Windows 8 Pre-Release Version Trial Run

Windows 8 trial test report.

I pretty much skipped Windows Vista and even 7 since I really felt I had no need for them, but decided that this year I would upgrade my operating system, so decided to give this pre-trial release a go.

So far, I've got to say that it's pretty good. Load-up and shut-down times are faster, refreshing and pulling up Web pages is faster, and the amount of options one can choose to customize are endless.

I do miss my normal "Start" bar where I could choose programs, but there's alternate ways of getting to things now. New in 8 (Might be in 7, not sure) is its use of Apps for certain things, similar to that of cel phone apps. It gives you sort of an ala carte system of what to choose, take away, add to, blah blah blah.

It also has much better network capability. Windows XP always had an issue locating my network printer without tons of help from me on where to find it, but this found it and the IP address of it instantly as soon as I turned it on.

Since this is in a trial stage, there's still some bugs. Security is rather tight and therefore I had to give myself special permissions just to be able to do just about anything on the C root drive even though I supposedly had administrative privileges initially, but even then those weren't enough. They're going to need to fix that before the primary release since not many people know how to fix something like that.

I'm also experiencing difficulty with my Webcam Pro 9000 from Logitech. Through the basic driver it's only showing images in BW for some reason, and Windows 8 isn't compatible with the older Logitech software, but I'm sure once Win8 is in a final release state Logitech will fix that. I hope.

The sound also seems, well, different. More crisp, like the drivers they're using are somehow conveying the digital harmonics much better.

Another neat thing is its compatibility mode, if needed, which is a lot more beefed up than the Windows XP version. Hopefully Microsoft will include that and recovery option just in the standard release version and you won't have to buy a Pro version or anything to get those features. I never had it, but that's what ticked me off about Windows 7. To get everything and all the perks, you had to literally pay 100 dollars or more "beyond" the basic version.

Also, I'm not sure what the release version will contain, but this one requires you to log into a place in order to put your servers and such for mail, as opposed to using some kind of "in person" program like Outlook. Hopefully they'll include either Outlook or Outlook Express, since I hate having to log in to something just to check my mail. I'd rather it always be on stand-by ready to do in a flash.

Finally, I'm not sure what the release will have, if anything, but this one has Windows Defender, which is a basic Microsoft anti-virus program. Probably not as good as a lot of them, such as AVG Free, but since this is just a beta release I didn't want to disable that and install AVG free for fear that AVG would think a lot of things were viruses that actually weren't since it's not designed yet for Windows 8 background applications and such. Well, that's my report, for those of you who actually knew what in the heck I was talking about.

You Know You're a Floridian If...

You know you're a Floridian if...

Socks are only for bowling.

You never use an umbrella because the rain will be over in five minutes.

A good parking place has nothing to do with distance from the store, but everything to do with shade.

Your winter coat is made of denim.

You can tell the difference between
fire ant bites and mosquito bites.

Anything under 70 degrees is chilly.

You know that no other grocery store can Compare to Publix.

You know that anything under a Category 3 just isn't worth waking up for.

You dread love bug season.

You know what a snowbird is and when they'll leave.

'Down South' means Key West .

Flip-flops are everyday wear. Shoes are for business meetings and church, but you HAVE worn flip flops to church before.

You have a drawer full of bathing suits, and one sweatshirt.

A mountain is any hill 100 feet above sea level.

You know the four seasons really are: Hurricane season, love bug season, tourist season and summer.

You can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee , Withlacoochee , Thonotosassa and Micanopy.

You understand why it's better to have a friend with a boat, than have a boat yourself.

You've worn shorts and used the A/C on Christmas and New Years.

You recognize Miami-Dade as ' Northern Cuba .'

Year One - The Movie

I just watched "Year One" with Jack Black and Michael Cera. That movie has some HILARIOUS lines, but you have to catch them quickly or you'll miss them. Funny stuff.

Naturally Squeezed Orange Juice

Ever since making natural squeezed orange juice and drinking a glass a day my complexion has looked, well, awesome. This never happened with store-bought juice. Stands to reason since they boil most of the vitamins out of it when they pasteurize it.

Football

I never could figure out why that silly game is called football when, in 99.9% of the game, they use their hands.

The Things Women Do To Get Attention

Have you ever walked by a woman who had her boobs pushed up so high you wanted to scream, "Put those things away--you're going to poke someone's eye out"? I mean, I'm a guy, so of course I like boobs. But when a woman tries to purposefully make herself look like some kind of medieval barmaid, then that's going a little overboard. I mean, I'm not about to strap on a slingshot to my crotch to lift things up and give me more of a pants bulge just so I can get more attention...sheesh. Some of the things women do amazes me.

Sci-Fi to Syfy

I'm still at odds with having to spell the Sci-Fi channel the Syfy channel.  Whose moronic idea WAS that anyway?

Life Isn't Disney

Ladies...life isn't Disney. A beast will almost always remain a beast.

How a Single Man Can Tell if a Woman Is a Slob without Seeing her Apartment

I think one of the best ways for a single guy to tell how clean a girl is and how well she takes care of her stuff on a NORMAL basis (And not just a "planned" visit) is to ask her to do the following. Have her take a picture of herself in her bathroom mirror, and don't tell her why. If it's covered with spots/streaks/etc. and it looks like they haven't cleaned it since Ronald Reagan was in office, then folks, we have a slob on our hands.

What Not to Name Your Daughters

You know, you probably shouldn't name your daughter Bambi or Angel unless you decide to include a starter stripper pole in their crib.

The Secret of My Success is Persistence

Well, I'm getting there.  I have a total of 17 books and manuals published. (I'm reworking and adding to my two actual "stories." (Youthful Paradox and Healing Hannah--and will be re-releasing them within a few months.  I want them to each be at least 50,000 words and fully completed before I re-release them)

Anyway, not all of the books are on all sites yet.  For some, it takes quite some time to get published.  But the primary ones are fairly well done.

Apple: 14/17
Amazon: 17/17
Barnes and Noble: 16/17
Google Play: 16/17

Just a few on Apple left to get published and one on Google Play and B&N and I should have all of the biggies covered.

Dating Religious People / Christians

I find it interesting, by both dating women and talking to women "about" men, how it seems as though, at least in the single world, there's a LOT more religious women out there than there are men. I'm not religious personally, but I've always wondered about the reasoning behind that. Is it because A: Men like sex a lot more and have trouble abstaining, but religious women are often times wanting to "wait until marriage" and that stops men from often times taking that sort of path, or B: Because men are often-times egocentric and don't want to be labeled as "#2" in a woman's life but, rather, want to be considered #1? And if they had to constantly hear about how great God was or knew they'd take a back seat to him/her/it, that they wouldn't feel as important? I men, it's a male's nature to want to feel needed. It's true. We're the jar openers, the confidantes, the shoulders to lean on when you're feeling sad. We want to feel like we're the most important thing in your life, so it stands to reason that might be why a lot of men have trouble with dating religious girls. Yes? No?

Anyway, it's interesting to think about. What are some of your theories?

Apple ITunes 1970s Toy Books

All 4 of my 1970s toy books are now (Finally) on Apple ITunes.  Just thought I'd let you know!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jonathon-jones/id508111263?mt=11

Book Sales

I had a stellar month for May.  Thanks for all of your support!

Online Dating Warning for Men

Cautionary statement to single men when looking at online profiles.  Always be suspicious if a woman looks like she has an Adam's Apple.

Enough said.

DVDs, Blu-Rays, and Aspect Ratios

For those who are new to the world of wide-screen tv's, I wanted to fill you in a little bit pertaining to what I have learned.  Many people, when getting a widescreen tv, think that having a widescreen means that they're going to get a picture from a DVD or Blu-ray that will fill up the whole screen.  For those of you who have them, however, you have realized that's not always the case.  It wasn't until I did a little research that I found out why.

Widescreen format movies, in order to preserve their originality and not have to crop anything out, are almost always put in the same widescreen format as they were originally shot.  If viewing on a widescreen, and that media was originally shot in 1:78:1, you're going to get an image that fits to a standard 16x9 perfectly.  If the movie was shot in 1:85:1, you're going to get VERY tiny (Barely noticeable) little black bars on the top and bottom of the screen.

If, however, something was shot in 2:40:1 or 2:35:1, you're going to get REALLY big bars on the top and bottom of the screen.  Unfortunately, many things are being shot in this later mode and, let me tell you, those bars are ANNOYING.  Hopefully movie makers will learn from this.  I mean, duh...if everyone's screen is 16x9, then wouldn't it make more sense to have everything filmed in 1:78:1 or 1:85:1?  The Avengers, a modern release, seems to have been shot in 1:85:1, and I am SO glad.  I mean, I got a big screen t.v. so that the WHOLE screen could be used, you know?

Dating

I had my first date of the summer.  It seemed to go rather well.  Not sure we had much in common, but she was sweet and relaxing to be around.  Not sure we'll be more than friends, but hey, at least I got a new friend out of it.

I miss love

I'll just come right out and say it. I'm tired of being alone.

You see, I miss having someone to talk with until all hours of the night, someone to laugh so hard with that we literally start to cry, someone whose hand I can proudly hold when walking anywhere and everywhere, and someone whose eyes I can look into and instantly want to give everything I have with no hesitation and no feelings of remorse.

Having no one in my life instantly makes me recall all of the wonderful things that I truly do miss. I miss having someone to cook for, to comfort, and to give unexpected surprises to when she least expects it. I miss being there for someone, and also miss having someone to turn to when I need them the most.

I miss having someone who inspires me to be the best man I can possibly be, and whom I can inspire to be the best that they can be. I miss having dedication to something greater than just myself. I miss being an "us."

I miss star gazing on a blanket on the beach at night, having a partner to swim with, someone to share the covers with, someone to play games with, and someone to watch movies with.

I miss having a traveling partner, who can be immersed with me in places from the past or places that are quaint and relaxing.

I miss having someone to watch the waves roll in with, to watch the sunset and sunrise with and, most importantly, to say "I love you" to and always mean it.

I know deep down that my life was always meant to be shared. So now I just have to find someone willing to share it.

Toys , Games, and Action Figure Collectibles of the 1970s: The Complete Series

I decided to combine all of my 1970s toy books into one for those of you who would rather just have one large volume.  Available now only on Amazon, and within a few months it should be on Barnes and Noble as well as Apple.  It's huge, folks.  The Epub file was around 41 megs, and before it was converted the Word document file was around 112 megs.  All for just $7.99.  Enjoy!

http://www.amazon.com/Games-Action-Figure-Collectibles-ebook/dp/B0088ZB4IG/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1338955558&sr=1-5

Funny saying....

I once heard this and thought it was oh-so-true.  Why do people say grow some balls when we want to stress that a person needs to be tough?  Balls are weak, vulnerable, and hurt like &*^*(^* when hit.  They should say "Grow a vagina."  Because those things can "really" take a beating.

;)

Think about it.

As I beat my chest...yes, I said my chest.

While I am generally good-natured, sweet, and may seem sensitive and emotional, it's important to note that this side only represents a part of me. Believe me, although I am an emotionally available man, I'm also A man. For example, I know I don't have to be tall, because when I walk into the room I stand at 7 feet. I also know I don't have to be muscular, because my strength has no limits. I have been used, abused, devastated, and ridiculed, only to bounce back strong, proud, and towering above those who underestimated me. I bow to no one, I am good enough for anyone, and I can take anything anyone dishes out. So never underestimate me just because of my size or my giving and loving demeanor. Because when the stakes are all out on the table, I can show the world that I truly have what it takes to be confident, proud, and strong.

Having Children and Having God-like Powers

We all make an impact on the world by being here. By being here, you have life on Earth. Your genetic code still has a chance to continue, and believe it or not every single thing you do or don't do can ultimately affect the fate of the future for someone or something.

You could walk in someone's path by accident and cause them to step out of the way, taking a slightly different path, and that causing them to avoid being hit by a car. Or your presence could also make them take a path that could cause them to get HIT by a car.

You could decide not to eat meat one day, cause one less package to be put on the store, causing one less stock order, causing less demand at the slaughterhouse, giving a baby calf a few more days with its mother.

Everything we do and do not do can ultimately affect life on this planet, and when I say life, I mean LIFE. It's the little things...the things we don't think about every day, that can change the fate of those around us.

We, in a way, all play the part of a God, just on a much different scale. We can create or destroy, sometimes consciously and sometimes by complete accident.

To not have kids would be to stop your genetic line from not ONLY having a chance to continue and experience life to its fullest, but also to stop your bloodline from ever being able to experience that power ever again.

I know that sounds weird, but it's true. Each and every creature on this planet has the power to create or destroy, so by not having kids, we'd be preventing new Gods from being born.

It goes way beyond just living and enjoying life and having fun. It's just that the common, everyday brain doesn't ever think about stuff like this.  Probably for a good reason.

Online Dating Sites - Why a lot of Women are Still Single

Okay, I am beginning to see why a lot of people on online dating sites are still single.  I mean...I don't know...maybe it's because I was raised in another time and another place, but it seems as though people nowadays seriously have no idea how to communicate and also work things out.

I just have these 3 simple rules, and they are SO easy and should be no-brainers, but apparently they're things that just aren't being taught to people.  1.  If we start talking, if you don't like or agree with something I said, work it out with me.  Don't just stop talking and drop off the planet.  That's rude, and just leaves a guy with a question mark over his head.  In real life, you don't just stop talking in the middle of a conversation, turn around and walk away most of the time, right?

You wouldn't want that done to you, so why do that to someone else?  In addition, by not working things out, it would show a man that you wouldn't have great handling skills, meaning you could easily dart from something serious without trying to work things out.  Remember, online dating is a sample for what a person may see from someone in "real life."  Don't think all men are dumb.  We're not.  Us smart ones will easily pick up on stuff like that.

2.  I expect a woman to know what she wants.  If she doesn't, she shouldn't be trying to find someone until she finds herself.

3.  I expect her to know how to have a conversation.  This isn't the all about you show, ladies.  Pretend it's like a ping pong game.  If you don't ask about HIS life as much as he asks about yours, any man is going to end up losing interest.  Ladies, remember how nice it feels when a man pays attention to you and shows interest in your life?  Don’t you think he'd also like to feel that way?  So make it a game…he serves, then you serve…back and forth.  That's the only way to establish mutual interest and keep the fire burning.