Learned something new today. 

Hais’s brand new tablet computer fell off of her bed last night and she could not get it to boot. She contacted tech support (in India somewhere) and they “diagnosed” something was wrong with the hard drive. That left me having to drive to Wichita today to see about getting it repaired. Best Buy said that it could take a month or longer to get the computer back. Time was important, since in a bit over a month, Hais will be leaving for college. She was a bit panicked over the Comp papers store on the computer…that are due tomorrow, as well.

This is the first time that I have been in a Best Buy since the Geek Squad had been introduced and I must say that I was somewhat impressed. Well the short of the story is…..the lady at Best Buy had no difficulties what-so-ever booting the computer. I guess it just needed a bit of rest and recovery from its heavy fall onto the wood floor of Hais’ bedroom.

Lesson learned today….before you drive two hours to turn in an insurance claim on your daughter’s computer first make certain that it is indeed damaged and then right before you leave….check it again.

The upside of all of this was that I was able to shop a little while I was in Wichita. Found the perfect Marilyn Monroe poster for Hais’ dorm room and had fun at the Super Target. I must really be boring if this was the highlight of my day…haha!

Though I am sad for the damage to his guitar, I think that this is such a cute song and video. Dave Carroll is such a cutie, I just cannot imagine any of those female airline employees not falling all over themselves to help him.

T. Boone Pickens needs to find homes for 687 giant wind turbines after calling off plans for his huge wind farm project in Texas.

Pickens Calls Off Massive Wind Farm in Texas

from the AP

By JOHN PORRETTO, AP Energy Writer John Porretto, Ap Energy Writer – Tue Jul 7, 5:29 pm ET

HOUSTON – Plans for the world’s largest wind farm in the Texas Panhandle have been scrapped, energy baron T. Boone Pickens said Tuesday, and he’s looking for a home for 687 giant wind turbines.

Pickens has already ordered the turbines, which can stand 400 feet tall — taller than most 30-story buildings.

“When I start receiving those turbines, I’ve got to … like I said, my garage won’t hold them,” the legendary Texas oilman said. “They’ve got to go someplace.”

{snip}

In Texas, the problem lies in getting power from the proposed site in the Panhandle to a distribution system, Pickens said in an interview with The Associated Press in New York. He’d hoped to build his own transmission lines but he said there were technical problems.

{snip}

Renewable energy provides a small fraction of electricity used today, but the wind and solar sectors are the fastest growing in the U.S. In 2008, the U.S. became the world’s leading provider of wind power.

Like most industries around the world, the recession has hurt wind turbine manufacturers and wind farm developers. Companies have shelved development plans and laid off workers.

Check out the video HERE.