clean up and go out. CIO

Note: <888> 11/28/03 Friday 9:55 A.M.: I was up at 8 A.M., and I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I watched a bit of television. Staples today and tomorrow only has Norton Internet Security Professional 2004 on sale for $20 off from $90, plus there is a $40 Staples mail in rebate and $30 upgrader mail in rebate, so after rebates, it is basically free. I think I will go out and get it in a little while. CIO

Note: <888> 11/27/03 Thursday 10:15 P.M.: I did some regular computer work. I ran Norton Win Doctor, Ad-aware 6.0, and SpyBot. I ate two Quaker low fat white cheddar cheese flavored corn cakes with ice tea. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/27/03 Thursday 7:40 P.M.: If you happen to be in the Constitution state better known as Connecticut, a little ways to the east of Greenwich, Connecticut is H.M. Computer www.hmcomputer.com . I use to buy items from them at the computer fairs many moons ago. They seem to have moved to a new location http://hmcomputer.techgather.com/location.html in Middletown, Connecticut near Wesleyan University http://www.wesleyan.edu/ . Ming who use to run the shop was always very professional and knowledgeable. They seem to have a larger inventory on their web site. They also carry top quality merchandise. I still have two of my older computers that I bought from him still running as backup computers. I noticed they sell H.M. Computer Online Store Norton Anti Virus 2004 for $19 . I plan to buy Norton Internet Security 2004 Norton Internet Security when I can afford it. It runs about $70, but I can upgrade for $40. It has the features I need. However, my current Norton Software is good until the end of the year 2003, so I will not be getting it right away. However, this article in P.C. Magazine makes me question the decision Norton Antivirus: Activation is Seriously Broken . CIO

Note: <888> 11/27/03 Thursday 6:45 P.M.: I made and ate my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm . However, this time instead of tuna fish, I cut two 1/4 inch thick slices of the top round roast, and then I cut them into half inch wide strips about two inches long, and I used them on the salad along with gorgonzola cheese and all of the other usual ingredients. I had the salad with a glass of iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/27/03 Thursday 5:25 P.M.: I went out after the last message, and I drove down by the waterfront. I then drove over to Tod's Point, and I took the 2.5 mile walk around Tod's Point. I then drove back along the waterfront back to the waterfront in central Greenwich. I then walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I sat out at various locations. I then drove back down by the waterfront. I next returned home, and I chatted with a neighbor. I just drank some iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/27/03 Thursday 12:55 P.M.: Dinner was delicious. I put the rest of the beef and rice in Rubbermaid containers in the refrigerator to chill. I chatted with a relative who is getting her broken Dell computer www.dell.com replaced under the warranty. I will now go out and enjoy the day. CIO

Note: <888> 11/27/03 Thursday 12:10 P.M.: I took the three pound of U.S.D.A. prime top round beef roast, and I put it on a baking rack in a baking pan, and I seasoned it on all sides with Old Bay Seasoning, garlic powder, celery salt, ground black pepper, chicken and meat seasoning, Italian spices, basil, oregano, and Texas Best Mesquite barbeque sauce, and I am baking it in the Farberware convection oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes. I also took a cup of Carolina rice, and I rinsed it in warm water in a steel bowl, and I drained it in a metal strainer, and I put it in the China Village rice steamer, and I added 14 ounces of water, and three tablespoons of olive oil and a tablespoon of sesame oil, and I then put the inner and outer lids on it, and I will steam it in the General Electric microwave for 11 minutes, and let is stand for five minutes before serving. I also removed the last inch of the ends of about a third of a pound of asparagus, and I cut them on an angle at 1.5 inch lengths, and I will put them on a steamer rack in the Revere pot with about a half of a cup of water in the pot, and I will bring it to a boil on high on the burner in five minutes, and I will steam them another ten minutes, and I will have them with a little olive oil on them. Thus I will have three 3/8 inch thick slices of the beef, half of the cooked rice, and the asparagus along with iced tea for my Thanksgiving dinner. I have 17 minutes to go on the beef, and I generally let it still five minutes before carving. CIO

Note: <888> 11/27/03 Thursday 11:30 A.M.: I cleaned up. I broke the orange ceramic soap dish in the shower, so I put the soap on the built in shower soap dish, and I threw away the broken soap dish. I chatted with a neighbor outside. It is a nice day about 48 degrees Fahrenheit right now. I will now start cooking my Thanksgiving meal. CIO

Note: <888> 11/27/03 Thursday 10:35 A.M.: I noticed on our local television that www.hooters.com , which is famous for spam fax messages has now gone into the airline business http://www.hootersair.com/ . I once visited my father north of Tampa, Florida about 15 years ago, and he took us out to eat at a Hooters near Tampa. I guess they have expanded their business appeal. I noticed a local neighbor is always wearing sweat clothes that say Hooters. Well, I guess it has a little broader appeal. On my second to the last return flight from California in 1980, I recall flying Sabena airlines from Las Angeles to New York, and the whole jet was full of nuns, so I guess Hooters Air would appeal to the younger generation. I just chatted with a relative on their cell phone whom is driving through the area on their way up to Boston. They should be getting on I-684 east just about now. CIO

Note: <888> 11/27/03 Thursday 10:05 A.M.: Happy Thanksgiving. I was up at 7 A.M., and I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I went back to bed until 9 A.M.. I chatted with two relatives. The reason, I got the top round beef roast yesterday for $2.99 a pound off a dollar a pound is normally I get the little Butterball precooked white turkey breasts, but the Food Mart did not carry them. However, if one needs one, they are available at the Stop and Shop. I will probably start cooking my Thanksgiving meal at noon today, and I will eat it about 1 P.M.. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 8:40 P.M.: I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 8:10 P.M.: I went back out, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I sat out at various locations. I stopped by CVS, and I bought buy one get one free of 19 ounce Progresso traditional chicken noodle soup for $2.59 both. I then completed my walk. I drove down by the waterfront, and I just now returned home, and I had a glass of iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 4:05 P.M.: I went out, and I went by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift shop, but they closed at 2 P.M.. I then went by Porricelli's Food Mart, and I bought a package of Quaker low fat white cheddar cheese flavored corn cakes for $2.19, a top U.S.D.A. choice round roast at $2.99 a pound for $8.70, two ten ounce bars of Kraft Cracker Barrel Vermont extra sharp cheddar cheese for $2.50 each, a one liter bottle of Sclafani pure olive oil for $3.99, a 10 ounce bag of fresh spinach for $2.50, a red Bermuda onion at $1.29 a pound for .81, and fresh asparagus at $1.89 a pound for $1.89 for $25.08 total. I then drove though town, and I stopped by the Arnold Bread outlet, and I bought a box of Arnold garlic and herbs larger cut croutons for .99 and a loaf of Arnold Branola oat bread for $1.59 less 10% senior discount of .26 for $2.32 total. I then returned home, and I put away my purchases, and I drank some iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 1:55 P.M.: I just got my mail. I now will go out for some daytime activity. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 1:10 P.M.: I sat outside for a while. I chatted with a neighbor. I ate two Quaker low fat white cheddar flavored corn cakes with some iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 12:05 P.M.: I am still waiting for the mail to come. I turned the living room thermostat down to 76 degrees Fahrenheit from 78 degrees Fahrenheit. I guess I will continue the procedure of turning it up to 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the night time when it is colder and back down to 76 degrees Fahrenheit in the day time when it is warmer, and that should keep the apartment temperature between 72 degrees and 74 degrees Fahrenheit. I will now clean up. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 11:35 A.M.: I finished going through my email. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 10:45 A.M.: I ate breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. More than likely on the day before Thanksgiving a lot of the fat corporate types will be taking the day off, so if one happens to go downtown, be sure to keep an eye out not to bump into any overweight types whom might be walking around trying to lose weight. It is something that most of the casual observers of downtown Greenwich, Connecticut do not realize is that with all the wealthy corporate people living here, there are amongst the tax paying community some physically very large individuals whom one does not see downtown very often, but since a lot of their children are over 200 pounds, one can imagine their fathers and possibly their mothers are much larger. The next thing we will probably see is Queen Kamaimai walking around downtown, trying to figure out where her turkey is. Basically amongst some of the larger more rotund people in the community, they do not seem to worry about their weight or their cholesterol. Recently, when I was buying a loaf of bread at the Arnold bread store outlet, I noticed somebody waiting for a bus outside of the Armstrong public housing project whom must have weighed over 800 pounds, so with all the discount pastries next door, they must get quite large over there. For my part, I am still trying to lose weight and lower my cholesterol. The first computer person I met in this area, when I first bought a personal computer 12 years ago, also weighed about 800 pounds, so if anyone needs personal computer security, they can look him up, but they will probably have to pay to feed him too which might be expensive. Of course by midwestern United States standards, they would not be exceptionally large, since there are so many large people in the midwest, not much of the food ever makes it out to the coasts. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 8:45 A.M.: Well, I am awake. I guess I am back on a daytime schedule. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 6:45 A.M.: I will now rest some more. It is 28 degrees Fahrenheit outside right now, so it is quite cold at the moment. However, http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=06830 says it will be going up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit today. I will now put the computer on standby and rest. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 6:25 A.M.: The Defcon Notebook Computer Security System 1 security device that I have attached to my primary computer also has a motion detector, which I have not activated, but if the cable were cut, there would be a 95 db alarm siren, which would probably draw attention, since it is quite loud. I have the cable wrapped around the coffee table leg in between each of the two levels, so it can not be slid off. Of course someone with a lot of time which prowlers usually do not have could saw off the coffee table leg. Also at the moment since I do not have a case cover lock, one could pilfer the inside contents of the primary computer. However, I also tend to have vigilant neighbors. I could checked with the local locksmith Charles Stuttig on Greenwich Avenue to see if they have such a device such as http://www.directron.com/1320380.html for $4. However, technically one could pry it off. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 5:30 A.M.: For additional security details http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/ available from http://www.fas.org/ as opposed to http://www.defcon.org . It is my considered opinion that the real people are a little bit more secure than what the Hollywood illusion is, so I would advise people to not to try to mess with their system, or you might end up picking strawberries in Watsonville, California or some other similar chain gang recreational activity. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 5:05 A.M.: Well, I guess you are curious to know what my new more advanced security system is on the computer. Well, a couple of years ago, I bought for $3 at the Greenwich Hospital Thrift shop, a Defcon Notebook Computer Security System 1 http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=PA400U , not to be confused with http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/c3i/defcon.htm . It has a retractable metal cable with a combination lock and sounds an alarm if the cable is cut. The cable is not too heavy, but I was able to open up an a one quarter inch diameter opening in the back of the primary computer case around the onboard sound plugins, and with the case top removed, I strung the metal cable through the top of the case and out the opening that I was able to make. I then closed the case cover, and I fed out enough cable to string it around the coffee table leg of of the coffee that the computer rests on, and then I locked it with the combination lock. The Defcon box says it is not meant to deter professionals just amateurs. Still, one would still have access to the inside of the case, so maybe I should try to find a case lock with a key, that screws in where one of the bolts go, and then turns neutrally when the locking device is in its locked position. Still the cable on the Defcon security device seems strong enough, but it is not as strong as Krypton bicycle lock, but a Krypton bicycle lock cable would not fit through the case opening. Still, since I already owned the device, it did not cost me anything, and now I have a bit more additional computer security. However, as I have said before, I feel the apartment is haunted by the "Ghost of Flanders", so ultimately the apartment and its computer equipment is protected by the Ghost of Flanders. I guess we could make up a label and put it outside on the door saying "Protected by the Ghost of Flanders Security", but it might confuse the neighbors. CIO

Note: <888> 11/26/03 Wednesday 4:35 A.M.: I just woke up from my rest. I slept a bit more than normal for a nap. I guess I was tired. I put the ice tea in the refrigerator. CIO

Note: <888> 11/25/03 Tuesday 10:15 P.M.: I will now put the computer on standby, and I will rest a bit. CIO

Note: <888> 11/25/03 Tuesday 10:10 P.M.: I chatted with a relative. I am making up a batch of www.geocities.com/mikelscott/icetea.htm . This time I am using one each of the five type pack of Twinings tea, nine America's Choice orange pekoe tea bags, four Salad green tea bags, and two Bigelow orange pekoe tea bags in the mixture. CIO

Note: <888> 11/25/03 Tuesday 9:30 P.M.: I turned the living room thermostat up to 78 degrees Fahrenheit, so it should be about 74 degrees Fahrenheit in the apartment soon. The difference between 72 degrees Fahrenheit in the apartment and 74 degrees Fahrenheit in the apartment takes the chill out of the apartment, and one feels a bit more comfortable. I made and ate my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm , which I had with a glass of iced tea. This time instead of feta cheese, I put in a little bit of gorgonzola cheese. CIO

Note: <888> 11/25/03 Tuesday 8:25 P.M.: I went out after the last message. I went downtown, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I sat out at various locations. I then drove down by the waterfront. I then went by the Greenwich Library, and I read P.C. World magazine. I then went by the Stop and Shop, and I bought twelve 14.50 ounce to 15.25 ounce cans of Green Giant vegetables for .33 each, three of corn, three of cut green beans, three of sweet peas, and three of French green beans, a 16 ounce bag of baby carrots for $1.69, and a package of Quaker low fat white cheddar flavored corn cakes for $2.19 for $7.88 total. I then returned home, and I put away my purchases, and I drank a glass of iced tea. On my Stop and Shop card, it says I have year to date savings of $464.47. Thus it pays to buy the sale items and use one's Stop and Shop card. CIO

Note: <888> 11/25/03 Tuesday 4:35 P.M.: I put away the laundry. I lowered the living room thermostat to 76 degrees Fahrenheit this morning, and presently it is about 74 degrees Fahrenheit in the apartment. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go downtown for the remains of the day. CIO

Note: <888> 11/25/03 Tuesday 4:10 P.M.: I cleaned up, and I went through my email. I have two minutes until the laundry is dry and then I will put it away. CIO

Note: <888> 11/25/03 Tuesday 3:25 P.M.: I have 50 minutes on the dry cycle. I will now clean up. CIO

Note: <888> 11/25/03 Tuesday 3:05 P.M.: I finished off the can of mixed nuts when I woke up briefly. I was up at 10 P.M., and I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I went back to bed until 2 P.M.. I ate two Quaker low fat white cheddar cheese flavored corn cakes with iced tea. I just started two loads of laundry. I also put clean linens on the bed in the bedroom. CIO

Note: <888> 11/25/03 Tuesday 2:10 A.M.: I shut down the computer, after the last message, and I happened to notice the switch to turn the scanner on was still turned on. I last used the scanner two days ago. However, when I used the scanner two days ago, it had to warm up, so it was not already turned on. I checked the plug on the back of the control panel, and for some unknown reason, the scanner plug had been changed from the switchable plug to the plug that is always turned on. Since I did not do this, and since the scanner was not in this condition two days ago, it is ample evidence along with other minor occurrences to show that some individual or parties unknown have trespassed in my apartment and tampered with my computer equipment. Since it is not valuable equipment compared to what else might be in the area, it does not make any sense. What really bothers me is the fact that if someone has gained access to my computer, they can gain access to my personal information or use information to bother other friends and associates. Moreover, it means that the same individuals could have tampered with my food and drink or other items in the apartment. Basically I consider it an invasion of privacy, and I am curious why any of my neighbors have not notified me that someone has gained access to my apartment. I have seen minor evidence of intrusion in the past, and occurrences on the computer that I thought might have been from a hacker. Since I am on a limited budget, there is not much else that I can do, but try to be more vigilant. I have instituted a minor new security procedure, but once when I put a motion detector program on the computer camera, someone disabled it. The new security procedure shall remain nameless, but it is all that I can afford to implement. Still whatever, the case I will have to check with my neighbors to see if they have seen evidence of someone coming or going in my apartment. Basically it shows a level of sophistication on the part of the intruder to indicate the intruder is not an amateur. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed. CIO

Note: <888> 11/24/03 Monday 11:45 P.M.: Word to the wise, when you are fishing down by the waterfront in such locations as Steamboat Road. The Russian consulate to the United Nations has a residence across Long Island Sound in Glen Cove, Long Island, and since before World War II, they have had eavesdropping equipment installed there to listen to conversations along the waterfront including the south shore of Connecticut. I would imagine with the more modern technology today and with all the Russians around here, they are still listening in on other people's conversations including their wireless telephone calls. Thus I generally only talk about the weather and matters in general public knowledge such as what is in the media, when I chat with other people. Frankly, since I read the news all the time, I am better informed, but it is all basically public relations, and I do not know anymore than what anyone else would know whom reads a lot. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed. CIO

Note: <888> 11/24/03 Monday 7:15 P.M.: I made and ate my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm . I had the salad with Vermont extra sharp cheddar cheese for the cheddar portion, and for the crumbled cheese portion, I used both President low fat feta cheese and gorgonzola cheese. I had the salad with a glass of iced tea. After that I had a cappuccino. I make my cappuccino with one third ground Italian espresso beans and two thirds ground Food Emporium hazelnut coffee beans. I watched some news on television, and then I watched the ABC evening news. I turned the living room thermostat from 77 degrees Fahrenheit to 78 degrees Fahrenheit, so it will be about 74 degrees Fahrenheit in the living room area in the apartment, which should take a bit of the chill and dampness out of the air. I do not turn on the heat in the bathroom, but instead I leave the bathroom door opened. I will not turn on the heat in the bedroom, until it gets much colder. CIO

Note: <888> 11/24/03 Monday 4:40 P.M.: I went out, and I went by Smokes for Less in Byram, and I bought a carton of Seneca Ultra Lights 100s for $31 total. I then went by the Exxon gasoline station next to the Greenwich Library, and I bought $5 of regular unleaded gasoline at $1.799 a gallon for about 26 miles per gallon. I then went by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift Shop. I next went by Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason Street. I then went down by the waterfront. I next walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I sat out at various locations. I then went by the Greenwich Library, and I read the Greenwich Times and P.C. Magazine. I just now returned home. I drank some iced tea, and I ate a handful of mixed nuts. I turned the living room thermostat up from 76 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, so it is now about 73 degrees Fahrenheit in the apartment living room. CIO

Note: <888> 11/24/03 Monday 11:40 A.M.: I was awake at 6:30 A.M.. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I watched a bit of television. I went back to sleep until 11 A.M.. I checked my mail, and I received a copy of "CRN, Computer Reseller News". I will now eat two Quaker low fat white cheddar flavored corn cakes with iced tea. I will shut down the computer, and I will clean up. I will then go downtown to see what is going on in the commercial world of Greenwich, Connecticut. Obviously no one is interested in computers on Greenwich Avenue, since it is mostly clothes and accessory shops, but when one can afford the parking rate of 25 cents a half hour, it tends to be an enjoyable walk. Of course, I will probably pursue other items in my normal routine too. CIO

Note: <888> 11/23/03 Sunday 9:35 P.M.: I woke up at 3 P.M., and I ate a half of a 10 ounce can of mixed nuts. I woke up again at 4 P.M., and I received a call from a friend coming over to visit. I cleaned up, and my guest arrived at 4:45 P.M.. We drove down by the waterfront. We then returned to my apartment, and my guest had a cappuccino, and I had an iced tea. We chatted until now, when my guest left about 10 minutes ago. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed. CIO

Note: <888> 11/23/03 Sunday 2:05 P.M.: I ran Norton Win Doctor, Ad-aware 6.0, and Spybot. I microwaved and ate a Stouffer's 12.5 ounce lean cuisine chicken with mushrooms dinner, which I ate with a glass of iced tea. I will now put the computer on standby, and I will take a nap. CIO

Note: <888> 11/23/03 Sunday 1:20 P.M.: I logged back on in Guest mode, and a lot of the programs do not work in Guest mode, since I did not install them in Guest mode, but simply copied their icons to the All Users folder. Guest mode seems quite a bit slower than the primary logon mode, and I set its interface to be simpler, so it is a bit faster. I am back in primary mode. Still the system is basically running just fine. CIO

Note: <888> 11/23/03 Sunday 12:30 P.M.: I ate two bowls of sourdough pretzels with some iced tea. On my primary computer with Windows XP, I logged onto the computer in Guest mode, and it installed the same NVIDIA setting in the Guest desktop with an earlier version of NVIDIA from what I could tell. The Administrative privileges prevent me from installing the most recent version, but it did install clone mode on the television, and both Windows Media player and the Real Player work in both monitor and television. When I relogged onto my primary logon domain desktop, both Windows Media Player and the Real Player also worked on both monitor and television. In Guest logon, the system does prevent one from making major system changes. However, there are a number of settings and program startup items, I have not installed in guest mode. CIO

Note: <888> 11/23/03 Sunday 11:35 A.M.: I practiced using my interactive television setup with the computer. One can not only make the web browser easier to read off the television screen by selecting larger fonts in the Internet Explorer view option, but in Windows XP one can use the Control Panel to select "Accessibility Options" and select a number of items for High Contrast to make the program easier to view. However, most programs might not work with those features. Since I am using a homebrew driver for XP for the X10 remote control wireless mouse, it is not as fast moving the cursor across the screen as in the vendor supplied Windows 98 drivers and setup. Also one needs to have a familiarity with the programs to know where various icons are for enlarging and changing the setup off the screen of the television. More than likely one would not want an alien visitor using one's remote wireless mouse on one's television in clone mode, since anything one did to the system on the television such as system changes or even worse formatting would effect the host computer too. Thus the system if it were used in a public atmosphere would have to have the Windows XP security setting installed to prevent changing the host computer settings much the same way the library computers are set up. I know one can do this in Windows XP, but I have never really studied the thousands of different settings that one can control. Maybe logging on in "Guest" mode would offer enough security settings from changing the primary host computer setup. Media web site I found http://www.countingdown.com/ . CIO

Note: <888> 11/23/03 Sunday 9:50 A.M.: I watched Tomorrow Today | Deutsche Welle on the television with the Real Player in full mode. For some reason the Real Player in Clone mode seems to play on both monitor and television at the same time. However, the Windows Media player only plays on one screen at a time in clone mode. I was able to listen to the broadcast on the television comfortably without disturbing my neighbor downstairs, but connecting together the audio cable feed cables to the right of the primary computer hanging over the orange and gold mirror. I set the computer audio to the Creative Live MP3+ audio setting, and the cable inputs into my stereo amplifier, which I set on "CD" to play the audio feed. I turned off the external stereo speakers with the amplifier switch, and the pair of older Realistic NOVA 40 stereo headphones that I have connected to the amplifier are on a long enough cable hanging from the center desk drawer that they reach over to the blue sofa for comfortable viewing and listening enjoyment. Of course as I mentioned yesterday, when I have the funds, I will set up the audio feed directly from the computer into the Orion television. I listened to the program on Tomorrow Today about "Nano-particles with the battle with brain tumours" Nano-particles in the Battle with Brain Tumours | Tomorrow Today | Deutsche Welle | 13.11.2003 , and they gave this web link http://www.magforce.de/ with more specific research links on the project. This is the type of activity I think the internet should be use for, instead of all the crap that seems to be out there in the communications media. Excuse my French. On a lesser note, the small screw came out of my ear piece on the right side of my reading glasses, so I wore my other reading glasses, and I reinstalled it tightening it with the small eye glass screw driver, I keep on the dining room table. I also have a backup eye glass screw driver in the same location that I have not opened yet. CIO

Note: <888> 11/23/03 Sunday 8:30 A.M.: I was up at 6 A.M.. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I watched a bit of television, but there is not much on Sunday morning but soap commercials. In looking at Internet television broadcasts, one of the most professional broadcasts that I have found is http://www.dw-world.de/ Deutsche Welle from Cologne, Germany. They have a video broadcast in several different languages, and they seem to have a most professional and technical broadcasting setup. I have only looked at it briefly, but it seems better than some of the content that I get on my local cablevision television set here. CIO

Note: <888> 11/22/03 Saturday 11:10 P.M.: I went through part of my email. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/22/03 Saturday 10:45 P.M.: It is my theory when I lived with a friend at the abandoned Casa Marina in Key West, Florida http://www.casamarinakeywest.com/ in the winter of 1978 while it was being refurbished, there were about 200 stray cats on the property, and I have thought many times, that one of the stray cats might have been a Mountain Lion cub or panther cub that nobody paid any attention to. However, this page says they only live about 12 years http://www.montrose.net/wildlife/Kids/largemammals.htm , so it is probably not around anymore, but if one were there once, more than likely others would show up sooner or later. I always thought the Florida Grey Panther http://www.angelfire.com/fl2/evergladesanimals/panther.html and http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/safari/florida/panther/ picked up stray cats around the state of Florida and secretly dropped them off for safe keeping at the Casa Marina when it was abandoned. Well, the only fully grown Florida Grey Panther that I actually saw while in Florida was around February 1979 around sunrise next to the Polo Fields in Boca Raton, Florida, when I was sleeping my yellow Subaru, and I woke up. I was traveling with a friend, so the friend also saw the big cat. CIO

Note: <888> 11/22/03 Saturday 10:20 P.M.: I had to reinstall the Visioneer 4400 USB scanner driver from the CD, since the download one has a different interface. For some odd reason a 5500 driver was on the computer and the twain 32 driver was not working. I used the Visioneer www.visioneer.com instructions for the procedure. I scanned this image of a local friendly feline that one might encounter in the woods in this area in areas like the Audubon sanctuary. It is better known as a Mountain Lion http://www.geocities.com/mike2scott2003/mtlion.jpg and http://www.mountainlion.org/ , and they supposedly can travel over a 100 miles a day. In some of my outdoors experiences, I might have encountered one, but I do not actually recall seeing one. The picture, I posted is from the November 2003 World Wildlife Fund calendar www.wwf.org . More useful information http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lion/ . CIO

Note: <888> 11/22/03 Saturday 8:55 P.M.: I uploaded a alligator, crocodile, caiman reference page at www.geocities.com/mike2scott2003/gator001.htm . It is also my belief that sharks and killer whales also eat people off the beaches the way they do walruses and seals. CIO

Note: <888> 11/22/03 Saturday 8:40 P.M.: I chatted briefly with a relative. I chatted with a friend. I ate a bowl of sourdough pretzels with some iced tea. I chatted more with the same relative. The relative I chatted with down south told me the island near Jacksonville, Florida is probably Amelia Island, Georgia http://www.ameliaislandliving.com/ , not to be mistaken with http://www.seaisland.com/ or Jekyll Island, Georgia http://www.jekyllisland.com/ or Little St. Simons Island http://www.littlestsimonsisland.com/ or St. Simons Island http://www.gacoast.com/navigator/ssi.html or Cumberland Island http://www.gacoast.com/navigator/ssi.html or Hot Springs, Georgia http://www.ohwy.com/ga/h/hotsprin.htm or Tybee Island, Georgia http://www.tybee.com/ or any of the other barrier islands off the Georgia coast www.gacoast.com , which although they look nice from the ocean side, more than likely they are full of alligators and crocodiles on the inland side. Speaking of which at the home furnishings store on Greenwich Avenue just north of the movie theatre, they have in their window two Empire style chairs covered in either alligator or crocodile or caiman hide. If one were taking a nature walk in any of the Carolina, Georgia, Florida or other southern island nature preserves, one should remember what the man from Australia told me down on the wharf on Steamboat Road two summers ago, which is that a crocodile and maybe a alligator can jump twenty feet up in the air, so be careful if you happen to wearing your crocodile or alligator shoes, belt, purse, or golf bag. CIO

Note: <888> 11/22/03 Saturday 6:15 P.M.: I microwaved in a microwave proof cooking container that I keep on top of the General Electric microwave oven a 18.6 ounce can of Campbell's Chunky soup that eats like a meal now heartier with more chicken Classic Chicken Noodle soup, which I put in the bowl after microwaving with a personal package of Burry Long Island Oyster crackers made with 100% vegetable oil distributed by Maplehurst Foodservice of Brownsburg, Indiana 46112. I am not sure where I got them, but they were in my bookcase pantry at my Kitchen entrance. I might have picked them up when I ate at the Wayfarer restaurant in Cape Porpoise, Maine this summer. While down by the waterfront this afternoon, I was told by a local waterfront individual that he liked visiting Atlantic City, Florida which is near Jacksonville, Florida. I have never heard of it, but I told the individual about another place called Anastasia Island, Florida http://ctct.essortment.com/anastasiaisland_odk.htm which someone told me about a couple of years ago, and it supposedly is undeveloped with no fast food restaurants or modern types of services, and it is supposedly the last unspoiled part of Florida. When the person mentioned Jacksonville, Florida, I mentioned that it is cold there in the winter, but I suppose as one gets older, and does not spend that much time outside, it would have other attractions like the Mayo Clinic southern branch which is in Jacksonville http://www.mayoclinic.org/jacksonville/ , which I suppose why a lot of older people prefer it to the warmer beach environment of southern Florida. Of course Fort Lauderdale, Florida does have the Cleveland Clinic southern branch http://www.clevelandclinic.org/florida/ , so I suppose if one were down south, it would be six of one half of a dozen of another. Of course the Florida Hospital Network http://www.flhosp.org/ is suppose to be quite good. I have been told in the Orlando, Florida area, there is a hospital that supposedly has some of the latest NASA medicine, but I only can find http://spaceresearch.nasa.gov/ . Of course if one does not mind the cold weather, it is rumored the New York and New England areas are suppose to have very good medicine, but at my younger age of 53, I have not had a lot of intensive medical treatment like surgery until this past February, when I had the groin hernia operation. I guess there are so many people in the world, there are a lot of people whom know something about medicine, but despite the fact that I still smoke tobacco, I think a good brisk walk every day also helps out. CIO

Note: <888> 11/22/03 Saturday 4:50 P.M.: I went out after the last message. I went downtown, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I sat out at various locations. I then drove down by the waterfront, and I also went by Grass Island. I then went by the Greenwich Library. I then went by the Stop and Shop, and I bought a red Bermuda onion at $1.29 a pound for .99 and a 10 ounce box of fresh mushrooms for $2.29 for $3.28 total. I then returned home, and I drank some iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/22/03 Saturday 12:30 P.M.: I made and ate my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm , which I had with a glass of iced tea. I am out of broccoli, so I did not put broccoli in the salad. I also used a 50% combination of America's Choice extra sharp cheddar cheese and 50% combination of Vermont extra sharp cheddar cheese along with all of the other usual ingredients. It is a nice day, and although I was up early, it is suppose to be up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit today, so I think I will go back out and enjoy the day. CIO

Note: <888> 11/22/03 Saturday 11:35 A.M.: I tried uploading my notes after the last message, but Yahoo Geocities is normally down for maintenance on Saturday morning from 6 A.M. to 7 A.M. Eastern Standard Time which would be the slow time 3 A.M. to 4 A.M. Pacific Standard Time when it is slow on the west coast. I went out, and I drove down by the waterfront. I noticed somebody had thrown two wreaths of flowers in the water. I then went downtown, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I sat out at various locations. I then went by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift Shop. I next drove back down by the waterfront. I then went by the Greenwich Library, and I read the Greenwich Times and Newsweek Magazine. I then returned home. My neighbor downstairs underneath the roof adjacent to my apartment told me that she could hear my computer speakers yesterday morning, so I will have to remember not to play the computer speakers during the early morning hours and late at night. I have two sets of head phones attached to the computer for each of the two different types of computer sound systems. One is for the Plantronics headset and the other is Panasonic head phones for when the Sound Blaster Live PCI MP3+ sound card is enabled. I generally do not play the computer speakers, but I was testing the media player on my television yesterday. When I have the money, I will get a cable to run from the computer sound card to the television to carry the audio content on the television with the media players, and I will also have to get a small plug Y cable splitter for the sound card and a adaptor for male small stereo plug to double RCA female plugs, so I can have the correct audio content on the apartment television. It should cost about $20 to do so, then I will be able to listen to sound off the television with the media player, and since the television is on the other side of the room, the downstairs neighbor should not be able to hear it. I generally do not listen to much audio content, except for when I do house cleaning on Saturdays. I also do not usually watch television much except for when I first wake up and just before I go to bed. Obviously this building has some sound deficiencies. I vacuumed the apartment when I returned home. I drank some iced tea. I just chatted with a relative. CIO

Note: <888> 11/22/03 Saturday 6:35 A.M.: I went to bed at 5 P.M. last night, and I was up at 3:30 A.M. this morning. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I am now taking 500 mg. of Niacinamide in the morning along with my other vitamins and supplements. I did my house cleaning watering the plants. I still have to vacuum later on this morning, when I will not disturb my neighbors. I will now clean up, and I will go out. I will shut down the computer when I go out. CIO

Note: <888> 11/21/03 Friday 4:35 P.M.: I listened to some media broadcasts. I worked a bit on www.geocities.com/mikelscott/scotwork.htm . I will now send out my weekly notes. I will then shut down the computer. I will relax for a while, and I guess I will go to bed earlier. CIO

Note: <888> 11/21/03 Friday 3:35 P.M.: I rested a bit. I watched some television. I had two bowls of sourdough pretzels with some iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/21/03 Friday 1:30 P.M.: I will now put the computer on Standby, and I will take a nap. CIO

Note: <888> 11/21/03 Friday 12:10 P.M.: I set the television monitor setting, so they are clearer. I guess I could also try adjusting the settings on the television, which I might do later. I put Max10 in the startup folder. For internet web browsing off the television, if one sets the Internet Explorer View font to the largest font, one has an easier viewer experience, but still one would probably need a higher resolution television or larger than my 24 inch Orion television. CIO

Note: <888> 11/21/03 Friday 11:05 A.M.: I ate a Quaker low fat white cheddar flavored corn cake with some iced tea. I set some NVIDIA settings off the lower right NVIDIA icon. Basically to switch video feeds from the computer monitor to the television monitor, one needs to have the Orion television remote set its TV/AV switch for Aux2. Thus one will see the cloned image of the primary computer desktop on the television monitor. Once one has started a Windows Media or Real Audio feed on the primary computer, one can switch the feed to work on the television monitor by right clicking on the yellow NVIDIA icon on the lower right side of the desktop and selecting "nView Display mode" and then from the right of that "Clone" and then from the right of that "TV + Analog Display" to enable the media player to work on the television or "Analog Display + TV" to return it to the primary computer monitor. One is given 15 seconds to save the setting, which one does if one wants to keep it, and of course one can always use the same method to switch it back. Of course one can always disable clone, and simply move the players back and forth, but controlling them from the primary computer in clone mode is easier. CIO

Note: <888> 11/21/03 Friday 10:20 A.M.: With the cloned setting enabled with the NVIDIA icon on the lower right side of the screen, the Windows Media feed only plays on one of the screens and the other screen media feed is blank, but one can switch it back and forth to work on the computer monitor or the television monitor, and also now the Real Audio player also works on the television monitor or the computer monitor, but only one at a time. I just chatted with a relative. CIO

Note: <888> 11/21/03 Friday 9:50 A.M.: Good News, I installed http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_52.16.html for my Mad Dog Prowler AGP 4X 64 meg video card http://www.mdmm.com/products/graphics/mx440agp-se.asp and the new NVIDIA program has a Clone feature, so the exact content on the computer monitor now shows up on the television monitor, so one does not have to move the content back and forth between monitors, so it is exactly the same on both computer monitor and television screen. I set up some of the programs other settings. Of course the reception is not as clear as on the computer monitor, but for the Windows Media Player, it would be more that adequate. Thus we truly have a multimedia experience available. Both the regular Kensington Wireless Mouse and the X10 Wireless Remote Control Mouse work just fine in synchronized harmony. Thus I truly have high speed WEB TV. CIO

Note: <888> 11/21/03 Friday 9:10 A.M.: In the Windows Media Player on the television monitor there are still the same two small icons in the lower right quarter of the Media Player. The lower right most icon will maximize the Media Player for full television screen full viewing or smaller size, so one can move the Media Player between both screens for closing or viewing. Also with my Mad Dog Prowler Multimedia www.mdmm.com AGP 4X 64 meg video card http://www.mdmm.com/products/graphics/mx440agp-se.asp with the S video television video out monitor plug, with the NVIDIA program http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_52.16.html that works with it available from www.nvidia.com one can adjust the monitor view area, so one can make sure the entire Window is available for interactive use. I had to make the television Window smaller, so the scroll bar on the right was available. Also one can control the flicker rate. CIO

Note: <888> 11/21/03 Friday 8:35 A.M.: I sent this message to Microsoft at Microsoft.Com Product Feedback , message follows: In Windows XP Professional with my Windows Media Player, I am able to use it on my television monitor with the Mad Dog 32 Meg 4X AGP card which has a S3 video plug that I connect to the larger 25 inch color television. I also am able to to use the mouse on the television with the X10 www.x10.com wireless remote control mouse, which has a program available for it for XP at http://max10.sourceforge.net that works with XP. I can watch full screen Windows Media content and use the mouse and even have a Web TV environment with Internet Explorer. This might be a greater trend in the future, so it might be nice to have an optional view preference for television for Windows Media player and maybe Internet Explorer with larger icons and a television friendly interface. I post my web log including tech notes at www.geocities.com/mikelscott/note02.htm . I am able to watch items like the www.bloomberg.com TV in full screen off the internet on the television and of course the Windows Media content.

Note: <888> 11/21/03 Friday 8:20 A.M.: I updated http://www.geocities.com/mikelscott/nettv.htm . I am listening to Bloomberg TV www.bloomberg.com on the monitor television, which one can do by right clicking on the 300 baud Bloomberg link on this page http://www.broadcast-live.com/business/index.html and instead of using the Bloomberg media player which is smaller one can select "Open New Window", and then the Bloomberg feed plays in a full media player display, which one can put on the television monitor easily in full display. CIO

Note: <888> 11/21/03 Friday 7:35 A.M.: I am listening to some of the Windows Media programs content. CIO

Note: <888> 11/21/03 Friday 6:20 A.M.: I was up at 5 A.M.. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. CIO

Note: <888> 11/20/03 Thursday 9:00 P.M.: I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/20/03 Thursday 8:45 P.M.: I raised the living room thermostat from 76 degrees Fahrenheit to 78 degrees Fahrenheit, so it will continue to be about 74 degrees Fahrenheit in the apartment while it is colder outside. Presently, it is 40 degrees Fahrenheit outside. I just chatted with a relative. CIO

Note: <888> 11/20/03 Thursday 7:50 P.M.: I am microwaving a 13.25 ounce Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Chicken Florentine dinner, which I will have for dinner with a glass of iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/20/03 Thursday 7:35 P.M.: I went out after the last message. I drove down by the waterfront. I tried to go by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift shop, but their parking lot was too busy. I made my appointment at the outpatient clinic at the Greenwich Hospital for the follow up on my cholesterol count. My current cholesterol count is Total 164 (good) versus 140 in June, TG 228 (watch) versus 179 in June, LDL 75 (still good) versus 69 in June, and HDL (improved) 43 versus 35 in June. Thus my count is up a bit. It might be from not eating low fat cheddar cheese and low fat grated parmesan cheese in my salads. I have to get a follow up test in two weeks and see the Doctor after the first of the year. I guess I need to watch my snacks too. The Doctor recommended that I think about quitting smoking and start to try to get down from a pack a day to a half a pack a day, so I can try to go back on the patch again. After lunch I weighed 212 pounds on the hospital scale with my shoes on. I also got my flu shot for the season. I also made my 3 P.M. appointment. I then walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I sat out at various locations. I stopped by CVS, and I bought six packs of Royal gelatin two in strawberry, two in cheery, and two in orange for .19 each for $1.14 total. After my walk, I went by the Greenwich Library, and I read the Greenwich Times. I then went by the Stop and Shop, and I bought a 10 ounce package of fresh Stop and Shop spinach for $1.99. I then returned home, and I drank some iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/20/03 Thursday 12:50 P.M.: I put the X10 Wireless Mouse Remote on the right side of the right brass and glass coffee table between the two couches with the instructions underneath it. Basically to use the setup, one has to turn on the cable box with the cable remote and turn on the television with the same remote and then one uses the Orion remote to switch to Aux2 with the TV/AV switch. Then with the primary computer turned on, one enables with the Sounds and Devices icon the Creative Live MP3+ sound card and turns on the sound, then one starts a video feed in the Windows Media player and slides it to the right over to the television monitor and control the mouse on the television monitor with X10 Wireless Mouse remote or I guess one could leave the Windows Media Player open on the television monitor and one could also slide over the web browser to select Windows Media content, or once can select Windows Media content with the World TV program or from the www.geocities.com/mikelscott/nettv.htm list. One has to return the Windows Media program and web browser to the primary monitor and close them, so when one reopens them, they do not open on the television monitor which is not always on. One then reenables the Plantronics headset sound with the Sounds and Devices program. I made an ate the same salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm as yesterday, which I had with a glass of iced tea. I will now shut down the computer, and I will clean up and go out. CIO

Note: <888> 11/20/03 Thursday 10:55 A.M.: I adjusted the color settings on my computer web cam. CIO

Note: <888> 11/20/03 Thursday 10:25 A.M.: I printed out two copies of www.geocities.com/mikelscott/rock.jpg , and I put one in a Plexiglas frame, and I hung it to the left side of the Lindbergh print underneath the left Parsons lamp above the left side of the day bed. I put the other copy in my photograph album. CIO

Note: <888> 11/20/03 Thursday 9:40 A.M.: I ran the cleaning utility on my Epson Stylus 880 color printer, so it has better quality. When one does not use it very often, one has to remember to run the cleaning program three to five times once a month. I printed out two copies of the picture of Queen Elizabeth II and George W. and Laura Bush in formal attire http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page2751.asp in about 4 inch by 6 inch format. I put one copy in a clear Plexiglas frame, and I hung it above the right Parsons lamp above the day bed, so it is easily visible. I put the other copy in my photograph album. CIO

Note: <888> 11/20/03 Thursday 8:05 A.M.: I went to bed after the last message. I had a call from a relative after at 11:30 P.M.. I was awake at 6:45 A.M.. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I listened to President Bush's and Prime Minister Blair's press conference. I took from the two Parsons lamps above the day bed the two hundred watt bulbs, and I replaced them with 40 watt bulbs, so there is less glare. Thus there is now 540 watts of light in the living room on a regular basis. CIO

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 10:40 P.M.: I turned the living room thermostat down to 76 degrees Fahrenheit, so it should be about 73 degrees in the apartment. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed. CIO

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 10:00 P.M.: The heat from the Parsons lamp on the right side of the day bed was causing the thermometer, barometer, hygrometer to read too warm, so I moved it to the right side of the sweater closet in the hallway, so hopefully it will now show the correct apartment temperature. CIO

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 9:50 P.M.: I can not get the X10 Wireless Remote Control to work with my other electronic devices, so I will continue to use their current remote controls. I shut down the media player. I just chatted with a friend. CIO

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 9:00 P.M.: I am microwaving a Stouffer's Lean Cuisine 13.5 ounce lean cuisine dinner, which I will eat with iced tea. I am listening to Canadian television http://www.cpac.ca/ on my television through the internet with the Windows Media player. CIO

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 8:30 P.M.: Basically at the moment only the mouse features work on the television of the X10 Wireless Remote Control, but one can set it up for other features. I will now use it with the Windows Media Player to watch some video feeds. Of course web browsing with it off the television is a bit fuzzy, since the television is not as sharp as the monitor, but the video feed in Windows Media is sharp enough. CIO

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 8:00 P.M.: I plugged the X10 Wireless Mouse Control base into my primary computer serial port, and Windows XP plug and play recognized it as a second serial mouse on Com 1. I installed the software from http://max10.sourceforge.net and the X10 Wireless Mouse Control is working just fine. One can slide the web browser over to the second monitor and web surf off the living room television with the remote control. Also my regular Kensington wireless mouse on the PS2 port works just fine with the same cursor. Well, I guess I now have high speed web TV. CIO

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 7:35 P.M.: I found this web site which might help me to get the X10 Wireless Mouse Remote working on my primary computer http://max10.sourceforge.net . CIO

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 7:20 P.M.: The X10 Wireless Mouse Remote works fine on the AMD backup computer in the bedroom. It would have been nice if it had worked on the primary computer, and then one could have used it to control the mouse activity on the television monitor when watching internet video. Maybe they will update the drive in the future to XP, but it generally takes the Chinese forever to get around to minor details. CIO

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 5:55 P.M.: I was awaken by a telephone call inviting me to the Microsoft presentation in Branford, Connecticut at the Hyatt Hotel on December 2, 2003; which I told the caller I would be unable to attend, since I generally do not drive that far. I will now install the Wireless Mouse Remote Control on the bedroom AMD backup computer. CIO

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 1:35 P.M.: I made and ate the same salad as yesterday www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm . I had the salad with a glass of iced tea. I will now put the computer on Standby, and I will take a nap. CIO

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 12:35 P.M.: I went out after the last message. I went downtown, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I stood out at various locations. I then drove down by the waterfront. I then went by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift shop, and I waited for a half hour with a few other early birds for them to open the Christmas display presentation. They have a most festive arrangement of items. I bought a unused X-10 www.x10.com and http://www.x10.com/products/x10_mk19a.htm Wireless Mouse Remote Control for $5. I then went by the Greenwich Library, and I read the Greenwich Times and Smart Computing. I then returned home, and I had a glass of iced tea. I put out my Christmas decorations. I put the pine cone wreath on the outside of the front door, and I put the two foot decorated artificial tree on the pink rice bowl on the long living room mahogany bureau, and I moved the Revere bowl to on top of the Nantucket ashtray. I tried setting up the X-10 wireless remote control on the primary computer, and the mouse pass through works on the PS2 port, but it does not work on the serial port. Also its drivers are older, so it will not work on a Windows XP machine. After lunch I will connect it to the AMD backup computer in the bedroom to see if it works. Basically it lets one control one's mouse with a remote control along with other computer functions, but since its drivers are only Windows 98, it will not work on an XP machine.

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 6:00 A.M.: I turned off popup blocker in Norton Internet Security Firewall 2003, so that "javascript:popup" pictures will work in Internet Explorer. Of course I will now get the pop up ads too. I will now shut down the computer, and I will clean up, and I will go out soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/19/03 Wednesday 5:05 A.M.: I was up at 4 A.M. today. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. Be sure to remember that today at 8:30 A.M., the Greenwich Hospital Thrift shop is opening their annual Christmas preview sale. I will try to get there at 8 A.M. early, so I can find a parking space. I do not intend to buy anything, since I am on a limited budget, but I will keep an eye out for any cheap bargains. I am sure the "Shop Till You Drop Crowd" will be there in full force. CIO

Note: <888> 11/18/03 Tuesday 9:45 P.M.: I will now shut down the computer. I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/18/03 Tuesday 7:55 P.M.: Of course if one already owns Norton 2003 product, one can get upgrade rebates instantly from this download link http://nct.symantecstore.com/0001/upgrade_center.html . Of course one would not have the cardboard box or the original CD either, but it would be a considerable savings without waiting. However, this past year while waiting four to eight months for Symantec rebates, I believe not only did I get the $30 upgrade rebates in the mail, but I also got an extra $20 off the dual purchase package at a discount price, so the $80 dual package of Norton System Works 2003 and Norton Internet Security 2003 had a $30 upgrade rebate and a $20 additional rebate, so the dual package only cost me $30 and tax after waiting. However, the Norton list price on both of them in the 2004 versions is $70 each with $30 rebates each, so online they are both $80 together without anymore rebates, and I was able to get them both for $30 after rebates and waiting. CIO

Note: <888> 11/18/03 Tuesday 7:45 P.M.: EmailProtect seemed too complicated to use, so I put Norton Anti Spam 2004 http://nct.symantecstore.com/fulfill/0001.114 back on my computer, and it seems easier to use, and it seems effective at stopping spam once one has blocked the email addresses which is easier and more interactive. Remember, if trying to download the demo download, Optimum Online seems to block the Norton Email address, so use your Hotmail account address which only dumps it in the junk email box, but one can retrieve the download link from that. It is sort of curious that both Microsoft and Optimum block the email address as much as they profess to be against spam. I will look around the holiday time to see if there are any promotions offering it at a discount. At the moment and probably even after I pay my bills in December, I will not be able to afford it. Of course at the first of the year, I also need to renew Norton System Tools 2003 and Norton Internet Security 2003 to the 2004 versions, so maybe they will offer another rebate promotion at that time including Norton Anti Spam 2004. CIO

Note: <888> 11/18/03 Tuesday 6:20 P.M.: I installed one Windows XP update, and I was able to also get the Windows XP Client Rights Management update to install by first uninstalling the old version, and then the new version successfully installed. CIO

Note: <888> 11/18/03 Tuesday 5:15 P.M.: Unfortunately SpamBayes only works with Outlook, it does not work with Outlook Express. Since I only had about a week's usage left with the Norton AntiSpam 2004 program, I will leave it uninstalled. There is rumor that the next version of Outlook Express due out next August with the SP2 update for Windows XP might have better anti spam features. I will keep a look out for rebates on antispam programs. There are a number of ones available for $20, but at the moment, I do not feel like buying one, but I will research it more in December. CIO

Note: <888> 11/18/03 Tuesday 4:30 P.M.: I went outside, and I put the tide charts on the back seat of the car. I made and ate my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm . This time I also used eight 1.5 inch sprigs of broccoli, America's Choice extra sharp cheddar cheese, and President low fat feta cheese, and regular Kraft grated parmesan cheese. I also made up a fresh batch of www.geocities.com/mikelscott/hummus.htm ,and I also added a teaspoon of Italian spices. I had the salad with a glass of iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/18/03 Tuesday 2:40 P.M.: I printed out a set of November 2003 through April 2004 tide charts for the Greenwich, Connecticut harbor http://www.maineharbors.com/ct/tidectw.htm , which I will put in the back seat of the Hyundai right now. CIO

Note: <888> 11/18/03 Tuesday 2:35 P.M.: I went out after the last message. I chatted briefly with a neighbor. I then went downtown, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I sat out at various locations. I went by CVS, and I bought buy one get one free of four packs of CVS 100 watt light bulbs for $1.99 both four packs, and a 18.5 ounce can of Campbell's New England clam chowder for $2.39 less a .75 off discount coupon I got in the mail plus .07 tax for $3.70 total. I then completed my walk. I noticed lots of people were out raking leaves. I drove down by the waterfront, and I chatted with one of the regular fishermen, whom I have not seen in a while. I gave him the set of November and December 2003 Greenwich Tide charts that I had in my car, so I will have to print out another set. I then went by the Greenwich Library, and I read the Greenwich Times and P.C. World magazine. I found this article about a free SpamBays Outlook Express mail blocker for free PCWorld.com - SpamBayes Outlook Addin v0.8 , so I will try it out, after I uninstall the Norton AntiSpam 2004 software demo. I next made my 11:30 A.M. appointment to apply for energy assistance, which I provided all the necessary paper work for, and I was told in about a month and a half, I would receive the grant notification letter. I then drove back down by the waterfront again. I then went by the Arnold Bread store outlet, and I bought a loaf of Arnold Soft 100% whole wheat bread for $1.29 less 10% senior discount of .13 for $1.16 total. I then returned home, and I had a glass of iced tea. I organized my light bulb packages by wattage in the bedroom window, so I now have them stacked by wattage. I took three of the CVS 100 watt light bulbs, and I put them in the three living room window shelf lamps, and I put a fourth 100 watt light bulb in the left parsons lamps, and the right parsons lamp already had a 100 light bulb in it, and I turned on both parsons lamps too above the day bed, so when one turns on the living room wall switch there is now an additional 380 watts of lights coming on. In the living room I have eight 15 watt sconce candlelabra light bulbs, five 100 watt light bulb fixtures, and a 40 watt bulb in the fixture by the computers for a grand total of 660 watts of light that now come on when one turns on the living room wall light switch, so the apartment now looks brighter and more cheerful. I also have a 40 watt bulb in the lamp on the Danish Bar, so if one turned that on in the center of the room, there would be 700 watts of light in the room, however the Danish bar light being in the center of the room would have too much glare with a 100 watt bulb. In the bedroom window shelf, I have in reserve 30 new sixty watt bulbs, 20 new forty watt bulbs, 4 used forty watt bulbs, and 12 new hundred watt bulbs. Also in the mahogany bureau drawers in the bedroom, I also have lots of other types of bulbs. I also think I have some round sconce bulbs in my sweater closet. CIO

Note: <888> 11/18/03 Tuesday 6:30 A.M.: I went through my email. I will now shut down the computer, and I will clean up, and I will go downtown for a walk, when one does not have to pay quarters to park. I have read that truly wealthy people are extraordinarily frugal, and that people like Queen Elizabeth II walks around Buckingham Palace at night turning off lights, so maybe the President of the United States of America can help her turn off some of the lights when he visits for the next few days. I once read that when Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a young traveler in England before his political days, he use to help cut the grass at the Bloomsbury Estate of Lord Astor. I suppose other notable people from around the world have held such interesting jobs in England. I once was told by a friend whose grandfather was a next door neighbor of Richard Nixon's in Key Biscayne, Florida that he use to help shovel the horse manure for Queen Elizabeth at one of her country estates. I once read that the household budget for Buckingham Palace is not too large, and they regularly advertise in the Times of London http://www.timesonline.co.uk/ for low paid palace staff. I also once read that one of the young palace wine Stewarts was drinking too much of the palace wine and beverage reserves, so they had to discharge him. CIO

Note: <888> 11/18/03 Tuesday 5:40 A.M.: I went back to bed after the last message. I woke up about 2 P.M., and I ate a half of a 12 ounce can of mixed nuts, and I went back to bed. I woke up again, about 4 A.M., and I finished off the 12 ounce can of mixed nuts. I am finally awake now. I did watch some small bit of the Turner movie channel from 11 P.M. until now, and they are showing some good old classic movies like Lawrence of Arabia, South Pacific, and Hawaii. However, since this is generally a colder climate, they should save Dr. Zivago until it gets much colder. I will now do some regular computer work. I guess the President of the United States by now is over in Jolly Old England, so I guess one can read the reports on his activity in the British Press at http://news.bbc.co.uk/ and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ and http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/ . CIO

Note: <888> 11/18/03 Tuesday 12:10 A.M.: I was awake at 11 P.M., which is a good time for the New Amsterdam Dutch night watch to wake up. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I watched a bit of television. CIO

Note: <888> 11/17/03 Monday 2:30 P.M.: My 4 P.M. appointment just cancelled, so I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed. CIO

Note: <888> 11/17/03 Monday 1:35 P.M.: I will now put the computer on standby and take a short nap. I have a 4 P.M. appointment this afternoon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/17/03 Monday 1:00 P.M.: I made and ate my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm . This time I used President low fat feta cheese instead of gorgonzola cheese, I also added eight 1.5 inch sprigs of broccoli. I had the salad with a glass of iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/17/03 Monday 12:05 P.M.: I picked up my mail downstairs. I put the ice tea in the refrigerator. CIO

Note: <888> 11/17/03 Monday 11:25 A.M.: If one wants to track the stock market with Scott's bellwether stock index in Microsoft Investor Portfolio http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/home.asp , one can download the investor file from http://www.geocities.com/mikelscott/scopor01.zip and import it into the portfolio. I have said the index portfolio is a bellwether portfolio, which means it is suppose to mirror the stock market performance, it is not meant to out perform the stock market, thus I would not recommend buying or selling it, if one were an investor. CIO

Note: <888> 11/17/03 Monday 10:45 A.M.: I am in the process of making a batch of www.geocities.com/mikelscott/icetea.htm . I just finished a cup of cappuccino. CIO

Note: <888> 11/17/03 Monday 9:50 A.M.: I went downtown after the last message. I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue and the train station area. I sat out at various locations. I stopped by CVS on Greenwich Avenue, and I bought a 2.8 ounce can of French's original French Fried onion rings for .99 plus .06 tax for $1.05. However, I only had on me a $1.04 at the time, so I only paid them $1.04. I mentioned that I did not think they were suppose to charge tax on food in Connecticut. The grocery stores do not charge tax on food in Connecticut. CVS has charged me tax on other food items over the past. I completed my walk. I then drove down by the waterfront. I then went by Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason street. I then returned home. I just had a glass of iced tea. The French's French fried onion rings has their green bean casserole recipe on the can which one makes with the onion rings. CIO

Note: <888> 11/17/03 Monday 6:45 A.M.: Well on the more frugal side of town where we get up in the morning occasionally before the Cosmo Di Medici Frescobaldi roosters, I think I will clean up, and I will go out for a morning walk downtown, so I do not have to feed a quarter or 25 cents a half hour to the parking meter, which one has to do after 9 A.M. six days a week. CIO

Note: <888> 11/17/03 Monday 6:35 A.M.: I was up at 3:45 A.M.. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I watched a bit of television. I opened a package from a relative that I received on Veterans day via UPS, which I was told it would be all right to open. I received two extra large Kirkland Signature cashmere V-neck sweaters. One is Navy Blue and the other is grey. I cleaned up some of the paper work on my dining room table and on my bedroom desk. The Greenwich Country Day School http://www.gcds.net , one of the schools I attended when younger has its own web site now. One of the last great estates is presently on the real estate market in Greenwich, Connecticut http://www.greenwichcountryestate.com/ .CIO

Note: <888> 11/17/03 Monday 12:05 A.M.: I watched on the living room television, the Bill Gates' Microsoft presentation from Comdex. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/16/03 Sunday 9:55 P.M.: I ate two bowls of sourdough pretzels. I put a CVS Clorox bleach toilet tank tablet in the toilet tank water reservoir behind the bowl. CIO

Note: <888> 11/16/03 Sunday 8:00 P.M.: I was awaken by a relative calling at 5 P.M.. I watched a bit of television. I chatted with another relative. I microwaved a 18.5 ounce can of Progresso New England clam chowder in a microwave proof cooking container which I keep on top of the microwave oven. I ate the soup along with a glass of iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/16/03 Sunday 12:05 P.M.: I finished updating the Red Hat Linux 9.0 partition on the Dell backup computer. It is all running fine, but it looks better on the monitor with the Diamond Stealth 32 meg PCI video card in it. I chatted with a relative. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/16/03 Sunday 11:25 A.M.: I went through www.geocities.com/mikelscott/scotwork.htm . I ate a Quaker low fat white cheddar flavored corn cake with some iced tea.

Note: <888> 11/16/03 Sunday 10:50 A.M.: The Dell backup computer is still in the process of installing the Red Hat Linux 9.0 updates. CIO

Note: <888> 11/16/03 Sunday 10:00 A.M.: After my coffee, I finished installing Red Hat Linux 9.0 full install with all languages on the Dell Dimension V350 computer with 384 megs of memory. However, it would not boot. I finally changed the CMOS setting for "Plug and Play Aware Software" to negative, and it booted just fine in Linux. However, it would not go online for the updates, and I remembered that I had to download and install this fix https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2003-267.html#Red%20Hat%20Linux%209 . Also when one installs the fix, one has to install all three files at the same time to get it to work. I am now installing the updates. About 7 A.M. I chatted with a friend. CIO

Note: <888> 11/16/03 Sunday 5:20 A.M.: I went through my email. The Norton Anti Spam 2004 program deleted correctly about 75% of my email as spam, so it does work well. I made and ate my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm , which I also added about eight 1.5 inch springs of broccoli florets. I had the salad with a glass of iced tea. I am just about to drink a cup of 50% Folgers's instant and 50% Folgers's decaffeinated instant coffee. CIO

Note: <888> 11/16/03 Sunday 4:00 A.M.: University of North Carolina digital library http://www.ibiblio.org/ . CIO

Note: <888> 11/16/03 Sunday 3:30 A.M.: I have been doing some system maintenance on the Dell backup computer in the living room and the AMD backup computer in the bedroom. From the AMD backup computer, I took out the Diamond Stealth 32 meg PCI card. I enabled the onboard VGA, and I connected the onboard VGA cable. I also installed a new CMOS 2032 battery in the AMD backup computer. Plug and play recognized the onboard video, and it is all working just fine. I ran the updates on the AMD backup computer. I then set the Dell backup computer CMOS to PCI video boot disabling the onboard AGP video, and I installed the Diamond Stealth 32 meg PCI video card. It works just fine, and plug and play installed the right drivers in the Windows partition. However, the Red Hat Linux 9.0 partition would not boot, and I tried changing the video driver by booting the CD and running upgrade, but it still would not boot. I am able to boot the system with the Red Hat Linux 9.0 cd, so I am now doing a complete new installation of the Red Hat Linux 9.0 partition with all the languages and all the programs on the three CDs. I finished eating the jar of Planters dry roasted peanuts along with drinking some iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/15/03 Saturday 11:30 P.M.: I went to bed after the last message. I had a call from a friend about 3 P.M.. I was up at 9 P.M.. I chatted with a relative. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I watched a bit of television. I took 51 CVS aspirins, and I cut them in half with my pill cutter, so I now have 101 half aspirins to take one half when I wake up each day, which would be the same as a baby aspirin which are suppose to be good for the heart. CIO

Note: <888> 11/15/03 Saturday 2:00 P.M.: I ate a bowl of peanuts. I relaxed a bit. In the old days in Key West in the period I visited regularly from 1976 to 1982, I spent quite a bit of time in the sun during the winter. When I came north in the spring or summer, I was colder up north, and I was darkly tanned, so frequently my friends up north did not recognize me. Of course for me a dark tan is not really that dark. It was about what one would get from a two or three week vacation in the Caribbean. Since during the winter in the Key West, it can be a bit cool, so it was not always beach weather. I recall many 50 degree days around the beach chatting with Canadians, so it was more of a resort for colder weather people, and it was not really a resort for people looking for tropical weather in the winter. I was advised by the Head of Dermatology from Columbia University the last time I was in Key West in 1982, that I should not spend much time in the sun anymore. I have tried to listen to his advise since then. I have had only one small melanoma taken off my back about four years ago. Well, I am tired, so I will shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/15/03 Saturday 12:55 P.M.: For anyone whom is interested in where their money is going or whom is getting what from the United States of America government, one can try http://w3.access.gpo.gov/usbudget/index.html . CIO

Note: <888> 11/15/03 Saturday 12:50 P.M.: I went outside briefly, and I checked the mail. I got the AOL 9.0 disk with two free months, but as usual, I will not be using it. I rezipped and uploaded Download Scott's Internet Directory "scott008.zip" 2.21 megs and open "scotlist.htm" in web browser . I have not worked on it much in the last two years, but with Google out there, it is probably not needed anymore. Still, it might be handy if one did not know what to search for. Of course in my directory, there are a lot of "Dot Goners". CIO

Note: <888> 11/15/03 Saturday 11:50 A.M.: I went out after the last message. I chatted with a neighbor. I went by the Exxon gasoline station next to the Greenwich Library, and I put in $4.51 of regular unleaded gasoline at $1.839 a gallon for about 24 miles per gallon. I then went by the Stop and Shop, and I bought two red Bermuda onions at $1.29 a pound for $1.47 total. I then drove down by the waterfront. I went to the Greenwich Hospital Laboratory at a little before 8 A.M., and I had blood drawn to test my cholesterol count. I then went by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift shop, but I was too early, so I went downtown, and then I went by the Putnam Trust Bank of New York, but I was too early, and then I returned to the Greenwich Hospital Thrift shop at opening at 8:30 A.M.. Everything today is half price, and they are opened until 1 P.M. today. They will be closed on Monday and Tuesday next week, and then they will be reopening on Wednesday for their Christmas display of merchandise. I bought a book for .50 called "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" by Stacey International. They had the same book in the Revised Edition for $1.50, but I could not afford it. I then went by Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason Street at opening at 9 A.M.. I then drove back downtown by the waterfront. I next went by the Greenwich Library, and I read the Greenwich Times. I then went by Smokes for Less in Byram, and I bought a carton of Seneca Ultra Lights 100s for $31 total. I then returned home. I had a glass of ice tea. I then microwaved and ate a 12.5 ounce Stouffer's Lean Cuisine chicken Tuscan dinner which I had with a glass of iced tea. I also ate a bowl of peanuts. I vacuumed the apartment. I will put the Saudi Arabian book in my right hallway book case on the center shelf. I am not yet flying the Saudi Arabian flag yet, but I will have to see what the cost of my next electricity bill is with the living room thermostat turned up to 78 degrees Fahrenheit and the living room temperature at 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Still at the moment I am comfortable inside. I have met many people from Saudi Arabia over the years, but the most interesting one was Izi whom spent all of his free time on a prayer rug at Louis' Patio in Key West. I once saw him come north to Manhattan, and he was surrounded by about 50,000 people, but down in Key West, he mostly kept to himself and the wind and the sand and the waves. Coming from his part of the world, he thought Key West was cold, and I told him about Tobago. Of course when I got down to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in September 1976, I weighed 190 pounds, but by the time I left Key West, Florida around April 1977, I weighed about 125 pounds living on a low budget diet of oranges, orange juice, peanut butter, yogurt, and not much else but the occasional avocado or bowl of oat meal. However, I am not sure living on sunshine is the proper way to lose weight, and today in Key West, they would probably arrest one for living off the beach. Of course when I first showed up there, everyone was dirt poor, so they were more hospitable. I wonder how they all managed to make so much money. They still have the two foot by three black framed glass enclosed map of Guadeloupe to Trinidad for sale in the Greenwich Hospital Thrift shop for $40. CIO

Note: <888> 11/15/03 Saturday 6:45 A.M.: I improved the look of www.geocities.com/mikelscott/scotlist.htm . I hope to work on the volcano directory some time in the future when I get a bit more time. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go out. I think the Greenwich Hospital laboratory opens at 8 A.M. on Saturday, so I will be there slightly before hand to get my cholesterol count checked. I am a bit hungry, but I will eat something when I return. CIO

Note: <888> 11/15/03 Saturday 6:00 A.M.: I went through my email. The Norton Anti Spam 2004 http://nct.symantecstore.com/fulfill/0001.114 works pretty well once one sets it up delete recurring spam email addresses. At the moment it is moving most of the spam into the spam folder which is about half of my email. CIO

Note: <888> 11/15/03 Saturday 5:30 A.M.: I reinstalled the Sun Java applet http://java.sun.com . I also enabled the Microsoft VM Java console in Internet Explorer settings. However, it seems the Forbes www.forbes.com web site might have errors in its web page code to start some of its display programs since certain links start with "javascript:popit" which does not seem to work, at least on my machine. I am going through my email. CIO

Note: <888> 11/15/03 Saturday 4:10 A.M.: I went out after the last message. I dropped off a book at the Greenwich Library book drop, which I only had time to read one chapter of. I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue and the train station area. I sat out at various locations. I then drove down by the waterfront. I noticed in the underground parking lot at the Greenwich train station, somebody left an old server by one of the entrance doors. I next went by the Food Emporium, and I bought a 14.5 ounce container of Cerulean Seas fine sea salt for $1.19, a 10 ounce package of Master Choice fresh spinach for $1.99, a 16 package of Master Choice baby carrots for $1.79, plum tomatoes at $1.99 a pound for $3.94, a 10 ounce box of fresh mushrooms for $2.29, a 5 pound bag of America's Choice sugar $2.39 for $13.59 total. I then returned home, and I put away my purchases, and I had a glass of iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/15/03 Saturday 1:50 A.M.: I put away the laundry. I will now put the computer on standby, and I will go out for some fresh air. CIO

Note: <888> 11/15/03 Saturday 12:40 A.M.: I have 40 minutes on the dry cycle of the laundry. I will now clean up. CIO

Note: <888> 11/15/03 Saturday 12:15 A.M.: I ate two Quaker low fat white cheddar cheese flavored corn cakes and a bowl of peanuts this morning when I woke up briefly. I was up at 4 P.M., when I had a telephone call from a friend whom said he would not be visiting. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I went back to bed until 8 P.M.. I watched a bit of television. I ate a Marie Callendar beef tips and mushroom dinner, which I had with iced tea. I then had a cup of cappuccino. I then did my house cleaning and watering the plants. I will vacuum in the morning when I will not disturb my neighbors. I am now on the wash cycle of two loads of laundry. I put clean linens on the bed in the bedroom. I can not eat anymore until after this morning at 8 A.M., when I get my blood tested at the Greenwich Hospital Laboratory for my cholesterol count. CIO

Note: <888> 11/14/03 Friday 3:15 A.M.: I went through www.geocities.com/mikelscott/scotwork.htm . I will now send out my weekly notes. I will then shut down the computer, and I will go to bed. CIO

Note: <888> 11/14/03 Friday 2:40 A.M.: I ate two bowls of corn chips with iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/13/03 Thursday 9:55 P.M.: I had my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm . I had it with chunks of a medium size avocado along with a glass of iced tea. I watched some of www.novatv.nl using the World TV program with Windows Media player on my television. This link says Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima are expecting their first child in January 2004 Christine's Royalty.net - News . I chatted with a relative. CIO

Note: <888> 11/13/03 Thursday 7:15 P.M.: I ate a couple bowls of corn chips when I woke up during the morning. I was finally up at 1 P.M., and I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I made my 3 P.M. appointment. I went by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift shop. I then went downtown, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue, and I sat out at various locations. I then drove down by the waterfront. I then went by the Greenwich Library, and I read the Greenwich Times. I then returned home. I looked through several areas of the apartment looking for something I seem to have hidden from myself. I turned the living room thermostat back up to 78 degrees Fahrenheit, so it should be about 74 degrees Fahrenheit in the apartment. CIO

Note: <888> 11/13/03 Thursday 6:00 A.M.: I will now shut down the computer. I will go to bed soon. I have a 3 P.M. appointment today. CIO

Note: <888> 11/13/03 Thursday 5:25 A.M.: I am just about ready to eat a Stouffer's Lean Cuisine 13.75 ounce Chicken Florentine dinner with iced tea. I just read that Greenwich has another bank robbery yesterday Greenwich Time - Another bank robbed: Police: Heist at Patriot not tied to recent theft string . This seems to be about the fifth bank robbery locally in about as many months. It would seem to me that with such a crime spree going on that they should assign Federal Marshals to patrol the town until the recent crime wave is brought to a halt. I've seen it done before. CIO

Note: <888> 11/13/03 Thursday 5:10 A.M.: On the primary computer with Windows XP Professional, the Windows Update feature will not install "Security Update for Windows XP (KB810217)", although I believe I installed it already from the download Download details: Security Update for Windows XP: KB810217 . Also it will not install "Update for Windows Rights Client Management 1.0". I will now worry about it for now. I did install the Works Suite 2002 updates. I also installed updates on the second partition on Dell backup computer, and I just finished installing the updates on the Redhat Linux 9.0 partition on the Dell backup computer. CIO

Note: <888> 11/13/03 Thursday 2:00 A.M.: I installed the three updates from the Microsoft Security bulletin for Windows XP Microsoft TechNet Microsoft Windows Security Bulletin for November 2003 and one from http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-050.asp . I also received a notification of a Microsoft presentation in New Haven, Connecticut around December 2, 2003 http://www.technetbriefings.com/ and Microsoft TechNet Events which because I do not drive long distances except for vacation, I will not be able to attend. I can not post the specific link since it has my invitation code string. I also went to http://nct.symantecstore.com/fulfill/0001.114 and I downloaded the free 30 day trial of Norton Anti Spam 2004. However to downloaded it, one has to enter one's email, and they email one back, and for some odd reason, Optimum Online did not deliver the email but blocked it, so I entered my Hotmail email address, and the reply showed up in my Junk email on the Hotmail account, so I was able to click on the download link and install Norton Anti Spam 2004, which says it is only good for 15 days. It seems to work, but one has to mark each spam email as spam, and it keeps a list of junk email senders, but since junk email senders change their addresses all the time, it might not really work. I will have to evaluate it. It has a feature where one can block all but the email addresses in one's email address book, which is not very practical since I get lots of email newsletters for which I do not have addresses for. Still, I will use it for the 15 days, but I will probably not buy if for $40. I also turned my living room thermostat to 76 degrees Fahrenheit, so it is about 72 degrees Fahrenheit in the apartment. CIO

Note: <888> 11/12/03 Wednesday 11:05 P.M.: I ate four bowls of Tostitos restaurant style corn chips with some iced tea. It is too early for my primary salad. I received in the mail today, a Gillette Mach3 Turbo razor www.mach3.com with a blade. Gillette for years has been like inkjet manufacturers and Polaroid camera manufactures in that they sell their product cheaply and earn money on the refills. Before I use it, I will have to see if a package of 10 Mach3 refills cost more than $4 which is what I pay for 10 generic throwaway razors at CVS. This links shows the Mach3 cartridge refills are considerably more expensive CVS Online Pharmacy Store Gillette Mach3 Turbo . I suppose it would give a better shave though. CIO

Note: <888> 11/12/03 Wednesday 10:05 P.M.: I was up at 4 P.M.. I had one crank fax call earlier in the day. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I went back to bed until 6:30 P.M.. I watched the ABC evening news. I ate two Quaker low fat white cheddar flavored corn cakes with iced tea. I cleaned up, and I went out by the Greenwich Library. I read the Greenwich Times and part of P.C. World Magazine. I then drove down by the waterfront. At the lower southeast train station dumpster area, they have lots of cranberry and steel desk chairs in the dumpster. I found a black IBM USB keyboard that I retrieved. I then walked lower Greenwich Avenue. I returned home, and I had a glass of iced tea. I put the black IBM USB keyboard on top of the Epson C62 printer in the bedroom window. When I booted my computer the NOAA weather warning was on alert for Weather Bug saying tomorrow Thursday from noon until midnight, there would be high wind warnings for the area. CIO

Note: <888> 11/12/03 Wednesday 2:35 A.M.: I ate a bowl of sourdough pretzels. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon or maybe watch a bit of television. CIO

Note: <888> 11/12/03 Wednesday 1:10 A.M.: I made and ate my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm in which I also added half inch chunks of a medium avocado. I had the salad with iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/11/03 Tuesday 11:45 P.M.: I went out, and I went by the ATM machine at Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason Street. I then went by CVS on Greenwich Avenue. I picked up a prescription at a $1.50 cost. I also bought a two pack of General Electric 40 watt appliance bulbs for $3.69 plus .22 tax for $3.91 total for $5.41 grand total. I looked at other items on sale in the store, and I bought a 6 ounce box of Kraft stove top stuffing for .99, two boxes of Kraft Deluxe macaroni and cheese original recipe for $2.99 both, and a 16 ounce jar of Planter's Dry Roasted Peanuts for $1.99 for $5.97 total. I then parked in the center of downtown like I usually do, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I sat out at various locations. I chatted with a customer coming out of the new restaurant on the center east side of Greenwich Avenue where the Dome restaurant use to be, and the customer told me the new restaurant is called "Gaya". I then drove down by the waterfront. I then went by the Stop and Shop, and I bought a 5 pound bag of Della www.dellarice.com Gourmet Japanese style sushi rice from Brinkley, Arkansas for $3.99, a quart jar of Polaner strawberry preserves for $2.99 and a bag of UTZ unsalted sourdough pretzels for $1.59 for $8.57 total. I noticed the same package of General Electric appliance bulbs was $2.99 at the Stop and Shop. I then returned home, and I put away my purchases. I put a new General Electric 40 watt appliance bulb in the refrigerator, and I will put the other one in the mahogany bureau drawer in the bedroom where I keep various other bulbs. I drank some iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/11/03 Tuesday 7:15 P.M.: I will now shut down the computer, and I will get ready to go out. CIO

Note: <888> 11/11/03 Tuesday 7:10 P.M.: I got my energy assistance paper work filled out for next Tuesday morning when I have an appointment to submit it. I also filled out the Energy Protection form which I will mail when I go out in a little while. Just after I filled out the energy form, I opened my refrigerator door, and my refrigerator 40 watt appliance bulb burned out, so I need to buy another one, when I go out this evening. If it is not one thing it is always another expense. CIO

Note: <888> 11/11/03 Tuesday 6:10 P.M.: I went to bed after the last message. I woke up a little bit later, and I ate a bowl of sourdough pretzels. I had three crank fax calls come in on my answering machine. I just do not answer it after the first call, so the fax caller gets the answering machine, and hopefully will terminate the annoying fax calls. Earlier in the afternoon, I received a package from a relative via United Parcel Service. I was up at 4 P.M., and I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I chatted with a relative. I have some paper work to do for my Energy Assistance application, which I do next week. CIO

Note: <888> 11/11/03 Tuesday 6:20 A.M.: I went through www.geocities.com/mikelscott/scotwork.htm . I ate two Quaker low fat white cheddar cheese flavored corn cakes with some iced tea. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/11/03 Tuesday 3:15 A.M.: I ate a Quaker low fat white cheddar cheese flavored corn cake. I looked at the Ramada Carnival Cruise $1,600 travel voucher, and it said on the fine print that on the three day cruise to the Bahamas and South Florida, they would try to sell the free recipient a retirement home. Since I obviously can not afford a retirement home, I will not be pursuing it. CIO

Note: <888> 11/11/03 Tuesday 2:35 A.M.: Since I have focused on Computer technology for the last 12 years, I have not read that much other information. I do recall reading about seven years ago that W. Averill Harriman's http://www.trumanlibrary.org/oralhist/harriman.htm old railroad the Union Pacific railroad www.up.com had remaining in full working order somewhere out in Arkansas two of the old quite large steam locomotives that were used for hauling the large coals trains of over 500 coal cars or more. However, I mentioned that I did not think a lot of the current railroad bridges could currently support such heavy loads of freight. Of course somewhere out there in the hinterlands someone would know whether or not that was the case. Of course the track bed would have to be in good working order too. Recently since we have enjoyed so much nuclear power from aging nuclear power plants, I am not sure how much of the old coal delivery system would be available. Although we supposedly have 400 years of coal reserves in the United States of America, it is expensive to transport and burn cleanly. Besides the traditional coal mines, I think there are also open pit coal mines which can be an environmental problem after their useful mining life is expired. I once reminded a friend that John Harvard the founder of Harvard College was the son of a coal miner. Besides Albert Gore in democratic politics recently in the United States of America being the son of a coal mining union executive whom went into politics, also Herbert Hoover was a coal mining engineer in China. Besides West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania having coal mining facilities, I believe there is coal mining activity in Alabama, Tennessee, Colorado, and maybe Minnesota. The Roosevelt family of New York State established one of its original fortunes in the coal mining business in upstate New York too, but I am not sure it is still in existence. CIO

Note: <888> 11/11/03 Tuesday 2:15 A.M.: Earlier after dinner, I made a 50% Folgers's instant and 50% Folgers's instant decaffeinated coffee, which I drank. I noticed one of the regular Greenwich Library patrons today was reading a book on railroads. I mentioned to the regular patron that according to my research the State of Illinois has about 50,000 miles of railroad tracks mostly for bringing in the grain harvest. I also mentioned that Grand Central Station in Manhattan is owned by a Ohio Insurance Company, and it is leased to the Metropolitan Transit Authority on a 125 year lease. Since my grandfather on my father's side was in the railroad business, I have tried to learn a little bit about railroads over the years, but mostly for the last 20 years, it has been just walking around the commuter railroad here in Greenwich, Connecticut. Of course in the days in Florida, there were Florida East Coast Railroad people around. I know other railroad families. Of course it costs money to travel even on a railroad, so on my limited budget over the great many years since I graduated from college 31 years ago, I have not experience much rail travel. However, while in Spain around March of 1972, I took a high speed express train from Madrid to Pisa, which was quite an enjoyable ride, but not many people were on the train, since it was expensive even by Spanish standards. I vaguely recall paying a surplus over my U-rail pass for regular train travel of about $60. Of course in those days with the U-rail pass, I rode the train so much sleeping on the train at night and exploring cities in the day time that I got a little tired of train travel, since it seemed a lot like work. I generally do not go out of this area, since it is such an expensive area, that I tend to keep my own appointed limited rounds, so as not to go over budget. Of course in earlier years, I rode the local railroad quite a bit, but I usually drove into Manhattan, since it was cheaper late at night if one came out before rush hour in the morning. Believe it or not at this hour, one can make it from here to the east side of Manhattan in midtown in about 25 minutes, but then one has to deal with parking and what one might encounter on the streets of Manhattan or any of its watering holes. Since during the cold weather at night and the early morning hours, there is not too much outdoor activity at night in Manhattan, it is generally just a cold walk around town, which I can do out here far more simply. I also reminded the local library user that during the oil shortage in the early to mid 1970s, there were coal trains that ran underneath the Hudson River through the Pennsylvania Station railroad network underground to the East Side of Manhattan south of the United Nations to keep the Consolidated Edison Plant running there with plenty of fuel. As I recall there is a large underground steam network in Manhattan that the east side midtown power plant services, so quite a few people whom I knew in Manhattan in that period were warm and comfortable because of coal generate steam heat while the people in the suburbs without oil were learning how to chop wood. I dare say in that period I saw one or two coal miners or railroad people walking about the City, since they would have been making money then. CIO

Note: <888> 11/11/03 Tuesday 1:10 A.M.: With all the publicity the British Prince Of Wales Prince Charles seems to get, I think people should remember that this Friday November 14 is his 55th birthday having been born on that date in 1948. His official web site is http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/ . Of course his family having ruled England for 800 years or more would probably have a few enemies particularly amongst the Communist leaning socialist press barons that seem to rule Fleet Street. Having never set foot in the United Kingdom, I have a feeling that like any established authority they have their limits as to what is permitted to be printed and conjectured. Basically, I do not get involved in such matters, and since the British are the largest investors in terms of stockholder equity in the United States of America, I would not want to do or say anything that would alienate them or their investment portfolios. Basically there are very devious forces in the world always trying to undermine the status quo and as the various groups lobby for more influence, they frequently try to do so by undermining established groups. Such radical groups usually are not paid much heed, since they frequently do not have the longevity in their campaigns. Thus I would dare say the established British old guard and the British monarchy will continue in their timeless procession of pageantry and ceremony. Frequently, if one is curious about such matters, one can research the other royal houses in the world, and one soon begins to realize that they are all closely networked through long associations through out history. Thus the low paid workers of the fleet street press and other similar ventures are generally out of their league when they try to undermine and over throw authority or pomp and circumstance just simply to generate more income for their poison pin press. We recently had similar problems here in America with a television network trying to profiteer off the Ronald Regan legacy. Basically as I have said before, if the communications media gets to be too tawdry, one can always sell one's stocks or portfolios in such fleet of foot ventures or one can simply not pay money to the cablevision provider and be content to read a more interesting book and save the money in a conservative bank for a rainy day. Since I have always been a news follower, I tend to keep it all in perspective. Most people are private and really do not want any association with the printed or televised press. Ultimately the real authority can simply turn off the electricity on the whole affair. CIO

Note: <888> 11/10/03 Monday 11:55 P.M.: I ate a bowl of Utz sourdough pretzels before going to bed. I was up at 2 P.M., and I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I went back to bed until 4 P.M.. I ate another bowl of sourdough pretzels. I then cleaned up, and I went out. I went by Smokes for Less in Byram, and I bought a carton of Seneca Ultra Lights 100s for $31 total. I then drove downtown, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue, and I sat out at various places. I stopped by CVS, and I bought a gallon of Splash antifreeze windshield washer for $1.49 plus .09 tax for $1.58 total. I completed my walk. I put the gallon of windshield washer in the back passenger side corner of the hatchback area. I then drove down by the waterfront. I next went by the Greenwich Library, and I read the Greenwich Times. I then went by the Stop and Shop, and I bought three half gallons of Tropicana Premium orange juice with calcium for $2 each for $6 total. I then returned home. I put away my purchases. I brought inside the yellow made in China solar powered flash light from the hatch back area of the car, but it did not work. I was going to try to replace the batteries, and then I noticed it had warped from sitting in the hot sun in the hatch back area of the Hyundai. I had originally bought it from the 70% off rack at the Greenwich Hardware store for about $10. I put it on the floor behind the apartment door just to have for spare parts in case I ever have time to fiddle with it. Technically in an extended power emergency, one could try to get it working, but I am not sure how damaged it is or the solar cells. I chatted with a friend for about an hour and a half. I turned up the living room thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit from 76 degrees Fahrenheit, so it is now about 74 degrees Fahrenheit in the apartment, but it is still a bit cool and drafty. I do not turn on the heat in the bathroom, and until it gets very cold, I do not turn on the heat in the bedroom. Of course the box fan set on low on the living room window shelf above the electric radiators blows the heat around the apartment, so it is more evenly heated instead of having it all go into the false ceiling, however it does create its own minor draft. I ate my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm which I had with chunks of a medium avocado in it along with a glass of iced tea. I received today from Carnival Cruise a promotion for a free three day $1,600 cruise around south Florida. It says to call an 800 number, but I think there is some sort of catch to it. I will have to read it more closely. CIO

Note: <888> 11/10/03 Monday 5:30 A.M.: I did a little computer work through out the morning. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/10/03 Monday 5:00 A.M.: I changed some of the cmos settings on my computer. I took a 10.75 ounce can of Campbell's chicken with rice soup, and I put it in my microwave proof plastic pot, and I put one fourth of the Campbell's soup can of Rene Junot White wine and a half can of water in it along with a half teaspoon of parsley, a pinch of Old Bay Seasoning, garlic powder, celery salt, ground black pepper, chicken and meat seasoning, and Italian spices. I heated it covered with its lid in the microwave on reheat. I put the heated soup in one of the large cobalt blue soup bowls, and I added 12 Arnold large cut Zesty Italian croutons and a two teaspoons of grated parmesan cheese. I will now eat it with a glass of ice tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/10/03 Monday 3:15 A.M.: I went out, and I had to scrape the frost off the car. I then mailed the letter at the Valley Road post office. I then went downtown, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I sat out at various locations. I also walked the train station area. While walking up Greenwich Avenue, I noticed a CVS shopping cart at the Greenwich Post Office plaza, so I rolled it back up to CVS on my way up Greenwich Avenue. After my walk, I drove down by the waterfront. I then stopped by the ATM machine at Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason Street. I just now returned home. CIO

Note: <888> 11/10/03 Monday 1:00 A.M.: I wrote a letter to a relative. I will go out and mail it shortly. CIO

Note: <888> 11/09/03 Sunday 11:05 P.M.: I made and ate the usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm . I also added half inch chunks from a medium avocado. I had the salad with a glass of iced tea. I put away the new batch of iced tea in the refrigerator. I organized the left top kitchen cupboard, so the new Campbell's soup is in back on the lower shelf, and the older Progresso soup is up front. All of my soups are less than nine months old. I also have noodles, coffee filters, new dishes, and new silver ware in that cupboard. I also put four cans of the new Campbell's soup in the right cabinet above the stove along with the new Mueller's noodles along with the lettuce spinner and all the plastic shopping bags. I organized the food in the bookcase at the kitchen entrance, so it is stacked together by type. CIO

Note: <888> 11/09/03 Sunday 9:05 P.M.: I ate two Quaker low fat white cheddar flavored corn cakes before going to bed. I was up at 1:30 P.M., and I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I went back to bed until 4 P.M.. I ate two Quaker low fat white cheddar flavored corn cakes with some iced tea. I cleaned up, and I went out. I went downtown, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I sat out at various locations. I stopped by CVS walking up Greenwich Avenue, and I bought two 16 ounce packages of Mueller's thin spaghetti noodles for .99 both. I then used the ATM machine at Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason Street. I then went back by CVS, and I bought from the 75% off rack two 13 inch by 6.5 inch triple relish trays in the same plum outside and medium green inside as the coffee mugs for $3.50 both, two 10.75 ounce cans of Campbell's chicken noodle soup for .50 each and two 10.75 ounce cans of Campbell's tomato soup for .50 each, two 16 ounce boxes of Mueller's thin spaghetti noodles for .99 both, eight six ounce cans of Bumble Bee solid white albacore tuna fish for .99 a can plus .21 tax for $14.62 total. I then completed my walk. I drove down by the waterfront. I then went by the Stop and Shop, and I bought two 26 ounce jars of Aunt Millie's traditional spaghetti tomato sauce for $2.49 both, and two 18.5 ounce cans of Progresso Rich and Hearty creamy chicken with wild rice soup for $2.49 both and a bulb of garlic at $2.69 a pound for .43 for $5.41 total. I then returned home, and I put away my purchases. I took off the labels off the garnish trays, and I washed and dried them, and I put them on top of the other serving platters on the Danish bar with the two cobalt blue soup bowls on top of them, and I put the wooden cheese tray in between the two Danish tables that are stacked on top of each other to form the Danish bar. I was told by a local walker this evening that is retired from the liquor business that the liquor store at the Pathmark shopping center by Home Depot in Port Chester, New York is suppose to be one of the least expensive in the area. I am making up a fresh batch of www.geocities.com/mikelscott/icetea.htm . I am using one each of the five different types of Twinings tea in the five variety package, four Salada green tea, eight America's Choice orange pekoe tea bags, and three Bigelow orange pekoe tea bags. CIO

Note: <888> 11/08/03 Saturday 11:55 P.M.: I ate a cereal bowl of corn chips. CIO

Note: <888> 11/08/03 Saturday 10:10 P.M.: I made up a fresh batch of homemade hummus http://www.geocities.com/mikelscott/hummus.htm . This time I changed the recipe to a half teaspoon of cumin and a half teaspoon of ground coriander. I then made up my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm . This time I also added half inch chunks from a medium peeled avocado. I had the salad with a glass of iced tea. I chatted with a relative. CIO

Note: <888> 11/08/03 Saturday 8:30 P.M.: I went out, and I drove down by the waterfront. It was a beautiful almost full harvest moon. When I came in at 7:30 P.M., it was half blocked by the lunar eclipse. I guess if one were a druid one would be somewhat perplexed. After driving down by the waterfront, I went downtown, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I mailed the new Greenwich Post free subscription post card at the central Greenwich Post office. I sat out at various locations. I stopped by CVS, and from the Halloween 75% off rack, I bought six 16 ounce coffee mugs for $1 each, three are medium green with plum color insides and three are plum color with medium green insides plus .36 tax for $6.36 total. After I completed my walk, I went by the Exxon service station, and I filled up with $6.50 of regular unleaded gasoline at $1.839 a gallon for about 23 miles per gallon. I then went by the Stop and Shop, and I bought a 20 ounce bag of Frito Lay Tostitos Restaurant Style corn chips for $2.99, from the older vegetable rack, I bought a package of five medium to small avocados for $1.15 all, a 26 ounce jar of Ragu vegetable primavera sauce for $1.67, broccoli crowns at .79 a pound $1.11, a 28 ounce can of Goya chick peas $1.09, a six ounce can dry of Stop and Shop pitted black California olives for .99, a 8 ounce container of Kraft crated parmesan cheese for $2.99, a 10 ounce bag of fresh spinach for $1.50 for $13.49 total. I then returned home. I put away my purchases. I removed the price tags from the bottom of the new coffee mugs with a dinner knife and then I scoured the remains off with a steel wire scouring pad, and then I washed and dried them. I took off the six old coffee mugs from the steel coffee mug rack on the top of the Danish bar, and I put the new coffee mugs there. I put the old coffee mugs on the floor underneath the Danish bar. Two of the old coffee mugs are Putnam Trust $500 million assets mugs, two are Fresh Fields mugs, and two are Tracks mugs. I took the left most old Braun cappuccino espresso machine, and I put it in a bag with its metal frothing cup and attachments, and I put it on the lower level of the bedroom closet on top of the backup Farberware convection oven. I took out of the bedroom closet the white Krups drip coffee, espresso and cappuccino machine, and I put it on the left side of the kitchen entry bookcase to have it available for making bigger pots of coffee. I put the carafe from the newer Braun espresso cappuccino machine with the Krups unit, but one can switch them back and forth depending on which unit one is using. I broke the carafe that came with the newer Braun about a year ago, so I am using the other carafe. I noticed during my walk this evening the new restaurant is opened where the old Dome restaurant once was located on the middle of Greenwich Avenue, but I have not seen the new name posted yet. CIO

Note: <888> 11/08/03 Saturday 4:15 P.M.: I was up at noon. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I checked the mail. I received a post card to renew the free subscription to the Greenwich Post which I will fill out shortly. I just finished my house cleaning and watering the plants. I will now have two Quaker low fat white cheddar cheese flavored corn cakes with some iced tea. I will shut down the computer, and I will clean up, and I will go out. It is about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, so I will have to dress more warmly. CIO

Note: <888> 11/08/03 Saturday 12:25 A.M.: I did a little bit of regular computer work. Nothing much seems to be going on at the moment on the internet, and I suppose when I have more time, I will look at it more carefully. CIO

Note: <888> 11/07/03 Friday 10:35 P.M.: I had three cereal bowls of corn chips along with a glass of iced tea. I chatted with a relative. I am in the process of going through my email. CIO

Note: <888> 11/07/03 Friday 8:10 P.M.: I had my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm along with a glass of iced tea. I put away the laundry. I will now send out my weekly notes. CIO

Note: <888> 11/07/03 Friday 6:25 P.M.: I was up at noon, and I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I then went out, and I went by the Arnold Bread outlet, and I bought a 5.5 ounce box of Arnold Zesty Italian larger cut croutons for .99, and a 5.5 ounce box of Arnold Garlic and Herb larger cut croutons for .99, and a loaf of Branola 12 grain bread for .99 less 10% senior discount of .30 for $2.67 total. I the went by the Greenwich Hospital outpatient clinic, and I can get my flu shot when I have a follow up there later on in the month for my cholesterol count. I then went by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift shop. I next went down by the waterfront. I then walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue, and I sat out at various locations. I then went by the Greenwich Library, and I read the Greenwich Times and P.C. Magazine. I then returned home, and I had a glass of iced tea. I am now on the wash cycle of two loads of laundry. Also before I went out today, I put fresh linens on the bed in the bedroom. CIO

Note: <888> 11/07/03 Friday 12:35 A.M.: I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/06/03 Thursday 10:55 P.M.: I chatted with a friend. I made up my usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm , but this time I used a tin of sardines that I chopped along with its oil in the salad instead of flaked tuna fish. I had the salad with a glass of iced tea. I chatted with a relative. CIO

Note: <888> 11/06/03 Thursday 8:50 P.M.: Spanish cultural note: Mealtimes: Mealtimes in Spain are later than elsewhere in Europe, and later still in Madrid. Lunch starts around 2 or 2:30 (closer to 3 in Madrid), dinner between 8 and 10 (9 and 11 in Madrid). I chatted with one of the Brazilian painters working on the old Dome restaurant on Greenwich Avenue, and he told me the new name which sounded like "Goya" which means it might be a new Spanish restaurant. Since Spanish restaurants tend to serve meals later, we might now have fine dining later at night in Greenwich, but I am not sure there is the demand for it, but there seems to be a lot of Hispanic people in the area. We already have a restaurant just west of Greenwich Avenue on West Putnam Avenue called Barcelona, where I once visited in Spain. CIO

Note: <888> 11/06/03 Thursday 7:30 P.M.: I watched the ABC evening news. They said that 13% of United States of America jobs are involved in manufacturing and 80% are in the Service Economy. I have a hobby of assembling old computers from old computer systems and parts, I wander where that puts me. I just remembered I have not set foot in the Hyatt Hotel in Old Greenwich http://greenwich.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml , since they put in the new international expensive charge money machine replacing the Bank of New York money machine, so I have not had an excuse to visit it in quite a while. I guess the Hyatt Hotel is sort of like Chicago, Illinois where it comes from. It something that people tend to forget about. Well, I suppose compared to some of the new more fancy hotels, the Hyatt today might seem a bit antiquated, but I suppose it still has some regular guests, and for all I know some people still might enjoy its ambience. Although my apartment is sort of like a deluxe suite in the Carlyle Hotel http://www.thecarlyle.com/ in Manhattan, unfortunately I can not afford the electricity to make it as warm and comfortable, so it usually tends to be a bit damp and chilly in the colder months, sort of like a Bed and Breakfast up in Scotland. Well, I have done my best to maintain a respectable presence here in Greenwich, Connecticut and the New York area where our family has lived for close to 400 years, but alas since I do not seem to drink any alcohol anymore, no one seems to want to enjoy old fashioned frugal thrifty Scottish hospitality. I guess the Red Cross is short on blood too, since the Greenwich Red Cross http://www.ctredcross.org/greenwich/ had their blood mobile at Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason Street yesterday trying to collect blood from any heavier people whom might be able to spare a pint. Of course with all of the older people and medical institutions in the area, more than likely they always need a steady supply of blood. Since I tend to be anemic, I do not donate blood. CIO

Note: <888> 11/06/03 Thursday 6:10 P.M.: I made and drank a cappuccino with 50% Italian espresso beans and 50% Food Emporium hazelnut coffee beans. I put about 4 ounces of frothed milk with it and I sprinkled cinnamon on the frothed milk on top of the cappuccino. CIO

Note: <888> 11/06/03 Thursday 5:00 P.M.: I ate three cereal bowls of corn chips along with a glass of iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/06/03 Thursday 4:20 P.M.: I was up at about 11:30 A.M. this morning. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry preserves, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I went out about 1 P.M.. I stopped by Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason Street. I then went by the central Greenwich Post Office. I obtained two money orders at .90 cost each to pay my Cablevision and Optimum Online bills. I then drove down by the waterfront. I then went by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift Shop. I next made my 3 P.M. appointment. I have to remember to set up an appointment with the Greenwich Hospital outpatient clinic to get my flu shot. I just now returned home, and I had a glass of iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/06/03 Thursday 12:45 A.M.: Well, I am a bit tired, so I will shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. I ate three cereal bowls of corn chips. CIO

>Subject: Wishing you many blessings!
>Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2003 11:00 P.M. EDT
>
>This is what the Dalai Lama has to say on the millennium, which began
>1/1/03. All it takes is a few seconds to read and think about. The mantra
>must leave your hands within 96 hours. You will get a very pleasant
>surprise. This is true even if you are not superstitious.
>
>
>
>Instructions for Life
>
>1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great
>risk.
>
>2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
>
>3. Follow the three R's: Respect for self, respect for others and
>responsibility for all your actions.
>
>4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke
>of luck.
>
>5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
>
>6. Don't let a little dispute injure a friendship.
>
>7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct
>it.
>
>8. Spend some time alone every day.
>
>9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
>
>10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
>
>11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back,
>you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
>
>12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
>
>13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current
>situation. Don't bring up the past.
>
>14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
>
>15. Be gentle with the earth.
>
>16. Once a year, go some place you've never been before.
>
>17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each
>other exceeds your need for each other.
>
>18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
>
>19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
>
>
>
>The mantra must leave your hands within 96 hours. You will get a very
>pleasant surprise (this is true even if you are not superstitious) if you
>send it to:
>
>
>
>0-4 people: Your life will improve slightly.
>
>
>
>5-9 people: Your life will improve to your liking.
>
>
>
>9-14 people: You will have at least 5 surprises in the next 3 weeks.
>
>
>
>15 people and above: Your life will improve drastically and everything you
>ever dreamed of will begin to take shape.
>
>

Note: <888> 11/05/03 Wednesday 10:20 P.M.: I chatted with a friend. I had the usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm , but this time I added about eight 1.5 inch in diameter fresh broccoli florets. I had the salad with ice tea. I chatted with a relative. I chatted with the same friend. CIO

Note: <888> 11/05/03 Wednesday 7:40 P.M.: I went out, and I went by Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason Street. I then went by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift shop. I then toured the ELDC thrift shop. They have lots of items that I have not seen before. I checked out their dumpster in their parking lot, and I found a tin powdered sugar shaker in a plastic bag. I next went downtown, and I walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I sat out at various locations. I stopped by CVS, and I bought two more Harvest Accents Serving platters 10 inches by 14 inches 100% ceramic dishwasher safe and microwave safe for $2.49 each plus .30 tax for $5.28 total. I then drove down by the waterfront. I next went by the Greenwich Library, and I read the Greenwich Times. I then went by the Stop and Shop, and I bought a 12 ounce box of Ronzoni garlic fettuccini for .99, a 25 ounce jar of Stop and Shop chunky apple sauce for .99, Stella gorgonzola cheese at $5.49 a pound for $3.56, a Super Size 20 ounce bag of Frito Lay Tostitos Restaurant Style corn chips for $2.99, two buy one get one free of Campbell's 10.75 ounce cans of Cream of Mushroom soup for $1.19 both, buy one get one free of Green Giant 15 ounce cans of Green peas for .99 both, a 10 ounce box of fresh mushrooms for $1.99, two bulbs of garlic at $2.69 a pound for .78, and broccoli crowns at .79 a pound for $1.07 for $14.56 total. I then returned home, and I drank a glass of ice tea. I put away my purchases, and I washed the two new platters. I put the new ones with the other two on the Danish Bar. I took the wooden cheese tray out from underneath them, and I put it on top for convenience. I took out the aluminum fish broiling tray, and I put it in the top lower center cabinet shelf in the kitchen on top of the soup pot. Thus the stacked trays and platters on the Danish Bar are a little better balanced. I put the powder sugar shaker on the top sink shelf behind the cream pitcher. I chatted with a friend. CIO

Note: <888> 11/05/03 Wednesday 1:55 P.M.: I will now shut down the computer, and I will clean up, and I will go out soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/05/03 Wednesday 1:40 P.M.: I finished off the sugarless jelly beans a little while ago. I just ate two Quaker low fat white cheddar cheese corn cakes with a glass of iced tea. I checked the status of my $20 Columbia big button telephone rebate at www.wheremyrebate.com , and I also called them at 1-800-390-2344 for the New Rochelle, New York CompUSA Rebate number. They told me that it has been approved and should be mailed about November 17. I happened to notice that a neighbor with a similar name also comes up on the search. CIO

Note: <888> 11/05/03 Wednesday 12:40 P.M.: I took a nap until now. I checked my mail, and I did not receive my Cablevision or Optimum Online bills yet. I did receive an invitation to join http://www.frick.org/ which would be $60 to $10,000 depending on which membership I took out. Since I am basically cheap, and since I have some minor artwork in my well decorated apartment, I will make my apartment the Frick East collection in case any Frick members come out to this neck of the woods and ever want to visit. Of course, Helen Clay Frick use to have a home in Bedford, New York, and her property is now called the Westmoreland Sanctuary and is opened to the general public, so I would imagine we already have some of her friends out in this neck of the woods. I recall the last time I was at the Frick Museum with a few friends whom were patrons of the Frick Museum that as I was looking through the front window out onto Fifth Avenue from the front parlor, I noticed that one of the large urns was slightly cracked at its base, so maybe they need to do some preventive maintenance, since all the vibration from traffic on Fifth Avenue is possibly causing the weakening of the foundations of the building. Possibly they should make Fifth Avenue a pedestrian thorough fare and exclude vehicular traffic from it all together. CIO

Note: <888> 11/05/03 Wednesday 9:25 A.M.: I was up at 7 A.M.. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam, orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I installed on the primary and Dell backup computers the Microsoft Encarta Interactive World Atlas 2000. I also made a copy of its data CD, which I put in a jewel case which I labeled. I put it in top slot of my CD rack to the left of the primary computer. CIO

Note: <888> 11/04/03 Tuesday 11:35 P.M.: I watched a bit of television. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed. CIO

Note: <888> 11/04/03 Tuesday 10:00 P.M.: I chatted with two relatives, one twice. The Greenwich, Connecticut radio station at 1490 AM reports that the republican candidate for First Selectman of the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut has probably won by about 700 votes over the democratic incumbent. I snacked on about 20 sugarless jelly beans. CIO

Note: <888> 11/04/03 Tuesday 8:30 P.M.: I ate about 20 sugarless jelly beans. I made and ate the usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm . This time for the cheddar cheese portion, I used a combination of extra sharp cheddar cheese and Vermont extra sharp cheddar cheese. I also used crumbled gorgonzola cheese instead of feta cheese. I had the salad with a glass of iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/04/03 Tuesday 6:50 P.M.: I went out after the last message. I went by the New Lebanon school in Byram, and I voted. I noticed that the Greenwich republicans did not have a candidate running for tax accessor which seems strange they did not. I then drove downtown to Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason Street. I then went by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift Shop, and I bought for $3 an unopened Microsoft Encarta International World Atlas 2000 for $3 and a box of 30 3M 8.5 inches by 11 inches Post-It signs for ink jet and laser printers Y2030 for $3 for $6 total. I then went downtown, and I went to the central Greenwich Post Office, and I obtained two money orders at a cost of .90 each to pay my Verizon telephone and Northeast Utilities electricity bills. I am now paying the monthly average on my electricity bill. I then went by the Merry Go Round Mews thrift shop, and I bought two 11 inch diameter heavy hand made Cobalt blue soup bowls for $4 each and .48 tax for $8.48 total. I then walked the entire length of Greenwich Avenue. I stopped by the Greenwich Hardware store. I went by CVS, and they have the Harvest Accents china dishes made in China on sale for half price. I bought two boxes of four salad bowls for $2.99 each box and a matching creamer and sugar bowl for $1.99 both and a matching salt and pepper shaker for $1.99 both plus .60 tax for $10.56 total. I sat out at various locations on my walk. I then drove down by the waterfront. I next went by the Greenwich Library, but the Greenwich Times was not available. I then went by the Stop and Shop, and I bought a 10 quart package box of Stop and Shop dried milk for $6.99, a 13.25 ounce Lean Cuisine Chicken Florentine dinner for $2.50, a package of Quaker low fat white cheddar cheese corn cakes for $2.19, two eight ounce containers of Kraft grated parmesan cheese for $2.99 each, two 34 ounce bottles of Italica Premium Spanish extra virgin olive oil for $4.99 each, a pint of Monari Italian balsamic vinegar for $1.99, two six ounce cans dried of medium black pitted California olives for .99 each, two Mitsubishi Three Diamond six ounce cans of crab meat for $1.99 each, two Bermuda red onions at $1.29 a pound for $2.01, a 14 ounce bag of UTZ of Hanover sourdough pretzels for $1.59, buy one get one free of Campbell's 10.5 ounce cans of Chicken with rice soup $1.29 both for $40.48 total. I then returned home. I used the wire cart to bring up my purchases. I put away the groceries. I had a glass of iced tea. I washed and dried the new China dishes and the two Cobalt blue soup bowls. I put the new china bowls with the with the other new china dishes on the top shelf of the right most kitchen cabinet along with the salt and pepper shakers. I took the silver plate Revere bowl and a glass bowl on the Danish bar, and I put them inside the pink Chinese tureen bowl with the covered silver plate Revere bowl on top of those. I took the two new Harvest Accents serving dishes that I bought on Saturday from the same top kitchen cabinet shelf, and I put them on top of the trays in the middle level of the Danish bar with the two Cobalt blue soup bowls on top of them. I took from the stack of serving trays on the Danish bar, the heavy brass serving tray which looks a bit like gold, and I put the new china sugar pot and creamer on the brass tray, and I put it to the right of the serving trays on the middle level of the Danish bar. CIO

Note: <888> 11/04/03 Tuesday 11:40 A.M.: Happy Election Day, be sure to get out and vote. I was up at 9 A.M., and I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry preserves, pineapple orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I got a new General Electric 12 inch 32 watt round florescent light from the building custodian, and I put it in the fixture above the bathroom toilet. I gave the old one to the building custodian to throw away. I received my Northeast Utilities bill, and photocopied it three copies with the scanner and the laser printer to have for my energy assistance application, when I apply for it. I will prepare a couple of bills to pay. I will shut down the computer, and I will go out and vote and pay the Verizon and Northeast utilities bill. I still have not received my Cablevision and Optimum Online bills. CIO

Note: <888> 11/04/03 Tuesday 12:35 A.M.: I went through part of www.geocities.com/mikelscott/scotwork.htm . I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/03/03 Monday 10:35 P.M.: I chatted with two relatives. The free mini magnetic stapler, I got for free at Staples last Saturday, I loaded with the staples that came with it, and I put it in the center desk drawer in the living room which the Dell backup computer sits on. CIO

Note: <888> 11/03/03 Monday 8:40 P.M.: I made and ate the same salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm , but this time I use gorgonzola cheese instead of feta cheese. I had the salad with a glass of iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/03/03 Monday 7:40 P.M.: I was up at 6:30 A.M. this morning. I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry preserves, pineapple orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I went back to bed until 10 A.M.. I ate two Quaker low fat white cheddar cheese flavor corn cakes along with a glass of iced tea. I took off the yellow patterned throw fabric on the French sitting chair at the apartment entrance, and I put one of the dark green with petit point red flower pattern fabric throws on the French chair at the apartment entrance. I put the yellow throw in the clear plastic surefit package on the bedroom closet shelf with the rest of the dark green fabric I use to use on the green sofa. I cleaned up, and I went out about 1 P.M.. I went by Putnam Trust Bank of New York on Mason Street. I then went by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift Shop. I then went by the Wachovia Bank on Havemeyer Place, and I paid my rent. I then drove down by the waterfront, and I got out there for a while. I then went downtown, and I parked in central Greenwich. Today, I spent $1.25 parking downtown. I walked up Greenwich Avenue with another local walker, and we walked East with a rest at the outdoor tables at the Organic Food Store where Fresh fields use to be, and then we walked as far as Christ Church, and then we returned and rested at the same outdoor tables, and then we walked down Mason Street back west on East Elm Street to Greenwich Avenue. I said good bye to the local walker at Arch Street, and then I walked the lower part of Greenwich Avenue. I then sat out for a while. I made my 4 P.M. appointment. I then returned to my Hyundai at the same location. I then went to the Food Emporium, and I bought four half gallons of fresh Florida Natural orange juice with calcium for $1.99 each, two 42 ounce containers of Quaker old fashioned oatmeal for $3.99 each, four Lean Cuisine dinners at 40% off for $2.39 each, two boxes of America's Choice six fish fillets for $2.19 each, two boxes of America's Choice of six fish cakes each for $1.99 each box, a 18 ounce bag of America's Choice frozen onion rings for $1.79, a chunk of Stella Gorgonzola cheese at $5.99 a pound for $4.55, a Colombo vanilla yogurt for .99, two 8 ounce bars of America's Choice extra sharp cheddar cheese for $1.89 each for $44.97 total. I think on the Lean Cuisine meals, I got chicken Florentine, Grilled Chicken with mushrooms, chicken Tuscan, and chicken fettuccini and each is about 13.5 ounces. I then drove over to Smokes for Less in Byram, and I bought a carton of Seneca Ultra Lights 100s for $31. I then walked across the street to Madison liquors, and Captain Morgan rum there is $22.95 for a 1.75 liter bottle plus tax. I did not have enough money to get it, so I used the ATM machine at the Fleet Bank at $1.25 charge. Out of curiosity I checked the East Port Chester Wine and Liquor store by the Port Chester bridge which is on the Connecticut side, and I noticed that Captain Morgan rum was the same price. Since I only use rum in fruit cocktails, and since I have a full 1.75 liter bottle of Mount Gay rum, I decided not get to the Captain Morgan. However, occasionally I drink a vodka with various mixers and so do a couple friends of mine, and I remembered I have about a half 1.75 liter bottle of Smirnoff 80 proof in the old handle bottle. I could not find it, and then I noticed it was right in front of me by the cashier. I bought the Smirnoff 1.75 liter 80 proof triple distilled premium vodka from 21 Brands for $19.99 plus $1.21 tax for $21.20 total. The new Smirnoff vodka bottle is round, it does not have a handle on it, which makes it harder to pour. I then returned home, and I put away my purchases. I took the Perrier bottle out of the silver stag bottle holder on the Danish bar, and I put it underneath the green French chair by the bar, and I put in the silver stag holder a regular size bottle of French 1998 Domaine Chiroulet white gascony wine that I happened to have around. I had a telephone call reminding me to get out and vote republican tomorrow in the local election, which I will certainly do. When I changed my World Wildlife Fund www.wwf.org calendar to November it has a picture of a Mountain Lion. One has to remember that the mountain lion and other cold weather cats occasionally migrate through the ridge areas of this area. CIO

Note: <888> 11/02/03 Sunday 9:25 P.M.: I just ate the other half of the ten ounce can of mixed nuts. I also finished off the bowl of sugarless jelly beans along with a glass of iced tea. Earlier today before I went out, I put another $10 on my MacRay laundry card, so I now have $19.85 on the laundry card. I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/02/03 Sunday 8:25 P.M.: I chatted with two different friends. I will now change the Orion television back to regular mode. I will leave the 24 foot video cable plugged into the computer and Orion television. CIO

Note: <888> 11/02/03 Sunday 6:50 P.M.: I went out, and I went by Radio Shack in Cos Cob. They did not have a 24 foot RCA plug cable, but the more expensive gold cables or plugging shorter cables together. I then drove downtown, and I sat out briefly. I then drove down by the waterfront. I then went by Radio Shack at the Riverside Shopping Center. They did not have on display, but downstairs off display, they had a Radio Shack 24 foot Dual Audio and Video Cable, which I bought for $9.49 plus .57 tax for $10.06. It is a double cable. I then went out to Tod's Point, and I sat out at the southeast picnic area briefly. I did not walk, because it looked like it was going to rain. I then returned home. I plugged in the yellow plug on the RCA cable into the video plug on my primary computer setup. I plugged the other end of the yellow plug into the front video input on the Orion 24 inch television. I set it with the Orion remote control TV/AV switch to "AUX2" with the television on. I then started the primary computer, and it recognized the plugged in television as a default monitor and the second video device, which Windows XP has the capability to do with the Mad Dog Prowler 4X 64 meg PCI video card. I adjusted the video monitor Orion television on the computer by right clicking on the desktop for "Properties" and selecting "Settings" at 1024 X 768 pixels, 32 bit, and I check to extend my Windows Desktop onto the second monitor. The video comes up fine on the Orion television monitor, however, it is a bit blurry for web browsing, and the Kensington Wireless Mouse and Keyboard do not have the range to work from the sofa, but have to be closer to the computer. However, using the World TV video program http://www.netfor2.com/WorldTV.html and Windows Media Player as its player one can watch video broadcasts such at NASA TV http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/nasatv/ . I am currently listening to Canadian television. I can move the Real Player media player to the monitor screen, but it does not play, where as the Windows Media Player works just fine. One basically starts a video program in the Windows Media player, and then with the mouse slide it over to the monitor television screen, and then if one can see the icons or commands across the room, one can enlarge it to full screen viewing which takes up the whole screen and is quite good viewing. I enabled the sound from the speakers, and I currently have it also playing through the stereo amplifier which when selected to "CD" with the speaker lead wire connected from the computer at the orange framed mirror to the right of the primary computer works just fine. I guess one could also display web browser content on the video monitor too, but it is hard to see the screen across the room, and the wireless devices do not have the range to be closer. I ran the 24 foot audio video RCA plug cable in front of the long green sofa on the floor, hidden slightly underneath. CIO

Note: <888> 11/02/03 Sunday 12:55 P.M.: I made and ate the usual salad www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm . I had the salad with a glass of iced tea. I will now shut down the computer, and I will clean up and go out. CIO

Note: <888> 11/02/03 Sunday 11:55 A.M.: Since the Kensington Wireless Mouse and Kensington Wireless keyboards supposedly have an eight foot range, one technically might be able to surf the internet off the Orion television monitor from the living room sofas and one could also enable the computer speakers for sound, so one would have multimedia entertainment from the internet, and of course I still have the cable from the Creative Live MP3+ sound card that one can connect at the orange frame mirror to the right of the primary computer which inputs into the stereo amplifier when set to phonograph, so one could have multimedia sound from the internet too. Of course the Teac DVD player inputs into the stereo amplifier when set on TV/VCR2 or VCR1 for playing DVD audio disks. Thus although I do not use the system as such very much, it is basically all set up. CIO

Note: <888> 11/02/03 Sunday 11:40 A.M.: Later on today at Radio Shack in Cos Cob, I will get a 24 foot RCA plug cable for $6.49 24-Foot Standard Audio/Video Cable with RCA plugs to plug into my primary computer MAD Dog 64 meg AGP 4 video card which has an RCA video plug, and I will run it into the front video plug on the living room Orion 24 inch color television, so one can see internet content from the primary computer on the 24 inch Orion television. I do not think I will use it much, but it is worth a try. It might be handy for demonstration purposes, and of course one could have sound from the computer. One has to change the Orion television with the Orion remote control button "TV/AV" to "AUX1" for video input from a plugged in audio device such as the TEAC DVD player, Sony Handy Cam or from the primary computer Mad Dog video card. CIO

Note: <888> 11/02/03 Sunday 11:20 A.M.: On the primary computer, I ran Ad-aware 6.0, SpyBot, Norton Win Doctor, System Restore Backup, Norton Disk Doctor, Norton Clean Sweep Fast and Safe Cleanup and Disk Cleanup on the C: drive including removing all the Norton System Backups except the most recent backup. I have 2.4 gigabytes of free space on the C: drive. I then did a C: drive to D: drive backup in seven different parts. I next ran Norton Speed Disk on the C: drive. On the Dell backup computer, I worked with www.geocities.com/mikelscott/scotwork.htm while doing all of this. I ate about two dozen sugarless jelly beans. CIO

Note: <888> 11/02/03 Sunday 8:50 A.M.: According to this page http://legacy.cablevision.com/customer/content/service/cmig/06_activate.html , one has to activate one's particular cable modem, so my backup cable modem should work it I activated it, which I will not since I am using the primary cable modem that I have activated. I was up at 6:30 A.M., and I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry preserves, pineapple orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I watched a bit of television. I will now run the computer maintenance utilities and do a C: drive to D: drive backup. CIO

Note: <888> 11/01/03 Saturday 10:30 P.M.: I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/01/03 Saturday 10:15 P.M.: After dinner, I ate a couple of dozen sugarless jelly beans. I went through my email. CIO

Note: <888> 11/01/03 Saturday 9:50 P.M.: I threw out the china boxes. I chatted with a relative. I put the six foot blue LAN cable on the backup cable modem, but neither IBM Cyrix or HP backup computer went online, although they log on. I have a feeling that I have to register it to have it work, and that would cost twice as much. Thus I will keep it for a backup cable modem. I left the blue LAN cable on it. I put the 12 foot grey LAN cable that came with the backup cable modem in a cable modem package, and I put it to the right of the primary computer. I just finished microwaving a Boston Market 17 ounce chicken and noodles dinner, which I will now have with a glass of iced tea. CIO

Note: <888> 11/01/03 Saturday 8:50 P.M.: I went out after the last message. I went by the Wachovia Bank of Havemeyer Place, but they were closed. I went by the Wachovia Bank at Lafayette Place, but they do not accept rent payments there. I went by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift Shop, and I bought three packages of monitor cables with PS2 extension cords for mice and keyboard for $1 each package, and a Motorola Surfboard SB3100 docsis cable modem for $5 for $8 total. I then went by CVS on Greenwich Avenue, and I bought a 10 ounce can of mixed lightly salted nuts for $1.99. I then drove over to Off Center Hair Stylists in Old Greenwich, and I had my hair cut for $18 plus $5 tip for $23 total. I then went by CVS in Old Greenwich and from the 50% off table, I bought Four Star made in China china. I bought two packages of Harvest Accent design of four dinner plates 10.5 inches diameter with apple, grapes, pear and leaves design in off white for $2.99 each package of four, three packages of four salad plates 7.5 inches diameter with various similar designs for $2.99 each package, and two serving platters in the same design 10 inches by 14 inches for $2.49 each, and in the same design a 3.5 inch wide gravy boat for $1.99. They all are dishwasher and microwave safe. The total price was $21.92 plus $1.20 tax less a $2 off CVS coupon for $21.12 total. I walked by the Old Greenwich Rummage room, but they close at 1 P.M. on Saturday. I then went out to Tod's Point. I ate half of the can of mixed nuts in the southeast picnic area. I then took the 2.5 mile walk around Tod's Point. I sat out briefly at the southwest picnic area before completing my walk. I then went by Staples and I bought two 500 sheet package of Staples laser printer paper 102 bright 24 LB. for $4.50 each plus .54 tax for $9.54 total. They gave me a free mini magnetic stapler. I then returned to downtown Greenwich, and I sat out briefly. I next drove down by the waterfront. I then went by Exxon, and I bought $4.75 or regular unleaded gasoline at $1.859 a gallon for 30 miles per gallon. I next returned home. I brought up my purchases with my wire cart. I had a glass of iced tea. I then took from the kitchen entrance bookcase lower shelf, the set of American Academic encyclopedias, and I put them with book ends underneath the yellow French sitting chair at the apartment entrance along side the Danish bar. I had the steel book ends on top of the right hallway bookcase. I wiped the bottom bookcase shelf. I put the new Staples laser paper underneath the Minolta laser printer table. I took out the stored food items from the right kitchen cabinet top shelf, and I put them in the lower bookcase shelf. I wiped the shelf. I opened up the new dishes, and I washed and dried them. I then stacked them all in the top shelf of the right cabinet in the kitchen to have them easily available. I put the three cable packages on top of the DeLonghi oil filled radiators underneath the bedroom sideboard. I took a cable splitter, and I put it on the cable leading into the bedroom television, and I connected the television with a short cable and the Motorola Surfboard SB3100 cable modem with a 12 foot cable. I connected the cable modem to the power strip between the two monitors. The cable modem came with a LAN cable which I connected to the cable modem and the IBM Cyrix backup computer. All four green lights come on the cable modem, and when I boot the orange activity light comes on, and it logs on like it is online, but it does not go online. I tried "WINIPCFG.exe" to release and renew the I.P. address, but it does not seem to want to go online. I know the system works. When I installed my primary cable modem, I had to register it with the Optimum Online software, so maybe if I ever wanted to do that, it might work. I am leaving it on not connected to the computer to see if it activates. I might try it with another backup computer. I do not really need it going, I just bought it for backup for my primary computer. I put the cable modem box underneath the right side of the day bed. I will now throw out the boxes the china came in. CIO

Note: <888> 11/01/03 Saturday 10:25 A.M.: I was up at 7 A.M., and I had breakfast of oatmeal, toast with strawberry preserves, pineapple orange juice, vitamins, supplements, and coffee. I did my house cleaning and watering the plants. I chatted with a friend. I will now have a Quaker low fat white cheddar corn cake with some ice tea. I will now shut down the computer. I just chatted with a relative who is traveling south today. I will clean up and go out soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/01/03 Saturday 1:25 A.M.: I went through a bit of www.geocities.com/mikelscott/scotwork.htm . I will now shut down the computer, and I will go to bed soon. CIO

Note: <888> 11/01/03 Saturday 1:05 A.M.: I updated Microsoft Messenger to 6.1 http://messenger.msn.com/Download/ , but it now says it is busy. I wonder if it is a different server. CIO

Note: <888> 11/01/03 Saturday 12:55 A.M.: I took the artichoke hearts out of my salad recipe www.geocities.com/mikelscott/salad.htm , since they are now more expensive. CIO

Note: <888> 11/01/03 Saturday 12:30 A.M.: For a food company that you might not recognize try www.conagrafoods.com , and I am sure you will recognize their brands. CIO

Note: <888> 11/01/03 Saturday 12:10 A.M.: I put the ice tea away in the refrigerator. I finished going through my email. I ate about a half dozen jelly beans. CIO