respublica

Update!

Honestly, this business of websites and computers insisting on downloading an update is beginning to drive me over the wall. It's not just one thing, it's pretty near everything. I'm at the point where I say, no, not now over and over. While I realize there are a few safety reasons for some updates, most are not. And, too many updates mess up things to the point where a commonly used website is unrecognizable.

And worse, more often than not the new updates demand a user name and password to continue using it. I don't know about everyone else but I have user names and passwords out the wazoo, some outdated. I have just about had it. This morning and yesterday morning my actual laptop wanted to be updated. I can't even imagine what that will be like when the update is complete. This morning the laptop will not take no for an answer and no matter what I do, in less than an hour it will do this on its own.

Tech Blues

All of a sudden two of our tv's have lost connections. These two are Roku set ups which work wirelessly to receive channels. We've never had an issue until last night and it has been a frustrating morning trying to get them communicating again. The main floor tv is hooked up Spectrum Cable and has had no issues. I've tried removing the Roku sticks and let them do whatever they are supposed to do to re-set. But it did not work this time and has in the past.

This morning I've been trying to get our printers working, they both refused to print the past few days. I'm hoping it's a printer ink thing and a new cartridge will make things work. Modern technology is fantastic when it works, but impossible when it does not.

One Downside of technology

I'm one of those people who has appreciated the creation of the internet and computers. At first it was mainly just a joy not to have to use a typewriter for doing things. But when the online world came about it was even more fun and often helpful.

But now I am pretty much just sick and tired of the constant "update" messages. Not only do these updates happen all the time with various programs and take waiting time, they also often mess up how I use the programs. Some useful things are gone or hidden, new things to learn are showing up. And, having to refill passwords is the worst.

So of course I woke up today and found my laptop would not go to my normal places until I allowed it to update to the latest Windows version. The message told me once I agree to the update it will start in the background so I can continue what I've been doing.  But when it is all downloaded, a restart will be necessary. And after that will come the issues I am sure. Nothing will look or act the same.

No Cell Service

Yesterday I realized I could not make a phone call or receive a call. I have gotten into the habit of texting people I want to get in touch with so was not aware that at some point my phone has "no service". To say the least this worried me because there are times when a person really needs to make a call or at least in an emergency a call can be made.

I went over and over the phone yesterday trying everything I could to see if I could get the service back and working. Nothing worked and its a mystery as to why this happened. So today we are going over to Verizon to get new phones and also ask what happened to my cell service. We do need new phones, we've each had our current ones for some time.

What a week this is

First it was this blog host doing updating or something to their entire system so that no one using Typepad could use their site. After 2 days they are finally back. This morning when I went to turn on my laptop, nothing happened. Black screen nothing would turn it on.

I tried several things including picking it up and turning it upside down for a bit. Nothing. I unplugged, waited, turned the power back on. Nothing.

Finally the screen returned with the news of a microsoft update which I never agreed to. This must have been a very long update and frankly, all these updates for every little and big thing are frustrating the heck out of me.

We're Back-I Hope

My Blog hosting site, Typepad, has been down at least for the compose page for 9 days. Each morning I'd turn on the computer and try to get to my page, but each day nothing would happen. Hopefully finding it up and running will stay that way. So many Typepad users have been really grousing (rightfully) on Typepad's Twitter page.

However my home page top banner with the title Respublica and the small images has not returned.

Just one more piece of technology

Dale is one of the speakers at a Lutheran district convention this week and when he called this morning he surprised me with a new idea. He is interested in us getting Apple watches. Now this came out of no where and I am not especially thrilled by the idea. It seems to me to be just one more thing that has to be always with us, but worse, one more thing that has to be set up.

Setting up means finding all the user names and passwords which is a real pain. But even more I wonder how much I'd like to be looking at a small display. I know people who have them and they are using it like an ipad or iphone. They can keep track of everything and everyone by looking at their wrists.

After doing a bit of checking I was surprised to learn that these watch also check fitness levels, heart rates, oxygen rates and even know if you fall. Do I want all this? I just don't know.

Update This

We seem to be in the season when every single app and computer program wants us to update. It's driving us over the edge. Many times I just ignore the "update now" notice because it takes too long and I have to dig around to find the user name and/or password for each one. Then after updating nothing is the same as I was used to.

Today Dale was wasn't able to use his Group Me app which he uses to get together on line with friends who are all base all fans. He was told he needed to update his system but he does not use this on the computer but on his phone. Neither the Group Me app or his phone needed updating. This means we have no idea why he is not able to participate.

As wonderful as computers and iphones are, these update interruptions are a pain.

This has been tech week. Also a garden explostion

For some reason several of our websites, mostly Dale's) had issues which would not let us update or post. It seems like something is going on with regard to changes in security, but the hosts do not make it easy to get things up and running again.

He has a blog which is really not publicized because I keep it to add each day's Meyer Minute he writes so as to keep an archive. This website needed his credit card updated since his had expired. This is normally easy to take care of, but for some reason it just would not do it. Since I take care of this sort of thing for him, I sent in a "ticket" with the problem to the hosting company. Thankfully they remotely fixed this and he's back up and running.

But, there was also an issue with the list server he uses to send out a mass mailing for his Meyer Minute. We have never had a problem with this company in all the many years we've used them. The best thing about Dundee is when you call someone answers the phone immediately. We got that straightened out. It seems the internet is not all that secure anymore so I was given a different way to get on the server.

Dale has also had a heck of a time with his MLB app. It stopped working and if you know Dale, you know he loves baseball and likes to watch White Sox games on his Ipad through MLB. I've emailed them, received a vague response which did not help. So in this case MLB will not work for him.

In other news, our vegetables have really gone crazy. Especially the tomatoes. I have several varieties and they all are producing big time with no bad spots on any of them. It's kind of a miracle. I finished digging the last of the potatoes this week and they are all just as fine looking as the tomatoes.

A gmail issue

We honestly don't know where to find the information we need to get Dale's gmail working. Last night he got out his older ipad while looking for an app he'd downloaded on it. He needed some information he'd highlighted from some book he'd put on this ipad and wanted to email it to himself.

But that device would not accept the currrent gmail password so he changed it.  But, when he got back to his phone and larger/newer ipad, these would not accept the new password.

I haven't found anything from google on what the deal is and how to fix it. He really needs gmail to work on his iphone.  Why is everything so difficult? Why is it working on one device but not the others.

Update one hour later. I finally got his two devices back on gmail. It was trial and error, hunt and peck until I finally got it.