Friday, July 30, 2010

NEWER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER!!

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I think it was back around the end of March when I saw the last one.  We see them every day while traveling & generally most of them in the southwest during the winter months.  This morning on my way to Goderich to pick up the mobility van I was fortunate enough to see another one.........A sunrise:))   And, what a beautiful sunrise it was too.  Am looking forward to many more sunrises in the next 3 weeks as my days, for the most part, will begin early.

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AN ARIZONA SUNRISE

Turned out to be a long day with the mobility van but there was enough 'wait time' between runs to catch a few winks & take a few pics.

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I WAS THINKING OF YOUR RV QUEST WHEN I SAW THIS TODAY, GYPSY  ($14,500)

NELLIE had a question about what kind of spam we have been getting since dropping the verification tool.  Nothing gross so far but some of it has been 'computer speak' meaning unreadable symbols.  Some emails pretend to be interested in our blog but are just scammers trying to gain a toehold for their products.  Nothing real bad yet!!

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THIS LITTLE FELLOW SITS ATOP OUR JEEP AERIAL

As with most couples, Kelly & I have our morning computer routines.  For the past few years we have just had one computer on board while traveling.  Last winter while in the southwest we bought a second Toshiba laptop in Sierra Vista, Arizona.  Although we couldn't use the 2 computers at the same time on-line it did set up some patterns for me to work at things on one computer while Kelly did the same on the other.  In another month we will look into what equipment we need to run 2 computers simultaneously on-line before we head south again this winter.  As it is now, I start my days with the laptop in my recliner while Kelly does her stuff on the desktop in the sunroom.  Just started this double morning routine in the last 4 months & can't imagine going back to sharing one computer again while on the road.  And besides,  I'm an only child & I do not like to share!!  So there...................

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SAM  left a comment question in Thursday's blog which asked,  "Since I am an all XP family right now I guess I will have to wait till I either buy a Windows 7 machine or the Beta upgrade becomes the defacto standard and will support XP, hate to sound old fashioned but my XP keeps chugging along and I am used to it like an old friend."

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AN ELDERLY AFTERNOON STROLL ON THE BOARDWALK

Well Sam, I guess you & I are part of a shrinking 'old fashioned' club & I know what you mean by XP seeming like an old friend.   We have two computers running XP & one with Win 7.  I'm sure Win 7 is a fine program in it's own right but I still prefer my old easy to use & understandable XP & regularly grab my XP laptop ahead of the Win 7 laptop.   If we didn't have XP I probably would be up & running fine with Win 7 now, but given the choice...................

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I THINK THIS IS THE SAME COAST GUARD BOAT I HAD A LITTLE TOUR ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO

In this ever expanding technology age of whatever is newer & smaller is better, some of us seem to be getting steadily farther behind.  Too many times I have automatically upgraded different programs believing new was going to be a big improvement & too many times I have been sadly disappointed!!   Music program upgrades especially come to mind.  Since they started integrating everything with mobile phones, live video uploads, live this, live that, etc. etc. I have been left further in the dust.  The only mobile things I am comfortable with these days are my shoes.

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FOUND A NICE SHADY SPOT AT THE BEACH THIS AFTERNOON FOR A FEW ZZZZZZZZZZ'S

A lot of the new wiz-mo stuff is fine for the techie guys who enjoy the increasingly complex technologies & have the right number of brain cells in place, but I am finding it increasingly difficult to keep up I just don't seem to have the patience or memory for stuff anymore like I once did.   For the most part I do love most of this computer stuff with all it's wiz-bang gadgets but my aging brain is having difficulty keeping up with everything & I find I am becoming increasingly discouraged. 

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Decades ago there was a huge race between America & Russia to put a man on the moon.  Now there seems to be a big race going on amongst tech companies to see who is going to be the first company to shrink things like cell phones, cameras, I-products & computers down to the size of sand grains. 

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LAKE HURON BATHERS WITH GODERICH'S SALT MINE IN THE BACKGROUND

I'm sure a lot of folks will disagree with me here Sam, but in my opinion.....stick with the Live Writer you have for as long as you can.  It works fine, is easy to use & has everything you need.  Enjoy your XP platform for as long as you can as well & remember, newer is not always better. 

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'GURU AT WORK'  (File photo from August 09)

And, the truth be known.......if it wasn't for Kelly's wily computer smarts & patient problem solving ways you probably would not be reading this blog because I would likely have thrown this Mossmagator of a computer into the front yard frog pond a long time ago.......................10-4!! 

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THIS DUTCH WINDMILL IS JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM US

GROANER'S CORNER:((    A mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the engine of a class ‘A’ Motor Home when he spotted a well-known heart surgeon in his shop. The surgeon was there waiting for the service manager to come take a look at his RV when the mechanic shouted across the garage "Hey doc, can I ask  you  a question?"
The surgeon, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working on the Motor Home. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take the valves out, repair any damage, and then put them back in, and when I finish, it works just like new. So how come I get such a small salary and you get the really big bucks, when you and I are doing basically the same work?
The surgeon paused, smiled and leaned over and whispered to the mechanic, "Try doing it with the engine running."

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UN-AWAKENED"

It's not the concept of God I have a problem with......it's his fan club!!

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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

18 comments:

  1. I'm running Vista and I guess I'm one of the 3 people that don't hate it. I expected to hate it, but I never had a problem with it so I see no reason to change.

    Love the sunrise picture and your sunroom is beautiful. I'd have my computer time there as well.

    Hey...why is this comment box so tiny?

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  2. Hey Al...You're right about my fonts...I have been playing with them lately..bad idea..As for computer systems...We have Vista...and Dennis hates it!!! He liked XP ...and would like to try Windows 7...Like I said, he DOES NOT LIKE Vista....

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  3. Great post and pictures again today, Al. I wrote up a draft today which I will probably post tomorrow and, in my own way, it was somewhat similar to what you wrote today about technology. I hear you!

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  4. Good groaner tonight! But, inquiring minds want to know what those birds were in the windmill picture...he he he! :)

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  5. Al, a MIFI would allow both of you to do web stuff at once. I use a cradlepoint router that I purchased at the 3G store on the web. It is a couple of years old now, and will need KELLY to configure it.

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  6. While I am the only person using my aircard/internet connection, I believe you can hook up to 5 different computers or accessories with MiFi. I think the connection is probably superior to AT&T's aircard, and when my contract is up (if not before) I am definitely switching to MiFi.

    Love the windmill picture!

    Count my vote for XP. I would have gladly stayed with it but they were only selling Vista at the time I switched. I do have relatively fewer problems with the Mac, but I don't have near enough patience and techno savvy to use it to its potential. And that suits me fine - I don't want to take anything technological out to the outer limits. I want to do my little thing - check email, write a blog and read others' blogs. surf the net once in a while, play some music and look at my photos. I also run a genealogy program. I don't want to fill those little empty storage spaces in my brain with stuff I don't want to know - heck, I might need those storage spaces for important (to me) stuff. XP did everything I wanted it to, and it did it with a minimum of fuss and complexity as far as I'm concerned.

    I think the trend to smaller and smaller is in reality an anti-age thing. Anybody knows we lose some of our vision as we age, so if they make things like cell phones smaller and more difficult to read, then that automatically leaves senior citizens out.

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  7. Newer isn't always better even with technology. That's why I never upgraded to Vista opting to stay with XP as it was, in my opinion, a better OS. Unless you're buying a computer, there's no reason at all to upgrade to Win7. However, now that I have Win7 on my new computer, I'm convinced it's the best Microsoft Windows OS ever!

    As for an option to allow more than 2 people to use your existing Verizon air card - a Cradlepoint Router, from 3G, is the only way to go as far as I'm concerned.

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  8. Great pic of that Coast Guard boat. Well, all the pics were actually great, but the CG boat was my favorite. Your snoozing spot looked cool and quiet!

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  9. Al, regarding sharing your internet connection...

    We started with a Verizon USB aircard, probably what you have. When we added another computer, we added the smallest Cradlepoint router from the 3G store. It took me a few tries to get both computers on (Kelly could handle it easily), and we were very happy with it. We also bought a 12v. adapter cord so we could run it off our 12v system when boondocking (critical for you).

    I recently plugged the aircard into the router, then the router into the cord for my computer. STAND BACK! A spark, a horrid sizzling sound, a puff of smoke and a burning smell... bye, bye router and aircard! OMG!

    We went straight to the Verizon store (in a pacnic) and purchased a MiFi, the least expensive way to go if you don't already have an aircard (or, if yours is fried!). Works GREAT, and we got a discounted price since our aircard was up for the 1 year "upgrade".

    If you use the little USB cord to plug it into your computer, it works like an aircard. If you plug it into the 110v elect, it works like a router/aircard combo. It also can operate for some period of time (the Verizon rep said 2 hours, but you know they will say anything) on it's internal battery (and you can get a 12v cord for it, too). It has enough of a signal that we have been able to share it with nearby friends from time to time - it can support up to 5 wireless gadgets at once. We are very happy with it.

    Safe travels,
    Laurie

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  10. I love the sunrises and sunsets. I can't get enough of those beautiful pictures!

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  11. Thanks for your info and advice on Live Writer, I am happy with the version that works with XP and was just curious to see what was new. I would rather wait until we get on the road and we buy Donna a new laptop which undoubtable will have Windows 7,then I will see what the new is really about,Unless my laptop or desktop crashes it will be XP for the forseeable future for me. Great boat picture, From an old US Navy man. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  12. I concur with everyone else Al, a Cradlepoint router from the 3G store, works great with two computers because I too am married to an only child--Mike!! What's with you only children--don't like to share and both of you are hermits??

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  13. Yeah, why is the box so small? Been so busy with family coming this weekend, very little time for blog reading or posting. Hang on for Sunday morning, though!

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  14. We use the cradlepoint router with Verizon also, and it works pretty well. It is also easy to set up and provides security settings.

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  15. We have one laptop with XP and my new Toshiba came with win7. Happy with them both. I have friends that have Vista and hate it.

    We have a Verizon USB 760 air card and the Cradlepoint 1,000 router. We also have a Wilson amplified antenna to boost the signal. Both laptops connected at once, works great.

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  16. I love that picture of Kelly in that gorgeous room. She's like Captain Kirk at the controls as she looks out that giant window :)

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  17. Really enjoy reading your blog, Al. Always brings a smile to my face!

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  18. This afternoon I went for a walk around our campground here in Julian, CA and saw a r pod trailer just down from us. I'd never seen one before. When I got back to our trailer, I looked at your website and I've now seen 2 r pods in one day. Very cool.

    I'm with everyone's vote about the MiFi. We love ours.

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