Time to say Goodbye.

Hiddenpcmaster’s Headquarters has been fun for the past 7 + years! but it is time to move on to bigger and better. I appreciate all of your comments and encouragement during those years.

This space will be replaced by my lifelong passion, and hopefully you will follow me in my quest to become a professional photographer @ www.walterbellphotography.com

Who would have thought such talent lurked beneath the mask of my co-worker and friend Bob Hennessy.

Check out his YouTube Video’s:

http://www.youtube.com/user/radialarts

Check out his Harmonica Website:

http://www.radialarts.com/harp.html

and Photography too!

http://www.radialarts.com

Windows Home Server users (you know who you are!) Don’t need to read this article

Some weeks ago I read the first article about the new virus/worm Conficker C which apparently has managed to infect millions of computers but hasn’t done anything yet. Recently CNN ran an article that speculates that April Fools Day (next Wednesday, April 1) is the trigger date. and there’s lots of drama !

It all seems very exciting, and, much like the run up to Y2K (remember that?), some experts think that it will be no big deal, while other predict the end of the world as we know it.

There are many, many people far more qualified than I to assess the real risk of the situation, but I do have a suggestion for all readers of the Hiddenpcmaster Headquarters community — why don’t you make a backup of all your computer files (if you haven’t done so recently) before April 1 just in case? Even if you’re a Mac user and not worried about Conficker, if you haven’t made a back up recently, why not use this occasion to do so? After all, there are still floods, fires and storms of locusts that crop up from time to time and don’t care about Mac vs PC.

Lots of people follow the advice to change the battery in the smoke detector every fall on the night when we turn the clocks back to standard time from daylight savings. Even if Conficker C turns out to be No Big Deal (or has a different doomsday date) if you backup your files now, you’ll have a recent backup no matter what comes to pass.

It goes without saying that before you run a back up you should use an anti-virus program to ensure your data is clean.

Of course, if the world ends, you won’t need the back up, but if lots of computers are affected, you might be really glad you did.

Regards,

Hiddenpcmaster

Yes you heard correctly. I’m back. Internet Explorer 7 is more compatible, faster, and more widely accepted in business.

I’ll always leave my options open, but for now it’s back to the dark side.

Hiddenpcmaster

My Dad was a simple man. You might say he was too simple in a world that is growing ever more complicated. But he understood that in everything there is a right way and a wrong way to do things and the only option is to do the right thing.

My Dad ingrained in me a strong work ethic, for working as hard as you can is the only way to have no doubts about yourself at the end of the day. He taught me to always help others, for some day we might need help ourselves and good deeds have a way of getting back to you when the time is right. He taught me to be strong for those around us, but not to be afraid to bend when you have to. He was a man that others knew they could depend on in their time of need. He taught me that leading by example was the best way to be true to yourself, and to those around you.

My Dad lived a hard life for the most part, he took that in stride and did the best that he could with the cards he was dealt. And in so doing, he taught me to do the same. Don’t cry about it, fix it was his philosophy, and it was a lesson learned. Most importantly of all, he taught me that we are not the most important thing in the world. Instead, the most important things were those around us. He lived his life being there for the people that needed him, and those who knew and loved him will always thank him for that.

My Dad always led by example and to those of us fortunate enough to know him, that example was a very good one. He was not a man to get lost in the fluff of life, instead he believed you should lay a solid foundation in the life that you have and then you build on that foundation until the structure is a good, strong structure. You build your character one deed at a time until the structure defines the person behind it. And then you open that structure up to your loved ones and friends so that they might be protected by it too.

My Dad was a great man. He loved his family with a passion that was unquestioned, and he was proud of each of us in so many ways. He is the reason that I have become the person I am today, and I thank him for that. For I can think of no better thing in the world than to be the legacy of this man. Thank you Dad for all that you’ve done.

You are so missed, but you live on in all of those you have touched.

FEAR NOT!

Hiddenpcmaster’s Headquarters is not dead, but rather has been in a dormant state due to lack of anything decent to post. I like to think of my little world as a repository of information, utilities, family news, humor, hot deals, etc. But frankly, as I have continued to comb the internet for goodies, anything worth posting has been few and far between.

This is why I would highly recommend using a RSS newsfeed reader which would save you the time of checking a non changing web page, but rather an alert when a page has changed!

Both Lonnie of the Squirrelman blog and I have hinted in the past about the importance of an RSS feed reader and it’s revolutionary approach to web surfing. We can’t stress it enough.

Now…..

All of you Outlook users need to strap yourself in before you read my next post. It truly will propel you into a whole new way to use the tired old email client.

In retrospect, 2007 was, well just mediocre. I think there was a sort of balance when it came to good things vs. bad.

Good Things:

* Justin kept breaking records being on the “Principles List“, Graduated at the top of his Fifth Grade Class and became the Chess Champion! WOW!
* I’m learning more & more about Photography. I’m finally able to shoot in “Manual Mode” on my Digital SLR.
* Windows Home Server has become the defacto standard in Backing up my computers.
* Business has been steadily on the increase this year and looks to keep going throughout 2008 with the help of the best team of coworkers ever put together.
* I have been learning how to use Photoshop and discovered the brilliant piece of software called “Lightroom”
* I went to Disney for vacation with the Evensens!
* I decided to be an assistant Coach in 08′ for Justin’s little league team.

Bad Things:

* My Dad’s Health. In the beginning of 2007 he ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and it looks like he may end out the year back in the hospital but this time with Leukemia. Update: No hospital! The Dr. suggests outpatient Chemotherapy to treat the Leukemia. The bad news is Dad’s life expectancy has been limited to only 1 year.
* My sister also spent a few days in the hospital this past year.
* A friend’s mom passed away this year, not too long ago he lost his dad.
* The subprime mortgage crisis
* High Gas prices
* The ongoing war in Iraq
* Not enough Golfing
* The Yankees lose it AGAIN, coupled with the Mitchell report on steroids and HGH.
* I now own my first pair of reading glasses.

Things I will improve upon in 2008:

* I will continue to focus more on the needs of others.
* I will golf more
* I will continue my studies in Photography coupled with software training (Photoshop and Lightroom).

We’re Back!

After 8 days of fun in the sun, (yes, July in Florida is very sunny!) vacation 2007 has finally come to an end. If you would like to view any of the 478 pictures, just click on the cute little Pink Flamingo .

Some of the places we visited with reviews are as follows:

Disney MGM Studios - A big thumbs up! As usual, typical Disney hospitality. Great rides such as the “Tower of Terror” and “Rock and Roll Roller Coaster” and the BEST part was we won the coveted Disney “Dream Fast Pass” to jump to the front of the line on many of the rides! If you aren’t familiar with the term “Fast Pass” just make sure you get them.

From Orlando Vacat…

Disney Epcot - Thumbs up but not as good as MGM Studios. Maybe that was because we didn’t win the “Fast Passes” but we did encounter “Elton” a friendly Disney employee that hooked us up with a back stage pass to “Mission Space” and a Fast pass ticket to any ride in the park. I didn’t think the rides in Future World were that great, but really enjoyed my visit to the “World Showcase” part of Epcot. The Fireworks show was the best I had ever experienced! Regrettably, this is the part of the trip were I forgot to bring along my battery for my camera!

Universal Studios - Overpriced tickets!, The theme park side of the park “Islands of Adventure” was way too crowded, the employees needed a lesson in Disney hospitality, and the air conditioner was poor while standing in line for over an hour at “The Hulk”, the best ride in the park! The Universal Studios side of the park was quite enjoyable. We saw the 3-D version of “The Terminator” and “Twister” which featured a front row seat to a real tornado experience!

From Orlando Vacat…

Kennedy Space Center - One of the most enjoyable, educational parts of our trip! I was completely blown away by the immense size of the Saturn V rocket on display. I’m still in awe. I’m very satisfied with the way they have tours set up at the center as you may purchase tickets for either a fully guided tour or a go at your own pace tour. The only part of Kennedy we didn’t care for that much was the food. (Maybe the stuff the astronauts munch on is better?)

From Orlando Vacat…

Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede - A hidden Orlando gem! Dinner and a show for a great price from Dolly Parton. I never heard Justin hootin and hollarin with such a great big smile on his face before!

From Orlando Vacat…

Gatorland - A huge Thumbs UP! Gatorland was one of the best days spent in Orlando! They have literally “thousands” of Gators to mingle with all over the place! They also have a free Water Park to cool off for both the kids and adults alike. The people were great as well as the presentation.

From Orlando Vacat…

Beachtree Villas - Our home away from home! Great people, great service, Highly recommended!

From Orlando Vacat…

“I just wish Linda would be more like this smart individual when it comes to packing technique!”