Category: History

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Computers History Internet

Monday Night Countdown

This week it’s the TOP 5 greatest Microsoft Windows operating systems of all-time:

1.  Windows 98 – It was the greatest Windows ever made, as it fixed everything that was wrong with Windows 95. I was utilizing at least one remaining Windows 98 system at work all the way up until the Summer of 2007. That operating system was tough !

2.  Windows XP – Ask me again in another year (or less) and I may declare this to be even greater than Windows 98. Over 8 years after its initial worldwide debut at retail this is still by a MASSIVE margin the most utilized operating system – Microsoft or otherwise – in the entire universe. Its current market share ranges somewhere between 60% and 70%. Most of the systems that I manage at work are dependable Windows XP systems.

3.  Windows Vista – I bought my current Windows Vista system at home during the Summer of 2008, and I’m very happy with it. I like Windows Vista a lot. We only have a few systems at my workplace that use it though. Eventually those will get upgraded from XP to Vista through attrition. From what I understand the brand new Windows 7 is to Windows Vista as Windows 98 was to Windows 95. It fixes what was wrong with its predecessor, and it adds a bunch of cool new features.

4.  Windows 3.1 – I had never heard of Windows before this version that was on my very first modern desktop computer system that I bought about 17 years ago in 1992. That was a cool little 486SX (that cost a small bundle). My original dial-up bulletin board system and subsequent web sites that were the ancestors of this here blog were born on that very first system – courtesy of Windows 3.1.

5.  Windows 2000 – This was technically the debut of Windows 5.0, and Windows XP was technically Windows 5.1. My experience with Windows 2000 systems at work was rather limited as we stuck with Windows 98 for an extended period of time and then went straight to Windows XP. Windows 2000 had its issues, but it certainly was nowhere near the debacle that was Windows ME !

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History Holidays Life Music Radio

Saturday Night Retro

We’re kicking off Halloween here on the big blue blog as ‘Retro’ brings back two treats over the next two Saturday nights.

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Halloween was a fun event back in the day. I remember a bunch of them all around my Lanham Maryland neighbourhood from 1975 to 1980. Trick-or-treating in our favourite costumes was the in thing to do back then, as we cruised from door-to-door and from street-to-street up and down Red Wing Lane, Wren Lane, Wood Thrush Drive, and Nightingale Drive. I probably dressed up as Batman more than any other costume. Into the early-1980s I outgrew the whole dressing-up part of Halloween, but my little brother was just getting into it as a grade school student. I walked him all around our McLean Virginia neighbourhood and also into the adjoining Madison Of McLean and King’s Manor neighbourhoods in search of globs and globs of candy. 

Back in 1986 while I was living in the U.K. Bronx New York rapper (and former disco deejay) Kevin Smith – better known as his stage name – Lovebug Starski – scored an ENORMOUS radio and club chart smash with this amazing hard-hitting track. It’s “Amittyville (The House On The Hill)” y’all !

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Advertising History Music People Television

The Major’s Friday Night Disco Party

My dear friend Ela O. always looks forward to Friday nights here on the big blue bell-bottom blog. It’s her chance to reminisce about the good old days – back when she and her young husband totally ruled the disco scene some 3o to 35 years ago.

Before we reach this week’s selection – how about a word from our sponsour:

That’s ’20 Top Hits’ by 20 fake artists !  Order before Midnight tonight !

Good stuff there – but check this out. Back during the long and hot Summer of 1974 a little group that you may have heard of – The Commodores – made their U.S. pop chart debut with a BANG !  It was actually an all instrumental jam that totally kicked-it on the funky disco ’round. Check out a young 25-year-old Lionel Richie – afro and all. Also pay attention to the clavinet work. It sounds like a rapid fire “Machine Gun” !

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Annoyances Blogging Computers Food God History Holidays Music People Philosophy Politics

Thursday Night Mini Thoughts

– Let’s get spontaneous.
– Let’s get radical.
– It’s another night of ‘thoughts’ here on the big blue blog.
– On Sunday it’s my thoughts from Life Pointe Church.
– On Tuesday it’s the thoughts that started it all – in paragraph form.
– On Thursday it’s my ‘Mini Thoughts’ – in 15 words or less.
– So that’s where we are.
– My telephone has been ringing off the hook lately.
– All of the calls (dozens so far) have been from people and numbers unknown.
– The joke is on them, as I never ever answer the telephone from unknowns.
– Most of the calls are City Of Homestead election-related.
– I already absentee voted – so there !
– There’s not enough love in this world.
– Some people just don’t know how to treat other people with respect.
– Why are a lot of those people on television ?
– I am a Creationist, and I always have been.
– In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
– It doesn’t get any more straightforward and real than that.
– Windows 7 is out today at retail.
– It is to Windows Vista as Windows 98 was to Windows 95.
– Windows 98 was the greatest operating system ever made.
– It fixed everything that was wrong with Windows 95.
– Windows XP was the 2ND greatest operating system ever made.
– It more than made up for the whole Windows ME / Windows 2000 debacle.
– We still use Windows XP today at work.
– Just as soon as these ‘Mini Thoughts’ are posted I plan to eat a rare Dinner.
– There’s a Marie Callender meal in my not-too-distant future.
– My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
– Don’t forget that tomorrow night is Disco night on here.
– I’ve got a special double-feature planned.
– It includes one of the funkiest Disco songs ever made – complete with afros !
– Then on ‘Saturday Night Retro’ Halloween starts a week early.
– I’m taking you back to that house on the hill.
– Be sure to be here to have some fun.
– You won’t regret it pal !
– Laterz Gatorz !