Tom's World

Carbonite

2011-11-21T19:14:00.000-05:00

I've been using Carbonite for 2 or 3 months. It had been going well, but on Friday November 18 the service became unavailable. A few hours later I got an email from Carbonite explaining the outage. Since then, nothing. I am now a very disappointed customer. It was nice that they notified me of a problem, but now 3 days with no update? What if my computer crashed and I needed a critical file? What if a new file became corrupted before it was backed up? I'm certainly not getting the service I paid for.

Here's the email they sent Friday, 11/18 6:20 PM:
Dear Thomas,

During a routine maintenance check today, Carbonite identified a technical issue that required us to temporarily take a small number of our customers’ backups offline. Please be aware that while we troubleshoot this, you will not be able to access, add new or update existing files to your backup. Your backup is safe and will be accessible again shortly.

We will send you another email to let you know this issue is resolved.

Thanks for your patience.

The Carbonite Team

I have been busier than ever...

2011-11-13T18:58:00.000-05:00

As my kids get older and my responsibilities at work grow I have been busier than ever. I did manage to update my personal website a bit today (TomMister.com). I've long dreamed of taking the time to make it a nicer site with more content but I just have not made the time to do it. Maybe next year when I get to build my Jeep Wrangler a bit more I will document my work on my website.

As the holidays approach, please click through this link for any purchase you are making at Amazon:
Amazon.com

Mozilla Plugin Check

2011-03-18T07:15:00.000-05:00

I have been meaning to post about this for a while. This is a great site - Mozilla Plugin Check. It's a one stop place to make sure all of your browser plugins are up to date. You don't even need to use FireFox, it works with Internet Explorer and Chrome too.

Out of date plugins pose a security rick to your computer. Many of the old versions of Flash, Acrobat Reader, Java, QuickTime etc. have security holes that are being exploited on the Internet.

Do yourself a favor, bookmark the Mozilla Plugin Check page and be sure to visit it regularly. Plugins are updated on a regular basis.

No more slow NAS

2010-10-17T17:06:00.001-05:00

I've been complaining for a while that my NAS was running slow. I now know why it seemed that way - it had to do with Windows 7 Homegroups. Check out this article from Windows Secrets - http://windowssecrets.com/2010/10/14/01-Simple-change-in-settings-pumps-up-Win7-networks

Now my NAS (a Maxtor CentralAxis) is still not a super performer, but at least it's response time is much better now from my Windows 7 desktop.

First post in 2010...in July...so sad

2010-07-30T09:48:00.001-05:00

I just realized I have not posted anything in 2010. Am I really that boring? Do I have nothing to say? Usually I can talk about cars but there has not been much action in that area lately. I did sell the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I bought last year, and have picked up a 2010 Toyota Corolla S. 0% financing and free maintenance were too tempting to the chronic car buyer in me (evidence here).

We just set a record for the most days over 100 degrees for the year, and July is not over yet. It was a cold snowy winter and now it has been a hot dry summer here in Mechanicsville, VA.

Maybe I will have something interesting to post soon.

Nostalgia

2009-12-13T08:59:00.006-05:00

I was missing the 70's the other day. I don't remember much of them since I was born in the early 70's but I guess what I really miss are simpler times. As a child I really enjoyed the Great Brainbooks by John D. Fitzgerald(he grew up in the late 1800's in Utah).

Anyway, when I was searching to feed my 70's fix I fould this site --> http://wesclark.com/am/. It's a great story about growing up in Burbank, California in the 60's and 70's by Wes Clark. Maybe it will inspire me to write about my childhood?

Land's End order tracking does not work in Firefox

2009-12-01T19:18:00.004-05:00

It is so irritating when companies don't test their websites/don't care if they do not work. I get emails from Land's End when an order has shipped. They have links to a page where you enter your order number and click track, which directs you to a UPS webpage. In Firefox I always get an error "UPS could not locate the shipment details". For kicks I tried it in IE 8 tonight and it works! How annoying.

Amazon.com Black Friday deals

2009-11-21T07:18:00.001-05:00

Don't forget to check out the black Friday specials at Amazon.com

iTunes Javascripts

2009-11-12T21:05:00.003-05:00

Oh boy, I am excited about this! I found some JavaScript files to help cleanup iTunes mess since Apple refuses to help. I used two of the scripts to find songs without artwork and also to find my missing songs. Check it out here --> http://ottodestruct.com/blog/2005/itunes-javascripts/

Hot off the press from Amazon.com - Jeans

2009-11-09T08:40:00.000-05:00

I just got this notice from Amazon:
We've just launched a new Denim Shop with free shipping and free returns on jeans. You can find an impressive lineup of premium denim brands such as 7 for All Mankind, Lucky Brand, Joe's Jeans, plus all-American classics such as Levi's. It's everything you love about jeans, now right here at Amazon.com.

Halloween time at Amazon.com

2009-10-08T11:06:00.002-05:00

Amazon Wish Lists

2009-10-07T18:29:00.001-05:00

Hot off the press from Amazon.com: Amazon Wish Lists just turned 10, and we're celebrating with 10 weeks of sweepstakes with prizes we think you'll love. Just create, add to, or share a Wish List, and you'll be invited to enter! Click here for more details.

Good Chinese Food

2009-09-27T16:08:00.002-05:00

I recently had really good Chinese food on the west end of Richmond and wanted to write about it here so that others would know and so that I don't forget.

Chung Hing
3053 Lauderdale Dr (near Short Pump Mall)
Richmond, VA
phone 804-360-2708

I had a lunch special. They give a lot of food for $4.99. I had soup, my entree (beef with broccoli) and fried rice. The lunch special have many options. If you are in the area and hungry give Chung Hing a try!

C# 2008 for Programmers

2009-09-13T19:54:00.002-05:00

I recently checked out this book from my local library: C# 2008 for Programmers (3rd Edition)

It is written by by Paul J. Deitel and Harvey M. Deitel. I found it to be very useful as a reference guide. I had some tasks that I wanted to try in C# and this book helped me figure out how to do them. It covers the latest topics (as of .NET 3.5) and all of the standard .NET stuff as well.

The College Solution

2009-08-29T12:20:00.004-05:00

I heard an interview with the author of this book on the radio today --> The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price

I have not read the book but the author (Lynn O'Shaughnessy) had some good points about helping your child pick a college. There was also some interesting information about comparing the costs of different schools. So far it has good reviews at Amazon.com.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

2009-08-10T08:24:00.005-05:00

I was sad to hear that Busch Gardens is closing the Big Bad Wolf. It is a great ride, a classic 80's roller coaster. Growing up in the Williamsburg area I got to ride it a lot in my teen years.

Since I still live reasonably close, I bought annual passes for my family so that two of my kids can enjoy "traveling at the speed of fright." My youngest is still too young. We were there yesterday and had a blast despite the blazing heat. Even without the Big Bad Wolf it is a great park.
------
From the Busch Gardens website:
On July 24, Busch Gardens announced that after 25 years traveling at the speed of fright, The Big Bad Wolf will take its last trip through Busch Gardens’ Bavarian village Sept. 7. http://www.buschgardens.com/bgw2/Explore/Rides.aspx?id=489

Mac OS X Snow Leopard available at Amazon

2009-08-04T19:21:00.000-05:00

Starting now, Mac OS X Snow Leopard is available for preorder exclusively at Amazon.com. Current Mac OS 10.5 Leopard users are eligible to upgrade to Snow Leopard at the very low price of $29.

Snow Leopard is a truly exciting addition to the Mac OS X line, with half the footprint of previous versions, great new features in Expose & Stacks, quicker Time Machine backup, and faster wireless network interaction. It’s the world’s most advanced operating system, finely tuned. Mac OS X Snow Leopard is releasing in September 2009.

Windows 7

2009-06-26T07:40:00.004-05:00

Be sure to visit the Windows 7 resource center at amazon.com. If you preorder Windows 7 you get 50% off. This is a limited time offer from Microsoft through select resellers. Click here now.

New Jeep!

2009-04-19T08:52:00.005-05:00

I bought a new to me Jeep this week, mainly to use for commuting but Jeeps are always fun to work on too. It is a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo V8 4x4. The color is Taupe. It's in good condition as far as I can tell. Here is a picture:

Radiator Barn

2009-04-04T01:27:00.002-05:00

This week I had to put a new radiator on my Jeep Wrangler. The old one had started leaking. I found a great price at http://www.radiatorbarn.com. They also shipped my order on the next business day, with free shipping! If you need a radiator for you vehicle I recommend that you check them out.

Amazon.com Auto Parts

2009-03-20T11:46:00.003-05:00

I have added the Amazon.com Auto Parts widget to my home page. They have all kinds of accessories for your car or truck, such as gauges, intakes, exhaust and more. Check it out --> http://www.tommister.com/

Found a job!

2009-03-18T09:11:00.003-05:00

I have found a new job. As my life returns to normal I will start posting to my blog more regularly again. My new job is a Senior Developer at CRC (www.crc.cc).

Qimonda

2009-02-09T18:19:00.003-05:00

It has been a while since I posted anything. I have been distracted because I have to find a new job. The company I work for, Qimonda, is closing the factory here in Richmond, VA. My last day will be Feb. 27, 2009.

My skillset includes Oracle PL/SQL, datawarehouse development, VB6, VB.NET, ASP.NET, Excel, Access and more. You can see my resume here. If you have a job or know of a job for me please send me an email!

Macrium Reflect saved me...

2009-01-11T13:33:00.004-05:00

I posted before about my computer backups for my Compaq laptop with Windows Vista. I use SyncBack SE to backup my personal files every few days. However, I still needed something to backup my entire laptop for catastrophe recovery. Well, it happened this past Friday. I was unable to wake up my laptop. I used the Windows Vista disc I bought to access system restore, and restored to a point 2 days prior. Unfortunately, my user account was corrupted. I don't know what happened, but I needed to recover. I went ahead and paid for the full version of Macrium Reflect. I had been using the free version to create disk images monthly, but was unable to restore using the free version (the free boot disc didn't work with my laptop).

The pay version worked perfectly! I was able to create a Windows PE boot disc and restore my last good image from my network drive. I am back in business after only a few hours. Here is a link to the Macrium Reflect website --> http://www.macrium.com

No cars in 2008 - I made it!

2009-01-01T10:57:00.004-05:00

In October 2007 I made a commitment to my family - no cars in 2008! If you review my car buying history, you can see it was out of control - http://www.tommister.com/cars.html.In 2007 I bought 4 cars! I am looking for something to supplement my Jeep Wrangler (see my blog post Tom's World: My next vehicle....). Of course, I have revised my promise now, that I won't buy a car until I payoff the loan that I used to build my garage. Hopefully I can pay this off by spring.

Vista Registry Cleaner - CCleaner

2009-01-01T10:45:00.004-05:00

I have been looking for a Windows Vista registry cleaner for a while, but I hadn't seen a good free one that I liked. There are some articles that say there is no benefit to cleaning your registry - I don't believe it. A smaller registry must work better/faster. I recently found CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/). Not only does it clean the registry, it also cleans out temp files and other program settings. I have used it a few times now with no problems. If you are looking for a free registry/PC cleaner I suggest you try CCleaner.

Sine Irish Pub & Restaurant

2008-12-31T16:20:00.006-05:00

I went to Sine Irish Pub & Restaurant twice in December, once with a group from work and once with the wife. I had never been there before. Usually I avoid downtown restaurants due to parking issues and security concerns. However, I enjoyed Sine's so much I had to take the wife there! The food is excellent. The prices are reasonable and the portions are large. Their menu is available on the website --> http://www.sineirishpub.com/.

Amazon link

2008-12-22T13:32:00.002-05:00

I don't have much to say. I will put in a shameless link to Amazon.com...if you even need anything from Amazon click the picture below. Thanks.

Pneumonia update

2008-12-13T09:39:00.001-05:00

I still have it....my Dr. said it might take several weeks to clear out! I got more antibiotics this week and a puffer to help open up my lungs. It seems to be working, I am coughing up crud now.

My next vehicle....

2008-12-13T09:29:00.003-05:00

Sometime next year I should be able to buy my next vehicle. I promised the wife I would not buy one this year (2008) and my job at Qimonda is somewhat uncertain right now so I am trying to save my cash.

I will be keeping my 1994 Jeep Wrangler so the other vehicle will be something low cost that I can use when I don't want to drive the Jeep (like a rainy summer day). I would also like to be able to flat tow the Wrangler with it, in case I want to go off-roading somewhere without driving the Wrangler all the way there and back.

I am deciding between 3 vehicles: 1992-1996 Ford Bronco, 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ, 1997+ Jeep Cherokee. I think the WJ is the best choice: I really like Jeeps, the Bronco might be bigger than I want and the Cherokee might be too small. I wonder what the tow rating is on a Cherokee 4x4 with the 4.0L I-6 and an automatic? Looks like it might be 5000#. Maybe it is big enough?

I am trying not to look too much because it drives me nuts wanting to buy now :)

My 1994 Jeep Wrangler

2008-12-05T13:17:00.009-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about my Jeep lately. It has been my daily driver since I sold my Accord in September 2008. Here is a summertime picture of me in the Jeep.

One issue I have had since I purchased the Jeep (April 2007) is with the transmission. It can be difficult to shift. It's not so bad that I am forced to do something about it, just annoying. I am not sure if it is a clutch hydraulic problem, a worn out clutch or just a transmission needing a rebuild. The transmission (Asin AX-5) is notoriously crappy.

While I am here I would like to note the transmission capacity since I recently changed the oil in it and it is fresh in my head. My owners manual says it takes Mopar grade SAE 75W-90 API-GL5 grade oil (most people recommend using Pennzoil synchromesh). It holds just under 4 quarts. The transfer case takes ATF, just over 1 quart.

I would love to swap in a better transmission, like the AX-15 that Jeep uses on the 6 cylinder models. I just don't have the money or time right now.

Pneumonia

2008-12-03T17:01:00.000-05:00

I haven't been feeling well since this weekend. I went to the Dr today and found out that I have Pneumonia! Sucks to be me.....good news is I should feel better soon.

More website updates

2008-11-26T18:45:00.001-05:00

Just a quick note that I have updated more of the webpages on my personal site. I updated the Toyota Truck and 4Runner page and the Computer links page.

No new cars in 2008

2008-11-26T15:08:00.003-05:00

Late in 2007 I made a commitment to my wife - no new cars in 2008! This may seem like an easy promise to keep, but not for me. I am a chronic car buyer. Check out my record - Tom's Cars. Many recent years I have bought more than 2 cars. Well, so far for 2008 I am doing great! Haven't bought anything in over 1 year. This has been better for the budget in the Mister Family. We have more money to spend on other junk (and to save). Will I buy anything in 2009? Only time will tell, but I am very happy with my 1994 Jeep Wrangler at this time.

Hysteria by Def Leppard

2008-11-26T15:03:00.002-05:00

Some music really stands the test of time. For me 1 such album is Hysteria by Def Leppard. When I was a teenager I listened to it on road trips - most memorable are ski trips to Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia. I still listen to it frequently when I am driving - and also when doing yard work, computer stuff....it really is a great album. If you have never heard it you should check it out.

Vacation...Jeep

2008-11-25T13:10:00.003-05:00

I am at home this week on vacation from work. I do need to get some Jeep parts from my dealer this week. I have been looking around online but have not found a website that has Jeep parts diagrams. Do you know of any? Let me know.

Facebook

2008-11-19T16:52:00.001-05:00

Well, I am slow to the game but I am finally on Facebook. My name is "Thomas H Mister Jr"...look me up!

SyncBackSE

2008-11-15T07:38:00.005-05:00

A while back I mentioned that I was trying a program called SyncBackSE to do my backups. I have been very happy with it so I bought it. It does exactly what I want - no complaints or improvement suggestions. This program is used to backup my working files (documents, pictures, code, favorites, music, etc.), not to perform a full backup my laptop. The title of this post is a link to the SyncBackSE website.

Now I am looking for a free or low cost (~$30) Ghost type program. I have tried Macrium Reflect but in their free trial version I cannot make a boot disk that works with my Compaq laptop. I contacted their support and they suggested that a boot disk made from the pay version would work - however, I would rather try before I buy. Any suggestions out there? I need something to use as a disaster recovery - my Compaq doesn't have recovery disks.

Laptop Memory part 2

2008-11-13T18:29:00.004-05:00

As I mentioned last week, I recently purchased a memory upgrade for my laptop from Crucial Technology. The performance of the Windows Vista Home Premium system was much improved going from 1 Gb to 2 GB. However, there was a compatibility issue and the laptop would crash if it went to sleep. As promised, Crucial sent new RAM from a different supplier. It works fine. I highly recommend them. Excellent customer service and great prices. The title to this post is a link to their website, or just go to www.crucial.com

PayPal finale Part 2

2008-11-12T18:34:00.003-05:00

As I said before, PayPal sucks....today has been interesting. After the payment was reversed I filed a non-paying bidder claim with eBay to try and get my fees back. The buyer responded that he had already paid and thought I was trying to get paid twice - he seemed to have no idea that PayPal had reversed the transaction. Once he figured this out he immediately paid me again. So it seems that PayPal reversed the transaction all on their own, with no feedback from the buyer. Has anyone ever heard of this before? I have emailed PayPal to try and get more information. The good news is I have the money again.

PayPal finale

2008-11-11T18:20:00.002-05:00

Well, PayPal has taken my money again :(
Basically, the item I sold on eBay was received and the buyer left me positive feedback. Then, 5 days later they complained to PayPal that they never got the item. Almost 2 weeks later PayPal resolved the dispute on the side of the buyer (of course). So now I have no merchandise and no money. PayPal sucks.

PayPal update....no update

2008-11-11T06:18:00.003-05:00

Still no word from PayPal on my transaction that they are investigating (from late October). I figured it would be done by now. They must have a large backlog of transactions to review. I wish it were over with so I could stop wondering what they will do.

Laptop Memory

2008-11-05T16:46:00.004-05:00

Last week I bought some new memory for my Vista Home Premium based Compaq laptop from Crucial Technology. The upgrade from 1GB to 2 GB was great! Unfortunately, there was some sort of compatibility issue when the laptop goes to sleep, causing a reboot every time. I called Crucial tech support and they were very helpful. They are sending some replacement memory from a different supplier. Wish me luck! I will post an update later indicating if the new memory works. The title of this post is a link to Crucial's website.

PayPal

2008-11-02T14:53:00.003-05:00

Well, once again an item I sold on eBay is having trouble in PayPal....this time they are holding the funds because it might be a fraudulent transaction. The thing is, the buyer bought a Honda Odyssey part from me and they have bought other Honda Odyssey parts recently. They also left me positive feedback after the sale. I hope it wasn't fraud, but I imagine at this point I have a 50-50 change of getting the money from PayPal. Wish me luck! Here is a link to the auction --> eBay Item

Ninja250 Links Updated

2008-10-26T15:44:00.005-05:00

Not much to say today.....just wanted to mention that I updated my page of Kawasaki Ninja 250 links.....click the title of this post to see them or click this link:
http://www.tommister.com/ninja250.html

SyncBack

2008-10-24T15:29:00.003-05:00

I recently started using a program called SyncBackSE to backup my family's important files - pictures, MP3 music, documents. Previously I was using batch files with XCOPY and a VB.NET program I had written myself.

I really like the interface and speed that SyncBackSE offers. I am currently in a 30 day trial, and so far I plan to purchase the full version (only $30). As I play with it some more I will let you know if I run across any problems. The title for this post is a link to the website for the software.

First Post!

2006-08-17T16:44:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my blog. I have many things to say. I plan to post lots of car information, plus tidbits about other interests. I hope that you find something interesting.