Even though I've been using Vista for over a year and a half in different scenarios, like my laptop has Vista on it, and the computer connected to the HD TV has Vista on it for the Media Center capabilities, I've just upgraded my main Test box to Vista this weekend. There is no comparison, to using it everday and getting to learn it better. It's really growing on me now. I too, love the gadgets, and no they don't use up all your resources if you bought a decent PC, lol. If you are a penny pincher, you might want to stay with XP.

 

One interesting and cool thing is; I was able to connect the other two Vista computers to the main Media Center PC and play the music and slideshows very easily. I don't know how it does it, but the Media Center on the other two pc's has the Playlists from the main one. I was playing the same playlist and slideshow one being a wireless connection at the same time just for a test. Not bad, I'm impressed.

 

So far all my older software on XP is running fine on Vista.

 

And at least I can get better video drivers for the Vista OS, when while testing Windows XP 64 bit, the drivers just weren't developed for a 3 yr old video card.

 

I'm liking Vista more and more,

I have a Vista Media Center PC with a tuner card installed connected to a 50" Plasma and a PS3. There is a lot of debate out there about Xbox 360 as a media extender, etc, etc. I have been able to connect the PS3 across the network and play the audio and video files from the Media Center PC, through the PS3, so it could be located somewhere else in the house, not dedicated to the living room. But the Media Center has a much better interface for playing different media than the PS3. At this time I still need both devices to acomplish all the tasks I want on my entertainment setup. I can record TV programs on the PC and or download movies to it and play them, but the Vongo service I use doesn't have a HD option yet. PS3 now has Movie rental or purchase options and has a HD option. And of course the PS3 Blu-Ray upconvert player is a must with a High Def TV. Great looking games are definitely gravy.  Some of the functuality is duplicated in the two devices, but each one does something the other doesn't

 

I think I'll have to stay with multiple devices for awhile, as I believe the battle between Microsoft and Sony will wage on for years, we can only hope as comsumers we reap the rewards of great prices from the competition.

Just got back from the 3rd Annual Teaching with Technology Symposium:

 

Some very interesting things discussed for sure. Like most of my college instruction was flawed, now the science seems to be there to back up what I frustratingly stated years ago. You can't expect students to take notes all class long and listen to the lecture, it goes against what our brain allows. There are paths, like reading and learning or verbal and visual learning, they don't mix well together. View the transripts of the experts at the symposium.

 

A big emphasis was about how our world has changed so drastically, especially the digital age and how the educators are finally realizing they have to reach the students in more interactive ways. Looking at pictures of the classroom from the 1920's, it hasn't changed much since then.

 

It looks like the online classes will acheive this transition well before the brick and mortar classes will. How ironic that the online classes may become the better quality ones when they are being debated as not as good.

 

Some will fight the change and as history shows, will slowly retire and die as the change consumes us all.

 

I choose to ride the wave of progress to as positive a change as it can bring in my lifetime. Bring on the big waves, I"M READY!!!!

 

PS, I had the best technology at the symposium among the attendees, who's the man?

Well, the family got together Memorial Day weekend, we played a lot of games and went swimming some. Watched a few movies. It was a good time to rest up and share lifes stories.

 

I asked the kids to let me film them playing Rock Band, so I could add that to our memories.

 

I have a short clip of the kids playing Rock Band on the PS3 for ya! Click the "Play" button on the Media Player to see the video.

Christine Howard, WOW! I could tell you so many stories, and so many others could too, but I know it would be too lengthy. Stories of how she loved and encouraged and FED, all the friends of her 12 children. Phenomenal is a pretty good description of Christine, because I know no other like her. I truly don't know how she did it and stayed so positive throughout. As a child you don't realize how times can be rough, but after growing older I thought back in awe at how she took care of us all. She was always so supportive of us all, but would tell us how it was if we were in the wrong.

 

I've known her for 44 yrs now, and her baby daughter is the love of my life. I owe her so much, I could never repay it, I can only do my best and try.

 

I wish I was setting in her living room enjoying a cup of coffee with her, talking about old times, right now. We have a lot of great memories. That I'm very proud of!

 

Jake's friend,

 

Paul Freeman

 

New Photo Gallery of some of us at her 81st Birthday, enjoy!!

As hard as I try to keep up this blog, I just seem to get busy and not find time. I know it's just an issue of time managment and having it somewhere on the days schedule. Maybe that's the real problem, lol. I'm going to continue to try though. I'd like for this the be where friends and family can kind of find out the latest that is going on with our family in general.

 

Therefore, this weekend we have a fun filled weekend planned, the boys will be coming in for Memorial Day weekend. That means the competiion will begin anew. The latest is the girls against the boys in Rock Band, the Boys won the first round, but the girls found out they used some unthought of before teamwork and cried foul, basically Jake did the drum foot pedal while singing the vocals, lol. So the girls cried foul.

 

We have the pool up and filling with water as we speak, but I bet it'll still be cold by this weekend, some of the girls say, they don't care, jumping in any way. lol.

 

We've been trying out a new PC game (Team Fortress 2), it's fast paced and a little hard to figure out the strategy so far, but just another game we can play together online. It has a comic humor side to it that's different for sure.

Hmmm, My buddy Fendley says I'm gonna be selling out short if I don't get a new surround sound system to go with the new Plasme, he bout has me sold on it too, it was the Train story, you can ask him if you see him.

 

And he says I'll need new furniture too, Im sure so it can be purchased and arrange at the proper seating distance recommended for the ultimate clarity experience.

 

I was being patient till he got me thinking, since it won't be here till next week most likely, now I'm getting antsy.

 

What are friends for, right?

Have you looked at the Graphics on Gran Turismo 5, man alive, and they said they only used about half the capabilities of the PS3's graphics power, that seems like a lot of potential for sure.

 

The PS3 is in hand and the kids are Rockin' out with Rock band.

 

We're really gonna have to do our homework on games, which ones do we really want to get.

It's ordered!!! Woohoo!!!! Finally

 

Now for the PS3 and Jake says he will buy Rockband for the PS3, that ought to be interesting, lol.

I finally made up my mind, mainly because the price finally dropped.

 

I'm going to get a Samsung Model 5084 50 inch 1O80p Plasma TV.

 

I did homework, watched the market and prices for over 6 months on this decision, mainly because I'll most likely have to live with this decision and TV for a long time.

 

More info when it gets here.

I've been trying to become more proficient with the new Tablet. It has a lot of new features, and it's on Vista Ultimate. Fun, but challenging. I began using a Motion Tablet almost 3 years ago. There are some definite improvemeats I see already. But the combination of Vista and more security like TPM chip and Encryption technology adds a new level of difficulty for the users and maybe more job security for us techies.

 

I'm very impressed with the new features in the Dell Tablet. I think other brands fall short of.

 

This is definitely a new era of computing for sure. Exciting times we live in.

I got the yard mowed and seeds for vegetable garden planted in containers.

 

We've been playing more Battlefield 2142 lately instead of BF2. Grace has been promoted a couple of times this week and beat Jonah and I on a map Thursday might, granted we had a bad game, but it does show she is getting better.

Well, Spring is around the corner. Lots of work outside to do. Having a big place can work you too hard sometimes, lol. Keeping the limbs cut, picked up, grassed mowed and weed eating. I wasn't going to have a veggie garden this year, but after a trip to the store recently, that changed my mine. so I better get those seeds started.

 

I rarely plant before Passover, I've only seen it freeze once after Passover in 25 years, and that was last year.

 

The HD Plasma I have my eye on is creeping down in price, it's the Samsung 5084 model if you are interested.

 

My 25th Anniversary is coming up April 27th, I have a plan, but don't know if I can pull it off. I can't tell you cause my wife might be reading my blogs, lol.

 

Spring Break weekend starts tomorrow, WOOHOO!!!!

Wow, We got 7 to 10 inches of snow Friday March 7, my son Jacob's birthday, great birthday gift for him.

 

This is the first real deep snow Grace has been able to enjoy, so she was really excited. We got out in it and had a lot of fun, we made a snowman called Buckethead and Jake took him out when we were finished.

 

It was a beautiful Saturday morning for a walk in the neighborhood and just be awed at how different everything looks covered in snow.

 

Hard to believe we were outside in short sleeves the next day, lol.

 

pw

      

 Before & After Photos

 

I've been exercising since Dec 19th, so today is my 2 month anniversary of getting back in shape. Lost 15 lbs so far. I've coined a nickname for the routine, "TDC two a days". The reason for the name is because I'm trying to work out some in the mornings before work and right after work. The routine is flexible, but revolves around an hour on the treadmill in the mornings, then 30 min to an hour on the recumbent stationary bicycle with some abdominal crunches after the bike. Two to three days a week doing a weight routine. My wife is working out also, and we try to keep each other motivated, which helps tremendously.

 

About a week ago we adapted it somewhat, to doing 1 set of upper body weights twice a day, and squeeze in the full weight routine whenever you can.

 

I have trimmed some off my waist for sure, but still have a ways to go to meet my long term goal, I'll have some pics under "Exercise" photo album.

 

I sure feel a lot better since I've been working out, and doing the treadmill prior to work.

 

I'm not dieting per say, but we  are trying to watch what we eat, and have cut back on sodas, I even went to unsweet tea and actually like it just fine.

 

My wife and I hope this is just a new part of our lifestyle from now on, not just a fad. Wish us success!!!

 

PW

The "My Boys {TDC} photo album I added today are some of the photos I scanned in for their Graduation Movie. It's just a quick trip back in time, looking at 3 brothers growing up, having a lot of fun and being mischievious, hmmm, they still do that!!

 

I'm sure you can guess, I couldn't be more proud of them and the young men they have become.

 

I'll go out on a limb and say, I bet you'll see some pictures here of this family having some great memories and good times for years to come!!!!

 

 

KidDragon

IIID

Wow, looks like things just got more confusing for the average person buying a computer. I notice on dell's site they have these options now

 

	Dual Drives: 48x Combo + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable [subtract $210]
	Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM) [Included in Price]
	Dual Drives: Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM) and 16x DVD+/-RW [add $30 or $1/month1]
	Dual Drives: Blu-ray and 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable [add $150 or $4/month1] Read & Write to Blu-ray and DVD
	Single Drive: Blu-ray Disc Drive (BD/DVD/CD burner w/double layer BD write [add $100 or $3/month1]

 

This is getting interesting for sure.

Well my wife found my new blog and my comment about still trying to talk her into that 50" Plasma, I'm not sure if going public helped my cause or not. Next year is our 25th Anniversary, Tradition says we should get something silver, I'm not very traditional, so shouldn't in these technological times, that be something Plasma or Digital. Is this just an old guy thing or can you help me out here!!

 

Jonah and Emily had their wedding on Aug 11, we'll have some great memories with pictures from a beautiful setting. The TDC Boys were in great form and as always made a great team, I'm so proud of them. Pictures included!

 

School is back in session and things are really hopping around the office these days, a busy two weeks for sure.

 

Another son in college, WOW, my wife is sure getting old!

 

Fall is just around the corner, woohoo, my favorite time of year! 

 

AKA

TechnoDragon