Tag Archives: technology

The Daily Walk

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It had developed into a regular thing. At lunch, after eating, we used to take a short walk. It was an area of town that had many shops. Of course on each door was a something that identified it, though frequently there was no clue as to what the purpose of the shop was.

It had become something of a guessing game as to what this shop or that shop did. Many of them we never figured out. Then, one of the guys I worked with came up with an interesting idea. Maybe we could lease one one of the places and put a name on the door. Then, if someone came in and asked what we did there we could answer, “I don’t know. What is it you would like us to do?”When I saw the daily prompt, it brought back the memory and I had to have a short laugh. I know, it did not warrant a long or hard laugh. Really, it was a too many words for too short a laugh. Moreover, it didn’t answer the prompt.

When I was 14 or fifteen, I went to visit my brother during summer vacation. He owned a TV shop. Back then, people paid to have TVs repaired instead of just throwing them away. Even back them, I had a pretty good knowledge of electronics and I was a lot of help to him, especially when it came to putting up antennas. Strange as it might seem to people today, that was a large part of the business in the day. It was very common to put up 50 or 70 foot antenna so the customer would be able to pull in five, maybe six stations.

After working on computers for almost 12 years, I really did consider opening up a computer shop. I was good at fixing them and I knew a few others who might have thrown in with me. Then I thought back on my brother’s TV shop. He told me a couple of times, to run a TV shop, it is more important to know how to run a business than knowing how to fix TVs.

I have thought about what he said many times. When I thought about opening a computer shop, his words echoed in my mind. There are many who have started businesses to have them fail on them, not because of a knowledge of the craft but because of a lack of knowledge of how to run a business.

I think before I open any kind of business, I would want to make sure I had some kind of degree in business. Even so, the main reason I was so reluctant to go into the business of fixing computers is because of my fear of coincidence.

You see, electronic components work real good, sometimes for decades. However, they are full of smoke. If the smoke ever gets out, they never work right again. I know it for a fact. I have seen it first hand. So a customer brings in a computer with a problem but still working. He walks out the door and suddenly, the computer he leaves with me lets all the smoke out. Now what do I do? Not only do I have to replace the guy’s computer, but he is angry at me for losing all his data. He gets on the internet and tells the world not to come to me because I am a bad computer tech because I let the smoke out of them.

There are those who like taking risks. If I were single, I would have. However, I had three more to feed besides myself. It was just too much of a risk for me.

It is a real shame I did not open my little shop. I would have made a lot of money at it, until computers became throwaway as TVs.

I don’t know. Maybe I could start a shop making custom shoes. Could I make shoes that people would be willing to shell out $200 for. I’d likely not be able to give them away. It would still be interesting to try it. Who knows. I just might be good enough at business to run a business.

It would be better to take on a partner with a business degree, I think.

Daily writing prompt
If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?
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Computers

Posted in Computers, Entertainment, experience by

The small business owner was asked over and over why he didn’t computerize his business. He kept replying that he already made mistakes fast enough. He didn’t need the help of a computer to only make them faster.

There is some truth to story, even though someone likely made it up. Computers are fast. If you don’t do things right when you set up a computer, most likely, you will make the man’s words come true. And, I have seen it happen a number of times.

At one time, computers were big and expensive. Worse, they were slow. Well, they were fast but not nearly as fast as the computers today. So, even the big businesses had one computer and it was put in the hands of a few people.

The hitch is that the owners of the companies knew a lot about business, but little or nothing about computers. The salesman came along telling the owner of the business that the computer will solve all his problems, even some he doesn’t know about. Of course, no one mentioned that the computer salesman knew only slightly more than the owner of the business owner.

Worse yet, the salesman didn’t actually know what the owner of the business could use the computer for. With those three things being true, it amazed me that anyone got anything right. What I write, I have seen firsthand. However, more than that, I have read many articles in computer magazines that have said the same thing. Therefore, I think I can say with a reasonable amount of proof that I was not the only one to notice it.

So it is, that many computers were purchased to do things the computer was not intended for and those who knew how to use the computers couldn’t.

Then, in come the programmers, those who know how to make computers do what they do. Naturally, they got busy writing programs that served little or no purpose. Let’s face it, they have no idea what the users need the computer for so they make programs that they think will be useful.

Then the owners of the companies discovered something about computers that they liked. They served the purpose of “big brother.” They permitted the boss to look over the shoulders of those on the line doing the real job. Granted, it did help the company run a little more efficiently, but it would have run 3 times better if the computer would be used for their proper purpose.

I saw it all happen and it really rubbed me the wrong way. When I was in the Marines, they had computers keeping track of all I did. I also worked for two civilian companies that did the same. In the Marines I spent almost as much time looking up codes as I did doing the work.

Ask the doctors. They spend 10 minutes with a patient and he pays a secretary for 20 minutes work to make sure it gets documented right. Then, if it not documented right, Medicare or the insurance company kicks it back and the doc doesn’t get paid until it is documented right. And you wonder why it is that medical costs keep sky rocketing.

One of the biggest advantages of the PC is that it brought control of the computers to the folks who can really use them and they know what to use them for.

Well, that’s not totally true. If the owner turns his back for a minute, his employees get busy surfing the web or playing games. I heard of one company that had to send out a message for every one to stop watching the Super Bowl on the computers as it was slowing down internet response.

I only heard of the one instance, but I am sure it still happens a lot. Only now they use their phone instead of the businesses internet. Well, at least they can get their work done in between touchdowns.

Making Things Better?

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Besides changing computers, I have changed phones. I have decided to give up T-Mobil. When I first signed up with them, I could just go down to the nearest T-Mobil store and get most anything resolved. Then they merged with someone else. Now they are more expensive and I have to get everything “resolved” over the phone… including disconnecting lines. About all the local stores do is sell phones and there is quite a line for that. It’s now all new and improved, you know.

I am still under contract but once I am able to break free, I will go from about $170 a month to about $35. I think that is the kind of improvement I can live with. Moreover, there will be no contract. I wonder if they will ask me why I changed.

So, the other day, I decided to copy about 500 photos from my old phone to my new computer. It used to be easy. I plugged the phone into my computer and did a copy, as if copying from one disk to another. A word to the wise. It doesn’t work that way anymore. MS has decided on a “New and Improved” method, you know.

Isn’t that neat? And they didn’t even ask me. I’ve spent hours trying to use the old method and the new one. So far, I have not transferred so much as one photo.

Well, I am not totally foolish. I have a micro memory card in the phone. Now it is simply a small matter of making sure all the photos are on the micro card and then remove the micro card. Then it is a simple matter of installing it in the new computer with the help of an adapter, maybe.

Of course nothing is certain. They just might have figured a way to stop that too. I don’t know. These engineers are real geniuses these days, you know. Turn the world over to them and it just might come to a complete grinding halt. They might even find a way to stop its spinning.

On the “Outlook.com” matter, in about two or three weeks, it will be completely removed from the new computer. I already have another mailbox set up and ready to go. It is just a matter of going through the past messages and copying the ones I need.

Tonight, while I was trying to deal with the photos, MS tried to pitch their new Office suite again. It just sort of popped up out of nowhere. They keep asking why I don’t like it. I don’t guess they read my replies because they keep trying to push it. If it were half as good as the old version I have, I would be willing to pay for it. However, like everything else, it’s the new improved version. Slower, more bells and whistles I don’t need and more difficult to use.

They are always making everything better you know, like Windows ME. Then, they can’t understand why I don’t want it.

I’m Surprised. It’s Kind of Slick

Posted in A Little About me, Computer Upgrades, Growing Old, Passwords by

When I bought my Brother laser printer, I originally connected it direct via USB to my laptop. I knew it could be connected to my Wi-Fi, but didn’t consider it worth the bother. Then I bought my new computer, which I now use in the living room so I am with my wife more. That put it out of reach of the printer.

However, until just a day or so ago, I have still been organizing things on the new system. So, this morning, I decided to connect the printer via the Wi-Fi. It was easy, really easy. I was surprised at how easy it was. However, it was also time consuming. I had about 30 characters to feed into the printer for the password…using three buttons. Yep, it took a while. Yep, I would suggest that everyone use maybe 20 or 15 characters instead of what I used. By the way, no editing keys other than to clear the last character in the string. It did take me a while.

Okay. I got the password in and, behold, it worked the first time. I started my computer, and in a few seconds, I printed out the first document. I have never seen things work that slick before first time.

Just for grins, I went over to my little computer pad and brought up my outlook screen. I told it to print the selected e-mail and it did. That is amazing. I didn’t even set it up. It already knew how to do it.

Then I took a picture with my phone of my cat on the top of a step ladder. That’s right. I tried to print it. Guess what. It did it…first time. This thing is trying to spoil me.

Now. Just one more problem. I need to have something to take photos of. Hint. I do not make a good subject. Well, there was the photo I printed from the pad. It was a sunset that turned out well. I really like it a lot. Anyone want some photos of sunsets?

The Problem With Ordering Online

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Whenever, I order pizza online to be delivered, I order through Domino’s. It all works out good. The pizza is hot and the soft drinks are cold. The one delivering the pizza is friendly.

Then, suddenly I have advertisements show up daily on my e-mail. I know the e-mail has a little box to check to turn the ads off, but why.

It may seem strange, but when I want a pizza I know how to do that. I don’t need help. And I do find it annoying to have my computer used for their ads. It just rubs me the wrong way.

I would tell them personally, but I doubt it would help. Companies like that seem to have mindsets, and not just Domino’s. It seems I order a widget and suddenly there is an onslaught of ads for widgets. I just bought the one. I don’t need anymore for a long time. You know, they do last years.

Well, I am getting a little off the intended path, but I suspect I already have a few folks agreeing with me.

But here’s the hitch for Domino’s and the outfits like them. Instead of going to Domino’s to order my next pizza, I am more apt to go to Three guys, Marco’s, or even Subway… who makes a really good personal pizza by the way.

Instead of the ads drawing business in, they just might be driving people away. I consider it the unintended consequences of doing stupid stuff. And here’s the hitch, they think what they are doing is smart.

More Electric Outlets, Pretty Please

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If someone asked me if I could have one wish for my home, I would reply, “More outlets please, and more easily accessed.”

I don’t know what it would cost, but I would have to say at least 3,000 dollars to rewire my home. So, if the house needs to be rewired, may as do it right. All the aluminum would need to come out. If I knew they used aluminum, the house would have remained vacant.

Every place where there is a double outlet, I want four. I no longer have cable. However, when I had AT&T cable, each of the following had to be plugged into an extension chord. The TV, The gateway, the DVD player, and the adapter for the TV. I’m really not sure. I just might have left something out. At any rate, the extension chord was plugged into one side of the double outlet.

Moreover, every time I needed to access one or more plugs, it was no fun. Actually, it was a neusance.

The kitchen has got at least twice as many appliances as outlets and only two are accessible. The outlet for the stove is behind it and the thing keeps coming unplugged. Every time it does, I must pull the stove out. My wife actually likes that. It does gives her a chance to clean behind it.

If I were so fortunate to have a house built for me, I would have far more outlets and they would all be accessible, even if behind the bed or couch. They don’t have to show. Covers could be designed to cover it all. Then they could be flipped out of the way to gain accessed.

My current house was built in the early 70s. It was a different time without computers or fridges with ice makers. I must watch the balance of my load or I’ll trip a breaker. When I used my central air conditioner, it tripped one of the main breakers every few weeks anyway. I had an electrician look at it and he basically said I need to rewire my house, which I already knew.

Here’s a thought right off the top of my head. How about a switch to control 3 or 4 sets of outlets. I would like a switch on each one. that way, if I need to open that individual outlet box, I could turn it off right next to the outlet and connect the ground wire the builder neglected to connect. Also, the switch could double as a circuit breaker as on the modern extension chords. That can’t be that expensive.

I’ve Had a Few

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This won’t be new to some, perhaps most of you. I have already written about them, though not at once. I started in a fast food restaurant for about 2 years. I spent 9 years in the Marines where I learned a lot, including that I am a poor leader.

For a short time after my discharge we had problems for a while. It proved you can learn from just about any job. during my time as a security guard I learned a lot about people that I carry with me to this day.

I went from there to repairing computers. I repaired the little ones and the big ones. I repaired big monster printers and huge disk drives that weighed 900 pounds. Years ago, I told a humorous true story of something that happened to me while working on a thousand pound tape machine. Won’t repeat it here. it would take too long. Maybe one day I should go back and make a list so those who want can go back and read them. On the other hand, maybe I can just put them all in a book. Open to suggestions.

One day computers, printers, disks and tape drives stopped breaking. In fact, I don’t even know if anyone even makes tape machines anymore. No need for them.

That put me in the unemployment line again. Well, I taught for 3 years while in the Marines, so I figured I might try to go back to teaching. I had hoped to get into teaching the basics at the Navy base at Millington, but they put me to work teaching radar instead, for three years.

I thought I had a secure position until peace broke out. They started tearing down the Berlin Wall and about half of us instructors were sent job hunting again. It’s sort of one of those things where really good new was not so good for some of us. Sometimes it happens that way. If you haven’t already seen it you will.

I found a bank that used the a computer I used to repair and went to work there. Wow. Did I learn a lot about banking by running that computer. You know, it’s the sort stuff you thought you knew but didn’t

Regardless, it was hard work and I was getting old. When I saw an easier one that paid more, I jumped at it, operating a computer but far easier. I guess I worked there close to 20 years. And by the way, the folks I worked for there were just the best. Sort of made me look forward to going to work.

When I first started repairing computers the processors were 1800 pounds. The input output processors were 800 pounds. Altogether, the computer weighed about 30 thousand pounds. The all-in-one I just bought which weighs about 20 pounds; if it existed back then, I could have replaced the entire computer and all that was in the room. Well, that would not have included the printers and three huge air conditioners. They each had two compressors that I don’t think two of me and a small boy could have lifted, even if I were in the shape I was in right out of boot camp.

My suggestion, don’t look into computer repair as a secure way of making a living. It has turned into the genuine Maytag repairman job.

I haven’t made a fortune, but I had some good times and raised a couple of sons on the way. By the way, I have 4 pretty good grand kids too.

Now my job is spoiling my wife for just as long as I can. She deserves it, really she does. I’m not just saying it.

Daily writing prompt
What jobs have you had?
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Migration Frustration

Posted in A Little About me, Entertainment, Passwords, Uncategorized by

Passwords are going to be the death of me yet. Two or three days ago, I bought an all-in-one Dell computer. I had to. My laptop was getting really slow and it seemed I was always having to update it. The computer is great. The migration was enough to make me want to pull out what hair I have left.

I guess, in a way, the all-in-one is similar to a laptop, just bigger and a great deal heavier. Well, I don’t guess anyone has put a battery in one, yet anyway.

Let me first say a little about the hardware. One slick thing is the camera. It slides down into the computer when not in use. Not only is it a little cleaner looking but the camera absolutely cannot be used when inside its little Hidie hole. It says a lot about security, and it begs the question, why didn’t someone think of that a whole lot sooner?

My laptop takes roughly 2 minutes after it’s turned on to do any real work. The new computer is ready to go in about 3 or 4 seconds. Try to convince me that wasn’t surprising the first time I turned it on. I use MS office 7.0. It pops right up there without any hesitation. It’s ready to go much quicker than I am. I don’t like the newer versions, or at least the one I used for about 10 minutes. Removed them immediately after. I suppose, after a while, I’ll try them again, but I’ll not be in any hurry.

The camera comes with a flash and takes very good pictures. The problem is that no one wants to see photos of me. I guess the one thing that surprised me most were the speakers. I have no idea how they did it but they really put some high-quality speakers in there. It’s not just that it sounds good, but it is easy to distinguish one instrument from another. Most speakers, unless they are very expensive, let the sounds from the clarinet combine with violin so that a band or orchestra has just one sound. With this system, each instrument could be easily distinguished from the other. And, by the way, I had to turn the volume down about half-way. Did not expect that.

Now, as for the migration. Just for the sake of helping anyone else fixing to go through the same thing, might I suggest one thing that will save everyone a lot of pain. Before starting the migration, make dead sure you know all your passwords. In fact, if I were to do it again, I would change them all to the same thing before starting. Normally, that is a bad idea, but it is only temporary, and it will save a lot of time. Once you have everything migrated and working, go back and change the passwords again. Indeed, it might be a good time to change passwords. They do suggest we change them regularly.

At any rate, after 3 days, I have most of the migration done. There is one more thing to set-up but after all the frustration, I might as well just say forget it.

On the other hand, that is sort of the problem, I mean, I just keep forgetting it, the passwords I mean.

Not in My Lifetime

Posted in Electric Automobiles, Gas vs Electric, Going Green by

The declaration has been made. It has been determinedgames. couple of short decades, maybe a tad more, cars made in the US will not have internal combustion engines. I would argue the point. In fact I have very vigorously. Can’t see how that will happen, but the more I argued the point the less people listened.

So, I have accepted the inevitable. In fact, I bought an electric car. For me, it is really working out well. Considering how little I drive, it is wonderful. About every 4th day, I plug it in and go quietly motoring right by all the gas stations, which brings me to the real object of this post, gas stations.

Can you foresee it, the gradual fading away of something that polkadoted our landscape since, oh, about 1905 or 1910, I guess. Some would have to remain for some gas powered vehicles: trucks, buses, police cars, ambulances, etc, etc, and so forth.

The proverbial gas station will fade, fade away. We can and will likely fight it. However, those ecologist do seem unstoppable.

This means the service station will need to change or go out of business. It makes me wonder what it will be like, though I’ll not ever see it in my lifetime. Oh, I will see a little change here and there. But just how things will be are decades away, maybe longer. To be sure, obstacles will be encountered. Problems will have to be solved.

The way I see it, the biggest problem is charge time. Mostly, it slows the long trip. Let’s say I want to go see the Grand Canyon. It’s around 1500 miles from here. If I have a car that has a 300 mile range, it means at least 5 stops to recharge, more likely 6. That does assume recharge stations are located at ideal spots along the way. Right now, that means each stop must be a minimum of 30 minutes. That does not count time waiting for a charging station. You see that family that left this area 2 minutes before me will get to that charging station before me. That means waiting 30 minutes for him to finish charging his car.

Now, let’s look at the converted recharge station. Instead of 10 pumps, it now has 10 rechargers. Instead of taking 5 minutes to refill a gas tank we’re looking at 30 minutes, six times longer to recharge the cars.

I guess we won’t have as much gas stations, but likely 5 or 6 times as many charging stations.

I suppose this problem might be somewhat resolved with a charging system that is a lot faster. That does, of course, leave those in the future with 2 more problems. Distribution of that much electricity without a big improvement to the grid. The second problem is generating that much electricity without making a bunch of greenhouse gasses.

Antennas

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When we moved into Orange County Ca., we didn’t need much of an antenna. There were a couple of elements in front and two more in back. I am pretty sure all the stations had transmitters on Mt. Wilson. This made aiming the antennas simple. We could actually see the mountain peak from our roof. That gave us channels 2, 4, 5, 7,11, and 13, very clear. At age 7, I had no idea how well that worked out for us.

Most places in the country required large complex antennas. Some areas had no TV reception at all.

However, most populated areas had an an antenna on every house. Some were beginning to complain about them. They were considered an eyesore. Some started looking for ways to rid the skyline of them.

I guess, inadvertently, cable resolved the problem somewhat. Mostly cable sprang up in areas of poor reception at first. Later, as more cable only stations were added, the antennas started disappearing.

At the same time, other antennas started popping up, satellite antennas. They were big round and ugly. However, those who had them were able to get virtually every station in the country. I came really close to getting one but it was just outside of my reach

Almost as quickly, the big antennas disappeared. They were replaced, first by cable, and then by smaller versions, which were aimed but once. They competed with cable.

One of the problems with cable and satellite is expense. Many, such as me, said forget the high prices. At one time, I was paying over $70 a month for basic cable. No telling what it is now.

I have reverted back to the old antenna. The only thing I really miss is Fox News. As near as I can tell, take the sports stations from cable and they just might be looking for another way to take our earnings from us.

Actually, I must admit I do have 1 weakness. I have considered getting cable back, just for a few months at a year. I do really enjoy college baseball and softball.

Still, not that much. I’m waiting for a college only cable network.