I just installed Ubuntu 5.1 on an old 500MHz eMachine and I can’t believe how easy it was. I’ve been playing around with Linux for several years and I’ve never had an install go so perfect. Everything worked on the first try and I was able to update all the needed applications with no problems. My next step is to get Freevo installed and working. I hope this works, because I’m almost out of options for making a media center with the hardware I currently have laying around.

My friend Thomas asked me to start posting my experiences with Ubuntu on his blog. I agreed and plan to write up my first post later tonight.

This morning I went to the eye doctor, got an eye exam and ordered new glasses. My prescription got better, going from a -.75 to a -.5. But, I now have a bit of a stigmatism in my left eye. Nothing major, but enough of one that the doctor is compensating for it in my new lens. I can’t wait to get my new frames. The pair that I’m currently wearing have been really bothering me lately and the new ones are very small and light weight. In fact, the arms are just thin wire that is drill into the glass lens. There are no borders round the glass at all. Just a bit of wire between them to hold them together and rest them on my nose. Here is what they look like.

After getting my eyes all checked out we headed off to pick up Ashlynn, so her and I could go see the new Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It was excellent. By far my favorite of the Harry Potter movies thus far. The movies still aren’t as good as the books, but it’s exciting to see it on the screen with all the special effects. The scene with the dragon was probably my favorite. Very exciting stuff.

We spent Thanksgiving at Maija’s house this year. Chip, Ashlynn and Carly were going to be in Michigan spending the holiday with Chip’s parents, but Ashlynn got sick on the way there and they turned round and came home. We had a good time and really good food. Maija’s turkey was excellent and also my first Thanksgiving turkey in like 8 years.

Originally, we where going to go down state and spend Thanksgiving with my parents, but with the high gas prices and all our other numerous expenses we decided that we really couldn’t afford the trip right now. I’m disappointed, but I guess we will be going down for Christmas really soon.

This weekend at church Quincy made a blessings box in his Sunday school class. He was to think of three things he was thankful for, so the teacher could right them down and put them in the box. He came up with the following three blessings.

1. That he is at church today.
2. That he got to create artwork.
3. That Mommy and Daddy brought him to church.

On the other side of the paper he drew a really nice looking hand turkey. It was his first hand turkey and he was very excited about it.

Why doesn’t anyone make a usb dongle that is a fm radio receiver? Something the size of a thumb drive that you plug into the side of your laptop, then launch some software to control it. I know there is the Griffin Radio Shark, but that is too big and all about recording radio shows.

What I want is something small and simple that I can pop into my ibook when I’m on the train and tried of my mp3 collection or just wanting to catch some news on NPR.