The Voice Of Reason

We have a "suite" of new software coming in at work, it's all to do with reporting, data analysis, that sort of thing. Rather than send us away for training or bringing an instructor in, both of which are very expensive, we are taking virtual training. It's pretty neat, we do have to install some things on the computer that we'll be using and can do all this at home so that there's no distractions. You log into a "meeting room" using Adobe Connect, which is where the course is held, and then there's another remote login using something called Citrix to get to the sofware that you use to do the exercises and labs. I haven't had any trouble with it so far (knock on wood) but one or two people seem to have. There are participants in the course from California, various in the easter part of the US, me in Canada and one poor sod from Ireland who started the course at 2:30 p.m. and will have to sit there until 10:30 Pm in his time zone! For me, it started at 10:30 a.m. so I got to sleep in a bit and I can sit here in comfy clothes and slippers. I have another course in mid December and potentially one at the start of December. I think i'll remove the software after all that. If i ever have to take another virtual course through the same company I can reinstall it, it wasn't that difficult. Don't like to have extra stuff bogging down the computer.

Speaking of which, I upgraded my little laptop to Windows 10 on the weekend. It seemed to go very smoothly. I'm not doing my desktop until after all this training is done, though. I also have Graham's laptop here but the windows 10 rollout still hasn't filtered down to his machine. He left it here in May because he's still using his desktop at home and will until he moves here. I turn the laptop on once in awhile so it can do the windows updates. It's a Windows 8 machine so the upgrade to 10 should be pretty smooth. He doesn't have a lot installed on it yet. I'm quite pleased with my laptop's upgrade, it didn't complain about anything I had installed and I have a couple of quite old programs. Mind you, I didn't check to actually see if they work or not. Just assuming. When I nearly updated my desktop, it stopped and said i had to uninstall my virus program as it wasn't compatible. Bastard. I'll have to install something else before i go ahead and do this one. Probably Avast as it was recommended to me over AVG which is on my laptop and which upgraded ok. I think. Anyway i'll get around to testing it all further.

I had a quick look around and tried the email application. Don't like it. Sticking with Thunderbird. I never liked Outlook much anyway  and this is weirder. Perhaps if i played around with it a bit more it might be better but if i can still use Thunderbird, then that's what I'd use.

I mentioned that my keyboard and mouse packed it in. I replaced them with wired ones and they didn't work either!!! Uh oh.  Then on Friday night, I think it was, I booted up the pc and it came up once to a "disk check"... ok, let it check, all ok, continue on. (I thought that was because i had had to turn it off by the power button, not having any mouse or keyboard) It booted to the desktop and was opening up whatever it needed to for startup and suddenly the monitor display went all strange, and everything stopped. AT this point I had the wired input devices hooked up and was trying to see if they would work. Had to power down and tried again. This time it booted up to the desktop without the disk check but the same thing happened again. An aside, I could tell that the wired mouse wanted to work, it did show movement but then stopped and the display went all wonky again. This isn't good, is it? I also put the wireless keyboard and mouse widget in the laptop and it worked just fine.

I doubt the problem is the hard drive because it wouldn't boot up at all. Drivers? Motherboard? I've had power supply issues in the past but it didn't behave like this. I'm going to bet on motherboard. The machine is pretty old and has been rebuilt with a new power supply and MB already once, about 5 or 6 years ago, maybe even longer. I was going to take it to a shop or to Best Buy but a coworker and friend offered her husband's services. He does this for a living and it would be cheaper than Best Buy, at least for him to diagnose it. Then I can decide what to do. I'd like to get the documents and files from it at least. If it needs new guts, it might not be worth bothering. I may use my income tax refund to get a new desktop system. It's about time, really.

Sorted out that problem. One of the webby guys mentioned that it looked like the url was trying to access an application on Server a. I was under the impression it was on server B but apparently there's a version on A as well. Ahhhhh..... Light goes on. Send me the webserver configuration file.
Yep, there it is.
Several months ago a database was moved to a new server and we had to change the pointer to the new server. This was done and tested on the servers that we thought were the ones where the applications were. Did not know about this other server so it's been pointing to a non -existent database since early february. The request said they used this application on a daily basis. Well some of your staff might but whoever was using that particular url couldn't possibly be because it hasn't worked since early February.

I was able to get to the server and change the setting but i couldn't restart the web server bit so had to wait for an administrator with access to do that. Badda bing badda boom and we're in business again. On both servers. The server we'd been familiar with is a testing server ("QA" for those of you that know the lingo) and I did wonder why they were running an application on that but that's what I was told so that's what we fixed back then. The server that "broke" yesterday is the Live environment server. That makes more sense. Now apparently we'll have people using it on both but both are pointing to a Live database not a QA one so it's ok for now. These are applications written by a former employee from when the web eservices programming was done from a different department, not our IT Developer team. That programmer left and the rest of us are mystified most of the time as to what the apps do and how to fix them if something goes wrong. We'll end up rewriting them in the new technology we're learning now though.

Bring on vacation! I'm off now and G. arrives on Saturday! Woot!

Good grief!
I've just read a short news article where a condemned prisoner who is due to be executed by lethal injection in January is trying to get out of it citing health reasons. He weighs about 400 pounds and his first push of the envelope was that he feared the table would not support his weight. It was proven wrong by a test using a large jail guard and extra weights. Hmm. Well, he also claims that his weight, vein access, scar tissue, *depression* and other conditions would make his executioners "encounter severe problems". His lawyer filed something with the court to say that "there is a substantial risk that any attempt to execute him will result in serious physical and psychological pain" .
So?
He's a murderer, judged guilty (for a murder 20 years ago, which is another rant altogether, these endless appeals). He's suffering depression? Is anyone feeling sorry for him yet? If he's worried about his weight or vein access, I'm sure a gas chamber can be arranged. Or a guillotine.
Apparently weight has caused problems in the past with injections according to this article. I suppose they're trying to say it's undue hardship or emotional abuse. The man is a murderer. And besides, I'm in the "obese" category and they never have any trouble finding a vein to take bloodwork or inject an IV in my arm. Every body is different and there's a lot of places in your body you could use to tap a vein.

The new iPad mini is coming out. (or "miniPad" *snork*) It's a 7.5 inch screen and more the size of the ereaders (slightly bigger) and some tablets. Apparently two weeks after it's released, another version will be out that can take advantage of cellular service. Doesn't say that it'll be a phone but probably that's the 4G network so you don't need a wi-fi hotspot. Seems like a lot of fuss for something that's already out there sold by other companies but Apple has to keep up, i suppose and they certainly have their dedicated fans. I do have an iPod touch, several generations old now and newer apps won't run on it. But then i always ran my PC operating system years past the newer ones that were offered. I don't own a smart phone either because i really don't think i'd use it to any advantage most of the time. I may upgrade the iPod at some point i suppose but there's no hurry. The main thing i use it for is tunes and it does that quite well.

I saw the latest Bruce Willis movie, Looper last night. good clean bloody fun. And I do mean that literally. Typical action movie shoot up all over the place with some timey wimey paradox confusion thrown in. It takes place about 30 years from now. And 30 years from that point, time travel has been invented but is illegal. Because disposing of bodies is also more and more difficult, Mobsters use it to send their targets back 30 years, where a hitman is waiting to shoot and then dispose of the body. The victim is sent with bars of silver attached to their back as payment for the hitman in the past. Sending the hitman himself back to be shot by his younger self is called closing the loop. The victims are hooded and the assassins don't know it's their future selves until they slice open the back of the jacket the body has on to find gold bars instead of silver bars. The equivalent of the gold watch kiss-off i guess. They can then retire and live their lives until they're sent back to be killed.

This loop closing is suddenly happening all the time. There's a mob boss in the future called the Rainman who has just taken control and is closing all the loops as his first order of business. Nobody knows who he is or what his real name is. Most of the loopers are youngish men, cocky, stylish, braggarts. One of them discovers his victim is his future self and can't kill him setting off a man hunt for both men. His best friend gives him up and later, one of his hits is, yes, his future self.

( Spoilers )
That's as much as i'll spoil, without going into the ending. But suffice it to say that i had to chuckle when in a typical Bruce scene, he's squinting, cocking his head to one side, looking rather complacent and shooting the place down with a series of various guns. Most of the action movie guys are screaming or gritting their teeth, leaping about over-adrenalized, it's a big show of Tough Muthafuckin Badass. Kind of like when Bruce Springsteen is straining like he's passing a horse out of his arse, sweating and grimacing while crooning out a soft ballad. Not Bruce Willis. He's resigned to the fact but equally determined the opposition isn't going to cream his ass, he's going to take them out first. He's also a Tough Muthafuckin Badass but he doesn't have to make a big production out of it.

Anyway, I liked the movie for what it was. And Emily Blunt is in it. I always like her. And the little boy that plays her son was quite good for being so young. I didn't see the ending coming. Probably should have.

( more 2012 books )

Cripes, just spent nearly 100 dollars in The Source!! Most of what i got was on sale, too! Got a wireless mouse for the laptop, half price, got a padded carrying tote for it, half price, and a bamboo laptop lap-desk with a vent also half price. I reckon that will be good for sitting in bed or on the couch with it so it doesn't get heated up. When i was using it in bed on the weekend i put it on a magazine, but it still got pretty warm. Also picked up a big package of batteries, half price, a basic power bar and an 8Gig SD memory card. My other two memory cards are all 2 gig and i wanted something larger for both using higher res photos with the camera or to use for data for the laptop (it's got a card reader). My memory sticks are all 2 gig or smaller, too but rather than getting a larger one of those, the SD can do dual duties.

I used my free drink coupon at Starbucks for a cinnamon dolce latte (decaf but with whipped cream. very nice)

Did i mention i managed to do 3 minutes on the eliptical trainer at the gym yesterday? Doesn't sound like much but it's a big deal. I used to use it many years ago but haven't for a very long time and the last time i did try it, my heart rate went up too far so i've been a bit nervous of it. Yesterday i didn't have much time to warm up before meeting the trainer and i felt pretty good so i had a go. Heart rate was still up there but not as high. For 3 minutes it would be ok.  I just wanted to see if i could do it and i did. I'm hoping i'll continue to have the get up and go to keep using it and work up to 5 or 10 minutes. It's such a great lower body workout with low impact on the joints. Kind of reminds me of running under water, that kind of motion.

I can't believe it's April already! Four weeks from Friday, Graham will be here and we're heading to Quebec City by train shortly after, for about a week by the time we get back. The train journey is overnight and we arrive first thing in the morning and i do mean first thing (before 6 a.m.!) First trip with the new laptop too!

I made the rounds of all the tech stores in the Crossing yesterday and only saw one netbook possibility. There were  a few but they were HP ones and i don't really like them. They look and feel cheap and i am not really confident in them. The one i saw at the last place i looked is an Acer notebook, 11 inch screen, 4 G ram. I forget how big the hard drive was but it was reasonable. They didn't have any in in spite of having a display model out. And no, I don't really want to buy the display model. They did have another version, 2 G ram and a smaller hard drive...FOR THE SAME PRICE. Dude. No. It doesn't work like that. What would you expect from Future Shop, though eh? Even if he said Acer is the one that sets the price? Don't think so.

there's another place i may go to look at the netbooks but i'll wait to see when the busses go back. They were talking and negotiating all weekend and there's a contract offer to vote on tomorrow so we might have them back on the road by the weekend. Everyone cross your bits!

So the search continues but you know? If i don't end up getting one it's no big deal. It was always a "nice to have" rather than something i really needed. I did get a new phone, something similar to the one i have now and wouldn't you know it? The random shutting itself off hasn't happened all weekend! Now i don't know if i should activate the new one or not. I might though, as it's a Samsung and they're usually tough little buggers. It wasn't expensive since it isn't a smart phone and it has the slidey out keyboard. Mine has the keyboard but it's a flip out one. I kind of like that better as it's sturdier but if the phone isn't reliable, it's not reliable. The camera on the old one is 3.2 MP which is better than the new one at 2 MP but i could always keep the old phone in my purse as a spare camera! I'd have to see how good the pics are on the 2MP one. They might be fine. One thing i think the new one can do that the old one can't, at least from the user guide i downloaded, is setting the ringtone to an MP3 which my old LG phone won't do.

I also replaced my slow cooker so the shopping trip wasn't completely wasted.

There's more to this WiFi than meets the eye, doncha know.  The iPod would pick up what it thought were networks but nothing would work. However, i have a Starbucks card and found out i could register it and get 2 hours of WiFi at Starbucks' hotspots every day as long as i used the card at Starbucks at least once a month. Fair play. I registered and when i came in this morning, i went to the Starbucks and voila i'm in! So i guess it just depends on where you are and if you have a password to the network. Some networks must be "free" somewhere, and i know people don't always secure their home connections. I wouldn't presume to use one of those if the iPod found it but i'm just sayin. I know hotels that offer it still must give you a password to get in and that's fine, too. At least i was able to get my gmail to work and that's really the only one i need as it will pick up my home email as well. The Yahoo account still doesn't recognize my password but i'm not as bothered. The iTunes software synced my Yahoo contact book to the pod and i got rid of the contacts i won't use or need and added phone numbers and emails to the ones i might use, including LJ so i can update LJ from the road if i get the chance. Facebook lets me text a status change but the email function is spotty at best. I set up my home weather location, and i tested out the Google maps function which shows the satelite and the map and you can "pin" specific addresses which is cool for noting where a hotel is.  I think i'm good to go now.

Speaking of hotels, i changed the one we were going to use in Montreal. I belong to Travelzoo which emails you deals every week and some hotels were featured on a three day special. One in Montreal was about half the price of the one i had booked but when i was reading up on it, there were some things about it that i wasn't as keen on, plus that particularly cheap rate was not for a suite, so the room i did book after researching only ended up being a little cheaper for the sort of room i wanted but still, it's a bit of a savings. We are going to try a suite hotel. Not so we can do proper cooking but it's nice to have a fridge, microwave to heat up stuff and maybe do breakfasts or snacks. It's also nice to have the fridge to keep milk for tea rather than the UFT fake stuff. The original hotel had a more equipped kitchen i think. This one, they will bring up dishes and stuff if you ask which is fine. They also do housekeeping daily which one of the others that i had considered did not. That was a long term stay suite place and they only do the housekeeping once a week though you can request new towels at the front desk if you want them in the mean time. I think i'd like having the daily service if i'm in a hotel so that's one of the reasons i picked this new one.

This one, an Embassy Suites by Hilton has a full cooked breakfast with the room which you can take back to your room if you want, and they give you two free drinks each at a manager's reception in the bar every night. Those things alone are worth close to 30 dollars per person if you take advantage of the drinks as well as brekkie, going by standard hotel prices. The location is really good too, right down by Old Montreal, around the block from Notre Dame basilica and a block from a couple of Metro stations and Boulevard St. Laurent, the main drag through the city. Another bonus is i should get Aeroplan points for the stay as well which i wouldn't have got at the other place. Most chains belong to the Aeroplan program but the other hotel was an independent one.

Picked up my new Paintshop Pro X2 today. And it wouldn't install. It got near to the end and then hung. I tried twice. Then i went to the website for the support section and there it was. Apparently dual core processors sometimes have this problem and i needed to update my video driver. Eeekk!!! Ok. Follow the instructions and here we go.

Download driver. Check.
Create restore checkpoint. Check. (they didn't say to do that but i wasn't taking any chances)
Uninstall old driver. Check. Restart.
Disable everything.
Install new driver. Restart.
Hold Breath.
Check.
Yay! It booted up and all i had to do was change the resolution to one i liked.
Start install again.
Result!
I've been playing with it a bit and i do like it. It has a "learning centre" but you can disable that and just do things the way you always did if you want.

Cable guy came tonight. Turns out the fuzzy picture wasn't a weak signal, it was the digital tuner. He replaced it and it's working perfectly now! Yay! I have my digital tv guide back!

Course is going ok. Still more theory today and at the end of the day we could pull apart the PCs there so that was good. Dusty. But good. Tomorrow we put them back together and say a Hail Mary and see if they start up again! Still haven't decided if i'll write the certs or not. I don't need certification for my job. I waver between thinking i'll give it a try and thinking Oh God i'll never memorize all this crap!

( The Ladies Who Lunch )
So, i'm trying out the upload feature from the LJ gallery and it puts the photo in a table. A bit much if you ask me. I guess it's good if you don't know html but i think i'll stick with my img tags. Oddly enough though, if you upload from the gallery itself, it does a table. If you upload from the update web interface and use that little drop down insert feature, it sticks in the image tag and links it to the photo in the gallery as well.

Anyway, we had a nice lunch, the four of us. Carolyn is my best friend from when we were in our late teens/early 20's. I dated her brother but stayed friends with her after the split. We've mostly lived in different cities until the last 6 years and even then we don't see each other as much as we'd like. Mom and Dad always thought of her as a third daughter and she's always felt they were more parents to her than her own (long story).

Carolyn and i went to Chapters to get a coffee in Starbucks and i actually resisted buying anything. That must be a first!

Got home and dug out the cd with the user manual for my printer. It's still been flashing amber at me. Seven times. Looking up in the troubleshooting section it says that 7 flashes means the print head is b0rked. You know what that means, boys and girls? Yep. New printer. Costs almost as much to get a new print head as it does to get a new printer these days, sadly. I could leave it in the recycle shelving until with a note on it and someone might take it and spend the money to fix it. I think i will probably spend a little more and buy and all-in-one scanner and printer. I have a scanner but it isn't going to cost that much more for the all in one and it'll probably work faster. save space. Mom or Sis, do you want the old one? it should work on either of your computers. It's got both usb and serial cable connection and you then have to plug the printer in to the back of the scanner which then connects to the puter. It's a better scanner than the one mom has though it will be somewhat slower on that puter as it has less memory and juice. Anyway, when i get the new one you can let me know.

Am going to try to download tonight's UK Doctor Who so don't anyone spoil it for me yet!!!