Just went down to pay my car tag. The place was closed. I thought I had it bad. The woman that arrived after me needed to register a new car. Hope things go well for her. I just went to the tax collector internet site and paid it in about five minutes. (I type slow) Somehow or other, I think it will be more complex for her. I’m Glad I don’t plan on buying any vehicles in the near future.
Same, Same
When I was in Vietnam, I was introduced to a new phrase, “Same, same.” At first I had no idea what the woman was trying to tell me, but then someone who had been in country explained it to me. She was trying to tell me that the Cool Aid I made was the same as water. (It seems that they like the stuff over there so much that if you turn you head a second or two it will disappear.)
At any rate, when I see what is happening over there in China, it reminded me of the incident. It would seem that the Chinese government and business are the same, same. To be sure, the more of us that realize that, the better off we’ll be. To be sure, the line between private businesses and the communist government is non-existent. It is simply an optical illusion that the communists would like us to believe in.
It would appear that President Trump knew this even before he was sworn in. It would also appear there are many in this county who still don’t know it and they exists on both sides of the aisle.
HEADLINE: Obama Endorses Biden
That IS NOT news! It was totally expected. Who else is he going to endorse?
Now if he had endorsed the current present, that would have been news. That might even draw more attention than world war three.
Either way, when it is all over, Obama just might regret it. After it is all said and done, he just might start looking for a cave to hide in.
Keep it Simple!
In the late 1980s, I bought my first PC, an 80286 that ran at 12 MHz and it had 1 MB of Ram. Because it was running on DOS 3.2, I had to partition my 40 MB disk into to logical disk or I would not be able to access 8 MB. I had Windows 3.1.
To some, this may seem inadequate, but it worked well. Indeed, the only two reasons I upgraded were:
- To access the greater hardware, especially hard drives and memory.
- To access USB devices. Windows 5.1 theoretically allowed USB, but not in reality. I tried it.
I consider windows 5 the best of all the systems, though I did have some gripes with the way Microsoft was already trying to take control of my system. They came up with these really neat things called registries, which hardly anyone outside Microsoft can understand. I’m not sure that there is any documentation on the things.
My personal opinion is that Microsoft is using them to keep people from pirating their software. I have news for them. It doesn’t stop the pirating but it does really mess things up for us honest folks. Worse yet, it has made it difficult to install and backup system disks. Until I had Windows 5, I backed up and restored my system once a month. It was a good way to build confidence for the day that something bad happened.
Since then, Microsoft has come out with another operating system every time I turned around. Some were better, some worse. Windows ME should have never left the barn. The new IBM PC bought came with it installed and it froze at least once a day, many times more. (It taught me to make sure I backed up my work every 15 minutes.)
The real problem is that each newer system is more complex than the last. It really makes me long for Windows 3.1, even if I have to give up USB and huge storage devices. The fact is, a 1 or 2-hundred MB disk would be plenty if I don’t need a couple of GB just for the operating system.
Moreover, much slower systems would be far more productive if Windows 10 weren’t so much large and clumsy.
The worst part of it is that it seems every time I turn on my laptop, it is time for an update. Some of the updates take a long time. Essentially, I can’t do anything until it’s done.
I get it. Mostly it is for security. The thing is, the reason for the need for the security is because there are so many holes in Windows. Sorry, Microsoft. Sometimes the truth hurts.
As if that isn’t enough, Microsoft has decided I need the cloud. Whenever I finish an update, their cloud program starts whenever I start the system. It takes me a few minutes to take it back off. They might like the cloud but I don’t. It greatly slows my system.
Moreover, as I said, the system is full of holes. It seems as if every month I hear of someone else who has had their system hacked. That’s dumb. I know enough about computers that I know computers operating systems can be built without holes. It’s simple. Build three operating systems. You can keep one with all the bells and whistles… and the holes. One system would be very simple, for folks like me. All I need is the basic three: word processor, spread sheet and basic web interface, which would include a very basic E-mail. Perhaps, the email could be integrated into the word processor. The E-mail would be limited to text and photos. It’s pretty hard to download a worm with an interface like that. Upgrades would be less frequent and should be through stores, not the internet. Finally, hopefully, backups should be quick and simple. That way, when things don’t go right, it wouldn’t be a disaster.
The third operating system would be the same as the second, but it might have a few more bells and whistles. It would have the big advantage of security. Certainly, this would be used for any system that stores sensitive information: Names, SSNs, account numbers and such. Governments at all levels should use this type of system even if Microsoft refuses to build it. Mostly, should such a system have problems, the OS and programs should be restorable in minutes, not hours. Also, restores should be practiced regularly. Bottom line, there should be no way to cause any program to be downloaded and run remotely.
If all three systems were available, I wonder just which would sell the most. I know which one I would want, not the one with the bells and whistles. Those that select the system with all the bells and whistles just might want the simple system too, after they were bit by security problems a few times. They might want to change the first time someone gets access to their bank account, or worse, their 401(k).
…and by the way, the simpler system would run much faster and would require less disk and memory. The old saying is true, “Keep it simple stupid.”
The Preppers
As a lark, I wrote a book, “The Prepper.” I never intended it to be serious, just fun. There are about a dozen or so people who have read most of my books and they give me feedback. Every one of them has told me that “The Prepper” is my best book. Apparently, they are not the only ones with that opinion. It outsells all my other books combined.
I would not have brought it up but it does seem to be relevant to our current events. Of all the things that dooms day preppers prepare for, the one that I always thought of as least needed was the idea of preparing for an epidemic. Now look. It would appear that I must reconsider.
Note: While we out here fight to avoid the virus, there are possibly doomsday preppers who have retreated down into their bunkers completely safe from the little things. I did a little research on the things. They are about 1 millionth of one meter, too small to be seen with any standard microscope.
It would seem I should have done some preparing. I am now down 4 rolls of TP and every time I walk into a store, the shelves are empty. I haven’t been able to find any rubbing alcohol for at least a month. I can’t even find the little pads I need as a diabetic.
I noticed the other day that I was running low on 409 spray cleaner and decided to get some more. Not going to happen. None of that around or anything like it. Oddly, there is plenty beer. Can’t quite figure that. Is it so important that they want to make sure we have plenty or is that they don’t want to lose the chance to sell the high profit proeduct. I did notice that the PX’s in Vietnam never ran out of beer but there were times that there were shortages soft drinks. (Just an observation)
Needless to say, I have a whole new concept in priorities. Once this is all over, if I survive, I will become something of a prepper. I will make sure I always have at least 200 rolls of TP and at least a dozen bottles of rubbing alcohol. Oh, yes. I will go out and buy more of the alcohol pads any time I have less than six boxes. It might seem a bit extreme and I used to think so too… a couple of months ago.
Now, I wonder if it will be enough. It’s not that expensive, but it does cause problems when we run out.
By the way, I would appreciate if you buy my book and I think you will have fun reading it. Conceivably you might be able to find it by just entering “The Prepper” on the search line. I don’t know. It worked for me but it might not work for anyone else.
If the above doesn’t work, you can go to my author’s page or do a search on me, Ben Rhodes on Amazon’s web site. As always, I always appreciate comments or questions. Just please keep them short and G rated. My E-mail is Kaay@att.net.
One more kind of side note. My first book is, more or less, about a ring. After reading it, I realized something. It’s better to write people. Hence “The Prepper” is about people and specifically a prepper named Will. It is not about prepping. Apparently, this disappointed one person who read it. Sorry. I guess I should have made it clearer.
So, other than “The Secret of the Ring,” all my books are about people, not things.
2 Questions I’ve considered
Why is that the CDC refused to isolate people who contracted a disease that was 100% fatal, namely AIDS, and they insist on isolating people with a disease that is likely less that 1% fatal, namely Coronavirus?
OK. I get it. AIDS is normally not passed through the air. However, originally they didn’t know that. So it is that millions died because they got it wrong. Considering these scientists have a bunch of college degrees, they sure do some dumb things. Right now, I’m not sure I would trust them to, well, anything. Certainly, I would not want them running anything such as the nations health system.
It just goes to show what happens when a bunch of people are given a task to run something when they are not elected and are not responsible to anyone, also know as bureaucrats. Let’s face it, no matter how badly they mess things up, not one will be fired, or even demoted. Indeed, many will tell us how well they handed the epidemic.
This brings me to the second question, why do we put such important things in the hands of bureaucrats? Maybe the best thing for us to do for our health is to shut down the CDC. Right now it is starting to look like a bunch of people trying to protect their jobs, not the health and lives of Americans.
…and by the way, we all know the reason AIDS patients weren’t isolated. The first time someone tried it, the homosexuals yelled like someone hit their thumbs with a hammer. (by the way, it was suggested a time or two, but not for long.)
A side note: The isolation would benefit the AIDS patient as well. AIDS weakens the immune system. People who have it are more susceptible to diseases other people bring to them.
And so it was that millions died so that the nation would serve the god of political correctness.
Experiments
I can’t get this quote exact, but I think Giuliani expressed his and my thoughts about using hydorcloroquine in fighting the caronavirus. Sorry; my steno skills are very poor and I just heard it once. He said something to the effect that it is better to provide the experimental drug instead of letting the people just die. As I have said before, that should be casual to the most obvious observer.
By the way, you might have noticed that the news is about nothing but the virus in one way or the other. I am a real news junky, but I am not in favor of following the one thing and ignore all else.
For those tired of listening to the news and watching all the TV movies over and over, I am allowing readers to order free Kindle copies of “A Shoulder to Cry on,” “Big City Detective,” and “Perfekt, Almost.” (By the way, I did use the “k” in perfect intentionally. It is supposed to be an eye catcher and it does give something of a hint as to what is between the covers.
To order the books, go to my Author’s Page by entering,
http://www.amazon.com/author/story_teller
in the URL box (usually in the upper left part of your browser. You might also be able to simply click on the above line, but I’m making no promises. With my computers operating with Windows, it works. However, I have a pad that it fails with every time. I don’t know why. If you have a Kindle, you can simply do a search on “Ben Rhodes,” and you will likely be able to find most of my books. Should you find any books by others, please ignore them.
There is a synopsis with each book, but for the sake of those who want a quick rundown, they are below.
“A Shoulder to Cry On”
This is the first of a two book set.
A woman just finishes college and she has a good job. She thinks she has it made, but then her whole world starts falling down around her. She would really like to have a shoulder to cry on, but the only one that seems to be available, belongs to a man who she feels untrustworthy.
“Big City Detective”
This is the second of the set.
In the first book, we are introduced to a New York City detective. In this book, the big city detective is going to a small town to take over as police chief. The problem is, before he can get there, there has been a murder, the first ever since the town was formed. …and no one seems to know what to do.
“Perfekt, Almost”
This is not part of a set or series, but if you enjoy the previous two books, you will likely like this one.
In this book a new deputy marshal arrives for his first assignment, which is in San Diego. The weather is beautiful. The city has no lack of things to do. To the east he can go up into the mountains. Of course, San Diego does have some of the nicest beaches anywhere. For those who like a visit to the desert, one is just a short trip away. It’s a perfect assignment, almost.
The books will be available on Friday, the 10th. Hope you enjoy them. If you do, tell others. Like them or not, please let me know. Send me a brief note to Kaay@att.net. I don’t mind stiff complaints, I even appreciate them, but please keep the language G rated.
Atkinson Fired
I just found out that POTUS fired Michael Atkinson, the intelligence watchdog. Good riddance. I wish he was fired at least a year ago. His decision played an important part in President Trump’s impeachment. The man ought to be totally ashamed of himself. I don’t think the man feels any remorse, which only goes to prove how horrible a man he is.
New Rule for the American English Language, Maybe
No one told me about it, but it seems that their is a new rule for English, though I don’t know if it applies outside the U.S. It seems that all explanations, especially replies to a question must be started with the word “So.”
For instance:
Question, “Is it true that…?”
Answer, “So, it would seem that….”
I don’t know who came up with the rule, but I figure it must exist. After all, why else is that all answers these days start with, “So.” Moreover, all these people are very learned people; senators, representatives, and, of course, all these medical experts.
I don’t think I will follow this rule. While listening, I do find it irritating. By the way, I am not easily irritated by such mannerisms. I suppose it is a smart man’s way to avoid words such as “Uh.” I don’t know. Just a guess.
Dummycrats
It’s why I call them dummycrats. They think that windmills and solar batteries are more important than people. As for me, that’s sort of dumb. As for me, that is outright stupid. There is a man I worked with that had an expression for them, “Dumber than dirt.”
bfrhodes99 