Technology | Piss and Moan

Let’s think this through

Posted on January 22, 2019 by backuphill

closeup photo of person holding panasonic remote control in front of turned on smart television

Photo by freestocks.org on Pexels.com

Last night I had to have a conversation with some family members that I never thought, in this day and age, that I would have to have. Yet, it seems to be a recurring event these days.

We all know about security and the internet and how bad things can happen if you aren’t careful. We also know there are a lot of dishonest people and cheaters out there. So, to some degree it doesn’t surprise me that I have to have this conversation with my family too.

Last night, a member of the family (less than adult) wanted to input our Netflix credentials into an app that would allow the app to log into our Netflix account so that his friends could log into the app and watch a movie with him. So they could have a “shared experience.” Obviously, if brought to my attention first, the answer would always be a “No” for this sort of thing. It was not, however.

Instead, another member of the family (more than adult) agreed to said procedure in a misguided effort to be “a good parent.” Um, wait, you said ok? Why? Explain to me how you thought this would be a good idea.

Long story short – the answer was still, no. On top of it all, I had to kick everyone in the family out of the Netflix account and reset the password, again. Only four months after aforementioned adult decided it would be a good idea to allow someone else of the extended family access to the account. What a pain in the arse!

So, let’s just think this through a little more before we act, shall we?

Jump, let’s make it real!

Posted on January 21, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Valdemaras D. on Pexels.com

There’s a lot of jumping going on these days, only the jumping is not athletic in nature and not physical in value. It does, apparently, work the brain – even if it isn’t in a positive nature.

What jumping am I talking about?

Conclusions. Jumping to conclusions.

Damn it already, if social media (and regular media) isn’t set afire by people jumping to conclusions. Just since Thursday last week, there have been people jumping to conclusions at a record pace. False news. Misleading editing. All to get clicks or push an agenda. And the jumping just keeps getting worse!

The only place I wish people would jump is off a cliff, especially if they would like to find a conclusion. The conclusion can be at the bottom. Dead stop.

Get the facts people. Know the whole story. Investigate. Wait. There is always more than what meets the first impression.

Sound bites and neat, little 7-10 second clips (or a still photo) don’t tell the story.

If you’re going to jump, head straight for some place high with a definite dead-end, conclusion.

Getting tired of hearing ya’ll.

Does anyone ever win?

Posted on January 18, 2019 by backuphill

Pay no attention to the item itself, but the fact that there is supposedly going to be a “winner” of the giveaway.

Does anyone ever win these things? And, if so, how do we know?

Have you seen these things on Amazon? Have you tried to win? Have you won?

My guess is that there is never a winner. You are just getting to opportunity to click on a bouncing box and that qualifies you for a “discount” because you didn’t win. I’ve been clicking on these things for a while, when I see them, and so far have never won anything.

I’ll bet no one ever wins anything. It’s gotta be a scam. I mean really, is my luck that bad? I would like to think that I have some luck, hopefully not none. I just don’t think there are any winners out there…

Comment if you have ever been so luck to win one of these Amazon things, or if you have ever been lucky to win anything in your life.

Work Email Syndrome

Posted on January 3, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán on Pexels.com

I bet after describing this you’ll know you have it too. It should be a real affliction, if it isn’t already. I don’t know. I didn’t look. All I know is that I have it.

I don’t know about your place of employment, but mine uses all sorts of forms of communication. Skype, Zoom, Outlook, video chat, messenger, paper, notes, etc etc. But one thing that I really dislike is going back to work…wait, I almost stopped there. Because, I mean, really, who likes going to work?

But I digress. Anyway, going back to work because of all the email that has filled up my inbox. I mean really!! Do we need to send this much email in ONE DAY? I don’t like being sick because I get back to work and have 300 emails to wade through. It takes me days to catch up!

So, I fear going back to work simply because of email. That’s a syndrome, right? It has to be. I probably need a counselor for this. Maybe I need a doctor’s note to take more time off. Maybe I’ll sue my managers and the company for emotional distress related to email. It’s overwhelming.

I think I better start a support group.

“Hi, my name is _______________ and I suffer from WES.”

Hmmm, why don’t I feel better yet? Oh wait, because I have to work and have 314 emails to go through. DANG IT! If I close my eyes and wait a few seconds, will they be gone?

Noisy road

Posted on December 27, 2018 by backuphill

If only my commute was this nice to look at. Photo by Nextvoyage on Pexels.com

You probably don’t think about it much because you are driving and paying attention to the other drivers around you, which you should be. However, there is probably one thing you don’t notice you’re doing as a result of a noisy road.

The surface of the roadway is kind of an important thing when it comes to highways. I mean, it gets thousands and thousands of cars driving over it every day/week/month/year. It has to be durable, but also something that withstands heat, cold, weight, collisions, rain, etc. So, I am sure there is science behind why they do what they do when they make roads. But, really, I don’t care.

I just want a road that is smooth and quiet. Road noise should be a low hum that you really don’t notice unless something is wrong with the car. Instead, half of half of my commute is across 40+ year old concrete that has been worn down to the pebbles used to make it and it sounds like a jet engine starting up as you drive over it as high speeds.

Thus, I have to listen to the radio really loud. All to hear the traffic report. And if there is another person in the car, well, you just have to yell, even if they are just sitting right next to you. That is annoying.

What small things do you notice as you drive the same route and sit in the car for hours each day? Anything only you would notice and have to point out to others when they ride along with you?

Yep, I’m THAT dad

Posted on December 19, 2018 by backuphill

blue and gray concrete house with attic during twilight

Photo by Benji Mellish on Pexels.com

Temperature is an important thing. It can’t be too hot and and it can’t be too cold. That is why I commissioned as scientific study (not really) of the atmosphere in the house and I have set the thermostat to the perfect temp for every occasion and every moment of the day.

So, SO HELP ME if someone touches the freaking thermostat! Period. It was perfect where it was at both in temperature but also on energy consumption. Leave it alone!

I swear the next person I see touch the thermostat…IMA BOUT TO COME UNCORKED!! I’m gonna break their fingers, and the next person after that (since they didn’t learn from the previous example) will get their fingers cut off and feed to the dog (ok not really, but it sounds good)!

Just. Leave. It. Alone.

If you’re hot, wear less clothing. If you’re cold, wear more clothing. Just don’t touch the thermostat.

Anyone else have to deal with this? Am I insane? It is really that hard to just not touch?

I need staples…

Posted on December 4, 2018 by backuphill

black and white blur business conceptual

Photo by Dom J on Pexels.com

The supply cabinet at the office should do the trick. No, I am not stealing from the office for my stapler at home. These are for my actual work stapler.

Here’s the thing. The office supplies are ordered from an office supply store named “Staples.” Guess what? They have store branded items! Great if you are buying office supplies and want something cheaper than the name brand stuff. Perfect solution.

But wait! What happens when you go to the supply closet/cabinet and open it up looking for staples? Yep. Sure. OK. There are fifty small boxes in the cabinet all with the work “Staples” on them…now I am supposed to look for a box labeled Staples Staples?

Good luck to me. Maybe I didn’t really need staples that badly.

#fml #smh

Limited sale quantity

Posted on December 3, 2018 by backuphill

Over the weekend I was shopping, online. I try to avoid stores if I can and will do so until I can no longer make due.

On said shopping venture I found an item that I thought would fit the budget and would be good for both kids (we usually put this item in their stocking each year). So I decided to buy.

Much to my dismay, the sale was limited to ONE item. I can only buy one. That sucks. How is it really a sale (price wasn’t fantastic) if it has a limit of one? I guess one kid doesn’t get a present in their stocking this year.

Come on, Amazon, you can do better than that.

I wonder which kid is my favorite?

I can almost see clearly

Posted on November 30, 2018 by backuphill

Anyone else hate driving with windshield wipers? Yeah, me too. Which is a problems since I live in the northwest where liquid falls from the sky more than it doesn’t.

I want my windshield to act as though it has that RainX stuff on it all the time. I don’t like to apply the stuff because it takes time and effort, so why can’t the glass technology just be that way? Why can’t I just not have to drive with windshield wipers permanently?

If that were the case, I could see clearly all the time, even when liquid falls from the sky in a torrential kind of way.

Get to it glass people!

The “shipping and handling” lie

Posted on November 27, 2018 by backuphill

We all know it is a lie and yet we just keep putting up with it because we want our stuff, no matter what it is.

“Shipping and handling” fees are usually tagged on at the very end of ordering something online. They get you all the way through the process only to find out there is that fee…and in most cases the fee is totally outrageous but we’re stuck and they know it.

A prime example is school pictures for your kids. I typically just order the digital image download because they I can have pictures printed as I need them or just for the people who want them. It should be a quick and simple transaction. Instead, there is a company out here (maybe in other places too) that my kid’s school uses that rapes you with the fee.

I am getting a digital download, meaning you have my email address because I am supplying you with a credit card. There is NO REASON to send me a hard copy of anything! Yet, this company insists that you need a hard copy of the “copyright release”. So, they send you, in the mail (that takes a week) for a $1.21, a printed copy of the release and a code so you can download the image. Really? A hard copy?!? You could have sent that in an email, like the second I pressed the button to pay for the photo of my kid.

Nope! Dorian Studios has to send it to you for the tune of $7.00. The photo shows you that clearly it didn’t cost $7 to send the hard copy. Clearly they are making money on the “shipping & handling” when it doesn’t even need to happen in the first place. What a scam and a lie!

#smh