Computer Problem?
Did something strange just happen to your laptop or desktop? Perhaps an icon disappeared from the taskbar, your Internet browser is acting funny, or an endless list of other small gripes.
There are things you can do before calling a tech. Your first option is to re-boot your machine and most often that will supply the fix. If that doesn’t do the trick then Google the problem and most of the time you’ll come up with an answer.
A common fix when not being able to access the Internet is to pull the power (the small black cord) on your modem and your router if you have one. Wait 30 seconds, then plug them back in, wait two minutes, then open your browser. Chances are very good you’re now back on the Internet!
Caution: Never let anyone take remote control of your computer unless it is a technician that you know personally. This is a good way to get scammed!
Are you a Coffee Hound?
I’ve really never been a coffee drinker. A few months ago we stayed at a bed and breakfast in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Quietly sitting in the dining room was a Keurig coffee maker. Next to it was a display of different kinds of coffee in cute little container cups. Pop one of those cups in the machine, tell it how many ounces you want and push the magic button. Seconds later you have this exotic coffee drink. Add sugar and cream to your liking and sip away.
Of course after dinner that evening it was that time again. This was becoming fun and I was really enjoying the experience!
This went on for the three days we stayed there and by the time we left I was hooked. Arriving back in Phoenix, the first thing I did was to shop for this marvelous machine. I went to many stores and by far the best deal was Sam’s Club. They had the best price and it came with 45 K cups, many times more than other stores.
We tried a few different storage cabinets and the best one we found at Bed, Bath & Beyond. The drawer pulls out and there sits a stock of 36 K-Cups enough coffee for a couple of days! No, just kidding. My favorite taste is “Donut Shop” but of course your liking will be different.
One of the neat things is that there are dozens of flavors to choose from. I am now an official certified “Coffee Hound!”
Are You Protected?
This is really a leading question as it could pertain to a number of things in our lives, right? I believe one of the biggest things where protection is needed is your computer and your cell phone. Protection means backing up your files which includes documents, music, photos, and your contacts.
If your cell phone or computer quits and these things are not backed up, they are lost forever! This may be one of those things you think won’t happen, only to someone else. It’s kind of like never wearing your seat belt because you think you’ll never have an accident.
Simply plug it into a USB port, and do a one time software set up. Now, when it’s plugged in, it will continually monitor anything that you save and instantly copy it to the drive. Now you have two copies of all your files and when you computer or laptop fails you have your digital life saved!
Your cell phone back-up is different. If you’re using an Android phone, simply plug it into a USB port on your laptop or desktop. Now find the files you want to copy and paste them onto your external drive.
If you’re using an iPhone plug it into a USB port on your desktop or laptop and the back-up is accomplished using iTunes.
If you’re unfamiliar with the above procedures ask a friend who has this knowledge to help you.
We are living in a “Lost Generation of Photos” because everyone is taking pictures with their smartphones. Because they are not backing up those photos, when a failure occurs the photos are lost!
Remember your photos are what you pass along for future generations to enjoy, so take lots and back them up!
A Time of Reflection……..
Picture yourself sitting on a boulder and gazing at this scene. Perhaps you’ve packed a small picnic lunch, something you love to eat, and your favorite beverage. (Click photo for larger view.)
It’s quiet, except for a bird singing in a distant tree, and your thoughts wonder. You reminisce about all the experiences you’ve had until this point in your life, and you relive some of those times especially the high points! After a while you snap back into reality and get totally immersed into the moment.
It’s fall and the leaves are turning beautiful colors. You’re admiring the reflection in the water and your thoughts now turn to the present.
Where am I on the path of life? Am I really happy, or just biding time? Do I feel healthy? What makes me smile? What is my passion?
Again, you’re engrossed with the beauty of your surroundings. You take out your iPhone and take some pictures, then put on your earphones and listen to some soothing music. Oh….the serenity of my being.
What’s next on the path of life? What are my goals, challenges, and dreams? You’re reminded of the lyrics from one of Diana Ross’ songs..
”Do you know where you’re going to..Do you like the things that life is showing you…Where are you going to….Do you know?”
Because of this “Time of Reflection” you feel energized, but you might realize that there’s something missing…sometimes you just don’t feel whole. What is that feeling all about?
Maybe you don’t have a relationship with God. Maybe you need to find a church and feel his presence. If you have a church maybe you should go more often. If you have a church and don’t feel fulfilled maybe it’s time to find another.
If you’re reading this and live in Phoenix, you’re invited to Easter service at the Super Bowl! It all takes place on Sunday, April 5th at 10:30. Bring your family and friends and get there early (doors open at 9 am) because we’re expecting 60,000 people. CCV (Christ’s Church of the Valley) is a non-denominational bible based church with 6 campus locations in the valley. Step up, take a chance, it just may change your life!
The words of Diana’s song asks you “where are you going,” and God says in the Bible “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24
So many people travel from the womb to the tomb where other people push them. If you place a toy sail boat in the ocean, where will it end up? It’s no one’s guess. On your ocean of life, be the Captain of your ship and guide it to your destination!
So, we have reflected on the past, present and future. Imagine the world you want to live in! Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions!”
Walking down the path of life, say hello with a smile to everyone you meet. Give someone a sincere compliment today and watch them light up. Buy a stranger lunch the next time you visit a fast food restaurant….watch them light up and watch how it makes you feel!.
Be awesome today!
Please be Warned!
Internet scams seem to get worse by the day. There is an increasing amount of fake sites on the net and sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys! You may think you are on your banking site, but it’s really one that looks just like it. Make sure you sign in under secure conditions and sign out when finished with your business.
Most of us have received an email informing that there is a problem with an account, but it can easily be rectified if you click on an enclosed link and furnish your account information. Click on the link and you now have big problems. Delete these kinds of emails!
Another big scam is the little window that pops up in the lower right corner of your computer screen informing you that you have problems. Note the name of the program then remove it from your computer. Also run Malwarebytes, a free program that will remove malware and spyware from your machine.
What really prompted me to write this is that I personally got that call today, only the fraud at the other end was in for a surprise. I played along with him for 5 minutes, then informed him that I was an IT guy and he was a fake and I was going to call the FBI. He hung up immediately.
Be security conscious at all times, not only on the Internet but anywhere you happen to be!
How long will you live?
Have you ever read anything that inspires or motivates you? Sure you have. And have you ever noticed that a lot of motivational speakers inspire people because they lived through a tragedy that brought them close to death? Since they had such an experience and because of that experience, they talk about enjoying each moment of each day.
How many days do you have left on this earth? We don’t know and that’s a concerning question that sets us back a bit. What if you knew the end would happen this Saturday? Would you live those remaining days differently? Well I’m sure the answer would be an astounding yes!
We’ve all heard people say “I’ll really be happy when I reach 16,” or “I’ll really be happy when I get married, or divorced, when I retire, or win the lottery.” The list goes on and on. We tend to put off happiness and joy until tomorrow when we should be relishing each moment of today!
Today is the day you dreamt about yesterday, in fact it’s always today! If it’s always today then shouldn’t we live life to the fullest today?
My own father was an example of procrastinating joy and happiness. He owned his own business in the Midwest and didn’t take a vacation the last 15 years of his life. His promise was that he’d find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow when he retired. He said that he and my mother would move to Sun City, Arizona, enjoy the sunshine, make new friends, buy a motor home, travel, and “be happy.”
Well, that’s exactly what he did. He sold the business, and retired on his 65th birthday. They moved to Sun City. The first Saturday after settling in their new house, they went out to dinner to celebrate their new life, and after returning home he died suddenly of a heart attack.
Only one week of sunshine, no new friends, no motor home, no traveling, no joy of retiring that he promised himself and others for the past 15 years.
Take time today to count your blessings and be grateful for what you have. The more gratitude you have the more joy you will experience!
Research has shown that most lotto winners end up in bankruptcy and today are leading a miserable life. The happiest people on this planet are the ones with a passion for what they do and live life daily with a positive attitude!
Take a few minutes right now and write down things that make you happy. Be grateful for the things that you have and things that make you smile, and tell someone in your life today that you love them.
“LIVE WITH PASSION, IN A CONSTANT STATE OF JOY, AND WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!
I love you Arizona……..
I love Arizona….everything about it. The desert, the lakes, streams, canyons, mountains, and the pine trees in the high country. As a photographer our diverse and beautiful State offers vistas that my camera simply falls in love with!
A visit to Page, Arizona offers the breathtaking experience of the Antelope Slot Canyons and Horseshoe Bend. Arizona is world renowned for the majesty of the Grand Canyon. Then there’s Hoover Dam, Glen Canyon Dam, Roosevelt Dam, just to name a few, in fact the list is long!
Ninety minutes North of Phoenix is another must visit; the splendor of Sedona. This secluded community is nestled in red rock formations and is quite an experience at every turn of the road. Sites to see are Schnebly Hill, The Chapel of the Holy Cross, view from the airport, Red Rock State Park, shopping and dining in downtown and Tlaquepaque. The ride up 89A from Sedona to Flagstaff is simply magnificent!
Southern Arizona also has its charms including the sites and sounds of Tucson, Tombstone, Bisbee, and the Kartchner Caverns.
We are the winter home for many baseball teams including our own Diamondbacks, the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and the Texas Rangers!
You gotta love a place that has 333 days of sunshine a year and the world’s most beautiful sunsets!
And now you know a few reasons why “I love Arizona!”
All photos by Gary Stanley and you may click on them for a larger view.
Windows 10
Remember way back in 1995 when Microsoft introduced Windows 95? That was a huge step from Windows 3.1. Since then we’ve had many operating systems, some good some bad. Windows XP had a 14 year run and 10% of all desktop users are still holding out. Windows ME and Vista were dogs, but Windows 7 brought back the faith.
Check out the full story from CNET.
Windows 7 Exits Mainstream Support
That’s the headline and it takes effect on Tuesday January 13th, 2015. But don’t panic, that doesn’t mean the end of one of Microsoft's most popular operating systems.
Leaving mainstream support only means that Windows 7 won't be receiving any new features or product tweaks. So relax, it’s not going anywhere for years, thank goodness!
The full story from PCWorld.
Live Your Passion!
What is your passion? Mine is simply the passion of loving & living life!
I’m wondering if that’s more prevalent after retirement as in our younger years we seem to be too busy raising children, making money, and being dedicated to our jobs.
It doesn’t have to be that way though as we don’t have to wait until we retire to live passionately! Just take time each day to give thanks and absorb the wonder of gratitude.
For a long time my passion was technology and it still is, but photography has taken taken a large place in my heart the past few years. When you love taking photos you become much more aware of the beauty that surrounds you and life is more pleasurable!
Look at the beauty of this picture taken of Oak Creek in Sedona, Arizona during the summer months.
(Click to enlarge.)
Take lots of photos, because when you leave this earth those are the memories that you will leave behind!
“Live with passion, in a constant state of joy, and with an attitude of gratitude!”
The Best Christmas Gift of All !
Years ago Christmas was simple. Families gathered, went to church, had a nice dinner together, and celebrated the true meaning of the day. Presents were few and mostly homemade.
Now I know we can’t go back to “The Little House on the Prairie,” but we can bring back a few basics. Number one is not feeling like you have to buy a hundred presents and even worse putting them on your credit card.
Number two is that we live in a world of advanced technology, but wouldn’t it be nice if we could all put our iPads and iPhones down when the family is together. Maybe we could actually engage in a conversation! This holds true not only for Christmas but throughout the year.
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. It’s a time to experience joy, reflect on times past, and make plans for the future. It’s a time to find inner peace and experience less stress instead of more.
The best Christmas gift of all is giving gratitude. Make it a point this year to make a list of things you are grateful for. You will love the feeling it will give you. Make it a point to write a note or tell someone in person that you are grateful for them.
Take a moment, right now, close your eyes, take several deep breaths, and give thanks for all that you have and for who you are.
Merry Christmas from our house to yours!
Your Cell Phone Number
Here’s a quick tip about your cell phone. Never give your number to anyone on the Internet.
A lot of websites including Facebook will occasionally give you a message that says “For increased account security, please furnish your cell phone number.” No, I don’t think so!
The Internet already knows enough about us as it is let alone giving them our phone number.
This Blog is on the roll….
In the past I wasn’t very efficient at posting thoughts here, but that’s changing now as the result of not authoring Cyber News anymore.
This is even a better way of keeping friends and former Cyber News readers informed as to technology, photography, and other fun things because stuff can be posted at any time rather than just once a month.
The emails have been pouring in with accolades and comments regarding the cancellation of Cyber News and I thank you most humbly! I have to admit a few of them brought tears. I’ll try to reply to each one.
Many of you said that “when one door is closed another one will open.” Well, within hours an opportunity came for me to be a featured photographer on a new International web site. I am flattered and excited. I’ll tell you all about it as the project materializes.
Stay tuned my friends……..and enjoy each minute of this day!
Cyber News
For over ten years I have authored an online magazine called “Cyber News.” It is with sadness that as of December 1, 2014 I will no longer publish this online magazine.
Everything has a beginning and an end and it’s time to close the door on something that I loved doing.
Thanks to the thousands who have read Cyber News not only in America but in over 100 Countries. My blessings to you all!
Now it’s time to keep this Blog up to date by posting things about technology, photography, and anything else of interest.
So “Happy December” and let’s have a great month preparing for the new year!
The Smart Phone Battle–Continues……
Now all those rumors are laid to rest as the day has arrived. Apple came out with two new models, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. The six has a screen size of 4.7” compared to 4” in previous models. The 6 Plus features a 5.5” screen.
I must admit that Apple continues to be a mammoth marketing machine! The company possesses some magic ingredient that makes people want to purchase their products as evidenced by 4,000,000 iPhone pre-order sales in the first 24 hours on September 9th.
However, one must take a look at Samsung and compare the new Galaxy Note 4 to the iPhone 6 Plus. In my opinion, there is no comparison as the Galaxy wins hands down!
The Note 4 has more memory, a faster processor, higher screen resolution, and more battery power. Speaking of the battery, it is customer replaceable whereas the iPhone must be sent to an authorized dealer. Also a fast charge mode! Memory in the Galaxy can easily be increased by inserting a mini SD card. No such option is offered with the Apple phones.
The Samsung features split screen multitasking and again, no such luck with the iPhone.
The Galaxy Note 4 is heads above in the camera department featuring a 16 MP back camera and 3.7 MP on the front. Compare this to the iPhone: 8MP back and 1.2 MP front!
This is just a partial list of Samsung’s advantages and you can see a more comprehensive list here.
If you haven’t already jumped on the Apple wagon, you might want to consider the Galaxy Note 4. Another advantage is that you can forget the frustration of Apple’s iTunes!
Road Rage
Ever notice that it seems everyone is mad today? Where is it all coming from? Hollywood hasn’t helped the situation with all their sex, drugs, and violent movies.
The art of being nice to each other is all but lost. People don’t even make eye contact very often. You say hi to someone and if you’re lucky you might get a grunt.
I’m not saying this is 100% of the time, but it’s pretty much the general rule.
Lately I have made it a point to say something nice to total strangers.
If I find someone giving an outstanding performance on the job, I will tell the manager, or go on the corporate web site and pass along the compliment so it filters down the chain of command. It benefits all as the giver feels good and the receiver feels great!
I’ve lived in Phoenix for 18 years where the population is over 4 million. That’s a lot of folks driving everyday. One of the things that “trips my trigger” every time is someone who races up behind my vehicle and then rides my bumper. It’s called “tailgating.” I’m lucky it hasn’t gotten me in trouble as people have been shot because they didn’t get out of the way!
I know you’ve probably been there too and know how it feels. Your blood boils…..
Now I’ll move over, let them pass, take a deep breath, and smile. Life is too short to let some dimwit get the best of you or worse yet get you involved in an accident!
A June Vacation
Everyone loves a vacation. It's a time for fun and adventure! This June we traveled through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Colorado. 4,600 miles of driving the highways and byways of America, visiting friends and family and taking in all the sights.
This is my home town, Davenport, Iowa where we have family and lots of friends. We spent a week there with the highlight being my grand-
daughter's graduation party.
LeClaire, Iowa is a short distance up the Mississippi and we always stop by and visit the site of "American Pickers." They have two vans now and this is the older one parked at the site. We traveled one day with friends to the Amana Colonies and had a delightful lunch at the famous "Ox Yoke Inn."
After a week in our home community we traveled to Milwaukee for my grandson's graduation party. Great time at both events!
We then traveled West on I-90 through Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The drive across SD was beautiful and we visited the Corn Palace, the famous Wall Drug, Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, and Crazy Horse. We spent all afternoon driving through the Badlands and it was a great experience. You can see those photos here. Besides family and friends, Mt. Rushmore was the highlight of the trip! It's a sight that every American should enjoy.
South Dakota showed us a great time, and then we were off to visit friends in Ft. Collins, Colorado. It was a relaxing time riding the new "Max" bus to downtown. Visited the farmers market, and had a lunch at the "Welsh Rabbit Cheese Shop" that I'm still raving about!
We spent one afternoon touring the devastation caused by a 100 year flood that happened last September. The ride on Rt 34 through the canyon to Estes Park was very sad to witness, even though a tremendous amount of repair has been accomplished.
Thanks to our hosts in all three cities!
After three weeks it was time to head home and we always love seeing this sign and clear skies at the New Mexico-Arizona border.
All photos were taken with my Samsung Galaxy S4, and you can click on the photos for a larger view.
daughter's graduation party.
LeClaire, Iowa is a short distance up the Mississippi and we always stop by and visit the site of "American Pickers." They have two vans now and this is the older one parked at the site. We traveled one day with friends to the Amana Colonies and had a delightful lunch at the famous "Ox Yoke Inn."
After a week in our home community we traveled to Milwaukee for my grandson's graduation party. Great time at both events!
We then traveled West on I-90 through Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The drive across SD was beautiful and we visited the Corn Palace, the famous Wall Drug, Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, and Crazy Horse. We spent all afternoon driving through the Badlands and it was a great experience. You can see those photos here. Besides family and friends, Mt. Rushmore was the highlight of the trip! It's a sight that every American should enjoy.
Thanks to our hosts in all three cities!
After three weeks it was time to head home and we always love seeing this sign and clear skies at the New Mexico-Arizona border.
The Smart Phone Battle
I have to give credit to Steve Jobs for the explosion of photography starting with the iPhone 4. Pocket camera sales are at an all time low and personally I see them disappearing from the marketplace in the next couple of years, and that’s all because of smartphone camera technology.
It would have sounded far fetched if someone would have told you, not that long ago, you could access the Internet, send and receive email, send and receive texts, take great pictures and videos, pay your bills, deposit checks, and even make telephone calls on a hand held device! But we are doing just that and more today.
Smart phones just keep getting smarter so we’re constantly thinking what the next model will offer us.
Apple’s iPhone certainly had the market share until Samsung came along with the Galaxy S4. In a lot of people’s opinion the new Galaxy S5 really out did the iPhone 5S on several accounts.
So the question is what will Apple bring to the table in a few short months? If it’s the iPhone 6 or whatever they call it, will it take the lead again? Here’s an in depth look at this whole discussion.
An Open Letter to Microsoft
The world is literally hating Windows 8. We understand that you needed an OS to support tablets but there are millions of us that still use desktop computers and throwing the Metro system in our face was a huge mistake.
Who was the genius that decided to drop the start button? Who was the genius that made the original setup so complicated? Who was the genius that decided to drop the games that we have loved over the years? You promised a start button with Windows 8.1 update and it still put Metro in our face.
Unless you’re a techie and know the secret of configuring a new computer you have to sign up for a Microsoft account and give your name, email address, date of birth, telephone number, and the size of your socks! We are mad and frustrated before it ever boots up and then we don’t see the desktop, we are faced with the confusing Metro screen!
Without research and more frustration, we can’t even figure out how to shut down the computer.! We can’t find anything that’s familiar. How do we get to the control panel, task manager, power options, device manager? Why would you want to alienate millions of computer users all over the world?
If we had some clue as to Microsoft’s future plans we might feel more comfortable but they are tight lipped, or maybe confused themselves.
We are begging you Microsoft to shape up your act before we all abandon ship! We already have an iPad and an iPhone which we dearly love. Is the next step an iMac?
Technology
The mind of man has not conceived where we’ll be even five years from now because it hasn’t been thought of yet!
I have been fascinated and intrigued by technology all my life. Early on I owned an electronics business, but gave that up for a career in aviation. Back in the early eighties I got involved with computers and after retiring from flying started a computer business.
Today we are enjoying these tremendous strides in technology in all kinds of ways. The Internet, digital photography, high definition television, tablets, drones, and smart phones, just to name a few.
Sitting in the drivers seat of some new automobiles resembles the cockpit of a jet. All these new innovations at your finger tips like satellite radio, bluetooth, USB connections, and electronic navigation.
Maybe the biggest thing that has really changed our lives is the cell phone. How did we ever live without them? With a smart phone the possibilities are becoming endless. Sophisticated cameras, keeping track of your appointments, navigation, online banking including check deposits, photo galleries, the Internet, and all the other things we can do with them.
Cell phone texting serves a valuable purpose in many ways but its negative side is causing our society to loose social graces. A great many people are spending more time in cyber space than they are in reality. Driving while intexticated is causing more deaths today than driving while intoxicated!
I’m sure you’ve seen Mom, Dad, Brother and Sister at a restaurant having dinner. While eating their food, the entire time all four of them are texting! When you text while being with other people you are non verbally saying that the person you’re texting is more important than the person or persons you’re with!
I’ve even seen people in church spend most of the service with their bright screen antagonizing the people around them while they continually surfed Facebook. Facebook should be an occasional visit and not an addiction.
Technology will continue to change the world but we must continue to embrace the family unit!
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