My computer crashes when it goes to sleep- or I hate Vista

I so hate Microsoft. You would think that such an august company worth billions of dollars whose main product is to build a computer operating system could in fact produce a computer operating system that works properly on at least a range of good standard machines.

Three months ago I saved up and bought a top of the range computer - the Asus VX2S Lamborghini. (Well, I didn't exactly save up- the share market went up and I sold some shares and made some money) Great parts. Great system. What else can go wrong?

Now my precious notebook has crashed and it seems the only way to get it running back up again is to use the Rescue Disk which will also wipe out all the data off my C partition which contains my folder and photos.

It was really a bad day. A very hot day. First my desktop crashed due to a memory error. Then my internet connection on the desktop went buggy. My friend Andrew came over and helped fixed both problems. Then at midnight - the Lamborghini notebook crashes. WTF???

The notebook had been having a problem for awhile already. Whenever it went to sleep- it would not wake up. The monitor screen stayed asleep. The keyboard didn't seem to work- well it may have but hey, I couldn't see bugger all. To get out of it- I had to switch off and restart.

The way around it was to disable screen saver and the power saving options. Note: Upgrading the Nvidia graphics card drivers didn't help either.

But around Christmas, I think I reenabled the screen saver. Again the same problem. The only way around it was to power it off.

Last night- I came back after doing some shopping and same problem- the stupid computer was dead asleep again and wouldn't wake up. I powerered it off and then restarted. This time however I received this error message.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Windows Error Recovery
Windows failed to start. A hardware or software change might be the cause.
If Windows files have been damaged, Startup Repair can help diagnose and fix the problem. (Use the arrow keys to highlight your choice.)

    Launch Startup Repair (recommended)
    Start Windows Normally
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Both options didn't work and lead back to the same Windows Error Recovery page.

I tried booting in safemode but have the same result.

My only option it now seems is to use the Asustek Recovery Disk- but that will wipe out the C partition where I stored my recent Christmas photos and emails which I am anxious to keep.

System Restore was (unfortunately) disabled on my computer. My fault. And that could have contributed to the problem.

But this whole thing is really ridiculous. How can a top of the range system break down so bloody easily. Its like a car manufacturer like Rolls Royce, BMW, or Lamborghini making a car that stalled the minute you hit the brakes - and having the audacity to boast that we have made an improvement over the previous model.

There was no choice- neither was I given a disk by bloody Asus that could easily repair the damage without data loss. I paid over $5000 for the damn computer- you would think they could cough up a 50 cent installation DVD.

Thank God I have friends who are computer savvy. One of them recommended that I borrow his Vista installation disk and use it to attempt a repair. (His disk was for Home- mine was for Ultimate- but it didn't matter).

I didn't know what to do- so I googled it. And came up with this solution

http://vistaultimate.windowsreinstall.com/repairstartup/repairstartup.htm

The first time it went back to the same repair page. 2nd time went thru the repair process. And the third attempt brought me to the wonderful Windows Startup Screen.

What a relief.

How to die faster- eat American Fast Food

Japanese people in Okinawa who have been eating American Fast Food - thanks to the US Army presence there - are becoming obese and dying faster.

Read the story here: Okinawa Crisis.

"In Okinawa, the generation that grew up eating American style fast food are now reaching middle age and many of them are overweight and at risk from diabetes. Almost 30 per cent of Okinawan men die before reaching 65, and nearly half of men in their forties are obese.

Food experts there put the blame squarely on the number of fast food outlets (Okinawa has more fast-food outlets per head than anywhere else in the country due to the American occupation) and many fear the “Okinawan Crisis” will spread to the rest of Japan as the younger generation abandons the traditional fish and soy products for meat and fast food."

Man I've got a cracker of a headache

I've been stuck in bed for three days now, suffering from a massive headache. I feel like I've been hit with a metal pole twenty times. Actually only once. I walked into a metal pole and struck my skull sideways. It did hurt but didn't hurt that badly. I had trouble and pain opening my jaw the week after. The side of my head did hurt a bit but didn't hurt that badly.

Four days ago, my head started pounding really badly.  I couldn't even sleep two nights ago. I had trouble walking. Its was like omigod, a piece of my skull must have fragmented and now my brain is started to bleed and I'm going to DIE!!!! ARGHHH... oh well, at least I've dived off Sipadan.

I went for a CT-Scan yesterday but the results were inconclusive. No sign of any damage or bleeding.

Taking pain killers now.

Will have another word with the doctor a week from now.

Husband carves staircase in mountain to help wife walk down

Wow. What a story. This man eloped with an older woman, a widow, and both went to live in the mountains to escape social persecution.

He builds a staircase into the side of the mountain to help his wife walk down.

Read the story here

man-carves-wife-6000-stairs into mt

Firefighters fined for putting out the wrong fire

 

Firefighters fined for shining torches on happy campers

Press Association
Wednesday October 3, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

Four firefighters have been disciplined and heavily fined for shining torches on to a group of people believed to be involved in sexual activity at a well-known beauty spot.

The firemen from Avon Fire and Rescue Service were each fined up to £1,000 after being accused of bringing the service into disrepute and misusing of fire equipment.

They are believed to have driven a fire engine to a notorious spot on the Bristol Downs late on June 27 this year.

The area is popular with people who engage in late-night outdoor sex.

The firefighters, who have not been named, allegedly shone torches into an area where people were thought to be having sex.

One man who wanted to know what the firefighters were doing on the downs at that time complained to the Terrence Higgins Trust, an Aids and HIV charity.

The complaint was passed on to Avon fire service, prompting a three-month inquiry.

The firefighters were suspended on full pay and have now been transferred to other stations.

Simon Nelson, the regional manager for the Terrence Higgins Trust in the Bristol area, said: "What we've done is to act as a third party.

"We were asked by a member of the public to question what the fire service was doing up on the downs at that time of night."

The Avon fire service condemned the action of the firefighters but confirmed that they had now returned to work.

A spokeswoman said Avon fire service does not and will not condone the actions of the individuals involved.

"Avon Fire and Rescue Service is a fair employer and a thorough investigation was carried out and disciplinary action taken."

Avon and Somerset police said it had not been made aware of the incident but anyone engaging in public outdoor sex would be breaking the law.

A spokesman said: "It is an offence to commit an act which is lewd, obscene or disgusting in a public place which is capable of outraging public decency.

"If any complaint is made in relation to such an incident, it would be investigated thoroughly and, where appropriate, action would be taken to arrest any offender."

The four firefighters must attend Avon fire service's anti-discrimination conference, which will be staged next week.

The spokeswoman said: "Recent newspaper reports have highlighted our conference which takes place next week - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality in the Fire Service: An Absolute Taboo?

"This conference, the first for a UK fire and rescue service, has been a long time coming and has been something we have wanted to host for many years following the findings of the 1999 HM Fire Service Inspectorate report, Equality and Fairness in the Fire Service."

And remember, being gay is not about sex, esp. outdoor late-night group sex with strangers in a park.

Stuck at home on Xmas

One big problem with living in a Christian household is that you tend to have idealistic expectations. And no matter how much crap happens - you still tend to cling to them.

You expect members of your family to be kind, forgiving, loving, compassionate, rationale, like Jesus - but when they don't... things go into a loop.

I'm stuck now at home cos one of my relatives is having a dispute with another relative over a totally inconsequential matter.

Its totally stupid.

Relative A wanted to get some lunch for Relative B.

Relative B had already eaten and didn't want to have lunch and was happy.

Relative A was informed by Relative C that Relative B didn't want lunch.

Relative A felt obliged to get lunch for Relative B and got into a huff with Relative C.

Relative B then got offended that Relative A got into huff. And so is spending Xmas Eve and Xmas Day sulking.

(These are grown people. Adults, not 6 year old kids.)

Relative D begs Relative B to reconsider but Relative B tells her to get lost.

Relative D then gets upset and breaks into tears. And begs me to talk with Relative A.

Meanwhile I'm caught something in between. Call me Relative X.

I feel like saying, "Oh for Christ sake. Its f@@king Christmas, man. Chill out. Forget your differences and make up. Otherwise, renounce Christianity, wear a viking helmet, and take up a pagan god religion or something."

If we can't even behave Christ-like to our own flesh and blood - how the @#$% do you expect to be considered a true Christian?

"Treasure" found

One thing I like to do when I get into old cars (and I'm bored) is to look for coins, rings that have fallen throught the gaps in the car seats.

This person however found the "jackpot".

http://whatsthecrack.net/Magic-Bus-Project-VW-reveals-hidden-surprise-14LBS-of-cannabis

Stupid Australian Law

Read this- its absolutely sickening and stupid. What the hell is wrong with the justice system?

Stupid Australian Law

The clincher is this line:

"Despite his shocking history, the Victorian Adult Parole Board says (the convicted rapist)'s early supervised release is in the interests of the community."

(The rapist) already had a long list of convictions when sentenced in 1998 on 30 counts including six of rape, five of intentionally causing injury, four of making threats to kill and 12 of common assault.

Born unto us a child is born.AVI

Born unto us a child is born
A child is given

Handel's Messiah

An Early Christmas Present

My sister gave birth to a healthy baby today at 8am after 4 hours in labor.

My sister's new baby

My sister just gave birth to a healthy baby daughter last night. Here's a photo of my mom handling her little cutie granddaughter.

Euen and me

My cute nephew and me

My nephew Euen and me

One of the best things about coming back to Melbourne is baby sitting my totally adorable nephew. He's absolutely so cute. And he's such a bright kid. Here's a vid of us together.

Handel's Messiah St Peter's Anglican Church

I had the pleasure of attending a performance of Handel's Messiah by the Gloriana Chamber choir. It was beautiful. Really soul refreshing.

I'll post up a video of one of the songs - but beware its rather sizable in megabytes.

Funky sites in Singapore

Link

Click on the sit about as Debra goes to Haji Place and finds the place where the good and best eat out!!

Feminism and Cultural Relativity

Being political correct seems to have dulled the brains of  quite a few feminists.  Some will go to great lengths to deride  professors who make  unorthodox views on the female brain whilst ignoring blatant atrocities. Read this article by Pamela Bone.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22882381-7583,00.html

Diving at Ko Similan Thailand

Check out my pal Spencer's diving trips in Thailand! He invited me but I had flown back to Melbourne already. Argh.

Click on the photo to get there.

Stopping Telemarketer Phone Callers

My friend Andrew sent me this useful link to legally stop telemarketer phone callers here in Australia.

They are very persistent. Once I got 5 phone calls in one day from a telemarketer company trying to get me to change my phone company. The next week the same salesperson tried to sell me insurance. I recognized her voice.

So to Aussie readers - try this website.

https://www.donotcall.gov.au/

It places your phone number in the government DO NOT CALL registry - and if the telemarketers call you after that- you can report them to the authorities.

Update from Dennis the man himself

Email from Dennis!

Hey Everyone

He's back – bigger, bader and more puffy then before!!!  (Due to the normal post-Op water retention.)

Boy do I have respect for all the older guys who go through open heart surgery it was tough enough for this 44 year old.

Thanks so much for all of your thoughts and prayers.  Really saw the hand of God through out the whole ordeal.  The blockage was in such a critical place and so close to complete that a massive heart attack and death could have happened at anytime. 

I could go on about the Christian nurses and Drs praying and encouraging the surgeons doing a 12-hour overnight emergency operation and that after having worked all day!  The prompting of the Holy Spirit to have a scheduled heart stress test 10 days sooner then scheduled and all the opportunities to talk about Jesus to lots of people.  He has been very very good to me.

And now the task of recovering from the surgery I will spend the next 8 weeks in recovery mode.  We're hoping the last four weeks of recovery to be working hard on one of our last masters modules.

Thank you so much for your prayers may Jesus bless you all for your kindness   to Janice and I oh and please don't stop prayin for us ya?!?

Oh and a PS.  Don't know if Janice mentioned the good news that the Dr's have vindicated me, Yes!  The reason for the blockage was not my propensity for burgers but instead lesions in the arteries from the radiation treatment I had as a teen.    The not so bad news (but still coming to grips with)  is I still have to be extra good from now on in my eating habits.

Dennis G.

47 year old moms stalks neighbor's 13 year old daughter causing her death

This is too crazy.

A 47 year old mom created an online personality to ruin the life of a 13 year old girl who lived down the road.

The girl was once friends with her own daughter.

That selfish OC ought to get a damn good public face slapping.

Read it here.

The problem with the internet is that people are too ready to exchange insults or to say things which they would not normally would face2face. But the same insults still do hurt.

Paint on solar panels

Scientists have developed a solar panel which can be applied from a paint can.

Scientists have invented a plastic solar cell that can turn the sun's power into electrical energy, even on a cloudy day. The plastic material uses nanotechnology and contains the first solar cells able to harness the sun's invisible, infrared rays. The breakthrough has led theorists to predict that plastic solar cells could one day become five times more efficient than current solar cell technology. Like paint, the composite can be sprayed onto other materials and used as portable electricity. .

How amazing! Imagine a day when our cars and houses were totally powered by solar energy.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0114_050114_solarplastic.html 

Rape victim gets 200 lashes by Court. Totally Fubar.

This story sounds too sick to be true. Read it here: Click on the transcript below.

When a teenage girl was gang raped in Saudi Arabia,a court sentenced HER to 90 lashes. After she complained,it was increased to 200. Now, the victim speaks for the first time...

She was only 19 and a new bride when it happened.

Seven men held her at knifepoint and, for a number of hours, she was subjected to a horrific gang rape.

But when she later went to the authorities, they sentenced her to 90 lashes.

She complained in the media, so the punishment was increased to 200 lashes and imprisonment.

Her lawyer has been suspended for speaking out against it.

This is certainly one reason to try and develop alternative forms of energy like solar power. The less we depend upon oil - of which the Middle East contributes 40% of the world's supply - the better.

Terrorist uses Glock... uh oh.

“Hajji Sabah, isn’t it time you stopped already?” Abu Abed al-Obeidi, a diminutive 37-year-old with a drooping moustache, tired eyes and a ready smile, said. “You have destroyed Amariyah,” he added, referring to the neighbourhood.

“Who are you?” Sabah, the Islamist emir, sneered. “We’re al-Qaeda. I’ll kill you all and raze your homes.”

“You can try,” Mr al-Obeidi said.

The emir reached for his pistol. He was faster than Mr al-Obeidi, but his Glock 9mm jammed. As he turned to run, Mr al-Obeidi emptied his pistol into his back. His assault on al-Qaeda had begun.

Dennis update 3

I've good news!  Praise God, Dennis is feeling much better today.  He could sit up, is more alert and could eat a bit more.  He even walked round the ward thrice, once with a physiotherapist's help, second time by himself and the third, assisted by Bernard, my brother-in-law.
 
Thanks everyone for your prayers and encouragement.  Dennis wouldn't have improved if it weren't for all you saints sending up incense of prayers and praise to God's throne.  Dennis wants me to convey his heartfelt thanks to you all.  He is very grateful for precious relatives and friends like you guys.

 

We were told today that Dennis may be discharged either or Sunday or Monday instead of Monday or Tuesday.
 
Dennis has requested for more prayers.
-  that the restrictions in his throat will disappear
-  that this situation will be maximized for the Lord
-  that we will glean the lessons we are supposed to learn from it.
 
Thanks again for standing with us in prayer.  We certainly appreciate your rallying around us in this testing times.
 
Blessings
 
Janice