I've recently had some major mouth pain (wisdom teeth - long boring story). So, I just wanted to remind everyone that brushing, gently flossing, rinsing with mouthwash, and then waiting around half an hour then gargling / rinsing with warm salt water (My Girlfriend reminded me of that one). For pain management some ibuprofen and (my friend Stand turned me on to this) the Red Cross Toothache Kit. **BAM** problem solved.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Monday, November 10, 2014
TP - Everybody Poops!
LOL
I just received some Chamin Ultra-Strong as a promo from BzzAgent. I gave it a try and... I love this stuff! You all know that i'm all about getting the most for my money (cheap doesn't always mean the best value - Dollar store batteries anyone?). I ran the numbers on this TP and found that I use about 3x less than the generic 2-ply stuff that I had been buying. It still ends up being slightly more but only by a few cents per roll. But, it's crazy soft and I love it. Here's a coupon for those interested:
http://www.coupons.com/brands/charmin-coupons/?PLID=MEDIAADS&CRID=CHARMIN100114CHARMINFACEBOOKOCT_EXT
I just received some Chamin Ultra-Strong as a promo from BzzAgent. I gave it a try and... I love this stuff! You all know that i'm all about getting the most for my money (cheap doesn't always mean the best value - Dollar store batteries anyone?). I ran the numbers on this TP and found that I use about 3x less than the generic 2-ply stuff that I had been buying. It still ends up being slightly more but only by a few cents per roll. But, it's crazy soft and I love it. Here's a coupon for those interested:
http://www.coupons.com/brands/charmin-coupons/?PLID=MEDIAADS&CRID=CHARMIN100114CHARMINFACEBOOKOCT_EXT
CryptoBlocker Issues
I just recently ran into another cryptoblocker problem. When it's setup you cannot install any version of MS Office from 2K10 up. Apparently Microsoft runs some stuff from the %localappdata% folder! You just disable the policies, gpupdate, install office, & re-enable the policies and all is well. I'm going to be adding a new windows 8.1 deployment image to our WDS Server which will bypass this but, what a PITA!
You know you have the issue b/c you'll get either a bootstrapper error or an unknown error and setup will just exit.
UPDATE: I just tested it on (3) PC's and disabling the GPO (un-linked it then gpupdate /force) did the trick.
Also of note; the cryptoblocker policies nerf Firefox and utorrent magnet links! To fix this you need to add some policies to enable them to run properly. Here is a link to get Firefox working:
http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/396103-cryptolocker-prevention-kit-updated?page=10
Scroll down about 2/3 of the way and it's right there. Just replicate the process for utorrents exe and you're good to go.
You know you have the issue b/c you'll get either a bootstrapper error or an unknown error and setup will just exit.
UPDATE: I just tested it on (3) PC's and disabling the GPO (un-linked it then gpupdate /force) did the trick.
Also of note; the cryptoblocker policies nerf Firefox and utorrent magnet links! To fix this you need to add some policies to enable them to run properly. Here is a link to get Firefox working:
http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/396103-cryptolocker-prevention-kit-updated?page=10
Scroll down about 2/3 of the way and it's right there. Just replicate the process for utorrents exe and you're good to go.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Internet Phone Service Update & Other Stuff
Ok, so remember when Obihai declared that Google Voice wasn't going to work after March blah blah blah. Well, they totally fixed it so all their devices work perfectly! They work great w/o Google's XMPP (even though it looks like they never actually killed it like they said!) with just a small firmware upgrade. After the upgrade/update installs; all you have to do is punch in your info. I went back to the obi100 unit that I've had since last year and it works like a champ.
I had purchased a netTALK Duo device during the panic phase. It wasn't very expensive and they throw in a year of 911 etc. with the unit. After you've had it a year then they charge you 34.99/yr for the 911 services and that's it. It's not a bad alternative and they had a really good selection of numbers available. The reason I switched back to the obi was simple: reliability. The obi almost never needs to be reset. I had to reset my netTALK unit every 48 hours or it wouldn't work. It was really obnoxious. It got progressively worse and I didn't feel like messing around with customer service (which is good BTW - I'm just lazy). I canceled my auto-payment and threw it into a drawer. I'll hold on to it for awhile and then probably e-bay it.
So in summary: Obihai is back in the free phone service game & the people rejoiced!
Next on the agenda: iCloud and why Apple hates used phones. (This is my personal conspiracy theory and isn't backed up by fact... or is it!)
Many of you are familiar with the awesome part of iCloud: You can backup 5GB of you iDevice for free and when you get a new one or break/lose your old one it moves all your stuff back. One of the feature included is "Find my iPhone". This little "gem" enables you to locate your iDevice via a web browser and figure out where it got lost / stolen and remotely wipe it & burn future activation. Sounds good right? Yeah - no. Consider the following scenarios:
Scenario 1:
International Widgets purchases an iPhone / pad / whatever for their employee. Now hopefully they have iMacs (which they probably don't) and can use apples deployment software. They set it up with a corporate iTunes account and enable iCloud / find my iPhone. Security Savvy company that they are; the disable removing the account and keep it registered to them. Joe User leaves / gets terminated and turns in his iDevice. IT wipes it and redeploys it to another user or removes it from their account and liquidates it. No Problem.
Scenario 2: (the evil one)
International Widgets purchases their employee a new iDevice and sets it up with it's own iTunes account and gives it to Joe User. Joe user doesn't want the company to see that he has an Angry Birds addiction so he removes the iCloud and iTunes accounts and adds it to his personal account. He then turns on find my iPhone and the rest of iCloud. 6 months later Joe leaves the company. He turns in his iPhone and IT wipes it. IT goes to activate the phone for Joe's replacement and finds that they are unable to b/c it's still tied to Joe's account and it needs his password. The company is unable to activate the phone... EVER. Now, they could attempt to get Apple to unlock it (Good Luck) or beg Joe for the password. This phone is now useless.
"But, that's just a side effect of the security it provides!" you say. "What if it got stolen? The thieves could just resell it!". You are 100% correct - that's what the marketing department wants you to think. They might even believe it themselves. ANY phone that gets stolen and reported gets it's ESN burned by the carrier and is unable to be activated. The iCloud lock is completely unnecessary. The carrier has your back. Why would apple need to do it too? The answer is simple: to drive sales of new equipment. They are basically killing the used phone market. I've checked on eBay and almost 30% of the used iDevices are iCloud locked and useless. I'm fairly sure that they aren't all stolen (the ESN burned ones might be however...). Plus, there are a lot more scenarios where a phone can be rendered completely useless (you can hack them so you can use them as an iPod only).
So in summary: This is just one more example of Apple's blatantly predatory business practices. It's a sad day when Microsoft and big G are looking all warm and fuzzy compared to the competition.
Why myself and a number of other Americans are overweight:
I'm going to try to keep the justifications down to a bare minimum so please be kind. This is just the short list:
1. Healthy food is expensive! Empty carbs and fat are mass produced and cheap! After my divorce stared - I have been left living on 45% of my income and she pays none of the shared back debt. I have a food budget of like $75 a month. At a certain point not being really hungry is a priority. So quantity over quality!
2. Healthy meals require more time to prepare than junk does. I work 2-3 jobs at any given time. I'm tired and lazy by the time I get home. Whipping up a meal isn't really high on my priority list. I have time on the weekends and try to get my weeks worth of lunches at least made but, it doesn't always work out. Plus, for those nights that you're really running behind: Enter Fast Food! (yuk) This one here is the economy and my fault.
3. Unhealthy food tastes awesome. I like pie.
4. Exercise takes time. As a society we sit... a lot. A lot of jobs aren't labor intensive and we are sedentary a lot of the time. By the time I get out of Job#2 - I've got no energy left and weekends end up as recovery time so I can do it all over again.
5. I smoke too much. I have days that suck so bad that I question why I bother getting up. Those little endorphin providing sticks are all that keeps me going some times. I know they are killing me. I know they are doing all kinds of other things but, man I love the nicotine rush.
What i'm doing about it:
1. I buy bag o' salads at Walmart (romaine), precooked frozen chicken strips, shredded cheese, croutons and Cesar dressing. Total investment per week is less than $10 and all my lunches are taken care of in about 5 minutes of assembly. I don't get more than 3-4 days worth of salad b/c it goes bad quick for me.
2. Protein shake for breakfast and a protein bar for a snack partway through the morning.
3. Apples / Bananas for a snack in the afternoon.
4. Crock pot dinners pre-made and put out in the morning, chicken / beef cooked w/ frozen vegetables, sandwiches w/ cottage cheese and veggies (cold and raw), or Pizza / Chinese food occasionally (bite me - don't judge).
I also try to cram in 2-3 15 minute exercise periods a week and installed a pull-up bar in the kitchen doorway.
I stopped gaining weight and lose 1-2 pounds a week so far. It still costs a bit more and I need to tighten up but these are small things we can all do.
And... Last but not least:
Why the electronics repair market died:
Walmart takes a huge beating and most of the blame on this subject. They sell stuff so cheaply - why would you get your stuff fixed? I'm not going to launch into a lecture on waste, landfills, & carbon footprint. We've all heard it several thousand times from the popular media so, i'm not going to beat a dead horse. That and I don't actually care about any of those things. I hate the waste. There are a lot of things that need simple repairs that get thrown out everyday and I hate to see fixable stuff get trashed. The reason for most non-repairs / waste: Cost of the repair is greater than the value of the unit. Here's and example:
Joe User buys a 32" LED TV. He uses it for 18 months and it stops working. Joe gets a repair estimate from one of the few remaining repair shops and it comes back for $200 ($100 in parts and $100 in labor - it had a bad power supply). Joe throws it out b/c he can buy a new one on a black Friday special for $100. Boom! Landfill here we come.
Now - back in the day: The technician would have tested the board and found the bad capacitors, changed 4 of them out for $.10 a piece, billed the customer $25 and everyone would have been happy. Well now in America we have a few problems:
1. Insurance / Liability - If the tech changes the capacitors his company assumes liability for the unit. If something happens - it's all on them.
2. Not many techs (comparatively) can actually troubleshoot individual components anymore. Most of them are just parts re-placers. This is partially the fault of Problem 1 above and the example scenario.
3. It's hard to even get parts - let alone quickly. You used to be able to go to the bins @ your local Radio Shack and you were set.
Thank god for eBay. You can get complete boards for like $25-$45 already tested or pulled from a unit with a cracked LCD. They are crazy easy to change out, cheap, and arrive in less than a few days. If repair isn't your thing - eBay give you an outlet to sell off your old TV and recoup some of the cost of a new one. You can also give them to me! LOL - no seriously give them to me.
I realize that was a pretty random collection of stuff but, I really wanted to get it all out there.
UPDATE: Sorry about the wonky spacing - I accidentally used IE to finish off the post and it nerfed the formatting. I corrected it and all is well.
I had purchased a netTALK Duo device during the panic phase. It wasn't very expensive and they throw in a year of 911 etc. with the unit. After you've had it a year then they charge you 34.99/yr for the 911 services and that's it. It's not a bad alternative and they had a really good selection of numbers available. The reason I switched back to the obi was simple: reliability. The obi almost never needs to be reset. I had to reset my netTALK unit every 48 hours or it wouldn't work. It was really obnoxious. It got progressively worse and I didn't feel like messing around with customer service (which is good BTW - I'm just lazy). I canceled my auto-payment and threw it into a drawer. I'll hold on to it for awhile and then probably e-bay it.
So in summary: Obihai is back in the free phone service game & the people rejoiced!
Next on the agenda: iCloud and why Apple hates used phones. (This is my personal conspiracy theory and isn't backed up by fact... or is it!)
Many of you are familiar with the awesome part of iCloud: You can backup 5GB of you iDevice for free and when you get a new one or break/lose your old one it moves all your stuff back. One of the feature included is "Find my iPhone". This little "gem" enables you to locate your iDevice via a web browser and figure out where it got lost / stolen and remotely wipe it & burn future activation. Sounds good right? Yeah - no. Consider the following scenarios:
Scenario 1:
International Widgets purchases an iPhone / pad / whatever for their employee. Now hopefully they have iMacs (which they probably don't) and can use apples deployment software. They set it up with a corporate iTunes account and enable iCloud / find my iPhone. Security Savvy company that they are; the disable removing the account and keep it registered to them. Joe User leaves / gets terminated and turns in his iDevice. IT wipes it and redeploys it to another user or removes it from their account and liquidates it. No Problem.
Scenario 2: (the evil one)
International Widgets purchases their employee a new iDevice and sets it up with it's own iTunes account and gives it to Joe User. Joe user doesn't want the company to see that he has an Angry Birds addiction so he removes the iCloud and iTunes accounts and adds it to his personal account. He then turns on find my iPhone and the rest of iCloud. 6 months later Joe leaves the company. He turns in his iPhone and IT wipes it. IT goes to activate the phone for Joe's replacement and finds that they are unable to b/c it's still tied to Joe's account and it needs his password. The company is unable to activate the phone... EVER. Now, they could attempt to get Apple to unlock it (Good Luck) or beg Joe for the password. This phone is now useless.
"But, that's just a side effect of the security it provides!" you say. "What if it got stolen? The thieves could just resell it!". You are 100% correct - that's what the marketing department wants you to think. They might even believe it themselves. ANY phone that gets stolen and reported gets it's ESN burned by the carrier and is unable to be activated. The iCloud lock is completely unnecessary. The carrier has your back. Why would apple need to do it too? The answer is simple: to drive sales of new equipment. They are basically killing the used phone market. I've checked on eBay and almost 30% of the used iDevices are iCloud locked and useless. I'm fairly sure that they aren't all stolen (the ESN burned ones might be however...). Plus, there are a lot more scenarios where a phone can be rendered completely useless (you can hack them so you can use them as an iPod only).
So in summary: This is just one more example of Apple's blatantly predatory business practices. It's a sad day when Microsoft and big G are looking all warm and fuzzy compared to the competition.
Why myself and a number of other Americans are overweight:
I'm going to try to keep the justifications down to a bare minimum so please be kind. This is just the short list:
1. Healthy food is expensive! Empty carbs and fat are mass produced and cheap! After my divorce stared - I have been left living on 45% of my income and she pays none of the shared back debt. I have a food budget of like $75 a month. At a certain point not being really hungry is a priority. So quantity over quality!
2. Healthy meals require more time to prepare than junk does. I work 2-3 jobs at any given time. I'm tired and lazy by the time I get home. Whipping up a meal isn't really high on my priority list. I have time on the weekends and try to get my weeks worth of lunches at least made but, it doesn't always work out. Plus, for those nights that you're really running behind: Enter Fast Food! (yuk) This one here is the economy and my fault.
3. Unhealthy food tastes awesome. I like pie.
4. Exercise takes time. As a society we sit... a lot. A lot of jobs aren't labor intensive and we are sedentary a lot of the time. By the time I get out of Job#2 - I've got no energy left and weekends end up as recovery time so I can do it all over again.
5. I smoke too much. I have days that suck so bad that I question why I bother getting up. Those little endorphin providing sticks are all that keeps me going some times. I know they are killing me. I know they are doing all kinds of other things but, man I love the nicotine rush.
What i'm doing about it:
1. I buy bag o' salads at Walmart (romaine), precooked frozen chicken strips, shredded cheese, croutons and Cesar dressing. Total investment per week is less than $10 and all my lunches are taken care of in about 5 minutes of assembly. I don't get more than 3-4 days worth of salad b/c it goes bad quick for me.
2. Protein shake for breakfast and a protein bar for a snack partway through the morning.
3. Apples / Bananas for a snack in the afternoon.
4. Crock pot dinners pre-made and put out in the morning, chicken / beef cooked w/ frozen vegetables, sandwiches w/ cottage cheese and veggies (cold and raw), or Pizza / Chinese food occasionally (bite me - don't judge).
I also try to cram in 2-3 15 minute exercise periods a week and installed a pull-up bar in the kitchen doorway.
I stopped gaining weight and lose 1-2 pounds a week so far. It still costs a bit more and I need to tighten up but these are small things we can all do.
And... Last but not least:
Why the electronics repair market died:
Walmart takes a huge beating and most of the blame on this subject. They sell stuff so cheaply - why would you get your stuff fixed? I'm not going to launch into a lecture on waste, landfills, & carbon footprint. We've all heard it several thousand times from the popular media so, i'm not going to beat a dead horse. That and I don't actually care about any of those things. I hate the waste. There are a lot of things that need simple repairs that get thrown out everyday and I hate to see fixable stuff get trashed. The reason for most non-repairs / waste: Cost of the repair is greater than the value of the unit. Here's and example:
Joe User buys a 32" LED TV. He uses it for 18 months and it stops working. Joe gets a repair estimate from one of the few remaining repair shops and it comes back for $200 ($100 in parts and $100 in labor - it had a bad power supply). Joe throws it out b/c he can buy a new one on a black Friday special for $100. Boom! Landfill here we come.
Now - back in the day: The technician would have tested the board and found the bad capacitors, changed 4 of them out for $.10 a piece, billed the customer $25 and everyone would have been happy. Well now in America we have a few problems:
1. Insurance / Liability - If the tech changes the capacitors his company assumes liability for the unit. If something happens - it's all on them.
2. Not many techs (comparatively) can actually troubleshoot individual components anymore. Most of them are just parts re-placers. This is partially the fault of Problem 1 above and the example scenario.
3. It's hard to even get parts - let alone quickly. You used to be able to go to the bins @ your local Radio Shack and you were set.
Thank god for eBay. You can get complete boards for like $25-$45 already tested or pulled from a unit with a cracked LCD. They are crazy easy to change out, cheap, and arrive in less than a few days. If repair isn't your thing - eBay give you an outlet to sell off your old TV and recoup some of the cost of a new one. You can also give them to me! LOL - no seriously give them to me.
I realize that was a pretty random collection of stuff but, I really wanted to get it all out there.
UPDATE: Sorry about the wonky spacing - I accidentally used IE to finish off the post and it nerfed the formatting. I corrected it and all is well.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Product Review - ASUS EA-N66 Dual-Band Wireless-N900
I purchased this Access point/Repeater/Ethernet Adapter exactly a month ago. I picked it up off newegg.com refurbished for the very reasonable price of $30. After it was already on it's way I decided to read the reviews on this item: It didn't fare to well. Many people were complaining that they had to reset it a lot due to losing connectivity to the net. I regretted not reading the reviews prior to actually purchasing it, I'm a fan of ASUS products and have had good experiences with their products and their customer service.
On to the item in question; I hooked this up as a repeater to extend our WiFi throughout the rest of the house. So, I can't really speak to the other applications of this device. It works great! It brought my signal up to max strength throughout the rest of the house and out to the road in front of my house as well. I have not had to reset it since it was installed a month ago.
Programming and set up, was extremely easy. I hooked it up to my PC, told it which wireless network I wanted to extend, that I wanted it to be a repeater. Then I unhooked it, took it to a spot where the signal was at two bars of strength, plugged it into the wall, and set it on a shelf. Easy as it gets! It has a blue light bar that is visible as you walk by that if its on and solid means everything is working fine, flashing indicates there is an issue and no light means it's off.
This was a great buy especially for a refurbished item. I had to get the manual from the Asus website and I also did not receive the original box; so if these are a big deal to you I would suggest you buy this item new.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Malware... Again...
Lately there seems to be a lot of activity on the malware front. It's everything from bitcoin stealing trojans to really nasty ransomware.
Note: You can get a really great way to block a ton of malware including the Cryptolocker stuff from the peeps over at Bleeping Computer:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/cryptolocker-ransomware-information#cryptoprevent
~ Thanks to Chris for bringing the cryptolocker stuff to my attention. I (luckily?) have not had to deal with it and was only partially aware of the damage it can do!
Other than the cryptolocker stuff, the removal process isn't any different. If you find yourself infected with any of the run of the mill stuff - check my previous post about malware removal and you'll be fine.
Next up: FBI / NSA / RANDOM SCARY GOVERNMENT AGENCY NAME HERE Ransomware
This stuff is nasty and can't be removed through regular means. Here is the bleeping computer writeup: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-fbi-monkeypak-ransomware
They explain it and have the removal process. You'll need a flash drive to boot up on and may need to adjust your BIOS to support booting to an external USB drive.
For those of you without a good and current antivirus - I have a question for you:
Would you have unprotected sex with a prostitute that you met in a crack den?
Here are some of my favorite antivirus progs and they have free versions that work like a champ for home users. I personally use the BitDefender Internet Security suite but you can choose what works best for you.
Note: NEVER EVER install an antivirus if you already have one! This includes Microsoft security essentials! It will do VERY bad things to your system. If you are changing antivirus progs - ALWAYS UNINSTALL THE OLD ONE & REBOOT first!
BitDefender Free
Panda Cloud Free
AdAware Free Antivirus+ - Remember these guys?
I picked those three because they are lightweight & effective. The only thing I ran into that I didn't like was that AdAware wants to add a toolbar and change your search engine to them. Both of these things enhance your security but, they limit your web access and browsing experience. You can however choose for it not to install the toolbar etc. during the installation.
Note: After you get you stuff cleaned up it's really important to clean up you system (ccleaner) and if you have a mechanical hard drive to defrag (defraggler or auslogics) it.
Note: Some of the free progs mentioned use cnet who has been including a lot of junkware with their installer. Make sure you read the stuff during installation and un-check or opt out of the extra progs. It's also really important to look at the download and make sure it's the prog you wanted. A lot of ads have big green download buttons that install other progs.
~ Chris also brought up the fact that filehippo has almost all the same stuff that cnet does w/o the junkware integrated into the installer. So, they're a great alternative for freeware that won't give you a bunch of stuff you don't need / want. They're a great sight that slips through the cracks for some reason.
Good luck!
P.S - If you are unable to do this or if you're not 100% confident in doing any of this: always take it to a reputable professional and get it repaired.
Disclaimer: We are in no way responsible for you damaging your equipment, data, etc. The aforementioned post is for informational purposes only. Using any information found on this blog is done at your own risk!
Addendum: Preventing issues with DNS
A quick note to everyone: You can stop a ton of bad things (malware, phishing, etc.) by adjusting your DNS settings and using one of the following free providers:
Norton DNS
OpenDNS Family Safety Shield
Comodo SecureDNS
They all have great write ups on how to configure your PC / Router (protects everyone) for their individual services and they all are almost as fast as Google's free DNS servers (which are not filtered).
Note: You can get a really great way to block a ton of malware including the Cryptolocker stuff from the peeps over at Bleeping Computer:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/cryptolocker-ransomware-information#cryptoprevent
~ Thanks to Chris for bringing the cryptolocker stuff to my attention. I (luckily?) have not had to deal with it and was only partially aware of the damage it can do!
Other than the cryptolocker stuff, the removal process isn't any different. If you find yourself infected with any of the run of the mill stuff - check my previous post about malware removal and you'll be fine.
Next up: FBI / NSA / RANDOM SCARY GOVERNMENT AGENCY NAME HERE Ransomware
This stuff is nasty and can't be removed through regular means. Here is the bleeping computer writeup: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-fbi-monkeypak-ransomware
They explain it and have the removal process. You'll need a flash drive to boot up on and may need to adjust your BIOS to support booting to an external USB drive.
For those of you without a good and current antivirus - I have a question for you:
Would you have unprotected sex with a prostitute that you met in a crack den?
Here are some of my favorite antivirus progs and they have free versions that work like a champ for home users. I personally use the BitDefender Internet Security suite but you can choose what works best for you.
Note: NEVER EVER install an antivirus if you already have one! This includes Microsoft security essentials! It will do VERY bad things to your system. If you are changing antivirus progs - ALWAYS UNINSTALL THE OLD ONE & REBOOT first!
BitDefender Free
Panda Cloud Free
AdAware Free Antivirus+ - Remember these guys?
I picked those three because they are lightweight & effective. The only thing I ran into that I didn't like was that AdAware wants to add a toolbar and change your search engine to them. Both of these things enhance your security but, they limit your web access and browsing experience. You can however choose for it not to install the toolbar etc. during the installation.
Note: After you get you stuff cleaned up it's really important to clean up you system (ccleaner) and if you have a mechanical hard drive to defrag (defraggler or auslogics) it.
Note: Some of the free progs mentioned use cnet who has been including a lot of junkware with their installer. Make sure you read the stuff during installation and un-check or opt out of the extra progs. It's also really important to look at the download and make sure it's the prog you wanted. A lot of ads have big green download buttons that install other progs.
~ Chris also brought up the fact that filehippo has almost all the same stuff that cnet does w/o the junkware integrated into the installer. So, they're a great alternative for freeware that won't give you a bunch of stuff you don't need / want. They're a great sight that slips through the cracks for some reason.
Good luck!
P.S - If you are unable to do this or if you're not 100% confident in doing any of this: always take it to a reputable professional and get it repaired.
Disclaimer: We are in no way responsible for you damaging your equipment, data, etc. The aforementioned post is for informational purposes only. Using any information found on this blog is done at your own risk!
Addendum: Preventing issues with DNS
A quick note to everyone: You can stop a ton of bad things (malware, phishing, etc.) by adjusting your DNS settings and using one of the following free providers:
Norton DNS
OpenDNS Family Safety Shield
Comodo SecureDNS
They all have great write ups on how to configure your PC / Router (protects everyone) for their individual services and they all are almost as fast as Google's free DNS servers (which are not filtered).
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Hyper-V Help!
It's been a while since my last post. Life has been hopping lately and I strait up haven't had the time. So, this one is going to be for all the new Hyper-V admins out there who are trying to P2V or V2V convert. This process isn't anywhere near as bad as it looks upon initial inspection. I'm going to cover V2V conversion from ESX or VCenter 5 first. Microsoft has a nifty little tool that you can get here. I found that you need to do the following to get it to complete successfully:
1. Do not use you own login info (it's checked by default) even if you're an Admin. Login with the Administrator account.
2. You don't have to share the VM folders on the Hyper-V server or SAN. You can just access them with their UNC paths (Example: \\servername\d$\VHDX). I'd suggest not sharing them and having to mess with permissions.
3. 512MB minimum ram (again - this is the idiotic default) is WAY TO LOW - set it to a gig for ALL WINDOWS MACHINES and you'll hate yourself less.
4. The PC doing the conversion needs a temp space with the amount of storage that the VM will need free.
5. This is kinda related... You need a minimum of 3 NICs in your Hyper-V server to even attempt this with a SAN. NIC1 - Management Traffic | NIC2 - HYPER-V Switch | NIC3 - SAN Traffic (hopefully 10gbe and ISCSI). No SAN? Well than, you only need 2 unless you're planning on teaming.
If you do that; you should get through the conversion. Now on to the fun / horrible part. After conversion; the machine will not run and it'll give you 4.5 billion errors in the Hyper-V server log telling you why it's sitting there with the cursor blinking. Unfortunately I had a real problem getting a solution to this error:
'VMNAME' was faulted because the guest executed an intercepting instruction not supported by Hyper-V instruction emulation. If the problem persists, contact Product Support. (Virtual machine ID RANDOM -NUMBERSANDLETTERS)
FYI - THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH VMWARE TOOLS! The spiffy Microsoft tool is supposed to remove them. I've tried removing them B4 conversion and just leaving them in - it made no difference! I believe this happens because it nerfs the boot code when it converts it from the VMWare SCSI to the Hyper-V IDE. That's my personal theory anyway. But Phil you ask; How do we fix this? Here's what you do:
1. Add a Legacy NIC to the hardware and adjust the boot order if you're using WDS. If you don't have a WDS server at your disposal then, youll need to adjust the boot order so it adds the network boot 1st then CD boot. The reason I did this was so that you have enough time to mount the CD ISO before it jams up. Then, start up the VM.
2. I used WDS with a repair image but, the ISO process is almost the same. Load up your repair environment and pull up a command prompt. Then, follow Attempt 1 & 2 from here.
3. Reboot and it should work like a champ. If not you might need to Fix_HDC it to deal with controller driver issues. Just download Fix_HDC and store it on a flash drive or integrate it into your recovery image.
That process worked for me to convert (2) 2008R2's and a 2003 legacy server so far. I hope this helps - I haven't found much around the net covering Hyper-V random weirdness so I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Bacheloroni & Cheese
(1) Box Store Brand Mac & Cheese
(1) Bag of Shredded Cheese
(1) Bag of Meat Balls (50 avg. Count)
(1) Bag of Broccoli Florets
(1) Jar of Meat Spaghetti Saucer
(1) Bag of Hot Dog Buns
Make the Mac & Cheese per the instructions on your stove top. After you drain it and add the "cheese" sauce: Add about 2/3 of a cup of the shredded cheese to it. Heat up the meat balls, slice them in half, & add them to the Mac and Cheese. Finally, Add 1/4 cup of sauce to it, mix it up, & let it cool a bit. Split it into (2) Tupperware containers - one for now and one for another meal. Microwave the broccoli and add some to your spare meal container - meal complete! Meal one & two are all set. Take the meat balls and sauce and put them in another container. You will have meatball subs with melted shredded cheese for another meal. You can have the broccoli for your vegetable with each meal. That's about (4) meals for a minimal investment (about: $13.75 or about $3.44 per meal).
Yeah - it's carb heavy I know. When cash is low carbs are cheap.There's some protein and vegetables so it's not all bad. Plus - it tastes pretty awesome.
(1) Bag of Shredded Cheese
(1) Bag of Meat Balls (50 avg. Count)
(1) Bag of Broccoli Florets
(1) Jar of Meat Spaghetti Saucer
(1) Bag of Hot Dog Buns
Make the Mac & Cheese per the instructions on your stove top. After you drain it and add the "cheese" sauce: Add about 2/3 of a cup of the shredded cheese to it. Heat up the meat balls, slice them in half, & add them to the Mac and Cheese. Finally, Add 1/4 cup of sauce to it, mix it up, & let it cool a bit. Split it into (2) Tupperware containers - one for now and one for another meal. Microwave the broccoli and add some to your spare meal container - meal complete! Meal one & two are all set. Take the meat balls and sauce and put them in another container. You will have meatball subs with melted shredded cheese for another meal. You can have the broccoli for your vegetable with each meal. That's about (4) meals for a minimal investment (about: $13.75 or about $3.44 per meal).
Yeah - it's carb heavy I know. When cash is low carbs are cheap.There's some protein and vegetables so it's not all bad. Plus - it tastes pretty awesome.
Monday, June 23, 2014
For the Love of Surge Protectors!
I just wanted to throw out a quick post to reiterate some things I said in a previous entry:
Go get yourself "green" or energy saving surge protectors.
Tips:
The energy savings on these things is really amazing.
When you purchase one - make sure you get one that has a few "always on" outlets. I have a few of the APC Power Saving Surge Arrest units and they are great. I also have a very nice Belkin unit on my main PC.
For me it shaved about $7-$8 / month. That's pretty good for not doing anything other than changing the surge protector.
I'll give you two common setups:
1. PC plugged into the "Main" outlet and all other accessories but the printer / fax & desk lamp plugged into the uncontrolled outlets.
2. TV plugged into the "Master" outlet and Roku into one the uncontrolled outlets. PS3, Xbox 360, surround sound, WII, & DVR plugged into the controlled outlets. NOTE: Always plug a cable receiver into the uncontrolled outlets.
I realize anyone that can follow instructions doesn't really need any of that information but, I made a fair amount of $ back in the day hooking up surround sounds and all you have to do is follow the instructions...
Go get yourself "green" or energy saving surge protectors.
Tips:
The energy savings on these things is really amazing.
When you purchase one - make sure you get one that has a few "always on" outlets. I have a few of the APC Power Saving Surge Arrest units and they are great. I also have a very nice Belkin unit on my main PC.
For me it shaved about $7-$8 / month. That's pretty good for not doing anything other than changing the surge protector.
I'll give you two common setups:
1. PC plugged into the "Main" outlet and all other accessories but the printer / fax & desk lamp plugged into the uncontrolled outlets.
2. TV plugged into the "Master" outlet and Roku into one the uncontrolled outlets. PS3, Xbox 360, surround sound, WII, & DVR plugged into the controlled outlets. NOTE: Always plug a cable receiver into the uncontrolled outlets.
I realize anyone that can follow instructions doesn't really need any of that information but, I made a fair amount of $ back in the day hooking up surround sounds and all you have to do is follow the instructions...
The PC...
Recently my girlfriend asked me about getting her mom a PC. We needed to keep the price reasonable and get the best specs and look. I'm feeling pretty good about the build and thought i'd pass it on.
DISCLAIMER:
I realize I could have saved some $ by using AMD stuff but, I'm really Intel slanted.
CPU - i5 -750 Lynfield - $78 - Passmark Score 3738 - Source: E-bay
The reason I went with one of the older quad cores was a question of speed vs price vs preference. When you go to buy a processor you need to think about the other components. This chip seemed to have the best value to me over all. It beats out the newer i3's and Pentium Dual cores in speed and costs about what a good Pentium Dual Core or Celeron does with better performance than either.
Motherboard - MSI P55-CD53 w/ I/O shield - $90 - Source: E-bay
This was one of the best boards I could find that would take the socket 1156 CPU I picked. You can get them cheaper but, I wanted it fast so, I used a US seller and paid a bit more. I've generally had great luck with MSI and this board had all the specs I wanted (pci-e slots, USB headers, & SATA connections). Oh - and it has great CAPS, not those cheap ones that leak.
RAM - Corsair XMMS 3 (8) GB Kit - $58 - Source E-bay
I love corsair products and the color scheme fit the rest of the board. Plus - The performance is excellent!
CPU Cooler: SilenX EFX-92HA2 - $10 - Source: Newegg.com
It's low profile, fit the color scheme, efficient, & quiet. The only thing I didn't like about this cooler was the fins are really easy to bend!
End of Phase 1:
DISCLAIMER:
I realize I could have saved some $ by using AMD stuff but, I'm really Intel slanted.
CPU - i5 -750 Lynfield - $78 - Passmark Score 3738 - Source: E-bay
The reason I went with one of the older quad cores was a question of speed vs price vs preference. When you go to buy a processor you need to think about the other components. This chip seemed to have the best value to me over all. It beats out the newer i3's and Pentium Dual cores in speed and costs about what a good Pentium Dual Core or Celeron does with better performance than either.
Motherboard - MSI P55-CD53 w/ I/O shield - $90 - Source: E-bay
This was one of the best boards I could find that would take the socket 1156 CPU I picked. You can get them cheaper but, I wanted it fast so, I used a US seller and paid a bit more. I've generally had great luck with MSI and this board had all the specs I wanted (pci-e slots, USB headers, & SATA connections). Oh - and it has great CAPS, not those cheap ones that leak.
RAM - Corsair XMMS 3 (8) GB Kit - $58 - Source E-bay
I love corsair products and the color scheme fit the rest of the board. Plus - The performance is excellent!
CPU Cooler: SilenX EFX-92HA2 - $10 - Source: Newegg.com
It's low profile, fit the color scheme, efficient, & quiet. The only thing I didn't like about this cooler was the fins are really easy to bend!
End of Phase 1:
Case: Apevia X-Cruiser Silver w/ 3x 120MM blue LED fans - $58 - Source: Newegg.com
This was seriously about price vs looks w/o modding. It has great airflow and is relatively well made right out of the box.
Optical Drive: The least expensive Lite-On DVD Burner Newegg.com had - $19
Let's face it most people don't use them much anymore and why blow a ton of $ on it?
SATA Cables: (3) blue Coboc SATA 3 18" cables - $.57 each! - Source Newegg.com
It was really just all about the color.
Power Supply: 585W HEC - Substitute 600W LEPA - $54 - Source Newegg.com
Ok, so I ordered a 500W EVGA and it was DOA. I had a brand new HEC 585W that was a pull from a previous build that I substituted. I have the Lepa listed b/c it rocks and is cheap.
Keyboard and Mouse: Devastator! - $33 - I'm just going to direct link this. It's an incredible buy: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823129030
SSD: PNY XLR8 120GB - $57 - Source: E-Bay
This drive has really good r/w rates and its cheap. You can also use one of the Kingston's or whatever's on sale. Even a cheap SSD is 10X faster than a mechanical.
Data Drive: 500GB Seagate Barracuda - $40 - Source: E-Bay sort of.
I actually had this floating around so I didn't buy or charge anyone for it. You can get them for about that price range pretty much anywhere for new stock. I used a 500 b/c if you throw in a Terabyte for a home user that doesn't game; they almost never use it.
Video Card: XFX Nvidia Geforce 9800GT - 256bit / 512MB / DX10 - $50 - Source: E-Bay sort of...
I again had this on the shelf. It's color and power usage are perfect; plus - it's still a good performer. The only downside of this card is that it's not DX11. For a gamer this card is under-powered but, for a home user it's major overkill and wrecks on-board any day.
Total would be: $548.71 for a really solid PC that'll games decently and looks cool. It would have been way cooler to sleeve the cables in blue mesh but, I don't have the stuff to do that anymore and I didn't want to bug Chris. The other thing is that for whatever reason Apevia only chose to put in (1) LED fan. The front and rear fans aren't illuminated and all the fans only have the big 4 pin molex connectors not the 3 pin. It also has a fire-wire header connector that was useless for me and I stashed it behind the hard drive cage with the other wires and zip tied it. There is no gap behind the motherboard tray but, there is a fair amount of space behind the drive cages to hide all the excess wires.
We also added a 26" Hanns-G Monitor for $196 from Newegg.com That's major overkill but...
I thought this was the best balance of power / coolness / budget. Like I said I might have been able to shave a bit with an AMD Quad core or something but, i'm slanted Intel - LOL. It's got amazing air flow and you can't hear it run. I only had a few complaints (which I expressed) so, it was a great build.
Friday, May 23, 2014
A Tale of 2 Routers!
I just updated my home network and i figured i'd post the results.
Equipment:
Cisco/Linksys E1200 v1 Router - Setup as an AP
Cisco/Linksys SE2500 (5) Port Gigabit Switch
Cisco / Linksys WRT610N v2 Router - Running as a Router
Motorola SBG6580 Docsis 3.0 Cable Modem - TWC Approved - Setup in Bridge Mode w/o WiFi
Firmware:
DD-WRT on the (2) routers and whatever the latest from TWC on the Motorola
Topology:
Cable Connection --> SBG6580 --> WRT610N --> NETTALK, PLAYON Server, & SE2500 --> E1200, PCs, Wireless Devices
Method:
Follow one of the many FAQs available on setting up your SBG6580 for bridge mode and disable the WiFi.
Change out the stock firmware to DD-WRT for the Cisco/Linksys routers.
Verify you have 2 clear wireless channels.
Setup the WRT610N to DHCP Static Assign an IP to the NETTALK and PLAYON Server.
Setup the Wireless Stuff for the WRT610N (SSID, Encryption, Channel, etc.)
Put the NETTALK IP into the DMZ on the WRT610N.
Static assign the IP for the E1200 with a laptop b4 you connect it to the rest of the network.
Disable the WAN & WAN port and DHCP Server on the E1200. It's now a AP & 5 port switch!
Setup the Wireless Stuff in the E1200 (SSID - blah blah blah)
Make sure your wireless AP and Router have their WiFi on different channels.
Connect it all together as follows:
Cable --> SBG6580
SBG6580 --> WRT610N WAN Port
WRT610N Port 1 --> NETTALK
WRT610N Port 2 --> PLAYON Server
WRT610N Port 3 --> SE2500 Switch
WRT610N WiFi --> Roku
WRT610N WiFi --> PS3
WRT610N WiFi --> Wii
SE2500 --> PCs, NAS, & Printers
SE2500 --> E1200 old WAN port for Up-Link
E1200 Port(s) 1,2,3 --> 10/100 Ethernet Segment (not hooked up to anything but, I wanted to make sure the wires were hot at this point... just in case... I have a lot of hard wires downstairs in my house for devices)
E1200 WiFi --> Phones, Tablets, & Everything Else!
Done! - You now have a complete and rock solid "Cisco" network @ home! This setup has been holding up perfectly for me with a ton of VOIP and Streaming traffic. Most people won't need the SE2500. I needed it due the shear number of devices that I have connected to my LAN.
Total investment: Less than $70 for the hardware and cables! eBay is your best friend.
Note: I still have to have Joe come over and optimize my Router & AP for streaming and VIOP. It works perfectly but, I love me some overkill! I get around 70 MBPS actual read/write speed from my PC to my NAS on the Gigabit Segment. The internet speed on my 15 MBPS cable connection clocks out at 14.6 MBPS outside one my deck from my laptop with 0% loss.
Important: Follow the DD-WRT instructions exactly or you will brick your devices!!! I can't stress this enough. When they tell you to wait etc. - do it!
Equipment:
Cisco/Linksys E1200 v1 Router - Setup as an AP
Cisco/Linksys SE2500 (5) Port Gigabit Switch
Cisco / Linksys WRT610N v2 Router - Running as a Router
Motorola SBG6580 Docsis 3.0 Cable Modem - TWC Approved - Setup in Bridge Mode w/o WiFi
Firmware:
DD-WRT on the (2) routers and whatever the latest from TWC on the Motorola
Topology:
Cable Connection --> SBG6580 --> WRT610N --> NETTALK, PLAYON Server, & SE2500 --> E1200, PCs, Wireless Devices
Method:
Follow one of the many FAQs available on setting up your SBG6580 for bridge mode and disable the WiFi.
Change out the stock firmware to DD-WRT for the Cisco/Linksys routers.
Verify you have 2 clear wireless channels.
Setup the WRT610N to DHCP Static Assign an IP to the NETTALK and PLAYON Server.
Setup the Wireless Stuff for the WRT610N (SSID, Encryption, Channel, etc.)
Put the NETTALK IP into the DMZ on the WRT610N.
Static assign the IP for the E1200 with a laptop b4 you connect it to the rest of the network.
Disable the WAN & WAN port and DHCP Server on the E1200. It's now a AP & 5 port switch!
Setup the Wireless Stuff in the E1200 (SSID - blah blah blah)
Make sure your wireless AP and Router have their WiFi on different channels.
Connect it all together as follows:
Cable --> SBG6580
SBG6580 --> WRT610N WAN Port
WRT610N Port 1 --> NETTALK
WRT610N Port 2 --> PLAYON Server
WRT610N Port 3 --> SE2500 Switch
WRT610N WiFi --> Roku
WRT610N WiFi --> PS3
WRT610N WiFi --> Wii
SE2500 --> PCs, NAS, & Printers
SE2500 --> E1200 old WAN port for Up-Link
E1200 Port(s) 1,2,3 --> 10/100 Ethernet Segment (not hooked up to anything but, I wanted to make sure the wires were hot at this point... just in case... I have a lot of hard wires downstairs in my house for devices)
E1200 WiFi --> Phones, Tablets, & Everything Else!
Done! - You now have a complete and rock solid "Cisco" network @ home! This setup has been holding up perfectly for me with a ton of VOIP and Streaming traffic. Most people won't need the SE2500. I needed it due the shear number of devices that I have connected to my LAN.
Total investment: Less than $70 for the hardware and cables! eBay is your best friend.
Note: I still have to have Joe come over and optimize my Router & AP for streaming and VIOP. It works perfectly but, I love me some overkill! I get around 70 MBPS actual read/write speed from my PC to my NAS on the Gigabit Segment. The internet speed on my 15 MBPS cable connection clocks out at 14.6 MBPS outside one my deck from my laptop with 0% loss.
Important: Follow the DD-WRT instructions exactly or you will brick your devices!!! I can't stress this enough. When they tell you to wait etc. - do it!
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Today's Random Post
1. To the person who mowed my lawn and put out my trash - Thank you doesn't even begin to express how grateful I am! I was speechless! For those of you who know me you know how huge that is.
2. Coupons!!!!
http://eas.com/special-offers
3. RC Balloons! I ordered 1 for each of my kids... the ones that speak to me anyway.
2. Coupons!!!!
http://eas.com/special-offers
3. RC Balloons! I ordered 1 for each of my kids... the ones that speak to me anyway.
Friday, May 9, 2014
Paranoid Geek Tip of the Day:
I've been asked about this quite a few times so I figured people would want to know. A lot of people have noticed that during the setup, upgrade, & update to 8.1; Microsoft really wants you to associate your computer username with a live ID. This keeps your settings, emails, address book, etc. in sync with you live account and with their free cloud offering - it makes a wipe and reload a lot less scary.
Well, there are various reasons that you wouldn't want to have it associated.
1. You are concerned about your privacy.
2. You totally ganked your copy of Windows.
3. You're tired of giving away your personal info for free.
All of the above are legitimate reasons except #2. Shame on you.
Anyway, When it comes time to setup your account just enter someone@somewhere.com and a password of password. If it's a 7-8 upgrade or first time setup: you'll be able to choose to create a "Local Account". If it's prompting you after the 8-8.1 upgrade then you can choose to use your existing account. In both of those instances you have to look for the text - there is no button. If you already associated with your live account and want to switch it to a local account:
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/quick-tip-change-microsoft-live-to-a-local-account-in-windows-81/
That howto is from the awesome peeps over @ Tech Republic.
Well, there are various reasons that you wouldn't want to have it associated.
1. You are concerned about your privacy.
2. You totally ganked your copy of Windows.
3. You're tired of giving away your personal info for free.
All of the above are legitimate reasons except #2. Shame on you.
Anyway, When it comes time to setup your account just enter someone@somewhere.com and a password of password. If it's a 7-8 upgrade or first time setup: you'll be able to choose to create a "Local Account". If it's prompting you after the 8-8.1 upgrade then you can choose to use your existing account. In both of those instances you have to look for the text - there is no button. If you already associated with your live account and want to switch it to a local account:
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/quick-tip-change-microsoft-live-to-a-local-account-in-windows-81/
That howto is from the awesome peeps over @ Tech Republic.
Awesome free stuff Quickie!
OK, I just got this email and I wanted to get it out there. EA / Origin is giving out free copies of Plants vs Zombies just like they did with Dead Space last month:
https://www.origin.com/en-us/store/on-the-house
You have to install the Origin Client (see Steam - LOL) and get a free account. After that the button on the web site associates your "purchase" with the account and you're good to go... 4 ever!
I'll be posting whenever they give away a new game so stay tuned or sign up for their newsletter.
"Food for Thought": On a completely random note: Anyone try the "Big King" @ Burger King? yeah... 2 all beef patties - Special Sauce - Lettuce - Cheese - Pickles - Onions - on a Sesame Seed Bun... Sound Familiar?
https://www.origin.com/en-us/store/on-the-house
You have to install the Origin Client (see Steam - LOL) and get a free account. After that the button on the web site associates your "purchase" with the account and you're good to go... 4 ever!
I'll be posting whenever they give away a new game so stay tuned or sign up for their newsletter.
"Food for Thought": On a completely random note: Anyone try the "Big King" @ Burger King? yeah... 2 all beef patties - Special Sauce - Lettuce - Cheese - Pickles - Onions - on a Sesame Seed Bun... Sound Familiar?
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Steal These Links . . .
To make things easy and to show just how much cheap or free entertainment is on the web; we are going to continue with some links to where you can watch TV and movies on the cheap. Many of these will be already known to many but, a collection of good links is always welcome. Many of these have commercials but hey, when you want to be entertained on the cheap, sacrifices shall be made.
- Crackle- So you can see what's Crackling.
- Youtube Free Full Movies. You can also rent movies on YouTube.
- Hulu - Most of us are already aware of this one.
- Snag Films - This is a new one to me discovered while researching this article.
- Popcorn Flix - Not much to say other then another place you can look in your quest for entertainment.
- Movies found Online - Not the most imaginative name but hey, they got free movies.
- Openculture - 675 Free Movies Online: Great Classics, Indies, Noir, Westerns, etc.
- Free movies cinema - This site happens to have a colourized version of the classic night of the living dead. Clearly this is a must see.
- Netflix - Free month offer page.
- Amazon - You need Amazon Prime or you can rent here. Really great if you already are a Prime user. I wouldn't bother if you already have Netflix. There is a lot of similar content.
- Redbox - You can reserve movies and games at your local Redbox here.
- Xfinity TV go - Some links go to HULU, some you need a memberhip, some you have to rent.
- Retrovision - Retro TV and Movies.
- UBU - A collection of avant-garde film and video.
- Classic Cinema Online - The name says it all.
- Pratt Library - A collection of links for Public domain film and video.
- Pratt Library II - A collection of links for free documentaries.
- ABC - TV shows from ABC.
- CBS - TV shows from CBS.
- CW - TV shows from CW.
- FOX - TV shows from FOX.
- NBC - TV shows from NBC.
- Sidereel - lots of TV new and old.
- OVGUIDE - Lots of movies and TV.
Streaming video for the rest of us...
I just wanted to share this bit of information out there for those of you with a PC, Laptop, or tablet that you can/do connect to your TV for streaming services.
1. Consider the Roku / Playon setup I discussed last month. It's cheap, stupid simple to use, and versatile. I'm all about simplicity and not having to mess with something when I just want to kick back with my beverage of choice and a bag of Doritos. This setup will run you about $100 (software & hardware) and while the Roku uses almost no electricity; the PC sucks it down like an alcoholic @ Oktoberfest.
2. The next option: XBMC - This one is pretty exciting! XBMC doesn't need a PC to work. It's basically a dashboard with a slick interface that runs directly on your device. I'm going to link the setup instructions for a PC / Laptop. If you'd like it on another device: Google is your best friend. I also want to make you aware of the fact that you can get pre-built / modded devices right off eBay. So, if you're not really tech savvy or don't mind spending $100-150 for the better ones - Grab a pre-modded Apple TV 1st gen with the crystal video and XBMC already installed or a pre-modded Apple TV 2. The Ouya game console is also an excellent option and adding XBMC is pretty easy. I picked those devices out of the bajillion out there b/c they are the most reliable and well supported by the community. The fact of the matter is: you can get any old quad core android and it'll probably work for the most part. I'm saying quad core b/c a lot of the dual cores just can't cut the video rendering.
XBMC PC SETUP INSTRUCTIONS
XBMC SUPERREPO
XBMC ADDING THE ADDITIONAL REPOS
XBMC PC SETUP INSTRUCTIONS
XBMC SUPERREPO
XBMC ADDING THE ADDITIONAL REPOS
NOTE: I purchased this android unit from Amazon for testing:
MINIX NEO G4 Android 4.0 Dual Core RK3066 DDR3 1GB RAM / 8GB ROM Google TV Box Mini PC Dongle Wi-Fi / IR Remote
It worked very well with the exception of the keyboard functions in XBMC. IDK if it was something I wasn't getting right or if it just hated the remote this thing comes with. You can snag this keyboard/remote:
Hausbell ® Mini H7 2.4GHz Wireless Entertainment Keyboard with Touchpad for PC, Pad, Andriod TV Box, Google TV Box, Xbox360, PS3 & HTPC/IPTV (Black)
or this one:
Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 with Built-In Multi-Touch Touchpad
Either of these work on standard PC's and Laptops
Or if you're like me, you'll just say screw it and use a USB mouse or keyboard for the initial setup and forget about it afterward b/c you don't need one after the initial settings. I added a Start-up manager APP from the Play Store and set it to load XBMC on boot after I finished my testing.
MINIX NEO G4 Android 4.0 Dual Core RK3066 DDR3 1GB RAM / 8GB ROM Google TV Box Mini PC Dongle Wi-Fi / IR Remote
It worked very well with the exception of the keyboard functions in XBMC. IDK if it was something I wasn't getting right or if it just hated the remote this thing comes with. You can snag this keyboard/remote:
Hausbell ® Mini H7 2.4GHz Wireless Entertainment Keyboard with Touchpad for PC, Pad, Andriod TV Box, Google TV Box, Xbox360, PS3 & HTPC/IPTV (Black)
or this one:
Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 with Built-In Multi-Touch Touchpad
Either of these work on standard PC's and Laptops
Or if you're like me, you'll just say screw it and use a USB mouse or keyboard for the initial setup and forget about it afterward b/c you don't need one after the initial settings. I added a Start-up manager APP from the Play Store and set it to load XBMC on boot after I finished my testing.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Daily Quickie!
Free stuff from the web!
I have had a thing lately that when I go for my walk I have been listening to Audio books; specifically H.P. Lovecraft's stuff as of late. Lovecraft's written works are all available for free on a few sites. You can get his written works here: http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/.
The real reason I am posting is to make people aware of this site http://www.flvto.com/. This site will convert any .flv to mp3 and then in turn allow you to download it. There are other formats available so it is not limited to audio only. You provide a link to where to find the file you want converted and hit just go! It really doesn't get any simpler than this. I will leave where you find this stuff up to you.
I have had a thing lately that when I go for my walk I have been listening to Audio books; specifically H.P. Lovecraft's stuff as of late. Lovecraft's written works are all available for free on a few sites. You can get his written works here: http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/.
The real reason I am posting is to make people aware of this site http://www.flvto.com/. This site will convert any .flv to mp3 and then in turn allow you to download it. There are other formats available so it is not limited to audio only. You provide a link to where to find the file you want converted and hit just go! It really doesn't get any simpler than this. I will leave where you find this stuff up to you.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Something old and something new.
I just recently rediscovered Foamy the Squirrel. My buddy Rob showed these to me way back when. A lot of the Foamy stuff is really hilarious, poignant, and just awesome. Then there's the stuff that's just wrong on too many levels to discuss. So, there's something for everyone!!!
I'm going to throw out some links to my personal favorites:
WARNING NSFW! or around kids etc.
People and Animals
Bullies
Smokers
Game Trade-ins
Online Shopping
Social Networking
Values
Politics
Go Green!
Tech Support
New/Used
Battery Low
You can see all the rest on http://www.scarysquirrel.org/special/movies/foamy/ and illwillpress.com
I'm going to throw out some links to my personal favorites:
WARNING NSFW! or around kids etc.
People and Animals
Bullies
Smokers
Game Trade-ins
Online Shopping
Social Networking
Values
Politics
Go Green!
Tech Support
New/Used
Battery Low
You can see all the rest on http://www.scarysquirrel.org/special/movies/foamy/ and illwillpress.com
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Samsung Galaxy S5 Review
This is my second "smart phone", the previous one being the apple I4. This is a quantum leap forward in processing power, camera, interface, and every other regard I can think of. I shouldn't be surprised Apple is so behind in speed & things, and has been for this century. I was giving them the benefit of the doubt when it came to phones the I4 did serve me fairly well. So onto The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly . . .
The Good -
This thing has the usual array of functions and features we have come to expect from any smart phone.
Phone, messaging, front facing and rear facing cameras, GPS, and I believe they are planning a blender pop up function in a generation or two.
The Galaxy S5 has improved group messaging. For many I'm sure this isn't a big concern or possibly a concern at all. In my case, my work has me sending texts that would make a 14 year old school girl proud. Which the Galaxy steps to the task very well. I have a group of 150 people that I send information to. I also have many smaller groups I send to as well. The easy to use interface had me doing this within minutes setting up groups with the native software. Coupling this feature with swipe texting and the ability to put a signature on all of my texts really impresses me. The one thing that I thought was odd was having to go into contacts to send a group message rather then being able to from the messaging app. It also comes stacked with lots of apps from Google & Samsung. I was a little underwhelmed by the lack of organization of some of the apps out of the box; in its defense: the interface for setting up folders and moving icons around is simple and intuitive given you have used any smart phone in the past.
The Bad - I have had one lock up so far in my use of this phone. Shutting it down and turning it back on as with most cases did the trick.
The Ugly - The ugly of this for me has been the transition from Apple to an Android device. This is an extremely common problem and when I say common I mean it happens every time. I-phones cannot send their I-messages to a new user of Android who just left Apple. This makes the Apple user switch to text messaging to send a message to you until you win a small war with Apple and get them to release your number. I am currently still engaged in this conflict as of this writing. It also makes me wonder if they did this to try and break people by frustrating them into staying with Apple, or is it so they have a direct finger on the pulse of the market and monitor to see if people are leaving them.
Clearly I like the Galaxy. It has many many features I didn't even touch on. I can only say try it , ditch Apple and get the N.S.A. out of your pocket.
Disclaimer - All offensive and derogatory remarks about Apple were intentional and I hope this does hurt their feelings in some small way.
Disclaimer for the previous Disclaimer (LMFAO) - The views expressed in this review and previous disclaimer are the authors OPINIONS and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog or associated entities.
The Good -
This thing has the usual array of functions and features we have come to expect from any smart phone.
Phone, messaging, front facing and rear facing cameras, GPS, and I believe they are planning a blender pop up function in a generation or two.
The Galaxy S5 has improved group messaging. For many I'm sure this isn't a big concern or possibly a concern at all. In my case, my work has me sending texts that would make a 14 year old school girl proud. Which the Galaxy steps to the task very well. I have a group of 150 people that I send information to. I also have many smaller groups I send to as well. The easy to use interface had me doing this within minutes setting up groups with the native software. Coupling this feature with swipe texting and the ability to put a signature on all of my texts really impresses me. The one thing that I thought was odd was having to go into contacts to send a group message rather then being able to from the messaging app. It also comes stacked with lots of apps from Google & Samsung. I was a little underwhelmed by the lack of organization of some of the apps out of the box; in its defense: the interface for setting up folders and moving icons around is simple and intuitive given you have used any smart phone in the past.
The Bad - I have had one lock up so far in my use of this phone. Shutting it down and turning it back on as with most cases did the trick.
The Ugly - The ugly of this for me has been the transition from Apple to an Android device. This is an extremely common problem and when I say common I mean it happens every time. I-phones cannot send their I-messages to a new user of Android who just left Apple. This makes the Apple user switch to text messaging to send a message to you until you win a small war with Apple and get them to release your number. I am currently still engaged in this conflict as of this writing. It also makes me wonder if they did this to try and break people by frustrating them into staying with Apple, or is it so they have a direct finger on the pulse of the market and monitor to see if people are leaving them.
Clearly I like the Galaxy. It has many many features I didn't even touch on. I can only say try it , ditch Apple and get the N.S.A. out of your pocket.
Disclaimer - All offensive and derogatory remarks about Apple were intentional and I hope this does hurt their feelings in some small way.
Disclaimer for the previous Disclaimer (LMFAO) - The views expressed in this review and previous disclaimer are the authors OPINIONS and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog or associated entities.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
M.A.M.E
Everyone that knows me knows about my love (obsession with?) of old arcade games. I currently have (3) cabinets and i'm probably going to liquidate 2 of them. I have an Atari Sprint (2) player that I can't remember whats wrong with it and a Capcom Bowling that i'm going to sell off. That leaves me with the last cabinet to mess with. I used to have it setup with ArcadeOS and an old 17" monitor. I hacked up an old PS/2 matrix and soldered the controls to the key combinations (not fun). Well, over time that's gotten messed up, I screwed up the joystick placement (it goes on the left not the right!), I never wired in the coin door, the monitor died, & I sold the PC that ran it. So, I'm going to start over. I'm currently debating whether I want to use an old school CRT or convert it to an LCD. The CRT has the arcade feel but the LCD is easier to deal with and replace when it dies plus there's the whole bezel problem. Luckily I still have all the buttons and joystick (HAPP Competition Quality). I'm working on a shoestring budget and will be using stuff that I have laying around. I'll be posting pictures and progress reports along with parts used and plans. I think I can power the lighting etc. with the PC power supply (+5 / +12 FTW! & god bless Molex) and I can make my own stand-offs etc. I have a roll of adhesive backed carbon fiber sheeting (don't ask) to cover up some of the past sins and I think I have some Plexi or Lexan somewhere.
Here are some links for the parts like what i'll be using:
TrackBall:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281308749506?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Single Player USB Interface:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191065889930?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
or if you need controllers etc.:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arcade-DIY-Parts-2x-USB-Encoder-To-PC-2x-Joystick-20x-Push-Button-For-MAME-/201080801588?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ed1598934
If you need a marquee light:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kitchen-Under-Cabinet-Lighting-Kit-LED-Bar-Fixture-WARM-White-LEDs-6W-per-Ft/300975425967?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D21395%26meid%3D6570013584380187684%26pid%3D100010%26prg%3D9409%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D24%26sd%3D300957160816
Smart Surge Protector:
ZuniDigital ZG7000B-15 7 Outlet Digital Smart Green Surge Protector (Black)
Front End:
http://www.maximus-arcade.com/
How to change the Windows shell to the Front End:
http://www.windows7library.com/blog/tweaks/changing-the-default-windows-shell-in-windows-7/
or you can just add the front end to your startup folder and let it do it's thing.
You Still need a PC, Monitor, Bezel, Some Plexi or Lexan, & all the wood working stuff but, if it was easy - everyone would do it right?
I'll be adding updates as I go so, keep checking back.
Here are some links for the parts like what i'll be using:
TrackBall:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281308749506?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Single Player USB Interface:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191065889930?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
or if you need controllers etc.:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arcade-DIY-Parts-2x-USB-Encoder-To-PC-2x-Joystick-20x-Push-Button-For-MAME-/201080801588?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ed1598934
If you need a marquee light:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kitchen-Under-Cabinet-Lighting-Kit-LED-Bar-Fixture-WARM-White-LEDs-6W-per-Ft/300975425967?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D21395%26meid%3D6570013584380187684%26pid%3D100010%26prg%3D9409%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D24%26sd%3D300957160816
Smart Surge Protector:
ZuniDigital ZG7000B-15 7 Outlet Digital Smart Green Surge Protector (Black)
Front End:
http://www.maximus-arcade.com/
How to change the Windows shell to the Front End:
http://www.windows7library.com/blog/tweaks/changing-the-default-windows-shell-in-windows-7/
or you can just add the front end to your startup folder and let it do it's thing.
You Still need a PC, Monitor, Bezel, Some Plexi or Lexan, & all the wood working stuff but, if it was easy - everyone would do it right?
I'll be adding updates as I go so, keep checking back.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
**Achievement** New Author Unlocked!
I just wanted to let everyone know that my good friend Chris will be joining me as an Author on this blog. He has some insight and perspective that I think everyone will benefit from. Keep an eye out for his upcoming posts, rants, reviews, and more!
**Shameless Cash Grab**
I just wanted to remind everyone that if you were going to buy any of the products (that weren't free - LOL) that I talked about - Please use my affiliate links. It doesn't make more than a few cents but i'm pretty broke so every little bit helps!
**Shameless Cash Grab**
I just wanted to remind everyone that if you were going to buy any of the products (that weren't free - LOL) that I talked about - Please use my affiliate links. It doesn't make more than a few cents but i'm pretty broke so every little bit helps!
Friday, April 25, 2014
Making Video Easier to Deal With on Your Devices
IDK about everybody else but I have a lot of personal electronics. Think about it, most of you have a tablet, PC, Laptop, PS3, Xbox, WII, & a smart phone. I'm not too big on screwing around with DVDs anymore. They get scratched, lost, and loaned out never to be seen or heard from again. What I've been doing lately is converting them to files and storing them on my NAS. That's awesome but then I want to watch them on my TV. Sure I could throw them on a flash drive but that's a PITA. So to deal with this mess I use this app and PlayOn. That app also lets you convert it to PSP, Cell, etc. formats. It also gives you the ability to download streaming video from the internet and convert it to the format of your choice. Just copy the link, start the app, click the download video button, click the +, and paste in the link - BAM - Done!
DISCLAIMER: It is totally a copyright violation to gank video off of the internet without the authors permission. I do not encourage or endorse misusing the information I provided in that manor.
Note: If you just want to stream your own video collection and you don't need all of the features PlayOn has you can grab just the MyMedia Server: http://www.playon.tv/mymedia for 100% Free!
PlayOn Video Settings for Conversion:
Custom AVI
Xvid Codec
Original Size
Leave the rest alone.
PSP and Cells: Just connect your device to your PC In Media or Storage Mode and copy the files to their flash storage into the appropriate video folder. You can also snag the PlayOn app for most devices and just use that to stream (data killer - watch out for that if you're not on WiFi) . Make sure to pick the proper format on the right for your device before you convert.
DISCLAIMER: It is totally a copyright violation to gank video off of the internet without the authors permission. I do not encourage or endorse misusing the information I provided in that manor.
Note: If you just want to stream your own video collection and you don't need all of the features PlayOn has you can grab just the MyMedia Server: http://www.playon.tv/mymedia for 100% Free!
PlayOn Video Settings for Conversion:
Custom AVI
Xvid Codec
Original Size
Leave the rest alone.
PSP and Cells: Just connect your device to your PC In Media or Storage Mode and copy the files to their flash storage into the appropriate video folder. You can also snag the PlayOn app for most devices and just use that to stream (data killer - watch out for that if you're not on WiFi) . Make sure to pick the proper format on the right for your device before you convert.
How to stop Youtube from Sucking! (Ludicrous Amounts of Buffering)
Chris and I were talking about this today and he thought I should re-post the info up here. I saw this a while a go on the web and I need to give credit where it's due. I got the info from here:
http://mitchribar.com/2013/02/how-to-stop-youtube-sucking-windows-guide/
Basically you'll be adding a firewall rule to block certain things that YouTube does and cut way back on the amount of buffering it does. If you still have a stubborn video just pause it and let it buffer for a minute and then start it. I can't tell you how much better YouTube runs after doing this. You pretty much have to experience it yourself.
The instructions below are an almost verbatim copy from this blog and i'm only adding them here for redundancy sake. I also wanted to mention that you can add a router block rule to do the same thing for the sub-nets below and it'd handle it for every device that you have on it.
One more note: Mitch - Thank you!
http://mitchribar.com/2013/02/how-to-stop-youtube-sucking-windows-guide/
Basically you'll be adding a firewall rule to block certain things that YouTube does and cut way back on the amount of buffering it does. If you still have a stubborn video just pause it and let it buffer for a minute and then start it. I can't tell you how much better YouTube runs after doing this. You pretty much have to experience it yourself.
The instructions below are an almost verbatim copy from this blog and i'm only adding them here for redundancy sake. I also wanted to mention that you can add a router block rule to do the same thing for the sub-nets below and it'd handle it for every device that you have on it.
One more note: Mitch - Thank you!
- Click the Start button, type “cmd”, and right click the icon to ‘Run As Administrator’
- You will likely see a UAC prompt, hit “Yes”
- The command prompt window will open, this is where you will type in the commands to set your firewall rules
- Enter the following command and hit Enter. If it works, you should see a big “OK”.
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="MITCHRIBARYTUBE" dir=in action=block remoteip=173.194.55.0/24,206.111.0.0/16 enable=yes
Rules can be easily removed too. Just get back into the command prompt in the same way and run this command, hit Enter again:
netsh advfirewall firewall delete rule name="MITCHRIBARYTUBE"Monday, April 21, 2014
My New Addiction...
Ear Candy:
I've been a die hard Pandora fan for years. It's been with me for 2 jobs and a divorce. But, as with anything, it's time for a change. I've recently discovered Rdio
. I love the customization & the ability to listen to a complete album from a single artist. It's also a lot less repetitive. You can subscribe, buy MP3's, or just keep using the free account! Unlike Pandora these guys don't stop playing periodically; they just play a short commercial like slacker does.
As always - If you want to sign up please use my Affiliate Link:
I've been a die hard Pandora fan for years. It's been with me for 2 jobs and a divorce. But, as with anything, it's time for a change. I've recently discovered Rdio
. I love the customization & the ability to listen to a complete album from a single artist. It's also a lot less repetitive. You can subscribe, buy MP3's, or just keep using the free account! Unlike Pandora these guys don't stop playing periodically; they just play a short commercial like slacker does.As always - If you want to sign up please use my Affiliate Link:
Needful Things...
My buddy Chris asked me about this the other day and I thought I'd share what we found. We had a situation where we wanted to create an indexed PDF from a website. It was one of those scenarios where you want information from a website available offline on an e-reader. It turns out that this is waaayyyy easier than you'd think. Adobe Acrobat Pro has this function built right in! I've been using Acrobat for my assorted jobs throughout the years and had no idea that it was capable of that. Plus, it's very easy to do.
Step 1: Start your web browser and navigate to the index of the site you'd like to convert.
Step 2: Select and copy the address from the address bar.
Step 3: Start Acrobat Pro and go to File --> Create --> PDF from Webpage
Step 4: Paste in the address, set your options, & you're all done!
Problem solved!
Step 1: Start your web browser and navigate to the index of the site you'd like to convert.
Step 2: Select and copy the address from the address bar.
Step 3: Start Acrobat Pro and go to File --> Create --> PDF from Webpage
Step 4: Paste in the address, set your options, & you're all done!
Problem solved!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Success!!!
I was able to fix my first LCD w/o changing the whole board today! I realize that Stan's been doing this for a while so it's no big deal but, I hadn't actually dusted off my electronics classes in years. Whenever I got an LCD that didn't work i'd start with the most likely board and just start replacing! There's only 3 boards and a TCON so at worst the total investment is like $60 to do them all. This generally works out. Well, I was working on a 19" Monitor w/o DVI. These things have about a $60 street value IF they're working. I wasn't about to put $60 worth of boards into a $60 Monitor.
So, I set out to actually repair it and not just change parts until it worked. I was talking to some of my friends about it who are so disturbingly intelligent and good at this that they have not just their geek card; they have their geek platinum card (or Mithril as it were - LOL). I got all kinds of advice. All of it i'm sure would have worked. But, I couldn't use most of it due to time constraints and the lack of an oscilloscope. Then I got the most useful advice you can give someone who's troubleshooting Caps: Look for the bulge and leaking (Credit for this goes to Stan for stopping me from over analyzing and making it way harder than it needed to be). So I took it apart and found a cap that had about a 1/16th of an inch bulge. I checked it with my meter and it was shot! I ordered the cap, replaced it, and reassembled the Monitor (BTW it's a Dell). Finally came the moment of truth... It worked like it was new.
Total Parts Investment: 7 cents including the solder
Total Time: 34 minutes including dis-assembly and troubleshooting
**UPDATE**
I forgot to mention which Caps I used. From what I was reading these are in pretty much everything. You'll also notice that these have a little bit higher voltage rating than the originals (the originals are 16v these are 25v). That's ok - it's actually a good thing. They work like a champ and are less likely to swell and not work than the originals. Here's the link:
Gino 50 Pcs Radial Lead Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors 1000uF 25V
So, I set out to actually repair it and not just change parts until it worked. I was talking to some of my friends about it who are so disturbingly intelligent and good at this that they have not just their geek card; they have their geek platinum card (or Mithril as it were - LOL). I got all kinds of advice. All of it i'm sure would have worked. But, I couldn't use most of it due to time constraints and the lack of an oscilloscope. Then I got the most useful advice you can give someone who's troubleshooting Caps: Look for the bulge and leaking (Credit for this goes to Stan for stopping me from over analyzing and making it way harder than it needed to be). So I took it apart and found a cap that had about a 1/16th of an inch bulge. I checked it with my meter and it was shot! I ordered the cap, replaced it, and reassembled the Monitor (BTW it's a Dell). Finally came the moment of truth... It worked like it was new.
Total Parts Investment: 7 cents including the solder
Total Time: 34 minutes including dis-assembly and troubleshooting
**UPDATE**
I forgot to mention which Caps I used. From what I was reading these are in pretty much everything. You'll also notice that these have a little bit higher voltage rating than the originals (the originals are 16v these are 25v). That's ok - it's actually a good thing. They work like a champ and are less likely to swell and not work than the originals. Here's the link:
Gino 50 Pcs Radial Lead Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors 1000uF 25V
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
The Death of Free Phone Service
Some of you have noticed that Google is killing XMPP support for Google Voice on May 15th. That pretty much renders the OBI products useless for free service (they are offering a $50/yr alternative that's not bad). At this time it is unknown if they'll be activating SIP which would solve everyone's problem with connectivity but make configuration a nightmare. Alas, all good things must come to an end. I personally think that was pretty lame on the part of Google to can it w/o offering a per month subscription or something. But, as Google said - they have no interest in becoming a telephone provider. It was great while it lasted right?
Luckily there is an alternative (sort of)! It's not free but it's really inexpensive. It's service is free for the 1st year when you purchase the equipment and then $30 a year afterward with a guarantee that they won't raise the price as long as you keep service on it. That's not too shabby. The product is called the NetTalk Duo. It's $44.99 @ Amazon for the standard and $30 for the v2 but, the v2 only includes 3 months of service. They also have a WiFi model for $70. After you get the unit installed, you just go setup call forwarding on your Google Voice account and disable the voice mail. Your outgoing number will be the new NetTalk number and you can still receive calls from the Google voice number. Google says that they're not killing the service, just the XMPP connectivity. Here are the links to buy a NetTalk unit:
Nettalk Duo VOIP Telephone Service
netTalk 857392003016 DUO II VoIP Phone and Device
netTalk DUO WiFi VoIP Phone Adapter and Device
**UPDATE** The WiFi version seems to be on sale for $49.99 w/3 free months of service! That's only $5 more than the regular unit!
**UPDATE** the $30 /yr doesn't include Federal Taxes - they usually run around $3.50 so the overall yearly cost would be around $33.50
If you wanted to keep your OBI and get another VOIP provider - these guys have the best pricing:
http://www.phonepower.com/Obihai_info.aspx
There are currently 2 plans. There is a 333 minute and a Unlimited plan.
Good luck - either option is still less than the $20/month offered by Time Warner. If you find a free SIP VOIP provider the OBI can connect to it. I hadn't seen anything worth mentioning at this time.
**UPDATE** there is another option from OOMA which is free + Federal taxes so, about $3.50 a month.
Ooma Telo Free Home Phone Service
I'll try to keep everyone up to date as I hear more.
**UPDATE** I ordered and am using the Nettalk Duo above. It works like a champ and is way better than the Obi100 ever was. Excellent voice quality etc. The only thing that I had to do was set it to a static IP and throw it in the DMZ. IDK if it was necessary to QOS high priority the thing but I did it anyway. For amusement sake Joe is going to see if he can hack my old Obi100 to work with Google's new framework. I'll start a new post if it works & include a walkthru.
Luckily there is an alternative (sort of)! It's not free but it's really inexpensive. It's service is free for the 1st year when you purchase the equipment and then $30 a year afterward with a guarantee that they won't raise the price as long as you keep service on it. That's not too shabby. The product is called the NetTalk Duo. It's $44.99 @ Amazon for the standard and $30 for the v2 but, the v2 only includes 3 months of service. They also have a WiFi model for $70. After you get the unit installed, you just go setup call forwarding on your Google Voice account and disable the voice mail. Your outgoing number will be the new NetTalk number and you can still receive calls from the Google voice number. Google says that they're not killing the service, just the XMPP connectivity. Here are the links to buy a NetTalk unit:
Nettalk Duo VOIP Telephone Service
netTalk 857392003016 DUO II VoIP Phone and Device
netTalk DUO WiFi VoIP Phone Adapter and Device
**UPDATE** The WiFi version seems to be on sale for $49.99 w/3 free months of service! That's only $5 more than the regular unit!
**UPDATE** the $30 /yr doesn't include Federal Taxes - they usually run around $3.50 so the overall yearly cost would be around $33.50
If you wanted to keep your OBI and get another VOIP provider - these guys have the best pricing:
http://www.phonepower.com/Obihai_info.aspx
There are currently 2 plans. There is a 333 minute and a Unlimited plan.
Good luck - either option is still less than the $20/month offered by Time Warner. If you find a free SIP VOIP provider the OBI can connect to it. I hadn't seen anything worth mentioning at this time.
**UPDATE** there is another option from OOMA which is free + Federal taxes so, about $3.50 a month.
Ooma Telo Free Home Phone Service
I'll try to keep everyone up to date as I hear more.
**UPDATE** I ordered and am using the Nettalk Duo above. It works like a champ and is way better than the Obi100 ever was. Excellent voice quality etc. The only thing that I had to do was set it to a static IP and throw it in the DMZ. IDK if it was necessary to QOS high priority the thing but I did it anyway. For amusement sake Joe is going to see if he can hack my old Obi100 to work with Google's new framework. I'll start a new post if it works & include a walkthru.
Free Calls and Texting via WiFi
This one's for you Mike!
Here is a rough in on how to get free texting and voice calls on any device with WiFi. This is best for iPads, Ipods, Doid tablets, & Droid Phones. One of the benefits for those of us with shoddy service in our homes is that we can use this instead of the cell service and actually send texts and make calls!
1. Get a Google Account
2. Go here - sign up for Google voice and get a phone number from them (DO NOT PORT YOUR EXISTING NUMBER GET A NEW ONE!) http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html
NOTE: Rural areas don't have numbers on here yet. Just pick the closest city to you and go with that.
3. After that's all taken care of and activated - make sure you don't have 2 step authentication enabled on your Google account. If you do have it enabled you'll need to generate an application specific password for the new device.
4. Download the Google voice app for your device. Here are some for various platforms:
Droid:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.googlevoice
NOTE: There are others but I use the native Google app. Find one that you like best and go with it.
Apple:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/phone-for-google-voice-gtalk/id541829441?mt=8
I actually liked this app the best. It's slick, works well, and has a great interface.
PC:
https://code.google.com/p/gvdialer/
No frills & strait forward
MAC:
Nothing yet - but, they are working on porting this one that's written in QT to multiple platforms:
https://code.google.com/p/qgvdial/
5. I'm not going to go into specifics on how to configure those apps. They all have pretty good documentation and the installation / configuration is pretty strait forward.
Due to Google killing XMPP support IDK if any of the 3rd party apps will work after the May 15th deadline. You might want to just stick to the native app.
Here is a rough in on how to get free texting and voice calls on any device with WiFi. This is best for iPads, Ipods, Doid tablets, & Droid Phones. One of the benefits for those of us with shoddy service in our homes is that we can use this instead of the cell service and actually send texts and make calls!
1. Get a Google Account
2. Go here - sign up for Google voice and get a phone number from them (DO NOT PORT YOUR EXISTING NUMBER GET A NEW ONE!) http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html
NOTE: Rural areas don't have numbers on here yet. Just pick the closest city to you and go with that.
3. After that's all taken care of and activated - make sure you don't have 2 step authentication enabled on your Google account. If you do have it enabled you'll need to generate an application specific password for the new device.
4. Download the Google voice app for your device. Here are some for various platforms:
Droid:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.googlevoice
NOTE: There are others but I use the native Google app. Find one that you like best and go with it.
Apple:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/phone-for-google-voice-gtalk/id541829441?mt=8
I actually liked this app the best. It's slick, works well, and has a great interface.
PC:
https://code.google.com/p/gvdialer/
No frills & strait forward
MAC:
Nothing yet - but, they are working on porting this one that's written in QT to multiple platforms:
https://code.google.com/p/qgvdial/
5. I'm not going to go into specifics on how to configure those apps. They all have pretty good documentation and the installation / configuration is pretty strait forward.
Due to Google killing XMPP support IDK if any of the 3rd party apps will work after the May 15th deadline. You might want to just stick to the native app.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Windows XP - Finally Dead?
I been asked a lot over the past few weeks about the impending doom of Windows XP. For the record this is my stance: Upgrade to at least Windows 7. Seriously it came out in 2002; it had a good run. I also wanted to let everyone know that it isn't going to just stop working. It's just that you will no longer be receiving updates (security or otherwise). That means that you shouldn't be using the thing on the internet. So, all the people with XP POS units and such - you're going to be fine. Your computers aren't going to quit etc. and you'll be able to continue on. I just recently was asked about a situation where the POS software won't run on Windows 7. What do you do then? In a couple of words: Virtual Machine. VMWare has a number of free products as does Microsoft themselves. The VMWare products all need a 64 bit processor that supports virtualization and they work like a champ. Microsoft's Virtual PC doesn't need either of those things (It runs poorly as a result and they've discontinued it) but, it does work. You can snag a copy here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3702
Here's a howto:
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Microsoft-Virtual-PC
That solves that LOL!
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3702
Here's a howto:
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Microsoft-Virtual-PC
That solves that LOL!
Saving Energy 101
Divorced Guys Survival Guide:
Journal Entry:
This really works for anyone but, i'm directing it at us guys. After a divorce or any financial disaster we all know that it's tough to pay for things. I'd rather use my money on something productive than pay it to the utility company. I've got some tips that made a noticeable difference in my bills and I know that they'll help you too.
1. Fill up the fridge!
I'm a bachelor; and that means that my fridge is pretty depressing. It's not because single guys don't cook or want food in our fridge; it's because we won't eat it. Let me explain: it'll go bad before I use it up, it's cheaper to grab an inexpensive meal out or eat at a friends (free), I don't feel like cooking after a 12-14 hour day, & finally i'm only one person and I don't need a ton of groceries. My freezer is almost always full and so is my cupboard. That's because - I put quick stuff in there and use it. So why fill the fridge? An empty fridge never shuts off the compressor and runs constantly to keep the temperature down. It does this because air warms up faster than food does. With the compressor running all the time it wears out prematurely and runs up your electric bill. Get some jugs of water from Walmart for 85 cents a piece and put them in there. It'll hold the temperature and have your fridge using 1/3 the electricity in an hour or two.
2. Smart Surge Protectors
These are pretty new and I hadn't realized they existed initially. They have a "Master" Appliance that when it gets turned on the surge protector gives juice to the other outlets. When the appliance is off it kills power to the outlets and saves on them vampiring electricity. Computers and Home theaters are prime candidates for these things. Put the PC in the "Master" and the rest of its stuff in the other outlets. When you fire up the PC - the other outlets work. The same goes for the home theater stuff. Plug in the TV to the "Master" and you're ready to go. The exception is DVR's that you have set to record. I'd suggest not plugging your DVR into anything other than a regular surge protector. The uses for these are endless. You should be able to get a free one from the power company. Most of them have an energy savings pack that they'll send you for free if you ask for it.
Penelec / PA Customers Kit: http://www.paenergykit.com/
Additional Surge Protectors: ZuniDigital ZG7000B-15 7 Outlet Digital Smart Green Surge Protector (Black)
That bad boy is even safe for DVR's - it has a always on outlet.
3. LED Night Lights and Timers
No one wants to come home to a dark house. Plus it's a PITA to see trip hazards in the dark LOL! I have a few night lights and I have 2 lamps on timers. That solved that for me w/o killing my energy footprint. Here's what I used:
Woods 50007 Indoor Digital Lamp Timer, Daily Settings, 2-Pack
&
Safety 1st LED Nightlight, 2 Count
You can sometimes find these @ your local dollar store too.
4. Turn your heat down to 65 degrees or better 63!
That one speaks for itself - if you're cold turn up your bedroom heat to 68 and/or put on a sweatshirt.
5. Use the TV sleep timer
I fall asleep in front of the TV a lot. That's a pretty decent waste of electricity. Use the built-in sleep timer to turn it off. A lot of appliances have timers - use them!
6. Use the microwave and not the stove.
I'm not debating the quality of a well cooked meal. But, who has time anyway? The microwave uses a lot less power than the oven. or better yet use your grill!
NOTE: Fruits and vegetables for the most part don't need to be cooked... I'm just sayin'
7. Turn down the water heater
I like a good hot shower & you don't have to give that up. Just lower the water heater temp to the point where you don't need to add too much cold water to it. There are about a bajillion guides out there - google is your friend. You can also get a water heater blanket:
Duck Brand 280464 Water Heater Insulation Blanket, 48 by 75 by 1.8-Inch
Make sure you use Tin tape to hold it together. They supply you with some but, it's not enough. Your local hardware store has it and so does Walmart.
8. Turn off the lights and use a lamp (LOL - with the timer!)
If you aren't in the room turn off the lights. I told the ex and I still tell the kids that.
9. Change out incandescent bulbs for CFL's
A CFL (Compact Florescent Light) uses way less juice than a standard bulb. The LED versions use even less and last forever but aren't really cheap enough yet. This was a huge savings for me. Just don't use them in outdoor lights up north. They take forever in the cold to put out any real light. Check Walmart for these - they had the best prices. Lowe's and Home Depot sell them too but Walmart kicks their ass on price. Also along that line - snag a day / night motion setup for outdoor lights - it gives you light when you need it and shuts it off when nothings going on.
10. Weatherstrip Doors and Cover the Windows in Plastic / Get really good Curtains
You'd be shocked how much heat you lose out of those. I personally use the good energy saving curtains but, plastic is cheap.
11. Use paper Dishes and Plastic silverware
I love my dishware and silverware but, the dishwasher uses a lot of energy and hot water. Doing them in the sink is almost as bad (you have to keep refreshing the hot water to kill bacteria). by the time you paid for supplies for either; you have a ton of paper plates and plastic-ware. Then either burn the trash or recycle them. I caught a lot of flack for this but here it is: I pay for 4 bags of trash per week. I used about .75 bags and now I use 1 full bag. It might not be better for the environment but, what good is that if you can't afford daily life? With a good composting and recycling regimen you can cut your trash down to a small bag per week and then just leave it in a trash can @ a gas station (i'm thinking they probably frown on that but, oh well).
Those are some quick / easy tips to save yourself some serious cash every month. I didn't come up with this on my own. It's the culmination of a bunch of research and recompiled lists w/ the stupid / hard stuff removed. I'm sure that there are more / better ways but, those are ones that you can do right now for very little investment.
Journal Entry:
This really works for anyone but, i'm directing it at us guys. After a divorce or any financial disaster we all know that it's tough to pay for things. I'd rather use my money on something productive than pay it to the utility company. I've got some tips that made a noticeable difference in my bills and I know that they'll help you too.
1. Fill up the fridge!
I'm a bachelor; and that means that my fridge is pretty depressing. It's not because single guys don't cook or want food in our fridge; it's because we won't eat it. Let me explain: it'll go bad before I use it up, it's cheaper to grab an inexpensive meal out or eat at a friends (free), I don't feel like cooking after a 12-14 hour day, & finally i'm only one person and I don't need a ton of groceries. My freezer is almost always full and so is my cupboard. That's because - I put quick stuff in there and use it. So why fill the fridge? An empty fridge never shuts off the compressor and runs constantly to keep the temperature down. It does this because air warms up faster than food does. With the compressor running all the time it wears out prematurely and runs up your electric bill. Get some jugs of water from Walmart for 85 cents a piece and put them in there. It'll hold the temperature and have your fridge using 1/3 the electricity in an hour or two.
2. Smart Surge Protectors
These are pretty new and I hadn't realized they existed initially. They have a "Master" Appliance that when it gets turned on the surge protector gives juice to the other outlets. When the appliance is off it kills power to the outlets and saves on them vampiring electricity. Computers and Home theaters are prime candidates for these things. Put the PC in the "Master" and the rest of its stuff in the other outlets. When you fire up the PC - the other outlets work. The same goes for the home theater stuff. Plug in the TV to the "Master" and you're ready to go. The exception is DVR's that you have set to record. I'd suggest not plugging your DVR into anything other than a regular surge protector. The uses for these are endless. You should be able to get a free one from the power company. Most of them have an energy savings pack that they'll send you for free if you ask for it.
Penelec / PA Customers Kit: http://www.paenergykit.com/
Additional Surge Protectors: ZuniDigital ZG7000B-15 7 Outlet Digital Smart Green Surge Protector (Black)
That bad boy is even safe for DVR's - it has a always on outlet.
3. LED Night Lights and Timers
No one wants to come home to a dark house. Plus it's a PITA to see trip hazards in the dark LOL! I have a few night lights and I have 2 lamps on timers. That solved that for me w/o killing my energy footprint. Here's what I used:
Woods 50007 Indoor Digital Lamp Timer, Daily Settings, 2-Pack
&
Safety 1st LED Nightlight, 2 Count
You can sometimes find these @ your local dollar store too.
4. Turn your heat down to 65 degrees or better 63!
That one speaks for itself - if you're cold turn up your bedroom heat to 68 and/or put on a sweatshirt.
5. Use the TV sleep timer
I fall asleep in front of the TV a lot. That's a pretty decent waste of electricity. Use the built-in sleep timer to turn it off. A lot of appliances have timers - use them!
6. Use the microwave and not the stove.
I'm not debating the quality of a well cooked meal. But, who has time anyway? The microwave uses a lot less power than the oven. or better yet use your grill!
NOTE: Fruits and vegetables for the most part don't need to be cooked... I'm just sayin'
7. Turn down the water heater
I like a good hot shower & you don't have to give that up. Just lower the water heater temp to the point where you don't need to add too much cold water to it. There are about a bajillion guides out there - google is your friend. You can also get a water heater blanket:
Duck Brand 280464 Water Heater Insulation Blanket, 48 by 75 by 1.8-Inch
Make sure you use Tin tape to hold it together. They supply you with some but, it's not enough. Your local hardware store has it and so does Walmart.
8. Turn off the lights and use a lamp (LOL - with the timer!)
If you aren't in the room turn off the lights. I told the ex and I still tell the kids that.
9. Change out incandescent bulbs for CFL's
A CFL (Compact Florescent Light) uses way less juice than a standard bulb. The LED versions use even less and last forever but aren't really cheap enough yet. This was a huge savings for me. Just don't use them in outdoor lights up north. They take forever in the cold to put out any real light. Check Walmart for these - they had the best prices. Lowe's and Home Depot sell them too but Walmart kicks their ass on price. Also along that line - snag a day / night motion setup for outdoor lights - it gives you light when you need it and shuts it off when nothings going on.
10. Weatherstrip Doors and Cover the Windows in Plastic / Get really good Curtains
You'd be shocked how much heat you lose out of those. I personally use the good energy saving curtains but, plastic is cheap.
11. Use paper Dishes and Plastic silverware
I love my dishware and silverware but, the dishwasher uses a lot of energy and hot water. Doing them in the sink is almost as bad (you have to keep refreshing the hot water to kill bacteria). by the time you paid for supplies for either; you have a ton of paper plates and plastic-ware. Then either burn the trash or recycle them. I caught a lot of flack for this but here it is: I pay for 4 bags of trash per week. I used about .75 bags and now I use 1 full bag. It might not be better for the environment but, what good is that if you can't afford daily life? With a good composting and recycling regimen you can cut your trash down to a small bag per week and then just leave it in a trash can @ a gas station (i'm thinking they probably frown on that but, oh well).
Those are some quick / easy tips to save yourself some serious cash every month. I didn't come up with this on my own. It's the culmination of a bunch of research and recompiled lists w/ the stupid / hard stuff removed. I'm sure that there are more / better ways but, those are ones that you can do right now for very little investment.
Sleeping advice for Insomniacs and Single People
Divorced Guys Survival Guide:
Journal Entry:
I have been having some real issues over the last few months getting really good, restful, & refreshing sleep. No, it isn't my conscience. However, it is probably stress related. I have finally found a way that works very well for me. Now I don't notice all the creaks and groans the house makes, I'm asleep within 5 minutes, & I don't wake up multiple times throughout the night. I combined the following things:
1. Relacore PM - These guys market it as a weight loss while you sleep pill (and that is ludicrous)! Lets be real here - there is no magic bullet for weight loss. Especially a pill that works while you sleep. But, these babies put you out w/o you feeling groggy the next day! I take 3 a half hour before bed and they help a lot. You can pick them up from amazon:
Relacore Pm Bedtime Fat Pill Reduce Stress 96 Caps
2. A good pillow - This is really important! It eliminates a stiff neck and lets you get a good nights rest. I already have a mattress that I like so that wasn't an issue.
3. Brahms anything, Handel's Water music, or the 8 hour long YouTube video for self hypnosis and stress reduction - These were the final piece for me. Any of those things above put me out and keep me out until my alarm wakes me. I have my iPad plugged in and playing this all night long from YouTube. Just search YouTube for those and you're ready to go.
NOTE 1: Stop smoking 1 hour before bed - trust me it helps a lot.
NOTE 2: Brahms makes me obsessively want to play Castlevania and/or hunt vampires (not a bad thing right?) and I have no idea why. Also I avoid Handels Mesiah - it's a little busy to sleep to.
NOTE 3: Try sleeping in a T-Shirt and a pair of shorts w/o underwear - it's more comfortable and you're shoulders won't hurt as bad if there's a chill.
Total investment thanks to Walmart and Amazon: Less than $25
You can't really put a price tag on sleep. Finally, I sleep the sleep of the just! Notice that I didn't say sleeping like a baby. Any parent can tell you that sleeping like a baby means up every 2 hours crying LOL! Divorce is depressing, expensive, stressful, & generally horrible. If you're tired you can't bring your A Game when you need it the most. Don't think that your ex isn't sleeping; they are - in silk sheets that you paid for (this is obviously an ex-adjuration but, you get the idea).
Also, don't hesitate to hit your local dollar store for LED nightlights. Yeah, yeah we're guys but it makes it a lot easier to navigate the house when you get in late. If you're worried about your man card status just say it's for the kids when they come over. I'll be posting more on energy savings later. You also don't need an iPad - go snag a cheap android tablet here:
Dragon Touch® 7'' Black Dual Core Y88 Google Android 4.1 Tablet PC, Dual Camera, HD 1024x600, 4GB, Google Play Pre-load, HDMI, 3D Game Supported (enhanced version of A13)[By TabletExpress]
It'll handle all your YouTube, eBook, & porn (LOL - seriously don't do that) needs. You can probably use your smart phone for all of the above too - then you don't have to spend any money. Just make sure to plug it into the wall.
Again, Please use the links above to buy that stuff if you're interested. It makes me a couple of cents and goes toward funding my life. Yeah it's a shameless cash grab but whatever. It's not like it's a lot of cash.
UPDATE: I was just informed that a good Melatonin supplement can be used in place of Relacore.
Nature's Bounty Maximum Strength Melatonin 10mg Capsules, 60-Count
I haven't tried it personally but, I got the info from a great resource for stuff like that. I'll also be posting about vitamins and supplements later.
I've personally done exactly what's specified in this post (unless otherwise specified - i'm looking at you Melatonin). It worked for me but, we're all different. Be really careful taking new supplements and ask a doctor before you do anything. You might have a medical condition and they'd be better to advise you than some random blog. All the stuff above hasn't been known to hurt anyone. At worst it doesn't work for some people but, you need to take your health seriously.
Journal Entry:
I have been having some real issues over the last few months getting really good, restful, & refreshing sleep. No, it isn't my conscience. However, it is probably stress related. I have finally found a way that works very well for me. Now I don't notice all the creaks and groans the house makes, I'm asleep within 5 minutes, & I don't wake up multiple times throughout the night. I combined the following things:
1. Relacore PM - These guys market it as a weight loss while you sleep pill (and that is ludicrous)! Lets be real here - there is no magic bullet for weight loss. Especially a pill that works while you sleep. But, these babies put you out w/o you feeling groggy the next day! I take 3 a half hour before bed and they help a lot. You can pick them up from amazon:
Relacore Pm Bedtime Fat Pill Reduce Stress 96 Caps
2. A good pillow - This is really important! It eliminates a stiff neck and lets you get a good nights rest. I already have a mattress that I like so that wasn't an issue.
3. Brahms anything, Handel's Water music, or the 8 hour long YouTube video for self hypnosis and stress reduction - These were the final piece for me. Any of those things above put me out and keep me out until my alarm wakes me. I have my iPad plugged in and playing this all night long from YouTube. Just search YouTube for those and you're ready to go.
NOTE 1: Stop smoking 1 hour before bed - trust me it helps a lot.
NOTE 2: Brahms makes me obsessively want to play Castlevania and/or hunt vampires (not a bad thing right?) and I have no idea why. Also I avoid Handels Mesiah - it's a little busy to sleep to.
NOTE 3: Try sleeping in a T-Shirt and a pair of shorts w/o underwear - it's more comfortable and you're shoulders won't hurt as bad if there's a chill.
Total investment thanks to Walmart and Amazon: Less than $25
You can't really put a price tag on sleep. Finally, I sleep the sleep of the just! Notice that I didn't say sleeping like a baby. Any parent can tell you that sleeping like a baby means up every 2 hours crying LOL! Divorce is depressing, expensive, stressful, & generally horrible. If you're tired you can't bring your A Game when you need it the most. Don't think that your ex isn't sleeping; they are - in silk sheets that you paid for (this is obviously an ex-adjuration but, you get the idea).
Also, don't hesitate to hit your local dollar store for LED nightlights. Yeah, yeah we're guys but it makes it a lot easier to navigate the house when you get in late. If you're worried about your man card status just say it's for the kids when they come over. I'll be posting more on energy savings later. You also don't need an iPad - go snag a cheap android tablet here:
Dragon Touch® 7'' Black Dual Core Y88 Google Android 4.1 Tablet PC, Dual Camera, HD 1024x600, 4GB, Google Play Pre-load, HDMI, 3D Game Supported (enhanced version of A13)[By TabletExpress]
It'll handle all your YouTube, eBook, & porn (LOL - seriously don't do that) needs. You can probably use your smart phone for all of the above too - then you don't have to spend any money. Just make sure to plug it into the wall.
Again, Please use the links above to buy that stuff if you're interested. It makes me a couple of cents and goes toward funding my life. Yeah it's a shameless cash grab but whatever. It's not like it's a lot of cash.
UPDATE: I was just informed that a good Melatonin supplement can be used in place of Relacore.
Nature's Bounty Maximum Strength Melatonin 10mg Capsules, 60-Count
I haven't tried it personally but, I got the info from a great resource for stuff like that. I'll also be posting about vitamins and supplements later.
I've personally done exactly what's specified in this post (unless otherwise specified - i'm looking at you Melatonin). It worked for me but, we're all different. Be really careful taking new supplements and ask a doctor before you do anything. You might have a medical condition and they'd be better to advise you than some random blog. All the stuff above hasn't been known to hurt anyone. At worst it doesn't work for some people but, you need to take your health seriously.
Actually Making Extra Money on the Internet!
This post is for everyone:
OK, I have finally found a way to make actual money on the internet that doesn't involve any for of prostitution.... mostly! Here is the secret: eBay and content generation are basically the only ones! It's pretty sad that there are as many get rich for little to no effort places on the internet as there apparently are dead Nigerian princes (I love spam)! I'm so over it. I've tried both eBay and content generation, and while they don't generate huge amounts of cash; you can make a couple of dollars a day on your lunch break.
I personally don't make very much by selling things on eBay. That's basically because don't really have very much to sell. What I have been selling off are a few of the things around the house that I don't want and just can't bring myself to throw out. One mans junk is terrifyingly another mans treasure on eBay. Along that note: Please do not throw out ANY LCD TV's or Monitors!! Get a hold of Stan or me and we'll come get them. I need the parts and so does he!
OK, I have finally found a way to make actual money on the internet that doesn't involve any for of prostitution.... mostly! Here is the secret: eBay and content generation are basically the only ones! It's pretty sad that there are as many get rich for little to no effort places on the internet as there apparently are dead Nigerian princes (I love spam)! I'm so over it. I've tried both eBay and content generation, and while they don't generate huge amounts of cash; you can make a couple of dollars a day on your lunch break.
I personally don't make very much by selling things on eBay. That's basically because don't really have very much to sell. What I have been selling off are a few of the things around the house that I don't want and just can't bring myself to throw out. One mans junk is terrifyingly another mans treasure on eBay. Along that note: Please do not throw out ANY LCD TV's or Monitors!! Get a hold of Stan or me and we'll come get them. I need the parts and so does he!
The other way that I've found that actually pays is to write reviews and content. It doesn't pay a lot; usually around $1-2 per article. The fact of the matter is that if your somewhat articulate you can bang out about 2-3 of these things on your lunch break. Sooooo, $3/day = $90 extra dollars a month. I get it; it's not a ton of cash but it is real and it is easy. I'm currently writing for these guys:
Please use my referral link. It get's me a nickel every time someone uses it and signs up. It's totally 100% free and they pay you via Paypal after you've made $100. Also on that site you can make some extra $ answering questions for people. Again, it's not a ton but 40 seconds out of your life to help someone else? Not too bad.
I realize that everyone probably already knows about those two but, no one told me. I had to go figure that out on my frick'n own. I was told by someone else that you can make money by blogging. Yeah - no you can't; not any more! You were at one point able to years ago before everyone else started doing it and flooded the internet with more useless garbage and stolen content. Now, the only way that I've seen to make money on blogs is to sell books on making money with a blog! The only actual (and i'm not sure how viable it is) ways to make money with blogs are via referrals and Google ad-words (which i'll totally be adding and please click on them!). Yep - and between those two you might make about a quarter a day if you do it honestly. If yer plannin' on not so honestly (LOL):
NOTE: Oh and as an FYI for all the webmasters out there - go to that site and learn from them. Use what you learn to boost your own sites ranking. You'll look like a GWAMM during the next meeting when you get asked about your Google rank.
I hope that helped - I know there are a few of you out there that were wondering and asked me this stuff. It interested me too so it was no big deal to put some time into it. Thanks (you know who you are!) for sending me down this particular road - it was fun!
NOTE: Please follow me on Google plus. More followers = more traffic = more visibility = possible TV / Movie deal.
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