May Update

I just realized how little I’ve posted this month. I put out a few Facebook posts and Twitter but nothing on my own website.

Of course, I don’t really expect anyone but me to read this drivel anyway.

I have been playing way too much Xbox and listening to several books a week in addition to reading books on Kindle.

The books are updated in the sidebar so they usually represent exactly what I am reading at the moment.

Hopefully, I’ll get (make) some time to load a few posts. I have opinions about everything so there is no shortage of material. Just, a big huge shortage of time.

Upgrade Notes – Day 1

Well, today is the first day of our latest big project at work, a system upgrade.

This project will probably take the better part of a year to complete.

I really don’t plan on keeping notes on this blog for every single day of the project and I will not be talking about details. What I was going to write about was the process is. How does it affect me? How much less time will I get to spend on other things?

With those questions being raised, I am looking forward to it.

For me, these things are always great learning experiences.

If I’m not completely exhausted by the end of the day, I’ll post some thoughts.

New Beginnings

Today is the first day in several years (days off not withstanding) that I am working a “normal” shift at work.

We are starting a major project that will take a least a year to complete and so I’ve had to make some adjustments.

This very first thing I’ve noticed is that I actually have time to get up in the morning and spend time writing. I can’t express how happy that makes me. I love writing. For the last several years, my work schedule hasn’t afforded me a lot of time to do so.

So, one of the first things I’ve done this morning is to try and find a replacement for Blogsy. Apple must be abandening applications that still work under 32 bit in the next iOS release. To be honest, I thought they would have already done that with a minor release.

I’m writing this using an app called BlogPad Pro. So far, I like it. There are a few things I’ll need to figure out. I had used Blogsy from day one so I am very familiar with how it worked.

My life has changed a lot in the last 6 months or so. Some good. Mostly bad.

I’m trying to keep some optimisim in my life so hopefully, writing more will help do that.

A Few Words About Love

I don’t usually discuss this type of thing on my site but I just want to say that I’ve been without the woman I love for several months now.

For my friends and family that keep asking, no. I am not ok. My heart aches every day that I’m without the one I love, my soulmate, my everything.

I don’t see that this empty feeling will ever just “go away” or that I may just move on and forget about the one lady that knows me better than anyone.

I love her very much. I think about her every single day.

I miss my baby.

Sorry. I just had to get that out there.

April Update

Well, a whole lot of stuff is going on around here this month. Minecraft is taking up a lot of my free time but I am going through a bunch of audiobooks in the process. I am also reading Kindle books too.

I listen to books while I’m building a world in Minecraft. It works.

I plan on keeping notes on work related stuff as we go into a major upgrade. This is exciting for me. I love updating software so this is right up my alley. More on that to follow…

Come on warm weather!

Minecraft & Me

I’m not sure what prompted me to do so but about a week ago I decided to get Minecraft for xbox One. It looked interesting and I was willing to learn the ropes and start playing.

Then, I discovered “creative” mode. No attacks, no problems, just build build build.

That was right up my alley. That is all I’ve been doing for a week and it is amazingly fun!

I’m currently building a modern city within an island chain. It is called Weirdville.

I always seem to be the Johnny come lately when it comes to video games.

Minecraft has been around for.ever.

The Case of the Activation Unlock Tool

I’ve seen many pundits crying this weekend about Apple’s decision to remove the website that checks to see if an iOS device has been unlocked before you buy one from a 3rd party. I mean…crying. Like, “what do I do now?” and “How am I supposed to verify that Activation Lock has been turned off before I buy something online from a stranger?” Gee, let me think…

In one quick move, Apple has put a damper on 3rd party selling of Apple iOS devices. Quite brilliant when you think about it. This must have been an incredible tool for folks who steal iOS devices too. Pundits don’t seem to see the world beyond their keyboards unfortunately so most of the articles I’ve read this weekend where all about how this negatively impacts them.

My guess would be that a lot of the serial numbers that were used on the Activation Check site were actually reported stolen. I have to believe that Apple has a database of those serial numbers. Does Apple have a legal right to report the IP addresses of those lookups if they are linked to a stolen device? I have to believe they do. Lets assume for a second that as of this post, they do not.

Perhaps, they took the site down to add functionality that does just that.

In any event, Apple is always striving to expand the customer experience so if you think they are doing something to purposely adversely affect you, the user, then you are probably only fooling yourself.

I’m betting they are working on something that will make the experience better and help catch a few thieves along the way.

(image from macrumors.com)

Update: It seems that there was a pretty good reason for taking this down. Damn, I’m good.

3-D Printers Can Kill

This is not a joke. Apparently, they can give off enough CO2 to kill you if you don’t have adequate ventilation.

The source said that the couple was using a laser 3-D printer that was venting into their residence. Symptoms and signs consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning were found in their bodies.

You can read the story here.

Migraine Relief?

I found this gem on lancasteronline.com…

Early in 2016, Consylman, 39, heard of an ear piercing that could help her migraines. Called a daith piercing, it passes through the ear’s innermost cartilage. Some say the piercing helps alleviate chronic migraines, with certain individuals praising the piercing’s power for eliminating their headaches altogether.

You can read the rest here…

A Very Cool Place to Live

Found this on wgal.com website…

There are places in this world that are so surreal and beautiful that when you first see photos of them you naturally assume they must be from a movie set. But while the tiny town of Giethoorn in northern Holland may look like it was built for a film based on a children’s fairytale, this enchanted neighborhood that’s built upon a network of narrow canals is actually completely real.

More pictures if you following the link above…

iPhone 8 Rumor Page Added

The link is up above but I’ve started collecting rumors about the next iPhone. Why?

Because, it is so damn fun.

I have a friend who calls this type of thing “throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.”

She has a way with words. Perhaps, she should write for this site?

I may not catch all of the iPhone 8 rumors but I’ll try to get most of them.

In the end, the next phone may not even be called iPhone 8. If I were Apple, and wow! I am sure not. I wouldn’t call it iPhone 8 but something completely different like iPhone Sugar Biscuit.

Sure, when I say it you laugh.

If Apple actually called it that, it would be the most awesome name ever!

I know how this works.

P.S. Don’t think the 30 pin connector on the likeness above is lost on me. That makes this rendering particularly funny.

The Mars Dome

I have to admit that the idea of going to Mars is something I’ve been entertaining my whole life. Scientists have a dome in Hawaii that they use to understand how life will be on the red planet.

Six scientists have entered a dome perched atop a remote volcano in Hawaii where they will spend the next eight months in isolation to simulate life for astronauts traveling to Mars, the University of Hawaii said.

Hopefully, we’ll get to Mars in my lifetime.

Star Trek Fan Film Lawsuit Finally Settled

To anyone who has not seen the trailer, Axanar had released a Star Trek fan trailer that caught the eyes of Paramount and CBS as being a bit over the top for it’s liking. The trailer has former Star Trek actors which is a fan film violation. That wasn’t the only problem.

J.J. Abrams made a statement that basically stated that Paramount and CBS should drop the lawsuit and  allow Axanar to make it’s movie. Well , it didn’t work and both companies went full speed ahead on a lawsuit.

That lawsuit has finally been settled.

For more details go here.

TV Stand for Dummies

I am not the type of person that likes to buy things that I have to put together. I go out of my way to buy things that are already assembled. My office chair is a good example. I went to Staples and found a chair I loved. I just didn’t want to put it together so I talked the sales guy into letting me take the finished unit on the floor. He did and I still have the chair to this day.

With that being said, I just bought a simple TV Stand on Amazon and was amazed at how simple it was to put together.

If you are looking for a simple Tv stand that has a couple of shelves and takes about 5 minutes to put together. Check this link out. You will not be disappointed.

1st Post of the New Year

I think the first post of the year should be about gadgets. In the last couple of weeks, I have aquired the following…

1. Apple Watch – Custom made and delivered from China. Sweet. Most sweet. I love it when Apple goes the extra mile for developers and adds something to our hardware order. It has happened a couple of times to me. I ordered an iPod and received an engraved and enhanced version far and above what I originally ordered. The watch was much the same. I ordered a relatively simple model and what I got was immensely better.

2. XBox One S – This one is kind of funny because the only reason I wanted an XBox was for a game called Battlefront. It is a very detailed and intense Star Wars game with add ons for the latest movie…etc. At first, I wasn’t sure what the S stood for and quite frankly, I still don’t. As it turns out after Googling it, the S stands for “supports 4k video.” I only have a 1080P television to play this on. Hmmm….

3. That leads into aquisition#3. A 55″ 4k television which I had to purchase to support the XBox. What is the point of having an XBox that supports 4k if your television doesn’t? Right. The answer couldn’t have been more obvious. A new television was in order.

4. This one was a bit unexpected at least right now. I had planned on purchasing an Apple laptop to backup my main work machine at home. Up until now, the Mac Mini was fulfilling that role but a laptop would give me more freedom if I needed to work from someplace else. You never know. I could find myself in the middle of a beach on St. Thomas and be called upon to process orders. You just never know about these things. A colleauge just so happened to have an extra Apple MacBook Pro and offered to swap out my Mac Mini for the laptop. Gee, let me think. Ok, then!

I wasn’t expecting to get so many gadgets this year but life is short and we don’t know how many more tomorrows we’ll have. I hope everyone has a great gadget year.

…and NO FIRES! I am looking at you Samsung….

Final Thoughts About 2016

For me, 2016 was a mostly good year until the beginning of October. That is when my world fell apart. It wasn’t just my world that fell apart. My significant other’s world fell apart as well. It wasn’t something we needed and it completely ruined more than just a year. I wouldn’t say it ruined anyone’s life because we pick ourselves up and continue on as best we can. However, it affected people we both love and us more tragically. I love her with all of my heart and always will.

My life will never be the same and I’ll always be a half a person going forward. If you throw in all of the celebrity deaths this year, face it…2016 sucked ass.

I’m hoping that 2017 will bring a better year than the one we leave behind.

Happy New Year everyone!

 

Let The Vacation Begin…

Well, the busy holiday madness is over for me. Time to catch my breath and decide what I’m going to do going forward.

I’m sure you’ve noticed the big holes in posting that have occured for the last several years. As I’ve said on the podcast that I’ve started back up again…we’ve been busy and stuff.

I’m looking forward to the next year and hope that the dream that I have in my heart comes true and that real love and happiness are mine once again. Time will tell.

This blog has always been about me and what I like and will continue to be so.

I’m half the person I used to be and as I’ve said just a couple paragraphs earlier, I am hoping for the best.

I hope we all find the happiness we so richly deserve.

MacOS Sierra – Initial Impressions

I look forward to every June when Apple releases the next version of their various operating systems for developers to go through and test. It is a treat for geeks like me. I usually grab a new hard drive and make a backup copy of my current system. I install the new OS and my expectations are that something will break.

This year I'm happy to report that, for the most part, that did not happen. It is extremely unusual for a new OS to NOT break things. A whole lot of things. For me, my work access almost always fails. It usually has something to do with VPN, Java, etc.

That is not to say that bugs don't exist. I've spotted a few. I think Siri is buggy. Logging on to the forums will show you that beta testing causes it's fair share of grief across various configurations, however, my iMac 27″ 2011 is doing just fine. I am using an external cradle to run MacOS Sierra on an external 4TB hard drive. The cradle is connected using Thunderbolt 1.

I have encountered a weird window issue where pressing the minimize button doesn't really minimize. The window acts like it's getting ready to get smaller but it snaps right back in place and then cannot be closed until you quit the application. I'm not sure what is causing this particular issue. I've changed the preference from “scale” to “genie effect” for minimizing windows and so far, I haven't had a problem. It could be just the scale effect itself. Not sure.

So far, I think this beta version is more solid than those I've tested in the past.

Good job, Apple!