It Lives

Last week I attempted to access Refuge Central, the desktop computer that formerly resided in my living room but has since been moved to an office which I rarely use. I have been using the laptop almost extensively since the move, but I wanted to get into my pictures that are located on the external hard drive hooked up to the desktop.

The computer had shut itself down since the last time I saw it, I figured that there had been a power bump or something that had caused it so I just booted it back up. Imagine my surprise when Windows 10 appeared, even though I had not downloaded it.

I uninstalled Windows 10 and took my external hard drive out to the laptop while it reverted and didn't think any more about it. When I brought the external drive back it was done reverting back to my previous Windows 8 installation, as if nothing had ever happened.

The next day I went back into the office because I decided it was time to play with Linux since Windows wanted to be such a pain in the ass. Imagine my surprise when once more the computer was off, even though I had left it running the previous day. So, I booted it back up and opened the browser to find Linux and after a few minutes it shut down again, immediately rebooting upon  the shut down. After a few minutes it cycled again. About this time I could smell escaping electrons, so I shut it down.

Employing the smell check method I quickly determined the power supply had gone bad. Back to Refuge Mobile I went, where I found a replacement power supply for a nice price at the auction site. Today the power supply arrived, and Refuge Central is once more online and operating at spec.

Now to download that Linux distro... (I'm trying Fedora KDE)

Once More...

Sunday night I had 4G service so I was able to talk to M on my break, as usual, while keeping track of the pitiful demise of the home team.  A few hours later I went to look something up and...no service.

On my way home I tried to call M but kept getting the error message that my call would not connect, regardless of the number of bars showing on my signal strength meter.

Monday afternoon I still had nothing, so I contacted Verizon through their website. They said they were getting reports of sporadic outages and should have everything straightened out within 24 hours.

Yesterday I still didn't have service, for the second day, so off to the Verizon store I went. An hour later they were unable to get the darn thing to work, so I walked out with a brand new replacement.

I sure hope this one lasts a little longer than ten days.

Oh, G

So it ends up I didn't like the old Droid as much as I remembered.

There were several things I missed about the HTC, so I switched it back...but oh yeah, it won't charge. Maybe I can turn it in under the warranty...

well, if I hadn't switched it for the Droid, that would have worked. But, since now I have totally buggered myself, time to get a new phone! Along with a new 2 year obligation, oh boy.

So, I got a Droid Turbo 2. Nice phone, leather back which I immediately covered up with a case, and a non-breakable screen. That might be handy. Another nice thing, a charging dock. No need to plug it in, just sit it on the charging dock and let it charge as I sleep. Easy peasy!

Download a few apps (including Blogger that I pulled my hair out to get set up), set everything up just the way I want it...yeah, don't care much for having to hit another button when I open the phone app just to get a keypad, and then I deleted my email app because you CAN'T SIGN OUT OF IT!!! and I think I can live with it.

So the other day I'm talking to M just before she goes to bed, as I usually do, and she mentions her cousin John is in the hospital for some sort of stomach problems and he's posting on the book of faces. I try to open it up and I can't get the internet when I'm on the phone. That's annoying, never had that problem with the HTC...and as soon as I hang up the phone I can get on the 'net, no problems. Hmmm. I check out the issue on the internets and find out I have to turn on advanced calling. OK, no probs, everything is hunky dory, right?

Yeah...not really.

As I'm driving home my phone hooks up to the bluetooth and the actions app I have turns off the wifi, turns on the GPS and opens up Mapquest as I have set it up to do. I then call M for the trip home, as I usually do, and dammit, my Mapquest hangs up with the message that I can't get data while I'm on the phone! W? T? F??? So I divert to the Verizon store to find out what the deal is.

Long story short, you can't get voice and data unless you are either 1) on the wifi or 2) in a 4G LTE network area.

Long story long, the old 3rd Generation (3G) network, which could only provide voice or data but not both, is being replaced by a new 4th Generation (4G) with Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology that can use voice and data. Up to around 2008 since 4G was in its infancy (or not even around) you were limited to either making a phone call or using the internet/GPS, but not both at the same time.

However, many cell phone users were upset that they couldn't navigate to their favorite restaurant while inviting their friends to join them, or talk on the phone to a client while they are trying to navigate to the clients business, or look up something on the net while on the phone, etc. So, to overcome that little shortfall some cell phones (like the HTC One M8) have a dual receiver, one for voice and messaging and one for data.

But now, since we are entering the brave new digital world that old clunky outdated 3G network is being phased out...so no need to put in that second R/T, but instead of saying that you may be limited if you aren't on a 4G LTE network we will just tell you about the extended battery life. Yay! And since the LTE network is expanding every day, no one will notice! Yay!

Except when you aren't in an LTE coverage spot that is. Oops. Sorry about that. Of course if you start out in an LTE area you can start out with voice and data, but if you move into an area that isn't covered...goodby one or the other. And, since Verizon has built its reputation over not dropping calls (can you hear me now?) they opted to drop data rather than drop calls.

I guess that makes sense, the cell phone is primarily a phone after all, but it sure seems like I'm paying a big chunk of money to take a step backwards.

The Droid I Was Looking For

I haven't really liked my HTC One cell phone since I bought it, and now it's refusing to take a charge if it is turned on. I have to either turn it all the way off or put in in airplane mode to get it to charge.

I've been sorry to have let my old Droid go, but recently Middle Daughter traded up and I was able to get it back. Yesterday I went through the steps of re-activating it and I've been downloading the apps and add-ons that I've become accustomed to.

The screen is smaller, so using it for the Kindle won't be as good. I'll also miss the stereo speakers on the HTC, but it's not like I used it much for listening to music anyway. If nothing has changed since I switched up the battery will charge when I'm in the car using the GPS or if I have it plugged in and all services active.

So today, to reward me for all my efforts, I've gotten three phone calls from the same number between the hours of 8 AM and noon. Spammers. I finally answered the last call but I can't say who it was because when I picked it up I whispered "It's done but there's a lot of blood. Send the cleaners. Make payment as agreed. Do NOT make me come looking for you. Lose this number." Then I hung up. They haven't called back so far.

One more thing I'll miss about the HTC One, I guess...the ability to block numbers.

Going Shopping

The Viore rear-projection TV that I had the bulb replaced in about four and a half years ago needs a bulb again.

Last time it cost me right at four bills. Accounting for inflation it may be cheaper to go get a new TV. One that won't cost me four bills every four or five years.

Not what I wanted to do with my Friday, but what the hell, it's too cold for convertibles anyway.

Tunes

One of the new toys that came with the Mustang was SiriusXM and a 6 month paid subscription. I liked it so much I got a Sirius portable unit for the Subaru as well.

The one thing I didn't like about the Subaru's unit was it was a stand-alone, which means it had a mount affixed to the dash with double-side sticky tape. Along with its power adapter that had to be plugged into the cigarette lighter it was in the way, and the adaptor took up the only outlet I had so had to get a triple to plug into the stock outlet, and every time I'd shift into 5th I ran the chance of hitting that power adapter and shutting the radio off momentarily.

So a couple of weeks ago I went out and got the unit that plugs into the back of the aftermarket radio I put in the Subaru, so now the Sirius is integrated into the rest of the radio controls and there isn't a brick stuck on the dash in the way, not to mention no power adapter sticking out. It's a much cleaner look and I like it a lot better.

When I got the acknowledgement that I had shut one off and activated another in the email there was also an offer for SiriusXM on the cell phone, for a nominal fee (four bucks a month), so I got it on the phone as well. Now I can plug it into the computer and play it through the computer speaker system (I have a stand-alone speaker set for the computer) or I can plug it into the home stereo system (which we hadn't used much since leaving Florida actually, but now I've dug it out of the corner I'm using it more).

So what's really cool is I'm listening to The Shadow radio show on Radio Classics (channel 82) while I sit here on my modern newfangled computing device pounding on the keyboards to write this missive.

Ain't technology grand?

dammit

My external hard drive, where all of my pictures were stored, has crashed. It just sits there and clicks.

I can't figure out how it happened, it was working just fine and then all of a sudden...

$150 just to have it looked at, general ballpark estimate between $500 and $600 to recover the data.

All my pictures of Laura. That's the thing that bothers me the most, and that's the reason I'll pay the bill.

Nood!

Just as soon as I said I couldn't justify the cost up pops a deal that I could afford. By selectively not paying some bills that I'm ahead on anyway I came up with the purchase price of a new laptop. So, Refuge Mobile is once again on the airwaves...webwaves...whatever they are.

The new laptop is an HP 2000-2d22DX with twice the RAM and half again as much hard drive space standard as the enhanced Acer had. The RAM can be upgraded to 8GB if I would like to do so, but I'm used to 2GB so 4GB is like going from TDP to the Mustang, so no need to supercharge it just yet.

And, as an added bonus, the webcam works...but unfortunately it only points at me, it doesn't flip around to take pictures of what I'm looking at like the Acer did...when it worked...

RIP faithful old Acer, hopefully the laptop doc can do something with your old pieces (he should be able to, two 1GB sticks of brand-new RAM and a new 500GB hard drive...)

Something For the Tech Weineis...

I have an Acer Aspire 5610Z with Windoze Vista on it. For some reason a couple of years ago it decided to just shut off as if you had dropped the battery and pulled the plug on it. A system restore back to the point before the service packs were installed fixed it for a little while, but after a few months it did it again.

It got to the point where I was having to restore it every month or so, so I reloaded Vista on it and it was OK for a while..except that the camera hasn't worked right for a long time now (I've replaced it once and downloaded/reinstalled the drivers many times). Well, it's doing it again and this time I get maybe 24 hours out of it. Tech support has been...less than helpful...through the whole incident.

So yesterday I went and got a new 500GB hard drive and Windoze 7. I am not going to put any of my old files on the new computer (I have everything I wanted to keep backed up to my removable hard drive anyway). I have it installed and I'm loading the OS. After this I'll download the drivers for the accessories (touch pad, camera, wireless network adapter, etc.).

We'll see how this goes.

Now What

It looks like the main computer is on the fritz now.

It started when Grandbaby-Boy pulled the monitor cord out of the back. My fault for not screwing it down, I guess, but I could have sworn I did that when I put it in. Anyhoo, when I put that monitor on the 'puter it needed a new video card to drive it. I plugged it into the old port when I tried to reconnect it, and when it didn't work I rebooted the computer.

Bad mistake.

By the time I had figured out that I needed to plug the monitor into the new video card output the computer was stuck in a loop, it would start to boot up and then kick back out into the start screen (the one where you have the option to get into the BIOS), then it would start to boot up and kick back into the start screen, over and over and over again.

So I tried a repair on the XP installation. That didn't work. So then I tried a reinstall without a format. That didn't work either, and now I get a blue screen of text telling me about a critical error involving a new hardware installation, which there isn't one.

Last chance, I'm going to try an install with format. Since everything is backed up to the external hard drive (where most everything is stored anyway) I shouldn't lose anything but time.

If this doesn't work it looks like I'll be computer shopping.

Anyone Else Getting This?

My Email spam has reached the height of culture. The titles are in French.

That doesn't keep me from deleting them, I just thought it was interesting.

Home Alarm System Commercials

To put it bluntly, they piss me off. Yeah, some determined attacker who has already kicked in your front door is going to leave your naked towel-wrapped ass alone because some disembodied voice on a speaker tells him the cops will be there in a half an hour or your pizza is free.

Here's how they should really end:



Free rock with every purchase!

Discombobulation

So I'm driving in to work last night, got my smarter-than-me phone plugged in to the charger so I can have the neato GPS map up (I have an app for that!) and the damn thing goes dark. It's not supposed to do that while it's on the charger.

So when I get to the stoplight I check it out, and it's not charging. I fiddle with the wires some and it starts charging again. As soon as the car starts moving it stops. Wiggling the wires gets it to charge some more and then, hit a bump and it stops. Repeat, ad nauseum.

By the time I got to work it wasn't even trying. When I got home I plugged it in to two different chargers. No joy, the damn thing won't charge. I've had it for three whole months.

Fortunately it's insured, so I call the insurance place and get a replacement on the way. The good news, it will be here tomorrow. The bad news, it will cost me $99.00 on a phone I only paid $150 for after the discounts.

Tell me again how these damn things are so wonderful.

UPDATE: So I get a suggestion in comments to remove the battery for a half a minute or so, problem is with the 'droid the battery is non-removable. I can, however, shut it off and power it back up.  I do so and voila, it's charging again.

Of course since the claim is already processed I have a shiny new phone already on its way to me. When it gets here tomorrow I have to tell the driver to send it back, however since I'll likely be sleeping when he gets here I'll have to take it back down to whatever shipper it arrived with and have them send it back. I'll get my refund then and everything should be back to status quo.

Then again, Eldest Son should be out wrenching on the Subaru when it gets here, so I'll have him handle it if he's out there when the driver shows up. He ought to be able to say "no" I think.

Shame they couldn't just push a few buttons and make it all go away...

UPDATE II: The darn thing stopped charging in the car again so I ended up keeping the new one. Then, the new one wouldn't charge in the car...the charger was bad. I'm thinking the bad car charger made the charging circuitry lose its little electronic mind. If I had just replaced the car charger...

and if flies carried .45's, frogs wouldn't f**k with them.

Real Men of Genius

Coffee pot beer.

Probably a good thing we didn't have this recipe "back in the day".

Barriers - Broken

One of the more interesting technologies to be developed in the past decade or so is Rapid Prototyping on 3D printers. The technology has evolved to the point where there are companies such as Shapeways that can mass produce objects using your CAD designs.

I've purchased railroad cars from them and so far they are pretty good, it seems to be the perfect way to economically produce items that would be prohibitively expensive using standard manufacturing techniques such as injection molding. If I only knew how to run a CAD program, or could find someone to create an Nn3 design for the East Broad Top M-1 that can be powered by a powered truck, I'd be in heaven. But I digress.

As the technology matures it will become less and less expensive and eventually will reach a point where 3D printers are cheap enough to be affordable by regular folks. When that happens all you will need is some proficiency with a CAD program and the items that can be created are virtually limitless.

Enter Texas law student Cody Wilson and his Wiki Weapon Project. Using a 3D printer he created an AR-15 lower and then built first a .22 pistol and then a .223 rifle out of it. And yes, it works; the AR-15 receiver carries a very little bit of stress, functioning mostly as a framework to hold all of the various parts in close proximity. The upper is the part that gets all the stress, but here's a bit of trivia...the lower is the part that has the serial number, and thus according to the BATFEIEIO it IS the firearm.

The owner of the leased printer has canceled its contract with him and repossessed the printer, saying that it was used for illegal purposes, but actually according to the law it is not illegal for someone to manufacture a firearm (as long as it is not fully automatic) for their own use as long as they are otherwise allowed to have them (we can discuss the whole "allowed" thing later) and they don't sell it. Regardless, this genie is now out of the bottle; it has been done once and can be done again.

The truth is the manufacture of firearms is not difficult, cave dwellers in Afghanistan are fashioning fully functional versions of the AK-47 even as we speak; it's receiver is bent sheet metal that can be built using common metal working tools (in fact you can purchase kits for this purpose). Those who wish for a gun-free world are whistling in the wind, if a cavewight in Trashcanistan can make them they can be made anywhere.

This technology will (eventually) put self-defense capabilities into everyone's reach, and as far as I'm concerned that is a good thing.