Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
July 25, 2005

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Volume 1, Number 6 -- Monday, July 25, 2005
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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6.  SETI@home Six years ago, April 13th, 1999, I started running the SETI@home screensaver on my desktop computer.  At various times, my wife's machine has run it, my notebook has run it, and I've run the Linux version on my Linux box.  As of Sunday night, I had processed 11,817 "work units" in a total of 115,920 computer hours.

What is SETI@home?  SETI@home is a scientific analysis experiment that uses Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).  You can participate by running a free program that downloads and analyzes radio telescope data in your computer's idle time. If you have a fast processor, you can even set it to run all the time.

I'm still running the custom-programmed SETI@home "classic" program.  They recently changed to BOINC software, which is a system designed for distributed computing. One of these days, I'm going to change over to the BOINC version.  Probably not until they turn off the classic version, though.

If you are interested in science fiction as I am, or otherwise interested in the possibility of life elsewhere in the galazy, you can help analyze these radio-telescope signals, too.  Check out http://setiathome.berkeley.edu for more information.

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7.  Just for Fun

This week's Just for Fun is about a section of my TerryStockdale.com website -- the Dream Toy of the Month.

Sometimes the Dream Toy might really be a toy.  Sometimes it has electronics involved, other times maybe not.  Sometimes it might be a tool -- a big boy toy.  And sometimes, it's just the coolness factor that makes the item the Dream Toy of the Month.

My Dream Toy of the Month for July is the Motorola Razr cell phone.  This falls in to the useful, coolness, tool and big boy toy classifications.  Not only is it small and light, it has a huge color display that is worlds better than any other I have seen.  The anodized aluminum finish and laser-cut keypad do not hurt the coolness factor, either. There are some great deals and rebates right now on the Razr. If you are actually adding another cell phone line ( and not cancelling a line to get this package), you can even get it for free after rebates.

One of my earlier Dream Toys was a cool replica light saber from Parks Sabers.  Parks Sabers has been around for a while and has a number of different models available.  Whether you are a closet Jedi or a Sith Lord in disguise, these replicas can make your imagination soar -- and your friends' envy soar, too.  Some of the Parks Sabers are like most replica light sabers -- nice to look at, but don't even think of pretending to fight with them because the glowing tube is fragile.  They also have other modelswith a more sturdy design, but, personally, I still wouldn't try a light saber duel even in fun with one -- assuming it would not shatter (and I don't know that), if it simply broke, the replacement light blade is expensive.

By the way, you would be amazed at the number of my web site visitors who come from search engines, afterr searching for the phrase "light saber" or "build your own ultimate lightsaber kit"!  If Hasbro will release the promised $50 kit, it may show up as a future Dream Toy.

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Volume 1, Number 6 -- Monday, July 25, 2005
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Copyright © 2005 Terry A. Stockdale.  All rights reserved.