Shalom

at long, long last

I hope I'm finally back on line without further hiccups. Things were fixed a couple of times but never lasted long. Then my computer stated making strange noises and slowed right down. No viruses, malware etc, probably just extreme old age and dementia. It was never the top of the range, although it did all I required.

Now I am the owner of a new Apple, thanks to #1 son. He has also fixed our network, tidied up a lot of bits and pieces and poor connections and convoluted puzzles in my husband's study and voilà! Everything works. I'm still adjusting to the Mac. We''ve had PCs since the 70s. Our first was called a Sorcerer and ran Spellbinder, an early word processing program from a cassette. I'll get there but it's certainly different.

Now to catch up on my Advent 2 post and then Advent 3.

all OK

I spoke too soon when I thought all was OK in the cyber world here. Hardly had I said this than it was down again.

However, I think this time, I really am back online.

Not only that, but I am the proud owner of a new Apple eMac, from #q son. It's all a bit confusing after years of PCs, but as I've had it only abbut three hours now, I guess I'll settle down.

I am babysitting yet again tomorrow, but will upload my notes from Advent 2 which I made a few days ago when I return.

retricted access

Still very restricted net access, but the problem seems to have been identified.  Hopefully sometime soon, I'll be back to my favourite keyboard and my own space and my own bookmarks and unlimited time.  I'm not holding my breath...

modems

I've been having cable modem problems for about a week now, although I seem to be back online just now.  How long it lasts, is anyone's guess.

The verdict of the technician on Saturday?  "Never seen a cable modem that old.  It ought to be in a museum."

Hopefully all will be sorted soon.

darren rowse and blogging

I'm pushed for time this morning but that's because I was reading my Sydney Morning Herald in paper format this morning, rather than online as I do on weekdays. Online, I would not have easily seen Darren's picture on page 3 of the paper and an article about blogs and businesses. I had to search on his name to get a link.

Have a look here to read the article itself. Darren is mentioned on page 2 of the article. The updated SMH site now has page numbers to click through, rather than reading right down by scrolling. I find this a nuisance.

Hope to update more later.

end of an era

The ABC reported today of the end to an era.   For more than fifty years, school pupils in isolated areas in this state went to school at School of the Air, with a teacher speaking over two way radio to a group of children each day.  Lessons were then completed at home.  New technology has brought an end to tha.  Broadband access, computers, scanners and such like are now used , even in isolated areas.

Here's a site giving some information about the School of the Air in the far west of the state, Broken Hill and Tibooburra, along with further links and a few photos.

looney is as looney does

The bulk  mailbox of my email program is the last resting place of much of the spam directed my way.  The sytem is quite efficient and I rarely get anything in my normal inbox.  I just checked the bulk mail.

In there was an email from  one Alphonso Looney, subject line  Emotional Stability- 67% improvement.  My thought was that one would need to be looney indeed to open an email  sent by someone with a name like that!

the joys of technology

A friend and I booked  Kihilla  at Lawson in the Blue Mountains for a camp next February.  It's a lovely old house, enormous and rambling which needs probably a couple of million spent on it to restore to its former state.

We booked under both our names, "Bishop, Norm....."  The computer has read this quite literally as it does.  He has just received a letter addressed to Bishop Norm.... and starting  "Dear Bishop Norm."

We both had quite a laugh.  He is a chaplain to one of the volunteer services here, but definitely not a bishop!

google earth

I have spent the afternoon playing with  this amazing free program on my son's computer.  I could see the clour of  the roof of my house, could almost count the pegs on the clothesline.  Just kidding on that one, actually.  Our place we had at Wollombi was there and the contours of the hills we climbed stood out clearly. 

You can search for restaurants, school, parks etc in the area.  GPS co-ordinates are accepted as well.  Just amazing.  Big download however, and I imagine dialup would be painfully slow.

surf's up

Intel has introduced a surfboard  capable of wireless internet surfing.  It is to be introduced at a Gold Coast surfing carnival  in a couple of weeks.  A sneak preview was given today at Manly where there was a good swell.  It was suggested that waterproof speakers would enhance the board and the Intel engineer thought that could be done.

To me, it is about as useful as the refrigerator with internet access.  I remarked when this was announced that iris recognition technology on the fridge lock would have been much more useful than net access when I had three teenage boys who were perpetually hungry.  At least designated leftovers would have stood some chance of still being there when I wanted them.