9.27.2008

What To Do When Your Laptop Won't Power Up

Here's a tidbit I learned today that I thought I'd pass on:

My laptop wouldn't power up (GASP!!!! ohhhh noooooo!!!!!!). There was no response at all when I pressed the start button, regardless of whether or not it was plugged in.

We took it in to the Best Buy Geek Squad, and the first thing our Geek (sorry, couldn't resist) did was take the battery out. Then he plugged in the laptop, and presto, power.

Apparently sometimes the batteries can move so that one or more of the connectors aren't touching, and rather than allowing the computer to short out, it simply powers down to protect itself (cool huh).

The solution is to make sure that the laptop is turned off, remove the battery, then plug the laptop in using the power cord. Once it's powered up, tip it over and reinsert the battery. At this point you may have to recharge the battery, as it may have become drained (mine was).

Ok DON'T LAUGH. This was news to me!!! I'm a laptop newbie ;-)

9.20.2008

Here's A Money Funny For Ya

I was surfing for finance tips and found this excerpt from a Saturday Night Live skit... it made me laugh. Below is the dialogue of a husband and wife (Steve Martin and Amy Poehler) in their kitchen as they talk about money. Thanks to the blog on http://www.getrichslowly.org for posting this, as I missed the aired episode:

Wife: Oh, I just can’t get these numbers to add up

Husband: Like we’re never going to get out of this hole.

Wife: Credit card debt, does it ever end?

Salesman: [entering from who-knows-where] Maybe I can help.

Husband: We sure could use it.

Wife: We’ve tried debt consolidation companies.

Husband: We’ve even taken out loans to help make payments.

Salesman: Well, you’re not the only one. Did you know that millions of Americans live with debt they can not control? That’s why I developed this unique new program for managing your debt. [Holds up book] It’s called, “Don’t Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford”

Wife: Let me see that. [Reading from book] If you don’t have any money, you should not buy anything. Hmmm … sounds interesting.

Husband: Sounds confusing.

Wife: I don’t know honey, this makes a lot of sense. There’s a whole section here on how to buy expensive things using money you’ve “saved”.

Husband: Give me that. And where do you get this “saved” money?

Salesman: I tell you where and how in Chapter 3.

Wife: OK, what if I want something but I don’t have any money?

Salesman: You don’t buy it.

Husband: Let’s say, I don’t have enough money to buy something. Should I buy it anyway?

Salesman: No.

Husband: Now I’m really confused.

Salesman: It’s a little confusing at first.

Wife: What if you have the money, can you buy something?

Salesman: Yes.

Wife: Now, take the money away. Same story?

Salesman: Nope. You shouldn’t buy stuff when you don’t have the money.

Husband: I think I’ve got it. I buy something I want, then hope that I can pay for it. Right?

Salesman: No. You make sure you have money, then you buy it.

Husband: Oh, then you buy it! But shouldn’t you buy it before you have the money?

Salesman: No.

Wife: Why not?

Salesman: It’s in the book. It’s only one page long. The advice is priceless and the book is free.

Wife: Wow. I like the sound of that.

Husband: Yeah, we can put it on our credit card.

Announcer: So, get out of debt now. Write for your free copy of “Don’t Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford”. And, if you order now, you’ll also receive, “Seriously, If You Don’t Have the Money, Don’t Buy It” along with a twelve month subscription to “Stop Buying Stuff” Magazine. Order today.

9.18.2008

Songwriting Gone Soooo Wrong....

Ohhhh nooooo.... oh my ears!!!! Make it stop!!! AAAAAAhhhhhhhh.....

"I've Got A Crush On Stephen Harper" song

9.12.2008

Don't Try Taking Mine Back!!!

Oh geeeez... And they wonder why we don't take our government seriously. It turns out that some of the Climate Action Dividend cheques issued earlier in the year were sent to people who didn't qualify to receive them.

Now they are in the process of trying to get the $1.8 million back (18,000 misdirected cheques). I wonder how much money this effort will take?

While I understand that the criteria to determine eligibility for the payment was based on tax returns that may not have accurately reflected the status of the recipient (alive, and residing in BC) as of December 31, 2007, there should have been some kind of allowance for this. For example, if a recipient has since become deceased, the money should go to his or her estate, rather than it having to be returned to the government by the grieving family.

But what do I know... other than the fact that I'm not giving mine back!! lol

9.07.2008

Hmmm... Not Sure...

The first time I tried Chrome, I found it much faster than IE, and I quite liked it. Now, however, anytime I enter a search term, it gets hung up with a "resolving proxy" message. I'm sure it's fixable, but I haven't had time to look into it. Instead I've been going back to IE...

9.03.2008

Chrome

Google's new browser!!! I'm definitely trying that. I'll let you know how it goes...

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