Opera 9.6

Choosing a new browser.

On my home computer, every time I ran Facebook, the computer would stop talking to the modem.  After much diagnosis of the Ethernet connection and the modem, I finally discovered that the trouble was with Internet Explorer.  More and more IE has been causing my computer to hang.  The only cure is a reboot and then it is always a race to get things done before it needs to reboot again.

Lots of people recommended Fire Fox.  I gave it a try but many web sites I use just don’t look right in Fire Fox.  And some just refuse to work at all.

On my home computer Google Chrome was not an option since I am running Windows 2000.  Normally W2k is much more stable than XP but not with whatever the latest update to IE was.

My Internet connection at home is via satellite.  During most times of the day it is pretty slow.  Better than dial up but not really the broadband they claim it is.  I still consider it a low bandwidth connection.  So I did a search for low bandwidth browsers.  That is when I discovered Opera.

Opera loads web pages at least twice as fast as IE on my Hughes net service.  It has taken me a day to get used to the differences but I am really liking Opera so far.

My old W2k version of IE did not offer tabbed browsing but Opera does.  And the tabs work like I expect them to – not like the IE tabs that still sometimes opens up another memory hole instead of a new tab.

I love the way the pages load also.  I can actually start reading an article before all the junk loads.  With IE, it would often display a blank page until all the ads loaded.  It was really annoying to wait several minutes for  page to load only to realize it was not of interest.

I tested Google Chrome on my computer at work.  It has XP.  I like Chrome much better than IE.  Chrome seems just a little zippier on some web pages.  Especially Googles’ pages that I use a lot like gmail and adsense.   I assume Google has optimized these pages for their own browser.

I found a couple of sites that don’t seem to load right with Chrome.  My godaddy email program is one.  I had to use IE to send mail.  I could read mail fine but not send.

I am now using Oprea 9.6 on both computers.  I really like the crisp feel and quick loading of pages.  I just finished setting up the spell checker.  I liked IE spell better but I am sure I will get used to this one.  I have also discovered that the Spell checker will not work inside this wordpress window so I have to use the wordpress spell checker that I don’t like at all.

So for now, the winner is Opera.  But I will keep looking for other options.

Walls of Jericho

Wall of Jericho State Park
Wall of Jericho State Park

The Walls of Jericho is and interesting cut in the limestone mountains of North Alabama. The Paint Rock river bubbles out of a cave surrounded by limestone cliffs called the Walls of Jericho.

 

The cove is accessed from Hwy 79 just north of Hytop, Al and just south of the Tennessee line. There is a nice gravel parking area and primitive camping area just off the highway.

The trail descends in to the canyon sometime gradually and sometimes rather steeply. There are many interesting rock formations along the way. There are also numerous chimneys and sinkholes to explore and to beware of.

Janice peeking out of a hole in a rock
Janice peeking out of a hole in a rock

About two miles in the is a large sinkhole that you can explore. There appears to be a cave entrance here.

Mike and Smash as seen from the bottom of a sink hole
Mike and Smash as seen from the bottom of a sink hole

After passing the Clark cemetery the trail becomes very narrow and slick. This is the entrance in to the canyon as well.

The canyon walls are stark and steep.
The canyon walls are stark and steep.

After another half mile of narrow slippery trails, you get to the real beauty of the Walls of Jericho.

There is a very pretty water fall at what looks like the end of the canyon. However, you have to go around the bend. Just around the bend, is where the Paint Rock river flows out of a cut in the rock wall. There is also a huge rock overhang.

Waterfall at the Walls of Jericho
Waterfall at the Walls of Jericho
Janice and Smash looking out from the Walls of Jericho
Janice and Smash looking out from the Walls of Jericho

The hike back out was very tiring. It is up hill all the way. And who knew Smash had a little trick up his sleeve?

What is this dog planning?
What is this dog planning?

For Smash’s addition to the adventure, see my-dog-smash.blogspot.com

12:34

The clock reads 12:34.  I have been noticing this strange number combination for years.  It seems to have some significance.  I have read where others have noticed synchronises with the time 11:11 but, I have not made much of a connection with that time.  The number for me is 12:34.

Steve Pavlina recently posted some interesting information about his connection to 11:11 so I decided to look more into my connection with 12:34.

I have been studying spiritual prosperity recently and I noticed that Luke 12:34 is “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

This fits with what I have been learning.

Steve gives some tips on how to use the magic numbers to help get insights into your subconscious.  I plan to start looking into how the number 12:34  shows up and pay attention to what I am thinking in that moment.

I often wake up in the night an notice that the clock reads 12:34.  I will also have to start paying attention to what I was dreaming about when I wake up at this time.

If you also have a match with 12:34, please comment.

Update: More on 12:34 and also some thoughts on 11:11 in this post: 11:11
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Jeep Accessories

Some of my favorite Jeep Accessories:

On my off road Jeep, Scuffy, my favorite accessory are my Maxxis Buckshot tires.      Having larger tires with a great tread pattern has really helped me go places that were never possible in my stock Jeep with BFG AT’s.

My other most favorite Jeep accessories are my lockers.  In the rear I have the Loc Rite in my 8.25.  This locker is fully automatic.  It is very tight and locks up very quickly.  It is a little annoying on pavement and can be embarrassing when puling into a gas station or a tight parking space.  It is interesting to note that  I had this same axle in my street XJ for a while and it was very calm behind the automatic.  However, with the manual of my off road truck, it pops and squeaks the tires.

In the front, I have an ARB selectable locker.  This is really cool in that I can hit a switch and choose between fully locked and fully open.  I love being able to walk up to a rock and then throw the switch and then be able to climb up on it.

The indispensable accessory is my winch.  I don’t use my winch much but it is really nice knowing that it is there and ready to rescue me if I need it.

[phpbay]Jeep Accessories, 10[/phpbay]

Jeep parts

Jeep Parts available again.

I have now renewed my Crown Jeep Parts account. If you need any Jeep Parts, let me know. I can get most OEM style replacement parts for the engine, boy and suspension parts. These are the same parts sold by Quadratec. I can beat their prices. Just let me know.

Click here to access the Crown Jeep Parts Catalog

Email me with the part numbers you need and I will quote to a price on the Jeep parts you need.

I just got a new Yoke for Jenny’s rear differential. Ordered it yesterday afternoon and it is on my desk now.