Do you ever follow the directions?

Published: Tue, 03/04/14

Do you find it hard to read through the entire directions before
you start something?

I sure do.

For most directions, I find myself glancing over the directions,
and then starting in on action.

However, this usually results in me making an error somewhere. I
never learn.

My laptop suffered a casualty of war the other day. My daughter
was playing a game on it and spilled a glass of water on the
keyboard.

She cried because she felt bad. For about a minute.

Typically, computers dry out and they work just fine after water is
spilled on them. Soda is a different story.

But, this was water. The computer appeared to be working the next
day just fine.

But...

Yesterday I was using it, and it really got buggy. It auto-ejected
the Cd drive door, and then powered down.

Reminded me of a kid having a tantrum.

The 'pewter powered back up, but then it randomly had another
shutdown tantrum an hour later.

Because I read "Strategic Planning for Dummies," I
decided I needed a backup computer ready to go.

So, I found a used laptop and decided to get a bit crazy with it.
Because I'm learning programming (the C language right now), I
decided that I would load up Linux as its operating system. Linux
is programmed in -- and friendly to learning -- the C language.

Linux Mint is free and basically just writes over whatever Windows
is installed, but first you need to create a startup disc.

So, I had the directions up on the computer and was glancing over
them while I created this startup disc.

Here were the steps, as I understood them:

1. Download the Linux program from the internet (easy to do -
child's play)
2. Burn that program to a disc (easy, right?)
3. Boot up the computer you want to install Linux with that new
installation disc you made (wouldn't work)

Yeah, the computer just wouldn't boot up with the startup disc.

So, I do what I always do in these cases. Reread the directions.

And there it was. In smaller, italicized font.

The directions said that you couldn't "write" the
file to the disc. You had to "burn" the image.

Ahh... Therein lies the rub. Not quite sure what the difference
is, but it was an important difference.

So, I downloaded yet another "image burning" program, and
then everything worked fine and dandy.

So, I write this to you on my newly installed Linux machine.
Goodbye Windows. Ha

If you were interested in learning how to explore for frac sand (or
other valuable minerals) the right way, you would probably want to
learn from Stuart Burgess.

Stuart started his business called Burgess Exploration originally
as a business to map and find ores in old abandoned mines. Mining
companies were interested in going back into these mines, and they
needed Stuart to tell them what was there.

Stuart had been exploring abandoned mines for years -- Indiana
Jones style.

Then, Stuart was contacted to explore and stake property for frac
sand deposits.

He embarked on his usual "learn everything I can" about
frac sand, and he is now one of the premier frac sand explorers in
the world (in my humble, but shockingly accurate opinion).

When I interviewed Stuart for the March issue of Frac Sand
Fortunes, he gave excellent step-by-step instructions on how to go
find frac sand in your region.

Stuart talks about the tools you need, how to plan your search, and
how to quickly zoom in on the good stuff. Then he walks you
through exactly how to secure valuable minerals when you find them.

I grilled Stuart, and the only place for you to read and listen to
that "ruthless" grilling is right here, the March issue
of Frac Sand Fortunes:
http://www.globalenergylaboratories.com/newsletters/

Don't dawdle -- the March issue goes to the printers tomorrow.