Category Archives: commentary

Getting Photoshop Back

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Photoshop LogoWhere’s Photoshop

One of the apps that Geek Squad couldn’t help with was Photoshop. The trick with Photoshop is getting the application on a new computer without being charged for the app again. Rather than downloading the app and then fighting with billing for a refund I logged on and went to customer service.

Photoshop Customer Service

The phones are closed on the weekend but they had a “chat option”. I took that. Thus began a very frustrating 1.5 hours. Part of it was my fault. I used a different email address when I originally set up my account than I was telling them. I kept giving the poor rep the wrong information and he/she kept telling me I didn’t have an account. We tried many, many different ways to find it. The credit card was destroyed (It was hacked) I couldn’t remember when the last payment was made and so on. I was more hindrance that help.  Finally I searched my credit card site and Voila! There was the charge. I shared that and they found  my account. Of course they had to give me a gentle slap on the hand for not knowing what email address I used.

Time to be transferred to a new department

The new representative sent me the link to added both Photoshop and Lightroom . He/she assured me that I was not going to be charged. I downloaded the file from the link and got a large zip file. I tried to open it but still couldn’t find the apps. Now I work with zip files all the time at work. I’m not totally computer illiterate but I was stumped. Back to the chat. 

Remote Access Saves The Dayphotoshop twirl

Completely frustrated I gave the chat associate remote access to my computer. I watched as the curser traveled around my desk top. Once the file was opened the download began again. It got hung up at about the halfway point. It was being blocked by my security settings. That issue resolved we began downloading the individual apps. It took a long time but finally I was back in business. All in all between the 2 chat rooms it took 3 hours to get the Photoshop and Lightroom transferred.

I did lose about 5 older files in the process but hopefully they are on a disc someplace in my archives. My fault, not Photoshop’s.

 

Technical Difficulties

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Technical  Computer issues delay posts

I’m having some pretty serious technical problems. My computer is slowly giving up the ghost. I’ve known I had a sick desktop for quite awhile. I’ve been limping along using my ancient lap top but that’s also failed. So I’m stealing a minute in my company computer to bring you this update.

My Plan of Action

It looks like the first chance I’ll have to go computer shopping is Saturday. If I can find something in stock that I like I might be able to start posting as soon as Sunday. I’ll have to try to transfer my apps to the new computer. I’m not sure how long that will take to how many have been corrupted. I don’t want to share any viruses that might have found a home in my  old computer. My company also offers discounts on Dell computers but I think that I have to wait for it to ship if I go that route. I’ll look into it tomorrow.

What have we missed?

This was probably a blessing in disguise as I was starting to struggle to come up with topics. The weather has been horrible so I haven’t felt like going out on the weekends.  I did get a short break (1 week) where I took off to the Big Island of Hawaii. Of course I have lots of stories, tips and comments about this adventure but I can’t upload the photos at the moment.

I did see Kilauea

Kilauea was putting on quite a show when I was there. This is the glow from the lava lake. The lava is probably 60-80 feet below the rim. It was “fountaining” between 60 to 120 ft so we’d see glimpses of the tops of the fountains on the big ones. This is one of the pictures I took but it’s small because the computer can’t handle the full size file.

Hopefully I’ll get this all resolved and be back in business next week. Thanks for your patience.

 

Celebrate the Holidays

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December is a Month of Holidays

Happy Holidays or is it Merry Christmas? It is Christmas Day, the end of December. December 25 to be exact. Since Thanksgiving the world has been going mad with Christmas spirit. Displays in stores, Christmas Carol’s on the radio, Christmas movies on TV, Christmas everywhere. Even if you aren’t Christian it’s hard not to get caught up in the frenzy.  You have Santa Claus at the mall and even the Grinch! 

Snow for Christmas

This year will be a white Christmas in many areas. Folks are embracing the cold as just part of the season. No offence to Old Saint Nick but you can keep the North Pole weather right where it is, up north, at least as far as I’m concerned. OOPS ! Did that sound grinchy? I’m just not a fan of the cold.

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?

It seems to me that the Christians in the world know Christmas stands for the birth of Christ but in this modern world it’s just a commercial holiday. It’s meaning much like Labor Day, Memorial Day and so many other holidays has been diluted. For the religious that’s bad but think about it another way.  The holiday has become a season of celebration for many people of diverse backgrounds. They may not join in the religious aspect but they enjoy the lights, the music and the joy of the season. I have Jewish friends that celebrate Hanukkah in December and also join in with the Christmas parties that abound. And what about Kwanzaa which celebrates African Heritage.

Lots of December Celebrations

There’s lots of celebrations in December so maybe Happy Holidays is the best choice. 

  • Saint Nicholas Day (Christian)
  • Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexican)
  • St. Lucia Day (Swedish)
  • Hanukkah (Jewish)
  • Christmas Day (Christian)
  • Three Kings Day/Epiphany (Christian)
  • Boxing Day (Australian, Canadian, English, Irish)
  • Kwanzaa (African American)
  • Omisoka (Japanese)
  • Yule (Pagan)
  • Saturnalia (Pagan)

Don’t forget Season’s Greetings

And finally, there’s Season’s Greetings. Maybe this is the best choice of all. Not everyone is happy this time of year. I know many families and individual’s that are missing loved ones. Some have passed on other are estranged some are fighting wars in far off lands. Some families are struggling with illness or other hardship. It’s easy to forget that not everyone is happy during this time of year. Lets be gentle and tolerant and remember that many struggle in this season of joy.  I’ll end this missive with a nice generic

Season’s Greetings to all!

 

 

Great Whites Prowl the Coast of Cape Cod

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Cape Cod Paddle boarder attacked!

Shark bite in paddelbaord

082317- Paddleboard bitten by shark off Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, MA. (Cape Cod National Seashore photo)

That’s a juicy headline for Cape Cod. And not just on the cape. It made the headlines on all the local Boston stations too. The attack was in 3 ft of water off Marconi Beach, Wellfleet, Ma.

 

 

 

Where are all the Sharks?

Sharks have always been summer visitors to the Cape. But now that the seal population has exploded more and more sharks are here. So why do we have so many seals? In 1972 the Marine Mammal Protection Act made it illegal to harm or harass these animals. Great White sharks help keep the seal populations in check. Believe it or not, we need more white sharks to balance out  the seals.

Swimmers and boaters should understand that sharing the water with great whites means sharing the beaches and land with fewer seals. Check out this map of sightings, tagings and pings!  http://www.capecodtimes.com/great-white-sharks-map

Cape Cod Officials want to Kill Great Whites

Is it JAWS all over again? In 1975 we were all afraid to go in the water when Steven Spielberg turned Peter Benchley’s book into a big screen success. It was set on Martha’s Vineyard. Now in a twist of life imitating  art we have Great Whites paroling our coast. Once again our local officials want to wage war on these magnificent creatures. Why do we think we have the right to kill off any animal that interferes with humans? These Great Whites are just doing their own thing acting as apex predators. That’s what they are supposed to do.

Killing Sharks is not the answerGreat white shark swimming

Why do we humans feel we have the right to kill off the predators. I don’t want anyone hurt but why is the ocean any different than bears in the forest? Do you let your child wander alone in grizzly country? Sharks are hunting for food. When humans go hunting most often it is for sport. What if the animals we hunt could decide to kill us because we are a threat?

What do you think?

Should we hunt down the Great White Sharks of Cape Cod? Yes or No?

Please share this post to raise awareness. Thank you

The Great American Eclipse of 2017

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What did you think of the Eclipse?solar eclipse

What were you doing and where were you when the Great American Eclipse took place Monday? It was billed as a once in a lifetime event but that’s not really true. America was treated to a solar eclipse 38 years ago on February 26, 1979. The difference between then and now is that the path of totality in 1979 was the Pacific Northwest. This one is called The Great American Eclipse because it can only be seen in the US. It started over Oregon and ended near Charleston, SC.

Path of Totality

Starting around 10 am local time in Oregon it traveled across the US at an amazing 1700 mph. The whole thing was over in about 1.5 hours. Kentucky experienced most of the action with the sun blocked out for around two minutes and 41 seconds. We only got a partial eclipse here in Massachusetts but it was still very interesting. In fact I found I was much more excited when I actually saw it than in thinking about it.

partial eclipseI wish I Could Have a “Do Over”

I didn’t get excited about the eclipse until about the week before. After a mad scramble I got my hands on some glasses. But it was on the whale watch Sunday that I really figured out how I messed up. I was in the office hard at work through the whole eclipse. Well most of it anyway. I did step out for part of it. But the office is surrounded by trees so the viewing area is a bit obscured. Lots of people from other offices were watching.  I should have taken the day off and gone out on a boat trip. Talk about a wide open view!

Amazing World of Technology

I made sure that I wasn’t too left out even if I was stuck in the office. NASA, Facebook, U Tube were just a few of the online sources for viewing. I could watch the moon taking a bite out of the sun in Oregon! Isn’t technology amazing?

Next Time

The next solar eclipse that is going to cover America is April 8, 2024. April can be cloudy and chilly. No guarantee I’ll be able to get any better views then. Best to make the most of this one. I would love to see a Total eclipse now that I’ve gotten a taste of a partial. What about you?