The Old Dummy Goes Smart...Well, Maybe

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4

Bob Stroud has been counting through the 1970s in his daily Ten at Ten on Chicago's WDRV, the Drive.  Yesterday, he did 1970 with songs like "Teacher" by Jethro Tull and "The Rapper" by the Jaggerz.  Today, he did 1971 with songs like "Going Mobile" by the Who and "Everythings Coming Our Way" by Santana.  Those were two great college years for me at NIU.  He will continue this the rest of the month going to 1980.  It streams at 10 am and 10 pm.

Drove to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to the Target store and bought a Consumer Cellular Smart Phone.  My friend Kelly is going to help me shed my old dumb ways.  It's going to be a long haul as when it comes to technology, I am severely challenged.

Met Kevin, Kelly, Pam and Laura at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and we had a good time with trivia.

We had no luck with our attempts to set up the phone.

It's Going to be a Long Road to Hoe with That "Smart" Phone.  --RoadDumb

Setting Up the New Computer Went Better Than I Could Have Hoped For

As I sit here typing away with my two little fingers on the new personal computer in front of me, I must admit that yesterday went much better than I believed it would.

Now, however, I just need to learn how to get sound on it and how to turn it off.

But today, all of the eight blogs have been done on the new one.

So Proud, So very Proud.

Maybe I'm Not As technologically Challenged As I Thought.   But, I Probably Am.  --RoadDog

CROSS PURPOSES:  Who delivered the "Cross of Gold" speech at the Democratic National Convention on July 9, 1896?      


William Jennings Bryan

Wish Me Luck As I Attempt to Set Up the New Computer Today

Last Friday, I bought a new personal computer at Wal-Mart, an HP all-in-one Windows 10 for $399 and today I am going to attempt to install it.

I do not expect to succeed, given my continuing record dealing with all this new technology/  I am, as they say, technologically challenged.  Our current pcs are XPs and no longer supported by Windows as I see every time I turn mine on.

I would gave gotten a new pc earlier, but again, I have to learn how to set it  up and use it, something I am not good at in any fashion.

I still use a 2003 flip phone and still hardly know how  to use it.

Well, Wish Me Luck.  --RoadHuh?

Nothing But Computer Problems the Last Two Weeks

In case you're wondering how come there have been so few posts the last several weeks, it is because of computer problems.

Yesterday I bought a new computer (ours are XPs)  and still have to set it up which should be quite a problem as I am very technologically challenged.

But, I will do the best I can.

Hope to see you guys on the other side.

--RoadWhat?

About Those Six Things People Don't Have Anymore

OK, here's the scoop on me:

1.  CDs   I listened to the Kinks "Soap Opera" on CD in the '11 Malibu yesterday on the way to the Civil War Round Table meeting (and back).  The next car we buy will probably be a problem as I have to have a CD player.  As a matter of fact, I would like to have a cassette player as well.

2.  VHS Tape-- I have been watching VHS tapes of shows I recorded last week and have now caught up with them.  That's right, I still have a VCR.

3.  File cabinets--  Yep, I have several file cabinets in desks at home.  I still store papers and what have you in them.  I even have a couple spares in the garage.

4.  Wall calendars--  I have three wall calendars up around the house and several in reserve.

5.  Take out menus.  I have some, but not many.  I have never been much of a one for take out.  Why mess up the house when I can mess up there place?

6.  Alarm clocks--  I have them, but since I'm retired, I don't use them much unless I want to make sure I wake up in time to record Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots on an audio cassette on Sunday morning.

And, I would like to add ROAD ATLASES.  We still have several and I prefer to use these when planning a big truck.  I do, however, use GPS for closer in directions.


I Guess I'm Just Technologically Impaired.    --RoadChallenged

Six Things People Don't Have Anymore

From the Chicago History FaceBook page.

They asked people to tell them if they had two or more of these six.  I wonder how I'll do?

1.  CDs

2.  VHS Tapes

3.  File cabinets

4.  Wall calendars

5.  Take out menus

6.  Alarm clocks

How did you do?

--I Wonder, I Wonder?  --RoadDog

WORDS NOT YET IN THE DICTIONARY--  ECNALUBMA:  A rescue vehicle which can onlty be seen in the rearview mirror.

The State of Cell Phones: Didn't Get Mine

Are you one of the 9 million or so who have signed up for the new I-whatever phones? Sorry to say, but I didn't. I know a lot of you will be getting rid of the "new" one you bought less than a year ago to get this "new" one. At least new until the next "new" phone comes out several months down the road.

Of course, Liz and I have phones that are just a wee bit dated. I think they might even be Cingular phones and I think we got them back in 2003 (my first one). And, I still don't really know how to use mine for the most part. I have never texted or read a text and wouldn't know how to nor plan to.

We were at Captain's Quarters Saturday for their band and "Pirate Day" get-together. We were at the bar and a guy came up to place an order and saw Liz's cell phone out on the bar. He remarked something about it being a real museum piece and he couldn't believe anyone was still using them. He had to look at it.

Oh Well, Technologically Backward Me. ---RoadDog

Finally Going to Get My First Digital HD TV

I was going to wait until my basement analog, tube TVs broke down (a 1983 25-inch console and 1992 19-inch TV). But, we are forced into it by our cable station going all digital. Plus, I have been wanting to get one of the new big-screens for quite some time (despite claims of my cheapness stemming from not wanting to get new things until the old ones break down).

Later today, I plan on going to Wal-Mart, Meijer's and Target and finding a TV for the corner of the bar. This is a very limited space, so have to be careful with dimensions. I have 18 and 1/2 inches top to bottom to play with and think I might even be able to squeeze a 32-incher into it. This will be replacing the current 19-incher we bought when the basement was finished in early 1993.

Sometime this next month, I plan to buy a 55 to 60-inch big screen for the basement to replace the console.

Hopefully, I will be able to "figger out" how to operate them.

I'll Be Watching the Games and New Season TV In Style. --RoadDog

Iconic Brands That Just Disappeared

From the July 3, 2013, Yahoo! Finance, 24/7 Wall St by Alexander E.M. Hess and Michael B. Sauter.

Ten years ago, SONY Ericsson was one of the hottest cell phone makers and Cingular was one of the most popular wireless carriers and, then Compaq was one of the hottest PC brands. Don't ask me about the first two. I'd heard of them, but you're talking to a guy who has had his cell phone (same one) for about eight years and still doesn't know how to operate it. I think my school in Round Lake got Compaq computers for the first time back in 2000. I didn't know how to operate them either.

These and others have effectively ceased to exist, but were household names back then. Cause of loss, usually significant mismanagement coupled with industry pressure.

Compaq and Cingular were bought. Some others which are gone now: Lehman Brothers, Wachovia, Washington Mutual and Saab.

Gone Now. --RoadDog

JSS: Bobby "Blue"-- A "Thunderin" Summer-- Tech Help Needed-- Goodbye Bill

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  BOBBY "BLUE"--  Listening to Bobby "Blue" Bland's album (well, CD) Blues At Midnight on Malaco Records from 2003.  Like the lead-off tune "Where Do i Go From here."  A perfect example of his sound.  Sorry to find out he died. 


2.  A "THUNDERIN' SUMMER--  Bob Stroud played "Hot Fun in the Summertime" yesterday and Friday in his salutes to the Summer Season now upon us.  Well, so far, it has been thunder and rain for us around here in northeast Illinois.  Starting with the major storm that hit Friday morning, and then rain all Friday night into Saturday morning.

Yesterday, we had a fast storm run through the Cahin of Lakes, scattering boats all over the place trying to get away from the lightning.  Then, a storm just hit and is still raining right now at 9:35 AM.  No yardwork or boat cleaning today.


3.  TECH HELP NEEDED--  Mom got me an IPad, a very handy thing, but one that, for some reason does not like our Wifi spot here at the house.  I can get online pretty much anywhere, but home.  Sometimes it will go on, but mostly not.

And then, there is that 7:34 AM alarm that goes off everyday on the watch that I can't get to stop.  I can change it to a different time, but can't get the alarm to go off.

Technology Does Not Like Me.  --RoadDog


IF CATS PERFORMED "CATS":  Part of the performance would include cast members climbing and shredding the theater curtains (and then acting like they were proud of it).

They Did It To Me Again: TVs

Spent some time yesterday doing something I had been dreading and putting off, and that is messing with the TVs.  And, not my choice!!  I was forced into it by my cable company.  All of our TVs are analog and when the BIG DIGITAL SWITCH took place several years back, we were ok as the cable hookup managed to take care of it.

Now, it's not that I don't like the new HD digital TVs and as a matter of fact was looking forward to getting them, BUT NOT UNTIL THE CURRENT TVS BREAK DOWN!!!!!

Before I left for the south last week, we had noticed that we had lost a few of the channels (Mediacom had warned us several months back that they were switching to all digital and that we would need special boxes to be hooked up).  We ordered them.

We have four main TVs:  The 25-inch console downstairs is 1983 and the bar 19-inch is 1992.  Upstairs, the 32-inch is about 1998 and the 19-inch in my study is about the same year.  The two TVs downstairs were too old to even use the box, requiring you to use the power button on the set.

We did get Liz's mom's 25-inch TV hooked up downstairs and Liz got the 32-inch hooked up while I was gone.

I did really enjoy the new channels we get now and watched a couple episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents last night.  I like those old TV shows.

Looks like there is a 55-60-inch TV in the near future for me.  Guess I'll just have to learn how to live with it.  And, I'll need a new one for the bar but will have to do some measuring as it has only a limited space.

Go On, Twist my Arm and Make me Get Them!!  --RoadDog

A Laughing Matter: Zits

From the April 22, 2013, Zits comic strip.  One of my new favorites.

1ST FRAME:  Jeremy is texting his girlfriend in school and his friend Hector is standing beside him.
Jeremy: "I can't believe that Sara (his girlfriend) hasn't responded to me yet."

2ND FRAME:
Jeremy:  "I texted, tweeted, Facebooked and e-mailed her!"
Hector, pointing: "She's right over there.  Why don't you just go talk to her?"

3RD FRAME:  Jeremy is looking at Hector.
Jeremy:  What generation did you say you were from?"

Yep.  Pretty-Well Sums It Up for Me.  --RoadDog

Record Store Day, April 20th-- Part 1

I loved it.  A time for oldies like myself to get together with other oldies and non-techies to enjoy stuff I know about.

The organization that puts it on has an interesting website with the names and locations of Mom and Pop record stores broken down by state.  www.recordstoreday.com.  Well worth checking out.

I was excited to learn that there is another one near me that I'll have to check out.  It is in Antioch, Illinois, and is called Track One Vintage Stereo at 348 W. North Avenue.  They advertise 10,000 LPs and thousands of CDs.

There is another one in nearby Lake Geneva, Wisconsin called Black Circle Records at 772 W. Main Street, Suite 107.  That is Wisconsin Highway 50, between Welles and Broad streets.

I Know Where I'm Going.  --RoadDog


TOO PUNNY:  Broken pencils are pointless.

What to Horde Now: Disappearing Products and Me-- Part 3

6.  SUZUKI CARS--  The company is stopping sales in the U.S. once current inventory runs out.  It is the second-worst selling brand behind Daimler's Smart cars.  I've never bought a foreign car and don't intend to, even if much of the "American" cars are built elsewhere.  And, Smart Cars may be smart, but they sure look dumb.

7.  CLASSIC YSL PRODUCTS--  Yves St. Lawrent is phasing out their classic logo.  Glad they told me what YSL stood for.

8.  RALPH LAUREN RUGBY LINE--  Launched in 2004, all 14 stores will be closed in February.  I like rugby, but have never had any clothing.  What are the fashion outlet malls going to do?

9.  BURGUNDY WINE--  About 40% of the grapes were lost in 2012.  I don't drink much wine.

10.  ARABICA COFFEE--  Rising temperatures are destroying most of crop.  This coffee makes up 70% of the global market.  This one might hurt as I like my cup of coffee in the morning.

11.  MUNICIPAL BONDS--  Not extinct, but very hard to find as investors are buying them because of their being tax-exempt.  I don't have any.

Oh Well.  --RoadDog

What to Horde Now: Disappearing Products and Me-- Part 2

I have been accused of hording things and have to admit that is partially true.  However, most of what I horde are things "they" take away from me that I like.  I have several hundred blank cassettes stockpiled as well as the decks and boomboxes to play them on.  I especially like any of the dual recorders where you can record on the same machine. 

I even have a CD to DVD recorder, a cassette tape, LP, and single to DVD recorder and VHS to DVD one for future use, although by the time I get around to it, DVD technology will be obsolete also.

As far as motion picture film, I am a big fan of VHS, but have a growing collection of DVDs (although I've never used one at home).  Yesterday, I took a Super Bowl Shuffle and "The Great Outdoors" to Donovan's Reef where we had a good time watching them.

We had a lot of Bear fans and it was really great seeing those guys from the 1985 team again and in their prime.

However, most of the things on the list are no great loss to me.

I Hate It When "They" Take Something Away From Me.  --RoadDog

What to Horde Now: Disappearing Products and Me

From December 17, 2012, Yahoo! Finance by Vanessa Wong.

1.  Incandescent Light Bulbs-- unless they can meet new standards in 2013, they're gone by next year.  I'm already stocking up on them.

2.  Old iPhone Charger--  Imagine Apple having planned obsolescence!  No problem here, I don't have an iPhone and wouldn't know how to use one if I did.

3.  Stamp Collections--  I never got into it, but I do keep a few stamps from each year with my journals.

4.  Motion Picture Film--  Fuji is dropping production.  Filmmakers are going to digital technology.  No problem here as my kids never saw a movie in class back in the 70s as I couldn't quite get the hang of threading the film.

5.  Issue of Newsweek Magazine--  First printed in 1933.  The last print issue on the newstands now.  I saw one yesterday.  I subscribed to the magazine on several different occasions and was about to get a new subscription a couple months ago with the great deal they were offering.  Glad I didn't.

I like my news in hand, not on some screen.  I did have a subscription to US News and World Report when they printed their last issue.  I could get their digital edition, but, like I said, I don't do news that way, well, except in gathering news for these darn blogs.

It's Not Me.  They're Taking All My Stuff Away.  --RoadDog

I Feel For You, Professor

From the Aug. 17th Chicago Tribune "Shoe" comic strip.


Panel 1:  A table top phone, complete with cord, is ringing.

Panel 2:  The Professor (probably in his 40s) is standing by the phone, looking at his nephew Skyler (about 9 and says, "Why don't you answer it?"

Skyler says, "Me?"

Panel 3:  Skyler, looking at the Professor, "Nobody I know would ever call me on a land line."

I feel for you, 'Fessa.

Long Distance, What's That?  --RoadDog

I Feel for You, Dag

As I have oft-mentioned, I am more than a little bit behind the times when it comes to new technology.

More than a little, little, little, little as it were or is.

I had to chuckle at the July 6th Blondie comic strip in the Chicago Tribune.

Dagwood is walking into his house and the young boy, Elmo, comes up to him at the door.

FRAME 1: 
Elmo:  "Poor Emory got grounded, Mr. B."
Dagwood:  "That's too bad, Elmo...so are you looking for another friend to play with?

FRAME 2:
Elmo:  "Nah...That's so 20th century!  I've got Emory on Skype video from his room!"
Emory from the laptop: "Hi, Mr. B.!!"

FRAME 3:
Dagwood is inside and turns to the viewer and says, "It's amazing how outta the loop I am."

I Feel For Ya, Dag.  --RoadDog

Me and Technology

From the Dec. 7th Chicago Tribune.

DUSTIN COMIC STRIP

FRAME ONE: Dustin, an unemployed, live-at-home, college grad and his dad are sitting at the table. Dustin is sitting at his laptop looking smug. His dad is reading a newspaper.

Dustin: "Admit it Dad...There are lots of things I get with the internet that don't come with the newspaper."

Dad: "Okay...I admit it."


FRAME TWO: Dad: "But who wants viruses." Dustin sits there looking a bit sheepish.

Hey, One for My Side!! --RoadDog

Me and Technology

Not that I am completely ignorant of new technology, but practically so. Obviously, with these blogs, I must know a little something about it. I know what I know, and that "ain't" much.

I can't help but laugh in some of the comics when this awkward, backward technology comes full fore. One great comic strip I like is "Pickles" about an elderly couple, your grandparents type. I have really come to relate to the old codger of the pair, Earl.

From the Aug. 7th Chicago Tribune.

FRAME 1: Earl's wife Opal is dusting. Grandson Nelson asks, "Gramma, where's Grampa?" Opal replies, "He's on the computer trying to figure out how to send an e-mail."

FRAME 2: Nelson, "Old people aren't very good at computers, are they?"

FRAME 3: Opal, "Well, we didn't grow up with them like your generation, Nelson."

FRAME 4: Still Dusting, Opal says, "Some of us are pretty god at learning computer skills."

FRAME 5: They are now in the computer room where Earl is at the computer, an old pc unit like I use. Earl has a look of exasperation and says, "Oh, shoot! I think I just deleted the whole darn internet."

FRAME 6: Opal and Nelson walking away, and Opal says, "Others of us, not so much."

This would explain why Liz can do so much on a computer and I can't.

Well, That's My Excuse, Anyway. --RoadDog


HOW"S THAT AGAIN? One bad apple spoils the whole barrel...One corrupt or bad person can cause all others to go bad if you don't remove the bad one.