Things that have fine print usually/may have stuff you need to know. Most people don't read the fine print because it's too hard to read. Some manufacturers/programers hope you won't read the fine print. I suspect that's why it's written in fine print. Sometimes the print is so small you can't read it without a high powered magnifying glass.
Popular Drugs have a lot of fine print. Mostly about the side affects. On TV they tell you about the side affects, but apparently people don't listen to the 'fine print' either.
The fine print with the things they have to tell you about.
A lot of software has fine print as well. Usually it's a disclaimer telling you they are not repsonsible if their software trashes your computer. Makes you wonder if it has trashed someone's computer.
One thing that really gets to me is all of the warnings that are printed in fine print on a lot of consumer products.
Some of those warnings. Apparently the reason for some of these 'fine prints' are because some idiot did just what the warning says not to do. The manufacturers have to protect themselves from lawsuits by stupid people.
So be sure to read the fine print! I try but I don't always have the magnifying glass handy.
Martha
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Change is Coming............But Will We Like it?
As a general rule the assumption is that change is usually good. Notice I said 'assumption'.
So far this year I have noticed a number of changes and most of them are not good.
I guess the biggest change is known by the local news pundits as 'pain at the pump'. Since I am retired and pretty much a stay at home person, that change hasn't affected me as much as the folks who have to drive to work in order to be able to pay the bills. Where I live public transportation is not generally an option as it is either very limited or not available. This is mostly due to urban sprawl and the fact most of the American people have long had a love affair with the automobile.
Another change is how much the interest rates have gone down. I guess that change is good for some folks, but I suspect it is good mostly for big business and not for the 'little guys'. The people who carry a lot of credit card debt don't seem to be benefiting any from the interest rates as not many credit card companies are lowering rates for those folks.
I don't carry debt on credit cards so that doesn't affect me. But what does affect me is how much less money I earn on my savings. Another change I could have done without.
A huge unwelcome change is how much more money it takes to buy groceries! Every time I shop for food something or several somethings have gone up in price and not by just a little bit either.
The big box retailers are trying to cut costs and most of them are doing that by cutting employees and as for customer service, that's practically non-existant now. So the poor customers are left with no one to help them make purchases and sometimes it's even hard to find someone to take their money. I wonder if those big box retailers realize that all of this 'saving money' is costing them more money in the long run?
Now the politicians are promising 'change'. So far all I have heard just makes me wonder, 'what kind of change?' I have always laughed at the old joke about 'how you can tell if a politician is lying, his lips are moving'. I am beginning to think 'change' is a bad joke, and the joke is on us.
Martha
So far this year I have noticed a number of changes and most of them are not good.
I guess the biggest change is known by the local news pundits as 'pain at the pump'. Since I am retired and pretty much a stay at home person, that change hasn't affected me as much as the folks who have to drive to work in order to be able to pay the bills. Where I live public transportation is not generally an option as it is either very limited or not available. This is mostly due to urban sprawl and the fact most of the American people have long had a love affair with the automobile.
Another change is how much the interest rates have gone down. I guess that change is good for some folks, but I suspect it is good mostly for big business and not for the 'little guys'. The people who carry a lot of credit card debt don't seem to be benefiting any from the interest rates as not many credit card companies are lowering rates for those folks.
I don't carry debt on credit cards so that doesn't affect me. But what does affect me is how much less money I earn on my savings. Another change I could have done without.
A huge unwelcome change is how much more money it takes to buy groceries! Every time I shop for food something or several somethings have gone up in price and not by just a little bit either.
The big box retailers are trying to cut costs and most of them are doing that by cutting employees and as for customer service, that's practically non-existant now. So the poor customers are left with no one to help them make purchases and sometimes it's even hard to find someone to take their money. I wonder if those big box retailers realize that all of this 'saving money' is costing them more money in the long run?
Now the politicians are promising 'change'. So far all I have heard just makes me wonder, 'what kind of change?' I have always laughed at the old joke about 'how you can tell if a politician is lying, his lips are moving'. I am beginning to think 'change' is a bad joke, and the joke is on us.
Martha
Thursday, May 22, 2008
But Wait!
I don't usually like commercials. I suspect most of the viewers of the boob tube feel the same way. However we have all come to realize that commercials are the price we pay for free viewing content.
One of the biggest gripe about commercials is the fact they are so much louder than the programs. Some of them really blast out so that the mute button gets hit immediately. You would think the advertisers would have realized that by now, but it is very apparent they haven't. I don't know for sure who is to blame for this blasting of ads, the TV stations or someone else.
Some commercials can be quite entertaining, like some of the Geico and Capitol One ads. Some of the time I even watch those, except after awhile they begin to pall.
But some commercials just go a bit too far and fall into the 'Quick, hit the mute button' for most of us. Most of the 'quick hit the mute button' are the really obnoxious commercials like 'Head on' and there was a Vonage commercial that was really bad. Some more fit this category, but the ones that come to mind now are those terribly annoying commercials that want me to call now and order those junky products. What bargains they are! They will make my life so much easier! And just about all of them are only $19.95 (plus
shipping and handling). But Wait! If I order now, I will get a second product free! (In small print, plus shipping and handling. That makes it NOT free. Most all charge $7.99 for shipping and handling.)
The majority of these products are being touted by a guy named Billy Mays who must think we are all hard of hearing because he is shouting all during this spiel.
I think the mute button has to be one of the better inventions for the television industry. I sure use mine a lot!
Martha
One of the biggest gripe about commercials is the fact they are so much louder than the programs. Some of them really blast out so that the mute button gets hit immediately. You would think the advertisers would have realized that by now, but it is very apparent they haven't. I don't know for sure who is to blame for this blasting of ads, the TV stations or someone else.
Some commercials can be quite entertaining, like some of the Geico and Capitol One ads. Some of the time I even watch those, except after awhile they begin to pall.
But some commercials just go a bit too far and fall into the 'Quick, hit the mute button' for most of us. Most of the 'quick hit the mute button' are the really obnoxious commercials like 'Head on' and there was a Vonage commercial that was really bad. Some more fit this category, but the ones that come to mind now are those terribly annoying commercials that want me to call now and order those junky products. What bargains they are! They will make my life so much easier! And just about all of them are only $19.95 (plus
shipping and handling). But Wait! If I order now, I will get a second product free! (In small print, plus shipping and handling. That makes it NOT free. Most all charge $7.99 for shipping and handling.)
The majority of these products are being touted by a guy named Billy Mays who must think we are all hard of hearing because he is shouting all during this spiel.
I think the mute button has to be one of the better inventions for the television industry. I sure use mine a lot!
Martha
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Is Your Cell Phone Attached to You?
Here's more proof I was born 40 years too soon!
People under 30 don't just sleepwalk, they use their cell phones in their sleep. If you don't believe me just 'Google' sleep texting.
That's something that I find hard to believe, but apparently it's true. The experts seem to think it's true. I am not so sure. I have heard that people have been know to drive, eat and do a lot of other things in their sleep. Since I don't have any of those problems as far as I know, it's hard for me to understand. (If I do those things in my sleep, how would I know?)
I just don't understand the need to be 'connected' at every waking moment. I do have a cell phone, but it's turned off most of the time. I have it for emergency use only.
The local news stations tell me I can access the weather news on my cell phone. Sounds handy, but I can do that on my computer. They say I can access the weather on my cell phone when the power goes off. I have a laptop and it runs off a battery when the power goes off.
Personally I don't want that phone to become like a third part of me. I already have a third extension; my computer! However, when I leave the house I leave the computer at home. If I decide to work in the yard (I do occasionally), the computer is in the house, not attached to my body.
When I go shopping I concentrate on shopping. When I go to bed I certainly don't take the cell phone to bed with me. I hear a lot of folks do that as well. When I am driving I need to be focused on where I am going and the traffic around me, not yapping on the phone.
Some jerk yapping on his phone changed lanes right in front of me once and I nearly hit him. He didn't use signals, just pulled over. I hit my brakes and horn at the same time. He just kept yakking. It's a good thing no one was tail-gateing me or I would have been hit from behind.
I don't have a problem with other people using cell phones where ever they may be, but I think they shouldn't use them while driving.
I told you I was born 40 years too soon. If I had been born 40 years later, I probably would have a cell phone attached to me somewhere, more than likely my ear!
Martha
People under 30 don't just sleepwalk, they use their cell phones in their sleep. If you don't believe me just 'Google' sleep texting.
That's something that I find hard to believe, but apparently it's true. The experts seem to think it's true. I am not so sure. I have heard that people have been know to drive, eat and do a lot of other things in their sleep. Since I don't have any of those problems as far as I know, it's hard for me to understand. (If I do those things in my sleep, how would I know?)
I just don't understand the need to be 'connected' at every waking moment. I do have a cell phone, but it's turned off most of the time. I have it for emergency use only.
The local news stations tell me I can access the weather news on my cell phone. Sounds handy, but I can do that on my computer. They say I can access the weather on my cell phone when the power goes off. I have a laptop and it runs off a battery when the power goes off.
Personally I don't want that phone to become like a third part of me. I already have a third extension; my computer! However, when I leave the house I leave the computer at home. If I decide to work in the yard (I do occasionally), the computer is in the house, not attached to my body.
When I go shopping I concentrate on shopping. When I go to bed I certainly don't take the cell phone to bed with me. I hear a lot of folks do that as well. When I am driving I need to be focused on where I am going and the traffic around me, not yapping on the phone.
Some jerk yapping on his phone changed lanes right in front of me once and I nearly hit him. He didn't use signals, just pulled over. I hit my brakes and horn at the same time. He just kept yakking. It's a good thing no one was tail-gateing me or I would have been hit from behind.
I don't have a problem with other people using cell phones where ever they may be, but I think they shouldn't use them while driving.
I told you I was born 40 years too soon. If I had been born 40 years later, I probably would have a cell phone attached to me somewhere, more than likely my ear!
Martha
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sleeping While Texting
Cell Phones
More proof I was born 40 years too soon!
People under 30 don't just sleepwalk, they use their cell phones in their sleep. If you don't believe me just 'Google' sleep texting.
That's something that I find hard to believe, but apparently it's true. The experts seem to think it's true. I am not so sure. I have heard that people have been know to drive, eat and do a lot of other things in their sleep. Since I don't have any of those problems as far as I know, it's hard for me to understand. (If I do those things in my sleep, how would I know?)
I just don't understand the need to be 'connected' at every waking moment. I do have a cell phone, but it's turned off most of the time. I have it for emergency use only.
The local news stations tell me I can access the weather news on my cell phone. Sounds handy, but I can do that on my computer. They say I can access the weather on my cell phone when the power goes off. I have a laptop and it runs off a battery when the power goes off.
Personally I don't want that phone to become like a third part of me. I already have a third extension; my computer! However, when I leave the house I leave the computer at home. If I decide to work in the yard (I do occasionally), the computer is in the house, not attached to my body.
When I go shopping I concentrate on shopping. When I go to bed I certainly don't take the cell phone to bed with me. I hear a lot of folks do that as well. When I am driving I need to be focused on where I am going and the traffic around me, not yapping on the phone.
Some jerk yapping on his phone changed lanes right in front of me once and I nearly hit him. He didn't look or use signals, just pulled over and almost hit me. I hit my brakes and horn at the same time. He just kept yakking. It's a good thing no one was tail-gateing me or I would have been hit from behind.
I don't have a problem with other people using cell phones where ever they may be, but I think they shouldn't use them while driving.
I told you I was born 40 years too soon. If I had been born 40 years later, I probably would have a cell phone attached to me somewhere, more than likely my ear!
Martha
More proof I was born 40 years too soon!
People under 30 don't just sleepwalk, they use their cell phones in their sleep. If you don't believe me just 'Google' sleep texting.
That's something that I find hard to believe, but apparently it's true. The experts seem to think it's true. I am not so sure. I have heard that people have been know to drive, eat and do a lot of other things in their sleep. Since I don't have any of those problems as far as I know, it's hard for me to understand. (If I do those things in my sleep, how would I know?)
I just don't understand the need to be 'connected' at every waking moment. I do have a cell phone, but it's turned off most of the time. I have it for emergency use only.
The local news stations tell me I can access the weather news on my cell phone. Sounds handy, but I can do that on my computer. They say I can access the weather on my cell phone when the power goes off. I have a laptop and it runs off a battery when the power goes off.
Personally I don't want that phone to become like a third part of me. I already have a third extension; my computer! However, when I leave the house I leave the computer at home. If I decide to work in the yard (I do occasionally), the computer is in the house, not attached to my body.
When I go shopping I concentrate on shopping. When I go to bed I certainly don't take the cell phone to bed with me. I hear a lot of folks do that as well. When I am driving I need to be focused on where I am going and the traffic around me, not yapping on the phone.
Some jerk yapping on his phone changed lanes right in front of me once and I nearly hit him. He didn't look or use signals, just pulled over and almost hit me. I hit my brakes and horn at the same time. He just kept yakking. It's a good thing no one was tail-gateing me or I would have been hit from behind.
I don't have a problem with other people using cell phones where ever they may be, but I think they shouldn't use them while driving.
I told you I was born 40 years too soon. If I had been born 40 years later, I probably would have a cell phone attached to me somewhere, more than likely my ear!
Martha
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
The Vista Bashers
There are a lot of these folks, Vista bashers.
I like Vista myself. It is the smoothest running Windows OS I have ever had. But I have to admit I had to get used to Vista and that took me about two weeks, digging and poking into the corners and guts of this much maligned version of Windows.
There are a lot of reasons why people don't like Vista.
"It's too slow." (It isn't really, it probably isn't configured properly. Mine runs just fine, but I do have more memory on my Vista computer than some computers have. Windows XP runs better with more memory as well.)
"I hate that User Access Control because it's always in my face." (It can be turned off if it bothers that much. Once your programs are all installed, turn it back on for the added security to your computer.)
"I can't find where anything is located." (It took me a while to find stuff! But once you think about it, the new locations make sense.)
"I've heard Vista is no good, so it must be bad." (That is a terrible reason! Try it before you badmouth it. There are a LOT of these folks and some of them are posting all over the Internet. I just un-subbed from a newsletter that was constantly bashing Vista. The author doesn't use Vista!)
"My software won't run on Vista" (Most of the software that ran on Windows XP will run on Vista. See Vista's Program Compatibility Mode.All of my Windows XP software works on Vista.)
"My printer, scanner, etc. won't work. That Vista sucks!" (Guess what, the same thing happened when Windows XP was released. New technology needs new drivers and hardware folks want to sell you new technology. One way to do that is not to write and release new Vista drivers for old hardware. Microsoft doesn't write hardware drivers, hardware manufacturers write hardware drivers.)
I think there are probably a lot more reasons why folks don't like Vista. I also think the main reason they don't like Vista is 'it isn't Windows XP'.
My take on the whole 'Vista bashing' is this: If you don't like it at first, get to know it. If you still don't like it,you don't have to use it; there are other alternatives. You can go back to Windows XP. You can install and use Linux. You can get a Mac.
There are some things that came in Vista that are not really up to par, like Internet Explorer and Windows Mail. There is a problem with making your Folder Options 'stick'. But I don't use Internet Explorer, I use Firefox. I used Firefox with Windows XP because it doesn't have ActiveX. I use Thunderbird instead of Windows Mail. More about those issues were discussed on an earlier post, The Buggy Bits in Vista.
No operating system is perfect. That's why I like to think things keep evolving. Maybe one day a perfect OS will show up, but I doubt it will happen in my lifetime!
Martha
I like Vista myself. It is the smoothest running Windows OS I have ever had. But I have to admit I had to get used to Vista and that took me about two weeks, digging and poking into the corners and guts of this much maligned version of Windows.
There are a lot of reasons why people don't like Vista.
"It's too slow." (It isn't really, it probably isn't configured properly. Mine runs just fine, but I do have more memory on my Vista computer than some computers have. Windows XP runs better with more memory as well.)
"I hate that User Access Control because it's always in my face." (It can be turned off if it bothers that much. Once your programs are all installed, turn it back on for the added security to your computer.)
"I can't find where anything is located." (It took me a while to find stuff! But once you think about it, the new locations make sense.)
"I've heard Vista is no good, so it must be bad." (That is a terrible reason! Try it before you badmouth it. There are a LOT of these folks and some of them are posting all over the Internet. I just un-subbed from a newsletter that was constantly bashing Vista. The author doesn't use Vista!)
"My software won't run on Vista" (Most of the software that ran on Windows XP will run on Vista. See Vista's Program Compatibility Mode.All of my Windows XP software works on Vista.)
"My printer, scanner, etc. won't work. That Vista sucks!" (Guess what, the same thing happened when Windows XP was released. New technology needs new drivers and hardware folks want to sell you new technology. One way to do that is not to write and release new Vista drivers for old hardware. Microsoft doesn't write hardware drivers, hardware manufacturers write hardware drivers.)
I think there are probably a lot more reasons why folks don't like Vista. I also think the main reason they don't like Vista is 'it isn't Windows XP'.
My take on the whole 'Vista bashing' is this: If you don't like it at first, get to know it. If you still don't like it,you don't have to use it; there are other alternatives. You can go back to Windows XP. You can install and use Linux. You can get a Mac.
There are some things that came in Vista that are not really up to par, like Internet Explorer and Windows Mail. There is a problem with making your Folder Options 'stick'. But I don't use Internet Explorer, I use Firefox. I used Firefox with Windows XP because it doesn't have ActiveX. I use Thunderbird instead of Windows Mail. More about those issues were discussed on an earlier post, The Buggy Bits in Vista.
No operating system is perfect. That's why I like to think things keep evolving. Maybe one day a perfect OS will show up, but I doubt it will happen in my lifetime!
Martha
Friday, May 02, 2008
The End of an Era
The first really important email newsletter, at least for me, was 'The LangaList'. This weekly missive by Fred Langa was something I
always looked forward to. He guided me through the ins and outs of fixing Windows problems, helped me make software decisions and just always provided a really good read. It was the first email newsletter I decided was worth paying for and it was worth every penny, plus a whole lot more.
It was with some trepidation when I received word that Fred was joining forces with Brian Livingston of WindowsSecrets (the second email newsletter I had decided was worth paying for). My fears were soon put to rest as Windows Secrets came along and seemed to get better with every issue. Windows Secrets is full of tips about fixing Windows Problems and also contains tidbits of what's going on in the world of computing. It isn't the LangaList, but close. I still miss those reader's sites submitted to the LangaList. I found some real jewels there.
In my latest issue of Windows Secrets the announcement was made, Fred is leaving! So now I will no longer read those articles by Fred, at least not about computers. Fred is looking for new horizons and I hope he finds what he is looking for, as he truly deserves the best.
Maybe not all is lost, Fred does have a blog! But it isn't about computers. It is about his new challenges which seems to be a lot of fun!
Although I don't know if I would want to chase tornados, it sure might beat sitting at a computer all the time.
Good luck to you, Fred! Your loyal fans will miss you and a lot of them, like me, will keep up with you by reading your blog!
Martha
always looked forward to. He guided me through the ins and outs of fixing Windows problems, helped me make software decisions and just always provided a really good read. It was the first email newsletter I decided was worth paying for and it was worth every penny, plus a whole lot more.
It was with some trepidation when I received word that Fred was joining forces with Brian Livingston of WindowsSecrets (the second email newsletter I had decided was worth paying for). My fears were soon put to rest as Windows Secrets came along and seemed to get better with every issue. Windows Secrets is full of tips about fixing Windows Problems and also contains tidbits of what's going on in the world of computing. It isn't the LangaList, but close. I still miss those reader's sites submitted to the LangaList. I found some real jewels there.
In my latest issue of Windows Secrets the announcement was made, Fred is leaving! So now I will no longer read those articles by Fred, at least not about computers. Fred is looking for new horizons and I hope he finds what he is looking for, as he truly deserves the best.
Maybe not all is lost, Fred does have a blog! But it isn't about computers. It is about his new challenges which seems to be a lot of fun!
Although I don't know if I would want to chase tornados, it sure might beat sitting at a computer all the time.
Good luck to you, Fred! Your loyal fans will miss you and a lot of them, like me, will keep up with you by reading your blog!
Martha
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