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I just received the 3 Ram Heatspreaders I ordered from Newegg.com less than 48 hours ago. Their turnaround time between receiving an order and shipping it is phenomenal. Less than 48 hours from giving them my order they had it on my doorstep. And this was using cheap FedEx ground shipping! Newegg’s prices are always the best, far lower than any other online store and traditional store, such as Best Buy. Quite simply, they are the greatest store in the world!

I have probably purchased over $5000 worth of stuff from them and have never been disappointed. I have built at least 5 computers from parts that I got from them and only once did I have a problem with a part being ‘Dead On Arrival’ (which wasn’t their fault, they didn’t make the motherboard). Their customer service did an awesome job, issuing me a Return Authorization Number in less than one hour, all over email, and with no hassles. I had the replacement motherboard the next day!

Newegg.com carrys computer hardware, home electronics, cameras, laptops, and software. If you ever need to buy anything related to any of these categories then check them out first. I know this sounds like a commercial, but I am just one of hundreds (if not thousands) of raving Newegg fans. Try them out and you won’t be disappointed!

So, yesterday I became a year older. Well, technically I became 1 day older but custom tells us we should only celebrate once a year, on the day we were born. But, as I grow older, the celebrating seems to become less important.

I don’t feel like I am 26 years old, it seems like I was just turning 20. Paradoxically, I proposed to Aliciana one year ago, on my 25th birthday, but that feels like it took place eons ago. It is funny how specific events feel like they happened long ago and abstract ideas feel like they happened yesterday. I guess it is much easier for the mind to recall abstract feelings than particular points in time. But, I digress.

I had a nice birthday dinner at a restaurant in town called Mexicali. They have beautiful Christmas decorations this time of year so it is always nice to get to eat amongst them. We then came back to the apartment for birthday chocolate and peanut butter brownies, which Aliciana baked for me, and watched a movie. A nice, relaxing, and calm birthday… just like old people are suppose to be.

Aliciana had her picture in the Bakersfield Californian, the local newspaper, last Saturday. The article was about our church’s preparation for the Hanging Of The Green event that was held last Sunday. She has only lived in Bakersfield for 5 months and she is already famous. Here is a scan of the newspaper picture:

I just finished watching the series “Triumph of the Nerds” on DVD. While I have seen parts of the documentary over the years this is the first time I watched all three parts straight through. This series, which is about the invention of the personal computer, the formation of a fledgling computer industry, and the key players in the new age of information, is quite simply amazing. I cannot recommend this documentary enough!

Anyone who has ever wondered how the PC came into being, who invented the Graphical User Interface (hint: Xerox), how Apple and Microsoft got their start, or how IBM was beat by a bunch of teenage nerds should run out and rent this documentary. It was filmed in 1996 so it doesn’t cover the dot com implosion and doesn’t mention Linux. But from the Altair up until Windows 95 it is accurate, intriguing, interesting, and epic. The story is retold in the participant’s own words, including interviews with Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and every other major player.

I can’t wait for Robert X. Cringely, the author of the series, to shoot another epic covering the rise and fall of the dot com. Maybe he will even cover the Linux Revolution, although that history is still in the process of being written. With almost 10 years passing since this series was filmed, there is a lot of new computer history to document, but “Triumph of the Nerds” will definitely give you a deep understanding of how the computer revolution was started, in an interesting and entertaining way.

Aliciana got some beautiful flowers today from her Mom and Dad for her birthday. She wishes to thank them for everything. She loves you lots!

Happy 26th birthday Aliciana! I love you so much! Everyone should email or call Aliciana to wish her a happy birthday.