I love being able to check my e-mail on my smartphone. It is very handy and useful when I am out and about. I can instantly check to see if there are any important messages that need attention while at the grocery store or even at Disneyland. However I much prefer to do e-mail on my laptop or desktop computer. There is something nice about being able to type on a full-size keyboard.
My day was spent in a very important meeting with other parts of my company and it was nice to have my laptop that I could pull out to read e-mail. Sure I could have used my phone but since I had my laptop, I used it. One of my colleagues from New York wasn't so lucky. Her Windows laptop inexplicably died and so she was stuck using her phone. At lunch she turned her laptop into our IT department and they started working on it. At the end of the day I found her wandering around trying to find our IT department so she could pick it back up. I walked with her to their lab and we found the guys still trying to bring her computer back from the dead. Unfortunately they were not done.
My colleague was happy that they were helping her and she told them that she would just try and use her phone to deal with the 225 or so unread e-mail messages. They worked some magic and gave her a loaner laptop complete with her e-mail loaded onto it. She was so happy not to be relegated to her tiny on-screen keyboard for the evening. I have to say I was happy our IT department could set her up with a loaner laptop so quickly. After all, 10 e-mail messages is about my limit on a phone, then I run the risk of destroying it out of frustration.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Friday, March 13, 2015
An App for Disneyland
I just got back from a two-day vacation in Disneyland. My youngest daughter who is now 20 wanted to spend a couple of days there and so my wife and I joined her. Our oldest daughter didn't want to miss out on the fun and joined us with her husband. It was the first time for him and so we wanted to make it a memorable experience. Memorable in a happy way, I might add.
Normally I am not a fan of smartphone usage while on vacation. However my wife had the Disneyland Magic Guide on her phone and we used it throughout our stay. This past week must have been maintenance time at the park because several of the key rides were out of service and a number of others kept breaking down. We could quickly look at the app and see if our next intended destination was working, had a short line, or should be avoided.
Disneyland is notorious for overestimating wait times and so we always waited less than the app reported. It only took a few times to figure that out and we were able to have a pleasantly memorable experience in the Happiest Place on Earth.
For some reason my wife was able to get the app for free. I think it is because she installed it several years ago before they started charging for it. When I went to put it on my phone, they wanted $3.99 for it. If you don't mind wandering aimlessly around, then don't spend the money. If you enjoy working hard to plan a spontaneous vacation, then four bucks will be well spent. It will also be the cheapest part of your Disneyland trip.
Normally I am not a fan of smartphone usage while on vacation. However my wife had the Disneyland Magic Guide on her phone and we used it throughout our stay. This past week must have been maintenance time at the park because several of the key rides were out of service and a number of others kept breaking down. We could quickly look at the app and see if our next intended destination was working, had a short line, or should be avoided.
Disneyland is notorious for overestimating wait times and so we always waited less than the app reported. It only took a few times to figure that out and we were able to have a pleasantly memorable experience in the Happiest Place on Earth.
For some reason my wife was able to get the app for free. I think it is because she installed it several years ago before they started charging for it. When I went to put it on my phone, they wanted $3.99 for it. If you don't mind wandering aimlessly around, then don't spend the money. If you enjoy working hard to plan a spontaneous vacation, then four bucks will be well spent. It will also be the cheapest part of your Disneyland trip.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Video Game Algorithms
Recently I have felt the need to do a bit more software development and so this evening I pulled out the code for a game I have been writing. Yes it is taking me a long time to write this game but it is the journey I am more interested in than the destination. I need to create an algorithm that allows a bad guy to hunt down the player. It looks so easy to do graphically but is much more difficult as I try to think out the steps so I can translate them into computer code.
I threw together something simple and then discovered that it doesn't work very well. When the player gets close to the edge of the screen, the program gets stuck in an infinite loop. I know the cause and so I am having to create a more complex algorithm. Not only do I have to check if the bad guy is close enough to the player to see him, I also have to check to make sure I don't try to run off the board or through an object on that is supposed to be a barrier.
When I learned how to write computer programs in high school, my teacher taught me to pull out a scratch sheet of paper and step through the algorithm development process. So that is what I find myself doing this evening. I have a notepad with X's (the player) and O's (the bad guy). Then there are arrows showing player movement with the bad guy chasing him down. I am making progress but not nearly as quickly as I had hoped. I do have to admit it is an interesting algorithm I am trying to develop though. One that can be used for a number of video game situations. Unfortunately I had to wake up too early this morning to catch my flight from home to the Bay Area and so I am finding it hard to concentrate. Perhaps I will have more luck tomorrow.
I threw together something simple and then discovered that it doesn't work very well. When the player gets close to the edge of the screen, the program gets stuck in an infinite loop. I know the cause and so I am having to create a more complex algorithm. Not only do I have to check if the bad guy is close enough to the player to see him, I also have to check to make sure I don't try to run off the board or through an object on that is supposed to be a barrier.
When I learned how to write computer programs in high school, my teacher taught me to pull out a scratch sheet of paper and step through the algorithm development process. So that is what I find myself doing this evening. I have a notepad with X's (the player) and O's (the bad guy). Then there are arrows showing player movement with the bad guy chasing him down. I am making progress but not nearly as quickly as I had hoped. I do have to admit it is an interesting algorithm I am trying to develop though. One that can be used for a number of video game situations. Unfortunately I had to wake up too early this morning to catch my flight from home to the Bay Area and so I am finding it hard to concentrate. Perhaps I will have more luck tomorrow.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Preventative Maintenance
Today I took my car into the shop for some regularly scheduled maintenance. I have a 2001 BMW 540i with only 67,000 miles on it. It has so few miles on it because I never drive it in the snow and there is a lot of snow in Utah. I also try to take very good care of it and so as part of the maintenance I had the mechanic perform an inspection. There are two items he suggested I perform as preventative maintenance. Since it is for a BMW, the work won't be cheap and adds up to about $1000.
One important thing I want to point out is that I trust my mechanic. There are a number of mechanics I have gone to through the years and would not trust their recommendations. The difference between them and my current mechanic is that I have had the chance to see my mechanic's work over the past number of years. He also knows how much I take care of my car and knows that I want it to last for a long time.
Unfortunately my mechanic has been working out of his home garage for the past decade and just now put up a shop. There are no reviews to check and an online search would turn up very little information. In other words, a careful Internet search would keep a number of people from using him. So if you are looking for a trustworthy mechanic in the Salt Lake area, give Kevin a call and he will take care of you.
On Monday I will take my car back and let Kevin work on it while I am in the Bay Area. There is probably a lot I can add about preventative maintenance with your computer equipment but let's be honest: Computers are cheap compared to cars and you can replace them for a lot less than your car. So if you have the choice of buying a new tablet computer or doing a lube/oil/filter on your car, spend the money on your car. It will save you a lot more money later down the road (no pun intended).
One important thing I want to point out is that I trust my mechanic. There are a number of mechanics I have gone to through the years and would not trust their recommendations. The difference between them and my current mechanic is that I have had the chance to see my mechanic's work over the past number of years. He also knows how much I take care of my car and knows that I want it to last for a long time.
Unfortunately my mechanic has been working out of his home garage for the past decade and just now put up a shop. There are no reviews to check and an online search would turn up very little information. In other words, a careful Internet search would keep a number of people from using him. So if you are looking for a trustworthy mechanic in the Salt Lake area, give Kevin a call and he will take care of you.
On Monday I will take my car back and let Kevin work on it while I am in the Bay Area. There is probably a lot I can add about preventative maintenance with your computer equipment but let's be honest: Computers are cheap compared to cars and you can replace them for a lot less than your car. So if you have the choice of buying a new tablet computer or doing a lube/oil/filter on your car, spend the money on your car. It will save you a lot more money later down the road (no pun intended).
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Time to Find a New E-Mail Provider
Last Thursday I stopped receiving e-mail. I get enough daily e-mail that I knew something was wrong fairly quickly and so I called my e-mail service provider to register a problem. The first level of support took my information and passed it onto the second-level team. I was in a meeting when they called back but the resulting voicemail informed me that I had two invalid name servers associated with my domain name. I promptly removed the offending name servers. I was also told that there was a problem with one of their e-mail servers where and my e-mail was effected. It didn't bother me to be without e-mail for a few days but I continued checking on things over the weekend.
Monday I still didn't have e-mail and so I logged a call with their technical support. Tuesday I was tied up in meetings and didn't have the chance to check with my e-mail service provider. When things still were not working yesterday, I gave them a call again. As luck would have it, I got a call back when I was out of my home office for just a moment. The voicemail message was very similar to the one I had gotten on Thursday telling me there were two name servers that needed to be deleted. I immediately called back only to discover that level two support was done for the day and I would have to wait until this morning to hear back from them. When I called back this morning, level-two support was busy and couldn't help me. I talked with a supervisor only to be told they would have to call me back.
A week without e-mail is ridiculous. That means it is time to find a different e-mail service provider. I really don't have many requirements. I want to be able to use a webmail interface to read messages while I am at work. When I am home, I want to be able to download the messages using POP3. The only other requirement is that it comes with a good SPAM filter. In doing a bit of research, WEB.COM seems to have some fairly good packages for about $6/month. I am currently paying $10/month and so I will save myself some money. Now I just need to figure out a way to get my cached e-mail over the last week.
Monday I still didn't have e-mail and so I logged a call with their technical support. Tuesday I was tied up in meetings and didn't have the chance to check with my e-mail service provider. When things still were not working yesterday, I gave them a call again. As luck would have it, I got a call back when I was out of my home office for just a moment. The voicemail message was very similar to the one I had gotten on Thursday telling me there were two name servers that needed to be deleted. I immediately called back only to discover that level two support was done for the day and I would have to wait until this morning to hear back from them. When I called back this morning, level-two support was busy and couldn't help me. I talked with a supervisor only to be told they would have to call me back.
A week without e-mail is ridiculous. That means it is time to find a different e-mail service provider. I really don't have many requirements. I want to be able to use a webmail interface to read messages while I am at work. When I am home, I want to be able to download the messages using POP3. The only other requirement is that it comes with a good SPAM filter. In doing a bit of research, WEB.COM seems to have some fairly good packages for about $6/month. I am currently paying $10/month and so I will save myself some money. Now I just need to figure out a way to get my cached e-mail over the last week.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Challenge Yourself
At the beginning of January I wrote about the death of a skier from the Snowbird Ski Team. Several days later the skier's older brother was skiing on the fallen skier's skis and realized how his younger brother had gotten to be so good. Written in permanent ink on the tip of each ski was the phrase, "Challenge Yourself." It is amazing that those two words can have such an impact. Since discovering this, my own skiing has improved dramatically. The phrase need not be limited to one sport or even one aspect of life; it can be applied everywhere.
I spent the first part of February running around Colorado skiing a number of different areas that I had never been. One day we were close enough to Taos, New Mexico that we skied Taos Ski Valley. While there I picked up a sticker that says, "Taos, a four letter word for steep." I can confirm that Taos is really steep. There were a number of runs where I was forced to "Challenge Myself" and the physical rush I received afterwards was amazing. This was merely the first time I exercised the phrase with my skiing and I have continued to experience similar results.
I am now preparing to help run radio support for the Salt Flats 100 in April and we will be using some new-to-me technology. This required purchasing some new gear and some of it is not quite fully baked. One hardware manufacturer sent me their product and instructions on how to make a cable to interface it with several popular ham radios. Unfortunately my radio is not among them. I became briefly discouraged as building the cable is not very intuitive. Then I remembered to "Challenge Myself" and sat down to read the technical specifications of the new device and my radio. I have come up with a technically elegant solution and am confident I won't damage either expensive piece of electronic equipment.
If you find yourself staring at a seemingly insurmountable problem, whether it be with your computer or some other aspect of your life, remember to "Challenge Yourself." It won't make the problem any easier but it will elevate your capacity to handle it.
I spent the first part of February running around Colorado skiing a number of different areas that I had never been. One day we were close enough to Taos, New Mexico that we skied Taos Ski Valley. While there I picked up a sticker that says, "Taos, a four letter word for steep." I can confirm that Taos is really steep. There were a number of runs where I was forced to "Challenge Myself" and the physical rush I received afterwards was amazing. This was merely the first time I exercised the phrase with my skiing and I have continued to experience similar results.
I am now preparing to help run radio support for the Salt Flats 100 in April and we will be using some new-to-me technology. This required purchasing some new gear and some of it is not quite fully baked. One hardware manufacturer sent me their product and instructions on how to make a cable to interface it with several popular ham radios. Unfortunately my radio is not among them. I became briefly discouraged as building the cable is not very intuitive. Then I remembered to "Challenge Myself" and sat down to read the technical specifications of the new device and my radio. I have come up with a technically elegant solution and am confident I won't damage either expensive piece of electronic equipment.
If you find yourself staring at a seemingly insurmountable problem, whether it be with your computer or some other aspect of your life, remember to "Challenge Yourself." It won't make the problem any easier but it will elevate your capacity to handle it.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Video Game Review: Thief
I felt so great when I was finally able to finish Bioshock Infinite that I was eager to see what the free video game download on PlayStation Plus for the PlayStation 3 was for the month of February. There were two and the more interesting of them was Thief. I have a PlayStation 3 that I keep on my boat in the Bay Area and so I downloaded it one evening while I slept. My Internet connection on the boat is not very fast and so it took a bit longer than if I was at home or in the office.
Thief was created by Eidos Montreal and published by Square Enix. I asked the guys at work about the game and they all said it got bad reviews. That didn't deter me from playing and so I started playing one evening and couldn't stop for several hours. Instead of running around trying to kill people like you would with a first-person shooter, you are thief and try to sneak around without being noticed. It was very refreshing as I wasn't constantly trying to kill everything in sight. There are also a lot of puzzles to solve including picking various locks, looking for important items, and figuring out where to go next.
Unfortunately I get bored by video games rather easily and so the next night I went to play the game but it didn't hold my interest nearly as long. Instead of wanting to play through for several hours, I was good for about an hour and then decided to move onto other things. I still want to finish the game but the end of the month is coming quickly and I am afraid I may jump onto another game instead. We'll see how this week goes.
Thief was created by Eidos Montreal and published by Square Enix. I asked the guys at work about the game and they all said it got bad reviews. That didn't deter me from playing and so I started playing one evening and couldn't stop for several hours. Instead of running around trying to kill people like you would with a first-person shooter, you are thief and try to sneak around without being noticed. It was very refreshing as I wasn't constantly trying to kill everything in sight. There are also a lot of puzzles to solve including picking various locks, looking for important items, and figuring out where to go next.
Unfortunately I get bored by video games rather easily and so the next night I went to play the game but it didn't hold my interest nearly as long. Instead of wanting to play through for several hours, I was good for about an hour and then decided to move onto other things. I still want to finish the game but the end of the month is coming quickly and I am afraid I may jump onto another game instead. We'll see how this week goes.
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