We had an external CD/DVD drive [Toshiba-Samsung] on our iMac that had been misbehaving mechanically for some time die completely the other day, so I ordered a replacement [brand = LG], which should arrive Monday. Then today, after some electronic confusion arising after inserting a disc before booting was complete, we discovered that the other external optical drive [Pioneer] and also the internal optical drive were not working! Apple online tech support couldn't figure it out, but set up an appointment with a tech rep at the local Apple store about two hours later. No charge, even though the service agreement was long expired. The tech person at the Apple store figured the internal optical drive was mechanically defective (not a big loss), and said there was no software problem. Again, no charge! [Miyoko observed that this was the sort of thing that could bring customers back in the future. I agree.] I checked the external drive, and sure enough, the Apple Store tech rep was right--the drive was bad [After only four years' heavy use.] So I ordered another bare optical drive [Pioneer with Blu-Ray] I can pop into the case of one of the bad ones. Once I have learned how, I think I will find a Panasonic or maybe a Sony drive to put into the remaining case.
Naomi is in Hawaii on her company trip, and has been promoted to a Lead [2D] Artist! All very good.
Central Valley Ag report to follow in tomorrow (today to youse Easteners). The recent storms have brought us up to about half our historical normal rainfall.
Naomi’s line is so completely outside my realm of experience that I can’t really get my mind around it, but she does seem to have done well, although the company works people like demons when crunch times come (which is several times a year).
The white pelicans were standing on a sand bar in a ponding basin. They pass through here migrating between their homes in southern or Baja California and the prairie provinces of Canada. I grew up on the coast, where there are brown pelicans, which fish in a very different manner. The brown ones dive from a considerable height to catch individual fish, whereas the white ones gather in a group to herd fish together and scoop them up—a much better approach in shallow water. We saw a video once of white pelicans in Africa fishing in a moderately deep lake. It was deep enough the fish could swim out from under the pelicans—but those who tried encountered the cormorants who were diving outside the flock of pelicans!
Lots of soldier blackbirds in and about the fields of winter wheat; they must be nesting there. Probably a fair substitute for their normal nesting sites in swampier places, which are fewer becasuse of farming practices and low rainfall.
Irony about computer equipment. My monitor (brand = LG) had been acting funky for about a month, and when I got back from Spokane it settled into permanent power saver mode. I'm currently using a backup that's too narrow to display HEP messages properly, but expect to order a replacement today.
This week I have reread Time Traveler by Ronald Mallett and The Science of the Hitchhiker's Guide tot he Galaxy by Michael Hanlon and have read The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie and Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein. Got confused and started A Dance with Dragons before A Feast for Crowsbut soon got straightened out. Earned a couple more badgelets at Fun Trivia; In short, aven't done much that is worthwhile. Can't think why I'm so terribly tired.
Ok, monitor is ordered. Looked at a 42" monster for $800+ (tax-deductible business expense). Might have gotten it if I'd been 100% certain it would fit on my monitor/keyboard table. But settled for a 27" widescreen (same size as my old one) on sale for $200.
That sounds good, Bill, both size and price. Is this the rectangular or the square monitor? Mine's rectangular and flat screen. Had an ordinary square one of similar size that weighed something like seventy-five o eighty pounds besides taking up most of the table space. The flat one is far lighter and takes up very little space.
"widescreen" = rectangular. The one I'm currently using is square, which is part of the problem -- line length too short unless font is too small. Essentially all monitors have been flat-screen for something like a decade. Big advance.
About time! And for Howard too!
ReplyDeleteThink piece about the Supreme Court pro-plutocracy decision:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/04/how-em-mccutcheon-em-could-come-back-to-haunt-the-republican-party/360063/
We had an external CD/DVD drive [Toshiba-Samsung] on our iMac that had been misbehaving mechanically for some time die completely the other day, so I ordered a replacement [brand = LG], which should arrive Monday. Then today, after some electronic confusion arising after inserting a disc before booting was complete, we discovered that the other external optical drive [Pioneer] and also the internal optical drive were not working! Apple online tech support couldn't figure it out, but set up an appointment with a tech rep at the local Apple store about two hours later. No charge, even though the service agreement was long expired. The tech person at the Apple store figured the internal optical drive was mechanically defective (not a big loss), and said there was no software problem. Again, no charge! [Miyoko observed that this was the sort of thing that could bring customers back in the future. I agree.] I checked the external drive, and sure enough, the Apple Store tech rep was right--the drive was bad [After only four years' heavy use.] So I ordered another bare optical drive [Pioneer with Blu-Ray] I can pop into the case of one of the bad ones. Once I have learned how, I think I will find a Panasonic or maybe a Sony drive to put into the remaining case.
Naomi is in Hawaii on her company trip, and has been promoted to a Lead [2D] Artist! All very good.
Central Valley Ag report to follow in tomorrow (today to youse Easteners). The recent storms have brought us up to about half our historical normal rainfall.
--Alan
Oops! Here's the Supreme Court thinkpiece [Click]
Delete--Alan
I saw some white pelicans yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday).
ReplyDelete--alan
Sweet Congratulations to Naomi! :-) =You must be so proud!!=
ReplyDeleteHurrah about the White Pelicans! Were they in flight? Amazing birds.
It's so frustrating that you're in drought while we get floods!
Thanks for the link, Alan. I want to read it when I have more than 5 minutes to rub together.
Naomi’s line is so completely outside my realm of experience that I can’t really get my mind around it, but she does seem to have done well, although the company works people like demons when crunch times come (which is several times a year).
DeleteThe white pelicans were standing on a sand bar in a ponding basin. They pass through here migrating between their homes in southern or Baja California and the prairie provinces of Canada. I grew up on the coast, where there are brown pelicans, which fish in a very different manner. The brown ones dive from a considerable height to catch individual fish, whereas the white ones gather in a group to herd fish together and scoop them up—a much better approach in shallow water. We saw a video once of white pelicans in Africa fishing in a moderately deep lake. It was deep enough the fish could swim out from under the pelicans—but those who tried encountered the cormorants who were diving outside the flock of pelicans!
Lots of soldier blackbirds in and about the fields of winter wheat; they must be nesting there. Probably a fair substitute for their normal nesting sites in swampier places, which are fewer becasuse of farming practices and low rainfall.
TTFN
Amomynous was me. You knew that.
Delete—Alan
Excellent news about Naomi!
DeleteIrony about computer equipment. My monitor (brand = LG) had been acting funky for about a month, and when I got back from Spokane it settled into permanent power saver mode. I'm currently using a backup that's too narrow to display HEP messages properly, but expect to order a replacement today.
ReplyDeletePretty draggy today.
ReplyDeleteThis week I have reread Time Traveler by Ronald Mallett and The Science of the Hitchhiker's Guide tot he Galaxy by Michael Hanlon and have read The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie and Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein. Got confused and started A Dance with Dragons before A Feast for Crowsbut soon got straightened out. Earned a couple more badgelets at Fun Trivia; In short, aven't done much that is worthwhile. Can't think why I'm so terribly tired.
So tired and fuddled I forgot: Monday I also earned a major badge that boosted me one level. Now at Level 34.
DeleteJust finished another mini-challenge (earning a mini-badge). That brings me to forty challenges complete...out of one hundred and sixty-four. *sigh*
DeleteOk, monitor is ordered. Looked at a 42" monster for $800+ (tax-deductible business expense). Might have gotten it if I'd been 100% certain it would fit on my monitor/keyboard table. But settled for a 27" widescreen (same size as my old one) on sale for $200.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds good, Bill, both size and price. Is this the rectangular or the square monitor? Mine's rectangular and flat screen. Had an ordinary square one of similar size that weighed something like seventy-five o eighty pounds besides taking up most of the table space. The flat one is far lighter and takes up very little space.
Delete"widescreen" = rectangular. The one I'm currently using is square, which is part of the problem -- line length too short unless font is too small. Essentially all monitors have been flat-screen for something like a decade. Big advance.
Deletelistener, I sent an email to you.
ReplyDeleteGot it! No problems at all! Just replied. :-)
Delete