Dear Persistent Loki

Just because I went to bed early-ish last night, doesn't mean I wanted to be up before the sun rose.

kthnxbai!

Why do I bother laying it all out?

I submitted a support ticket to Cyberlink regarding one of their programs having a problem.

PhotoDirector 4 I could login to "DirectorZone" for templates and upload to Facebook, Flickr etc etc. Newest version, v5, suddenly I keep getting error.

 

 

Just for giggles, I clicked on "Forgot password" and PhotoDirector sent me to a non existent website. I can see the error in the link, but can't figure out how to correct it in the program.

So, I send support ticket. Yes, I've uninstalled, rebooted, reinstalled, rebooted, problem persists. yes, it's white-listed in both antivirus and firewall.  I even tried shutting antivirus and firewall off. Problem persisted. I tried changing password on the site and in program, problem persisted.  I sent them %#$%$ screencaps of it.

What do I get? Copy/Paste bullshit from the #$$@%#$$ FAQ!

Can you give me an "ARRRRRGH!"?

Canon Australia has opened February's "Canon Light" entries a little over a week ago, subject "Street Photography". 

I only have a single candidate so far because of  firebugs!

I have asthma. There are fucking arsonists lighting fires in the bush areas.  The air tastes of smoke and ash, and I have trouble breathing, to the point I am indoors with the a.c. running.

I know there is still time, but I don't want to have to choose one image at the last minute, but I also want more than one to choose from!

Want to annoy me? This is a great way to do it

I ordered a Breville Coffee and Spice Grinder Model CG2B.  I ordered in November last year. Now I don't mind it arriving so late because of holidays.

What I do mind is that I was sent the Breville Coffee and Spice Grinder Model BCG200.  I specifically asked for and ordered the CG2B because I have two lids for it; one for coffee and one for spice.  Those lids do not fit on the model the merchant sent.

Bait and Switch? Guaranteed to piss me off big time.

Yes and no

IINET said it was my network adapter, I said it was the router.  Well, we are both right.

We got a new router from IINET, as our old one packed it in.  Now, I never had a problem connecting to it, or maintaining internet connection with the old one.

This new one, however, is a different story. If I log in, I have internet immediately.  If I start another program that accesses the internet, I will lose internet connection until I start troubleshooter, or just reset my adapter (quicker than going through troubleshooter which ends up doing that).

I had Windows check for driver update for network adapter, and according to Windows no new driver, mine was latest and greatest. Ever the doubter, I went in search of exact make and model of network adapter, and imagine my (non)surprise when I saw there was a new one.  Downloaded, installed reboot, and still the problem persists.

Did a bit more research, and it turns out that some older network adapters (mine, it seems) aren't loved by new routers. 

Solution isn't new network adapter driver (been there, done that, rebooted to prove it, and I have an All in one desktop) but possibly using a newer USB external wireless adapter.  But until I get one, I will do the disabling/re-enabling network adapter whenever I start a new program that access the internet. Oh joy. :p

Not only no, but hell no

I read an article from a computer magazine.  It says that cloud storage is the death knell for local hard drive storage units.

Uhh, no.  Cloud storage has shown not only is it vulnerable to to catastrophic data loss, but it has also show itself to be hackable. Case in point, cloud storage theft of intimate celebrity photos.  Then there's the Adobe hack and crack where via the cloud they cleaned out people's bank accounts.

This doesn't inspire confidence, does it?  I have 7 yrs worth of photography on one hd hooked up to the computer. And I have two other external drives, which are back ups to the main photo storage drive.  I've not lost data, nor have I had it stolen in all the years I've been doing this.

Cloud storage? Not a chance.

The end of 2014

I keep thinking about this past year. All the ups and downs, meeting new friends, keeping in touch with not so new friends. The trips, the vacations, the photo gear.

And when I think about all of that, it pales in comparison to the one thing that happened later in this year.

After 4 years of no contact, my oldest son, Paul sent me an SOS. And in that instant the 4 years of no contact evaporated. We talked for hours, and it was as if none of those empty 4 years existed.

A wound my heart had is gone. I no longer think of Paul, Collin, Jason, Joey and Bella with sadness. I smile now.

So, for everything that I got or happened this year, my favorite event was  "Mom, can you call. I need you."