Saturday, November 12, 2016

They Can Dish It Out But They Can't Take It.

It all started with what I thought was a well-reasoned Facebook post:

Hm. Wearing a safety pin to identify yourself as a "safe person?" That's going to last maybe 5 minutes, and then those who enjoy picking fights will put on their own safety pins, wade into the nearest target-rich environment, and voila. Instant mayhem.

I can hear the ensuing whining already.

Did no one actually think this thing through?

One person responded to ask what I suggested for a solution, since any signal such as a safety pin could be mimicked.

I wrote a rather lengthy and thoughtful reply in which I opined that this whole "safe space" thing is a crock, because how are they going to guarantee a troll-free space? People basically need to suck it up, learn that the world does not revolve around them, and learn how to stand up and defend their beliefs with polite discourse. I also said that no one has a right to never be offended, nor does free speech mean one has a right to be listened to or agreed with.

This person came back asking what if someone were being bullied on a bus or a train because of their race or color, they NEED to know there are safe people around. I replied that true safe people who care to get involved can self-identify and step in, because nothing is going to stop phony safety-pinners who get their sick kicks out of messing with people.

Then the person basically harumphed, used foul language to lash out at "you people," and proceeded to delete their posts. I expect being un-friended will not be far behind.

Edited to add: I was right. I have been un-friended. What a shame. I have enjoyed this person's posts on non-political subjects, and I shall miss them.


Monday, September 12, 2016

I Am SO Done With Robo Calls!

For the three or four of you out there who still have land line phones... I expect you are, like me, ready to SHOOT whoever invented the robo call.

My frustration with my carrier, A T & T Uverse, is that I can manually block numbers--but only 20 numbers can be blocked at a time. If I need to block a new one, I have to first unblock one of the old ones.

It's especially vexing this year, this time of year, with the most contentious national election in my memory underway.

Nomorobo to the rescue! Yesterday morning I was reading one of my favorite blogs and the blogger described this service and the fact that he no longer gets robo calls on his home phone.

I probably broke all speed records going to the site and signing up.

This morning I've received 2 robo calls. Each one rang just once and then was cut off.

So check it out. I can attest that it works with A T & T Uverse phone service, and it does NOT work with Tracfone cell service. But I've got the cell phone covered with an Android call-blocking app.

You're welcome.


Saturday, February 6, 2016

Opting Out Of The Windows 10 Lemming Rush

My computer is 4 years old. It runs just fine with Windows 7, thankyouverymuch. I am not at all convinced that (a) Windows 10 will run on this computer, (b) that any or all of my various outdated programs that still work perfectly well (tyvm) can be made to run under Windows 10, assuming the "upgrade" didn't brick the computer, and (c) that the security concerns* being expressed all over the internet are just scaremongering. Nope.

I am told that all editions of Windows 7 will continue to receive security updates until January of 2020.

However... one has to be vewwy, vewwy careful if one does not want to have the Windows 10 "upgrade" inflicted upon their unsuspecting computer.... See, they're being very sneaky, and they have marked it as a "recommended" update. Thus, if your computer is set to download and install recommended updates automatically, you will be "upgraded" to Windows 10 whether you like it or not.

Here is a very good article that explains exactly how not to have this "upgrade" foisted upon you. (You're welcome.) As best I can determine, this procedure will work, for the foreseeable future. If (and when) they invent a further sneak-around to make changes to MY computer without MY permission, all bets are off.... As others have pointed out, Microsoft owns the operating system, and I have purchased a license to use it. But they do NOT own my hardware.

* In case you didn't click over to the Forbes Magazine article, here's a quote:

By default Windows 10 Home is allowed to control your bandwidth usage, install any software it wants whenever it wants (without providing detailed information on what these updates do), display ads in the Start Menu (currently it has been limited to app advertisements), send your hardware details and any changes you make to Microsoft and even log your browser history and keystrokes which the Windows End User Licence Agreement (EULA) states you allow Microsoft to use for analysis.

Hmm. Microsoft as Big Brother? We report, you decide.

And for those whose current Windows 7 (or 8) computer is breathing its last... you can still pick up a brand-new Windows 7 computer at Amazon. There are lots of choices. Brand new, not somebody else's refurbished castoff.

Another thing to be aware of. Many of today's laptops don't come with a CD/DVD drive, apparently because so many people are now "streaming" their content. So if you're shopping, be sure to look out for that.


 
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