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Repairs Under Way

I screwed up by attempting too many semi-automatic updates to my WordPress, PHP and MySQL. Had to uninstall then re-install WordPress and manually import the data tables to MySQL to get the blog back up.

Hopefully it works OK, if you see any problem let me know by leaving a comment or sending me an email.

Thanks

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My Favorite PC Keyboard

Earlier this year my trusty old keyboard died after a decade of use. I had a few different spare keyboards that had come with new PC’s over the years so I tried them all as replacements. They all felt wrong to my fingers that have grown accustomed to the original IBM PC and Selectric typewriter buckling spring keyboards I’ve been using for nearly forty years.

Searching around I found what seemed to be the closest match to the IBM style keyboards from Keytronic, the DESIGNER-P2. I bought one from Newegg unfortunately it was defective so with the added expense of shipping it back for replacement I ended up spending close to $60.00 before I had a functioning unit. Then came the big disappointment, it just didn’t have the buckling spring feel I wanted. While it is far better than the other keyboards I tried, it still fell short of my expectations.

After further searching I found the company that bought and still uses IBM’s keyboard technology, Unicomp of Kentucky. Through Unicomp’s online store I bought the SpaceSaver 104/105 model and I love it. The feel of the keys is exactly what I wanted and it has brought my typing speed and accuracy back to where it should be. The Keytronic keyboard is now packed away for use as a temporary replacement when my SpaceSaver 104/105 breaks and I’m waiting for a new one to arrive.

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Site Updates

I’ve posted some major updates to the Blackstone River section of my web site. On the Google Earth page I’ve updated the National Park Service tours file and added a file with the 1913 map of the Hopedale Parklands as an overlay in GE. The visitor tips page has a new section covering the few minor natural hazards in the valley (insects, plants, animals).

I wrote an extensive article on the George Washington Presidential Trail which runs through the center of the valley. The article describes the trail and also tries to sort the legends into facts and myths based on historical and geographic research.

The tours file mentioned above was updated based on completing seven of the walking tours this year. The seven tours I took were Arnold Mills, Blackstone Canal, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Upton and Whitinsville. The tours page has been updated with links to the photos I took on these tours. I’ve completed writing reviews for the Mendon and Hopedale tours. In addition to reviewing the tours I also used my history and geography geek skills to research and correct misleading and questionable information from the tours. While taking these tours I shot some new good photos of plants and animals I encountered, they are in the plants and animal sections of my web photo album.