Two paws on my shoulder, and a YOWL means "I need to use outdoor sandbox!"
Head snog/head boop on my shoulder means "Treats, please?"
Head snog/head boop on arm and should, combined with meow means "Hungry!"
Meow from the cushion on the sofa means "Cuddle/petting time, please."
It's a good thing that other photo editing makers are picking up their slack. Yeah, I know, I could cave in and rent Photoshop, but I didn't rent it before it because Creative Cloud, not starting now.
Anyhooo... On1, which I have used since they were OnOne, makes great photo editing software that can be used as a standalone, or as CS6 plugin. They announced that they will be making a Camera Raw editor that has all the functionality, lens library, etc etc. It's going to come out later this year, and I have signed up for pre-order when it's first made available.
And not have a hissy-fit, or resort to snide insults and insinuations. It's not news that we had to cut back out bottlebrush trees because of having solar panels installed (even though they don't cast shade on the roof). Because of this, a major food source for the local nectavores was removed during flowering season. We also had birds nesting nearby, brooding young birds.
I contacted the Melville Council about it, and D gave me the number to the Rangers, who then gave me a phone number to an Veterinary Ornithologist. After telling her the above, I got suggestions and some good advise, which I followed. I got some hummingbird feeders, got a recipe to make 'nectar', and some liquid vitamins to add to it. Once the birds figured out what these strange stiff red flowers were for, the 'locals' visited the truncated bottlebrush trees during their daily rounds.
In a bird group on Facebook, someone had a conniption fit about feeding wild birds, accusing me (and others) of only setting up feeders to create photo ops. And when I related the above about the bottlebrush trees, one woman demanded to have 'a published peer reviewed paper from this anonymous scientist of yours'. Then she implied, without flat out saying the word, I was a liar, and demanded the names.
I told her No, she could call the Melville council, and get her own referral.
I am not taming these birds. I have checked the number of photos of birds on the feeders vs birds flying, in trees, on the ground, noshing on native flora. Do I have them on feeders too? Sure do, not denying it, but more to show they are using them, not for the photo op.
And it's a good thing I have the feeders up. An adult red wattlebird came out second best in a tussle with either a raven, or kookaburra. It was badly injured, and I wasn't even sure it would survive the night. I made sure there was a feeder near it, and fresh water. Not only did it survive, it had a safe place to recover. But I guess according to the woman above, I should have let it get weak, fall to the ground, and get savaged to death by a dog, cat or rat. Uhh, no.
The day it was injured:
2 Months later in the 'hospital tree' with feeder and water nearby.
I would deem this fully recovered.
And one more thing before I finish this up: I have some neighbors that cut down two perfectly healthy large nectar bearing trees. A bottlebrush tree, and a grevillea, again reducing the native flora/food supply. And this was AFTER a developer took down about a dozen tall pine trees just a few weeks prior. So, the feeders have had more visitors than usual.
So, when I see the remaining nectar bearing trees in flower, I will keep the humming bird feeders out there to make up for what I and the neighbors have removed.
And no, not upgrading to Windows 10 on this laptop, as Microsoft and AMD stopped Point Five of a version of supporting my graphics card. I tried Win10 and it took over 5 hours to fix it.. well, roll it back to Windows 8.1.
Ok, annoyances in no particular order:
1: No matter if it's listed in the start up, certain programs/utilities need to be started by me.
2: Windows 8 isn't 'remembering' Wacom tablet settings. I keep selecting "Keep to Monitor One" but after I'm done using whatever program I was using it with is closed, the tablet spans both monitor again.
3: No matter what tips/tricks/hacks, I can't get Windows 8 native wall paper slide show options to work right. Had to get 3rd party program to do it.
4: The "Show Desktop" button on the right side of the task bar is so small, that when I try to 'Show desktop" those annoying charms show up instead. No hack/trick/tweak would change this, so yet again, another 3rd party utility.
*sigh*
Tested the OMD EM1, Kipon EF to MFT adapter, and the Sigma 150-500 f/5 combination. Last time I tried, it didn't focus, and sometimes the camera had the "no lens" symbol on the menu screen.
The latest firmware update has since fixed that. Singing Honey Eater,
Just have to remember to switch the IS/OS off on the lens, as it will 'jiggle' the image if it's on, as the EM1 has in body stabilization.
Went for my daily walk today, managed to go over 2k. I know this isn't much in the grand scheme of things, but let me 'splain.
The first time I started walking around the park, I had to stop and sit on a low wall twice on the outbound trip, and twice on the way back due to back pain. Maybe 30 minutes, if that, the first go. Over the past few months, I have had to stop less and less, and walking further. Today,an hour in the park, and another 40 minutes just puttering around.
So, I will stay at the hour, but see about going further. I don't want to walk too fast, because if I do, I will start limping, and that would cause other problems.
I went to redeem my Downloadable HD copy of The Martian, and it turns out there are catches to it. GooglePlay - Can only download it to watch later on a Chromebook.
All others have hardware ID specific play only.
And then they wonder why people go out to find a digital copy to download elsewhere.
And I do wish I had checked on this sooner. The newer Canon L glass now works with it. Still no joy using any of the teleconverters, not at night for lunar or planetary photography. It doesn't quite focus when using teleconverters at night. Will try again in the morning to see if brighter lighting conditions allow the use of them.
But here's the results:
OMD EM1 with Kipon EF to MFT adapter. Lens mounted, Canon 100-400mk II L IS
OMD EM1 Kipon EF to MFT Adapter, Lens mounted Canon 70-300 L IS
Ok, more like resurrected. The Seagate drive diagnostic at Payam Data Recovery showed that the drive heads had failed. I was asked if I wanted to attempt a data recovery, and I said yes. I paid the non refundable deposit and the drive was sent to PAYAM clean room facilities, where it would be taken apart, tested to see if the data could be recovered. I chose the least expensive 'slow boat' method, no rush, no dire need for the data. It was taken apart, checked, drive head failure confirmed.
The good news is, the platters weren't damaged, and all data was recovered, and transferred to a new drive. There might be a few glitchy files, but I called, spoke to Lachlan, confirmed the faulty drive, clearly labeled for warranty purposes, and the new drive with the recovered data was ready. Paid what was owed, and it will be sent to me.
I did discuss with Lachlan about how I have had 3 Seagates croak in 5 years, and he said that was just bad luck. Regardless, I think I will stick with Western Digitals for a while.
I posted a request to DxO optics about my panasonic FZ30 is supported, but the FZ50 isn't.
The reply I got was "Neither model is supported".
Oh really? So I asked them to explain this:
Not only did DxO identify the make and model of the camera, it proceeded to download the correct module.
I really loathe no nothing tech support. They give good IT support a bad name
ColorMunki wasn't calibrating the 2nd monitor. Didn't matter if I calibrated it first, or 2nd, nothing would change. It's probably due to using the DVI to USB adapter.
So, I did it the old fashioned way.... I used the buttons on the monitor itself, and manually adjust it to make it match the monitor that was being calibrated.
Gawd, I am such a nerd.
I still use IRC program. I have friends in the U.S. that we have 'conversations' just about once a day, unless either of us has early morning (me) or going to be out working late, or going to crash early (them). Also use Skype
It's an inexpensive way to keep in contact, and not have to worry about being in my jammies, or mussy hair.
Some time ago, I banged the back of my left hand on a door frame (I think it was when maneuvering a laundry basket. Shortly after that, I had a lump on the back of my hand. It went away.
But it came back, and when the tendon of my left index finger slides over it, it kind of clicks/snaps and after a while, it hurts. No bruising or anything like that, so I have been taking ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory for the past two days, and the swelling is going down, and as a bonus, not hurting so much anymore. I think there's a good chance it's injury caused arthritis. Will have to see Dr H to confirm, but I'm pretty sure.
Have my Sony Vaio laptop running Windows 8 with two USB hubs. And I have both 23" monitors, HDMI port, and DVI to USB set up. I have the laptop lid closed, so only the two external monitors are visible.
Using old Acer wireless keyboard and right handed Acer wireless mouse, and my lefty mouse. Have my graphics tablet on top of the closed laptop.
As I said, it ain't pretty, but it works.
First, it was my desktop deciding it didn't want to work anymore, than the Windows 10 upgrade fiasco, and now IINET seems to be having problems. Lagging out, disconnecting over and over.
Regardless, I would like it to get its act together.
The biggest reason I was in a panic over the Windows 10 installation disaster is my desktop decided to just stop.... Video froze, it hard locked, and just stopped.
So, when I reset/rebooted, nothing... totally dead. Alan tested video card in his computer, all good. He took the power supply out of his and tried it in mine, nope, no power up.
I called PC Case Gear, pretty much in tears and explained what had happened (including the Win10 crapola). He immediately informed me my motherboard and CPU were under warranty, sent me a prepaid shipping label t print out and to send both the CPU and motherboard to them and I will be sorted out.
So, I will have to deal with laptop for a few weeks, but that's better than having to get a new computer.
Oh yeah, I also installed the utility that removes all the Windows 10 files and nagging. Not going through THAT again!
Windows 10 upgrade was a disaster. Because both Microsoft AND AMD decided to not make updated graphics drivers for Radeon 7600 (only from 7700 on up) logging into Window could take (not a joke) close to an hour. And woe be to you if you had to restart for any reason what so ever! Almost 3 hours of almost booting into windows 10, only to get tossed back to the horrid lock screen.
I finally did manage to get in, and immediately rolled the system back to Windows 8.1. I have lost my Windows Media Player.. AGAIN. But I have Total Media Player which SHOULD allow me to watch TV.
One of my neighbors cut down a large, full in flower grevillea. No wonder I could hear very angry Red Wattlebirds, as that is, make that was, their nursery. I hope there were no chicks or fledglings in it.
I have a feeling that the bottlebrush trees and the hummingbird feeders are going to have a lot more visits.
Wing and I are heading up to the Pinnacles, in Cervantes W.A. Since the weather is a bit dicey, I have opted to take weather sealed (can go under running water without a problem) Olympus EM1 with two equally weather sealed lenses.
Also bringing the Canon 5D3, 100-400 and the 8-15mm fisheye, which is weather resistant, meaning long as its not a Noah and the Ark fable of rain, I can be out in the rain and it will be ok.
Will also be bringing Lumix 100-300 just in case of bird photography, as I have been told there have been many sightings of raptors/birds of prey around there. Not weather sealed, but as long as I'm careful, it will be ok.
I had a bad day after several instances of CONAN THE GRAMMARIANS and I made a post about it. "I have ZERO tolerance for those who revel in scouring posts for typos. ".
To the person to cut me from you f/list: it wasn't directed at you. It was about Facebook posts. Sorry you took it personally.
Got a letter for Allianz insurance. Turns out that due to miscommunication we were charged too much or not rebated back enough of the excess we paid for Keito last year.
They sent us a check, with the amount we were overcharged, and 94 cents interest. :D
My own fault, I should have double, triple checked, but I didn't expect the old style adobe application manager to update my Adobe Acrobat Pro X to AcrobatDC aka Crappy Cloud . I know they're out to make money off of renting their software, but this is rather underhanded.
Of course NOW ProX won't even launch, and I have already run the entire trouble shooting gamut.
I really do NOT want to have to uninstall the entire Creative Suite Master collection to fix this, but I have a sinking feeling that might be exactly what I will end up having to do.
A little over 6 years ago, 6Apart shut down Vox Blogging (personally, I think they sold it to MSNBC, as now many of their journos are posting on Vox now). We were given the option to export to either TypePad or WordPress. Not taking any chances, I exported to both.
But before Vox shut down permanently for us mundane bloggers, I had my blog "Listening to the Voices in My Head" made into three books.
It wasn't vanity, but the nature of the internet. Things can vanish so quickly, disappear into the bitstream, never to be seen again. So, I had my Vox blog 'booked'. As luck would have it, shortly after all three volumes arrived, the people running the printing service had a falling out, and stopped production. I was one of the lucky ones who got her books.
I have been reading them, and it's a strange feeling. I find myself laughing at things I wrote... because it's funny. Every year I dutifully save my LJ blog as a PDF. Who knows what will be done with that. Seeing how expensive it was to print these three.. but then, this was a time sensitive rush order.
Known issue with the Galaxy S7, doesn't effect all of them, but often enough to have had Samsung put out some sort of update to fix it.
So, I submit a support ticket to Samsung explaining the problem I had had, and that after much research on my part, including on their site, the solution to that fixed it that wasn't found on the Samsung site. Also, that their new and improved 'back up/restore" sucks, because it doesn't restore apps or app data, just phone contacts, images, and messages, and I can't use Kies any more that DID restore apps.
I asked if there will be a fix for this, and if so, when.
Response was: a copy paste from their FAQ (which I had told them I had already done) attached to a pat form letter response. Pretty much a "did you try switching if off and on again?". AND said they had tried to call me?
1, if they tried to call, it was the middle of the night, when phone was on Do Not Disturb mode, or while I was out. Did they expect me to sit by the phone and wait? Sorry I have a life.
2: I told them the above (minus the Sorry I have a life part).
3: Their response was to rinse and repeat their first response.
And then they wonder why tech support has such a lousy reputation.
