Oh, do I long for magsafe connectors for Windows laptops

Apple has a cool, patented technology call Magsafe.  It is a magnetic power brick for their laptops.  It was introduced in 2006.  Instead of plugging into the laptop, the power adapter attaches to the laptop through a magnet.  It greatly reduces the damage done when a laptop is bumped or if the plug is tripped over.  The magnet simply falls off.  With Windows laptops, when you do the same thing, you tend to break the DC adapter plug in your laptop.  Unless you know a soldering expert, you have to replace the whole motherboard to fix it.  This weekend, I picked up my third laptop this year in which I have to replace a whole motherboard because of a broken adapter plug.  This is a pain in the backside to fix.  Call it open heart surgery for a laptop.  Here is a picture of the Magsafe connector.

How NOT to use social media...

Seems a first grade teacher in New Jersey has a very dim outlook for her students.  She posted on her facebook page that they are "future criminals".  As somebody who worked in an elementary school, I understand how the occasional student would stir up those thoughts in your head, but the whole class?  As you may imagine, she was suspended.  In case you thought this was an isolated incident, in our very own state, a teacher from Pennsylvania (Bucks County) was suspended for blogging that her students were "whiny, simpering grade-grubber with an unrealistically high perception of own ability level."  To read more on this one check out the article here.  I suppose the lesson to learned here is that despite how much you may dislike or dismay over your students future abilities, it probably is not a good idea to put those thoughts on Facebook or your personal blog.

What would it be like to live in another country?

Well of course I have an answer!  Check out this video from CNET.  If you want to see for yourself, head over to ifitweremyhome.com  This cool website will tell you how your life would be different if you were born and lived in another country.  You even get to pick your country to compare.

My most frustrating computer finally fixed,...I think

For three years, my dell optiplex GX520 has continually tripped from a green light to an amber light while unexpectantly shutting down.  I have tried every solution that I can think of, until the latest one, which I think may work.  Will keep you posted.  I don't want to jinx myself.  I have been through dozens of boards, crying with dozens of other users who have experienced the same issue.  Switched the power supply, memory, hard drive, CMOS battery, data cables, tried every bios setting, updated the bios, tried three different operating systems(XP, Vista and Windows 7), but I think I figured it out, finally, if not by accident.  Ebay, a couple of days and I will let you know if it works...

Samsung cleared of charges of installing keyloggers on new laptops

A previouse post discussed how Samsung was being investigated for allegedly installing keylogger software on new laptops.  The investigation has concluded and has cleared Samsung of any wrongdoing.  Apparently a antivirus program mistakenly detected a Microsoft folder in the windows installation as a keylogger.

Google picks Kansas City over Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh made the finals in the Google sweepstakes but we came up second.  Google will be installing a fiber network in Kansas City in the upcoming year.  It promises speeds upwards to1000 times faster than current high-speed networks are today.  Google has been planning this for years and were scouting smaller cities to roll out the service.  It is believed that Google ultimately wants to take it national, and needed a large, but small city to test the service.  I tell you, the speed of that network alone would tempt me enough to move back within city limits again.  Check out the article on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette here.