Well fooey

I got an email from the makers of XMarks. It was the best way to back up and sync bookmarks.  They will be discontinuing their service on the 1st of May.  I paid for this service and now they're pulling up stakes and will just be doing LastPass. But I already have an excellent secure password saving/generating program.

I guess I will just have to go back to backing up/exporting bookmarks once a month as an HTML file.

Bets on whether or not I get a refund for my purchase as I did pay for the program.

Since I won't be installing those "Windows 7 Rollups"

I have reinstalled CryptoPrevent.  Between that, and MalwareBytes, I probably have better security on my system than if I installed those program disabling Windows 7 Security/Maintenance Rollups.  Especially when I have read what those rollups are 'fixing',  have nothing to do with my computer.

The only annoyance I will have, is that if I need support from MalwareBytes, they will try to tell me to uninstall CryptoPrevent. I will flat out tell them did that, and it didn't solve the problem.

When will I ever learn?

I stupidly updated Firefox so I could update one of my much used addons (blurb on page said it wouldn't work with anything older than v56.) I made a backup archive of my version of firefox, downloaded and installed the new version.

Not only was the new version of Firefox FUGLY, not only did it disable my tried and true addons, THIS version no longer allows you to re-enable those plugins with Nightly Testing Tools. I prefer my drop down menu for search engines, not that hard to read box of itty bitty icons. Can't change it with customize.

*grump*

Ok, I will just restore the archived early version. Uhh, where did the archive go? It seems the update deleted it. Grrrr. So, I just downloaded the version that worked, installed it. That worked. Sort of.

All boomarks were gone. I tried to restore them. "Unable to process backup file". Fine, tried to download them from Xmarks.. nope, errors. Did a little digging, deleted the places.sqlite, restarted and tada!

I think I will keep the latest version of firefox on my VM, and then use that to download newer versions of my addons, export them with FEBE, and then import them into my desktop browser.

If it ain't broken, I am NOT going to fix it.

It's been at least 3 years of full on suck

There was a mass on my left shoulder. It got all inflamed, and scheduled to have it removed.  The surgery for that went ok, but it left a deep deep hole in my back. It took over 9 months for it to fill and heal. 

About a month after it had healed, I tripped over some shoes someone left in a doorway, hyper extending my knee.. or so I thought.  After months of pain, and it not healing,  I had an MRI. Turned out I had shredded what was left of the meniscus and had bone on bone grinding. 

Tried two synovial treatments, 5 months apart, and although they did work, my body broke them down too fast, leaving me limping badly. 

Total knee replacement surgery was only option.   I had a few set backs, from over doing things during the recovery process. A possible case of compartment syndrome (scheduled test for it), but over all it was going great. I was just starting to be able to DO things again.

Until last Sunday.  A L Plater panicked, stomped on his accelerator, and t-boned us on the passenger side.  I was in the passenger seat. 

Whiplash, mind concussion, and a swollen bruised left knee. Fairly sure I didn't screw up the new knee, but will have it checked out next week. Had to cancel the test for compartment syndrome, as I can't walk on a treadmill without limping, which will not work for the test. Has been rescheduled.  Pain from my eyebrows down to my ankle.

I must have pissed off the "Fcuk up Fairy" big time, but I have no clue as to how or why. 

I gave up on the Great Alternate BluRay player.

I read up on what the Windows 7 Security Rollup entailed, and everything it 'fixed' or patched had nothing to do with my computer.

So, I uninstalled that Rollup that disable ArcSoft TotalMediaPlayer.  I will keep using it until there is another viable alternative.

Security?  I have security software that will protect me from Malware, RootKits, hijackers etc etc.  I prefer to have my computer and the software I bought to work properly.

Making On1PhotoRaw* your default RAW Editor in CS5 and CS6

This is for CS5 and CS6 users who want to use Bridge in their workflow, but want to launch On1PhotoRaw* as their default Camera Raw editor.

If you follow these steps, which sound a bit complicated, but aren't, this will work for you.

First, download and install trial version of CreativeCloud.  I have gone over their TOS and it says nothing about uninstalling if if you aren't going to use it.  Keep it there, for reasons that will follow.

Install On1 PhotoRaw.  It will automatically find CreativeCloud, and install the plugins. Go to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop CC\Plugins. Copy the On1 plugins from that to the Photoshop CS5\Plugins folder. On1 will install in your CS6 directory.

Go to Adobe Bridge.  Open up Edit Preferences and select which ever raw format your camera shoots in, click on SELECT, and navigate to On1 folder and choose the on1 photoraw 2018.exe. Click on Ok, then save. 

In CS5, I don't know why, but I can't double click on the RAW files to get it to launch. BUT I can right click, and select OPEN WITH and choose the now default On1PhotoRaw.  CS6 users, once you have made On1photoRaw2018 your default Raw Editor, it will launch from Bridge.

You will notice it opens the RAW image in Layers module, but just click on Develop and process your Raw image, then either let On1 save it as a PSD, or export it as a JPG. To prevent ON1 from making a PSD after you've exported it, go back to layers module, File/Close and discard changes made. On1 will then just shut down.

And since you have the trial version of CC on your computer, navigate to C:\Program files\Common Files\Adobe\Plugins\CC\File Formats.  You will see  CC and CS5 (or CS6). Rename CameraRaw8li that is in CS5 (or CS6). To CameraRawCS5.8li.  Copy The CameraRaw.8li from CC into your C:\Program files\Common Files\Adobe\Plugins\CS5 \File Formats or CS6.  This way you can at least view the image files you want On1PhotoRaw to edit in CS5 Bridge.

*You can also do this method to use Skylum Luminar as your default RAW editor.

6 Month Post Op - Good news, bad news.

Good news first: Although I had a hypertrophic scar, and over did it a few times during the past few months, setting me back, the TKR is great. I have 126 to 130 bed depending on the day.

Bad News: Dr "Just call me Ian" is almost 100% certain I have compartment syndrome, not sciatic pain, which was what Matt my physio was hoping for. I go for tests Monday, and from what I was told, they're going to be somewhat more than just 'a little uncomfortable'. Depending on the results I may have to go back under the knife to relieve the pressure and rather acute pain. :(

Rather bummed out about this.

Another Alternative to Adobe Rentals

Now that even Adobe Lightroom has gone to subscription only, even more people are looking for alternatives for RAW processing and photo editing.

Skylum Luminar - The latest program I tried.  I downloaded and installed the 14 day, fully functional, trial version. 4 days into using it, I was sold!  Luminar makes Adobe Lightroom in all its' incarnations look clunky and sluggish.  The "Categories" (or presets if you prefer) are eminently adjustable to the look you want. For those accustomed to Adobes' "Transform" tools, there is a bit of new language learning, but nothing overly difficult to do.

I took this lackluster photo

 

and turned it into something I would have printed and framed.

A lot of people complain that it doesn't have "Digital assets management", but for me that isn't an issue, as I always make descriptive and dated folders for my photo shoots.

Luminar works on both my low end laptop (Sony Vaio 16gb ram) and on my custom built box.

Again, some will find the lack of Digital asset management a problem, but as I typed above, not an issue with me. The only things I had to do after developing and editing was export the image as a high res JPG, open it in Photoshop, and use a "Purple Fringe Remover" action, as Luminars' lens correction doesn't have that option.  After I did that, I put my watermark on it, and saved it.  Another good thing about Luminar, like the others above; you buy, it's yours. And it's not that expensive. For less than what it would cost you to rent Lightroom, you can own Luminar.

Why 'friends' can sometimes be a bit of a downer

I joined a "Total Knee Replacement" group on Facebook. Why? Because there are certain well meaning people that are clueless. Or at least I hope they're well meaning but clueless.

I had one person tell me that 4 weeks after a total knee replacement,an uncle (or someone) was back to mountain climbing. Kind of intimated I was faking or slacking. I passed this information to my physio and he said that claim was (and I quote) "F&&king bullshit." Seeing as part of the tibia is sawed off, a titanium peg hammered into the tibia, and a titanium cap clipped onto the femur, it would take at least 6 weeks before the surgery part healed. Then comes the swelling and rehab.

Then there is battling the scar tissue. The same collagen that makes my skin so nice an not so wrinkled is the same reason the scar on my knee is so thick and deep. Lotions won't fix this. Breaking the adhesions is the only method, and it frigging hurts like hell for days afterward.

Then, there is the sciatic shin pain, that no pain meds can touch, because it's a pinched nerve, not muscular.

The members of the TKR group know about all of this, and when I say "Wow, today I managed to wash and hang the laundry outside! Cooked dinner and even cleaned up the cat's sand boxes." they know what an achievement that is. I can walk around without limping for over a half hour, longer if the sciatic shin pain stays away.

I don't marathons, but that's fine, because I didn't run them before. But I'm getting back to doing... even the mundane things, with a cheerful demeanor.

Oh yeah, and I cooked a 3+ hr prep and work turkey dinner for Wing... and yes, It was a bragging moment for me.

Why 'friends' can sometimes be a bit of a downer

I joined a "Total Knee Replacement" group on Facebook.  Why? Because there are certain well meaning people that are clueless. Or at least I hope they're well meaning but clueless.

I had one person tell me that 4 weeks after a total knee replacement,an uncle (or someone) was back to mountain climbing. Kind of intimated I was faking or slacking.  I passed this information to my physio and he said that claim was (and I quote) "F&&king bullshit."  Seeing as part of the tibia is sawn off, a titanium peg hammered into the tibia, and a titanium cap clipped onto the femer, it would take at least 6 weeks before the surgery part healed. Then comes the swelling and rehab.

Then there is battling the scar tissue. The same collegan that makes my skin so nice an not so wrinkled is the same reason the scar on my knee is so thick and deep. Lotions won't fix this. Breaking the adhesions is the only method, and it frigging hurts like hell for days afteward.

Then, there is the sciatic shin pain, that no pain meds can touch, because it's a pinched nerve, not muscular.

The members of the TKR group know about all of this, and when I say "Wow, today I managed to wash and hang the laundry outside! Cooked dinner and even cleaned up the cat's sand boxes." they know what an achievement that is.  I can walk around without limping for over a half hour, longer if the sciatic shin pain stays away.

I don't marathons, but that's fine, because I didn't run them before. But I'm getting back to doing... even the mundane things, with a cheerful demeanor.

Oh yeah, and I cooked a 3+ hr prep and work turkey dinner for Wing... and yes, It was a bragging moment for me.

Beware of Aurora BluRay Media player

I had posted that I had been looking for an alternative to ArcSoft TotalMedia Theater because of Windows Rollup screwed the pooch.

Enter Aurora Blu-Ray Player

Now, Aurora claims to be "Try before buy", but you really can't tell if blu-ray playback is good as their HUGE frigging watermark covers the playback, giving you no clue as to whether it works well or not.  Only option is to fork over $39 to see.

Now, what it does is play the BluRay MTS file, not really the entire disc, just the movie file.  It makes a rudimentary ‘menu’ that allows you to select language and scenes. That would be fine by me, HOWEVER...

Even though it does work, this program keeps making Windows system changes. I have AutoPlay for all media set to TAKE NO ACTION. But every time I start Aurora, it changes that to auto open BluRay/DVD/Video Discs.  I have gone into the autoplay menu, and have manually selected TAKE NO ACTION, then saved. Launch Aurora, and it overwrites those settings.

There is nothing in the Aurora preferences that prevent it from being chosen as default, and it keeps changing Windows settings.

Any program that makes unwanted system changes is malware.  I have been sending messages to them about this, but have yet to get even one reply.  I think they know of this, but can't or won't do anything about it, so their program has earned the label of Malware. And I’ve uninstalled it using YourUninstaller to remove all traces.

It's never ending!

Turns out I might have yet another reason to remove the Windows 7 Rollup.

%#&$%# Cinavia encryption.  The only DVD/BluRay player on my computer that didn't have an issue with it was ArcSoft Total Media Theater. Leawo, DVDFab Player, PowerDVD 17, WinDVDPro 12, even when using AnyDVD or DVDFabPasskey, playback would be interrupted and audio muted.  And this is on commercially purchased DVDs and BluRay discs, NOT copies or rips, or downloads.  Playing the boxed version of a series of movies. The first 3 discs, no Cinavia, but the last one, yup!

I might have to see about installing earlier version of PowerDVD.  :/  As much as I understand the reason for copyright, this sort of crap is what makes people hack and crack copy protection.