Whew what a week

Not only did I get this year's cold which turned into an annoying "post viral" cough, I've been working like mad at work because we got a new internet line put in. This means lots of reconfiguration of various things and many late nights working on stuff so it doesn't cause problems during the day.   

There has been much hair tearing as I tried to figure out how to set up reverse DNS for this line (not sure why the provider isn't doing it, but so it is).  Finally got that one cracked after lots of reading along with trial and error (mostly error).  Once that was done, there were a number of other things that had to follow, but that was the prime stumbling block.  Glad it's figured out.

This means I haven't had time to take any pictures which is rather annoying.  But this weekend I hope to remedy the situation. 

It's time for the "Grand Midwest Tour".  Right now it looks as if the snow will be staying south (which works in my favor).  I will be headed to Chicago for a couple of nights to hang out with the kids.  Celebrating that my son got his official notice he graduated Summa Cum Laude, which is very cool. 

Then off to my friend Richmond's place for the Academy Awards party - always a fantastic time.

Then down to St. Louis for a couple of days to see my mom and sister before heading back home. 

It will be non-stop fun and games.  I'm just hoping the travel gods are in a good mood.  We'll see.

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And then there was Flickr

After writing the last post, I started poking around on my Flickr site.   I have been dual posting to Flickr from Posterous all along (it's that thing I have about  "backing up" stuff).

All of my Posterous photos have gone to Flickr too along with the captions which is a very nice thing.  Therefore, I've decided to switch to Flickr and use it as I was using Posterous.

The one drawback... I can't find a way to change the background color on the main photostream page.  I wish I could change it to a dark color since photos look much better on a dark background (for the most part).  But, that's a small thing. 

I have created a badge for my sidebar.  Clicking any of the photos takes you directly to that photo.  Clicking the name link above takes you to the photostream.  I think this works for now. 

I already have the iphone app so I can post photos using that.  If that doesn't work for me, I can try using email posting (another feature they allow).  It will be trial and error at first.  Should be fun.

Now all I need to do is take some photos to  test the upload options.
 

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 01:53 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Snowpocalyps is in the books

For pics head over to my Posterous site since I'm too lazy to repost here.

We didn't lose power, got about 2ft of snow which has drifted like mad so it's almost 4 ft in some places. My husband has been out plowing our driveway. It will be upward of 2 hours for him to finish it. 

I found via my twitter feed that we are under a driving ban until 4pm today. I knew it started yesterday but didn't realize it went so late.  I'm just hoping our driveway is clear by 4pm... wasn't even thinking of going anywhere. 

We still have coffee, wine, and food, so all is good.

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Not much

So far not much snow... about 5 inches maybe (the pic was from earlier and it's still snowing).

NECN weather says just wait... later tonight when things will really pick up. We'll see. They still put us in the 2ft + area. Hmmm...

Mind you I would be quite happy if they were wrong. Just sayin'...

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 06:44 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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The Weather Geeks are in Heaven

If you haven't heard, there is apparently a big snowstorm headed this way.  Below the fold is the text from the NWS.  They have gotten very verbose with this one.  You might even say animated. 


more...

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Talking over typing

One of the reasons I wanted to upgrade to the iphone 5 was for the voice to text options.  Well and Siri...

There are 2 types of voice recognition on my iphone 5.  With Siri you either press and hold the main button or you can set it so you raise to talk.  Then you can do many things using Siri.

To make lists or use some other apps that allow typing, there is a microphone appearing next to the space bar - click on that and it allows dictation. 

Both of these features assume you have an internet connection. 

I'm not sure if this is an iOS6 thing, since I paid about zero attention, but I don't remember seeing the little microphone on the keyboard next to the spacebar when I had my iphone 4.  It does take up a little bit of space and I keep worrying I'll hit it while typing.  So I think I would have seen it on my other phone, but you never know, I miss many things. 

Being rather slow and dense when it comes to these dead simple things, it took me a little bit of time to figure out how the "voice to text" thing worked.  Prior to this, I had only used the Dragon dictate app (which I really didn't use much  since it was a separate app and I'm too lazy to copy/paste).  With that one, the words are typed out as you speak. 

With "voice to text", you activate the microphone, say what you want to say, click "done" THEN it appears.  D'oh!!!  I kept waiting for words to show up... when they didn't I was a bit stumped.  I was trying to use the feature to create my grocery list on Sunday morning.

Of course it was Sunday morning and I hadn't had coffee yet... I figure that is a good enough excuse.

Eventually I did hit the "done" button and, in this particular case, the words: chicken chicken chicken, appeared because I said it 3 times trying to get it to work. 

OTOH, once I figured it out, it took me about 5 minutes to create an entire grocery list.  That is just awesome! 

****

My other D'oh!!!  moment was when I tried to give Siri a reminder having to do with Starbucks.  Just to see if it would work. 

Siri kept telling me she didn't understand which was very perplexing.  Passport knows the address of my local Starbucks shouldn't Siri???  Turns out, Passport got it from the Starbucks app. I had added the address there ages ago.   I didn't have the address in my Contacts list, so Siri didn't know what I was talking about. 

Now my contacts list has the grocery store, Starbucks, Walgreens, Target, and the Pilates studio.  All are places I go and all are places I can now use in relation to reminders to do things.

*****

Oh and Siri is really awesome at doing timers!  Now when I need a timer for food, I tell Siri, "set a timer for XX number of minutes".  So much more fun than punching it into the microwave timer.  (the timer thing on the stove really sucks and I don't want to use one of the old crank up white timers)

All in all I am very happy with the voice recognition and Siri.  I need to do more reading to see what else I can get this phone to do.

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 09:12 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Updating iOS

Apple released iOS 6.0.1 which supposedly fixes some stuff.  Decided to update my iphone.  I guess I'll find out if this is a good or bad idea. 

I'll wait a few days to update my ipad, just in case. 

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 02:22 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Hockey is Back! - Quick update at the end of the post

Yes, hockey is back!  The NHL finally got their act together and decided maybe they should play a few games this year so we don't forget they exist.  However, it will be a short season only 48 games long.  Might make things much more exciting though since there isn't half a season of "ho-hum, we have time to play hard later" games.

Because of the short season, the online broadcasting through NHL GameCenter is only 1/3 the price of last year's regular season viewing package.  On television they are pushing it like mad.  I figured for $50 I could try it out and see if I liked it  and not be too irritated if it didn't work out.  We have an Apple TV, iPad, and iPhone so 3 options to watch. 

NBC Sports tends to show far more games from the Eastern division of hockey.  We are in the viewing area for the Bruins, so we don't get much chance to see Western division teams play unless NBC Sports carries the games… mostly they don't.  This makes the GameCenter very appealing.  

Since I shelled out the cash, I figured I would review it. 

The rest is below the fold for those who could care less about sports.

more...

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Who Knew!

I don't have a cat, but...

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 10:12 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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I need a larger purse

Duct tape... don't leave home without it!  You never know when it might come in handy.

****

CES is on.  The geek show to end all geek shows.  Ubuntu has a demo of a new phone, but they won't let anyone touch it.  I hope they keep a close eye on it, lots of geeks would love to get hold of it to play and they might not want to give it back. 

****

While it's maybe a nice thought, I'm pretty sure I don't want to watch the Super Bowl on my iphone... even though it goes everywhere with me.  Of course I know lots of kids probably think differently.  Ah me... to be an old fogey.

****

And of course the new Windows 8 doesn't like to play nice unless it's being used with a touch screen... so if you have an older computer, what can you do?  Buy a pen for it.  And we all know how well we keep track of pens... right?  Yeah. 

****

You are now up to date on the latest tech gadgetry.   

BTW if you have a yahoo email account... be aware it's got a big bug in it at the moment.  Please be careful.

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 11:12 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Do Not Disturb!

It seems the lovely feature, Do Not Disturb, on iOS6, has a bit of a bug in it. If you run it on a schedule, it turns on, but doesn't turn off (go back to normal mode) unless you do it manually.

People started complaining about this yesterday. It happened to me today. Over at TUAW, Kelly has Apple's response...

DND bug: Apple will only disturb you till the 7th

Consider it an extended holiday. 

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Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone all the best for the new year.  May your days be filled with much laughter and fun. 

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 11:45 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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If you had told me...

My son finished the last classes for his Bachelor's degree in mid-December.  Found out yesterday (after he got his final set of straight A's) he graduated summa cum laude.  (at least according to his GPA). 

Had you told me this would happen back when he was in elementary thru high school, I would have asked what drugs you were taking and could I have some too...

We are very proud of him!

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 03:13 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Merry Christmas

Hope everyone is having a lovely day.  We are slightly white here.




Perfect.

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 11:35 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Okay so the world didn't end

I suppose tomorrow I will do my Christmas cards.  I was kinda hoping to get out of it this year.  Oh well.

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Perplexing

Now why in the world would this particular song have popped into my head? 



No idea at all.

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Idle thoughts

Just had to turn on the lights in my office room. It's 3:50pm and it's dark in here.  Three more days and the days start to get longer. 

****
Watching my twitter feed while @NEFirebuff tweets out a high speed pursuit by the Massachusetts State Police. I guess I am living vicariously through someone else who lives vicariously.   It is interesting though.

****

TSA wants to know if airport body scanners are nuking you

I think someone there might have finally realized that TSA workers stand around that stuff all day... passengers just pass through once and are on the way.  What could possibly go wrong?   I guess they didn't think it through too well before deploying, even though they say they are worried about passengers.  heh.

****
While I've been typing the above, this tweet was posted on the big chase:

Lynn MA: Update-Suspect just carjacked a silver minivan-owner thrown to the ground. EMS being requested.

This would be why I always lock my doors when driving. 

****

Okayfine... it looks like twitter will be letting people download an archive of all their tweets since they joined. 

All I can say is... why would anyone want to do that? People are clamoring for this?  Really? Wow.

****

And let's finish up here, yes, the great chase finished while I was typing the rest of the post.  The carjacker caused a 5 car accident, dumped the jacked car in a driveway, and fled on foot.  They were bringing in the dogs, but the cops found him hiding in a backyard.  He is in custody.

****

How's that for a good dose of excitement. 

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 04:14 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Feeling like an old fogey

Saw this headline from Wired today:

Speed Bumps Can Help Diagnose Appendicitis, Study Shows

Okay, I guess it's not "the thing" to listen to old country doctor types.  Not in the slick new world of medicine today with all the pretty machines and computery stuff. 

Don't get me wrong... I love all the slick machines and computery stuff. But it doesn't always get you the answers you need now does it.

I do remember a doctor showing me (many moons ago) that one test for appendicitis was to take the leg (right leg since that's the side the appendix is on), hold it up off the bed, and give the heel of the foot a goodly thump. The reaction to this along with the blood tests and temp will go a good long way to diagnose appendicitis. 

Oh yeah, and you don't even need a car.

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 12:10 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Your holiday travel interlude

We just got back from a visit with the kids in Chicago.  Fun was had by all.  And so it's time for the airport notes.

This was a fairly quiet trip all things considered.  We need some real wackos to make these a bit more interesting I think... Oh well, here goes anyway. 

Why do airports insist on piping in such hideous music? Tinny, screechy, high pitched voices.  Grates on the nerves.

Problem with mid day travel. When do you eat lunch?  No "good" time to eat means I'm starving on arrival wherever I'm going.

Why bother with long pants if you're going to wear them with the knees totally ripped out?  

How long has it been since non-ticketed passengers could go beyond the security checkpoint?  Years. So why do they announce this restriction every 5 minutes?

Once again. ESPN at the airports please!!!!  I do not want news. No matter who is doing it.

There is nothing more fun than an airplane taking off. So far they haven't been able to ruin that.

Southwest allows free wifi flight tracking. Excellent!

Except the flight tracker is telling me I'm heading TO Providence.  This causes a moment of surreal double checking… however, the plane on the graphic is headed to Chicago so all is well.

I have never seen anyone sleep like that on a plane. Head completely off to the side on his shoulder. Leaning out into the aisle. Wow.

Couldn't figure out why our flight would be getting in half an hour late when we left on time. Um. Yeah. Time change!  D'oh. We'll be getting in half an hour early.

Midway TSA outpost. Schlepped to the supposedly less crowded station. Unfortunately it's the one where all the wheelchair riders are processed. Elderly people who can't understand why they have to take off their shoes just to ride on a plane. 

This is why I leave early for airports.

The Atlanta/NY game on at the Chicago airport?  Really?  What about the Bears game? They are playing just down the street. Oh yeah, brought to us by CNN - Atlanta. 

Nice! Southwest gate agent gives public congrats to one of our military traveling on the flight. Round of applause from the passengers. 

Hmmmm…. all boarded, just sitting here. 

Note to self… stop ordering cranberry juice to drink.  Then maybe there won't be any flight turbulence to try and dump it in your lap.

This flight tracker thing is mesmerizing.  Interestingly they say there is "heavy snow" in Providence but it's 36 degrees. 

And about 20 minutes prior to landing, the "heavy snow" changes to "light rain". 

That's about it for this trip. I guess the best thing is we won't be traveling on Christmas when everything is closed.  Yes, that is a good thing.

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 11:52 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Giggle of the Evening

My email from the WSJ (which still comes to me even though I haven't had a subscription for a few years now) had this most excellent subject line:

WSJ NEWS ALERT: Big Lots Chief Executive Probed by SEC

(I'd link it but it's behind their pay wall and I can't read it anyway)

Yes, sometimes it's best to get emails for their amusement factor alone.  I sometimes wonder... Who do they pay to create these headlines? and then... Does anyone proof read? 

Yes, these are the things that keep me looking around online.  You never know...

Posted by: Teresa in FUN at 10:56 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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