For this week’s Off the Beaten Path, we’re going to follow some “number links.” It’s kind of like David Letterman’s old “Top 10” lists, but these are just lists of items that begin with different numbers.
You’ve heard the expression “Now THAT was a close one!” When you look at the pictures on this link, you’ll say this more than one time. Here are 10 “Whew!” moments.
I’m not so sure I agree with the author’s thought that USB sticks are no longer popular. Nothing beats “sneaker-netting” like grabbing a thumb drive and moving the file from point A to point B “the old-fashioned way.” This link from USA Today has some very cool reuses for thumb drives. Though not a “spoiler alert,” I can also say this link is very useful if you are looking for some software that works very well when run off a thumb drive.
5 Free Programs to Completely Wipe Hard Drives
Like the link above with software related to USB memory sticks, here’s possible useful link on completely wiping a hard drive. This is useful if you have an old computer you are selling and want to be certain there is no personal data left behind. Keep in mind that simply deleting a file from a computer does nothing to prevent someone from pulling information from it.
20 Things We Don’t Do Anymore Due to Technology Changes
Technology changes all the time, and we adjust with it. We often forget about things we did in the past. For instance, anyone working in radio probably remembers changing ribbons (and black fingers) and fan-fold paper. Those over 60 might remember there once was a time when you’d pick up the phone and hear the neighbor talking. You’d have to wait until they were done so you could make your call. Party lines disappeared in the early 70s. Well, at least I’m young enough that I didn’t have to pick up the phone and ask an operator “to connect me”! This link looks at thing we no longer do due to changes in technology. It’s kind of fun to read these and realize how some things have changed.
10 Bizarre Things About British Homes
When I was in the Air Force, I spent about four years at Torrejon Air Base outside of Madrid. Living in a foreign country really opens your eyes about the ways people live. For instance, I was visiting some Spanish friends “on the economy” (at their house) and was telling about my mom’s house in Ohio. I told them how very old it was and how her great grandparents had built it during the American Civil War in the 1860s. They laughed a little and told me that the house I was in was 300 years old and the bench I was sitting on was nearly 500 years old! Suddenly you realize that everything from history or lifestyle are all from your experience and YOUR point of view. I came across a fun link that show some interesting differences with British homes that Americans probably wouldn’t understand.
And finally …
Do you love multitracking? Into studio production music that is pulled apart? Here’s a great video which does iso (isolation) tracks of the Beatle’s “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” It’s pretty amazing to hear the tracks isolated and realize just what goes into a great song!
If you stumble across a good or unusual website that might be of interest, please don’t hesitate to send me the link and any info you might have about it. My email address is [email protected].
