AskErrol

http://www.gizmoproject.com is another pc-to-pc free phone service. But it seems to have a few advantages over skype (I could be wrong because I’ve not had the opportunity to use skype much).

• Free Voicemail
• Access Numbers (through which people can call in metro areas, and be transferred to your pc) (Of course these are LD if your not in the metro; but if you have cell phone plans that allow free LD, then you could still use these to contact folks through gizmo)
• Conference Calls (these are more like party lines, and supposively there is no limit to the number of conference members, skype has a 4 person limit)

I have both skype and gizmo installed, look for errolcasey. Try gizmo if you want to leave me a message. Voicemail sends a WAV to your email that you sign up with, when you create a gizmo account.

I posted this Dec 2003 on a previous blog, and needed it. The old blog is still around but thought I would post it into my current blog, for those that had not seen it.

It is updated weekly for north carolina stores:

http://www.salescircular.com/nc.shtml

Well, was able to find some low cost NICs locally at “walmart” Thank goodness. It amazes me that some folks want to sell the most expensive thing, or jack up the prices due to demand.

When I inquired about prices for PCI NICs for 10/100 , I got price ranges from $20-$130. I hate to admit how cheap I was, but I found some for $15/each! That I’m sure will due just fine for me at home.

Thank goodness, I kept my other cable modem router when I upgraded to the wireless. Now I have my two machines, and my wifes back on the net.

Other things are coming together (i.e. alarm, etc.). But SPRINT has yet to come out to check our line, and the service call request was made Friday — and they indicated they would be here Friday, then Saturday, well — will see when we finally see someone.

The firmware in the router had not been updated since 2001! So I went from 1.37 to 1.46, so I’m up to date on the current router.

Well, finally got affected by a thunderstorm!

Alarm system got fried, and siren went off for 15 mins, until I unplugged a wire to the circuit. One telephone (corded) fried, phone line has “click” in it as you speak, and some calls will not come through. Waiting for sprint to come to house, to investigate and fix. Two out of three NICs in computers are fried (”Media disconnected errors when machine is connected to a network device”). Wireless router fried, will power own but will now route traffic, nor is admin page accessible even after factory default reset

Had to have cable modem replaced (although they said it was not plugged in correctly, I think they were wrong. Never the less got a new cable modem and at least one computer is on the net).

But luckly, the wife’s computer got by without issue — so we will have to share it; until I can get NICs, and a wireless router. Lucky for me I have an non-wirless router, so once I get two nics I can get my machines back on the net.

So, it will be some time and money invested in replacing hardware Oh well. At least the machines work!

I’m trying a new client application called Skype. It allows internet users to chat (voice) between one another for FREE!

You can purchase plans to assign a number (up to 10 different numbers), that can call your skype id. So someone can call and talk to you via a landline. If the number is local for them, then it is free for them and you (the skype user).

You can also skypeout (call landlines from your computer, but you have to pay for that service also).

You can conference in up to 4 people via skype (free) , unless of course you are calling out to a landline, etc.

Check them out at http://www.skype.com

Once you get it installed, try and contact me!

This year we decided to fight the crowds, and go out to see some fireworks. We choose to head to Hope Mills. We had never observed the fireworks in HM, but have had many people recommend them.

A friend was suppose to follow us out, but they ended up going separately and we could not find them in the crowd

We had no problem finding a spot at the BI-LO in HM; but it got crowed quickly.

They started on time, and my daughter was quite impressed for her 1st firework show.

The show lastest about 20 mins, and it sprinkled a few times — so I think they were afraid it was going to rain on them. A few people have said the show was not as good as previous years.

As we left, in the HUGE crowd, some car pulled around someone to try and get ahead; and an argument occurred. Someone stepped out of their car, and the other car bumped into them. No one was hurt, but a lot of verbal action. It took 30-40 minutes to get out of the shopping center!
Oh well.

I’m sure we will go back next year, but may try a different parking location to be able to get out easier.