Looking out my window...

Time Marches On...@ The Speed of The Internet

This is for everyone who 1) is not a computer nerd or, 2) is one of my grandchildren (the oldest is currently 17):

 I found the above video on Roger Ebert's Twitter. Thank you Roger.

 

"Remember when" has a whole new meaning these days. "Back in the day" use to mean, oh, maybe a generation ago. Okay, the above video is only 17 years old. And, these are not "hill people" but savvy New York journalists.

Guess what? Time is moving even faster now. It's kinda like living in a time machine...only you can't go backward...yet. 

Keeping Up With The Phones'es

 
New Phone Good For Texting... Photo By Sharon

Our cell phone plan lasts for two years and at the end of the two years we can get a new discounted phone when we renew the contract.  Our phones were ready for upgrades and I've been looking at what's available for several months. Anticipation, ain't it grand.

Every few weeks, after browsing, I'd change my mind. Our old flip phones had served us well, but in two years a lot can happen in the world of technology. Just the act of texting has taken over the country.  Never did I think it would take me over too.

After all, I hated the idea of texting. Only because of all the stupid abbreviations people use that make reading a text, even in english, difficult to translate. Keep in mind that the Chief and I are grandparents. Our minds are supposed to be set. Happily they're not.

The change in thinking began during the softball season. Our granddaughter is really good at softball, soccer and any other sport she takes an interest in. When I could go to a game, I would. But sometimes, due to pain or extreme heat I stayed home. That's when her mother started texting me with scores and commentary.

One day she showed me how to do it. Not difficult, but very slow for me. And it gave me a greater insight to all the abbreviations. The keyboard on my phone was like a telephone keyboard. The letters are in groups requiring multiple pushes to get the desired letter. Aggravated at the slowness I started abbreviating words like pls, ty, luv, 4, 2, and others.

My phone browsing started to favor slide out keyboards. While the new android phone is worth drooling over, I already have an ipod touch that doesn't cost me $29.99 extra a month. And I really didn't want to pay an additional $9.99 for some "smart" phone either.

So, now I have my new phone. Of course I keep trying to flip it open when it rings. I expect that habit to disappear shortly.

Activating new phones is always fun. I did mine without too much trouble. But, when trying to activate the Chief's it was another matter. You're supposed to be able to do everything via the phone programming.

"How can I help you?"

"Hi, I'm trying to activate a new phone. I activated one already with no problem. But this phone won't go through."

"I'm going to have to look something up. Can you call me back in a little while?"

"What number should I use?"

"The same number you just used."

"I didn't call you. I was transferred to you."

"You didn't call?"

"No, I was transferred. You can call me on my land line......"

"Okay, I'll call  back soon."

Over one hour later.

"How can I help you?"

"Hi, I'm trying to activate a new phone. I activated one already with no problem. But this phone won't go through."

"I see you called earlier."

"Yes, she said she would call me back, but she didn't"

"We're having problems with our phones."

"Me, too."

More Interesting UTubes From Roger

I can't resist.  These videos are really good. Even if you don't like what they are saying, the editing and conception are great. Enjoy.

 

Every Which Way

The above link was on Roger Ebert's twitter today. Watching it I got just as riled up as when I first saw the movie. Fortunately my windows are currently locked, or they'd a be a flying up.

Be a good sport. Wish Rush Limbaugh bon voyage for being Costa Rica bound.

OTHER GOOD NEWS !

Today I purchased my own domain name. You can now go to www.texaschiefs.com. And there you will find this very blog you're reading. It's a good thing to have and am glad it was still available. It's much easier to say and for people to remember "Hey, go look at my blog at texaschiefs dot com."

ANOTHER FALLING OUT OF BED INCIDENT

Geesh! I fell out of bed again last night. Didn't hurt anything. Just my bruised ego. Once on the floor I am there to stay. Thinking about pillows on the side of the bed so I don't have to bother Bob. Even with his help it took us a good 10 minutes or more to figure out a way to get off the floor and into bed. I hope none of you ever have to experience that type of helplessness. I visualized various ways to get up and was at last successful. All the while, Copper looked on with concerned eyes.

Once I got back into bed, I said to Bob: "Well, at least I didn't get shot." (a little humor never hurts)

I had had another ambien induced dream where someone who shall remain nameless was trying to shoot me. So, you see I had to get away out of danger and apparently that was on the floor. I've called my doctor for a different sleeping pill.

Too Happy For Words But Keep on Clickin

Earlier this month I beggedasked for readers of my blog, facebook and twitter to please read my blog. My goal is to turn my map (above) into something that looks like the verizon map you see on tv falling in some poor sap's soup. In other words, huge amounts of red dots.

Since then (March 6) I have kept a daily penciled list of how many dots appear. March 6 total dots = 8 (pretty pitiful). Today there are 32 RED DOTS now spreading throughout the world! Now, I know, this is piddly small compared to other blogs. So, I shall not compare. But, I will beg ask again! Come on guys and gals, all those in the peanut gallery, just click it! Pass it on to your friends. And if you can't restrain yourself from reading it, please go ahead and read it.

With my blessing.

Tools of The Trade

Yesterday, as I was merrily typing away on my computer, my mouse started to act funny. I have a logitech roller ball mouse which I love. Anyway, I started murmuring something to the effect of "expletive deleted" and fussing and such. The Chief was in the office, now observing my frustration. He, in his way, calmly asked if I thought the mouse might be dirty. Well, as you know, I am the computer expert in this household. You know because I've told you.

Again, I muttered "I just cleaned it not too long ago!"  So, he started pulling wires from the back where all connections are made to computer, monitor, printer, keyboard, mouse, wireless contraptions, surge systems, backup systems and, for all I know, God. Well, I panicked, as I am at times prone. STOP! I said, as I saw an unconnected wire appearing out of this black hole of technology. STOP! Let me try cleaning it first.

So I took my handy dandy Phillips head screwdriver only inches from my grasp and starting unscrewing the four tiny screws that held the mouse bottom to the top.  Lo and behold there was enough lint on the connections to be officially labeled adult dust bunnies.

The next step was to take my handy dandy re-shaped red paper clip to delicately remove all existing lint (I could've been a surgeon) and after a final puff of air into the mouse screwed it back together. Of course it worked like new. Cleaning one's mouse lends itself to being very satisfying.

There use to be an old joke that went something like this:

A woman answers her phone and is told that Ma Bell has noticed a problem with her phone and could she help fix it. Of course she is very obliging. Ma Bell says okay, follow the phone cord from your phone to the wall outlet. Are you there yet? Okay. Now pull on the phone cord coming out of the wall. Do you notice a difference? No? Okay, pull a little harder.

This keeps going until the caller is rolling on the floor laughing, usually with other voices laughing in the back ground. It's kinda like the old telephone pranks of calling a store and asking if they have Prince Albert in a can. You do? Well, let him out. HAHAHAHAH. If you don't get it, you're too young.

Just a few years ago, when I was working on the 42nd floor of Big Red in Chicago, I was having some problem with my computer. So, I called tech support. I used tech support a lot and tried to have a good relationship with them. This time they told me to "reset" the computer. Reset? What do you mean, reset?

They told me to get a paper clip and unbend it and then stick it a teeny tiny peep hole in the back of the computer. Yeah, I said, right. No kidding guys, I need help. And I'm quite familiar with the telephone prank.

They said, then take the paper clip and stick it in the hole!
I am NOT going to stick a paper clip into anything.  Am I on camera? Is everyone watching?

A few minutes later, two techs appeared. With, I might add, big smiles on their faces.

Watch, they said as they took a paper clip, unbent it and pushed into a very small hole the size of a paper clip. Okay, it's reset.

That was one of the best computer lessons I learned. And as a result, I have my very own paper clip, red, bent and ready to reset set anything that is considered high tech. And, it turns out it is multi functional because it removes the dust bunnies from my mouse, too. How great is that?

Now when I call the cable company about connection issues and they tell me to get a paper clip and reset...I am so ready!