Computer Problems

Much of this morning was taken up trying to get my main computer's Internet access working.

Unfortunately, it fouled up even worse than when I started tinkering with it. It'll have to go into the shop on Monday.

Luckily, I have this back-up computer to use in the meantime. Although it is Windows 7, it works good enough.

UPDATE: 

Fixed it! 

Wi-Fi During Cruise

The five day stretch of no blog posts during my Bahamas cruise was probably the longest one ever. I had my laptop with me, but I didn't use it. I could have blogged with my cell phone as well.

It was not that I couldn't make any blog posts, it was due to the limited amount of time I could use the Norwegian Sky Wi-Fi without being charged $5.99/minute. 

When out to sea, Norwegian Cruise Lines charges that amount after 75 minutes of free Wi-Fi. They also offered several plans, all over $90. No thanks!

I don't recall Royal Caribbean charging for Wi-Fi or, if they did, it was much more reasonable during our cruise to Key West and Havana. 

 

I limited usage to my cell phone. When logging in, they would let me know (see above screen shot) how many minutes of free time was available. When not using my cell phone, I would put it in Airplane Mode. 

When we made stops in Freeport and Nassau, I was able to use available Wi-Fi there. As Great Stirrup Cay is owned by Norwegian, I figured I would be charged for Wi-Fi there, so I didn't bother. 

As the old saying goes, buyer beware.

Laptop Rebuild

Above, the rebuilt laptop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

About an hour ago, I returned from home from Gallup after picking up my laptop from the shop and having dinner at Genaro's.

I basically had my computer rebuilt. It got a new hard drive, casing and screen. I was thinking about getting a new laptop, but this was way cheaper.

At Genaro's, I had the two chile rellenos. I ordered the two rellenos plate and ate one there and took the other home for tomorrow's breakfast. Their rellenos are much bigger than the ones at Jerry's Cafe, so it is not unusual for me to bring one home. 

I got home in time before any thunderstorms decide to come into the area. It was starting to get cloudy on the way home. 

Mowed Yesterday

Above, yesterday after mowing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I mowed the field (dubbed Barking Spider Acre). 

I spent most of the morning Gallup dealing with a computer issue with my main laptop. It needs a new hard drive. So now its getting one. I am using my back-up laptop now.

After getting home, I decided to mow as it appeared a thunderstorm was approaching (part of our usual monsoon season). Sure enough, I was right. It hit when I started watching the Republican National Convention.

It us amazing how quick brush grows when it get rain. I last mowed two weeks ago and already it needed another mow.

All Domestic US Flights Grounded By FAA

All domestic U.S. flights have been grounded due to a "technical" computer error this morning by the Federal Aviation Administration.

According to he Daily Caller:

All domestic flights in the U.S. were grounded Wednesday morning due to a technical error.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working to restore a system that allows air traffic control to alert pilots when there are potential hazards on their flight path.

“We are performing final validation checks and reloading the system now. Operations across the National Airspace System are affected,” the FAA wrote on Twitter. “We will provide frequent updates as we make progress.”

Roughly an hour after their initial tweet, the FAA sent an update to followers, announcing that the agency had “ordered airlines to pause all domestic departures until 9am Eastern Time,” to allow for research to be done on the “integrity of flight and safety information.”

To read more, go here. 

Computer Gone Haywire

Above, the back-up laptop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Things aren't off to a good start this morning.

My laptop decided to go haywire and after several tries to correct it, I did a System Restore and then something else happened.

Despite trying to fix itself, the computer wouldn't boot up, so I decided to take it in to my computer guy.

In the meantime, I am using my back-up laptop. The keyboard is a little different, but otherwise it is all the same. Both laptops are Toshiba units.

At least I have all the same files in both.

National Haywire Day?

Above, Historic Route 66 is bare of cars at a time when there are many of them normally. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today is proceeding on a strange note.

I had to go into Gallup this morning to the UPS Store to print a couple of tax documents. Things went fine there. Afterwards, I went a gas station and filled the Mustang's gas tank. That went fine also (gas was $1.929/gallon).

I first noticed something when I went to a convenience store and the cashier's chip reader wouldn't read the chip on my debit card. So, they had to press a few buttons and swipe the strip on my card and that worked.

Then, I had to scan and send 2 documents to my tax man in California. The scanner worked fine a week ago. Suddenly, it stopped working. I tried all kinds of different things per the program's instructions, but none of them worked. I will bring in the computer to the computer repairer when I pick up my other computer from his shop to see what's going on.

Above, Interstate 40 in the distance with few cars in Gallup. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I photographed the documents and emailed them to my tax guy and mailed a hard copy of each. So that matter was taken care of.

Then, I went to the Flying J to mail the hard copies and to get a book of stamps. They are $11.00 a book of stamps and I only had $8.00 on me (they don't take debit cards). So, I went to one of the two ATMs there and it started to act up and the card reader wouldn't release my card. I called the phone number on the machine and they instructed me to get an employee to unplug and plug in the machine to get my card released. An employee came, did what the ATM company said and my card was released.

I tried the second ATM at the Flying J and the same thing happened. I unplugged it myself and got my card.

The post office clerk and I had a chat and she said people are really getting edgy and today seemed weird. I told her what happened to me with the 2 ATMs. We wondered if a nuclear detonation took place causing a nuclear pulse that affected electronics.

I then decided to get the hell out of there and head on home before something else goes haywire. 

Gallup Today

Above, Tractor Supply in Gallup. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today will be the first time I will be in Gallup since the coronavirus "stay at home" order was issued.

I have a doctor appointment and then I have other things to attend to while I am in town. It will be interesting to see if people will actually be staying at home making Gallup a "ghost town" or if they're out and about as usual.

One stop will be at Tractor Supply to pick up cat food (they have big bags of Iams that nobody else seems to carry) and a computer repair shop. I have plenty of everything else, so a stop at a supermarket won't be necessary.

After that, it's home again.

Here's a little diddy by Roy Rogers:

Computer and Nitro

Above, the ECV "Nitro Packers" patch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My primary computer decided to act up yesterday, so I am now using my back-up. The only real difference is getting used to a different keyboard and I don't have the "vast" library of photographs to use.

Since I have a doctor appointment Wednesday in Gallup, I'll bring it in then. My bottle of nitro is a year and a half old, and from what I've read, the stuff expired long ago. But in order to get a new supply, I have to see my cardiologist first. I'm bringing with me my ECV "Nitro Packers" patch to show him to see what his reaction will be.

According to UWHealth.com:

Keep your nitroglycerin in the container it came in and tightly closed. Do not open your sublingual nitroglycerin until you need a dose. Replace your tablets every 3 to 6 months.

Other than that, since we all have to stay home (more or less) because of you-know-what, I've just been either chillin' at home or driving the Jeep. Thankfully, we have relatively cheap gasoline prices to fuel my indulgence.

The last I heard, there are four cases of coronavirus in McKinley County (where I live) and it finally made its way into the Navajo Nation.

One of Those Days

Above, Charles Bronson in Death Wish.

Today was one of those days when several irritating problems popped up all at once.

There were five of them that cropped up that had to be dealt with. They included a Windows computer issue, an issue with my phone (where I had to go into Gallup to get solved), a billing issue and two others.

At least while I was at the mall in Gallup, I walked into the F.Y.E. store and found a copy of the original 1974 Death Wish. It was about $7.00 less than the copy for sale at the Flying J. So I bought it and watched it this evening.

It is easily the best of the series. I spotted Jeff Goldblum as one of the muggers of Paul Kersey's (Charles Bronson) wife and daughter and Al Lewis (best known as Grandpa Munster) in a bit part.

I hadn't seen Death Wish since it first was released. It has aged pretty well, in my view. I'll watch Death Wish 4 tomorrow (from the DVD I bought the other day).

After solving all of the problems and having my phone fixed at T-Mobile in Gallup, I decided to have dinner at Denny's at the Flying J. I had the bourbon chicken skillet. I figured that I owed it to myself to relax and let someone else do the cooking.

Unfortunately, the meat was a bit rubbery (reminded me of the "rubber chicken circuit" of political dinners). I mentioned this to the cashier and he gave me a discount on the meal.

What a day!

AOL Gold Has Problems

If there are any of you reading this are AOL account-holders, you may want to avoid (at least for the time being) using AOL Gold, their newest program.

I downloaded it about 2 weeks ago and found a number of problems with it. It (at various times) is slow, unresponsive and freezes up.

I went back to using their previous program, AOL 9.8.2. That one works just fine.

A message was just sent to AOL outlining the problems. We'll see what they have to say.

Until they iron out the bugs with AOL Gold, I would not recommend using it.

Flying Without Laptops?

It's a good thing that I don't fly between the U.S. and the Middle East or Europe. Even if I did, I've 

rarely used my laptop computer while flying anywhere.

The proposed ban on large electronic devices is causing some concern for some.

According to Japan Today:

New York-International air travelers might soon rediscover magazines, paperbacks and playing cards. 

Airline passengers have become hooked on their laptops and tablets to get work done or just kill time during long flights. But U.S. aviation-security officials appear determined to ban large electronic devices in the cabin of flights from Europe. 

Business travelers are worried about lost productivity, laptops in checked baggage being stolen or damaged, or even leaving the machine home if their employer won't let them check it on a plane. Parents are pondering how to keep children occupied. 

On Wednesday, U.S. and European Union officials exchanged information about threats to aviation, believed to include bombs hidden in laptop computers. Airline and travel groups are concerned about the possibility that a ban on laptops and tablet computers that currently applies to mostly Middle Eastern flights will be expanded to include U.S.-bound flights from Europe. 

The officials agreed to meet again next week.

Some airlines, like United Airlines, still do give out free decks of playing cards. I keep my deck of United Airlines playing cards (pictured above) in my RV.

To read more, go here. 

Find It In Akihabara

Above, the Akihabara shopping district. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one should be in Tokyo and have need for something for their laptop or other Internet devices, there's a section in the city that may have it.

That place is Akihabara.

According to Live Japan:

Once known as a black market where people dealt with random items from international troops stationed in Japan after World War II, Akihabara is now a paradise for those looking to find electronic equipment and for Otaku (Fanatics) looking for the latest anime and manga related merchandise! 

Akiba, as it's known to the locals, is a great place to spend a day traveling and sightseeing. Being close to Asakusa and Ueno, there are a variety of interesting shops and cafes such as the ever-popular maid cafes, where you can be a “master” for a day as elegant young ladies and/or gentlemen cater to your needs! 

If shopping is on your mind, there are a ton of electronic shops, some as small as an office cubicle and others with more than 10 floors of the latest technology! Once you finish shopping, you can head to Ueno or Asakusa and relax and take in the atmosphere of many temple and shrine grounds or visit one of the many museums. With so many things to do in Akihabara, you are sure to have an amazing time!

 To read more, go here.

JCB Plaza Kyoto Opens Tomorrow

Above, a bullet train's view of Kyoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In order to better serve foreign visitors in Japan, JCB, the Japanese credit card company, is opening a new tourist center, JCB Plaza Kyoto.

According to Nasdaq.com:

TOKYO, Mar 13, 2015 - (ACN Newswire) - JCB Co., Ltd.("JCB"), the only global payment brand based in Japan, is pleased to announce that it will open the JCB Plaza Kyoto customer service center for visitors to Japan on April 1, 2015. Located in the Kyoto Station Building, and designed to provide a calm, tranquil atmosphere based on the Japanese concept, the new JCB Plaza Kyoto offers JCB services to support travelers such as sightseeing information, restaurant and hotel reservations, free internet browsing and daily baggage check.

Members will have free access to computers, free mobile recharging facilities and free Wi-Fi.

Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/jcb-opens-jcb-plaza-kyoto-customer-service-center-for-visitors-to-japan-20150313-00014#ixzz3VzFCBtX0

Tips On Buying Electronics In Japan

Above, the electronics meccs of Akihabara, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There are quite a number of Americans and other foreigners who have gone to Japan for vacationing and, also, to buy electronics, computers, software and cameras. Bargains can be found as well as models that are not available outside of Japan.

But, as the saying goes: "Buyer beware!" A big mistake (or two) may be made while buying electronics and other goods in Japan.

Gaijinpot.com has some tips that should be followed so that when you get your prized item home, you will find that it meets your expectations and works properly. Although the article focuses on Osaka, the same tips apply to goods that are purchased in places like Akihabara, Tokyo.

They begin their article with:

In Osaka, there are several places to go to for electronics. You can go to the big chains like Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera, or you can venture into Den Den Town. You can find just about anything you are looking for in Osaka, at a price. Sometimes that price is paid in frustration. 

Here are some steps you can take to avoid unnecessary problems.

To read more, go here. 

Windows XP Phaseout Puts 13 Million PCs At Risk In Japan, Says Experts

Above, a Japanese ATM kiosk. Most of the world's ATMs will be
vulnerable to attack due to the phaseout. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Did you know that Microsoft is going to stop supporting Windows XP operating systems in April?  Yes, it's true, and many (and I mean MANY) personal and business computers around the world will be vulnerable to attacks and viruses.

Japan's personal and business computers that are operating on Windows XP will be likewise vulnerable.

According to The Japan Times:

More than 13 million personal computers in Japan will be exposed to higher risk of virus and other attacks starting in mid-April, experts warn. 

These computers are still running the Windows XP operating system, which Microsoft Corp. will stop supporting entirely on April 9. 

An estimated 7.23 million Windows XP-based PCs are still in use by companies, accounting for 20 percent of all PCs in Japan. Migration to newer operating systems, such as Windows 8.1, has been slow, especially at small and midsize firms, because managers are either unaware of the problem or want to avoid the cost of updating.

Windows XP was introduced in 2001 (hard to believe it has been that long, since my now-discarded Acer laptop was bought in 2007).

Thank goodness my main computers are based on Windows 7 (which is a better operating system than Windows 8) and oldest computer is on a Windows 98 system that is no longer a target to attacks and viruses (I just use it for word processing anyway).

To read the full story, go here.

Wall Street Journal's "Tablet Wars"

Above, Apple's iPad Air.

Since the Christmas holiday season is just around the corner, a number of companies have introduced new tablet computers for you to play with and to read the Amazon Kindle ebook edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan (just had to get that in).

Nokia, Kindle, Apple, Nexus, Microsoft, Nook and Galaxy are some of the brands who have new products to choose from.

The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the new tablets.

Here's what they say:

Consumers have a bevy of new and upgraded tablets to choose from to watch movies and television shows, listen to music, read books and more. See how some of the more popular tablets stack up.

To see the new tablets, go here.

Public Wi-Fi While Traveling

Travelers these days bring along their laptop computers, tablet computers and phones that are capable of Internet access.

Most make use of public Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, coffee shops and other places. But doing so can put your equipment at risk of being hacked and going to websites that can install malicious files into your computer.

Here's a few tips while using public Wi-Fi when traveling:

1. Make sure you have a Firewall installed and turned on. This will keep your equipment safe from malicious activity.

2. Have a good antivirus program installed and use it regularly.

3. Confirm the network name you are using to access the public Wi-Fi. Hackers will set up similar names to lure people onto their network.

4. Make sure the "sharing" function of your computer is disabled.

5. Avoid websites what store your information such as banks. Wait until you get home.

Looks Like Friday...

...at the earliest that the repairs to my computer will be completed.

The repairer goofed and just ordered the glass and not the whole screen unit (that I requested be replaced) as the hinge caused some breakage to the frame holding the screen.  The screen wasn't broken from that, and I was planning on getting it into the shop anyway before the screen got broken from another cause.

Oh, well.

Thank goodness the local public library has computers available for use and they're FREE!

Time Moves On, But...

It seems like it was not too long ago that summer began and it opened with my presentation at Distant Lands Travel Bookstore and Outfitters in Pasadena.

Now we're only one day away from October and it will soon be harvest time in Nebraska.

As the summer started, my poor laptop had to go into the shop due to a clumsy co-worker who knocked over a soft drink on it.  Now, autumn started with it back into the shop as an object somehow swung into the screen and broke the glass. So it was back to the repair shop again.

It'll be fixed by noon tomorrow.